Scripture - Romans 4

Paul gives the example of Abraham to illustrate faith. In this particular example, Paul dicusses his faith in regards to hearing he and Sarah will finally be parents. 

I think about at my age becoming a parent and how hard that would be. I would worry about being there for him when he was growing. For having a financial plan to provide for him and us in our old age. That last worry is more a modern problem. However the idea of chasing after an energetic toddler at 80 is horrifing.

Sarah and Abraham responded with joy and faith.

The idea of not staggering is impressive to me.

Also, I must admit that verse 21 echoed a quote from a movie - Shanghi Noon. Not an uplifting movie or a movie of faith. A bit of the mundane or profane in this post. But the similarity caught my attention. I am happy to know that that bit of wisdom was inspiration of Paul and not wisdom of Hollywood.

Scripture - Romans 2

This makes it seem simple.

Patient continuance in well doing.

If I could just keep the patient part going every minute of every day, I might be doing better.

Hum!

Josh has been sick with what I had a month ago.

Today he came down and said that the Universe told him he could do anything he wanted to.

I told him I didn't think so.

"The Universe doesn't like your attitude."

Perhaps the reason he is still breathing is because he once looked like this.

Or maybe because I don't have the abilities of Darth Vader.

His dad came home and I recounted the conversation. Craig burst out laughing. Maybe my reaction was a bit overblown.

Thea texted me the picture yesterday with the caption, "Look what I found."

Scripture - Acts 26

I think this is one of the most tragic verses in scripture.

I am left to wonder how often I almost received the blessings. How many times was I almost there, but didn't take the last step necessary for obedience.

Results

I knew I had a lot of English in me. I was very surprised about the Irish. So excited to learn more about this.

18 Years

Kind of awesome to think that we have been married for as long as we lived in our childhood homes.

Today I fished out the old photos. We were skinny. I had long hair and no hint of grey. We looked forward with confidence to the life before us. We have faced trials and heartache, but we made it and are going strong.

It was a super cold day for Portland. We were worried about the roads to the temple. But we made it.

A rare blue sky in December.

Thea and I have made it too. 

The beginning of our forever family.

A visitor

Josh found a friend in front of the house today. 

We took him out to the back. I hope he is a good neighbor to the lizard. I think he's too big to eat. The lizard is small. But it makes me happy to think of him in my backyard. 

Two more down.

The cousins are two months old already. They live In Idaho and I haven't seen them in person yet. But I love to see them on Facebook and Instagram.

And the twin quilt for his cousin.

Honestly, I'm not sure which quilt went to which boy. But Collin and Benji will be receiving quilts in the mail before Christmas.

Little Gemma is already here, and I haven't even gotten started on hers. And she has a cousin that is about to make an apperance any day now. Unless I have missed her.

The next ones that I know of are due in May, so hopefully I'll make the time to get Josh's quilt quilted. I do tend to let them languish in the sewing room for months until Iget back to them.

Mothers and sons

Yesterday in Church I watched a three year old two rows up from me. His mother was holding his little brother. She was wrangling three kids alone that day. Her husband was probably working (at a hospital) or home with sick kids.

I've watched her before. She is calm and caring and works hard to balance the attention she pays to each child.

Her little three year old was looking at her like she was his everything. Her attention was elsewhere at the moment.

I remembered when my boys looked at me like that. They are too old and jaded for that now.

Boaz surprised me just a few minutes later as he leaned against me. My heart swelled with emotion, then I noticed his hand sneak the chocolate away from my lap.

Rock climbing last night

The young men 14 and up went rock climbing last night. Boaz was very jealous. I was the happy recipient of photos this morning. 

Stretched out on the wall. 

An idea of how high up he was. 

Close to the top. 

He had fun. His legs were sore before he went. I'm wondering how they are today. He's glad he went. 

Happy 95th birthday, Elsie

We missed the party, but we're happy to see pictures.

Elsie with four of the siblings. Gaye, Carl, Dawn and George.

One of the draw backs of living in a different state than the rest of the family. But we did get to see her just a week before the party.

Student of the Month

I didn't get the notice to attend until after the fact. Bummer! But the teacher took a nice picture and sent it to me .

