Jeff Foxworthy in Concert

Back in July, we went with the Beard's to a Jeff Foxworthy concert.  I follow him on social media because his comedy comes straight from his life. 

When we walked into the place, one of the ushers saw our name tags and called us his brothers and sisters in Christ.  He then upgraded our seats.  What a good guy!

I enjoyed his routine.  I had seen much of it prior as we watched him on a Fox Nation special.

At one point he got very personal with the audience.  One man in particular who was a "foot guy".  He asked, "Have you ever seen boobs?"  

One of my favorite parts of the show was watching Tom Beard.  He was laughing so hard that I laughed at him laughing.  

 We had a great time together.  We need to find something else to do.

Wisconsin Missionaries

Since the realignment of the West and Fort Worth missions to create the North mission, we acquired 50 new missionaries from the Fort Worth mission.

 One of those missionaries is Sister Hess.  She's from SHIOCTON!  That's the Appleton 1st ward!  That's only an hour or less from our home.  It's always good to have a home connection.

Royalty

A few months ago, I learned about a website called Virtual Pedigree.  While visiting this site I found a couple who needed their sealing.  As I looked through the names, I found this couple. 

Their wedding date is October 26, 1406!  They've waited a long time!  It appears I have some royalty in my blood line somewhere.

 

Moving Bunk Beds

There are time when we need to take care of a moving task.  Rather than doing it the way most people would do it, Pat comes up with the easiest way to do it.  

 We have some straps which can be hooked around the bed frames and lowered to the ground rather than walking down the stairs with each piece as well as the mattresses.  We transported these beds to the home of the Assistants to the President.  We took them up to the second floor the same way they came down.  Work smarter, not harder!

Dallas 6th

We have the opportunity to attend church in the Dallas 6th Ward.  It is a very diverse ward with people from varied cultures and backgrounds.  Like any ward, they have their struggles. 

One of the best things about serving in this ward is working with the young missionaries.  These individuals are the first three sets we were able to be with.  Sisters Morris and Barrett, Elders Turgoose and Chamberlin and Elders Miller and Stoddard.  Fun fact about Turgoose and Chamberlin.  Everyone refers to Turgoose as "Goose" and Chamberlin's first name is Maverick!  Shout out to Top Gun!
 

Tom & Darlene Beard

I grew up in the same community where I still live.  I have friends who have mostly lived there too.  Going on a mission, I found that there are people out there that I didn't know I needed as friends.  Now here in Dallas on this mission, I have the great privilege to work with Tom and Darlene Beard.

We've only been here for four weeks and how I love them both.  They have become our new best friends and I'm so grateful for them.  We even get to live in the same apartment complex.

We went out on Saturday and they showed us a place where we would never know to go.  It was so fun.  Tom's GPS wanted to take him a route that didn't make any sense.  He was doing U-turns over and over so I finally turned mine on and we got to where we were going.  We sure had some good laughter during that drive!

We ate at a place called Son of a Butcher.  It was sliders.  We order a smokehouse slider and got a tiny hamburger with a few shreds of brisket on top.  Very disappointing.  Fortunately we didn't pay very much as we knew we were getting sliders.

Still, a very informative and entertaining day!

 

Sports

I have always loved watching and or competing in sport!  If there was a league for over 60 volleyball players, that's where I'd play.  I know I can't keep up with the younger generations.

I give homage to those men and women who blazed the trail for ALL to be able to compete.  I love reading about Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympic games held in Germany when Hitler was trying to rid the world of people and races that he deemed were unworthy to live.  Jesse won four gold medals at those Olympics.  I cannot even begin to think of the thoughts that went through Hitler's mind at watching this amazing black athlete who was a national hero.  I wish there was a way to measure his talent and ability against those today who have training and shoes to aid in their success. 

In 1990 the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to Jesse Owens by President George H. W. Bush.

This medal is the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States Congress.  in 1990, President Bush awarded the medal posthumously to Jesse Owens.  his widow, Ruth accepted the award.  There is no standard design for the Congressional Gold Medal, and each recipient receives a unique medal specifically designed for them by the US Mint.  One side features a bust portrait of the athlete sculpted by the artist T. J. Ferrell and the other shows a relief of Owens in full running stride with the words "determination, dedication, discipline, attitude."

Jim Thorpe, a native American, won two gold medals in the Stockholm, Sweden Olympics.  Another minority man with amazing talents who broke barriers.

Wilma Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games.  She overcame polio as a child and became a world-record-holding champion.

As a woman, I do not recall Title IX being passed, but I'm certainly glad that it was.  I loved being able to compete in sports.  I recall as a freshman in high school joining GAA (girls athletic association).  It did not continue after that.  I don't even remember going to any of their events.  I joined the volleyball team and later in the year the track team.  I didn't have any experience in any of those things but knew that I was athletic.

This statistic says that before Title IX, girls made up 7% of high school athletes, and women were 16% of college athletes.  By 2023, 43% of U.S. high school athletes were girls, while 44% of college athletes were women.

I love those statistics.  Now I shake my head at anyone who thinks that a boy who decides he was born in the wrong body (transgender) has the right to compete as a female.  I watched the news a month ago and felt disgusted as California allowed boys dressed as girls to compete and win at the state track meet. The actual girls had to stand next to him on the podium.  

Satan has gotten a hold of so many minds.  He's confusing people to the point that they do not even know if they are male or female.  I have always known that I am female, a daughter of my parents and more importantly, I daughter of my Heavenly Father!