Is this Christmas?

Stubborn Senator Ried is holding the senate hostage so they can be forced to vote on a Health Care Reform bill that few people besides him and some Democrats want , just so they can pass it before Christmas. they are reading all 700 pages of changes to the bill at the request of the Republicans. The language is so obscue that I don't even think the people reading it understand it. Who care they can't go shopping anyway!
It is snowing outside it looks like a beautiful Christmas card. We seldom have snow before Christmas, but this year we are going to have at least 20 in.
I went to bed last night and closed my eyes but I couldn't sleep because my mind is going 60 mi an hour and my heart is pounding so hard it feels like it will pop out of my chest. So I got up and did 3 loads of laundry while everybody slept. ( most of the night anyway) I watched the snow fall, took pictures of it and heard the snow plow chase away the flakes on the ground to no avail. Quincy and Natalie's flight to Indianapolis at 8 am got canceled. So we get up or rather the rest of the household gets up. Natalie fixes pancakes. I help her hold the phone while she works. We are on hold for 2 1/2 hours plus with United. She finally gets an agent hurray!! He re-books them for the 5 pm flight. I want to tell her to rebook on the 5 pm flight on Sunday because My guess is all flights today will cancel. Now she has been re-booked for the 10 pm flight Sunday night, at least she and porter. We don't know for sure about Quincy and Tatum. I say my prayers, read my chapter in the Book of Mormon, have a piece of the honey cake I managed to make yesterday. I have one of Natalie's great pancakes and a glass of O.J. I go up and curl my hair that I washed last night so I won't look like a scarecrow, and put makeup on my nose so I won't look like a scare crow with a Rudolph Nose. Now I still haven't read my chapters in the D&C or my book, but I can't go anywhere so what is the hurry. Even if I could get out I can't breathe so I can't go anywhere. I have to stop and get my breath back for 5 min every time I go up the stairs. Quincy and Porter are shoveling the drive way because Quincy got the car stuck there after they came back from the grocery store. A neighbor comes to his rescue and helps him with the push he needs to get it in.
I make a few overseas calls to my relatives in Denmark. They are 5 hours ahead of us and tell me they have snow too and it is freezing there and that they know we are having a bad snow storm. The world is small. The TVs are on with the weather, a kids program, and mine is on CNN. The children are getting over ear infections, but are being very good tempered about it. Natalie does more laundry and talks to her family. I think of a Danish song describing a winter scene and try to play it on the piano, but do an awful job, try to share the words with Quincy, but Porter is getting tired, so I decide to go to bed and get some more sleep. Just then my son in the Mexican Gulf calls and wants me to tell him what I think about his hair-brain scheme of sailing around the World in 5 years, alone. I just told you what I thought of his idea and he laughs when I tell him to at least wait till after I die, so he wants to know what I am planning for the next 5 years. I wish I knew, or maybe not. I finally do go to bed and do some more of lying in bed with my eyes closed and dreaming about sleeping. Now I am up it is after 5 pm. I go down to write this blog since I am fairly sure no one will read it just to tell some one about what it is like to be on 40 mg of Prednisone. Now the rest of the family has caught on to my idea of a nap, except they seem to really be sleeping while watching MNSB. I am envious!

Is this Christmas? or prednisone? you haven't even heard from Quincy and Natalie what it is like to live with me when I am like this ( no wonder they are anxious to go to Indiana) Or am I feeling this way because I accidentally took the cough medicine with codeine instead of Robitussin or is it really a nightmare? Oh yes they canceled the temple and church today and tomorrow.

Here is a rough translation of the little song i wanted to share:

Plants and bushes are hidden by snow
It is so cold outside.
But outside my frozen window pane is a little birds singing
Give it time and Spring will come.

How to Pay Tithing

At this time of year when it is time to make an account to the bishop about our tithing contributions, I am reminded of different schemes I have encountered in paying tithing.

1. Don't pay tithing, it is too expensive.
2. Take out a loan at the end of the year so you can be a full tithe payer.
3. Keep your tithing in your account till the end of the year and then pay it all at once.
4. Pay tithing as you make your money.

With the first option you miss out on all the blessings that come from paying an honest tithe.
When we worked at BYU you could actually take out a loan at the credit union at the end of the year to pay tithing if you were lacking behind. Somehow it seems misguided to borrow money to pay The Lord when He councils us not to go in to debt.

I actually tried the 3rd option once. I wrote out my check each month and subtracted the amount from my check balance. My plan was that I would make the interest on my tithing money for the year and then pay it all at once at the end of the year. Guess what? It doesn't work. Fortunately I realized part way into the year that somehow the money I had allocated to tithing had disappeared from my account. I think the lesson to be learned here is that our tithing money is not ours to invest or use in other ways. That money belongs to The Lord. Also do we really want to wait till the end of the year to get the blessings that come from paying tithing?

