Dibs/Dabs/Drips...

but not a waterfall!  That is what my tweaking of some life habits to add to my life in 2020 feels like!  Sips of water!  There is of course power in little drops of water...  remember???

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and the scripture...

Alma 37:6 Now ye may suppose that this is ^afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by ^bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.  

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     even my cooking show leader says...

Be a tiny bit better.

She's talking about being a tiny bit better every day...and that is what I'm planning!  The Cooking Show is in the crockpot along with some other new, or revision of the old, daily behaviors.

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just newly added to the mix.....

Terry and I never go out on dates or really to anything. (except Dr. appointments!!)  I'm excited to announce that we started a weekly Saturday movie date and will watch a double feature and eat popcorn!  We did our first fun one last Saturday and we each chose one movie!  We enjoyed it and then we upped the ante and have decided to daily watch some sort of a series of our choosing.

Our first series choice is Downton Abbey!  He had wanted to see it before (that was a happy surprise to me!) So this evening will be our beginning of our movie dating!

As if to seal the deal...today a granddaughter sent us the movie that had been in the theater not to long ago!  We are set!  Let the dating begin!!

No more waiting for things to change healthwise or otherwise so we can go out on a date...we will bloom where we are planted!  Our new Smart TV has opened up a wide world of seemingly endless movies and music and theater and documentaries and anything and everything that you would like to enjoy!

Smell that popcorn????

Dim the lights and let's start the party!!

Meditation

This was the first quote I ever heard about meditation and the Gospel.  My meditation ended up being private and thoughtful and quiet.  The stillness within myself, relaxed my breathing, as I pondered and thought about whatever was currently on my mind.  Because I've had adequate time, without interruption of others needs or my responsibilities, it has been a wonderful pleasant insightful time....a regular part of me in prayer or studying spiritual things for a lot of years.

Meditation, Meditate

• See also Consider; Ponder; Prayer; Scriptures, Study of; Think

• Isaac went out to meditate in the field, Gen. 24:63.
• book of the law … thou shalt meditate therein, Josh. 1:8 (Ps. 1:2).
• Lord, consider my meditation, Ps. 5:1.
• Let … the meditation of my heart, be acceptable, Ps. 19:14.
• meditate on thee in the night, Ps. 63:6.
• I will meditate also of all thy work, Ps. 77:12.
• My meditation of him shall be sweet, Ps. 104:34.
• I will meditate in thy precepts, Ps. 119:15.
• thy testimonies are my meditation, Ps. 119:99.
• I meditate on all thy works, Ps. 143:5.
• Consider your ways, Hag. 1:7.

• all men mused in their hearts of John, Luke 3:15.
• not to meditate before what ye shall answer, Luke 21:14.
• Meditate upon these things, 1 Tim. 4:15.

• you must study it out in your mind, D&C 9:8.
• let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds, D&C 43:34.
• while we meditated upon these things, D&C 76:19.
• treasure up in your minds continually the words, D&C 84:85.

Ponder

• See also Meditation; Think

• Ponder the path of thy feet, Prov. 4:26.
• he pondereth all his goings, Prov. 5:21.
• Lord pondereth the hearts, Prov. 21:2.
• doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it, Prov. 24:12.

• Mary kept all these things, and pondered them, Luke 2:19.

• sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away, 1 Ne. 11:1.
• scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, 2 Ne. 4:15.
• why do ye ponder these things in your hearts, 2 Ne. 32:1.
• pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown, Hel. 10:2.
• ponder upon the things which I have said, 3 Ne. 17:3.
• receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts, Moro. 10:3.

• ponder upon the things which you have received, D&C 30:3.
• leave these sayings with you to ponder, D&C 88:62.
• ponder the warning in their hearts, D&C 88:71.
• I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures, D&C 138:1.

• third visit … I was again left to ponder, JS—H 1:47.

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Years ago meditation, in what the world was promoting, was more of a hippie/Zen/yoga pose/Buddha /Mahatma Gandhi association that goes on and on.  Nowadays meditation is a common word known to many and practiced by many.  I've been perfectly content with my own meditation method, as described above.  In my quest seeking about ways to move ahead in 2020, I've explored all sorts of available online sites about meditation.  I ended up choosing a guided meditation that deals with balancing out a persons life.

