Once Upon A Time

A Moral and Religious People

2012-02-02T09:44:00.001-07:00

I love this counsel from John Adams. I find it interesting that he was not advising the conditions the government would provide in order for the Constitution of the United States to be successful but rather what the Constitution requires of the people whose freedoms it protects.

I recently heard Senator Rick Santorum explain our citizen responsibilities, and the way the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution work hand in hand, better than I think I have ever heard it explained.

Both of these answers were given in response to similar questions when asked how he, Santorum, not only understands the Constitution, but differs from Congressman Ron Paul on this subject.

His responses:

“Today we think of happiness as enjoyment and pleasure and doing whatever makes you feel good. At the time of our founders, the dictionary definition of happiness was to do the morally right thing. So the freedom was not to be free to do whatever you wanted to do. Our founders knew that that would lead to, in fact, not freedom, that would lead to libertinism and lead to chaos, would lead to the French Revolution.

But the reason ‑‑ the freedom to do what you ought to do, what you are properly ordered to do as- as someone living a good, decent and ordered life. And so that’s the differentiation that I believe Ron Paul and I have with respect to what liberty is. His liberty is if you want prostitution, fine. If you want to use drugs, fine. As long as you’re not hurting anybody else, do whatever you want to do, do what makes you feel good. But that’s not how our country was founded. That’s not the moral foundation of our country. And our country is simply not just a collection of freedoms. There is a moral foundation which is declared in the Declaration of Independence with God‑given rights upon which this country was founded and upon which this country succeeded.”

And second…and in my opinion, better and more thorough than the first...

"Ron Paul has a libertarian view of the Constitution. I do not. The Constitution has to be read in the context of another founding document, and that’s the Declaration of Independence. Our country never was a libertarian idea of radical individualism. We have certain values and principles that are embodied in our country. We have God-given rights.

The Constitution is not the “why” of America; it’s the “how” of America. It’s the operator’s manual. It’s the rules we have to play by to ensure something. And what do we ensure? God-given rights. And so to read the Constitution as the end-all, be-all is, in a sense, what happened in France. You see, during the time of our revolution, we had a Declaration of Independence that said, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, [that they are] endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

So we were founded as a country that had God-given rights that the government had to respect. And with those rights come responsibilities, right? God did not just give us rights. He gave us a moral code by which to exercise them. See, that’s what Ron Paul sort of leaves out. He leaves out rights and responsibilities that we have from God that this Constitution is to protect. And he says, “No, we just have rights, and then that’s it.” No, we don’t. America is a moral enterprise….

My understanding of our founding documents and the purpose of this country is different. I would argue that [Paul’s] understanding of the Constitution was similar to the French Revolution and the French understanding of the Constitution. The French had 21, I think, constitutions, but their constitutions were initially patterned after the American Constitution. Gave radical freedom, like ours does. But their founding document was not the Declaration of Independence. Their founding watchwords were the words, “liberty” and “fraternity.” Fraternity. Brotherhood. But no fatherhood. No God. It was a completely secular revolution. An anti-clerical revolution. And the root of it was, whoever’s in power rules."

Thank you and well done Senator Santorum.

The Storybook Journal blog

2012-02-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post. I just a) wanted something pretty to accompany the post and b) will make any excuse to sneak in a little Atlantic goodness into my western Unites States day. :)

This is just an FYI - and I am probably so the last one to know this. Being as socially connected as I am. :) But...!
I am a huge fan of Elspeth Young's beautiful artwork.
I have wished for an extra $500 to blow in my open window so I could purchase every last copy of the Young family's publication "The Storybook Home Journal."
But until that happens...

...I just found that Storybook Home has a blog! I hope they don't mind I've put a little button on my sidebar just for them. If you need a boost, pick-me-up, a reminder of the beauty all around us, or simply a breath of beautiful fresh air...treat yourself to a few minutes there.

World Congress of Families

2012-01-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

Back in the pre-dawn of email...okay, not quite...but in what seems like a technology millenia ago, in a galaxy far far away...

...I used to receive little daily email gems. Remember those? Little quotes each day delievered to your inbox?

Anyway, as I was preparing my Pres. Hinckley posts I remembered 2 favorites I received from the World Congress of Families. I actually thought I had lost one of these in all my treasured paper files but, no! I came across it last week.

So in an effort not to lose them again - I am going to park them here.
One great mission of yours as a parent is to provide a home for your children least affected by outside negative influences. You are the parent. Yours is the influence. The moment you delegate that influence or resopnsibility to the world you open your home, like a floodgate, to a deluge of counterproductive forces. We are talking about maintaining the integrity of your home, the intergrity of your vision. The degree to which you are thrown off track from your vision of a successful family will be attributable in large part to the degree in which you rely on the world to implement your vision for you.
- World Congress of Families ( I will have to find my original copy to more completely source this.)
And second:

If being 'selfless' means a woman must give up her own inner identity and personal growth, that understanding of selflessness is wrong. That was a weakness in some versions of the Victorian model of motherhood, which viewed women as excessively dependent on their husbands. But today's liberationist model goes too far the other way, stereotyping women as excessivley independent of their families. A more sensible view is that husband and wives are interdependent with each other...
The critics who moved mothers from dependence to independence skipped that fertile middle ground of interdependence. Those who moved mothers from seflessness to selfishness skipped the fertile middle ground of self-chosen service that contributes toward a woman's personal growth. Because of these excesses, debates about the value of motherhood have, ironically, caused the general society to discount not only mothers but women in general.
(-Bruce C. Hafen, Motherhood and the Moral Influence of Women, WCofF, 1999.)

As long as I'm posting about these, I may as well go full-board.

Here are the LDS speakers speeches that I noticed scanning through the World Congress of Families speakers roster. I may have skipped someone...I just did a quick scan. If you have a minute, simply scanning the roster looks like some incredible reading on preserving the traditional family and it's values. It's refreshing to see the varied religious spectrum standing together with a common goal.

Sheri Dew - The Power of Virtue
Bruce C. Hafen - Lovers Do Not Live for Themselves Alone: The Social Value of Traditional Marriage
Bruce C. Hafen - Motherhood and the Moral Influence of Women
James M. Harper - Don't Take Generations out of Families!
Craig H. Hart - Combating the Myth that Parents Don't Matter
Thomas B. Holman - Strengthening Young Adults' Marriage Begins in the Home
A. Scott Loveless - Two Competing Moralities: The Importance of the Choice Between Them
Margaret D. Nadauld - Keeper of the Springs
Wendy Watson Nelson - Not Even Once!
Russell M. Nelson - The Family: The Hope for the Future of the Nations
Terrance D. Olson - Principles of Family Policy
Mary Ellen Smoot - Suggestions to Strengthen Families
Lynn D. Wardle - The Attack on Marriage as the Union of a Man and a Woman
Richard Wilkins - Recognizing Our Shared Commitment to the Natural Family

Beehive Books

2012-01-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

I believe, although I haven't checked all 50, that each state has a children's book award. I know Illinois has the Rebecca Caudill, Connecticut has the Nutmeg...and Utah has the Beehive.

The great thing about Utah is that it nominates picture books. Oh, happy day!

So for the last 2 weeks we have worked our way through the list. The picture book list that is. And while we aren't yet done, I thought I would share our reviews so far.

You'll find our short thoughts/opinions in the italicized words in parenthesis below each book description.
But you don't have to take our word for it. ;)

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night
by Joyce Sidman; illustrated by Rick Allen
Welcome to the cool night wood where lyrical verse and striking illustrations reveal the creatures, wonder, danger, and magic of the midnight hours.
(This is a nice book. Too long for one sitting, especially for young children. Lovely pictures.)

In the Wild
by David Elliot; illustrated by Holly Meade
Simple clever poems and vibrant woodcuts light up a world of exceptional beauty filled with favorite animals in the wild.
(This was fun and artfully enjoyable - but so annoying. It is such a bummer to find human evolution folded so nicely into early childhood reading.)

Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse
by Marilyn Singer; illustrated by Josee Massee
Remarkable reversos, or poems that are read two ways: up and down, turn fairy tale characters on their heads. (Clever but so boring. We couldn't finish it. Many people loving this. Just not us.)

Spot the Plot: A Riddle Book of Book Riddles

by J. Patrick Lewis; illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Witty and wacky poems pose riddles that challenge readers to “Name That Book”.
(Very fun, especially for young independent readers. Funny choice of books I thought, however.)

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

by Barbara Kerley
Thirteen-year-old Susy Clemens wants the world to know that her papa, Mark Twain, is more than just a humorist so she tells his story in her own words.
(I loved this. My children thought it was okay in a good way. I'm not much of a Twain fan but I enjoyed this perspective and telling of his life. Clever format.)

Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci
by Gene Barretta
Five-hundred years ago Leonardo da Vinci had ideas for inventions that foreshadowed modern-day robots, hang gliders and automobiles.
(We didn't mind this one. There are a trillon children's books on Leo, however.)

All the World

by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon; illustrated by Marla Frazee
Through the course a day, a circle of friends and family discover the significance of things great and small.
(Love, love. Love, love. Did I mention we (I) loved this one? But illustrations are my best friends and I loved these illustrations.)

Brontorina
by James Howe; illustrated by Randy Cecil
Despite her size and improper footwear, a determined dinosaur pursues her dream of becoming a ballerina.
(Funny. A chuckle here and there. We liked Edwina or Dinorella a little better.)

City Dog, Country Frog

by Mo Willems; illustrated by Jon J. Muth
An unexpected friendship brings joy throughout the seasons.
(Two thumbs very up!)

Clever Jack Takes the Cake
by Candace Fleming; illustrated by G. Brian Karas
A poor boy named Jack struggles to deliver a birthday present worthy of the princess.
(Again, we liked this one. Not enough to buy it, but that's okay. We enjoyed it.)

The Cow Loves Cookies
by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Marcellus Hall
While all the other animals on the farm enjoy eating their regular food, the cow chooses to eat the one thing she loves best.
(Molly and Tim thought this was cute. I wasn't as sold but hey...it's a children's book!)

Name That Dog! Puppy Poems from A to Z

by Peggy Archer; illustrated by Stephanie Buscema

Twenty-six bright canine poems introduce dogs of every imaginable type and personality.
(Yes, twenty-six letters long but very fun verses. Amusing illustrations are well. We liked this one.)

Princess Hyacinth (The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated)
by Florence Parry Heide; illustrated by Lane Smith
Bored, unhappy Princess Hyacinth will float away unless she is weighted down, but her days are made brighter when a kite-flying boy stops to say, “Hello”.
(We all chuckled a little at first. Then it was a little too much.)

Curious Creatures
by Barry Louis Polisar; illustrated by David Clark
Meet some of the world’s oddest animals, including the strangest creature of all--man.
(Very interesting animals...especially the monkey-to-man evolution AGAIN. I mean, it's not like your brain is going to go to mush and you'll start craving bananas for simply reading this. But come on people! Yes, annoying.)

Shark vs. Train
by Chris Barton; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
A shark and a train compete in a series of contests to see who is best.
(Uh...I have to say, this is Molly's sense of humor. Yep, Molly's.)

A Small Brown Dog with a Wet Pink Nose
by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen; illustrated by Linzie Hunter
Amelia will stop at nothing to convince her parents to let her adopt a very special dog.
(It was interesting to hear my children's opinions on this one. They didn't like it because they felt the girl was manipulative and dishonest with her parents. I was glad they picked up on that. Who was I to argue. We do love a different Stuve-Bodeen book about Elizabeti and her doll.)

Spells
by Emily Gravett; illustrated by Emily Gravett
A little frog tries to find the one spell that will make him a handsome prince, but he quickly discovers that trial-and-error is not a good idea when performing magic.
(Ugh. A big, collective yuck heard round the world!)

And that's it so far.
I'll have to see how many more we can sneak in over the next few weeks.

Reading all these pictures books made me hungry for some more and I have been feasting.

I'll have to work up a post of the other gems I've come across.

Amazon is so happy.

And so am I.

Wordfull Wednesday

2012-01-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

Wordfull Wednesday is looking for "typical days" today.
Below I have reposted one of my favorite "typical day" posts.
If you have time, you are also welcome to read my (stereo)typical homeschooling day post or simply my ordinary day post. :)

Between the Posts
As I was gathering pictures for this post, my children started to get a little nervous. "Mom, why are you taking pictures of clutter?" David was concerned. Nancy had hypothesized that the 5 of them were in for some heavy duty cleaning. It was her suspicion I was collecting "Before" pictures.

Cleaning is a family member here. I've told the story...when Molly and Tim were young, I overheard them playing. "Do you want to play home-teacher?" "Sure." "Okay...I'll be the home teacher and you clean the house."

Truth be told, I had no ulterior motive to my picture taking today. I was really just collecting life; the "what" that goes on between blog posts. I find scheduling posts to be heaven sent, especially if I am in a particularly chatty mood. I can stock pile for those for days when blogging becomes a casualty of time. Think of it as food storage for your blog. But other times, there's just nothing to say. Every day life takes over and simple stated, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Left to right and top to bottom:

•Laundry. A very wise woman once advised, "Quit trying to finish the laundry." What a great truth. Unless you go naked, don't sleep in sheets, and use no towels, it is virtually impossible to "finish" the laundry. Make peace with it.

•Sweeping. How I long for vacuum marks in carpet. No one can ever tell my broom has been here and done that.

•Bathrooms. I hate to clean them and I hate teaching others to clean them. But I hate outhouses more - so... heigh-ho...heigh-ho...

•Recycling. Who knew there was so much cardboard, aluminum and plastics 1&2 in the world? I wouldn't need a 4th recycling bin if I could just get Capital One to accept the fact that I am not interested! Pottery Barn is always welcome however.

•Vacuuming. Hardwood, tile, doormats, stairs, couches...

•Food. Mealtime - so overrated. And three times a day!

•Dishes. See Laundry and Food.

•Treadmill. I'd like to tell you that if this was in a nicer place than the basement, I would be much more enthusiastic in seeking it out. As it is, we have a love/hate relationship. I love that's it is true (Precor) gym quality. I have not one complaint on that score. However, it's still a treadmill...

•Studies. Scriptures, Ensign, recent addresses and BYU speeches. Plenty to keep one busy. Don't forget to write all that inspiration down in your journal.

•School. I still have never quite found the words to fully explain why we do what we do and why we continue to do it and why we wouldn't have it any other way.

•Errands. Groceries, clothes, dry cleaning, bookstore, doctors, groceries, dentists, work, church activities, thrifting, crafting, Scouts, groceries, baseball, post office, Walgreens, Target, groceries...

•Library. The biggest errand of them all. Averaging from 50-100 library items in our house at any given time.

•Fun. Puzzle races, art projects, games, games, games. We still love Banana-grams. Tim will play Monopoly any time, any place. He also loves chess.

•Wii. Fitness or games.

•Crafts. Not a very good shot of the craft stash. It currently holds the Christmas tree ornaments-to-be. Yarn, beads, felt, aluminum sheets...

•Piling. This room isn't actually torn apart. It's piled. Newly washed laundry, school books, Goodwill, and to-be-sent-to-cousins. Molly and Tim didn't let the piles stop them from enjoying the latest goodies from Barnes and Noble.

•Relaxing. Let's pretend I am able to spend a lot more time with these good friends than I actually am. I am starting to worry that if I rate one more craft or cook book and send it through on my Goodreads, I am going to have people de-friending me.

•Adventures. Ah...a good road trip. Winter bogs us down but come spring...we're out of here!

•Mr. Thornton. Always time to hold hands.

•Napping. Okay...not. But I can always wish!

And now you see the rest of the story.

To join in with Wordfull Wednesday or see others' typical days, visit Chocolate On My Cranium.

Fi.Nal.Ly!

2012-01-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

Declarations and Quotables

2012-01-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

President Hinckley was the prophet of my early motherhood. I never failed to be uplifted and encouraged after hearing him speak. It is through his encouragements, I wanted to stand a little taller and I came to understand my roles as daughter of God, wife and mother more completely.

Talks I particularly leaned upon and learned from include:

Under his inspired guidance the world was given 3 amazing declarations and proclamations.

The first was The Family: A Proclamation to the World. President Hinckley presented this at the General Relief Society meeting in September1995. He prefaced his reading of the proclamation by saying:

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.

The second helped me to see the true vision of Relief Society and the blessing it is to be in my life. In 1999, then General Relief Society President Sis. Mary Ellen Smoot read The Relief Society Declaration. This became an anchor in my soul as I've tried to be the woman my Heavenly Father wants me to be.

The third document is The Living Christ: A Testimony of the Apostles. Here is a pdf link: The Living Christ. Print it up and use it for your scripture study. Write on it, cross reference it, strengthen your testimony with it. I hope those who visit my blog who may doubt the "Christianity" of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will come to better understand that we are indeed Christian.

You can read and listen to testimonies of the current prophets and apostles here and here.

President Hinckley gave me plenty of "quotables" place in my journal or on my fridge. Here are a few:

We cannot hope to influence others in the direction of virtue unless we live lives of virtue. The example of our living will carry a greater influence than will all the preaching in which we might indulge. We cannot expect to lift others unless we stand on higher ground ourselves...The home is the cradle of virtue, the place where character is formed and habits are established.
I feel to invite women everywhere to rise to the great potential within you. I do not ask that you reach beyond your capacity. I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts of failure....I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass.
The Lord said, 'Wherefore, life up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made'. I believe He is saying to each of us, be happy. The gospel is a thing of joy. It provides us with a reason for gladness. Of course there are times of sorrow. Of course there are hours of concern and anxiety. We all worry. But the Lord has told us to life our hearts and rejoice. I see so many people, including many women, who seem never to see the sunshine, but who constantly walk with storms under cloudy skies. Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.
Teach your children goodness. Work together. Read good books together. Pray together.
You wives and daughters...No one can calculate the tremendous force for good that you can become. You are the keepers of the hearth. You are the manager of the home...I charge you to stand tall and be strong in defense of those great virtues which have been the backbone of our social progress. When you are unites, your power is limitless. You can accomplish anything you wish to accomplish. And oh, how very, very great is is the need for you in a world of crumbling values where the adversary seems so very much to be in control.
Now, my brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike.

Standing Strong and Immovable

2012-01-23T12:38:00.001-07:00

There are several talks and speeches which refer to "Standing Strong and Immovable", President Hinckley's 2004 Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting talk.

I have a hard copy of this meeting, given to me by our ward leadership at the time, but I cannot find a link to it online. If anyone has one, feel free to share it.

I hate abbreviating this address, but I don't feel comfortable typing in the entire text, given I can't link it back to LDS.org. I do, however, want to share some of what President Hinckley said:

"The traditional family is under heavy attack. I do not know that things were worse in the times of Sodom and Gommorah. At that season, Abraham bargained with the Lord to save these cities for the sake of the righteous. Notwithstanding his pleas, things were so bad that Jehovah decreed their destruction. They and their wicked inhabitants were annihilated. We see similar conditions today. They prvail all across the world. I think our Father must weep as He looks down upon His wayward sons and daughters.

In the Church we are working very hard to stem to the tide of this evil. But it is an uphill battle, and we sometimes wonder whether we are making any headway...

We must not give up. We ust not becmoe discouraged. We must never surrender to the forces of evil. We can and must maintain the standards for which this Church has stood since it was organized. There is a better way than the way of the world...

We call upon the women of the Church to stand together for righetousness They must begin in their own homes. The can teach it in their classes. They can voice it in their communities. They nust be the teachers and gaurdians of their daughters...I see this as the one brigh shining hope in a world that is marching toward self destruction...

We frequently speck of the strength of the priesthood, and properly so. But we must never lose sight of the strength of the women. It is the mothers who se thte tone of the home. It is mothers who most directly affec the lives of their children. It is mothers who teach infants to pray, who read to them choice and beautiful literature from the scriptures and other sources. It is mothers who nurture them and bring them up in the ways of the Lord. Their influence is paramount...

I have been quoted as saying, "Do the best you can." But I want to emphasize that is be the very best. We are too prone to be satisfied with mediocre performance. We are capable of doing much better...

...we must get on our knees and plead with the Lord for help and strength and direction. We must then stand on our feet and move forward.

