We are home!

So very thankful!!!  Terry enjoying football game and both of us excited for the upcoming weekend.

He has to do lowfat eating.  watching it.  goes to Dr. in a week for blood work and goes to specialist on the 11th of Nov.  They had him rest his pancreas all day, lots of IV fluid, no food.  Then in late evening gave him a tuna sandwich to see how he handled it.  No pain!  We came home!

Thankful for how day ended up.  Wish I could have heard the blessing he got but I was here telling our kiddos and you the happenings.

Enjoy Conference!!!

re-arranging things...

So it's almost time!!!!  Time to enjoy the whole nine yards!!

Food fare here will be very simple...chicken noodle soup/spaghetti  WW bread/banana bread.  fresh fruit.  green salad.  I did buy some apple juice to go with a little surprise...Mulled spices in individual packets!  I had ordered some before and never got it...Actually a few years ago.  We'd gone to Spokane one year for Thanksgiving and our DIL served it.  Made by Martinelli and special ordered just for the occasion and Terry will be surprised.  (he is real good about acting surprised/impressed when he knows I tried to make something special!)

I am ready for the spiritual feasting!!!!  I will cook and bake today for the physical feasting.

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(From the Biographies of the Apostles)

Isn't it amazing about Elder Scott???? ...

Brother Scott worked for Admiral Rickover for 12 years. In 1955 he completed the equivalent of a doctorate in nuclear engineering at the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology in Tennessee. (Because of the classified nature of the work, a university degree couldn’t be given.) He also helped in the development of the first commercial, land-based nuclear power plant.

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So onto Plan B.  I was writing the above about Plan A early this morning and then everything changed and shifted and now Plan B is into play.  I was going to take a picture of the food and post it after it was all done but instead I've been sitting by Terry in the hospital!!!  

Can you believe it!!??

He had another of those attacks those goes along with Pancreatitus. Yes, we are back on that page!!  He had said he'd never go back to the hospital again but just wait it out.  This was dreadful in pain intensity and we ended up going to emergency.  Again.  He is now pain free, a bit drugged, has IV going and is asleep.  I came home to tell our family and you.   When they said his Lipase was 3000-- I was stunned and thought it was fatal.  It's not.  

So he will rest, be monitored and be home tomorrow for our anticipated marathon TV watching of General Conference.

Now this is a sweet thing.  Our new Bishop is a Pediatrician.  He called me.  Said he'd been to intensive care and seen Terry.  He was sleeping.  Turns out that Terry ended up on the Bishops list but Terry's primary care Dr. does not deal with children so would not mention him.  We both agreed that was Providence watching over.  He will see that Terry gets a blessing.  Terry did declare himself a Mormon boy when asked if he drank.  The Nurse said ...so you never drink?  Terry said...never.  I'm a good Mormon boy.  Anyhow it was sweet to feel that the Lord is aware of us.

So things change, including menu's but the truth marches on and tomorrow will be the beginning of the parade!  Yes!

Enjoy and so will we!!!

not a book...a pamphlet.

 (admit right up front that I just went on and on.  Maybe I should parcel it out! yes.  I will)

 Part A

A friend was teaching the Gospel Doctrine class and she made the comment, along the lines of...because I know Nancy, I will say that if she could add a National Holiday it would be General Conference.  She loves General Conference.

True.  She then asked me how I gained my testimony and I gave a real brief reply but I want to tell you the foundation of my testimony that I did not mention.  Well, maybe in passing but not really.

I had been taught the Church was based on revelation through the First Vision.  I did not connect that with the fact the Church believed that the heavens were opened.  As a Bible believing Baptist I had not really been formally taught the heavens were closed but it was clearly understood that of course they were.  How could God communicate with man anyhow???  Speak to man???  Never entered my mind.

When I found out that fact that the Church fully believed that God communes with mankind and there are Apostles on the earth and it's not just a title but has special meaning....  One of which is communication with God...Truth be told--I was floored!  I didn't really know how to deal with it.

