Ponderize

Tuesday, March 1 2016

Happy, Happy Birthday to my sister Cindy. 

Cindy was born when I was a junior in high school.

So many times people thought she was my child.  Our mother used to think that was funny.  Our family adored this sweet baby.  Now here is a photo with her & her youngest daughter purchasing a home, finally.  Cindy has been a single mom for many years.  She went back to school and got her degree and went on and got her Masters.  As I ponderize  our lives, as the big sister, I just want Cindy to have the best birthday ever.  She is now older than our mother was when she passed.  Our dad passed when Cindy was only three.  Keep looking forward little sis and know you are loved.

 

I ponderized of all the energy I had when this little sister was born.  I decided that today was the day to return to the swimming exercises.  I went to the "Y" this morning and it was so invigorating.  It totally wore me out, but I did it!  The rest of the week the lap pool is closed for high school tournaments so Thursday I joined the senior citizens group...talk about a work out...I need a nap after!
I also learned that one of the "Y" people, Janie, had a heart attack a month ago.  She is in her early 50's.  We discussed our illness's and decided the "Y" was a good place to work on healing.  So sorry for your burdens that you carry Janie.  You are in my prayers.

I came home and Grandpa Arthur and I went and voted in the Presidental Primary's in Oklahoma.  Now ponderizing all the candidates on the ballot was interesting.   

Then Grandpa Arthur decided it was a good day to move all the house plants outdoors....Mr. Clean got his wish and we moved all the plants outside.  It rained last evening...will it ever rain again?  Another thought to ponderize.  

So last Wednesday, 24 February 2016 we went to my first appointment after my colon surgery.  I was blessed to learn that my cancer was contained.  They got it all with the surgery and I do not need chemo treatments.  I can't even begin to ponderize how blessed I am.  I am overwhelmed that all of your kindness and prayers worked.  Thank you, each of you, who are responsible for this blessing in our lives.  As soon as we returned from this doctor appointment I walked and thanked The Lord for answering our prayers.  As I was returning home our neighbors tree caught my eye.  The tree is one of those mock pears and "blossoms were popping right before my eyes".  I don't think this photo does it justice, but the blossoms assure spring is awakening.

Grandpa Arthur feels spring in the air too.  He has been trimming trees so he can mow under them.  He also continues to trim branches from the winter ice storms we had.

This is a picture of pickup load # 6  He wouldn't let me help empty the truck bed...my caregiver is 

so protective of me now.  Thank's Grandpa Arthur for being such a good worker and such a kind husband.

When we attended Sacrament on Sunday, the Stake released us from our Seminary callings.  That was such a sad relief.  Now the class will again have a permanent teacher to end the year.  We ponderize the great faith these youth have and are sad we are not a part of their lives each day.

We hope they will keep in touch with us and pray they have the best high school years ever.

We love these youth.

Bishop Christensen asked us to stay after Sacrament and renew our Temple recommends that expire this month.  Our second counselor in the bishopric is one of our former Seminary students, Jason Snavely.  That was the highlight of our week to be interviewed by this good young man.  We ponderize the blessings of knowing Jason since he was a baby and now has four babies & a lovely wife of his own.  His wife sits alone with the children while Jason sits on the stand.  Grandma Gene ponderizes the years she did this and prays for this young faithful couple and their family.  

Bishop Christensen suggested that to get the Stake Presidency signature for our recommend we should call his cousin, President Waltman, and ask he come to our home.

Well, yesterday President Waltman had an accident on his ranch and now has a compound fracture on his upper arm.  So sorry to learn about this President Waltman.  Our love and prayers are sent your way today.  We will let the Stake Secretary help us with our recommend appointment.

Why is it when you are sick you hear and feel those around you, with problems, more acutely?  These are some of the experiences we've been ponderizing this week.

My mother's brother,  Lanny Nalder, had open heart surgery yesterday.  He is in the ICU and critical today.  Our love and prayers are with you Uncle Lanny.

A family friend, Laura Jeffreys, has colon cancer also and is not healing well.  She taught several of our grandchildren to read.  We all are so thankful for her teaching talent. Our love and prayers are with you Laura.

