Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Meant to Have Joy
Meant to Have Joy
Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches that “sadness, disappointment, and severe challenges are events in life, not life itself. . . . They should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do.” With the reminder that the Lord told His prophet Lehi that “men are that they might have joy,” Elder Scott says, “[The Lord’s] intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth.”Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Just Do the Very Best You Can
Just Do the Very Best You Can
Rather than waste time and energy worrying over our ability to endure to the end, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles suggests, “Just do the very best you can each day. Do the basic things and, before you realize it, your life will be full of spiritual understanding that will confirm to you that your Heavenly Father loves you. When a person knows this, then life will be full of purpose and meaning, making balance easier to maintain.”Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Transformed through Righteous Choices
Transformed through Righteous Choices
In addition to President Monson, other living prophets and apostles reinforce the same message. “The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction” is evidence of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s infinite love for each of us, says President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency. Through facing the challenges of mortality we prepare for “the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life. . . . For us to have that gift and to be given that trust, we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do.”The true test of life, President Eyring explains, is not adversity but “to see if we can endure difficulty. It is to see if we can endure it well. We pass the test by showing that we remembered Him and the commandments He gave us. And to endure well is to keep those commandments whatever the opposition, whatever the temptation, and whatever the tumult around us.”
Monday, July 25, 2011
Despite Adversity, Be of Good Cheer
we just keep on with our family reunion plan that seems to go on and on. We are enjoying every bit of it. Approaching the last leg and my mind is filled with the importance of establishing famiy traditions. At Leavenworth, in a time that I opted out of shopping in one more boutique for the morning, I read a conference talk by Elder Mayes (Establishing a Christ-Centered Home). He mentioned traditions.....
We brought our children together and held weekly family home evenings as well as daily prayer and scripture study. It was not always easy, convenient, or successful, but over time these simple gatherings became treasured family traditions.
We learned that our children might not remember everything about the family home evening lesson later in the week, but they would remember that we held it. We learned that later in the day at school they would probably not remember the exact words of the scriptures or the prayer, but they would remember that we did read scriptures and we did have prayer. Brothers and sisters, there is great power and protection for us and our youth in establishing celestial traditions in the home.
Learning, teaching, and practicing the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our homes helps create a culture where the Spirit can dwell. Through establishing these celestial traditions in our homes, we will be able to overcome the false traditions of the world and learn to put the needs and concerns of others first.
We along with many others in the Ward have been making memories and establishing traditions. There are those in our midst that are dealing with physical limitations and challenges. So this week, while my life and health allow, I will continue to travel and be with family and keep a prayer in my heart for those striving to get healthier. This is for Brenda who is dealing with new challenges and also Cindy (in KS). Actually this is for all of us as we all have challenges whether we can travel or not!!! Hope you draw strength from each day!
Despite Adversity, Be of Good Cheer
“Our promised blessings are beyond measure,” President Thomas S. Monson declares. “Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”
Friday, July 22, 2011
Mind-havoc....McCall Preparations....last minute!!!
Every two years when we do this week long family reunion I always have the same last minute anxieties...will everyone enjoy themselves but more important will they enjoy each other? With such a diverse group of people, with strong personalities, will there be fireworks? (and I don't mean 4th of July ones!)
Have we prepared enough of all the things we deem essential? Christmas stuff. Birthday stuff. Craft stuff. Game stuff. For Pete's sake!....it's a timeshare condo. It has amenities...pool. club house. tennis courts. etc. etc. Why do I bring 113 items from the dollar store??!!
Each of the 4 connecting condos are furnished with all you would need but I haul enough paper goods and soap items to open a mini-mart!
And I've not even yet mentioned the foodstuffs for meals! Yes, we could buy there but I still haul the majority along!!!
The small truck will end up looking like the Beverly Hillbillies vehicle when they pulled into town! The van will be stuffed also. The girls will have pillows and blankets stacked beside them, almost like another seat partner and I did the stacking!!!
We pack water toys including 2 queen size! air-mattresses that our grandchildren love to float on, dive off of, lay on, sit on and spend feet-dangling time, or sitting cross-legged in a circle while visiting. Reminding me of something Huckleberry Finn would do.
We are ridiculous, know it and yet don't seem to reign ourselves in and be sensible, practical and dignified in the least. We just pile on more stuff and hope that no one we know sees us on the exodus excursion!! We would embarrass ourselves and them perhaps!
In spite of my mind, that worries itself with imaginary estrangement scenarios, that never transpire, it will all turn out just wonderful. That is a given also!! I will obsess for 24 hours about the family imploding or exploding and then the hour of reality arrives and....
(beautiful peaceful background music. just imagine that sound) There they are! My wonderful adult children, their marvelous spouses and our fantastic grandchildren will all be laughing and hugging and talking all at once and I sigh a huge sigh of relief. I soak in, absorb, bask in, the atmosphere of love and say a silent prayer of gratitude that they have safely arrived. There is nothing like a family reunion!!! Sigh.
(this I know for sure. If we were attempting that original trek from Nauvoo, and I packed with no restrictions, our wagon wheels would be so mired in, not even a double oxen team could dislodge us!)
Have we prepared enough of all the things we deem essential? Christmas stuff. Birthday stuff. Craft stuff. Game stuff. For Pete's sake!....it's a timeshare condo. It has amenities...pool. club house. tennis courts. etc. etc. Why do I bring 113 items from the dollar store??!!
Each of the 4 connecting condos are furnished with all you would need but I haul enough paper goods and soap items to open a mini-mart!
And I've not even yet mentioned the foodstuffs for meals! Yes, we could buy there but I still haul the majority along!!!
The small truck will end up looking like the Beverly Hillbillies vehicle when they pulled into town! The van will be stuffed also. The girls will have pillows and blankets stacked beside them, almost like another seat partner and I did the stacking!!!
We pack water toys including 2 queen size! air-mattresses that our grandchildren love to float on, dive off of, lay on, sit on and spend feet-dangling time, or sitting cross-legged in a circle while visiting. Reminding me of something Huckleberry Finn would do.
We are ridiculous, know it and yet don't seem to reign ourselves in and be sensible, practical and dignified in the least. We just pile on more stuff and hope that no one we know sees us on the exodus excursion!! We would embarrass ourselves and them perhaps!
In spite of my mind, that worries itself with imaginary estrangement scenarios, that never transpire, it will all turn out just wonderful. That is a given also!! I will obsess for 24 hours about the family imploding or exploding and then the hour of reality arrives and....
(beautiful peaceful background music. just imagine that sound) There they are! My wonderful adult children, their marvelous spouses and our fantastic grandchildren will all be laughing and hugging and talking all at once and I sigh a huge sigh of relief. I soak in, absorb, bask in, the atmosphere of love and say a silent prayer of gratitude that they have safely arrived. There is nothing like a family reunion!!! Sigh.
(this I know for sure. If we were attempting that original trek from Nauvoo, and I packed with no restrictions, our wagon wheels would be so mired in, not even a double oxen team could dislodge us!)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Almost a repeat of yesterday....
The Sound of Music
In a mountain setting at a ski hill!
It is incredible!!!
What a life!!!
Love it!!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Heading Out!!
To Leavenworth!!!!!! Terry opted to stay home so it's just the 4 of us on the way to shop and see two plays!!
Eat a bratwurst. Listen to music and watch some dancers. Check out the sight and sounds and tonight......
