Breakup parties

Monday September 2:  biked 8.77 miles. Our baptistry group that we have served with most of our time here under Elder and Sister Cornish on Saturday afternoons is breaking up because of slow downs that occur this time of the year.  So we enjoyed a potluck dinner with meat purchased from the new bbq restaurant in Nauvoo.  I made cheesy garlic potatoes. And Cornishes set up the Arrival Center with tables and chairs. It was delightful and we shared our most memorable experiences in the baptistry this season.  A “feel good” time.

Tuesday:  early morning time as usual 6:00 am. After our temple session we rode the bike 10.24 miles in 51 minutes, ending at 4:50 in just beautiful weather.

Wednesday:  temple is a later start at 7:00. It’s amazing what a difference that hour later start makes to my body.  After our temple shift, we went to Keokuk and I had my nails done with the acrylics.  They look and feel much nicer.  When we returned home we rode the bike 8.77 miles—another beautiful day. 

Thursday:  after our temple shift, we ate a lunch I packed in the temple break room and then took a family name through an endowment session after I did 5 initiatories. We met our Thursday baptistry team with Brother and Sister Drosty as the coordinators at Angelina’s in Keokuk.  There were 8 couples. This was the team that we were not inside with but we served at the Arrival Center.  I had chicken/bacon/ranch thin crust pizza.  Highly recommend!  Home at 7:30

Friday:  bikes 8.92 miles in the morning, showered and went to an endowment session at 11:15 before our shift started at 1:00.  We arrived home after first quarter of BYU game start with SMU. We listened until BYU won!  

Saturday:  biked 8.56 miles in 45 minutes. Sent Venmo $13 for potatoes to Rachael. Thanks for splitting with me, Julie and thanks Rachael for getting them for us!  I love Idaho potatoes and it seems that the prices have dropped.

Worked, of course, our afternoon shift but it was not in the baptistry as it has been; it was regular positions in the temple.

Sunday:  we enjoyed church.  Our time here is going so fast now.  After church I made us smothered beef burritos with side de galo. Then we attended “Our Saviors Love” again.  We don’t get tired of it.  Then we walked 1/2 mile just to enjoy and test out my knee.  It went well👏🏻.  Thanks everyone for joining the family call.  It feels so good to look upon each of you.  We love you more than words can express!  And we pray for each one of you that your testimonies are growing and deepening and that your understanding of the “Family Proclamation” and Heavenly Fathers plan for each of us individually and as a family is deepening.  I’m so happy that Heavenly Father has shared His Love with us in our own family unit.  Love Mom, Grandma, etc and Ray❤️

54 years of eternity

Monday:  biked 8.95 ; grocery shopping and made an appointment for next week to have my nails done; laundry

Tuesday: pre prep meeting dressed in whites and in meeting by 6:05. After the temple three couples (Daes, Favero, us) went to Keokuk in Favero nice truck and Daes bought us all dinner at the Hawkeye Restaurant. I had hall rack of ribs, loaded baked potato and house salad—score!  (Can’t compare to Raymond’s, Nathan’s, Andrew’s, or Dads but I was so hungry for bbq ribs). Then we went to the Dam Museum (even in print it sounds like I’m swearing) and Favero paid for all of us.  We had a good time.  The museum was quite interesting and worth our time and the couples are great so…good company.  We biked 6.2 miles only.  The weather was threatening—thunder and lightening so we ended early.  It kept getting worse.  It was quite a show in the skies all night.

Wednesday:  got mixed up with temple coordinators texts and went early again 6:05 so I slowly prepared for the later meeting. We were endowment leaders in the 8:00 endowment session.  Thanks for joining us for a temple session.  We so enjoyed thinking about our children joining us this week in the temple.  Today was our actual anniversary and I feel like a Queen, so blessed to have been sealed to a man of God, a gentleman.  Ray wanted to take me to dinner again so after the temple, we drove to Keokuk, back to the Hawkeye restaurant.  We both ended up having soup and salad, Wisconsin cheddar cheese soup mmmm.  When we returned to Nauvoo, we went on our bike ride 8.3 miles. 

