Scriptures come to life

I tried to quickly find a quote I love by Elder Maxwell about-- we are spiritual beings having a human experience.  I think not to long ago I read someone else saying something similar.  I couldn't find it and unfortunately my mind couldn't pull the location out of it's slender memory bank. 

When I see so much devastation nationally and then heartache and suffering both with strangers and friends on personal trials....I remind myself-- this is a part of the plan.  These events are a part of the winding up scene.

The first year I taught the Book of Mormon, my CES supervisor told us that it parallels the coming events of the last days.  He said it wouldn't be exactly as the Book of Mormon in order of events etc. etc. but the described destruction would be a part of the last days.

At the time, we looked through some of those happenings in 3rd Nephi 8 -- storms, winds, thunder, lightnings, cities on fire, earth moved upon cities, whirlwinds, earthquakes, cities sunk into the sea, exceedingly great damage to cities that remained, people disappearing and not found, the face of the earth deformed, and on and on.  Beyond imagination.

We then read in D&C 88: 87-92   That the Lord tries to reach people through his messengers, through their testimonies, and if that falls on deaf ears then an outpouring of  natural calamities "testimony"-will come into our lives including the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds  (vs 90) 

When I first read those accounts in 3rd Nephi and D&C 88, I could not imagine, other than frequent Alaskan tremors/earthquakes and a river overflowing during breakup, what that would be like.  Our world used to be so limited in it's connection and now I can witness destruction/suffering first hand 24/7.

When I read- 88:91 And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people, it sounds like today's world!

I remember how united our world, our country, all of us were after 9/11 and all the flags displayed and kindness and generosity and love and concern.  I wondered how long that feeling would last.  Not long enough!

These tragic situations seem to rally us for a particle of time and then it fades.  An ebb and flow just like the water that can be so helpful or destructive, depending on how it's channeled.

I calm myself in remembering...Gen. Conference was peaceful in tone.  Encouraging me to do better and be better and endure.  There was nothing scary.  My belief in Prophets, living Prophets, just anchors me and gives me solace, peace and confidence that the Lord is well aware of all that is going on in this beautiful world, that I love.  I do a mental checklist on my own personal preparedness of practical necessities and express thankfulness for direction to weather the storms of life.

I pray.

Could not get on my blog to blog!

Sorry.  Could not get on my blog to post until now!!!  I have no idea what was going on.  Will not post a blog mid afternoon but will be here in the morning.  Thanks for caring and thanks for asking where the blog is!   Love sharing with you and knowing you are there reading.  Hi Heather!  Hi Lena!  Hi Shannon!  Hi Abby!  Hi Jeanne!  Hi Natalie!  Hi Julianna!  Hi Emma!  Hi Wendy!  and Hi Chelle!  and on and on.  I should not mention names as I leave people off so I just stopped abruptly.  Don't be bothered by it.  Tomorrow!

re-gifting to the max!

This picture is totally an acting job!!  I fixed up a super bandage for traveling so he wouldn't get that cheek scrape torn open with his head burrowed in blankets and pillows and then he pulled the drama face of agony on me!!  He's ancient before his time...nestled in Grandpa's old recliner and blasting out his ear drums with Gramps TV listening headset!  He's ready for an all day homeward ride.

They headed out super early, in the dark of early hours.  I lightened the picture!  Me the pro, now!
They are looking at a couple of strays in the yard of our neighbor-less house.  Plus petting some!

Here is my favorite birthday guy!  Sunday snoozing after Church and before going back up to see a baptism.  Remember his favorite gifts?....#1 Family surprising him  and #2 Henrietta Hen the egg cooker. 

Today I asked him where my personal gift ranked, as he'd never mentioned it, and maybe he wasn't happy or didn't like or etc. etc.  It fell to #3.  Go figure!  He gifted me with him doing all dishes, everything--washing, drying, putting up etc. etc.--at the first of the year. It was 10 months of a dream gift and I loved it!  He just took over the kitchen! 

His big love package from me?... I freed him of that dream gift and gifted him with my take back and I will do the dishes. 

