Celebrating Awesomeness

Friday night was our youth temple trip.  We have around 50 youth in our ward but during the summer our numbers really thin out.  What was looking to be a low turn out of 8 boys and 8 girls, ended up being perfect.  We have been encouraging our youth and their parents to bring their own family names when they come to the temple.  When we met up to carpool I was handed several sheets of names to be printed out when we got there.  Oh boy, I had my work cut out for me.

If anyone is familiar with the process, you know that doing your own names complicates the process.  I think it's a fun problem to have, but boy did it take quite a bit of organization.  We had more than enough family names for 16 youth to do 10 names.  That is 160 names.  We didn't get to do all of them because we would have been there all night.  We supplemented our family names with about 40 temple names to help the process go more smoothly.  

We have a tradition of the leaders treating the youth to a favorite burger place after going to the temple, but this time 2 of the cars were feeling like shaved ice instead.  R made what I thought looked like a Moab arch...or a donut with a bite out of it.  She was the only sculptor among us. I didn't get pics of everyone because they kept hiding from me or putting their hands in front of their faces.

We have some great youth and I love having the opportunity to work with them.  In fact when I spoke on Sunday, in the program I was listed as the youth speaker.  Hahaha.  That was pretty funny and people teased me and asked who I paid off to say that.  :o) But, seriously though, they inspire and uplift me everyday.  

Our area has heeded the call to do family history so much that a special session at the temple had to be opened up just for this purpose.  Every Friday from 1-5 you can go by yourself or with your family and do baptisms for your ancestors.
 Pretty cool.
Then you could go be even more cool with some shaved ice.
Like seriously cool.

Next time, I'll get a smaller one because I was freezing!
Added bonus:
If it's raining, like it was when we left (and by raining I mean probably 10 drops fell)
You've got a complimentary drink umbrella to help keep you dry!

Whom Do You Love

I had the opportunity and privilege of attending the Temple with one of my former YW who will be reporting to the MTC in September for her mission.  I was out of town when she went through for the first time which made me very sad.  When I got back in town she set up a time for us to go together because she really wanted to go with me, how sweet is that?  As a teacher you look around the room and wonder which of your girls will make it and which will fall prey to the teachings of man, or as the scriptures like to refer- the arm of flesh.  You hope and fervently pray on their behalf that your class will be the exception while knowing the odds.  Knowing these odds makes the times when you get to celebrate all the more special. 

  

While T and I were sitting in the chapel of the Temple I was talking with her about how she could spend that time.  I showed her where the creation was explained in Moses so she could start there if she wanted to.  I took the opportunity to read in Moses while I was there and was pulled into chapter 5.  I couldn't stop thinking about Cain.  

There are so many exciting things happening in the church right now with missionary work.  There are 58 new missions this year bringing the total missions up to 405.  173 new mission presidents were called this year, which is more than have ever been called at one time.  

While all of these exciting things are happening there are many who are falling away.  There are many who are getting torn away with all the controversy of sexual orientation.  We've had the boy scouts controversy and now DOMA being overturned, but even before those things I was hearing something eerily familiar to something Cain said, "I am free," after he slew his brother Abel.  

I would say that a pretty common reason  I hear when someone decides to leave the church is freedom.  "I am now free from feeling guilty."  I have heard that same thing in many forms and varieties.  They want freedom from not feeling like they have to attend church, not feeling guilty about wanting to play sports on Sunday, not feeling guilty about not being perfect, not feeling guilty from needing to change, wanting freedom to support (by marching or putting equal signs on everything) my friend or loved one who is struggling with same gender attraction- it's really about the argument of making laws, or a variety of sins that the world doesn't categorize as sin.  

This freedom IN sin is as old as Cain and Abel.  In reading chapter 5 of Moses you can see how it happened.  Cain loved Satan more than he loved the Lord.  He gave a sacrifice that he thought would be good enough, but it wasn't. 

"Satan commanded Cain, “Make an offering unto the Lord.” For his sacrifice Cain brought crops from his field. God could not accept Cain’s offering because Cain did not have faith in God. In giving his sacrifice, Cain was obeying Satan, not God. Satan knew Cain’s offering would not be accepted, and he was pleased that he had led someone to do wrong." 1984 Liahona "Cain and Abel"

Really what it came down to is Cain being jealous of Abel.  He couldn't understand how his sacrifice was not acceptable.  He didn't like feeling bad about himself.  He didn't like that his brother was perfect.  How often do we hear today that "God is a God of love.  He doesn't make imperfections.  I can do whatever I want because of His love.  He wouldn't want me to feel bad about myself. etc......" Of course Cain felt free.  

He was - according to his understanding -and to what he had been tricked into believing.  