This particular one has a longer guided balance exercise with movement and then a 5 minute guided meditation.  There are 7 segments so, if I choose I can do one a day.  I signed up for this in November and have enjoyed it.  It will be of help to move along towards improvement and better health and life.  I'm about 4 weeks into this one.  I really like it.

The criteria for my choosing anything was- the meeting of my need for my end goal of a more balanced life- which will give me peace and knowing I've moved ahead.  It needed to have a time frame for doing, that is brief, as I cannot commit to something that will take hours on end to do every day.

The online cooking class is just what I need.  one class a week and no moving on until first week is complete and you've ticked the boxes.

I found another one that excites me and it is for one year.  It's called...A year to clear what is holding you back.  One very short thought every day.  Another one that you can't move ahead until the next day!  It's locked up.  I'm very curious to see how it progresses.  I'm on my 8th day today.  It's very nice.

These online things remind me of timers and alarms but with the advantage of being coached and encouraged and challenged.  There seems to be everything under the sun available!

A friend invited me to an online Everyday Mindfulness 5 day class.  It was live and I was glad for the invite of a free go at seeing how this was done!  I wondered what mindfulness was. The 5 days ended up feeling very personal and feeling a private group connection ...the facilitator was very kind compassionate and caring.  There was a trust in her.  She quarterly offers a free sample for a few days and then afterward offers a good price for a new class of maybe a month or so.  She was very available and I could see how encouraging the private group would be. My take would be she reaches out to help women that are overwhelmed with their life and challenges.  I can relate.

There are opportunities all over the place and it just depends on what you want to accomplish and how much time you want to spend on it and price also figures into it as some hit the pocketbook.  There are lots of options.

Online it looks like a lot of Lo here and Lo there going on about available meditation sites so I was glad I went into my search for specific things to meet my needs, with my eyes wide-open in order to my Becoming Balanced.  At least Better Balanced!!

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5 health benefits from meditation here

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We are still listening to Christmas music and the few decorations are still being enjoyed.  Time to stow it away!

Where my thoughts are!

"Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you, but on what happens inside of you.  It is measured by the Spirit with which you meet the problems of life." --President Harold B. Lee

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Nowadays it's popular to have a "word" that is your focus and your goal and your motivator.  Last year, at some point I felt my word was Becoming.  This year I've added Balanced to Becoming.  Becoming Balanced.  That is really what I need and what I want.  I decided for 2020 to do some  challenges in order to bring some balance into my life.  Why?? because my life is so often chaotic and so often not what I plan to do or even want to do and so often I feel blindsided by the happenings in just daily living.

At this age and stage of my existence  (and I still am fascinated with what I've seen transpire in my life and the world) it is like starting over.  Embarking on a life that is governed by the unforeseen and the unexpected and many, many times by things going downhill so fast it makes your head swim.
Health issues are a big deal!  huge.  gigantic.  I'm the Jack-of-all -trades that is feeling rather Master of none!!

It's beyond the empty-nester feeling.  At times it's ... feeling down for the count/back against the ropes/painted in a corner/totally perplexed/out of my league  etc. etc..

So for 2020...I am pretty much home.  I have decided to do some things that will help me in my home base.  I have several things lined up and I'm excited about them.

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So...one thing I'm doing and I actually just made up my mind today on doing this...I'm taking an online cooking class!  It's 12 weeks.  After the Christmas fiasco...I need help!!  It was way to stressful and I felt unsuccessful!  In my day I cooked for my 7 and it was fine.  I seldom used recipes and it was still fine.  When I do cook...I cook for an army!  and sometimes I think it tastes like army rations!  Anyhow...it's a 12 week course and it's for people like me.  cooking healthy food for two.