7 Brides for 7 Brothers
Eat a bratwurst. Listen to music and watch some dancers. Check out the sight and sounds and tonight......
7 Brides for 7 Brothers
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Still in shopping mode!!!
My day started early with Kipper, our son, wanting to know if I wanted to go pick some blueberries with him. Everyone else was asleep so I said--I'll be ready in a minute. He'd not been out to Blueberry Hill Berries. Our Wapato find. The owner escorted us to our picking place. I tell you I'm going to plant some blueberries. Next year!! Today we picked Duke Blueberries. Terry, the owner, told us that she also has Bluegold Berries that weren't ready yet. Then she shared a big whoopi-do for next week...Chandler Blueberries. She picked us a handful. They were shockingly big! As round as a nickel and 1/4" deep (or thereabouts) They were amazing in taste. She thought the Chandlers would be ready on Monday. She said to call her, Terry, 509-961-3001 and ask if they were ready. I think you could ask anyone at the number but she was being very nice to us. These blueberries have to be seen and eaten to be believed. Oh, yes. I'm now officially a-wanta-be blueberry mavin!!!
When we got home, the girls were packing all of their clothes to ship home FedEx. They have some sort of plane trip on two different carriers, not enough time to claim and recheck baggage, so they shipped it coming and will also going!! Crazy for sure!!
We headed into Fiddlesticks (corner of 16th and Summitview). They had never been there and were so enthralled that we will go each year. The store has a huge inventory of all sorts of lovely things that look gorgeous and lots of lotions and potions. Each got a couple of little items. I was impressed when I saw Goat Milk Hand Cream. They only had the display sampler on hand so they were going to restock and call me when it comes in. I thought Celise (I VT her) would get a huge amount of enjoyment out of such a thing! She raises goats. She is a little Earth Mother. For all I know she makes handcream. She does lots of things. All natural. These young Mom's in our Ward are incredible women!!
Then we went to Cookie Cutter, Etc. Tori ended up with Silicon cupcake holders. Cassie chose a Moose and a Poodle cookie cutter. We will go there again also. Oodles of things to look at and enjoy!
On to our annual lunch date at The White House Cafe (up on Kearn). We like to sit in the back porch area. They have fixed the pergola in the back and we could have eaten out there but weren't aware it was available. The setting was gorgeous and food carefully prepared and served with lots of little details that make it so special.
Then on to Fred Meyers (off of 40th and near Kearn) Finishing up the school shopping and shopping for jeans. success in that area. we checked out and then the girls start questioning their decisions, the size, the style and I decide... I will wait in the car!!! Sitting down and a nice breeze blowing sounds good to me!
I look across to the GNC advertising it's General Nutrition Company. Out pops a store clerk in need of Weight Watchers, name tag on, digging for his cigarettes. I'm up in a parking lot with him in full view of me. He lights up and then he starts gesticulating and talking loud. I think he's practicing his sales pitch then realize he's arguing with someone on an invisible phone. In between his rants I watch him French Inhale his ciggy smoke. (The French inhale is a trick one can perform while smoking. One takes a deep drag, then while the mouth is open and the jaw is slowly closed to force the smoke out, one inhales through the nose, thus inhaling the smoke drifting from the mouth.) I was watching him and thinking of how that feat used to be considered quite glamorous if a woman did it or a real manly accomplishment by a male. I'd not seen a smoker up close and personal in many years. And couldn't remember when I'd last seen someone French Inhale. How great to have the Word of Wisdom in my life, in the Gospel. It was a bit of a stretch to accept that abstaining from smoking, drinking, tea, coffee etc. were a part of a religion but eventually it did make sense, a confirmation came and I'm truly thankful for that doctrine.
Well, I'm off course here. They eventually got all the purchases sorted out, exchanged or whatever and we headed home. I was really tired.
Jeanee cooked a dinner, we ate, tidied up and headed to Sunnyside to The Dollar Store. We filled a basket with the rest of the Christmas exchange drawing gifts and then got all sorts of things. Including birthday hats etc. We are going to have a birthday night with cake etc. and sing Happy Birthday with name after name from oldest to youngest. Poppa to Sullivan. Tori wants to use her new cupcake holders and make her special vegan Red Velvet cupcakes. (we will most likely do a cake to help her out a bit!) we have birthday candles and all sorts of party things. We had fun shopping and got enough things to entertain the entire family for the full week!!! Lots of blue ribbons for winners!
Then we swung over to Wal-Mart! Jeanee wanted Borax for some Christmas star project she is having us do for the Christmas dinner. Not sure what it is but she always has great crafts/games/activities and things for kids to adults. including an Olympics that teams up adults and children to do remarkable physical accomplishments like a 3 legged race etc. I sat in the car and Cassie and I visited.
Got a wonderful love-filled letter from my youngest DIL, Maureen, and she is so looking forward to McCall and visiting. It is so heartwarming to have DIL's that fully engage in our family reunion. It melts my heart.
Good night!
When we got home, the girls were packing all of their clothes to ship home FedEx. They have some sort of plane trip on two different carriers, not enough time to claim and recheck baggage, so they shipped it coming and will also going!! Crazy for sure!!
We headed into Fiddlesticks (corner of 16th and Summitview). They had never been there and were so enthralled that we will go each year. The store has a huge inventory of all sorts of lovely things that look gorgeous and lots of lotions and potions. Each got a couple of little items. I was impressed when I saw Goat Milk Hand Cream. They only had the display sampler on hand so they were going to restock and call me when it comes in. I thought Celise (I VT her) would get a huge amount of enjoyment out of such a thing! She raises goats. She is a little Earth Mother. For all I know she makes handcream. She does lots of things. All natural. These young Mom's in our Ward are incredible women!!
Then we went to Cookie Cutter, Etc. Tori ended up with Silicon cupcake holders. Cassie chose a Moose and a Poodle cookie cutter. We will go there again also. Oodles of things to look at and enjoy!
On to our annual lunch date at The White House Cafe (up on Kearn). We like to sit in the back porch area. They have fixed the pergola in the back and we could have eaten out there but weren't aware it was available. The setting was gorgeous and food carefully prepared and served with lots of little details that make it so special.
Then on to Fred Meyers (off of 40th and near Kearn) Finishing up the school shopping and shopping for jeans. success in that area. we checked out and then the girls start questioning their decisions, the size, the style and I decide... I will wait in the car!!! Sitting down and a nice breeze blowing sounds good to me!
I look across to the GNC advertising it's General Nutrition Company. Out pops a store clerk in need of Weight Watchers, name tag on, digging for his cigarettes. I'm up in a parking lot with him in full view of me. He lights up and then he starts gesticulating and talking loud. I think he's practicing his sales pitch then realize he's arguing with someone on an invisible phone. In between his rants I watch him French Inhale his ciggy smoke. (The French inhale is a trick one can perform while smoking. One takes a deep drag, then while the mouth is open and the jaw is slowly closed to force the smoke out, one inhales through the nose, thus inhaling the smoke drifting from the mouth.) I was watching him and thinking of how that feat used to be considered quite glamorous if a woman did it or a real manly accomplishment by a male. I'd not seen a smoker up close and personal in many years. And couldn't remember when I'd last seen someone French Inhale. How great to have the Word of Wisdom in my life, in the Gospel. It was a bit of a stretch to accept that abstaining from smoking, drinking, tea, coffee etc. were a part of a religion but eventually it did make sense, a confirmation came and I'm truly thankful for that doctrine.
