January 13, 2013‏

We had an interesting day, this Sunday. We are now called, as you know, to see to it that a sacrament meeting service is provided at the elderly care center within our ward boundaries. We have, Gramps and I, been assigning ward families to present the programs. They play the hymns and a 101-year old resident of the home leads the music. Sometimes a resident will also say the opening or closing prayer. The priesthood in the family, assisted by others as needed, prepares and serves the Sacrament. The presiding priesthood member of the family presides and conducts and other family members give two and a half minute talks. Gramps said that the Spirit there this a.m. was so very strong that it was glorious.

I stayed home to put the finishing touches on my Sunday School lesson.

In our Sacrament meeting, we had our five serving missionary's moms give reports on their missionaries. One of the Elders is serving in Africa. He is very tall, 6-foot 6-inches, and he is sometimes having to ride in a small bus with lots and lots of other people. It makes a tight fit for him. Each of the moms was equally proud of her missionary son and the meeting was full of laughs, smiles and tears as they shared the tender moments of the missions their sons are serving.

In Sunday School, Gramps and I teach the missionary preparation class. One of the young men is going to Italy. The other two are waiting their calls. It was my turn to teach the lesson and I had such a wonderful time discussing the temple with the three men. Gramps was there, of course. What a great experience it is to be with the young Elders.

Then, after Relief Society and Priesthood meeting, our ward met in the cultural hall for a snack and send event (sometimes called a munch and mingle). There were cookies and crackers for those who stayed--hence the snack. There were also tables with stationary and pens waiting on their tops. Each of us was to write a letter to each of the five missionaries. The Bishop is mailing them to the various missionaries on Monday morning.

We then came home, finished fixing dinner, and drove some of it to Julie's home. Jim is in California taking care of the bees. Julie is at home with four little kids who have had the flu. That on top of losing her baby, which was due the middle of May. I can't remember if I told you that the baby died inside her at New Years. She went to the doctor the Saturday before and the doctor found that the heartbeat had stopped. At any rate, we knew how pressed Julie was. She had to stay home from church because of the kids. She lives way out in the country with the closest neighbors a couple of blocks away. So we took dinner to them. We talked briefly and then we left. She was afraid that if we stayed we would also get sick. (Gramps got stuck in the snow and had to borrow ashes from Julie's ashes bin to get unstuck.) It was certainly cold there--12 degrees below zero at 6 p.m.

I am finally getting over the cough that went with the flu that I had just after Christmas. I think I tired to die but it must not have been my time to go because I am still here. I suppose that you heard about the missionaries at the MTC who had the flu. It was an epidemic. There were 250 of them all sick at the same time.

We do love you! We are so proud of the work that you are doing. What a great service you are performing. (One of my friends at the temple calls it "preforming." So now, every time I say the word "performing" I think of her and her "preformed" concrete. She cannot hear the difference in the two words.) ;) So keep up the good work. We so enjoy your letters and also the letters of your cousin. Who would have thought, in advance, that you would both end up in California speaking Spanish? I am happy that you did but I was surprised. Dane and Kyle are the next to go out and we could have four of you out at once. What a blessing to the family that will be. Having two of you out is already a blessing!

Take care. Know that we love you!

"The Lord has great confidence in you. He trusts you." - President Uchtdorf at the CES Devotional.

The Latest on Factor V and the LH Trauntvein Children

Julie also has Factor V Leiden. David's doctor told him that he had it just a few months ago. That makes all of you Leonard children except for Shawn and Kirsten. AnnMarie hasn't been tested. 

Given that this disease displays incomplete dominance, those who are homozygous (two parents) for the mutated allele are at a heightened risk versus those that are heterozygous (one parent) for the mutation.

Only 50 percent of the kids in a family (where there is a single zygote) should get it. Julie's doctor had to be funny--he said that I was most likely supposed to have had two more kids. There were probably two angels in heaven who would have come to the family and not had it. ;)

Emma's Pastels

Emma said that you were sending me a photo of her project. I haven't received one. 

I know how hard it can be to do your best work and then get pastel smudges places that you did not want them.

I told her that, if she needs a dark background, it would be better to do a dark blue than charcoal. It is easier to work with and is easier to add light to it. Let me know if you need more info. I love you all!

I hope that you were able to clean up the fingerprints. I told her that we used to keep a couple of wash cloths by our project. We wiped our hands with a wet one and dried with a dry one. Maybe a wet wipe would work.

The Pastel Society of New Hampshire , which you can find on the web, has some excellent ideas for helping create with pastels and (The name Pastel comes from the French word "pastiche.")

You can get art gum at Office Depot and can even order online. I forgot, kneadable easers are even better. kneadable easers are and absorbant and leave no residue behind. 

Tears in Heaven Book

Hi, Myrna- thank you for the e-mail about the "Tears in Heaven: book. No this is not the book.