It was also crazy hat day. 

New toy

Craig had a marvelous idea for Christmas this year. We decided to purchase a better guitar and another instrument to encourage developing talents. 

We had an old, beat up guitar that josh had to tune with a wrench. 

The man at the music shop was very knowledgeable. He gave Josh a free music lesson as we looked at different guitars and listened to why they were different and what was good about them. 

We also found this cute little toy. 

He's not too happy about me taking a picture, but he didn't put the uke down for hours. His fingers were sore  and still are. 

He's learning how to play Lava - the song that the lonely volcano sings in the Pixar short. 

Scripture - Acts 7

As part of the Light of the World advent calendar, I wanted to post a scripture today.

We read in the Book of Mormon as a family and read a lovely chapter in 2 Nephi. However, I wanted to keep to the Book I had been posting from.

Stephen testifies to the leaders in Jerusalem and recounts their history. The famous scripture is when he sees God and the Son of God standing on his right hand. But today, a new scripture caught my attention.

Here he is talking about Abraham. He mentions all the blessings that had been promised and points out the time it took to realize the blessings. Abraham had to wait years, decades even for the blessings. 

I am reminded of Elder Holland's talk where he said:

My prayer is that I have the faith and the patience to wait on the Lord, for His blessings are sure.

Headed to SLC

After the festivities, we headed to my sister, Debbie's, house. She was at her son's house, but left the lights on for us. We were greeted by her two dogs who threatened to lick us to death. Not really good guard dogs.

I sent her this picture:

This is Todd trying to coax ear rubs from Boaz. He had tried already on Josh and moved to more welcoming possibilities.

The boys figured out the TV, movie situation and Josh had his first experience with Monty Python's Holy Grail. I was happy to watch with him, but my mom and brother, Ivan came and I went upstairs to visit with them. It was still fun to listen to the boys enjoy a movie I first saw back when I was in high school.

Friday we got up slow and Craig made breakfast for the crew. He took the kids and met with his brother, Mark. I was feeling crappy and stayed "home" to rest and drink fluids. No fun to be sick, but really no fun to be sick on the road. Still a good day. That night we met Willa and Pete and their family for dinner. Thea wanted to be able to say hi before she headed up to Idaho the next day to say hi to friends.

Saturday Craig made breakfast for the crew again, and then we loaded up Raven and the boys and went to a movie - Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them. We love us some Harry Potter. I guess maybe some JK Rowling. I love the world she created and enjoyed the new visit.

That night, we had a family dinner of chicken tacos. So fun to have those that could make it come and eat and laugh.

That night we packed up the car and headed south. Driving all night and we crashed Sunday. Happy to have a weekend full of family.

My devices have had a hard time posting, and I just got it figured out. Sorry for the late post and abbreviated festivities.  

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was full of family, fun and food. What could be better?

Craig's mom and grandma were there, as well as his sister, Sandy, and her husband, Alan. We were at Craig's sister, Ronda's, house. She had all three of her children and spouses (two).

I tried to not sneeze or cough on anybody.

The boys enjoyed the holiday football and then broke out the four-wheelers. I watched from the warmth of the kitchen.

I laughed at Thea's outfit and pulled out the camera, but didn't take a picture of anybody else.

The coveralls is reminiscent of her time spent at the farm in Wisconsin.  But she did have fun zipping around the course.  Josh got in on the action, but Boaz declined. 

This post should have something about what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for family: for fun cousins for my boys and Thea. I am thankful we traveled safely. I am thankful for the fun relationship that Craig and I share. I am thankful for time spent with my family the next two days. I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that teaches us the importance of family. I am thankful for temples. Going to Utah is going to the land of the temples. We saw so many temples from the road. They are majestic reminders of the important things in life. I am grateful to spend time with Thea, we miss having regular time with her every week. I am thankful for many things, to many to really write down. I am thankful we are all happy and healthy.

Family photo

We were finally all together. 

First priority was to get us smiling at the camera. 

Thanksgiving up north

Tuesday night we packed up the car and headed to Utah. It was a nine hour drive. We are not as young as we used to be, but we made it.

