This blog entry is without pictures which I will add later.
Opening hymn was #205 "Once in Royal David's City" text by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) and music by Henry J. Gauntlett (1805-1876).
A statement from the First Presidency was read by Brother Jaskolka about helping the refugees all over the world.
Sacrament hymn was #194 "There Is a Green Hill Far Away" text by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) and music by John H. Gower (1855-1922).
Today was Fast Sunday and many branch members bore their testimonies. We will observe it next Sunday when we're home.
Brother Jacob A. Jaskolka of the bishopric conducted the meeting, so he began the testimonies with his testimony of prophets, the Book of Mormon, and our Savior Jesus Christ. We have a special responsibility to serve those around us.
Sister Stuart from the Raleigh North Carolina Mission bore her testimony. We met her last week. She joined the Church 32 years ago.
A brother spoke on this being the first day of the Jewish Passover. He spoke of some Jewish history and the cleansing of the temple by the Maccabees. Later Jesus Christ spoke about the temple and he cleansed it. And our temples today. But was this a testimony?
A brother spoke of his emotion during sacrament songs. How he'd like them sung at his funeral service. He is grateful for the restoration of the gospel, for living prophets and apostles.
A brother told of his thankfulness for his six children and 20 grandchildren.
The previous bishop, Bishop Whitt, spoke of a Hispanic sister calling from Tijuana, Mexico, and saying how thankful she was for the gospel and their son who is on a mission there.
A sister spoke of a struggle with tithing. As soon as she began paying tithing the blessing of a new job came about.
A sister bore her testimony of Jesus Christ, of challenges in her life 20 years ago. She dreamt of the Savior and His light and love, healing her. He is there for each of us, knows us and loves us.
A brother spoke of a time on his mission 30 years ago, of people getting between us and the Savior, driving members away. He works with the young men and is amazed by the missionaries. The answer is the Atonement. Help me as I guide these young men. He bore his testimony. Keep the young men focused on the Savior.
A brother spoke of testimonies born in these meetings. He bore his testimony.
A brother spoke of the toddlers that walk to the front of the chapel, never to the doors! He spoke of 25 years in ward councils and lots of bishops. He bore testimony of normal men called to these positions to serve the Lord.
A brother spoke of the most important commandments, of loving our Father in Heaven and our neighbor as ourselves. He spoke of going on a mission from a little branch in South Carolina, then attending BYU and meeting his eternal companion. They have nine children and 30 grandchildren. Do we love everyone here? May we get closer and closer to our Heavenly Father.
The member of the stake presidency who was visiting bore his testimony. When he was called to the stake high council he was assigned to this ward. Grateful for Christmas and focusing on the Savior. He spoke of the love of the stake president. He spoke of the revelation that leads the Church.
Closing hymn was #214 "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" text by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) and music by John Baptiste Calkin (1827-1905). I was touched as we sang this hymn.
Gospel Doctrine with Ritchie Taylor delayed lesson 45 until next Sunday as there are only two lessons left for four Sundays. He discussed the talk "Jesus: The Perfect Leader" by President Spencer W. Kimball from an address delivered to the Young Presidents organization, Sun Valley, Idaho, 15 January 1977.
President Kimball touched on "Fixed principles," "Understanding others," "Selfless leadership," "Responsibility," "Accountability," "Wise Use of Time," "Secular leadership," "Our potential," and "The perfect leader."
The hymn in priesthood was #85 "How Firm a Foundation" text by
I learned in the high priests group that LDS Tools has expanded greatly on what is available about yourself. It is pretty neat!
Brother Hocking discussed the use of ward council in planning sacrament meetings. He asked for input from the high priests that he could take to the ward council. One suggestion that was interesting was for one time have talks about the sacrament FOLLOWED BY the sacrament. Another was that the sacrament talks be on different subjects, not all the same. The suggestion was made to give the Church News to less-actives.
We had an exciting afternoon at Heather's as Tom was elated that the Jets beat the Giants in overtime, 23-20, after being behind, 20-10.
Eileen made the Braised Fennel, Cannellini Beans, and Italian Sausage dish for Heather to have after we leave tomorrow.