He was free from having to repent and make a change.  

Woohoo!

  I bet he felt amazing for a minute because he "gloried in his wickedness." 

What he didn't realize is that this freedom was actually his bondage and his cursing.

I think that today, just like Cain, many find solace in the modern and progressive views of the supposed majority to excuse themselves from being obedient to God......because there isn't one, right?  Cain thought he could hide killing Abel from the Lord.  It doesn't matter if everyone is doing it or trying to make laws to make sin acceptable.  You are still accountable. 

The hard and confusing part is showing love and compassion to those who say "who is the Lord that I should know him?"  Or those that think they do know him and he is OK with their sin.  We are being divided and ripped apart as a nation and I know that the Adversary is loving it.  We have to continue to learn to love the sinner and not the sin.  To have compassion, but not condone.  

Isn't it interesting that those screaming the loudest for tolerance and love are showing forth the most hatred for anyone wanting to be obedient to God's laws?  

And, it's about to get a lot worse.

But, rest assured, this same battle has been waging on this earth since the beginning of time.  Even farther back than that, our pre-mortal life, and we know who wins!

Below is the account found in Moses 5.

You can also find it in Genesis 4.

  

16 And Adam and Eve, his wife, ceased not to call upon God. And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bare ^aCain, and said: I have gotten a man from the Lord; wherefore he may not reject his words. But behold, Cain ^bhearkened not, saying: Who is the Lord that I should ^cknow him?

 17 And she again conceived and bare his brother Abel. And Abel^ahearkened unto the voice of the Lord. And ^bAbel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

 18 And Cain ^aloved Satan more than God. And Satan commanded him, saying: ^bMake an offering unto the Lord.

 19 And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the^afruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

 20 And Abel, he also brought of the ^afirstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had ^brespect unto Abel, and to his^coffering;

 21 But unto Cain, and to his ^aoffering, he had not respect. Now Satan knew this, and it ^bpleased him. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

 22 And the Lord said unto Cain: Why art thou wroth? Why is thy countenance fallen?

 23 If thou doest well, thou shalt be ^aaccepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan ^bdesireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments, I will^cdeliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire. And thou shalt ^drule over him;

 24 For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his ^alies; thou shalt be called ^bPerdition; for thou wast also ^cbefore the world.

 25 And it shall be said in time to come—That these abominations were had from ^aCain; for he rejected the greater counsel which was had from God; and this is a ^bcursing which I will put upon thee, except thou repent.

 26 And Cain was wroth, and listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, neither to Abel, his brother, who walked in holiness before the Lord.

 27 And Adam and his wife ^amourned before the Lord, because of Cain and his brethren.

 28 And it came to pass that Cain took one of his brothers’ daughters to ^awife, and they ^bloved Satan more than God.

 29 And Satan said unto Cain: ^aSwear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell it, they shall surely die; and this that thy father may not know it; and this day I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands.

 30 And Satan sware unto Cain that he would do according to his^acommands. And all these things were done in secret.

 31 And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great^asecret, that I may ^bmurder and get ^cgain. Wherefore Cain was called Master ^dMahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.

 32 And Cain went into the field, and Cain talked with Abel, his brother. And it came to pass that while they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him.

 33 And Cain ^agloried in that which he had done, saying: I am free; surely the ^bflocks of my brother falleth into my hands.

 34 And the Lord said unto Cain: Where is Abel, thy brother? And he said: I know not. Am I my brother’s ^akeeper?

 35 And the Lord said: What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s ^ablood cries unto me from the ground.

 36 And now thou shalt be ^acursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand.

Oil

On Sunday we had a sacrament meeting dedicated to Family History.  I thought I was going to get out of speaking because I figured everyone was sick of hearing from me, but I didn't escape.  We had 5 speakers and a musical number.  We rarely have musical numbers, so I was a bit surprised that one would be added to such a full program.  One of the speakers didn't show, but we still didn't have time for the last speaker to say much because on top of all that- we had a new member confirmation as well whose husband had vanished right before, so we had to wait on him being tracked down in the hallway with his toddler.  

Girls are notorious for going over in their talks, but I can't be blamed for that one.  Mine was short and sweet.  I had the hardest time writing it though.  Part of the problem is that I haven't really been home this summer.  Trying to write a talk on vacation is a little difficult.  Only having 5 min is even more difficult because I had to figure out my 1 main purpose because i didn't have time to cover everything I wanted to talk about.  

The cool thing was that all 4 of us talked about something completely different yet complimented each other and tied everything together.  Pretty amazing since we were all given the same direction and we didn't talk to each other.  

