Bailey's Blog

On Sunday 24 May Eileen enjoyed "Music & the Spoken Word" and the Book of Mormon discussion on the book of Ether on BYU-TV and we enjoyed attending our Ellijay Branch.

Opening hymn was #339 "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" text by Samuel F. Smith (1808-1895) and music from Thesaurus Musicus, London, 1744.

Released Claire Bowen as Sunday School teacher. Sustained Olga Knight as a visiting teacher supervisor in Relief Society.

Sacrament hymn was #195 "How Great the Wisdom and the Love" text by Eliza R. Snow (1804-1887) and music by Thomas McIntyre (1833-1914).

The first speaker was Brother Roman Vish. He is 15 and will be a junior in high school. He spoke on what are covenants. A binding spiritual contract. Baptismal covenant and he looks forward to the priesthood covenants as well as temple covenants. D&C 43:9-10; 82:10. He quoted Elder Russell M. Nelson about being a covenant keeper. Bore his testimony on the importance of covenants.

Elder Russell M. Nelson

The second speaker was Brother George Vish, father of Roman. Why we make covenants. Between God and his people. A convert at BYU 30 years ago at age 19. How important covenants are. D&C 82:8-10. Renew our covenants through partaking of the sacrament each week. "Power of Covenants." Elder D. Todd Christofferson about five years ago in general conference. Oath and covenant of the priesthood. D&C 84:33-34. Preparing to serve a mission. Interview with his bishop for his temple recommend. Power of godliness from on high. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Higher level of commitment. Mission in Frankfurt, Germany. Only covenant makers and covenant keepers will enjoy the celestial kingdom (Elder Holland). Peace and comfort from the Lord. Elder David A. Bednar about "tender mercies." Bore his testimony.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder Jeffrey R. Hollandof the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder David A. Bednarof the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Intermediate hymn was #60 "Battle Hymn of the Republic" text by Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910) and music Anonymous ca. 1861.

The concluding speaker was Brother Rafael Van Dyke of the stake high council. Being here warms his heart. Covenants are individualized. Grateful for his calling. Learning from the stake presidency. Women and our covenants. Effect of women in his life. Women and the priesthood. Women are superior to us in so many ways so we have the priesthood to try to measure up just a little bit. Different roles for men and women. Quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley, Elder M. Russell Ballard, and President N. Eldon Tanner about women. Women without the priesthood in their home. Strength of women in such situations. Need women to carry forth the work of the Savior. Bore his testimony about this being the Savior's work.

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008)

Elder M. Russell Ballardof the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

President N. Eldon Tanner (1898-1982)

Closing hymn was #338 "America the Beautiful" text by Katherine Lee Bates (1859-1929) and music by Samuel A. Ward (1848-1903).

I gave Teri Grace her FOR and her three family file cards that we had for her.

Gospel Doctrine with Harry Spooner was lesson #19, “Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee" using Luke 18:1-8, 35-43; 19:1-10; John 11.

The purpose of the lesson is to help class members develop greater faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus presents the parable of the unjust judge and the widow.

Elder James E. Talmage taught, “Jesus did not indicate that as the wicked judge finally yielded to supplication so would God do; but He pointed out that if even such a being as this judge, who ‘feared not God, neither regarded man,’ would at last hear and grant the widow’s plea, no one should doubt that God, the Just and Merciful, will hear and answer” (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed.)

Elder James E. Talmage (1862-1933)
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder Richard G. Scott said:

“It is a mistake to assume that every prayer we offer will be answered immediately. Some prayers require considerable effort on our part. …

“When we explain a problem and a proposed solution [to our Heavenly Father], sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions. We need to do what we feel is right. In time, He will answer. He will not fail us” (in General Conference, Oct. 1989).

Elder Richard G. Scott(1928-2015)
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

2. A blind man demonstrates his faith and is healed by Jesus.

The pre-existence was understood else how could the blind man have sinned that he was born blind.

3. Jesus is received in Zacchaeus’s home.

Elder Joe J. Christensen said: “There are those who wake up every morning dreading to go to school, or even to a Church activity, because they worry about how they will be treated. You have the power to change their lives for the better. … The Lord is counting on you to be a builder and give them a lift. Think less of yourself and more about the power you have to assist others, even those within your own family” (in General Conference, Oct. 1996).

Elder Joe J. Christensen of the Seventy

Elder Thomas S. Monson said, “The passage of time has not altered the capacity of the Redeemer to change men’s lives. As he said to the dead Lazarus, so he says to you and me: ‘… come forth.’ (John 11:43.) Come forth from the despair of doubt. Come forth from the sorrow of sin. Come forth from the death of disbelief. Come forth to a newness of life. Come forth” (in General Conference, Apr. 1974).

Elder Thomas S. Monsonof the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The hymn in priesthood was #340 "The Star-Spangled Banner" text by Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) and music by John Stafford Smith (1750-1836).

The priesthood lesson was "Teachings For Our Time" with the talk "Waiting for the Prodigal" by Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy. Don Bivens taught the lesson. Eileen enjoyed the same lesson taught by Nell Houston.