Least I sound angelic and just precious and compassionate, urging to providing relief to this man with dishpan hands, the truth must be told....I missed my kitchen and I wanted to do it myself.  I just like the idea of hanging towels the way I want, angling the red toaster and the fake red rose just so-so, loading the dishwasher the way I want, scouring the sink, sudsy water wipe downs  etc. etc. 

But wait a minute...is it really about "the" sink etc.?  Not really.  In thinking about it, I lay claim to everything in the kitchen being mine.  Am I evilly looking over my kingdom?  No. Ships are referred to as "she/her".  My bitty little kitchen is female and I'm comfy being female so I'll enjoy that sisterhood!! 

the winding down

Winding down and the party is almost over.  We so appreciate Dave and family driving from Utah to surprise Terry on his birthday.  Felt bad that I left for my Stake Auxiliary Leadership meeting but the
family were all good sports about it.

Someone gifted us with these adorable pumpkins!  How nice!!!!

Making the infamous traditional Poor Man's Mush (aka wallpaper paste)

It was a nasty face fall on rocks in the river!!  Ouch!!!

Mr. Fix-it Man of the the headset (Thank you ever so much!!!)

Winding down.....

The winding down continues....

Wound down and out!!!

Ready for meeting! (Thank you, Heather!  I so enjoyed being with you!!)

Terry's #1 gift?--- surprise arrival of family - 2nd place?!-- Henrietta Hen the egg cooker!!

Enjoying Grandchildren

The fun just keeps on happening!!!!  super simple, no major outings.... just being together....

Picking the largest apples he could find!  the winner!!

Measuring for Cinnamon Rolls

Checking cinnamon roll recipe

Work....Work....Work

Ooops!!!

Math Homework with Grandpa

Cramming in as much as possible!!

Enjoying some simple things..... just being with family!

a lot of laughing & talking (Terry, Kip, David)

a lot of artwork

a lot of appreciating last days with family dog, Hillary

Michaels Store- looking for simple Origami book.  Doesn't exist!

Cabelas new store- checking out the wildlife

Granger- conquering dinosaurs!

Sam

Grace

Homework!

Homework!

A Birthday Surprise for Terry!

What a great surprise....a knock on the door and Terry's birthday gift arrived!....our son David and his sweet family!!  Terry was shocked beyond belief!  I'll be back blogging when they head back home in a few days. In the meantime- we will enjoy playing grandparents and visiting with their parents. 

Here is shortly after they arrived enjoying a Sub sandwich and visiting.

New Arrival!!!

(This first picture just set the tears aflow!!  Emma!  So proud of you and happy for you that your little girl is here!)

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Family and Friends,

You may have heard already, but Melanie Ann arrived late Thursday evening October 18th, 2012 at 11:38 pm. She was 8 lbs, 10 oz and 19.5 inches long. She is such a joy! I have been trying to catch up on sleep, so I haven't contacted many people yet. Everyone is healthy, and Mom and baby are home from the hospital.

The Grigg family!!!

Emma holding Melanie Ann

Aaron, Emma & Melanie Ann

David holding Melanie Ann, Emma (I'd pay a nickel for her thoughts!) & Timothy

Back Here on Monday!!!

See you then!!  Monday!!! the 22nd!

Jury Still Out on This Quote???.....

Robyn's progress...

Remember Robyn?  My daughter's friend that had the double lung transplant?  Well, look at this!!  Her first outing for a fun time was at my twin granddaughters 16th birthday party!  She took care of melting chocolate for one section of the party.


Here is one of Jeanee and Robyn...


Jeanee in the middle and Robyn on the right!!

Remember these two pictures below?  After transplant....

First reunion after transplant.

Miracles

October around here is super busy in our Stake....General Conference followed by Stake Conference followed by Stake Auxiliary Leadership Meeting and then Stake Woman's Conference.  And then we have a Ward Harvest Fair dinner!!  I really enjoy all of the happenings.  A chance to see so many and learn so much and feel the Spirit.

When I heard  Elder Nash speak at Sunday afternoon General Conference (By Faith All Things are Fulfilled) and related this miracle of 1856, I thought of a miracle in our Ward in 2007.  Just one month shy of a year ago I blogged about it but it is just as clear in my mind today as it was 5 years ago when it happened.

 Enjoy this excerpt from his talk and then go below to read of a modern day happening that matches this one.