Anyway, I got home late saturday night with the focus of my talk (which isn't the direction I was expecting myself to go in-which is probably why I had such a hard time writing it- kicking against the pricks or something like that) written but not the polished, how does this all fit, pulled together.  Luckily my husband took pity on me and looked it over and told me how to fix it.  I was debating on whether or not to even write anything down, but I was worried about taking too much time so I needed to stick to writing something out.  Even as I read it again, I find tons of things I could fix and make better, but it was what it was:  

I want to talk today about getting oil in your lamp and why you cant give it to someone else.  We learn in the parable of the 10 virgins about spiritual preparedness and how it is represented by oil in our lamps.  This oil has to be accumulated on our own and cannot be given, it has to be obtained.  I know this because I can't even begin to describe the internal change that has occurred in me in an adequate way to have someone else understand because it is a road that all must travel alone.  The road I started down around three years ago laid the foundation for me to receive personal revelation that transformed my testimony to a true conversion.  I had my first conversion when i joined the church at age 19. through the years i have increased my knowledge and testimony but it was last year that i went through another life altering conversion which culminated for me as a result of my family history work. 

How can this be achieved and what does putting oil in your lamp have to do with family history?

"As we fast, renew our covenants durning the sacrament, and attend the temple, we further access the Spirit.  In these settings the Holy Ghost may manifest His influence with great impact...The Holy Ghost extends our vision and allows that eternal perspective to influence the decisions we make in our daily lives." ~ Keith K Hilbig emeritus member of the 70.

In 2009 I decided to start making myself into a more dedicated servant of The Lord.  I wanted to become more spiritually minded instead of carnally minded as mentioned in 2 Nephi 9:39.  I picked 1 thing, regular temple attendance, and started with that.  I did that for 2 years and I loved the changes I began to see in myself and wondered what else I could gain if I added serious and regular study of the standard works to the equation. My favorite scripture is Alma 32:27 that talks about experimenting upon the words of Christ and then "all things shall be made known unto you...……I first experimented with temple attendance and then with Regular scripture study, it was something I had attempted for years but finally began to achieve last year when I stayed up when my daughter went to seminary and used that time every morning.   I was again amazed at the way I began to see more clearly by adding oil to my lamp.  

The regular temple attendance and scripture study made me aware that I had still been leaving out doing the work for my own ancestors, especially with the quote from Howard W Hunter that was used last conference about only receiving half the blessing of temple attendance without doing our own work.  I went into the FHC with a pretty bad attitude and no information because being the only member in my family and not having many living relatives to get information from had made the task seem too monumental for me and kept me from giving it a real try.  Sister Gardner didn't let that deter her from helping me and in 1 hour she helped me to jog my memory and go back 4 generations on my fathers side.  I literally heard angels singing and I was given the confidence that family history was a doable thing because the fear of the difficulty of it was now gone.

When the church began encouraging members to take their own names to the temple and then involve our entire family in the process, I had been prepared to lead the way in my family through those drops of oil.  We really made an effort to work on FH together as a family this last year and it has helped us think deeply as individuals and as a family about what family history means for us.   We were truly blessed to see so clearly the promises made by Elder Bednar and others including our wonderful stake president come true in our home.  The changes in my kids and our family dynamic has been remarkable.  I have been witness to many miracles.  The phrase, we cannot be saved without our ancestors and they without us found in D&C 88 means that as we work to free our ancestors from the bonds of sin through those temple ordinances they in turn help us to endure to the end.  I had no idea the power that was available to all of Heavenly Fathers children.  I had no concept of true joy and how to attain it especially when we are living in a time with so much turmoil.  I was filled with darkness and dread until my eyes were open to the work our Father is about and how he accomplishes it.  

Ultimately the blessing of doing family history work is working together as a family to strengthen our testimonies in Jesus Christ and become converted. 

I know the power that is avail to us, if we will do a few simple things, that on the surface seem too simple to work-- much like tearing the walls down of Jerico with trumpets and walking:  we must, undergo a serious study of the doctrine, pray with real intent, go to the temple, do our family history, serve and love each other to the best of our abilities, share this message of hope with our neighbors: the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to change us and just as I was changed forever at 19 when I became converted to the gospel, it has the power to continue to change us as our conversion deepens and strengthens like the roots of a sturdy tree. So, if we will do those things we will see mighty miracles as we are about our Fathers business and we will be filled with the pure love of Christ and radiate his message of  light and hope.  

Life is Beachy

 As promised, for MJ's 16th birthday I took her to the land of her birth.  She has wanted to see what CA was like and play in the ocean.  She even got to bring her friend along for the ride and visit friends that recently moved there.  Sometimes life can't seem to get more perfect than the moment you are in.  I was really worried about "June Gloom"  while we were there.  For the last few years it has been nasty gloomy weather while I've been there in June.  I fully expected to be freezing while we were there.  Well, MJ must have been extra special because the sun was out and shining the entire time we were there.  It was perfect in every way.  

