A special daughter of God

What a great week this has been! My companion & I have been giving lessons to a lady & she accepted when we ask her if she would be baptized? Wow it was awesome so last Saturday she was baptized & confirmed today in sacrament meeting. She has just been glowing all week. It was such a fun experience to be privileged to be a part of. I learned a lot from this experience & hope to get another one before I leave.

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Talk about a wonderful time I'm sure the Lord would have a smile on his face to have another special daughter come into the fold. She is a wonderful woman & I will always love her for letting us be a part of this special day of hers. Now someone said Christmas is coming this week, I don't know where the time is going but it is going to fast.  A poem this week by Mary O'Connor "New Rhythm"  Today my worries bore me down with tons of weight, I wore a frown until a bluebird found a limb outside my window! I turned to him, and in his happy morning song I found new courage to make me strong. For in each rhythm he had the key: The joy of giving his song to me. And so I pondered and suddenly knew I too must offer a gift that is true. And in my giving I forgot my cares in drawing nearer to THE MAN UPSTAIRS. My scripture Alma 7:6-16. Good night & have a great week with all your festivities. Love Sister Putnam

May the Lord be with you

All is well in this neck of the woods as far as the missionaries anyway. Another shooting or something went on at the park but all we hear is just people talking about it. We don't listen to the news or any tv so we really don't know what's happening unless someone tells us. I was walking early one morning a few days ago & heard a lamb I went to the brick wall but I couldn't pull myself up to see over it so I just stood & listened it made my heart so happy. I found 2 pennies as I was walking this morning & that made my heart happy so I guess you could say I'm the happiest girl in the whole USA. I've caught myself singing this song lately, I used to sing it everyday as I walked to work then my life went a little crazy & I forgot it but it's came back. It's another day already & I didn't get this sent but I woke up this morning to a sliver of a moon so I walked & oh what a beautiful morning. I thank the dear Lord everyday for the beautiful world we live in, the sky is always a painting of clouds, sunsets, sunrises, rain, thunder & lightening, sun, stars & oh my favorite of them all the moon. I'm so thankful I learned at a early age to look up & see. We have district meeting this morning & we're doing a training on members being the missionaries. Pres. Hinckley told us that back in 1998 that members can do much more than the missionaries in keeping these converts in the church. I guess we all have our jobs cut out for us. Goodness another day so I'll wrap this up with my thought for the week: sometimes, it's not the song that makes you emotional it's the people & things that come to your mind when you hear it. I love songs & always have one in my heart or head, music has got me through some very rough times on my mission as well as all through my life. I thank the Lord for music & so thankful that I can hear it. MY scripture: Alma 26: 26-28. I love all you folks out there & may the Lord be with you & your family this holiday season. Sister Putnam

 looking out my bedroom window

 My living room & some beautiful flowers sent to me from some granddaughters.

 A very dear friend who feeds us every fast Sunday. She's an excellent cook.

Just got my computer to get pix off my phone so here's a few things going on in my life. Don't know why there's 2 fish but oh well. This lady bought my lunch for my anniversary. Life is good here in Mexquite Texas.

48 years

Forty eight years of married life today, wow where did all that time go & why did it go so fast? It doesn't matter where I'm at on my special day whether in Tx, Ut or the moon my thoughts are with Danny & all our memories we made together. I loved him when I was way young & I love him more today, I loved him when he was on earth & I love him more in heaven. Okay I just had to put down a few of my thoughts tonight. The moon is out here in Mesquite yes, that would be Tx not Nevada so I've had a great day I got to see the sunrise this morning & the moon tonight doesn't get any better than that. I had a most unusual day last Sunday, I spoke in a sacrament mtg & then went to the mission President's fireside Sunday night up in Plano. President Taylor had all the missionaries stand up then out of the clear blue sky he said, "Sister Putnam" I looked around thinking there must be another Putnam there, he said, "you come up here please & bear your testimony" it was a long way up to the pulpit & just as I got there he said lets all the missionaries sing first so I stood with Sister & Pres Taylor with all the rest still standing & we sang Redeemer of Israel then it was my turn. I now know what it means to open your mouth & the words will come. This fireside is for non members, in actives & for the missionaries to be able to go you have to take non members. The members are invited to come with in actives also. It was an awesome sight with so many, even the overflow about full & to think some of these people were in our church for the first time. As I looked at all the people I knew a lot of them because I've served in Plano for 18 of my 19 months. I have truly been blessed to have rubbed shoulders with all of the people I've served there. My thought for the week. "In matters of style, swim with the current, in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Scripture 1 Nephi 13:36-37, hope you're fast asleep with angel kisses on your pillows. Love Sister Putnam

