Baby Ruth and my Amazing Grandchildren

Alyx named my Blog post today. 

Alyx and Baby Ruth

Monday morning started with our Mission Devotional. The Elijah Choirs sounded exceptionally good. We heard from four missionaries. Two of them are our good friends. Sister Last and Elder Ipson. It is such a wonderful way to start the day and the week.

After normal Monday morning stuff, we went down for lunch a little earlier than normal. I had a phone call from the blood pressure study project I was asked to participate in. I wasn't exactly sure what the call was about. My contact, named Sierra, called a little after 1:00. After some brief chit chat, we were ready to get started. I didn't realize we were going to do some testing with the new blood pressure machine they sent me, which of course, I didn't have at work. So, I told her I would run home and she could call me back in about 10 minutes. When I got home, I settled down at the table with the machine and waited for her phone call. Nothing. I checked my phone and saw that she left me a message about 5 minutes before saying she tried calling but received no answer. I couldn't call out either. I rebooted my phone and finally got connected again.

Baby Ruth

She then proceeded with about an hour and a half of different tests. Most of them were memory tests. Some of them I did just fine and others I think I failed miserably. Anyway, I was very glad when they were done. About a half an hour later I received an email with what group I would be in. The two groups are: 1) controlled where they monitor blood pressure every morning and night at set times for two weeks and then as directed by the pharmacist in charge. 2) not controlled or placebo where they can pretty much take their blood pressure whenever or even if ever they choose. They will not be monitored. However, they will be contacted every three months for two years to check in. I was put in the second group. I suppose that is good for me as set times each day to test my blood pressure is not practical. Also, I'm not even sure I will be able to continue since we will be in New Zealand in six months. 

Our TIPS Group

We had a wonderful Family Home Evening. It seems like it has been a long time since we were together. The Durrants were in charge, and we had a great discussion. The Durrants are ending their mission in a couple of weeks. We will be sad to see them go. Sister Durrant decided to clean out her refrigerator and cupboards, so we had a wonderful variety of refreshments. We technically ended a little before 8:00 but no one wanted to leave. I think people finally started to leave around 8:30 or so.

Our whole team back together again

On Tuesday we started with our Zone Devotional by President Jackson. He had asked that we come prepared with invitations that we have received from President Nelson since he because President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In particular, he wanted us to share what invitations or advice really touched and changed us. It was a wonderful devotional and lots of people participated. I loved hearing about how President Nelson has touched everyone's lives in so many different ways. 

Elder Nicholls and others from TIPS

I had the Spiritual Thought for our Team Meeting, so I used my research about President Nelson's invitations as my basis for my Spiritual Thought. I think it went well. One of the invitations that touched me the most was how to find Joy in Daily Repentance. I always felt "repentance" was for big sins such as theft, burglary, or murder. I have never been guilty of such serious sins that I didn't feel I had anything that I had to repent of. WRONG. Oh, I would repent from time to time when I felt guilty about something I had done, but it wasn't every day and I didn't necessarily find joy in doing it. I was intrigued by the words "find joy in daily repentance." So, I undertook an in depth study of repentance to see what President Nelson meant. 

Elder and Sister Wilcox at Gilgal

 I increased my understanding of repentance. Repentance basically means CHANGE. In my studies I have seen all the different ways I can change to become more like Jesus. I am finding joy in that. Each day I can identify one or more things I can work on to become a better person. I am actually excited about repenting now. I am evolving into someone I really want to be and someone I hope my Heavenly Father wants me to be. I challenge you to find the joy of daily repentance.

The Sphynx at Gilgal

Since we hadn't met as a team in over three weeks, we had a very long Team Meeting. It was hard to take minutes because the conversations were all over the board. It was so fun to be with everyone again. Over the last three weeks all but Aaron has gone somewhere out of the country. 

After work we joined our TIPs (Tuesday In Person Social) group for dinner at Hires Big H restaurant. I think we had about 28 missionaries. It was lots of fun. Then, after dinner we all walked over to Gilgal Park to see the monuments there. It is a small park in the center of the neighborhood. There are about 15 different stone monuments, most depicting scripture scenes or Church History. It really is quite remarkable.