 One of the pictures must have gotten lost in translation on this photo collage, it just up and disappeared.     The M's greeted us at the airport except we walked up behind them and surprised them so it was pretty funny.  We've never has someone holding a sign for us at the airport before.  We cruised downtown LA one night and then stopped to see the Temple.  To make up for the uncoolness of driving a minivan to the beach, we strapped a surfboard on top and, voila, instant cool factor ;o)  

 There was a whole lotta food consumption on our trip.  Miracle of miracles....other than the sunshine.....MJ ate her very first hamburger on this trip.  I mean if you're gonna have your very first burger, shouldn't it be from the most famous of all burger places?  I'm always on the hunt for good cupcakes and so we tried a few.  The one that won CCWars.....sucked.  It was so not good.  Honestly I haven't had the best luck with winners and runners up of that show having good cupcakes.  We weren't disappointed with our east coast cupcake shop that is now on the west coast.  The girls had to go to their favorite cheesecake place and I asked (or flirted with) our waiter what dessert I should get and he directed me to the strawberry shortcake.  He did not lead me astray, it was delish.  

 All the girls wanted to do was hang out at the beach, so we did.  P kept catching sand crabs and naming them.  I wish I could remember the names because they were crazy.  MJ got boogie board lessons for E and T.  It was so cute watching them try to teach her.  She finally made it in on a wave so they were good teachers.  Jane made it in too, but she had no idea what was happening until I told her, it was hilarious.  One time was enough for her though.  The favorite thing MJ and Jane did with T was to rent bikes and ride along the beach.  They loved that... probably because they got to take off on their own.  

Our big adventure was spending a day at Universal.  We again had a miracle and mapped our day out so perfectly that we never waited for more than 30 minutes for anything and the lines were up to 90 min that day.  I honestly don't know how we pulled that off, but we did and it was awesome.  My hip wasn't loving me and when I came back and told my surgeon about my adventures he just shook his head and told me that I was crazy for doing that with my hip. Oh well, what can I say, I'm stubborn.  

The only bummer about the trip was the flight home.  The point you reach when you know you've hit home... because it's ugly brown dirt as far as the eye can see.  It is pure desolation.  I am the biggest defender of this place but sometimes its hard when you go away and are surrounded by such beauty to then come home to what looks like a bomb site because of the amount of desolation.  *sigh* Oh well, at least it doesn't take me 90 min to travel 16 miles and I don't have to channel my inner hunter when it comes to tracking down a parking space!  Oh, and let's not forget....that state is going to chunk off into the ocean! :o)

Fun with Food

 While I was in AZ at my friends house I went on a cooking spree.  We always joke when we are together that we are sister wives.  We work really well as a team.  We are a cooking and cleaning dynamic duo who are wicked awesome at entertaining kids.  The whole sharing husband thing is gross,   but the working together to take care of a home seems like a really awesome idea.  So while I was there I took over cooking duties because it is something that I love to do.  

We found a bunch of recipes to try out on my favorite time waster of a site.  Jo thinks I should set up a blog where I review all the recipes because I love to take pictures, I love food and I'm highly opinionated.  Perfect combination for such an adventure.  I've tried a lot of recipes from this pinning palooza site and a good portion of them are just bad! I am discovering that  people eat a lot of mediocre tasting things and convince themselves that they are tasty.  :0)

The first thing we made was a cinnamon roll cake.  The texture was a little off for me but it was still tasty and I actually thought it tasted better the next day.  It was a major hit according to the kids.  

We also tried out a "best ever" lasagna recipe.  It was pretty good, but it wouldn't go down as best ever in my book.  It needed more flavor, but it still made a nice meal....that was less loved by everyone.  

We also tried a crock pot chicken taco recipe.  This was delicious.  I had my doubts when I was mixing green enchilada sauce with tomato paste and the picture on the blog looked like barf, but we went with it.  I added a lot less cream cheese and omitted the corn to cut down on the barf look and it was delish.  It was a major hit...especially when we added all the yummy toppings.  