Thursday:  today was our last day as a baptistry group because we don’t have patrons coming so the group brought family names and Sister Hunter was baptized for 47 female ancestors of the group and Ray was baptized for 39 males, plus he did the baptizing for the females.  We ate lunch in the temple break room and then we’re patrons for an endowment session.  I went through for Constance Stokes.  I thought that was pretty cool.  Then we biked 8.59 miles 

Friday:  biked 8.94 miles, came home and showered and went as patrons to a 10:00 initiatory session for 7 sisters in our family line. Then an endowment session at 11:15 and another repentance opportunity.  There was a female who sat by me that has some weird problems. She was fidgeting and kept looking back at her mother and laughing.  It was very distracting.  I didn’t want to sit by her but she made an effort to sit by me, so I was actually flattered but each time we changed rooms, it was a different seating arrangement so the next room I had to walk between rows of chairs, which I try to avoid because of my knee.  We’ll, ordinarily I would have gone to the next row but (PRIDE!) came up and I thought others in the session would think I didn’t want to sit by her so I went between the rows and caught my foot which twisted my knee. Yes, I hurt it again but I’m hoping ice/heat/time will heal it. Pride can creep in so easily and almost catch us unaware. I’m grateful for these opportunities to become aware of my weaknesses so I can change. After the session, I went to the break room and Ate fresh cucumbers and tomatoes from Carrolls garden that they bring to share and then had preprep meeting at 1:05 so I could serve early, 1:15 pm at floor 1, chair 2😇. I enjoy this position because I get to talk to whomever comes in and tell them how to get where they want to go and find out where they are from😁. 

Saturday:  my knee is pretty stiff this morning but we still tried to bike.  I only made it 2 miles, then iced it, then heat in the shower. Last baptistry as a Saturday team. 

Sunday:  we taught our class “Jesus is my Foundation”. Great lesson for me to focus on doing the right things for the right reasons and to remind myself to build a foundation on the character traits of Christ.  Kevin attended plus some support for Sister Squires and the Maucotels.  It’s fast Sunday so we were assigned to host again and our people were the Olsens from Ephraim, Utah, a part of our baptistry teams and President and Sister Church.  It was a nice time and we heard some special stories of miracles.  I got to practice on my new found recipe from Thurstons, smothered beef burritos.  They all loved it and even had seconds!  Nice. 

We love you and so appreciate your support of our anniversary by joining us in the temple wherever you are. It was such a happy thought all week, knowing you were each joining us.   Teresa and Ray

August 12-19

Monday:  I guess bikes are like cars, they have to be maintained after so many miles. Ray and Elder Blocker changed the tire and took out a broken spoke and balanced the tire.  It took a lot of time. Elder Blocker was so nice to stop and assist. They finished what they were doing just in time to go to Keokuk for me a haircut at 11:30. She washed and cut and masssaged my head. And then straightened my hair. 😁. Wow!  It lasted that day, then the bangs first curled and then by the end of Tuesday, it was all crazy. Funny what humidity does.After we got home, we rode the bike 8.4 miles and while he was fixing the bike earlier, I had made baked beans and potato salad, peach lemonade with and we went to the park close by and had a picnic with Favero, Whittier, Whitney, Blocker, and Hartvigsen—all are temple missionary couples. 

Tuesday:  temple time 5:45 am  After 2:00 we ran errands, picked up garden tomatoes and potatoes and went to the missionary mail room for a package of hair curlers, water filters (we used our first ones out). And then our bike ride 9.32 miles. 

Wednesday:  temple at 6:45 am (much better time). We were the endowment leaders for the 8:15 session. After our scheduled time, we went on another endowment session as well as several other worker missionary couples and we all went up for the prayer circle.  That was pretty powerful.  At 5:00 pm we went for our bike ride 9 miles. We also picked up a package of miracle arthritis. Ordered for Rays hands. It was recommended to us by Sister Osterly, temple matron.

Thursday:  no more Arrival Center but we went to the baptistry. Not much happening there but we did our own proxy baptisms along with other workers in our group. Ray was baptized for 42 proxies!  After that, our coordinators released us to do an endowment session and I went through for Dorothy B Stokes from Middlesex England.  After the temple, biked 9.28.  At 6:30 I went to Relief Society simple personal history at the church.  At 7:30 we went to Whittiers place above us for game night. We played scum and some other group card game. Wilkersons, 

Temple Evans, our neighbor (Marianne’s brother in law) all came.

