Went to post last night and couldn't get on the internet. Such is life in the islands. Sunday was a busy day for us. Members of the Mission Presidency were here and Rick has been called as the Elder's Quorum President for the St. Croix Branch, it will be challenging but he is ready to get to work. We had a nice meal at the Branch after meetings but by the time we got home I was absolutely melted. Took a nice Sunday nap and we spent a quiet evening together.

We had a busy Monday, We are "legal" here in the VI. Went and had our car titled in our name, inspected and registered. Also, got our VI Drivers Licenses. Everyone prepared us for a long wait at the BMV(Bureau of Motor Vehicles instead of DMV for Department of Motor Vehicles, as it is in the states) and it really wasn't so bad. They are very careful here that you are who you say you are(always worried about identity theft) and they make sure you have a valid drivers license and insurance before they will register or title a car for you. Isn't that a novel idea. You have to produce your "documents", passport, previous drivers license, etc, etc. There is no messing around here, you have to be a legal citizen, you have to have a valid drivers license(if you want to drive or even own a vehicle) and you have to have insurance. Now how hard is this. All this fuss about Arizona, illegal aliens and documentation, it's really not such a big deal. If you are legal and on the up and up, what's the big problem. If you are a criminal well then you have a problem, but why should it be mine or the state in which I might reside. Wake up people, this is a problem that needs fixing. You don't need no more criminals coming into the US. Personally, I don't have a problem with people who want to immigrate to the US, but do it right, and make an effort to learn the language of the country.

Enough of that soap box stuff. Rick also started work today. Boy did that feel good, to both of us. He is excited about this job and I think it will be good for him and our future. Of course, because this is a limited contract he keeps looking, but for now we are content to do a good job for these people.

Really got me back to thinking about gratitude and just how much I have to be grateful for. We both met with and were interviewed by the members of the Mission Presidency on Saturday and Sunday and I was struck by the genuine concern they have for the people of St. Croix. It's that love and concern that makes you want to really do your very best at whatever they ask you to do. It makes you want to have and show that same love and concern for the people you are responsible for. It makes me grateful to have people for whom I am responsible.

I have felt a lot of gratitude for my family lately. My parents who are no longer here with us, but who really gave me such a good foundation. They gave me freedom and some of the eagerness for adventure that has led us here to St. Croix. I'm grateful for my children and especially my grandchildren and the unconditional love they shower upon us. I'm grateful for extended family and our ancestors who made some difficult choices that took them far from the familiar but again placed us in a position to find our way to each other and the Gospel and a happiness that I can't explain. And finally I am grateful for so many friends scattered all over the country who pray for us, encourage us and just in general support us in so many ways. I'm also grateful for those family and friends who keep up with me via email and Facebook. I have a friend who asks the most provocative questions on Facebook, things like what is your pet peeve and what are your excited about. I am really grateful to her for making me think about those things.

Well Rick and I are going to have Family Home Evening and enjoy each others company, so I had better close tonight. Just want to say that I hope any of you who are reading this can think about what your are grateful for and try to add to that list daily. Oh and keep praying!

We had a nice day today. Went to the other side of the island to Fredriksted. Today is cruise ship day, every other Saturday the cruise ship comes to Fredriksted. There are street vendors, selling all kind of interesting things and great entertainment. It was pretty hot over there, but we had a nice time looking around at all of the items and enjoying some great music.

After that we headed over to the meeting house, where Rick has a meeting with a member of the Mission Presidency. Apparently, they are trying to decide what to do with Rick. The Branch Presidency has basically told him that they put his name forth to be the Elders Quorum President, but in our interviews today with President Colon, he still seemed to be deciding. We are so grateful for everything we have been given, I know Rick is ready to do whatever they ask.

I'm pretty tired and we got a call later this evening that we need to be at church about 40 minutes early (I guess they have decided what they want him to do), so I better pack it in and go to bed. Remember to keep praying.