The grande finale was the chocolate nutella strawberry cake.  Let me tell you, it was heavenly.  In fact I am making it again tonight for Fathers day.  It was that good.  I even whipped the cream myself and the cake was from scratch.  It was a major hit and everyone was fighting over finishing it the next day.  I'm not sure if you can see it, but the bottom right pic is of me talking in a frenchy french accent.  I used to watch a lot of cooking shows when I was little and wanted so badly to grow up to be Julia Childs so whenever I cook I usually try, very badly, to channel a french accent and sometimes measure out everything into little bowls so I can look more professional while I'm adding the ingredients.  Yep, it's pretty funny but oh so enjoyable. :0)    

Fun in the Hot, Hot Sun

While the 2 oldest were off at EFY having an amazing spiritual time, I was at my friend's house baking in the hot AZ sun.  My friend, Jo, has 7 kids.  The youngest 4 are adopted and under the age of 5.  Her son, Josh, was at EFY with Jared.  

How do you entertain that many little ones? Not easily!  Jo has a pool in her backyard so there was a lot of swimming to beat the heat.  Ethan was playing an evil spider, what a crack up.  

 One of the days we got brave and took them all to a public pool.  They loved playing in the lazy river and the "toilet bowl" which is a whirlpool.  The 4 little ones are addicted to Jo.  She is like an oxygen tank to them.  When one would get especially fussy we would tease that there must be a kink in the oxygen hose.  The 4 year olds still love their Auntie Heather and will give their mom a break by hanging out with me.  

There were some teenagers at the pool that day putting on quite the display.  It took everything I had in me not to go up to them and tell them I along with everyone else knew exactly what they were up to and to knock it off. Let's just say that if my daughters ever ask to go hang out with a boy in a pool, the answer is NO!

 It wasn't very easy to work in some game fun with all the little hands grabbing and needing attention, but we managed to play a couple of times.  When Jo lived here we used to play cards or dice at least once a week while our kids played.  

Ethan and S were born 1 month apart and have been really good friends ever since.  The miles don't seem to matter when they are reunited.  Jordyn and S though have gotten to be good friends and enjoy being girly girls together.  

I'm not above bribery to be someones favorite and so when the twins saw these cute little dogs "boo" that they fell in love with, of course I had to buy them for them.  It worked, they showered me with puppy love for the rest of our stay.  

Journey to EFY

I've been having a hard time lately knowing how hard to push my 14 year old son.  He's at the age where everything is boring and stupid.  He already does home school, so getting him out of the house for anything is a struggle.  For me it is a hard balance between letting someone be who they are, introverted, or help them discover another side of themselves.  My husband and I are both introverts.  We are the kind of introverts where no one believes it when we tell them.  We can both do what we have to when we have to and make it look effortless, but if given the choice, we would never be social. Jared has this same trait.  Jared is thinking of becoming a neurosurgeon, so I keep using that to push him into doing more.  I keep reminding him that if he wants to be a neurosurgeon he needs to be fearless.  Good surgeons are fearless.  Fearless in the sense that if something goes wrong they have 3 back up plans ready to implement and dive right in.  You can't become that kind of person by never leaving the house.  By never trying hard things.  

Already this summer I made him go on a high adventure trip with my brother in law's troop.  He knew a couple of the kids from 6 years ago when we were with that troop.  It was a great opportunity to do something fun and work out those social muscles.  When it came time to pack for the trip he went into shut down mode.  I know this mode well.  I have the same problem.  I talk myself into doing something because I know I need to and then when it comes down to the getting there I shut down.  Every reason not to go enters my mind and the thought of going is enough to make me wish for death.  When I get there I'm always fine and glad I did, but I forget that every single time and have the same dramatic journey to get there.  

With a 14 year old boy it's hard to make them do anything.  I view agency differently than some.  I don't look at a situation like that and say that he can exercise his agency on whether or not he will go do something.  I see it as him using is agency on how he will act once he is there.  I have more life experience than he does for making such decisions.  He went and had a blast, like I knew he would.  Same problem came up when it was time to pack for EFY.  We went through the whole routine again.  I was starting to doubt my methods.   Maybe I was pushing too hard and it would end up having a negative effect.  I decided to sit him down and explain what I was trying to accomplish with him.  I explained that I want him to serve an honorable mission.  I read him some quotes on being prepared for a mission and what makes the difference.  I laid out my vision for him to be a great leader and the qualities that took.  I explained that the things I was asking him to do all went toward accomplishing that goal and then asked him if he understood what I was trying to do as his mother and if that was what he wanted.  

Well...........He got packed up and we headed for AZ with a prayer in my heart that both my children would have a life changing spiritual experience that could be built upon for the rest of their lives.  The trip there got a bit interesting when we came to a complete stop on the freeway.  It added about 90 minutes to our trip.  I like a show about walking dead people and it made me think of that.  I teased the kids that it was a zombie invasion that had us stopped.  It finally cleared up and we made it to our hotel.  

 I can't believe I have two kids old enough to go to EFY.  The drop off process was crazy, but we made it through and got the kids into their dorms and said our good byes.  Jared didn't say much during the week via txt when I would check on him, but I got the most amazing txt from Emma the first night about how much she was loving it and then didn't really hear from her again.