We did manage to have a bit of an adventure on the drive. We got to Scipio in Utah right at dawn and we were exhausted.  I-15 Northbound was closed. We were routed off on a street that had maybe five houses on it and we spotted some trucks turning down a little road. We followed the traffic only to see cars coming back. One lady rolled down her window and told us there was nothing down the road, and they had all turned around. We had people to see and places to go, so we kept going. The road followed the freeway, so we knew we were not too far off. We passed open gates that were clearly marked private property, but the gates were open and we could still see the freeway, so we kept going. We noticed that the cars that had followed us turned around. We were the lone adventurers for a while. Then one we saw one lone set of head lights that braved the unknown with us. The road led us to a gravel road that T-ed into a slanting road that went under the freeway and dumped us on a sad frontage road. The next exit was also blocked, but a nice sheriff  told us to keep going and we'd get back to the freeway eventually. By the time we got around, we were awake again. We didn't find out until much later that a rig had rolled that was carrying batteries and battery acid was spilled all over the road. We were relieved to find out that nobody was injured.

We missed the Denny's in Nephi - but I am not really fond of that town anyway. We searched Payson for a breakfast diner and headed on to Spanish Fork. We found a cute little cafe and I thought that my dad had probably eaten there countless times. It looked like his kind of place. I had an omelet and the boys had pancakes. We were off to find Joyce. She was in a Rehabilitation Center - physical therapy to get you back in your home. She had fallen and broken her hip earlier and had surgery. The Center was in Springville, in a place that has really grown in the past few years. I didn't recognize the area at all.

We walked in and were met by very nice staff. I told them I was looking for Joyce Harris and was this a good time to visit with her. He said, "No. Are you family? Did you get the phone call?" I was immediately worried and confused. She had fallen about 8 am and had a laceration on her knee and they sent her to the hospital for stitches back in Payson. After a bit of deliberation, we headed back to Payson and found ourselves on the same road we had been on just an hour before. We found her in the ER getting shots to deaden the area. We had left the boys in the car and Craig and I went in to access the situation. She didn't recognize me at first. Really I just show up and she has no idea I'm coming. So it is totally understandable she doesn't know who I am at first. And I had been driving all night. We said hi and chatted a few minutes when the X-Ray guy came. We were kicked out for X-rays (in a very kind manner) and in no time at all found ourselves back in the room. 

Joyce was worried about being able to go home for Thanksgiving, but since this was the day before, that idea was shot down. Bummer. The boys declined the opportunity to come and watch the stitches, they came in after. But I was there and watched a bit. It was fascinating. The doctor was very nice and didn't mind chatting a bit while he worked. Because we were chatting, he lost count of how many stitches, but she had a 4 inch laceration across her knee.  The tear went from the outside of her leg across the bottom of the knee cap where it hooked down about an inch on the inside of her leg. It looked savage.

She had just lost her balance and fallen as she was getting ready to brush her teeth. She was frustrated that she had fallen. The PT person had just stepped out with her sheets to get them in the wash. Joyce said the girl was horrified and guilt ridden. But Joyce is 80, on dialysis and recovering from a previous fall already. The nurse at the hospital said because she was on prednisone her skin was thin and that is why it ripped.

Honestly a terrible thing to happen. However, I felt led to be there. I also felt that we had help getting there when we did. We found out the freeway at Scipio had closed the quick (ish) detour option we had taken and rerouted traffic through Gunnison on the other side of the little mountain. It would have taken us substantially longer to make our way to breakfast. It was good for us to be there with Joyce while she was stiched up. She had a huge bruise that could not be deadened and the doctor hurt her a bit as she was stiching her up, and then he tried to drain the build up of the blood to lessen the pain later on. Joyce said that she knew Dad was there. I'm glad I was able to be there for him, in a way. Joyce will be fine - as much as an 80 year old on dialysis can be. She has lost so much weight. She just might float away in a good breeze someday.

That took our mourning and into the early afternoon. We continued on to Erda, outside Toolee and checked into our hotel. We rested. I felt a cold coming on, and honestly I hope I didn't pass it to Joyce. But I still felt pretty good at that point.

