Packing for a Viking!!

We are moving at a snail's pace here on readiness for this trip!  We keep gathering things, purchasing things and today was.... Compression Socks Day and buying a new watch and making sure Visa & Bank know that he will be in FL and then Norway.  Loading all the scriptures on his new Nook and trying it out.  Just small details like making sure the chip is cleared for the little camera he's taking.  His neck pillow for flight.  Finding his favorite fanny-pack. Copying some genealogy.

He's been riding his bike for 4 weeks and valiantly trying to gain strength, stamina and increased energy.  You know Vikings and their biking!  It's an interesting phenomena as he hauls the bike in his truck to his "route" and then rides with the wind.  If he doesn't take his truck then I'm given a time to come looking for him, with the truck, in case he is languishing by the roadside.  Today he took the truck and was gone so long, that I went looking for him!!  Certain he was roadkill.  I could not find the truck, the bike or him.  When he finally showed up, all rested looking, non-sweaty, he let me know that he'd gone out to Jerry's to see his new lawn mower!! 

When he worked at the North Slope and it was time for him to go back, 2 days before hand, I'd feel sad and lonely and wishing he could stay home.  So today here we are- both so happy he gets to go and both not wanting to be separated for even a week or so.  He's been declaring his love for me with sweet words and affection all day and I've gladly accepted them and returned the favor.

Jeanee has worked hard planning so many details...memories for a lifetime.  He will see a home, inside and out, that his great grandfather lived in!  

Today J. sent a note....

 The pension hotel that we are staying in was built in 1862. Can you even believe it? They renovated it and it's right in the city center of all of the old charming buildings, fisherman's wharf, boat dock etc. It should be a dream come true for Dad! I am bringing my big camera, I have to document everything!!

Terry's cousin Patty will also go with them.  Jeanee & Patty have everything planned out and the car is rented, reservations made, arrangements to meet and stay with...family that he's never met!!   

My only request is he not return home with one of those double horned viking helmets!!!  

Me?  while he's gone?....Temple, lunch dates, and try and figure out how to have more constancy with the Holy Ghost in my life.  More direction.  Better listening skills.  More worthiness.  I read the NT account of people receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and I find myself wanting.  wanting ...not in desiring.  wanting...as lacking.  okay...so I guess I actually am wanting and wanting.  So I'm going on a mini-sabbatical with quiet study and pondering.  Finding steps to spiritual growth... balanced out with Temple and lunches and visiting with friends.  Sitting on porch.  Visiting.  Being in touch with the Spirit, myself and others.  

 

  

A Mighty Long Day!

Monday blues!  Ever have one of those days where things seem out of sync, you misspeak or someone misspeaks to you?  That was a part of my day, on all counts but really it is a blip on the radar compared to real problems in life!  Humanness, with all of our frailties and emotions does surface at times, and can cause us to stop in our tracks.  Momentarily.  Hopefully.

The power of being with friends, laughing and sharing a few hours is a great antidote for regaining sensibility and a wholesome perspective, after being a little wrung out, from a quick trip through the wringer!

What a production!  Rapunzel.  This was put on by the Toppenish Creek Players.  They are a very small group of people, that varying members come and go.  They love theater.  They take on complicated, involved, demanding scripts that are filled with music.  Lots of music.  They have evolved over the years and their set designs are more elaborate, they have their lines memorized, they know their cues, their costumes are more detailed, the casting is more appropriate.  The same faithful director puts her heart and soul into it as she has each of the many years that I've gone.  They also have the same lone piano player that usually makes up the entire orchestra.  They still can't dance nor is the play blocked for stage direction so they stand in place a lot and the majority of the cast can't really sing. They usually cast a mix of some great singers and then others.  Some things tonight were painful to the ear with attempted harmony but they stay on beat and they sing their heart out.  they belt it out.  

The auditorium, that is always booked for Mon.-Wed. shows, has just a few in the audience.  Most are family or friends of the cast.  My group of 6, must have made them happy, to see strangers when they peeked out.

I love these productions because they are all about passion and heart and love of theatre and dreams are coming true for someone that might not make it "big time" in Yakima at Warehouse theater or Akins Center.  They are the stars.  They give it their all.  It's their 15 minutes center stage and I applaud heartily because they are courageous to live their dreams.

Rapunzel's hair was incredible!!  They must have ordered it.  Fun to see it hanging over the Castle wall!

So the day ended up as all days do.  Live and learn.  Enjoy and laugh.  Treasure friends.  Play. Pray. Repent. and LOVE!!!!





 

"go bag"

Hurricane Irene landed and is still spewing rain and winds.  Soon the damage will be assessed and repairs will start and people will get grumpy when things aren't fixed fast enough.  Power loss wreaks havoc.  Water damage of any sort is horrible but flooding?  Oh, boy.

The Mayor of New York, Mr. Bloomberg, tried to get the people ready sort of at the last minute.  I liked this news release....

Mr. Bloomberg, along with Joseph F. Bruno, the commissioner of the city’s Office of Emergency Management, instructed residents to take preliminary steps: stock up on basic supplies, identify an alternative place to sleep in the event of an evacuation and prepare a “go bag” of essentials to allow for a rapid departure, if necessary.

My mind went back to all of our Ward classes on being prepared by getting prepared.  Now.   All of the effort the Jackson's put forth.

I thought back to December of 2006, a couple of weeks before Christmas, drifting off to sleep and suddenly being jolted awake and wondering if I was responsible for each Ward member to have a Christmas.  Was someone waiting for me to act?  Was I suppose to contact someone? I'd been in as RSP for 4 months and was a duck out of water.   

Then my mind really got to going with....do they all have food supplies?  are they ready to be self-sufficient?  I started to panic.  The next day I started calling each home and asking point blank, to relieve my anxiety, were they ready?  Did they have supplies on hand.  They were wonderful to me.  Very patient.  Very kind.  Very honest.  Very reassuring.

I talked to the Bishop about doing more to help get the Ward ready. 

I wrote a panicky letter to the sisters telling them that I didn't even start to have enough on hand to care for them and to not count on me if the going got rough.

Eventually we had series of classes and challenges and assignments, for years, to ready ourselves.

Are we now ready?  I sure hope so!!! 

Our 72 hour packs are way beyond the Mayor's request in his suggested "go bag". 

What an absolute blessing to belong to a religion, our wonderful Church, that covers all aspect of our lives including personal preparation for surviving emergencies. 

This recent disaster inspires me to inventory our 72 hour packs and see if we are good to go, be it leaving or staying.  "Shelter in Place".  I like that term a lot.  Shannon and I had many, many conversations about being ready for whatever comes along.  Be it 3 months commodities on hand or 72 hour packs at the ready.

I saw pictures of NY people in stores, standing in front of empty shelves, that once were stocked with water.  Do you have some on hand? 

