A Candlestick: Visit is over!

Well, she is gone! We enjoyed every minute of her long stay! I've mentioned it before but it still surprises me...since she graduated from high school- she has come home at least once a year! Never a miss! She used to come home twice a year and then she got married and had her twins and started coming home for an extended length in the summer. Now she seems to be back on two times a year. One time or two times...we always appreciate her coming home! She brings a heart full of love for us and it is just so energizing and wonderful to be with her. Adult children that take the time to care and love and show it are just incredible!!

Jeanee emptied out the tote sitting on the porch, that had the firewood and then we reloaded the tote with the Christmas things, scattered in garage, that had been removed to make room for the firewood. We tided up the garage to at least have room to walk around! I told her that I couldn't remember the last time the floor had been so clear. She laughed and reminded me...not since I did it the last time I visited! She was right!

We go about things very differently. She is one that quickly makes a decision to toss anything she views as unnecessary. I am one that thinks it through. So I was saying NO and she was saying YES! A word tug-of-war! Back and forth. Me being BossyMomma and she being SassyMouth. She is like my sister. Dixie always made quick decisions on stuff. I hang onto stuff until it's near molding! Jeanee and I may differ on that level but we are so connected at the heart and she is a blessing in my life!

The value of a few consistent actions that end up being a tradition was brought home to me. I had fresh baked bread on her arrival. It's a whole wheat bread and she had eaten it and breathed in that aroma for all of her childhood. The memories that brought back to her were so sweet to hear. She wants to make sure that she can bake it so she took the recipe and we will work on that next time she comes home. She will try it on her own and we will do it with phone advice until she returns!

Speaking of bread. Did you listen to Elder Gong's talk? It was for the CES folks but also for all teachers. He gave such wonderful insight about bread and water and fish and most of all, about the Savior. read it or listen and you will enjoy it so very much! here I absolutely love learning about the Gospel. It buoys me so much and influences me to try harder...to do better and keep my faith growing.

RootsTech 2017 sounded like it was great! I love and appreciate the technology of today. I can watch so many things live-streaming and also end up watching it later. They have 4 full sessions for our enjoyment. Last year Sister Nelson talked about giving up her personal playing of scrabble, for awhile, to get names ready for Temple. She never went back to it again and only plays Scrabble with President Nelson. I enjoyed her book Covenant Keepers when she talks about her conversion to doing Temple work for ancestors.

This year, for some reason, as I listened to the talks, I picked up on the value/importance of writing our life story and Family History. The challenge came through to give up 30 minutes of time daily spent on something and use that 30 minutes for research or the likes on names needing ordinances. You know how I've balked and resisted doing Genealogy (sorry, Natalie!) but I will start with writing stories. I have lots of tidbits written down from my Aunt Bonnie and maybe, just maybe, it will spur me on, as I start to dig into the information I have of stories and end up with names for Temple? I hope so. I'm going to try it. I will start March 1st and do it for one month. (they suggested 21 days and I'm going all out!- 4 weeks instead of 3!) IF you haven't watched any of the sessions...check it out here

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So how are you doing? I've missed talking to you, so of course am behind on things I wanted to share but I'm back now and ready to resume blogging on a regular basis. why on earth I didn't say...I'll be back when she leaves...just rude I guess. Sorry.

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here are a couple of pictures from our time together. We were total homebodies and enjoyed every single day!