Answers to prayers...

I remember when we were in Iowa, the whole stake presidency came from our little Ames Ward. The whole stake Relief Society came from our ward too. I guess it saved on travel as the wards were spread out - but we had a VERY strong ward as well. One day a member of the stake presidency was talking about getting answers to prayers. He said, "It's funny. When I want answers to prayers for personal things, I may have to wait for months or even years, but when I need answers for the stake, the answers come almost immediately."

I was reminded of his message this week. On Tuesday, we went to the YSA RS/Elders quorum activity - Texas Two-Step. I am so not a dancer, but it was fun anyway. As we were visiting afterwards, one of the members seemed particularly excited with the doughnuts and milk. He mentioned to Steve that he had been eating Ramen Noodles and Macaroni and Cheese for the past two weeks. Between needing extra money for gasoline and needing to pay deposits for a new apartment, he was completely out of money. Steve said, "We have got so much food. Come on over after the activity and shop in our basement." He did come over and took a large box of food storage items and another large box of frozen food. I can't help but think that even when we can't always get the answers we seek, we can still be an answer to someone else's prayer.

I had a similar experience on Thursday night. By the time Steve left for his YSA meeting at the bishop's house, I was in my jammies happily reading my book in bed. I had been reading for a few minutes when the thought hit me, "Your cell phone is in the other room and you have no landline. If someone wanted to get hold of you, they couldn't." I obediently went into the other room to grab my cell phone. Not five minutes later, Steve called. He couldn't find Tony's house. He had looked in the phone directory, but he picked the wrong Tony Smith and was led astray. Part of his cognitive issues manifest themselves with navigation. I talked him to his destination.

Anne with an E

Our stake put on the musical version of Anne of Green Gables. SO DARLING!!!! They did such an amazing job. Several from our YSA ward were in it, so that made it doubly fun.

Two roads...

Steve's retirement reception is tomorrow afternoon. We cleaned out his office this afternoon. [UGGG! The dust was the stuff nightmares are made of!] He still has a defense on Wednesday and grades to post, but it is definitely feeling like the end. In all rational aspects, the decision is a good one, but it still feels bitter sweet.

Twenty six years ago we made the decision to come to USU, rather than Arizona State or University of Nebraska at Lincoln. That single choice has affected so many other facets of our lives. It is interesting in that famous poem, it only says that "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." It doesn't really say that the difference was a good difference. Hopefully, we each have the ability to make a positive difference in all our choices.

I love this thought. Robert Fulghum – "The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be."

Faith

In church today, Mack Earley spoke and used an object lesson I really liked. He said on his mission, his companion would always hold a Book of Mormon in one hand and say to the investigators, "I want you to move the Book of Mormon to my other hand using just your faith." They would look at him like he was crazy, saying, "I can't do that." Then he would turn to his companion and say, "Elder Earley, would you move the Book of Mormon from one hand to the other using just your faith." Elder Earley would grab the book and lift it to the other hand. The message? Faith isn't just hoping; it is a principle of action. I loved it!

Retirement

After 26 years at USU, Steve is retiring. Steve taught students to become the best than was in them. He taught them

· to work hard. He often gets notes from alums saying that Compilers was the best class they ever took. When one student complained, "I am working so much on my compiler, my wife hasn't seen me in days", Steve quipped, "Yes, I know. She called to thank me."

· to think before you speak. He would challenge student assumptions by asking them to "bet a malt" on the answer. Steve almost always won.

· social etiquette. If a cell phone went off in class, the owner was expected to bring doughnuts for the class.

· humility. His cell phone was usually the first one to go off in a semester.

· stay alert. If anyone fell asleep in class, Steve led the group in making fun of them.

· relationships are the most important thing. Steve always had time for people, be it students, janitors, peers, or office staff.

· the joy of laughter. Steve loved a good joke – from his office filled with crunched up paper, to the screen saver than looked like Windows but wouldn't respond. While still in Colorado, he went to the department head to admit he had gotten one of his students pregnant. After several uncomfortable minutes, Steve said the student was his wife.

If I could do that...

For the last week, my back has been killing me. I have no idea what I did to it. I move like an old lady. Walking up stairs is a killer. Even rolling over in bed is a MAJOR accomplishment. After a week, the secretaries convinced me to see a doctor. Dr Stones said it was likely just a strain. If something was seriously wrong, it would still be wrong in a week, and we could detect it then. In the interim, he gave me muscle relaxor, over the counter pain medication (Aleve), and (if desperate) a prescription for Lortab. He also gave me back exercises.

The diagram below shows two of the three exercises I am to do. The first actually feels good, but if I could do the second one, I wouldn't have gone to see him in the first place. Absolutely impossible.