Make sure you have some sort of toidy.  a 5 gallon bucket with trash bags?  you figure it out but get ready to take care of that necessary but odorous business if you are asked to stay home.

Here is something that I feel is essential in all 72 hour packs....an umbrella.  it will shield you from blazing sun or sleet.  can be used for privacy.  a million and one uses for an umbrella.  When I saw Hurricane Katrina and that mess of handling and the mass suffering....I kept thinking-- if they each had a 72 hour pack and an umbrella they would not be suffering as much.

We are blessed beyond belief to belong to a religion that warns us, instructs us, encourages us, requests that we do these survival things.  Aren't we fools if we don't prepare.  Hmmmmm?  That familiar NT story of the 12 waiting for the Bridegroom.... Which of the 6 do I stand by...the wise or unwise?

get going on your "go bag"!!!!  

Weather Watching!!

This is a time of year that I spend time checking the weather channel throughout the day.  It's hurricane season, and I TV watch the weather front bounding forward, in it's threatening red circular jagged edge form and see it's heading right towards the Florida coastline.  That east coast State line, if you look for it, has a little point sticking out.  About midway down.  That is the Cape Canaveral and famed Cocoa Beach area.  That little triangle is Merritt Island.  I watch that spot of land like a hawk.  Precious people live there.  One of our children's family, within our 6 household make-up, are right smack dab on that coast line.  Oh, yes.  I'm watching Irene head to the States.

My SIL, Scott, was actually in Seattle and he came home a couple of days early as he knew Jeanee couldn't possibly board the windows up. She was concerned he might not be able to fly in if he waited and the wind picked up. She had done all she could.  Filled up the gas containers.  Gassed up the car.  Made sure batteries were live. Checked water on hand.  Food.  Trimmed shrubs etc. in back yard and covered all of them.  Laundry done.  Could exit quickly if needed.  

They have been through this routine lots of times.  They are not risk takers.  They have evacuated when told to do so.  They are as prepared as they know to be.  Now it's watch and wait for all of us.  The girls were disappointed that school wasn't canceled today.  If the winds hit 40mph tomorrow then they will get their wish and stay home.

My SIL's Mother lives on Long Island.  She's located on central Long Island and when I talked to Scott today he felt she was okay and if she did have to evacuate, his brother was there and would take care of her.  She's around 80. 

I've not heard from our friend Jim in the Carolinas.  He would not be foolish with his family.

I've learned a bit about hurricanes from having my darling daughter live on the Fl coastline and it's always scary but again....they are as prepared as they can be.  

Isn't the weather channel amazing with information?  They can track these storms and predict, pretty accurately, what will happen.  I know that this year when the possible hurricanes started off that Arlene was the first one but she turned to a Tropical Storm and so did Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert and Harvey but....Irene is a full fledged dangerous Hurricane!  If she " produces significant damage or loss of life" then her name will be retired from the name pool list- right along with Katrina.    

The Internet lead line shouts out.....

BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — A monstrous Hurricane Irene tightened its aim on the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday, threatening 65 million people along a shore-hugging path from North Carolina to New England. One of the nation's top experts called it his "nightmare" scenario......

Florida is not the #1 concern of the Weathermen or the newspapers but it is for me.  I don't want anything to happen to those I love.  Aren't we all like that?

This is where the power and comfort of the Gospel come into play.  They have truly done all they can to prepare and ready themselves for this situation.  They will listen and do what the authorities say.  Now is the time for faith.  and prayers.  The projected storm path, further northward up the coast, into those heavy populated areas, just makes my heart sink.  If they were there?....wonder how my faith would play out then?

The  turmoil of the last days is rugged, isn't it? 

....but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. (Doctrine & Covenants 38:30)

Am I really ready?

Gift of Book...should be here soon!!!

Wednesday night and Melissa and I were having a meeting about RS.  Making plans for future events.  Planning, talking and enjoying ourselves.  We were not alone in the building as the YM/YW were in full force.  Carol raises her granddaughter, in addition to caring for her husband and she carries a very heavy load.  I was visiting with her afterwards as she was waiting for her Becca to come out.  We talked about the amazing women in our Ward that take care of these YW and how the girls love them.  Carol in essence has 6, or is it 7, women who love and care and teach her granddaughter.  What a blessing the Church is in all of our lives IF we take advantage of consistent attendance and participation!  Julianna gave me 2 beehive cupcakes that she had special baked for the Beehives.  These gals go to such lengths to make things special!  I just cheer them on and rejoice again in the fact that I'm a member of the Church, have a testimony and love being a woman in the Gospel.  I support every RS woman that moves the work forward and strengthens these YW.  It is a choice association for me! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am looking forward to the gift the Church is giving us- a beautiful book about the women of the world in RS.  I've been waiting for it a long time!  It should be here soon.  The quotes below have made me even more eager and curious as to the content.  It will be great to learn of the history of RS and how it has always impacted women's lives.  Are you looking forward to getting a copy also?   

****************************

Women's Conference- (April 29, 2011)
Sister Beck concluded by telling sisters that she hoped that as the Relief Society history becomes available to them, the strength of these things will settle upon their hearts and that other things the Lord has to teach them will emerge in their study.
“Rather than prepare for a product (the forthcoming book), prepare yourselves,” she said. “Prepare to receive the Lord’s message for you. Go to the temple. Pray. Live to become what the Lord would have us all become.”

“As the Church itself grows exponentially over the years, I think there will be great value in this book for the women who join the Church to say, here’s who I am, this is what I’ve become part of, this is my specific identity in this Church, that I am not homogenized but I am a living, breathing, contributing individual and I’m needed,” she said. (August 2011)

*************************************

(A few more favorite quotes!!  let's roll up our sleeves and go to work!!)


Relief Society:A Call to Minister by Julie Beck-
Sister Beck asked the women to become articulate in sharing their testimonies by studying the scriptures. She encouraged them to develop their talents to be used to build up the Lord’s kingdom. She urged them to seek revelation by asking questions and to share what they know. She challenged them to get over the excuses they have allowed to keep them from doing the Lord’s work.


“I am grateful for Relief Society not only for its beginnings but for what it is today,” Sister Beck said. “I’m just beginning to have a glimpse of what the Lord has in mind for His daughters. The vision that comes to me sometimes is so glorious and staggering and humbling and thrilling that it is difficult to contemplate. It’s part of the vision of Daniel and the stone rolling forward to bless the whole earth (see Daniel 2:34–35). The Lord expects and requires His daughters to be involved.” (4/29/11)

Well....how about them apples?.....

So goes the old saying of my Dad!  I can't believe I figured out how to put a picture on my blog!!  I didn't have to pester Sara, who probably rues the day she ever invited me to her home and helped set up my blog- but I so appreciate her!  It wasn't in the original plan, I wasn't interested in or wanting, to put pictures on my blog but this one I couldn't resist sharing!