You know the ending of this little bitty tale...my weakest link became fire-forged strong and is a joy in my life...a lifeline/confidence builder/increaser of my faith/testimony.

It wasn't that the men were amazing orators or movie star looks or anything worldly that got me when I started studying to figure it out for myself.

The clincher for me, the base of my search, was what they gave up for the Church to serve as an Apostle of Jesus Christ for the rest of their mortal life.

Just as in the Bible and the calling of Apostles of old...

Part B

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

(Matthew 4:18-22)

And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.

And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord and the power of God unto salvation. (D&C 68:3)

What I the Lord have spoken I have spoken, and I excuse not myself;  and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.  (D&C 1:38)

Part C

 The commonality of these men is testimony/commitment to serving/willingness to walk away from life as they know it....Where they live.....What they do with their time....And once they are called they serve until the time they die!  They are told when they get a break and for how long.  Month of July?  I can't remember right now.  Elder Neal A. Maxwell used to even use that time to write his books!

This year I'm really thinking of what they and their wives and their families give up in order to push the work forward.

None of the current 15 Apostles had even retired from the careers they had chosen. They were enjoying that choice and being successful in their lives.  President Monson was called as an Apostle when he was 36.  He, as all the rest, had given years of service before that call came.

Here are the ages when called to the Apostleship....
Elder....
Monson 36
Packer 46
Perry/Oaks/Bednar 52
Holland 54
Ballard 57
Anderson 58
Scott/Nelson 60
Hales/Eyring 62
Christofferson 63
Uchtdorf 64
Cook 67

Part D

(I just now remembered that I have written before about my love and conviction of Apostles!)

Below was written 2 years ago and I still feel the exact same way!.... a bit of that blog....right here! 
  
A lot of these men were just into the swing of their careers.  The sheer amount of education and success in the careers of Elder Nelson and Elder Oaks, just those two alone are mind-boggling.  Both called on the same day.  Members wondering why the call and couldn't they do more for the Church by staying and to continue developing their fields of expertise?   A Cardiovascular Surgeon!  A justice of the Utah Supreme Court!  

Dreams and plans for how many years?  how much education and sacrifice to obtain those goals.  rising to the pinnacle of success and still growing, moving ahead and then poof!....one phone call.  one meeting.  and straightway (dictionary- at once, immediately) they shift gears, no looking back and they start their ministry.  

From that moment on, every word they say will be as if chiseled in stone.  True, they have 6 months to prepare for General Conference talk but once those words are spoken...that is it.  no do overs.  no take backs.  no apologies.  no changes.  Right out of the chute that expectation is understood.

I now have a testimony that the heavens are indeed open and these chosen servants will be the ones that are used to further the work.  Therefore when I'm searching for answers to problems/challenges/adversities in my life, I can research from these Conference talks and I will find what I need and the Holy Ghost will let me know....  there it is.  just what you've been looking for.

Part E

Look at the paragraph below.  He was called in 1984 and walked away from his lifelong dream right at that point in 1984!  Proof positive that the Church is true for men such as this to leave what they were doing and serve in spreading the Gospel until their last breath!

"Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is uniquely qualified to address the topic of religious freedom. Prior to his calling as an apostle in 1984, he served as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court from 1981–1984, as legal counsel to the Illinois Constitutional Convention Bill of Rights Committee in 1970, as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School from 1961–1971, as law clerk to Chief Justice Earl Warren of the United States Supreme Court from 1957 to 1958, and as Editor-in-Chief of The University of Chicago Law Review from 1956–1957. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Public Broadcasting Service from 1980–1985, as a board member from 1977–1985, and as president of Brigham Young University from 1971–1980."

Part F

AND Elder Nelson walked away from all of this, that he loved and enjoyed....

An internationally renowned surgeon and medical researcher, Dr. Nelson received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah (1945, 47). Honorary scholastic societies include Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha. He served his residency in surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and at the University of Minnesota, where he was awarded his Ph.D. Degree in 1954. He also received honorary degrees of Doctor of Science from Brigham Young University in 1970, Doctor of Medical Science from Utah State University in 1989, and Doctor of Humane Letters from Snow College in 1994.

