On February 19, I got together with former co-workers to celebrate the impending retirement of our friend Linnie. I always thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to get caught up a bit with these friends.
February 22 - For the past couple of years (since retiring from the University), I have been volunteering one afternoon a week at the Family History Center. Genealogy is a passion and I've enjoyed this opportunity. Our Center Director has been in critical health most of that time and, though very knowledgable, has not been able to provide training for us "newbies." We have a new Director who, bless her heart, is in her 80's and though very willing, was feeling more than a little overwhelmed. I assured her we would help her. I then called the Director in my former Stake and asked if we could come and "pick her brain." Better than that, she volunteered to come to our Center and train us on our materials, and continue the training until we felt we could handle it on our own. Such generosity and very much appreciated!
I attended the first training session and then, before I could attend the second, I was giving a new responsibility as First Counselor in the Relief Society (Women's Organization). I will still try to find at least a couple of hours a week to volunteer at the Center but have a lot of new responsibilities on my plate now. I'm even more appreciative of my friend Janice for her willingness to do the training at the Center.
February 26-27 - Attended the St. Louis Stamp Expo with my hubby (a fun, two-day "date night")
Feb. 27 evening--Annual fly-fishing club banquet. It's their annual fund-raising event to keep the club solvent. Steve is generous in his purchase of raffle tickets and we are proportionately "lucky" in the fun raffle items we get to bring home. This year's prizes included a food basket with ham, bologna, jars of assorted salsas and spreads, and a HUGE block of pepper-jack cheese. I was fortunate to have my ticket drawn for another piece of our friend Mark's (an artisan from the Branson area) pottery (love it!). And Steve came away with some nice prizes, too. He had donated one of his coveted, handmade bobbins, along with two beautiful fly plates that brought about $700 in the live auction. It's always a fun event and a nice opportunity to catch up with friends we see just a couple of times a year. I also had the opportunity to meet the wife of a man I've known for years, and whom we trust so much with our automobiles that it determines the brands we will and will not buy (only those Rick works on!). Steve had invited Rick to attend a class taught by a world-class "deer hair fly tyer," who came to Springfield to conduct this workshop and stayed at our home. Rick was enamored with the flies and, when Steve framed two fly plates featuring those flies, Rick "had to have them." He was the successful bidder for both of Steve's plates and was ecstatic to get them. That always makes volunteering one's time and efforts rewarding. And we really enjoyed finally meeting Donna.
On Sunday, February 28, I took on new responsibilities as I was sustained First Counselor in our Relief Society. Our Stake hosted a Spring Break Women's Conference for five stakes on March 12-13, and our Ward Conference was on March 14. I needed to "hit the ground running," and I tried to do just that. More to follow on that subject.
On March 1, I enjoyed a "Wax Museum" experience at Ky's school that I found a delightful way to learn about some very famous and some not-as-famous people. Each student impersonated a famous person. The student was to research his/her character and write a speech (they were to be "not less than 2 minutes," although some were considerably shorter). The students, dressed as their respective characters, were placed throughout the school library. Each had a paper "button" on his/her wrist which was to be pressed by the visiting parents, teachers, or students, at which point the student began the memorized speech about herself as if she were that person. I was not familiar with Ky's famous person--Ida B. Wells--but gained tremendous respect for this Black woman who did much to promote not only the rights of Blacks but the right of women to vote.
Ky's speech was the required two minutes and she did a great job memorizing and presenting it. As her teacher said, "She's outstanding; she really spit it out." I thought to myself what a great help all those 2-1/2 minute talks in Primary have been!
On March 2, you would have found me with my daughter-in-law and grandson at a candlelight vigil for one of Reed's classmates, an absolutely beautiful little girl who will turn 6 later this month. Kali has a rare (and very aggressive) form of leukemia. To watch her parents go through this has been heart-breaking. At the same time, it is both an opportunity to join with prayer warriors from many other faiths to join our faith in behalf of Kali and her family, and a reminder of how thankful I am for the knowledge that families can be forever. My advice to anyone reading this: Love one another, each day, every day, for one never knows . . .
On March 4, my friend Roxanne and I took lunch to our friends Terry and Shirley. Shirley was diagnosed a few months ago with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). She is an amazing woman and such a great example of a Christian woman with faith. I told her she looks great and she said that she is not in pain; her body simply doesn't work right any more, particularly her right leg. We had such a good visit. I've since learned that she fell and broke her leg. Dang! I must call Roxie again and we'll plan another visit and meal soon. There's so much to be said for friendship, particularly when the time is right to lend a helping hand.