  Emma got to go with her friend Eliza and Jared went with his friend Josh.  

The trip home was just what I was hoping for.  They were both anxious to tell me every detail of their week.  Jared met a lot of great people that he hung out with and had several "cow"s - Crush Of the Week"  He is such a ladies man.  He participated in everything and when it was time to leave we had to wait on him to exchange numbers with everyone.  He was Mr social butterfly and he was proud of it.  They also had so many great spiritual experience that had me teared up several times.  The growth I see in them from just 1 week is astounding.  When we got home I got to listen to it all again while they told Nate.  They remembered even more because they had their notes out that time.  

Emma overcame many hurdles that she constantly battles too.  She was so proud that there was something she could eat at every meal.  She felt good about socializing with people enough but also wanting to focus on personal development by getting the most out of each of the classes.  She was also given hope that there are some ym out there worthy of marriage because she doesn't live by any currently.  

I feel so relieved and blessed that things worked out for the best because I was really struggling with doubt.  I am grateful for the opportunity my kids had to attend something like this.  I'm grateful for all the insights they shared with me and the things they want to work on to be better.  I'm grateful that I can also learn form those experiences they shared and I can grow more too.  I'm grateful for a loving father in heaven who knows and loves my children and helps me to make hard decisions concerning them.  He knows better than me what my kids are capable of because they are His. 

 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

RIP Gryphon

I thought about titling this post, as the wheel spins.....since this poor hampster had 4 lives.  She escaped being eaten by our cat 3 times and quite possible has been living with a punctured lung from the incidents, for all I know.  What finally did her in?  A broken water dispenser.  (side note~ I'm on my ipad and it isnt finding my spelling mistakes, whatever will I do)

So, the cat was enjoying the fact that Gryphons new home was in the bathtub to discourage her running through the entire house when she escaped.  This was a happy day for our cat.  She loved to sit in the tub next to the cage and pray that the hampster would escape.  Our cat would try to help the situation along by messing with the cage.  One such instance broke the water dispenser.  dun dun dun

It was just last night that I heard that darn wheel spinning and spinning and spinning all through the night.....  Ethan has been pretty good about checking on G, but I guess he was slacking.  The poor thing spun itself into deyhdration and then couldn't rehydrate because the water dispenser was no longer capable of holding water.  So sad

Jared went to check on her this morning and it was apparent that she was no longer living.  The kids were so heartless about the entire thing.  Quote from Ethan, "well, she was only 10 dollars."  I was the only one sad that we killed a living creature.

We had a little service for poor little G, whom we killed.  She rode in style, by wheelbarrow, to her final resting spot.  We burried her behind our back fence and gave her a little headstone.  RIP little G, sorry we didn't get your water fixed....the cat will miss you.

He Loves Me

I wanted to call this post "redemption," but figured after my last several churchie posts, it would give off the wrong impression.  This is the redemption of my husband.  The nice thing was that I didn't even have to say anything and he knew he was in serious need.  If you have been reading, you know that for our 19th anniversary we spent in laid up in bed recovering from surgery.  Then for my 40th birthday I spent all but dinner alone.  There were no gifts for either occasion.  In fairness we had a mutual agreement for our anniversary that our gifts were our copays.  There, however, was no such agreement for my birthday.  

Nathan is not a plan ahead kinda guy.  This is what I signed up for when I married him, I knew what I was getting into.  I've been through undergrad, med school, residency, starting a practice etc... with him in the last 19 years.  There is always some reason that he can't plan for or think about special occasions.  I used to just go by myself something and toss it at him and ask him to at least wrap it.  I would say that the last 6 or 7 years he's been making more of an effort....and he's got great office staff that have my back. :0)  

He's actually been spoiling me with trips.  We have made it a tradition to go to CA in June for the past 4 or 5 years to celebrate the anniversary and my birthday.  He's also taken me to Hawaii 5 times.  Seriously can't complain.  He works 60 plus hours a week.  Every single week.  That's not a rough week, that's normal. He had to make a new goal this year to try and eat dinner with us 2x a week.     I'll let you in on a little pet peeve of mine......women complaining about how often their husband had to work 1 week out of the year.  Seriously, just don't!  You are singing your sad song to the wrong gal.  

Anyway, the hubs had me used to a new normal when it came to my birthday, so when this year came around, and it was a pretty hideous number, I was significantly bummed that it was such a nonevent. Especially when everyone kept asking me how amazing my birthday had been.  I did do the one and only thing that mattered to me and that was going to the temple to do sealings for my ancestors.  It was the only thing I wanted to do and I wasn't budging on it.....which is how I ended up going by myself.  :o)

Finally on Wed Nathan took pity on me and let me know that I had a surprise coming this weekend.  Thank goodness, or it was going to be a very long year!  I had to attend the open house on Wed for his new office and his office manager was telling me how sick he was over my birthday and taking it out on all the staff.  Remorse, that's a good sign.  

