On Sunday 3 May Eileen enjoyed "Music & the Spoken Word" and the Book of Mormon discussion of 3 Nephi 19-20 on BYU-TV and we enjoyed attending our Ellijay Branch.

Opening hymn was #69 "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" text by Theodulph of Orleans (760-821) and music by Melchior Teschner (1584-1635).

Harry Spooner was sustained as a Sunday School teacher and Ann Godwin as Relief Society Visiting Teacher Coordinator.

Sacrament hymn was #190 "In Memory of the Crucified" text by Frank I. Kooyman (1880-1963) and music by Alexander Schreiner (1901-1987).

Today was Fast Sunday and many branch members bore their testimonies.

Craig Chester began with his testimony as he was conducting the meeting today.

Don Bivens bore his testimony and like last month was critical of the branch members for not more of us bearing our testimonies.

Diana Stephens expressed her delight at the chapel being so full.  She spoke of her gratitude for our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.  Of our challenges bringing us closer together and nearer to our Lord.  She was thankful for those who serve with her in Relief Society.  She spoke of the challenges her son Eli, his wife Ashley, and three sons ages 7, 5, and 4.  We need to remember Ashley in our prayers.  Diana is grateful for the support of the branch members.

Connie Reichert has found strength through the Church and being a loved child of God.  

Autumn Pierce has a testimony of the power of prayer.  Bailey Hanks followed her.  Then Naomi Boland.

Elder Rumsey spoke of being graciously received by the branch members.  Grateful for his testimony. We all have trials and they help build us to become who Heavenly Father wants us to become.

Rod Clark shared his testimony and the blessings of paying tithing. 

Marisa Boland bore her testimony.

Eileen bore her testimony and talked of how close her testimony is to her tear ducts.  She spoke of the temple and meeting with our friend from Maryland yesterday.  She expressed gratitude for the gospel and our Savior. 

Richard Callahan testified of our Lord and His atoning sacrifice. 

I bore my testimony.  I spoke of our experiences yesterday and of our working with the branch members on their family history, inviting more of them to let us help them with theirs.

Larry Trim bore his testimony and told of his wife Karla being cancer-free after having breast cancer.  He is very thankful for all the prayers on their behalf.

Levi Pierce bore his testimony. 

Closing hymn was #124 "Be Still, My Soul" text by Katharina von Schlegel (b. 1697) trans. by Jane Borthwick (1813-1897) and music from "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957).

Gospel Doctrine with Craig Chester filling in was lesson #16, “I Was Blind, Now I See" using John 9-10.

The purpose of the lesson is to help class members have a greater understanding and appreciation of Jesus Christ as the Light of the World and the Good Shepherd.

1. Jesus gives sight to a man who was born blind.

I was called upon to speak about seeing from a particular point of view and being able to see another's point.

2. Jesus teaches that he is the Good Shepherd.

Additional teaching ideas:

1. Our responsibilities as shepherds.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Anyone serving in any capacity in the Church in which he [or she] is responsible for the spiritual or temporal well-being of any of the Lord’s children is a shepherd to those sheep. The Lord holds his shepherds accountable for the safety (salvation) of his sheep."

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985)

2. “Other sheep I have” (John 10:16) 

Elder (later President) Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Those who are familiar with the life and teachings of the Master from their knowledge of the books of the Bible will be interested to know there is also a record of his appearance to the people of the Western Hemisphere—the other sheep to whom he made reference. It is titled the Book of Mormon after the prophet who compiled and abridged the records of the peoples of the American continents. The Book of Mormon is another witness for Christ and records his teachings to the other flock in the New World” (in General Conference, Apr. 1983).

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995)

The hymn in priesthood was #249 "Called to Serve" text by Grace Gordon and music by Adam Geibel (1855-1933).

The priesthood lesson consisted of listening to the talk "Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority" by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the October 2014 General Conference.  This talk was used in the April 2015 issue of the Ensign and I used it in my branch talk on 29 March.

Elder Scott spoke about prayer, scripture study, family home evening, and attending the temple.