Another family friend, Dee Bithell is doing better after having surgery the same week as me, but he tires easily.  Our love and prayers are with you Dee.

Viola Butts, a member of our Ward, fell and broke her hip.  Our love and prayers are with you and your family Viola.  Her Daughter in law Mary had all of her large colon removed a few years ago.  Thank you, Mary, for the advice given on Sunday.  You are a dear friend and now a person to admire.
Our neighbor, Terry R. Hanna, has had two colon cancer surgery's.  I did not realize this till his wife spoke to me on my walk the other morning.  I ponderize having this surgery twice.  Terry you are my hero.

A family whom we've known for years lost their oldest son in a work accident this week.  Bo was only 32 years old.  He was a single father of two sons ages 9 and 8.  Our heart aches for his parents, siblings and relatives.  Our love and prayers are with all of you.  

One of the boys our son's grew up with lost his grandmother this week.  Sylvia Grace Cook was 96 years old.  She helped raise Steve Haddock and his brother along with her daughter and Steve's mother Charlene.  She was a blessing to these boys and reminds me of the responsibility Matt and Genene Cotton now have with Bo's boys Ethan and Jacob.  Our love and prayers are with the Cook family as they praise their lovely grandmother this week.  May sweet memories help carry you forward Steve.  We love you and your family.  Steve and other family gave great tributes to his "MeMe"!

On Wednesday our son's former boss was in a car wreck and lost his life.  His name is Aubrey McClendon.  This is a loss for the whole community.  Our love and prayers are with his family at this time also.

With all this sadness we also saw joy experienced.  A couple in our Ward were able to travel to Kansas to be with their newly adopted daughter at her birth.  She was born on February 23, 2016.  They have already adopted her and named her Kylie Elizabeth Christensen.  Her parents put this cute picture of Kylie waving to all.  Congratulations to the Dennis & Erica Christensen family.  Thank you for letting us experience your joy along with you.  This beautiful baby and the priceless family she now will grow up in gives us hope and peace.

Hi Kylie, welcome to Oklahoma!  Isn't she just beautiful?

As I ponderize all that has happened since my surgery.  I want to write down a sacred experience I had while in the hospital.  The nurses change shifts at 7:00 pm and I had a male nurse, William, care for me one evening.  He is of African Decent and he is a Muslim.  About 8:00 pm he came into my room and said, "may I ask you a question"?  He said I have 14 patient rooms, on this wing of the hospital, that I am responsible for this evening.  Every room the people are so sick and many are very grumpy and angry and sad.  You, however, are a delight to work with and all the nurses are talking about you.  "Nice," I said!  Ha!  He asked how I could have such a positive attitude when I was so miserable?  I told him it was because I choose to do so.  Then I told him that I belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I have been taught to put my trust in Jesus Christ and let Him carry my burdens.  He thanked me and left.  Another hour passed and he came and asked me another question.  This happened all evening and we discussed family relationships, the Godhead, Our Prophets, The Book of Mormon, etc.

 I told him that our children were a loan from Heavenly Father and that they are to be cared for and returned to Him.  He laughed when I told him we are brothers and sisters.  He said, "I should have brought my phone and we could take a selfie".  Ha.

 Anyway, to make a most wonderful evening lesson shorter, I was an instrument in the hands of The Lord that evening and taught this great nurse about Our Heavenly Parents and our purpose on this earth.  I texted Grandpa Arthur and requested he bring a Book of Mormon with him and to arrive before the shift change at 7:00 am.  He did so and when it came time for the shift change William and Kara (a favorite nurse) switched places.  William thanked me for answering all his questions that evening.  I handed him The Book of Mormon and requested he read it.  I also requested that he look on line at all the happenings of this church in Africa and read about them also.  He promised me he would do so and thanked me for the lovely evening.  He told me he would be praying for my healthy recovery.  As he walked out another nurse was in the hall way and saw me from the door.  His name is Frank and he is a member of the church.  I heard William ask how he knew me?  Later Frank came in and told me William asked him if he had read The Book of Mormon and showed him the copy I had just given him.  Frank told him that was the best gift he could receive in his life right now and that Frank had read it several times.  He told William that he had just started reading it again this year and hoped William would really read it.  Frank told me that he would let me know if William ever asked him questions about it.  Meanwhile, Kara, began questioning me about the church and why did I know so many people at the hospital and where was our church located and on and on.  That part of my "sick" hospital stay was wonderful.  I ponderize how The Lord took this opportunity to touch two more of his children and help them to ponderize who they are, as they continue to be instruments in His hands.  I'm so thankful we served our mission by the hill Cumorah!
  

