The Newells

Latest family picture for Natalie and Rob.

Growing Up Into a Little Boy

Having fun in the backyard.
John Owen.

Sigh Moment

Duff was paying bills.

Darla's license renewal was among them.

He had to click the box that she was deceased.

He had some tears.

He called me to tell me.

She was the best dog ever.

Primary Programs Begin

I have mentioned this before, but I am not a morning person.  I'd much rather stay up late in the quiet of my house and get things done.  When I do 'have' to get up early I admit I like it, but I am more naturally a night person.

Today was an 'early' call time.  5am.  I had a stake meeting at 6:30 and would go straight from there to the Altisima building for all the sacrament meeting programs there.  All three wards that meet there were doing their Primary Programs.  Each one was different from the other and I loved seeing how each ward had taken the same material and music and tailored it to the specifics of their ward primary children.  Each one was inspired.  One older boy's part was to memorize a portion of Joseph Smith's first vision.  He delivered it with such conviction and clarity.  I remember thinking that he will never forget that. Then we visited each sharing time to help where needed and I spoke for a few minutes to tell the children what a good job they had done and to bear my testimony about the scriptures.

I realized yesterday that we would be gone all day, so I had Christine pick me up some individual chinese chicken salads from Trader Joes, and packed them in a cooler with some water and Sher made some muffins and caramel corn and we took a break in the kitchen to have some lunch.  It was fun to eat and visit and bond some more since we are still so new as a presidency.  These are really great women and I learn so much with them.

Mike and Adrianne had dinner done when I got home at 5:30(pm!), and it felt good to change my clothes and settle down.  I still don't feel well, but I had prayed for stamina to get through the day and I did.  I didn't start coughing again until I got home.  My prayer had been answered.  It might seem like a small thing to others, but it wasn't to me.

Germs

Yep.

This is me.  Full of them.  Germs.

I learned that the flu shot takes up to two weeks to become effective, so it must be that I was exposed to this 'bug' during that time frame.

By Wednesday night I was feeling awful.  By Thursday, I was miserable. I spent the entire day between bed and the family room couch because I was determined not to get behind on laundry, and I slept off and on in between loads.  That night I was running a 101* fever.  No wonder I was freezing and chilled and ached all over when everyone else was so hot in our Indian Summer autumn.

My fever broke sometime around 3am and I woke up in a sweat on the bonus room couch.  I couldn't sleep and wandered the house for some relief. 

I felt somewhat better on Friday but tired easily and was coughing a lot.  At least everything is moving around.  I love Mucinex D.

Today, the kids were here for the game and some tailgate food, which they pitched in and made.  I layed on the couch and so did Mike.  He feels like he's been run over by a truck.  He's got it now too.

I have 3 primary sacrament meeting programs to attend tomorrow and sharing times.  Also stake council meeting.  So I've laid low and rested today to be ready for those.

Christine found her shoes for Homecoming.  They are purple suede and will look nice with her black lace dress.

Did You Get Your Flu Shot?

Well, I did.  Last Saturday.  In between general conference sessions.  Our insurance company offers them for free, and even makes it very easy.  You drive up in your car to the office, hand the nurse your insurance card, she fills out your paperwork, you pull up to the canopy/tent, another nurse comes over, you roll down your window, roll up your sleeve and get your shot and drive home.

It was quite impressive.

However, I've been kind of under the weather ever since.

First some stomach flu symptoms, and now a cold.

I thought the flu shot was supposed to prevent this stuff, or is this side effects from the shot????

Stake Baptism

Tonight was the first stake baptism since I've been in this new calling at church.

I was really nervous.  Just wanted to be sure everything was in order and would be nice for all the children and their families.

Julia, my counselor over baptisms, had it all under control and it turned out well.  We learned a lot, and there were only little things that only we behind the scenes knew about.

The sweet children were as precious as can be.  With their families and friends surrounding them in support.  The spirit was present and strong.

There is so much to do.  We arrive at 3:30-3:45 to begin setting up and getting things ready for the service that begins at 5pm.  Then by the time we clean up and leave it is 7-7:30.

Something really FUN:  The bishopric counselor of the ward who was conducting the baptism arrived about 4pm.  I met him in the foyer.  He looked at me and said,  "Are you Sister Duffy?"  I answered, "Yes."  He smiled and said,  "I know you!"  For the life of me I could not place his face and felt a moment of panic.  He is the husband of one of the Laurels I had in our Westminster ward when I was the YW President there.  Carrie was young, and he was not a member of our faith at the time.  I was worried for her, and we had talked many times at length about it.  Well, here he was standing in front of me with his hand out to shake mine, married to her for 18 years, with 3 children, and in the bishopric and there to conduct the stake baptism (which he did very well).  Forget the hand shake--I gave him a great big hug!  It was a wonderful reunion and we got all caught up on the years inbetween then and now.

Another sweet experience for me:  during the confirmations, I walked around and around the building pushing a wheelchair for a brother of one of the little girls who was baptized.  This boy is in his teens and has physical and mental challenges.  He was agitated and the Grandma was out with him.  I offered to take him so she could be a part of the confirmation with her grandaughter.  I sang primary songs to him and we stopped at all the different pictures and I talked to him about them.  It was so interesting.  Each time we came to a picture of the Saviour or the temple, he became very quiet and still and relaxed.  When I sang about Jesus, he was quiet.  His spirit was very in tune to those heavenly things.  It was a good reminder to me that this earth life is the link between where we came from and where we are going.  I get so caught up in living that I forget to focus on that more often than I do.

Video

A few years ago I posted about this accident here. This amazing woman is currently one of the activity day leaders in our stake. Her story is simple and beautiful. I would hope I could have this kind of perspective. This woman and her family are so inspirational to me. I thought I would share.

Keeping Up On Things

I've done some catching up below.  Scroll down for some very exciting news and events and lots of pictures!  Click on older posts also.

Worth of A Beautiful Woman

She can deal with stress and carry heavy burdens.

She smiles when she feels like screaming, and she sings when she feels like crying.

She cries when she's happy and laughs when she's afraid. Her love is unconditional.

There's only one thing wrong with her.

She forgets what she's worth!



Christine's Orange Rolls

Last week for Young Women's, the girls learned how to make Orange Rolls with Sister Anderson.

Christine wanted to make them for dinner tonight to go with our turkey.

I always make a turkey dinner on Sunday Fall Conference.  Kind of a prelude to Autumn.

 The dough is looking awesome.

 The filling.

 Ta-Duh!  The finished rolls.

They were sooooo good, and she truly did every single thing herself.

I'm really proud of her.  Yeast doughs can be tricky.  She has a knack for it.

Click on the recipe to enlarge.

It's a keeper.

Conference Breakfast

 The gang's all here.

Except the Newell's :(

Conference.  Quiche.  Fruit.  Juices.  Pajamas and sweats. Family.

Doesn't get much better than this.