DOORS, Doors and leaky walls

MONDAY, 4 May 2015

"'May the fourth be with you."

This is a kind of Star Wars Day!

We were blessed as missionaries...now we are home.  These are only a few of the items that need repair now that we are inhabiting "the cave" again.  

Our attic, in the bedroom, has a minor leak still.  Rain has been predicted for the next couple of days, so this repair was on the priority list.  We will see if Grandpa repaired the leak (it still leaked) .  Can you see his pant leg up in the attic?  I had to hold the wobbly ladder as he made his accent and decent. 

The same day the Sorensen's departed, the spring on the garage door broke.  It must have been patiently waiting for us to return home.  We are waiting for the repairman to come fix it this afternoon.  He will be our hero for the day.  May the forth be with him!  He arrived on the 5th of May and repaired the spring...we now can open the garage.  Hurrah!

When the door is closed on the microwave the machine continues to run and the light stays on.  Of course the warranty wore out in January.  We will be looking for an appliance repairman soon.  The appliance repairman said it would cost way too much to fix so we put it back above the stove and will just leave the door open all the time....it still works good. 

This is a picture of Pete and Sarah Sorensen with our Hansen grandchildren.  Our Grandchildren were very sad when they learned that if the Grandparents moved back in their home then the Sorensen's were moving away.  We felt like the villains'...ha.  They have a daughter Lucy who is around 2.  Leif was very concerned that Lucy will have to move away when Grandma & Grandpa return.  Too sad.  I think Lucy would rather be in Utah with her Grandma for the summer.  She is the first grandchild...we know she will have a fun summer.

For home evening we went to Kenneth and Karen Hutto's.  Mary Newman also came.  We had a lovely dinner.  Karen had spent all day doing service for others...taking someone grocery shopping and helping feed the missionaries for the Zone luncheon.  Then she came home and cooked for all of us.  Now that is true friendship.  She is one great friend.  I wanted to take a picture of all of us, but they told me they prefer to not be pictured on my blog....now I don't know about that, but I will honor their request...this time.  Ha!

We studied Elder M. Russell Ballard's Conference talks for October and April.

April was: The Greatest Generation of Young Adults

"What we need now is the greatest generation of young adults in the history of the Church. We need your whole heart and soul."

October of 2014 was: Stay In The Boat And Hold On

"If we keep our focus on the Lord, we are promised a blessing beyond comparison."

How do all of you feel about these talks?  We discussed October more than the April talk.  I think we must pray for the protection of our young adults and then stand back and watch The Lord's plan work in the lives of those we love....scary but important. 

Thanks Hutto's and Mary for the lovely evening.  We look forward to meeting with you in June.

TUESDAY, 5 May 2015

Grandpa mowed the lawn and I continue to unpack and clean.  Such fun times.  I keep locking myself out of the front door.  How sad is that?  I've been used to having the Palmyra Inn room door locked and carrying a key with me at all times.  Too funny.

Grandpa and I were invited to speak with the High Council this evening.  Our Bishop's son, Elder Wesley Aaron Christensen, also was invited.  He brought his parents and grandparents and 15 year old brother with him.  It was fun to listen to Wesley.  He reported first. He had many successes on his mission and he came home with a firm testimony of the Book of Mormon and of Jesus Christ.  He will work in his parents business for the summer and then he is off to BYU in Provo, Utah to get his education and find a wife.  We pray he finds his perfect "Buttercup" in his quest.

Then it was my turn and I shared the blessing of having Grandpa Arthur baptize me for 10 of our family that Diane Bland helped us locate.  That truly was a perfect way to begin our mission.  I also shared Sister Sweet's experience of entering the temple in her walker.  A sister came along and had her sit and gave her "a ride" into the locker room.  Sister Sweet came with her husband on Friday evenings for several months while we were there.  Her husband attended in a wheel chair also.  By the time our mission was over we did not see them again.  I will look forward to shaking both their hands on the other side of the veil.  They were such good examples to us all.  I spoke of being 24/7 with Arthur and the tenderness it provided us in our own relationship.  Then I bore my testimony and closed with a reminder that this weekend is Mother's Day and I asked that each man be kind and tender to his wife, even if she does not feel kind on that day.  I looked at this great group of men and the spirit whispered, enjoy being with "King Arthur and the Knights at the rectangle table."  It was a memorable experience to feel the weight that each of these Priesthood holders carry.  They are great examples to our Stake.