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I've been figuring out what I want to do for quite awhile.  I've signed up for some other things also but one wonderful enjoyable thing I'm doing is...jigsaw puzzles.  Right now I enjoy the challenge of 500 pieces.  I've set the goal to always have one that I'm working on.  In November, when Jeanee was here, we did one...and then I did another one after she left...and now I'm doing another one.  Enjoying it so much!  Doing something on it every day.  Minimum is connecting two pieces!

You can look online and find all sorts of things as to adult benefits.

I tried to find the link to this one report and I couldn't but here is the list I copied and then the details on two of them is below.

Improved memory
Better problem-solving skills
Improved visual spatial reasoning
More education opportunities
Increased IQ
Delay dementia and Alzheimer's
Improved mood
Lower stress level
Increased attention to detail
Increased productivity
Better collaboration

The Surprising Benefits of Puzzle Solving for Adults
Improved Mood

Another one of the benefits of puzzles is that they increase our brains’ production of dopamine.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and feelings of optimism. It also affects memory, concentration, and motivation.

Dopamine is released every time we successfully solve a puzzle — or even just get one piece in the right place. This encourages us to continue working on solving them and challenging ourselves.

Lower Stress Levels

At the same time that puzzles challenge us, they also help us to relax.

Our brains also go from a “Beta,” or wakeful, state to an “Alpha” state when we’re solving puzzles. The Alpha state is similar to the state we’re in when we’re dreaming.

This shift in consciousness comes with many benefits, including:

Ability to make deeper connections

Improve our mindset

Relieve stress

Improve mood

Increase our self-confidence

I just found the link!  here

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You techy folks...do it on your phone or laptop!  What next?!  jigsaw puzzles on phones!  Who'd of thunk it??!  well!...here you go!  right here

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We gave puzzles to our kiddos for Christmas and one family put the puzzle together so quickly that I decided to send them something more challenging.  Check this out!!  Beyond my ability... right now!!

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So there you go...me sharing some of my plans for life in 2020 and pressing forward towards a strong finish!!!

I always can make it when I feel that peaceful feeling.  I love that reassurance that things may not change but I will be granted strength and some wisdom and some personal revelation and comfort and closeness to things of the Spirit.

again...."Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you, but on what happens inside of you.  It is measured by the Spirit with which you meet the problems of life." --President Harold B. Lee

Christmas Dinner 2019

It was different.  Yes.  It was definitely different!  I now believe that I'm incapable/unable to cook a meal any more!!

It started early on with cooking porridge for Hubby.  Porridge just a word that I enjoy using ... It was oatmeal/raisins!  I like to boil the raisins in a dab of water for just a bit and then put the oatmeal and cooking water in...got that super quick boil going and went to talk to Terry for a minute and the raisins burnt to a black crisp and smoke all over when I removed the lid!

From there the entire cooking Christmas dinner went downhill!!  I'd been up since 3a.m. so - I'll give myself exhaustion as a partial pass - on creating more work and making more mistakes than thought possible!  For instance- At one point I had all of the ingredients in the baking dish for a corn souffle- I poured the last can of corn on top and started to combine all of the ingredients and suddenly saw a huge rust colored streak across and mixed down in!  What!!???  Checked the can and it was totally rusted down inside- one entire side and was thick and gloppy!  I took the spatula and jammed it down the middle of the mess and thought evil thoughts as I glared at that upright spatula and thought it looked like Excalibur! (no.  the can was not swollen or leaking.)

That was just one of many fails, and I won't retell the horror of the lost sack of groceries - plus...no stuffing/dressing...no cranberry salad...no rolls...no mincemeat pie...no sparkling water... and those made the top of the list of fails or no-shows!  What did get cooked was so labor intensive that it tires me to think of it...like sweet potatoes boiling over and making syrupy stickiness over 25% of my flat-top!  That blundering seeped over into other dishes!!

Previously I had plans for how beautiful the table would look and it did look lovely.  I had planned to shower and dress for dinner and be all fresh and even had my favorite Christmas scarf (I only have one!) planned to wear.  It matched my new napkins.  The napkins, by the way, were huge so I ended up using them as place mats.

Plans gone awry on so many levels and I ended up looking a fright and steam was hissing out my ears and I was choking on an unsaid heartfelt epitaph.

