Onward...ever onward!

Again.  Here I go again. Trying to convince myself that it's good for me to share how I feel even when I'm filled with self-doubt...yet not enough doubt to just bag the entire blog.  So as I said...Again.  Here I go again!!

Terry's health didn't make it possible to go to McCall for our annual get-together.  2nd year in a row.  Still aiming at next year!  Our 5 kiddos are so awesome.  They ended up coming here!  We live in a very small place and even though it's 2 bedrooms, it's now more like no extra bedroom.  Terry spends more nights back there than he used to.  They rented hotel rooms at a nearby Hotel and had the advantage of privacy and a pool and hot tub and a breakfast and an evening light meal also- plus they could bring dogs!! So we ended up with 20 here and then 5 up in Kennewick...where our grandson and family live.  We went up there for our big seafood celebration.  25 people!  awesome!!

Our sweet Granddaughter -Cassie- wanted some alone time so she came out and we had almost 3 days alone.  She and I love to sit and talk!  We talk a lot about everything plus she loves to watch Jaws-type movies with her Poppa.  She bought him a T-shirt with the Jaws shark on it, that matches hers!

We ate and talked our way through our time together and it was amazing.  I picked her up from the airport and she was hungry so we went to Hoptown Wood Fired Pizza (she loves the pizza and rootbeer!)  Then we came home and she saw her Poppa and Uncle Kipper.  She then wanted us to go get a manicure so we headed back to Yakima and after gorgeous nails, we ate at Teriyaki Grill.  Next day I took her to Prosser to Jades British Bakery as a surprise for breakfast. We also covered food trucks in Sunnyside  and another surprise, our tradition, lunch at the White House Cafe plus Mongolian Grill!  And another tradition...WTC matinee...this year Singin' in the Rain...and to say hi to Sophia Bos!  We also visited the newly opened place in Zillah...The Calico Cat Cafe.  (We did not eat but did visit and see their establishment that offers employment for some challenged folks...like autism and serve food plus a separate area where you can adopt cats.  It's a non-profit from what I understand.)

She shopped and bought a couple of things and I sat and watched!!  from the car!!

It was magic.  Memories are magic!!  Especially magic when it's familiar and tradition...even something like Cassie making sourdough starter and later cooking pancakes when others arrived or she and I grinding wheat and making bread. 

Life has been a bit overwhelming and as I've readjusted to yet another level of change, I find memories, and talking about them or actually repeating them,  makes life so meaningful and comforting with the familiarity. 

Lately I've had others, from my past, reach out with a shared memory and it has added a level of richness that I enjoy walking down memory lane with someone I shared it with.  Now I form new memories with those around me.  And that includes you!!!

video pancakes...here

tears here...

Our granddaughter, Cassie, comes in today and then the other family members will all be here by Monday night.  On Wednesday we will be in Tri-cities...celebrating with our children and grandchildren that we are 80 and have been married for 60 years!  whew! I love family reunions and this one will be so special.  Baby Jack will meet the cousins.

Right now our daughter has been on an extended Alaskan trip.  Reminiscing about where she was raised in Homer when the population was 1200 and amenities were scarce and her parents were rather clueless.  I love how children, look for the good!  Our 3rd son, David, is also in Homer for his class reunion so they had one day together.  She blogged about that day and it made me cry and then it made her Daddy cry.  I won't go into any more details beyond what she said as I need to get ready to pick up Cassie but I just wanted to share this.

Memories...make them good as they will last forever and be welded into the DNA of your children!

Enjoy.....from Jeanee's FB....

My brother Dave pulled into town this morning and called me. It was so great to see him. We met at Two Sisters and had breakfast and caught up. It had been 10 years since he’s been home. Together we visited with friends, explored the Spit and hit the Wagon Wheel and the Farmer’s Market. We had a classic Glacier Burger, something we’ve done since we were kids.  

We decided to go down to our old house. The home that we were raised in. No one has lived in it for years. It’s still standing but busted up from vandals and now decaying into the earth.

Nothing stays the same. But, wow, the memories of this place are vibrant, alive, and tangible.

Remember that scene in Titanic,where it shows the ship sunken underwater listing to one side, all covered in seaweed and silt and rust, and then by the magic of movies, it slowly comes to life as it was, polished and new and in its prime? Well, that’s kind of what happened.

Our house is just a shack. Old boards, warped floors with dirt and plants coming through in spots, windows busted out and even graffiti on the walls.

But we walked together room by room and reminisced. Memories filled us. We saw and remembered what it was in it’s prime. When it smelled of mom’s baked bread, and the fireplace spreading warmth and classical music playing, and hand sewn curtains and mom in the kitchen making something yummy and asking about our day. We saw the spit rocks that we collected as a family and laid in the cement around the fireplace, we talked about the water pump and how it always froze in the winter, and how the boys would pull Dave down the hall and let go as the spring shot him into the kitchen on the Johnny Jump Up spring chair, and the constant leaks between the new addition, and the moose looking in the living room window, and how Dave loved to lay on this spot by the fireplace , and how I had 2000 pounds of wheat under my bed-just in case.

