Decorations are in order!

I cannot remember a time when I enjoyed our Christmas decorations as much as I did this year.  That sentence should be changed to ...I can't remember a time when we left our Christmas decorations up clear to 2 days ago AND we enjoyed every minute!  I did go ahead and leave the garland over the mirror because we both enjoyed it so much, so we just said to each other...Well, why not?!  Let's just leave it up.  And so we did.  I just plugged my little camera in and I will try, after such a long time of not posting pictures, to post one.

It was quite a feat to pack all of the things and take the tree down.  There were several smaller boxes so I ended up combining them and have most things in totes.  The big feat, for which I gave myself a gold star, was hauling it all to the garage and hefting it up on shelves...all in one area.  Easy to find and all ready for next year.  I want the tree up the day after Thanksgiving so we can enjoy it for several weeks.  I'm ready for next year!

Terry really missed his little houses but he settled for reminiscing and we shared memories of Christmas past.  Those when we had children living under the roof and Christmases when gone from home children, came home.

We relived the Christmas when Jeanee's family came from Florida.  Arriving at midnight... met at the airport with warm clothes... drove home to lights shining everywhere on the house and in the house like a fairyland and then the big bonus--awaking the next morning to snow falling!  It was like a perfectly scripted play!

Memories...gotta make hay while the sun shines.  There are just certain time periods in everything, like a shelf life.  You cannot postpone making memories or the time for that happening will be gone.

Like McCall.  You know that we have gone there several years, when our children had young children living at home.  Now those young children, our grandchildren, are young adults and into careers and education and jobs and marriages and that time of all of us together has sort of faded.  We have fantastic memories of the years we did McCall.

One of my friends has 5 children and they used to go the coast annually.   She said that it finally ended because of that exact thing of children building individual lives.  It isn't that the desire is gone...it's just the time for making it happen is gone.

We will continue to plan annual things but the reality is we most likely will never spend an entire week at McCall together.  I have no regrets and no sadness over that fact.  I'm thankful we planned and worked and made it happen because we all have such terrific memories.  I have such gratitude for the opportunities we had...being together and having fun!

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Spoken by President Monson at one of his birthday celebrations....

 “I echo the words of the Scottish writer and poet James Barrie, who wrote, ‘God gave us memories, that we might have June roses in the December of our lives’ (See Laurence J. Peter, comp., Peter’s Quotations: Ideas for Our Time (1977), 335).”

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Now we make memories with family coming to see us individually.  We will plan for a gathering this summer and see who can make it.  (Those McCall memories of all the grandchildren enjoying each other and our adult children enjoying each other are so precious.  Love them!)

Seems logical...

Yes...it does seem logical that we will all start really pursuing a daily reading of the Book of Mormon under the guidance and leadership of President Nelson.  It's the IF/THEN principle.  We want and need a blessing in our life? then the solution/answer is found in the doing of what we read or hear by those called of God to lead us.

In this particular case, to claim the promises mentioned below we must daily read from the Book of Mormon. 

I want these promised blessings as I really need and desire them.

Do you?

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April 2017-President Monson's invitation and promises  here

excerpt from President Monson....

My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

October 2017- President Nelson's invitation and promises here 

excerpt from President Nelson....

My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.

A newness

Yesterday was so marvelous as far as I'm concerned.  The changing of the guard so to speak.  We were up and waiting for the announcement and eager and curious as to the happenings.  How nice that we got an inside peek before the press.

As you know, from things I've mentioned over the years, the thought of the heavens being opened was so foreign to me that I did not immediately embrace that fact.  Yesterday I thought of how far I've come and how that very fact, the heavens being opened/continuing revelation to ordinary men for our guidance, is now a foundation, if not the foundation, of my testimony.

Also springing into my mind was gratitude.... gratitude for having that conviction coupled with my belief in Jesus Christ and Him being the head of His Church.  This Church.  My Church that I love.