Heavy heart

My heart is so heavy tonight & I'm just plain sad for the passing of another friend from Randolph. I just know how is dear wife & family feels tonight & it hurts me to know they're hurting. If you guys from Randolph & the surrounding communities don't slow down on the dying end there's not going to be many left by the time I get home. I've been reliving lots of memories that Danny & I had with Charlie back in his younger years. He's helped us brand cows, roundup  & haul cattle back home & just come to the ranch to visit us. We've been snowmobiling  with him quite a few times or would run into him on our journey. I took the garbage out to the dumpster for the night, we have to take it out every night or the cockroaches take over the apartment, but there was an airplane beacon & that always brings to me a lonely feeling I think that some plane must be lost or gone astray in the thick dark clouds, the same with the sound of a Jake brake as a little girl I would be laying in bed at nights & could here them as they came around the bend in Woodruff & one more sound when we lived in California as a little girl when we heard the fog horns blow I would always think of some lost ship trying to find its way home. Well enough of lonely sounds but that's what's in my mind tonight. Sorry the elders came over & I didn't get this finished last night so I'll just close with a thought for today. "My God, I have never thanked you for my thorns. I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to you along the path of pain; show me that, through my tears, the colors of your rainbow look much more brilliant. Praise Him for your roses, thank Him for your thorns. When the going gets tough, the tough seek the Lord. My scripture is 2 Nephi 22: 2-3. Sorry to ramble but I felt like rambling last night but todays a new day however another day of clouds, rain & cool but I will go & do. Love Sister Putnam

Not that it doesn't hurt !!!

I have a down day today because of my companion having mouth surgery yesterday it was a 31/2 hr ordeal so we've been icing lots but she never went to sleep until 5:30 am this morning, not cause she was in pain but just couldn't sleep. The sun is shining today & that seems good it's been pretty rainy the last week or two & more rain tomorrow. I've heard people saying Houston has had lots of damage but where I'm at it's been good. A jogger got murdered last week & then a couple of days later his wife committed suicide she couldn't live without him. It's made me think a lot about our beliefs & I'm so thankful for the foundation that I have. Not that it doesn't hurt & there is suffering that goes with loosing someone you love but we know it's not the end just a little bump in your road of life & you will see your loved ones again someday. There's been two more people attacked also this week so things are pretty active down here in Texas or at least where I'm planted. We don't watch tv so we just hear it from different people we visit with. I've met more people who have roots in Rich County & most everyone I've met knows or has been to Bear Lake, it really is a small world. Someone told me Thanksgiving is coming right up, I can't believe how fast time flies & my time is really slipping by. So many thoughts & emotions go through your head as I think about home,friends, family & quiet but then I think of all the wonderful people I love here in Texas & I'm torn. I have so much gratitude in my heart for all the Lord has taught me, it all hasn't been easy but he's been very patient with me. Lets everyone out there just stop for a few minutes & count your blessings & thank the dear Lord for the good & for the hard things in our lives cause that's where the growth comes from. My thought for the week. On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possible endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% & that's good. My scripture is D & C chapter 4 all missionaries are supposed to memorize this section I love it, have a great week & we'll see ya when the roses bloom. Sister Putnam

Return with honor

I'm now living in the heart of freeways, one major one right by our apartment & 2 or 3 others right here also so send your prayers my way so I can soon get them all figured out because we're on them just about everyday for different people we visit. This work down here is totally different than Plano. We do a lot of teaching so more growing pains & stretch marks for me. I'm out of my comfort zone, oh ya forgot I've been out of it for 18 months. It's all good cause I'm doing things I've never done before & I really am learning, growing & trying to fill the measure of my creation. I know Heavenly Father knows more what I can do than I know myself so if I be patient we'll see what happens. Moving was terribly hard to leave my dear friends in Plano but we were able to go to a wedding in Plano on Friday with 2 of my favorite people who have let me be a part of their journey from baptism to their wedding they already have 2 children & a long story between them. I dearly love them. I guess they're no different than lots of my other friends & I haven't run into anyone I haven't loved. I think I told ya about the young girl that got killed they found the man this past week so that helps a little with the tension that everyone has been feeling. It's Zone Conference this Friday & interviews with the President so that's always a great day to be in the presence of everyone especially the young elders & sisters. Some of those that went home last transfer came up to me to tell me goodbye & then they said, "Sister Putnam, see ya when the roses bloom" that brings a smile to my face. I love these young people & have learned so much from them. My thought for the week: I know God has a plan. I pray for direction to follow it, patience to wait on it, & knowledge to know when it comes...Heavenly Father bless me too love others who sin differently than I do.  author unknown. My scripture is Moroni 10:7-18. My heart is filled with love tonight for all mankind & my prayers are that we may forgive one another & turn our hearts from hate to love & remember we're all working to return to our heavenly home with honor.  Love Sister Putnam

