26 April 2026

Well, this month has gone faster than we even realized. The Hermitage has been abuzz with all sorts of things, some of it will be news at a later time. Far too much going on for some news.

Disciple has been spending a lot of incredible time at the Temple. She subbed for several sisters, attended to her normal shifts and has spent about 80 hours there this month. This time has filled her with peace and has also spread to a peaceful feeling at The Hermitage. She loves working at and attending to all things sacred in The Temple. She also prays for the rest of us, and we need it. She also spent some time with Seamstress setting up for the Sisters in Service and sewing flannel hearts for the NICU babies. She also had a fun afternoon with her Temple sisters at a potluck luncheon eating, visiting, laughing and getting to know each other better.

Building Super HAS NOT had to climb through any windows! THAT is a bonus. She did go with Shopper to procure a spare key, and had put it where she can find it SHOULD the NEED arise again. We are thinking it won’t. BUT she gives the front door “THE EYE” as she leaves now, a warning of sorts. The DOOR’s never got painted on the backside, so she spent part of a morning painting that and it is lovely.

Gardener has had some fun this month. She replaced several 6” risers with 12” risers so they would spray over the plants rather than right into them. That way the water gets everywhere she wants it to go. She has trimmed plants, transplanted plants, and has enjoyed the blooming jasmine and amaryllis, among others. She also put solar lights out front and it looks lovely at night. Several years ago she brought home an African violet leaf and after it rooted, planted it. That one plant became five plants that she divided yesterday. She NEEDS to thin the aloe, iris and others, SO IF anyone would like some, find her and hit her up for some. She also met Jenny and Angelo at Star Nursery. It was fun to reminisce about when she and Queen would take the kids there when they were children. Jenny and Jessica would look for the “yard” cats who roam around the nursery. They are friendly and the girls liked to hunt them down. They got their “free” ladybugs, and later that evening “let them go.” Disciple said it was kind of like Moses telling Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” Hopefully they are dining well on aphids and the like.

Queen and Organizer spent a whole day with Jenny helping her “clean out” her Carriage House. It was actually a small area, AND Queen was SO jealous. She would love to have Organizer drag everything out of the Carriage part of The Hermitage, sort and distribute a LOT of the things out there, and actually get the rest organized. Jenny did a GREAT job, and Queen and Organizer were impressed. They know just how difficult this task can be.

Queen also spent several hours with Hairstylist Jenny last week. She always does an amazing job and we have had SO many compliments. THANKS Jenny and Happy National Hairstylist’s Day on the 30^th! 

We didn’t get many April showers, but it has been cooler and cloudy off and on. Have a wonderful rest of the month. Be kind. Be happy. Be thankful. Hugs to all.

 5 April 2026

This was another VERY busy week in The Hermitage! We are anticipating a calming period now. Choirs are done. Holy Week is over. General Conference is over. Easter is done. BUT the importance of ALL of this will linger, thankfully. Each is important, especially to Disciple. She has been EXTRA busy. More later.

Seamstress was busy with the Sister Missionaries with clothing repairs, etc. It was fun having them and everything was neatly repaired. One of them did several. Seamstress is also busy with the next Christmas stocking. This one has over 115 pieces. And yet, she pushes on. She is going to get these done!

Board Member helped with gate issues that seem to continue thanks to no school for the holiday. She helped in taking the pool chaise lounges poolside with two other board members, and then helped with the damage done to the wall at the end of the street by a teen who just shouldn’t have been driving. She didn’t go to the board meeting though. Too much going on in The Hermitage.

On April 1^st, Building Super found out she was more agile than she ever imagined! THIS is NO joke!!! We wish it were, but it is not. We got locked out of The Hermitage! The keypad is fussy. IF you don’t close the door just right, it will lock you out and not let anyone do the code. Enter a frowny face. The good neighbor across the street tried to help. He had just put up a new flag for The Hermitage and we tried to get in the windows in the great room. Nope. Not happening. SO, we got the ladder and went to the backyard and proceeded to take apart the chamber window. This window is about 6’ from the ground. Maybe more. The opening is 14” x 22”. Yeah! NOT so big. We got the ladder and Building Super climbed up. Dave held the ladder. Left leg went in. Much kibitzing from Dave about how she was NEVER going to be able to do it. He helped as much as he could, and FINALLY, after feeling like a pretzel, and the BIGGEST FOOL, she dropped down into the shower area. Dave was ticked because he didn’t get a video of the whole foolish fiasco. THAT in itself is a good thing! 

While trying to pry open the windows in the great room, Dave broke a riser. SO, to add one foolish fiasco to another, Gardener got out all of the tools to fix the riser. Bulbs were also disturbed, so those were replanted. 

Chef made a macaroni salad and a broccoli salad for the Easter Feast. Both turned out lovely. We like when Chef makes the broccoli salad as it has bacon in it; she cooks extra bacon and makes sandwiches! 

Disciple has been SO busy and is ready for a bit of a break. She had dress rehearsal for the Easter special on the 3^rd. It was nice, but the recording we watched later of it wasn’t so great. The sound wasn’t that good. She has also subbed for others at the Temple, and saw a friend she hadn’t seen in years! It was wonderful. She loves when this happens.

Disciple does not take things related to religion lightly. And when others do, it doesn’t sit well with her. Her beliefs are incredibly significant. This Holy Week has become more and more meaningful over the years. This year she has done even more than past years. And Easter fell on the weekend of General Conference which was even more meaningful. Between the wonderful talks, beautiful music, and everything else going on, there has been much pondering.

Some of the things thought about, in no particular order are:

Debts. The Savior paid a debt He DID NOT owe. WE owe Him!

BUT did He say, “You owe me?” No, He did not. 

He carried out the supreme act of love. He wasn’t killed by anyone, He GAVE His life for us.

He taught us that with obedience comes sacrifice. You have to sacrifice at times to be completely obedient. 

We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to do our best. Give our best effort.

Follow Him and be constantly committed.

We have to desire to change. To be better. 

Pray to God. The Savior turned to His Father and prayed. We need to turn to Heavenly Father just as the Savior did. Always have a prayer in your heart. God knows our hearts and desires. He waits until we are ready to ask.

Recognize the “still small voice” of the Holy Ghost. 1 Kings 19: 11 “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” Listen for it. You will hear it. Disciple has heard the still small voice countless times. Prepare to hear it. 

Each new day is a reminder of baptism and the resurrection. When you are baptized, you come up out of the water. You begin anew. When you go to bed at night, then wake in the morning, it is a reminder that you can start again. Go from where you are. If you make a mistake, keep going. Each new day is another day of life. Be thankful. 

Disciple is reminded of the many names of the Son of God in no particular order:

Prince of Peace, Light of the World, Savior, Redeemer, Messiah, Creator, Brother, Friend, I AM, The Word, Only Begotten Son of God, Mediator, Advocate, Cornerstone, Rock, Comforter, Bridegroom, Good Shepherd, Master, Raboni/Rabbi, Healer, Miracle Worker, King of Kings, Lamb of God, Companion, Creator, Lord, Bread of Life, Son of the Living God, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, Alpha and Omega, and others. 

Whether you believe in Him or not, HE believes in you and loves you. He gave His life for you and asks nothing in return. Disciple is SO blessed to know these things. He will never leave you.