Seeking the Spirit

President Kimball shared that when he felt distanced from the Spirit he would immerse himself in the scriptures and the Spirit would return.  You know I've been working on balancing my inner self since January and I'm moving ahead!

(food!  must share that hubby and I enjoyed some soup I made.  delish!  Temperature outside is probably 90 degrees but we have our air conditioning so soup was just fine!  No...we didn't sit at the table together as he wasn't ready to eat at same time but we did sit together and eat blueberries!  The fruit around here is beyond description in deliciousness!!  So enough chatter about what fills our porridge bowls!)

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Speaking of hunger...I've felt this desire...a yearning to really dig into studying something spiritual.  I love Gospel study.  The last several days I've thought so much about the Holy Ghost and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  I've read so many talks and learned so much and been reminded of so much.  I'm in my happy place!

My life is so luxurious that I can study for hours if I want!  True, that nothing else gets done or not much else.  If I dabble at house doings, a bit gets done but I feel so fortunate to be able to ignore chores and just indulge in studying.

I really want a better understanding of The Gift!  I want to recognize the feelings and the help and all of the counsel I can receive.

The talk by Elder Oaks is so specific in 8 ways the HG communicates.  I want to know those by heart and recognize when that happens to me.

Here are 3 of my favorite talks today....

Revelation by Dallin H. Oaks here

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The Light Through the Dark Glass

Gary C. Barton July 23, 2013 • Devotional                                here

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The Unspeakable Gift of the Holy Ghost

Jay E. Jensen

of the Presidency of the Seventy Jan. 8, 2012 • Devotional   

Gift of Holy Ghost

Figuring out our menu and feeling accomplished!

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Today I decided to study and read a lot about the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  I enjoyed it so much!  I was reminded of a lot of things and also learned some things, that put a twist on it, that I hadn't considered before.  I grew in understanding and I love to learn about the gospel, as I'm sure you do also.

How thankful I am for such a gift.  The Holy Ghost helps me in big things and small things.  I appreciate his guidance.

I got my sewing machine out and knew the bobbin tension needed adjusting and I could not find the book.  Then I found the instruction booklet under fabric that was cut and ready to sew.  I was SO happy to find that silly book.  I read it and knew what needed to be done on the adjusting.  A couple of weeks later I was ready to start in and lo and behold!...I could not find that booklet.  I searched high and low.  I remembered reading it back at my desk.  I went at the room with a fury.  For days I looked and relooked.  Terry looked.  Not just in my office but everywhere.

I decided to find the booklet on line for instructions...well, try to find it!  I said one last sincere prayer and into my mind came the thought...It's under the Primary sack.  Sure enough.  Right where I then remembered placing it weeks earlier.

I want to be more attune and thus more available to personal guidance and then act on promptings to do good things.

I read several CR talks today about the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  I enjoyed every single one. A couple of favorites were  ... 

That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us by Elder Bednar   here 

     

The Unspeakable Gift  by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin  here

Oopsie...a bit of a rant?

Friday I went to the Temple and had a lot of great time to think and pray and ponder and just enjoy the ride over and back.  My weekly trip depends on how Terry is doing but it seems to be Friday happens more often than not.  So I'm choosing Friday as my Temple day!  Seems I've written that before but just wanted to share that fact again.

On my trip I thought a lot about how life is constantly changing and just when you get it figured out, it all shifts.  I remember a life segment, of many years, thinking that I knew everything...everything!- that a person needed to know for living life.  Then I found myself moved ahead, beyond thinking, and knew that I knew it all!  Now?...I know that I know nothing!!  Life...such an adventure!

A couple of things that I do know for sure.  Families should eat meals together and social media destroys conversing and is addictive.  Don't shoot me down.  Just saying what I feel.  There are only two of us here.  It's easy to not eat together.  We don't communicate on social media with each other and yet it's easy to not converse!

