This blog entry is without pictures which I will add later.
Opening hymn was #9 "Come, Rejoice" text and music by Tracy Y. Cannon (1879-1961).
Released Steve and Betty Riancho as emergency preparedness specialists
Sacrament hymn was #179 "Again, Our Dear Redeeming Lord" text by Theodore E. Curtis (1872-1957) and music by Alfred M. Durham (1872-1857).
The first speaker was Sister Dorrie Stanley. She spoke on God is at the helm. She quoted from Elder M. Russell Ballard about the old ship Zion which is the Church. The true church has always been led by prophets and apostles. Commitments and covenants. She told of the changes in her and President Stanley's life well before they knew President Boland was leaving, well before President Stanley was called to be branch president. Keep the commandments and do all that we can do. Love one another. She bore her testimony.
Intermediate hymn was #267 "How Wondrous and How Great" text by Henry U. Onderdonk (1789-1858) and music attributed to Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806).
The concluding speaker was President Tony Stanley. Dorrie was sick last night and he was afraid he'd be the only speaker today. He is speaking on preparedness. The first years of their membership he could not relate to the plan of happiness. Life was very difficult and the change from Baptist to LDS was hard, too. The Church provides peace, safety, and contentment. The world's way of doing these things doesn't work. A perfect knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ is better for us than a check for a million dollars. He spoke of the world's views of making it as compared to the Lord's way. The Lord has told us how to be prepared. Before we shrink from trying to do all these things, consider some folks from the scriptures and just try to work on it. Get engaged and get busy at it. Exercise our faith, repent, be obedient, etc. Spiritual and temporal preparedness. Obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel. If you are spiritually prepared, just do your best temporally. He was invited to bear his testimony as a new member at stake conference. He hasn't spoken in stake conference since. He was searching for what was real and true and had given up, thinking that he would learn the truth after he died. He spoke of the purging of the Church members as times get worse. We need to prepare. We who are prepared must be willing to share with others in need when the time comes. The Lord will help us bring to pass wonderful things. Don't let Satan convince you that you can't do it. Heavenly Father can change the hearts of those you love. Engage the spirit of God in our lives. He loves the members of this branch.
Closing hymn was #163 "Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing" text by John Fawcett (1740-1817) and music by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).
We all took a few minutes to fill out an anonymous survey about our preparedness.
We had no teacher initially and I ducked into the Family History Center to see who of the people we have helped with their family history might have family file cards for the youth baptismal trip on Saturday.
I also spoke to Steve Riancho about water purification/filtration.
Gospel Doctrine with Marvin Knight was lesson #2 “All Things According to His Will” using 1 Nephi 1-7.
The purpose of the lesson was to help class members see, through the examples of Lehi and Nephi, that safety and salvation come through obedience to the Lord.
1. Lehi leaves Jerusalem and takes his family into the wilderness.
2. Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass.
3. Nephi and his brothers bring the brass plates to their family.
4. Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem for Ishmael and his family.
Because of Lehi’s and Nephi’s willing obedience, millions of people have been blessed. Class members are encouraged to always “go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded” (1 Nephi 3:7).
The hymn in priesthood was #3 "Now Let Us Rejoice" text by William W. Phelps (1792-1872) and music by Henry Tucker (ca. 1863). Included in the first LDS hymnbook.
The priesthood lesson was #1 from "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter" entitled "Jesus Christ--Our Only Way to Hope and Joy."
“If our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong.”
It was "taught" by Brother Ashworth. Eileen said that Nell Huston did a good job teaching the same lesson in Relief Society.
At home more Christmas decorations were put away. I took down the tree and put it away.
I made some home teaching appointments and contacted some of the branch members about their family file cards as the youth are going to the temple on Saturday.
I worked some more on my family tree looking at ancestors who were born around 1904-1905. Eileen watched the Book of Mormon discussion about 3 Nephi 27-28 again on BYU-TV followed by 4 Nephi.
On Monday 11 January we stopped at the dump and drove to the quilt shop in Jasper for Eileen to get some material for the border of her quilt.
