081 Tuesday to Tuesday (November 4-10, 2015)

This is the month when I get itchy to start Christmas decorations as quickly. Unfortunately, I have some Scrooge sons-in-laws that insist that we must have Thanksgiving first. I say Thanksgiving is a newer man-made holiday, and we should be able to celebrate the older holiday whenever. We can never get enough Christmas. However, I have heard enough from my daughters to know that I need to hold off. Actually, this year I’m giving my little pre-lit tree to Victor. He doesn’t have a tree that counts, and he was really excited when I told him we would give him ours since we don’t want to take it home with us. I have to admit that it tugged at my heart to let it go. But I still have my few ornaments. I need to buy another Santa for this year. I have two decorations that I got from Sam’s last year. This year Sam’s has two more decorations, including a Nutcracker and an Angel. I will wait until after Christmas when they are cheap to get them. They have really cheap, nasty candy inside which isn’t worth having, but the decorations are great.

We had a busy day on Wednesday, the 4^th. We actually got our apartment carpet cleaned. We had left if for 18 months, and I decided enough was enough. How can two old people make such a mess. So we got it cleaned (and it was paid for by the funds we pay each month toward the apartment). It was clean for a day until I spilled hot chocolate on it. Drat!!! Wish I could blame it on Craig, but no, it was totally me. No one to take the blame but me. Sad, sad.

Wednesday night we went to see the play Wicked.  We bought the tickets several months ago through Restaurant.com. We were supposed to get Orchestra or center loge seating. We got balcony seats that cost $25 less than what we paid for the tickets. I tried to talk to someone about it, but of course no one knew anything. I wrote them the next day, but after “investigating” the possibility, they came back and said we got the seats we paid for. How is that I asked. No refund but I got another restaurant coupon. Ugh! When companies like this cheat you, you have no recourse, so I will be more reluctant next time in using them.

Crossover from parking garage to theater

Looking out other side of crossover

Really loved the play, "Wicked"

On Thursday, I had to proctor a test at 5:00, so we went to the Temple earlier than usual. I learned something very significant for me in the Temple. I have worried that I rally do not look very good in the Temple clothing, and I have thought that maybe we could ask for a color other than white. The Spirit whispered to me that our garments are symbolic. We are covered from head to foot in the garments to symbolize wrapping ourselves in the Priesthood and participating in the ordinances necessary for that Priesthood. That same day someone told Craig that if we listen to the Initiatories, we realize that the garments are for this life only. That puts a whole new understanding of the Temple ordinances. I love learning about the Temple.

Hard to see what you are doing when facing the sun.

On Friday, the 6^th, Craig was not feeling well so we didn’t go out. We did some phone calling, but not much else.

On Saturday, I went to the Italiano Center downtown for a genealogy conference. The center was beautiful, and there were the usual vendors with some really pretty homemade items and those with things you could buy anywhere. I had not brought any money with me, so I wasn’t tempted to even look closely. The conference was all afternoon, but by the time we finished up, it was getting dark. I enjoyed working with the people of the Milwaukee Genealogical Society and those with the Italian group. They are good people.

That morning I was supposed to go to a baby shower for a sister in the ward whose baby was born without a brain. He is a beautiful little boy with more hair a boy should have. The parents knew that the baby would not have a brain, but they elected to have him anyway. I cannot even imagine the decisions they have had to make. The prognosis for the baby was that he could last a few hours, if he was born alive, or he could last up to six months.

On Sunday we went to Church and as usual had a marvelous meeting. There is a lot of talent in our Ward, and they sing and play instruments. After Church we had to take a basket to a Sister Hinton who is bedridden and never leaves her house. Each week, some members bring bread and baked goods from a local store that will be throwing it out because it is a couple of days old and can’t be sold. So, after Relief Society we all head to the kitchen and there we can have one dessert and as much bread as we want to take. We take some of the goodies to this Sister. It was our turn to do so.