I am absolutely confident that heaven will smile upon us. The Lord will hear and answer our prayers if we will commit ourselves, giving our very best to this work." [end quote]

I was once criticized for sharing the prophetic comparison of our current state of the world affairs to that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Of course, it wasn't my comparison but that of the prophets. Here in this talk is a perfect example of not only President Hinckley's prophetic vision but also his encouragement and incredible faith in the people of the Church to be found in obedience to the Lord.

Talks that have referenced this "Standing Strong and Immovable" address include:

P.S. Updated with *THANKS* to Holly for finding a link to the talk for me! Yea! :) Here's the link.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

2012-01-23T04:52:00.001-07:00

This week marks the 4th anniversary of the passing of our beloved prophet President Gordon B. Hinckley. Please don't wonder if I have some sad fascination in marking his passing. It's simply that his death happens to share the date with some important birthdays in my world. This creates a memory cue.
I thought I would make a couple posts this week of some of my favorite President Hinckley moments, quotes, articles, etc. I hope they will bring your own happy memories, maybe give some laughs, and hopefully some inspiration. If you would like to review a short biography on him, you can click the title of this post. I have linked it to LDS.org.

(I do not want to give the impression that I am not immensely grateful for our current living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.)

The first thing I want to share is this video. A transcript of the event is available, but this video so clearly shows his personality, his encouragements, and speaking tendancies. It made me smile several times. I think the background music is unnecessary, distracting and too overdramatic but hopefully you can tune it out and simply enjoying listening to President Hinckley.

Why Do I Not Color More?

2012-01-18T12:55:00.002-07:00

This is the question in my mind this afternoon.
Having just spent almost 2 hours thoroughly enjoying my children, coloring our most recent nature reading.
I have always loved coloring.
It's relaxing.
It's fun.
It's peaceful.
It's creative.

This looks like a great place to sneak in a little President Uchtdorf reminder. ;)

The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.
Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—

I was trying to get my children to spend more time and attention to their notebooking and schoolwork. I knew they could do better. So today, I joined them. We did our conifer forest reading and then took the crayons, colored pencils and wonderful amazing Sharpie markers from the shelf. (I could write a whole post on my addiction to Sharpies...but I'll spare you.)

We then proceeded to create our notes. Molly decided hers needed wavy lines around each entry. Tim wanted to make his like a scrapbook, complete with captions. David came in to see what we were doing and begged to sit down and join in. It was blissful. Rare, but blissful.

As I took the time to actually look at the different conifers, my heart was so thankful for this beautiful place we have been given us to live.

Verily I say, that.... the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to aexcess, neither by extortion.
And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments. (reference)

I never cease to be amazed at our Savior's magnificent attention to detail. He would have learned that from His loving Father, even our Heavenly Father. If they care in such detail for the trees and plants, it is beyond my comprehension how much they must care about the minute details in my own life.

God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him. -Pres. Uchtdorf

I sat looking at my children, watching their dedication to getting their work just right. I saw the improvement they made as I worked along side them. Probably just like Heavenly Father would work along side me each day, if I would let him. And perhaps my work would also improve.

Yes, I should definitely color more.

First Haircut

2012-01-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

And now, a rare appearance at my blog by one of my children.

Some of you have been a part of Molly's cancer experience.
(And more here if you want.)
She is starting her 3rd year of remission.
And she recently had her first hair cut since she shaved her hair off in 2009.
I thought it would be fun to share these pictures, with her permission, of course.

Bald is beautiful

The radiation exit line...which you will be able to see below, contributed to her uneven hair re-growth.

The haircut before and after.

We saved the chemo-curls in a ziploc. (What did we do before ziplocs? Lockets perhaps?)
Aren't those ringlets amazing?
No gel, no curlers...
People pay big bucks for curls like that.
Molly paid a lot too. :)

FOX books bites the dust

2012-01-16T00:00:00.003-07:00

I have been fiddling around with this post since August. I think I was probably on one of my extended blogcations when I first started writing it.

This post began with a trip to Borders. I had just wandered through what was left of their "Going Out Of Business" clearance. Everything was up for grabs and the store looked like any other deserted building in need of a good vacuum and dusting. The store looked so sad. And I was sad for it.

Now I was never a Borders fan, but they had won me over in the last few years. They sent me a weekly 30% off coupon and they gave a better educator discount than Barnes and Noble. Having said that, it was too edgy and icky for me to spend much time there.

So why was I feeling all sentimental about it's store closing?
Because it's not about Borders. It's about bookstores in general.

I have had my own little STB campaign going.
What do you mean what's STB?
Save The Books, of course!
I mean, there are a ton of people out there spending a lot of money buying air and having it sent to their "reading devices" instead of making the trip to a brick and mortar.

I stood in Borders, looking at the stars woven in the the children's section carpet and I was struck with a moment of shear terror. If I wanted to thumb through a book to check the font, note the paper weight, browse for undesireable language, etc...BEFORE purchasing it, I was now left locally with Barnes and Noble or Deseret Book.
(And as my brother reminded me...Walmart. Wow. How could I have forgotten that one?)

I'm not sure that's going to work out so well. Let's see.  Barnes and Noble has been up for sale.  Barnes and Noble barely saved itself by, wait for it, selling book air with the Nook.

Deseret Book didn't even have a copy of Anne of Green Gables on the shelf (3 stores) during CHRISTMAS!  I could, however, read about...well, let's not start my DB rant.  Suffice it to say, I'm not encouraged by the idea of my future reading being solely in the hands of DB.

Walmart as a bookstore? Paaaaleeeease.

Back to Borders.
You've seen "You've Got Mail", right? I can't own it...for various flagrant fouls...but I love the "good parts". (Let's not have the cricket in the ice cream analogy discussion right now-just roll with me. :)

So Shop Around the Corner was knocked out of business by FOX books. F-O-X. Fox.
And now "FOX Books" has been knocked out by...air.
Or, basically, the internet. It's like the full circle of Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly. In roughly 15 years we've gone from dial-up AOL mail to Kindles, Nooks, 30 second "book" delivery and the demise of superstore book shops.   Now the independents are the survivors? The irony does not escape me.

Leaving me the options of: {sigh}

1.  Keeping Barnes and Noble in business all by myself.
2. Suffering through the DB shelves.
3.  Death by Christian Amish fiction at Walmart.
4. Continuing to contribute to Amazon's monopoly.
5. Supporting my local independent Shop Around the Corner - except there isn't one around my corner.
6.  Start my own around the corner!

This would be the part where I would love to announce and welcome you to my Grand Opening. Alas, I don't have my own Shop Around any Corner. But I am of the opinion that I should perhaps look into it. I simple can't believe that people are going to stay content buying air. Convenience is trendy for a while. And using readers for old oop titles is a cool idea.

However, in the end, I have to believe that I know who wins.

I don't even need to walk the conspiracy path of book control.
(what does happen to your book air if a really powerful someone somewhere sometime somehow decides you don't need it anymore? Yeah, like that would ever happen.)

Or suggest the nightmare of a solar flare killing your "book cloud", leaving you destitute in your great moment of need.
(Because, of course, in a power grid disaster, we are all going to need a good read in our hands!)

Or remind you that if one packs tons of book air for vacation but forgets their book air power cord...no vacation read for them.
(Unless they run to a surviving bookstore!)

Bookstores will survive in the end because for reading, nothing beats holding a book in your hand. Hearing it call to you from the shelf. Smelling the coffee (smelling only mind you) and the furniture polish as you browse the Dickens section. Being able to drown in the latest pen and ink illustrations. Placing an ex lbiris ~~label~~ bookplate on the inside flap of your newest purchase.

It's crazy to imagine a world without bookstores!
We already have libraries without books.
I am not willing to believe we will have stores without books.

Wordfull Wednesday - Character Kinship

2012-01-11T08:47:00.002-07:00

Wordfull Wednesday's topic: What fictional character do you feel a kinship with?

WW took me off guard this week, and that's probably a good thing! This is one of those questions I have to shoot right off the top of my head or I go crazy attaching myself to every character who has ever influenced me...and it becomes impossible to answer. I mean, you are what you read! I have to go with my gut on this one - and even then I can't name one. I can only settle for narrowing to three.

1. Anne Shirley

I love to read and I would rather read than do most of the things I am supposed to be doing! I remember a couple of years ago trying to read "North and South" by Elizabeth Gaskell. We were staying at our family cabin, where reading is a favorite past time. I am sure it didn't go unnoticed by the children that bedtime/quiet time kept getting earlier and earlier each night...

I confess, I couldn't wait to get back to my book.

2. Marmee March (not to be confused with Susan Serrandon :)

There is no way I am anywhere near Marmee's unselfish goodness and near perfection. Alcott's idealistic fantasy or her mother's saintly reality - it doesn't matter to me. I have always carried Marmee's mother-heart wishes as my own. Here's a sample:

A: Learn to know and value the praise which is worth having, and to excite the admiration of excellent people by being modest as well as pretty, Meg.

B: I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good. To be admired, loved, and respected. To have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married, and to lead useful, pleasant lives, with as little care and sorrow to try them as God sees fit to send. To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman, and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience. It is natural to think of it, Meg, right to hope and wait for it, and wise to prepare for it, so that when the happy time comes, you may feel ready for the duties and worthy of the joy. My dear girls, I am ambitious for you, but not to have you make a dash in the world, marry rich men merely because they are rich, or have splendid houses, which are not homes because love is wanting. Money is a needful and precious thing, and when well used, a noble thing, but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for. I'd rather see you poor men's wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace.

C: Money is a good and useful thing, Jo, and I hope my girls will never feel the need of it too bitterly not be tempted by too much. I should like to know that John was firmly established in some good business, which gave him an income large enough to keep free from debt and make Meg comfortable. I'm not ambitious for a splendid fortune, a fashionable position, or a great name for my girls. If rank and money come with love and virtue, also, I should accept them gratefully, and enjoy your good fortune, but I know, by experience, how much genuine happiness can be had in a plain little house, where the daily bread is earned, and some privations give sweetness to the few pleasures. I am content to see Meg begin humbly, for if I am not mistaken, she will be rich in the possession of a good man's heart, and that is better than a fortune."

And last but certainly not least:

3. Elinor Dashwood

Call it what you will - oldest child syndrome, birth order disease...

...but I "get" Elinor - maybe too well. :)

Join Wordfull Wednesday by visiting Chocolate on My Cranium.

Red Beans and Rice

2012-01-05T22:35:00.002-07:00

One of our favorites - lunch or dinner. So easy. So delicious.
And if it would ever snow around here it would be so warming!

Red Beans and Rice

½ c. chopped onion

2 cloves minced garlic
2 t. canola oil
2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 sm. can chopped chilies
½ c. beef broth
¼ c. ketchup
1./4 c. molasses
chili powder to taste - I just sprinkle til it looks about right
1 T. cider vinegar
2 t. soy sauce (can used reduced sodium)
3 c. hot cooked brown rice (not instant, and yes, really do use brown - it's earthiness is so complimentary to the beans)

In a large non-stick skillet, sauté onions and garlic in oil until tender. Add everything else but the rice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes just to thicken that sauce a bit.
Serve over rice.

Serves 4-5. (We are to the point I make a double batch.)

Ode to Book Love - A Thrifty Tale

2012-01-04T12:25:00.002-07:00

I am working on my ever popular and wildly anticipated "To Be Read in 2012" list.
And when I finish it, I'll share and explain.

In the meantime, may I tell you a little story about book love?

I was sitting there the other day, minding my own business.

In fact, everyone was.

Mr. Thornton was working,

The kids were quietly playing

and I was working on the computer.

Peace and calm.

Out of nowhere, I found myself thinking, "I need to get out for a minute." So I put aside the computer, got the car keys and told Mr. Thornton I'd be back in time for dinner. By the time I got to the car I was saying, "Where are you going? Why are you leaving? Everything's quiet! It's been a comparatively normal day! You don't need a break. You're not stressed. Just where are you going?"

By the time I left the neighborhood I had decided I would just go walk the aisles of the thrift shop and come back home.
Yet, it was late in the afternoon.
The shelves would already be picked over from the day.
Que sera! I went anyway.

And - I found nothing. Wandered up,down and around. Why was I wasting time like this?
Then, I just happened to notice – on the carts waiting to be shelved - beautiful, hardback, 1953 (most with original dust jackets!) books from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House set. Full picture colored hardboards with beautiful Garth Williams artwork. $2 a piece. I picked them up and quickly counted…1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6…

Dang. 6! Where were "Little House in the Book Woods" and "Little House on the Prairie"? My search became much more earnest and diligent. I scoured the shelves looking for the missing titles.

Aha! There was Big Woods.
Except it was an '80s reprint.
It wasn't "technically" part of the set, even though it looked like the rest.

My mind began to wonder: was the donated set complete? Was I looking for something that wasn't even there? How badly did I want a partial set? Did I really need another set to work on filling in?
My search was futile.

It would be helpful to explain at this point that I have tried, by thrift, to build complete sets of Narnia, Little House, Tolkien's Ring, Anne of Green Gables, Betsy Tacy and Redwall for each of my children that want their own sets. This is an important part of the story because, I now confess…I didn't need another set of Wilder's.

And it's not like we have a lot of spare space hanging around.
(Note: nook and cranny illustration :)

Okay…back to the shop.

As I stood holding the books, I began to talk myself out of them. I tried to convince myself that there was probably someone who would love having them more than me. (Yeah, whatever!)
I chastised and scolded and bargained and reasoned.
I decided to put them on the shelf, away from the children's section –
rather, in the hardback section, where only the truest seeker would be rewarded.
(or if by some chance I talked myself into them,
they might well be there when I returned.)

After tucking them safely on the shelf, I turned to leave and there, sitting one section over, misshelved, was "Little House on the Prairie", hb 1953.

It was a sign and my heart filled with justification.
I returned home, packing them in and putting them under all my clothes in the closet.
Maybe I would gift them so I should keep them hidden.

(What rationalization?!)

That night I plopped down in front of ebay and Alibiris and Addall to determine how I was going to complete this set. Turns out it was going to be neither easy nor impossible. Ebay looked to be my safest bet but most the hb's were of the '80's set. I contacted 4 or 5 sellers asking them to please confirm to be that their copy was indeed the 1953.
No go.
In all the ones for sale, one was 1953 and it was pretty worn. The seller wanted about $15 + shipping.
I decided to sleep on it. I mean, sets don't need to come together in 24 hours!

The next day I got up and went about my business, only to find myself saying to the kids, "I'm heading out. I'll be back in an hour."
Huh? "I am not going back to the shop!", I argued with myself.
There hadn't been enough time to even put new stuff on the shelves.
Waste of time!

Yet, I did it. I was confident I had picked the books clean so I didn't even go there. I went down all the regular aisles and wondered what in the world I was looking for today! Eventually, I ended up in the corner of books.
I browsed the same titles I had seen the day before.
Broken spines, missing pages, colored boards, chew marks.
Yep, same books.

I decided to leave –
and again –
for the 2nd time in 24 hours,
there on the shelf,
actually leaning out on it's edges from the rest of the titles –
completely sticking out (it may have even called to me)
was "Little House in the Big Woods", 1953! $1.

AND!
There was a 2nd title right next to it, sticking out just the same – "The First Four Years"! $1.
I hadn't even considered that "The First Four Years" would be part of the set.
I thought 1953 was too early.
I opened the cover and found this was printed in the '70s.
My set was complete.

I was one happy camper. Astounded at how they came to be mine, but happy all the same.

When I got home, I cleaned them up and upon closer examination decided to break all collector rules and have the surviving dust jackets laminated. They were brittle and chipping and I would rather have a laminated dust jacket than NO dust jacket. I simple had to preserve the beautiful illustrations.

As you may have guessed, the set is no longer in my closet.
It's sitting on my shelf –
double-stacked of course, but front and center all the same.
I have no idea why this set was meant to be mine
but I'm not one to question ~~density~~ destiny.

Book love. There's nothing like it.

Hintermeister Strikes Again!

2012-01-02T14:01:00.001-07:00

Last year I purchased these 2 vintage prints.
Since then...nothing!
Now, there are a ton of Hintermeister prints out there but, finding this family series is tough hunting.
I have purchased the only 3 I've ever seen.

Oh! Did I say 3? YES! Here's the newest addition to my collection.

New Year's Reflection

2011-12-31T21:35:00.001-07:00

On some such night as this she remembered promising to herself to live as brave and noble a life as any heroine she ever read or heard of in romance, a life sans peur et sans reproche; it had seemed to her then that she had only to will, and such a life would be accomplished. And now she had learnt that not only to will, but also to pray, was a necessary condition in the truly heroic.
~Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South

Ever since I read this in North and South, I think of it each new year.
And this is always the place I see in my mind's eye as I ponder it.
I'm not sure why...

For the place...it's probably because this particular spot on the Atlantic coast was very healing and inspiring to me.

As for the thought itself...surely it has something to do with the reflection I go through the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It is my most favorite week of the year. I think of all I meant to accomplish, all I did accomplish and all I have yet to accomplish.
(That sounds like an Article of Faith - say maybe the 9th or 13th ! :)

It also reminds me of the lofty ideas I aspire to as I read and collect my books each year. My pages are colored and referenced with all the learning I am so good intentioned to apply.

Lastly, it may be that I am reminded that any task of improvement, no matter how strong the will or heroic the desire, must be accomplished through prayerful dedication.

Whatever the reason, it is my New Year's mantra.

Happy New Year and welcome 2012.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-20T08:01:00.001-07:00

Our stockings are hung on our bookshelves with care.
Tim is ready to stand as Joseph at our Christmas devotional.
The snow hasn't yet fallen, and looks like it won't, but one can always hope.
Temple Square was beautiful.
Mr. Kruger has gone caroling with Clarissa.
Bing and Danny have visited Pine Tree, Vermont.
The iPod is working overtime.

"Sometimes it seems that our efforts to have a perfect Christmas season are like a game of Jenga—you know, the one played with small wooden blocks that are precariously stacked up to a tower. As we try to increase the height of the tower, we pull out one wooden block before we can place it on top of the delicate structure.

Each of those little wooden blocks is a symbol of the perfect Christmas events we so desperately want to have. We have in our minds a picture of how everything should be—the perfect tree, the perfect lights, the perfect gifts, and the perfect family events. We might even want to re-create some magical moment we remember from Christmases past, and nothing short of perfection will do.

Sooner or later, something unpleasant occurs—the wooden blocks tumble, the drapes catch fire, the turkey burns, the sweater is the wrong size, the toys are missing batteries, the children quarrel, the pressure rises—and the picture-perfect Christmas we had imagined, the magic we had intended to create, shatters around us. As a result, the Christmas season is often a time of stress, anxiety, frustration, and perhaps even disappointment.

But then, if we are only willing to open our hearts and minds to the spirit of Christmas, we will recognize wonderful things happening around us that will direct or redirect our attention to the sublime. It is usually something small—we read a verse of scripture; we hear a sacred carol and really listen, perhaps for the first time, to its words; or we witness a sincere expression of love. In one way or another, the Spirit touches our hearts, and we see that Christmas, in its essence, is much more sturdy and enduring than the many minor things of life we too often use to adorn it.

In these precious moments we realize what we feel and know in our heart—that Christmas is really about the Christ." - Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Yes, indeed, Christmas is much more sturdy than all it's trappings.

And now, a little blogging quiet, and everything else quiet - for the season.

I wish you a Merry Christmas...
that the peace of our Savior Jesus Christ's love will fill your home.

Merry Christmas!

Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

2011-12-17T21:43:00.000-07:00

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

This was the carol I hummed in my heart as I enjoyed the lights on Temple Square tonight. If you don't know the story behind Longfellow's poem, you can read a little about it here.

Merry Christmas!

Tuff Stuff Blocks

2011-12-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

I have been know to have a technology rant on occasion. But here is one time I am so grateful for Google.

A little background:
Molly and Tim were delayed readers. The had little complications that made it hard to disguish the letters clearly. It's all better now, however and all is well.

But in those years I was searching (desperately) for these old letter blocks my mom had when we were kids. I wanted to add a tactile experience to the kids reading efforts. And these letters aren't just letter blocks...they are blocked letters!

The only problem was I didn't know who made them.