I drove to see Claude Miller about his family file cards. I learned that he lost the vision in his good eye (his left eye) as he was driving and got into two accidents trying to get home. Richard Callahan is taking him to the doctor tomorrow and the elders have given him a priesthood blessing. We couldn't find his family file cards, so I will reprint the FOR and get new cards on Thursday when we go to the temple. Then I'll make sure the youth will have them for Saturday.
On the way back we visited Walmart, North Georgia Diamond, and Ingles. At North Georgia Diamond Eileen got two pair of gold backings for her earrings and a device for one of her rings to size it better on her thinner finger so it wouldn't be so apt to fall off.
Bill Kazy called back and told us of Kimberley being sick.
Later I called Goodyear in Severna Park to pay for Geoff's starter for his truck.
We visited Kelly Johnson as her home teachers. We gave her a framed "Family Proclamation" to hang up in her home. We asked her about food storage and she has none. We counseled her to just get a couple of cans of food on sale when she goes shopping. We discussed the "best by" date on cans and she was adamant that she would never eat anything after that date, even though we told her that was only a best by date, not an expiration date. So sad and costly :)
We stopped for 3 gallons of gas at Walmart at $1.739, finishing off my gift card balance. That will enable us to get to Blue Ridge tomorrow for gas cheaper at Ingles for $1.649.
We mailed our letter to Cuna Mutual Group about Eileen's long-term care insurance.
At home I turned off the main power to the house to check on the generator coming on and it did, and then it shut off when I restored power. I do that monthly.
Eileen sewed the entire border of the quilt by hand sitting with me on the sofa and finished it. It looks great!
We packed nearly all the rest of the Christmas decorations. We watched the Alabama - Clemson game until Alabama pretty much put it out of reach :( After reading we learned that Clemson had come back, only to lose 45-40.
On Tuesday 12 January we packed up the remainder of our Christmas decorations and I got it all in our Christmas closet downstairs.
We deposited our two checks from Oppenheimer at the bank and then went to Rite-aid for the Freestyle Precision Neo blood glucose meter and test strips. We will see how we look them. If so, we'll get a second meter and return the test strips for the Freedom Lite. The two Freedom Lite meters were free with a prescription but the test strips are $179.99 for 100! With a prescription and insurance they are $39.99. That makes them the same price for us as the Neo test strips are without a prescription.
We drove to Ingles in Blue Ridge for gas at $1.649. We stopped at Walmart for a few things. We went by Darlene's new place to home teach her. At her request my prayer included a dedication of her new home. We took all the cardboard boxes from her front porch and a couple of things for Faith, Hope, and Charity.
I finished the 8 November issue of the Church News. I enjoyed "President Nelson honored in China," "Stay positive amid trials" with Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Observing the Sabbath" (I sent Colleen part of that article that she could apply in her own family), an article about Elder Dale G. Renlund "Look to Heaven for direction," the center section "The Family Proclamation: A Clear Standard to the World," "A legacy of faith" in Laie and "Learning, doing and being," both with Elder D. Todd Christofferson, and another article from the Sidney B. Sperry Symposium ("New look at plates transcription").
On Wednesday 13 January we dropped off the cardboard boxes and volunteered at the food pantry and helped 124 patrons.
We went to our annual dermatology appointment with Gardner Dermatology straight from the pantry.
We picked up the Times-Courier at R&A Orchards.
After an early supper we headed south for our mission interview with our stake president, President Nicholls, stopping on the way at the Hallmark store in Canton. At the store Suzanne told us of the Christmas decorations being 75% off. We had gotten a lot last year but this time we only got three decorations and three greeting cards, birthday for Tanner and Sean and a Valentine's Day card (presumably for me from Eileen). It was interesting to learn that Suzanne is also a flight attendant!
We got to the stake center early about 6:20 and one door was open! We had our separate interviews and then together with President Nicholls. He said Eileen was sweet and charming and would have guessed that she was 10 years younger than she is! I am so blessed!!
I finished reading "Raise the Dawn" (Star Trek Typhon Pact) by David R. George III which I started seven days ago. It was excellent!