The life of Ann Rowley, a pioneer woman in the early days of the Church, demonstrates how exercising faith impacts our lives for good. A widow from England, Sister Rowley exercised her faith to answer the prophet’s call to gather to Zion. She was a member of the Willie handcart company, which encountered deep snowdrifts along the trail in the fall of 1856. They had reached a point in the trek where her seven children were literally starving. She wrote: “It hurt me to see my children go hungry. … Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal. I asked God’s help as I always did. I got on my knees, remembering two hard sea biscuits that … had been left over from the sea voyage. They were not large, and were so hard they couldn’t be broken. Surely, that was not enough to feed 8 people, but 5 loaves and 2 fishes were not enough to feed 5,000 people either, but through a miracle, Jesus had done it. So, with God’s help, nothing is impossible. I found the biscuits and put them in a dutch oven and covered them with water and asked for God’s blessing. Then I put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals. When I took off the lid a little later, I found the pan filled with food. I kneeled with my family and thanked God for his goodness. That night my family had sufficient food.”

http://acandlestick.blogspot.com/2011/11/pan-of-ham.html  

general-conference/2012/10/by-faith-all-things-are-fulfilled?lang=eng  

Ruby Slippers

In conversation discussing a book that several of us had read, I mentioned that it reminded me of the Wizard of Oz- in that the main character exited through a door into another world and then ended up coming back through the door, at books end,and was safe back home.  A fellow reader had not thought of that connection but what really caught me off guard was the fact that she doesn't like the Wizard of Oz story.  I really enjoy the story.  Probably because I can identify with all of the characters!!  I'm a composite of all of them!

Sometimes I don't have a lick of sense, am scatter brained, and seem to have a hole in my head- just like Scarecrow!

Sometimes I lack courage to do a hard task, or say something that is easier left unsaid, or even put a toe in the water!  Afraid of my own shadow, just like that Cowardly Lion.

Sometimes my heart doesn't feel or show the love that should be spilling over.  As if I lack heart just like the Tinman.

Sometimes I am like that co-dependent Wizard!  Trying to fix everything for everyone as far as their happiness factor goes.  Afraid that others will find out what I'm really like and won't like me.  All that co-dependent stuff!

Sometimes I complain about things like Dorothy but deep inside I know there is truly no place like home!

The list of similarities could go on and on, even when they all come to their full stature with intelligence rendering intelligent choices, courage to reach out and help others, feeling and sharing the love they feel, being honest in their own true emotions of who they really are and of course, the desire to be home with family--and feeling that is the best place of all!

I reread an old 1984 Weekly Reader version retold from the original 1900 book.  Whittled down to 48 small pages it still maintains the integrity of the story and retains what remains to me, the essence of my favorite line of all.

Dorothy is crying and wanting to go home and protesting that she doesn't want to stay.  She wants to go home to Kansas.  And then magic happens as a beautiful Good Witch appears and declares that she is there to help Dorothy.

"Can you help me get home?" asked Dorothy, wiping away her tears.

"You can do that yourself," said Glinda.  "The ruby shoes can take you to Kansas.  Why, they could have taken you home on the very first day."

 That is my most favorite line!!  Power to leave from the first day!!
 


 We have the power within us as Daughters of God to do many things for ourselves.  To accomplish much and to be much.  We just sometimes forget that fact.

“Live Up to Your Privilege”

You are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms. If you live up to these principles how great and glorious!—if you live up to your privilege, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates. … If you will be pure, nothing can hinder.

Joseph Smith

An Alarm Clock! Again??

Most of the time we are governed by deadline responsibilities like our jobs/careers and children's needs whether pre-school or in school and then their chosen activities with practices/games/performances.  Calendars are full, clocks are watched.  We have a sameness of day, at least in the awaking time except when you retire from all those deadlines!  Well, at least if you are like us!!  No set routine in that area.  You just sort of automatically wake up and you just sort of automatically go to bed- all pretty much as before.  Then you get a little more relaxed.  And then even more!!

Our wake up time has stretched into later as has our beddy-bye time.  We have ended up just sort of out of control.  Party animals??!!!

