Monday Evening - 13th May 2019 - Day 1111

It's one thousand, one hundred and eleven days since we were set apart for our mission - Day 1111.  I keep a list in my journal and mark off the days.  I started out with to day 1000.  I was sure that would be more than enough days of this mission.  I'm on to the second page I printed and added to my list.

I have been tearful today.
The tablet I have been using since 2013 to use at Church and in my morning scripture, magazine and other gospel study no longer supports the current software used by the Church.  I have been seeing the warning messages for... a long time, I think?  I can no longer download Ensign, New Era and Friend magazines on the tablet.  That's what made me investigate further yesterday evening.

This morning, studying on my laptop I just cried with sadness at this ending of the familiarity of my tablet, and probably some frustration with trying to figure out how to get what I want in a different format - another technology learning curve, and probably from being too long with too many people yesterday.

Maybe some missing my children on Mother's Day here in South Africa too...  I know I did my best... Actually, I know I did better than I on my own would have been able to do!  I know I was helped along by Angels on this side of the veil and by being Taught From On High.  And I know I was painfully less than adequate in my mothering through the 27 years I had one or more of our children at home.  I know I was 'enough' and also...  some days I am tender-hearted when I look back.

We visited Amanzimtoti for Church.  I always love being there.  We have visited for twenty odd years when we have been on holiday there, and several times since we have been here on Mission.  It's a small family-type of Ward with several elderly members - there are several retirement places close-by - along with the usual mix of younger people.  The Primary of about nine or ten young ones sang a  Mother's Day song.

After Church we went to John and Brenda's home and spent some time there.  John's brother Sam and his wife Rene joined us just after twelve and we took a drive through to Craig and Roxane's home for a braai celebrating Mother's Day and Kirsty's fifth birthday.

Some of the toys were noisy...

Other "activities" too -

Always good to come home!

On Saturday we visited Marionhill Monastery just outside Pinetown on Saturday morning.   I've wanted to visit there since I worked in the Equity Building Society many years ago (1963/4) where the Monastery invested in lots and lots of fixed deposits.

I'm sad to say... the precinct is in need of more maintenance than it gets...  I'm glad we took the trip though.  I thought of those who planned this monastery and other buildings in the grounds - out in the middle of... nowhere in those days?... and those who painstakingly built them starting in 1882.  The bricks are beautiful...  Lovely designs and workmanship in the buildings.

We got McDonalds snacks on Saturday and went down to one of our favourite spots at the beach to enjoy our meal there.

Tuesday...  I feel more able to tackle my challenges today!  Happy Day!

Sunday Afternoon - 5th May 2019 - Les and Sally Visit

National and Provincial elections upon us…

Election fever all around!

I pray that we may come through this highly charged time with some semblance of ‘free and fair’

– is that ever possible? Realistically? 

Last week Les and Sally visited for almost three days.

What a treat!

I took Friday off and went with them –

To the beach

To the Durban Botanical Garden - thanks Les for the photos including me - 

Robert Burns - 

Scottish original,

“O wad some Power the giftie gie us, to seeoursels as ithers see us!" 

Or, in modern English, 

“Oh would some Power the gift give us, to see ourselves as others see us.”

My favourite art installation in the Botanical Gardens.

My very favourite tree in KZN.  It's on my drive home from the site.  It is beautiful!

And the one in the Botanical Gardens.  I discovered what it is called!

I loved this view on our way out of the Botanical Gardens.

To the Pinetown museum at the library

And to Phezulu Safari Park to drink in the view of the Valley of a Thousand Hills

Les' photo of the thousand hills -

I think it was Sally who noticed this quote from Dr Seuss.  I love it!

It was a hazy day, so we didn’t see much - of the thousand hills.  We had a tranquil time there.

And on we go!

Remember always that I love you!

Mom

Judy

Sunday Afternoon - April 28th 2019 - New Phone, Books I Read

Sigh… some days I think of Hilmar when he says…”What a day…”

Well, for me it’s been “What a week…”  two weeks…

sometimes these times comes upon me, sometimes it’s a result of self-imposed activity. 

I suppose a bit of both in this case.

Well, here I am on this Sunday afternoon.

We had cyclonic rain and rain and rain last Monday.  John and Brenda took us to see the amazing sight of a cave in in Seadoone.  Sobering…  Life can change in an instant – it did for “them.”

My car was parked in the basement and the rain even wet the inside part of my car! 

I’m not sure how that is possible… but it was.

I am grateful for our safety here.  And the site was unscathed.  Tender Mercies.

I am grateful Douglas and Ethan were spared harm.

I’m sorry for the van… but rather the van than them…

My phone battery has been running out and running out. 

On Monday it wouldn’t open at all.

