Memoirs and Insites

Today was a wonderful, yet sad day. An old friend of mine passed away today. We called him Grandpa Dell. My dad worked for him and his family on their farm when I was little and we continued to be friends after my dad decided to stop helping them on their farm. He was such a wonderful man. He was always joking and you knew he really cared about each and every person he came in contact with. I remember going to their house and having dinners, get togethers, and he always had a treat. I have many memories of him from saying He** and Da** at the pulpit during his testimony or prayers, to raising steers on his farm in the wee early hours of the morning. One of my fondest memories is the year I had a CRAZY steer. I had raised the steer all summer long but when we took him to the fair, he was a little crazy. He ended up getting loose from me and I didn't get to show him and sell him because I couldn't handle him. Because of this, my dad was going to have to pay for the steer because in all reality, I was in the hole about $100 to him with the short sale of the cow. In the end, he gave me $100 instead because he knew I had tried my best. He took a loss so I could learn and have a little extra $$$! I will really miss seeing him on the back row at church in my families ward and my thoughts and prayers are with his family.

On to a much lighter note . . .
Today I was able to spend the day with friends and go to the General Relief Society broadcast. It is amazing how God knows exactly what each one of his daughters need to hear. I love that the Spirit can teach our hearts even if what they say something different. I had a favorite quote that Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf said "The number of prayers we say will contribute to our eternal happiness, but the prayers we answer may be of greater importance."
I am grateful that I can be an instrument in God's hands as I watch those around me and tend to their needs as a Visiting Teacher and friend.
When we are thinking of talents, we tend to think of vocal, instrumental, artistic, or physical talents. I feel that a talent of mine would be to listen and know what to say to family and friends when they are in need of a friend. I am very grateful for this talent and I continue to try to strengthen it daily.
HF has found it necessary to give me a 3rd lady to visit teach. I am pretty excited about this. I don't know this sister. She is not a member of the church but has asked if she can learn about the gospel through visiting teaching. I hope I can be an instrument in God's hands and help teach his gospel and be a friend to this sister.
I love it when I am on a spiritual high like I am right now. I can't wait for general conference next week and hope to get on a much higher spiritual high!