March 12-13 Our Stake hosted a 5-Stake Spring Break Women's Conference in Branson this weekend. Two or three of the Stakes had conflicting events planned but we still had several hundred women in attendance. It was awesome!!! The "Love Is Spoken Here" Conference began at 4 p.m. Friday evening and registration and a humanitarian project (packing and shipping boxes of requested items to military service personnel); a Readers' Corner; a Lotions and Potions pampering activity; hair styles for children and formal occasions, among other things. My friend Linda (she now lives in Branson and invited me to stay at her home) and I chose to attend the George Dyer show. I was not familiar with him and didn't know what to expect. Well, just let me say this, If you're a Josh Groban fan, you'd love George Dyer! He just signed a five-year contract at the Dutton Theatre (where our Conference was held, along with the Dutton Inn) and one of his daughters also sang two solos and a duet with her dad ("The Prayer"--maybe you've heard Josh Groban and Charlotte Church perform it, or Il Divo and Celine Dionne). Oooooh, goose bumps! I urge you to check out his website and treat yourself to his fabulous voice. http://www.georgedyer.com/
We also got a special treat by The Cat's Pajamas, a four-man group similar to SIX, who just signed a 3-year contract in Branson. Like SIX, all the "percussion," "instruments," etc. are performed with their mouths. They were fantastic! I would like to attend the entire show soon.
We were treated to great speakers along with musical selections from Women of Destiny performed by some very talented members of our Stake (some of whom are professional entertainers in Branson). A special treat was having Sister Allred from the Relief Society General Board in attendance. She spoke Saturday morning, and then conducted a two-hour training on Saturday afternoon (after the Conference ended) for R.S. presidencies from the five-stake area. I've never attended a better, more inspiring training! We, in Third Ward, were really spoiled; inasmuch as today was our Ward Conference, Sister Allred attended and spoke in Sac. Meeting (Church) and again in Relief Society (the women's meeting). What an amazing woman.
As an ambassador for the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (BTW, at 6 MILLION women, the largest organization of women in the world!), she travels throughout the world, teaching and training and instilling in women of many cultures the knowledge that they are daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves them. What an awesome responsibility!
March 17 found me baking two batches of cinnamon rolls and taking them to our son's offices. The occasion was that Gary passed his Series 7 exam, for which he has been studying--almost day and night--for some time now. You can imagine the stress involved when keeping your new job (as a financial advisor) depends upon your passing the test. HE DID IT! and we're proud of him. I figured it was almost as easy to bake two batches as one, so made the second batch for Jon and his office mates. I told Jon to thank his brother since it was Gary's accomplishment this time that prompting the baking. (Jon requested turtle brownies not long ago to share with his office mates so, as you parents know, each child gets his/her "turn.")
I always enjoy celebrating St. Pat's Day by calling my cousin Connie (who is like a fifth sister to me, and my sisters and parents claim her, too) and wishing her a happy birthday. She even takes her turn caring for our precious Daddy, and I'm most thankful for that.
Thursday, March 18--I rounded up some favorite gal pals and we headed to St. Louis to spend the day at the Temple. Always the best of days. I treasure these experiences and associations. (No fried ice cream this time, though!)
On Saturday, March 20, Sara, Reed and I attended Kali's funeral (the little girl I mentioned above). We were broken-hearted when she succombed to the cancer while, at the same time, relieved that she did not have to suffer further. The service was held at their large church and it was full, mostly of adults but Reed was one of several children who attended. At the end of the very nice service, the Pastor said they would like to allow a few minutes for attendees who desired to say a few words about how they knew Kali and what she meant to them.
Two adults raised their hands for the microphone and said a few words, and then Reed told Sara he would like to speak. Sara raised her hand for the mic, and I think both of us held our breath for a minute, wondering what Reed would say. He took the mic, looked both directions at the congregation, and then proceeded: "My name is Reed. Kali was my best friend." Everyone was so touched. As he handed the mic to me to pass back, I said that I did not know Kali personally; rather, I was there to support my grandson and daughter-in-law. But, I added, I would like to share with them something that Reed said to me a few months ago. He said, "When I grow up, I would like to be Mr. Kali Stewart." The congregation loved that. Kali was a very special and very loved little girl who in her not-quite six years made a lasting impression on everyone who knew her. As one woman put it, "Perhaps life is not measured by length but by intensity, and Kali was a very intense little girl who was loved by everyone."
Although it's now April 5th, I'm going to end this update here because I want to do separate entries for at least a couple of events in our lives. If I'm lucky, perhaps I can even get back on "schedule" (hmmmm, that's a lofty goal). As I've said many times before, and am sure I will say many more times: There are far worse maladies than busy-ness. So, I shall continue to try and sort out the good, Better, and BEST! Wish me luck, will you?
