Unexpected Communications. 5 April 2017

This eveining I received several pictures and texts from my daughter concerning the sidewalk chalk I took as a community gift for my Arizona grandchildren. She said they were excitedly using this on the back patio.  I was not sure this would still be a hit, although two years ago they liked getting sidewalk chalk.  The package caught my eye because the chalks were egg-shaped, in a plastic container a little like an egg carton, and they were in Easter-like colors.  I am delighted that they are enjoying the chalk, and using it creatively.

Another unexpected communication came from a former classmate. We attended the same parochial grade school once I moved to St. Louis when I was 8, and then several years of high school. I am pleased that he wants to hear how it was that my deceased husband and I became Mormons. I am very hopeful that he is either seriously interested or just curious. My experience with several former classmates has been more along the lines of trying to make me see the error of my ways, or just indifference.  I look forward to sharing my love for and testimony of the Restored Gospel, and hope that this will be well-received.

I was able to spend most of the morning working on my Eppingen relatives.  Even the two hours I was out on the floor I was not asked to help with any guests.  At that time it was not very busy, but in the afternoon when I was certifying [maybe for the last time!], and then presenting a review class to some new missionaries, things got very busy.  One of the new missionaries told me that she was pulled away from her research time to help with guests. I suggested that in the future she could just let people know that is was her research time, not time for being a helper, since she is anxious to find more of her family. She said she was planning to stay late after her shifts are over to do more research.

That is what I expect to do more of during these last few weeks.  I think that I may not be the one to break much new ground, just like when I was writing histories of some of my ancestors.  There was one story which just did not flow.  I came to realize that that story was not my work to do. As a new missionary I was taught that my job is mostly to clean up the already existing records, especially on Family Tree.  That is pretty much what I am doing with the Eppingen relatives.  Most of them already have been entered in the Tree, they are just not properly connected.

Choir practice was interesting as I learned that the numbers we will present has changed somewhat.  On April 23 we will sing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", which means I will probably do that 6:15 a.m. practice on my last Monday here--I really enjoy that hymn.

Since this Saturday is the Swap Meet, I have spent some time this evening getting items ready to take to the sheds on Saturday morning.  It is not too hard for me to leave "things" behind--but papers are very difficult, and I have definitely accummulated papers while I have been here!

My Sweetheart and I got to talk just a little this morning as his work last night was difficult.  Tonight we talked for a bit, too. In one month and a few hours it will be our wedding day!