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928-2015)

At home we got comfortable and I finished reading the next section of Elder John A. Widtsoe's "Evidences and Reconciliations" which was "The Bible."  I helped Eileen with checks that were missing from her check register and she did birthday cards for our granddaughter Megan and the friend from our mission, Laurene Mathis, who lives in Franklin, NC.

We both napped and then enjoyed a turkey breast tenderloin and salad for supper.  We watched America's Test Kitchen," "Cook's Country," "Georgia Outdoors" about dolphins, "Georgia Traveler," and "Who Do You Think You Are?" that had been recorded the last couple of days.

I finished "The Second Gong A Hercule Poirot Short Story" by Agatha Christie that I began yesterday.  It was an expanded version of "Dead Man's Mirror," which I felt was superior to this version.

Agatha Christie (1890-1976)

I worked in our office filing all of our investment paperwork.

We watched a little of the Yankees-Red Sox baseball game and then hit the hay.

I began and finished "Yellow Iris A Hercule Poirot Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Monday 4 May I read as I do each morning the news e-mails from the New York Times and Deseret News.  Then I began and finished "The Dream A Hercule Poirot Short Story" and "Poirot and the Regatta Mystery A Hercule Poirot Short Story" by Agatha Christie while Eileen slept.

When Eileen woke I told her of my weight loss (so far I've lost 20 pounds) and my blood sugar reading of only 75!  That's at the lower end of the normal range of 70-100.

We drove to town and mailed birthday cards and other mail and dropped off the form to hold our mail when we go to Heather's on Thursday.  We then went to Bryant Physical Therapy for an hour's workout.

We visited Walmart and then called Bonnie Helton whom we had home taught prior to our mission.  We went by Ingles and got more strawberries at R&A Orchards.

At home I filed the pile of medical paperwork.  There are many more piles spread out on our bed that I must file today.  In the future I must file every piece of paper (that should be filed) immediately and not start a new pile of paper to be filed someday!  (That hasn't happened!)

I began working on my FamilySearch Wiki presentation on 15 May to the Gilmer County Genealogical Society.

We went to church for our empty-nester Family Home Evening with David Echard teaching about D&C 76 using the D&C Institute Student Manual.

On the way home the odometer hit 101400.  Eileen watched "19 Kids and Counting" while I continued filing paperwork in piles on our bed.

I finished reading to Eileen "The Lord Is My Light" by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference.

Elder Quentin L. Cook 

On Tuesday 5 May we were up and headed for Blue Ridge to enjoy the day with Ralph and Holly Hughes.

We enjoyed lunch at Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant in Chattanooga and visited with Ralph and Holly for a while after returning to their home.

Eileen, Holly, and Ralph

Back in Ellijay we mailed Ashton's birthday card and headed home.

Eileen had on "American Pickers," the Braves - Phillies baseball game, and then "19 Kids and Counting."

I continued working on my FamilySearch Wiki presentation.

On Wednesday 6 May we volunteered at the food pantry and Judy asked me to say the prayer at the end of our morning meeting.  We helped nearly 120 families.  We learned that the pantry had received its annual donation of food from the LDS bishops' storehouse in Tucker.

We went to R&A Orchards and the dump.  At home I finished "The House of Shiraz A Parker Pyne Short Story" by Agatha Christie which I began yesterday.

We looked at the latest Times-Courier and read the "Genealogical Society news" article about our upcoming presentation on 14 May.  Here is an abbreviated version from their website: 'Ben and Eileen Bailey will speak on the "Family History Research Wiki."  This is on a Family search.org, which has 81,000 articles about countries and states all over the world. Ben retired form the Army Signal Corps. They now live in the Cartecay area of Gilmer County.'

Eileen enjoyed watching "Diagnosis Murder" on the Hallmark Channel.

We called Laurene Mathis in Franklin, NC, and sang "happy birthday" to her.

We covered the Family History Center at church from 6-8:15, helping Lynn Edwards and Debbie Young.

I finished "Mrs. McGinty's Dead" by Agatha Christie after midnight which I began two days ago. I couldn't go right to sleep so I finished the story.

