Lung Troubles, Temecula, Tequila Factory, Mormon Battalion, the Neils

I got sick with Influenza the end of January and have been coughing ever since. After a couple of weeks, I felt like I was getting better. Then I had a few days where I felt like I was getting sicker again and didn't feel so well and my cough got deeper and wetter. YUCK!

I got referred to a pulmonary specialist to get an analysis done on my lungs. Hence the gas chamber/breathing apparatus. The testing showed I have decreased lung capacity. I could have told the doctor that since I have had an especially hard time breathing when we go out walking--especially going up hills or stairs.

I also got a chest x-ray which showed I have fluid in my lungs and an enlarged heart. The doctor ordered an echo cardiogram. In the meantime, he put me on two inhalers and an antacid pill to see if I can get the cough under control.

Our mission doctor looked at my medical file and agreed an echo cardiogram is a good idea. It doesn't appear my lung issues are from pneumonia or bronchitis. He is not sure the inhalers are going to help at all if the problem is not asthma related. He is concerned the fluid in the lungs is from my heart not working properly.

Well imagine that!! My heart hasn't worked properly for many, many years! Nothing new there!

This is the view of the countryside on our drive up north to Temecula.

The Pauba church building is where we spend a lot of time. It is the common meeting place when we are in Temecula. We spend many hours there when Glen is interviewing the missionaries.

The bouldery mountains along the freeway up in that area are always fascinating to me. The wild flowers have been causing us to gasp with delight as we see brilliant patches of them all along the freeway.

This particular day we made the rounds of almost the whole area of our mission. We didn't quite make it all the way north to Murrieta, but we were close in Temecula. Then we drove all the way south past our mission boundaries to take a missionary to the airport.

It always makes us sad when one goes home early. These purple flowers helped to cheer up my sad heart.

The very next day we were making the drive down south again to the Tequila Factory. There were 33 missionaries who ate a Mexican buffet lunch while overlooking Old Town San Diego.

We walked down the hill to the Mormon Battalion where the missionaries learned what the historic site has to offer their investigators.

It was nice having Elder and Sister Hemingway talk with our missionaries after the tour. He remembered meeting some of our missionaries when he was here visiting our mission several months ago.

The sisters struck gold!!

One particular day we had met with the assistants and since it was Elder Romney's birthday, Glen promised we would take them to lunch. We all enjoy eating at Panera these days.

Elder Ruhl says it makes him feel healthy when he eats there. I guess so when we read the words "100% clean food" on the door when we walk in. Who would want to eat at a restaurant that serves any percentage of dirty food?!?

The way this post is going, it may cause people to think all we do do is eat out. That is my dream come true--to have other people doing all the cooking for me!!

The Neils served as mission president and wife in Albania a couple of mission presidents ago and we have been wanting to get together with them for a while. We finally made it happen and they showed us their favorite BBQ place in San Marcos.

Since it was our first time there, we were given pig stickers to wear to signify the fact to all fellow BBQ indulgers.

After hearing about some of the Neils' experiences in a foreign country, I am giving thanks (for the millionth time) that we are serving in southern California. We LOVE it here!!!

This past Sunday we gave the sacrament meeting talks in a Spanish ward. I gave the same 20-minute talk I had given in another Spanish branch.

My favorite part of the meeting (besides someone taking the liberty to lengthen my first name and hearing it said three times over the pulpit) was when the bishop asked if I would be needing an interpreter. He looked so surprised when Glen said no and told him I would be speaking in Spanish.

Ha!! It still surprises me that I am brave enough to speak in Spanish. Well, more like read in Spanish. No speaking off the top of this girl's head. And please! No one ever speak to me in Spanish. No comprendo!!!

In all sincerity, I must give thanks for the gift of tongues. The fact that I could communicate well enough for the congregation to understand me is amazing!

The bishop was so emotional after the meeting as he told me (in Spanish, with Glen translating later what he had said to me) that I had spoken about the things he has been so concerned about his ward members needing to work on. He told his congregation he hoped they had been taking as many notes as he had been taking. That made me feel very happy.

I am truly thankful for the inspiration I had gotten when I wrote that talk. It truly was inspired and I give credit where credit is due. I am just an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring to pass His work.