On Sunday 26 July Eileen enjoyed "Music & the Spoken Word" and the Book of Mormon discussion with Robert Millet on the book of 2 Nephi on BYU-TV and we enjoyed attending our Ellijay Branch.

Robert Millet

Opening hymn was #46 "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" text by John Newton (1725-1807) and music by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), included in first LDS hymnbook.

Released Jay Hanks, Bo Kelly, and Scott Pierce as Young Men presidency.  Also Autumn Pierce as branch chorister.  

Sustained Bo Kelly as Young Men president and Robin Hanks as branch chorister.

Sacrament hymn was #187 "God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son" text by Edward P. Kimball (1882-1937) and music by Alexander Schreiner (1901-1987).

The first speaker was Dylan Cooper who recently returned from his mission to Argentina.  He spoke of not having contention in our lives.  We can have the Spirit to be with us.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings us peace and joy.  Have it for ourselves and share it with others.  The Savior is sad when we are contentious.

Special music "Whenever I Think About Pioneers" by the Primary and Young Women.  

President Boland made comments about pioneers.

The concluding speaker was Blake MacKay of the stake high council.  He also spoke about avoiding contention and striving for peace.  He quoted from Eric Carle's book about ladybugs.  The friendly ladybug versus the grouchy ladybug.  Grouchiness does not get one anywhere.  "How do dinosaurs act when they're mad?"  Homes can be damaged through anger and contention.  When was the last time we raised our voices in anger?  Quoted President Russell M. Nelson about contention.  Satan introduced contention before the Earth was formed.  Moses 4:1.  Great contention in Heaven.  Helaman 16:22.  Quarreling is destructive.  Lawyers - a million bad apples.  Joke about surgeons, architects, and lawyers.  Try to resolve disputes.  John 14:27.  Spirit of inner peace.  President Nelson - Corroding canker of the spirit.  How do we become a peacemaker?  4 Nephi 15.  Avoid criticism.  Practice and teach forgiveness.  George Herbert, 17th century poet.  D&C 64:8-10.  Elder Marion D. Hanks.  Holding a grudge is a terrible price to pay.  Avoid anger.  Slow to anger.  President Hinckley.  Elder Elray Christiansen.  Anger is a destroyer, not a builder.  Homes are hurt through contention.  Eliminate ridicule.  D&C 108:7.  Strengthen our brothers and sisters.  Elder Oaks.  Disagree without being disagreeable. President Monson.  Escape sin and give away our sins to know God.  Back to the little dinosaur and grouchy ladybug.  Elder A. Theodore Tuttle.  Not easy to be peacemakers.  Find personal peace and become more like the Savior.

Closing hymn was #30 "Come, Come, Ye Saints" text by William Clayton (1814-1879) and music from English folk song.

Gospel Doctrine with Darlene Burgess was lesson #28, “We Are Witnesses" using Acts 1-5.

The purpose of the lesson is to remind class members of their responsibility to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and to help them see how the gift of the Holy Ghost helps them do so.

1. The Lord ascends into heaven. Matthias is called to be an Apostle.

2. On the day of Pentecost, the Apostles are filled with the Holy Ghost.

3. Peter and John heal a lame man by the power of Jesus Christ.

4. The Apostles continue to preach and heal with great power.

After the Apostles received the gift of the Holy Ghost, they became powerful witnesses of Jesus Christ. While Apostles have a special calling to be witnesses of Christ, each member of the Church also has the responsibility to bear witness of him. The Holy Ghost can help us know when and how to testify of Christ. As we follow the Spirit’s promptings, our faith will increase, our sensitivity to the Spirit will grow, and we will become more effective witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The hymn in priesthood was #106 "God Speed the Right" text by William E. Hickson (1803-1870) and music by Ernst Moritz Arndt (1796-1860).

I gave the invocation.

President Jared Marcom released David Echard, Curtis Bond, and Don Bivens as the high priests group leaders.  Sustained and set apart as the new high priests group leader was Jay Hanks.

The priesthood lesson was "Teachings For Our Time" with the talk "Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.  Don Bivens taught the lesson.  Eileen enjoyed the same lesson taught by Robin Hanks.

"Jesus Christ suffered, died, and rose from death in order that He could lift us to eternal life."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Eileen took photos of the two new elders in our branch, Elders Seitz and Johnson, to send to the Pickens Progress newspaper.

Elders Seitz and Johnson

At home I put out the new corn cob holder from Tractor Supply in the front yard.  We're sure the squirrels are glad we're home!

Eileen worked on the Irish parishes in County Roscommon as part of our new CSM project.  She finished Roscommon and then I did all of County Offaly.

