Follow-up.... One Last Thought....

Ever have a conversation and then afterwards think of one more thing you wish you'd said?  or one more late thought comes under the wire and doesn't make the page?   or you read something or hear something or think of something and wish it had made the post?  I'm going to do one last thought on the last day of each month!  A bunch of  PS notes!!  Afterthoughts!  Follow-up!  Enjoy!

5/25/11  Speaking of Westminster Dogs  The story of the dog hopping on the sacrament table during the Sacrament hymn was matched or overtaken by this story from Maurine W.   Thanks, Maurine!  I LOVE this!!!

Okay...I'm just going to write it down, I can't wait any longer to tell you the other story. Yes, Bob and I were in attendance when the dog bounced up to the podium and the Bishop as shocked as anyone took a minute to jump up and retrieve him from the sacrament table. That afternoon I called my daughter, Marie, and told her the story. She said, "Oh, Mom, I have one better than that". A few months ago a woman visitor had her seeing eye dog with her. They came in and sat on a back row, she at the end of the row, and the dog sat down beside her in the isle. Well at the intermediate song a member of their ward was singing a solo when the dog decided to sing with her. It set up a howl that shocked everyone, especially the lady with the dog. She said that the lady kept singing, but she was so embarrassed and of course so was the lady with the dog. But, she said it was so hilarious that everyone else had a hard time to not laugh out loud....keeping a straight face was almost impossible. I had to agree, that one trumped our experience here. Before that I had never heard of a dog coming to church and performing as those two did.

Nancy....have a good day. It looks like a beautiful one!!!
  
6/13/11  CONTRASTS   Broadway Play.  What a feat those authors pulled off.  To present, just by a few words, despicable subjects and to manage at the same time to touch hearts with something or other.  An opportunity for us to tell the truth.  I'm reminded...The work of the Church cannot be stopped.  Daniel rolling stone.  The mighty Mississippi held back by hand. 

The train will just keep on rolling along.  We are either on board or not but the train is on track.  I hear the sounds of Chattanooga Choo choo in my head!!  All Aboooarrrrdd!

When you hear the whistle blowin' eight to the bar
Then you know that Tennessee is not very far
Shovel all the coal in
Gotta keep it rollin'
Woo, woo, Chattanooga there you are

So Chattanooga choo choo
Won't you choo-choo me home?
Chattanooga choo choo
Won't you choo-choo me home?

6/16/11  A Spot of Beauty.  I'd had these thoughts in my mind for a long time.  I moved past thinking and actually sharing via a post because of a comment made by a man. Said totally in his innocence, not having had a lot of life experience and truly believing what he said.  It was just a brief sentence and it pierced my heart..."this is a place you want to take your kids as a teaching tool and show them what happens to a person when they don't get an education."  Inside I was so emotional.  Who knows what the education factor was?  Who knows what's happened on his mortal trek?  It was devastating to me.  I lacked courage to tell him how that impacted me and why.  So I tell you!  Fat lot of good that does!!!

The day of the post our Church News came in and there was an article on page 16 about the dedication of the new Sugar House D.I.   The Church's newest welfare facility was dedicated (6/8/11)  by President Henry B. Eyring.  I was struck by his statement....

"God requires His children, which we all are, to care for the poor among them.  The way it is to be done is clear.  Those who have accumulated more are able to humble themselves to help those in need. Those with abundance are to voluntarily sacrifice some of their comfort, time, skills and resources to relieve the suffering of those in need. And the help is given in a way that increases the power in the recipients to care for themselves and their families."

Ready!!!!

I love a clothesline and that is a story for another time, when things are a bit more relaxed around here.  The last part of getting things ready is to air all the bedding and pillows and Jeanee's pajamas and robe.  The girls always sleep in Terry's old t-shirts and it fits them like a nightgown.  So everything is fresh from the line and back in the house.  A little gift bracelet, packed in a be-ribboned box,  on each pillow.  and a bouquet of beautiful fresh flowers sits on the nightstand near the window.  All in readiness for a very late night arrival after hours of flying cross country.

Tomorrow morning they will check out everything in the house including the saved cupboard and eat the golden raspberries that await picking.  We will catch up on what their school year was like and maybe they will polish my nails.  

At some point they will help take their $5 yardsale bikes down from the garage rafters and go for a ride.    