Eventually the surviving food was ready to be eaten and hopefully somehow or other enjoyed and savored.

Then Grace was offered.  (My Mother was not a believer but in her later years, if we were visiting,  she would say...Terry, would you offer Grace?  He could/would/did that deed.

So the food was blessed.

Prayer is powerful and the blessing had a calming effect on me.  The gratitude and enjoyment of the meal, especially by our son, made every single solitary minute of fails, that had been rolling downhill like a snowball since the raisins burnt, so worthwhile.  Peace descended and reigned.

This cooking incident does not override the beauty and wonder and enjoyment and peace we have felt from Thanksgiving right up to the meal prep- that I had such hopes and plans for.   I read the last post that was written early on before the cooking began!  This was a blip on the radar.  It did linger for hours on end but we are fine and enjoying leftovers and...

the coming of a New Year!!

Merry Christmas!

It's a great morning here!  Very different in that it's so quiet and I'm thinking of past Christmases and the hustle/bustle and yes, sometimes exhaustion that were a part of the season.  At this life stage...things are very quiet and very calm and it's a great background for reminiscing and enjoying memories of the past.

November was such a great month on all levels...as I mentioned before - family visited and we had Thanksgiving together!  Our daughter stayed for 3 weeks and was a tremendous help with her Father.  He has improved and I have great hope that he will continue to move ahead but he seems to worsen at times...right when I'm certain he will keep on moving forward he seems to slip back a bit.  We have much to be thankful for!

December has been so beautiful...decorations minimal but enough to feel that feeling of Christmas!  Our TV was having a lot of problems and would have lines and stuff all over but once it got warmed up it cleared up.  I did not want to buy a new one until that one totally was kaput!  Visiting children felt otherwise and now we have a new TV. 

Did you know they make SmartTV's?  We have a TV that is Smart.  I have to admit that I'm so impressed with it.  I don't really know all of the things that it can do but the little I do know it's so impressive!  Our home has been filled with Christmas music the entire month!  The screen has been filled with choirs and instrumentals and even Christmas music with lyrics!  I do not know how many times we have listened to Handel's Messiah!  It has been heavenly to be surrounded by familiar Christmas hymns!

Being a certified non-techy person...our SmartTV makes me tempted to learn about and use my SmartPhone!  I already have one goal with my phone right now...learn to put pictures on here! 

I hope your day is filled with friends and families and food and festive as you, along with me, rejoice in the reason for the season!

Enjoy!!

This has got to be one of the most tender stories ever!  by President Hinckley in 2000  here

2 of my addictions!

We've had children home since before Thanksgiving -  lots of helping Terry to move ahead and regain some strength and figure out how best to live our life to it's fullest.  I've not blogged.  Plus the computer went wack-o.  always excuses on that neglect of posting!

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I'm addicted to two things...Chocolate and Scripture study!  One is going overboard and indulging beyond sensibility at times.  The other is my insatiable appetite to feast upon the banquet of all things authoritative ever written or uttered about Christ and his Gospel and the restoration and on and on and on.  I love when something rings so true that I'm moved to tears or joy and always always always this desire to share wells up in my heart.

As I read/study/ponder words that are delivered by someone called to do that deed - even scriptures or talks that I've read before - I have a spiritual experience as the Spirit witnesses to me that what I've just absorbed is pure and true.  Reading/watching/listening to... Scriptures or General Conference talks or Hymns... enlivens me and I'm so blessed.  I love and appreciate the blessing, the gift, to have this source of constant Light available to me IF I am willing to take the time to avail myself of so much to feast on!

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I see beautiful blogs all over the place.  Ample white space and something so appealing with a sprinkling of leaves or holly or whatever.  Sort of like the tablecloth and centerpiece on a plain table.  It is so eye appealing and draws one in.  Most are snippets with just the right amount of text...  something quick and easy to absorb.  Authored by young techies, with vast knowledge, of using the wonderful things available in today's world and using it to their advantage.