Tupperware?

Playskool?

Little Tykes?

Nope, nope, nope.

But finally the internet evolved the point I could search something random like "hard plastic ABC blocks 1970's" and lo and behold I found them. 5 years late...but hey! Better late than never.

I give you:
MATTEL TUFF STUFF ABC BLOCKS.

Thank you ebay!

Wordfull Wednesday - Christmas Traditions

2011-12-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.

I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."

Warning:

If memory serves me well, this is the longest post I have ever written. It is for Wordfull Wednesday but it has a long preface. Wordfull Wednesday is to write about a (or more) family Christmas tradition (s).

I started thinking about Christmas traditions and this whole post just fell out of my head (and my heart).

So if you would like to skip the preface...just scroll down to the Wordfull Wednesday logo and start reading my original WW post at that point.

PREFACE:

A couple of weeks ago I was laid low by an uninvited virus. It was fast moving, but deadly! Every muscle in my body was injured. I mean, it hurt to curl my toes! As I lay in bed, trying to keep my head from falling off, I needed a distraction as I drifted in and out of a fitful sleep. I asked for the iPod to be turned to the Christmas list. As Bing and Andy and other dear friends crooned, the sweetest scenes started to play out in my mind's eye. Every good and cheerful Christmas memory I think I've ever made, filled my heart. The music played for hours and I let it wrap me up in a huge, warm blanket.

I rested.

(I have previously devoted entire posts to Christmas music - here and here for example.)

Recently, I have read and heard many thoughts on the "War on Christmas". I don't think anyone can argue the impossibility of stepping one foot out their front door, without being assaulted with the commercialization of Christmas or, on the other hand, someone trying to obliterate it. I agree that many hearts are completely void of the Christmas spirit and have become hardened and cold in it's absence.

Having said that, however, I have also seen several families, in my (very) humble opinion, who are throwing the baby out with the bathwater, almost letting the pendulum swing too far the other direction. I feel like there may be a different war brewing out there. "To gift or not to gift - that is the question!" :)

I see some supposing a "higher Christmas ground" than the rest of us mere mortals who celebrate the season in "traditional" ways. Personally, I fail to see that traditional Christmas traditions and gift giving are inherently bad – which is what I've seen gently, and not so gently, suggested. In fact, I would politely argue that these traditions can, depending on the individual heart, increase our true joy and happiness at this time of year. I would even go so far as to say, they can bring us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, if our hearts have pure intent.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson – (and who, please tell me, loves Christmas more than President Monson?) - said,

This is a glorious time of the year, simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories, and charitable in spirit. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn. This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas. (emphasis mine)

That says to me…if you dread Christmas…or you buckle to false pressures of performance, your mind, feelings and actions may not be in the right spot. He said our joy during this season is measured by the degree we turn to the spirit of Christmas.

Here are some of my feelings on the very "traditional" ways I turn myself to the spirit of Christmas.
They may or may not look like your ways. And, thankfully, it is not an all inclusive list. It is, however, some of the traditions I have seen on the ~~blacklists~~ lately.

I give neighbor treats. I grew up in a neighborhood of homemade bread, homemade jam, hot homemade cinnamon rolls, wicked good homemade caramel popcorn, and the like. Giving homemade Christmas goodness may not be your thing, but it is mine. Sugar cookies are on the agenda for this year.

I love to get and send Christmas cards. LOVE IT. I am not on Facebook. My blog is very low-key. And I love the opportunity to reach out to friends and neighbors, that I cannot visit with frequently, to wish them all the blessings of the season. Now…if Christmas card writing to you is to "compare and contrast"…who has the cutest card, who has the cutest matching outfits, how many cruises you squeezed in this year…or if it's too much effort, with little or no reward, in any other way - Christmas cards are probably a stress to you. Quit doing them if they are robbing you of your Christmas spirit. For me, USPS is my friend.

I love to make gifts and I love to shop for gifts – all year round. This should not be confused with thinking I live for shopping, am neck high in debt or trample my fellowmen. I know who I gift each year and I love keeping them in my heart, thinking of them, finding or making something meaningful to them – to let them know I care and I'm thankful to have them in my life. If that's not how gift-giving feels for you, maybe it's best that you do dispense with gift-giving.

I believe in Santa, you might say. He is not a replacement or symbol of Christ to me. He is what he is and I have no problem listening for sleigh bells in the night sky every Christmas Eve. I don't find his legend, myth, whatever…inherently bad, nor do I find him to be a "lie". I don't have a single Santa decoration but it was a proud moment in my young life when I could recite the entire "T'was the Night Before Christmas" by heart. G.K. Chesterton wrote "Fairy tales are important not because they teach us that dragons are real, but because they teach us that dragons can be beaten." The ideals of Santa are loftier than the commercialization he too has suffered.

I had a woman tell me one time…"Santa only delivers the "little" presents at our house. There's NO WAY I'd let him get credit for all the good, big stuff. If my kids are going to be loving and thanking someone for giving them presents, it's going to be me." Well all-righty! I'm thinking the Christmas spirit has already left the building there. If you are competing with Santa for your children's affection, Santa's probably not for you.

On the other hand, Elder Thomas S. Monson shared this perspective:

Some years ago as I heard my little son recite what he thought was a new poem, I was reminded that this was the Christmas season. “Daddy, I’ve learned a new poem,” he said, “and I’d like to teach it to you. I know you’ll like it.” He then recited: ’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. He finished and said, “Isn’t that a wonderful poem, Daddy?”

I had an opportunity to tell him it was a wonderful poem, because almost everything that I associate with Christmas is important to me.

Just a couple of weeks before, I had had the privilege of taking my family downtown as Santa Claus made his appearance. It was interesting. Crowds gathered. One little girl had been standing on the side of the curb for what seemed to her like many minutes, waiting for this cherished event. Just as Santa Claus was to make his entry, great throngs of people crowded in front of her, blocking her view, and she began to cry.

A six-foot-three man who stood by her asked, “What’s the matter, dear?”

She said, “I have been waiting to see Santa, and now I can’t see him.”

He picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, providing her a commanding view. As Santa Claus came by, she waved her little hand toward him. He smiled and waved back to her and to everyone else in the crowd. The little girl grabbed the hair of that big fellow and exclaimed, “He saw me! He saw me and smiled at me! I’m so glad it’s Christmas!”

That little girl had the Christmas spirit.

I love traditional Christmas decor, especially the lights. It probably goes without saying that too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing. More isn't always better, sometimes it's just more. However, if you have never had the experience of walking through Temple Square, simply plastered in Christmas lights with the Tabernacle Choir singing over the cold winter air, you have missed out.

Of all holidays there is none that enters so fully into the human heart, and stirs so many of the higher sentiments. The thoughts, memories, hopes, and customs linked with it are bound by antiquity and nationality collectively; and by childhood and old age individually. They embrace the religious, social, and patriotic sides of our nature. The holly and mistletoe entwined among the evergreens, the habit of giving gifts to those we love, the presence of the Christmas tree, the superstition of Santa Claus, all combining to make Christmas the most longed-for, the most universal, and from every standpoint, the most important holiday known to man [Clarence Baird, “The Spirit of Christmas,” Improvement Era, Dec. 1919, 154].

Okay…so I've talked about the things that help me keep the Christmas spirit. Here's a couple of things that drive it from me.

• $100+ Nativity costume sets.
• "Happy Birthday Jesus" themes.
• Nativities on the lawn of homes blaring a "Wizards in Winter" light display.

And "Santa Baby", "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time". But let's not go there.

The bottom line is:

Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christ. (President Thomas S. Monson)

If you would like to read more about the Christmas spirit I really enjoyed these particular articles:
• The Real Christmas
• The Spirit of Christmas
• Christmas Traditions of the Seventy
and Giving With Joy

And now…for my original Wordfull Wednesday on one of our family traditions:

I chose to write about the very first holiday tradition Mr. Thornton and I established in our family.

We were married in December and we honeymooned in Disneyland. We bought a little ornament as a momento of our vacation. When it was time to trim the Christmas tree, we chose not to invest in a bunch of ornaments. We decided to build our Christmas tree, year by year, memory by memory, family member by new family member.

We wanted to be able to celebrate the birth of Christ but purchasing a nativity was a little out of our newlywed budget, so we bought one more ornament for that first Christmas together. It is a little, inexpensive gold cut-out nativity. It has been our tree-topper for 20 years.

Each year, every family member gets a new ornament, commemorating something eventful in their year or simply reflecting who they are as a person. Over the years, the tree has become heavy laden with all kinds of ornaments and beautiful trinkets. Finding that special ornament while on a family vacation is a favorite pursuit.

It has been a ton of work I never imagined. Protecting one-of-a-kind ornaments for 20 years is a bit of a challenge. Original packing and boxes have been lovingly preserved and carefully hauled cross country and back - several times. But it is sooo worth it!

Decorating the Christmas tree is precious time to our family. As each ornament is unpacked, we are reminded of good family times and the Lord's continued blessings. We are easily thankful for the bounties of goodness He has seen fit to bless us with. Even in our odd, current circumstances the ornaments swell our hearts with gladness in the Lord. This year, as I was working on the ornaments, Tim's eyes welled up with tears.

"What's wrong bud?" I asked.

"Oh...we just have such a good life Mom. I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for all our good memories."

And that's when the hours of packing and protection melt away and the true Christmas Spirit fills my heart. Because Tim is absolutely right. Looking at our ornaments through untrained eyes one might simple see a hodge-podge. I see blessings unmeasured. The tree is right at my side as I write and from my vantage point I see:

the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, commemorated
Family trips: Colorado, San Diego, Kansas, Chicago, Seattle, Disneyland, Maine, Washington D.C., Virginia, Niagara Falls, Vermont, Rhode Island, Concord, MA
the Halifax, Nova Scotia temple dedication
the birth of each of our children
talents developed: crocheting, woodworking, scouting with dad, baseball
Homes: Utah, Naperville, Connecticut
challenges: cancer

Here's a couple of mosaics displaying our beginnings and our newest additions.

This first one displays our "firsts". Our first Disneyland ornament, our nativity ornament, and then the kids first Christmases: Nancy's ceramic ballet shoes, Mandy's lullabying chipmunks, David's a sleepy bear on the moon, Molly's Waterford ornament from Ireland (yes, some of you will catch the idea of that one) and Tim's little Lenox train.

This second mosaic is the ornaments from this year: Tim's trip to southern California with Dad, Molly's final goodbye to Moody's in Waldoboro, Maine, David's Christmas Countdown (I thought I loved Christmas...but this boy may have me beat. The music, the traditions, the Spirit and feeling...he loves it all! And it's Snoopy - what a bonus.), Mandy's puffy owl and Nancy's stocking reminding her to "Believe" - in herself and her Heavenly Father. The last 2 are from Mr. Thornton and I to each other. We exchanged ornaments for our 20th wedding anniversary.

So there's one of our traditions.

A fun one to write about and talk about.

Mr. Thornton and I were talking the other day about how empty the tree will be when the children start to leave home and take their ornaments with them. I slyly smiled and said, "I'll just have to start collecting for the grandbabies." :)

As always, you are welcome to join in Wordfull Wednesday by clicking here.

Or you can just drop in on Cocoa to wish her a Merry Christmas!

Old-time Candy

2011-12-13T00:30:00.001-07:00

My grandma and I make "candy" together every Christmas season. I say "candy" with quotations because when I was a child, I couldn't figure out why it was called candy. Hershey, Snickers, cinnamon bears...these are candy, or were, to my young mind. Whenever Christmas candy was brought out, I was looking for See's chocolate, not graham cracker covered marshmallows with dates.

So the other day, we decided it was probably time to roll out some Fruit Roll. There is no recipe...you know how old recipes are. So I'll have to do my best to write one. Let's see...

You begin with 1 pound each of:

dates
raisins (can use golden)
figs
coconut
roughly chopped walnuts

Put the dates, raisins, and figs through a meat grinder, hand or mixer attachment. Then mix in the walnuts and coconut with your hands. Set aside.

Mix up one batch of Opera Fudge. Look it up. It's a basic white fudge recipe. Once it's ready, cool it in a bowl over some ice until it's almost cool. Hand whip it until it's cool and loses it's gloss. Pour over your fruit and nuts, bit at a time until it's enough to help it stick together. (You will probably have fudge left over. Excellent - just mix in some peanut butter and you've created yet another "candy" - peanut butter fudge.)

After it's well mixed, roll into 1" thick rolls, divided by a damp dish cloth. (At least that's the old way. I used some Saran Wrap the other day and it worked fine.) If you are using a damp cloth, you will want to keep it misted and moist while stored in the refrigerator. The candy will get better with time and can be eaten for weeks. Serving it by slice on a vintage dish makes it taste even better.

Some People Are So Clever

2011-12-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

and some people are so funny...

...and truthful, since the first 8 minutes of "UP" is all you need to see. It would have been a great Pixar short but made a lousy full length feature.

The Coat

2011-12-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

I know...2 posts in one day! And both videos.
But I can't help it. I absolutely LOVE this and don't want to wait another minute to share it. I may have to place it on my side bar for the season.

LOVE it!

Failing Hearts

2011-12-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

I wrote of my gratitude for a living prophet.
And now I post of my gratitude for apostles. :)

I'm Teddy Roosevelt?

2011-12-07T09:42:00.003-07:00

Newt Gingrich and Barack Obama have both recently (complimentarily) compared themselves to (Progressive) Republican Teddy Roosevelt.

That's perhaps a bit confusing on the surface - but I'm willing to bet it's not confusing when given a little closer examination. I am going to be reading more on Roosevelt and his New Nationalism during the week. I always have some bit or piece of progressive history I am trying to sort through. In the meantime, the first things that came to my mind are:

Teddy Roosevelt gave us "New Nationalism" which included a call for universal healthcare, social security, the Department of Labor, easier methods of amending the Constitution, and a graduated tax on large incomes and fortunes. There was also the creation of the FDA as well as the "National Monetary Commission" leading to the creation of the Federal Reserve system.

Mr. Roosevelt said:

"We grudge no man a fortune in civil life if it is honorably obtained and well used. It is not even enough that it should have been gained without doing damage to the community. We should permit it to be gained only so long as the gaining represents benefit to the community. ...This, I know implies a policy of a far more active government interference with social and economic conditions in this country than we have yet had, but I think we have got to face the fact that such an increase in government control is now necessary."

Additionally:

"Every man holds his property subject to the general right of the community to regulate its use to whatever degree the public welfare may require it."

I'm not sure this game plan is going to serve Mr. Gingrich well if he'd like to court the more conservative side of the Republican nomination. At first glance it appears to be yet another trick of Progressive Heavy v. Progressive Lite but Progressive all the same.

Hmmm...

Home for the Holidays

2011-12-01T08:57:00.002-07:00

I started blogging just a few months before we moved to Connecticut. My original "About Me" read:

My Blog: a place to journal my quiet thoughts, grand aspirations, favorite quotes and literary adventures.

Living in New England was a dream come true. Living in Connecticut was a means to that end. Connecticut is included in "New England" but lives much more as the step-child of New York City than the sister of places like Rhode Island and Maine. I never felt at home there but that doesn't mean it wasn't wonderful for the better part. It's like living on a 24-7 vacation. There is so much to see and do and love. Most of the time blogging was easy and fun.

However after some of the (mis)adventures of Connecticut and Molly's cancer...I needed a change. Life was a little more serious and my blog had kind of became a place to return and report. I was introspective and thought that the idea of "journeying, discovering and gathering the good" was my new outlook. Hence, I took a Journey. Well, now we aren't living a perpetual vacation. And without a beach to photograph or an audacious moment to marvel at, I feel out of place blogging on Journey.

I'm ready to come home.

So here I am!

I've hung some new paper, cleaned the windows and dusted off the cobwebs. Blog Pages and a Selected History will keep the best of my past within easy reach. Sorry to disturb your blog feeds and sidebars...hopefully it won't be too much trouble to change.

So welcome to my new (old) home.
Kick off your shoes and grab a cup of cocoa.
I hope you enjoy your time here.

P.S.
My new blog friends who have never visited Once Upon a Time may wonder why Meg blogs at Becky's Once Upon a Time. Well... I had already set up my bog when I decided that what little I may talk about my family, on my blog, would be through aliases. I loved giving them all names from books: Mr. Thornton, Nancy, Mandy, David, Molly and Tim. Only then did I realize that I would want an alias as well...so I chose Meg even though my address says differently. I have blogged as "Meg" ever since.

Wordfull Wednesday - Bravery

2011-10-26T19:56:00.001-06:00

Wordfull Wednesday: Tell about a time you were brave.

I am so dragging my feet on this WW. I really don't want to talk about the time that keeps coming to mind.

I'd really rather say perhaps, "Hey! Remember that time I posted about not liking Facebook? Now that was brave!" or maybe, "There was the time I slammed all over "Twilight"? Now that was REALLY brave."

I homeschool. I used to kill really big spiders in our basement. Once there was a snake in our front yard (and I sent Mandy out to take a picture WITH HER ZOOM LENS so I could make sure it wasn't a super scary one). I don't think these count.

I could chicken out and just write about Molly's cancer...but that's really more about her bravery, not mine.

Oh, hallulejah! I have talked around it long enough now I have finally thought of a time that I was really, truly, very brave - that I don't mind blogging about. Here goes.

In spite of all my ooshing and gooshing about the Atlantic Ocean...here's the truth: I am terrified of the ocean. Ocean's are for looking at, not for swimming in. I LOVE the ocean but hate the water. If I can't touch the bottom, I'm out of there!

But!

I love lighthouses. Love them. I also love taking pictures of them.

So there was this one time...when I wanted to see this one lighthouse up close and personal. The only problem was I had to walk out...across some really hugungous (that's even bigger than humungous) stones...out into... the ocean! Okay, the bay...but what fills up the bay? Ocean.

See?

It looks far more impressive (and dangerous and challenging and far away) in that picture than this one:

But don't let that stop your praise of my big moment.

Yes, I decided to walk the plank - such as it was. Stone by stone, crevace by cravace, lilting wave by lilting wave...I reached out and touched Spring Point Light. I didn't even dare take a picture looking down for fear I'd loose my balance. I wanted to take a picture of the light but when I got out there, it needed a paint job, bad!

There was a reward waiting, however - besides that of (temporarily) conquering fear. Looking out across the bay I was afforded a view of my favorite head, Portland.

Ta-dah!

Yea for me!
If you want to tell about your own bravery, or share in someone else's, head on over to Cocoa's Wordfull Wednesday.

Perfect Sweet and Salty Recipe for Happiness

2011-10-22T21:34:00.001-06:00

(Marshmallows + Fire) + (Pretzels + Dark Kisses)

Of Autumn Leaves and Relief Society

2011-10-17T01:14:00.001-06:00

I took a short drive today to go and capture the beautiful autumn colors. We are so blessed that after umpteen many years, the fire scars on the mountainside directly in front of our home, are healing and producing "green" again. This means we get to have amazing autumn color right outside our window.

Delightful! Breathtaking.

But with autumn comes my Relief Society essay. It comes every year, haunts my mind until the last leaf falls and I've never taken the time to write it down. Until now.

When I was little, my family would drive up into the canyons to look at the beautiful autumn colors. Autumn. So much funner to say than Fall.

My dad would bring a small pocketknife and we would stop to cut off a small branch of colors to take to school for show and tell the next day. We would drive along until we were sure we had found the patch that had the brightest color and the prettiest leaves. I was always disappointed that upon closer inspection, say, on the ride back home, I never had a perfect leaf on my branch. Each one would have a blemish. Some had brown splotches, some had been enjoyed but the bugs, some were wind beaten and some had already begun to shrivel and crack. And yet, they had looked so beautiful, altogether, sitting on the creek bank.

What does this have to do with Relief Society?

Look at the leaves I saw today, as I stopped to drink in the colors:

Here's the sister who is sure she's too worn out to participate in Relief Society. She is tired, and fails to see what she can possibly contribute. She's a little shaggy around the edges and compares herself to the more accomplished leaves.

Here is the battle scarred sister. We can't possible know what ragged her edges and tore her apart. An abusive husband, a wayward child, her own addictions. Perhaps the loss of a parent, financial woes or lack of faith. Her color is beautiful but somehow she doesn't feel whole.