I took out all of the clothes that hang up on the rod in the back of the car and started packing my suitcase.
At 8 pm Eileen and I watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on BYU-TV on our laptops. Our two laptops were not in sync, so we listened to the audio on my laptop.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was wonderful! President Henry B. Eyring conducted the devotional. The first speaker was Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy. As part of his talk he quoted the Christmas story from the book of Luke. He was followed by Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President. The third speaker was Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The concluding speaker was President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
We hit the hay after Eileen packed her suitcase and I read to her. Each evening that consists of the Book of Mormon (we just finished Ether 7), the upcoming Sunday School lesson, the upcoming priesthood/Relief Society lesson, some of the Ensign magazine, and usually some of the latest novel which currently is "An Irish Country Christmas" by Patrick Taylor. Tonight I finished the last talk from the Saturday afternoon session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign. It was by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles entitled "Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ."
I had emailed President Stallings again about the food orders for Fannin County as I had not heard from him. With still no reply I emailed President Marcom and he said he'd get with him about it.
On Monday 7 December we stripped the bed and I put the sheets and pillow cases in the washing machine upstairs.
We left about 10:15 and stopped at the New York Bagel & Deli for the first time in many months! Eileen got the
Manhattan Grill bagel sandwich and I got the New Yorker bagel sandwich. Our odometer was at 102500.
We filled up at Flying J in Graham, North Carolina, for $1.899.
Dr. Raisig's office called and we made an appointment for Thursday for our bloodwork.
We shopped at Walmart in Blue Ridge and saw Darlene Burgess while we were there. We filled up for $1.769.
We got home at 6:10 pm with our odometer at 120909.
I sent the picture of us holding the Times-Courier inside the Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square on 14 July to April Teague at the Times-Courier.
On Tuesday 8 December we called Dr. Raisig's office to make the follow up appointment with him to go over our bloodwork.
I called North Georgia Eye Clinic in Gainesville and left a message to reschedule Eileen's appointment about her cataract surgery.
We enjoyed lunch at Ably Asian Cuisine in Jasper with Ralph and Holly Hughes.
We shopped at Walmart and chatted with Jennifer Stender from our branch. We also saw and visited with Susan Shedd and Mary from the food pantry and Randall Helton whose wife Bonnie is in our branch.
We took the car through the Squiggles car wash, shopped at Ingles, picked up our mail that was on hold at the post office and mailed Spencer his birthday card and William the defective Apple power cord. We got $80 at the bank ATM to add to our emergency stash in my bureau drawer ($20 from each pay while we were gone) and deposited the check from Colleen. Lastly we stopped at the Times-Courier office to get the last three issues of the newspaper. Our picture was in two of them!
I spent quite a bit of time going through all of our mail, the vast majority of which was pitched into the recyclables, leaving the small pile to be looked at for later.
After supper we assembled the Home Hobby Table that Eileen had ordered from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store which was half-price with free shipping. The instructions said assembly time was about 30 minutes but it took well over an hour for the two of us working together.
On Wednesday 9 December we returned to volunteer at the food pantry and 141 came for assistance. Since the youth temple trip last month didn't take place, Elder Rumsey gave us back our family file cards.
Afterwards we went to Walmart and Ingles for a few items. Then came our stop at R&A Orchards for the Times-Courier and apples. This time we got Pink Lady, Gold Rush, and Fuji.
After supper we covered the family history center at church from 6 - 8:30 pm.
Eileen did the 31 H’s, 5 I's, and 17 K's in Somerset.
Today is our baptismal anniversary as we were baptized 43 years ago in Munich, Germany!
I began and finished reading "Have You Got Everything You Want? A Parker Pyne Short Story" by Agatha Christie.
On Thursday 10 December we were up early and went to Dr. Raisig's to have our bloodwork done. Our odometer reached 121000 as we neared his office. My blood pressure was 130/80 and Eileen's was 121/74.
We visited Ingles and cashed Eileen's credit refund check from Kohl's at the bank. We then stopped at the dump on the way home.
At home I flipped off the main circuit breaker to the house and verified that the generator came on and then went off again when I restored power. Eileen packed away her Hummels and put out her white nativity figures on the wall unit. She also packed the little items on the fireplace mantel. Both boxes went into our bedroom closet.