NEW ADDRESS

Well it's been awhile since I've updated you all on my life down here in the big state of Texas. Things are going great & I have a new address to share just in case anyone feels so inclined to write or send me a bill or anything else. 2829 Franklin Dr. apt #1603  Mesquite, Tx 75150. I received a phone last Monday morning as we were going to the Arboretum down in Dallas with our home evening group & she said, "Sister Putnam, you are being transferred & you need to be at the transfer meeting in the morning at 10:00 to find out where & who your new companion will be. It's something like waiting for Christmas to come. I've been in Plano for most  16 months out of my 18 mts so it's pretty hard to leave those people I love but heck I was here for 5 weeks a year ago & even remember some of the people in church yesterday. I love these people also, it doesn't really matter to me where I'm serving it's all the Lord's work where ever. There was an 18 yr old girl who went to the church for Missionary Prep class last week & ended up dead at the hands of someone. It was the chapel we were in last night to a president's fireside so you could feel her spirit her funeral was held on Friday. Her father was the Bishop, just one more sad story in life's journey. I'm so thankful for the knowledge we have of life after we leave this earth & know that we will be together again someday. Well I just took the garbage out, found a sliver of the moon & the sun setting so it doesn't get any better than that. Only difference between here & Randolph's moon is there's always an airplane going in front or behind or just below the moon. I have grown to love watching the airplanes & wondering where they're going & who's loved ones is on it. My little thought, Did you ever think about the repentance process involving all three members of the Godhead? We go to Heavenly Father in prayer to confess & ask forgiveness; forgiveness is made possible & occurs through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (sanctification- being made clean), & then the third part of the process is justification- The Holy Ghost is the one who lets us know that we have been forgiven & that we are sanctified.  (Jill Antuar.) My scripture is 1 Nephi 22: 30-31. Love ya'll  Sister Putnam

TEXAS IS HOT

I just wrote an update & lost it so I'm just going to try & catch ya'll up on a little that's going on in my world it is so hot that you can barely breathe. I may only end up as a grease spot here in good old Tx. The poor flowers are struggling to survive I water them night & morning. Someone told me you have to wear jackets on some nights, you know that sounds pretty good, thank goodness for dresses. We are busy everyday from 6:30 am, if we're not already awake till 9 or 10 at nights. We take a lunch with us & hope we can find some big tree for a little shade to eat under. You roll down the windows & feel like you've turned the oven on to 300 & got inside. I'm not complaining just telling ya a little about my days here at the moment. I know that August brings the Fair & Rodeo, 4-Her's getting ready for their big day, school getting ready to start, haying winding up & the beautiful fall colors coming. I lost my gps now I didn't have one last year at this time & I was in a world of hurt. I might have considered coming home that first month except I didn't know which way to go. Life is much better this year because I've finally got east, west, north & south figured out. I'm still hoping it might turn up. I lost it at zone conference, I just felt bad leaving it in the hot car so took it in so it would be cool. I love life, the Lord, his gospel, peace, the moon, stars & rainbows, families & Danny. I miss laughing with him when you're alone there's not much to laugh about except your memories so sometimes I just laugh with myself.  I'm doing great oh one last thing I was so excited at zone conference to look up  & see one of my favorite Elders who had gone home in April actually when I seen him walking towards me I thought I had lost my mind. He sit with me & I just wanted to catch up on his life after mission. It's hard to see these Sisters & Elders go home because you really do get to love them. My thought for the month "I know God has a plan. I pray for direction to follow it, patience to wait on it, & knowledge to know when it comes--author unknown. My scripture 1Nephi 10:18-19.I love ya all & pray you may have a great end of summer & may the Lord bless & keep ya'll in His care. Sister Putnam