On Friday he got home from work and had me pack a bag because I wasn't coming home until Saturday.  We stayed at this totally cute former mental hospital turned hotel in downtown Abq.  It was seriously cute.  I had even forgot to bring stuff to wash my face and they had stuff there in the bathroom for me.  How awesome is that?  I've been to some fancy hotels and the've never had face cleaning cloths.  It's the little things that make me happy.  This morning we went and had a delicious couples massage.....it was Nate's 2nd massage of his life....it's just not his thing, but it's mine.....now that's true love.  

So, after all these years.  When all hope and love seemed lost.  Nate pulled it off.  I said to him this morning "you really do love me" he said "of course I do silly." Too bad Nate doesn't have a blog...then you could hear about all the ways I mess up ;o)  Luckily he gives me opportunities to redeem myself as often as I give them to him and that's how you stay married.

The Color Blue

I've mentioned what I'm about to talk about before in my "miracles" post.  I was trying to describe the feelings that I have and the knowledge that I have received that has opened my eyes to the things of eternity.  I was relating trying to describe this like trying to explain the color blue to someone who doesn't understand color.  Why it is that you can't give anyone else the oil you have in your lamp because it can only be earned one drop at a time.

I have been studying the Old Testament for a year and a half now and I would say one of the major themes is the worshiping of false idols....another would be the importance of making and keeping covenants.  Pretty soon into my study I noticed this and started marking everything that had to do with idols in green (the color of greed)....there's a whole lotta green in my old testament now.

Well, I came across an article in the June Ensign by president Spencer W Kimball that said perfectly everything I have been trying to articulate.....that would be why he was a prophet, and I am not :0)  I have been trying to describe what exactly the study of the old testament has done to me.  What it has made me "see."  Good news, you no longer need to try and decipher anything that I may say on the subject, you can look to this article and it will tell you everything you need to know to start on your journey of knowing "the color blue" or like he says at the end of the article:

"It may seem a little difficult at first, but when a person begins to catch a vision of the true work, when he begins to see something of eternity in its true perspective, the blessings begin to far outweigh the cost of leaving "the world" behind.  Herein lies the only true happiness, and therefore we invite and welcome all people, everywhere to join in this work.  For those who are determined to serve the Lord at all costs, this is the way to eternal life.  All else is but a means to that end."

I can add my testimony to his, that I have caught the vision of the true work, and it is exciting.  It is hopeful.  There is pure joy in that vision.  It is something beyond description.  I can say whole heartily that it is worth any cost, and cost it does! There is a saying that anything worth having comes at a price.    But, as he says, the blessings far outweigh the cost and I know this to be true.  It is something that I have to remind myself of constantly because anytime you are being molded and shaped into something new, it hurts!  But, take great faith in whose's hands you have placed yourself in and then share with everyone you know the redemptive power of Jesus Christ.

Below is the great article where president Kimball does not mince words :o)

ps, I also like how this article ties into what I was talking about with Habakkuk (in an earlier post- I think it was lamentations); temporary success verses permanent success.

Worship the True and Living God

Spencer W Kimball from Ensign June 1976

We learn from the scriptures that because the exercise of
faith has always appeared to be more difficult than relying 
on things more immediately at hand, carnal man has tended 
to transfer his trust in God to material things. Therefore, in 
all ages when men have fallen under the power of Satan 
and lost the faith, they have put in its place a hope in the 
“arm of flesh” and in “gods of silver, and gold, of brass, 
iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know” 
(Daniel 5:23)—that is, in idols. This I find to be a  
dominant theme in the Old Testament. Whatever thing a man 

sets his heart and his trust in most is his god; and if his god 

doesn’t also happen to be the true and living God of Israel, 

that man is laboring in idolatry.

It is my firm belief that when we read these scriptures and
try to “liken them unto [our]selves” (1 Nephi 19:24), as 
Nephi suggested, we will see many parallels between the 
ancient worship of gravenimages and behavioral patterns 
in our very own experience.