On Thursday 7 May According to my UP bracelet I fell asleep after 46 minutes last night. We finished packing and left home about 9:30am and our odometer was 101500.  We drove north through Blairsville to get gas at Ingles for $2.199 with our 10 cent discount.

Our odometer reached 101707 on I-40 near Hickory.  En route I enjoyed two tangerines, an apple, two sugar-free chocolates, a turkey sausage stick, several handfuls of nuts, and some pistachios.  I drank the one liter bottle of Diet Mountain Dew.

Our ETA was initially 5:15pm but the traffic was so very heavy as we neared Raleigh on I-40 and also on I-540 that we arrived at 6:15.  It was so much like our traffic in Atlanta!

It was great to see Liam (and Heather and Tom) and how nice their backyard looked.

Liam and Eileen

Liam, Sadie, and Eileen

Liam along the pebbly path

Liam playing peek-a-boo

Liam and Ben

Liam in the backyard

Eileen and Liam

I began and finished reading "The Gate of Baghdad A Parker Pyne Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Friday 8 May we enjoyed Liam and I worked on my 8 March blog.  My blood sugar average for May is under 90!  Eileen was down to 102.

We watched Liam for a while while Heather went out.  Later I finished reading "The Man From Bar-20" by Clarence E. Mulford which I had begun on 17 April.

Clarence E. Mulford (1883-1956)

We went to the Kamado Grille in Raleigh for dinner.  It just opened a week ago and it is very nice!

Kamado Grille

Tom and Liam

Inside Kamado Grille

Tom, Liam, and Heather

Playing outside Kamado Grille

Entrance to Kamado Grille

Back at Heather's I reviewed my Wiki presentation with Eileen, catching an error or two, making some improvements, and implementing some of her suggestions.

I finished my 8 March blog entry and published it.

On Saturday 9 May I finished reading the 23 November issue of the Church News.  I enjoyed the two articles about President Eyring at the Vatican,

Pope Francis and President Eyring

Bishop Causse, President Eyring, and Elder Perry

President Eyring speaks

President Monson dedicating the Phoenix Arizona Temple which Eileen and I went to last December,

President Monson greets children gathered for the cornerstone ceremony
of the new Phoenix Arizona Temple.  President Uchtdorf and his wife are on the left.

"'120 years of pioneering' about genealogical research,"

Genealogical Society of Utah and FamilySearch through the years

"'Candy Bomber' highlights local German Remembrance Day,"

Retired Col. Gail S. Halvorsen shares the story of how he became known as the Candy Bomber
during the Nov. 16 German National Day of Remembrance at Fort Douglas Cemetery.

and "Rose, thorn and bud" by Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women General President.

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson

I did some family history research in trying to answer an Ancestry message that Eileen had gotten about my side of the family.  

Later I set out to do some shopping.  Our odometer read 101909.  I went to the shoemaker Heather told me of to get two new holes in all three of my belts.

Inside the shoemaker

Nearby shoemaker

I went to Jerry's Artarama and Tom helped me with some painting supplies for Eileen for Mother's Day.

Then to nearby Costco for gas at $2.399 😝.  And on to Harris Teeter for fixings for salad tonight.  There was a wonderful selection of Walden Farms salad dressings!

Eileen made a delicious skirt steak salad for supper as we babysat Liam while Heather and Tom went to dinner and a movie.

Before and after supper I worked on the Wiki lesson screen shots in familysearch.org and labelled them from 1-34.

We kept an eye on Liam as he played and then Eileen played with him doing puzzles on her iPhone.  Eileen read to him and put him in his crib with a book to look at.  Soon he was asleep.

I finished reading "Hickory Dickory Death" by Agatha Christie which I began yesterday.

I posted the following on Facebook:

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said this about the characteristic of gratitude, “It is a quality I have found in every happy person I know. It is a quality that instantly makes a person more likeable and more at peace. Where there is an abundance [of gratitude], there is happiness” (“Live in Thanksgiving Daily,” BYU Speeches, Oct. 31, 2000).

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I began and finished "The Rajah’s Emerald A Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

I finished reading to Eileen "The Greatest Generation of Young Adults" by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from the priesthood session of General Conference.

Elder M. Russell Ballard