Heart full of love

It's hot now I don't know what a 108 feels like anywhere else but in Tx. it is HOT of course everything is bigger in Tx. I'm afraid one day I'll try to get up & there'll just be a grease spot when I once was. Who can believe it's Aug already? It seems like I don't even get my calendar page turned & it's time to turn another one. Well I know August means haying, enjoying the last days of summer before school starts & of course the Fair & Rodeo. I love watching the kids all working hard with their 4-H animals getting them ready for the big day. It's funny how your mind goes home when you think of what time of year it is & what's happening at home. We are busy trying to keep up with all the sisters we've been ask to try & contact, it's hard to catch some that don't want to be caught. Oh well, we just keep on trying. We had one lady open the door & shake her head no & shake her finger at us. We just presumed she didn't want to talk to us. I think it was the ladies' mother because we have had some nice visits with the lady of the house before however always on the step. It's pretty hard to visit on the step very long in this heat & keep your concentration or focus on our gift we want to share with them. We have so many wonderful ladies though who need our help & are so very happy to see us. We just take a lunch with us but this time of year is pretty hard to find shade to pull the car under & then you roll down the window & it's like turning the oven on 300 & leaving the door open, getting in & enjoy your lunch. We are learning the Family Proclamation so we try going over it when we stop. It seems a little harder than the Living Christ but we will prevail. We run into some rich people, knocking on their door & they were both born & raised in Ogden Utah so how fun was that? I know one thing Utah would be a lot bigger if all the Utah people I've run into went back home. We've been getting a few more meal invitations lately & it's rather nice. The Elders & Sister's always have dinner appointments but it's nice for us elderly sisters to not have to cook once in a while. I lost my gps at the last zone conference NOW if that would have happened a year ago I'd have went crazy but I kind of know my way around a little now so I'm not in quite as bad of shape. But it's kind of made me feel like I left my child somewhere & can't find her. I've been praying so I still have faith that it might show up some where. Does it mean anything when you might dream about it? I love Life, the Lord, Families, Moon, Stars, Sky, this Beautiful World we live in & Danny. I also miss laughing sometimes I think about old days & all the good laughter we had. All in all I'm great.
My thought-I know God has a plan. I pray for direction to follow it, patience to wait on it, & knowledge to know when it comes. Scripture 1Nephi 10:18,19. My heart is full of love for everyone...Sister Putnam

Happy Father's Day

It's been a long time since I've updated & lots of things have gone on. I guess you could say it's rather busy here as is everyone else's lives. I just looked & it said Easter wow where has that time gone?  I have made a trip home for a week or so for my granddaughters wedding. First I have to admit there might have been a little tear when I looked out the window & seen my first glimpse in over a year of a snow cap mountain & we started descending down at the Salt Lake Airport. Guess you can't tell that I truly miss the mountains at home. My family has been asked lots if it was hard to go back to Texas, I'd have to say no when you have this missionary name tag on you it means you're a missionary wherever you are & it's easier to be a missionary in Texas than at home. I was busy between trying to see my siblings & the good old doctors in just a few days so I never got to see to many of my friends or should say I didn't get to talk to them very long. I love my mission I just want to serve the rest of my time which is around 9 mts. It truly is going by too fast & I know I'm not going to want to leave these people very bad either. I must say I'm learning so much not just about the Savior but about myself. We are up by 6 am if not before go for a walk & get in a little exercise, scripture study, eat, shower, get ready for the day & leave around 10 am unless it's Thursday & Friday we leave by 8 & 9. We usually take our lunch & just find a little shade to eat in the car & on our way again. Who knows what time we may get home?  It's warming up here in Texas to the point you feel damp or wet even in bed at nights.  Now I appreciate your concerns with the rains & flooding it's pretty scary when it starts it puts down lots, I mean lots of water in a very short period of time. I'm hear to tell you I HATE some of their thunder & lightening storms. I've come to the conclusion that most true Texans will say they love those storms so I guess I'll never be a true Texan. One of the nurses in Utah that I had was born & raised in Plano & she told me that's what she misses the very most. Either I have a problem or she does don't know which?  My grandkids are all growing up so fast & some have changed a lot since I left, I must say it was one of my highlights to meet my little great grand daughter for the first time. Wow is that ever hard to believe, I also got to meet the new little Showalter girl & Barker girl for the first time. I love these 3 families very much & the daddies have certainly been a big part of Putter & I's life. Thanks for sharing them with me for a minute. Our mission is one that has gone technical so we've been to lots of workshops & been taught over & over so when these missionaries go home & their mission is over they'll know how to avoid bad stuff on the internet. Now I told the presidents wife that I'm probably the only one in the mission field that hates computers so he won't have to loose to much sleep over me. My thought, Not once does the Bible say, "worry about it,"  "Stress over it," or, "Figure it out." But over & over it clearly says, "Trust God."  My scripture is Matt 6:33. Sure do love you all & happy Father's Day to all the fathers everywhere whether on this side of the veil or the other.  Sister Putnam
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Happy Easter