This sister knows she is neither as stylish nor important as the others. How does she know this? Because she grew in the valley instead of on the glorious mountainside. Her name isn't Crimson, Garnet, Goldenrod, or Amber. It's simply Burnt Orange.

This sister is convinces she'll never measure up. She compares herself to the big leaves around her and comes to the (natural) conclusion that she'll never be enough. She doesn't matter. Not only will she never be as perfect, and amazing, and organized, and clean, and spiritual as those other leaves...she'll never have anything to contribute either. For she's just too insignificant.

Here is the sister who is sure she's not like the rest. (In truth, she looks a little chubbier than the rest, doesn't she?) Autumn must really belong to the Maples after all. She may have an inactive husband or no husband at all. She may work outside the home, for reasons only understood by her. She may homeschool her children. She may not breast-feed. She may secretly wish to be a maple. Or she may truly love not being a maple. She may love being who God intended her to be.

And here we have the overachiever. Has to be the first one to change. Has to have the brightest color. Has to be the best one on the branch. Maybe the scholar...the "intellectual" of the group. Probably thinks she better than all the rest.

Or maybe not. Maybe she's just doing the best she can. Maybe she isn't content with mediocrity. Maybe she's simply waiting on the Lord-and His plan for her looks different than the others...at least for the moment.

We all know this sister. You've seen her. Chances are you've even been her at some point. Maybe even now.

This sister is convinced that all you see are her flaws. It's fine to know her from a distance because you'd never see her speckles. But she doesn't want you to get too close, for if you know her better, she's sure you wouldn't like her. She's flawed. She's the sister who won't let her visiting teachers in because her house is messy. She's so paralyzed by her own perceived imperfections, she doesn't seem to notice that all her sister leaves have specks on them too.

See?

I'm sure there are many others but how about just one more? Isn't this sister gorgeous? She's unique! The most common colors of fall - red, orange and yellow - can be seen everywhere and she manages purple! Not just any purple...no. Eggplant. How does she do it? I could never be Eggplant. Exquisite. How fancy can you get?

Huh. Look at that, would you? All that lovely aubergine is concealing a life threatening wound. She is broken to the trunk and may not survive the winter. What happened? And more importantly, what do we do about it?

Now...take a look at what happens when the Lord Jesus Christ - in His infinite goodness, takes all the imperfect Relief Society leaves and uses them for His purposes:

Awesome, isn't it. Awe. some. That's why my little leaf branch always looked better altogether with her friends on the creek bed than by herself in a vase on my teacher's desk!

I was sitting in a sacrament meeting and a special women's choir musical number was going to be performed. I watched as the various sisters walked up and took their seats on the stand. Among the group was a single college student, a giddy newlywed, an empty nester, a bishop's wife, a worried mom, a recovering heart attack patient, a sister caring for an aging mother, a single middle aged sister, a young widow with 7 children, a broken-hearted wife, a young mom, and a middle mom. I noted that Relief Society is like adding fractions. Fractions have to have the same denominator (bottom number) before they can be added together. We may all have different numerators (top number) or life experiences, but we all have the same denominator - we are all daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us very much.

Elder Uchtdorf just taught:

...We spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

It’s wonderful that you have strengths. And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses. God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect, and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.

Additionally, he taught:

...Please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him.

Have hope and faith in that promise. Learn to love your Heavenly Father and become His disciple in word and in deed. Be assured that if you but hold on, believe in Him, and remain faithful in keeping the commandments, one day you will experience for yourselves the promises revealed to the Apostle Paul: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

...The most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love. God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him.

So - what did those sisters sing?

Make Us One

How shall we stand amid uncertainty? Where is our comfort in travail?
How shall we walk amid infirmity, when feeble limbs are worn and frail?
And as we pass through mortal sorrow, how shall our hearts abide the day?
Where is the strength the soul may borrow? Teach us thy way.

Make us one, that our burdens may be light
Make us one as we seek eternal life
Unite our hands to serve thy children well
Unite us in obedience to thy will.
Make us one! teach us, Lord, to be of one faith, of one heart
One in thee.

Then shall our souls be filled with charity, then shall all hate and anger cease
And though we strive amid adversity, yet shall we find thy perfect peace
So shall we stand despite our weakness, so shall our strength be strength enough
We bring our hearts to thee in meekness; Lord, wilt thou bind them in thy love?

Take from me this heart of stone, and make it flesh even as thine own
Take from me unfeeling pride; teach me compassion; cast my fear aside.
Give us one heart, give us one mind
Lord, make us thine
Oh, make us thine!

Daughters of God - video

2011-10-16T00:34:00.000-06:00

Rustic Roasted Pumpkin and Apple Tart

2011-10-13T22:24:00.000-06:00

Wordfull Wednesday

2011-10-11T21:32:00.000-06:00

Yea! It's time for some fun. Cocoa's starting Wordfull Wednesdays again.
And while creative writing from paint chips is not listed in my top 10 talents, I am so excited for WW's...you can count me in!

Okay...so the assignment:

While at the store pick up a few paint chip samples. Make sure they are the kind with several shades of color on a strip. Don't cheat and read the names before choosing your sample! Choose one strip to use in your story or poem or if you are feeling really creative use two! The trick is to write a story that incorporates every paint color name on your paint chip sample.

So here's the deal. I used 4 strips of Benjamin Moore, picked up from our local Ace Hardware. I confess, I couldn't turn my eyes away from the "hazelnut cream" chip but the others I picked cold turkey.

I am fiction challenged, so I didn't write a story...but I did write a poem - of sorts! The paint chip colors are in bold italics...so here goes:

The amber waves of kansas grain
and acorn yellow squash had been
harvested and safely stored.

The woodland snow fell softly on her ivory tower.
She lit her beeswax candle and curled up with a steaming mug
of hazelnut cream and a sugar cookie.

Outside her window a white cloud softly veiled the moon.

The End. :)

OKay...so now you know we don't make any money from my poetry, but if you want to join in the fun and read more Wordfull Wednesdays...click here! In truth, click there just to go read Cocoa's paint chip moment...she is amazing, honestly.

Allowing Time for Change

2011-10-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

In this season of my life...both figuratively and autumnally...I have had a small essay of sorts echoing in my mind. Even though the essay is written specifically about the late spring, it is it's figurative message I've been pondering. I wrote for permission to share it and since I've received it, I'll share it. Thank you, Deseret Book and Sis. Pearce.

Allowing Time for Change by Virginia H. Pearce

I stepped out into the backyard last night just as evening began to settle. I was just doing some taking and getting, turning off and closing down, when quite suddenly I inhaled. The scent of lilacs filled my whole body and hung almost visibly in the air. Everything seemed to gather around me, and I couldn't bear to go back into the house. Walking slowly round the yard, from garden to garden, bush to bush, tree to tree - I looked, felt, touched.

At first there was that quiet kind of reverence and then gradually I started gathering up sticks, tidying up and snapping off. I got a sack and a pair of scissors and started after the tulips that had been so breathtaking only a week before. Tut, tut. Here they were en masse, right in the front yard, stems pointing naked stamens into the air without their beautiful petal dresses. And next thing you know, they will have all of those yellowing leaves! What to do! Aha. I've seen gardeners who carefully fold tulip leaves over and fasten them with a rubber band. That way, they can be allowed to send the nutrients back down to the bulb and yet passersby aren't offended by their less than spectacular state of being, and gardeners, in turn, can have a continuously splendid looking garden.

I was just considering this tedious solution to my in-between garden, when I was overwhelmed with nature's metaphor. Nature doesn't work with on-off switches, or at continuously high RPMs. Nature is organic. It cycles, it flows. There is an ebb for every tide, a time of retreat and gathering of strength for every time of flowering. This continuous ebb and flow is vital in order to renew the energy required for a continuing cycle of life. And when it is interrupted, when the leaves are cut before they can become unsightly, the process is short-circuited. The bulb weakens and cannot produce the next season.

I sat down on the grass. Here was something for me. I have trouble with accepting the need for downtime. I want to be a continuous switch, a peak producer with no valleys. I want relationships that get better continuously; I want to make continuous improvement myself with no temporary backsliding. I want to be able to jump up the minute after I am kicked in the stomach. I just don't want to allow time to recover and take in strength. I want to be a non-stop flowering wonder. And I want every one else to be the same. No waiting around, no retreating, no fallow non-productive times.

And our expectations aren't just about human growth. We want companies that post continuous gains - every single quarter. We want countries that have been under totalitarian governments for decades to become smoothly functioning democracies in a matter of months. We elect officials and want them to change everything before the next election.

We want spiritual maturity now. We want to be able to forgive immediately, to be submissive without a struggle, to understand without having to quietly study, ponder, and live.

I looked a the tulips. And I looked at myself and this world. It doesn't make any sense. What are we thinking? Instant and relentless isn't the way of eternity.

I've always wondered about the phrase "long-suffering." At first glance it seems to indicate that being miserable for a long period of time is some kind of virtue to seek after. I don't think so! Then what could it mean? Perhaps "suffering" in this phrase could be interpreted to mean "allowing," as in "suffer the little children." Perhaps the Lord sees "allowing time, and allowing a long time" as a sorely needed virtue.

Could we allow time for our children to learn the lessons of life? Could we allow ourselves time to recover from periods of difficulty - time to grieve, time to heal, time to gather strength? Could we allow societies time to change and grow; businesses and ideas time to change and grow; individuals time to change and grow; relationships time to change and grow?

I looked at the tulip leaves again, beginning to yellow and wilt, and saw them differently. I can respectfully allow them some time. In fact, I can celebrate while I wait with them. My garden will gently call to those who walk by, "Pardon us, but good things are happening. We are gathering nourishment and preparing quietly for more glory."

©copyright Deseret Book Company 2008, TOFW, Live, Love, and Learn - reprinted with written permission

The Remarkable Women of God - Elder Maxwell

2011-10-07T08:56:00.001-06:00

I just watched this video over at Heather's "Women in the Scriptures".
It is incredibly beautiful!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
(And here's a link to Elder Maxwell's General Conference address if you want to read it in it's entirety.)

Okay...so it wasn't Vermont

2011-10-04T12:45:00.001-06:00

But it didn't have to be.

Don't you just love autumn?

What Sis. Hinckley Didn't Say

2011-10-03T12:00:00.000-06:00

Here's a little story:

When I was in CT, I had the opportunity to help a friend who was picking up Sis. Virginia H.(inckley) Pearce from the airport and driving her to the regional TOFW she was speaking at in Hartford. I took advantage of the friendly conversation to ask Sis. Pearce about a curious quote that is plastered around the Internet, attributed to Sis. Hinckley.

What made it curious is that I couldn't source the quote to Sis. Hinckley. It reads:

“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”

Sis. Pearce smiled and said she and her siblings had searched their mom's writing and couldn't find any evidence that Sis. Hinckley had written or spoken these words.

I told Sis. Pearce I had sourced the quote back to BYU's 1997 Women's Conference where a Sis. Linda Bentley Johnson had used it in her talk. This sister didn't give a source of the quote.

Sis. Pearce and I both chuckled when she suggested TOFW should put me on the research staff. We discussed in short the sentiment of the passage and agreed it was warm and fuzzy. However, Sis. Pearce assured me that knowing her mother, she would not want to arrive anywhere without her hair combed and nails cleaned. I thought that was really cute.

So why this quote gets attributed to Sis. Hinckley I cannot say. I have seen a few comments on blogs trying to dispel the idea...so here's my "E" for effort.

Family History

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-06:00

As I've mentioned, I have been compiling family history - hunting and gathering near and far.

The following stories are from my Grandpa William and his son James. They are both discussing the same cross-country excursion in 1864. I loved hearing the youthful account from James in contrast to the adult perspective of my grandfather. It's like the difference in pioneer primary songs. On one hand you have the happy little "For some must push and some must pull...as merrily on our way we go...". On the other, you have the sometimes droning "Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked..."

James' account:

"In 1864, I went across the plains with my father, William Adams, in Robert Heybourne's Company. I drove four yoke of oxen; my leaders were two white steers, Bonnie and Bounce. We followed the old pioneer trail up through Utah and went over the North Pass and crossed Sweetwater. This was during the Civil War and although I was only a boy of sixteen it was a wonderful trip for me. We saw many U.S. soldiers in uniform.

Robert Heybourne's Company started back before we were ready, as we had to wait for a Peter Shelter wagon, so the trip home wasn't so pleasant. We finally loaded up a bunch of stoves and started West, going by Poll Creek to avoid the Indians. On our way home, we met a trail of immigrants who offered us $15.00 for 100 pounds of flour. We were sure sorry we weren't loaded with flour.

It was surely hard traveling alone. Our oxen ate just whatever they could graze and we had to keep guard over them at night. One night I got so sleepy that I fell asleep while on guard and father found me and took my place. We were only a little way from the Plum Creem Massacre, where a woman and her husband were killed. Plum Creek is about thirty miles from Fort Kearney, Nebraska.

About all we had to eat was baking powder bread and bacon fried in a frying pan. It was pretty hard on father, but I didn't mind it. Somewhere along the way, we traded for some molasses and grapes. We poured the molasses over the grapes to help keep them and they surely tasted good. Then we bought fifty cents worth of eggs at a farm, and got so many our water bucket couldn't hold them. These sure helped out on our bread and bacon diet. When we came to the South Platte River, father was afraid his oxen wouldn't take it, so he asked me if I thought my oxen would go first and he followed. It was surely some long freighting trip from April till December, when we got home. I got my first pair of buckskin pants to go across the plain in. Everytime they'd get rained on they'd stretch and stretch out longer, so I'd have to keep rolling them up. They lasted all summer and until we got back in December."

Grandpa William:

"In the spring of 1864, my sons James and I went East for freight to the Missouri River in Bishop Warren's Company. I acted as Chaplain to the Company. It was a long hard trip. One company of six wagons were destroyed, men killed, and taken prisoners, teams killed and wagons burned. We were detained two weeks at Fort Kearney by order of the Military. While we were waiting there, a company of U.S. soldiers returned having to retreat with the loss of one man and one cannon. They were nearly surrounded and destroyed by the Sioux Indians. There were 500 wagons waiting at Fort Kearney before we were permitted to go on our journey. The weather was pleasant until we came to Ham's Fork. Snow fell one foot deep and it was very cold. We arrived in Salt Lake City the latter part of November. Traveling was very unpleasant and cold. We arrived home in Parowan, December 5."

Ah, the exuberance of youth! Grapes in molasses and buckskin pants. What more could you want?!

And bless my Grandpa William's heart. It just may be that immigration from Ireland, expulsion from Nauvoo, plain crossing and Parowan settling had mellowed his excitement for molasses-ed grapes. I think he was simply happy and grateful to be home, yet again.

Pix from Relief Society Meeting

2011-09-26T19:43:00.000-06:00

Walking to the meeting...

The Treasures of the Collection exhibit allowed pictures. Here's a few:

I was interested to note that Eliza R. Snow signed this note with her last name as "Smith". She was extremely private about her marriage to Joseph Smith. I have tweaked the image to make it more easily discernable if you click on it.

Here is the minute book from the Nauvoo Female Relief Society meetings. The arrow is pointing to the oft quoted "we are going to do something extraordinary" by President Emma Smith.

This next one shows an amazingly daunting letter. Anyone out there like to find this in their mailbox? (Again, click on it to make it easier to read.)

And finally, every good Relief Society exhibit should have a sense of humor. Please note the wonderful plastic grapes, (lovingly displayed on the lace tablecloth) and the accompanying advertisement.

The evening was made complete with the cool breeze and the beautiful Salt Lake Temple highlighted against the dusky sky.

Relief Society Weekend

2011-09-24T00:02:00.000-06:00

About 10ish years ago, (gosh, has it been that long?), when we were living in Salt Lake, I was working on digitizing my great, great, great, great grandfather's life story. It was a Sunday morning and I was merrily typing along. He spoke of coming up the mighty Mississippi from New Orleans on the Maid of Iowa, landing in Nauvoo, and being greeted by the Prophet Joseph and brother Hyrum Smith.

I was caught away for a moment, thinking of the amazing blessing to be in the presence of the prophet and how that is such a rare opportunity for us in these times. I was awakened from my daydreaming by the phone. As I answered, my mom said, "Pres. Hinckley has just walked into our Stake Conference!"

Living a scant 10 minutes from the stake center, I told her I would be right there. I couldn't believe the opportunity that had fallen into my lap, even as I had been wishing for an opportunity to be "with the prophet". I quickly dressed the girls, Mr. Thornton stayed with our son who was a baby at the time, and we left to go see the prophet. It was a wonderful experience and it seared into my heart the desire to take any chance to be in the presence of the prophet whenever the opportunity presented itself. Incredibly enough, there have been several times in the proceeding 10 years for this opportunity and my heart is grateful for each one.

This weekend presents an easy opportunity for the taking, living in Utah now, as we do. Stand by or ticket, it matters not. My sisters and I make the journey to Salt Lake City to attend the General Relief Society meeting up close and in person. There is such a spirit to be had, sitting in the Conference Center, reading and meditating before the meeting starts; being able to stand as the prophet enters and exits, singing with the 21,999 other sisters...

...shear heaven, I tell you!

This year, we get a special treat. The Church Library is holding a special exhibit with treasures from the collection centered on Relief Society, in honor of the release of the new "Daughters in My Kingdom" book. I am just nerd enough to be absolutely thrilled. Can't wait.

There have been several different articles, mostly from the Church News, regarding Relief Society over the last few weeks. Here's a few of them in case you missed them.

So don't forget. Tune into BYUtv, the Internet or head to your stake center Saturday night. Take the opportunity to be with the prophet, if only in heart and spirit. You won't regret it. Don't forget it was General Relief Society we first heard the inspired words of this video. (I never get tired of watching this!)

Loose Pages...

2011-08-02T11:37:00.003-06:00

Book credit: "John Adams"

David McCullough

I have been unpacking some of our library. I was glancing through my old friends, reading my noted margins, glancing over my highlighting, flipping though my colorful post-its peeking out from the pages...basically walking the reading journey of my life.

I came across one book I didn't recognize, a beautiful little 1918. This is unusual because, as many books as I have, I know my books. We are very familiar companions. Even as I shelved, I left space for those I knew were MIA through the moving process. I know they are here, somewhere, and will eventually need to rejoin their friends on the shelf.

I have a suspicion where this little particular title came from - a lot of books that was given to me but I haven't sorted properly. I noticed there were a couple of pages sticking out and I thought it might be losing it's binding.

No, they were two very old, typed poems.  I LOVE to find notes, recipes, letters, calendar pages folded in the used books that join our library. It is one of my favorite things about old books. (Relief Society magazines are a treasure trove!)

These two onionskin pages are both very timely - one addressing the very thing I then was doing, browsing old study notes in my books. The second was simply ironic. I-ronic, I tell you! (I mean, words fail to express how grateful I am to have Harry Reid saving me from corporate jet owners.  Whew! But, I disgress... )

Both poems were like little book hugs.  Welcome little book, to the family.

Portrait of a Pencil
Here is a man who always likes to mark
The books he reads with lines for emphasis,
Calling attention to some rare remark
Which coincides in point of view with his.
He pencils heavily along a page
That srikes his fancy or provokes his wit,
And any thought that he considers sage
Carries approving marks in front of it.

Among his books his story has been told
Of what he thought and felt from day to day,
For all along the margins, blackly bold
Lines indicate the things that he would say.
How very thrilling then it is to scan
Through thoughtland culture of another age,
In books he loves and sees revealed this man
By what he emphasizes on the page.

~Helen Howland Prommel

God Give Us Men
God give us men. The time demands
strong minds, great hearts, true faith
and willing hands;
Men who the lust of office cannot kill;
Men who the spoils of office cannot buy;
Men who have honor;
Men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries
without winking;
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty and in private thinking!
For while the rabble with
their thumb-torn creeds,
Their large professions
and their little deeds
Mingle in selfish strife;
Lo! Freedom weeps! Wrong rules the land,
And waiting justice sleeps.