Well, I'm off course here. They eventually got all the purchases sorted out, exchanged or whatever and we headed home. I was really tired.
Jeanee cooked a dinner, we ate, tidied up and headed to Sunnyside to The Dollar Store. We filled a basket with the rest of the Christmas exchange drawing gifts and then got all sorts of things. Including birthday hats etc. We are going to have a birthday night with cake etc. and sing Happy Birthday with name after name from oldest to youngest. Poppa to Sullivan. Tori wants to use her new cupcake holders and make her special vegan Red Velvet cupcakes. (we will most likely do a cake to help her out a bit!) we have birthday candles and all sorts of party things. We had fun shopping and got enough things to entertain the entire family for the full week!!! Lots of blue ribbons for winners!
Then we swung over to Wal-Mart! Jeanee wanted Borax for some Christmas star project she is having us do for the Christmas dinner. Not sure what it is but she always has great crafts/games/activities and things for kids to adults. including an Olympics that teams up adults and children to do remarkable physical accomplishments like a 3 legged race etc. I sat in the car and Cassie and I visited.
Got a wonderful love-filled letter from my youngest DIL, Maureen, and she is so looking forward to McCall and visiting. It is so heartwarming to have DIL's that fully engage in our family reunion. It melts my heart.
Good night!
Now the Day Is Over
Hymn #159
(sung calmly)
1. Now the day is over;
Night is drawing nigh;
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
Night is drawing nigh;
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
2. Jesus, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With thy tend’rest blessing
May our eyelids close.
Calm and sweet repose;
With thy tend’rest blessing
May our eyelids close.
Text: Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834–1924
Music: Joseph Barnby, 1838–1896
Monday, July 18, 2011
Annual tri-city shopping trek
We are moving on down our list of things we annually do. Saturday we went to the Far West Bookstore and bought each girl another new CTR ring. They started with the little green ones and then moved on to real jewelry. They are free to choose whatever ring appeals to them. Most of the past years outgrown rings are saved with the exception of one lost in the ocean and one in a store. They usually move them to a smaller finger and get lots of use out of them.
We headed to the Columbia Center Mall (is that the right name? where Macy's is etc. we just call it The Mall) In and out of all the stores or at least it seemed so. The girls are savvy shoppers, bargain hunters and love window shopping. We bypassed a Greek restaurant we'd seen earlier and ate an assortment of lunch items from the food court at noon. Ever to satisfy, not only the appetite but today's techie folks, they had 2 very large TV screens center-located on each of the high ceilinged walls. I broke out laughing at how modern we were with everyone munching and all looking different directions at different screens! What a funny world we live in.
I finally gave up on window shopping or even purchasing things and sat down to people watch. Lots of people milling about of course. What really caught my eye though was a center aisle small business. Threading. Khite in Arabic. Fatlah in Egyptian. Also popular in India. Some think it might have started in Turkey. I'd never heard of it! Have you? It's an ancient hair removal technique using plain old cotton thread. Here is one definition/explanation that I found....
Threading is one of the oldest methods of body hair removal. It originated in Turkey, although it is currently most popular in India and other parts of the Middle East. Today, threading is also gaining popularity in Western cosmetology.
Threading involves the practitioner rolling twisted cotton threads over hairlines to remove unwanted hair. To do this, the practitioner holds one end of a cotton thread between her teeth and the other in her left hand. The middle part of the thread is looped through the index and middle fingers of the right hand. The loop is used to trap unwanted hair so that it can be easily plucked from the skin.
It was fascinating! $40 to do your entire face. the woman having it done acted like it was painless. The hair grows back in 6 weeks. No discoloration of skin. After several treatments eventually the hair doesn't grow back. They have illustrations on line that were interesting. They also shape eyebrows beautifully. So there you go! something new to think about doing at some point?! Perhaps!
Typically we go to Burlington Coat Factory but this year we got sidetracked when Jeanee saw a Plato's Closet store. Plato's Closet is right in the parking lot, so to speak, of Burlington. (www.platosclosetkennewick.com/) What a wonderful store! A consignment store that has lots of teen appeal. Great assortment of clothes. All in great condition. Marvelous low prices. I asked Chelle if she'd heard of it and she said she'd bought 50% of her school clothing, last year, for Sophia. There are so many modest things for sale!
We did go ahead and do a lot of looking and a teeny bit more of shopping at Burlington before heading home for a nice dinner. I'm all relaxed and thinking it's been a long day and I'm so glad to be able to kick back and do nothing. Tori comes out with a new-to-her yellow purse. We compare it to a yellow purse I have. She suggests that we take our yellow purses with us tonight. Tonight? where are we going tonight? the day is over! Nana is tuckered out. She says...remember? The Music Man!!!.... I'd totally spaced it out and didn't even have tickets!
I quickly called and probably because it was only the 2nd night of the production, tickets were easy to get! It was just the 3 of us and we had such a great time. We love to go to musicals. The woman that plays Marian, the Librarian, is just amazing!!! What a talent!!! She was truly wonderful! For those who know the Akins....Amy was the choreographer. Tony, his brother and his father made up 3 members of the quartet. Plus Amy and Tony's son was one of the children. I really enjoy Warehouse Theatre productions. warehousetheatreyakima.org
Making summer memories takes a lot of energy!!! I can hardly wait to be with the rest of the family!!! I'll hibernate later!! I hope you are working hard on creating great memories for your families!!!
PS- My DIL, Lorrie, just now called from Kansas. We were firming up some menu details for McCall. I told her I couldn't believe that they would drive 21 hours, one way!, to be with the family. She really touched my heart by replying....you know what? some of the very best memories we have, are with the family at McCall.
It's all so worth it!!!!
We headed to the Columbia Center Mall (is that the right name? where Macy's is etc. we just call it The Mall) In and out of all the stores or at least it seemed so. The girls are savvy shoppers, bargain hunters and love window shopping. We bypassed a Greek restaurant we'd seen earlier and ate an assortment of lunch items from the food court at noon. Ever to satisfy, not only the appetite but today's techie folks, they had 2 very large TV screens center-located on each of the high ceilinged walls. I broke out laughing at how modern we were with everyone munching and all looking different directions at different screens! What a funny world we live in.
I finally gave up on window shopping or even purchasing things and sat down to people watch. Lots of people milling about of course. What really caught my eye though was a center aisle small business. Threading. Khite in Arabic. Fatlah in Egyptian. Also popular in India. Some think it might have started in Turkey. I'd never heard of it! Have you? It's an ancient hair removal technique using plain old cotton thread. Here is one definition/explanation that I found....
Threading is one of the oldest methods of body hair removal. It originated in Turkey, although it is currently most popular in India and other parts of the Middle East. Today, threading is also gaining popularity in Western cosmetology.
Threading involves the practitioner rolling twisted cotton threads over hairlines to remove unwanted hair. To do this, the practitioner holds one end of a cotton thread between her teeth and the other in her left hand. The middle part of the thread is looped through the index and middle fingers of the right hand. The loop is used to trap unwanted hair so that it can be easily plucked from the skin.
It was fascinating! $40 to do your entire face. the woman having it done acted like it was painless. The hair grows back in 6 weeks. No discoloration of skin. After several treatments eventually the hair doesn't grow back. They have illustrations on line that were interesting. They also shape eyebrows beautifully. So there you go! something new to think about doing at some point?! Perhaps!