We have been talking about what to do… when… if…

So – it was off to get a new phone for Glenn and I inherit his old one.

Hours and hours of information transfer from his old phone to his new one.

LOTS of walking from one end of Gateway shopping Mall to the other,

and then back again, and back again.

I must say I was physically tired for two days.  I was surprised.

Mind expanding learning curve in customizing his/my phone to him/me.

I’m grateful that is past… or rather… passing.

I’ve listened to 14 hours of fascinating and faith promoting podcasts called “Questioning Saints.”

I thing I would have called it Exploring or Searching Saints or something like that.

Anyway – I am one who questions…

Paul said “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thes 5:21

I do.

It gave me much food for thought and I’m glad I took the time to listen and learn.

I’ve also loved the books I have been reading.

I treasure this time out of time to serve the Lord and because I am away from

all things ‘home’ I have more time to read.  I love that.

This time is very precious to me.

You are all much on my mind as I go forward and backward doing the things that are

mine to do at this time and in these weeks.

I have felt like I was on a treadmill.

And I knew I couldn’t keep up the pace – something had to slow down.

Part conscious effort… part “this time” passing…

Now I need to balance some and take some time out…

I hope you speed up or slow down as you need to!

Our own lives… a privilege, an opportunity and a responsibility to make the most of them!

I love the phrase of Judge Judy (Scheindler)

“It’s your life!  Live it well!”

I try to remember that.

Mom/Judy

I took this photo on my/our birthday and wedding anniversary.

Thank you for all your good wishes…

Do you remember the three red bags I made for you Angela, Dianne and Gillian?

I’m glad to have them here!  I use all three and think of you with me when I use one or the other.

My car rained on in the inside of the parking garage!

The books I recently returned to the library

and the new ones I took out and am reading - 

A paragraph here and there, sometimes a page or two.

Granny Vi’s healing arm

Just one spot still to close.

The great cave-in at Seadoone.  Sobering…

About 3-5? Km from where John and Brenda live.

Three cars have been removed from the scene.

One and a half houses gone.

Two houses on either side of the one gone damaged.

A whole swimming pool somewhere in that rubble.

Many other houses damaged and washed away. 

Many people homeless.

Sunday Afternoon - April 7th and 14th - Health

A few days until Glenn is 70 and I am 74.  Sobering…

Interesting – I don’t feel old.  But my mother at my age was old.

To what do I attribute feeling well and healthy – most of the time…

There is a young sister in our Ward who interests me.

This morning I said to her “I’m curious… What are you studying?”

“Physiotherapy.” She said “If you have any problems come and see me…”

Quick as a wink I said “Actually… I don’t have physical problems…”

”How do you do that?” she asked.

“I’ve changed my diet, and I do Tai Chi.” I replied.

“Ah… you live healthily…” she replied with a smile.

Afterwards I thought “And I’ve discovered Kinesiology and aromatherapy massage.”

When I need to surrender my body to the ministrations of another I ponder on

what I need and give it to myself.

It works for me, I am thankful to say…

Gillian sent me some info about the FODMAPS perspective.

I briefly looked into it – we had a visitor this afternoon.

I will look at it more carefully when I am able.

So much is available to us these days!

I love living now!

I try to live physically healthily.

I feel better when I do.

Actually… when Weightwatchers ceased to be here in South Africa, I thought

“I can do this on my own…”  I’ve been a WeightWwatcher for… very long.

In a matter of two months I realized “I don’t want to do this on my own…”

I found out where WeighLess classes are – not far from where we stay.

I went and joined.

Very good for me to co-operate in that responsibility with

people who are on the same road as I am on, wanting what I want.

I weigh-in once a week on Thursday mornings at 8:30am.

It helps me.

I try to live mentally healthily too.

I have the Addiction Recovery Programme book next to my bed.

Each night I read a paragraph or two before I go to bed.

It helps me keep my head straight in that regard.

I try to live spiritually healthily too.

Every morning I read Old Testament (at the moment) and

Book of Mormon scripture.

Then I read something from the Ensign, New Era and Friend.

That sets me in a good frame of mind for the day.

Now to Music and the Spoken Word and then the

Sunday morning session of General Conference…

14^th April

It’s been a whirl of a week!  At work and at home!

And Sunday afternoon again!

I do the best I can and am grateful to go to bed each evening…

The weather is perfect…

I feel very blessed to still be here, though I miss being with you all very much!

Times and seasons.

I’m glad for the times we have spent together in the past.

They help to sustain me for now.

I trust you all have received sufficient foundational nurturing to

go forward with courage and basic wisdom on which you are building every day.

Do what needs doing… and Give yourself what you need.

Go forward steadfastly one day at a time.

Love

Mom / Judy

Vi's arm still healing - one spot still to close.