~J.G. Holland

Of Brat-bans, Reverence and Manners, I Suppose

2011-07-30T23:11:00.001-06:00

Children are the past, the present, and the future all blended into one. They are consummately precious. Every time a child is born, the world is renewed in innocence. I constantly think about and pray for the children and youth and their parents. - Boyd K. Packer

This is not a rant.
I am very calm and I have no secret agenda in writing this post. It's just a conglomeration of experiences and thoughts from the last few weeks. I'm not even sure what form it will take - most likely one of those lovely (rambling) kaleidescope posts I churn out occasionally. As usual, I am writing generally and not exceptionally.

I have seen several articles of the last few months regarding the newly coined term "Brat-Ban." Basically it's the idea that restuarants and other business, due mostly to customer feedback and requests, are starting to restrict young children from their businesses. One article is here on Yahoo, if you want to read a bit about it.

Anyhoo...

Let me first say, I am a mom of 5. My oldest was 7 when my youngest was born and my two youngest are less than a year apart. Believe me, I understand the young mom years. And since my youngest is only 10, those years aren't that far back in my memory.

There was a time I would have refused any business my patronage, had they been so rude as to ban children. I might have figured it was an "anti-family" establishment and since I am all about family, there is no way I'm would have given them my business. While my children were (are:) not perfect, I was never afraid to take my children in public, on an airplane, a library, a resturant etc. In fact I had several times when people said to me, "I was so afraid when I saw your family being seated next to us, but your children are so well behaved." Well, thank you...but... shouldn't they be?

Maybe not. I am starting to think I must have been Godzilla Mom to achieve this result.

Here are a few of my personal motherhood "rules" I tried to obey:

If I say, "Please stop doing that", I mean it.
Never threaten what you are not willing to follow through with. If I say, "If you choose to do that again, we will leave the store", then you have to be willing to leave the store. And I did - as many times as I promised it. I once left a cart of groceries in the aisle and walked right out. (There was no refrigerated items in the cart and I did apologize, in my heart, to the clerk who had to re-shelf my shopping list.)
Halloween costumes (this includes tiaras and plastic feather shoes) are not to be worn as clothing year round. "Dress-up" is an event, not a way of life.
If you want to misbehave in church, you will be taken out of the chapel but not then to run through the church builiding. You can sit on a chair in the foyer. No toys, books, or blankies. If you want to be reverent in the chapel, you can have those privileges after the sacrament has been passed.
Please don't run through the halls of Heavenly Father's house. If we don't behave like that in our home, we certainly don't act like that in Heavenly Father's.
Leaning over the booth of someone else's table is rude. You need to sit down and chat with our family and let other's chat with theirs.
Heavenly Father made us all individuals with our own personalities. He also gave us all the same set of commandments. You may be a "free-spirit" all you like, but it doesn't create a special set of rules for you.
Screaming in anger is never acceptable. If we are in public, we will go to the car. If we are at home, head to your room and when you are settled down, we'll talk. You won't ever get what you were screaming for, but I will listen to you once you are calm.
Life isn't fair. I will do my best to make sure you are taken care of, individually, to the very best my mother-heart knows how. Just because your sister needs new Sunday shoes, doesn't mean you do too. And I do not need to buy you something else so it can be "fair."
A wise mom once said to me, "We believe in agency in our home. You can either do it happy or you can do it sad. The choice is yours." Yep, sometimes the only choice to be made is which attitude you will obey with.

Okay...so you get the idea.

So back to the Brat-ban. I say that there was a time I would have boycotted a business with such a policy.  Now, I feel bad that businesses would even need to consider these policies, but I'm starting to understand.

Here's just 2 little happenings:

I was out to lunch with a friend. As we sat chatting, a 4-5ish year old boy dressed in his too small Spiderman costume started running up and down the isles.
We tried to ignore him.
We waited on his mom, chatting with her friend in a corner booth, far away from the action.
He then climbed up on the internet bar provided for business lunchers and proceeded to slide back and forth on the counter yelling, "Hey, Mom!".
We tried to ignore him and again waited for Mom.
Spiderman returned to his running through the restaurant as the lunch crowd filed in.
When we left, we found that Spiderman had also left the restaurant and was climbing on the roof of a car in the parking lot.
That mom had no idea how blessed she was that he hadn't been hit in all the lunchtime traffic. He never would have been seen over a bumper. This situation had elevated from a ridiculous manners/behavior issue to a far more dangerous situation of safety and potential tragedy.

The second one involves my new calling in Primary, teaching the 7 year olds. When the bishopric extended the call I kind of chuckled and said, "Are you sure? I'm pretty old school."

"Good. Great! We need old school," was the reply.

O-kee-doh-kee.

My first week, as I walked to the Primary room, I watched as children ran and bumped and shoved their way down the halls. As I entered the room, one of the 5 year olds was climbing on his teacher's head. I am not exaggerating. He was literally on his teacher's head.

As the week's have gone on, I have marvelled at the lack of reverence. But even more than that, I am amazed at the complete lack of self control the children exhibit. Now, I have no delusions that Junior Primary is going to resemble a temple session.  But how about just the basics? I would say, let's start with simply bowing our heads and folding our arms during prayers, but we should probably first work on not talking during the prayer, or even paying enough attention to know that a prayer is being said.

Additionally, yelling is not singing. Microphones and pianos are tools to help us teach, not toys. And our hands really do need to stay to ourselves.

Am I crazy? I am really starting to wonder. I love children. I love their laughter and their innocent ways.  I love my laughter when I'm with them. I love the lessons they teach me. And let's be honest, there are times I am chuckling my guts out behind my poker face. (And a side note, lest you are concerned: my 7-year olds and I are getting along famously.)

But I have a responsibility to fulfill. Imperfect though I may be...I've got to give it my best shot.  Loving them means teaching them, correcting them, reassuring them and encouraging them. If I don't teach them, who will?  Isn't that what those precious years before accountability are for? Oops, giggles, tears and try-agains are part of the plan.  Turning a blind eye is sometimes a good idea, but I think more often loving correction, and yes, a strong parental backbone, are the bigger blessings.

"Teaching children reverence" gives me 904 hits on LDS.org so it must have been talked about once or twice. Here's a smattering:

Sis. Margaret S. Lifferth, April 2009 General Conference "Respect and Reverence"
Elder Larry R. Lawrence, Oct. 2010 General Conference "Courageous Parenting"
Ensign 1984 "Children Can Learn Reverence"

I have to tell you, lest you think it's "straight jackets for the bunch!" in our home, one of my children's favorite games was The Manners Game. What? You've never heard of it? That's probably because I made it up.

I have spent many hours Playing House and I have attended some very fancy Tea Parties in my day. But every once in a while my manners weren't very nice. Perhaps I grabbed a handful of food, wiped my nose on the back of my hand or across my sleeve, loudly chugged my tea, or simply yelled "More!" instead of kindly asking "May I have some more, please?". My children loved to catch me and help me understand the correct way to use my manners.

I loved knowing I could take them to a restaurant and they would never even think of doing the rumba on the counter.

A smiling countenance says you are good. Children are trying to be like Jesus. They want to be like someone who smiles. They want to be with someone who responds to them joyfully. President Hinckley has said: “Children need sunlight. They need happiness. They need love and nurture”

- Gayle M. Clegg

Easy Homemade Peach Pie

2011-07-30T18:42:00.001-06:00

I can't tell you how many peaches you will need for this recipe, as all 9" deepdish pie pans are not created equal! I can tell you to use as many as you normally would (I'm guessing that's 6-8) PLUS 2. You are going to use the 2 additional peaches to mash into your saucy goodness. So here's the yummy details:

Fresh Peach Pie

Peel and cut your peaches, keeping them in a largish mixing bowl for just a couple minutes while you make your glaze -
Cook over medium heat, until thick: 3/4 c. sugar, 1/2 c. water, 4 T. cornstarch and 1 c. mashed peaches.
Add 1 T. butter, 1/2 t. cinnamon, 1 T. fresh lemon juice (and a dash of nutmeg if you'd like, which I do like)
Pour over your chopped peaches and gently stir to coat.
Pour into your pie crust (see details below) and chill a couple hours.
Serve with fresh whipped cream or ice cream.

Now...the crust...
You can serve this in any crust you like. Make you own, cook a frozen or roll out a Pillsbury. I personally love this served in a graham cracker crust. As I was looking through my recipes, I passed my Fruit Pizza Recipe and wondered how my pizza crust would work in a pie plate - as this would be delicious!

A Corn Flake crust would also be good. That's basically 1/3 c. melted butter, 1/4 c. sugar and 1c. crushed corn flakes pressed into your pie tin. ( I use this for my refrigerator cheese cake. Yum!)

And...in closing...if this peach pie recipe seems familiar...that's because it is. I just looked and I shared it last summer in one of my "goings on" posts. It is one of my favorites, so I guess it's worth a second post. :)

Converted to History

2011-07-19T21:34:00.000-06:00

"Against the Sky"

Robert Reid, 1911

I grew up in Utah. I thought I knew "The Pioneer Story". I walked in the Days of '47 Youth Parade. I went to the Days of '47 parade and rodeo - many times!

I just didn't "get it".

When we moved back from Naperville, our first Sunday we showed up to church, well...you know...dressed for Sunday. Turns out, this particular Sunday was the one just before our new ward left on the youth conference pioneer trek and everyone wore their wonderful prairie garb to church. I was heartbroken at moving back to Utah, but sitting my first Sunday surrounded by bonnets and bolo ties about did me in. It was so "Utah" and I was not interested.

This is one of my favorite memories now.  It gives me a huge laugh as this time around, I have spent our last 7 months of relocation from Connecticut searching out my pioneer family history. And while I will never be sporting a bonnet - and yes, there are some things you can never say never about - I have to tell you, I am a pioneer history convert. I finally "get it".

But no mush and gush here. This is not a fatal case of Ancestor Worship, as I have heard it called.
But yes, shear admiration and astonishment. And a heart full of love.

Utah pioneer history is my history. I had no idea who the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers were a year ago and now I am excited to take a drive to... Bluff. Yes, Bluff, San Juan County, UT. I have 2 grandfathers buried there.

I come from ship-builders, stone masons, midwives, missionaries and trailblazers - brave women and men who treasured their testimonies and their families more than life itself.  I'm not only okay with that...I humbled and honored by that.

I have several genealogy projects I'm working on and as I finish them, I'll try to share them. Generally speaking, one involves a compilation of pictures and the other involves compiling more complete digital histories from all the shrapnel of information spread through the different family tree branches.

I have also enjoyed several books about pioneer life and early Relief Society history these last few months.  (Truth be told, I am nail-biting my time to the publication of the new rumored Relief Society history.) If you are interested:

Happy 24th of July, whether you are of Utah pioneer stock, or merely inspired by their lives.

Be sure you "get" The Pioneer Story.

Banana Cake

2011-07-19T00:00:00.001-06:00

"Penuche" is one of those words that immediately brings me to the 1950's. So I chose this picture of the 1950's house at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont to accompany this little recipe.

A while back, our Relief Society had a funeral to prepare lunch for. One of the cakes that was brought was absolutely delicious. We asked the sister to share the recipe with us and it was put on the monthly bulletin. I mean, what's Relief Society for if not to share the delicious?

It has a few steps...but they aren't hard and it's totally worth it. So, without further ado -

Banana Cake with Penuche Icing

Cream together: 1/2 c. butter or other shortening, 1/2 c. sugar
Add: 2 beaten eggs
Add one at a time: 3 mashed bananas
Sift and measure: 2 c. flour
Sift again with: 2 t. baking powder
Add flour alternately to creamed mixture with: 1/2 c. sour milk
Then add: 1 c. chopped nuts, 1/2 t. soda (dissolved in about 1 T. boiling water)
Bake in a greased or sprayed 9x13 (can be cooked as a layered cake also) at 350 about 30-40 minutes, depending on your oven.

Penuche Icing:
Melt in saucepan: 1/2 c. butter
Add: 1 c. packed brown sugar.
Boil over low heat 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Stir in: 1/4 c. milk, bring to a boil stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually add 1 3/4 - 2 c. sifted confectioners sugar. Beat until thick enough to spread. If icing becomes too stiff, add a little hot water.

The sister who shared this recipe told me that the original recipe was just the cake - that she added the penuche icing as an after thought and has been making it this way for her family ever since. In that case, I think she should write for Better Homes and Gardens! Enjoy.

Score One For the Homeschooler

2011-07-11T22:10:00.001-06:00

Tim has a Primary teacher who, how shall we say, righteously motivates his class into scripture memorization with the use of Starbursts and Reisen caramels.

Sunday his teacher decided to give them a pop-quiz. Tim stood strong through the books of the Old and New Testament, which they had learned months ago. The teacher joked with him saying, "Wow! Why not the preamble of the Constitution while you're at it!"

To which Tim responded, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

His teacher, and his friends, were amazed. His teacher decided to quit while he was ahead, commenting under his breathe about the Gettysburg Address before moving on.

Tim immediately went to work on it when he got home. And we're halfway there. :)

Browsing the 40's

2011-07-09T19:12:00.001-06:00

I spent the afternoon browing 1941-46 of my Relief Society magazines. I have been most curious in these, given the time of WWII they were written in. There were a lot of lessons about America, world history, and taking care of one's family in trying and dangerous times. Huh.

The R.S. Magazine always includes pictures and small write-ups about Relief Society groups around the world. This one caught me eye. I thought it was cool.

And I always get a chuckle out of the old advertisements. Here's a sampling: cheerful paint to promote hearthside morale, U and I sugar for the war efforts, and ZCMI for... well, I think if you click on it, it will become a bit bigger and then you can read it. It's a corker!

As I was browsing this typed, wallet-size scripture fell into my lap. (I love it when someone's notes, thoughts or bookmarks are left behind.)

I wondered if it was a handout from a lesson. My heart suggested it maybe belonged to a mother who had typed it to keep in her pocketbook, for her own comfort. Or perhaps to send to her son or daughter for his/her wallet - and comfort. That reminded me of Elder Neal A. Maxwell's story of his harrowing time in Okinawa - some parts even more dangerous and frightening than others. Years later it was related to him that as his father and mother knelt for prayers one night, his mother was impressed that Neal was in "grave danger". Elder Maxwell's parents got out of bed and again petitioned the Lord for his safety and protection, fully expecting the Lord to hear and answer her prayers.

Anyway, I guess this is why I enjoy my little magazines so much. I laugh, I reflect, I learn. I am strengthened by the amazing women that have come before. And I am encouraged in my efforts as a R.S. member today.

We hold these truths to be self evident...

2011-07-02T08:21:00.002-06:00

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness...

Happy July! Time for BBQ's, family and fun.

John Adams wrote of his hopes for the celebrations that would take place in remembrance of the great blessings of freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence, which was signed July 2, 1776. He wrote to Abigail from Philadelphia:

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even although We should rue it, with I trust in God We shall not.

I hope there wherever you live and whatever your summer may bring, you will take a minute to read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States and reflect on what "freedom" really means to you - and what, if anything, is your plan to stand in defense of it at all times. Remember, the Lord said:

"And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them. And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land; And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil. I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil." D&C 98: 4-10

We live in critical world times. We must be very careful and diligent in our studies, we must be viligilant in our prayers, we must protect our hearts. Freedom is very fragile and the adversary is masterfully wiley is wriggling it from our hands in seemingly good ways.

Elder Christofferson recently spoke to the National Symposium of the National Society of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. From the Church News article:

Elder Christofferson said he had been asked to address the question of what challenges are confronting the leaders of the Church. "One of them ties into the theme of this seminar," he said, referring to the topic of Brigham Young and the pioneers leaving Nauvoo, Ill., in 1846-47 in search of religious freedom.

"The threats to religious freedom are among the things that concern us at this present time," Elder Christofferson said. Noting that the Church has enjoyed a season, at least in North America, of acceptance of religious expression and activity, such acceptance is beginning to recede, he said.

"We see it, around the world," Elder Christofferson said. "We're a worldwide church; we're not concerned only with what the situation might be in the United States, but of course in every country. But even here, there's a diminished stature for the First Amendment, for the freedom of religion."

Since the 1970s or so, the exalted status given to freedom of religion has been eroded by court decisions, said Elder Christofferson, whose professional background is in the law. "It used to have a very highly protected status in the law in this country; it no longer does," he said, explaining that freedom of religion now must compete with lesser rights, such as employment anti-discrimination rules.

"We see it elsewhere," he said. "We narrowly avoided in the United Kingdom just last year legislation that would have made it illegal to discriminate on religious standards for any kind of employment, including in our temples. We could not have made the temple recommend a prerequisite for someone to work in the temple, if you can imagine."

In U.S. government some are beginning to use the phrase "freedom of worship" instead of "freedom of religion," Elder Christofferson said.

"Freedom of worship is a much smaller concept," he explained, saying it pertains to religious rites and ceremonies. "Religious freedom is so much broader than that. As you know this freedom is not simply worship, but the practice of religion in all of its aspects: to organize, to meet, to proselytize, the freedom of people to change their religion if they choose, all of those rights are increasingly under attack.

"And just the ability to speak, to have a part in the national debate on issues is under tremendous pressure by movements from groups who say any religiously based opinion or position is not legitimate, cannot be heard, cannot be received or considered in the public square."

Nevertheless, Latter-day Saints ought to live with faith rather than fear, Elder Christofferson said, quoting the words of Brigham Young. "The Lord has sent us to be strong, to honor Him, to do His work and to call upon Him," he said. "And I guess if there's any one thing that I have learned in these last three years serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, it is that He indeed does His work."

It is a privilege, Elder Christofferson said, to be allowed by the Lord to assist in that work. In doing so, "our faith can be unbounded, and we really don't need to fear," he said.

Going along with Elder Christoffersen's assurance that faith will conquer fear, I share another article from the Church News. I have included the entire text with a link and it's copyright.

Keep calm, carry on

Published: Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Battle of Britain began at 4 p.m. on Sept. 7, 1940, when 348 German bombers escorted by 617 fighters blasted London. The attack lasted until 6 p.m. After a two-hour lull and guided by fires lit by the first assault, a second wave of bombers commenced an attack that lasted until 4:30 the next morning. Click here for additional information.

These massive raids ushered in the Blitz, bombings that continued for 57 consecutive days killing some 60,000 civilians, the majority of whom were Londoners, and seriously injuring some 87,000 others. Some 2 million homes — 60 percent in London alone — were destroyed.

Representing some of the darkest days in Britain's history, the Blitz brought to light characteristics for which its citizens are renowned, namely, their resilience and resolve. While London and other parts of Britain burned, the people carried on as best they could. They sent their children to the care of mostly strangers in the relative safety of the countryside and villages, threw sand on fires ignited by bombs, surveyed damage to property and proceeded to live day by day. Stories abound of how they endeavored to keep up their spirits and to encourage others in shelters where they sought refuge and safety during the Blitz.

During this time a poster was created but never used. It had a red background with a crown at the top. Its capital letters in white carried a simple message: "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON." Two and a half million copies were made, but only two are known to exist today. One of the copies was found in Northumberland in a box of books. Click here to see BBC News article.

In a recent stake conference, the stake Relief Society president spoke of the Blitz and the "keep calm" poster as she addressed the topic of resilience, the meaning of which includes to stretch, to bounce back, to grow even in the face of adversity and tribulation.

She posed questions: "What happens to you with the daily despair and discouragement that come your way? What happens to you during a crisis? What are you like when the crisis is over? How have you changed? What will happen in the next crisis? Can you follow the words of this slogan to 'keep calm and carry on'? What does it take to develop resilience? Where does it come from? What references are there to resilience in the scriptures?"

She spoke of Winston Churchill who rallied the people with his oratory, mostly through the medium of radio. He promised a time when they would meet the enemy on the beaches, on the landing strips. "Keep calm and carry on" seemed to be the crux of his message, along with his admonition to "Never give up. Never, never, never, never give up."

And the British did carry on, perhaps not perfectly, but they managed to take care of business, to go to their jobs each day, to rally each other even in very difficult circumstances.

While the scriptures don't use the word "resilience," there are numerous examples of people who, having kept calm and carrying on when things were tough, were blessed through their resilience.