This is the brainchild of the inventive creative imaginings of my son's mind!!  He works for CAT and is a design engineer.  This is his latest invention.  It's been designed, tested in prototype, is in the field and will soon be manufactured and you can see my boy's "thumb" all over the place.  The World!!! 

When I saw this computer generated drawing showing the thumb, I teared up!!  This does not look like something that would evoke that emotion but it did!  My mind surged back to his birth and his childhood and his insatiable curiosity for how things worked.

The first time I became aware that he wanted to know the inner workings of things was when he was around 4 and I found, by mishap, that he'd removed the screws from my kitchen stepstool but managed to keep the steps in place.  It appeared normal until I stepped on it and about broke my neck! 

When his quest to explore would surface, he would get a very inquisitive serious look on his face.  If possible he'd pick the object up and scope it out.  When his sister got a toy called Larry the Lion, with a pull string, that let Larry say a few words....he got the look and picked it up.  We told him he could not cut it open.  When I got my first sewing machine, his face lit up, and again he was told he could not even touch it, as he reached for it!! 

We bought him a book when he was 8.  A thick book, which he still has, about how things work.  It was fascinating to him!  I think it just increased his curiosity.

And he loved the dump!  Okay.  That sounds disgusting and disgraceful that a Mother would let a child do that, much less own up to it.  But I did and he did and he loved it!  He'd haul a wagon and bring back junk that he'd tear apart, rebuild, make new inventions. (Our little Alaskan town dump was small.  Not that it's any more sanitary but... oh, I don't know.  There is really no excuse.  He went and I knew he went.  guilty.)

He had a rectangular bedroom that was the width of a twin bed but pretty long.  The bed was built up under a window and at the far end.  The light switch was by the door.  The furthest point away. (please.  don't ask why!  that's another story of house building!!)  He liked to read in bed- so he invented a string pulley system that enabled him to turn his light off and never move from the bed!  Genius!

He rebuilt engines. Puttered endlessly.  Built intricate model airplanes and never peeked at directions. Pored over catalogs.  Puzzled and explored anything with moving parts.  Invented and designed things on paper. 

After his mission and now a newlywed and excited about getting on with more of his education at BYU & right before school started, he was hit while riding his motorcycle, by a car that ran a red light.  Tough times.  Brain Surgery.  A scary thing when they take out part of your son's brain!  Dr.'s say....He might this.  He might that.  He might never this.  He might never that. Perhaps. It could be. We aren't sure.  We don't know. Time will tell. We hope.

Terry flew from Alaska to Utah. The first thing he said to his Dad when he came to was....Dad, I need a blessing.  I'm hurt. Real bad.

As he started healing he wanted his Dad to climb in the hospital bed and be by him.  Questioning and frightened he wondered if his brain was still working.  Was he still able to think?  What about his future? ...Dad, can I do math still?  My career is in my head..... Then he started reciting equations/formulas to his Dad.  For seemingly hours!  That was terrific reassurance. He was blessed to heal relatively fast in what was still the long haul of recuperation .

Today these memories surfaced in my mind and my Mother heart was tender and soft towards Greg.  I felt gratitude for his accomplishments. The Thumb meant a lot to me! 

I always look and think of things, that I wish I'd done different, to help my children become their very best selves.  With my, now perfect hindsight vision, I always see myself lacking.  I wish someone had said this to me....so I'll say it to you--

As encouragement to each of you Mothers with children still living at home... Children arrive in families as very distinct individuals with marvelous skills, abilities and talents, nestled quietly below the surface, as latent seeds.  Watch closely for little buds. Project ahead and ask- if that trait were to grow and expand, would it be productive and soul satisfying to my child?....If so?- then water it and help it expand.  If not?- nip it in the bud!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      (surely I hear a drumroll in the background!  ta-dum!)

The Thumb!!!

To School!

Everything is hustle bustle it seems for those getting children off to school.  Today I heard from my youngest DIL, who is also the Mother of our youngest grandchild, and married to our youngest son.  Mo.  Mo is simply adorable and has her own special spot in my heart.  You would love her!  This was not an easy day for her as her youngest child, Sullivan, was heading off to kindergarten.  Some people aren't bothered by that first day of school but for others it's tough.  Sullivan wanted to do everything on his own with no help and even wanted to ride the bus alone!  That independence and confidence will be a future strength to him but today a bit of MommyNeed would have been nice!  Both survived!!

Our Ward is filled with outstanding Mother's.  Lots of young Mothers.  devoted to teaching and training their children to CTR.  They are dedicated, energy filled, and ever on call.  Some have tremendous challenges with their family make-up but they are amazing in how they handle things.  I'm in awe of their steadfastness and endurance.  They are ever trying to strengthen their charges. They "find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood".

Here is a site that Tamera shared with me.  You can find the details of current movies as far as what is objectionable etc.  It's very specific and a great help.  Thanks, Tamera!  

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/w/winniethepooh.htm

a good thought......

A family is more than a group of people under one roof.

Families work because all members give and give in.

They look out for each other, and they serve each other's needs.

Being a good mother means being a good servant.

Just remember, there's a difference between a servant and a slave.

                                                     

                                                                       --by R.D. Ramsey

Airing dirty laundry!

If a person doesn't mention something they did, maybe an accidental doing of sorts, and no one was hurt or anything,  and really,  it's all fixed back up like new.  You'd never even know any mishap had happened.  Think that's a lie?  Concealing the event when there isn't any evidence of anything amiss?

I'd said to myself...if he asks- then I'll tell him.  Can you deceive someone when they don't suspect anything has gone wrong?

These were my thoughts, as I clothes pinned his wet leather wallet to my outdoors clothesline.  It was freshly clean from the washing machine. 

I'd carefully taken out the driver's licence, Temple recommend, debit card, Costco card, 2 charge cards and $12....examined each one and was thankful that the wallet had been in his pant pocket so it didn't thrash about.  It was a relief to see that all that plastic holds up well, through all the whirling around, if tucked in a safe place.   

Years ago I'd accidentally washed his wallet when paper was used for everything and not plastic.  Now that was very unpleasant. we were young, rather newly-wed, he was irritated (to put it mildly) and I was awash in tears.  we kissed and made up.  I of course made a romantic vow to never ever wash his wallet again!

This all seems so harmless.  so, I washed his wallet!  Should I be the wallet monitor?  Isn't he somewhat to blame?  True- the pants had been sort of draped over the laundry basket.  True- I teased him that I would have to wash his suspenders as I removed them.  True- I emptied the change.  True- I emptied the keys.  True- I didn't check the back pocket.

Everything dried and is as good as new and each item is in it's little slot.  Who's to know? 

Maybe I was in laundress mode and just trying to make a full load of wash?  so I grabbed the, sort of in and sort of out, pants on the laundry basket?  Whatever happened and whoever caused it fault wise....there is no harm done.  Is there?

