Scripture - Ezekiel 36

This chapter begins the reclamation of the House of Israel. Up to this point Ezekiel has prophesied destruction to a wicked and rebellious people. 

The lord himself will change them. 

The whole idea of a stony heart catches my attention. 

I know I have moments of stony heartedness. Times when I am angry and just want to fight. I usually fight with random people inside my head. They don't even know I am arguing with them. 

And just last night I was fighting with Craig in my head. I was in an onery mood  and this time the fight carried a bit into real life. So silly of me. So stubborn of me. So irritating of me. 

I do much better when I banish the stony heart and use my heart of flesh. How grateful I will be when Christ gives me a new heart. 

Scripture - Ezekiel 17

Ezekiel is full of doom. He was called to cry repentance to a rebellious people. So not a lot of sunshine and roses and feel good verses. 

I read several chapters looking for a verse I could put here. This verse is still not a feel good verse, but at least it isn't a verse of doom either.

This verse shows the Lord will fulfill his word, even when it seems unlikely or impossible. 

There are times when a high tree is brought down. I remember a wind storm in Oregon. I was at the temple and a tree had blown over. My car was almost hit. I learned that tall trees, although beautiful and apparently strong, were susceptible to strong winds. And with the shallow root systems of the trees of the Northwest (because of the abundant water) trees frequently fell in the winter storms.

I have seen low trees grow on high mountains. Trees clinging to rocks and cliffs grow in the most unlikely of places. They are beautiful and show persistent life in the most harsh of circumstances.

In Yellowstone trees die from the inside out. They start out fresh and strong and then are surrounded by toxic water full of chemicals and bacteria from the hot springs. I have been fascinated to see the signs of the water encroaching on life and transforming a vibrant landscape into skeletons of previously healthy trees.

The seemingly impossible is the last: to make the dry tree flourish. I have tried to save almost dead plants. I have had some small success on smaller plants. But when a tree starts to die, I have no skill to save it. And I think that God is here saying that he can re-animate the already dead tree. Or find that smallest spark of life that is invisible to us, and fan it into life and vibrancy. I have seen that happen with people. People you wouldn't give a second glance to totally transform and begin to fulfill their eternal potential. When it happens, it is beautiful. It is a miracle. It is the work of God: "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)

And because He has spoken it, He can, has done and will do it.

Sixteen

His birthday was caught up in the middle of a very hectic summer.

It's a big birthday. So many things are now open to him.

He has taken his online driver's course and now we are working on his getting him set for the driving part. He will learn to drive in Southern California. Weird.

He has had his first date. His "friend" graduated from high school and is now at BYU. But before she left they had a few days of dating. On his birthday they went to Knottsberry Farm - all day.

He's had his first kiss. Gasp!

And I bought him a suit.

Trying it on at the store.

Ready for Sunday.

It was our Stake Conference this past weekend. So next week I will see him act as a priest. I missed his ordination. I was in Wisconsin. How does a mother miss something like that?

He is growing up so fast. I only have two more years to teach him everything he needs to know.

Color!

It's all about the color. Bright, vivid color.

Trip to Wisconsin

This year Boaz and I flew to Wisconsin. Flying is expensive, however a three-day drive for a single driver was unbearable to think about, and the gas and hotels might have cost the same. So for our week, flying was a better alternative. 

Boaz and I waiting on our second attempt to fly out. The first attempt was the day Delta had computer failure and so many flights were canceled. There was no way to get out that day. So instead we left on Wednesday and had three legs: John Wayne to Salt Lake City. We were able to get some lunch and visit with my sister Debbie. Salt Lake City to Minneapolis/St Paul. And then Minneapolis/St Paul to Wausau, in Central Wisconsin. We were happy to arrive and see Karly waiting there to pick us up.

Thursday morning Boaz helped in the barn and I gathered eggs and feed the chickens. We settled into that for most the time. Boaz liked helping Uncle Tim. I didn't do as much as I have done before. Before I have been there when Tim was gone. 

I can't remember what we did every day, but I do know one day I walked the fence. I have much more respect for what that job is now. I was an idiot and wore shorts. I had to trample down thistle - a very pointy and ouchie plant. Horseflies found me and were biting my calves. I ended up grabbing the tall weeds I was pulling away from the electric line and swishing my legs pretending I had a tail. I should have taken my gloves, but I didn't pack them when I thought about it, so I was woefully under equipped for such a job. But I managed to knock down all the weeds surrounding the fense and Brenda found the break in the wire.

In the breeze way dressed for egg gathering. I guess Boaz helped did more chores than I was giving him credit for. Or maybe I should say I didn't do as many chores as I should have.

Baby chickens. I didn't get a picture of the grown hens. But these little peepers were cute.

The first day we were there, it rained. We heard about the tall corn and went and took a look. I don't even think this was the tallest corn.