Josh went and visited with his friend for a few hours and then he and Craig picked up Thea from the airport.

That was Wednesday.

Blast from the past

I took a creative writing class at Dixie. I got into writing poems. Wendy brought one that I had forgotten I had written.

Some of my thoughts before I served my mission.

Wendy Roommate

Wendy came and visited from Colorado this weekend. I was telling Thea that she and I have been friends for over 30 years. That is a bit crazy. We met our first year at Dixie, but became roommates and best friends our second year.

I took her to the Newport Beach Temple. Maybe an odd thing to do on vacation, but it was a good day. Our little temple is sweet and a good way to spend part of a day.

It is pink with Spanish Mission architecture. The steeple is unique and Moroni is rather short, but still beautiful.

Saturday we went to Corona Del Mar and hiked the jetty. This is a picture of the Wedge in Newport Beach. It is across the channel and the tip of Balboa Island. I've heard that when the tide is big, the waves are spectacular as they crash against the Wedge. One day I want to be there to witness the wildness of the ocean that looks so tame in this picture.

I love pelicans. They are beautiful in a gangly, awkward way.

The end of the jetty. Last time Craig and I didn't make it all the way to the end. This time I wore better shoes. No flipflops for me on the rocks.

Looking back at Corona Del Mar. The Ocean was beautiful and we clearly saw the orange girabaldi fish in the seaweed up against the jetty.

A selfie before we headed to find some dinner. I think we were still on the jetty.

A beautiful sunset when we were done with dinner. Pictures don't really do sunsets justice. The colors were even more brilliant. Heavenly Father is a true artist - I can tell he loves color and texture.

We tried to get the sunset in the background, but it didn't really work.

Today I took her to the Lindt store and we bought chocolate. Yummy. 

The loot. I spend way too much on chocolate since I found this shop. But, dang, it is so good!

We love visitors

Craig's mom came to visit. We had a lovely time. I didn't get the camera out except to text Craig this picture at the end of her visit.

Truely she has lived an abundant life. A good example to follow.

Scripture - John 10

The abundant life. What we all desire.

This came as a contrast to the thieves that kill and destroy. They that seek to take away.

Christ comes to add unto. Start with what we have and receive an increase.

This comes as part of his role as the good shepherd. As we follow Him we are led to the good pastures and the sweet waters of life.

Scripture - Luke 22

Josh has been studying the New Testament this year in seminary. I started the New Testament after I finished the Old Testament.

I have read familiar stories and parables and wondered what to put here. 

Sunday we had family visiting. Craig's mom and his sister, Sandy, and her husband, Alan. We all went to church together and later had dinner at our house.

It was Fast Sunday. I was totally floored when Josh got up to bear his testimony. Truthfully, I was crying before he even said one word. He said that if he always felt the way he felt then that he would never want to sin. And that perhaps that was one of the differences between us and Jesus. We have that over-whelming spiritual feeling on occasion. He must have had it all the time, and that was how He was able to live perfectly.

In a way, this scripture reminded me of what Josh said.

To know that Jesus prays for us - Amazing!

To hear your 16-year old son get up in Sacrament Meeing in front of his peers and the adults - Amazing!

Remembering my dad.

Yesterday was 12 years since my dad passed. I rummaged in some of my pictures to see what I could find.

A picture of him with my grandparents and uncle. This was from before I was born. I'm not sure of the year.

May. 1986, Dad pretended to throw me in the fountain when I graduated from Dixie Jr. College. I do love this picture, and this memory.

I crocheted this for him for Christmas.

Meeting Gena at the airport. I think she was headed off to North Carolina. Before 2001, we were able to meet passengers at the gate and say good bye.  From left to right: me, Gena, Brenda, Dad, and Joyce.

Dad and Joyce dancing at Carl's wedding. January 1994.

Me dancing with Dad at Carl's wedding. I love this picture too. 

End of season PR

Craig had to work. I was worried about having to figure out the course and stuff. I went early to get a good parking spot. I had time to discover the course - I went to the time table and asked about the course and where was a good place to watch. He was helpful.

I didn't get great pictures.