Yesterday my wandered back to the day that we sustained President Nelson and President Oaks as Quorum members.  34 years ago.  2 prominent individuals, answering a Prophetic call, to stop straightway their amazing careers!  To cease before they had even retired!  The brass ring of life, within their grasp, and they were told to get off the merry-go-round and don't look back.  And they did it.

I've watched them over this 34 years and they have stayed true to the course they were called to.  I am not bothered by their age or anything else that might be bothersome to some.

Sister Ann Dibb, speaking at her father's funeral, first thing she said?... that her father was human.  So are these 3 men in the Presidency but...I feel when push comes to shove (so to speak) the Lord will inspire them.

Recently I was feeling rather tired and in my mind questioning and trying to figure out why low battery.  The Holy Ghost put into my mind that I was missing a key pill in taking my Rx.  I went and checked and yes (of course) that gentle prod was correct.  IF I, really mortal, can receive help beyond myself, as to a solution for a life situation, I have no doubt that the governing leadership of the Church will receive revelation and inspiration for the direction we need to sail.  And me?...I will need to adjust my sails.

Elder Uchtdorf?  I look forward to hearing where he will be serving in his new responsibilities and I also look forward to hearing him in General Conference.  His many talks have blessed my life.   I feel like he flew off and left me standing at baggage claim!

link here  My thoughts and testimony about living Prophets.  and especially here  and here  I did not realize how often over the years I've shared the love I have for this aspect, most important and divine aspect, of the Gospel but I've definitely done that!

An invitation...

Over and over, I'm so thankful to live in this age of technology.  To think that we will be able to witness the introduction of our next Prophet AND his 2 Counselors AND 2 new Apostles....right in our home!  What a day of awe!!

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A Special Invitation for Tuesday, January 16

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from around the world are invited to participate in a live message from President Russell M. Nelson on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. This message will be shared on all Church broadcast, internet and social media channels in 29 languages. President Nelson's message will be followed by a press conference at 10:00 a.m. MST. More information about these events can be found here.

Beautifully said....

 

3 lessons shared

(this is copied from Elder Renlund's FB post.  The lyrics are to one of my all time favorite hymns that the Tabernacle Choir sings and I was glad to see them in print.  The tributes to President Monson have all been so sincere and touching.  What a miracle for us that we can watch the funeral tomorrow as it is happening!  I'm so thankful for that opportunity.)

How I love President Thomas S Monson! As I have reflected on the life of this extraordinary man, I have thought of three invaluable lessons he taught me, beginning in April of 2009 when he set me apart as a General Authority Seventy. President Monson spent more than an hour with Ruth and me that day. At some point he mentioned a favorite hymn and promised he would teach it to us before we left. However, with all that was going on, it slipped his mind and we didn’t learn the hymn. By the time we got home, there was a message on our answering machine from his secretary, asking if we could come back because he still wanted to teach us the hymn. The first lesson is that President Monson always kept his word.

The next day, we returned to President Monson’s office and spent an additional hour and a half with him. He gathered some of his staff around, and one of the sisters played the piano. His teaching of the hymn reminded me of learning a song in Primary, one line at a time! As we were leaving, I said, “President Monson, you have been so kind to us.” His response was, “I have only treated you as I would want to have been treated.” The second lesson is that President Monson knew and understood the Golden Rule.

The hymn that President Monson taught us was “If the Way Be Full of Trial, Weary Not,” which includes these words:

If the way be full of trial, weary not;
If it's one of sore denial, weary not;
If it now be one of weeping,
There will come a joyous greeting,
When the harvest we are reaping, weary not.

CHORUS
Do not weary by the way
Whatever be thy lot
There awaits a brighter day
To all, to all who weary, weary not.

The third lesson comes from watching President Monson as his health has declined; he truly did serve the Lord with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength. While his physical body was failing, he truly did “weary not.” May we all go and do likewise.

