How to Spend a Week

My week began as usual with Sunday.  I love Sundays.   Some Sundays are better than others and this past Sunday was one of those.   The talks during Sacrament meeting were fabulous . . . as were the hymns.   The lesson in Gospel Principles was great also.  The Missionary Sisters were teaching this week  . . . all on the nature of God.   Relief Society was fabulous.  We had Lesson 3 from the Howard Hunter Manual.  It should have been Lesson 4, but somebody had mixed up and taught that one the week before, so it was Lesson 3 we had, which was on Adversity.

One of the hymns we sang in Sacrament was "I believe in Christ."  This hymn always moves me to tears.

I believe in Christ . . . my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I'll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

This is just one of the verses . . .  I cry every time I sing this song and think about the Saviour and all he has done and will do for me.

The lesson on Adversity was so good.   There is none of us who will escape having to cope with adversity in this life time.  It is what strengthens us and teaches us how to be better people.  There are so many lessons which come from adversity, and when I look back on my life I can easily see where I have been able to take something positive out from every negative.  Perhaps I have not been really "tried" yet, I don't know.  I only know that now, later in my life  . . .  I can clearly see His hand in all things and that He has been with me every step of the way.  I know He will not abandon me now.

I finished the day with my usual call to my mom and of course Call The Midwife.  This show just goes from strength to strength.  Brilliant writing.  Again . . .  you will need your hankies.




Monday was Prep Day, Clean the House Day . . . planning day.  At least it started off that way.  I went into town actually with Sister Johansen late morning.  She wanted to go to Primark.  She will be going home in April and she wanted to buy hoodies for each of her grandchildren, which she is going to take to have embroidered with something British.  She is so much fun to shop with.   I had so many laughs.  We walked all over Chester.  I introduced her to Cath Kidston.    I can't believe that she has been here for 18 months and never discovered Cath Kidston!  We ate the worst pancakes ever at a new restaurant in Chester called Hanky Panky.  How do you get pancakes wrong?  I don't know . . .  but they did.  They were tough . . .  so tough you couldn't cut them with a fork.  You needed a knife.  There was no butter to spread on them and they were stingy with the syrup. Pancakes that are that tough need moisture.  The bacon was so hard . . .  SOOOO hard.  Seriously overcooked.  About the only good thing was being there with Sister Johansen.  PS - they charge for anything extra . . .  cream on your hot chocolate, another squirt of syrup, etc.




Tuesday we had District meeting in the morning.  That was great also.  I learned so much.  We did some role playing.  Normally I am not overly fond of role playing, but this week was different.  I really picked up some great tips.   Then I had to rush to the shops because it ended up we were having the Zone leaders and a couple of their investigators over for tea.  I wanted to make my baked chili.  I went to our local Asda, which is like Walmart over here and I loaded up my cart, got ready to take it to the til and the fire alarm went . . .  so they had to evacuate the shop.  I had to leave my full cart, along with my pound coin and just leave.  I couldn't hang around to see what happened next.  I had too much to do and not enough time.   I needed to pick up two more bowls so that we had enough for everyone and I needed to re-think what I was going to cook.  Spaghetti Bolognese was it, salad, garlic bread and a store bought dessert was the best I could do.  Their investigators ended up canceling, but that was okay.  I just froze the extra for another time.  We enjoyed the company of the Zone leaders and had a very spiritual couple of hours.  It was all good.  It always is.

 

Wednesday the Elders brought a friend over to see the film Meet the Mormons.   I love this movie. I've watched it about six times.  You can watch it too, if you click on the title there.   The whole thing is on You Tube now.  We have our own copy.   It follows the lives of six different Mormons and their families.  I always really enjoy it.  The last one is the Mormon Mom who is sending her son off on his Mission.  I always cry . . .  and this time was no different.  Their friend really enjoyed it.   He is getting Baptised today so that's great.  We were supposed to go out on reachouts but I think having this friend over and watching the film was more important.



(I think this is ME, but it doesn't say and usually her work says it is her.) 

Thursday the Elders were coming over for supper.  They were going to be bringing the man who is being Baptised, but he ended up having to work, which was just as well as I started feeling rather unwell throughout the day.   Nothing I could put my finger on, but I was definitely feeling feverish and out of sorts.   I just did a simple curry from what I had in the freezer, etc.  Served them Naan bread with it and salad.   Leftover dessert from Tuesday, etc.  I was in bed by 8:30, which is not like me, but I felt exhausted. 

