Life in Manteca 116: Busy Week

SO this week we refinanced the house, bought a new car, went to church, put up curtains, prepared for homevisit.

The refinancing finally came through.  We now have like 125,000 equity in the house which helped us get lower finance rate and lower payment, however we financed for 30 years again, giving back 4 years.  Property values have been good to us, going up $100,000+ since we purchased less than four years ago.  We hope to make additional payments the first payment and but back at least half a year, (they gave us 2400 in the financing which we hope to pay off  principal) and then we hope to pay our regular rate for a while, or pay off 2 payments each month for a couple years.)
Tax returns came back this week too, so mom is off to IKEA for shelving.  I think that might be today. 

New car, Mom was convinced Toyota Siena was the car she wanted, same as the Petersons and it is an 8 passenger minivan although one seat comes out and can be stored in the back.  It also allows for folding down of seats and hauling of larger items.  Of course you know the old minivan was totaled.  They paid us 6500 for the old minivan, which is more than we have ever had for down payment.  So with  that we were able to get into the minivan of our choice, light blue.  We purchased a couple warranties so it was a bit more expensive than we wanted, but only 5 years, and it should last us well beyond that.  With the warranty comes service so it should stay nice.

Went to church:  Sacrament meeting talks were on Joseph Smith.  Very well presented by Sister Papworth.  She had everyone go back in their mind to his memorial and the eulogy.  She presented eulogies from several different people, including Moroni, Lehi, John Taylor etc.  It was very well done.

Brother Morgan related handcart stories:  Nellie Unthank whose parents died on the trek, she and her sister surviving but frost bitten badly.  Nellie Unthank’s legs were amputated.  She raised 6 children in the Cedar City area.  He then talked of Daniel Webster also of Cedar City and handcart pioneer.  His part was played by Duane McGhie if you remember.  It was he who talked of the angels helping them push the handcarts. 

Sunday school was about miracles of Jesus, why did Jesus perform miracles? To show that he came in power, to help others as he had compassion for them, because of the faith of people, and I think also to teach.  When he blessed the man with palsy lowered to him through the roof, He said, "Thy sins are forgiven thee."  I think he was teaching a great lesson about his power over sin.

Priesthood was a conference talk of drawing close to the savior with six suggested ideas.  We were given the one on physical fitness.  I think there was a point to that, so I walked briskly to work from the light rail this morning almost a miles, and am going to walk briskly back after work.

I now have about 1600 names to do, but am frustrated how slow the doing process is.  Youth and Elders are doing baptism on 3/7/14 so that will be a big day.  I would like to do sealings sometime, but so far haven’t been able to work out a day.  I now have about 60-70 sealings ready to do.  When you do the sealing the person is done (although they separate sealing to spouse and sealing to parent).  Let me know if I should send you some endowments.

Yesterday was  also get Tony’s baptism invitation ready as well as his interview with the bishop.  The interview went well.  Tony is growing.  We have planned a lunch after the baptism which will be at 10 a.m. (hopefully) on 3/7/15.  The doubt is created by the young women’s room being remodeled at our church.  Hopefully it will be ready.  Tony has a big list of people to invite, from birth family to Jessie’s family to primary class members and school friends.  It should be very fun.

Prepare for home visit.  Mom had me putting up curtain rods so she can hang new curtains.  She has done family room and sliding door and our bedroom; and living room before.  She is making the curtains herself.  We didn’t focus on cleaning much, but I did trim and mow the front lawn.  I have some more trimming to do tonight now the trimmer is recharged.

Jeremy got a couple jobs this week.

Mike Dye and I did home teaching yesterday.  He had been sick with the flu for 5 weeks.  We are all done except for mailing something to our b list, although I got most of them the first week inviting them to the chili cook off.

Crystal Apple awards are Saturday.