BURR

FRIDAY, 22 JANUARY 2016

BURR...it is freezing here...where did the sunshine go?

The fire in the wood stove and the electric light bulbs are great inventions for our home cave to be light and warm.  We are so grateful to have both on this cold, BURR, winter day.

Today was our last day to teach seminary.  It was a difficult day for Grandma Gene as the youth wrote us great thank you & get well notes.  Our last lesson was 1 Samuel 18-24.  Saul was very jealous of David.  I reminded the youth that they must not be jealous of Grandpa Arthur and I when we get to sleep in on Monday.  Ha.  They did not think that was nice.  I then told them to be grateful that they are young as we still will awaken at 5:00 A M.  That is what happens when you get old.  I didn't tell them that I can fall asleep again though.  We will miss these wonderful youth.  The future is going to be fine because these youth are here.  Love all of you!

We taught about Goliath on Thursday.  

This is the sling I made...we all enjoyed trying to knock out Goliath.  The youth are way better shots than us!  Way to go Seminary Students...we overcame Goliath on the 21st of January!

We got a photo with all our students and Goliath.  I gave them individual photo's with Goliath too.

When I went to get them printed, I received prints with Goliath's head cut off!  Ha.  I almost gave them to the youth, but the spirt whispered...Goliath is still alive.  So I had the printers redo the pictures and gave them a full picture of the "resurrected Goliath".  Even Goliath has the opportunity to repent, right?    Each of us are going to face our own Goliath's.  I hope the youth will keep their pictures with this defeated giant as a reminder.  They too can defeat the Goliath's that show up in their lives and so can we.  If you haven't read 1 Samuel 17 lately, you should do so.  

" 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands."

After we had the closing prayer.  I told the student's that I have colon cancer and that our last day is Friday.  Now we just hope the Stake releases us soon and sustains a new teacher for this great bunch of youth.  Now Grandma Gene is praying that she, with the help of a surgeon & his "MD" shield, can defeat this Goliath tumor that has invaded my personal space!  Having the middle name of Davida is helpful in my case, right?  I believe!

Grandpa Arthur took me to the Texas steak house for my last steak dinner for awhile.  It was yummy!

I must picture this when I'm chewing ice chips.  BURR!  It was delish!

Both my son and daughter's vans have had flat tires this week.  I drove with my daughter, Heather, to pick up her van. There was a nail in her tire.  We took it in to be repaired.  Before we picked up her van we drove to the Deer Creek Prairie Vale Elementary School and picked up her boys.  This is a photo of the street sign on the road in front of the school.  The school mascot is the Antlers.  The "great" road in front of the school: "He > I", yes, He is greater than I.

"Elementary my dear Dr. Watson"

 

BURR

SATURDAY, 23 JANUARY 2016
Finally the sun is shinning outside!  Welcome back sunshine.  We hear the eastern USA is having blizzard conditions today.  We are thankful we have blue skies today.
Well, it has been a week of tests and needles and getting our lives focused on me being a patient.  I get anxious about this silly tumor.  My daughter, Heather, has been with us, all the way, and questioned and studied way more than I can even comprehend.  Thank you, Heather, for your love and patience with this Mom of yours.
Our daughter in law did good with her removal of a kidney stone.  She is now in the process of healing.  Our granddaughter got accepted into BYU Idaho, congratulations Cecily!  We had a nephew whose wife give birth to a son this week, congratulations! We had a niece and her true love marry this week, congratulations! We have a little grand niece that shared her childlike dream with me and I experienced the faith of a little child.  Thank you Shawny!   The joy of these experiences bring hope and faith to Grandpa Arthur and me.  We thank all for phone calls, texts and visits.  It seems everyone we know has one struggle or another at this winter storm season...BURR.  We took a leave of absence from our temple callings...which I haven't even really served as an ordinance volunteer since returning from our mission, but Grandpa Arthur has.  We are hunkering down for tests, shots, and surgeries.  Grandpa Arthur has a sinus infection and cold that he is enduring.  We have total understanding of future events and know whether good or bad we can learn to "weather the storms".

The entrance to the cave doesn't face this edifice...the berm of the hill the cave is encased in does, but we have pictures of the temples in almost all rooms of our unique cave.  Our little hobbit house cave does face the eastern rising of the sun and that is a reminder of the OKC Temple entrance too.  We expect to enjoy many more rising suns from our "hobbit" windows.
Have faith, believe, & love your families and especially make sure your children feel that love.  Stay warm on these BURRLY winter days.  Spring is just around the corner.
Lets be kind to all we greet, smile more and believe this world is good.  Our love and prayers are with each of you.
Four more temple have been completed and are ready for dedication.  This earth life is a marvelous work and a wonder, enjoy.
Hug's always,
Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene
Arthur & Gene