In the 26th chapter of the Book of Alma are the words of Ammon, one of the sons of Mosiah. Ammon and his brothers, along with Alma the younger, had been troublemakers as young men. They went about trying to destroy the church, but their lives were miraculously turned around, and they became great missionaries to the Lamanites. This was not an easy task. Ammon had to serve the king almost as a slave in order to win the chance to share his message. Others of his brothers were bound and imprisoned. They suffered hunger, thirst and all kinds of afflictions (see Alma 21).

Ammon speaks of feeling depressed and wanting to turn back, but the Lord gave him comfort and promised that if he would be patient in his afflictions, he would be given success.

As they gather after serving so faithfully, Ammon gives a pattern of success that can apply to us in the trials we face. He describes that great mercy of the Lord, especially considering the lives that he and his brothers had been living. He says that they repented, exercised faith, did good works and prayed without ceasing. In following this pattern, their lives were changed, and they were then able to serve the Lamanites and bring thousands of them into the gospel. Alma 26 is inspiring in the way it describes the joy that Ammon expressed to the Lord and the gratitude he felt for his many blessings.

Another example is set forth in the jail at Liberty, Mo., where the Prophet Joseph Smith experienced a period of great trial and discouragement. He and his companions suffered under extreme conditions — cold, darkness, cramped quarters, bad food — while the Saints also suffered. At this time of great despair, Joseph called out, "Oh, God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?"

As the answer came, the cold, dark, damp quarters of Liberty Jail became what has been referred to as a "prison temple" for Joseph Smith. He received great spiritual manifestations that allowed him to keep calm and carry on. The Lord blessed him with peace and promised that his afflictions and adversity would be but a small moment and, if he endured it well, he would be exalted on high. And Joseph was able to rise from his despair. In fact, in Section 123, he admonishes the Saints to cheerfully do all that is in their power.

Where do we find peace? For Joseph Smith, peace came in a cold, dark underground prison. In the Book of Mormon, it came at a place called the waters of Mormon. For us it might be a particular room in our homes or in the temple. May we, in the face of trials, adversity, afflictions or challenges "keep calm and carry on." © 2011 Deseret News Publishing Company

So again I say, "Happy July!" and as President Hinckley admonished us: Be grateful. Be smart. Be clean. Be humble. Be prayerful. Be positive. Be still. Be involved!

She Looketh Well to the Ways of Her Household

2011-06-20T00:00:00.001-06:00

It was in 1998, after reminding of Joseph's interpretation of Pharoah's dream in Genesis, that President Hinckley counseled the priesthood brethern:

"Now, brethren, I want to make it very clear that I am not prophesying, that I am not predicting years of famine in the future. But I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order.

So many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings.

We have witnessed in recent weeks wide and fearsome swings in the markets of the world. The economy is a fragile thing. A stumble in the economy in Jakarta or Moscow can immediately affect the entire world. It can eventually reach down to each of us as individuals. There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed.

We are carrying a message of self-reliance throughout the Church. Self-reliance cannot obtain when there is serious debt hanging over a household. One has neither independence nor freedom from bondage when he is obligated to others.

I urge you, brethren, to look to the condition of your finances. I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.

This is a part of the temporal gospel in which we believe. May the Lord bless you, my beloved brethren, to set your houses in order. If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts. That’s all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable."

Here we are now, roughly 13 years later. How are you doing?

We must set our homes in order, not simply for political unrest or financial uncertainty, although listening to the news will tell you that those are very good reasons. There are many ways our homes need order. In addition to financial order, we need spiritual order, cleanliness and preparedness just to name a few. The blessings of being "in order" include not only inner peace but also placing ourselves in the position of receiving personal revelation to guide us in helping our brothers and sisters. Setting one's home - one's life - in order helps us to become more Christlike. Elder Robert D. Hales taught:

"We live in an age of entitlement. Many believe they should have all that others have—right now. Unable to delay gratification, they go into debt to buy what they cannot afford. The results always affect both their temporal and spiritual welfare. When we go into debt, we give away some of our precious, priceless agency and place ourselves in self-imposed servitude. We obligate our time, energy, and means to repay what we have borrowed—resources that could have been used to help ourselves, our families, and others.

I testify that happy is the man who lives within his means and is able to save a little for future needs. As we live providently and increase our gifts and talents, we become more self-reliant. Self-reliance is taking responsibility for our own spiritual and temporal welfare and for those whom Heavenly Father has entrusted to our care. Only when we are self-reliant can we truly emulate the Savior in serving and blessing others. It is important to understand that self-reliance is a means to an end. Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior, and that goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others. Our ability to serve is increased or diminished by the level of our self-reliance."

Sis Beck explained how studying our Relief Society history helps us understand how to put our homes, in order:

"Our understanding of our historical purpose helps women learn to prioritize properly so they will 'not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor [their] labor for that which cannot satisfy.' ... The history of Relief Society teaches us to take care of the essential things which will save and sanctify us and the things which are necessary to make us personally self-reliant and useful in the Lord’s kingdom."

Pres. Kimball appreciated the idea of "Provident Living" as taught by Relief Society. He said,

"We have placed considerable emphasis on personal and family preparedness. I hope that each member of the Church is responding appropriately to this direction. I also hope that we are understanding and accentuating the positive and not the negative. I like the way the Relief Society teaches personal and family preparedness as “provident living.” This implies the husbanding [prudent managing] of our resources, the wise planning of financial matters, full provision for personal health, and adequate preparation for education and career development, giving appropriate attention to home [food] production and storage as well as the development of emotional resiliency."

The woman of Proverbs looked over her household well. I don't think she is a superwoman, but I do believe she is a balanced woman. It is critical that women recognize the importance of not only protecting the home, but setting and keeping it in order as well.

Here are some additional resources:
Applying the Principles of Self Reliance and Preparedness - Pres. Spencer W. Kimball
Constancy Among Change - Pres. N. Eldon Tanner
The Times in Which We Live - Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley
Constant Truths for Changing Times - Pres. Thomas S. Monson
A Gospel Vision of Welfare: Faith in Action - Elder Robert D. Hales

and of course,
Provident Living

I also really enjoyed reading "How Beautiful to Live in these Times and be Prepared!" by Elder F. Enzio Busche of the Seventy. It focuses mostly on food storage preparedness. I thought his experiences and observations on what to store, based on his life in war-torn Germany, were insightful. I highly recommend it.

Who Said...

2011-06-06T22:00:00.001-06:00

"We've got to get over the idea that being a housewife and mother is not an important task in life...

These mothers hold up the glorious traditions of America. They are striving against...difficult odds to make home an attractive place for their children, to make it a safe place, a place of security and happiness in which their children are growing up and to which they will want to bring their friends. There is no task more important than that today.

You see it is financial pressure as well as the pressure of public opinion that forces many a mother with young children into industry, and when that occurs the very foundation of her family, the very foundations of her children's security - the things her husband is fighting for - are destroyed. Does anyone think that a mother can hold a full-time job in a war factory, under the pressure of more, more, more, faster, faster, faster and properly care for her family at the same time?"

A. Amy Lyman Brown, General Relief Society President
B. United States Department of Labor
C. Elder John A. Widstoe
D. American Mothers, Inc.
_______________________________________________

The answer is...B. The United States Department of Labor.
From The Child, May 1943 p. 165, monthly bulletin of the Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor.
Included in The Relief Society Magazine, June-July 1943

Picture credit:
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, copyright 1964

Growth Experiences

2011-06-01T06:10:00.001-06:00

When I was a young girl, my grandmother was called to serve as the Relief Society president in her ward. I remember her phone line was always busy!

She kept a short journal of some of the experiences she had during the time she served. The first thing she shared is her incredulity at having the call extended to her. I want to share with you what she said. (I should mention...my grandmother's mispellings and funny words endear her to me - so I left her manuscript uncorrected.)

"Bishop J. called to see if he could come over. W. told him sure. I knew he had a position for W. and I was thrilled to death. When I found out that he was asking me to be the President of the Relief Society I nearly flipped and I told him he was scraping the bottom of the barrell. He assured me that he had been inspired to call me and I told him I would think it over. He left by telling me to be thinking of some councilors to help me.

I guess he knew all along that I would accept the position.

I was sacred to death. In my wildest dreams I had never thought of being President of the Relief Society. ~~Be leave~~ Belive me I did some soul searching. As for councilors I had ~~know~~ no idea who to call to work with. I really didn’t know any of the women in our ward well enough to know how they worked; so I did the only thing I could do. I prayed like I have never prayed before. The Lord had called me to this position and he just had to give me a hand.

I was given (2) two of the best councilors anyone could want. They were so supportive and we just seemed to jell into one body."

It is hard to imagine, knowing my grandma, that she would feel any sort of inadequacy. To my child mind, she was an amazing woman. She sewed magic clothes from ordinary cloth, she baked delicious rolls from simple flour and milk. She knew women who didn't speak to each other but considered her to be their best friend. She may well have been the inspiration behind the oft expressed: Live! Laugh! Love!

However, while reading her journal, seeing my grandma through my adult eyes, I see the same concerns that seem to haunt me and almost every other woman I know. No matter how many talents and how strong our faith, we are painfully aware of our shortcomings and inadequacies. Thankfully my grandmother knew where to lift her eyes for strength. And she didn't just hope He would answer. She knew that He would answer. Her humility in calling upon the Lord early in her doubt lead her to call counselors that blessed not only her, but also the sisters of the ward in which they served.

She goes on to express her gratitude for the many blessings the Lord granted her, including the growth opportunities that came her way. She writes:

"Bishop J. set me apart and when he laid his hands on my head to give me a blessing I knew that I was going to have one of the greatest experiences of my life. He blessed me to have health, strength, patince, wisdom, compassion love, ~~and underst~~ humility, and understanding and it all came when ever I needed it. I won’t say I was perfect, but I had a lot more of everything than I had before. I had a very special feeling and a new purpose in life. I was able to do things that I had never dreamed of. I found myself saying and doing things I ~~would~~ could never have done before- conduct meeting, giving talks, bearing my testimony.

The first time I stood to conduct a meeting I thought I would die of fright. I had never done anything like it before; but the sisters were kind and seemed to understand my fright. Little by little I started to feel comfortable in my calling. I felt the spirit to drive me so strongly. I felt sure of myself and knew I was doing the right things. W. was very supportive and this made my feelings even stronger."

One fun story she journaled was having Sis. Camilla Kimball, wife of then President Spencer W. Kimball, come to speak at their ward Relief Society Conference. This was in the day when security detail for the prophet was a bit different than it is now. My grandparents actually drove uptown and picked up Sis. Kimball for the event and brought her home! Pres. Kimball kindly admonished my grandfather, "Now you take good care of her." Grandma writes:

"On Sept 30, 1976 our Relief Society opening Social was held. A special program was presented, with Sister Camilla Kimball as our guest speaker. Refreshments were served to One hundred and twenty ~~people~~ guests. They were also given a special rose bud. A bouquet of silk roses ~~were~~ was given to Sister Kimball.

This was such a special night for W. and I. We went to pick up Sister Kimball. She is such a gracious ~~person~~ lady. One can’t help but love her.

When we arrived at her home we were met by a Secret Service Man. He was watching their home. She told us later that they had had ~~two~~ three threats in the last two ~~days~~ weeks.

We had no trouble when we told him we were to pick up Sister Kimball. She invited us in to meet President Kimball and oh! what a thrill. We talked and joked for a short while and decided we had to leave for our meeting. She refused to sit in the front seat of the car and climbed in the back! She talked of her life and some of her childhood on the way out. She didn’t know where Winder Stake was and confessed that all she could think of was Winder Dairy.

She gave a beautiful talk mostly on visiting teaching and service to others. She stood at the door and very graciously shook everyones hand. One the way home she remarked what a nice evening it had been and what a nice ward we had. When we reached her home President Kimball answered the door and invited us in. We wh went in and sat down. I know that I didnot say one intelligent thing all the time we were there. I was so nervous I didn’t know what to do. We left in 15-20 minutes and believe me I stood 10 feet tall.

I really don’t know how I had had enough nerve to write to her in the first place, but I am certainly glad I did. It was an evening I will never forget and I don’t think W. will either, even thow he doesn’t talk about it as much as I do."

Fun, huh?
This journal she kept isn't more than 15 pages long but what a treasure!
Thank you Grandma, for writing it so we could learn and be comforted by your experiences.

My Dream of a Chain

2011-05-29T09:26:00.000-06:00

I had the opportunity to hear Sis. Jill Derr speak. She is the co-author of "Women of Covenant: the Story of the Relief Society" and also "Women's Voices: An Untold History of the Latter-day Saints 1830-1900".

She shared a story from the journal of Marth Cragun Cox, a woman who endured not only the "regular" trials of pioneer life, but also the persecutions of federal officials to polygamists and their families. Sis. Cox entitled it, "My Dream of a Chain".

In writing of her hardships and loss in the face of the persecution she says:

"I had bitter hatred in my heart against the officials in Utah, and against the traitors who exposed the Saints. I had a dream given me that gave me to see the condition into which I was falling. I thought I stood with a chain around my neck. This chain reached to the ground and was heavy that I could not raise my head to look to look upward. Someone said to me, 'If you must look at these all the time put them on this rod over your fireplace and don't hang them on a chain about your neck or you will never see the sun and stars, and you should look up towards the heavens, not down.'

I then began to examine the parcels one by one and hang them on the rod. One little box I had in my trunk containing some little clothing was a darling pair of little shoes and stockings. I had been in the habit of taking these out and spreading them on my bed on lonely stormy nights, when there was no one there to see or hear me weep over them. There was a large bundle of wicked words I had said about the Utah marshals, who had not done half the mischief they might have done or had the power to do. There were bundles of wrongs I felt I had sustained from many of the people. Debts uncancelled by which I felt my children had suffered...

All these, while they seemed so heavy hanging on my neck, had no weight at all as I hung them on the rod. [The bundles] faded out through my fingers as I took [them] off the chain, and lo, the chain was gone and I was free. When I awoke I resolved I would be free."

Now, because I think and learn in staccatos, short bursts of seemingly unrelated thoughts that I have to piece together, let me share a couple of different things that came to my mind as I've pondered Sis. Cox dream:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Matthew 11: 28-30
What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? And I said unto the that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction. - 1 Nephi 15:23-24
Trees reach up for the light and grow in the process. So do we as sons and daughters of heavenly parents. Facing upward provides a loftier perspective than facing right or facing left. Looking up in search of holiness builds strength and dignity as disciples of Deity. The importance of looking up to the Lord is also emphasized in a vision to the Prophet Joseph Smith, dated January 21, 1836: “I saw the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, who are now upon the earth, who hold the keys of this last ministry, in foreign lands, standing together in a circle, much fatigued, with their clothes tattered and feet swollen, with their eyes cast downward, and Jesus standing in their midst, and they did not behold Him. The Savior looked upon them and wept” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 107). "Which Way Are You Facing?" - Elder Russell M. Nelson
Offense comes in many costumes and continually finds its way onstage. People we believe in disappoint us. We have unanticipated difficulties. Our life doesn’t turn out exactly the way we were expecting. We make mistakes, feel unworthy, and worry about being forgiven. We wonder about a doctrinal issue. We learn of something spoken from a Church pulpit 150 years ago that bothers us. Our children are treated unfairly. We are ignored or underappreciated. It could be a hundred things, each very real to us at the time. In our weakened moments, the adversary seeks to steal our spiritual promises. If we are not watchful, our injured, childlike spirit will retreat back into the cold, dark crust of our former bloated ego, leaving behind the warm, healing light of the Savior. When Parley P. Pratt, in 1835, was judged unfairly, bringing embarrassment and shame to him and his family, the Prophet Joseph Smith counseled, “Parley, … walk such things under your feet … [and] God Almighty shall be with you." "Never Leave Him" - Elder Neil L. Andersen
``You are fettered,'' said Scrooge, trembling. ``Tell me why?'' ``I wear the chain I forged in life,'' replied the Ghost. ``I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?'' Scrooge trembled more and more. ``Or would you know,'' pursued the Ghost, ``the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain!'' "Christmas Carol" - Charles Dickens
When challenges and testing do come, your faith will lead you to solutions. Your peace of mind, your assurance of answers to vexing problems, your ultimate joy depend upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Right will ultimately prevail. It will yield blessings now as you in faith obey the commandments of God. Remember an unfailing, continual, ever-present source of peace and comfort is available to you. It is the certainty that your Father in Heaven loves you no matter what your circumstance, no matter what winds of trial, turmoil, or tribulation whirl about you. That certainty will never change. Your ability to access that support depends on the strength of your faith in Him and in His certain willingness to bless you. "The Sustaining Power of Faith in Times of Uncertainty and Testing" - Elder Richard G. Scott

Sis. Cox's rest of the story:

"I made it a rule to sing a song every day to the little children on my lap. To the little Indian boy who shared a scolding with Edward one night and went supperless to his camp, I gave a handsome new shirt to make amends. One day when an Indian woman came to my door with an almost naked child under her her fur robe, I got out the box and a feeling of shame came upon me as I gave the little flannel dress and other things to put upon the child, a shame for the tears I had shed over it. I told her to tell the others who had babes to come get the rest of the things, all but the little shoes, I felt that I must keep them. But when I saw the blue feet and legs of one of the little babes I said, 'That bundle must come, all of it, from my chain.' I had not dreamed of the sourness that was creeping into my soul, until I had that dream."

Ordinary Days

2011-04-11T00:25:00.000-06:00

I was talking to some friends the other day and the conversation turned to record keeping. Not as in financials but as in journals. Personal papers, etc.  The general consensus was, "What's the point? Who in the world will care what I was doing in the every day?"

I answered them by saying that I had been encouraged and cheered many times over by the journals, notes, stories, and histories I had become passionate in reading and collecting. I loved reading in my grandma's journal, "Meg came over to help me clean the mop boards today." Mop boards. Nobody says mop boards anymore. I reminded them it is a very unique, and perhaps scary, individual who walks around all day saying, "Hey! I am so amazing today I'd better write it down so future generations can be inspired by me."

I heard Sis. Jill Derr speak recently. She co-authored the book "Women of Covenant: The Story of Relief Society." The stories she shared, about the ordinary days in pioneer life were awesome. I took copious notes and when I had the chance to be uptown in the Church Library, I borrowed my first book out of the Secure Stacks. (It was a great moment. I hope to have many more just like it.)

I was able to locate a particular story I was looking for, which I will probably share here another day. But the pertinent part to my thoughts tonight lay in an incidental paragraph included at the top of one of the copies I brought home - that of course had been made with permission.

After briefly describing a few hardships of her daily situation, Martha Cragun Cox records in her journal:

I did not know how sad I was nor what effect my gloomy feelings were having upon me, until one day I happened to open my hymn book. I sat down with my baby on my lap and began to sing her to sleep. At the first notes she raised her head and gave me a frightened look. At this I laughed which frightened her the more. I then knew I was not used to singing or laughing.

I think this is an amazing passage - an touching insight and personal reflection. I immediately thought of my own children. When was the last time they had heard me humming as I worked, or was it a grumbling? Did I laugh today - and mean it? Was the proverbial sunshine in my soul or too many dreary clouds? I was so grateful that Sis. Cox had merely written what her heart had taught her, because in doing so, she also taught mine.

In an effort, not to influence and inspire future generations, but merely to be true to the things I am learning about writing down the ordinary, I thought I would include a would be journal entry from my Sabbath thoughts tonight.

Journal Entry:
It's been a full week. It started out bumpy, with a bit of stomach flu hitting Nancy and I. Ugh. I don't remember the last time I was laid up with the flu! Let's hope it's at least that long again.

The boys and Molly were disappointed with the snow. Baseball practice had to be cancelled. They are definitely ready for "real" spring. Molly is playing on Tim's baseball team. We hadn't signed her up, but on the first night of practice, the coach watched her playing with Tim and wanted her to join. Surprisingly she agreed.  So now we are 3 on the baseball diamond.

After being down a few days, I needed to get out of the house. I also needed some family time. So Mr. Thornton drove us off on adventure. Our Saturdays have definitely lost some spice since leaving New England. Instead of the Atlantic, or Boston, or New York, or Vermont...we got Chuck-a-Rama, R.C. Willey and Deseret Industries. Man, we know how to live it up! I'm sure no one will suffer homesickness for long with day trips like this to look forward to all summer.

