Adventures as a Freshman at BYU-I in Rexburg, Idaho

3 October 2015   Have made it through almost 2 weeks of school without going a little bit "crazy" -- late nights, 100's of pages to read, an important math test tomorrow (at the testing center and I don't know how to get there), bi-weekly quizzes, several essays to write, deadlines to meet, learning how to use a laptop when I'm used to a keyboard, learning how to use a new brand of printer, not sleeping in my own bed (resulting in sleepless nights), etc., etc.. I have greater empathy for my grandchildren when they say they have "tons of homework." Just hoping I can reach my goal of getting excellent grades by the end of the semester - which is only 11 weeks away. Time is flying and, in spite of all the challenges, I am still excited about this personal improvement project. Onward and upward!

11 October 2015   Traumatic experience this morning on my way to church --
(Speed limit is 50mph) I had just turned the corner, heading east with the sun in my eyes and starting to accelerate when there was a terrible collision with something very solid. I remember surveying the road before accelerating and all was clear. The dog must have come charging up the driveway into my path. I have no idea if I could have stopped in time. But after coming to a stop and looking into my rearview mirror, I could see children running rapidly away from the road toward their home. My first thought was I'd hit a child and was shaking so badly that turning around and returning to the scene was almost impossible. Driving back I saw the mother running toward the edge of the roadside ditch, then bending over and stroking something on the ground. The father and children were gathered around her. As I struggled to exit my car, I was met by the father and a witness to the scene and informed that I had hit a dog. Of course, I was relieved, but the thought of what could have occurred has been wracking my soul ever since. What if it had been a child?
My car sustained minor damage.The right-hand turn signal was broken out along with a big chunk of the grill. Thankfully, the airbag did not deploy. The car is driveable and I was able to continue on to the church without further incident. Robb is going to check the extent of the damage. He's hoping he will be able to repair some of it and save me a big repair bill. We shall see. I'm sure my guardian angel was present.

12 October 2015

BYU-Idaho Admissions Office

October 12 at 3:18pm · 

Meet Marcia Watkins, a 76-year-old freshman, here, at BYU-Idaho. We couldn't be more proud of her and her decision to start working on a college degree.

When asked what inspired her to come back to school, Marcia said,

"I have four life time goals— get married in the temple, have a family, get a college degree, and serve a mission. I gave up a full ride, four-year scholarship to BYU Provo after high school graduation because I met and married my husband. We have seven children, who are all married and have given us 29 grandchildren;10 of whom are married and have given us 19 great-grandchildren. My husband and I served a 30-month CES mission in the Calgary Canada Mission and a 17-month service mission at the LDS Recreational Ranch, Moapa, Nevada. My husband passed away three years ago, leaving me with a lot of free time. The brethren have been stressing the value of education, so following a strong prompting from the Spirit, I decided to work on getting my degree."

14 October 2015   Almost 4 weeks of school are completed and I am just now starting to be able to use the laptop keys to compose a paper without picking and choosing letters with one or two fingers AND I'm becoming a bit more proficient with my calculator. Took me a couple of weeks to learn how to access the internet on campus. Technology is amazing if you know how to harness the power. The "neurons" in my brain (or whatever they're called) have been too lazy for too long and are just beginning to wake up. I'm hoping that all the stored knowledge somewhere in my brain will start to respond to my urging. It's a good thing I like to read or all these reading assignments would be pure drudgery. This "going back to school" is HARD WORK, but the dream has not faded. Thankfully, the weather has been mild and even though my feet get cold some days, it's not freezing things yet. Have been riding the trike only 2 or 3 days a week because of the homework load. Life is good, so it's onward and upward!

MAJOR/DRASTIC CHANGES IN MY HOME

MY "CREATING" ROOM

I am contemplating the organization of a "creating" room.  It will contain all my sewing/crafting equipment and supplies and combine it with my computer desk/consolde which is the center of my study/business operations.  I need to get my study/business center our of my living room.  It is detracting from the peaceful, quiet, and congenial atmosphere which I desire to be there.

ALSO.....I want to have my bed in a quiet, restful place.  So I am planning to remove it from the busy-ness of the creating room to a quiet, restful place -- the smallest room in the house -- the northeast corner bedroom.

This will require mega effort and planning.  I'm in the planning stage right now, but want to start implementing the plan as soon as possible and am excited about the possibilities and results.

MEMORIES - 6 FEB 2015

Warm Springs Cemetery
Kirk and Paula delivered the monument to Warm Springs cemetery today.  Tim had made arrangements with Ryan Udall & Kevin May to have a backhoe available to put it in place.  Providently, Tim did not have to work and was able to operate the backhoe so the job could be completed.  It was such a great experience to see two of my boys working together -- wonderful memories of that cooperation learned on the farm.

The monument is stunningly beautiful and fitting as a tribute to our family --  representing "the rock quarry" chapter of our lives.

The "Flintstone Bench" is a memorable reminder of its original, that was created at the Stockton farm when the pipeline from the canyon was being installed.  The boulders and large rock slab were taken from the trench somewhere in Soldier Canyon.  It provides a place for me to sit and gaze at my favorite side of the monument.  Our two plots are encircled by sparkly head-size boulders, giving the entire site a homey, welcoming aura.


