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.

23 Apr 2010 -- Trial Run

I've tried writing a journal, but don't seem to find the time to keep it up-to-date.
This is my first attempt so it will be short and sweet to see if I'm successful.

HUMMINGBIRD