****************************

Uh, oh!  A couple of days later.  The jig is up!  He picked the wallet up off the desk and said....
what the heck?!  is this my wallet?  it's smaller.  HEY!  did you wash my wallet??!!  Again?!

 ********************************

CHARITY

There is so much good in the worst of us,

And so much bad in the best of us,

That it ill behoves any of us

To find fault with the rest of us.

                           --UNKNOWN

A Pride to be proud of!

Lions spend much of their time resting and are inactive for about 20 hours per day....  Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socializing....Lions are unusually social....they are easy to identify with their manes .... they are usually gnarled and scarred from life battles.

Thursday I spent the evening in a pride of Old Lions.  The HP had a social gathering and it was wonderful!  Sitting outdoors in a circle (isn't that what those prides do?). Plates of goodies spread on a nearby picnic table. A gentle breeze under a huge weeping birch.  Oh, was that a willow tree?  

There were 15 men, 14 wives, 1 widow and 2 single sisters in attendance.  We had been with our son so we got there about 15 minutes late.  They were taking orderly turns introducing themselves of where they were born etc.  We were #5&6 out of the 32 in attendance.  Those first few were sort of stating the facts.  As twilight descended and people relaxed then the real deal came through and the stories started to emerge of incidents in their lives that made us laugh or grow somber but it was all a sharing of the heart.  I love learning about people and what makes them tick.

The HP have one very young couple in their ranks.  Aaron and Emma.  relatively new to the Ward.  He's 32, I think.  their combined ages were still less than the average age of several of the men!  So I guess he is a cub in with the grizzled looking older ones.  They were the only ones in attendance that are still looking forward to increasing the size of their family.  Everyone else is past that stage of life and are now ushering children off to college or counting number of grandchildren that are married and how many great-grandchildren they have!

I always refer to the HP Quorum as the Old Lions when Bishop and I talk.  They are the current leadership and they are middle aged and still healthy and actively serving, handling the running of the Ward.  And then there are the past leaders of Wards and Stakes that served in their younger years.  The heart, the core, the ones that melt my heart are these true Old Lions.  They are achy, shaky and yes, they are broken-breaky.  They have lost some teeth, some hair, some hearing and some balance.  They limp, they gimp and they struggle to walk sometimes.  They hurt.  Some hurt all the time.  Gnarled fingers.  White hair.  No hair.  They don't whine.

They laugh, tell tales that sometimes seem tall, they tease, they reminisce and remind each other of past shared events.  ...Like a picnic table that fell over when 4 sisters sat on one side.  ...Playing basketball and being so nervous, as coach, that he vomited.  ...a sister's Father that wasn't a member yet and had callings for several months, until the Clerk asked him where he got baptized and he said he never had been!    ...Stories of barking like a dog, on hands and knees, and Bishop is at door to welcome you to Ward!  

...Stories of meeting spouses and lengths of marriages and numbers of children and grandchildren. ...Stories of deprivation during the depression, sadness of foster care as a child, death of children and how the Gospel gets everyone through everything. 

Struggles and hardship and challenges have entered all their lives and yet they talk of the joy and gladness of living here in this Ward, in this beautiful area and knowing each other.  They love each other as a  Priesthood/brotherhood.  Growing older, becoming wrinkled and wearing out but still hanging in there.  Entrenched in the Gospel!  What a group of stalwarts!  Salt of the earth types.

They are kind and compassionate.  A rarity in the majority of men.  A peculiar group and I say that in the nicest way.

Life is so good when you have friends, isn't it?  I treasure every person that was there!!  And I treasure my own Old Lion! 

This week I saw a picture of Terry when he was 21.  Strong and straight and sure footed he stood.  What an adorable young man he was.  I loved him then and I love him now.  Now he's a bit less strong perhaps and somewhat bent and telling me tonight, that the dark made him lose his balance so we need to hold on to each other but seeing him at the social, seeing him laugh with his peers, he is still that same adorable 21 year old in my eyes even if his hair glistens white in the moonlight. 

***************************

Any Wife or Husband

Let us be guests in one another's house

With deferential "No" and courteous "Yes";

Let us take care to hide our foolish moods

Behind a certain show of cheerfulness.

Let us avoid all sullen silences;

We should find fresh and sprightly things to say:

I must be fearful lest you find me dull,

And you must dread to bore me any way.

Let us knock gently at each other's heart,

Glad of a chance to look within--and yet

Let us remember that to force one's way 

Is the unpardoned breach of etiquette.

So shall I be hostess- you, the host-

Until all need for entertainment ends;

We shall be lovers when the last door shuts,

But what is better still-we shall be friends.

                                               

                                                      --by Carol Haynes  

    *********************

 Thou shalt live together in love,

insomuch that thou shalt weep

          for the loss of them that die.............

                                                       

                                                                  Doctrine & Covenants 42:45

Fizzled. Frazzled.

There are days that I have such marvelous grandiose plans and sometimes it results in one huge fizzle.  sort of like a firecracker that lets off a whistle and then becomes nothing more than a dud. 

Last night I was so excited about our RS meeting.  It carried over and today I was moved to whip together a couple of Quiche as Linda demo'd for us.  She showed it was quick, simple, and delish!  So I purchased all the needed ingredients this morning, printed the recipe and proceeded with my plan.

The plan being one for us (Hubby & I) and one for Brenda and Mike.  Brenda had a serious accident and spends most of her time recuperating in bed.  So our RS sisters have brought in meals for a few weeks.  I've heard how yummy the meals have been and some of the neat things they have enjoyed eating.  My turn was today.  It seemed a great idea to make her a quiche.

True I've never made a "real" quiche but it seemed very simple when I saw it last night.  I decided to make a fresh spinach one.  I think that was my mistake.  Everything looked good, smelled good etc. etc. BUT when it baked the spinach leaves sort of rose to the top, browned up and it looked like the front yard, in the fall, when dead leaves are strewn all over.

Why didn't I just go by a pizza?  I had to further humiliate myself and oh, yes...I took it over to them.  Brenda is the head of all the school's lunch programs in Granger and can put out dinner for 200 without batting an eye.  I bring her this puny looking leaf infested wanna be quiche, carrot sticks and dill pickles!!!  Where did those "side dishes" come from?  And the redemptive treat (not the cake I was going to make.  oh, no.)  2 different types of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

Plus I still need a haircut and my perm has made my hair look like a dandelion puff ball and I shook the Worcestershire with the lid loose and it flew all over me and it's so dark and super sticky!!  Uh-huh.  I wore the blouse to her house!!

Terry kept mentioning about real men don't eat quiche and that didn't help either. 

Nothing went as planned.  I so wanted to waltz in, all coiffed and aproned, with a delectable dish for Brenda.  Not so.