Today we talked about making sure we eat at least once a day together for dinner.  How can this happen you ask?  How are you married forever...home all the time...relatively healthy etc etc. and yet it's a challenge?

Age and taste buds change and sleeping habits are on different schedules and health challenges and on and on...Nothing sounds good or nothing tastes good...I've been up for several hours and he's still sleeping from a rough night... at this stage of my life- I'm not gung-ho at cooking meals anymore!  More of a short-order cook!!...On and on the challenges go.  He thinks he deserves a break because he's almost 80.  I cry...so?  You get it?  Right!?

When we talked about making sure we sit at the table, together for a meal, he questioned ...aren't you saying that the purpose is to connect and visit?  I said...yes.  He said...aren't we doing that now?  and don't we visit off and on like this, all day?  I said...yes.

When I read the New York Times article and they addressed families with children and how hectic/chaotic/challenging etc. it is...they mentioned figuring out something, some time, that the family sits down, with food, eats and talks.  They even mentioned desserts!  I mean that's pretty desperate if that's all a person can manage when they have family at home but thinking out of the box is good for all of us.  Maybe my Sweetie and I will meet over pie (purchased frozen! Of course!)

I've talked about family meals for years.  I know.  I'm sort of on my Soapbox but school is getting ready to start and I hope that meals are on your priority list.

The list I shared below is actually for after school chats but if it's awkward to talk at the table...put the questions in a jar and draw them out and everyone gets to answer.

I don't know if the game Vertell?s would work or not at a dinner table.  The entire premise is for conversation that goes beyond ...yes and no.  Check it out!  (Cassie and I took Vertell?s with us when we went to Leavenworth but we talked so much that we never opened it up!)

 NY Times...why eat together?  how to have better family mealtimes...here

questions to ask your children at the dinner table?  here

hello@vertellis.com (maybe for Sunday afternoon- if it's to involved for a dinner?)

My soapboxing blog about "devices"  here

“The time a family spends together ‘eating meals at home [is] the strongest predictor of children’s academic achievement and psychological adjustment.’ Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children’s smoking, drinking, or using drugs. There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: what your children really want for dinner is you.”

--Elder Dallin H. Oaks (CR 2007)

Mothering

I know someone worked really hard to create this art.  I think it misrepresents Motherhood.  I don't like the message.  Especially seeing the most important person, the Mother's child, just hanging there seemingly neglected.  This is the most exhaustive thing I've ever looked at!  True...Motherhood is exhausting at times--lots of times but...all that stuff the Mother is laden with, comes in bits and pieces, a few items at a time...not the full boatload all at once and staying on to the point of being burdened beyond breathing!

The negative impact I felt, just made me want to give a shout-out of encouragement for the good that all Mother's do.  Hard...exacting...crucial...constant loving care.  Such important work for the good of humanity.  Essential!!

Go Mom's!!!

Me again!

we are to forgive...how many times?  I think I've about used mine up on this blog in continuing to going to do it in a minute and then ending up apologizing.  Is apologizing near asking for forgiveness/repenting?  I don't know but this I do know...I better write a bit while I'm sitting here and not use up the time fawning!

Soooooo....my life continues to be challenging (like all the rest of mortals) and I continue to strive to maintain faith and hope but most of all peace.  Peace.  Ah...the word itself makes me smile.  I can be aware of personal burdens but not feel the total weight!  Peace.  Things will be okay.  A way will be provided even though I have no idea what that way will be.

Our daughter flew in from her Alaska adventure early July (shockeroo!  I've not blogged since then!!??).  I met her late afternoon, drove home, she said a quick hello/goodbye to her Daddy and oldest brother and we then got into car, 4:30pm!, to head to Utah!

Our oldest granddaughter was getting married in the Logan Temple!  We drove and suddenly it was dark.  Really dark and both of us are night blind with only car lights!  We took the next exit and it led us to Ontario on the back road!  It was the 4th of July and we could see fireworks from a distance.  We were so fortunate as we came in the backside of the Fairgrounds with cars parked on both sides of the roads and people sitting all over but the road was totally clear, except for us!