  

Friday  . . .  I realized . . .  "I hab a code."  Coughing, sniffling . . . just feeling tired and unwell.   We did not go anywhere or do anything . . .  I did another painting.  (See above)  I layed around the house all day for the most part otherwise.  Todd had leftover curry for his supper with rice.  That was about it.  We started to watch the Shanara Chronicles and quashed it . . .  too juvenile we thought.  We just couldn't get into it.  We watched Cold Mountain.  I had seen it before.  Rene Zellwinger was brilliant in it, and even at her worst Nicole Kidman was beautifully ethereal.  Although quite violent in part, still a great movie, even the second or third time around . . . 

Which brings us to today.  We have two Baptisms to attend and I am speaking at them.  I still have to write my talk, so I best get off here and get moving  . . .  plus I have to cook something to bring as a refreshment for afters.  I really don't feel like going with my cold . . .  but when you are speaking, you kinda gotta . . . 

A thought to carry with you through today  . . . 

 ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
 No-one likes to fail,
but we mortals
don't become champions
without making 
a few mistakes.
~Dieter F Uchtdorf
✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿

Spiritual Enrichment



Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  something traditional and British . . .  Grantham White Gingerbread.   Seriously scrumptious!


Have a great weekend.  May your days be filled with joy!  Don't forget along the way that . . .


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and I do too!

How to Spend a Week . . .

 

Our week started off as they all do  . . .  with a recharge of our Spiritual Batteries and church.    We went to another Ward this week, instead of our Home Ward.  As a Senior Missionary Couple, we have several Wards beneath our Umbrella of Responsability and every second week we visit one of the other Wards, to check on the Missionaries there and see how things are going for them, etc.    One thing I love about the church is that no matter where you go in the world, the meetings will always be the same.  In Sunday school you will be taught the same lesson . . .  the same with Priesthood and Relief Society and Primary, Young Men's Young Women's.  All the same throughout the world.  There is a line of continuity which runs through them all and which helps us to feel at home and a part of something larger no matter where we go.  Our Mission President and his wife just happened to be at the same Ward this week and they both gave talks during Sacrament Meeting and they were beautiful talks.    Talks which really made me think.  I love it when that happens.

Of course in the afternoon I called my mother as I always do, and then in the evening we watched Call the Midwife.  I love that show, even if it does always make me cry.

 

Monday was our Preparation Day.  We tidied the house and I did laundry.  I did a bunch of cooking for Tuesday.  It was a really busy day and I didn't finish up until gone 7:30 that night.   We had Family Home Evening . . .  when it is just the two of us it tends to be watching a film which inspires and some sharing of our thoughts on things we might have learnt in the previous week either through experience or reading  . . .  etc.




Tuesday we had District Meeting.   I got up extra early so that I could bake some muffins to take with me for the Elders and Sisters.   I did Bran muffins this week because I thought they would be healthy.   I used my ex MIL's recipe and they usually turn out really well, but they weren't as good this time around.  The bran cereal I used was a "Store" brand that I had bought to save a few pennies on thinking that it wouldn't make a difference.  It did and it does.  I won't do that again!  It just wouldn't soften like it should have done.

Our Meeting went really well.  We had the extra bonus of having our Mission President and his wife attend that as well!  So we got to see them twice in one week, which was nice.   We got to share a lot of teaching  moments with each other and to learn some new things.  It was great!  I always enjoy moments when we get to be together with all of the Sisters and Elders, sharing and learning from each other.

Tuesday evening we had the one set of Elders . . .  Elder Judd and Elder Candland for supper.  They had been supposed to bring an investigator/friend with them, but that fell through so it was just them.  I had made Spaghetti Bolognese, and we had salad and garlic bread and a cake for dessert plus some leftover peanut butter cookies.   I always enjoy having any of the Missionaries over for tea.  The spirit which they bring into our home is amazing.  If you want to bring a special light into your home . . .  feed a pair of Missionaries!

After they left, we picked the Sisters up at the Station and we went with them to visit a family.  We really enjoyed that also, and then afterwards we drove them back to their flat in Wales.

So Tuesday was another really busy day!



We thought to have a quieter day on Wednesday.  Todd had a Doctors appointment in the morning and we stopped by to see our friend Doreen and to find out how she had done the day before.   It turned out she hasn't fractured her knee at all . . .  the specialist says it is her back.  So she has further appointments scheduled.  Duh.  What was the letter all about with the fractured knee.  My mind is boggled with all of the messing about.

