GOODBYE JANUARY HELLO FEB. 2009

I'M NOT IN THE LEAST SORRY TO SEE JANUARY GO AWAY. IT WAS COLD STORMY AND I HAD MY DOWN DAYS. GREATFUL FOR THE BLESSING CLAY GAVE ME AND FOR DRS. WHO CAN DIAGNOSE AND HELP. IT IS GREAT TO BE UP AROUND AND DOING.

TODAY I STARTED GETTING MY INCOME TAX STUFF READY TO TAKE TO THE TAX MAN. YOU'D THINK SINCE I'M RETIRED I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY WITH THAT STUFF. WHO ELSE IS GOING TO KEEP THE THIEVES IN D.C. IN FUNDS. SORRY BUT THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE WHOLE BUNCH.

I FEEL RATHER LONELY AND SAD TONITE. DARLEEN CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW SHE'D BEEN TO HER CARDIOLIGIST AS A FOLLOW UP FROM HER LAST HOSPITAL STAY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. HE TOLD HER SHE HAS POSSIBLY TWO TO FOUR MONTHS LEFT. SHE HAS SUCH A SWEET ATTITUDE ABOUT IT THAT I SHOULD SHAPE UP AND REJOICE FOR HER. I'M STILL A BIT SELFISH I GUESS BUT SHE SAID SHE'S HAD 93 YEARS AND WILL GO WHEN HEAVENLY FATHER TAKES HER. SHE WENT HOME FROM THE DRS. OFFICE AND WAS TIRED SO SHE SAT DOWN AND THOUGHT OF ALL THE PEOPLE SHE WILL GET TO SEE WHEN SHE GOES. THAT'S THE KIND OF ATTITUDE I NEED FOR HER. SHE'S BEEN MY BIG SISTER AND I WAS HER SHADOW WHEN YOUNG. IN FACT I LOOKED ENOUGH LIKE HER THAT AT A DISTANCE FRIENDS WOULD THINK IT WAS DARLEEN CALLING ON THEM EVEN AFTER SHE MARRIED AND WAS AWAY FROM HOME. ONE LADY TOLD ME SHE LOOKED OUT AND THOUGHT DARLEEN MUST BE HOME FOR A VISIT WHEN SHE SAW ME. I WISH ONLY THAT I HAD HER SWEET TEMPERMENT AND HAPPY ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH.

THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT FOR TONITE AND I DO REJOICE IN KNOWING WE HAVE THE GOSPEL AND A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO WATCHES OVER US AND LOVES EACH OF US. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO ATTEND MY MEETINGS AND BE WITH SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE. TOMORROW AFTERNOON I'LL GO VISITING TEACHING TO ONE OF THE LADIES WE'RE ASSIGNED. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO SWEET AND KIND TO ME NOW MAYBE IT IS MY TURN TO RECIPROCATE. SHE HAS SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT JUST SHOWED UP LAST MONTH. SHE STILL GOES AND WORKS HARD AT HER CALLING AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS SHE FINDS TIME TO DO. SHE WAS ONE OF MY VISITING TEACHERS WHEN GRANDPA PASSED AWAY AND YOU LOVE THOSE WHO SHOW GENUINE LOVE AND CONCERN FOR THEIR FELLOW MAN AS SHE DOES.

LAST NIGHT WAS OUR WARD DINNER AND THE HALL WAS FULL TO OVER FLOWING. OUR NEWEST MEMBERS COME OUT AND SUPPORT THOSE THINGS WHOLE HEARTEDLY. THE YOUNG WOMEN PUT ON THE MEAL AND ALSO MADE GOODIES TO SELL FOR FUNDS FOR GIRLS CAMP. I DIN'T TAKE ANY MONEY AS I FORGOT ABOUT THE FUND RAISER BUT I CAN DONATE ON THE TITHING SLIP. THIRSA GOT US A CINNAMON ROLL SO I'LL MAKE A DONATION FOR THAT. OH YES IT WAS OH SO GOOD. MY BLOOD SUGAR WAS ONLY 116 THIS A.M SO GUESS IT DIDN'T DO TOOOO MUCH DAMAGE.

I'M EXCITED FOR LANIE AS HER TEMPLE DAY IS FAST APPROACHING. WHEN I TALKED WITH DARLEEN SHE SAID HOW MUCH SHE WISHED SHE COULD BE HERE FOR THAT AND WANTS ME TO TELL LANIE HOW HAPPY IT MADE HER FEEL KNOWING SHE'S DOING SO WELL. JOSSINE AND REBA BOTH ARE EXCITED FOR LANIE ALSO AND WISH HER THE BEST THEY ALL EXTENDED THEIR LOVE FOR HER. THERE SO MANY BRIGHT SPOTS IN MY LIFE THAT I AM GREATFUL FOR. I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO RYAN AND KARA LEAVING BUT AM EXCITED FOR THEIR EDUCATION TO CONTINUE [IF THAT MAKES SENSE].

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PARKER GETTING THAT LITTLE SISTER. HOPE SHE WILL COOPERATE ONE DAY SOON AS HER GRANDMA IS THERE TO GREET HER AND WATCH AFTER PARKER. I GUESS WE'RE ALL ANXIOUS FOR THAT BIRTHDAY TO APPEAR ON THE CALENDAR. FEB. SEEMS TO BE A POPULAR MONTH IN OUR FAMILY FOR BIRTHDAYS. IT IS ALSO DARLEENS BIRTH MONTH AND GRANDPA'S BROTHER DEWARD'S. OH AND HE IS 91 THIS YEAR.

I'VE RAMBLED ON ENOUGH AND GUESS I BETTER SEE IF I CAN POST THIS WITH OUT HAVING TO CALL ON HELP. KNOW I LOVE ALL OF YOU WHO WILL ENDURE THE READING OF THIS.