A few years ago at McCall I discovered that it was possible for me to stay up the entire night?!  I was stunned when I did this.  It was very innocent.  I was visiting with someone in our family, don't remember who, and the time just sort of got away.  Next thing you know it was closer to get-up than lie-down so I stayed-up!  Then all that day I remained upright!  Interesting!

In the past several months I found out that if I stay up past 11:15 then I get a second wind and again can stay up if I don't get to bed ASAP!  Not that I I do that but I easily could just shift to nocturnal internal system.  When Safeway used to stay open 24?7 (maybe they still do?)  a gal at the Dental office, where I worked!, did her shopping at 5am!  It's a whole new life out there!  Actually this bit of trivia has nothing to do with Terry implementing a new challenge/change in our lives.

He, on his own, decided that we need to get up the same time every day after going to bed the same time the night before.  This is an amazing thing that he would set this in motion.  I find it interesting and rather exciting.  He feels we are wasting time and not getting enough done, of what needs to be done.  and it's scriptural (that's my take).

This sort of teamwork, agreeing on what the two of us will do together, is about the only way it can work.  Teamwork in marriages is not always easy.  When my friend Joyce and I went into business, as partners (which it was predicted, and we were counseled- don't do it as partners.  it will be the end of your long friendship).  We discussed a lot of things.  We knew what we wanted to do.  We knew our strengths.  We set up the division of everything.  

And then we did the biggie verbal clause- that saved us more than one time...we decided that if one of us wanted to do something about our business and the other didn't want to do it...all the opposing partner had to say was--I don't want to do that.  End of discussion.  No more discussion.  No explanation needed.  Over.  Kaput.  We decided that we'd operate on the premise of what is right for our business and not who is right.  It worked for us.  (It was a candy shop.  Of course!!)

One day, with never having had a single cross word,  we talked about-- wouldn't it be great if that concept could be integrated into a marriage??!!  I do think a kinder more gentle response is....That won't work for me... if it's marriage talk on the line and then start negotiation and compromise and optional clauses or some sort of thing that works for you!!  and him!!  (remember...I have absolutely no training except on the job for umpteen dozen years.  did you already forget my anniversary???)

So when Terry said that  he felt we should do this, getting to bed earlier and up earlier, and a short to-do list, including our regular bed-head appearance while conference watching a talk a day, and then he threw in personal scripture study right afterwards...well, he was on a roll!  Know what I loved?  He wanted to do what was right.  He felt we were delaying things and would have a better day etc. etc.  Remember, it's just the two of us.  We do go to bed and we do get up and we do watch a talk and we do study and etc. etc. No regular deadlines.  So he set us some!! 

True.  I could have said things like...I don't want to study then or why that early or blah, blah, blah but instead I thought--this is great!  Anytime in your marriage that you find something that you can both agree on the details and act together, you have just strengthened your marriage.  For that event, even if it's singular, you are united and strong, and it will be a pleasant thing.  

A lot of times as women, we are born to micro manage, because how else can you manage a career (be it professional or stay-at-home/kiddo's or kid-less.)?  we are great in endeavoring to manage everything and everyone.  or maybe it's just the co-dependents like me, that do that deed.  Sometimes we do get a bit, or a lot bossy, just to keep things on par but there comes a time that men, wonderful men, feel to do things for the good of the family.  We are a little duo and I'm glad he cares about this aspect of our life!

A shout out to men who take the reins and move the team forward equally yoked, instead of spinning in circles.  An even bigger cheer for women that applaud their effort and give them a chance to CTR.

This post sort of got spinning out of control.  I just wanted to say that he's trying to have us be less lazybones and instead reap the benefit from....

...cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.   Doctrine & Covenants 88:124

The Constancy of Unbinding!!!

Alaska has gorgeous wildflowers!!  They grow big and colorful for the most part!  Wildflowers are such a free gift to all of us.  Moving to WA was so different in so many ways.  I didn't recognize the vegetation.  The trees were foreign to me.  A life long Alaskan...I had never seen fruit trees.  Landing in Yakima and my friend driving me to her home, I was asking...what's that?  what's that?   Eventually I said...Well, I know what that is.  Grapes!  No.  Wrong.  It was hops!

She told me in time I'd learn what the differences were by the appearance of each tree.