 I have looked at several at Deseret Book, and am going back there on Friday- to browse through one I saw this  week. I did read the one "Calling all Angels," a very short book on a mom giving ideas on how she shared with another of their daughters about a baby not now coming into their home. 

I also reviewed again the one written by Mary Hill- "Gone too soon" - the one that speaks of this older baby with a heart condition. When he died, they had on his headstone--"The Crown without the Cross"--it is really good. But the one I am going to review  again and think I will purchase for Julie/Jim is more than their experience with having a miscarrage/stillborn. It has more depth and thought guiding information. Don't recall the title at present, but it is one I haven't seen before. 

The one I have been looking for was published quite a few  years ago and am unable to find it and am not able to have the folks at the book store look it up for me as I do not recall title or author. 

Have a safe week-end with the forcasted heavy snow  storm. Love you all much--Helen

From Gordon Smith

Myrna wrote: I have noticed that you are not sending out many e-mails. I miss them and wondered if the cause of fewer e-mails was some poor health for one or both of you. I do love you. Happy New Year.


Gordon wrote: We are doing fine.  I am just old and slow. 

We love and appreciate you. 

I have enjoyed your emails.

I will get on the ball again.

Keep smiling and everyone will wonder what you have done.  Don’t tell them.  Just keep smiling.

Love,

Gordon and Roberta

Myrna wrote: It is great to know that you are well. I will try the smiling trick. It sounds like fun. ;)

9-11

Jennifer wrote: Dear Aunt Myrna,

    I just got to read this! I know really slow - but better now than never! This was such a special experience. I am so glad you got to be there and witness this family!

    I was just wondering if you noticed the date that you wrote this original e-mail? Sept 11 is when you chose to write. A day that is marked by part of history that we won't forget too soon!

    Thank you for sharing!

Love Jennifer Stenquist

Swedish Orange Bread

Swedish Orange Bread

1/4 cup warm water (105-degrees for dry yeast)

1 package active dry yeast

2 cups scalded milk 

2 tablespoons melted butter

4 tablespoons orange juice concentrate

2 teaspoons salt

2 cups of oatmeal flour

4 cups whole wheat flour

Pour 1/4 cup water into a bowl; add yeast and stir until dissolved. Stir the butter and orange juice into the hot milk. It will help cool it. Add the salt and stir well. Stir in the 2 cups of oat flour. Add to the yeast mixture. Add the remaining flour and knead well. Use the rise and knead method: let the dough rise for 15 minutes and then knead. Do this five times. In between kneadings, place the dough in a bowl, cover and keep in a warm place. Let the dough raise a final time until doubled. Punch dough down; squeeze out air with your hands; shape into a smooth ball and squeeze dough to divide into equal portions for two loaves. Form into two loaves. Cover and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled. Put in a 375 degree oven and bake until nicely browned and just starting to pull away from pan sides, about 45 minutes. Remove from over and turn loaves out of pans to cool before slicing or wrapping.

To make into Swedish Traditional Orange Rye Bread use 2 cups of rye flour in place of the oatmeal flour. Add 2 tablespoons grated orange peel and 1 tablespoon of caraway, anise or fennel seed.

The oatmeal version made great scones.

Kirsten wrote: Yum!   Thanks!

David Childs and Information

Myrna Trauntvein to David Childs: When is your wife's birthday? I realized that I have not been sending her a card because I do not know her birthday.

David Childs: You send so many cards... you must have a very large address book!  Kim's birthday is September 30.

Myrna Trauntvein: It is filled with family addresses and sometimes I am not certain that you even get what I send. For example, last Christmas, not this one, I sent you a book: "The Christmas Carol" from Amazon. I had a disagreement with them about your address. I only hope that you got it.

Myrna Trauntvein: Thanks for Kim's birthday date. I decided after your dad died that I really should keep in touch better than I had been. It is easy to think of loved ones and to send good thoughts their way but it doesn't do much to let them know that you love them. I love you!

Plus, I LOVED the card you sent me for my birthday. I have it on my nightstand.


David Childs: You have uncovered my weakness (one of many, I'm afraid) - I'm not very good at keeping in touch or even acknowledging when others do... I did receive "The Christmas Carol" from you, as well as the oven mitts this year. And thank you!
As soon as I saw that card, I was sure that it was for you
Love you!

Good to Phone Visit with You Both

Hi, dear ones:  after speaking with you this evening went in on Google and just typed in--doctrine-still born children--there are a number of articles( LDS) when clicked on come up to be read. This gives spiritual food for thought. 

Love you all much. 

Nanci sent an e-mail extending her deepest regards to Julie and family and will remember her in her own prayers. 

Love you all more than MUCH!!Just me---HDT.

Ala board and Marianne on the news

From: AnnMarie

This is Kalen Howard's wife's business.  Do awesome. This is the calendar I have in my house.

http://www.kutv.com/news/features/guests/stories/vid_995.shtml

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