Also this morning I read on facebook about a girl from my mom's hometown, Shelley, Idaho.  Her name was Shirlyn Browning.  This young girl passed in her teens and in one of her friends yearbooks she wrote the following, "When twilight pulls the curtain, and pins it with a star, remember you have a friend, no matter where you are."  I looked this up on the internet and found the following:

“When twilight drops her curtain down And pins it with a star Remember that you have a friend Though she may wander far.”  by L. M. Montgomery (Author of Anne of Green Gables chapter 27)  I love that Shirlyn connects me with a memory of our mission....looking forward to when the curtain is pulled and I can meet this young girl from Shelley & L. M. Montgomery.  Such a week of ponderizing.

On Tuesday evening, 2 March 2016, Matt Holgate stopped by to visit.  He is married to Grandpa Arthurs sister's...daughter Andria.  They were married for 10 years and decided to adopt three beautiful little girls.  They have three beautiful children that are full of energy and wearing them out!  Ha.  They are such a lovely family.

Matt is a heart transplant patient that now has diabetes.  He had us ponderizing last evening as his blood sugar went down while he was visiting.  I finally phoned Heather and Mike and they brought some orange juice down and that brought his sugar level back up...frightening for a bit there.  Thanks for visiting us Matt. 

 We hope you get all you need accomplished for work and enjoy your family as you head home Friday.  He and his wife are having a "surprise" party for Andrea's sister Valerie.  She was born on Feburary 29th so is 10 years old now!  She has such a lovely family for a 10 year old.  Happy Birthday Valerie.  Now Valerie's life is fun to ponderize!

On Wednesday the 3rd of March Sherlauna Griffeth Beckstead texted.  She and her new husband are traveling to several temples and were going to be at the OKC Temple that evening.  Sherlauna was on our mission with us in Palmyra, New York.   Both she and her new husband's spouses had died of cancer a few years ago.   We met she and her husband Brent at the temple and had a lovely visit.  We took them to Braums for hamburgers after.  Thanks for visiting us Sherlauna.  Congratulations to you and Brent.  You make a handsome and good couple!  Sister Sherlauna is still serving a mission at the St. George, Utah family history center.

We also learned our granddaughter Brenna was in the baptistry.  I went in as the youth were cleaning the area.  I found Brenna and she told me she had come to the temple ponderizing something.  While she was being baptised for a individual sister an answer came to her.  I loved that I was able to share that with this sweet granddaughter and was grateful we were in the temple last evening.

Today, 4 March 2016, is the 50th Anniversary of our former neighbors Luke and Laura Nigliazzo!  Happy Anniversary! That is a great accomplishment.  We hope we can do the same in a couple years.

Saturday, 5 March 2016
It is a beautiful Oklahoma day.  The sun is shinning and the sky is blue.  I'm being the patient...went grocery shopping, took a three hour nap, did some indexing and this blog and watched a little "Welk".
I ponderized  a sign in MeMe Cook's kitchen.  "This is not a filling station!"  I purchased some cereal for my grandchildren.  I poured a big bowl of toasted oats for my grandson Luke.  He said, "Grandma these don't taste like the ones I have at home".  So along with my banana, chia seeds and yogurt yesterday I ate a bowl of toasted oats!  Fiber, right?

"Thank's Grandma, the M & M's taste way better"!  Ha!  You think?

Sunday, 6 March 2016
Good Sabbath everyone.  Ponderizing, what a deal..."All Is Well, All Is Well".  Be good to your family's and be kind to yourselves.
Hug's always'
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene
Arthur & Gene