His professional work included the positions of research professor of surgery and director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Utah and chairman of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Author of numerous publications and chapters in medical textbooks, Elder Nelson lectured and visited professionally throughout the United States and in many other nations prior to his call as a General Authority. A host of awards and honors have come to him, including the Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Utah; the Heart of Gold Award from the American Heart Association; a citation for International Service from the American Heart Association; and the Golden Plate Award, presented by the American Academy of Achievement. He has been awarded honorary professorships from three universities in the People’s Republic of China.

Dr. Nelson has served as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association, and president of the Utah State Medical Association.

Part G

 (go here to learn about these marvelous men and their families and the love they have for the Savior. Love that is strong enough for them to straightway leave their careers to serve!!  your testimony will grow stronger than ever!! The above information, about Elder Nelson is from the Church site I suggested you go to)

Getting things in order....

Thinking over what food to prepare and what chores need to be done so we can just fully immerse ourselves in General Conference this weekend.  I'm a believer that answers to questions, especially personal challenge solutions/direction can/will/are given at General Conference.  I'm trying to prepare myself.  Trying to figure out exactly what I need some direction on so I will recognize the answer.

Right now I feel scattered with so many things that I feel/know/want to be accomplishing and I feel I'm sort of a Bingo number in the tumbler drum.  Feeling every number listed is necessary.  Feeling the sand in my own personal hour glass is slipping down the tube at lighting speed.  Sort of feeling like thumping on the side of the glass and seeing if I can get a bit more time than what I'm perhaps allotted.  Wondering if I can accomplish all I want?  That is where the scatteredness comes into play.  the questioning...am I off course?  am I off focus?  am I jittery with spinning so many plates on sticks and need to pare down?  Is what I'm wanting just normal things or am I feeling the panic of time lessening and breathlessly trying to do what I neglected before?  That sort of scatteredness and jumping all over the place to put out brush fires...am I really accomplishing anything besides just moving around?

With that wound up tighter than the the 8 day clock feeling, I decided to take all of that randomness to the best place in the world for divine help...The Temple.

I took a friend with me, Carol.  She had no idea of what my thoughts were but I knew what I was mentally/emotionally taking and what I needed some help on as I'd been thinking of it for quite awhile in prep for Conference.

a huge group.  an amazing group.  almost all were young full-time missionaries.  The women's side had 15 extra seats and the men's side was full to capacity.  It was amazing energy in the room.  The session took much longer than usual and we were on the back row so we were last into the Celestial room.  I was glad for the longer than expected time as I had a lot of time to pray and contemplate.  We didn't stay long in the celestial room as it was totally filled and we also knew we needed to get on the road.

During the movie I was listening and again, a certain part of the orchestration just absolutely  enveloped me.  I closed my eyes and breathed deep each time it played.  It was like it spoke to the divine within me.  my soul loved the sound and the feeling and it came to me very strongly that I am a daughter of God and beauty like that music was familiar to me and a part of who I am.  Underneath all of the lengthy list of concerns of what I feel I lack and need to do, is my Spirit, that responds to heavenly beauty that can only be felt and not seen.  I was so happy to feel that so personally.  It was tender and relaxing.

The thought came to me...Strengthen thyself.

That was so interesting.  Not a scattered list.  Not specifics.  More of a one size fits all and whatever I'm engaged in, to choose things that will Strengthen me.  

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"These conferences are always under the direction of the Lord, guided by His Spirit. We are not assigned specific topics. Over weeks and months, often through sleepless nights, we wait upon the Lord. Through fasting, praying, studying, and pondering, we learn the message that He wants us to give."  by Elder Robert Hales

Above quote from  here

Time to celebrate!!!!

