March 1

As you can see by the photo below, we had some interesting weather! Ice last week and snow this week. I'm ready for winter to be over. We decided to do a taco bar for break the fast, easy and not too complicated. Listened to an interesting lecture on how you judge righteously. By Skousen, reporting on King Benjamin and how he had run his government. No taxes to pay the king; how would that be?

For FHE we had Wings over Greenville and wrote to missionaries. When I was cleaning the YSA closet, I found a pile of letters that we had written in December and had not mailed! So the missionaries are getting a double batch.

Up at 8 a.m. Tuesday to answer a question for the G1 sisters about Zenos and the allegory of the olive tree. We played some of the Skousen lecture that said the master of the vineyard was the Father and the servant was the Son. Mostly you hear the master is the Son and the servant is a prophet. The master says he will help with the last dispensation and the Father appeared with the Son to Joseph Smith to open this dispensation. Makes sense. Then we went walking at the senior center. There was light snow just starting, and as you can see, we got a bunch of it. Mission cars were grounded. Schools closed. Added up to about 3 inches and cold enough to stick around for awhile. Still had practice lesson and lunch. G1 sisters offered to get our mail, then they stayed and chatted until S. Bunker needed her meds. We also fed them spaghetti for supper.

Snow melted enough so we had no problem walking to the fitness center Wednesday. Institute was canceled; another storm expected. Decided to fix stir fry for the G2 sisters, just had to thaw everything. Then I made crepes – with gluten-free flour. Got a call from Tyrei; he was at the church and had not heard that institute was canceled. So we had to go pick him up and take him home.

Hardly any snow from the weather system overnight so we walked around the apt. complex. Our neighbors upstairs invited us to lunch so we had an enjoyable break. They are Jehovah's Witnesses so we did not talk about religion, but everything else was ok. They are moving to Hawaii this week and said they would think of us when they are lying out in the sun on the beach. We told them, thanks. Had a nice long chat with Edward; his is doing well and keeping busy.

Friday had a hurried workout before rushing off to district meeting. After lunch and a nap, I noticed I had received a couple of calls. I mostly get scam calls on my Smart Phone. But one was from my sis Karla. We chatted for about half a hour then noticed we were late for correlation meeting! So off we went, only 12 minutes late. Had a meal planned for Tyrei so E. Steffler dropped me off to prepare it and he went to get Tyrei. YSA elders came to eat and give him a lesson on Plan of Salvation. They made him answer the questions and did not feed the answers to him. It really showed how little he remembered from his lessons a year ago. Then we took him to a basketball game in Kinston. He sat on the sidelines most of the game; he is good a throwing baskets but not aggressive on the floor and it was a hard-fought game. We lost by 14 points. He was pretty upset that he didn't get to play much.

Late start on Saturday. For exercise we shopped at Sam's. Does that tell you how the day went? We needed a few things for break the fast on Sunday. And gas. I made cookies for break the fast and we got the burger fried and seasoned. YSA elders brought their griddle for us to use to warm up the tortillas Sunday. We watched Steve Martin in Pink Panther 2; pretty lame, but we were somewhat entertained. We started our fast early so our 24 hours would be up by 2:30. We hadn't done that before and it was good. We had in mind what we wanted to fast for so our purpose was firm and so was our resolve. I read comparisons on the Sermon on the Mount, Sermon on the Plain and Sermon in the Temple (BOM). Very interesting. Sort of like MTC for his disciples.

Glad today is over. Break the fast always about breaks me! But we fed a goodly number. Then I had a nap, then E. Steffler had a nap. He was busy today: gave spiritual thought in branch council and taught priesthood brethren. A good spiritual day. Hope your day was, too. I love the Sabbath, especially the feeling of the Spirit when we attend church. Hope y'all are experiencing the same thing. We love all y'all and pray God's blessings to be with you. Elder & Sister Steffler

ps Do you like our new dinnerware? Nice set at the second hand store Sisters Attic.