almost want to be a chicken

Well I've been churching since 11:00 & got through at 7 pm. It's been a very spiritual day & yes my cup is running over. I attended two wards 1st & 3rd it's rather fun to see how different each lesson is taught & the different approaches that the teachers take. Then 3rd ward Relief Society had their visiting teachers conference it was so so so good. The spirit was very strong & ended with our Bishop telling about his little brother that was killed by a train & how the Relief Society sisters rallying around & just took over their home till his mother could get back up on her feet & going again. I do have a strong testimony of this program as with all the programs in the church. After it ended I had the privilege of taking the bishop's wife home & staying with her for a few hours. She has Alzheimer's, she is only 52 or so & has had it for a few years. Oh the memories that was brought back to my mind as we were dealing with my own mother. It was a very tender time as we looked through her family photos over the past 5 years. I was reminded again very clear how we each have our own trials to bear & truly only through help from above can we get through them & come out being more humble & a better person than we were before. I know some of my own family is struggling right now with the same problems & my prayers, thoughts & my heart are always with them. This disease  is such a hard one as is any disease you are dealing with. I told my brother I've always felt there would be at least 2 of us siblings that would get it, he never said anything for a minute or two & then made this profound statement "Heck Con there might only be two of us that don't get it." As sad as it is, this made me laugh, who knows but we will all get through this life one way or another and I've been told this life is only a short time compared to the rest. Oh I know what you're thinking, that some days seem pretty dang long, yes I do have some pretty long days down here but they do pass. My thought this week is: some trials come through your own disobedience  or negligence. Other trials come because of the negligence of others or simply because this is a fallen world. When these trials come, the adversary's minions begin broadcasting that you did something wrong, that this is a punishment, a sign that Heavenly Father does not love you. Ignore that! Instead, try to force a smile, gaze heavenward, & say, "I understand, Lord. I know what this is. A time to prove myself, isn't it?" Then partner with Him to endure well to the end. My scripture: Deu 4: 30-31.

Ellen & I this summer in Texas & the neatest chicken coop I've ever seen. I loved to just stand & look, it almost makes me want to be their chicken.

Family Home Evening & Baseball

The  pictures from the last blog were from a family home evening in Mesquite about baseball so we all got a cap. Sister McCarthy gave the lesson it was very good. We had some great food, about 12 people or so, all in all it was a great evening. The other picture is the Sister's conference for all sisters in our zone it was a very spiritual meeting lasting all day. They served us brunch it was some good breakfast foods.  I attended institute today we learned about Paul & went through some of the letters he wrote. I'm learning so much that I didn't know now if I can just remember it all.  I tended  2 little boys the other day because the Mom has been on bed rest for the last 6 weeks the Relief Society has been taking in meals & watching the kids for 3 hours a day.  The oldest one which is 2 1/2 or 3 threw a royal fit cause his mom was going to the Dr. so I tried to pick him off the floor in front of the door so mom could get out & needless to say that was not a good idea for my neck & back. Out came the ice bags, my shocker, ibuprofen, a trip to the chiropractor and some serious praying but I think it's maybe working if I could just take a day or so off, nope none of that I have places to be & people to see. It was a gorgeous day with some beautiful colored leaves I seen on the way to Dallas. The temperature was up in the 60's so no one can complain about that. Just a quick note to tell ya about the pictures. May you catch your turkey & may you have someone to share it with.  Just a few more pictures from family home evening. The sister missionary & her husband our farmers from WA.