Then "King" Arthur shared his testimony of the power of the Atonement and his greater understanding of Our Savior and his example that he learned serving Him in the Palmyra Temple.

President Gray spoke and quoted from Alma 41 and then invited each of us to go around the table and shake hands with each of the High Councilmen.  I knew most of them and they hugged me with tears in their eyes.  We experienced The Lord's tender mercy's to all His servants.  

I gave them a box of chocolates to share and we departed while the High Council continued their business meeting.  Thank you, to each of you, for your support and prayers as we enjoyed the experience of being messengers for Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now on we all go in building The Kingdom of Zion.

I found this picture of Jerusalem and New Jerusalem.  Our Quorum of twelve High Councilmen is echoed throughout the earth.

Now that is an impressive history.  Hurrah for Israel!

WEDNESDAY, 6 May 2015

We awoke to a leaky house.  It has been raining for two days and our home is weeping.  We aren't sure if all the earthquakes in this area are attributing to this also.  Anyway, while Grandpa is pondering our next care of our facility I decided to catch up on our blog.  I also had a lovely swim at the Y today.  We are having tornado's touching down in the city this evening...so we are thankful for our hidey hole man cave.  We planted some flowers in pots today and put them on our front porch.   

We are sad for all affected in the tornado's in Oklahoma this evening.  

THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2015

Leif invited me to his school this morning for a Mother's Day Breakfast.   We had pink frosted donuts and orange juice. Yum!

All the second graders in Prairie Vale Elementary sang for us. They sang "Mommy, Mommy, I love you Mommy dear",  & "You can't lose me" by Faith Hill.  This grandma had to sit and wipe the tears from my eyes as they sang.

This is a picture of Leif with his Mother Heather.  See the pretty wrist corsage he presented to his 

mom after his program!  She wore it all day.

"I am here and I will always be just a wish away.  You won't be lost if you believe you can't lose me."  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EARLY!

I feel impressed to pay homage to the Mother's who have been such an influence in my life.  I am so thankful for the Scriptures and the personal understanding I have received that I have a Heavenly Mother.  This is an unusual concept for many, I know.  I have felt her love and protection many times in my life.  I look forward to Her greeting when I finally past this earthly test.

I am thankful for Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ.  I have studied her roll as The Savior's Mother.  She carried a heavy burden and yet was blessed with a perfect son.  Who could ask for more than that.  I thank John for his example of caring for Mary after Jesus was crucified.  There is much more to the story of her life that we do not know.  I'm sure it will be a privilege and honor to meet her again also.  Her humility, devotion and strength are a great example for all of us.   This is just one of the many photo's The Church has portraying Mary.

I am thankful for my Mother Fay Rosetta Gardner for giving me life.  Her life was full of sorrow and trial.  I learned how to endure and be strengthened as I associated with her in this life.  It will be a privilege and an honor to be in her presence again in the hereafter.  She was blind for the last 20 some years of her life.  I know she was so thankful to once again be able to see after passing the tests of this life.  Her mother Abby Elnora Cunnington also influenced me as I watched and listened to her in my influential years.  It will be fun to visit with them both again someday.

I was blessed to have two mothers to care for me in my younger years.  My other Mother, Virla Sharlene Nalder, was such a great influence on me.  Because of her example and love I am who I am today.  She too had great trials and difficulties in this life.  Her life ended with Leukemia, that ate away at the Mother I adored.  It took me years to get over the sorrow of her death and suffering.  Her Mother, Virla Johnson, was also a great influence in my life.  The two shared a great Mother Daughter relationship despite walking different paths occasionally.  They taught me by their example of love and support of each other.  They were truly best friends in my Nana Nalder's later years.  I will always be so thankful that they stepped into my life and taught me how to love and be loved.