Life will now take on a very feverish pace balanced with many times of relaxing, visiting, reading, cooking/baking.

I love my Children, their Spouses and my Grandchildren and even my 2 little Great Grands!!  My heart is open to love.  In my Ward there are many that are like sisters to me or daughters or grandchildren.  We have the power to shower love and meet those needs and fill in little missing spots in each others lives by caring and loving each other.  Sometimes we sub or are proxy when someone is missing and needing a relative.  I went to Lydia's dance recital and loved it.  I couldn't go to my Gr-daughter Grace's Utah recital and Lydia didn't have a grandma here, so we were a perfect fit!!  We enjoy each others company so both of us were happy! 

When we joined the Church there was a navy blue hymn book.  In 1985 they printed the current green hymn book.  They added some new hymns and deleted some old ones.  Today when I was hanging blankets on the line I thought of this one, now long gone from the hymnal, but not my mind.

'Mid Pleasures and Palaces

(#185 in Blue Hymnal)

'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;

A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there,

Which, seek through the world,

is ne'er met with elsewhere.

(chorus)

Home, home, sweet, sweet home,

Be it ever so humble,

there's no place like home.

An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain;

Oh, give me my lowly thatched cottage again;

The birds singing gaily, that came at my call;

Oh, give me that peace of mind, dearer than all.

(chorus)

Home, home, sweet, sweet home,

Be it ever so humble,

there's no place like home.

   

Little Things Mean a Lot!

We live in a small place.  Just right for the two of us.  It can expand, temporarily, for others.  In the 2nd bedroom, we have a Murphy bed, where a closet used to be.  Corner nestled...a set of bunk beds in the same room. 

A kitchen table that seats 2 but extra leaves can be put in, expanding to almost overfill the small dining room and seat 8-10. 

One level living.  Adequate space.  Not new and modern but comfortable, homey (to us), and always in a state of something being overhauled or remodeled.  Ongoing projects that seem to never quite get done but we keep trying.  Our granddaughters call it The Cottage.  They are so sweet with their little rose colored glasses ever in place!

Last year before our daughter and the girls left, we told the girls we were going to do some changes in the kitchen over the winter.  We warned them because they don't want one single thing changed.  Anywhere.  Anytime.  They were still missing a door that had been closed off to make a bathroom wall.  Their reaction was very sentimental to pending kitchen changes.  To their young eyes this was a place of perfection and beauty.  Truth be told.  It was a rather run down sad state of affairs! 

The wall paper was some sort of super old print that had salt and pepper shakers, wooden spoons, daisies, teapots etc.  It was an all over pattern. Sort of muted and subdued.  They asked us what we would do with the walls.  We said that we liked wall paper but not the current one and we would change the wall paper.  They were truly devastated and stated their love  of it, pleading with us to leave it, how beautiful it was etc. etc.  So I made them a promise.  We would paint and wallpaper everything except for the interior of the cupboards over the washer/dryer.  That spot would be left for them to look at and enjoy.

We are winding down the preparations for their arrival and today, when I grabbed a rag from that cupboard, I saw the old print and smiled.  Even got a bit misty-eyed for a second, in thinking of how much Grandma's love all their Grand-babies, and the silly things they do for them to make them happy. 

Oh, My!....the things we will cook for the girls and then repeat the same things when we get to McCall and unite with more of our children and grandchildren. Things with memories and stories that engender tender feelings of connectedness and love and tradition. 

Family traditions are many times, simple things, just done on a regular basis....over and over and over.  Then you end up with 5 adult children that all know Sunday Dinner means one thing.  Roast, sauerkraut, potatoes, carrots and onions.  

A part of our summer fare food-wise celebration, will include breakfast dishes like...Dad's Alaska Sourdough Pancakes, Dad's Poor Man's Mush aka WallPaperPaste, 3 bear Porridge (corn meal mush)

My heart is so looking forward to seeing my children and my grandchildren.  It's little things that tie us to together.  All these little repetitive simple details really do count!!! 

This verse of an old song popped into my mind....

  Give me your hand when I've lost the way

Give me your shoulder to cry on

Whether the day is bright or gray

Give me your heart to rely on

Send me the warmth of a secret smile

To show me you haven't forgot

That always and ever, now and forever

Little things mean a lot.