I'm still on cloud nine about the General Women's Conference but am shifting my focus to the most amazing time of the year...General Conference!!!  I have a grandson that is a Seahawk fan.  I mean a real fan.  He outfits his wife, two young children and himself in Seahawk shirts and all sorts of stuff.  They don it for every game.  Life comes to a standstill when the Seahawks play.  That is how I am about General Conference!  I know the routine of my personal readiness.  Time to get ready!

I prepare myself (most likely I'm at Temple as you read this) as to questions I want answered...guidance I am seeking...assurance that I find necessary.  I 100% believe in personal revelation and that it just pours down during General Conference.

A friend in Yakima, a Seminary teacher, shared below with me.  I really enjoyed it and think you will also.  it's a great perspective on the preparation the speakers go though.  Each in their own way.  I remember reading once that Elder Packer had worked 8 years on his talk about purity/chastity.  He wanted to talk about reproduction and never mention the word sex.  I think the talk was made into a pamphlet and maybe a filmstrip.  These men do not just quickly jot down thoughts.  They receive their errand from the Lord.

General Conference to me is like the greatest spiritual gift in the whole wide world!!!  LOVE IT!!

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Here is what Sharon shared last year....

I was listening to General Conference on LDS radio and after one of the sessions, there was an interview with Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his wife. It was wonderful and I couldn't stop listening.  Something that impressed me was his answer when asked how he prepares his talks for general conference.  He said that he prays diligently for the 6 months before to know what the Lord would want said.  Usually about 3-4 months before Conference he begins to receive impressions, sometimes a letter from a member along the same lines, he reads or runs across the same subject, etc. Basically, he understands what the Lord is telling him because all these indicate the same message.  He said as he begins to put the talk together 2 months before,  the least number of drafts he has done are 8 rough drafts, but often run as high as 12 or 14.  When he finally feels it is near completion, he lets his wife read it and make suggestions, as well as his brethren in the Twelve.  They also help him see things like areas where he may mean one thing, but it may be taken by some to mean something different. Then he makes his final talk.  Hours and hours of preparation.  The most important thing to him is that he speak the mind and will of the Lord.

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by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles....

 “Perhaps you already know (but if you don’t you should) that with rare exception, no
man or woman who speaks [in general conference] is assigned a topic. Each is to fast and pray, study and seek, start and stop and start again until he or she is confident that for this conference, at this time, his or hers is the topic the Lord wishes that speaker to present regardless of personal wishes or private preferences. … Each has wept, worried, and earnestly sought the Lord’s direction to guide his or her thoughts and expression” (“An Ensign to the Nations,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 111).

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What an event!!!!

I'm on such a high after General Woman's Conference!!!  Technology is so incredible that it's instantly available to peruse over and over.  And what's not to love about the talented folks that instantly pick out my favorite thoughts and illustrate them???!!!  Like this gem...

 

I felt the Spirit so strong.  Felt so inspired and such a kinship with all LDS women.  I really wanted to be with a large group of local women.  I know it was a Saturday and so much going on with sports and it can be recorded and it can be watched in the comfort of your own cozy chair but I really wanted to be with others and visit a bit afterwards.  Didn't happen.  There were 6 women, 4 young girls, and 2 young boys plus our two sister Missionaries.  I heard the Stake Center had 60 or so.  Last year it was almost the same number where I attended in Toppenish and that was combined with 2 Wards.  It was just a longing I had!  A gathering of Zionites!  LDS women are amazing!!!  Such a beautiful time to share with each other.  Some went to Dairy Queen afterwards but I needed to get home and see how Terry was doing.

There were so many things that were favorites.  All talks were timely and inspired on all sorts of levels.  Sigh.