I told Terry what I really wanted to do had fizzled.  He told me it was a kind thought.

That reminded me of something that gets me through a lot of life.  The Lord knows my heart.  He knows the truth of it.  He knows all of my desires and intentions.  No matter how things may look to an outsider looking in, He sees to the core of my soul and He knows me. 

How thankful I am for the Scriptures and the Gospel that brings me to the Scriptures.  How thankful I am that when I'm feeling all thumbs that He knows what I was trying to do.  What comfort there is in that!! 

I feel better just thinking of His love for each of us.  Don't you?

"...for the Lord seeth not an man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
                                        1 Samuel 16:7  

The Better Part!!!

It started off to be one of those days that felt a bit awry.  The air conditioning stopped working and I love coolness.  I need a haircut.  real bad.  or do I need it badly? either way.  I need to make an appointment!  I didn't really feel the Spirit like I'd like.  I didn't feel particularly nice.  sort of unfriendly.  anti-social.  Not LDS-like. 

I prayed.  I got a little comfort blessing.  And then I brought out the big guns.  The one thing that helps me.  Always.  Read the scriptures.  I have experienced, more times than I like to admit, the truth of these words, spoken in 1966, by President Kimball....

"I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scripture the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.  I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength..."

When I eventually felt that promised sweetness of returning Spirit, the entire day took on a different hue.  Things worked out...the air cooled, caring feelings returned, I felt kinder, my hair was still needing to be cut but that was okay.  In the midst of these good feelings, there was a knock on the door, and there stood Julianna with a plate of cookies.  Fresh from the oven. We sat and visited and got better acquainted as she is new in the Ward.  It was such a nice time to talk about matters of the heart.

The day was topped off by our monthly RS meeting.  What an absolutely great time we had.  I love the feeling of being with LDS women.  There is a happiness, a sisterhood that is permeable.  Our women visit a lot.  They laugh a lot.  They care a lot.  They share a lot. They do a lot of good in our Ward and our community.  Some are young in years and some young in heart but all blend and accept each other as they are. It is the most healing place in the world to be with these great women when they are at any RS function.  You can't help but feel better, no matter what you felt like when you arrived!!  They are so alive!!  So engaging!!  Their presence is a paradox of soothing  and energising all at the same time!!  It's a bit of heaven!!

I thought of this quote by Elder Talmage about women seeking balance.  Well, that's my take on it.  I think RS is all about striving to live life to the fullest with balance!

“By inattention to household duties, the little touches that make or mar the family peace, many a woman has reduced her home to a comfortless house; and many another has eliminated the essential elements of home by her self-assumed and persistent drudgery, in which she denies to her dear ones the cheer of her loving companionship. One-sided service, however devoted, may become neglect. There is time for labor inside the home as in the open; in every family time should be found for cultivating that better part, that one thing needful – true spiritual development (James Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 403).”

A regular love fest!!!

There is something to be said for being in places where people are present because they want to be!  It's a feeling of anticipation, delight, excitement, happiness.  People are loving what they are doing!  Vacation destinations are that way.  An entirely different feeling than say, the dentist waiting room or waiting to renew your driver's licence at the DMV or sitting waiting for slow traffic to move. 

This summer was filled with spending time with family but also strangers that were on the same wavelength.  We had all chosen the same place to enjoy ourselves be it Seattle, Leavenworth or McCall.  None of us were disappointed and I believe that we each added to the others good time. 

Saturday I spent the morning with people that share my faith.  Temple attenders.  We'd not really planned to go Saturday morning but plans changed and we were there for the 9:30am session.  When we pulled into the parking lot, we were caught off guard, with the number of cars, in what seemed to be every available space!  Finding a spot to park and stepping out, the feeling in the air, was celebratory!  There were people milling about.  People posing for pictures.  A YSA group having a group shot taken.  People sitting outside, of all ages, on the ledges waiting for others to come out of the Temple.  People laughing and talking.  Happy people!

The similarities were striking to my family vacation time but enhanced in that entering the Temple anteroom, I could feel the anticipation and the joy and excitement of everyone. It was startling to feel awash in the overwhelming feeling of love. I was seeing joy on people's faces and it was actually tangible. Each was waiting for the Temple entrance doors to open and have a fresh-faced newlywed couple come out and greet friends and family. 

We happened to be there on a day that there were 11 weddings going on!!  Truly, love permeated the air!!

In RS Michelle shared that she'd seen 3 wedding couples on the Temple grounds, visiting and having pictures taken.  Myra Faye and Bob, worked that Saturday morning Temple session and I think she said they were assigned 5 brides/grooms.  What a great assignment that would be!!!  To help them feel comfortable and relaxed and enjoy their wedding day!

I was standing in a hall waiting for the session to start when the sealing room, at the far end of the hall, emptied out.  All of the invited guests, family and friends exited and passed right in front of me.  Each person just looked joyous.  There were some dabbing their eyes.  All were smiling.  Many young couples, holding hands or arms around waists, walked past and you could see and feel their happiness.  It was a never to be forgotten day!

It was a memorable day filled with friendship when we saw Ward members enjoying their Temple service.  I was happy to see Bob and Myra Faye, Nick and Orba, and Nate- all Temple workers from our Ward.  Plus others I knew from Sunnyside and Yakima.

Usually I feel so much peace from the moment I step into the Temple but this was the first time I felt it coupled with excitement in the air and pervading love. It felt romantic with so many starting their married lives on that day!!!  It was great!!  Sigh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Surely this is not an onerous burden!

It is a privilege.  A temple recommend is one of the

highest accolades we may receive.  to use it

regularly permits us to participate in the

choicest gifts within the keeping of the Church.

Those who attend feel a special spirit there.  Peace comes. 

And I know that blessings will follow you home from the Temple.

                                                  --by Elder A. Theodore Tuttle- 1982 

The Real Deal!!!

The bookclub I belong to is very small.   9 or so members.  I really enjoy it as I find the women interesting and I admire their passion for reading.  I too love to read but we don't read the same type of books.  The bookclub exposes me to a variety of great books that I would never think to choose on my own.  Truth be told, I've been fudging by not reading the books, many times.  Usually I buy the books but they never seem to quite get read.  I love the company and love to hear their take on what they read!  I did lead one discussion and really had fun doing so.  So I decided to be more engaged and determined to not only buy the book but read it.  I quickly read The Help in preparation for the movie that we may go see as a group.  Then I started on Seabiscuit.  To me it's a labor intensive book.  The print is so small.  I read forever and was only on page 37!!  Yikes!! there are 339 pages plus lots of notes.  Except for Two Old Women, I don't think I've ever recommended a book to read. 

