Life After Our First Mission: The Parties Continue

Waterfront Park

View of Portland from Eastbank

One day this week, while driving to an assignment, we listened to an interesting interview. A very talented author who responds, on a daily publication, to life’s questions submitted by the general public was being interviewed. After discussing a particular response she had written, regarding a touching question by a small ill child, her interviewer asked, “What were her resources for giving such good advice”. She said she listens to her inner voice, and when her heart seemed to blossom she feels she has the right information. Later in the interview, in response to a comment about how appropriately spiritual her advice was, she commented that she didn’t believe in God. I thought to myself how contradictory her comments were – while saying she didn’t believe in God at the same time she was giving advice based on the prompting she was receiving from the Holy Ghost. She did; however, later say that maybe she did believe in God, but not the one in which everyone else believed.

Case Bodmer

We finished Genesis and began Exodus. We are not racing the calendar, but we started the Standard Works last October. The Church coarse of study in 2011 was the New Testament and we played “catch up” to finish reading it by January. In January we started reading the Book of Mormon, the coarse of study for 2012. We have continued by reading two to four chapters each morning at breakfast we have finished the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants. We will continue on through the Old Testament with an undetermined deadline. The most “moving” part so far is from Genesis chapter 45:

“And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brothren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.”

Case Bodmer

On Tuesday we attended the ten o’clock session at the Temple and then we had the opportunity to be with Case for a couple of hours in the afternoon. He is smart and cute and a joy to tend. We walked up and down the Waterfront Park.

While we were at the park enjoying the wonderful summer weather, and the beauty of the Park, it occurred to me that we have spent the past two years showing you the beauties of Copenhagen, now we should do our daily walks around Portland and show you the beauties of Portland.

Wednesday, after the internet installation, and Thursday we helped Angie with preparations for the Wedding Reception on Saturday.

Case

The Cortez family was leaving town on Friday, so we, after spending some time at Angie and Zach’s and tending Case for an hour or so, spent the night at Tova and Jeff’s so Roscoe, the dog, would not be alone and would get some food and water.

On Saturday we helped finish the decorations and then celebrated McAllister and Denita’s wedding again. Except for the Cortez’s, our whole family was together. We overnighted at the Cortez’s again.

Norma celebrated her birthday today by attending her church meetings and preparing for the Youth Fireside in the Gateway Ward. The refreshments at the fireside were prepared by Teresa and were served as Norma’s birthday cake.