"May you and I receive the revelation to know how to best approach those in our lives who are lost."

Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy

Elders Ross and Cleverly thanked us for the Zaxby gift card.

At home Eileen took a nap and I worked on the Gregory genealogy. While we ate supper we enjoyed watched "Pride & Joy" A Southern Foodways Alliance Feature Film that I had recorded on PBS. It was very interesting about Southern food.

Eileen enjoyed "Flip or Flop" on HGTV.

Christina and Tarek El Moussa

I put what I researched about the Gregory's into Family Tree. I called Peggy Espersen about giving her a blessing tomorrow and called Phil and Carol Messina to see how they were doing.

Ashton called and FaceTimed with Eileen. He asked her if she would speak about the Holy Ghost at his baptism in June.

We enjoyed "Lakefront Bargain Hunt" on HGTV at Lake Cumberland in Kentucky with a couple looking at houseboats.

I researched the Gregorys' births, marriages, and deaths in FreeBMD and entered what I found into PAF. Then I began entering it all into Family Tree.

I finished reading Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, "Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet" to Eileen from the Sunday morning session of general conference.

After midnight I finished reading "The History of Pendennis" by William Makepeace Thackeray which I had begun on 21 November 2013.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863)

On Monday 25 May we slept late and I read as Eileen slept. I began and finished reading "Miss Marple Tells A Story A Miss Marple Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie (1890-1976)

We had a quiet Memorial Day and enjoyed cheeseburgers on the grill and rotisserie chicken salad from Ingles for lunch. We watched the Yankees defeat the Kansas City Royals, 14-1. It was nice as the Yankees had lost 10 of their last 11 games but distressing as the Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie, who is LDS, pitched what may have been the worst start of his career. In one inning plus three batters in the 2nd inning he gave up nine hits, three walks, and 11 runs, all earned. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch! :(

I got dressed up a bit (losing weight has made it easier to bend over and put on socks and shoes) and picked up David Echard and we drove to Peggy Espersen's. We gave her a priesthood blessing in preparation for her knee replacement surgery tomorrow. Her daughter Monica will take her for the operation first thing in the morning.

I began and finished reading "A Christmas Tragedy A Miss Marple Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

I had collected a number of coupons and I normally put them alphabetically in my coupon bag and forget about them. Eventually they expire and I may have only used one or two of them. So this time I threw away all the expired ones and put in the new ones, writing them all down with expiration date in my iPhone as a reminder.

We had a very wonderful thing happen! We have wondered for a long time where Eileen's book about a turtle from her childhood titled "Dumpy" by Lucy MacDonald was in the house. We knew we had it somewhere! When Eileen received the little Jim Shore sculpture of a turtle from the Hallmark store last year, we wondered anew where the book was hiding. We assumed it was in the basement somewhere. Well, today Eileen was straightening up in the office and there it was!! Written inside the front cover is to Eileen dated 1947 for perfect attendance April - May - June. It was from Sunday School when she was four years old.

Jim Shore sculpture

We decided to watch the "Face to Face" video with Elder David A. and Sister Susan Bednar that was part of the 14 May Deseret News Mormon Times email. The part of the video with the Bednar's was about midway through the video. Preceding them were excerpts of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for nearly an hour which was very enjoyable. We saw Phil Dunn among the men. He was one of the research consultants on the British floor during our mission. And Diane Prince who along with her husband Rob led our tour of the British Isles in 2013. The link to watch it is at https://www.lds.org/youth/activities/spiritual-strength/scriptures-and-prophets/face-to-face-with-elder-and-sister-bednar?lang=eng.

Before the portion of the video with the Bednar's, we called Peggy Espersen and asked her for the measurements for the pieces of wood that she could use to keep her windows from being opened from the outside. We were headed for Lowe's when she called with the information. We got the wood and took it to Peggy, helping her put the pieces in place. It was a dark and rainy evening.

Back at home we enjoyed the "Face to Face" video as questions were asked by many youth of the Bednar’s.

On Tuesday 26 May we slept late and I read the Deseret News and New York Times e-mails as Eileen slept. I had 9 hours and 28 minutes sleep, a record since using the UP bracelet at night. Usually I get between 7 and 8 hours. Eileen had 10 hours and 4 minutes sleep.

I took care of the bird feeders and the corn cob holder.

I called Jim Combs and made an appointment on Thursday to help him with his family history. He is not LDS but his wife is.

Eileen went to her appointment at Barbara's Hair Designers for the works. I went to the bank, post office, and Faith, Hope, and Charity. At the post office I mailed the book "The Lost Empress" and a birthday card to Allen White. His birthday is on Monday.

At Walmart I went through all of the coupons in my iPhone reminder while Eileen was getting her hair done, buying all except perishable items and items that I had questions about. I saved $10.95. Unlike Ingles, Walmart doesn't tell at the bottom of your receipt how much you saved :( I had to add up the coupons on the receipt.

I ran into Cathy Burke from Bryant Physical Therapy. She said that she had gotten the Book of Mormon and would check it out.