Friday:  biked 5.83 miles and ran out of power.  We walked 1/2 mile and went to Lions Drug. It was great. Outside we saw the arbor, the birch umbrella tree, and the buckeye bottle brush bush. The bottle brush looks more like it’s name earlier in the season.  We also went to Patty Sessions log cabin and Orion Hyde’s cram home with Miranda Johnson. At 7:30 we attended a music devotional.  This community really does a Terri’s job of including all ages of youth.  They had primary age children sing, grade school to adult in the orchestra, and older adults with young adults in the choir.  They put on a show on new hymns going in the hymn book.  They had refreshments out on tables through the whole thing to keep people busy, I guess😀. My grandchildren would have thought it was great!

Saturday:  biked 8.79 miles, walked .57 miles, served in the temple and had hoped to get to adult session of stake conference but missed that.  We’ll, we got there for the last half hour as we were next to the last persons to leave the temple at 7:30.  Conference was from 6:30-8:00.

Sunday:  we did get to stake conference 10-12:00. The theme was Jacob 5 dig, nourish, prune—as a stake, as a ward, as a family, personally.  When we’re young, we choose friends if they play our same sports or if they are “cool”. Popular.  The stake president joined the church when he was 19 and all of a sudden there were so many varieties in his ward and stake.  He grew up and chose friends who him to be good like our best Friend, Jesus Christ.  He said, in our associations, let the mix of variety simmer like a good stew until the flavor is just right.  “Let go” of offenses.  Be grateful for each other, “Each life that touches ours for good”.

At 2:00 we attended the new group of performing missionaries, “Our Saviors Love”.  It was still wonderful. There were a lot of our friends who had the same idea as us; we temple missionaries were probably 20 of us.  Elder Weed from Fallon Nevada fell face down as he tripped going down the stairs.  He was bleeding on his forehead, hopefully he doesn’t feel worse today..

We love you and are so grateful for our associations the Lord has blessed us with!  

We pray for you each daily.  Love Teresa, Mom (Dad). 

Bike troubles; a living church

I’m still enjoying the thought:  Heavenly Father is in relentless pursuit of us. (It must be a happy thought for me because my blood pressure has been down for a week without medication😇

August 12:  biked 8 miles; visited 3 homes—William and Caroline Weeks, Edward and Ann Hunter and.             It was interesting that their homes all face the temple; they assisted in drawing up the plans with Joseph Smith.

August 13:  the prophets, seers and revelatory in the Lords church continue to receive and reveal changes as we prepare to receive instruction. Looking forward to conference.

We went to Burlington to a bike shop for a new chain and ate at Culver’s.  No bike ride😩. Emma returned from Europe. Welcome home. 

August 14:  Ellie returns from a well served mission in Reno Nevada, Spanish speaking. So happy to have you home, Ellie!  7:05 was our prep rep meeting before the recommend desk assignment during the regular meeting.  After our assignments were finished for the day, I had prepared us lunch to eat at the temple so we could attend a proxy endowment at 2:00 without changing clothes twice. 

August 15:  we were at the Arrival Center for our assignment, gave lots of directions to single adults trying to find their buildings for their classes. Afterward we biked 7.96 miles—back in business!  After we returned to Burlington to have our bike chain replaced.  We had game night with Whittiers. 

August 16:  biked 10.5 miles. I’ve been reading all the talks requested of us for the upcoming stake conference in Bountiful—praise to the man, Ballard; put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, sister Dennis; covenants and responsibilities, oaks;  all will be well because of temple covenants, eyring, rejoice in the gift of priesthood keys, president Nelson. Brother and Sister Blocker came by with some wood he made into exercises for my knee.  He had the same surgery while they’ve been here and he’s been going to a physical therapist and he’s doing great.  So I’ve added some exercises and I think they are helping the area that was weak.

August 17:  biked 8.75 miles. Then listened to the memorial for Scot Henri Stokes.  It was a wonderful reminder and tribute. How much family support means.  We got home from the temple around 8 pm.  Saturdays are baptistry for us. We were exhausted as usual.  