Pennies From Heaven

Texas is getting some rain today, I got up early & walked 3 miles in  beautiful, gentle, warm rain it truly felt good & to make things even better I found another penny. I find a penny almost every time I walk. It makes me think of when we lived in SLC & I needed a little piece of country the Lord would place a magpie in my path & I would always think of home, it brought a little comfort to me. Now down here in Texas I haven't seen a magpie but when I need a little comfort I find a penny (mostly in the gutters) I always think of Pennies from Heaven, it makes me think of my heavenly home & wonder what it will be like, this also brings me peace, I guess I'm just weird or something. But I will take a little peace anywhere I can find it even if it is the gutter. I've had a great week of service, it's always good when you can serve someone. I was able to take some sisters out to lunch at Olive Garden yesterday to celebrate one's 70th birthday. She's had a rough life & has just been to trial with a son who was given 40 yrs now she has 3 behind bars & don't know where her 4th one is. She is also dealing with cancer but she's pretty well always happy & I love her. I believe in laughter & I had a call tonight from a dear friend & was able to have a good laugh which I needed. It felt good!!! Thanks for thinking of me & calling just at the right time. I can't believe it's Thanksgiving week & I have so many invitations that I'm not sure what I'm doing, I know I can't possibly eat that much. Tonight I'm trying to decide which wards I'll attend tomorrow, I can go to any of 8 wards & I usually go to 2 wards at least in a Sunday. My thought for the week is, "the minute-Just a tiny little minute-Only sixty seconds in it; Forced upon me, Can't refuse it, Didn't seek it, Didn't choose it; But it's up to me to use it-Give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it! --unknown.  Life is made up of lots of minutes & they slip by fast. Minutes turn into hours, days, weeks, months, years then one day we run out of minutes. My scripture is: Alma 36:3 (thanks Emma). Oh by the way we've been ask by our Mission President to memorize The Living Christ by Christmas so I extend the invitation & hope you can do it faster than I.  Have a great Thanksgiving & enjoy family, friends & your turkey.  Love Sister Putnam

Pictures from the past couple of blogs. Love them all!

Lord forgive me when I whine

Well I've moved again back to Plano where I was living before. Mesquite was another learning battle field. Poverty, divorce & just lots of heartaches.  For the first time I was a little nervous with our surroundings, I've never been in the ghettos before & it kind of makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  One of the saddest things I've seen since I've been in Tx.  A mother with 6 beautiful children, no food, no money, no husband, no job and no hope. She tried to end her misery a few weeks ago so she's pretty well at the end of her rope.  The sweet little 2 yr old brought me a book of Jesus & so I read it to her, the next little girl ask us if we had any candy we could give her, the next one said she really liked flavored bottled water so we went to the ghetto grocery store & done some shopping. We walked in & a policeman stood at the door, the windows were all barred up, the pop machines also had bars on them. I think we were the only white people in there & I defintly  felt out of place. People were starring at us. We took a bunch of groceries back to their home so at least they had a nice dinner for that night.  My heart was so heavy as we left I could hardly think & we still had some more sad visits to make, by the time our evening had come to an end I was physically, emotionally & mentally exhausted. I felt guilty to eat my small bowl of soup that night and I could hardly wait to fall into bed. All I could think was Father forgive me when I whine!!! Life sometimes just doesn't seem fair. I tried to put myself in that women's shoes & I could not even think of what I would do if I were in her place. As I knelt that night to say my prayers my heart was so full I could not even speak. We attended another Zone Conference today & it was so uplifting, I certainly needed my cup filled & I got just that. I love these young Sisters & Elders, they have such strong testimonies & oh how they can sing. I almost feel like the roof lifted up 2 inches or so. I met an elder today from London but now his family is in Salt Lake City as I visited with him he put his one leg on his other leg & I could see the bottom of his shoe, it had a great big hole in both of them. I never said anything then but after I went to him & ask him to come out of the chapel for a minute. I said, "Elder would you mind if I took a picture of the bottom of your shoe?" It was so funny to see the look on his face. I seen what it means to wear yourself out in the service of your fellowman. It is very cold here like down to 30 & that's cold for here. He doesn't want to get new ones cause he's going home.  I'm certainly counting my blessings this week. My thought : "One thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought & found how to serve"...Albert Schweitzer.  My scripture is Moroni 10:32.  We've been learning a lot about grace.  Have a great tomorrow.  Sister Putnam