Bedroom
The other big project was to make my bedroom -- craft/work room -- more user-friendly.  I removed the king-size, pillow-top mattress and replaced it with a full-size bed (supplied by Jenna's family) which has a pretty headboard.  Kirk and Tim helped to set up the bed.  They also moved my work table to the east wall so I have access to the bookcase Dad built on the west wall.  My sewing machine desk and chests filled with sewing supplies remain against the west wall.  Containers of yarn (which are now stored in my closet) will be arranged so that I can see the colors I have stored.

I am exhausted and suffering from extremely sore muscles, but am excited about getting things organized again.  Also looking forward to some de-junking. 


Big craft projects on my agenda:  "Rising Stars", Threads in My Tapestry" (personal history), School Clothes (creation of several skirts to take to BYU-I this fall), Watkins' Family Anthem (laminating copies of new words I've composed to be sung to tune of I Am a Child of God), and Christmas Gifts (color circles, etc.).

Promptings -- The Importance of Listening

     2 January 2015 -- The checks were written for all my bills and I was headed to the PO to put them in the mail.  Had checked my credit union account early that morning, but my S.S. check (a direct deposit, which usually arrives promptly and regularly on the 2nd or 3rd of each month) had not posted yet.  My logical side told me that because of New Year's Day falling on Thursday, the check would be deposited by Monday.  On the other hand, I had made it a rule many years ago never to write a check unless there was definite evidence that enough money was in the bank, no matter what.  When I got to the PO, I received such a strong prompting (It seemed like an actual voice was speaking to me.) NOT TO MAIL those checks.  I'm glad I listened.
     Come Monday morning, 5th January, my S.S. check had still not been deposited.  Spent over 3 hours on the phone waiting to talk to an agent and another hour sorting out the problem.  It seems the credit union had not updated my routing and account numbers for over 14 years.  The numbers on record at SS had been originally posted in 2001.  Oh my!  Took quite a while to get everything corrected and updated.  The agent helping me was very knowledgeable and efficient.
     6 January 2015 -- Called the credit union.  Seems they had been intercepting the direct deposits and manually changing the account  numbers.  What a terrible way to run a business!  I wonder how many other people are affected by their bad judgment.  For some reason, January's payment had slipped through the cracks.
     Because I had already made all the corrections with SS, the direct deposit finally posted to my account on the 7th.  When I think of the overdraft and late payment charges this oversight would have cost me, it boggles my mind.  Guess I could be really angry at the credit union for such ineptitude, but have decided to mark it up to experience and be grateful for PROMPTINGS and the opportunity of learning to listen.

FAMILY HISTORY

I entered the information (marriage license & marriage certificate) found concerning my mother on Family Search.  This e-mail was a result of that posting.

Delbert Bryson, first husband of Alice Fern Dowdle

Diane Bryson

Thank you so much for writing back so quickly. I think you can count your blessings your mom did what she did. He really was not a good husband or father. Maybe that's tmi but oh well, thanks again diane

6/05/14

To: Diane Bryson

Thanks for contacting me.  My mom was only 14 when she married Delbert -- way too young to take on the responsibilities of marriage.  According to Utah law, they never divorced.  The marriage was annulled.  She returned to high school and graduated.

---

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 09:25:48 -0600
Subject: del bryson
From: leedianebryson@gmail.com
To: elder_sisterwatkins@hotmail.com

I am Del's daughter in law, Diane .  We have always heard Del was married before he married my husbands mother so it was good to see this information you provided.  Sorry I cannot help with any other info.

CHALLENGES

6 June 2014

Don't know exactly why, but I've kinda sorta believed that challenges came in sets of three. Already this year these big problems have occurred.
1) Water closet on toilet in small bath split and flooded the room. Bishop Leavitt & Paul came to turn off the water and help mop up. Tim & Gary replaced the toilet.
2) Hot water supply hose to sink in master bath broke and flooded the room with water, which spread into the carpet of the closet and a 4'x5' patch of carpet in the bedroom. Bishop Leavitt came again & turned off the water, then replaced the hose. Gail Lindsey & members of the Fredrick family came to remove the water. I took 3 months for the floor under the vinyl to dry completely.
3) The AC on my car stopped working. Thought maybe it just needed to be recharged, but no -- the compressor had stopped working. Got an estimate from a local car repair for $1300.00 -- too much for my budget. Matt Wolfley sent us to an online parts company. Found a rebuilt compressor for $188.00 and Tim volunteered to install it. Gary offered cans of freon to recharge it. The part has arrived, but Tim has been busy so I'm waiting.
4) The power to the outside fridge & freezer stopped. Didn't discover it until most of the food was ruined. Bishop Leavitt found that a breaker in the main box had failed. Thankfully, there was another breaker available. Now I'm waiting for help to clean the appliances, so I can plug them back it. Temp today on the back porch is 115. Lonia Pulsipher, RS president, is trying to arrange for the cleaning. Thankfully, the food was only thawed not spoiled yet, so the appliances do not stink.

Tender Mercies at Warm Springs

Two rather scary things happened today.
1) This morning, one of the lids of the septic tank blew off with sewage spewing all over the lawn in front of our trailer. Thankfully no one was camped in the immediate area, so only the grass was stinky and messy. A pumper truck came to remove 1000 gallons so we can make it through the weekend. He'll be back on Monday.
2) We've experienced strong winds gusts (up to 40mph) for the last three days and flames from a fire pit in one of the campgrounds caught some of the underbrush on fire. The campers were able to put it out before it became uncontrollable. The dead palm fronds hang thick and heavy in too many of the campgrounds so the fire hazard is extremely high.
We pray every day that all will be safe here. There were hundreds of campers this weekend. We're grateful prayers are answered.