August 18:  we taught our Sunday school class Alma 43-52. Jody and Kevin were there. We were so happy.  Ray gave an overview of the chapters and I talked about how these chapters relate to me personally— live it, show my joy, be grateful, do not criticize or find fault. Turn immediately from temptations, we get poisoned little by little, one pod cast, one criticism, one little bit at a time until we find ourselves out, deceived by degrees. I remember a conference talk about the bikers in England and how they were so terrible. Then in 2003 they hired a new coach that encouraged them to do 1 per cent better every day in one thing. (For me that meant reading the Book of Mormon every day even when we were studying the New Testament, consistent day in and day out repentance, an incremental small and steady change.  ). Britain is now number one in Tour de France.

After church we came home and listened to Ellie’s church😊. Ellie’s great reminder:  we need to feel loved first and those who desire to serve are called to the work.  Thanks, Ellie, for making yourself available to do His work—first helping others feel loved no matter how far or how close, even our parents, our siblings, our in laws….

To keep my spirits up knowing I was missing the celebration with family, I invited the Blockers over for dinner (Bonnie Pinegar style—waffles on Sunday) bacon, juice, fruit, whip cream on waffles.  It was filling.  

There is plenty to think about this week—healing relationships among family members, love and serve.  We love you all and appreciate all you do for each other, for being there.  Mom, Grandma ….

Week of Aug 5-11

August 5:  Raymond III and Rachael. Happy birthday!  

Biked 8.99 miles. Went with Elder and Sister Kroger in their electric car to the Dutchman’s store run but Menonites, we heard. A very old fashioned store with everything in it in Cantril, Iowa.   We purchased peaches 3.  Oh we wished we had purchased a box. They were so yummy.

Tuesday:  Darrin birthday. Happy day! 

Woke up at 4:20 am😩. Alarm goes off at 5 am so no reason to not get up, shower, dress, fix and eat breakfast  usually I don’t have time for that last part . Arrived at the temple at 5:45 am. Biked 8.2 miles

Wednesday:  our regular temple schedule 7-1. After dunch and a nap, we started our bike ride—1.78 miles; my knee could not do it.  Here is one of those tender mercies from God. Elder and Sister Booker saw me on the elevator and asked if they could come over after their temple schedule. He recently had the same surgery I had and he’s doing very well.  He had it done somewhere in this area and goes to physical therapy. He gave me some of the exercises he does that were different. Their temple schedule and ours never are the same. Any way, I am working on recovery again.  

Thursday was in the Arrival Center again.  One family came from Rigby and were watching two grandchildren while the parents were in the temple. Another family came to use the bathrooms; another family came from Pleasant Grove.  Jane, I understand “nothin” kind of days.  

After our assignment, we took out the bike again. 7.1 miles👏🏻. Progress again. We stopped at Brother and Sister Carrolls house. They have a beautiful garden. We purchased some red potatoes and huge tomatoes. She had a noise going off in her garage that Ray tried to fix but he couldn’t find the battery. We tried to help her. Trying counts😇

Friday:  biked 8 miles. We were the leads for the 5:15 endowment session. 

Answer to each of my challenges:  increase my faith and trust

1-study the scriptures

2-choose to believe in Jesus Christ

3-act in faith

4-partake of sacred emblems

5-ask Heavenly Father for help

Saturday:  biked 8.25 miles, made sour dough crumpets, apple crisp with green apples Amy left at our door, and exercised before going to our temple responsibilities.  We went to our meeting at the baptistry and not many were signed up.  We assisted one family of five with a recommend missing and Ray walked them over to the temple and then our coordinator said we could go to an endowment session with a family name. I had one and we went and then were sent home as there were no patrons for us.  It was great to go to a session and stand in the prayer circle and come through the veil with someone I knew.  Just imagine how it might be if I knew Jesus Christ and through Him I am able to enter our Fathers kingdom.  