We hoped to find a hotel.  Again, we were blessed, in happening on a rundown Hotel and they had a vacancy.  Actually they had lots of vacancies!  only 3 cars parked there!  It was clean and Jeanee checked the beds for bedbugs, just to make sure!

We got a big laugh at the pictures hanging over each bed.  They were the exact duplicate so we figured they got some sort of bargain on buying in bulk.

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Next morning we headed to Nibley.  Arrived and that was decorating the cultural hall day and all of those sorts of things.

Next day was the marriage and it was emotional for everyone.  I especially felt it as she is our first Temple marriage grandchild.  She has known the groom since they were in 4th grade and they have been in love since they were 13.  In love and out of love and back and forth and together and apart and etc.  Ping-pong balling!  Now they are both close to 23.  They know what they are getting into for sure!

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After all the Temple ceremony and pictures were done we headed back to Greg's for a dinner for out of towners.  Jeanee and I left while meal was still going on and drove to Bountiful and spent the night with David and his family and saw his new home.  First time we'd seen Greg's Utah home also.

Next morning we headed back to Nibley.  decorating and food preparation for wedding reception that night.  A beautiful night.  It was so amazing to have 3 of our 5 children & 2 dau-n-law there and also 7 grandchildren plus a new bonus grandson!  The joy those cousins felt on seeing each other just made me teary.  They are all excited to go to McCall next year.  Me too.  So is Terry!  (Cassie flew in from Florida to surprise Britta!  so much fun to see that!)

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A couple of weeks later...Cassie came to visit us.  What a great time we had.  We even went to Leavenworth and stayed at our favorite hotel (The Enzian Inn) plus saw The Sound of Music (performed outdoors at the ski-lift)  More on our time together later.  Truly.

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also great news.  Remember 2 years ago...our Grandson had that horrible bike accident?  His pain is off the charts...one leg a couple of inches shorter and all sorts of dreadful things.  Anyhow...he  went to the Seattle specialist a few days ago and he is going to get a total hip replacement.  The earliest appointment is 3 months out but they put him on a bump list and we hope that will be sooner. It should will correct his spine etc. and with physical therapy he will regain a better life for himself and his little family.  Did I mention that baby Jack is due anytime and if he chooses to delay his entry then Kim will be induced in two weeks?

So there you go.  I'm hopefully back in the saddle again and will not get bucked off!  or jump off!

On my soapbox!

As you know I'm fascinated by President Nelsons quote about being "immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions" by daily reading of the Book of Mormon.  Well, he says to "daily immerse yourself" in the book so that is more than a glancing at the written page!  Since I read that Prophetic promise I've wondered/thought/prayed/pondered as to what qualifies as "other mind-numbing addictions".

What ended up #1 on my list is mis-use of the marvels of the marvelous technology that is so readily available.  I felt backed up when I read what Elder Neil L. Andersen posted on May 10.

To have the help of the Holy Ghost, we have to prepare our mind and heart. In today’s world, you need discipline and restraint in how you use your technological devices.

Adam Alter, in his book called “Irresistible,” speaks about the addictive behavior of technology and social media. He quotes Greg Hochmuth, one of Instagram’s founding engineers, commenting: “‘There’s always another hashtag to click on. Then it takes on its own life, like an organism, and people can become obsessive.’ Instagram, like so many social media platforms, is bottomless. Facebook has an endless feed; Netflix automatically moves on to the next episode in a series; Tinder encourages users to keep swiping in search of a better option.”

For the Spirit to dwell in us, we have to have time and space. Learn to put your smartphones down. Insert time when your technology is intentionally not accessible.

In conference, President M. Russell Ballard said: “Too many allow themselves to almost live online with their smart devices—screens illuminating their faces day and night and earbuds in their ears blocking out the still, small voice of the Spirit. If we do not find time to unplug, we may miss opportunities to hear the voice of Him who said, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). Now, there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of the advances in the technologies inspired by the Lord, but we must be wise in their use.”