All of the boards were made by dad and the boys falling pine trees on the property and dad using his saw mill to make rough hewn lumber. The boards were rough and sometime bent. He was so proud of the saw mill and I remember him being so happy while using it, always with his flannel shirt sleeves rolled up, big strong arms, big smile and the smell of fresh pine in his clothes and hair. The house was made by a diesel mechanic who did the best he could, crooked and rough. Dad worked so hard. Mom made it so loving and cozy inside. We love and appreciate all they did for us. It was primitive and muddy and hard and wonderful. To Dave and I, it was memories coming to life. Mom always tells us she wishes she could have given us more, done more for us, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.

I was able to visit a few more treasured friends yesterday and today. The night ended with a bon fire on the beach, sandy s’mores and friendship.

I realize in coming home that friendship, connection, and memories are some of the most prized possessions.

 

Refuge

Embarrassingly enough...I have to confess that the SLC Temple print that I bought ages ago...2 years, maybe?  That print remained in the mailing tube until a couple of weeks ago.  I was really prompted when President Nelson talked about the Come Follow Me Program, when it was introduced in 2018... he mentioned about transforming our homes into a sanctuary of faith.  That really got me out of sloth mode to get my print framed.  True I wasn't moving at break neck speed as his comment was made 9 months ago!

I had it framed at Hobby Lobby and picked it up yesterday.  I LOVE it!  and so does Hubby!  After I selected the 2 matting colors and the frame...2 days later I had angst about was the choice right etc. etc.  Oh, yes.  It was right.  Right for us anyhow!

I have got to learn how to take pictures with this phone that just stays in place on any flat surface and is not used!  Another procrastination.  So I can't show the framed version that is hanging on my wall but I can show you the one I chose.  The Salt Lake Temple from the artists Refuge From the Storm series.  This Temple is so meaningful to us...the Missionaries had a picture of it on their flannel board and I thought it was a castle.  We ended up having our family sealed in this edifice.  It took 3 expensive trips to get all 5 children connected!  Wonderful!!

The Temple is my refuge from my own storms.  I feel this rendition shows the effort of weathering the storm, in order to find refuge from the storm.  I feel it shows the effort needed to attend the Temple and that we can always find excuses to not go but we need to power through, no matter the storms surrounding us, in order to find shelter within the Temple.  I could go on and on but I'll spare you!!

The hymn lyrics to Jesus, Lover of My Soul are running through my head.  Not a hymn associated with Temples but to me it definitely is how I feel and what I seek and what I receive, when I attend the Temple.

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Refuge From the Storm

"And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain." 

Isaiah 4:6

The world in which we live can sometimes seem like a storm.  It is continually becoming stronger, and can at times feel cold and harsh. 

One way we can find shelter and escape the troubles that we face is by going to the temple. The House of the Lord can stand against anything. 

It is there for us as a "Refuge from the Storm."  Cortney C. Lunt

Art?

In 2009, when our Church in Zillah was going to be built, there were lots of details being worked out on colors of fabric for pews and carpet and wood and brick and art work...the pictures for the walls.  It was such an exciting time and fun to be in on the happenings as the RSP.  One day I went to Church and the Bishop handed me a little catalog, that did not have a lot to choose from, and asked me to pick the pictures for the RS room.  I was so looking forward to meeting with my counselors and choosing those pictures!  But...he said-I need this right away. Literally a few minutes!

I wanted pictures that showed the strength and endurance and courage and stamina of women.  I could choose 2...I ended up choosing a Minerva Teichert picture and a copy of the Gleaners.

Minerva Teichert's art was not accepted by the Church at first.  (I blogged about her) and my heart went out to her to have felt inspired and given her all and then to be rejected by those that she'd done it for!  I wanted that reminder for all of us plus the courage of the Pioneer women.

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The familiar copy of The Gleaners from 1857 was my other choice.  I loved the story of the Gleaners.  I felt it showed the hard work that a woman is willing to do to feed her family.  They weren't field workers.  It wasn't old foodstuff.  It was harvested that day and when the workers were finished, the gleaners could come and collect fresh grain...of course I loved the story of Ruth's devotion to her MIL and most of all Boaz telling his workers to leave extra grain for the gleaning by Ruth.  So romantic!  sigh.  So I felt this picture represented all sorts of things that were inspiring.

This is not as lovely looking as our is.  But I couldn't find one with better lighting.

When I see these two paintings hanging in full view, for all that are in attendance at RS, I hope they find them as inspiring as I do.