Sunday:  I woke up with a thought of covenants and my next thought was how grateful I am for my marriage and the confidence Ray has always had in our covenant relationship. Sometimes his confidence in us has kept me holding on. Then in relief society the lesson was on two talks about covenants by President Oaks and by Elder Soares from the last general conference. Then in sacrament meeting we listened to a return missionary who gave a practical and powerful talk on doing those things that keep our covenants active and meaningful. Then two sisters sang, “A Window of His love”. And by now the tears are streaming.  What a blessing to look at our  eternal companions and see into their hearts and remember the many times he or she has been a window to the Lords love for us.  Those occasions when I have been thoughtless or unkind or whatever and ray has been totally forgiving and fully accepting—a window to His love.  Eternal marriage and families are such a grand blessing from a Father in Heaven who shares His love with those who desire and keep covenants. I love you all!  Mom and Grandma, Sister Robinson

11th Ty’s birthday

Two weeks have gone by, just so busy: highlights

Monday July 22:  biked 10 plus miles, grocery shopping, washing clothes

Tuesday:  10.11 miles ; made best chocolate pudding ever pie

Wednesday:  earlier temple, biked 10.17 miles, sang at the end of the British Pageant—“called to serve, oh say what is truth, Redeemer of Israel”

Thursday:  Andrew’s birthday,,we served in the Arrival Center, biked 10.57

Justin Ward, Texas youth came for baptisms. Their ward was just split. They had 75 youth!

Friday:  Sarah’s birthday, biked 10.77 miles, Mike was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Nathan arrived in Nauvoo, we sat with him until it was time for us to go forward and sing

Saturday:  biked 10.48 miles, took a ride along the Trail of Hope—Boyd was the boy who dressed as a girl to go with the saints; he did hid part so well, we were laughing, we served in the Arrival Center again

Sunday: Nathan left😔, we watched and cried in “Our Story Goes On”. I guess as we get older, we’re like meat hanging, we get more tender.  Tears flow more easily. 

Monday, July 29 we went to Lewis and Thurston’s house to make smothered burritos. They are yummy. I have the recipes!  Biked 10.72 miles

Tuesday:  early preparation meeting again 6:05 dressed in temple attire. We were the leads for the 7:00 am endowment session. There was a sideways thunder and lightening and rain storm as we were going and entering the temple. We had never experienced a sideways storm. Umbrellas don’t work; we were soaked just getting into the temple side handicapped door.  Later rode bike 10.18 miles and watched Susan in “Women of Nauvoo”. She is so versatile, she looks like a woman and she can look like a youth. But whatever she is, she does it all so beautifully!

Wednesday:  more lightening and rain. Biked 10.64 miles, enjoyed feeding Amy, Ava, Portia, and Cole fish tacos and lemon truffle pie. It’s difficult with our schedules to get the chance to see them except on stage. 

Thursday: Arrival Center again, it’s our regular Thursday assignment. We met some people to get together with when we get home, they also served in the Philippines. Biked 8.39 and ate at the BBQ place in town—recommend it as a good place to eat here, ribs fell off the bones.  Thinking of our posterity gathering for a reunion.  So happy they pulled this off without us. That’s success.

Friday:  I had a text from the coordinator requesting that we come early.  I said yeS, but was dreading it.  Extra early mornings are killing me. Then I double checked to make sure we would be at the right time👏🏻. I forgot we go at noon on Friday and Saturday so it was no big deal. We had to be there at 12:45 instead of 1:05 for preparation meeting before the regular meeting.  No big deal. Whew. I’m glad I didn’t expose myself😇. I served in the celestial room during the meeting.

  biked 8.25 miles, walked . 72 miles, sang at the British pageant, bedtime 10:45. The family at home is enjoying Bear Lake today. 

Bike 10.84 miles. The baptistry was so busy:  up/down stairs over and over…I thought I was doing so well with my knee that I just did everything instead of trading with someone on the things that put stress on my knee.😩. I wasn’t that good, I guess—my knee just collapsed and I couldn’t walk out of the temple so I was pushed in a wheelchair😩that was embarrassing, but not until the end of the shift; I just couldn’t stand on it at all.  When I got. Home, I iced it, took ibuprofen, then heat and went to bed.  

Sunday:  I was better in the morning, fast Sunday.  Ray helped me make the chocolate Oreo pie for break the fast dinner at 5:00 at Inmans so I didn’t have to put weight on my knee for all that crushing, stirring time.  At church we taught our new member lesson and we had Macatells and Sister Squire and Kevin, one year member). We covered Alma 32-38.  It turned out good.  I love the chapters where Alma is speaking to his sons individually with the love and counsel and pleading of a father.  So wonderful how the Lord gives us family to experience such exquisite love as we are capable.  We are so grateful for each of you and love each of you so dearly. We desire you to have all the joy possible and we know that comes from family experiences as we love and serve each other along the path of happiness.  The Lords way is the way but we are each at a different point of learning how that is and how to be humble and how to check our pride and be meek and lowly of heart in the power of God.  Sounds like an oximoron.  Did I spell that right. If not, I’ll blame it on auto correct😀. Anyway, we are thankful for your participation in testimony meeting and the talent show etc.  thank you for taking care of each other.  6:30-8:30 was an ice cream social at the pageant head quarters for being part of the missionary army at the end of the British Pageant.  As if we needed any appreciation; it was such a privilege to get to be part at the end. 