Anyhow...I looked at my blog and it lacks eye-appeal.  It looks overwhelming and book-like and time consuming to absorb.  So I'm thinking of learning how to use my phone and post some pictures occasionally and maybe learning some artsy things to beautify a page filled with print and then...I just decided- I'm sharing my heart.  I'm excited to share anything I've learned about almost anything I have learned!  So I'll just remain status quo!

I'm older than all of my readers so I will stay cozied up in my sweater and rocking chair and warm my stiff joints by the fire and let the chips fall where they may or in this case...let the words speak for themselves and continue to share my heart.  I appreciate you reading my blog that I keep tucked away!  talk about an oxymoron!

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Christmas....I love everything about this time of year!  And here is a present for you from me...here  

Trying to Abide (Part 6)

The initial feeling I had when I started this focused side-trip that the Prophet asked us to do...check out Sections 25, 84 and 107 & gain insight and some personal revelation on how it applies to us...was one of gratitude.  I started with a huge sense of gratitude.  Gratitude for a living Prophet and gratitude for my conviction, my testimony, that he is the Prophet at this very moment in time.

I am always a blessing seeker!  and this quest was a search to figure things out.

I began with gratitude and I end with gratitude!

I am so thankful, so grateful, for opportunities to serve in callings.  I have memories of callings that were just so amazing to experience and so soul-satisfying that even remembering them brings back those feelings of that very moment!

Those experiences were in another time...another place...another Era.  My Church callings were varied and it was essential that I had faith and received personal revelation in order to carry them out.  All those years and all those experiences strengthened me.  My faith grew and my ability to access God through prayer grew.

That era of my life was before today's technology of...smart phones & Pinterest & blogs & asking does anyone have a good idea on how to teach a lesson on such and such?  and on and on. and on!  There was a reliance on the Holy Ghost.  Especially for me because I had no special training in areas that I received callings in.  My most personal spiritual experiences came to me through those varied and many callings.  I LOVED them!

If I had lived anywhere but Alaska in those years???...Stateside? - I believe I would have never had those opportunities.  There are so many talented and skilled and trained and educated people available...I would have not made the cut.  That's how I feel and I'm just so thankful for so many fantastic experiences.  I was called by revelation and then managed through personal revelation to fulfill the callings.

There were callings that I was so overwhelmed but they always ended up just fine.  There were a couple that were so out of my league that I did not see any way that I could possibly do them and yet I did and again, they turned out fine.

At this time of my life...it's a time for reminiscing...for remembering...for being nostalgic...for reliving great memories.  The reality is- I've lived here for many years and I do have some great shared memories locally but the majority of my shared memories happened in another time and another place and that part of me is not known or shared here.

I've found that the memories I have, those joyous ones, are equally felt by those I served with, no matter the location!  We can laugh together or be especially tender about an event.  Much like family reunions...talking about remember the time that so and so did such and such?  

I've enjoyed this several weeks of reading and thinking and praying and pondering as President Nelson requested.  I have a better understanding and a greater faith in promised blessings to me, as a woman, of blessings of the power of the Priesthood.

Yesterday I listened to a talk by Susan Easton Black with her husband George Durrant.  they have such strong testimonies.  She said that they hear from people saying...I'm leaving the Church because I have questions.  She shared...We are staying because we found answers!

That is how I feel.  I have found answers.

 I'm doing the best I can, and it's not perfect, but I'm trying and I know you are too.

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Take time and read these marvelous quotes/statements/scriptures-they are a great summation of  
84:20-28 and 107:18-19, 91-92   be sure to look up all of the footnotes.

“The higher Priesthood after the order of the Son of God, we are told, in a modern revelation [D&C 107:18–19], … holds not only the power of the ministration of holy angels to be seen personally, but also the power of beholding the face of God the Father, that through the power and manifestations of the spirit of God and of his angels we may be prepared to enter into the presence of God the Father in the world to come, and enjoy continual communion with him, and be crowned with the glory of the celestial kingdom, to stand in our place and calling to all eternity, in connection with all those who hold the Priesthood in the eternal worlds.” (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 18:363; see also D&C 76:50–70; 84:19–22; Hebrews 12:22–24.)

