Stokes Sounds Off

Search This Blog

Leaderboard

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Health Update

Just posting to report that I saw my neurologist on Friday. She authorized the increase of my dose of the medications that I felt I needed. In the meantime, she talked about other things that might help me. So now we just wait to see the neurosurgeon and get my shunt turned up. I am also sleeping better as a result of using the CPAP machine. As a matter of fact, I have been able to wake up the last few mornings well in advance of my alarms feeling well rested. This almost blew us away. It's been a while since that last happened.

In the meantime, I may have found a new job. It is full-time with benefits. The pay would be $1.50 per hour than I was getting at ROI and might include a better insurance option for Amy. The job is with Rocky Mountain Oils, and I'd be doing the same type of thing as I did on loan to Yong Living; I would just be also doing support and orders in person and by e-mail. The headquarters is right here in Orem. I applied for the job early Saturday morning and am hoping to hear back anytime now. I will keep you posted.

Thanks to you all for your interest, readership, and support. Your continued prayers would be appreciated.

My little sister is a mommy!

Just blogging to report that my little sister gave birth to the newest addition to our family this morning. Millen Dan Atwood was born after almost 40 hours of labor. Both Elizabeth and Millen are doing well, just very tired. Much to my extreme relief, the doctors are keeping both in the hospital for a few more days. I am so proud of my little sister and so anxious to meet my newest nephew. I am so happy that she met Jon Atwood and that both are healthy and well. Well done, baby sister! I love you all and look forward to seeing you both and to meet Millen! Rest up, and take good care of yourself!

Temple developments

Further temple developments have happened.  Since I last posted, art glass is being installed in the Paris France temple, and site grading and clearing have begun for the Durban South Africa temple.  Also, a general contractor has been selected and construction is anticipated to begin in October 2016 for the Arequipa Peru temple.

I know I may have posted about some of the developments already, but I wanted to make sure that they are on the blog. Thanks to all of you for your interest, support, and readership.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Site grading and clearing underway for Durban South Africa temple

As this blog title suggests, site grading and clearing is underway at the Durban South Africa temple site. More stride may be made in the next few days, and you can depend on hearing about them here once I learn of them. Thanks.

Friday, July 15, 2016

I passed the 200 blog post mark/My employment has been terminated

Hello, all! A couple of reasons for this post. First of all, the biggest reason: As of tomorrow @ 10  PM MDT, I will no  longer be employed. We got word earlier this week that Young Living was terminating their contract with ROI (primarily because our agents are too good), and all of us were caught in the windfall. Most of my coworkers have been reassigned to other campaigns. My team leader, John Thomas, will be working on a campaign overseen by my former TL Trent Ginnett; In my case, I was told that "ROI regrettably doesn't have any positions matching your  unique skills and abilities." I could read the writing on the wall. So I will be without work until further notice. It won't be all bad. I will be able to start looking for work on Monday. In the meantime, I can work on getting better and on my writing. I have a couple of easy writing projects in mind for pieces I can send to the Church magazines, and I can work on my book. Both Amy and I have the overwhelming feeling that all things will be all right and will work out the way we need them to.

In other news, I am sleeping better with the CPAP machine, and I see Dr. Weinstein (my neurologist) tomorrow.

I also just realized that I have passed the 200 blog-post mark. Some bloggers have been known to celebrate such milestones. For me, this is a time for reflection, introspection, and prayer. I will keep you all updated on our life events as they happen, though, as has  been my custom, Church-related posts will always trump personal updates.

Thanks to you all for your readership, interest, and prayers. I greatly appreciate each of you.