I did a bit of cooking in the afternoon and I painted a picture because I had not done any painting in a while.   Then we got a call from the Sisters asking if they could stop by and we said sure and I fed them leftovers which were greatly appreciated.  It was just leftover spaghetti bolognese and I whipped up a salad for them and of course leftover cake.   I love it when a meal blesses you twice!  That Spaghetti Bolognese was like the loaves and the fishes!

Afterwards we drove them over to a young woman's house so they could see her for a short and then we took them to the station in town so they could catch their bus back to their flat.

So Wednesday ended up being really busy also!



Thursday I had to go to the Dentist in the morning, which I was really dreading.  My teeth are so senstive.  My Dentist says I am too good a brusher and I have brushed away some of the dentine and my roots are exposed in a couple of places on one side.     This means that my teeth on that side of my mouth are extremely sensitive to everything, and tooth cleaning at the Dentist is an exercise in torture.  Seriously.  Torture.

When we got home my hospital letter had arrived with a date for my pre-assessment for my colonoscopy and a tentative date for my colonoscopy, depending on the outcome of the pre-assessment.  Apparently there is a long waiting list for these things.   One will be on the 7th of March and the other on the 17th.  Of course they include a huge sheet of do's and don'ts and a list of the risks involved . . .  as if you didn't already have enough to worry about.  I know they have to do that, but it's really not very comforting and with the wait being so long it gives you even more time to dwell and obsess upon it all.

I am the type of person that should never have a medical dictionary in the house.  I have to throw away all of the inserts of any medication I am given because if I read them, I am experiencing all of the symptoms, lol.  It's the same reason I had to stop watching ER years and years ago.  Medical dramas make me ill.

I spent the rest of the day and into the night feeling stressed and ill.  I know it doesn't do you any good . . . but I had to have that one day of stressing and then on Friday I felt better about it all.  The stress won't kick in now until the day before.




To be honest by Friday I was mentally and physically exhausted from it all and so despite our plans to do other things we just took the day off.  Todd went into town and had a boo around and I just stayed in, listening to music, reading, playing, etc.  I needed to catch my breath.  I just felt worn out.  And you know what?  I was in bed by 8:30 Friday night and didn't open my eyes until gone 6 Saturday morning.  So not like me.



I quite obviously needed the rest!

Yesterday I did my grocery shopping and some phone calling that I needed to do, etc, but other than that we had a quiet day also.  We should have had a street display in the afternoon, but it was bucketing down rain and at the ages of 77 and 60 we are not into standing in bucketing down rain and cold.  Besides people are just not that keen on talking to you in that type of weather either.

 And here we are again at Sunday . . .  time to recharge all over again, and boy this week do I ever need it!

A thought to carry with you through today  . . .




It's a picture thought today  . . .

Spiritual Enlightenment  



Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Aunt Orabelle's Date Squares.

Have a great Sabbath day!  Wherever you go and whatever you do, don't forget!
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And I do too! Happy Day!

How To Spend a Week . . .

Sunday began my week much as it always does with Spiritual sustenance and inspiration.   This is recharge the battery time.   Time for reflection.  A day when I get to see people that I love and don't get to see oftimes at any other time of the week.  A meeting of souls and kindred spirits.   I love going to church.  In today's world when things seem so crazy and God-less, it is a great reminder to me that things are not God-less and that He is always there for those who seek Him.

I called my mom as I always do on Sundays.  I love these weekly calls and conversations, even if I do get to hear the same stories over again that I get to hear every week.  It is just good to hear my mother's voice.  I would give anything to be able to touch her hand and see her face.  I miss my family over here in the UK, but I think I miss my mother most of all.  I love her with all of my heart and I know that she loves me with all of her heart also, always has, always will.  I think mother's are one of the greatest blessings this life brings to us.
I know that this is not true for everyone, but it is true for me.




Monday was our Prep Day, where we prepare for the rest of the week . . .  deciding what we are going to do.  We do our laundry, clean the house, etc.  I prepared a meal to take to a member who needed a meal taking to the family.   I made a casserole, salad and baked cookies.  I did some clearing out.   Downstairs is looking really nice now.  The trick to clearing out is not to look inside things.  If you have not looked inside a box or a closet for a very long time, you can't really need what is in there . . .  once you start looking you start thinking . . .  ohh . . .  I need this or . . . .  ohh . . .  might be able to use that one day etc.  There is a certain amount of ruthlessness that goes along with a good clear out.  I am getting better at it.