Hodge-Podge

Chapter 1

Why on earth do I do this to myself?  Feeling to share something.  Knowing I will not forget. Procrastinating blogging it.  Jotting a note down (for just in case I do forget).  Ending up with scraps of paper that are so jumbled and messy that they are cryptic!  Ideas. Words like Salk/Barbara Streisand/Wright Brothers/fountain pen.  NYT-Obit. $$$$$/Pres. Hinckley. 4 wheels. Japan/misery. Temple. & all sorts of scripture references with no subject- just name/numbers!

It all made total sense when I quickly jotted scribbled those words down.  I only mentioned a few!  I have 7 note pages of chicken scratches!  I have to stop this nonsense!  That being said...I will endeavor to decipher my coded scraps of paper.  the top few!

Chapter 2

I believe it all started as I contemplated the New Year and my creed points and without reading, pulled up from memory, those points I wanted to hold onto for 2018.  Such as:

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

If it's to be- it's up to me.

I bring about what I think about.

Trust but verify.

Even the thinnest of pancakes has 2 sides.

Forgive everyone everything.

Have a gratitude attitude.

Unconditional LOVE.

 Chapter 3

That led me to think about a question on a FB post that my friend Chelle had asked.  Single word/ideas that would be a persons goal for the New Year.  My word would have been Transformation.  Change.  

I want to be like Jesus.  He went about doing good.  That is what the scriptures tell us.  I thought of the month of daily acts of service in December with the Light the World campaign. I mulled over several ideas and then seemingly out of the blue...this popped up.... here  Interesting isn't it?  How I was thinking about that and this comes into my line of vision.

Chapter 4

Ideas.  Thoughts.  Where the magic in our lives happen!  I believe that we, as LDS mortals, all heard the Gospel plan together in the long ago council.  Here on earth we sometimes act like we have discovered the Holy Grail because of something we figured out Church-wise.  The leveling influence in my life is this...I believe that each of us has to learn the same lessons.  We have to learn the exact same patterns of religious behavior on the most basic levels...prayer/study/fasting/Sabbath/tithing and on and on.  None of us are any better than the other.  All of us were there.  All of us are here.  We are in the same boat.

Sometimes we are arrogant enough to think we have a totally original idea but careful mind observation/excavating will prove us wrong.  There may be a new twist or a different slant but the basic idea is still in place.  That is what I love about General Conference-hearing new inspiration/interpretation of a basic idea.

Chapter 5

Anyhow...thoughts.  ideas.  I treasure/appreciate my own ability to think.  to pray.  to study.  to ponder.  to receive guidance and inspiration and revelation in my own life.  Love it!!

Sometimes I think there must be some sort of pollen of ideas floating in the air, which fertilizes similarly minds here and there which have not had direct contact.  (William Faulkner)

(I have no idea who drew this but I am sure glad they did!)

 "The air is full of ideas. They are knocking you in the head all the time. You only have to know what you want, then forget it, and go about your business. Suddenly, the idea will come through. It was there all the time." - Henry Ford

Ideas also cause "simultaneous discoveries" (called "multiples").  

I think of Lainie Kazan.  She sang with the exactness of Barbra Streisand.  Because Barbra got a big break.  Perhaps her idea of how to further her career?  ...Lainie's singing career was pretty much deep-sixed.

Mark Zuckenberger and the Winklevoss twins.

Salk...Sabin.

Wright brothers...wasn't there someone else that had the same idea around the same time?

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs!

Speaking of Steve Jobs... 

(Nigel Smith- shared this in 2015. below...)