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Why am I going on about something that happened 10 years ago?  Because I recently saw this and it just hurt me.  Why turn something beautiful, into something divisive by making it racial and about slavery and woman needing liberation etc.?  It saddened me when I read the comments of many women that agreed and applauded the artists rendition wrecking below.  Just my opinion.

The light is much better on this even though to me they wrecked it!

Healing our hearts and homes!

this is so timely....and so hopeful...(look at the heading!) President Hinckley said...Ten virtues that will heal our hearts and home...Let the healing begin!

Not lost...

just wandering and meandering while trying to focus on the straight ahead path!  A constant sorting and sifting and processing of life. My life.  Our life.  Life in general.  Thoughtful and contemplative and a settling and dealing with realities.  Finding peace and experiencing joy in the process. 

We have this one time, one go at it, for our very own Once Upon a Time life story on this earth.  I find it fascinating and challenging and overwhelming and satisfying all rolled unto a savory bite of deliciousness.

Always food.  I always bring food to the conversation!  Even my wall paint is food oriented in name...cherry red...toasted wheat...honey butter or similar names!

Balance.  Finding it seems so elusive.  Seemingly conquered and then much like a foundational rock that shifts, in a homemade waterfall, it all tumbles.  The planning and making and the re-creating something adequate and similar but at the same time new and different keeps life spicy! (food.  again!)

Picking and sorting and keeping and discarding habits/deeds that enhance our personal world.  How wonderful to have a brain capable of thinking and planning and doing and the blissful feeling of freedom to do whatever I want!

Prayer.  I love feeling the power in even the word!  Seeing it or saying it or doing it.  My lifeline to my Heavenly Father.  He that loves me and cares about me.  Such an amazing miracle as He feels that way about you, just as much as me, and neither of us gets more than the other.  We receive what is perfect for each of us.  Tailor-made by God.

Yakkity-yak!

This early a.m. I was thinking that I would love to have a study group of women that isn't really a study group as much as it's a sharing group.  Just a few women- sharing what impacted them in their scripture study the last week.  Actually maybe that describes the CFM program!  But I don't go to the adult class as I teach once a month- 11-13 year olds.  I don't know how much discussion/sharing goes on in the adult class.  Plus there are so many people.  I'm thinking just 3 or 4 women.  Sharing what we've learned or have been reminded of or gained greater insights from our own scripture study...does it further embed it in our spiritual psyche?  I think so!  And then the expansion of our understanding and growing as we hear how others have been impacted by their own study!  Sounds amazing to me!

Speaking of discussing...I do believe that the Seminary teachers have the best calling in the Church!  I cherish the many years I taught! Next year will be amazing with all the planned discussion going on with the youth.  I would love to see our current Seminary teacher stay and carry on.  He has it down to a rhythm and his heart is in it 100%.  A bit envious. Uh-huh...green eyes are showing! Jealousy is not pretty!

Luke 22!  Wow!
vs 31- made me think of the power or example of leaders and the leaf falling from the oak tree isn't noticed but the falling of the tree is.  we need to pray for our leaders.  the JST footnote clarifies why Satan will work on leaders to endeavor to bring us all down!
vs 32- difference between a testimony and conversion. Reminded me of my "word" that I chose in January...Becoming.  Studying enables my conversion.  I am becoming converted!
vs 44- I remember being fascinated when I learned of the word..Hematidrosis.  I remembered reading that most people would die of the pain.  He lived!!!  and He Lives!  great footnote sources.
We listened to Elder McConkie's fantastic talk from April 1985.  He had cancer and you could see how ill he was and how dry-mouthed he was.  He passed away a week or so later.  I remember being so overcome when I realized this would be the last time we'd see him and what a stalwart he was.  He was 69 then.  I absolutely am so strengthened by General Conference!  here is the talk.  Such a classic talk!

I decided to read the NT, cover to cover, and I got such a kick out of Romans Chapter 14.  I know the discourse was about religious beliefs, of the day, and new doctrine to them, on clean and unclean foods...stages of conversion to letting go of some things and starting anew on others but...vs 1 &2 is just so today!.  a great reminder from vs 15 to the end of chapter in vs 23... keeping a perspective of what the gospel really is and to not judge what others are eating or not eating!  As one that at various times has tried, and continues to embrace all of the Lo here and Lo there ad invites on eating programs/diets...I just loved this Chapter and it's realistic approach on attitudes in today's modern world.  Boo!!! Hiss!!! to the industrial age, that caused WW to teach me that fat was bad and sugar was good and Angel Food cake and CoolWhip would be fine to eat in mass quantity- if I so chose.  In the mirror I look and say...Well, good morning SugarAddict!  Thought question...Does paying someone to weigh me weekly amount to a form of insanity???? 
 could you tighten up my straight jacket, please!?

Have a terrific day!  I will also.  The challenges of life would be impossible for me to deal with if I was without the Gospel!  You too?

(I hope I'm not babbling or prattling!  just a heartfelt sharing!)