In seriousness, the summer will be our biggest challenge to date with our relocation - the rude awakening to the fact that we are 2,500 miles from so much that we cherish and love. I open my little Pyrex of Maine sand, so thoughtfully collected for me from Mr. Thornton, and rub in slowly between my thumb and forefinger. I gingerly finger the little sand dollars. I joked that I would have to take to rubbing the sand between my toes in a few weeks. The Atlantic Coast is just something one never recovers from.

Mandy had a fun surprise today. She was asked to take pictures at girl's camp this summer. I am so glad she has found something she loves and is so good at. She is one who takes her time and picks up on little details others miss. I think this is why she gets such interesting perspective in her photos. I hope she has a great time.

Mandy wasn't the only one surprised. Nancy and I have been given visiting teaching companions - each other! Today was Nancy's second Sunday in Relief Society and they asked if we'd like to be partners. I was excited to think I get to introduce her to the importance and blessings of visiting teaching.  She has already watched me loving my visiting teaching - and being loved by terrific visiting teachers - so we're already off to a good start.

It was (_____'s) 65th wedding anniversary today. How I love them! Their friendship is one of my greatest treasures. Bro. Scott's wonderful conference talk has kept Mr. Thornton close to my thoughts lately. It's a great thing to share my life with him.

I have a DUP meeting tomorrow and I need to take a salad. I should have shopped for that on Saturday but it looks like it will be an early grocery run in the morning. I think I'll take the jello/mandarin orange/cottage cheese/Coolwhip salad. That sounds very DUP. My official papers with my number and card came this week.  Being official I think it's a good idea to stick with jello - at least in the beginning.   I am also planning on attending this week's Women's History lecture. I am not too fond of the idea of Sis. Welles receiving a commendation from President Woodrow Wilson, but what's to be done about it now?!

It's now midnight, Mr. Thornton is sleeping deeply and the house is quiet. I suppose it's time for some rest myself.

My Trusty 1828

2011-03-27T09:45:00.000-06:00

I love my 1828 Webster's Dictionary - available here online. It is terrific for finding out what words used to mean, and quite honestly, what they should probably still mean. Take for instance the Christmas carol "Deck the Halls". Why would we "don" "gay" apparel to go "deck" the halls?

Anyway - my 1828 is an invaluable resource in my personal studies.  In my Book of Mormon reading I read the fatherly counsel to a son: "Learn wisdom in thy youth." We usually consider wisdom as something that comes with age and experience; only the aged are wise. How was this to be accomplished in his youth?

Enter handy-dandy 1828.

WISDOM, n.

1. The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them. This is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness. Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom, is nearly synonymous with discretion. It differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good. Prudence then is a species, of which wisdom is the genus.

Aha! Wisdom, while perhaps strengthened by experience, is not necessarily something that has to do with age. Given the definition above, I would love my children to learn wisdom in their youth. I also see my responsibility as a parent to ensure that I have given my children teaching, experiences and natural consequences that will build their knowledge so they may choose laudable ends.

Another one? Let's pick a couple from the politically correct lingo package. Start with "judge" and then "diversity".

I see these two words being bantered around rather loosely. My curiosity was captured by a particular incident where one woman expressed her concern, on her own blog, regarding a series of books that seemed particularly popular with the youth. (No, it wasn't "Twilight"...and it's immaterial for me to say what series it was.) She commented on the seemingly high number of LDS youth that clamored for the series, given the counsel in the For Strength of Youth booklet.

After expressing her thoughts and opinions very concisely, she proceeded to be lectured by others, asking if she hadn't listened to Pres. Monson's recent address wherein we were counselled, "not to judge."

Huh? I judge books all the time. I judge what is welcome in my home and what is never welcome! And I think President Monson would agree that I should. But the catch is that the critics weren't talking about her judgment of the books in her home. They twisted her words to imply she had "judged" them, rather than the books,  because they looooved the books that she considered to be downright awful.

Pres. Monson counseled the Relief Society about the hen-pecking that goes one.  He said in part:

"None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions. There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.” ... Not only are we inclined to judge the actions and words of others, but many of us judge appearances: clothing, hairstyles, size. The list could go on and on."

This woman, on the other hand, was opining about a series of books - and she had every right to do so. Ironically, continuing to read in Matthew 7 we receive the command:

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

How is it that after being told not to judge in verse 1... it would appear we are commanded to judge what are "dogs" and "pigs" so as to protect that which is holy and of great price in verse 7?

Obviously the word "judge" is a little more complicated than first meets the eye. 1828, please.

The word judge, as a verb, has to forms - transitive and intransitive.  Transitive denotes action or energy exerted upon something. Intransitive simple denotes a state of being or being limited to the subject.  In the following definitions, you'll see the i and t after the verb v, and after every definition, an example of how the verb is used.

JUDGE, v.i. [L. judico.]
1. To compare facts or ideas, and perceive their agreement or disagreement, and thus to distinguish truth from falsehood. Judge not according to the appearance John 7.

2. To form an opinion; to bring to issue the reasoning or deliberations of the mind.
If I did not know the originals, I should not be able to judge, by the copies, which was Virgil and which Ovid.

3. To hear and determine, as in causes on trial; to pass sentence. He was present on the bench, but could not judge in the case. The Lord judge between thee and me. Gen.16.

4. To discern; to distinguish; to consider accurately for the purpose of forming an opinion or conclusion.
Judge in yourselves; is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 1 Cor.11.

JUDGE, v.t.
1. To try; to examine and pass sentence on.
Take ye him and judge him according to your law. John 18.
God shall judge the righteous and the wicked. Eccles.3.

2. Rightly to understand and discern.
He that is spiritual, judgeth all things. 1 Cor.2.

3. To censure rashly; to pass severe sentence.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. Matt.7.

4. To esteem; to think; to reckon.
If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord--Acts.16.

5. To rule or govern.
The Lord shall judge his people. Heb.10.

6. To doom to punishment; to punish.
I will judge thee according to thy ways. Ezek. 7.

Comparing the two usages, it becomes clear that we are to judge intransitively and leave the transitive judging to the Lord. I believe the woman expressing her dismay at a series of books was using her intransitive judgement, as we are commanded to do.   The idea that she was passing a transitive judgment on those who disagreed with her is false.

Elder Packer taught:
"Now words can be used as weapons against you. If they throw the word diversity at you, grab hold of it and say, “I am already diverse, and I intend to stay diverse.” If the word is tolerance, grab that one, too, saying, “I expect you to be tolerant of my lifestyle—obedience, integrity, abstinence, repentance.” If the word is choice, tell them you choose good, old-fashioned morality. You choose to be a worthy husband or wife, a worthy parent."

I loved seeing the word diversity here, as it was used against me not too long ago. According to the 1828, diversity is a noun meaning difference, variety, distinct, and variegation. Interestingly enough, it is not a verb.  It does not imply acceptance or approval, both of which are now associated with the modern definition of diversity. Look at these examples from university websites:

"Diversity can be defined in many different ways.  What does it mean to us? Diversity is a commitment to recognizing and appreciating the variety of characteristics that make individuals unique in an atmosphere that promotes and celebrates individual and collective achievement."

Sounds good so far right? I mean, who doesn't love to learn from our variations? The Lord gave us our individual talents and circumstances that we might bless each other, right? So let's read further for some examples of what diversity we would be celebrating at this university.

"Examples of characteristics are: age, cognitive style, culture, disability (mental, learning, physical), economic background, education, gender identity, geographic background, language(s) spoken, marital/partnered status, physical appearance, political affiliation, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation."

Hum...I am not looking to celebrate a lot of things on that list. Does that mean I'm not diverse? I would be curious to know how my diverse LDS beliefs would be received in a place where such diversity is practiced.

Another definition of diversity from another university:

"The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect.  It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual. ...Finally we acknowledge that categories of difference are not always fixed but also can be fluid, we respect individual rights to self-identification, and we recognize that no one culture is intrinsically superior to another."

Wow.  Paragraphs to redefine what took a couple of words about 200 years ago.  It reminded me of the old saying.  "Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, as to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace."

Look at the difference between diversity as a noun and verb.

1828 nouns:  difference, variety, distinct, and variegation
2011 verbs: appreciating, celebrating, exploring, tolerating, embracing, accepting, respecting

Merely semantics? You be the judge. In the meantime, I'll keep my trusty 1828 by my side.

Wordfull Wednesday

2011-03-22T23:30:00.001-06:00

Today's Wordfull Wednesday is: What myths about women have you overcome in your life? What misperceptions have you had that you realize now are wrong? And most importantly, what are you doing about changing those myths and misperceptions in your life and the lives of those around you?

This one had me thinking hard. My first thoughts dealt more along lies that women believe. As the days moved on, a couple of memory joggers occured and I was able to focus on 3 myths - at least they were myths to me - that I have erased in my life.

#1- Years ago, when I was a young SAHM, I watched Oprah faithfully each afternoon. I saw many shows on women who had "lost themselves" once they married and had children. It was during this time that Dr. Phil began making appearances on the show and he would help counsel these women how to "find themselves" again. I remember thinking, "Man...I don't want that to happen to me!" so I took his advice to heart. He told the women that they needed to take time each week to do something only for themselves. He was very specific as to frequency and actual time allotment - which now I don't recall - but I do remember his rules for this self-rejuvenation time. He instructed that they could not do anything for their familes during this self-time and they had to leave the house. There couldn't be any household errand running, grocery shopping etc...nothing except that which was specific to your own personal care.

I sat down with Mr. Thornton  and told him that motherhood was very demanding and that if I wasn't careful, I would "lose myself." We agreed that every other Saturday I would take a few hours and just take care of Meg. I was so excited for this new plan and felt very confident that this would ensure my sense of identity and help me stay fulfilled as a woman. Not that I had lost my sense of identity or didn't feel fulfilled...but hey- I had seen those women on Oprah and I needed to be careful that didn't turn out to be me!

Looking back, I don't remember how I spent that time away each week. I think the first few outtings went pretty well. I probably strolled the scrapbook stores (I booked then), hit Deseret Book, and...I don't even remember what else. Apparently it was very fulfilling.  Soon, my time away began to stress me a bit. If I was sitting at the cafe, I wanted to take a minute and jot down a shopping list. Or I wanted to swing into Harmon's and stroll the grocery isles just to see what was new for dinner. I started to dread coming home because I knew the wash was still waiting for me and I could have been doing it while I sat home and read a book on the couch.

It didn't take long before I was bored.  I couldn't come up with things to do. I wanted to be home, cleaning my house, reading my books, fixing my dinners, doing the laundry, playing with my children and hanging out with Mr. Thornton.  I re-evaluated this advice I had taken to heart. I didn't necessarily stop taking breaks or having time to myself. I just restructured it to fit my true needs.  It's a given that everyone needs a break. Everyone needs a tank refill. But I realized I was being sold a bogus bill of goods. My sense of self and my fulfillment came in serving my family - in pouring myself into the politcally incorrect molds of housewife, homemaker and stay-at-home-mom.   Yet the bigger realization for me was that Heavenly Father was my sustaining power. He was already giving me the extra oomph, the extra-strength that I needed to be a wife and mom and not "lose myself."  I figured out that losing myself in serving my family was helping me find myself.

Thankfully many years have passed since Oprah was a staple in my afternoon.  I was reminded of my trial and error when I heard Sis. Sheri Dew relate the following story. (I was attending a Time Out for Women! Don't worry, the irony doesn't escape me.)

Sis. Dew included the story in her book "God Wants a Powerful People".

Why, [then,] do we have a tendency to put the world first? And to whom are we really listening—the world or the Lord? Who has our ears and our hearts: the world, with its experts, celebrities, and pundits, all of whose competition for fans and followers creates a cacophony of noise; or the Lord, who speaks through the still, small voice, through the Word, and through His called servants? Although this question may seem easy to answer, a close assessment of where and how we spend our time and focus our attention may prove revealing. Case in point:

Every year the General Relief Society Meeting is held on the Saturday evening prior to the October general conference. There is no mystery or secret about this schedule. This significant meeting is held on the same Saturday every year, lasts ninety minutes, and gives the women of the Church the opportunity to hear messages prepared specifically for them by a member of the First Presidency as well as the Relief Society general presidency. Great consideration and preparation, prayer and earnest seeking precede that meeting, and it is the only time during the year when those with a stewardship for the women of the Church speak directly and specifically to them.

One year, just a few days after the General Relief Society Meeting, I happened upon a conversation among several female colleagues who were discussing a compelling issue. After listening for a few minutes, I said, "Did you hear Sister Kathy Hughes's address at the General Relief Society Meeting this past weekend? She spoke to this very topic, and her message was superb." There were blank stares all around. Not one of those women had attended or viewed the broadcast—and this was in Utah, where it's not difficult to find. Finally one woman said, "Oh, I'll have to download that talk from lds.org and make sure I study it." Then, without even a pause, she added, "But did you see the segment on Oprah last week about this topic? It was terrific."

"How is that you managed to catch Oprah?" I asked, trying not to reveal the emotion behind the question.

"Oh," she responded, "I tape it every day and watch it at night." Come to find out, several others in that group did as well.

At that moment, there were volumes I wanted to say, none of which would have been appropriate in the workplace. But it is frightening to contemplate that such good, typically insightful, Latter-day Saint women would make such a concerted effort to tune in a celebrity but respond so casually to a meeting in which our called leaders, including a member of the First Presidency, prepare messages the Lord wishes His covenant daughters to hear. It isn't asking much, is it, to set aside ninety minutes a year to hear the voice of the Lord?

Please don't misunderstand: The world is filled with experts, scholars, and others who provide important opportunities to learn, grow, and increase in knowledge and insight. But even knowledge we accept today as truth—particularly in the sciences—will be debunked and replaced with new findings in coming years. Because mortals are just mortals. And they make mistakes.

Further, it is always dangerous to take counsel from anyone whose primary motive is building his or her own kingdom. © 2007 Sheri L. Dew

My most recent testimony refresher was from Sis. Beck, in her talk "And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit". She said:

A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important. A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently.

Thank you Sis. Dew and Sis. Beck, for confirming that which I learned in my own life experience. There is a special place in my heart for you both.

I know...I didn't get to the other 2 myths. But look at it this way, at least I leave myself something to talk about in another post. Perhaps "Myths According to Meg" Parts 2 and 3.

For more Wordfull Wednesday, visit Chocolate On My Cranium.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

*I know...I know...my first ever re-post. This was my Valentine's post last year. But I couldn't help it! This one was so fun to write and today I'm not feeling particularly valentiney so far away from my Valentine. The inspiration is just not flowing. :)

Love you, honey. Miss you, honey. Happy Valentine's Day.

SCENE: Carriage house

GILBERT: Anne, wait!
ANNE: Please, Gil.
GILBERT: Where are you going?
ANNE: I'm leaving. Marilla took Rachel back early. She was ill and I don't feel very well either.
GILBERT: I'll drive you back.
ANNE: What about your friend?
GILBERT: I can explain. She won't mind.
ANNE: She looks like a lovely and accomplished young lady, Gil.
GILBERT: It's not Christine I care about. There's someone else, isn't there?
ANNE: No, Gil, honestly there isn't. I don't care for anyone in that way. And I like you more than anybody.
GILBERT: Anne, I'll wait. Even if I thought you cared just a little.
ANNE: I do care, Gil. I always have. But I can never, never love you in the way you want me to. I'm happy as I am; I won't ever marry.
GILBERT: You'll marry, alright. Some fool who will sit and read Tennyson by firelight, no doubt. Build you your castles in the sky. I know you.
ANNE: Please, Gil, I don't mean to hurt you. But you'll see I'm right by and by when you fall for someone else.
GILBERT: You haven't hurt me, really. It's just that I fooled myself into thinking that you loved me, that's all.
ANNE: Gil, please.
GILBERT: I hope he breaks your heart, whoever he is.
ANNE: You don't under--
GILBERT: Then maybe you'll come to your senses.

While sorting through some library discards I came across the Complete Works of Tennyson poetry book pictured above. It is not in the best of shape, the spine has considerable damage. But it's not it's condition that secured it's rescue from the junk heap but rather the inscription inside.

It's hard to read but the earliest part is a stamp:

Study of WM. V. W. Davis,

Dec 25 1886

The hand-written dedication reads:

Bessie L. Sterns

from

Dr. Davis

Xmas 1908

And then the Library Sticker of record:

February 14, 1921

The hopeless romantic in me took leave of all my senses and immediately began reconstructing this (of course love) affair.

A treasured Christmas gift stored safely on the shelves of the bachelor doctor's study. Until he met Miss Elizabeth Sterns. (I'm sure Bessie was a term of endearment he used for her.) He meant to propose on Christmas Day, 1908, having presented her with his cherished copy of Tennyson, but did he? And was he accepted?

Maybe she didn't accept him and the book was still given as a token of his undying love. Maybe she did accept but they weren't to marry right away. Theirs was to be a long distance love and the book was to hold him close to her heart until they could be together again. (Like Elinor and Edward maybe?)

Did World War I interrupt their plans? Was he killed serving his country overseas?

Something tragic happened. For the book was placed into care of the library on February 14, 1921. Apparently the collected verses were a bitter reminder of all that could have been and all that was lost. With broken heart, Elizabeth donated the book, on Valentines Day, in hopes it would stop the heartache, the haunting.

Or maybe...

William and Elizabeth lived happily ever after. In honor of their love, they donated their cherished book to the library so that some other young gentleman could borrow it and find out exactly what his young love might want whispered to her by firelight. Given it's extreme wear and battered condition, there must have been quite a need for the magic of Tennyson. Perhaps many loving couples were helped along by the generosity of William and Elizabeth.

Sadly, as times changed and language was diluted, the poetry of Tennyson was relegated to the pages of history. Days spent sitting on the library shelf, waiting to be borrowed, turned to years. Shelf space being at a premium, it became apparent there wasn't room for Tennyson. Will and Bessie's valued tome, was lost to the junk pile.

Surely, however, just like Anne and Gilbert, (or Elinor and Edward), their love lives on.

'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. ~Tennyson

Peace Be Still

2011-02-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

I teach Sunday School today, (the lesson is understanding some of the reasons the Savior performed miracles), and this week of personal studies has been inspiring. My grateful heart wanted to share.

First, a link to some valuable explanation and insight regarding Messianic miracles, specifically Christ's healing the leper. You know how blogger reads chronologically - so scroll down to the first post and read up. (Thank you, Donna!)

"Peace Be Still"

Simon Dewey

Secondly, I was blessed to read this beautiful sermon given by Howard W. Hunter in 1984. I don't usually post entire talks on my blog but here's an exception:

North of Jerusalem about eighty miles or so lies a beautiful body of water known earlier in biblical times as the Sea of Chinneroth and the Lake of Gennesaret, but known best to us today as the Sea of Galilee. It is a freshwater inland lake a little over twelve miles long and seven miles wide. The River Jordan flows through it, from north to south, on its journey toward the Dead Sea.

This was the lake Jesus knew as a child and as a young man, its western shores lying just twelve or fifteen miles from his boyhood home of Nazareth. It was to this lake and the neighboring Galilean hills that Jesus returned so often during those demanding years of his public ministry.

On one journey to Galilee, the Savior taught the multitudes crowded near the water’s edge. With the people pressing ever closer, Jesus sought a better teaching circumstance by stepping into a boat and pushing out a few yards into the sea. There, a short distance from the eager crowd, he could be seen and heard by those straining for sight and words of the Master.

Following his discourse, the Savior invited his disciples to join him, and they set out together for the other side of the lake. The Sea of Galilee is quite low, about 680 feet below sea level, and the heat becomes quite great. The hills surrounding the water rise up very sharply and to considerable height. The cold air rushing down from the hills meets the warm air rising from the lake in such a way that sudden and temporarily violent storms can occur on the surface of that inland sea. It was just such a storm as this that Jesus and his disciples found as they crossed the lake at evening time. This is the way Mark described it:

“And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

“And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

“And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:36–41.)

