I don't label myself cold-hearted. I'm warm-hearted. I love people. I'm seem to have lots of tender emotions towards the living. Not so much though with those departed. I have no idea why I'm such a sinner about that and I also have no idea why I always just blog my evilness. But I do. So be it.
Don't we always want to blame others for our shortcomings in character? Isn't that the appropriate behavior? As a girl, every relative of mine was living in Missouri. I was in Alaska and had been there since 5 (I think). My Mother wrote carbon paper copies of letters to the Missourian clan and Dixie and I were always made to put in a note of ...
Dear so & so,
How are you?
I am fine.
It is snowing.
I like school.
My dogs name is Cocoa.
Love,
Nancy
I knew and loved and my Grandmother Clark and my Ransdell Grandparents and adored my Aunt Bonnie. I vaguely knew the others from my little girl memory and two trips to Missouri.
Could all of that saga be to blame in some way?
Am I just an out of sight, out of mind type person?
All of this pussy-footing around just to get back to the fact that I've not felt the warm fuzzies of doing genealogy that every other active LDS woman with a testimony seems to feel! For me it's like a disconnect of non-concern if their Temple work has been done or their names are found.
I was given lots of genealogy information early on after I joined the Church, which was totally confusing to me, and eventually, my niece grew up and put it together in a more complete fashion than me. She is the one that I say...oh, my nice niece does that. Our work is all done.
Then came shifts and changes and advances in technology and the Church embraced it and put it to good use. Indexing. Specifically indexing the 1940 Census. My husband fell in love with indexing. Feeling that he would not go on a regular full-time mission, he decided that Indexing would be his Mission.
He worked at it for hours and loved it. In his overzealous ways he tried to save my sinful soul that refused to even try indexing. I gave it a couple of attempts and said it wasn't for me.
For a long time I've looked for information about the connection between this life and the life from whence I came (pat. bls.) That coupled with the thought that I needed to index and not expect any soft feelings but just view it that we have been asked to do it by the General leaders so I should do it actually motivated me recently to really give it a try. To go into it out of obedience with no expectations of confirming emotions.
Terry has been the most loving patient teacher and I have been impatient and fed-up many times. He has always straightened out my messes and encourages me. Always telling me how great I'm doing/how proud of me he is.
I decided to just plow along, realizing that maybe someday, somewhere, the information would make someone very happy. I would read about 87 year old Mabel died Tuesday at Miller's Merry Manor and not really be touched.
I was touched when I did entry number 1,928. My heart felt emotion, real tenderness and I so hoped these people heard the Gospel on this side and the other side also. 2 obituaries made a difference. One was a little 3 year old boy that died in his sleep. I felt the horror of the parent finding him that morning. The other was a father and a son, pushing strollers holding a 1 and a 3 year old. Because of lack of funds for road/sidewalk upkeep they were walking almost in the street. A truck hit and killed both children. They described the emotion of the Father seeing his little ones in the street and really, my heart came alive with compassion.
There is hope for me. Hope that I will continue to move past the letter of the law and further into the Spirit of the law. My new number is 2,329. I feel like I'm helping someone. Perhaps it will be down the road but the information is there for their use. I'm okay with just the feeling of willingness to Index, not needing endless spiritual confirmations to know this is the right thing to be doing.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Almost ready to drive off!
Already we are running a day late and we haven't even left yet!! Terry was feeling a bit done in and didn't want to take off. I was fine with leaving a day late. Then he remembered it was a Sunday and he didn't want us to travel on the sabbath. I agreed. so no contention there on any counts.
There is a bit of strain on things with peaches though. I bought fresh picked peaches to gift our loved ones. Honestly, Terry acts like we will have the invasion of the fruit fly's...the car will never be the same, do you know how fast they multiply, we will never get rid of them... etc. etc. There is not a fruit fly any where near the peaches!
The loving concerned nay-sayers increase in numbers but we will press forth. well, once we get in the car we will! It feels good to have people care about our safety. Love is so comforting/cozy/good!
Essential for travel--I had my nails done. Painted in the special ordered, OPI Red polish, that Jen, my daughter-in-law, gave me. My mind was on the frivolity of such an unnecessary enjoyable self-indulgent luxury as I was thinking about-- Ebola, beheadings, drought, starving/thirsty children, Africa and those sort of worldly things-- when I entered the pampering zone.
I was questioning the insanity of the woes of our last-days world and wondering if that bit of nail-care money could be put to better use...I was thinking of how blessed I am to have the life I do, interspersed with suffering abounding world-wide... so much lack and me with so much abundance. My thoughts were interrupted by the masked young man manicurist muttering...wah han...while simultaneously not missing a beat in quickly moving nail files around. I was able to interpret his 2 Asian words into English... please, go wash your hands in the back of the room.
