Guten Tag Elder and Sister Bangerter

Brother and sister, son and daughter of our bishop returned home from their missions to Germany,Hamburg and Berlin.  They gave awesome reports of their missions.  Their aunt(sister to Bishop Bangerter) was visiting, she is the RS president of the church....Julie Beck.  Her husband and Jay are old/dear friends from their Rotary Days together, and we women became acquainted back then in the 70's.  The choir, oh my, we sang Hark all Ye Nations!  We raised the roof, it was fabulous.  Our choir director is music director of Weber State, and he moved into the home right next door to our home.  Great neighbors!  We love them, but not their house right next to our driveway.  We are so blessed to live in a ward that is so committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm glad mom McQ is here with us to be embraced by the wonderful "golden girls" of this ward.  They genuinely care about her.  We love it.

No thoughts on a new blog.......

....I'm finding out that no one cares to read my latest blog anyway.  So I will just write for my own use.  I have lost 23 lbs. on the HCG diet, since July 22.  I am finding that I eat too fast, and then I don't know that I'm satiated until I've eaten everything on my plate.  Ugh!!!  Now, that I've been eating this low calorie way, I can see that I was eating just to eat.  Not because I needed food to fill me.  My eyes were bigger than my stomach.  I savor my few calories now.  I have 4 more days on this diet, and then I will go on a maintenance program for three weeks.  My blood pressure has been consistently down around 112/70 while still taking the BP meds.  I hope my doctor will take me off the pill when he sees my numbers that I have been diligent about recording every day.  Otherwise, I feel fine.  I don't have hunger pangs, nor do I feel weak.  I am looking forward to the maintenance though, for the variety that I will be able to eat, especially as the garden has been producing lots of goodies.  I like veggies, and fruit, that too will have variety from what I've been eating.

I'm thinking........

.......of starting a blog about mom/g'ma/g'g'ma/Lily.  She says the darndest things.  She makes us laugh.  So I thought if I set up a blog of her sayings and insights into her everyday world, you friends, g'children, and g'g' children might appreciate having this someday.  You are all so lucky she can still bake cookies for you.  She loves doing this, but it does take some effort on her part.  And when you let her know how much you appreciate her efforts, she is delighted.  So, I will do this, Any ideas out there on what to name this???

My guys are home, but at the temple as I write this

These guys are awesome, handsome and all that good stuff.

Separation

Jay has gone on a four day trip with our son James and his two sons, Jansen and Logan to Colorado.  Mom McQ and I are here at home with Boozer to protect us.  The guys report that they are having a great time.  They should be home late tomorrow night(Tuesday, Aug. 17).  James and Logan fly home to Boston on Wednesday, while Jansen will stay for a few days with both sets of g'parents until he has to go back to BYU for the Fall term. 
After Jay and I have been so closely tied to each other for 18 months, this separation is different.  We talk on the phone each night. 

Sanctification

“As we pass through the trials of life, let us keep an eternal perspective, let us not complain, let us become even more prayerful, let us serve others, and let us forgive one another. As we do this, ‘all things will work together for good to us that love God.’ ” James B. Martino, “All Things Will Work Together for Good,” Ensign, May 2010, 103


As I was reading the lesson for Sunday School today, I was impressed to read several references made by our latter day prophets concerning sanctification.  Howard W. Hunter said "We must strive to be pure in thought and action."  The Lord said, "And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you;  and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all thngs.  Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God,...." D&C 88:67  I want to be like this.  I wondered, "what shall I do to be more faithful, and truly have singleness of heart and mind that I might be sanctified?"  I love this lesson

The Uintas

We saw this moose by the side of the road and took his picture,  Boozer growled at him .  Too bad no horns yet,  or maybe it was a female.

This magnificent Provo River Falls at 10AM.  There were lots of people up in the Uintas, all trying to get away from the heat.

Routine

New for me, but Jay's forte'.  He wakes up at 5:30, goes to Fox Hollow to golf with Neil every morning, then by 8:30, he's home for a cereal breakfast then read the SL Tribune, and then outside in the yard all day, cutting, trimming, weeding, and comes in only when he has to do so.  While I sleep in, with Boozer, wake up then  shower, breakfast, and a day of reading, Sudoku and Crosswords, TV shows, wash, iron, and get on the computer.  I visit with mom several times a day, when I have something to share with her, or check on her, or have her check on me.  Anyway, this will change too when the weather changes.  We will have a new routine.  I worked outside of the home until the mission, so this is all new to me.  We do go to the temple once a week, and today we will do so, with the names we have been asked to do for the Ward members.  It's a good life, I have to agree.  I am sporting a cough that is annoying.  No nasal congestion or temperature, but I get these extended coughs that don't seem to leave for quite some time.  I am trying to diet at the same time to lose some weight, some of that Hawaiian diet that I took great liberty to imbibe when there for 17 months.  Very unhealthy, but now I'm paying for it, and I need to be diligent about it. 
Today we mowed the lawns.  I help with the big lawn.  It is hard, but I like to help a little bit.  I use one mower while Jay mows with the other mower.  Boozer just chases us back and forth on the lawns.