In time I saw a small flower but I did know what it was.  A Morning Glory!  Petite and palest of pink and it was free!  No price!  It was a wild flower!  I mentioned to Linda how wonderful that was to have something so pretty as a climber.  She told me it was a weed, next to impossible to get rid of, roots that can go forever and it was not a good thing.  I was really surprised that something so small would cause her to feel so strongly that it could cause great harm and was actually destructive.  I have come to see that as a reality.

Look at this picture.  The actual new Honeysuckle plant is on the left and the wild Morning Glory on the right.  See how it reaches towards the Honeysuckle?    

When I gave it a tug you can see how much was hiding under the trellis.

This is where the danger is.  These delicate stems coil around it's victim and literally choke it to death.  See that coil in the picture below?  they are almost chameleon-like, in that they are very hard to see, and you actually have to unwind it to save the prey.  It's like a corkscrew.  The power is so great that it can hold something in one place and deform it and not let it reach it's potential.

One year we planted some tree-like Chinese hedge shrubs and they themselves were super strong.  At first we just let them grow upward and be busy shade trees which we enjoyed so much.  Then we decided to prune them.  We were shocked when we came to one tree limb that was very strong and good sized and bent at 90`.  In the crook of that bend were wild morning glories wrapped as thick as a hornets nest!  Holding ground, gathering forces, working together, holding firm, achieving their goal for the diminished growth of tree stature that we wanted for what we had planted.  We wanted full straight stature but all of that had been interfered with.  Tucked away.  Hidden and out of sight until we started trimming and pruning.

Our son had a new driveway put in and he had it filled with gravel.  A beautiful Morning Glory next to the fence was demolished by the work crew.  This wasn't a mere smattering of gravel. This was thick deep gravel.  Imagine our surprise when up through all of this gravel, 2 summers later, the Morning Glory fought it's way through devastation, not of it's making or doing,  and bloomed again in all it's beauty!!  It is on the driveway and up the fence and is better than ever in color and size.  Beautiful!  Enjoyed and appreciated by all!

All is not well in spite of such a heroic rise of the Phoenix.  Look closely.  see the bitty little furled pale pink wild flowers?  See the gathering of those wild stems gathering together for the attack?  Wild Morning Glories!!!

As a daughter of God, I too am a Morning Glory.  Seeds of wildness and tameness within.  Which ever one I tend, or neglect to tend, will cause me to move ahead or sabotage myself.

It's scriptural after all.....

...and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.  2Nephi 26:22

Back here on Wednesday!!

Wednesday.  I will be here.

A Prophet speaks!

How refreshing it was to hear all those hours of talks and no doom and gloom.  No mention of politics/gas-prices/war/calamities/recession-depression-inflation/rising food costs or famines or shortages.  A no fear mentality.  A source of hope and joy and peace.  A charge to be kind, be nice, do even small things, for each other, when that whisper comes.

A clarion call for all of us to help all children and the youth to gain a testimony and then aide in their conversion.  A challenge for parents/grandparents/friends/family and that includes Ward families to help these young people.

With the entire world, or least seemingly so, in a whirl of chaos and evil and violence and confusion and disastrous events happening everywhere....wasn't it refreshing to hear a living Apostle, Elder Holland tell the press that "I'm almost giddy" over the announcement of YM being able to serve a mission at 18 and YW at 19.

When we served in the Branch I remember at least 3 YM, right out of high school, that were just so ready to serve, so spirit-filled and eager to go.  It really seemed a shame they had to wait.  There were others that needed more time to prepare.  Now the playing field is level and they can go when the time is right for them!

When I first heard it I immediately was concerned about the guilt factor that might be placed on some that wanted to go but weren't quite ready yet.  I loved it, as the Conference went on, that the word "option" kept surfacing.  They now have options!  a time frame from 18-25 to go!  to be able to plan their life and make those choices that will work for them.  No pressure.  No questioning by anyone about the whys or why nots.  They will just consider the options, counsel with family and Bishop etc. and do what works best for them.

It used to be we adults were the ones with the Spirit of testimony and conversion and now we see that moving down into the vibrant souls of our youth.  And the YW!!!  Over the years we've all known those YW that lament they can't go, it's not fair, I'm ready now etc. etc.  Now they can go and the YW will be a power house of strength!!

