The Marvelous Missionaries We Serve With

Elder Clayton, Doug Mainord - Center Director, Elder Tripp

Elder Hackworth, Elder Crown, Sister Crown

Elder Clayton

Sister Schmitt

Sister McMichael

Elder Tripp

Sister Tripp

Elder Bryd

 I will be forever grateful for these inspiring, marvelous men and women.

Doug Mainord

I don't know where to begin.

Today was his last day of his employment after 33 years working for the church.

So, let me just say this.  I will be forever thankful for knowing and serving with Doug Mainord; he is as close to the Saviour as any person I have ever met or worked with.

I have NEVER met anyone like Doug.  Linda Ricks and LuJean Spencer come close.  Janet Barlow is up there as is Eunice Merrill and Donna Baker.

But, Doug is the penultimate.

And, I was able to serve with him for 10 months.

And, for that I will be eternally GRATEFUL!

MONEY!

Man, I sometimes so take it for granted, but I am very grateful that we have some money.

In the last few days, here is what we have done with our money:

Take Kristi to a buffet,
drive to Vegas,
send some money to birthday kids,
pay for twin son's first month mission,
buy gas for the pick-up,
renew our pick-up license,
buy some snacks for Kristi to take with her to her test,

and the list goes on.

I am so very grateful to have some discretionary income.

Farmers

I recently heard a talk about how few farmers there are left in America; it was quite frightening really compared to what it was in the early 1900s.

And, I realized what a debt of gratitude I owe the farmers....they work so hard for so little.  Their crops are always dependent on the weather, which is always very fickle.

I love fruits, vegetables, meat, and so for the farmer,

I am very grateful.

Washer and Dryer

In China, we hung our clothes around the apartment - well, mostly the bathroom.

It was so humid, they didn't really get totally dry.

But, it's just so easy to put in a load of wash whenever I want.

Such an easy peasy task that in other parts of the world would be a total luxury.

I rarely even think about the easiness of the task.

And, I am grateful.

Something to Laugh At

I love to laugh;

long
and
loud
and clear.

So, if I find a book, a tv show, a joke

that makes me laugh.

I am grateful.

Potato Chips

It sounds silly...

Really it does....

And perhaps it is...

But, I do love me some Lay's Regular Potato Chips!

I even got them in China - often!

And, I was grateful in China and I am grateful in America!

Moments of Joy

They are fleeting,

they are powerful,

they are memorable.

But, they are profound and few.

They are moments of SHEER JOY!

And, I am grateful.

A Drug-Free Family

Our daughter has been with us for two weeks; she is studying for a very big exam, so basically she just studies...eat, sleep, study.  She is under a lot of pressure, pressure, pressure.

She is an awesome person.  She has worked very hard in her life; she has made very very hard choices that have required her to make a lot of sacrifices - personal and professional and time wise.

We see so many people on our mission who have made really dumb decisions about their lives....I've also made some very dumb decisions, too.   I know about dumb decisions.....they impact us forever.

But, one decision that Kristi has made that makes me grateful: she is not addicted to drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs, etc.

Those RUIN and DESTROY lives.  I see it every day.

And, it reminds me how grateful I am that Kristi and our other children (so far) have not taken that path.

That is not to say, some of our grandchildren might not, or our children may at some point - life is tough out there.  But for these moments, they are drug free.

And, I am so very grateful!

Sunday Visits

I love to visit people in the neighborhood on Sunday evenings.

I don't know if they like the visits, but I do.

I learn so much and people have such interesting stories, engaging lives, so for me, I love a Sunday evening visit.

And, I am grateful for those opportunities.

Good Talks in Sacrament Meeting

I admit it; sometimes the talks are not that engaging.

And, yes, I know it is my fault.

BUT, I love it when a speaker nails it (for me, at least.)

For me, speakers who nail it either have very inspiring personal examples or they give doctrinal talks that I call MEAT.  They teach something in a new light or give new insight.

I come away feeling very FED/FULL.

And, I am grateful.

Twin Grandsons...Soon to Be Missionaries

Landon is headed to Argentina; Stockton to Chile on Aug 28 - just 5 weeks away.  

Here they are dressed in their movie theatre uniforms working at their summer jobs.  They are good, good young men.

And, I am grateful.

Photo Albums

Oh, it's fun to look back.

To see a photo from years ago.

Visiting Hawaii in the 1980's while Mom and dad were on their mission.

My bookshelves in the office are lined with many photo albums...