On Tuesday we had our District Meeting.  This week it was in Wrexham, so a bit further away.  It is good to sit down with all of the missionaries and talk about things we need to talk about, get training in areas we need to improve, discuss what has worked for us and what hasn't, develop ways to do things better, etc.  It was freezing in the chapel as the heat was not on, and there were men working on the roof, so it was also noisy with banging and drilling.  There were times I couldn't hear what was being said because of all the noise.  But it was good.  I took a lot of notes this week.    We talked about what it was we desired as Missionaries and how we could go about making it happen . . .  how could we move out of our comfort zones.    I spoke about the story in the Bible where Peter, in keeping his eyes on the Saviour, was able to walk upon the water, sinking only after he took his eyes off of the Saviour, and about how most people see his trying to walk on the water as an act of faith, and it certainly is . . .  but his first act of faith was in actually getting out of the boat.  Out of all that were there, he was the only one with enough courage and faith to "get out of the boat."

We need to be willing to get out of the boat.  This can apply to all areas of our life.  What are we missing in life simply because we lack the courage and the faith to just get out of the boat?




On Wednesday we had our nightmare trip to Runcorn in the morning.  As I told you before, it was simply horrendous.  Both of us were feeling ultimately stressed out and confused and I think more than a bit anxious and afraid!  Poor Todd with his having to actually be driving like that.   I told him that we needed to find a place to pull over to and just be quiet for a few minutes and we did just that.  For those few minutes we were actually able to focus and make a decision on what to do next.  We prayed about what to do.  We felt the comforting hand of the Saviour, and a peace of mind which came with the decision to abandon our plans and just go home.  It wasn't easy just getting back out of Runcorn, but we managed it and were home by the early afternoon.

Wednesday evening we had our Missionary Correlation meeting which we have each week with the Ward Mission Leader.  We talk about the people we are teaching and working with.  Make plans as a team for the week ahead, etc.  It is an opportunity for the Ward Missionaries to also get involved, etc.   The chapel is a very busy place on Wednesday evenings.  There is Young Men's and Young Women's at the church, sometimes Faith in God activities for the Primary children.  It's like a beehive with little bees coming in and going out.  It's nice.



Todd had a Doctors Appointment on Thursday morning and I had my Cooking for Diabetes Class in the afternoon.  It was the last class of the course and this week it focused on Healthy Snacking as well as Smoking and Drinking Alcohol.  Of course the smoking and drinking were not an issue with me as I don't do either one, but it was fun talking about the different snacks that we could eat that were healthy and to think in terms of crunchy raw veggies and hummus rather than crispy potato chips and the like.

I really enjoyed this class and I was sorry to see it ending.  I found that I learned a lot and it was especially nice to be able to get together with people who are battling the same illness and compare notes and ideas with each other.

Our instructor was a lovely lady.  We all liked her very much and she was interesting and just had a very pleasant personality.  I think that is half the battle of any course . . . liking the instructor.

One set of the Elders (young missionary males) happened to be in our area later in the afternoon and stopped by.  I asked them if they would like a hot chocolate and so we made them hot chocolates and grilled cheese sandwiches because they looked hungry too.  It was nice having them in our home.  I have always enjoyed having the missionaries in our home as you know and I love to feed them.



I think yesterday was our busiest day of this week.  In the morning we went to sit with an elderly man so that his wife, who is his primary care giver, could get out and about and have some much needed respite and a change of pace and scenery.   It was interesting to be able to sit with this man for several hours and listen to him telling us about the various things he had done throughout his life.  Since he and Todd are of a similar age, they had a lot in common and shared some common experiences.  It was just nice to be able to do something for someone else.

While we were there the Sister Missionaries called us and asked us if they could bring someone to our home to teach last night.  We said sure!  We love that sort of thing.  They then asked if they could come a bit early and bring their supper with them.  I said no way!  They were not bringing their supper with them.  They could come early and I would feed them supper!  (There is no way I am going to let these sweet young girls get away with bringing their own food into my house, lol  See above.  I love to feed the missionaries!)  I didn't do anything too fancy, just a curry and rice and some naan breads, then a cake for dessert.




We had a great teaching experience. I love teaching in our home.  It is a wonderful way to invite the spirit into the house. Of course just having the Missionaries here does that.  I love having them in our home, as you know!