Yesssssssssssss! We have a car, we have a job. Ain't life grand. Funny how a few little things can change your attitude. Well it was an interesting day. Had to wait(shocking, I know) for the wire transfer of $$$, then we went to the bank with the car owner, got her the money, went to the insurance company(they only wanted a pint), I have been driving for 43 years and never before has anyone asked me the year I first got a drivers license. This is for liability only insurance on a 13 year old car. We were literally there for over an hour, filling out forms and we still have to go back with a copy of the registration, title in our name and our drivings records from the state of Idaho. Yeah, can you believe it. If insurance in the States took this comprehensive a look at their clientele maybe we would have lower rates and only the good drivers on the road. Also, you can't get your car registered or have the title transferred into your name without showing proof that you already have insurance. There's a good one for the States. Anyway...we will finish up with the registration, title transfer and our VI drivers licenses (can't wait to see what I have to produce to get that, maybe they will want my firstborn, I might be willing to turn her over) on Monday. I will take some pictures of our "island car" and post them tomorrow.

Rick will start work on Monday and we can expect a paycheck about the 24th of August. Almost can't imagine what that will feel like. Not only have we been waiting 2 months in the VI for a job, it has been a while since he had any kind of regular paycheck in the States. We are excited.

Then right before we were going out the door to pick up our car, a friend in Idaho called and she wants our freezer. This is excellent news. One down, one to go, just need to sell that piano. Would be nice if we could get it done before Rachel leaves to come down here(August 13th). We'll have to see what can happen. Gotta keep praying.

We were pretty busy running around all afternoon. Went and did a little grocery shopping, the cupboard was pretty bare, what with no car for almost a week. Can't shop here like I did in Idaho. Things don't keep too long, so for fresh things you need to go every few days. While we were riding from the bank to the store and home again, in our cool air conditioned car, I could not help but reflect on just how blessed we have been. Sure there have been some trying times, I could refer back to blog such and such, just to name a few, but over all everyone has been so good to us, our Heavenly Father has watched over us and sent those of you who have cared for us so tenderly to be our angels. There have been many tremendous friends here on St. Croix and so many of you back in the States offering encouragement and praying for us. Could not have done it without you.

I have been reading the Book of Mormon and reading it like I would a novel, several chapters each day, and it is truly an amazing story. It really comes to life when you read it like you would any other story and not just pick at it, a few verses every so often. I challenge any of you reading this(meaning this blog) to try it. See the story of these noble people unfold and realize that they are so much like us. See what we can learn from their mistakes and successes. See if we can advance ourselves on the road to perfection any quicker. It's worth a try and you know it can't hurt.

Well I am tired tonight, but it's a good tired. Tired from a full day and not just a day full of frustration. Tomorrow Rick has a meeting with someone from the Mission Presidency, so maybe he will have a calling in the St. Croix Branch, I hope so, he needs something to do in the Church(something official).

Last night I was a real slug, I don't know what came over me, but I was hot and tired. I went to bed at 9:30 to cool off and that was the end of it. I actually slept until 7 this morning, so I must have been tired. Can't imagine from what, I did almost nothing yesterday. I'll try to make it up in posts today.

Well we are almost there. Rick's contract is in the office waiting for him to sign. We have made a deal on a car and found a very generous friend to made us a loan. Waiting for the wire transfer of the money today and we will pick up the car, run in a circle three times(that's what you have to do here to get it registered) and go the the USDA office so Rick can sign the contract and GO TO WORK. We also need to get our VI driver's licenses, so we are completely legal. YESSSSSSSSS.

Still having to be patient as we wait for the wire transfer, but it is actually happening. I will be so relieved when Rick has that first day of work under his belt and I think he will be too.

We are swimming in gratitude for all the help we have been given. It gives me pause, to think that so often when we accomplish something we think we have done such a good job, when really almost all of our accomplishments are a joint effort, over a number of years, of countless people. This experience of the last two months has truly taught me that. I hope I can hold onto these thoughts and make them my philosophy because, I know it's true. Daily in my prayers I thank my Heavenly Father for everything I have because I know that all that we do have, including the air that we breathe comes from him, but until recently have I acknowledged that my accomplishments are for the most part a joint effort by many people, including my parents who taught me so much and those numerous people who are still teaching me today. Many by their quiet example . I will try to remember to be more grateful to everyone who is a part of my life.

