Elder Lame Duck and Sister Olson

Dear Family and Friends,

  The pictures above didn't come out like I added them.  The middle one should be last since it was taken most recently, but I guess you can figure it out.  This is Darrell Maloney, who I have talked about before.  He has made a huge change in his life.  You can see how much he has changed over the last year.  He has become a good friend and always stops in to see us when he is in Tuba.

  This week has been quite the week.  Some of you may know that Elder Olson hurt his arm on the previous Friday.  His shoulder and arm swelled up and he was in so much pain that I wanted to call 911.  He had blessings, massages, hot packs, cold packs and miserable nights, but he actually touched his nose with a finger on his right hand which was quite an accomplishment.

This is the email I sent to our kids earlier this week which might help explain where he was in behaving himself.

I wish I had video of your dad 2 nights ago when he was literally writhing in pain and I was ready to speed dial 911.  I cannot say he is well because he can only lift his right arm to his belt line and even that is difficult, so what do I see when I drive into the parking lot.Lame Duck is lifting the ramp with his left arm and planning to run the tiller up into the bed of the truck.

I did stop the truck, put it in park and turned if off before I flew over on my broom to ask him just what he was planning to do.  I hated to react if he was innocent, but all of us know him too well.  He did let me run the tiller up the ramp. ;o} but only after major threatening.

Last night he tried to sleep in the bed, but that didn't last long.  We make a squirrel nest on the couch with pillows and blankets propping up each vital body part, head, back, legs, and right arm of course.  I made sure he was tucked in very well.

  This morning he is up and I see the bed on the floor, he discovered that the back cushions come off as well as the seat cushions.  He had made a very nice bed and only had the heat up to about 90 degrees.  The arrangement made me instantly think of what you kids would do for sleeping arrangements. ;o}

  I wanted to take pictures, but got side tracked.  He was in so much pain two nights ago I did not know what to do.  There is a place for "pride" but not when you appear to be dying.

  We so appreciate your prayers in our behalf..  We know ward members are also praying and they had a Stake Temple Day today, so he is on the Temple Prayer roll in several Temples.  How grateful we are for what we know.

  One of the sisters gave us some Arnica which seems to have helped a lot also, plus Arnicare creme and Deep Blue Rub.  He is scheduled to see the Orthopedic surgeon on Wed. afternoon, the same time the folks from SLC are coming.  Looks like we will have to miss that meeting.  I will keep you updated.

  

We had another fun evening in the Family History Center getting Brother Barlow's family tree started.  We are learning a lot about Ancestral Quest.  Sister Norris and I are learning right along with everyone else.  It is fun to see them learning and growing just like we are.

There are several families involved in the Temple Prep class and part of their assignment is to come to the Family History Center and work on their family tree.

It has been fun to see how much they know when they say they don't much of anything.  They take group sheets home and bring them back or someone walks in and says I know that name and adds to what they already have.  We never ceased to be amazed by who ends up there together and find out that they are connected.  Coincidence, I don't think so.  The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways, His wonders to behold.

When the add Sister Barlow's family their kids will have quite a tree started.  On the one census we had his grandfather and his two wives with about 10 children.  It was pretty exciting since Brother Barlow's direct line ancestor was the youngest child on the census.

Hope you are working on your direct lines and adding to your children's tree.  You will be amazed by what and how you find information.  It can be quite a journey.

Elder Lame Duck and His first wife, Sister Olson ;o}