The last words of Steve Jobs -
I have come to the pinnacle of success in business.
In the eyes of others, my life has been the symbol of success.
However, apart from work, I have little joy. Finally, my wealth is simply a fact to which I am accustomed.
At this time, lying on the hospital bed and remembering all my life, I realize that all the accolades and riches of which I was once so proud, have become insignificant with my imminent death.
In the dark, when I look at green lights, of the equipment for artificial respiration and feel the buzz of their mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of my approaching death looming over me.
Only now do I understand that once you accumulate enough money for the rest of your life, you have to pursue objectives that are not related to wealth.
It should be something more important:
For example, stories of love, art, dreams of my childhood.
No, stop pursuing wealth, it can only make a person into a twisted being, just like me.
God has made us one way, we can feel the love in the heart of each of us, and not illusions built by fame or money, like I made in my life, I cannot take them with me.
I can only take with me the memories that were strengthened by love.
This is the true wealth that will follow you; will accompany you, he will give strength and light to go ahead.
Love can travel thousands of miles and so life has no limits. Move to where you want to go. Strive to reach the goals you want to achieve. Everything is in your heart and in your hands.
What is the world's most expensive bed? The hospital bed.
You, if you have money, you can hire someone to drive your car, but you cannot hire someone to take your illness that is killing you.
Material things lost can be found. But one thing you can never find when you lose: life.
Whatever stage of life where we are right now, at the end we will have to face the day when the curtain falls.
Please treasure your family love, love for your spouse, love for your friends...
Treat everyone well and stay friendly with your neighbours.


I know that appears to be totally off track of "ideas" but it is really on point on all levels.

Chapter 6

I marvel at the idea of an idea cloud!  Just think...years ago people used to long for contacts.  They would bemoan how expensive they were.  They would sigh about the inconvenience/the uncomfortableness of glasses.  How they would get dirty.  How they would bother their noses.  How they would misplace them.  How they would get scratched.  the list went on and on.  Nowadays???  Ideas rained down and....It is now fashionable to wear glasses, with the biggest frames possible, even if you don't need glasses!!

The idea popped into my mind that I really wanted a fountain pen.  Do they still make them...do they still fill them with ink bottles...do they still use blotters?  and on and on went my thoughts.  Well, who'd of thunk it??  I love my Hobby Lobby fountain pen Christmas present from my son!  Little ink cartridges nowadays.

So those ideas sprinkle down, are absorbed, acted upon and suddenly we have modest clothing available and houses decorated in similar colors and Instant Pots to replace a perfectly good working Pressure Cooker.

Who had the idea that FB pictures taken with gaping mouths is the way to go?  Oh, that's out?  right.  Now it's- pucker those lips- so you can get a peek at how your age lines will look.  

Anyhow a lot of ideas create change that impact the masses (actually all would be a better word than a lot) are about financial gain for companies.  Profit.

But, I'm about Prophets.  and what they say about the mighty $. More on that in a minute. 

Chapter 7

I've decided, in 2018, to move myself ahead in the 4 areas that the Savior grew in...intellectual/physical/spiritual/social.  That is my idea of the meaning of -

Luke 2:52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Like 4 wheels on a car.  In order for the car to move ahead...all 4 wheels must rotate.  Together.  In sync.

So I've been planning.  Using my mind.  Gathering ideas.  Following those promptings.  It's feeling rather like a Matriarchal situation here with Terry being sort of down and out but we agree this is our way right now!

Chapter 8

Terry and I desire for our lives, what President Hinckley said, in part, in October 1998 General Conference

This is a part of the temporal gospel in which we believe. May the Lord bless you, my beloved brethren, to set your houses in order. If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts. That’s all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable.

Chapter 9

At this point in our lives we are retired and on a fixed income.  I was able to search through every single document regarding $, setting up a budget that is reassuring for us, being guided as to what to check out, to research, and then what to do with certain aspects of our $.  I cannot tell you the peace, actually joy, that I feel with all bases covered as I make sure the intellectual wheel on our car is not flat.

As I reviewed my spending habits, suddenly someone shared an idea that they had about No Shopping.  It was interesting and motivating and inspired my budget in many ways. No Shopping here 

I also enjoyed watching a documentary called, of course, Minimalism.  And then this article by the fellows on the documentary- TheMinimalists.com  here

It seems the ideas of downsizing/less shopping/minimizing/simplifying/ etc. etc. are falling as rain from that invisible idea cloud!

