September18, 2011

I haven't entered anything in for a long time and that is because I have been very busy and I have decided to not share my activities with others because it didn't have the desired effect that I wanted. But I still want to keep a journal and if later on some one wishes to read it so be it.

End of August Brittney was again in the mental ward at the hospital and then she asked us if she could come stay with us until her room became available around September 8^th. So we had her with us for a 9 days. She now lives in a home off Mitchel St. and she likes it better because she wants to be on her own but still doesn't have a lot of life skills but she will learn fast.

Our group, had a dress rehearsal on Labor Day. Just the right amount of people came. I was really happily surprised that Betty and Deborah with their families came. I didn't think they would since we were performing at 4pm. It was great to get the support. We then performed on September 7 at Salmon Creek and Meadowlake. Then again at Bonaventure rest home. It is really fun to play and the people love listening to Jim on his clarinet. He plays it so beautifully and then Willard really does a great job at Mcing. I am so grateful for his support and participation.

I also have been doing so much more canning. I canned 5 more quarts of beans and 3 more bottles of tomato sauce. This Friday I canned 20 quarts of seeds grape juice which came from 3 5 gallons of grapes. I still have the seeded grapes to do after Conference.

Friday afternoon Trenton came over and he gave us a small box of peaches and I got 4 quarts of sliced peaches and froze them. I worked with Nephi and Amber on their posture with the violin. Nephi is really interested it and I was trying to give him some pointers.

I decided that we really needed to go to the temple but if we were going to have to spend money on gas we might as well go see someone. So on October 26, we are going to drive up to see Tobin and family. I am excited because I hope to play with the boys. They recently got a digital piano and I sent up some music that I had arranged for the trio and made some adjustments and hope that they are as excited to play with me as I am with them.

It is so nice to be retired. I got to go to book club again and visit with the ladies. We read Eighti Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. It was a nice little book. We discussed it for all of about 10 minuets and the rest of the time was just visiting. I have also spent many hours on just arranging music for the trio. We are going to do so many more pieces and I have to practice a couple hours a day just to get the learned.

On August 28^th we were all called to a special meeting and were informed that our inter ward was going to be moved into the Meridian East Stake. Now we are going to be going to the building that is off Cloverdale and Ustick which won't be to bad after all the road construction. The intersection of Cloverdale and Franklin is closed to us. What a pain to have to go around, it add 10 minuets to every trip.

I was invited to sing with the Stake Choir, which was under the direction of Karen Call, who I knew from the old 23^rd ward. I even taught some of her children. She is a great direction and really funny. She speaks her mind. She was fun to sing for.

I wanted to mention something that I got on the internet that really helped me and was an answer to my prayer. I had been having some unkind feelings toward some members of my family and I knew that wasn't what the Lord expected out of me but I just couldn't help being resentful. An except from a book was sent to me saying What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return. The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.

STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.

STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.

STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.

STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.

At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.

Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!

After thinking about it, I realized that is just what the Lord expects of us. Basically 100/0 principle is basically a Christ like principle. But restate this way, was something that I could understand and implement in my life.