Taylor from Arrow Exterminators came by for the inside termite inspection and to check out our attic where Eileen has been hearing noises at night. He found evidence of flying squirrels :( Their droppings can be seen, especially in the corner above our bedroom toilet. Sealing the attic will cost nearly $2000!
Due to her first fruit cake not holding together (although it is delicious), Eileen made another one today. I have had two slices of the first one and it tastes wonderful!
I brought up the two nativity scenes from the basement. The large one that was Eileen's parents went on the fireplace mantel. Some of the figures Eileen bought when she started working. The small scene is of Hummel figures that I bought over the years when we lived in Maryland. It is on the little cabinet between the TV and the fireplace. I also brought up the two fake poinsettias that go on each end of the fireplace and the figures of Joseph and Mary with the baby Jesus. They are on the TV table cabinet made by my dad's cousin George Thompson to the left of the TV.
I began working on Christmas cards and wrote our Christmas letter. Unlike most years we are only sending cards to family and everyone else on our list for whom we have an e-mail address will get an e-mail with our letter attached. We did the latter last year and also sent many cards, too. The only non-family who will get cards are those who send us cards for whom we do not have an e-mail address.
After supper we drove to see Ralph and Holly Hughes in Mineral Bluff. We rode with them to see the fantastic Christmas lights at the home and property on GA 60 heading north toward North Carolina. It was the equal of those we've seen before in Annapolis, Maryland, and Jones Beach, New York, and those were large displays put on by the local municipalities, not a private home owner like this.
We went for a ride afterwards and visited with them in their home later on.
On Friday 11 December we went to the Kids Ferst Christmas party at Emil and Judy Harvey's in western Ellijay. It was catered by Tony from Country Corner Kitchen. Emil asked me to offer the blessing on the food. The food and the company were very good!
I returned Arrow Exterminators phone call and made the appointment for them to do the sealing of the attic next Tuesday.
We shopped at Walmart and headed for home. One of the things we bought was new outside icicle white lights as the long string from last year didn't work. The two shorter strings were fine and I put them up all around the front porch and partly above the garage door. The new string completed above the garage door.
We noticed that the ditch between the road and our front yard was all filled in for a good distance. I tried to dig it clear but it was too difficult. I called Tom Ballew to see if he knew someone that could clear it out for me. I also asked him about keeping an eye on our home during our next mission. He said he'd be happy to do so. He called back with the suggestion that the county should take care of clearing out the ditch for us. I called Gilmer Public Works and they'll be out next week to do it!
After a minimal supper we drove to the stake center in Marietta for the women's devotional broadcast with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I believe he is physically in Tucker and many (nine, I believe I heard) other stakes are watching the broadcast. We picked up Jan Pardee in Jasper and she rode with us.
Shortly after leaving home our odometer was the palindrome 121121.
I began reading a Star Trek novel followed by the magazine "Tracing Your English & Scottish Ancestors." And some of "Middlemarch" by George Eliot on my iPhone.
Back in Ellijay we got five gallons at Walmart at $1.839.
Tonight I finished the first talk from the Saturday evening priesthood session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign. It was by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles entitled "Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice."
On Saturday 12 December I took the Avalon in for its 120,000 service which is a biggy! Eileen stayed home to prepare goodies for the branch Christmas party this evening. Later the service guy told me that the power steering fluid was leaking, doubling the time here and the cost!!
While reading I finished the 20 September issue of the Church News. I especially enjoyed "Our beloved temple" about President Henry B. Eyring's rededication of the Mexico City Temple, "Elder Ballard addresses 235 stakes from the Utah South Area," "'Like a watered garden'" with Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy, "YSA gathering in New York" with Sister Kristen Oaks, and "Religious freedom, fairness" with Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy, now of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
I didn't get out of Toyota until 3:45! As soon as I got home, we loaded all the goodies that Eileen made during the day and hustled to church for the branch Christmas party.
We had a good time and had an excellent turnout. The ham and turkey were fine and there were lots of desserts. Of course, we ignored numerous high-carb items although both of us had some of Eileen's corn bread. Her four desserts were popular.
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