On Monday, after spending the morning taking care of our laundry (always an unpleasant task), we went out to investigate the area. We drove throughout but stayed pretty close. We happened across a restaurant that we had seen before and promised ourselves that we would come back to eat. It was called the Gingerbread House and is a renovated barn. It is a beautifully restored building with a nice restaurant. There was plenty of fall decorations on the outside, and the day was sunny and warm. We got there about 2:00, and they had stopped serving food. We got them to serve us some soup, and it was wonderful. Then afterwards, we took some pictures and I went upstairs to look at the Christmas stuff they had on sale. Again, I’m amazed at the local artisans and the work they do. When we left, we noticed some chickens out back. Craig talked with one of the waitresses who had come out, and it looked like she was after the chickens. He teased her of trying to catch dinner.

Shell of building we passed in our travels

Front porch of restaurant

Sucking in the gut after eating

Dining room

Front of restaurant

While there, we asked the waitress if she knew if the new Costco was close by. She pointed out the window, and we could see it from the restaurant. We headed over to Costco and checked out the wares. It is so close to us in West Allis. The one we have been going to is about 15 miles away. We could also go to one that we pass on the way to the Temple. After we go to the Temple, at least once a month, we go to a Chik-fil-a that we find in the opposite direction from the one we would take home. This has to do with the card we have to get something free every month. Love that place. Once while we were leaving Chic-fil-a we looked across the road and saw another Costco. So now we know the location of four Costcos and each is different from the others. Can’t help but love going to Costco.

On Tuesday, miracle or miracle, Denise had called me to get a ride to the doctors for Timmy and for her. So I went over and took her, and she told me how she needed to get back to the Church, get clean again, and get her life back into the Scriptures. I asked her if she would really follow through, and she told me she would.  Unfortunately, after arranging rides and getting the Sister Missionaries in line to help her, she won’t answer the phone or the door. Once she gets what she wants, nothing ever comes of her promises.

Another week has gone and passed us by. We have spent lots of time doing family history as well as getting out and seeing people and the area. The weather is cooperating and keeping it nice. We are enjoying the fall, and the beautiful trees make us aware of how much we are going to miss the tree-lined roads with the fall colors. This place has four distinct seasons, and it is really nice to experience all of them.

Our scripture for the month:

2 Nephi 31:20

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Elder and Sister Lenhard

078 Tuesday to Tuesday (October 14-20, 2015)

HoHoHo, we had another birthday today. Mr. Noah decided to come into the world this day, carrying on the Lenhard line. That is a real burden for one young man to carry. Just ask Adam, who probably never really thought about it before. We are truly glad to have this young man in our lives. Very talented with a wicked sense of humor. Reminds me more of Adam than he may want. We have an Adam and a Noah – two great prophet names in our family. Love it!

Noah after learning he will be Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

We went to our usual PAF genealogy meeting that night. What a great meeting as usual. We will continue our membership in this group when we leave. Everything is online, there are lots of helps given. We have made some great friends from this group.

On Thursday, we went to the Temple at 7:15 with the other Senior Missionaries. How fun was that. Although it was a long day, we so enjoyed it. We had to get home for Pathway that evening, but before that, I had to proctor a test. There were other people that entered the library while I proctored the test, so I was afraid Heather might not do well, but evidently she did. From there we went right into Pathway. President Cutler showed up for class to see what it was about, and he was very impressed. The students, as usual, did a great job. 

Looks like we are in a fish bowl

Friday saw us proctoring another test for my second student, Jaime. She is really smart, but I found out she and her husband were getting divorced. He had told Craig a couple of weeks before that she had moved out because he had said that a girl was pretty in Church. She accused him of being an adulterer.  We worried about them during the time they were in Pathway, but we had hoped they would make it.

That evening we began to make sure the set up for the South Stake Genealogy Conference. I was presenting the next day on the differences and similarities between Ancestry and Family Search. It has been a six-week torture time of writing the powerpoint. Every time I thought I had it ready, one or both of the sites changed something. It was crazy.