After my one try at option 3 I decided there was only really one way to pay tithing and that is to pay it as you make your money. That way you don't get behind, and you are eligible to receive God's blessings all year long.

On Enduring to The End

Several years ago at a Stake High Council Meeting, one of the members of the Stake Presidency gave a presentation on enduring to the end. He drew a long horizontal line on the board, and starting at the right end of the line he began putting markers down like birth, blessing, baptism, priesthood ordinations for the boys, missions, and temple marriage. And then there was all of the rest of the the line about 3/4 of the length left blank. I remember looking at that stretch of plain line without any goal posts on it and thinking: Enduring to the end is a very long process,specially when there are no intermediate goals to encourage you on. Of course the second forth of that line is occupied by helping and watching your children passing through all those markers as well. But when the children leave, even though you stay in close contact with them and any grandchildren, you are now participating in a "one removed" way, and it comes down to how am I personally going to endure to the end.
It has been my privilege for most of this last year to work as a temple worker at the Washington DC temple on Saturdays. Being there and working in different areas of the temple and seeing other temple workers most much older than I, suffering from various physical impairments from brain tumers, to pace makers, a variety of artificial replacement joints etc., has been a real inspiration to me. They come and do what they can, and they do it with a smile and are so happy to serve. In particular I work with one sister, who has scoliosis of the back. Her spine virtually looks like a Z, but she is always happy, always has a smile, always wants to serve.
What inspires me about these brothers and sisters is that instead of sitting and feeling sorry for themselves, and dwelling on all the shortcomings and problems they are inflicted with, they are focusing on the things they can still do with what they have left. Staying busy, staying optimistic,staying active and serving is making them happy and fulfilled individuals. It is wonderful to see these senior couples walking hand in hand to and from the temple, and notice the love and respect they show for each other.
By observing them, I am learning how I am going to endure the last portion of that line of endurance to the end: By having hope or being optimistic in the face of discouragement, finding ways to serve others, loose myself in the service of my family and others who need my help.
I have basically been sick since December of 2001, but when I look back on the last 8 years I am amazed at how much I have actually been able to accomplish in spite of illness.
I am so grateful to our Church leaders for seeing the wisdom in keeping senior members busy with church work, whether it is missions, genealogy, temple work, or welfare work, it is keeping a large and knowledgeable group of members involved in moving this wonderful church on.

Farmor will you play with me?

When I got here Porter tucked at me. Farmor come play with me. So I did. He was playing with a little repair garage. I touched something trying to find out what he wanted me to do.

P: don't touch it.

Me: OK Porter. Pointing to another ting, What is that?

P: don't touch it. And don't touch this. This goes here and don't touch it!

Me: OK Porter. May I bring my car in to the shop?

P: No!

Evidently I misunderstood the invitation to play. I wasn't supposed to play with him, just observe him play.

Birthday and Baptism

My oldest grand daughter is turning in to a beautiful young girl.  This year she turned 8 years of age and took her first important step on her road to salvation.  She was baptized.  Here she is with her parents in the same dress her mother wore for her baptism. 

 

With her dad just before the baptism.  It was a nice event with many relatives attending

 

Solo visit from some of the Grandchildren

This picture should have been at the end of this blog. But here is Porter going back to Dubai ready for the 13 hour trip. I didn't get one of Natalie and the baby.


Here are the munchkins all mesmerized by Mary Poppins. We had a great time and it is satisfying to hear: "When we come again can we do this".


C played with Legos and the girls played with their dolls and anything else they found interesting. Here is an example of C's creativity.

Here we are at the pool. they all know how to swim so that makes it easy.
Holly came over with her children while C.E.and M were here. We went swimming one day, and another day we went to Frying Pan farm to see the animals and ride the tractors and get fresh produce. Afterward we went to Taco Bell, but on the way out Holly took the corner too tightly and got a cut in the tire. We made it to the nearest service station where they put on the spare tire while we ate our tacos in the back of the garage.

Peach picking with Holly and Children.

Holly and I decided to go peach picking. The peaches were beautiful and big this year. We went out to Heartland Orchards in the foothills of the Blue ridge mountains. Beautiful view from the orchard. Aas you can see from the following pictures, the whole gang got in to the act. We had a good time and got some very tasty peaches.

Cathrine's Wedding in Seattle

These two pictures should have been at the end of this blog, but I have trouble thinking backwards. On the way back from Seattle, I met Quincy in the airport on his way back to Dubai. He had a long layover, so Trevor checked in for a flight and came to visit too. If you know these two you know it was a couple of continuous jokes and laughter. I am afraid we annoyed some of the other passengers, who were trying to sleep. this was the only chance Trevor had to talk to Quincy before he went back.



