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 4th.
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.
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| Crossover from parking garage to theater |
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| Looking out other side of crossover |
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| 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.
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| Hard to see what you are doing when facing the sun. |
On Friday, the 6th, 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.
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| Shell of building we passed in our travels |
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| Front porch of restaurant |
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| Sucking in the gut after eating |
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| Dining room |
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| 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
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