Donna's Journey

I awoke at 5:30 without an alarm. Apparently my cat nap helped bring me back into balance. We will see how I last today. I studied Alma 54 and Alma 55 this morning. I answered some email. It is now time for a cool walk, before the heat hits.I walked 2 miles.

I fixed breakfast for the family.

I spent the best part of my day responding to several email.  I did not get my summary done.  I sent it to email and proofed it and failed to save changes to the computer and lost the corrections.  Tomorrow I won’t blog or check email until I have my paper proofed and compiled.  Presently, I am at 5 pages of summary and 43 page of appendix.  Thatb is before adding samples from my school notebooks and learning guides. I need to send the summary via email tomorrow and print the entire package up and have it bound.  I do not believe that anyone has turned in a summary of almost book length.  I may be wrong.  There is always a first.

I shared with my oldest son, whay I learned from the readings for Janine Bolon’s class.

I also managed to get a few loads of laundry done.

We had devotional and it is time for bed.

I woke at 5:30, just minutes before my alarm went off. We got the gear together and headed to the church to meet with the rest of the trekers. Interesting that they started this trek on the 201st anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, which led, in turn to the pioneers’ exodus, which led in turn to the necessity of handcarts.  It took 10 Touring buses to transport the youth and their leaders.  There will be around 500 on the trek, named Journey to Zion. Our Stake President stated, “if we were just doing this for fun, we wouldn’t” He also said that this was not about giving the youth a simulated pioneer experience. They have worked on this for over a year and want the lessons to parallel life and our spiritual journey in mortality. They are not doing Martin’s Cove because we are too large. They worked out usage of terrain that is owned by a cattleman and rancher association. It will be 16+ miles in four days. Their “Rocky Ridge” experience will be a 4-mile stretch on the third day that will rise 1500 feet.

I came home and went for a walk.

I studied Alma 53 today, the story of the army of Helaman.

I drove a friend on errands, as she has but one car and just had knee surgery. We went to Target to pick up plastic bags to place my Christmas boxes in and place in the attic. While there I saw that the yard furniture I was eyeing, was on summer clearance because the school supplies go up tomorrow. I saved 40% and got what I thought would service us best. My husband brought our truck up and brought things home.

We went to vote in the primary. Then I took her grocery shopping. Then I stopped by the church cannery and gave an envelope to mail me their fall schedule in. I want to use their opportunities as much as possible.

I got an email from my site administrator, apparently, I won dinner at Magley’s and tickets to see Da Vinci Code. I did nothing to win this, but to receive the weekly email of grocery sales.

While I was helping my friend, Roger vacuumed and tidied the upstairs and put the Christmas boxes in the hot attic.

I will change laundry loads. My two children that are not on the trek are playing with friends, so I think I can sit down to type:) on my summary.

I confess, I was exhausted, I thought, I will just lie down for 20 minutes. Well, I woke up hours later. So, I did not get to write. I made raspberry chicken linguine for dinner. After dinner went to my mother-in-law’s to sing happy birthday, it is her 86th birthday.

We have had devotional and children are washing the day and the play off.

It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

- Walt Disney

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“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”

- Paulo Coelho

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”

- Conrad Hilton

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“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

- Thomas Edison

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“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.”

- Colin L. Powell

“If we did all the things we were capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”

- Thomas Edison

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“Unless a man undertakes more than he possibly can do, he will never do all that he can.”

- Henry Drummond

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The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.”

- Vincent van Gogh

I woke up to a CD in the kitchen. The boys had been to basketball and had just come home. I had fallen to sleep late because I had a seven year old crying at midnight. The boys were listening to music about the handcart pioneers. I got up to read my scriptures. Since I read scriptures on my laptop, more often than not, I turned on my laptop. Just then, my 17 yo dd popped in, “Hey mom, wanna walk?” Off I went for a walk. I had to choose, now or later? If I waited until after scripture study it would be too hot to walk. If I walk, I may get home and others will be up and then my scripture study will be distracted by demands of family. There is a reason that the Psalms 31 women arose while it was yet dark, to bring meat to her household. My personal devotions bring spiritual meat to my household.