Later I easily understood the direction si, accompanied by basic sign language- pointing index finger- to a chair at the drying nails table. I sat there thinking of how customers are just money in the till and manners are not needed or used in any form. I admit I was not going to win Miss Congeniality that day in the thought department. I sat there feeling the air on my lacquer looking nails and checked out the really big Buddha staring past me. A 4' or so golden Buddha with a girth of equal size, gaping mouth grin, fat rolls and jowls and belly bedraggling plus dangling ear lobes the size of golf balls. underneath him... an open shelf with available incense and a package of half eaten cookies (an offering of some sort?)
I just took some deep breaths, calmed down and felt gratitude to be me and live where I do and most important to have the Gospel that reminds me --God knows. He knows it all. He knows my heart. He knows the world happenings. The only peace is in the Gospel and as I shift my focus to that fact and remind myself that I don't have to be some sort of martyr and forgo OPI Red in order to save the world...I really felt good inside. I can just do what I can.
Still do. (feel good inside)
There is a bit of strain on things with peaches though. I bought fresh picked peaches to gift our loved ones. Honestly, Terry acts like we will have the invasion of the fruit fly's...the car will never be the same, do you know how fast they multiply, we will never get rid of them... etc. etc. There is not a fruit fly any where near the peaches!
The loving concerned nay-sayers increase in numbers but we will press forth. well, once we get in the car we will! It feels good to have people care about our safety. Love is so comforting/cozy/good!
Essential for travel--I had my nails done. Painted in the special ordered, OPI Red polish, that Jen, my daughter-in-law, gave me. My mind was on the frivolity of such an unnecessary enjoyable self-indulgent luxury as I was thinking about-- Ebola, beheadings, drought, starving/thirsty children, Africa and those sort of worldly things-- when I entered the pampering zone.
I was questioning the insanity of the woes of our last-days world and wondering if that bit of nail-care money could be put to better use...I was thinking of how blessed I am to have the life I do, interspersed with suffering abounding world-wide... so much lack and me with so much abundance. My thoughts were interrupted by the masked young man manicurist muttering...wah han...while simultaneously not missing a beat in quickly moving nail files around. I was able to interpret his 2 Asian words into English... please, go wash your hands in the back of the room.
Later I easily understood the direction si, accompanied by basic sign language- pointing index finger- to a chair at the drying nails table. I sat there thinking of how customers are just money in the till and manners are not needed or used in any form. I admit I was not going to win Miss Congeniality that day in the thought department. I sat there feeling the air on my lacquer looking nails and checked out the really big Buddha staring past me. A 4' or so golden Buddha with a girth of equal size, gaping mouth grin, fat rolls and jowls and belly bedraggling plus dangling ear lobes the size of golf balls. underneath him... an open shelf with available incense and a package of half eaten cookies (an offering of some sort?)
I just took some deep breaths, calmed down and felt gratitude to be me and live where I do and most important to have the Gospel that reminds me --God knows. He knows it all. He knows my heart. He knows the world happenings. The only peace is in the Gospel and as I shift my focus to that fact and remind myself that I don't have to be some sort of martyr and forgo OPI Red in order to save the world...I really felt good inside. I can just do what I can.
Still do. (feel good inside)
Friday, August 22, 2014
almost ready!
I admit that I can make a great list in preparing for events. Now I'm not saying I do everything on the list but I can make a detailed itemized plan and... IF followed will get me to the goal.
on my list...fridge. that pretty much says it all. I was startled to find this little fortune cookie advice... nestled under who knows what. it literally just fell out and onto the floor.
On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 11:36 AM, Nancy Seljestad wrote:
Lol! thanks Mom. I'm thinking of having a gps chip inserted into you and daddy so you don't get lost. Soo excited for you guys!!! Awesome and good times coming! Call me when the battery on your phone charges.
on my list...fridge. that pretty much says it all. I was startled to find this little fortune cookie advice... nestled under who knows what. it literally just fell out and onto the floor.
 | |
| WHAT????!!!!!! |
well, if these little gems are true then we are in a world of hurt. We are headed totally the opposite direction to see the Wizard in Oz! That must be from when the girls were here! I'm innocent and I'm sticking to my story!!!
hello to all of you!
School is starting and life is settling into a routine for most of you. But... we are wild and going off of any sort of routine and heading to KS and then UT to visit The Greg’s and then The Dave’s!