Vainly I always thought the 1979 statement by President Kimball was referring to my peers and I, in the below statement.  In light of revelatory information that was said today, the field broadened and expanded, way beyond my narrow projected scope. GO WOMEN!!  Young and/or old!!!

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Finally, my dear sisters, may I suggest to you something that has not been said before or at least in quite this way. Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. 

This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.

Among the real heroines in the world who will come into the Church are women who are more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish. These real heroines have true humility, which places a higher value on integrity than on visibility. Remember, it is as wrong to do things just to be seen of women as it is to do things to be seen of men. 

Great women and men are always more anxious to serve than to have dominion.

Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days. 
                                                                            by President Spencer W. Kimball (1979)

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Saturday Press Conference!!  

With the opening of the 182nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson surprised members with an announcement that, effective immediately, men may now begin serving missions at age 18 and women at age 19.

During a press conference following the Saturday morning session, Elders Russell M. Nelson and Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder David F. Evans of the Seventy shared some more information about this change in policy.

Elder Holland revealed that very few people were aware this change would be announced. Nearly all of the General Authorities—except for the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—all mission presidents, university presidents and admissions officers, and all MTC administrators were unaware of the change until President Monson made the announcement.

Church leaders hope the move will expand the opportunities for young members of the Church Saints to serve full-time missions.

Elder Nelson emphasized that the change is an option, not an edict:

“These age adjustments are new options now available to bishops in evaluating what is best for each of their youth,” he said. He continued, “Young men and young women should not begin their service before they are ready spiritually and temporally.”

He stated that schooling, family circumstances, health, and so forth still remain important considerations for the timing of missionary service.

Over the past decade, permission has been given in 48 countries to let young men serve at age 18. Now, the Church will have a single policy worldwide.

Church leaders hope this increase in flexibility will allow more prospective missionaries to serve. Currently, approximately 58,000 missionaries serve full-time.

Since President Monson’s appeal for more full-time and couple missionaries two years ago, during October 2010 general conference, the response by Church members has been great—the number of full-time elders serving has increased by six percent; the number of sisters by 12 percent, and the number of couples by 18 percent.

Elder Holland elaborated on some details and some changes that will have to be made in light of the new policy:

1) Prospective missionaries, he said, will be asked to enhance their pre-mission preparation, including total personal worthiness supplemented by gospel study (especially the Book of Mormon), seminary and Institute classes, and systematic study of Preach My Gospel.

“God is hastening His work,” Elder Holland said, directing his remarks to the young men and women of the Church. “And He needs more and more willing and worthy missionaries to spread the light and the truth and the hope and the salvation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an often dark and fearful world. … This isn’t about you. It is about the sweet and pure message you are being asked to bear.”

Elder Holland asked parents to take a strong hand in this preparation and not to expect the Missionary Department or MTCs or local leaders to direct everything.

2) Time at each of the Church’s 15 Missionary Training Centers (MTCs) will be reduced by one-third for all missionaries.

3) At the Church’s flagship MTC in Provo, Utah, new instructors and staff will have to be hired and the amount of housing will have to be increased almost immediately. The Church is considering comparable expansion at some other MTCs, but is not planning on building any new MTCs at this time.

4) Missionaries will benefit from a recently implemented 12-week training course being administered in the mission field through mission presidents. The program is designed to improve every missionary’s teaching skills while in the field.

5) The Church is considering adding new missions in the future. Until those new missions are created, the existing 347 missions will absorb any increase in the number of missionaries.

6) Prospective missionaries may be recommended by their bishop and stake president for full-time service 120 days prior to their birthday or to their availability date (which takes into account high school graduation or its equivalent). Young men may enter the MTC after graduating and reaching 18 years of age. Women may enter after their 19th birthday. No adjustment has been made to the upper age limit (25 years for young men, no limit for young women).

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

• Prospective missionaries are being asked to enhance their pre-mission preparation in light of the policy change.
• Time at each of the Church’s 15 Missionary Training Centers (MTCs) will be reduced by one-third for all missionaries.
• Until new missions can be created, the existing 347 missions will absorb any increase in the number of missionaries.