I ordered the book he quoted from and also two others.  My favorite one is the really quick read Disconnected.  I could easily be a book salesman for that little book!

Disconnected  here      Irresistible here   Reset your childs brain  here

My home houses just my Hubby and I.  We have no children here and all those decisions to be made and how to do it and when and what devices to buy and how to monitor and how to limit and etc. etc. are not anything we address at all.... so why do I care?  From the things I read...it can easily become an addiction.  So yes, I do care.  It impacts my life even with my being in the age of dinosaurs and thinking email is a big deal and why doesn't everyone use it to communicate and also...still having a landline  plus loving the feel of paper and holding a book.  Very old school but I am old so isn't that age appropriate!?

At the recent wedding reception preparations, there were probably 6 phones laying on the counter.  Pinging and dinging with different ring tones.  Fingers wiping and swiping.  It was so interesting to see that managing those phones was as natural as breathing.  How do people relax and not have to tend these phones every minute?  It's like hauling an oxygen bottle and most are never free of it.  Phones are seldom lost or misplaced or accidentally left behind.  People will sit in a room and never speak!  Airports are totally quiet with everyone thumb wiggling...so for a reader, that is really a bonus!  a quiet crowd.

I find myself ignorant of the etiquette rules of contacting people on PM.  I am the minority in wanting to write sentences and not abbreviate and speak a language that is foreign.  I don't even know when to call people and not interrupt them.  Maybe I'm a mess and don't know it?  One thing though that I do know is this...IF you call someone on their smart phone- they will immediately see that you called. That is awkward when they don't answer or return the call!  I'm equally bad though as I don't check messages and I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the number and if my phone is in another room and I don't get it before the 3rd ring...I have no idea who called as the caller ID goes blank.

In today's world, I appreciate the safety factor of having a phone to travel with, even just to grocery shop.  I like the idea of that feeling I can reach someone.  For years I had a little tiny flip phone and I'd make sure I had it with me in the car.  I shared the number with my sister and a son and a close friend.  Eventually, actually not to long ago, it died with no chance of revival.  My son found me a new phone but not a flip phone.  He was showing me how to use it and suddenly a little keyboard popped up and he said...this is for texting.  I said...I don't want to text but this is nice... Sort of like a training a person for using a Smart Phone.  A trainer phone.  He said...Mom!  This is a Smart Phone. I was shocked and said I didn't want a smart phone etc. etc.  Well, I have one.  I have learned to take pictures with it and I may learn to do FaceTime with Grandkids.  I do need to do that FaceTime deal.  I feel I'm being held hostage in a way and I know I need to embrace more than I now do but....

I don't know if I'm old and rebellious and stubborn or what!!!  I do know that I have enough challenges in my life without adding what I now, totally believe, can (and most likely will) become an addiction to the mix of my own life messes!  I also know that I'm on my soap box...ranting and raving!

Even Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and Silicon Valley tech nerds recognize there are dangers and guard their children.

Silicon Valley parents raising tech-free kiddos here

46 second clip...Bill Gates/Steve Jobs  here

Heading out of Dodge...

Of all days to travel...July 4th!  We have a rule for ourselves that we don't travel the highways on National holidays and today, rebel that I am, totally a rule breaker!....heading out of State to our granddaughter's wedding.  Will pick Jeanee up at the airport and then we will come home for 30 seconds (so she can give hugs to her Father and brother and meet his new dog!) and we will then be On the Road Again!  Willie Nelson singing in background!  Hum along if you like!

Why don't we fly?  I gave up flying years ago!  Long before I was old in age!  Flew so many times and never enjoyed it one second and finally just made one last trip to Florida and said...No more for me!! 

Reluctantly I leave my SweetGuy in the care of our son.  He is so happy I am going though.

Utah...here we come!

Be in touch next week!

I love America!!