We made Rick cry!

Rick and I got home from a concert (The 5 Browns) I took him to for his birthday.  I forgot to tell family we would be gone, so they dropped by and left their candy bars and sentences for his birthday card. I'm sorry I forgot.

I had Rick open his present (hand made belt by my dad, Jim) and read the cards he received (Penny, Chris, Sheldon, his parents Keith & Cleo) in the mail and pictures from grandchildren. I finished up his candy bar card.

Then he read the candy bar card.  When he got part way through he started to cry and I had to read the rest to him.  Boy, was he happy and said he never felt soooo loved before.  Success!

Card Sentences:
1.  Hi "big hunk" I love you "now and later" and forever.---Pat
2.  You make us "snicker" when you say, Oh crap.---Nick & family
3.  No "twix" we wish you "joy" and happiness today and everyday.---Dad & Kaye
4.  Have "dots" of fun on you birthday. You are "mounds" of fun. We love you.---Max & family
5. "Look' how much I love you.---Paul
6.  If your feet hurt, just "take 5" and know I love you.---Sally
7.  I eat you up like a "butterfinger".---Luke
8.  You are as cute as a "dove".---Lily
9.  "York" our favorite Grandpa.---Andy
10.  My "tootsie roll"'s to you because I love you.---Nell
11.  If you need a "fast break" come and get a hug.---Mabel

Thank you everyone for your love and heartfelt wishes! I can't believe that we didn't have any duplicates on candy bars without talking to each other about it.

The card that touched off the crying was from Luke.  It was a rainbow with a person under it not a pot of gold.  It said, There is something better than gold under this rainbow, YOU!!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope your day is filled with LOVE!

Happy Valentines form Pat

February 12, 2011

The Baugh cousins got together for lunch and a visit. Doug Hadley arranged for us to meet in Layton at the Golden Corral Restaurant. Judy Freed and Butch & Mary Farnsworth were unable to attend.

Back row: Blake Goodwin, Dan & Tammy Baugh, Rick & Pat Barfuss, Margaret & Gary Avery, Doug and Marie Hadley

Sitting: Laurel Hadley, Rocky & Linda Kimball, Brevan Baugh

LDS Visual aids for Autism

I'm thankful this week for the opportunity to teach Primary again. My assignment is with a 5 year old boy with Autism. When the Bishop set me apart he cautioned me to forgo teaching the gospel until the two of us had bonded. He said he wanted it to be a safe and happy experience. My first experience was Sunday February 6th.
I discovered four very important things:

1) I was 15 minutes shy of activities for us to do together (for the last 20 minutes we walked around the church)

2) He pinches. When I said, "No pinch" he stopped.

3) He responds very well to educational activities, I didn't have enough of them

4) He loves music. Thank goodness I downloaded to my computer some Youtube

I came home and have been spending my spare time creating things for us to do that are educational and can teach the gospel. I share them here and anyone who would like to copy them is free to do so.

                

            I am also taking a class with Utah Educational Network and have learned how to make a youtube playlist and embed them.   My "little guy's" favorite is: Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam.  Here it is for you to enjoy.

My Mikesell cousins

I haven't seen my Mikesell cousins for at least 20 years. So, when I received this photo from Carol I cried and cried. As children we played together while our mother's visited. And have great memories of eating banana bread when we went to their home.

Carleene, Charlotte, Carol Ann, and Ed Junior

Don & Carlene, Charlotte, Chris & Carol Ann, Ed & wife

Sandpoint City Beach was my summer home from age 4-21.

These photos are not of me but look like me and where I spent my summers.


Mom and Dad both worked. So summers we got to spend the day at the beach. But, we couldn’t go until we could swim by ourselves. At age four I could swim so I got to go with Judy and Dan and spend the whole day there. Judy remembers being responsible for us. She says, “I remember us kids taking food off of others people’s towels because I hadn’t been taught to make lunches.” I remember other things:

1. As young children Dad would drop us off on his way to work and pick us up after work.

2. Sometimes we would walk to the beach where we passed Hayworth’s Bakery (where Dad used to work) and get a free doughnut either before or after swimming.

3. Other time we would take our 1 bike and pedal each other on the back fender... sometimes on the way home we would get so hot we went right back to the beach not home. We stayed until it was time for dinner.

4. Sometimes after dinner Dad would take us back to the beach. He took a LONG time getting wet. First the ankles, knees and he would holler out, “ooh, ooh,” then the waist and called out again, next the shoulders calling out again and finally he’d dunk his head in. Then it was time to go. He was cooled down. Afew times he would swim out to the dock then we had to go.

5. As a youth (16 -21) I was a Red Cross Swimming Instructor and lifeguard. We worked the day after Memorial Day until the day after Labor Day. The first year my sister, Judy, and I were both working there and 2 other people. The next 5 years just me and 3 other people. One year we had a Seventh Day Adventist lifeguard, he worked Sundays and I worked Saturdays. That was the best year. I hated missing church.

6. I loved teaching lessons. Beginners were my favorite. The kids were either scared to death or confident beyond their abilities. I enjoyed helping then gain the skills they needed to swim out to the dock and jump off without any assistance and then swim back to shore. We all cheered each other on! I loved it.

7. When I was and not a lifeguard and living in Seattle, Washington, I took a friend to the beach. A boy sank to the bottom right in front of us. My friend (Van Campbell) dove in after him and I swam to shore, grabbed the lifeboat and rowed out to the dock to bring them to shore. The boy survived and Van got a big write up in the local newspaper.

Man's Greatest Power Lies In The Power of Prayer.

One of the most essential parts of me, is knowing that the Lord will hear and answer me when I speak to him.  As I child I wrote a simple poem about my feelings on prayer here it is for you to read.

David Bednar (a prophet of God) explains his insights on prayer in this YouTube video.

Please take the time to view the video and ponder

how you might have the Lord be a part of your life this year

by improving your communication with Him. 

New Years Challenge

I've read that the LDS Church would like us to use our blogs to spread the gospel. 

“Now, may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration.”

—Elder Ballard

********************
At Stake Conference last week we were challenged to
know what our prophets are currently telling us.

I have been thinking that I need to express my gratitude more often.

So, I think I will begin with a monthly effort to address one of the three topics a week.

2010 Christmas with family

The best thing of Christmas is Christ! Next comes family. We were happy to spend our time at each family's home enjoying them and sharing our love.

2010 Christmas Page

Rick and I made our annual Christmas page on December 23rd.  

The criteria this year were: 

1) Made completely on the computer,
2) Must use a Manger scene.

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends, we love you all.