So, on Saturday, we were involved in the largest genealogy conference in Milwaukee. We had about 300 attendees. The woman, Jane Orne, who is over it (with the PAF group as co-sponsors) said that she had never had so many newcomers, and she felt it was due to us being at the festivals and giving out so many invitations. I had a presentation on the differences/similarities between Ancestry and Familysearch. I felt like it was a good presentation, I didn’t use so many “printed” slides, meaning I didn’t write everything down so I could read it verbatim for them. It was my belief that I needed to show them live pages and what was found on the pages because there was just too much to do justice to it. Well, I thought I had 45 minutes to an hour, but at 45 minutes, Jane comes in and tells me to wrap it up. I told her I would in a minute. She came back, she sent Craig in, and, finally, came and stood by me to tell me to stop. I did, and didn’t get to finish the last 10 minutes (if they had left me alone, I would have done it in plenty of time). I heard from her that she had to start hers late (she was talking about the genealogy library there at the building), and she got a whole hour. Another presenter made sure I knew he had to start late because my attendees were still coming in when he wanted to start. Each attendee had to fill out a survey about how well we did. I have no idea, because they have not told me. I keep getting the feeling that I should ask, but maybe I don’t want to know. To make me feel better, I will state that several people told me they were there because they had talked with me at the festivals. Others told me I did a good job. Who would know???? Hahahaha  It is totally my fault because I thought I knew the parameters, but obviously, I did not. I also found out my name was left out of the handouts. I was told to submit something, but I truly didn’t remember that when I had to concentrate on the powerpoint. I will keep my presentation and someday (after much tweeking, I’ll use it again I’m sure).

I was getting into it!

That afternoon (the 17^th), Cousin Howard Davis called to let me know that Aunt Shirley Walton died. She was the last to pass away of the previous generation on the Walton side. I began to put her work into familysearch and ancestry. Remember I had found a relative recently at the Indian Summer Festival by the last name of Suit. I had never seen that name in my work in Grayson County, Virginia, where many of our relatives lived. While doing Aunt Shirley’s work, I found the Suits. They are part of her direct line. I just thought it was no accident that the Lord helped me to meet this couple. 

Aunt Shirley, Uncle Wallace, (R-L) Boyd, Brenda, Morris, and Karen. Morris is only one still living.

 

Uncle Wallace/Aunt Shirley, Uncle Howard/Aunt Polly, and Daddy and Mom

Sunday found us in Victor’s ward to hear his very first talk. WOW, he was more scared than anyone I’ve ever seen on the stand. He couldn’t finish the talk, in fact, got only partway before he broke down. He closed it and went to sit down. Once he sat down, he started crying like there was no tomorrow. I felt so sorry for him. He had a complete breakdown. I wanted to go up and help him; however, one of the missionaries that worked with him, Elder Allen, went up, sat next to him, put his arm around Victor and pulled him close. He took care of him like a little baby. It was the kindest thing I have witnessed in a long time. I know the Lord was proud of Elder Allen.

On Monday, we met with some friends for breakfast at Baker’s Square (the best pie place in Milwaukee). Jolene and Tim Carson are good friends of ours. Jolene was in our Pathway class last year, and she is quite a lady. We are hoping to encourage them to get to the Temple. They have let such things as coffee and not paying their tithing to keep them from the Temple. We love them a great deal and it hurts to see them hold off of the blessings they could be experiencing. This was our P-day which means we had to wash clothes (takes half a day because we have to go to basement, wait for machines to finish; go back to change to dryer – hoping all the while that no one else is using them, and then returning to get out of dryer).  Thank goodness we are now taking Craig’s white shirts to cleaners.

On Tuesday, Aunt Shirley was buried. I thought a lot about her that day. She and Uncle Wallace had four children. All but one have also passed away from cancer. The two daughters, Brenda and Karen, were nurses at Abingdon Memorial Hospital where mom worked for so many years. The oldest boy, Boyd, died first in Ohio I believe. I remember when he was married to a local girl, Patsy Thomas. That marriage didn’t last, and he later remarried but I never had any information on it. Evidently, they had several children because I saw their writing on the on-line funeral book. 

