Day of Service

Our church congregation took a part of the Day of Service.  Some of my children & I helped out at Gaithersburg Help.  We had a good day of doing service & helping out a community service organization.

Luigi

A family in our Ward moved the end of the summer and had a tortoise to give away.  Knowing Monica has always wanted a turtle, I called them to see if it was still available.  It was. His name is Luigi.  The family didn't know much about him as they had only had him a few years and got him from another family when they moved. He is about 5 years old.

I went to the pet store & picked up some food & a book on turtles/tortoises.  I think he's a Russian Tortoise.  Actually, Monica helped me figure it out.  The family we got him from had been feeding him fruit every few days.  According to the book & what we found on the web, he's not supposed to have fruit.  We started buying Red Lettuce for him.  He is a very messy eater but really seems to enjoy it.

Monica Driving Practice

Monica got her driver's license "late".  She did not get it when she was first old enough.  When I was a teenager we all got our licenses as soon as we were old enough.  I don't understand why youth now, or at least my children, wait to get their licenses.  I guess I'm just a good Taxi driver. 

When Monica got home from Utah, she & I decided it was time for her to learn to drive stick shift.  She had driven Paul's car before, but not very often.  We went to the church parking lot & she drove around for quite awhile.  She's getting pretty good! Yay!

Death & Heaven

A good friend passed away this past month. Her funeral is today.  I only knew Ida a short time.  She is a really neat lady.  I met her through a friend, Safire.  She used to be Safire's neighbor and I met her at Safire's house.  She joined our church last December and I was able to spend more time with her & get to really know her.  While I will miss seeing her at least weekly at church I know she is in a good place. 

 

She had cancer and was going through chemotherapy.  She had beaten cancer previously and it had returned with a vigor.  She decided to stop chemotherapy because it was making her too sick.  She ended up in a great deal of pain.  I am grateful that she is no longer in pain.  I know she is in a good place.  I know she is with her family and with our Father in Heaven.  I know she is doing good works for our Father.

 

I wanted to take this time to share my thoughts on life after death.  I grew up learning about Heaven and always believed my parents/teachers.  In 1998 my brother, Jon, was killed in a car accident.  Jon was 21 years old. 

He liked to sleep in his closet as a young boy

 

 

At that time, I had the opportunity to figure out if I really had a testimony.  I prayed a lot in the week(s) following Jon's death.  I came to know where Jon is.  I know he is in Heaven teaching about Christ.  Jon had talked about the possibility of going on a mission.  I came to know that he is with our Father in Heaven and my grandparents.  I know that one day we will be together again.  My parents were sealed in the temple and through their sealing I am sealed to Jon.  I try daily to live my life in such a way that I will be able to live with my Father in Heaven and my brother Jon again.

 

I hope Jon gets to meet Ida.  I'm sure they would be friends. :)