The cows out enjoying a summer rain. They are happy cows. That afternoon, they didn't want to come in and get milked. Tim had to go out and get them. Silly girls.

This is Louis. He was the friendliest kitten on the farm. There were three kittens that were four months old. He ended up with a hurt paw, and we soaked his paw and tried to nurse him back to health. He has a very loud purr and is sweet. Brenda might have found him a home. 

I don't know why I like taking pictures from this angle. But I really do. I love that they were wearing shirts with the same cut. They are a really great couple. They snip at each other trying to get each other to laugh. It is very comfortable being company in their house.

We were there for the concluding stage of new car drama. We went to pick up a car that they had paperwork for and signed a contract. The "used car salesman" truely lived up to the stereotype and changed all the numbers as they came to pick the car up. He said his adding machine added up the numbers wrong and he charged for something he had previously said he would charge for. Then he looked Tim in the eye and said that he could put the broken water pump back on if he didn't want to pay the additional amount. The car wasn't even on the lot. Needless to say, the deal was off and we took the check back to the bank. On a lark, we drove through some dealerships and Brenda saw the car she wanted. The dealership was straight up and the guy was upfront on the cost. About 90 minutes later, Brenda drove this beauty off the lot.

Moral: Don't trust a used car salesman. Isn't that a cliche?

Rizo with one oh his favorite toys.

Dixie watching everybody else. (Nala is in the background.)

They hay mow. This is where the kittens hide out.

Boaz holding Nala. He didn't get Oscar to trust him enough. He tried all week though.

A full barn. Cows in new stalls. There were four calves in the outside pasture. Two calves in the back. And we moved two calves to the outside pens. The herd is looking good.

Taking a picture of Boaz for his dad.

Poor Louis with his sore foot. He got pampered while we tried to doctor him.

I saw sand cranes. I know I'm silly, but I was super excited to see the local wildlife, even among the domesticated bounty.

Brenda and I went for pedicures. Her gold toes are super cute.

Karly's new Fort Duck. Tim humored Brenda and put the pallets together. Karly wants ducks.

I worked on binding the quilt and got 3/4 of it done. It took a year, and it still isn't finished, but almost. Brenda said she could finish the rest.

Here Boaz and I are waiting for the plane to take us back home. A good trip.

We made it into MSP, but a storm shut down the ramp. We waited on the plane for about an hour waiting for the weather to clear. They wouldn't let the workers open the ramp until 10 minutes after the last lightening strick.

I remembered last year where I was stuck in MSP over night. I was a bit nervous. But we had three hours for our connection, so we still had two hours by the time we were let off.

This is a picture of the train. It reminded me of the NYC subways. We were all crowded in, because all the planes debarked at the same time. Everyone was hurrying to their connections. We had to squeeze by a wheelchair to get out. We almost missed our stop.

We got hot peach cobbler and ice cream while we waited for our flight to California. We boarded just a little late, but not bad. Then we waited on the plane, out the window we could see planes lined up. When we started moving I was relieved, but we just crossed a different runway. We still had to wait in line for our turn to take off. We were an hour late taking off.

Boaz wasn't too impressed with traveling, but later he did admit it was better than driving. He still remembers that drive from two years ago. 

We were super happy to make it back to John Wayne. It was a good trip, it was good to see Brenda, Tim and Karly. It is always nice to be back home.

Scripture

Ezekiel has always been hard for me to understand. 

I have decided that it will always be hard to understand until I put some time into it.

There has to be something for me in the hard to understand imagery. And this imagery is repeated in other books.

So this is what I have been thinking about.

I thought of this other scripture:

Man is the offspring of diety. The potential that rests in each human is unmeasurable. Man is able to choose, to act, and to create. Man is God in embryo.

A Lion: the king of beasts. Frequently the lion is a symbol of royalty. An apex predator. The only large cat that lives in family units called prides. Lions live in complex societies and cooperate in care of young and feeding the family. Lions are symbols of bravery. Lions are used as a symbol for the tribe of Judah, and ultimately a symbol of Christ.

The celebrated Christian author, CS Lewis, used a lion as a symbol for Christ in his beloved series: The Chronicles of Narnia.

The Ox: the ultimate beast of burdon. The domesticted animal that made farming possible: strong and consistent at the plow. The ox or bullock was also a sacrificial animal under the Law of Moses. The bullock was an important part of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement as described in the Books of Moses. The ox was important as actual wealth in ancient Israel. Oxen were important to travel even until the 19th Century: the Mormon pioneers relied on them as they migrated to Utah in 1849 and beyond until the railroad opened the path to the West.

I almost forgot this:

A picture from the Internet, identified as the Pheonix temple baptistery.