Wow, my heart is sad tonight over the deaths in our small communities. It seems like things just keep moving on whether we like it or not. I just talked to my dear friend on the phone who lost his wife this past week & it breaks my heart to see people have to suffer through the death of your loved ones. You know the deep hurt his family is going through & you'd love to help ease their pain but there's not much we can do. My life long neighbor also was killed in an accident last week & that too makes my heart sad. I guess all I can do is pray for both families & I know our Heavenly Father can & will  help them through the difficult days ahead.  Also 16 years ago last night I was with my father as he left this life for a better one & I remember so well my feelings as that was taking place. I do know that life keeps moving on & there will be more hard lessons that we all will have to go through so just keep praying, being kind to one another,  living the best we can & someday we'll be together again & be able to see the whole picture clearer. I've had a bad cold the last week so I've stayed pretty close to home since all the people we work with are up in their 80's & 90's & I certainly don't want to give them this mess. I am feeling better tonight & went to the chapel to listen to conference today & how uplifting were all the messages.  Our dear Prophet Monson looked so very tired to me I can't even begin to understand the stress, worry & heavy load he carries on his shoulders. Being as though it's the Easter season & the time when we really can reflect upon our Savior's resurrection & what that really means to each one of us in our lives. I am so grateful to Him & his sacrifice  in my behalf & to know that we will all be resurrected some day brings peace to me & makes me want to live my life better. The atonement makes me so thankful that I can be forgiven for all my screw ups, shortcomings, weaknesses & it brings peace to my soul. I got to call & wish one of my dear friends a happy birthday today & that always brings a smile to my face. I love my classmates & the fun memories I have of each one of them during our school years. I'm tired & ready for bed so my thought will be "Draw strength from the past but don't get stuck there." --author unknown. My scripture is D&C: 135. I just finished reading the Doctrine & Covenants & loved every minute of reading, studying & pondering it. Thanks to the Prophet Joseph Smith for all he's done to restore the gospel back on the earth. Happy Easter & have a great night. Love Sister Putnam

Give thanks for the joy of living

I don't even know where to begin there has been so many things going on including snow & ice storms. My heart had been set on seeing some friends from Randolph a couple of weeks ago. We were going out to dinner together but needless to say it didn't happen because of the big storm. We were confined to our home by our Mission Pres. & they couldn't get out of their motel room. It's hard to know someone from home is within 20 miles & you can't see them. That's the way the ball bounces sometimes & we have to roll with the bounce or whatever. Now if you hear it doesn't snow in Tx. that is wrong. We were confined to home 3 different times in a week I sure did feel for the President trying to keep everyone safe. Elder Foster from the seventies was supposed to come but he also got canceled. We did get to hear him last week along with his wife, it was a great day & again we came away with our cups overflowing. Part of it was a training on becoming a better missionary. The dear bishop from one of our wards got sick one week after he was released from bishop & his funeral is tomorrow. He was 64 got pneumonia & it was a kind they can't treat. I have to say it brought back lots of memories as I was talking to his wife today because Danny got a kind of pneumonia during his cancer ordeal that they couldn't treat. The team of doctors came in & told us they had given him all the big guns (meaning antibiotics) & there was nothing else they could do but just wait & see what happens. He pulled through & you know the rest of the story. The bishop that took his place has a son that was paralyzed  some years ago from high school wrestling, I've been told lots of amazing stories about him & his family. He even served a mission & now in college I believe. We picked up another new sister who is in a rehabilitation center from a fall that broke her hip & shoulder so we will visit her every week until she gets out. Life is good & the time is flying by so fast I can't hardly keep up. I've heard of some sickness out home so sure hope everyone there is on the mend, up & getting on with their life. I'm going to miss my neighbor who passed away last week. He would set out on his porch a lot & I'd honk & wave many times in a day or ride past on my bike. Things do change I'm fully aware of that. My thought I seen this week When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food & for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. ~ Tecumseh. My scripture Alma 36:3. Have a great St. Patrick's Day & happy birthday to Bishop Barker from my home ward in Randolph Utah. Sister Putnam

Under this snow lies ICE

Love this picture. I LOVE THE SKY!