Typically we go to Burlington Coat Factory but this year we got sidetracked when Jeanee saw a Plato's Closet store. Plato's Closet is right in the parking lot, so to speak, of Burlington. (www.platosclosetkennewick.com/) What a wonderful store! A consignment store that has lots of teen appeal. Great assortment of clothes. All in great condition. Marvelous low prices. I asked Chelle if she'd heard of it and she said she'd bought 50% of her school clothing, last year, for Sophia. There are so many modest things for sale!
We did go ahead and do a lot of looking and a teeny bit more of shopping at Burlington before heading home for a nice dinner. I'm all relaxed and thinking it's been a long day and I'm so glad to be able to kick back and do nothing. Tori comes out with a new-to-her yellow purse. We compare it to a yellow purse I have. She suggests that we take our yellow purses with us tonight. Tonight? where are we going tonight? the day is over! Nana is tuckered out. She says...remember? The Music Man!!!.... I'd totally spaced it out and didn't even have tickets!
I quickly called and probably because it was only the 2nd night of the production, tickets were easy to get! It was just the 3 of us and we had such a great time. We love to go to musicals. The woman that plays Marian, the Librarian, is just amazing!!! What a talent!!! She was truly wonderful! For those who know the Akins....Amy was the choreographer. Tony, his brother and his father made up 3 members of the quartet. Plus Amy and Tony's son was one of the children. I really enjoy Warehouse Theatre productions. warehousetheatreyakima.org
Making summer memories takes a lot of energy!!! I can hardly wait to be with the rest of the family!!! I'll hibernate later!! I hope you are working hard on creating great memories for your families!!!
PS- My DIL, Lorrie, just now called from Kansas. We were firming up some menu details for McCall. I told her I couldn't believe that they would drive 21 hours, one way!, to be with the family. She really touched my heart by replying....you know what? some of the very best memories we have, are with the family at McCall.
It's all so worth it!!!!
Friday, July 15, 2011
"...filled with sunshine...."
We are readying things for the McCall family reunion and I can't believe what we feel is necessary to take with us!! We are going to have a Thursday night, Christmas in July, complete with decorations and a full fledged turkey dinner plus a gift exchange. The one where you draw a number, choose gifts in that order and can take someones previously chosen gift. Does that have a special name? So there the girls and I were, sorting through the bags of things I bought at 2010 Christmas sales. 26 Santa hats. 26 Christmas stockings. Christmas treats. Christmas favors. Christmas table runners. Snowflakes for hanging. on and on and on the bags yielded treasures to make for a fun memory. We pared the hats and stockings down to the 20 that will be able to attend. Then started gathering and wrapping the gifts for the drawing.
We will have Christmas music playing, sing Christmas carols and read the Christmas Story (maybe from my Grandmother Clark's worn out Bible). We will talk of our beautiful Alaska, where all of our past family Christmases were held. Maybe I will share the story of the year Terry invited a total stranger to eat Christmas dinner with us. Maybe we will talk about the snow and cold of those past years, when Alaska had lots of snow. Maybe we will talk of wintering in and the warmth of the log fire. Maybe we will talk of our primitive lifestyle and our memories of shared life stories. All of us howling with laughter over what we endured and separate incidences of family lore. No matter how uniquely different each and every family member is, we are still heart locked because of those shared years, living under the same roof that would spring leaks in thaws!!
Preparing for this one single dinner, unpacking the tote with Cassie and Tori, and then choosing what we will take and repacking, was such a fun experience for all of us. Truly I was filled with sunshine and I remembered what President Hinckley said.....
Stand Strong against the Wiles of the World
(talk from RS Gen. Conf. 1995)
by President Gordon B. Hinckley
Now to you grandmothers and great-grandmothers may I say just a word. Tremendous has been your experience. Tremendous is your understanding. You can be as an anchor in a world of shifting values. You have lived long, buffed and polished by the adversities of life through which you have passed. Quiet are your ways, deliberate your counsel. You dearly beloved women are such treasures in this topsy-turvy society. God bless you. May your waning years be filled with sunshine, with the love of those whom you love, and with love for the Lord.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
A bedtime poem from my childhood...
My Mother regularly read a bedtime story to my sister and I. This poem is one that I absolutely loved. I could not hear it enough times!! I was so entranced by Mother's expressive voice that I'd beg her to read this over and over. And she would oblige for a few times. It would scare me to pieces but I just couldn't get enough of it!! I can still hear her saying....and the wind goes woo-oo!! I would get goosebumps as it was so eerie to me. How on earth I was able to peacefully fall asleep after hearing such frightening stories?....I have no idea!!!
LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE
by: James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)
- INSCRIBED WITH ALL FAITH AND AFFECTION
- To all the little children: -- The happy ones; and sad ones;
The sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones;
The good ones -- Yes, the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones. ITTLE Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
- An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
- An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
- An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep;
- An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
- We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun
- A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
- An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--
- An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,
- His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,
- An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!
- An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,
- An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;
- But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--
- An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,
- An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;
- An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,
- She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!
- An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,
- They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
- An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!
- An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
- An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
- An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
- An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--
- You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,
- An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
- An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
- Er the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A slow stain of the world?
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A polygamous family made famous by the reality TV show "Sister Wives" plans to challenge the Utah bigamy law that makes their lifestyle illegal, a Washington-based attorney said Tuesday.
In an email to The Associated Press, attorney Jonathan Turley said he will file the lawsuit challenging Utah's bigamy law in Salt Lake City's U.S. District Court on Wednesday "We are not demanding the recognition of polygamous marriage. We are only challenging the right of the state to prosecute people for their private relations and demanding equal treatment with other citizens in living their lives according to their own beliefs," the statement reads.
According to the statement, the lawsuit seeks to protect a person's right to be left alone.
"In that sense, it is a challenge designed to benefit not just polygamists but all citizens who wish to live their lives according to their own values - even if those values run counter to those of the majority in the state," Turley wrote.
*****************
The mind picture of being enticed, being fooled, being hoodwinked, into taking on "the slow stain of the world", is both powerful and sad to contemplate.
To be warned and forewarned! Wow! the scripture that pops into my mind is the 89th Section of the Doctrine & Covenants, warning and forewarning "in consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days".
forewarn v. to warn beforehand
Once again my thoughts are back to the Family Proclamation in light of this bigamist lawsuit. The very first paragraph sums it up with the itty bitty word "a".
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
A lot of things to think about for sure. A lot!!! Hmmmmmm.
In an email to The Associated Press, attorney Jonathan Turley said he will file the lawsuit challenging Utah's bigamy law in Salt Lake City's U.S. District Court on Wednesday "We are not demanding the recognition of polygamous marriage. We are only challenging the right of the state to prosecute people for their private relations and demanding equal treatment with other citizens in living their lives according to their own beliefs," the statement reads.
According to the statement, the lawsuit seeks to protect a person's right to be left alone.
"In that sense, it is a challenge designed to benefit not just polygamists but all citizens who wish to live their lives according to their own values - even if those values run counter to those of the majority in the state," Turley wrote.
*****************
I'm remembering a part of what President Hinckley said in that 1985 intro to the Family Proclamation. this sentence really came to my mind today.
"With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn."
The mind picture of being enticed, being fooled, being hoodwinked, into taking on "the slow stain of the world", is both powerful and sad to contemplate.
To be warned and forewarned! Wow! the scripture that pops into my mind is the 89th Section of the Doctrine & Covenants, warning and forewarning "in consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days".