Desiring to turn a new page, be more involved as a reader/contributor, I thought I'd keep an eye open for some books that might be appropriate as suggested reading.  My email inbox today had a note....  from Oprah's Bookclub.  The subject was....Books That Will Lift Your Spirits.  What a time to show up!  so I clicked on it and my goodness sakes.....there were more books than I'd read it a lifetime.  I was clicking and looking and reading synopsis of the the suggestions and then I noticed IT.  Over to the right was an ad for Life 2.0 to be broadcast on OWN.  Here is the promo text....

Life 2.0 follows a group of people whose lives are dramatically transformed by the virtual world Second Life. They enter a new reality, whose inhabitants assume alternate personas in the form of avatars - digital alter egos that can be sculpted and manipulated to the heart’s desire. The film is an intimate, character-based drama about people who look to a virtual world in search of something they are missing in their real lives.

I was stunned with what I read!  Avatars!  Oprah promoting Avatars??!  Oprah who prides herself on helping everyone maximize their potential!?  Oprah, who shares all that she knows- to help mankind live a better, fuller, richer, fulfilling life?  Embracing Avatar-ism??!!  Surely not!  Impossible to fathom!

My mind flashed back to .....

Things as They Really Are

By Elder David A. Bednar

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

(From a Church Educational System fireside address delivered at Brigham Young University–Idaho on May 3, 2009.   In June of 2010 it was printed in the Ensign.)

That article had stunned me when I first read it.  I thought the name of the movie Avatar was just some made up name.  I had no idea that it was an actual word.  I had become aware of how addicting x-box, the game was, and the havoc it could cause with an individual and fan out into the household and other family members.  But Avatar's?  a new thing to me.

Elder Bednar does not mince words.  He speaks clearly and covers all bases as you'd expect an Apostle to do as he declares a clear voice of warning.  Today I remembered this paragraph from that talk that mentions those words- Second Life.  I thought it was something he'd coined.  I had no idea that Second Life exists out there in the atmosphere of cyber space.  here are 2 paragraphs from the most powerful talk I've ever read about perils of the Internet.

1- "I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls. The concerns I raise are not new; they apply equally to other types of media, such as television, movies, and music. But in a cyber world, these challenges are more pervasive and intense. I plead with you to beware of the sense-dulling and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies that are used to produce high fidelity and that promote degrading and evil purposes."

2- "Let me provide another example of disconnecting gradually and physically from things as they really are. Today a person can enter into a virtual world, such as Second Life, and assume a new identity. An individual can create an avatar, or a cyberspace persona, that conforms to his or her own appearance and behavior. Or a person can concoct a counterfeit identity that does not correlate in any way to things as they really are. However closely the assumed new identity approximates the individual, such behavior is the essence of things as they really are not. Earlier I defined the fidelity of a simulation or model. I now emphasize the importance of personal fidelity—the correspondence between an actual person and an assumed, cyberspace identity....."

***************************************

Take some time and read this amazing talk.  Prophets seem to always give us a heads up ahead of time!  Noah warned the people in advance.  Elder Bednar (and Elder Packer is also quoted in this talk) have sent this clear warning message and it's been out there since May 2009.  Two full years!  We better get a handle on this Avatar activity and make sure we understand the danger, the lethal danger of Second Life and realize this is soul destructive, family destroying, marriage-ending in results.

***************************************

Here are 2 comments found in the article I read in the Oprah promo of the new show.  Two Second Life Avatar addicts.

1- I am a person that is always on Second Life but I do know how to have a real life to. I was once into secondlife so much that I almost forgot about my real life. It takes motivation for yourself to get off of the computer and get out and do something. If you or a loved one is addicted to SL or just the computer in general, try to help them and do things with them. If that means just taking a walk out in the neighborhood then do that. That is the only way that you can help people in an addiction such as this one. It will take time for them to realize that they have a real life but don't force them and tell them to do this and do that. You have to be with them and help them. With a computer addiction such as this one, it is hard to get away.It brings comfort to people. What they need to know is that they have friends and family that can show them how much better their real life is compared to their second life. If you have to go to the extreme, then do that, just help that person, don't separate yourself from that person.

2-Second life has ruined my real life. My wife became addicted and her SL (Second Life) has become more important than her RL (Real Life). We separated after just 15 months of marriage. She started out innocently enough in the SL World, But then began staying up until 1am - 2am on days when she had to get up at 6:30am to go to work at her RL job. On weekends, she would sometimes stay up until 5am - 6am, then sleep most of the day.She has left family functions early, and she has taken 1/2 days off at her real job in order to work her SL job as a club hostess. She has even contemplated having people she has met there (one is a convicted sex offender in real life) move in with her in real life as a "roommate".Every time I stop by to visit her unannounced, she is on the computer, in Second Life. This has been going on for about 18 months, and I have finally asked for a divorce.

**********************

I believe in Prophets and their counsel is not to be taken lightly. Ever.

The mulling things over continues!!

The gathering for Terry's trip is picking up. I deleted his ticket to FL and then deleted the deleted but Travelocity helped me out so that is printed and in the drawer with his passport.  His passport picture looks like a mugshot of a corpse!  Not trying to be mean or rude.  Truly.  He is shocked at how dreadful it is.  When we looked at it on the day it was taken it didn't look that horrible.  Oh, boy!!  Not good!!

Remenants of McCall have been boxed up and ready to mail to owners....a motel key, a condo towel, a sunhat, a t-shirt, some hoop earrings with CTR engravened, plus a suit for Terry that I ordered the wrong size- ready for return to catalog company. a stack of boxes.

The Humanitarian project was a lot of effort on the part of one or two people and it seemed to me the project never got off the ground.  That's just me.  Maybe the other 7 gals felt different but I wondered what the goal was.  I was loading my school supplies in a box as they were going to a local school.  I sorted the glue sticks and the crayons and readied them for delivery.  As I did that relatively quick task, I was thinking of Somalia again and that child in the hospital with flies sticking out of their nose and felt conflicted about the necessity of pencils for the nearby grade school.  Somehow or other I need to do something beyond the Humanitarian donation that really impacts my heart.  Maybe it's because I never see the recipient.  Maybe it's because I don't do enough of the local Humanitarian projects to feel the Spirit.  There is a gal that lives, eats and breathes these projects.  She feels it is her mission.  Maybe I haven't found my mission yet?  Or am I just a rebel without a cause?  Maybe I need to repent?

Something More!

Each year our Stake has an annual Humanitarian Activity right around school time, when all the supplies are on sale, for us to purchase and help fill school bags.  These will go to SLC and be sent throughout the world.  some of the supplies will will be donated to local schools.

There I was at Wal-Mart checking the supply list and putting the requested/suggested items in my cart.  They were great prices and I enjoyed checking things off the list. Boxes and packages quickly piled up.

My mind kept losing focus.  I was battling within trying to quiet thoughts of....People are starving in Somalia.  Parents are burying children daily.  There is no food available.  No water.  No medicine.  I remembered the slide show I saw online, with Mothers holding skeletal children, so near death.  Children with flies crawling all over their face. It makes me tear up.

