We Survived Hurricane Sandy...

...which at times yesterday was kind of scary.  The winds were hurricane force all day and just kept pummeling us until about 10:00 p.m.  It was almost weird after the noise of all day to the quiet of last night when the winds died down.  Today we will have wind gusts up to 40 miles an hour - a typical day in Rhode Island really - with rain.  Nothing new here.  The longest we lost power was 20 minutes yesterday morning.  We were really blessed.  Thank you for your prayers.  I know that the reason we came through this so well is because of the prayers of family and friends.

Clyde's Released

This morning at 10:30 our time, Clyde was released as the bishop.  It  was bittersweet.  You know it is coming and it has been a wonderful 5 3/4 years.  I have loved being the "Bishop's Wife" and "Mother of the Ward".  I told the Stake President it was a calling that I was sad to be released from.  However, it is time to prepare for our mission and to get ready to move.  We need to get our mission papers in and our goal is January.  We are moving from here July - so there is a lot to be done.  The time has come to focus in a different direction and move forward.  The new bishopric is young and will bring a vibrancy to the ward that is needed.

On My Walk Today

 I thought it would be fun to see what I see everyday on my walk.  This is as much a memory page for me for the future.  With hurricane Sandy bearing down on us - we could lose leaves, branches and maybe trees - so I wanted a memory of the beauty I see every day - especially as the leaves start to turn colors here.  We haven't had a hard freeze yet so we are really quite green still.  The above picture is our entrance to our apartment complex.  The cornstalks have 'Indian' corn on them for the first few day but the squirrels, birds and rabbits quickly take care of that before a week is through and then all that is left is the cornstalks.  It is fun to watch the animals with their booty!

 This is actually one of the vantage points as I step off the bottom step of the stoop of our apartment building.  It is always so beautifully kept.

 This is a tree in the military housing behind our complex that I walk sometimes

 This is looking down the side street leading into our apartment complex.  That big building is a bank.  The kind of white building in the very end of the street is a hotel complex.

This is a view of our clubhouse and actually the entrance to our pool in the summer time.  You can't see it but the tree's leaves are almost purple.  The temperature during my walk this morning at 10:00 a.m. was 53 degrees.  It was a beautiful, crisp walk.

5 Books That Have Influenced Me

My daughter, Pam, sent out a challenge of sorts as the 5 books that influence our lives.  I am assuming that is aside from the Scriptures - because there are the 4 top books right there.  So here are the novels that have made the biggest impact on me.  Unlike Pam, I do not remember any books from my childhood until I read book #1 on my list.  I read all the time but nothing before that ever sang to my soul until then.

1.  Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman: This was my first somewhat adult chapter book.  I read it the summer between 5th and 6th grade and fell in love.  It is my most favorite book ever!  I love the adventure story, the love story and the fact it is actually based on real people.  I read it about once a year and have for almost 50 years.

2.  Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: This was one of my mother's favorite books and she couldn't wait for me to be old enough to read it and discuss it with her.  I read it the first time between 6th and 7th grade.  I read it again in High School and have probably read it 3 or 4 times in all.  I don't like Scarlet and never have but I have always love Melanie.  It is one of those books that lets you know that life and books don't always have a happy ending. I was a bit surprised when this book popped up on my list and yet I can see how it has impacted my life.

3.  Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow:  I love books written by Gwen Bristow and every few years I read all of her works.  She like Margaret Mitchell paints a lifelike portrayal rather than a happily ever after.  Some people don't like her because of that but I love her descriptions and have always enjoyed her.  I tend to read her when I get homesick for the West.

4. Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt: This was one of the first mysteries I read and loved.  I became hooked to the point that I would say mysteries is pretty close to my favorite genre in books.  I like the 'fluffy' mysteries better than the those that are full of intense intrigue.  But nothing makes me happier than a fun, good mystery to this day.

5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: I had to read this in High School and I didn't appreciate it then.  It wasn't until college that I fell in love with Jane Austen and her works but it was this book that opened that door.  How blessed we are to have this image of the Regency era in England and the prim and proper way to do things.  It just brings a smile to me every time I read this work.

I could go on and on and was really quite surprised at this list.  Who knows maybe next time it will be a different 5!

Happy Birthday Carianne

Today is my oldest daughter's birthday.  We waited and waited for a child and were so thrilled when she finally came. Carianne was born in El Paso, Texas and was the only blonde in the nursery.  When people came to visit me - anyone and everyone knew she was ours.  Her most distinguishing feature for the first few weeks was her blonde hair that stuck straight up.  I lovingly called her 'Woodstock' after the little bird in the Peanuts cartoons but my mother soon started calling her 'Sunshine' and the name stuck forever more.  

I cannot believe it has been 35 years since her birth.  It has been quite a ride!  We love you Carianne and hope you have a wonderful birthday.  We also hope that this year brings peace and contentment.  {I hope to find some fun pictures but I am currently writing this at Church with no access.  So for right now, this will have to do.}

All Is Well

After much trepidation - and only because we are going on a mission - I had a colonoscopy yesterday.  I have a 'beautiful colon' (what ever that means!) and don't have to do another for 5+ years.  The prep for me was not fun - just because I was up all night going to the bathroom.  Other than that it was okay.  I don't understand why people would voluntarily do this to cleanse themselves!  Yes, you lose a few pounds but as soon as you eat, it comes right back.  No wonder so many people look so miserable on the red carpet.