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I talked to my friend Pat about the mention and picture of the 900+ gathering of Girls Camp in Alaska.   She had told me about the meeting in June.  She was thrilled, as was I, when the sister talked about it at the WC!!  (Pat and her Granddaughter checked the picture shown and knew right where they were and other friends.  It was a fun memory for them!) At the event mentioned below, they had asked Pat to stand up, told her age and that she'd been to camp for 50 years.  Also explained that she and several other couples had gathered private funds, to purchase land on a lake for Camp LaDaySa, before we moved there in 1966.  (Not sure how to spell it anymore. Pronounced LahDaySuh)  Pat got a standing ovation.  Go Pat!!  Go Alaska!!

she informed me she is 82, not the 81 I mentioned a couple of days ago!

 From Desseret News....about Girls Camp... here
paragraph from article....

In Anchorage, Alaska, in June of this year, 900 young women gathered from all across the state to an “encampment” on the state fair grounds. Leaders a thousand miles apart “met” throughout the year by conference calls, and 21 statewide committees created perhaps the largest girls camp on record. With the theme “Become One,” leaders and young women planned dozens of stations for all 900 campers to learn and live spiritual truths — as well as complete service projects, outdoor cooking challenges and crafts. During the year, the young women of Alaska prepared spiritually for their camp by completing their reading of the Book of Mormon and memorizing “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.” Strength, unity and faith flowed through a huge exhibition hall as they stood and recited this inspired document from memory.

Another time of marvelous memories made from Church service with a friend.  Again...we had such a great visit on our travel adventure!!

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At last years General Woman's Conference, I took Myra Faye.  Little did I know that she only had 4 more weeks to live.  Sherry and I talked about that yesterday.  Almost 6 months.  I miss my friend.

Hailey- Sherry- MYRA FAYE- Heather  3/29/14

Hailey- Sherry- MYRA FAYE- Heather  3/29/14

travel thoughts...just a couple of things!!

1981...surprised to get Ensign and see this ....  here  I had no idea about the article.  Nothing to make me laugh myself silly over, as when I saw this fellow.

Bruce

 We instantly reacted the same way-- just started laughing and hugging-- over our time together in the Church calling described in the article!!

Terry was Branch President and he called me to the position and it seemed impossible to do.  The goal was to get publicity for the Church.  To get the Church name out.  If something was happening at Church, like a special event, I was suppose to get it in the weekly newspaper.  They were suppose to have Public Service Announcements.  For free.  Our paper did not do it like that.  You paid for what was put in the paper.  religious or not.  Quite the challenge to figure out.  Thankful for prayer and personal revelation.  and fasting.  and Priesthood blessings.

I was awakened in the middle of one night and given clear and concise directions to go to the newspaper and volunteer to do a weekly religious column.  I went the next day.  They accepted.

Further down the line the same awakening happened and this time I was to go to the local PBS radio and volunteer to do a weekly hour long religious show.  I went the next day and they accepted also.

I needed someone to man the technical issues on recording and preparing the tape for broadcast.  Bruce, my friend Pat's son-in-law, was a techie-type, and he accepted a call to help out with the show.

This ended up being one of the most fun/exciting/different callings that I've ever had.  Bruce and I shared the happenings and both had the same sense of humor.  When I saw him a few days ago, we instantly broke into laughter.  He said, he'd told some of our stories but no one ever got them!  Same here, I said!!

One sobering time was when an Evangelical minister tried to speak in tongues to show he could do it at will and he couldn't do it.  I looked at Bruce, sitting quietly at the board, as the man struggled. It dawned on me  he held the Priesthood and this Preacher would not be able to accomplish his attempt, simply because of the presence of that Power.  The poor fellow broke a sweat and and struggled and mumbled about...not to cast pearls before swine.  (we were startled by that comment!) I felt such compassion for him as he struggled several minutes.  The interview finished up and I knew it would be such an embarrassment, to him, for it to go out the airwaves.  Bruce knew how to splice tape and I told the Pastor that we could cut that long break out and not mention it.  At first he said to just leave it.  Then he asked if Bruce would take it out.

The splicing the tape was when we had our I Love Lucy moment.  We unwound that reel for yards and yards.  Stuffing it in a drawer and then another drawer.  Finally finished we stuffed it all into my purse.  We didn't want to talk to the liberals at the station about why we edited the tape...and took it home and burnt it.