On Wednesday I had an hour-long video call with Curtis and Baptiste. We talked about things we need changed or added to Event Central to make it a more complete program for Interpretation. We really want it to do everything! If we can add some additional detail about each interpreter so we can have the system be "Team Aware" then we can get lots of useful information to help the missionaries know who is going to be at the COB (Church Office Building) for events so they will know which ones, they need to support. We also want to add an invoicing to Event Central to take the place of PLUNET. We don't want to just use a different invoicing system, but we want to use only ONE system that will do everything. I'm sure it is several years away, but at least they recognize it is something they need to do. Curtis and I have been plugging the changes for two years now. I think at last it has quit falling on deft ears. After work we went to the Temple.

On our walk to the Idaho Falls Temple

Thursday morning started with an in-person Zone Devotional. Sister Last (piano) and Elder Thompson (viola) presented a beautiful concert. I was very touched by it. After the devotional we headed to the Wellness Center for our daily exercise. Then we went home to pack for our trip to Idaho Falls for the Blessing of Baby Ruth. 

Just as we arrived in Idaho Falls, we received a text from our daughter asking if we could go to Costco for them since they were stuck in traffic and running behind schedule. So, instead of going to the rental house, we headed to Costco. Since my daughter is feeding an army this weekend, we bought a ton of food. They also went to the grocery store to get another ton of food that was in smaller containers than what Costco covers. Djeryd, Eva, and Baby Ruth came over for dinner and the evening. It was so much fun to visit with everyone and to hold our precious great granddaughter. I think we finally shut down around 11:30 PM. 

Alyx, Anna, and Elle
at the Temple

Friday started with a nice walk to the Temple and then to the Idaho Falls. It wasn't too hot but was warming up a bit as we headed home. Then we went to the store to pick up a charger for my laptop. I can't believe I forgot to pack it. Since I used my laptop in the car on the way to Idaho Falls the battery was dead by morning. By the time we finally got back, Sean's parents, (Paul and Carol) were at the house. To my surprise Baby Ruth was there too. Djeryd and Eva dropped her off and took Anna out to lunch. I think it may have been the first time Baby Ruth was without her mama. She did good for the most part, but there were a couple of times she really wanted her mama. Grandma and two great grandmas and three different aunties all did their best to keep her entertained and happy. By the time Djeryd and Eva arrived back at the house the second time, Baby Ruth was happy and sleeping in great grandma's arms. I couldn't have been happier. Then they left to meet up with Eva's family for dinner and the evening with them and we started cooking dinner. We had another enjoyable evening visiting and playing games before Paul and Carol left around 10.

Four Generations of Hawkins and Wilcox

We went to the Idaho Falls Temple on Saturday morning to do baptisms. What a beautiful experience that was. Anna and Alyx were each baptized for four ancestors a piece. Sean accidentally printed 4 brothers so he was baptized for them. It was wonderful to be in the Temple with my family and watch our beautiful granddaughters be baptized for their kindred dead. I felt the Spirit so strong. MyLiege took lots of pictures outside when we were all done.

At home we all changed into casual clothes and just lounged around all day. Paul and Carol came over after they napped a bit. I started working on this blog and the girls went shopping.

Great Grandma and Ruth

Sunday was a fun filled day with family and friends. We woke up to Oregon style of drizzle all day. We headed to Church around 10:00. It was so fun to be in a ward with so many young families. Lots and lots of babies. There was also a good group of youth. Djeryd gave Ruth Talei Hawkins a beautiful blessing. We had lots of family and friends come over to the rental house for lunch and visiting and of course holding Baby Ruth. We took several different multi-generational pictures with Ruth. We had four generations on the Wilcox side and the Hawkins side. Those are both our grandson's side. There were three generations on the Poff side. Ruth was an angel through it all. No fussing through all the pictures and being passed around to so many people. After all the pictures she was tuckered out and fell asleep in grandma's arms. I got to hold her through most of the four generation pictures. 😊

Grandma MyLiege and Baby Ruth

It has been a wonderful few days. I am one lucky great grandma!

All our Love and Prayers,
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Great Grandma and Great Grandpa
Steve and Leslee
Elder and Sister Wilcox