We are still looking to sell our upright freezer and our piano. If any of you who regularly read my blog, in the Idaho Falls area, know of anyone who is in the market for either of these items please email me at: rbbyrem@aol.com. We left the freezer and piano with our daughter in Ririe. The freezer is an upright, it's older but in perfect working condition and the interior is in excellent shape. On the exterior the handle is broken off(this happened when it was about 6 months old as our daughter and some of her friends were swinging on it, yeah and we even let her live). Anyway, this handle has never been a problem, we just open it from the top our the side. Actually our daughter's freezer, didn't even come with a handle, you just open it from the top or the side. Anyway we are asking $250 for it as a new one, the same size is between $600 & $800.

The piano is an Upright Console. It is in perfect condition muscially(it will need to be tuned, but they really need to be tuned every time you move them, "real" musicians generally have their pianos tuned annually) and the cabinet (furniture) is in excellent condition. It is a Conn(brand) Piano. I did some homework on the internet and they are valued at $2000 to $2200, we are asking $1500. I had really been hoping that it went to a family with kids who could learn on it and enjoy it the way we have, but frankly whoever comes up with the $$$ can have it.

We need the $$$$ and our daughter needs to be done with these things, so we are making every effort to sell them in the next week. Our daughter is leaving on Friday, August 13th to come down here for a visit, and will be here for 2 weeks, so we are sincerely hoping that we can sell these items before then. Any, help you can be will be greatly appreciated. Remember email me at rbbyrem@aol.com and I can call the interested party, or you can call my cell (208)604-4799 (that's an Idaho number, so it does not cost you anything extra to call it here in the VI)

Oh and we will keep praying!

Today is a 2fer. I blogged this morning, cause who ever knows when we will have service and then I thought I would put down some random thoughts tonight.

Well we still have no contract, not car, no fun. Supposedly the contract is all signed and Rick will be told where to go tomorrow to sign and he can start work, if he can get there that is. Well he can walk into town to sign the contract, it won't necessarily be fun, but it can be done. Starting work will be another matter.

We found a car, gonna sleep on it and pray about it but I think it might be it. It's a 1997 Infinity, a pretty classy car in it's day, a little worn now but, it's only $2500, if we can borrow $3,000 to cover the insurance and inspection and registration, I think we can get it. The only place to go for the money is the local loan sharks(Express Financial, not really loan sharks, but they might as well be) the interest is like a credit card (expensive) but if things go well we can pay this off in a year or less and that should make it more bearable. We, of course, have to have the signed contract,(everything here seems to be a chicken or the egg proposition) to prove employment, to apply for the loan and they say that they can turn it around in one day(that will be a first). If even the loan sharks won't lend to us, we're back to square one, but I just know that something will work out.

I'm really having my faith tested here, but I actually hope that I'm getting stronger. Been reading a lot lately and after just so many novels with a sprinkling of scripture, I thought, if I can read 700+ pages a week in a novel, surely I can read the 510 pages of the Book of Mormon again(not to mention the fact that you need a drivers license-local one-to get a library card and I can't afford a drivers license, right now,nor can I afford any more paper back books) so I have been diligently reading my book of Mormon and I am once again proved correct in thinking that all the answers to life are in there. You have to be patient and really read, study and guess what, pray about what you read, but all the answers are there. It also makes me feel better. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy the novels, but they don't make me feel better.

I am grateful for all that I have. I know that I have a really good husband. The last two weeks have been real hard on both of us, but believe it or not we are closer than we ever have been. I am grateful for my testimony, it is what keeps me going. I am grateful for so many wonderful friends, some very new ones and some very old. Ever notice how some people you seem to recognize their Spirit and they yours and your are friends almost instantly. I am most grateful to be here on St. Croix, this has been such an amazing two months and even though a lot harder that I ever imagined, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am grateful for all of the people we have met and being able to witness their experiences. I am grateful for my family even though they have not all supported us wholeheartedly, I love them more and more each day. In short I am truly grateful. guess that's why I needed to write a second time today, to have the opportunity to express that.