Ok, so I was right.  I got home and sat down at the table and got three verses before I was needed.  Soon my son and his wife were here.  Julia got a phone call at 9:45 that she would need to be ready to leave at 11:00 am instead of 4:00pm today.  So we were all in a whirl to get her ready and out the door.  She made it.  I then ran Rinda to the copy center to get her jogging journal copied.  Adam worked on the path from the patio.  Jeremy watched Valor and Jennifer worked to get ready, by making her bonnet, as she had given her first one to Julia.  Adam, Rinda, and Valor left around 5:30.

I was drawn to the yard.  I thought the flower beds could use some weeding and cleaning out of dead weeds from the windstorms.  Roger mowed the front lawn.  I could not stop at the flower beds, I began pruning the climbing roses back and deadheading the spent blooms.  An hour later we had everything put in the trash cans and the cement broomed.  Oh, it looked so nice.

I made a BBQ teriyaki dinner.  Then I sewed Jennifer’s pinafor and a memory foam ppillow for Jen and Jeremy.

Family Home Evening was by Jeremy.  He spoke about the atonement and how no matter how good we are, we all fall short and the only way to eternal salvation is through the atonement of Christ.

I think everyone is showered and bags are packed.

We had devotional, “The testamony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”

Goodnight and may God bless!

I have fought off getting sick, all week.  Last night I crashed and did not wak until almost 11 am today.  I had just enough time to gather my primary and Sharing time materials, Shower, blow my hair dry, and paint my face.  I prefer a fresh face ala natural, but I painted.  Roger through dinner in the oven and made breakfast.

A month ago I had six 7 year-old boys two last active girls and one less active boy in my primary class.  The a new girl moved in.  Three weeks ago I was told my class would be divided today.  We all cried together.  While I was gone, we had two  more boys move in.  Yikes, if they had not split it I would have 14 7 year olds!  One little boys is so distracted.  I had to take him out in the hall today, I asked if he was happy, he said, no and that he was bored.  He is home schooled and his mom said she was having the same issues.  I know what is going on.

We had my mother-in-law  join us at dinner time.  We celebrated her 86th birthday which will be on Tuesday.

We had a stake trek fireside tonight.  Later, our hometeacher came to teach us the message from the Prophet

Roger and I took a walk and stopped and chatted with friends along the way.

We ahd devotional and now its off to bed.

Another day is well on its way to being filled to the max. Luckily I studied mt scriptures before the lawn mower across the street began its weekly ritual, becoming the alarm clock for the rest of my home. I was able to study Alma 51 and Alma 52. The stories of the freemen and the kingmen. The freemen trying to conserve and preserve their liberty and the aristocracy trying to regain control of the government, as they feel it is their right to govern. Are we any different in our parties today?
Yesteday I figured out how I would make skirts free hand, without a pattern, for pioneer dresses. I guess I will get to devise pantaloons as well, so these girls will have lightweight leg protection under their skirts. Today I will actually make the clothing. Dad will take them shopping to get the other necessities for the journey.

Now, since the household is stirring but not yet fully awake, I will hang up, on hangers, a load of shirts from the dryer and then set the place settings on the table. Done! Now I will check my email and then continue assembling and proofing my paper for 5 Pillar Cert.

AARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, I will try to be mature and not scream, cry, or throw a fit. I went to work on my 5 Pillar Summary and the file I worked so long on last night was corrupted. I was able to retrieve important data by palying with it and prayer. It took a good hour to get some of the data back. Now I am running a virus scan on my lap top and I think I will set things aside and sew pioneer clothes.

I sewed the skirts and pinaform without a pattern. These were four gore skirts. I have never made clothes without a pattern and never made these articles of clothing before. I just pondered long, created them spiritually (in my mind), then physically. If some would have told me yesterday that I would be able to do this, I would have laughed.