We are ready for our Grand Adventure and excited to see how it goes! Will we travel to Eagle and decide...Let’s go home OR will we stay the course and stay steady to our Land of Oz goal? Will we decide to never return home, as we can’t stand the thought of such a long arduous drive? OR will we stay a reasonable amount of time and homing pigeon like, return to our nest?
So we have those thoughts and in the meantime your sister, sweet little thing that she is, called and grilled us, counseled us, cautioned us, questioned us, lectured us, advised us plus voiced that she has no confidence in our ability to use the teeny cell phone we have and told us how to charge it and did we have phone numbers and on and on. We laughed ourselves silly at her MomTalk! It was adorably hilarious!!
Out of all that conversation she extracted from us the promise that we HAVE to check in with her each day, tell where we are, how we are, name of hotel etc. etc. In exchange-- she will pass that on to the waiting troupes...each of you!
When the cell phone is working (that will be today) then I will give you the number.
We are excited!!!
love to all of you! and hugs and smooches!!
See you soon Greg and Dave and all those in your household!!!
Mom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lol! thanks Mom. I'm thinking of having a gps chip inserted into you and daddy so you don't get lost. Soo excited for you guys!!! Awesome and good times coming! Call me when the battery on your phone charges.
Love you,
Jeanee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In my defense...I did get the cell phone all situated by taking it to a store (as smarty computer son is not here right now). it's a little tiny pre-paid phone. IF a phone can be cute then this one is cute. I wrote the number down and will send it to her plus our license plate number!
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Getting aligned. somewhat.
You know I like to go to the Temple weekly. I strive to arrive. You also know that I love solitude in travel to the Temple. I recently decided to take someone every other time with me. This week was my take a friend week.
I want to share how good the Lord is when we try to do what is right. I always have an immense amount of soul tweaking that needs to be done. I also have lots of flaws to be mended. I feel I've been so busy keeping the home fires burning, in figuring out dealing with our NewNorm, that I've not really done good in the area of service...including VT. So I'm always seeking answers and guidance and various things for resolution and solution from my Temple session. I took those same desires with me this time. Again. As always.
This week I was sitting on the couch in the foyer, visiting before the session, & my heart was so tender towards my friend. I just loved her so much and was so glad we were together at the Temple.
The session was well underway and I heard in my mind...always take people with you. I felt it in my heart as my soul filled with joy. prepare yourself at home before you go for worship and don't go alone. I was so happy. so surprised. so thankful. I said within ...How wonderful! I will do this!! I could see quiet time at home in preparing to go. Maybe even on Sunday preparing for the upcoming week of when I would attend. It just seemed exciting to me to think about. I could take the sisters that I VT. I could take friends. I could render service and feel better about giving and helping others.
I know this is personal and I waited a day to decide to share but I decided I wanted to. and I did. A really special thing was the feeling I had that can best be described as pulling a cork out and releasing a wonderful healing elixir that just warmed and covered me and felt absolutely comfy and snugly. it felt so light and fantastic and it was like releasing something that was jammed and held back, and it suddenly was free flowing. I felt that I had just moved ahead with a great change, that was unexpected in the way it happened, and yet had been asked for over and over. I hope that makes sense. I inched ahead but it was a milestone!!
That sweet tenderness of feeling, that gentle comfort, still hovers and I will enjoy each moment that it stays. I'm hoping it won't be a quick fade. I'm breathing it in and savoring the feeling.
I read this quote and felt I really understood what he was saying...
Elder David A. Bednar taught that change “does not occur quickly or all at once; it is an ongoing process—not a single event. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. This phase of the transformation process requires time, persistence, and patience” (“Ye Must Be Born Again,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 21)
I want to share how good the Lord is when we try to do what is right. I always have an immense amount of soul tweaking that needs to be done. I also have lots of flaws to be mended. I feel I've been so busy keeping the home fires burning, in figuring out dealing with our NewNorm, that I've not really done good in the area of service...including VT. So I'm always seeking answers and guidance and various things for resolution and solution from my Temple session. I took those same desires with me this time. Again. As always.
This week I was sitting on the couch in the foyer, visiting before the session, & my heart was so tender towards my friend. I just loved her so much and was so glad we were together at the Temple.
The session was well underway and I heard in my mind...always take people with you. I felt it in my heart as my soul filled with joy. prepare yourself at home before you go for worship and don't go alone. I was so happy. so surprised. so thankful. I said within ...How wonderful! I will do this!! I could see quiet time at home in preparing to go. Maybe even on Sunday preparing for the upcoming week of when I would attend. It just seemed exciting to me to think about. I could take the sisters that I VT. I could take friends. I could render service and feel better about giving and helping others.