We both fell into bed pretty exhausted at the end of the day, but it was a good kind of exhaustion.



Mitzie, silly girl  . . .  was exhausted too.  She loves having company, and thankfully they love her too!

And now it is Saturday and who knows what I will get up to today!  I think I will be testing out gluten free pancake batters!

And that is how you spend a week!

A thought to carry with you through today   . . .


 ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
You define what is important to you
by what you dedicate your time to.
~Dallin H Oakes
✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿

Spiritual Enlightenment  

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Another Oatmeal Cookie. These are really good!


Hope your Saturday is as special as you are! Wherever you go and whatever you get up to, don't forget!

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And I do too!

How to Spend a Week

Our week began as usual with Sunday.  We were able to go to church and nenew our  Baptismal  Covenants and partake of the sacrament, to refresh and strengthen our Spiritual batteries in readiness for the week ahead.  This week was our Ward Conference.  (Our local congregations are called wards (or branches for smaller congregations). They are organized geographically and members attend a ward or branch near their home.)  Our Stake leaders were there to teach and sustain us as a Ward, with special Sacrament Talks, and lessons in Sunday School and Relief Society/Priesthood lessons. ( A group of wards forms a stake, and the leader of a stake is a stake president. “Stake” is not a term found in the New Testament, but is taken from Old Testament tent imagery in which the “tent,” or church, is held up by supporting stakes (see Isaiah 54:2).

Our Stake President began his talk by speaking about the special live Broadcast that we in the UK had had from Edinborough  a year ago in which Jeffrey R. Holland had been the main speaker and he asked us what did we remember from that special  event.   I remembered that we had all been very well fed spiritually and that he had spent the whole time talking about the Book of Mormon, and in fact going overtime, which is not usual for speakers at that level.  I was right.  He had done this.  He then asked us why a leader at that level would take up so much time to speak to us, a people who were already converted to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon . . . about the Book of Mormon.   There was a lot of food for thought there, and I came away committed to study the Book of Mormon ever deeper than before.

Of course in the afternoon I called my mom.  It is so lovely to hear her voice on a Sunday.  I would love to call her every day, but I think that she would find that overly annoying.  She was telling me that a family of deer have been frequently passing through their garden and partaking of the rosehips on the rose bushes on their way down towards the river.  She was also saying that vegetables were quite expensive at the moment, and I did recall someone saying on facebook the price of a head of cauliflower, but I couldn't remember how much it was, but it did sound a lot.  In Canada the tax on things is added at the til, so the price you see on an object is not always the price you pay.  Todd finds that quite confusing when he is there, and to be honest I think it is too.  I prefer the way things are here, where the price you are shown is the price you pay, with no hidden surprises at the til!



Monday we had our prep day, so I did laundry and cleaned the house and cooked a Chicken Tikka Masala as we had been charge with bringing a meal to a family that evening.  I made enough so that we had it for supper also.  It was good and I found myself wondering why I did not cook us a curry more often.



I also had time to work on my cookbook album, which I really enjoyed.  I am always happiest when I am creating.  I had so much paper left that I have started a second one, only this one is black.  I am quite happy with how that is turning out as well.



Tuesday we did a lot of work on referrals.   A lot of the way Missionaries find people to teach to is by referrals.   Because the church had done a very good job prior to Christmas with their Christmas videos, etc, there had been a LOT of referrals online.  One of the things we do as a Senior Missionary Couple is to take these referrals and investigate them to see if they are actually real and not bogus so that the Young Missionaries don't waste a lot of really valuable time chasing them up.  You would be surprised at the number of bogus referrals we get.  People will call the church, or go online and give fake names, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, street addresses, etc.  Or some people will think it is funny to give someone else's details, perhaps a person who really isn't into God or who is an athiest, etc.  It's really important that our young Missionaries are safe.  We have had missionaries held captive by bad people in the past.  One of our young sister Missionaries and her companion here in the UK had been held for hours and hours in an apartment by an investigator before they were able to get away, which left them both quite traumatized as you can imagine.  This one sister ended up going home early from her mission as it had left her so distressed.  So when we get these referrals it's really important that we make sure they are on the up and up before we send in the youngsters.  As Seniors we have to make three attempts to contact the referral before passing it on to the Young Missionaries, and only then when we have determined that it is a valid referral.