He was warming up and didn't want me to take the picture. That is an annoyed with his mother look.

The JV team doing part of the warm ups.

Coming around the lake. He was running strong.

A good picture.

I was working the stop watch at the end and didn't get a picture. But my time was way off. Oh well. I saw the official time when he crossed.

He got a 17:05. He cut more than 20 seconds off his best time.

Amazing!!!

Recognizing His hand -

A week ago, Craig told me about his dinner. He was traveling to Upland (just a day trip) when he decided he was hungry. He felt like he needed rice and beans and wasn't familiar with the area and the available restaurants. 

He saw a Cafe Rio and happily went in to feed his craving. As he was going out, he noticed two sister missionaries. He thought, I should buy their dinner, but then dismissed the thought and went out to the car. He got the impression again, and went back into the restaurant and waited at the cash register so he could pay for their dinner. 

He told me that he later was taught that was the reason for his craving, and he was scared that he almost missed it. He almost missed helping the Lord take care of His missionaries.

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Saturday Craig, Josh and I went out to eat. We came home with leftovers, enough for Sunday dinner. I had already bought a roast, and wanted to cook it. No hanging on to a roast for Sunday dinner for a whole week. Sunday morning I saw I had left the pan I needed to cook the roast dirty in the sink. Icky, I know. I thought about just getting it ready to put in the dishwasher and leaving it at that. But I found myself washing the pan and getting the roast ready and delay starting the oven because I was going early for choir practise.

In Relief Society it was announced that the missionaries needed dinners, in fact they needed dinner that day. There I was sitting in church with a big roast in the oven. So I claimed the elders for dinner and sent Craig a text about what I had done and to tell the missionaries that they were coming to our house for dinner. (We had just had them for dinner on Tuesday.)

I got home before Craig, and got started on the potatoes and had the boys set the table. Because the roast was in the oven, the missionaries were eating at a non-standard time. I apologized to them when they came over, and they said it was perfect, they were fasting that day and the timing was great. I was  grateful that I had listened and put the roast in and had dinner for two fasting servants of the Lord. They decided to fast, knowing they didn't have dinner scheduled.

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After dinner Craig took them home. They had mentioned that they didn't have their phone. They thought it might have fallen out of their pocket in the car. So I didn't really worry about it. 

Craig came home and said they hadn't found the phone in the car. He turned on his flashlight and looked under the  recliners, and searched the couch and love seat. The missionaries called and he said he had looked and didn't find it. 

I had changed seats to get closer to the light so I could read my book. I looked at my old seat and said, I was sitting in that seat when you were looking. He had looked under the recliner, but now he searched the cushions. He waited for about a minute before he called them which was a bit weird, but when he called them, they told him that after the first phone call, using the phone of another companionship, they had been discouraged and had just knelt in prayer to ask for His help. As soon as they said amen, the phone rang and it was Craig. 

I felt bad that I had not gotten out of the seat and looked the first time, but Craig said I wasn't supposed to find it then. This was a faith building moment for His elders, and He was in charge of the timeline.

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I am humbled by these  moments of seeing His hand in our lives.

What state are we in?

This is how the boys looked after school yesterday.

I had just wiped a water drop off his nose. He was soaked.

He had run in the rain.  We ended up turning on the gas fireplace to try and dry out his shoes.

Yesterday Southern California felt like Oregon. It was lovely.

Scripture - Luke 1

This scripture caught my eye. I thought about how both Zacharias and John died. This scripture seems a contradiction.

Obviously, we need to look deeper. They both served without fear. They both lost their life in His service. And in doing so, they gained their reward. 

We know that John was instrumental in the Restoration. He appeared as a resurrected being and bestowed the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph and Oliver. Looking at what we know from this dispensation, he truely was delivered out of the hands of his enemies and he continues to serve. And no doubt Zacharias continues in service as well.

New neighbor

I saw a black shadow dash into the bushes and heard the leaves rattle as something passed.

First I looked under the bush. Nothing.

Then I looked on the wall.

I like him. He will be a good pest control agent living in my back patio. I hope he stays.

I have much better feeling about him than my last neighbor. Her web came down in the recent rain.