The Lord has blessed us. … The resources that have been
placed in our power are good and necessary to our work here 
on the earth. But I am afraid that many of us … have begun 
to worship them as false gods, and they have power over us. 
Do we have more of these good things than our faith can 
stand?  Many people spend most of their time working in the 
service of a self-image that includes sufficient money, stocks, 
bonds, investment portfolios, property, credit cards, furnishings, 
automobiles, and the like to guarantee carnal security. …

Our Assignment

Forgotten is the fact that our assignment is to use these many 

resources in our families and quorums to build up the kingdom 

of God—to further the missionary effort and the genealogical 
and temple work; to raise our children up as fruitful servants 
unto the Lord; to bless others in every way, that they may also 
be fruitful. Instead, we expend these blessings on our own 
desires, and as Moroni said, “Ye adorn yourselves with that 
which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, 
and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, 
and notice them not” (Mormon 8:39).

As the Lord Himself said in our day, “They seek not the Lord
to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own 
way, and after the image of his own God, whose image is in the 
likeness of the world, and  whose substance is that of an idol, 
which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon 
the great, which shallfall” (D&C 1:16;emphasis added).

A Poor Exchange

One man I know of was called to a position of service in the
Church,but he felt that he couldn’t accept because his investments 
required more … of his time than he could spare for the Lord’s 
work.  He left the service of the Lord in search of Mammon, and he 
is a millionaire today.

But I recently learned an interesting fact: If a man owns a million
dollars worth of gold … , he possesses approximately one 27-
billionth of all the gold that is present in the earth’s thin crust alone. 
This is an amount so small in proportion as to be inconceivable to 
the mind of man. But there is more to this: The Lord who created 
and has power over all the earth created many other earths as well, 
even “worlds without number” (Moses 1:33); and when this man 
received the oath and covenant of the priesthood (see D&C 
84:33–44), he received a promise from the Lord of “all that my 
Father hath” (D&C 84:38). To set aside all these great 
promises in favor of a chest of gold and a sense of carnal security 
is a mistake in perspective of colossal proportions. To think that 
he has settled for so little is a saddening and pitiful prospect 

indeed; thesouls of men are far more precious than this.

One young man, when called on a mission, replied that he didn’t
have much talent for that kind of thing. What he was good at was 
keeping his powerful new automobile in top condition. … All along, 
his father had been content with saying, “He likes to do things with 
his hands. That’s good enoughfor him.”

Good enough for a son of God? This young man didn’t realize
that the power of his automobile is  infinitesimally small in 
comparison with the power of the sea or of the sun; and there 
are many suns, all controlled by law and by priesthood, ultimately
—a priesthood power that he could have been developing in the 
service of the Lord. He settled for a pitiful god, a composite of steel
and rubber andshiny chrome.

An older couple retired from the world of work and also, in effect,
from the Church. They purchased a pickup truck and camper and … 
set out to see the world. … They had no time for the temple, were 
too busy for genealogical research and for missionary service. He 
lost contact with his high priests quorum and was not home enough 
to work on his personal history. Their experience and leadership 
were sorely needed in their branch, but … they were not available. …

If we insist on spending all our time and resources building up for 

ourselves a worldly kingdom, that is exactly what we will inherit.

Forsake the Things of the World

In spite of our delight in defining ourselves as modern and our
tendency to think we possess a sophistication that no people in 
the past ever had—in spite of these things, we are, on the whole, 
an idolatrous people—a condition most repugnant to the Lord.

We are … easily distracted from our assignment of preparing for
the coming of the Lord. … We forget that if we are righteous, the 
Lord will either not suffer our enemies to come upon us … or He 
will fight our battles for us (see Exodus 14:14; D&;C 98:37, 
to name only two references of many). …

What are we to fear when the Lord is with us? Can we not take
the Lord at His word and exercise a particle of faith in Him? 
Our assignment is affirmative: to forsake the things of the world 
as ends in themselves; to leave off idolatry and press forward in 
faith; to carry the gospel to our enemies, that they might no longer 
be our enemies.

Exercise Greater Faith

We must leave off the worship of modern-day idols and a reliance
on the “arm of flesh,” for the Lord has said to all the world in our 
day, “I will not spare any that remain in Babylon” (D&C 64:
24). … We believe that the way for each person and each family 
to prepare as the Lord has directed is to begin to exercise greater 
faith, to repent, and to enter into the work of  His kingdom on 
earth, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  
It may seem a little difficult at first, but when a person begins to

catch a vision of the true work, when he begins to see something 
of eternity in its true perspective, the blessings begin to far outweigh 
the cost of leaving “the world” behind.

Herein lies the only true happiness, and therefore we invite and
welcome all people, everywhere, to join in this work. For those 
who are determined to serve the Lord at all costs, this is the way 
to eternal life. All else is but a means to that end.

If we insist on spending all our time and resources building up for 
ourselves a worldly kingdom, that is exactly what we will inherit.

When a person begins to see something of eternity in its true 
perspective,the blessings begin to far outweigh the cost of 
leaving “the world” behind.