New visits.

April 14, 2012 Saturday

Lane and I travelled to Christmas Valley on Friday, and made a few phone calls and a visit, but no contact was made with anyone.  Saturday, we make our plans, having prayed all week for guidance as to whom to visit this week, and how to reach them.  Then we set out.

We, for once, had good success in finding people at home.  First, we had a brief but very amiable visit with a woman who runs a home for the elderly; she has four of these special residents right now, and she is known for taking good care of them.  Each time we’ve been there, everything is clean and orderly.  This woman seemed glad to see us, and accepted our offer of the Ensign magazine, as well as wanting to receive the branch newsletter by e-mail.  Unfortunately, her husband has been diagnosed with cancer, and she is facing the possibility of a big change in the near future.

An attempt to visit a sister who had knee surgery was not fruitful in being able to see her--because we didn’t; she was in bed resting at that time.  However, we did get to speak to her three grandsons, who are special boys.  We encouraged them to return to activity and told them we miss them and the rest of the branch does, too.  I hope they do come back; what a waste if they don’t!

We ferreted out a couple about our age who haven’t been active in their church attendance for some years.  We had heard this and that about death in the family and illness, etc.  Driving into the yard, we were met by three dogs:  a red heeler, a border collie, and a huge brown dog of unspecified origin--all friendly.  Since we like dogs, we were petting them when a woman came out of the door and into the yard, asking if she could help us.  We introduced ourselves and were asked in.

Beautifully-decorated and elegant but homey was the impression we received as four Chihuahua/Chihuahua-mix rescue dogs escorted us through the kitchen and dining area to the living room.  Settling ourselves down, we were amused by the procedures these little ones went through until they decided we were friends.  First, three of them (all white ones) stood by our hostess’ legs, one on each side, the third lying at her feet.  The pose of the two side-guards as they sat on their haunches and looked at the front one lying down reminded one strangely of Egyptian Maus in ancient art.  Later on, when our host reared back in the recliner, those three all poured into his lap, and I wished I had brought my camera, as they sat looking at us with their bright, dark eyes and piquant faces.

The fourth Chihuahua was a long-haired, smoke-colored male.  He smelled Phoebe on my clothes, and had to investigate every inch of them, so he was my friend for the entire stay.

This brother had, in his younger days, been a truck driver hauling nitroglycerin for certain mining operations.  He told us some hair-raising tales.

This visit was the high point of our weekend.  We can’t describe how pleasant and welcoming these two were.  Health problems and upcoming surgeries are going to be a worry for a little while, and we were happy to have been able to find out these things beforehand, so we could offer the blessings available through the Priesthood, and also through Relief Society ministering.