February 2, 2009

Dear Children,

I came home yesterday after a great visit with my old (previous) Young Women’s Board. We all worked so well together when we had the callings and we really enjoy this reunion once a year. Everyone has things in their lives that makes for a need to “get away from it all” and just have down time and a lot of fun together. We laughed everywhere we were; even with the “pool nautzie” (we were at the Worldmark in Seaside)!

With seven women together for the weekend, we did a lot of eating yummy treats. So much so, that there were lots of leftovers to bring home. Dad and I watched the speed edition of the Super Bowl (we recorded it while at church and skipped to the ball snap after each ball was downed but didn’t skip the commercials of course . . . my favorite part) with a slice of Jaime Jorgenson’s chicken cheesecake that was “to die for.”

I came home to a lot of fun surprises from Dad. I drove into the driveway wondering why the house looked so different and realized that he finished the driveway gate. It looks GREAT! It is a black iron gate that swings both ways now. It is also so much easier to swing. Yeah!!! It looks so much better than the wood one and I also like the change Dad made earlier, out of necessity after the rock wall changed the size dimension to that section of our property. Now the gate swings from the shed so it is angled. I just like the look so much better.

Our attic ladder gave out a couple of weeks ago. It always made me nervous. Dad finished replacing that this weekend also. It is now a lighter weight, but stronger, aluminum ladder. That should be easier for me to use also. He also bought the materials to tilt the head of our bed, as per instructions from my doctor. I like it so much better than using the wedge. I can’t believe that he attempted that alone since our bed frame is so heavy; he used a six foot crow bar!

Dad is also trying to give his workers some jobs by occasionally having them help him with his home projects. They started pruning all the side trees by Brockman and will finish that this week. The trees sustained some storm damage so they are going to look poorly for quite some time. I love to prune also so maybe I will be able to get out there a bit and help.

I had an interesting discussion and activity in my last two institute classes. We followed a scripture chain which has an upbeat reminder on the news of the day and also reminding us to pray for our world leaders to be receptive to the Spirit. The best conclusion to the worries of the day: just live the gospel (simple but not always easy in our day). Remember, the church is the only entity that is guaranteed not to fail in the latter days. Considering the changes in our country and the worried news of everyone’s finances, this scripture chain would be a good Family Home Evening activity. Here is the list:

• 2 Nephi 1:6-9 Our great land of liberty
• D&C 134:5 Uphold laws of the land
• D&C 101:77, 80 Constitution is inspired document (making this county available for the restoration)
• D&C 109:54 Our protection
• 1 Nephi 22:17, 19, 22 Fear not

I have almost completely caught up on my Church News reading and found many articles that were so good. I loved the special issue on virtue and found it interesting to learn of the earlier definitions of that word (strength, valor, courage, conviction) and quite interestingly, the Latin root of virtue being manliness or worth. I liked the one quote in Robert Millet’s article, “Virtue is far more than moral cleanliness and chastity, although these are important manifestations. Virtue implies moral excellence-honor, integrity, courage valor, valiance, inner purity, industry, diligence.” Because it is hard to maintain virtue in our thoughts when we live in seductive and sometimes shoddy surroundings, Brother Millet gave four suggestions to help us.

1-Make a decision. We can’t afford to flip flop between virtue and vice.

2-Pray earnestly and regularly for forgiveness, cleaning and discernment.

3-Search out and cling to that which is noble, uplifting and truly beautiful in our world.

4-Scatter virtue wherever you go.

We had an enjoyable time at Adam’s pack meeting in Jefferson last Tuesday night. We drove down for it since he was getting his Bear Award this time. He has a fun pack. They had lots of games set up for the boys and their families. Even the refreshments were a game since they had to eat a donut while it was dangling on the end of a string. Afterwards one of the other dads, who had taken Adam to some Cub Scouting events, came up to Dad and told him what a great boy Adam was. Adam is in a very kind ward.

Aunt Lynn’s daughter, Danielle, drove Kyre and Klaire to the pack meeting. Klaire is so cute and gets more verbal every time I see her. When we took them home, she was having a great time in the back seat, singing one of her songs. Both Kyre and Klaire received new hair cuts and Klaire looks much older with her new style.

Another wonderful article I read recently in the Church News was a summary of the January CES fireside by President Monson. It is just a summary but has several wise life lessons and ideas even though half of us are not in the Young Single Adult category. Just google: President Monson Great Expectations on the Church News website or paste this link to get it.

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/56472/Pres-Monson-at-CES-fireside-Great-expectations-in-the-race-of-life.html

It was well worth the minutes to read it. In fact, I think it would be fun to get a discussion going on everyone’s thoughts or favorite ideas from the article. If you email our family what you liked about the article, that would be very worthwhile!

I think I told you that we have Miss Kitty back here while Grandma Maldonado is in California. I think Grandma was worried that Miss Kitty would be so sad but she seems to be quite content plus it gave me the chance to trim her nails. She likes to follow Dad wherever he goes around the house.

Grandma Maldonado was able to attend my Uncle Tommy’s 90^th birthday party in Fremont. Reshea and Stan took her and met up with Aunt Denise. She was so happy to be able to go as Uncle Tommy is not doing very well since his prostrate cancer has returned and gone into the bone. Johnny and Alice were there also but even my cousin Vernie was there. I cannot remember when the last time I saw him. I wish I could have gone.

Grandma and Grandpa Bitter are celebrating their 64^th wedding anniversary this Tomorrow, February 3^rd! They don’t have any big plans but possibly to go to Outback for dinner. Adrianne was there on Sunday baking cupcakes to take to ward prayer on Sunday night. She arrived with warm cupcakes!

On our visit with Scott, we talked of discouragement. He has had to push through some difficult messages from Kyre. She is who he most cares about and so is affected but her hurtful words. I try to relate to him any positive thing she says or any happy event with which she is involved or reports to me about.

He has noticed that his tendency is to isolate himself when he feels down and that is more dangerous in the prison. If you think about it, that is the case outside of prison also. Relationships with and for others is usually what can pull us away from discouraging and self-defeating thoughts that Satan would like us to have. Outside of prison, we have the privilege of aligning ourselves with those who can lift us at discouraging times.

Although he has found himself discouraged at times the last couple of weeks, he told us that he has been blessed with something to which he can look forward. He has talked about the strict structure and limited choices within the prison system. Through the group of Christian brothers with whom he now associates, he has learned more about another cell block (Block A) in which they have their own keys to their cell and showers and many more privileges. An inmate must be invited by other block members to join and be 18 months incident-free. Scott has been told that they will ask for him on his incident-free date, which is June 7. He looks forward to an atmosphere of more freedom and trust. An inmate must be “invited” by those in the block because those prisoners to not wish to have anyone that would cause a problem with the higher level of trust there. Scott is a perfect fit for them.

For those of you who remember the Bob and Claudia Jensen family from our old Rock Creek Ward (and Oak Hills), he passed away last week and his funeral was on Friday. I was sorry that I had to miss it since I was gone. His son was the scout that drowned in the scouting canoe accident when Joe was a scout leader; the reason that the Bowron Lakes canoe expedition always gave me extra concern.

Dad and I are packing tonight for our trip to Las Vegas. We are very excited to be able to see the boys and help them with more house work. Dad is helping them pour a sidewalk and patio in the back yard. We should have contacted some of Adrianne’s friend’s families that live there for shovels and wheelbarrows! Maybe I will paint their kitchen table black if they haven’t already done so. We are going to do relaxing things this time also.

Have a wonderful week and don’t forget to read the prophet’s words in that Church News article and get a discussion going. I think that would be interesting. I love you, Mom