“God is hastening His work. And He needs more and more willing and worthy missionaries to spread the light and the truth and the hope and the salvation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an often dark and fearful world.” —Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Our Food Fest

So all of that talk about planning the food etc. and all that excitement etc. and Terry decides that he likes his idea better than mine!  I still liked my plan best but the reality is he really wanted to cook.  So....what's a girl to do?  Let him cook for a couple of days!!!?  Of course!  He already washes all the dishes AND puts them away (remember my New Years Eve gift from him????  He's still doing it!  Yes!!  whoever said Retirement is a tough adjustment???) Have at it, my sweet man!!

He decides to make Food Network Bobby Flay Spaghetti and Meatballs  (after the fact.  He says he is not going to use that recipe again.  I'm glad!)  He made so many meata ballza on Friday that we have a cookie sheet filled in the freezer plus he had so much sauce and MB's for Saturday that it required a pound of spaghetti! 

He also figured he'd Traegher a chicken.  a whole chicken!  I reminded him that it's 2 days and 2 people which did not seem to phase him.  He ended up just roasting it in the oven for Sunday.

Also decided to make biscuits to go with the bird.  Does anyone else make biscuits with an electric mixer?  His own idea. 

So we now have lots of food frozen for future use.

He took notes at Priesthood meeting and shared when he got home. 

We loved every minute of Conference!!!!!  Even if occasionally someone, sitting next to me, grabbed a couple of winks!!    We go all out for Conference absorption!!  General Conference should be a national holiday of religious celebration!!  A celebration of The Restoration!! We plan and enjoy and celebrate. 

Pictures to illustrate the above!!!  Note his food service gloves while making the baseball size meatballs.  Exaggeration but really they were very big.  Our daughter said that she bets somewhere in Italy they make 3" meatballs.

I love this man!!!

Friday - Mr. Meat Ball Maker

Sharing Priesthood Notes

Ooopsie!  (Peanut Butter?)

Why not beat the biscuits?

See?  Pie-crust Biscuits

My favorite gift ever!!!  My own dishwasher!  Him, I mean!

Don't some folks take classes this way?  Letting it penetrate deep???

What goes around, comes around....

If I remember it correctly weren't there 7 times that pride took it's toll in the Book of Mormon and it always began with expensive clothing?  That pride cycle just really kicked into gear when the duds went beyond reason.

Jacob 2:13 And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are ^lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.

Alma 1: 6 And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly ^aapparel, yea, and even began to ^bestablish a^cchurch after the manner of his preaching.

Mormon 8:36-37

36 And I know that ye do ^awalk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not ^blift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of ^cvery fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

 37 For behold, ye do love ^amoney, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

A couple of weeks ago I was fascinated to read about a modern day example of excess in expensive clothing.  Imelda Marcos with her  closet filled with over 1200 pair of expensive shoes.  Here is a picture of how they ended up!!!  The shoes I mean!!


"Her massive shoe collection, including top U.S. and European brands, astounded the world and became a symbol of excess in the Southeast Asian nation, where many still walked barefoot out of abject poverty."

"Termites, storms and neglect have damaged part of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos' legendary stash of shoes and other vanity possessions, left behind after she and her dictator husband were driven into U.S. exile by a 1986 popular revolt.

"Hundreds of pieces of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos' clothing, including the formal native see-through Barong shirts he wore during his two-decade rule, have also begun to gather mold and fray after being stored for years without protection at the presidential palace and later at Manila's National Museum, officials told The Associated Press on Sunday.

"The Marcoses fled the Philippines at the climax of the army-backed "people power" revolt, which became a harbinger of change in authoritarian regimes worldwide. Ferdinand Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 and his widow and children returned home years later.

"They left behind staggering amounts of personal belongings, clothes and art objects at the palace, including at least 1,220 pairs of Imelda Marcos' shoes.

"More than 150 carton boxes of clothes, dress accessories and shoes of the Marcoses were transferred to the National Museum for safekeeping two years ago after termites, humidity and mold threatened the apparel at the riverside palace. There they deteriorated further as the fragile boxes were abandoned in a padlocked museum hall that had no facilities to protect such relics and that was inundated by tropical storm rains last month due to a gushing leak in the ceiling museum officials said."

AP report by Jim Gomez