Blessings and Easter, April 9 - 21

Tuesday, April 9—Saturday, April 13th

We are starting to sort through things and get ready for our trip home.
The focus this week has included finishing and sending our Tax Return, helping Len and Helen with their finances, and keeping up with the missionary activities.
Friday was another SVU special session plus.  I also made 4 crusts for fruit pizza for FHE Monday and burned up my mixer while trying to mix the cream cheese topping.
The temple still provides strength and opportunities for growth and learning.  There are times when your talents are utilized well.

Sunday, April 14th

We received a call early that Helen would not be coming to church with us today.  We were concerned and soon learned that Len was struggling with his asthma but had not been able to purchase his inhalers. His coughing fits kept both he and Helen up at night.   He was waiting for the next pay check due on the 17th.  We called back and made arrangements to purchase it for him which we did after church.  We made arrangements to come back the next day when Brother Harvey could help Ray provide a priesthood blessing.  Hoping that the needed medicine would allow for some rest.

Monday, April 15th

After gym class, we got ready and headed down to Wayland.  We found Len and Helen in better spirits.  We explored options that might help them get their finances in order.  Including a call to the CU to see if they would reverse some of the over draft fees.  We suggested that perhaps they could get food orders from the Bishop’s storehouse to help for a couple of months while they paid off some debts.  Then Brother Harvey came and gave Len and Helen some beautiful blessings.  We learned that Len had not had his insulin for several days so we went to purchase that for them.  We left them with hope and lifted spirits.

Thursday, April 18th

I received a call late last night from Lorraine asking if I would come in and help as a guide for an own endowment this morning.  Ray came with me hoping to attend both sessions, unless needed somewhere else.
I had an amazing experience with this sweet sister.  I met her when she arrived and she seemed so nervous.   As I administered the blessings in washings, I felt the spirit and was overcome with emotion.  As I finished, this sweet sister simply said “Wow!”.  As the continued blessings flowed, I heard her exclaim this again.  As we left the initiatory area, I noticed a change in her countenance.  She walked with confidence, joy, and purpose.  It seemed to me that the world had been lifted off her shoulders.  It was a sweet and tender thing to witness.
Oh the power of the atonement and the marvelous way it is manifest in the ordinances.
I saw her next in the Celestial room and marveled at her beauty and strength.  This sweet sister will never be the same.

I love these quotes:

“While we strive to be diligent in building up Zion, 

including our part in the gathering of the Lord’s elect and the redemption of the dead, 

We should pause to remember that it is the Lord’s work and he is doing it. “ 

D. Todd Christofferson April 2019

“One way to ‘always remember His’ would be to join the Great Physician 

in His never-ending task of lifting the load from those who are burdened 

and relieving the pain of those who are distraught.”  

Jeffery R. Holland, April 2019

I always chuckle at this house
we see on our way to church
each week.  Not sure how this passed code.

“C.S. Lewis once said that if we could recognize who we were, 

we would realize that we were walking with possible gods and goddesses, 

whom if we could see them in all their eternal dignity and glory, 

we would be tempted to fall and worship.  

Because it is true, we need to think more highly of ourselves, 

and we need to think more highly of each other.”  

Jeffery R. Holland

Friday, April 19th

We helped with an extra sealing this morning.  A young couple getting married.
It is always a joyful time when two people join their lives together.  Brother Straussburg performed the ceremony and does such a marvelous job of making it personal and uplifting.
It took quite a while to complete everything.  The groom forgot his belt and after looking around for one, learned there were no extras in the temple so suspenders where used.  The bride waited patiently.  While getting ready to exit the temple, the bouquet fell apart.  I was able to jerry-rig it with some unfolded paper clips.  The gown train did not have a way to hook it up, so I was able to fashion a loop from white ribbon and safety pins.  Finally, things were all put together and the bride and groom began their exit.

Sunday, April 21st  - Easter

I felt strengthened by Sister Petraitis’s talk in Sacrament meeting.  She is strong and faithful and close to the spirit.  In Primary we talked about the events around Christ’s Atonement and sang Gethsemane

For dinner we gathered at the Titsworth’s apartment.  All the 12 month missionaries were there along with the Millers and Kimblers.  We read from the scriptures and enjoyed our associations.