School out for 3 days

The hearts we touch

Well in Utah sometimes we have a snow day but here in TX they have ice day & today was one of them. We were to be in Heath TX at 8 am to listen to another Seventy, Elder & Sister Foster but it was canceled along with school, family home evening, institute, I did see the mail truck & one other truck but no one dares to walk to the mailbox to get the mail so we'll wait till tomorrow.  The zone leaders text bright & early to begin a Ice Day Olympic project for the first half of the day. How many pages you read in 1 hr, number of pages filled out in "My Family" minutes of role play, many minutes of exercise, companion study, how many calls to members or non members so needless to say we helped them on some but then we was getting weak & had to stop to eat. I think they may have been trying to keep the young ones busy but it gave the old ones out. We've spent most of our day getting our reports organized & getting all the stuff Elder Foster ask us to do along with stuff Pres. Taylor ask us to do to sanctify ourselves to be ready for the conference. It feels good to kind of get caught up a bit. Got our wash done too.  Hope you all enjoyed your day & was able to accomplish what you had planned. My companion & I have been walking early in the mornings & it sure feels great to be out in the fresh air. This week we've seen a lot of ducks in a little man made pond but it sure is fun to watch them. They have their mates by their side as they go about doing whatever ducks do. I walked alone one day & sat down on a little ledge, I heard a woodpecker, looked around & to my amazement it was the littlest woodpecker I've ever seen. Everything is bigger in TX except their woodpeckers. The moon is getting a little fuller & I always love that time of the month. The Daffodils are poking their heads up but they better not get to brave yet. It's a beautiful time of year here except for the last few days. The people are great & I'm just about that good. My thought for the week, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."   Sir Winston Churchill.  "It's not the things we get but the hearts we touch that will determine our success in life."  Mac Anderson. Scripture: 1John 1:5, Moroni 7:47. Please have a great week & enjoy, remember someone in Texas loves you. Sister Putnam    

Temple is God's University

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentines weekend. Hope you all was able to think of all your loved ones & could tell them how much you love them. I'm telling you all now that I love you & appreciate all you do for me. I think how different my life would be without everyone of you. To my family you've made my life so wonderful I couldn't even begin to repay you for the love & help you've given me throughout my life. I do know I was not the easiest child to raise so I thank everyone for your patience. I'm still a work in progress but I've come a long ways. Most of all I thank my Savior for His patience with me & I'm thankful for the learning experiences throughout my life that's  helped me to get to know Him better it seems I'm a slow learner or a hands on kind of person so that takes a little more time. We've had stake conference this past weekend so I've had my cup filled a little more & enjoyed the talks. Today we're loading up my companion's stuff & tomorrow I will take her to Mesquite & bring my new companion back. She has her own car so she'll just follow me home. It reminds me of a song Putter used to sing "look what followed me home, I thought I was alone" it's so funny but just about everyday something reminds me of a song, he or we used to sing, I'm so thankful for them memories. Last night my companion & I was listening to music which we always do just before prayer I ask her to play "Why Me Lord?" which is the song that Danny told me a couple of weeks before he died was his new song. We played it at the cemetery & I remember looking up at the sky & seeing one lone vulture flying high above the trees, it brought a smile to my face & a few more memories of days gone by. Thanks Putter for all the great memories you left behind with me & lots of other people. Sorry I'm rambling but it doesn't matter to me. My new companion is from Canada so it's fun to learn new things. I've truly loved Sister Horsburgh & we've had some great times & she's taught me a lot in the scriptures so I thank her for that. Some nights when we'd get home we'd just sit in the car, watch the sky & all the airplanes  flying overhead & talk. I'm going to miss her but onward & upward I've learned each new companion teaches me something that I needed to learn. My thought for the week. "The temple is God's university" told to us by Elder Greer from the seventies who spoke at conference. He also told us that he & his wife have read the scriptures every night together for the past 12 years & how much it will help our marriages if we would do it. He's gone a lot from home but they will read together over the phone. He said it will strengthen your marriage more than anything else. My scripture Mark 8:35-36, have a great week I'm going to. Sister Putnam