Between making the skirts and the apron, I worked with trying to retrieve my summary from a corrupted file. I was finally able to send it to myself in email and save important stuff. Monday i will format, edit and publish my essay.

We had a late devotional…

Goodnight.

Days are getting away from me and it is my own fault. I make the choices, ouch! If I don’t like the fast lane, I need to get off the conveyor belt. Some nut switched it into high speed. Oops, I think I know the culprit and it is I.!

My three oldest children, at home, have a big simulation next week. They are going on a handcart trek. I am working to get them ready, pioneer geer and all, and at the same time, working to complete my 5 Pillar Project Summary.

I woke at 7 this morning. I studied Alma 49-50. I took my walking partner, Candace, to pick up 25 cartons of her new books. It was her sister’s husband that died last week. He was coming home from work, and was hit by an illegal alein driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph, on a city street. Yes, the guy was drunk. My friend’s husband died instantly. They had just been married 2 1/2 years. Candace’s parents were visiting so we stayed and chatted and showed them the sand carving and sublimation we have been doing.

I made french toast for brunch. Jennifer and I did a Costco run. I wanted some sugar snap peas for my salads. I also wanted to see what paper goods cost at Costco, for storage purposes. We stopped at a garden shop, on the way home, looking for ideas for my secret garden out door living space.

Dreamin’s over, now back to progress…

I worked more on my summary.  I reworked a section to my satisfaction.

I had bought drinking glasses on my previous trip to the store.  On e was defective.  ROger needed to go to zija and Jennifer and I went with him, then we went to Target to return the glassware.  While there, I should them some outdoor furniture that I had liked.  They liked it too.  The patio should be completed by Wednesday and that is also the day the furniture will go on clearance.
I made beef linguine and tossed salad for dinner. After dinner, I completed my summary.  Now I need to add samples in the appendix and proof the appendix.  Then I will print it out and have it bound, as I have created something that I want to give my children.

We had family devotional and children then took their time to slowly prepare for bed.  The older children were consolidating their lists of things they will need to get today, so they will be ready for the pioneer trek handcart reinactment.

I slept well. I dreamt well. I love and missed my own bed, soft sheets and pillows! I begin my day with a well rested body, mind, and heart.
I studied the Alma 46 this morning; oh, the power of a righteous and consecrated cause! It reminds me to take great care in my allignment, to be discerning of flattering words, and to maintain my integrity by not using others with flattering words. I also studied Alma 47 this morning. It is sad what flattery can do and what happens when people turn their backs on what they know to be true and their hearts harden. I had to study on, grateful to end my study today with the power of a righteous man and leader, found in Alma 48. As we face the new challenges that are before us, I must keep the picture of Moroni and his people, before me as a reminder. ” …for the promise of the Lord was, if [we] should keep his commandments [we] should prosper in the land.”

Roger is giving me time today to polish my paper and work toward a print version to send to GWC and Angie Baker, for my orals. The file would be too big to email. Lots to do.

I  cooked breakfast for the family, Jennifer did the toast. .  Roger and I cleared the table and rinsed the dishes, Jennifer and I unloaded the dishwasher and Jennifer reloaded. We enjoyed morning scripture study reading and discussion I Samuel  14-15.  By the time we finished scripture study I had washed 3 loads of laundry.  Jennifer took over the laundry and I headed to the Library.

It was gratifying to see the tall shelves of books.  As i walked up the stairs to the second floor, I came face to face with an oil painting by one of my art professors from BYU, Dale Fletcher.Oh, Donna, there will be time to paint this summer, just finish your paper.  So, up I went, found a desk and typed away.  At 5:12 I headed for the market en route home.  I bought all kinds of salad fixings, red potatoes, and london broil.  I came home and put the food away, made italian and raspberry italian salad dressing, marinated the london broil, put potaotes on to steam, and helped Jeremy set the table.  The salad will be the last thing.  I like mine fresh!