This little school poem popped into my mind....

Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand,

Make the mighty ocean

And the pleasant land.

Thus the little minutes,

Humble though they be,

Make the mighty ages

Of eternity.

And this verse of scripture popped in also!....

Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing,

for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. 

And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

                                  --64:33

"....a careful, thoughtful, prayerful reading of...."

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Friday, June 24, 2011 -- 10:31 PM EDT
-----

Gay Marriage Approved by New York Senate

Lawmakers voted late Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, making New York the largest state where gay and lesbian couples can wed, and giving the national gay-rights movement new momentum from the state where it was born.

The same-sex marriage bill was approved on a 33 to 29 vote. The Senate galleries were so packed with supporters and opponents that the fire marshals closed them off.

*************************

4 Republicans Join 29 Democrats in 33-29 Senate Vote

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and MICHAEL BARBARO

The law will take effect in 30 days, making New York the largest state where gay and lesbian couples can wed and adding momentum to the gay-rights movement.

***********

After N.Y. Senate Vote, Governor Cuomo Signs Gay Marriage Bill

_________________________________________________

The gospel was restored and the Church established in 1830. That's 181 years ago. In that time frame, only five proclamations, have been issued. The fifth one was delivered 23 September 1995. 16 years ago. I remember viewing the live Satellite Broadcast of that specific General Relief Society Conference and being caught off guard when President Hinckley said....

With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn. In furtherance of this we of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles now issue a proclamation to the Church and to the world as a declaration and reaffirmation of standards, doctrines, and practices relative to the family which the prophets, seers, and revelators of this church have repeatedly stated throughout its history. I now take the opportunity of reading to you this proclamation.

He read the proclamation and then stated....

We commend to all a careful, thoughtful, and prayerful reading of this proclamation. The strength of any nation is rooted within the walls of its homes. We urge our people everywhere to strengthen their families in conformity with these time-honored values.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                 

A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD

 

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

 

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

 

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

 

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

 

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

 

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

 

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.  Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.



We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

Kindness....a gift.

So you know we've had this little bump in the road, that sort of threw us for a mini-loop. I've been so impressed with the kindness and attentiveness and willingness, of others,  to help us in any way.  Pure kindness.  You can't purchase kindness.  You can't really ask someone to be kind to you.  Kindness is charity, the pure love of Christ, given freely in a gentle caring form.  When you are bestowed with kindness it takes all sorts of shapes and forms.  Kindness is wonderful. Kindness truly is a gift.

We've received lots of kindnesses these last couple of days.  Words of kindness.  Calls of kindness.  Prayers of kindness.  Acts of kindness.  Deeds of kindness.  Email kindness.

Someone coming in and placing jello on the counter for us to find.  Soup delivered.  Cookies brought in.  Offering meals. Gentle deeds that were kindness personified.

We are doing fine now.  It's past.  Yes, we are tired but we are up and living our life but the remembrance of caring people continues to buoy us.  Not only with the feelings of gratitude but actually amazement that people would be willing to reach out.  It inspires us to improve in our own charity.... to act, on even the smallest inclination or prompting, to be kind.

Thursday I got a call from Melissa.  She was in charge of the RS Quarterly Social on Tuesday.  Calling to see if we were okay.  Calling to see if she could help.  Calling to see if we needed anything.

Here is what was amazing to me.  Melissa is young and she has a young family of 5 children.  On Tuesday she handled the RS Social, went home, found teen daughter in pain, ended up taking her for emergency surgery for appendicitis, stayed up all night.  Then gets home and calls to see if we are okay!

The thing is we have a whole raft of these women.  Grandma's and Aunts and Moms, all are stalwarts in the Gospel and reach out in kindness at every turn.  Our Ward is just blessed beyond measure, with the kindness factor, that is always in attendance.  I really don't know how they do all that they do and still reach out to help beyond taking care of their own home responsibilities.  They are marvelous and I love all of them!  Young and the not so young!  We have the Gospel in action with our RS sisters.

I just want to share a part of a favorite talk that means a lot to me.  It's from May 2005 Ensign by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin....

The Virtue of Kindness

The Church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father.

Each one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother may not challenge you at all. Strengths that you possess may seem impossible to another.