My husbands mother, Genevieve Tanner was a wonderful Mother-in-law.  She was true and faithful to the covenants she made in the Gospel.  She taught her children well.  She had dementia  for several years before passing.  She is responsible for teaching us the love of the temple, and giving our lives to educating others concerning Jesus Christ and his Gospel.  Her mother is Roberta Turley.  She was in a bad accident when she was older and could not walk without some kind of assistance.  She always told Grandpa Arthur that she was saving her first dance in heaven for him, and that Gene had to wait in line!

I am most grateful that I am a Mother.  I don't know how well I have accomplished this learning experience.  I am thankful that Heavenly Father has given me a lovely daughter and four lovely daughter-in-laws.  They have given us 14 grandchildren which is the best present ever on this Mother' Day Week.  We thank our Heavenly Father daily for our family.  I feel like a blessed Mother and Grandmother this year.

It rained again this evening, but the tornado activity wasn't as heavy....it was really a beautiful Spring evening.  Thank you to all who e-mailed, phoned and texted to make sure we were alright. 

FRIDAY, 8 May 2015

This is the third day of rain, lightening, thunder and tornado activity.  We were to attend a High Priest dinner this evening but it was canceled.  It started to rain about 4 pm and has been raining since.  Tomorrow it to be rainy too.   So Grandpa and I continued to repair and unpack this home.  Grandpa took a nap and I took everything out of my curio cabinet so we can move it back into the family room.  We still have lots to do to be comfortable, but it is all coming along...and still the rain comes and the home weeps....at least we aren't flooding like a lot of our neighbors.   Every once in a while I open the front door and smell the Gardenia Plant that I put there...and dream of Paradise and the Promised Land..and then I go back and clean and unpack..."Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head".

SATURDAY, 9 May 2015

Great news in the Deseret News today:

Travis Nebeker Campbell, 63, Riverside Ward, Tulsa Oklahoma Stake, called as president of the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple, succeeding President Don R. Hansen. President Campbell’s wife, Cathryn Louise Chipping Campbell, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Jan B. Hansen. He serves as the second counselor in the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple presidency. He has served in a stake presidency, as a regional welfare specialist, Church Educational System coordinator, high councilor and stake Young Men president. Retired vice president of finance for the Williams Companies, he was born in Salt Lake City to Claude Asa and Marjorie Nebeker Campbell.

Sister Campbell serves as an assistant to the matron of the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple. She has served as stake and ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president and stake family history consultant. She was born in Salt Lake City to William Osborn and Constance Louie Rayment Chipping.

Congratulations to the Campbells.  We will look forward to serving under them.

SUNDAY, 10 May 2015

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's

It was raining still when we awoke this morning.  We are off to our meetings.  We will enter 7th Ward which is next door to the temple and be grateful for the opportunity to do so.
Ryan and his family and Heather and her family came for dinner.  I heard from each of my children today which was great. I received flowers, chocolates, cards and great phone calls.  In our Sacrament meeting the Bishop had many of the young men & women give talks about their Mothers.  One young lady said that all Mother's Day talks are not complete unless they mention the "Stripling Warriors" from The Book of Mormon and how they were taught the gospel by their Mothers.  I pondered this today.  This is a picture of Grandpa Arthur, Our Son, Son-in-law and their sons.  They have been taught by their mothers that if they do not doubt, God will deliver them.   There is still 3/4th of the Book of Mormon to be given to us.  I do not doubt that these righteous sons will be blessed to read from its pages soon, God be willing.  The Book of Mormon is a good book to ponder on Mother's Day!

Grandma Gene, with two beautiful mothers, daughter Heather, daughter-in-law Sarah and their beautiful daughters.  It has been a lovely Mother's Day.  Grandma Gene is very blessed.  

My last comment for this day....my son Troy said his daughter, Hannah, also spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  She is our autistic granddaughter.  She also sang a Primary Song, "Mother Dear".  In her talk she spoke of Peter Pan & that he did not have a mother, but Wendy told him she would be his mother.  Out of the mouth of babes.  Troy said she did an excellent job, thanks to her Mother, Amy.  If you did not have a loving Mother, or are longing to once again see your Mother who has died....may you recognize the door to heaven has the key to Motherhood & the blessings that await us hereafter.  Enjoy this life and know that if you do not doubt, God will deliver you. 

 It is great to be home in Oklahoma in the month of May.  Blessings to you all.
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene
Arthur and Gene