We put on the TLC Channel and had on some of the repeats of "Who Do You Think You Are?"  Eileen had a long chat with Colleen and texted back and forth with Heather who is "under the weather."  I called the nine people whom we now home teach and made one appointment for Thursday with Kelly Johnson.  I called Jan Pardee and she is coming for a visit on Tuesday to work on her family history.

At 9 pm we watched the new episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?" with Ginnifer Goodwin whom I never heard of.  It was a very interesting though sad episode.

On Monday 27 July we went to the Gilmer County Health Department at 10 am to register children ages 0-5 for Kids Ferst.  We relieved Stan and Rena Ashworth.  The challenges were with a parent who speaks only Spanish and has a little one with her but no older child who speaks English.

Eileen at our display

Eileen at our display

Gilmer County Health Department 

We enjoyed lunch with Ralph and Holly Hughes at the Okinawa Steak & Sushi Restaurant in Ellijay.

Ralph, Holly, and Eileen

We went by the post office, the bank, Piggly Wiggly, and Food Lion.  At the bank we got the forms signed, witnessed, and notarized for the Timeshare Trade-Ins company that is helping us get rid of our two Oak Plantation time-shares.  While there Dr. Mark Blau from Connect Hearing called to see how I liked the new hearing aids.  I told him that I wanted them.

I called people about cleaning the church building and lined up Ron Fisher, Roger Widmann, and Darlene Burgess.  I called some of the people whom we home teach and made two appointments for Tuesday and another one for Thursday.  I emailed nearly all the branch members whom we have helped with their family history letting them know that we are back home and ready to help them some more.

I downloaded the most recent pictures from Eileen's camera of our drive home on both of our external hard drives.  I e-mailed the photo of Elder Spencer Seitz of Vernal, Utah, and Elder Daniel Johnson of Mapleton, Utah, to the Pickens Progress newspaper.

I reviewed the temple work being done by Bud and Jan Farr in Mesa, Arizona, and emailed them.

In the afternoon the lady from Connect Hearing called and she got all the information from me to buy the new hearing aids.

Jan Pardee called and had to cancel our appointment for tomorrow as she has bad headaches.

We had the Braves - Orioles game on which was 0-0 until both teams scored a run in the 9th inning, sending the game into extra innings. The Orioles won, 2-1, with a home run in the bottom of the 11th inning.

On Tuesday 28 July we had a leisurely morning and left home around 11 am.  We stopped at the dump and then UPS for Eileen to get bookmarks laminated for those women whom we home/visit teach.  We picked them up hours later when we returned to Ellijay as we drove south to Canton.  We returned an item to Kohl's and checked out their meager expensive selection of jeans for me.  We went to the Hallmark store for our son William's birthday card and the 2015 Frosty Friends Christmas ornament which we have collected for over 30 years.

Back in Ellijay we stopped at Zaxby's for a $30 gift card for Elders Johnson and Seitz.  They live and serve in Jasper, so we don't have them over for dinner during the week.

Walmart was next and we got a number of items.  Eileen wanted some canvases for her next painting and I got two pairs of jeans.  My waist size has dropped from 44 to 40 and the style from relaxed fit to regular fit.

Our Avalon got a nice treat as we went to the Squiggles car wash.  The fellow there did a really good job before and after the car went through the car wash and I gave my first tip there.

We returned to UPS to get Eileen's laminated bookmarks.  Then we went to the Times-Courier office downtown to get the seven editions of the newspaper that we missed during our vacation.  The edition of 4 June had an article with my picture about my 15 May presentation to the Gilmer County Genealogical Society!  




We were early for our appointment to visit Peggy Espersen and she wasn't home, so we went to the nearby Gilmer Arts Gallery for Eileen to see when Judy Harvey's upcoming art classes are scheduled.  We returned to the Ellijay roundabout and visited two of the antique stores there.  The one that has fudge did not have sugar-free fudge, so the gal there made a note as we were the third people to request it today.  In the other antique store Eileen bought two bars of soap which are very similar to the soap that our son-in-law Sean makes in Arizona.

We returned to Peggy's and she was home.  She had to leave at 4:15, so we visited for 15 minutes and Eileen gave her one of the bookmarks.

I called Timeshare Trade-Ins to let them know the forms were on their way.  They had been sitting in our mail for nearly two months while we were on vacation.

I called Tricare about the correspondence concerning our blood glucose test strips.  The lady put a stop to the automatic replenishment of our Breeze2 test strips.  I called Abbott Diabetic Care for the new less expensive test strips and free meters.

After supper I got some more family file cards ready to send to Bud and Jan Farr in Mesa, Arizona.  

Eileen has been working diligently on the potholders for the women that we visit.

We enjoyed the Braves - Orioles game, though the Orioles won, 7-3.

After Eileen went to sleep I began and finished "The Clergyman's Daughter/The Red House A Tommy & Tuppence Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie (1890-1976)

On Wednesday 29 July we returned to the food pantry for the first time since the end of May.  It was fun to be there with many friends volunteering.  Being the fifth Wednesday we only had about 60 families receive assistance.