We had no district meeting today because transfers are this week. New missionaries came today. We got about 13 this time. That is less than we had been getting. There were about 24 that left, so our numbers are down. We just keep praying that more Senior Missionaries will decide to come out. Next week the Barley’s will be leaving for Farmington. The Reeds, who are taking the Barley’s place, are already here. They will take care of mission cars and apartments. They are computer techs from BYU, very quiet, and appear to act as I think we must have acted when we first got here – scared. 

Our scripture of the month:

3 Nephi 9:14

“Yea verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come,

him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.”

Elder and Sister Lenhard

079 Tuesday to Tuesday (Oct. 21-27, 2015)

So in my reading in Enos, I was struck by the fact that after Enos prayed for forgiveness, not only for himself but for his family and then the Lamanites, he got up and went to work to make it happen. I think that when most of us think about Enos, we see only the part where he prayed. We do not remember that his prayers were followed by work to make it happen. That’s the way in life also. After we pray for blessings, we have to get up and make those blessings happen. Enos set a beautiful example for us to follow.

This is the week for transfers, but almost as exciting is that we celebrated the birth of our beautiful granddaughter (and the second of our grandbabies to enter Young Women), Miss Kennedy. It is incredible that she is 12. So poised yet crazy. She is fun to talk to on the phone of skype with because she is usually in the background dancing and making faces. She had a great birthday, or so she told us, and she is ready for YWs.

Cute little young woman. Growing up so fast!

 That night we saw the Big Hero 6 with Dave and Virginia Armstrong. Dave doesn’t care for cartoons, but Virginia liked it. Craig said it was his favorite movie.

We went to the Temple on Thursday. We love being able to go each week and take family names. It makes it so much more real, and I usually know something about each sister. The more work we help others with, the more the Lord blesses us with finding our own names.

Some days I look balder than others.  haha

On Friday, I had to proctor a test again. We go to the genealogy library which is closed on Friday so it is usually quiet. Thank goodness this sister is really smart and works hard to do well.

I got my flu shot that afternoon, but Craig could not take it this year because the doctor’s office did not stock his vaccine (one that is not cultured with eggs). We aren’t too worried about it though.

That evening we devoted to doing nothing. That’s really nice.

On Saturday, we had planned to go to the Milwaukee Library for the Day of the Dead. Our friend, Margarette, was teaching several classes. However, we got online to read about it and found out it is for children. So we decided to head out and do some visiting of the countryside. It is amazing what we can see when just riding around. 

We had a great Sunday. We always sit with the Armstrongs, so we save them seats. Now that we have Meta Thompson in our Pathway class, she has become a good friend so she sits with us also. It is nice not to have to sit by ourselves. That evening we wanted to go to Port Washington for a fireside, but it was too late for us to get back. It is nice that most Sundays we get

On Monday, we had breakfast at the Mission Home for the Barleys. All the senior missionaries came, and it was really touching. President Cutler wanted them to leave later in the day so they could feed them dinner. Elder Barley told him they didn’t want to stay around all day, and they wanted to get on the road (can’t blame them for that). They were leaving Milwaukee and heading to Kansas to visit her mother and then on out to Utah. We are going to miss that couple. We hope that when we get to Utah, we can continue our friendship.

Tuesday saw us back with our usual district meeting. We have a new district leader from Canada. We have been working with him for a while, and he has a brand new missionary. He is Elder Tunstal, and the greenie is Elder Smith. Elder Tunstal is not very confident in his teaching, and it appears that other missionaries may not be close to him. We can tell that he wants to do what is right, but sometimes, I think others can get him to change his mind when he shouldn’t.

Here we are at the end of October. We find ourselves beginning to count down to our leaving. Almost 5 complete months left. I guess now that the festivals are over, we are getting somewhat homesick.

Our scripture of the month:

3 Nephi 9:14

“Yea verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. 

Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will 

come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.”

Elder and Sister Lenhard