I know not what the future holds

Well it's been quite a week to say the least, we've finished the B O M in 40 days as a mission reading the last 3 or 4 verses together in a meeting with Elder Russell M. Nelson who came and spoke to all the missionaries in our mission. We also recited the Living Christ to him & he was ask the question how it came about, "he told us it was started with Pres. Hunter" so that was quite a while before they gave it to us. We had our picture taken in 3 groups with Pres. Nelson & Elder Lynn G. Robbins who also shook each of our hands, looked us in the eye & smiled. I didn't realize Pres. Nelson is in his 90s.  Now to tell you how he came to be here. He told us they received there assignments 6 months in advance & Texas was not on his scheduled visits but he happened to have a granddaughter prayer that her grandpa could come to Texas & speak to us before she leaves off her mission here. He said, "she prayed me here."  It was a once in a life time for me, I'm sure,  but it sure was a great experience. The spirit was strong & being in the presence of all the young Sisters & Elders is always a good thing. I ran into an elder from Montpelier, Idaho who I just happened to know his name from my past life in the ranching business. It was his grandpa I knew so it was like seeing a little piece of home & he knew a lot of people I know. It truly is a small world we live in.  It is raining cats & dogs here tonight & for some reason I always feel lonely when it rains but not as bad as when the wind blows. That brings back lots of memories (good & bad). We attended a funeral today of a man who was coming back to the church after being gone for a number of years.  He told the Bishop he needed to get straight with the Lord & wanted to go to the temple & be sealed to his wife who had passed away a couple of years ago.  He attended our family home evening group so I got to know him some. He was a very educated man with attending all kinds of universities & getting lots of degrees however you would never have guessed it. Today I realized how my book of  life has lots of different pages & chapters with everyone of them being totally different. Some of the characters are in most of the chapters but not all. I was thinking I sure hope I've got my life straight with the Lord & ready to meet him who knows when. I'm thinking of home tonight so I'll end with my thoughts for this week, "I know God has a plan. I pray for direction to follow it, patience to wait on it, and knowledge to know when it comes... I know not what the future holds but I know who holds my future--authors unknown.  My scripture Ether 12: 27. Love ya all  Sister Putnam

Seek Beauty

It's been a bit since I've updated & I've been very sad with the news of the passing of my cousin ReNae Call, so hard for me to wrap my mind around it. I thought of her all day on her birthday but I just didn't get her called that day. I've thought a lot about receiving a package from her when we were at the Huntsman & living in Salt Lake, it had coloring books, crayons, word puzzles, candy, licorice & it was all came in very handy & some tough days. Well for the happier side of my life the last couple of weeks. We went to a member's house last night, beautiful place, a boy opened the door & we went in when the mom came to us & had the strangest look on her face, I said "I think we might be in the wrong house" she said yes but invited us in for a glass of wine. It gave us a good laugh when we got outside again. It's warmed up a bit so we've been able to sit out in the car when we get home at nights & watch the airplanes fly overhead. We look at planes down here & stars at home, I sure do miss them. We had to go to the airport twice in the last couple of weeks & needless to say it's quite a nightmare out there. I looked up & there's a big jet driving right over top of us on a bridge I've never seen anything like it. It was an amazing sight & my companion had just put her camera away so no picture. Today we were able to go with some other sisters who brought a non member to the temple, it was so fun to visit with her, she's been coming to church for about a year but her family are all Catholics & Church of Christ so she's a little nervous over them but hopefully it won't be long till the spirit helps her take the step. My dear friend, Betty Ford, has just had another surgery to remove some more cancer from her liver so we've helped with her dog. We had to load her & her cart in my car & take her to a hotel for 3 days.  Now Phyllis is her name & she can't walk so it's a little more than a circus & especially in a dress but we made it & picked her up yesterday for the return trip except we got some elders to help us lift her. She had a hair cut while there so she was 10 or 15 lbs lighter. It was just all in a days work! It's been a beautiful day today starting with a little frost on the windshield this morning but I went for a walk tonight for the first time in a couple of months. Life is good & time is flying by fast I've been out 9 mts already. We're wrapping up the 40 days to read the Book Of Mormon. The last chapter we will read together with all the missionaries at a church the Elder Russell M. Nelson is coming to speak to us for a couple of hours. We've been looking forward to this for a few weeks. Hope all is well in your world. My thought for this week. When you seek beauty in all people and all things, you will not only find it, you will become it. My scripture 3 Nephi 12: 3-16, I love you all & miss you lots. Sister Putnam