The Eagle: The biggest of the predator birds. They make their nests up high to protect their young. They soar on thermals with locked wings - a modern understanding. But to the ancient people who observed them, the biggest of birds flying without flapping their huge wings must have been amazing and somewhat miraculous.  And in Exodus, Christ used Eagles as symbols for himself:

The eagle is another symbol of royalty worldwide. They are famous for the altitude of their flight and their good eyesight. Hunting from such heights and then being able to swoop down on those massive wings and pluck their prey from the ground or sea. Eagles live in the air and are able to change the venue of life and death struggle. Snakes have the advantage on the ground, but eagles have the advantage in the air.

The Boy Scouts of America have used the eagle as their highest achievement. Josh and I have been on the eagle journey. Boaz and I are starting it again.

Each of these four are the apex of their categories. They all represent power and majesty (to some degree). The domesticated ox included with the wild eagle and lion break natural barriers. The addition of man to these beasts blows open barriers and elevates the beasts, or lowers man. I think elevates is the better thought. The vision says they had wings (vs 8,11)  and had the apperance of lamps (vs 13). Imagery from the rest of the chapter relates to Heaven.

These same beasts are grouped together in Revelation 4 and a partial explaination is given in D&C 77.

So, I'm not really sure what this means still, but I have studied a bit more about what it might mean, or what the living creatures might traditionally represent.

I'm requiring more of myself than I normally do. That is a good thing. Step by step, right?

Dream

Last night (or early this morning) I had a dream. I was driving my car. It slipped into neutral and I tried to hit the brake. I was backing down an incline and couldn't get the brake. I kept trying to lift my leg and I just could t get it up and to the brake. 

I woke up a bit panicky and realized I was spooning with Craig and my leg had no place to go. 

I told Craig and he laughed. I was worried that I was goosing him as I struggled to get to the brake.  

Sweet stop in St George.

I don't know what is wrong with me. I didn't get pictures of my four St George boys. But I had lovely conversations with a two year old. He asked me who I was. He said my name and told me to say what. I thought he was just repeating my name. 😀 I was astounded by his ready friendship and his vocabulary. 

Ben and Kade we're excited to show Josh and Boaz their Minecraft game. They finally talked Josh into playing and were shown his gamer side. 

Holly and I had a lovely visit. She told me about a fireside she went to. I am more motivated to do family history and take family names to the temple. I am sure I need the help and attention of those beyond the veil. 

In particular I need help in busting a wall on the Bitner line. I am still searching for Sarah Moore's parents. Debbie and I tried to find her in the SLC library. We looked through a book, but no luck. We said we would focus on her this Sunday.

Joe was away, there is something about the Harrises visiting when other members are away. But his family is lovely and welcoming. 

Quick stop in Cedar City

As we were flying by, we made a visit to Brandon's work. 

Awkward selfies aside, it was good to see him. 

Last stop in Utah county.

It's been a year since we've seen Joyce. I was anxious to see her again. She has lost weight, but is still feisty. 

It was so good to see her. 

She is so tiny next to my big boys. 

Good friends since high school

After ice cream, we went to visit Mary. She has been sick for two months plus. They finally figured out it was her gall bladder and took the thing out. She has been getting better, but still gets tired. 

But she was working that day. We were lucky to have a brief visit. 

We noticed we were wearing the same shoes. 

Good friends are priceless. I am so blessed by my sweet and loyal friends. 

Visiting baby Clark

I'm After the temple baby Clark woke up. Yes!

So we met his parents and him at The Creamery. 

Josh, Boaz and I had ice cream. His parents had lunch. I hurried and ate my ice cream so I could hold the baby. 

He was telling me stories. I was very interested. I wish I knew what he was saying. I asked him if he talked to Grandpa and he gave the cutest smile. 

A happy group. Of course Clark is the star. 

Provo City Temple

One day I will go inside. Wednesday I walked around the beautiful grounds. 

I love that the Church does what it can, willing to spend the money, to preserve old buildings. 

Beautiful gardens to gladden the heart and engage all the senses. This bush smelled divine. 

The fantastic fountain. I hurried quick to find a picture without random people. 

Cool hinges on the gazebo - that I didn't get a picture of. Silly me. 

Touching the temple. One day I'll go in. It looks like several people have had the same idea. Part of the beehive is shiney from the touch of many hands. 

Baby Walker

We had dinner at Famous Dave's on Tuesday with my family. It was great to see all those that made it. I was so busy talking and eating, I didn't pull my camera out once. 

After dinner, we went to see the new baby. 

Nicko let me hold the sweet chubber and Boaz asked if I wanted a picture. Of course. 

Sweet baby. 

I look a bit scary. 

I got to feed him, burp him and hold him while he slept. Pure heaven. 

Forever friends.

I didn't get pictures of everyone. But I will post the pictures that I did get. 

Sweet Vickie made us dinner on Monday. 

Our dear former bishop who is enjoying teaching primary. We miss them both. It was great being able to catch up