See?...that doesn't ring funny but the actually event itself was hilarious.  the editing.  not the poor preacher being horrified that he couldn't access his private prayer language. We did visit about it and how we felt when he talked about the pearls and swine.

We shared lots of interesting moments during those interviews.

When Bruce made arrangements to come home to say hi to me and give me a hug...it was one of the best friendship moments ever.  He went on to be Bishop and Stake President and is just the nicest fellow!

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Friendships.  I've thought a lot about friends in my life and how wonderful it was to reconnect with Pat.  We just picked up as if we'd talked to each other every day.

They lived in Anchorage, bought one of the two existing grocery stores in Homer, and moved down to run it.  A story for another time would be that Pat did not like me.  (one of the first things she mentioned, as we traveled towards the Temple, was she had recently told that story to someone!  she has shared it over the years.  even in a testimony meeting! She is still getting miles out of that story!!)  Anyhow I decided we would be best friends as I couldn't stand to live in a Ward knowing someone really detested me.  And that is what happened.  BFF

So they bought the store, built the biggest house in town, and became quickly known for their Sunday hospitality.  They bought a huge long dining room table and every Sunday would cook enough food to feed all that could sit at the table, the kitchen bar, assorted chairs... easily over a dozen.  maybe more.  Then Ray would bake his version of Mrs. Fields cookies, that were the popular rage then, for dessert.

Pat would laugh at the practicality of owning a grocery store and like the cobblers kids that had no shoes, their food fare were things that were overripe/outdated, be it fruit/veggies/meat/cheese etc., and they would carve it clean and share the wealth.  Ray loved a bargain and Pat hated waste.

When we visited this time I asked if she minded if I shared one of my favorite tales of his bargain hunting.  She said to go ahead.  He loved Costco and he loved the rebate system.  When he knew he was dying, he ordered his casket from Costco and lived long enough to even enjoy the rebate check!

I didn't even know you could do such a thing!  well, you can!  His casket just awaited being used and was stored in his garage!  Go ahead.  Look it up on CostcoConnection.  I know you will because I did the same thing!!!

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Pat knew that I had no regrets about my friendship with Myra Faye and she and I want that with each other.  Staying in closer more regular touch.  Actually I want that with all my friends.  I think it takes effort to be friends unless you travel on a regular basis in the same circle, like jobs/kiddos of like ages/Church callings in same auxiliary/ fitness levels/hobbies/sports etc.  At this age of my life I have to sort of make things happen and make sure I stay in touch with those I love, whether they are hither, thither, or yon!  (Be it a McD breakfast or a lengthy email or an e-card or sharing a Temple trip or going to a movie or a play or performances or whatever.)  When I think of how much someone means to me?-- let them know!!  I seem to have more one on one friendships than groups. 

In our long talk about life it was interesting that we each came up with the same thing of importance over everything else.  Unconditional love.  it all boils down to that trait. Not easy to do but we both feel it's the key to life and needs to be the goal. 

We talked about times that we, individually, have carefully examined our testimonies and the worth of keeping on Gospel sod and plowing through really rough times.  Each has thought it through and wondered ...is it all worth it?  For each of us it is.  We shared our testimonies and love of the Gospel with each other.

We have seen lots of this sort of happenings in our lifetime-- here and she shared that recently it happened in her Ward and how hard it is to be with people that find fault.  out-loud.  to a youths face.

We also talked about the torment of souls that causes them to take their lives.  We knew this man as a boy and the miss-spoken words that wounded him so deep at Church during his teens.  Precariously fragile to begin with, over the years, things festered on many levels and he eventually took his life.  She gave me a disc of his music. 

I'll return it to her.  

Unconditional love.  That pretty much sums it up.

And.....

I felt it with our children and grandchildren and family that we visited.  All together we saw 15 of our immediate family.  My sister and 10 of her family.  Plus 4 friends!!

You do know I love my blog readers??  you are on my LoveList!!!