Here I am buying pencils and crayons and pencil sharpeners and black ink pens and all sorts of school goodies.  Here I am also thinking of the fabric I ordered for those quilts, the money I spent, that possibly the material will just stay flat folds of fabric.  But really where my heart is, where my sorrow is...starvation and deprivation throughout the world.  No woman, in my circle of friends in the sisterhood of RS, could resist sharing and caring for a dirty starving child within her vision.  It's the reaching around the world, that seems to be the perplexity that borders at time on casualness, on my part, in the take action department.   

I do not wonder where God is and why He allows this to happen and why He doesn't fix this.  That is not the answer.  I am His hands.  I am the answer.  If it's to be... it's up to me.  If not me?...who?   If not now?...when?

It's balance and perspective, don't you think?  I can do with less.  I can buy a few less school supplies.  I can use the fabric I have on hand with the new fabric I ordered and not buy more.  I can be more frugal in my spending and determine to give more to the Humanitarian fund.  To increase that small consistent amount to a bit more.

I am responsible for the poor.  I am to seek them out.  I was stunned when I went with the Bishop to a welfare meeting some time back and that is what we were told-- Do not wait for the poor to seek you out.  You seek out the poor. 

We will always have the poor with us.  that is scriptural.  Also to know to do good and to do it not?...that is sin.  that is also scriptural.

I need to pick it up a notch in making a difference in the world in small increments.  Perhaps very small but nonetheless...Something!!!

As the hymn says....

Have I Done Any Good?

(Sung Brightly)

 1. Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

Text and music: Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

James 1:22, 27

Alma 9:28

Self-indulgent

Self-indulgent...adj- readily yielding to temptations of ease or pleasure etc.

Today I gave myself the most luxurious day.  Especially lovely because it was without guilt from myself or a guilt trip from Hubby.  He is so wonderful in that way!  I'm about finished with the hacking and the tiredness from bronchitis and rest always speeds things along.  Today we pretty much finished sorting and packing all the McCall paraphernalia like air-mattresses etc. and storing it away.  It was a relaxed easy going day and the self-indulgence really kicked in when I spent the majority of the day reading!!  I have such a simple life and I love it!!!  This is a great time in my life. 

I now have a new project in mind for the 2013 McCall trip.  I'm going to make each family member a lap quilt.  Terry fell over with laughter at such an absurd idea.  So unrealistic!  so over the top!  so unreachable!  He thinks flannel tied together is the most wonderful blanket/quilt in the world.  He wanted to know if they would be warm and comfortable or just artistic.  He laughed so hard that I now will make one less than I originally planned!!  None for him!  He's probably right on my harebrained idea but it's sort of bucket list time in my life and this is on my list!!  That averages one a month for 2 years and I have a couple of quilt tops done so I'm already ahead of the game!!  Just the tops are done.   Not the finished quilt!  And a lap quilt isn't that big is it?  And now here I am yakking about my big plan.  On birthday night at McCall I'll give them their lap quilts!  Oh, yes....I'm truly a brick shy of a full load!!  Hopefully Terry will not be here when my ordered fabric arrives!!!  He will laugh himself silly over that arrival!!

Terry is getting ready to go to Norway with our daughter.  First he will fly to Florida, go to Jeanee's and then from there....up, up and away.... they will soar to the land of lefse, lutefisk, lederhosen, horned helmets,  high prices, flotegrot (real poor man's pudding!), fjords and cold weather.  You could not pay me to fly for 14 hours to see another country.  I do not enjoy flying.  Actually I detest it, if the truth be known!  I love when I arrive at destination but not the journey.  He will be in heaven seeing the town that bears his family name!  Seeing relatives that he's not yet met.   This is on his bucket list!! 

Regarding the blog about the fellow that died and how hopeless he was and also the reader response....Shannon found that blog for me and now I'm figuring out how to tell the fellow that there is life after this life and it will be wonderful.  Thanks so much, Shannon!!

I believe in enjoying each day as much as possible and today I enjoyed my entire day! 

I hope you did also!

*****************************************

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.... Prov. 15:13

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.... Prov. 17:22

"....but how nice it would be, to be wrong."

I'd thought about doing a blog for quite some time but lacked courage, for one thing, to take it on.  Did I have anything to say, that would be worth anyone's while, to spend a bit reading?  I'd made a few decisions....5 blogs a week.  Mon-Fri.  posted at 1am, so no one had to wait to peek at a new posting.  Then I decided to read a lot of blogs to see what others blogged about. The majority were personal journaling blogs.   When you start reading blogs you can just keep on clicking and find more and more and more.  I read lots of blogs but early on I happened on a blog (and oh, my!  How I wish I knew which one it was) that was so stark that I copied two paragraphs to just mull over.   Here are those 2 paragraphs....

********************************

the blogger Derek wrote...

What was at the end

I haven't gone to a better place, or a worse one. I haven't gone anyplace, because Derek doesn't exist anymore. As soon as my body stopped functioning, and the neurons in my brain ceased firing, I made a remarkable transformation: from a living organism to a corpse, like a flower or a mouse that didn't make it through a particularly frosty night. The evidence is clear that once I died, it was over.
So I was unafraid of death—of the moment itself—and of what came afterwards, which was (and is) nothing. As I did all along, I remained somewhat afraid of the process of dying, of increasing weakness and fatigue, of pain, of becoming less and less of myself as I got there. I was lucky that my mental faculties were mostly unaffected over the months and years before the end, and there was no sign of cancer in my brain—as far as I or anyone else knew.

***********************************

Here is what the reader wrote...

I never knew Derek personally, only through his postings and the odd comment on Twitter. My thoughts are with his Wife, children and family. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will miss his updates and views on life, but at least the pain and suffering is over. I too am not a religious man and my view on the afterlife are pretty much the same as Derek's, but how nice it would be, to be wrong. 

                                                                          ********************

 These 2 lines, from the blog, have stayed in my mind.

Derek the blogger-....So I was unafraid of death—of the moment itself—and of what came afterwards, which was (and is) nothing....

A reader of Derek's blog-.....I too am not a religious man and my view on the afterlife are pretty much the same as Derek's, but how nice it would be, to be wrong. ...

(I wish I'd sent a note to Derek's reader about our LDS belief about life after death and my testimony of that doctrine. And let him know he is wrong and there is hope. Maybe I could have helped Derek's wife and his children. I have no idea how to find that blog. At the time I read the blog I felt like I'd accidently opened up someone's private mail so responding was not uppermost in my mind.)

****************************************

In early July a wonderful young father, active member in the Church, sat down to watch TV and died. What a different scenario compared to the blog experience I read about. His RSP shared this with me....