Melinda and I went to Seattle to attend Catherine's wedding to Mike Leavitt. Matt was very generous and provided hotel room and rental car for us. We had a nice Hotel room near Pike's Market. The one interesting thing about the bathroom in the hotel was that there was a window into the bathroom, and the water for the tub came out of the ceiling. It was a bit of a shock the first time we turned on the water.
In between wedding events we went sightseeing and shopping.
There was a barbecue the night before cooked by the groom, and the Beal home. The next morning was the wedding in the Seattle temple. Such a beautiful setting for a beautiful couple. Melinda and I went shopping and in the evening there was a dinner at Matt's in the Mart. A fun event with the food cooked where you could watch. Afterward there was dancing. A very nice wedding. We went home Sunday.


Bride and Groom exiting the Temple.


Bride and Groom with her parents.
All the Seattle Beals with in-laws and grandchildren.
Seattle Beal family

Birthday children

This little girl at one is the happiest little girl you could ever want to meet. She always smiles and only cries when she is hungry, wet, tired or cutting teeth. She is really spoiling her parents.
Here is is with uncle Trevor's funny stuffed animal. She is a delight to be around.


Birthday girl 1 year with Mom and Dad. Isn't she cute?

Birthday girl E. With mom and dad opening presents while big brother looks on.

Notice this little angelic face? Well don't be deceived. The last time I visited, his little brother H was in the hospital and his parents were there too. I had to change DD's dirty diaper. Just to make sure he did not escape I locked the front door. I found all I needed to make the change except I could not find any wipes. I knew his mother kept extra supplies in the basement so I went down to look for wipes. I had barely made it down the stairs when I heard the basement door close and the lock turned. I was locked in the basement by a 2 1/2 year old. I finally remembered there was a basement door and got out and checked the kitchen door to see if it was open, but no luck. Then I went to the neighbors to see if they had a spare key to the front door. That didn't work either. Finally we had the neighbor boy try to see if he could squeeze through the cat door. that worked and we were able to get in to the house again. It turned out the wipes were in the front room all the time in one of his mother's bags. We accomplished the change after a struggle which I won. Then when his mother called, he proceeded to try to bite me the whole time I was on the phone. He got a really good tickle treatment after that. So don't be fooled by that innocent look.


This blond little "Daredevil" also had a birthday on the same day as Sh. He was 3 years old.

Birthday girl, busy on her pretend cell phone.
Sh is a happy little 5 year old. always ready to have fun and very creative in thinking up games to play with her sister Sa. She is always busy and has a smile that make everyone want to smile too. She spreads happiness where ever she goes.

Birthday girl with her Mom.



The family enjoying Sh's birthday cake

My Main Reason for Visiting Dubai

My main reason fro going to Dubai was to help Natalie after her Mom went home. I was also anxious to see my new little granddaughter, and to spend time with the whole family. The following pictures gives you an idea of what it looks like where they live and of course some cute pictures of the family. We did manage to do a few things besides taking care of the baby.
The Jumeira Resident Tower complex as seen from the beach. Q and N live in the widest tower.


A section of the Jumeira Resident Towers.

Part of the plaza as seen from the apartment window. It is evening so the fountain in running.

Me with the cute baby.


Baby girl entertaining herself so Mom can get something done.

Porter playing in the plaza in front of his apartment tower on the plaza level. In the latter afternoon it cooled off so you could go outside and enjoy yourself. Various shop are also located on this level.



The happy family all together.

Porter keeping busy while mom is caring for the baby.


Mom holding her little sweet baby.

Porter having fun in his singing and dance class.

Dad holding his latest little treasure.


Playing in the sand is a great way to keep busy while Mom takes a nap.


Fountains are great places to clean up after getting into the dirt.

Special Sights in Dubai

The tall skinny building that looks like a needle is the Burge Dubai.  It is still under construction.

Atlantis Hotel on the Palm.  It is enormous.

Road to the Palm.

Quincy treated me to lunch at this hotel.  The large building with the dome on top.  As you can see it was a fancy buffet.

This is one of the Palms ( man made islands).  It is very smoggy, so it is hard to see.

This street is called "The Walk"  It is where all the locals come to see and be seen.  The street is practically lined with cafes and restaurants.

Shopping in Dubai.

The following pictures are from the Ibn Batuta mall.  he was an explorer who lived in the 14th century.  Each area in the mall is decorated to look like a country he visited.  Unfortunately they don't have a little market square at the entrance to each area where they could sell local wares from that particular country.  It would have made it more authentic.  But it was really a fantastic mall.

I bought this one, a red Tabriz rug.

I love shopping for Persian rugs in The Middle East.  We went to the Madinat Jumeira shopping mall.  It is built like an old zouk, and has a lot of atmosphere.  It is right down by the Burge al Arab.

Where can you find a shopping Mall with an Aquarium and a waterfall?  In Dubai of course.