I know this is personal and I waited a day to decide to share but I decided I wanted to. and I did. A really special thing was the feeling I had that can best be described as pulling a cork out and releasing a wonderful healing elixir that just warmed and covered me and felt absolutely comfy and snugly. it felt so light and fantastic and it was like releasing something that was jammed and held back, and it suddenly was free flowing. I felt that I had just moved ahead with a great change, that was unexpected in the way it happened, and yet had been asked for over and over. I hope that makes sense. I inched ahead but it was a milestone!!
That sweet tenderness of feeling, that gentle comfort, still hovers and I will enjoy each moment that it stays. I'm hoping it won't be a quick fade. I'm breathing it in and savoring the feeling.
I read this quote and felt I really understood what he was saying...
Elder David A. Bednar taught that change “does not occur quickly or all at once; it is an ongoing process—not a single event. Line upon line and precept upon precept, gradually and almost imperceptibly, our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds become aligned with the will of God. This phase of the transformation process requires time, persistence, and patience” (“Ye Must Be Born Again,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 21)
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Enjoy this promised gift!
My thoughts are with those trying to figure out teaching their children the Gospel. I have a gift for you today. A promise from an Apostle!! I watch for promises from specific acts of obedience because it gives me confidence and faith. I cling to promises as I know words spoken by Apostles are inspired and for my direction.
The days of having children in my home are long gone but they are still my children! I have grandchildren, young friends in the Church and now I have my Laurels! and I have you! Don't we try to strengthen each other in our Gospel walk?
In 2007 Elder Bednar talked about "three Holy habits"---
(David A. Bednar, “Watching with All Perseverance,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 40–43)
Component Number One: Reading and Talking about the Book of Mormon
Component Number Two: Bearing Testimony Spontaneously
Component Number Three: Inviting Children to Act
(here is his promise and testimony!)
I hope you enjoy just the thought of these promised blessings and will feel motivated to claim these blessings. What a promise!!!
PS-
(he also talked about the meaning of the root word plain. Love this explanation!)
The days of having children in my home are long gone but they are still my children! I have grandchildren, young friends in the Church and now I have my Laurels! and I have you! Don't we try to strengthen each other in our Gospel walk?
In 2007 Elder Bednar talked about "three Holy habits"---
(David A. Bednar, “Watching with All Perseverance,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 40–43)
Component Number One: Reading and Talking about the Book of Mormon
Component Number Two: Bearing Testimony Spontaneously
Component Number Three: Inviting Children to Act
(here is his promise and testimony!)
Promise and Testimony
I
bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book
of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with
their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act and
not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off
(see Moses 6:27) and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (see Ezekiel 33:2–16).
The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the
combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as
watchmen on the tower for your families—”watching … with all
perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)—to
the blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so
promise and testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
I hope you enjoy just the thought of these promised blessings and will feel motivated to claim these blessings. What a promise!!!
PS-
(he also talked about the meaning of the root word plain. Love this explanation!)
The convincing and converting powers of the Book of Mormon come from both a central focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the inspired plainness and clarity of its teachings. Nephi declared, “My soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn” (2 Nephi 25:4). The root word plain in this verse does not refer to things that are ordinary or simple; rather, it denotes instruction that is clear and easily understood.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Inching along!!!...but thankful for it!
My husband is such a sweetie-pie. He cannot go to the Temple right now, and hasn't been for some time, because of his poor balance. This is where he earns the Sweetie-Pie of the Year Award...he encourages me to go weekly. He wants me to go. He likes me to go. He says he is blessed/We are blessed when I go. He thanks me for going...actually expresses appreciation right out loud. I think that is pretty incredible, don't you?
He has no guilt card that he plays in making me feel bad to go without him or me fussing over something that I didn't get done around here. He asks me...What day are you going to the Temple this week?
I don't know about all older men, but my older man is my superman!!
In trying to be less selfish (as I just love Temple going in an empty car and praying/singing/silence and thoroughly enjoying myself) I'm going to invite someone to go with me every other time! Withhold any judgement and try not to be to disgusted with my self-centeredness! I'm seeking life balance and I have a lot on my plate with our NewNorm so sometimes I just need sorting out time...all alone.
My testimony of peace/personal revelation and all of the good things, ever mentioned about the worth of Temple Worship, are an integral part of my Gospel Truths that I Believe to be True.