__________________________________________________________
warn v. to inform (a person) about a present or future danger or about something that must be reckoned with, to advise about action in such circumstancesforewarn v. to warn beforehand
_____________________________________________________________
Once again my thoughts are back to the Family Proclamation in light of this bigamist lawsuit. The very first paragraph sums it up with the itty bitty word "a".
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
A lot of things to think about for sure. A lot!!! Hmmmmmm.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
From one crack pot to another!!!
A Parable
(author unknown)
(author unknown)
About Cracked Pots
A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak all the way back to your house."
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Bustling Seattle
What a busy fun time we had visiting Seattle! So many people and so much activity with people milling about. Noise and talking and laughter and people all on a search for sightseeing and shopping. A different world from my normal days!
All sorts of folks from elegant to casual. homeless urine smelling men standing on corners. multiple body piercings, large tattoos, seemingly unbathed youth- sitting on steps or the sidewalk. leaning up against backpacks and rolled blankets/sleeping bags. guitars nearby. I was glad to be me.
Pike Place Market of course was not to be overlooked. The throwing of the fish. The brass(?) pig. Most beautiful of all?...the flower Market!!! Never have I seen such a huge assortment of fresh brilliant colored flowers. I was gifted with a bouquet of the sweetest smelling lavender/purple sweet peas ever!!
The vendors were so clever. rubber banded the bouquet. Wrapped the stems snugly in newspaper and left a "root ball" at the end. rubber banded that. wet newspaper until soggy. Put it in a plastic bag. put some more water in and rubber banded that. then put it in a cellophane nosegay wrap. It worked wonderful! Lasted until we got home. Unwrapped them and they are still sending off their heavenly scent.
We chose eating at Ivar's, for one of our meals, as that has been a favorite of ours. the chowder did not disappoint but the fish was not a hit. I think it was partially our fault as Terry's cousin, Patty, showed up to join us and she had brought a packet of old pictures from the early 60's of a trip we took to WA....we started looking at the pictures and let the fish get cold!! definitely our fault!!!
I'm shocked at the clothing that is available. How anyone even begins to stay modest is challenged! and the huge variety of things and the sky high prices. I saw another Coach store. It still seems so over the top to me to have a store that displays purses like jewelry in their own individual glass cubicles. The prices warrant it!!
We went into Nordstrom's and I've never seen so many shoes available!! Honestly, there were hundreds!! Bizarre to beautiful but all priced off the charts. I saw my first pair of red soled Jimmy Choo shoes. Interesting! I am way to practical for some of these things. In my younger years I was a shoe freak and loved all of the ones that I had, so I enjoyed watching my granddaughters ooh and aww over designs I wouldn't be caught dead in, at this age and stage of my life. How do people afford these things? I guess I am poor and don't understand spending so much for one item of clothing.
We enjoyed the day and even the cab ride to our Warwick Seattle Hotel from the Pike Place area. A very friendly turbaned driver from India. Engaging in conversation with our daughter seated in front. When she realized that he'd gone 5 blocks east, then up the hill, turned west and backtracked and passed where he'd picked us!....she called him on it. He fibbed and said the roads were all one way! Turns out the hotel was only 4 blocks or so from where we were!!
Terry and I ended up staying at the Hotel mid-afternoon and the 3 gals took off for more sightseeing. We enjoyed the skyline view of the buildings architecture from our 11th story perch.
Next day was more shopping and sightseeing and then visiting more family. We loved seeing our grandchildren and our 2 great-grands!!
The couple of days were jam packed with fun and great memories were made. We are thinking of making Seattle a regular summer event along with the new blueberry picking day. That is the thing about memory making...things shift and change. some things are outgrown. some things are replaced. New things enter in but the bottom line is great memories are created and new traditions arise.
Whatever your summer is turning into, I hope you are stacking up at least one fantastic fun memory or a tender sweet one but one good memory of some sort!!!
All sorts of folks from elegant to casual. homeless urine smelling men standing on corners. multiple body piercings, large tattoos, seemingly unbathed youth- sitting on steps or the sidewalk. leaning up against backpacks and rolled blankets/sleeping bags. guitars nearby. I was glad to be me.
Pike Place Market of course was not to be overlooked. The throwing of the fish. The brass(?) pig. Most beautiful of all?...the flower Market!!! Never have I seen such a huge assortment of fresh brilliant colored flowers. I was gifted with a bouquet of the sweetest smelling lavender/purple sweet peas ever!!
The vendors were so clever. rubber banded the bouquet. Wrapped the stems snugly in newspaper and left a "root ball" at the end. rubber banded that. wet newspaper until soggy. Put it in a plastic bag. put some more water in and rubber banded that. then put it in a cellophane nosegay wrap. It worked wonderful! Lasted until we got home. Unwrapped them and they are still sending off their heavenly scent.
We chose eating at Ivar's, for one of our meals, as that has been a favorite of ours. the chowder did not disappoint but the fish was not a hit. I think it was partially our fault as Terry's cousin, Patty, showed up to join us and she had brought a packet of old pictures from the early 60's of a trip we took to WA....we started looking at the pictures and let the fish get cold!! definitely our fault!!!
I'm shocked at the clothing that is available. How anyone even begins to stay modest is challenged! and the huge variety of things and the sky high prices. I saw another Coach store. It still seems so over the top to me to have a store that displays purses like jewelry in their own individual glass cubicles. The prices warrant it!!
We went into Nordstrom's and I've never seen so many shoes available!! Honestly, there were hundreds!! Bizarre to beautiful but all priced off the charts. I saw my first pair of red soled Jimmy Choo shoes. Interesting! I am way to practical for some of these things. In my younger years I was a shoe freak and loved all of the ones that I had, so I enjoyed watching my granddaughters ooh and aww over designs I wouldn't be caught dead in, at this age and stage of my life. How do people afford these things? I guess I am poor and don't understand spending so much for one item of clothing.
We enjoyed the day and even the cab ride to our Warwick Seattle Hotel from the Pike Place area. A very friendly turbaned driver from India. Engaging in conversation with our daughter seated in front. When she realized that he'd gone 5 blocks east, then up the hill, turned west and backtracked and passed where he'd picked us!....she called him on it. He fibbed and said the roads were all one way! Turns out the hotel was only 4 blocks or so from where we were!!
Terry and I ended up staying at the Hotel mid-afternoon and the 3 gals took off for more sightseeing. We enjoyed the skyline view of the buildings architecture from our 11th story perch.
Next day was more shopping and sightseeing and then visiting more family. We loved seeing our grandchildren and our 2 great-grands!!
The couple of days were jam packed with fun and great memories were made. We are thinking of making Seattle a regular summer event along with the new blueberry picking day. That is the thing about memory making...things shift and change. some things are outgrown. some things are replaced. New things enter in but the bottom line is great memories are created and new traditions arise.
Whatever your summer is turning into, I hope you are stacking up at least one fantastic fun memory or a tender sweet one but one good memory of some sort!!!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Blueberry Hill Thrills!!!
There are still things that I've not experienced in life. Simple things that are wonderful! In Alaska we had wild blueberries and across the bay in Seldovia they were plentiful but NOTHING like what I saw today! These bushes were cultivated and so full and gorgeous that the berries looked like clusters of grapes!! I buy from friends or the store so have never sought them out elsewhere until today!
I was at Gretchen's house. She is my neighbor. On her fridge she had a postcard telling that blueberries were ready to be picked. My Granddaughters had been wanting to pick them so I was happy to see the note! Gretchen copied it for me and we headed out to Wapato.
