Good week with occasional frustrations...

Too much time in the car last week, and too many frustrating visits finding no one at home,  but all in all it was a good week.

Tuesday we took the five Petersburg Elders to Berryville for Zone Conference.  It was a great meeting, lots of good instruction and inspiring presentations.  But long.  An hour-and-a-half drive, then meetings from 8 am to 4 pm.  We had to wait around afterward for Elder Yardley, one of our zone leaders, who was exchanging with our Elder Bronson for a few days and had some interviews after the other meetings.  So it was close to 5 pm when we got out of there.  Fortunately there is a Golden Corral buffet restaurant nearby (Elder Orton's favorite) and he invited our five passengers plus the two Elders from Romney to eat there.  None of them minded the invitation and they definitely got their (our) money's worth!  

Wednesday we met with our good friends Traci and Robin, and helped them with some assignments for a

class they are taking.  Wayne had to run to Moorefield to pick up a prescription for a ward member and take it to him, then we met a couple at the church for their final temple prep classs - the follow-up lesson after they attend the temple for the first time.  That was fun.  Then I stayed at the church and did some indexing (and visiting).  We had a good lesson with Kathy S. on Thursday and her cute grandkids were excited to show us their new puppies.  Also visited with Dave and Elaine V. and played Bingo at the nursing home.  Friday was a very frustrating day and we did a lot of driving around, trying to see people that didn't happen to be home.  Even a few more of those Saturday afternoon, but then we got to party!  One of the most popular people in our ward is Oscar, a young man from Puerto Rico who joined the church here in Petersburg a little over a year ago.  He is now the ward executive secretary and just as faithful as can be. Everyone loves him.  He turned 30 yesterday and threw a picnic/party to celebrate.  Lots of food, games, corn hole, and a pinata (Minion). It was great.

Oscar's 30th Birthday Picnic

Hanging the Pinata

 

Elder Bronson watches as Elder Hall and Elder Orton face off in Corn Hole

More Corn Hole (we will be bringing a set home to Idaho!)

Never too old for playground fun

Today was a lovely day.  Beautiful Sabbath.  I taught Relief Society and it went very well.  After Church we took Elder Hall, Elder Moore, and Elder Lyon with us for some visits (the kind we have to drive a long ways for).  We visited Jane H.  - she is actually doing very well and hoping that the MERSA infection is finally gone.  The Elders did a little sacrament service for her, very nice.  Then we drove out to see Woneda K. who has moved from the nursing home to her son's home,  very poor conditions and she is unhappy there. She was so glad to see us.  Next way out past Mathias for a short visit with Connie S.  Then had to get the Elders back to Moorefield for a couple appointments they had.  We came on home and enjoyed leftovers from the picnic yesterday - BBQ chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, and cupcakes.  Also some corn that Wayne bought at a local vegetable stand on Friday - he is so happy that he has found a couple places with excellent corn.

A few miscellaneous items:
- Elder Moore spoke in church today.  I want to remember one of his quotes:  Obedience brings blessings, but exact obedience brings miracles.
-  Gas is very expensive here in West Virginia and we sure use a lot.  For a time it was close to $4 a gallon, fortunately it has been coming down.  It is usually about 30 cents a gallon cheaper in Virginia, so we get it there when we can.  Last week when we were in Berryville for meetings we found it at Costco for $3.16 - yippee!  Right now in Petersburg it is $3.56.
-  I have been fascinated by a flower showing up around here.  A kind of lily that pops up without foliage, just looks like a pretty pink flower on a stake.  I found out that it is called a Resurrection Lily,  there is nice foliage in the spring that dies away, then the stem and lily appear in late summer.   So pretty and unusual,  I had to take a few pictures.
-  Happy Birthday to our handsome grandson Nathan tomorrow.  He will be turning 12!  Such a great young man.  We miss you Nathan,  "Happy Birthday!"
  

(Dad) In closing I have something for you to think about.

What is God's work? We are told in Moses 1:39, "For behold, this is my work and my glory -- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".  His whole purpose is to bring eternal life and happiness to his children.  Look at all he has done to prove that.  How serious is he about it?

How serious are we about our work?  What is our work?  We are given that answer in D & C 11:20.

"Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength."  Shouldn't this then be our whole purpose and shouldn't we be serious about it?  What are we doing to prove our seriousness?

We love you all and are so grateful for your lives and examples to us.

Later . . . . .