We love you !  Mom, Grandma and Ray who gives me this privilege.😇

Halfway mark

Jack wanted to know if were coming back to Bountiful. 😁

Monday

Rode our tandem 10.53 miles this morning. Made bread and pizza and spinach artichoke dip after we went shopping. And Aunt Ranae sent me four pictures to give away of the Nauvoo Temple with a rainbow at the top that Uncle Lance took. 

Whittiers invited Alveys, Littles, Wilkersons, Shultz and us for games. Rick Whittier made a Nauvoo Jeopardy game that was very good. And we played one lie/2 truths. That was difficult. Ray and I both wrote down 3 truths—terrible at that game we are. They served us pizza, toss salad and gluten free cake.  We all laughed and laughed. It was a great time..

Tuesday

I was notified to be to the temple early—by 6:05 dressed in white and at the ppmeeting; then Rays phone showed up that he was to be at the temple dressed in white at the recommend desk by 5:30 so we were there at 5:00 just as security arrived. I was ready in five minutes headed down to the recommend desk and coming up were Elder Cornish and Elder DAE. They asked why I was there so early and I told them that ray was told to be at the recommend desk with Elder Cornish. They both looked at each other. Turned out. For some reason the phone showed that message but it was from back in May.😭😂. Joke was on us. After our shift we rode 10.5 miles.  Wilkersons brought us a dozen ears of corn from a farmer. It was so good.  And we received a water heater pitcher from Tim in the mail.  I need to be more careful about my speech. It is really nice to have foe oatmeal and dandy tea etc. so thanks Tim.  

Wednesday 

10.3 bike miles and saw the group gathered by the mansion house so we stopped and listened to Parley P Pratt and wife sing (Jake and Susan Slader). It was over too soon but was so lovely.  We went at night to the British Pageant and sang in the finale with the missionaries.  The crowd always cheers for the missionaries.  It’s fun to be part of that group!  Before it began, we met the Omans from Ogden—a senior couple that were so nice, their granddaughter was in the band and one of their families was in the blue cast, I think. So we had bragging competition😂. No.  We let them win and let them enjoy their posterity memories. 

Thursday

We were at the Arrival Center, rode the bike 9.8 miles And we walked from our apartment to and from the pageant!  First real walk since arthroscopic knee surgery for meniscus tears. It was a little much but ice, heat, and ibuprofen helped.

Friday

Biked 10.5 miles. Saw Nathan Rockwell at the beginning of his Scottish bagpipers practice and got a hug.  Listened to a talk be Elder Gary Stevenson from Education Week, I think 2022 about the Book of Mormon. It was so inspiring. Temple started at 1:00 today. When we finished we walked again to the pageant to sing with the missionaries again at the end and walked back to the apartment. This time I didn’t need ibuprofen, just ice and heat.  Awesome.  I’m progressing still.

Saturday

Biked only 6.44😔. And crashed after fulfilling our temple assignment in the baptistry.  It was so busy.

Sunday 

No one showed up for our class so we went to the teachers instruction class.  The instructors 14 year old son died 8 years ago and we talked with him after.  It 2as one of those moments with the Spirit.  We enjoyed our family call and thank everyone for participating. It feels so good to hear your voices and see you and know of your ups and downs as we all cheer on each other.  

Alma 31: …continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that (you) might not enter into temptation.  :32. Alma set his brethren apart as missionaries …:34 O Lord wilt Thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.  It’s wonderful to be set apart as a missionary and we’re grateful to be in His service for our brothers and sisters in this special temple in Nauvoo with so much of our heritage in the gospel.  True to the faith that our parents have cherished ..faithful and true we will ever stand.  We love you each so much!  So glad He picked out our favorites for us!