Who will ever want them?

But, for now, while I am interested in them, I am grateful.

I Need to Find Something....

...because right now, I'm feeling pretty bummed....

Okay, so I'm grateful for words...

words to console, to heal, to help, to assuage, to ponder on, to wonder about, to be inspired, enlightened, encouraged...

I'm grateful for time and words.

But, sometimes......

the Ability to Type

I am so thankful I know how to type; it is such a great blessing.

But, not only know how to type, but know how to use a computer....

We have now served 4 missions and knowing how to use a computer has been of benefit on each one.

I see so many older (and a few younger) adults who just don't know keyboarding skills and in this day and age, it is such a disadvantage.

Oh, yes, I am grateful indeed.

Early Morning Walk

It was still HOT....

But, what a great way to start a beautiful, gorgeous day in Southern Utah...

A simple wak around a lovely neighborhood.

And, I am grateful.

An Appreciative House Guest

In the past two months, we have had two house guests; one for a month, one for three weeks.

Both expressed appreciation on a regular basis.

Both were so pleasant and happy to have the opportunity to stay in our home.

And, I am grateful.

Having So MUCH!

Ah, true words.

I am very grateful for all I have been blessed with.

Having Kristi in our Home

...it will FLY RIGHT BY.

It will go so fast,

But, for now, I will just sit back, relax, and enjoy every minute of having dear Kristi D with us for a few weeks...we'll fix her some good food, leave her alone to study, study, study.  But, we'll bask in the fun of having her here.

And, I am grateful.

Although she studies most of the time, she went fishing today with her dad...fun times.
Glad she could take a few hours off to do something fun.

Electricity

WOW, on a hot day, it's so great to have air conditioning.

I love having lights in the night.

A washer and dryer are wonderful, as is a vacuum, a beater, a bread mixer; so many things dependent on electricity.

And, I am grateful.

Disease Free

I might have a touch of arthritis,

a touch of osteoporosis,

BUT, I don't have anything glaringly wrong.

I am mobile and for that I am

so very grateful!

Sunny Days

I love the sunshine.

So, I am grateful when the sun shines...which it does a lot in St George.

Oh, yes, I'm grateful.

Two Legs

Elder S lost his leg twenty years ago.  He also doesn't really have a hip either, so he isn't really interested in wearing a prosthetic.

But, here's the thing; he fishes, boats, rides ATVs; is very active....he's quite remarkable and has no time to feel sorry for himself.

Holy cow, it makes me so grateful for all my limbs!

Clean Air

Jan 2013

Ha, sometimes there are headlines on the news about the hazy conditions in northern Utah.

Jan 2010

When I see those stories, it's hard to imagine living under that haze for weeks at a time.

Sometimes the news reports say that Salt Lake has the worst air quality in the nation.

I look outside and see skies of BLUE.

And, I am grateful.

RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In a desert, rain is desperately needed.

It's raining outside right now; it will be short-lived as the sun is shining, BUT, oh, it is a marvelous and much-needed sight to behold.

And, I am grateful.

Google

Well, actually now I use BiNg.  But, whatever, I am grateful to look things up just in a moment.

Will kids nowadays ever even comprehend looking things up in an encyclopedia?

You had to have a set around, or go to the library.  And, nothing that happened lately could ever be looked up as it hadn't had time to get printed yet.

I tell you, I honestly don't know how we all figured stuff out before GOOGLE and wikipedia came along!

I love looking information up.

So, I am very grateful.

Transportation

On our mission, we see a lot of people without any way to get around; some do not even have a bicycle.

It totally helps me appreciate having not one, but two vehicles.

One may be old, but it works and

I am so very grateful!

AMERICA!

I need say no more:

I am beyond grateful to live in this great land.

TIME!

I love having time to:
bake bread,
read a good book,
visit a neighbor,
write a letter,
sing a song (well I am being a bit ridiculous!),
watch something on tv,
work on family history,
clean,

TIME is a very precious commodity.

And, I am grateful.

A Home Where People Can Come Visit

We have visitors quite frequently, which is great.

It makes me very grateful for a home where they can spend the night, a few days, a few hours.

And, it's wonderful to have a HOME in this blistering heat.

Oh, yes, I am grateful.

Allen

I don't say it enough;

I'm very grateful for him.

He's a good man.  I love it when we have a good laugh together.

He's a hard worker, a handyman, a musician, a photographer, a fisherman.

And, for him, I am grateful.