I do not understand the mentality of people who give these bogus referrals and waste so much of our time, or perhaps that is the whole point of it all . . .  wasting our time.  You would be surprised at the number of people who truly dislike Mormons, who feel we are evil and who would want to make our jobs as Missionaries even more difficult.  As Todd so rightfully said to one once upon a time, "Surely their time would be better spend in trying to bring people to Christ who don't already have a testimony of the Saviour than in trying to destroy the testimonies of people who do."

It makes no sense.   It costs nothing to be kind.



On Wednesday I spent most of the day putting together my presentation for the Young Women that I would be teaching about Canadian Cooking at church that evening.   I wanted to make sure that they would get a lot out of my lesson and really understand the demographics of Canadian Cookery, and the melting pot that is our cuisine.  I baked a few examples of different things to show them, etc.  and then, of course  . . .  I went to church that night and did just that.  There were some things that they didn't think were very tasty, such as Peanutbutter and Jam.  (I don't know why the British have such a problem with that concept.  I think it's quite nice.)  I think they found it quite interesting however and they did enjoy the Molasses Cake, Oatmeal Muffins and Dessert Pemmican.  I think they were quite relieved that I had not brought real Pemmican!  We also were taught how to make Sushi by a Japanese member of our Ward.   I wasn't that fond of the Nori paper we use to wrap it up in.  It smelt very fishy and I don't like things that smell really fishy.  It was a fun activity however and I did enjoy the taste of the vegetarian ones.



Thursday saw me doing my Visit Teaching in the morning and Todd and I also did some Home Teaching together.  As Adult Sisters in the church we are each given the responsability to visit and care for several Sisters in our Ward.  It is a priviledge and a duty of care.  We are encouraged to pray for the Sisters in our care daily, and to get to know and to love them.  We are there to help them if they need it and to support and strengthen each other in whatever way that we can.  I have found through the years that any sister I visit taught or was visit taught by has become a good and cherished friend.  Likewise my Visit Teaching Partners.  We have also become good friends.  It is something which I have also really always enjoyed doing very much.  My partner could not make it this week and so as the end of the month was here, Todd went with me as I wanted to get it done.  We are also Home Teaching partners so we did that as well.  You can learn a bit more about these two programs here if you are interested in knowing more.

In the afternoon I had my Cooking for Diabetes Class.  This week we spoke about the types of fats and salt.  We made a Vegetable Curry which was really very delicious.  And there was no salt in it whatsoever, except that which occurred naturally in the ingredients used.  I only have one more of these classes to attend.    I have really enjoyed them and am so glad that I signed up for them.  I've learned a lot, even though I thought I already knew it all, haha.




Yesterday morning we had to take Mitzie to the Dog Groomers.   She is not a dog who enjoys a lot of fussin'  She actually gets really stressed when she is groomed.  That's why we keep driving all the way to Neston to have her groomed . . .  because she knows those groomers and they know her, and we reckon that its better for her to be with someone she knows and is comfortable around.  Our groomer is the woman who bred her and has known her since the day she was born.  Neston is quite a distance from us and we could go to groomers right here in the City, but we stick with Paws for Perfection because we like them and Mitzie does too.  She always smells so nice when she is done.



And her fur is so shiny.  She is pretty exhausted though for the rest of the day.  I reckon its the stress of it all.  I don't mind it myself  . . .  I get to go to Gordales and have a wee boo around while Todd sits in the cafe and reads while enjoying a hot chocolate.  The cafe is filled with men enjoying coffees etc.  while their better halves have a wee boo around the shop.  I love garden centres with nice big gift shops.  They have such nice things and the greeting cards at Gordales are just lovely.

In the afternoon I did some of my Spark Joy exercises that I told you about earlier in the week.  I managed to get the dining room buffet cleared.  I had a lot of things in there that we just never use, or that are old and chipped and will never use because they are old and are chipped, or because there are only two of them.  I applied the "Is it useful" and "Do you LOVE it" principles to each item.  Anything that wasn't useful, was old and chipped, or I didn't love got taken away, including a little glass blue bird with a broken beak that my ex husband had given me once upon a time.  I don't know why I had been hanging onto it for so long.  It is  no more.

 Which brings me to today . . .



Menu planning and Grocery Shopping for the week ahead.  I love grocery shopping.

And that my friends  . . .  is how you spend a week.

A thought to carry with you through the day  . . .


✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
"Even though multitudes 
followed after Him, 
Christ’s ministry always consisted 
of blessing people one by one."
~Carlos H. Amado 
✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿

Spiritual Enlightenment




In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Lemon Cake Pie.  Delicious!  Wish I could still eat things like this!  Perhaps just a nibble  . . .


Hope your Saturday is as special as you are! Wherever you go and whatever you get up to, don't forget!

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And I do too!

How to Spend a Week

My weeks always get off to the best possible start with church and our Sacrament Meeting, where we get to partake of the sacrament.  This is such a perfect beginning to the week.

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." ~Matthew 26: 26-28

The Sacrament is more than just partaking of  the emblems . . . it is a re-enactment of that covenant which the Saviour instituted with his Disciples in the upper room on the last evening of His mortal life.  When I take the Sacrament I am renewing the covenant I made with Him when I was Baptised.  When done in the proper way and with the proper attitude, you can be filled with the Spirit and made anew, fit and ready to face the week to come. It is a covenant experience, a reminder and a renewal of the covenants the Lord has permitted us to enter into with Him.




It is my favourite part of the week.  I love the prayers.   I love seeing the young men practicing their Priesthood in the blessing and passing.  I love the sacredness of it all.  I love the feelings of renewal which accompany it . . . and the tenderness of the Saviour's love for me which I feel when I partake of these sacred emblems, and divine covenants.

Ordinances and covenants are the building blocks we use to construct our lives upon the foundation of Christ and His Atonement. We are connected securely to and with the Savior as we worthily receive ordinances and enter into covenants, faithfully remember and honor those sacred commitments, and do our best to live in accordance with the obligations we have accepted. And that bond is the source of spiritual strength and stability in all of the seasons of our lives.~Elder David A Bednar

 

On Monday which should have been our prep day for the rest of the week, we travelled up to Manchester with Elder and Sister Johansen to attend a Senior Missionary Training Meeting, which was also a Pot Luck Lunch.  It's always really nice to get together with the other Senior Missionary Couples and hear how they have been doing.  I love seeing them and spending time with them.  They are all such special people.  I also learn a lot at these meetings.  We had some IT training this week, which had a lot of us scratching our heads.  IT comes so easily to young people, but when you get a bit grey and wrinkly, it's not so easy, so training is always welcome!  I know that the young people who were teaching us probably had a good laugh at how inept a lot of us were, I know I sure did!  What fun!  Of course there was lots of tasty food to enjoy as well,  ham and cheese sliders from Sister Hilam which were fabulous, a gorgeous salad from Sister Latham, Cheesy Potatoes from Sister Johansen (my three favouritest things of all that was there).  It was all very good.  You don't get to be our age without being a good cooker!  We were exhausted by the end of the day with all of that travel and eating and learning.  It was a great day.




We had all of the Elders from our District coming for supper on Tuesday so I spent a goodly part of the day preparing for that.  (Elder Judd, Elder Lolesei, Elder Hollingsworth, Elder Singsam.)  We were going to be losing Elder Singsam on Wednesday to Southport so it was extra tender and special, this time we had together. I cooked a bang up meal for them of Beef Enchiladas, Baked Chicken Breasts, rice, broccoli, sweet potato/carrot mash, and for dessert, chocolate cake and banana fudge pudding cake.  The nicest part of the evening was their singing to us accapella, which was just beautiful.   We gave Elder Singsam a new suitcase as his was all beaten up and falling apart with broken handles, etc.  I could not have him trying to struggle on and off of trains with a broken suitcase.  He wrote in our book.  We wrote in his book.  Tears were shed.  We will surely miss him.



Sister Gregson and Sister Holmes also popped over in the afternoon so that Sister Gregson could say goodbye to us, as she was off to Crosby Ward on Wednesday and a new Sister came in to replace her here.   Again, she wrote in our book and we in hers, and photos were taken, tears shed.  We will miss this feisty young woman, but know she will do well on the remainder of her mission and feel confident in knowing that our District gave her a great start and foundation to begin on.