Mark C. (he used to be on the high council, not sure if you know him, a lawyer working out of Sunnyside) was 'found unresponsive' at home last Thursday. An autopsy said he died from a brain aneurysm (at least that is what I heard yesterday). He was 34. His wife and 5 children (oldest is 11. the youngest turns 1 in a few weeks) were in UT visiting family, he had returned for work and was going back to drive home with them today. Such a shock to all of us here. In talking to his wife Brooke she has been so blessed with the spirit and really feels his presence comforting and guiding her. She has an amazing family and while this is difficult beyond words says, through her tears, that she knows it will all work out. The Lords plan is real, even when we can't see the bigger picture. Wow!

**********************************************

As a girl, my previous faith, had no such teachings or information about life after death. I was afraid of my own death but most especially of my parents and sister dying. I left my Baptist Church, over them telling me- there are no families in Heaven therefore when one of us died it was over forever. Because of those teachings I lived in fear of dying and when I married and had children that fear grew into nightmares.  Can you even begin to imagine the feelings in my heart when I heard the Gospel message?????!!!!
.
Within the Gospel I find solace and answers to all the basic questions of life.  Astounding to me is the amount of information we have about death and what happens after death.  I am strengthened by the fact we have an appointed time to die.  True we can hasten it by poor choices but President Kimball, a former Prophet, says we can seldom extend life.  I am strengthened by the fact there are scriptures that tell us where we go after death.  I am strengthened by the fact that we have scriptures that give us a glimpse into the Spirit world activity.  I believe all these things.  I take great comfort in all of this doctrine. 

                                            ******************************************
"We can shorten our lives, but I think we cannot lengthen them very much."
                                                           President Kimball  "Tragedy or Destiny" 1955

Treat yourself to a reading of Section 138 in the Doctrine and Covenants.  Amazing reading!!!

Don't miss reading Alma Chapter 40 in the Book of Mormon.

These references are just the tip of the iceberg!  There are beautiful conference talks about death and the Resurrection.  Check them out!!! 

 

Scrub-a-dub-dub!!

We have been sorting and packing up the McCall things in readiness for 2 years down the road!  It's involved a lot of laundry for a couple of reasons.  The bunks and the queen size bed were stripped, all the bath towels/wash cloths taken down and then Terry brought in a big tote filled with beach towels.  People enjoy and appreciate those towels each year!  We bring as many things as we can so that no one has to purchase things.  They all fly or drive, with a people laden car, so we haul in the truck all the niceties we can.  I must say that this year the truck was not as heaped up as usual.  Made possible by the fact that the back seat was removed from my van and that was crammed full also.  (I love my van!!) 

So I spent a long day washing not only all that flat stuff but also all of our clothes we'd used for 7 days.  Terry had rigged me a little clothesline out back and I decided to hang all the towels and sheets outdoors.  I'm a nut about clotheslines and air-dried clothes.  The smell is heaven!!  All of this enjoyment really took me back to my childhood and laundry day.

I remember my Grandmother doing laundry out doors with a wringer washer.  Hers was a handcrank one. She also had a couple of rinse tubs.  She'd let the clothes agitate.  then pull them from the water, sort of fold them and slip the edge of the clothing to the rollers and while cranking run it through and that would squeeze the water out.  A far advance from wringing everything by hand.  sometimes she'd still wring the majority out before putting it through the wringer.  That gives new meaning to a person being "put through the wringer".  Every family has tales of someone that got an arm caught and damaged.  Maybe broken.  Especially when the new electric wringers came out and the only way it could be stopped was to turn it off.  Terry had a cousin that ended up really injured.  What child can resist, poking and touching, turning rolling pins?

In Alaska, probably 1948 or so, we moved into a new house and got a new fangled washer called the Easy Spindrier.  It's main headline on getting you to buy it was bold letters...NO WRINGER!  I was so far gone in my memory lane walk that I looked up one of their ads.  You could roll it into the kitchen and hook it up to your kitchen sink!  one part of the ad read...Wash Faster, safer, cleaner in Tub #1   the other part of the ad read...Rinse and Spin clothes damp-dry in Tub #2

We didn't have to roll it to the kitchen as my Dad had a Laundry sink put in and a little room for the furnace, broom closet and the Easy Spindrier.  I was only about 10 or so but I remember how excited and happy my Mother was with this new machine.  I was fascinated with how it worked.  My Mother being very smart and taking advantage of my interest taught me how to use the Easy Spindrier and I was suddenly all grown up and became the family laundress and that included hanging the clothes (in a very precise way), taking them down, folding them.  Eventually learning to starch, sprinkle and iron.  For some crazy reason....I loved it!!

True, laundry day took a few Saturday hours but it was always 4 loads.  White, lights, mediums and darks.  Inspected by my Mother to make sure there was no color mixing!  In the winter the clothes would freeze on the clothesline and then I'd bring them in and lay them on racks lined up throughout the kitchen etc.  Eventually my Dad got some sort of a little room/shed from someplace and rigged up a little heater and hung clotheslines.  My Mother was thrilled!  so was I!  We hauled the wet clothes from the house to the "drying room" during winter or rain storms and it was so wonderful to enjoy that!

When we eventually moved to the new big house on Turnagain bluff in 1953, technology, in it's attempt to give women more free time on laundry day, had a machine that you could toss the clothes in, add soap, clothes the door and eventually the clothes would come out clean and dry!  This was not a top loader and neither my Mother or I could possible understand how anything could get clean without an agitator.  We sat in front of this fancy combo unit, Mother with the instruction book, and me with great interest in observing how would this work on the first cycle.  We were fascinated.

We talked about what a time saver this would be.  How convenient.  How you could wash throughout the week.  How laundry didn't have to stack up even though we'd never had that problem.  Truth be told though....no one had tons of clothes.  Everything was very practical for all of us.

So were did things go cock-eyed?  Why do we have laundry rooms stacked with dirty clothes?  Why haven't the new-fangled ideas, these modern gadgets, these time saving pieces of equipment lessened our work load?  Laundry is now so much more complex and overwhelming with the sheer bulk of it than it ever was when I did the four loads of laundry, for a family of 4, weekly.  Timewise it was a blink of an eye compared to now!  All of us will lament that we have stacks of laundry to do. 

I guess one answer could be that we are living in the age of affluence, the age of entitlement, the age of super abundance.  The age where today's hot buy, top fashion pick, is outdated before it's been worn twice much less worn out!!  And the prices that are so inexpensive on so many things!!

I wish for each of you a clothesline!  let your children do their own laundry and hang it out to dry, gather it in, fold it and put it away!  I spent a lot of dreamy pondering moments doing laundry and I still enjoy it.  (another story for another time was lack of water in Alaska!! and me trying to do laundry!!  Yikesters!!)

Ooops!  am I on my soapbox?  seems appropriate with talk of laundry, don't you think?

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The Elbow-Grease Factor: How to Teach Your Children to Love Work

By Orson Scott Card