Now we have a new tradition added to our other simple pleasures...Blueberry picking!!
Huge organic blueberries! $1.50 per pound. The gracious hostess/owner told us that store bought blueberries are anywhere from 2-3 weeks old and these will last longer and freeze great!
All of us were fascinated with the beauty of the bushes and the size of the berries! They give you as many buckets as you want, show you which row to start picking and away you go!! You could just hold a cluster in your hand, give a little tug, and they would just fall off into your bucket! We picked 4 buckets in nothing flat!!
I have a new jam recipe that we will try. It doesn't have very much sugar, compared to some recipes, so we should get a real pure blueberry taste. It sounds wonderful!!
I was at Gretchen's house. She is my neighbor. On her fridge she had a postcard telling that blueberries were ready to be picked. My Granddaughters had been wanting to pick them so I was happy to see the note! Gretchen copied it for me and we headed out to Wapato.
Now we have a new tradition added to our other simple pleasures...Blueberry picking!!
Huge organic blueberries! $1.50 per pound. The gracious hostess/owner told us that store bought blueberries are anywhere from 2-3 weeks old and these will last longer and freeze great!
All of us were fascinated with the beauty of the bushes and the size of the berries! They give you as many buckets as you want, show you which row to start picking and away you go!! You could just hold a cluster in your hand, give a little tug, and they would just fall off into your bucket! We picked 4 buckets in nothing flat!!
I have a new jam recipe that we will try. It doesn't have very much sugar, compared to some recipes, so we should get a real pure blueberry taste. It sounds wonderful!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Secretly Simple Blueberry Jam
(juicy homemade preserves that can be made
without canning equipment? spread the word!)
5 cups Blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
~In a medium saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice,
and salt. mash with a potato masher or wooden spoon until the berries
have released their juices.
~Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture
has thickened, 18-25 minutes. Transfer to containers and refrigerate for
up to 1 month or freeze for up to 1 year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blueberry Hill Berries
1520 West Wapato
Wapato, WA 98951
509-961-3001
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Let us oft speak kind words to each other!!!
I'm having fun with family and in and out and my little blog is getting minimal attention. I really enjoy blogging and I love the contact with each of you. I'll get back into full swing after all the party and playing is over!! In the meantime I'm going to share some favorite thoughts.
Recently someone shared that their spouse had been criticized about how they are doing their Church calling. Stuff like that just drives me bonkers!!! Come on!!!! Shape up!! Stop it!!! Look for the good and share it!! I could quote scriptures on not speaking mean etc. You know them already!! Let's all be nice!!! Speak kindly!!
I Know Something Good About You
Poet: Louis C. Shimon
Wouldn't this old world be better
If the folks we meet would say -
"I know something good about you!"
And treat us just that way?
Wouldn't it be fine and dandy
If each handclasp, fond and true,
Carried with it this assurance -
"I know something good about you!"
Wouldn't life be lots more happy
If the good that's in us all
Were the only thing about us
That folks bothered to recall?
Wouldn't life be lots more happy
If we praised the good we see?
For there's such a lot of goodness
In the worst of you and me!
Wouldn't it be nice to practice
That fine way of thinking, too?
You know something good about me;
I know something good about you.
I know something good about you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words
Hymn- # 232
(sung earnestly)
1. Let us oft speak kind words to each other
At home or where’er we may be;
Like the warblings of birds on the heather,
The tones will be welcome and free.
They’ll gladden the heart that’s repining,
Give courage and hope from above,
And where the dark clouds hide the shining,
Let in the bright sunlight of love.
At home or where’er we may be;
Like the warblings of birds on the heather,
The tones will be welcome and free.
They’ll gladden the heart that’s repining,
Give courage and hope from above,
And where the dark clouds hide the shining,
Let in the bright sunlight of love.
[Chorus]
Oh, the kind words we give shall in memory live
And sunshine forever impart.
Let us oft speak kind words to each other;
Kind words are sweet tones of the heart.
Oh, the kind words we give shall in memory live
And sunshine forever impart.
Let us oft speak kind words to each other;
Kind words are sweet tones of the heart.
2. Like the sunbeams of morn on the mountains,
The soul they awake to good cheer;
Like the murmur of cool, pleasant fountains,
They fall in sweet cadences near.
Let’s oft, then, in kindly toned voices,
Our mutual friendship renew,
Till heart meets with heart and rejoices
In friendship that ever is true.
The soul they awake to good cheer;
Like the murmur of cool, pleasant fountains,
They fall in sweet cadences near.
Let’s oft, then, in kindly toned voices,
Our mutual friendship renew,
Till heart meets with heart and rejoices
In friendship that ever is true.
[Chorus]
Oh, the kind words we give shall in memory live
And sunshine forever impart.
Let us oft speak kind words to each other;
Kind words are sweet tones of the heart.
Oh, the kind words we give shall in memory live
And sunshine forever impart.
Let us oft speak kind words to each other;
Kind words are sweet tones of the heart.
Text: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849–1942
Music: Ebenezer Beesley, 1840–1906
Ephesians 4:29–32
Proverbs 16:24
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Have you seen this new movie yet? about Restoration. Amazing!
Related Links
A revised version of the full-length film Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration is now available online at mormonchannel.org/Joseph. It is the first time the Church has made a full-length film available online. It is also available as a free download in various formats, including HD.
The original 2005 version depicts events in the life of Joseph Smith that help explain the Church's belief in modern prophets and Joseph Smith's role in restoring the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth.
The new version stays true to that original purpose but uses reedited footage from the original film as well as some new footage to create a product that is more understandable for the wider Internet audience. About 40 percent of the film is new material.
Read more about the new release on Newsroom.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
What a great day!!!!
We had the best July 4th day with our family.....parade, games, crafts, picnic meal, fire for s'mores, fireworks, visiting, laughing and just overwhelmed with gratitude for our children and their children!!! Most especially just loving America and being an American. Being moved to tears, at the sight of flags and seeing veterans. especially the ones from WW 2. I hope your day was filled with being with family or thoughts of family and that you share my feelings of tremendous gratitude.
What a GREAT day!!!!!
Enjoy singing these songs!!!
AMERICA
My country, 'tis of Thee Lyrics
by Samuel F. Smith - 1832
My country, 'tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.
Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet Freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom's holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.
Our glorious Land to-day,
'Neath Education's sway,
Soars upward still.
Its hills of learning fair,
Whose bounties all may share,
behold them everywhere
On vale and hill!
Thy safeguard, Liberty,
The school shall ever be,
Our Nation's pride!
No tyrant hand shall smite,
While with encircling might
All here are taught the Right
With Truth allied.
Beneath Heaven's gracious will
The stars of progress still
Our course do sway;
In unity sublime
To broader heights we climb,
Triumphant over Time,
God speeds our way!
Grand birthright of our sires,
Our altars and our fires
Keep we still pure!
Our starry flag unfurled,
The hope of all the world,
In peace and light impearled,
God hold secure!
America, The Beautiful Lyrics
by Katharine Lee Bates - 1913
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine!
O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
God Bless America Lyrics
by Irving Berlin
God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
What a GREAT day!!!!!
Enjoy singing these songs!!!
AMERICA
My country, 'tis of Thee Lyrics
by Samuel F. Smith - 1832
My country, 'tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.
Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet Freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom's holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.