Never look down on those who are less perfect than you. Don’t be upset because someone can’t sew as well as you, can’t throw as well as you, can’t row or hoe as well as you.

We are all children of our Heavenly Father. And we are here with the same purpose: to learn to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

One way you can measure your value in the kingdom of God is to ask, “How well am I doing in helping others reach their potential? Do I support others in the Church, or do I criticize them?”

Our Hiccup!

Not a fun few days.  For sure!!  Unexpected.  Unwelcome.  Unwanted. Unprepared.  Had a wonderful simple Father's Day dinner with one of our sons that lives nearby.  Baked Chicken.  Salad.  Small slice of dessert.  Great conversation.  Evening ended.  Sent him home with some cashews.  Terry and I ate some cashews.  Around 9:30 Terry got a stomach ache with real sharp pains.  Then my stomach started aching.  Called and alerted our son.  (he ended up fine with nothing happening to him. Ate no cashews)  From there it was mostly misery.  Painful.  Nasty.  Yucky. Seemingly endless.

My mind was mushy and I couldn't think.  We'd told our son that we would sleep it off and to not call.  (bad mistake)  We had several things going for Mon-Wed so Terry called, the first 3...Nikki, Myra Faye and Jerry.  The other 3 didn't get called.  He told Myra Faye we'd be fine we just needed to sleep.

Monday night, at some point, not sure of time, but it was dark and we'd had a really rough day.  We finally realized--Hey!  We are really sick and need a blessing.  Terry turned on a lamp and saw the phone by the chair where he was.  We couldn't remember our Home Teachers phone number.  So I called Myra Faye.  Bob said he'd get someone and come right over to bless us.  I don't know if it was 10 or 11 or what.

Bob and Hal came in and we were each seated in our chairs, side by side, looking gross.  We both looked scary. Terry wrapped in a blanket, hair askew and me in a robe, pale faced and my newly cut hair was sticking straight up!   A  4" crew cut! I'd run my fingers through it tossing and turning. Not one strand of hair was on my face! I startled myself when I glanced in the mirror. Truly I could have cared less at the moment. No pity for these kind men coming to give us blessings.

They started asking Terry's full name and I interrupted and said....Could I go first?  I feel like I'm going to faint.  Quickly they moved to my chair.   Blessing was over and I excused myself and got up.  They offered assistance.  I declined.  Made a beeline to the bedroom and had a bout of retching that was so loud, that even in the midst of the action, I thought....oh, good grief they are hearing me heave my guts up!!

As I heard them leave, Bob said....Call if you need us again.  Any time.  It made me tear up knowing he really meant that.  So did Hal. 

When they came into our chaos they arrived as men of peace and dignity.  We had not one shred of that between the two of us.  They were dressed old school, in white shirts/ties,  as men respecting the Priesthood that they hold.  (Do young men dress like that also when called to give blessings extremely late at night?  It's so beautiful to see.  so powerful.  so pure) They understood they had the power to heal us.  If we had the faith.  If it was God's will we be healed, it would happen.  They knew they had the Priesthood authority of God to heal us, ease our pain, to make us well.  If not we would be blessed with endurance beyond ourselves to withstand what must be endured.

Later all alone in our darkened room, away from Terry on the living room couch, I thought about the love I have of the Gospel and how complete it is.  How all of our needs can be met even our ills.  I thought of how Christ taught His Disciples that they needed to learn to bless and heal people and He set the example for them.  They ...anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.  With the restoration of the Gospel, this marvelous healing power is again amongst us and as counseled in James..Is any sick among you?  let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick....

Over the years, I have seen miracles through this Priesthood power and it is such a gift for all of us to enjoy.  As our pains and angst and miseries just  slowly faded away into the air, I said a prayer of thanksgiving.  There are many of our friends, and even family members, that put up with lasting things, so much more than our few days ordeal.  This was a hiccup compared to their ongoing permanent battles.  Isn't it marvelous that the Lord cares about everything and each of us?

Tonight as I sat, dressed and clean and just enjoying the evening air, while visiting on the porch, my heart was so full of gratitude that I just had to tell you that.  Now you know my heart!


James 5:14-16
Mark 6:13

Uh-oh. sick-o!

SUNDAY DINNER DID US BOTH IN!!

CAN'T HOLD MY HEAD UP TO WRITE MORE THAN THIS.