It's in the valley I grow

January 10th was my dear Grandma Eastman's birthday & my mom & Dad was in a terrible wreck, I always remember these two events each year. I loved my grandma very much & spent a lot of time with her as a little girl. I was 13 when the wreck happened & they came to school & got me out of Mrs. Frazier's class. Isn't it funny how some things just stay in your mind for a long time & then as Putter would put it, you can remember what I did wrong 25 years ago but you can't remember to put a spoon in my lunch bucket. It always brought a smile to my face & even sometimes a good laugh. We're still reading & studying the Book Of Mormon to get it done in the 40 days we are just about half way. I'm learning a lot of those hard names I would just skip over in the old days. Still cold here in Texas, still wearing long johns & thanks to Danalee I have a new fuzzy pair that I'm pretty proud of. I'm keeping them pretty close to me. We attended a baptism this morning & I love them. He was 11 yrs old. A little boy about 9 yrs old talked on baptism & he gave one of the best talks I've ever heard. I felt like he should be on a mission, he will be an outstanding one someday. One dear sister that we visit often fell and broke her neck, she has been operated on & now recovering still in hospital. Another gentleman that goes to our over 60 home evening group, the missionaries, found him dead by the side of his bed. It's been a strange week. Had a great dinner last night with a couple of elders at a non member home. I met this woman when I very first got here & we connected, I love her, she is from Hong Kong & a very good cook. Hope all is well out there in your neck of the woods & please know I think of lots of you often & it usually always brings a smile to my face. I was able to talk to my dear neighbors on New Years Day, they are fighting cancer also & my thoughts & prayers are always with them. Got a card from some people who went through stem cell with us & they said they're doing great right now. I always love hearing from them, they're not members of our church but she taught me so much during our stay in Salt Lake, I'm so happy that they're still trucking onward. She stays in touch often & I appreciate that. My companion saw ice for the first time in her life, she was so excited we took her picture so she could send it to her children. She is the one from Australia, where she lives it never gets below 70 & she's never seen leaves fall from trees so she had to walk through them & loved hearing the crunch beneath her feet. I received a lot of thoughts this week but the one I chose was from a lady with M S, she is in a rest home & has been for years. We visit her every week & we ran into her at the temple last Wednesday. I was able to do 30 baptisms that day so she was my highlight of the day.  IT'S IN THE VALLEY I GROW: Sometimes life seems hard to bear, Full of sorrow, trouble & woe. It's then I have to remember, that it's in the valley I grow. If I always stayed on the mountain top and never experienced pain, I would never appreciate God's love and would be living in vain. I have so much to learn and my growth is very slow, sometimes I need the mountaintops, but it's in the valley I grow. I do not always understand why things happen as they do but I am very sure of one thing, my Lord will see me through. My little valleys are nothing. When I picture Christ on the cross, he went through the valley of death; his victory was satan's loss. Forgive me Lord, for complaining when I'm feeling so very low. Just give me a gentle reminder that it's in the valley I grow. Thank you for valleys, lord for this one thing I know the mountaintops are glorious but it's in the valley I grow!!! Author  unknown. My scripture is Alma 12: 21-24.

Happy New Year 2015

I've been wondering what 2015 holds in store for us, guess it's maybe better we don't know. One thing for sure there will be changes, some good, some not so good but all a learning experience. I just looked at the temperature 35 & humidity is 94%. I don't know but it's either cold or I'm getting wimpy, however it's not 24 below so I'm not complaining. It's been raining here all night & all day & still coming down. They're in a drought so this will certainly help them. You could only water your lawns 2 times a month last summer so hopefully we can water a little more next summer. We've been in all day studying the Book Of Mormon we are on a 40 day program from the Mission President so we've been reading & also writing down all the precepts we find. It's helped me to understand a little better how great a book it really is. It will change lives if you will let it, just read, pray & see what happens.  I was in bed early like 7:30 last night I needed some rest bad, I woke up & the new year came in without me, oh well just as good. Things really do change, if anyone would have told me a few years ago I'd be in bed at 7:30 a little lone in Texas on New Years Eve, I'd never have believed it. Thanks again to all family & friends for everything you've done for me in 2014. My thought for tonight...And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: "Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!" And he replied: "Go out into the darkness & put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light & safer than a known way." author unknown.  May we all work a little harder each day to find the light of Christ & to accomplish our New Years goals. My scripture:  2 Nephi 31: 18-21. I wish each one of you a very happy & prosperous new year & pray for the Lord's most choice blessings to fall upon you & your loved ones. I love you all & think of you so often.  Sister Putnam