On Thursday 14 January we drove to the Atlanta Temple and did sealings of ours as well as two for Bonnie Helton and one for Claude Miller.
We stopped at Ingles in Jasper for some produce, Rite-aid in Ellijay for three prescriptions from the dermatologist and a Precision Neo blood glucose meter (I had a $5 coupon from this week's newspaper) and a box of 50 test strips for Eileen, the post office to mail a box to Colleen, Faith, Hope, and Charity to drop off two things from Darlene Burgess, and the Lions Club to give blood. They didn't have me on their list (I thought I signed up last time) and they were way behind taking people.
They at first gave me a letter for walk-ins but then gave me a number for having an appointment. We got there about 3:50, my number was called at 4:25, and I started donating about 4:45. We were out of there a bit after 5 pm. My blood pressure was 124/78.
In the evening Eileen worked more on the Kids Ferst scrapbook and she will turn it back in tomorrow. We will also donate $200 for the 50 raffle tickets they asked us to sell for the playhouse as we don't participate in raffles.
Eileen also enjoyed a show called "Barnwood Builders" on the DIY Network.
On Friday 15 January we went to the Kids Ferst general meeting at the Head Start building at 10 am. Unfortunately we had a flat tire in the rain on Big Creek Road not far from home. We called USAA roadside assistance and a fellow from Bear's Garage came by to put on the spare. We didn't get to the meeting until after 11 am.
Eileen gave the scrapbook stuff to Judy Harvey, the raffle tickets to Jacqueline Poole, and the check to Stan Ashworth. I visited with Galen Forbes who will be taking over the newsletter. We signed up to be with the playhouse one Saturday afternoon before we head for Arizona. We chatted with Emil and Judy Harvey and Eileen Below about our upcoming mission and the food pantry.
We drove to Absolute Tires where the flat was fixed (it was a nail) quickly for $5. We filled up at Walmart for $1.759.
At 2 pm we cleaned the church building with help from Ron Fisher, Cheryl Dawson, and Roger Widmann. We dropped off the Christmas card and cute little sleigh that Eileen had made at our neighbors, Roy and Debbie Libengood's. They were gone for a month to Florida and just got back a few days ago.
Eileen enjoyed a show called "Garage Gold" on the DIY Network.
At 4 pm we were on my laptop with Jane Colmenares and received training for our new English project on cleaning up the sidebars in each county. It took about 15 minutes.
After supper I did Hampshire, Wiltshire, Cornwall, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire.
As Eileen watched "Disney Dream Cruise" on the Food Network, she did Devon, Dorset, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire.
Later while researching recipes on her laptop, she watched "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" with Guy Fieri and "Texas Flip and Move."
I finished reading "Deadly Pedigree A Nick Herald Genealogical Mystery" by Jimmy Fox. It was a gift from Eileen for my birthday and I had started it on 18 December.
On Saturday 16 January we went to the post office to mail Sean's and Tanner's birthday cards. We went to Rite-aid and Ingles, then drove to Ann Godwin's for a visit. Our odometer reached 124124. Her son Steve and his wife Dale were there, too. They live in Conyers and have four daughters, one of whom is finishing her mission in Germany. She is currently in Frankfurt where we lived for three years (1975-1978).
Then we drove back into Ellijay to home teach Peggy Espersen. After Peggy we drove to Walmart for a few things and then to home teach Bonnie Helton.
At home Eileen watched an episode of "Barnwood Builders" with the Boy Scouts that she had recorded.
As we ate supper we watched "Cook's Country" and "America's Test Kitchen" that we had recorded.
We watched the last four minutes of the New England Patriots - Kansas City Chiefs playoff game. Kansas City scored, but lost 27-20.
Then we watched some of the Green Bay Packers - Arizona Cardinals game. Arizona was ahead 7-6 at half time.
During the game Eileen did Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Rutland.
Ben did Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Westmorland, Warwickshire, Sussex, Surrey, Suffolk, Staffordshire, Somerset, and Shropshire. We're done except for London and Jane will let us know about that.
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