Our glorious Land to-day,
'Neath Education's sway,
Soars upward still.
Its hills of learning fair,
Whose bounties all may share,
behold them everywhere
On vale and hill!
Thy safeguard, Liberty,
The school shall ever be,
Our Nation's pride!
No tyrant hand shall smite,
While with encircling might
All here are taught the Right
With Truth allied.
Beneath Heaven's gracious will
The stars of progress still
Our course do sway;
In unity sublime
To broader heights we climb,
Triumphant over Time,
God speeds our way!
Grand birthright of our sires,
Our altars and our fires
Keep we still pure!
Our starry flag unfurled,
The hope of all the world,
In peace and light impearled,
God hold secure!
America, The Beautiful Lyrics
by Katharine Lee Bates - 1913
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine!
O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
God Bless America Lyrics
by Irving Berlin
God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy 4th of July!!!
This article is written by Janice Kapp Perry. I hope you enjoy how she came to write 2 of her patriotic songs. What a talent she has and wow!....she shares it and uses it all the time! The 2 songs are on this post so that you can listen to them. Enjoy!!
I love the Fourth of July! This is the month of celebration that reminds us of our blessings as Americans and gives us a chance to express our deep gratitude for our freedom and what so many have done to ensure it. I recently read the words of a Dutch immigrant who came to America as a small boy and said he can still remember the excited throngs on the ship shouting America! America! as the Statue of Liberty came into view. This is especially significant to me as my own grandparents were teenaged Dutch immigrants who came to America for religious freedom. They saw this same statue beckoning them to a new life of opportunity and freedom. They met and married some years later in Ogden, Utah and eventually sent two of their sons to war knowing they might not return.
I was there at the train station as my grandmother, Pieterke Kapp, waved goodbye to her sons, calling out “My boys! My boys!” as they disappeared from view and then fainting to the ground from emotion. Grandpa Jacob Kapp was more stoic believing there was a price tag on liberty, and that price tag is to accept responsibility for defending it. One of their sons returned from war gravely wounded and spent one and a half years in the hospital in Brigham City.
My Father’s Patriotism
My father was a married man and therefore was not called to service during the war, but because of his father’s attitude and the service of his brothers, Dad was deeply patriotic throughout his life.
He was a farmer, a quiet man of strength, uneducated by the world’s standards, but a man of great wisdom. My brother Jack stood beside him at a parade one day and noticed that Dad stood and put his hand over his heart for every flag that passed by in the parade. Jack said, “Dad you only need to stand for the first flag.” Dad said, “I know, but I like to stand for every flag I see.”
One night a man seated two rows in front of Dad at a ballgame didn’t remove his hat during the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner”. Dad politely asked him to remove his hat, but he ignored him. He asked a second time, receiving no response. Then Dad walked down two rows and quietly removed his hat for him saying, “If my brother can be sent around the world and be shot up in defending this country, the least you can do is take your hat off for our flag.”
Every flag ceremony is a time for remembering the people, places, events, and lives lost in ensuring our freedom. We must guard against the temptation to take these things for granted just because we are generations removed from a historic event.
Listen
Put Your Hand Over Your Heart - Album – “Heal Our Land”
(Orrin G. Hatch, Janice Kapp Perry)
Remember all the braves ones
Who fought the battles, won the wars
Remember all the heroes
Who wore the colors, bore the scars
Remember all the patriots who loved our liberty
Remember ev’ry life laid down to keep our country free
chorus:
And put your hand over your heart
When the flag goes by
Put your hand over your heart
When you see Old Glory fly
Face that star-spangled banner
And when the music starts
Put your hand, put your hand
Over your heart
Remember all the children
Whose father’s heard their country’s call
Remember tears and anguish
From those who saw their comrades fall
Remember all the families
And what their loved ones gave
Remember every flag-draped box
Beside an empty grave
(Repeat chorus)
Hear the cries of fallen soldiers
Crying from the dust
Praying we will not forget
Their final gift to us
(Repeat chorus)
Collaborating with a Patriot
During the decade of the ‘90’s I spent considerable time collaborating on patriotic songs with US Senator Orrin G. Hatch. Through my association with him and my own research I gained a much deeper respect for the principles that guided the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In January 1997 I was honored to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the second inauguration of Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt in the Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, and heard him say this about the Founding Fathers:
They believed that a nation based on divinely ordained values could endure.
That is the reason every time we pledge allegiance to the flag we say, ‘One
nation under God. . .’ and why every coin in our pocket [says] ‘In God We
Trust’. . . . Our society has developed a misplaced politeness which says we
shouldn’t talk about God because it might offend someone. Heaven help the
society that is too polite to speak about God! (1)
That same year Brittany Salmon, a junior high student and patriotic essay contest winner, said:
“[Our national motto] ‘In God We Trust’ feels right to me. It helps me feel safe and secure to know God is looking over us and we’re looking to Him. I’m grateful that our country believes in God and I hope it stays that way!” (2) I add my voice to hers: I hope it stays that way!
Listen
One Nation Under God – album – “Freedom’s Light”
(Orrin G. Hatch and Janice Kapp Perry)
America has welcomed all
From many distant lands
Brave pilgrims seeking liberty
Who crossed the water in God’s hands.
Ev’ry honest, freedom-seeking soul--
America has welcomed all
The heart and might of this great land
Is found in our beliefs
Our faith in God’s unfailing hand
Will help preserve our liberties
And we invite all men who gather here
To worship God and feel no fear
We’ll sing the song of liberty
With voices strong and clear
We’ll seek for God’s protecting care
Upon this land that we hold dear
For He will guide us through our darkest hour
If we will trust his sovereign power
When we are one nation under God
Our freedom will endure
One nation under God
Whose promises are sure
He will bless and keep our land
Safe by His almighty hand
This is the hope for which men fought:
One nation under God!
Our Responsibility
What can one person do to honor those who have paid such a high price for the freedoms we enjoy daily? It may not be required of us to give our lives but in one way or another we can do something. We have an obligation to preserve and pass on the great gifts we have received. If we want to change the world we start with ourselves, our families, our communities. We honor the laws of the land, we vote, we speak up against injustice, we pray for our leaders—the list is endless.
In 1997 I performed with the Tabernacle Choir at a special convocation at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. Former President George H. W. Bush was the keynote speaker.
His speech was dynamic and touching as he told the stories of several everyday heroes in our nation who had made a positive difference in their neighborhoods, and often far beyond, by giving their time, their means and their hearts to worthwhile projects.
I love the Fourth of July! This is the month of celebration that reminds us of our blessings as Americans and gives us a chance to express our deep gratitude for our freedom and what so many have done to ensure it. I recently read the words of a Dutch immigrant who came to America as a small boy and said he can still remember the excited throngs on the ship shouting America! America! as the Statue of Liberty came into view. This is especially significant to me as my own grandparents were teenaged Dutch immigrants who came to America for religious freedom. They saw this same statue beckoning them to a new life of opportunity and freedom. They met and married some years later in Ogden, Utah and eventually sent two of their sons to war knowing they might not return.
I was there at the train station as my grandmother, Pieterke Kapp, waved goodbye to her sons, calling out “My boys! My boys!” as they disappeared from view and then fainting to the ground from emotion. Grandpa Jacob Kapp was more stoic believing there was a price tag on liberty, and that price tag is to accept responsibility for defending it. One of their sons returned from war gravely wounded and spent one and a half years in the hospital in Brigham City.