The young lady named Colleen who was my cashier said "yes" to my two Book of Mormon questions :)

I picked up Eileen and we worked out at Bryant Physical Therapy for an hour. Then we visited Peggy at the hospital just as the physical therapist was with her.

Then it was back to Walmart with Eileen for several more items and we saved $3.75 more on coupons.

We were glad that the June issue of the Ensign came in the mail before we left for Arizona on Monday.

Eileen had a nice chat with Kimberley Kazy about some of her concerns. Then she enjoyed "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy."

I emailed David Echard about Peggy and the Kazy's. I also forwarded him my e-mails to Carol Messina about who I helped the last three months with their family history. The calling of family history consultant comes under the high priests group leader.

I emailed FamilySearch about the names in the temple ordinance list changing from yellow to green even when the FOR is not printed.

I called Brother Charles Bowen about getting with them about their family history. His wife is away and he will get me her user name and helper number.

Eileen worked on getting the things together for her talk on the Holy Ghost at Ashton’s baptism.

On Wednesday 27 May we were up early and volunteered at the food pantry. We helped about 80 families.

Eileen got texts before we left the house from her brother Russell and our son-in-law David that Irene Opatosky, mom of David and Russ's wife Gail, had passed away about 3 am this morning. I put in our calendar that her temple work can be done a year from now.

Then we mailed the Book of Mormon and the get-well card for Sister Margaret Bury at the post office before covering the Health Center from 1-3 pm for Kids Ferst. We signed up several children.

Eileen and Ben at the Health Center

We visited Peggy Espersen at the hospital and then picked up a prescription for Eileen at Rite-aid. We stopped at R&A Orchards for the newspaper. Our picture at Zaxby's with the newspaper was in this issue!

Eileen and Ben at Zaxby's

After a yummy salad and salmon supper we covered the Family History Center at church from 6-8:30. Our odometer read 103000. The Rumsey's came by late in the evening and we visited with them about their family history.

I began and finished reading "The Blue Geranium A Miss Marple Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Thursday 28 May we went to UPS to get some items laminated for Ashton’s baptism. We shopped at Ingles and had some lunch at Okinawa, even though Ralph and Holly couldn't make it. We took lunch from there to Peggy as we visited her at the hospital.

Then we went to church to clean the building. Brother and Sister Ray came as well as Roger Widmann. Brother Fisher must have forgotten :(

Later we went to Walmart to get some items that Eileen wanted for Ashton’s baptismal talk on the Holy Ghost. We ran into Pat Elie whom we know from the food pantry.

We didn't make it to Jim Combs as I called first and he didn't answer my two phone calls. We were glad as we were both pretty tired after two very busy days. That's why we didn't go to Bryant Physical Therapy this morning. Jim called later and his number came up as Unknown. He left a message and wished us well on our trip.

I helped Eileen with her Arnoll - Matthews ancestors on Family Tree. She did a lot of research so that she could accurately combine duplicate records.

On Friday 29 May we were excited as both of us were under 200 as my weight was 199.6! Eileen has lost 13 and I've lost 25 lbs. our blood sugars were very good as Eileen was under 110 again and I was 82.

We were saddened to read that Elder L. Tom Perry's thyroid cancer has spread and the diagnosis is terminal. He has been a wonderful apostle of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Elder L. Tom Perry (1922-2015)
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

We went to the Atlanta Temple for the 11 am endowment session. It was unusual with only three sisters and six brothers. We dropped off several FORs when we got there. Our odometer read 103103.

On the way home we stopped at the RaceTrac convenience store in Jasper and got some sugar-free soft strawberry - banana ice cream. We then stopped at Ingles for a few things and got five gallons of gas at $2.599, which is 20 cents off the regular price :( We bumped into Brenda and David Ashworth from our LDS branch and then Tony from the Country Corner Kitchen in Ellijay.

Back in Ellijay we stopped at the C&S Bank branch by Walmart to look into donating money each month to Kids Ferst from our checking accounts.

Then I filled up at Walmart getting about seven gallons at $2.549 on my gift card and almost three gallons at $2.579. Their price has gone up 16 cents in just a couple of days!!

We stopped at Shane's Rib Shack and got their sampler for Peggy and took it to her at the hospital.

Later at home I made appointments to visit Sabrina Bayless and Bonnie Helton.

I set up on the website for our bank to pay $10 a month from each of our checking accounts to Kids Ferst of Gilmer County.

Having received the public library events from Heather Parker for July - August, I worked on the July Kids Ferst newsletter.

I finished reading President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk, "The Gift of Grace" to Eileen from the Sunday morning session of general conference.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I began and finished reading "The Affair at the Bungalow A Miss Marple Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Saturday 30 May we slept late and after getting up I began and finished reading "The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin" by Beatrix Potter.

We visited Bonnie Helton as her new home teachers. We had been their home teachers (Randall and Bonnie) before our mission. I gave her a blessing before we left as she visits the surgeon on Wednesday. Her back is bothering her a lot and it's affecting her right leg badly. She had back surgery last year. I called the Atlanta Temple and put her name on the prayer roll as I hadn't done it yesterday.