Having Fun In Pocatello (and Soda Springs)

I’ve got to start scheduling time to write in this blog! For some reason this new year is very busy and I haven’t yet got the schedules sorted out. I’ve already missed one meeting I wanted to attend but forgot to put it on my calendar. There are excuses, though, as I’m definitely getting older.

My sister, who turned 60 a few days ago, cheerfully reminded me on several occasions that I was older than her and always would be. She doesn’t celebrate birthdays anymore, though. Only anniversaries of good birthdays. That sounds like a reasonable tactic to me as well.

We’ve made several trips to Soda Springs recently, including a late night trip last Friday night as dad went to the emergency room. His health continues to deteriorate and Friday was not one of his better days in recent memory. He’s having trouble standing up, particularly getting out of his lift chair in the family room. He has a significant weakness in his legs that comes and goes. Friday it came in style. Mother talked with us and with her Home Teachers (who had come over to help dad get up and into the bedroom). We had him transported to the emergency room in Pocatello. Nina and I drove over and met her there. The tests all came up normal; nothing that would indicate a reason to admit him to the hospital. So, he went back home.

Nina and I spent the night there in Soda Springs and came home Saturday afternoon. Saturday he had a very good day and experienced no problems getting up and down or around. He was just slow, but that’s the normal circumstance these days.

Today was not quite so good. He made his way through the shower, to breakfast, and finally to his chair in the family room. He was then in the chair for the rest of the day with no desire to get up or do anything else.

Nina and I will go over to Soda Springs tomorrow to understand some options related to the nursing home, should that become necessary, and arranging for some help from Home Health Care. We’ll be taking my car over and back because Nina’s Toyota has gotten sick.

When we were ready to leave Soda Springs on Saturday to come home, her car wouldn’t start. A couple of hours earlier it was running just fine. Using a battery boost, the car started and drove home without incident. This morning it wouldn’t start again. Nina used the battery boost again and went to her Church meeting at the Stake Center. An hour later it wouldn’t start. After she was finished at the prison, she used the battery boost to start the car again, but coming home it acted even more sick. So, tomorrow morning it goes into the shop for repair. I don’t know what the problem is, but I’m sure the garage can figure it out. They’ve taken good care of the vehicle for the past several years.

Today I had the usual set of Church meetings for the 2nd Sunday of the month:

  • High Council meeting from 7 a.m. until 8:30 a.m.
  • Meeting block at the Cedar Hills Ward from 9:00 a.m. until noon
  • Priesthood Executive Meeting at the Cedar Hills Ward from 12:45 p.m. until 1:15 p.m.
  • Ward Council Meeting at the Cedar Hills Ward from 1:15 p.m. until 2 p.m.
  • Area Single Adult Fireside at the Alameda Stake Center from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

My High Council assignments are to the Cedar Hills Ward and for the Single Adults. I really enjoy both of these assignments. Tonight’s fireside was particularly good and very pertinent for the Single Adults. Judge Randy Smith from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals spoke about doing something with your life. You may not have the cards dealt you wanted, but we are all accountable for our specific situation. So, where is your faith? What is the purpose you are working towards? What are you doing to improve your neighborhood, community, nation, and world? Very apropos for those in attendance (including me) and there was a very good group there.

Good night all!