We went to the bank and post office, and Walmart for caffeine-free diet Mountain Dew.  We mailed more family file cards to the Farr's.

We enjoyed lunch at Zaxby's with Sabrina Bayless.

I worked on my photos with the Times-Courier on Eileen's laptop after taking a nap.

We went to church at 6 pm to cover the Family History Center.  No one came for assistance so I worked on the family of John James Shipton, born in 1836, brother of my great-great grandmother Mary Ann Shipton.

Back at home by 8:30 we enjoyed the Braves - Orioles game, though the Orioles won, 2-0.

Eileen's laptop quit working!  It won't turn on!  We consulted with William to no avail.  Eileen made an appointment on her iMac in the office with the Apple Store in Alpharetta for tomorrow at 6:15 pm.

After Eileen went to sleep I began and finished "The Sunningdale Mystery A Tommy & Tuppence Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Thursday 30 July we were up early and took our Avalon to Canton Toyota for its 110,000 mile service.  My weight hit a new low of 188.1, a loss of about 36 pounds.  Eileen's blood sugar was 96, one of her lowest readings since we started our diet. 

We filled up at Walmart for $2.479.  We shopped at Ingles.  We returned home for a while and then had "fun" trying to find Kelly Johnson's home.  We did so with her help and visited her for the first time.  Then we drove to Ann Godwin's to visit her.  We "inherited" both of them from the Echard's who are moving.

Our odometer reached 110550 as we drove to Alpharetta.  First was Jo-Ann Fabrics where Eileen wanted a number of things.  We had a nice chat with one of the saleswomen about sewing machines.  We drove to the nearby North Point Mall to check in at the Apple Store for Eileen's 6:15 appointment.  We went to the Food Court and got some yummy salads for supper at Chick-Fil-A.  We returned to the Apple Store where the fellow diagnosed the problem with Eileen's laptop as a bad main board, which I would call the motherboard.  As the laptop is several years old, that is, obsolete, he had to recommend a 3rd party facility at which to get it fixed.  After texts and conversation on the phone with William it was decided to send him the laptop to replace the bad main board.  On the way home our odometer reached 110660.

At home I grilled the steak I had taken out Tuesday night for Wednesday's supper.  Now I'll have it tomorrow night.  I found the box in which William had sent Eileen's laptop to her originally and packed it up to send to him.

After Eileen went to sleep I began and finished "A Fairy in the Flat A Tommy & Tuppence Short Story" and "The Man Who Was No. 16 A Tommy & Tuppence Short Story" both by Agatha Christie.

On Friday 31 July I finished reading "The Pilot: A Tale of the Sea" by James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) which I enjoyed so much that I read it in less than two months, having started it on 14 June.

Both of us reached new weight lows since starting our diet over four months ago!  Eileen has lost about 23 lbs and I have lost about 37 lbs.  It has been almost 22 weeks today, so Eileen has lost over a pound a week and I have lost over a pound and a half a week.  My blood sugar has been back in the 70s three of the last four mornings and Eileen's was under 100 two mornings in a row!

We went to One Source Business Products in Ellijay to mail Eileen's laptop to William via FedEx.  It cost $27.

We went to Bryant Physical Therapy for the first time since May.  It was a good workout!  We went by AT&T to ask about the 15% discount for members of the military that I had read about in the USAA magazine.  We got that put in place.

I dropped Eileen off at Barbara's for her hair appointment and I headed for church to clean the building.  Ron Fisher and a teen granddaughter and Roger Widmann were there to help.  I picked Eileen up about 3:20.

We went by the post office to mail some Relief Society materials to three of the women in the branch that are on Eileen's visiting teacher list.  The line was the longest that I have ever seen, so we went to the East Ellijay post office.

Eileen and I both spent time in our office on the iMac desktop computer since we are laptop-less!

On Saturday 1 August we drove to the Bless My Stitches store in Murphy to get Eileen's new sewing machines and for her to attend the sewing class to learn how to use them.

We filled up at Ingles in Blue Ridge $2.279 and shopped at Food Lion in Ellijay.

When we got home we took apart our bed from the front bedroom and took it downstairs.  The bed frame is our original that we've had since our marriage.  I brought in Eileen's new sewing machines and table as the front bedroom will be for her sewing and art work.

We ate supper and enjoyed watching "Cook's Country" and "America's Test Kitchen."

The cast of the two shows

Afterwards we put together the sewing machine table and placed her new machine on it.  It is a Janome 8900.  She also got the smaller 3160 that will go with us on our next mission.

Reading to Eileen I finished "An Irish Country Village" by Patrick Taylor which I began on 19 March.

Patrick Taylor