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D&C 107:91–92. The Saints Must Follow the President of the Church, Who Holds All the Gifts of God for His People

Notes and Commentary for Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–7 and Enrichment F discuss the importance of the living prophet.

Elder Ezra Taft Benson said: “If we are living the gospel, we will feel in our hearts that the First Presidency of the Church not only have the right, but are also duty bound under heaven to give counsel on any subject which affects the temporal or spiritual welfare of the Latter-day Saints” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1950, p. 148).

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(below is from an institute manual)

This inspired counsel comes to members of the Church in at least two ways. First, every six months a general conference is held during which inspired counsel is given by the Lord’s servants. The Lord warns those who do not heed this instruction that they “shall be cut off from among the people” (D&C 1:14). Second, the Saints should read what the prophets have written (see D&C 52:9, 36), including not only the scriptures but such things as conference talks, the message of the First Presidency in the Ensign, and special bulletins that are mailed to priesthood leaders to be read to the Saints in the stakes of the Church.

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I really need to go back and have this post be Part 1  Section 25.... here

Trying to Abide (Part 5)

The only thing I have marked previously in 107 is vs. 3 about the official name of the Melchizedek Priesthood and then vss. 22-23 about the there being 12 Apostles that are to be special witnesses.  That's it!  Everything else I've felt is about organizing of Priesthood and responsibilities of such.  It has been a section that is literally unmarked by me.  Never studied by me as to how does it pertain to me.

As I've looked at it and prayed about, for some sort of direction or understanding, I have found it interesting.  I've looked for Priesthood power available to me.  Not being ordained with the Priesthood but looking to what is the power associated with it and of that power...what is available to me.

107
vs.18-19 power.  spiritual blessings. heavens opened. to enjoy presence of God and Christ
vs. 20 ministering of angels
vs. 30-31 character traits listed that will bear fruit. footnote-a of vs.31

Even though I have not studied this section before...I have independently always been fascinated with the organization of how things are to be run with the leadership lines.  I stay current on changes and am always interested in new things.  I find change exciting within the Gospel.  I think that is one reason why I love General Conference because there is always some sort of an update and something eliminated and replaced with nothing or replaced with something no one thought of or saw coming.  this is one of those blessings that I appreciate for living as long as I have...I have seen a lot of changes!  People either roll with it or they hold a bit of a grudge and it sticks in their craw!  A friend told me that she felt I was blessed with the gift of accepting change!  I quite like that idea!  Maybe I've not been tested yet with a change that rankles me?  I just know I accept that a living Church with a living Prophet will have changes made to move us forward.  I not only accept...I expect it.

Two things really opened a floodgate of memories...1-reading about the duties of the 70's and 2-vs.99 learn your duty. act in all diligence to your calling.

1-In Alaska in the late 60's a friend of ours was a 70 in our Stake and then one day...all of that was dissolved.  That role/responsibility of 70's has been changed until it was finally in alignment with what the Lord had in mind.  I remember Elder Boyd K. Packer stating that what the Lord wanted was always right there in the 107th Section.  I could not find that quote but I did refresh my mind with these....
Conference talk by President Benson 1986 announcing change here
Letter to Stake leaders how to implement change here

there had been other changes before that change in the 70's. Such as...

In 1976, church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the calling of Assistant to the Twelve would be discontinued, and that the 22 men then serving in that calling would be ordained to the priesthood office of seventy and assigned to the First Quorum of the Seventy, which had been organized in 1975.^[3] The following individuals held the calling of Assistant to Twelve:^[4]

I remember when there were additional Counselors called to the First Presidency...like the 3rd Counselor etc. etc.  Eventually that was eliminated.

It goes on and on with changes right at the top of Church.  Policies and procedures change but principles are in stone.  Remember 4th Article of Faith?  I expect that refinement to never end.

I'm okay with all of it.  So far anyhow!  I hope that continues!  President Nelson has revamped everything it seems!

2- vs.99 there are so many positive reasons to learn our duty in our callings with all diligence. blessings abound, like interest on a good investment, and the memories are life sustaining in their goodness.  I think I'll blog about that tomorrow.  that will be my wrap-up on Sections 25...84...107!