bags are packed...

Well my bags are packed & I'm ready to leave tomorrow morning at 8:00 for Provo Utah & a week at the MTC. I'll try & catch you up on what's going on in my life a little later. I've been set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after our Stake Conference today. Everything is going so fast, it seems like a blur. I've been trying real hard to learn all this new technology before I leave. My thought for today is...Your future is not determined by the circumstances around you but by your faith to make your future...author unknown cp

Texas Dallas Mission

Wow!!!What a whirlwind I've been in the last few months. Just in case you haven't heard yet I'm going on a mission to the Dallas Texas mission, leaving on April 28th for the MTC in Provo. Sorry I've been a little slow in updating but hopefully I'll get a bit better. I've been to doctors, shots, lots of paper work & just pretty well a little bit of everything. I'm turning 65 this year so I've been dealing with medicare & that's lots of papers in & of its self. Life has treated me well the last few months & everything is just finally falling into place for me. I've dealt with dear old Satan & trying to keep him off my back. But maybe he's been busy with me & left you guys alone. Our daughter is moving into our home for 2 yrs so we've been moving me out, moving them in. The dear Lord had one more big full moon for me the other night & I soaked it all in. There's just not much like the moon in Randolph or even better Woodruff Creek. I'm trying to soak every little thing in so when I'm homesick I'll have some memories. Thanks to all who came to church on Sunday, the choir was so beautiful, I almost thought I'd died & went to heaven. I finished up the program with a few thoughts of my own. Thanks also to the ones who brought food for the dinner. So very kind of you & you are all greatly appreciated. My thought for tonight...I have found that helping others is the fastest way for me to let go of my troubles, and feel the spirit...author unknown. Please know I haven't forgotten you & I'll try & do better. Love cp

Take Time

Time just seems to slip away from me & I truly don't know where it is going. It's girls state basketball this week in Richfield. I was going down with Pearts but I didn't feel to great these morning when we were leaving so I opted not to go. I watched it on the computer, the first game was rather nerve racking but we ended up winning by 4 pts. I've been working on taxes this week & hopefully will get them wrapped up soon cause I have a tax appointment next week in Logan. For some reason I just don't like tax season however, I used to cause Danny & I always went over on President's Day to do them. We'd go the night before & stay, eat & play for a night. I had the day off from the bank, he'd take it off, that was our one date a year. It was fun & we used to get a little back but now it's pay. The United States is still the greatest nation in my eyes anyway. I'm glad to pay my share. I went out the other night with some ladies & we went over to the lake for supper. We shared a sweetheart special...Steak, lobster, salad, potato & dessert. It was so good & I just have to say it's been a lot of years since I've had lobster & it was mighty fine. It was Valentines weekend so it was a great meal & no we don't always eat that kind of a meal. It was a night of great food & so fun to be with friends. We've been having some problems around town with flooding, it's so fun to see people helping people that's what life is all about. My thought: Take Time...take time to pray...it helps bring God near & washes the dust of earth from your eyes. Take time for friends...they are the source of happiness. Take time for work...it is the price of success. Take time to think...it is the sourse of power. Take time to laugh...it is the singing that helps with life's loads. Take time to love...it is the one sacrament of life. Take time to dream...it hitches the soul to the stars. Take time to play...it is the secret of youth. Take time to worship...it is the highway to reverence...Author unknown. During this week take time or make time for some of these things, it will brighten up your week. cp

Take a little time this week...

Another week has come & gone already, I'm not sure exactly what I can show for it. Oh yes, I've been able to go to 3 or 4 girls basketball games & watch my granddaughters along with my young women girls, I sure do love them all & pray for them often. It's a scary old world that they're growing up in, just hope that I can help them in some small way along their path of life. The other night was the most beautiful sliver of a moon just barely above the mountain top up west & I've seen some beautiful sun rises this week. I try & get up early, walk on the treadmill & listen to some inspirational music or talks then have a little breakfast & read my scriptures. It sure seems to start my day off better if I do it in this order. I just finished reading the Book Of Mormon & starting on the D & C, I learned alot again this time around now just hope to remember everything. A very dear friend gave me a book title "Making Sense Of Suffering" I have to say I learned so much from every page & it has helped me understand that pain & suffering is all part of a bigger plan. One of my favorite parts reads: Where is the God of love when suffering occurs? The God of perfect love is a God of perfect wisdom, & he is nearby. But his plan permits suffering in his universe. Without apology, he keeps sending his spirit children into the thick of things. In his long view, suffering makes sense. It can never make sense to us, however, until we see things his way. Oddly enough, our vision sometimes improves when our conditions worsen, creating an occasional windowpane, or window of pain, in the veil. A parayzing probem can bring the stillness that causes us to pause and, for a change, reverently look at the whole scene. God grants mortal suffering because it can do wonders for us. Mortal suffering makes lasting improvements in the eternal self. It turns up the volume on God's voice to us, & it turns up the volume on our pleadings to him. I know this to be true in my own life. Take a little time this week to ponder & pray...cp

Be happy, happy, happy

What a day it has been, I had so much I was going to do today. I did get clean sheets on my bed & my whites hung out on the line & yes outside on the clothes line. It just makes them so nice, white & fresh smelling. I know I've already been told that I'm crazy, it's just too cold but I love it. I went to Jr High to the volleyball game & watched Savannah play then a couple of ladies ask me if I wanted to ride to Logan, grab some lunch & catch a movie. I had to think a bit but decided to do just that & it was lots of fun except a little more action than I've been used to. I ate popcorn till it was coming out of my ears. I couldn't help thinking of Putter cause he always had to have popcorn at a movie house, also he'd have loved the movie because it was action packed. So thanks ladies for a fun afternoon. I'm still working on picture books, it's taking me along time cause I have to stop & think of the memories that each picture brings to me. I'm so thankful for the past & all the fun times we shared with family & friends & I get to remember it all over again. A thought I found this week was given to me by Annie right after grandpa passed away. When we start to count flowers, we cease to count weeds; When we start to count blessings, we cease to count needs; When we start to count laughter, we cease to count fears; When we count happy memories; we cease to count years. Ya gota love it!!! Have a great week & be happy, happy, happy...cp

Peace to my soul

What a beautiful week it has been with the moon full, frosty nights & sunrises that makes everything sparkle like diamonds. I took a little ride in the ranger the other night to talk to my best friend & yes it was Danny. While sitting in the cemetary, from his headstone looking east down over the town of Randolph, it looked like a fairyland. I was looking through some trees with bare branches at the big full moon, it was a sight that certainly was breathtaking. I could have stayed there all night except it was pretty cold. I had a few thoughts that I wanted to share with Danny, I'm so thankful for the calming & peaceful scene that I was able to pertake of. It certainly brought peace to my soul & answered some of my questions I had. I'm so thankful for a new year to look forward to the adventures & experiences it will bring to everyone. I'm sure some will be good & some not so good but without the unpleasant experiences we would not appreciate the good ones. I'm not sure where the time is going but it seems like it's sun up & then it's sun down. I have been accomplishing lots of cleaning up, throwing away & taking care of some matter that was unorganized, it is looking better. I've been going through lots of pictures & taking care of them in the books they need to go in. My thought for tonight "Hope Happiness & Courage" Real optimism is aware of problems but recognizes solutions; knows about difficulties but believes they can be overcome; sees the negatives but accentuates the positives; is exposed to the worst but expects the best; has reason to complain, but chooses to smile ---William Arthur Ward. May the coming week bring a smile to everyone's face & may we all know that life is precious & good. cp