My Father’s Patriotism
My father was a married man and therefore was not called to service during the war, but because of his father’s attitude and the service of his brothers, Dad was deeply patriotic throughout his life.
He was a farmer, a quiet man of strength, uneducated by the world’s standards, but a man of great wisdom. My brother Jack stood beside him at a parade one day and noticed that Dad stood and put his hand over his heart for every flag that passed by in the parade. Jack said, “Dad you only need to stand for the first flag.” Dad said, “I know, but I like to stand for every flag I see.”
One night a man seated two rows in front of Dad at a ballgame didn’t remove his hat during the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner”. Dad politely asked him to remove his hat, but he ignored him. He asked a second time, receiving no response. Then Dad walked down two rows and quietly removed his hat for him saying, “If my brother can be sent around the world and be shot up in defending this country, the least you can do is take your hat off for our flag.”
Every flag ceremony is a time for remembering the people, places, events, and lives lost in ensuring our freedom. We must guard against the temptation to take these things for granted just because we are generations removed from a historic event.
Listen
Put Your Hand Over Your Heart - Album – “Heal Our Land”
(Orrin G. Hatch, Janice Kapp Perry)
Remember all the braves ones
Who fought the battles, won the wars
Remember all the heroes
Who wore the colors, bore the scars
Remember all the patriots who loved our liberty
Remember ev’ry life laid down to keep our country free
chorus:
And put your hand over your heart
When the flag goes by
Put your hand over your heart
When you see Old Glory fly
Face that star-spangled banner
And when the music starts
Put your hand, put your hand
Over your heart
Remember all the children
Whose father’s heard their country’s call
Remember tears and anguish
From those who saw their comrades fall
Remember all the families
And what their loved ones gave
Remember every flag-draped box
Beside an empty grave
(Repeat chorus)
Hear the cries of fallen soldiers
Crying from the dust
Praying we will not forget
Their final gift to us
(Repeat chorus)
Collaborating with a Patriot
During the decade of the ‘90’s I spent considerable time collaborating on patriotic songs with US Senator Orrin G. Hatch. Through my association with him and my own research I gained a much deeper respect for the principles that guided the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In January 1997 I was honored to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the second inauguration of Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt in the Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, and heard him say this about the Founding Fathers:
They believed that a nation based on divinely ordained values could endure.
That is the reason every time we pledge allegiance to the flag we say, ‘One
nation under God. . .’ and why every coin in our pocket [says] ‘In God We
Trust’. . . . Our society has developed a misplaced politeness which says we
shouldn’t talk about God because it might offend someone. Heaven help the
society that is too polite to speak about God! (1)
That same year Brittany Salmon, a junior high student and patriotic essay contest winner, said:
“[Our national motto] ‘In God We Trust’ feels right to me. It helps me feel safe and secure to know God is looking over us and we’re looking to Him. I’m grateful that our country believes in God and I hope it stays that way!” (2) I add my voice to hers: I hope it stays that way!
Listen
One Nation Under God – album – “Freedom’s Light”
(Orrin G. Hatch and Janice Kapp Perry)
America has welcomed all
From many distant lands
Brave pilgrims seeking liberty
Who crossed the water in God’s hands.
Ev’ry honest, freedom-seeking soul--
America has welcomed all
The heart and might of this great land
Is found in our beliefs
Our faith in God’s unfailing hand
Will help preserve our liberties
And we invite all men who gather here
To worship God and feel no fear
We’ll sing the song of liberty
With voices strong and clear
We’ll seek for God’s protecting care
Upon this land that we hold dear
For He will guide us through our darkest hour
If we will trust his sovereign power
When we are one nation under God
Our freedom will endure
One nation under God
Whose promises are sure
He will bless and keep our land
Safe by His almighty hand
This is the hope for which men fought:
One nation under God!
Our Responsibility
What can one person do to honor those who have paid such a high price for the freedoms we enjoy daily? It may not be required of us to give our lives but in one way or another we can do something. We have an obligation to preserve and pass on the great gifts we have received. If we want to change the world we start with ourselves, our families, our communities. We honor the laws of the land, we vote, we speak up against injustice, we pray for our leaders—the list is endless.
In 1997 I performed with the Tabernacle Choir at a special convocation at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. Former President George H. W. Bush was the keynote speaker.
His speech was dynamic and touching as he told the stories of several everyday heroes in our nation who had made a positive difference in their neighborhoods, and often far beyond, by giving their time, their means and their hearts to worthwhile projects.
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Trip of all Trips!!!
6/20/11 Memory Making Summer Fun!!!!! (this is a PS to this post!)
Sorry I missed your email earlier - I haven't been very attentive to it this past week.
Our trip - can't believe that it is finally almost here. I know we will be taveling in comfort and with all of the modern conveniences but it still feels somewhat like a trek of sorts.
We are so excited to be heading out on our adventure this week and grateful for our children who have been our cheerleaders from the very beginning and my siblings who will be staying here with Mom. Their support that has made it possible. Aren't families wonderful and isn't being a grandparent the greatest!!!
Maurine R.
Hi Nancy -
Sorry I missed your email earlier - I haven't been very attentive to it this past week.
Our trip - can't believe that it is finally almost here. I know we will be taveling in comfort and with all of the modern conveniences but it still feels somewhat like a trek of sorts.
We have ten children, four of them with teenagers. We have 9 grandchildren ages 12-17 (3 girls and 6 boys) and our single daughter who will be traveling with us. These aren't just any grandkids - they are the greatest in the world. We love them so much!
We are hitting the road in an old (1988) 34' motorhome that we have been working on feverishly to get clean and dependable. The grandkids nicknamed it "Harvey, the RV" and my sister made great big vinyl letters that we will put on the back end introducing him to everyone we pass (or rather passes us) along the way!
We have reservations at KOAs along the way - Nate and I and the girls in Harvey and the boys in tents. Each of the kids have daily assignments for the trip ranging from daily devotional chairman to sanitation engineer to historian.
We have some special dietary challenges as 7 of them have celiac disease (can't eat anything with wheat, rye or barley), one is diabetic (no sugar) and one has cystic fibrosis (has to eat high fats and salt). That will make meals challenging!
We are picking up grandchildren in Billings, MT (the Idaho and Utah ones will meet us there) and then go on to Wisconsin where we will pick up two more. Then we will backtrack a little to begin our trip touring the church history sites from Missouri to New York (Independence, Adam-ondi-ahman, Nauvoo, Kirtland, Palmyra, etc.) over a two week period, ending up at the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Our climax the day after the pageant will be a sunrise visit to the Sacred Grove. We will take a short detour on the way home to see Niagra Falls!
We have been planning for almost a year. The kids have each earned some of the money which they sent in monthly to our trip savings account which was then matched by their parents and then we matched that total to finance the dream.
Each month I gave the kids assignments to help prepare them so that the trip will be more than just a vacation. We are looking forward to having experiences that will bring us closer together and sink our gospel roots deeper. I have always felt connected to the pioneers and drawn to early church history. Nate and I have visited the sites before and dreamed of sharing what we felt with our family. We hope these next few weeks will help our grandchildren learn more about who they are and who they can be as we share this experience.
We are so excited to be heading out on our adventure this week and grateful for our children who have been our cheerleaders from the very beginning and my siblings who will be staying here with Mom. Their support that has made it possible. Aren't families wonderful and isn't being a grandparent the greatest!!!
Maurine R.
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