Still alive and kickin'

We really have no news to report. We are very busy with our Mission (which ends in January) and other Church activities. We are almost looking forward to cold weather because keeping our yard mowed and trimmed is taking more of our time, energy and money than we like.

In addition to the time spent on Mission activities, Howell has been deeply involved in his computer (BIG SURPRISE!) and Sally has been playing with a few of her crafts (another BIG SURPRISE) namely butterflies, beads and crocheting.

She learned a new craft at R.S. this month and has been busy making Christmas gifts.

She has also developed a back pain that has gone on too long, so today, she will be seeing the Dr. to see if a remedy can be found.

House sitting

We recently did a tour of house sitting for almost 2 weeks. It really seemed more like a month because of what came with the house, 6 dogs!!! And no 2 of them were from the same family.

A good friend of Sally's was going with her grown children and grandchildren to Myrtle Beach, SC, and she asked Sally to house sit. Sally said "sure" but then she found out about the dogs that her kids would be leaving there too. But we agreed to give it a try anyway.

The first few days were the hardest as we were getting used to them and them to us and to each other. Several wanted to sleep on our bed at night, but we finally got them relocated except for our own. It was hard enough sleeping on a water bed without coping with more than 1 dog.

For a few days we kept having to clean up "accidents" but we soon got all of them used to going outside. Of course we had to go outside quite often too which we didn't care to do because of the heat. But that was better than having to clean up accidents.

However on the bright side, we were able to enjoy a huge screen TV and go swimming whenever we wanted. That was great. But now that's it's all over, I'll take our little TV any day over taking care of 6 dogs all at once.

Howell

Hen pecked

Recently Howell responded to and e-mail from me that asked “If you saw me in the back seat of a police car, what would you think I had been arrested for?” His answer was, “Husband Abuse”. Last evening we shared that laugh with a house guest.

Now I love my husband but he is a procrastinator. Last Saturday I told him that I had cleaned the oven of our cooking stove except for the back wall which I could not reach without a lot of difficulty. I asked him if he would please wipe it off and he agreed to do so.

It still was not done on Sunday but being the Sabbath, I said nothing. On Monday I asked him several times throughout the day if he had finished the oven and he would snap his fingers and reply that he would do it as soon as he finished what he was doing.

Finally, I gave up in frustration and got down on my knees, stuck my head inside the oven and wiped it out myself. Then I couldn't get up and had to crawl across the floor to a chair for help in doing so. Howell realized what I had done, he apologized and told me that the next time I should keep reminding him to do what he agreed to do. I replied that if it came to a choice between nagging him and doing the job myself, I would rather just do it myself.

Early in our marriage he had volunteered to put away the clean dishes after I had cleaned the kitchen. He never remembers, so later that same evening I told him that they were ready. An hour or more later while we were talking and visiting with our house guest, I realized the dishes were still waiting. I turned to him, held one finger in front of his face and in a firm voice said “I am only going to tell you this one more time!”

At that, he jumped out of his chair, said he was sorry, ran into the kitchen and began to put the dishes away. I look at my friend and saw the most incredulous look on her face and shock in her voice as she said “How do you make him put the dishes away?” Only then did I realize how my threat to my “Abused Husband” sounded.

Sally

Surgery

I didn't mean to scare you, but Sally just had surgery on the second eye. They've removed cataracts from both eyes now and she's doing great. Now, instead of looking for her glasses, she takes them off and can see better than could before with them. Cool, huh?

We're both doing fine except that it's been a little warm and muggy, but what the heck, we can't have perfect weather all of the time. We've been busy with our several callings and enjoying it immensely.

Regards to all,
Howell

Church in the country

Yes, you're seeing goats and a donkey. And yes, we are out in the country, but we love it.

Our new chapel

We're really enjoying our new building. It will accommodate 2 wards very comfortably. At the moment we're a medium sized ward but we're working on getting a Spanish speaking branch started.

Update by Mrs. Payne

I just read what Mr. Payne thought he could get away with because I was sick. Ornery? I'll show him "Ornery"!

Actually, after some sparing back and forth after I read his entry we had a good laugh. That's the way most of our disagreements go.

I have seen a lot of change in Howell since we married. He is no longer part "Hermit". We generally do activities together but I haven't been successful in teaching him to load the dishwasher. He laughs readily and often now and seems more like the Howell I knew "Way Back When".

We are busy with our Mission work, my food storage activities, Howell's Ward Website calling and all of our Church meetings but we are very happy.

One other health note. It seems that my diabetes has been at work on my cataracts and they have gotten much worse this past year. Therefore, I will have the one in my left eye removed on Wed. 4/29 and the one in my right eye removed on 5/13. They tell me the recovery is almost always speedy and the bonus is that I will no longer have to wear glasses except possibly for reading.

Howell seems very healthy but is gaining weight. Except as it effects his health, I don't care. I love him no matter how he looks.