Sacrament Meeting Program

Sunday, October 26, was the annual Young Women's Sacrament Meeting program. It was wonderful as always. I introduced the program by sharing some of the highlights of our year. The topic was this year's theme found in Mosiah 5:15 "Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works...." Some of the girls shared what the theme meant to them. Others talked about how Personal Progress helps them be steadfast and immovable. The rest talked about our reading the Book of Mormon challenge. After the passing of President Hinckley, many church members choose to honor him by reading The Book of Mormon in 97 days – a day for each year that he lived. As a YW group we took on this challenge but lengthened it another 80 days to represent the life of our newest prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. That meant we had 177 days or three pages a day to complete it. On Easter Sunday, all the girls received a pocket-size Book of Mormon along with a red pencil and highlighter. With the red pencil we marked every reference to our Savior, Jesus Christ. With the highlighter, we marked the words that He spoke. I can’t begin to tell you how this has changed my life. I’ve read the Book of Mormon 30 plus times never fully realizing the how often the Savior is spoken of until I took on this challenge.
I have watched the girls that have made reading The Book of Mormon part of their lives become stronger and more steadfast. I have watched them have the strength to fight off temptation and withstand the adversary. Their countenances have changed. Their attitude towards life is different. I can always tell when they have made The Book of Mormon a part of their lives. A few of the girls completed the challenge on time, many of the rest have promised to complete it by Thanksgiving. Mostly, I hope they are reading from it each and every day. I've started reading it again with the finish of goal of April 2009 General Conference. This time I am focusing on the blessings promised to the house of Israel and counsel given about prayer. I like reading with a specific purpose.

YW Fall Camp 2008

For most of the past six years, I have taken the young women to our cabin for an overnighter. First, we stop in Park City to ride the Alpine Slide. Then onto the cabin. We usually have dinner, work on a service project, eat, talk, play, and eat some more. Some of us actually get some sleep. We are home by noon on Saturday. Unfortunately, this year, I had to sit with my foot elevated and not do some of the activities, but we did see a moose. The scenery photos are views from the front porch of the cabin. Even though our numbers have dwindled over the years, we have a fabulous time. I love "my girls!"

Grandchild #8 -- Daxson Michael Allred

Five days after my surgery, on September 1st Labor Day, baby Dax decided to make his entry into the world at 8:13 p.m. He was 7 lbs. 9 oz. and 19.5 inches long. It was a long hard day for Carly. Dax was posterior and did not want to turn. He would almost be out and then slip back up and flip in the wrong position over and over. His heart rate slowed down at the end and scared us but two big hard long pushes later he finally came out. I'm so proud of Carly! She used Hyponobirthing to bring him into the world without any drugs. Talya was her doula and was fantastic. Dax is a now two months old and as cute as can be! The other day while I was talking with Carly he was screaming at the top of his lungs for no apparent reason. She put the phone near his ear so I could talk to him. As soon as he heard my voice he quieted down and let me talk to him for a bit. What a way to steal Pama's heart. He doesn't look at all like a Simonsen/Hansen. He is a total Allred. He looks like a little man - not a baby - with his furrowed forehead. Carly and Robbie are great parents full of a tremendous amount of love for their little boy.

Foot Surgery

I have a few moments of downtime so I thought it would best be used by updating my blog and explain the reason for being absent from the blog world for so long. It all started back on July 17th when I had a cortisone shot in my foot. I had been diagnosed with a neuroma (inflamed nerves in the foot) a few weeks earlier. It wasn't getting better so I had the option of the shot or possible surgery. I did not want surgery. I decided to give the shot a try since we were leaving for our annual Lake Powell trip in about ten days. Well, the shot was wonderful. It worked just like it was supposed to until July 31st. That is the day I stepped from the houseboat to the ski boat and felt a pop in my foot. As soon as I was home and able to make an appointment with Dr. Morgan I went in for another x-ray. Nothing looked wrong. We decided the shot had run its course and the neuroma was back. It was too soon for another shot so I learned how to tape it and went on my way. The problem was that it got worse and worse. On Saturday, August 23rd I hurriedly walked across the freeway (to check on the passengers in a car that had just rolled three times right in front of us) and my foot totally went out. The pain was awful. I lived with it until Monday when a new x-ray showed a very dislocated toe. At this point surgery was called for to fix the toe and remove the neuroma. It took place August 27th. They sewed the torn ligaments back into place and put a 3.5 inch pin in my toe to hold it in place. It has now been two months. The pin is gone but the toe is still sore and swollen. I just had a follow-up appointment and it will be another four months before I "go a day without thinking about the pain in my foot." I can't walk up hills, wear any type of heel or my red or black cowboy boots. I have one pair of shoes to wear that are a whole size bigger than normal to get on my swollen foot. I stood in line for an hour tonight to vote early and my foot is screaming at me. It is much better than it was, but not it is not where I want it to be. Obviously the surgery was a much bigger deal than I thought it was. My theory on what happened was the cortisone shot weakened my ligaments which eventually tore and my toe slipped out of place. I will never have another cortisone shot again. The x-rays are very revealing. Skip viewing them if you are queasy.

Recovery has slowed down my participation in optional activities (like blogging) so that I can keep up with required activities (like being a grandma and wife, YW leader and Festival Board Member).