Last week, I was perplexed, and unsure. Unsure and uncertain as to what to even pray for. Puzzled as to what to ask for. I ended up just praying for a bit, humming for a bit, and just being still and waiting for direction. The one bit of direction that came to me, and I thought it was quick (you know that blessings can come in anytime after a Temple visit) was just a redirection of where to put my time and energies. It was so welcome, so needed and I was so blessed and am so thankful.
Some time ago I saved the following quotes for you to enjoy. Now I'm thinking...are these all from one source??? Paragraphs from one talk by Elder Packer??--I'm thinking so. Getting ready for our Kansas trip and I'm to lazy to research them but I hope you enjoy them anyhow!! they are true! LOVE the one about dust of distraction!! (the last paragraph) Actually I enjoy every single word!!
the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can “see” things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known.
He has no guilt card that he plays in making me feel bad to go without him or me fussing over something that I didn't get done around here. He asks me...What day are you going to the Temple this week?
I don't know about all older men, but my older man is my superman!!
In trying to be less selfish (as I just love Temple going in an empty car and praying/singing/silence and thoroughly enjoying myself) I'm going to invite someone to go with me every other time! Withhold any judgement and try not to be to disgusted with my self-centeredness! I'm seeking life balance and I have a lot on my plate with our NewNorm so sometimes I just need sorting out time...all alone.
My testimony of peace/personal revelation and all of the good things, ever mentioned about the worth of Temple Worship, are an integral part of my Gospel Truths that I Believe to be True.
Last week, I was perplexed, and unsure. Unsure and uncertain as to what to even pray for. Puzzled as to what to ask for. I ended up just praying for a bit, humming for a bit, and just being still and waiting for direction. The one bit of direction that came to me, and I thought it was quick (you know that blessings can come in anytime after a Temple visit) was just a redirection of where to put my time and energies. It was so welcome, so needed and I was so blessed and am so thankful.
Some time ago I saved the following quotes for you to enjoy. Now I'm thinking...are these all from one source??? Paragraphs from one talk by Elder Packer??--I'm thinking so. Getting ready for our Kansas trip and I'm to lazy to research them but I hope you enjoy them anyhow!! they are true! LOVE the one about dust of distraction!! (the last paragraph) Actually I enjoy every single word!!
**************************
the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can “see” things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known.
Temples
are the very center of the spiritual strength of the Church. We should
expect that the adversary will try to interfere with us as a Church and
with us individually as we seek to participate in this sacred and
inspired work. Temple work brings so much resistance because it is the
source of so much spiritual power to the Latter-day Saints and to the
entire Church.
At the Logan Utah Temple cornerstone dedication, President George Q. Cannon, then of the First Presidency, made this statement:
“Every
foundation stone that is laid for a Temple, and every Temple completed
according to the order the Lord has revealed for his holy Priesthood,
lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the power of God
and Godliness, moves the heavens in mighty power in our behalf, invokes
and calls down upon us the blessings of the Eternal Gods, and those who
reside in their presence” (in “The Logan Temple,” Millennial Star, Nov. 12, 1877, 743).
When
members of the Church are troubled or when crucial decisions weigh
heavily upon their minds, it is a common thing for them to go to the
temple. It is a good place to take our cares. In the temple we can
receive spiritual perspective.
The
Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the
temples. Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service. We
will be blessed in all of our affairs.
President
Packer continues, “When members of the Church are troubled or when
crucial decisions weigh heavily upon their minds, it is a common thing
for them to go to the temple. It is a good place to take our cares. In
the temple we can receive spiritual perspective There, during the time of the temple
service, we are “out of the world.” Sometimes our
minds are so beset with problems and there are so many things clamoring
for attention at once that we just cannot think clearly and see clearly.
At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and
the haze seem to lift, and we can ‘see’ things that we were not able to
see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not
previously known” (“The Holy Temple,” Ensign or Liahona, Oct. 2010, 35).
Friday, August 15, 2014
Yes!!! he did make it home!!!!
 |
| Arriving!!!!! |
 |
| Mom hug! |
 |
| Love this one of Lorrie and Lance |
 | |||
| He looks so fantastic!! |
I worked like crazy to get these pictures on and wasn't able to get a picture that was so special of him alone just smiling.
I was totally caught off guard at how the pictures impacted me. I just started crying. He looked like a warrior to me. One that had stayed the course and lived the rules and witnessed for TWO FULL YEARS (plus those extra days waiting to hear about the bedbugs!!) of his testimony that the gospel is true!! My heart is overflowing!! Had no idea that it would have such an impact on me!! So proud of him and so thankful for him!! Can hardly wait to see him!!!!
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