I even found a really great Simplify Magazine that I can read online.  Now I, of course, wish it was paper but it's interesting to read.  Ideas are everywhere!

Chapter 10

I need to place my self in timeout and tie my hands behind my back and stop this way to long blog!
I think I will now call it a book and go back and put some chapter numbers in.  I am really going to try to not get a logjam like this anymore.  I went back to first paragraph and I hit most of the things I listed except for all of the scriptures and the NYT Obituary for President Monson and also the Japan-Misery but this is way overboard as it is.  maybe tomorrow.

Chapter 11

I am feeling a "brightness of hope".  full blown! and it feels terrific. actually-feels perfect!  I'll absorb it and enjoy it as these overall, filled to the brim with feelings of joy, don't hold forever.  I'll just soak it up.  Ahhhh!  feels so good!!!  Reality is... in mortality it will fade but right now?--BLISS!

2 Nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

remembering...

I am thinking with excitement of this New Year and the changes and joy I'm anticipating and had planned to share that today but instead...I'm thinking about Prophets and the changes that are coming about in our General leadership.

Meridian Magazine published an interview they had done with President Monson's biographer, Heidi S. Swinton. This is one of my favorite stories she shared....

Meridian: What would he say were some of the most pivotal moments in his life?

Heidi: I asked him that once and he was quick to respond. He told the story of him as a young bishop being called by a boy who lived in his ward who was staying with his uncle. The uncle had been taken to the hospital and he wanted to see the bishop and could he come right now? President Monson said, yes I can come. He had to go to a stake meeting that night and then he would go to the hospital. He went to the stake meeting and he is sitting on the stand in the choir seats and the Spirit prompts him to get up right now and go to the hospital.

He looks around at everybody sitting there in that meeting and looks at the stake president speaking there and wondered if he could get up and walk out. He determined, no, I’d better stay here. This would be so rude. So he stayed in his seat and the meeting continued. Then the next person was speaking and the prompting came again, “Get up right now and go to the hospital.” He sat there and looked around and said, “I’ll go as soon as the meeting is over.”

The meeting ended and he bolted down the hall and out the door, got in his car and raced up the hill to the old Veterans’ hospital. He ran in, ran up three flights of stairs, not even waiting for the elevator. He raced down the hall. He’s 22-years old—a young bishop. There was a little cluster of people at the door of the room. He stopped at that door and a couple of others were standing there. One said to him, “You must be Bishop Monson.”

He smiled and says, “I am.” She continued, pointing to the man in the room, “He was calling for you as he died.”

When I asked President Monson, what was that pivotal moment, that was the story he told me. He said, “The Spirit prompted me to get up and I waited. That man needed to talk to me.” Then he always says this great line. “That lesson was not lost on me.” He said, “Never again would I dismiss or postpone a prompting. I have heard promptings and calls from the Lord when I’ve been in meetings and had to get up and excuse myself. I picked up the phone and made a call at just the right moment when someone needed me.

“I have learned when the Lord has an errand to run, He can call on Tommy Monson and I will go.”

That’s indicative of his whole ministry. He learned a hard lesson there. He tells that story with such soberness that you know it went down to the very core of who he was and he would never let that happen again.

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also...

Instead of flowers-- suggested donations to either Missionary fund or Humanitarian fund.  Easy Peasy if you have a credit card.  There are lots of things to love in this modern age and this is certainly one...immediate and super convenient!

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Humanitarian Aid Fund or the Church’s General Missionary Fund at give.lds.org/monson.

What service...

I will miss President Monson and his wisdom and steadfastness and example. 

Somewhere I saved an article by his daughter Ann.  she shared he had not been shopping in grocery stores and when he went for the first time, he had no idea what to do or how.  Seems he was suppose to get some potatoes and he put them loose in the basket in the kiddie seat and they rolled out and onto the floor!  I wish I knew where I put that article.

He was such an example of service and rescuing and loving.  I learned so much from him. 

My Prophet dear.