Wednesday morning here and not taking any chances that I won't have the computer in the evening. The really good news yesterday was that Tropical Storm Colin got caught in some wind sheer and broke apart. RIP Colin, we won't miss you but we are glad you missed us. Those prayers were answered.

We may have found a car. Not going to comment too much, don't want to jinx it but so far so good. This is the two in "supposed to sign the contract in a day or two, so keep praying, we sure are. Things are actually moving along, even if at a snails pace.

I get real frustrated(keep trying not to, I know frustration is just another form of anger and not good), but at the same time I know I'm learning something here. Remember patience is "diligent perseverance". We have become society of such "instant gratification", I wonder if we really appreciate things that do come to us. I know at times I don't, I just start taking them for granted. I am learning not to do that but to be grateful for each small thing, for each moment and for everything around me. Now the trick is to keep that feeling of gratitude.

Those of you who know me well, know that my motto is "Attitude is Everything". Being that I really believe that, it's sad that so often I don't have a good positive attitude. I was doing pretty good, but the moment I let is slip and it got away from me, boy is it hard to get back. I am working on that. I really am a glass half full type of person, but I did let myself get down for awhile there. I testify that prayer helps. It's what has gotten me back on top of my feelings and helped me help Rick(instead of being at odds with him -that's a polite way of saying we were at each others throats).

I will keep praying, will you? I want all of you, who read this and who pray for us to know that we really and truly do feel your prayers. God does answer them all, sometimes just not the way we think but then I also thank God for unanswered prayers(not really unanswered, but answered in a different way), Father does know best!

Well I'm back! I have not been hiding out, we have been having trouble with our Internet connection here at the condo since Friday morning. I did get on yesterday and had some business to take care of, I thought I would blog last night and, there was "no signal" again. It's 7:47 AM on Tuesday 3 August 2010. Not taking any chances.

We're watching Tropical Storm "Colin" with the rest of the Caribbean, hoping it is in fact a "fish Storm", never making landfall anywhere and not even coming too close. Please pray for us, as well as all of the islands especially Haiti. The weather is starting to turn already and it is starting out as a stormy day.

Well we are still waiting to sign the contract on the new job, supposedly today or tomorrow. It has been finalized, just waiting for all the parties to sign. Seems that's a real problem down here, nobody wants to put their name to paper first. Rick would gladly be the first, but they don't want his signature until last.

Vehicle is still a problem, we have to give the borrowed truck back today. We have found a (what we think is nice) car, a Ford Focus station wagon. The rental car agency that we rented from is selling some of their fleet. This would be a good vehicle for us and the price seems fair, we have not taken it to a mechanic yet, to be checked out, because $$$ are still the sticky point. We seem to have exhausted all of our possibilities for a personal loan, so we'll have to see what comes along.

Have to admit that I have felt a little overwhelmed the last few days and maybe you all were spared from hearing my whining. My calling in the church seems totally overwhelming and I really don't know where to start. I have come to the realization that there is not a minute that I can do this without the help of my Heavenly Father. Just to add insult to injury, I had to teach on Sunday in Relief Society, it was a combined lesson on Visiting Teaching in general (more specifically Why do we go Visiting Teaching?) and the Visiting Teaching message for August (on the importance of having a Temple recommend and going to the Temple) not an easy lesson to teach sisters who are 2 islands and a $450 plane ticket away from a Temple. Anyway...I prayed and prayed and worked really hard on that lesson, we got up and got ready for church and went out and had a flat tire, Rick went to fix it and found one of the lugs was stripped. It took forever to get going, we did go to church, late. I did teach my lesson. It was a good lesson and hopefully someone other than myself got something out of it, but I guess if not, it was just for me. Have to admit it did help me rely on the Spirit and find a way to present this lesson that could have meaning to the sisters here.

With all the discouragement and feelings of being overwhelmed, I still know that we are where we are supposed to be. I keep trying not to succumb to the notion that, if I'm doing what I should be doing, it should be easy. Trying hard to adopt the philosophy that the things worth doing, are NOT supposed to be easy. I know that I will remember these times and I hope I can remember the lessons learned.

I do feel your prayers for Rick and I. Keep it up, we need it. I promise also, to keep praying to pray harder and to pray for all of you.