Wednesday was transfers.   They have now done away with the Transfer Meetings we used to have every six weeks.   I will miss them.  It was so much fun getting to see the Missionaries that were leaving to go home, welcoming the new Missionaries coming in, hearing the leaving Missionaries bear their testimonies, etc.  They were such uplifting meetings.  However they are now a thing of the past.  Missionaries now have to go straight to their new areas and companions, etc.   Since this was the first time this was being done here in recent years, there was lots of action and confusion.  Many of the Senior Couples drove the Sister Missionaries to their new areas rather than have them struggle on and off of trains with all of the luggage (in many cases consisting of two heavy suitcases and a carry on bag).  We were supposed to be meeting two new Sisters coming into our District to the Wrexham Ward, taking them to their flat in Wrexham, and then taking them to a Worldwide Missionary Broadcast in Rhyll for 5 pm.  We did  not make the Broadcast in Rhyll.   They never even left the mission home until four pm, and then by the time they got to Chester, and then to Wrexham, it was gone 5:30 and we still had to lug all of their cases up stairs to their flat.  Then we got into the flat to realise they had no electric and no gas, so no heating and no lights.  Sister Wilcox had brought them a bag of groceries so that they would at least have something to eat, and some lanterns were found, etc.  But it was a very long day of waiting and confusion. Hopefully the next transfer will pass a lot more smoothly!

 

After such a mixed up day on Wednesday we took Thursday morning off.  Todd had to go into town to do some banking.  Jose (Ariana's husband) came and took Mitzie for a walk and I did their laundry for them in exchange.  In the afternoon I had my Cooking for Diabetes Class.  I am really enjoying this class.  I am getting to meet some really nice new people.  There are only six of us in the class and our instructor, who is really lovely.  She's Asian and so nice.  This week we were talking about the different types of sugars and carbohydrates etc.  A lot of people think that low carb is the way to go, but we need carbs.  That is where we get our energy. We just need to choose low GI carbs wherever possible.  Things such as whole grains,  or natural sugars.  Most things have small amounts of sugars in them, but they are natural sugars such as the ones in fruit.  The more processed the fruit is however, the higher the sugar content, so it is best to have them in as raw a state as possible, and not pureed, etc.  Juices, for instance, are very high in sugar.  Better to eat a real apple or banana (on the less ripe side) than to drink the juice.  We also baked some oatmeal cookies which were sweetened with banana, had very little fat in them, and were actually very tasty.  Although not that good looking I will admit.   Low fat things are not necessarily that great for you, especially in processed foods.  They take out the fat and put sugar in to make them taste better.  Reading labels is very important.  Life changing actually.  In any case I learned a lot.

 

Todd had some stuff to do in town yesterday morning, so I took advantage of his being out and I started working on my Home Sweet Home Recipe Album Project.  I have gotten all of the outside cover done and three of the inside pages.  It's working out really nicely!  I will take some photos later if I get a chance.

 

I just love, LOVE these papers.  They're fabulous.

We had bought two tall bookcases earlier in the week to use as shelving in the kitchen so that we could organize it better than it was and Todd spent some time putting them together and then we organized the kitchen and it is sooooooooo much better than it was.  I will have to take some photos of that also!  I am so amazed at the difference.

Then the Johansens stopped by in the afternoon for a visit and it was so nice to spend some time with them.  I love Kathy so much.  She has become a dear friend. We will really miss them when they have to go home in the Spring.  *sniff *sniff*  But I know we cannot keep them forever.  Mitzie loves the Johansens.  Well, Mitzie loves everyone.

Then we went out and got some groceries, and also we did some Missionary visits to some of the people in our care and fell into bed exhausted with good books at the end of it all.

Today we have a Missionary Street Display in Chester.  Also Todd is going to help Billy (remember Billy, I was teaching him to read a few years ago).  He had a car accident earlier this week.  A hit and run, and he needs some help with the insurance, etc.  We are not sure if we can do anything, but Todd will try.  Billy did not report it on the day, but there should be CCTV footage of where it happened. We'll see.  I just have to say there are some really rotten people about.  This lady ran right into his car while he was in it, and just took off.  Wrote Billy's car off completely.  And of course, Billy being the way he is, and in shock, didn't get any details.

Plus we are having Tina and Tony over for supper.   Tina goes in for her second knee replacement on  Monday, so this will also be our meeting with them as Ward Mission Leaders for their Ward.

So another busy day is in the offing and I best get at it!  A thought to carry with you through today  . . .

✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿
"Be obedient, remember the times 
when you have felt the Spirit in the past, 
and ask in faith. Your answer will come."
~James B Martino
✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿ ✿¸.•*¨`*•..¸✿

Spiritual Enlightenment 



In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Polka Dot Crispie Treats.  For the kiddies.

Hope your Saturday is as special as you are!  Wherever you go and whatever you get up to, don't forget!


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And I do too!