Now on to the next phase of getting our papers in.  We just a have a few months until our goal of January to turn everything in.

My Weekend

My weekend blew by!  I feel like an atomic bomb blew it up.  Saturday morning was shopping for Sunday and the week.  Clyde and I went to the local SAS shoe store and bought some dress shoes that will last through our mission (and beyond).  He bought some black tie shoes and I bought some red loafers - dressy but comfortable.  Saturday afternoon we came home to call our grandson, Noah Pfiester for his 8th birthday.  I ended up talking to Noah for about 10 minutes and Nathanael for over 45 minutes!  It was one of the most fun conversations I have had with a grandchild in a long time.  It was almost as good as being there.  We had a bit of confusion with Carianne though.  I asked to speak to their mom and the boys told me she was busy getting Noah's party ready.  I told them we needed to go - mostly because I felt like the boys should be helping Carianne not talking to me.  Carianne called back as soon as Nathanael hung up.  She wasn't too busy to talk and we had a wonderful long visit.  With her home schooling and the family scheduled like it is - it is hard to know when to call her nowadays. 

Sunday was so spiritual that I was drained by last night.  For our Sacrament Meeting, I had chosen "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" for the Intermediate hymn.  I had selected 4 of the 7 verses and called it good.  The first speaker was a sister from Bolivia.  Her talk was beautiful but only last 5 minutes.  The counselor stood up and said we would be singing all the verses of the intermediate hymn!  I got to the last two verses and started to cry.  The spirit hit me so strong because of the history of the song and words of the hymn.  That is the morning spiritual experience.  Then at noon, Clyde and I left to go to Boston for the Boston Temple Devotional.  Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife were the keynote speakers.  This is also the last devotional for the current Boston Temple Presidency, so we heard from the new President, and the retiring Presidency and their wives.  That was very spiritual and uplifting.   Then last night the Elders came by to help Clyde give me a blessing.  Tomorrow I go in for a colonoscopy.  My history with these kind of tests is not good.  Having 3 kinds of cancer so far, I don't want a 4th.  I was blessed with peace of mind and that there would be no negative results.  

I hate to write such long blogs but this is only 2 days!  What a blessing it was to be able to sit and listen to an apostle of the Lord yesterday.  We are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives and to have temples.  

General Conference

I love General Conference.  I love the peace it brings into my life.  I love the sense of renewal it gives me and I love listening to the wisdom of the Prophet, the General Authorities and the Seventy.  What a blessing to have this opportunity twice a year.  

An Old Adage

"Want what you have and you'll always have what you want." ~Unknown~

I have been pondering this thought for two days and getting more and more out of it.  Maybe my cold is affecting my brain but I like what this has to say.  It could be that I am very much not this way.  Most people know how I feel about many things because I am very verbal.  I rarely want what I have at the moment.  Maybe I should enjoy the here and now more for what it has to offer.

A Thought for the Day

When I was growing up - my mother always had maids.  When we lived in San Antonio the first time, we had a maid named 'Birdie'.  She really was mostly responsible for watching me at a time when my mom was in bed a lot because of illness and pregnancy.  I came to love Birdie.  I learned a lot about the 'Colored' world because she would take me with her when she went downtown.  Because she would not let me out of  her sight, I had to use the 'colored' water fountains and bathrooms when I was with her.  I didn't know any different and didn't care.  One time when I went with my parents to Joske's (a Texas owned Department store that has now been bought out) in downtown San Antonio, I headed for those restrooms and my mother about had heart failure.  My dad asked her where else would I go when I was with Birdie?  But my most vivid memory of Birdie - is when I would do something that didn't measure up to her standards.  She was a Christian that LOVED Jesus.  She took me to my first Bible school.  Whenever I did something wrong, she would say, "You never go wrong, doing what's right."  I had forgotten  her little adage until late last night when I couldn't sleep and I had a memory roll through my head.  I wish I had remembered that sooner because it would have been a wonderful motto to live by.  But then it isn't too late.

Oh, Holy Words of Truth and Love

For the last month or so, a hymn has been rolling through my head. It is "Oh, Holy Words of Truth and Love" [Hymns 271].  Here are the words that keep going through my head:
Oh, holy words of truth and love 
We hear from day to day,
Revealed to Saints from God above
To guide in heaven's way
Chorus:
Beautiful words of love
Coming from God above,
How sweet, how dear the words we hear!
They're beautiful words of love.

Verse 6
As gems of wisdom, pure and bright
That glow with lustrous ray,
We'll seek to gain these words of light,
Their counsels to obey.
Chorus:

Why the first and last verse of this hymn?  I am not sure - except they are lovely words to live by.  I have been trying to only speak words of love and read only words of love.  I am very picky about the books I read of late, especially since Clyde and I are now preparing for a mission.  I find my daily regime focused on what I need to do for a mission to serve our Heavenly Father.  On those days, I feel so much better.  Before I thought these things were selfish but now I realize I am doing them to honor my Savior and Heavenly Father.  For me - beautiful words of love - are not always the easiest things to spring forth from my mouth.  In my old age I am learning quite often that silence is better than speaking or even better that my eloquent husband needs to speak the beautiful words for both of us.  In this case, I do not mind standing with or even behind my husband.  I am a caustic person by nature.  Beautiful words of love are not a natural part of me.  As always at this time of year when I set my goals - I am setting one to speak more beautiful words of love when I do speak BUT to speak less and listen more.