All of us have seen some sudden storms in our lives. A few of them, though temporary like these on the Sea of Galilee, can be violent and frightening and potentially destructive. As individuals, as families, as communities, as nations, even as a church, we have had sudden squalls arise which have made us ask one way or another, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” And one way or another we always hear in the stillness after the storm, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

None of us would like to think we have no faith, but I suppose the Lord’s gentle rebuke here is largely deserved. This great Jehovah, in whom we say we trust and whose name we have taken upon us, is he who said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” (Gen. 1:6.) And he is also the one who said, “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear.” (Gen. 1:9.) Furthermore, it was he who parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground. (See Ex. 14:21–22.) Certainly it should be no surprise that he could command a few elements acting up on the Sea of Galilee. And our faith should remind us that he can calm the troubled waters of our lives.

Let me recall for you the story of Mary Ann Baker. Her beloved and only brother suffered from the same respiratory disease that had taken their parents’ lives, and he left their home in Chicago to find a warmer climate in the southern part of the United States.

For a time he seemed to be improving, but then a sudden turn in his health came and he died almost immediately. Mary Ann and her sister were heartbroken. It only added to their deep grief that neither their own health nor their personal finances allowed them to claim their brother’s body or to finance its return to Chicago for burial.

The Baker family had been raised as faithful Christians, but Mary’s trust in a loving God broke under the strain of her brother’s death and her own diminished circumstances. “God does not care for me or mine,” said Mary Ann. “This particular manifestation of what they call ‘divine providence’ is unworthy of a God of love.” Does that sound at all familiar?

“I have always tried to believe on Christ and give the Master a consecrated life,” she said, “but this is more than I can bear. What have I done to deserve this? What have I left undone that God should wreak His vengeance upon me in this way?” (Ernest K. Emurian, Living Stories of Famous Hymns, Boston: W. A Widdle Co., 1955, pp. 83–85.)

I suppose we have all had occasion, individually or collectively, to cry out on some stormy sea, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” And so cried Mary Ann Baker.

But as the days and the weeks went by, the God of life and love began to calm the winds and the waves of what this sweet young woman called “her unsanctified heart.” Her faith not only returned but it flourished, and like Job of old, she learned new things, things “too wonderful” to have known before her despair. On the Sea of Galilee, the stirring of the disciples’ faith was ultimately more important than the stilling of the sea, and so it was with her.

Later, as something of a personal testimonial and caring very much for the faith of others who would be tried by personal despair, she wrote the words of the hymn we have all sung, “Master, the Tempest Is Raging.” May I share it with you?

Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threatening
A grave in the angry deep?

Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!

Then this beautiful, moving refrain:

The winds and the waves shall obey my will;
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey my will.
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
They all shall sweetly obey my will.
Peace, peace, be still!

Too often, I fear, both in the living of life and in the singing of this hymn, we fail to emphasize the sweet peace of this concluding verse:

Master, the terror is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.
Linger, Oh, blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.
(Hymns, no. 106.)

We will all have some adversity in our lives. I think we can be reasonably sure of that. Some of it will have the potential to be violent and damaging and destructive. Some of it may even strain our faith in a loving God who has the power to administer relief in our behalf.

To those anxieties I think the Father of us all would say, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” And of course that has to be faith for the whole journey, the entire experience, the fulness of our life, not simply around the bits and pieces and tempestuous moments. At the end of the journey, an end none of us can see now, we will say, “Master, the terror is over. … Linger, Oh, blessed Redeemer! Leave me alone no more.”

Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33.) On the same occasion, he said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” (John 14:27.) Throughout his life and ministry he spoke of peace, and when he came forth from the tomb and appeared unto his disciples, his first greeting was, “Peace be unto you.” (John 20:19.)

But Jesus was not spared grief and pain and anguish and buffeting. No tongue can speak the unutterable burden he carried, nor have we the wisdom to understand the prophet Isaiah’s description of him as “a man of sorrows.” (Isa. 53:3.) His ship was tossed most of his life, and, at least to mortal eyes, it crashed fatally on the rocky coast of Calvary. We are asked not to look on life with mortal eyes; with spiritual vision we know something quite different was happening upon the cross.

Peace was on the lips and in the heart of the Savior no matter how fiercely the tempest was raging. May it so be with us—in our own hearts, in our own homes, in our nations of the world, and even in the buffetings faced from time to time by the Church. We should not expect to get through life individually or collectively without some opposition.

One of the wisest of the ancient Romans once spoke a great gospel truth and probably never realized he had done so. Speaking of Roman naval power and the absolute imperative to control the oceans, Cicero said to a military aide, “He who commands the sea has command of everything.” (See W. Gurney Benham, Putnam’s Complete Book of Quotations, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1926, p. 505.) Of that I so testify.

“Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea or demons or men or whatever it be, no waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey [his] will. Peace, be still!” In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Howard W. Hunter, "“Master, the Tempest Is Raging”", Ensign, Nov. 1984, 33

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Wordfull Wednesday - Random Kindness and Bravery Beads

2011-02-09T09:38:00.001-07:00

Today's Wordfull Wednesday is:   Talk about a random act of kindness towards you that helped you be more aware of sharing kindness towards others.

I decided to share a bit of my journal. This entry is from 2009. Our daughter Molly had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and I was staying in the hospital with her. It's not polished...it's my journal...but it's the first thing that came to mind as I pondered this topic. I have placed in italics any changes or additional information pertinent to my Wordfull Wednesday thoughts.

My journal reads:

Molly's nurse Friday/Saturday nights was named Julie. On Saturday night Julie brought Molly a Hannah Montana barbie doll out of "The Stash". (This place has more toys and goodies than the North Pole.) Julie told her she had done such a good job with her rough (horrible, awful) day Friday that she deserved a treat.

Molly had a good time brushing Hannah's long hair. Then she put her the doll away in her take home bag. Molly's not a Hannah Montana fan (in fact, we'd never watched it until the hospital) but she was glad for the thoughtful gesture and it made her smile for a while.

On Sunday, Molly and I needed to use up some time waiting until she could have her medicine so we walked down to the playroom to use the airhockey machine. When we were leaving a woman passed us and said to Molly, "You are beautiful." (I could tell from her expression, she was living the same nightmare that had been mine just three weeks earlier. I remember going to the cafeteria after Molly's diagnosis, having not left her room for several days, and everyone was laughing and chatting and I wanted to yell, "Hey! Stop it. Don't you know my daughter has just been diagnosed with cancer?!"  This woman's face reflected the same deer-in-the-headlights look I must have shown at that time.) We thanked her and she said simply, "My daughter was just diagnosed with luekemia 3 days ago." I told her I was very sorry to hear that and told her that God would bless her. "Yes He will", she said. "We have a priest coming to pray with us later today." I reassured her that we had been in her position just 3 weeks ago and that I understood a bit of her shock and overwhelmed-ness.

When Molly and I got back to our room, we talked about this little girl and how scared she must be feeling. We offered a prayer to Heavenly Father, telling Him that, while we didn't know this girl and her family, He did, and we wanted to pray in her behalf that all would go well and ask for His peace to bless them as it does us.

About an hour later, Molly told me that she wanted to take her Hannah Montana doll to this little girl. She remembered how scared she had been in those first few days, and how scary it still could be, and she thought this little girl might enjoy this doll more than she did.

We walked around to find this girl's, Susan's, room. She was asleep, but her mother stepped out to talk to us. Molly told her about the doll and offered it for Susan. The mother was very touched and kissed Molly on the cheek. She told us that Susan was a big Hannah Montana fan and she thought she would love the doll. She noticed Molly's bravery beads (a reward system for the children at the hospital. Molly used to hang hers from her IV tower) and said Susan had some too but hadn't been very interested in them.

We left back to our room but the mother came down the hall, "Molly! Molly! Susan's awake and wants to thank you." So we went back and Molly met Susan. She was a tiny little girl, wrapped up in a gazillion blankets. Her wall was covered in get well cards and pictures of her family were posted right in the middle. Her mother pointed to the picture of Susan and said, "This one was only taken a couple of weeks ago...we thought she was completely healthy. Then she fell on her bike and a bruise on her stomach wasn't healing. When I brought her to the doctor, they found the luekemia. And here we are."

It was exactly the same thing I kept saying when we'd show people a picture sent to us of Molly that had been taken just days before her diagnosis.  We had it on the desk in the hospital that first week and I'd say to everyone, "...that was just 3 weeks ago...that was just 3 weeks ago. I can't believe she's so sick, so fast." I told her our story, which was so unfortunately similar. Susan took a look at Molly's beads and seemed to think they might not be so bad. We then walked back to our room.

My mother heart was so full of gratitude for my opportunity to be the mom to such an amazing, wonderful girl. And I thanked Heavenly Father for giving her an opportunity to share some of the kindness she has been shown. I know it made Molly so happy to see Susan, to talk with her, and to encourage her to earn those bravery beads. I wish I had bravery beads for each of my children. Everyone asks how they are doing and I have to tell the truth: They are doing remarkably well. They are incredible and the Lord is so good. They have rallied around Molly, they have taken care of Mr. Thornton and I, and they are taking care of each other. We are going to make it through this...together.

I am happy to tell this little end of the story:

I no longer look at the last few years as the nightmare I originally thought it was. There really does come a time when not everything is measured in CANCER. These are experiences we wouldn't ask for but our wise Heavenly Father knows are for our best growth and learning. There really does come a point where gratitude just envelopes and heals and strengthens your heart, your faith and your resolve. Molly is now in her second year of remission. And as for Susan...well, we don't know. Due to federal laws, we weren't allowed to ask. The only thing we could do was to hope to pass in clinic or treatments-but we have now moved. I can tell you this: There was a terrible shortage of bravery beads at one point. One in particular, which was given for accessing a port or main line was in particular short supply. Molly was owed 17 by the time the shipment came in. Her nurse commented that between Molly and her other patient she was going to be cleaned out of beads! That was a memory cue for me to tell her the story of Molly, trying to help Susan get her bravery beads started. The nurse smiled and said, "Well, I can probably share with you...Susan is my other bravery bead collector! And she is going strong."

To read other random acts of kindness and opportunities to pay it forward, visit Coca's Wordfull Wednesday.

Boy Books

2011-02-02T17:26:00.002-07:00

On Wordfull Wednesday, Cellista asked if I had any suggestions for "boy books".

I do. It took my children about 10 minutes to compile this list of suggestions. (We put the ages there as rough guesstimates.)

5 and up (most for read-a-louds or read-togethers)
Billy and Blaze: A Boy and his Horse - C.W. Anderson (series)
Thornton Burgess nature stories
My Father's Dragon - Ruth Stiles Gannett (series)
Robinson Crusoe Reader - Julia Cowles (particularly helpful for my early reluctant readers)
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Ben and Me - Robert Lawson

8ish and up
The Mad Scientist Club - Bertrand R. Brinley (series)
Lassie Come Home - Eric Knight
The Matchlock Gun - Walter D. Edmonds
The Sword in the Tree - Clyde Robert Bulla
Encyclopedia Brown - Donald J. Sobol (series)
Wild Animals I Have Known - Ernest Thompson Seton
Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls
Castle in the Attic - Elizabeth Winthrop
Battle for the Castle - Elizabeth Winthrop
Childhood of Famous Americans and Landmarks - stories of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett and John Paul Jones are particular favorites.

10ish and up
Redwall - Brian Jacques (series)
The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
Homer Price - Robert McCloskey
Tucket's Travels - Gary Paulsen (a particular favorite for the lover of westerns)
Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart (series)
Summer of the Monkeys - Wilson Rawls
Brighty of the Grand Canyon - Marguerite Henry
Iron Thunder - Avi
Swiss Family Robinson - Johann David Wyss
Basher Five Two - Scott O'Grady
The Pushcart War - Jean Merrill
The Sign of the Beaver - Elizabeth George Speare
Gentle Ben - Walt Morley
The Black Stallion - Walter Farley (series)
The Hardy Boys - Franklin Dixon (the good ole' blue ones...NOT any "new" ones)
Drifthouse - Dale Peck
The Time Travelers (The Gideon Trilogy) - Linda Buckley-Archer

12ish and up
Lord of the Rings- J.R.R. Tolkien (series, of course...)
The Trumpeter of Krakow - Eric P. Kelly
Men of Iron - Howard Pyle
The Ranger's Apprentice - John Flanagan (series)
The Young Samurai - Chris Bradford
Little Britches - Ralph Moody (series)
Children of the New Forest - Frederick Marryat
G.A. Henty histories
Supersonic Saints - John Bytheway
And for laughs - Peanuts comic books at any age!

For what it's worth, my children also spouted off a "Not Recommended" list to share - surprising me by including some popular authors and titles. Their reasons for non-recommendation were varied but this is their list:

Dan Gutman books, specifically his baseball stories
Anthony Horowitz Stormbreaker series
Mike Lupica books
Series of Unfortunate Events
Brandon Mull
Obert Skye
The Spiderwick Chronicles

The City of Embers series

Rainy-day Checkerboard Temple

2011-01-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

Wordfull Wednesday

2011-01-26T01:00:00.001-07:00

Today's Wordfull Wednesday is: My Favorite Book from Childhood.

Yikes.

Not yikes in a bad way...I LOVE this topic! The problem is...I love it too much. Between this blog and my original "Once Upon a Time" blog, I cannot come up with one more way to chat about my favorite childhood book. I don't think anyone who visits here regularly couldn't answer with me if I said, "At the count of 3, name my favorite childhood book. One, two, three!"

And we would all say in unison, "Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards!"

It was just last week that Molly finished reading "Mandy" for the first time. "Mom, thanks for teaching me how to read," was her comment. That's how I felt when I read "Mandy" (over and over) - grateful to know how to read.

So I have decided I will simply have to compile my posts into one link list here, hoping that someone visiting will enjoy one that they perhaps missed. (When I imported my old blog into my new, some of the comments were left behind...but no matter...the posts are still here.)

How to Know it All

Golden Friends

Love of Reading

Little Mommy

Learning to Read

Special thanks to Cocoa for hosting Wordfull Wednesdays!

Merry Christmas to Me

2011-01-24T01:01:00.001-07:00

I saw this print at yet another antique shop. It was in a broken-down frame and was sealed up in acidic cardboard and old Scotch tape. I loved it but I thought the booth owner was asking too much. I left a message for her, hoping she would come down a bit but no dice. And so I took to looking for it on the internet, sure I could simply find another. I didn't know the name of the print, but I did know the artist's name is Hy Hintermeister.

Sounds simple enough. Google here I come! Except Google didn't help. I could find tons from this artist but nothing about this particular print. Something told me that perhaps the booth owner knew this too. But I kept watching ebay and checking at the shop. Part of me hoped it would be sold so I could just stop thinking about it. But it was a very small part. The biggest part of me wanted it so badly!

Well...lo and behold...ebay offered up a similar print - what I call a companion print.

Once I saw this one it was over. I called Mr. Thornton and explained in one big, long run-on sentence that I had watched this print at the shop for a year and I couldn't ever find it online and I kept checking ebay and print shops hoping something would show up only to have this second one pop up on ebay and it is so similar in time period and the star is in the window and the little boy is loving his dad and I wouldn't need anything else in the world, ever, if I could just buy these prints, from him, for me, for Christmas!

He answered, "Sure."

I hung-up and proceeded to the next set of run-on sentences. I placed the ebay bid, ran to the antique shop, brought the first one home, cracked it open from the frame, saved it from it's acid surroundings and sprayed it down with neutralizer. Then I ordered more neutralizer and waited for the ebay seller to send my second treasure, praying the the mailman would heed the instructions of "DO NOT BEND". Knowing there was a good chance he wouldn't, I brooded like a mother hen, at the front window each day, thinking I was going to fly down the driveway and scoop the package out of his hands before any creases could be made. I missed the delivery however. He was too quick. Luckily, I was dealing with a professional ebayer who understood that this print was brittled with age. He packed it carefully and I received it, joyfully, crease-free.

It received the same neutralizer treatment and now they are sitting together, safely on my shelf, waiting to be framed more permanently.

I absolutely love them.

Incidentally, my next ebay quest is this spice rack:

I have the salt and pepper shakers from this set. We used to use them in our picnics up the canyons when I was little. I had no idea the s&p shakers were part of a bigger spice/canister set. When I saw the set included "NUTMEG" I was sold.

Lioness at the Gate

2011-01-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

In September, I participated in a blogfest to Celebrate the Family over at Chocolate on My Cranium. I keep a link button on my sidebar for quick reference since there were so many terrific ideas shared.

At the time, I posted part of my little essay, such as it is, with a link over to the blogfest. For the sake of journaling, I am going to repost it here, in it's entirety...so it's with the rest of my blog writing.

Modern-day Mother in Zion

Anita Mae Hart-Carroll

oil on board

8th International Art Church History Art Competition

In Pres. Julie Beck’s talk at BYU Women’s Conference this last May she said women “are like lionesses at the gate of their home”. If blogs are any measure, this idea has struck a chord with a large number of LDS women. I see it frequently quoted and talked about. I believe that most of us recognize that there is a war raging against the family as established by the Lord. We, too recognize that women can be as a mighty army in defense of the family.

It was in a General Relief Society meeting that President Gordon B. Hinckley first presented The Family, A Proclamation to the World. His talk was entitled, “Stand Strong Against the Wiles of the World” and he encouraged women by saying: “I need not remind you that the world we are in is a world of turmoil, of shifting values. Shrill voices call out for one thing or another in betrayal of time tested standards of behavior. The moral moorings of our society have been badly shaken. I cannot say enough of appreciation for your determination to live by the standards of the Church, to walk with the strength of virtue, to keep your minds about the slough of filth which seems to be moving like a flood across the world. Thank you for knowing there is a better way.”

The lioness at the gate recognizes that the better way is not found by mimicking, or worse, joining the world. She recognizes the battle cry to fight for that which we know is right and good and protect our homes and families from harmful influence wherever they are found.

Saving and protecting our families must surely start with protecting ourselves and our testimonies of our own divine worth and divine destination. Elder Glenn Pace recently warned, “Sisters, keep in mind anything that detracts from your divine nature should be avoided. You live in a time when you have more opportunities and options available to you than any other women have had through-out the history of mankind. Some of these options will complement your God-given natures. Others will chip away at it. Some things will make you strong. Others will make you hard. Some will increase your spiritual sensitivity. Others will separate you from the Spirit.” If the world is where you are looking for validation and understanding, you will very quickly loose your footing. This is in part why Sis. Beck so strongly counseled us to keep ourselves in the place of receiving constantly renewable personal revelation.

One of the most obviously destructive forces against the family today are the twisted, warped definitions of womanhood being shouted from every available outlet. Take for instance this one example of wedding planning I saw a few summers ago. I was waiting on an appointment and I picked up a healthy living magazine there on the waiting room table. It was a special spring edition centered on the theme of “The Big Day”. I noted a check list for brides and thought I’d browse it and see if much had changed since my “Big Day”. The magazine time line went as follows:

· 3 months before the wedding- Fill thy cup. Breast augmentation will improve your asymmetry and fill your wedding dress perfectly and give you a stellar honeymoon body.

· 2 months before – In the Eyes of the Beholder. Have your LASIK surgery. You don’t want to see your wedding day through the rims of glasses.

· 1 month before – Whiten Up. Get those pearlies white again. Additionally, Something to Smile About – Dental veneers to make sure your pictures are full of beautifully aligned, shapely teeth.

This was definitely not the wedding-prep checklist I had worked off of! I jokingly wondered if I had been mysteriously transported from Utah County to Beverly Hills. I re-checked the magazine cover questioning if I had misunderstood something and this was simply a bunch of advertising masquerading as a magazine. Nope, this publication considered itself (arguably) legitimate.

The list continued:

· 3 weeks before – Smooth Sailing. Anyone want to guess what this one was? Unwanted hair removal from face and body, of course.

· 3 week before – Face Age. Facial injections (I kid you not) to enhance facial volume and recontour the face.

· 2 weeks before – Gift Wrap. A spa body wrap to slenderize and shape your body, also perhaps taking away unwanted inches.

· 1 week before – Brush Strokes. Airbrush makeup and tanning for flawless skin.

Wow. What a stark contrast from the counsel given to the young women in April. Sis. Dalton talked to the young women about “deep beauty” – “the kind of beauty that shines inside out. It is the kind of beauty that cannot be painted on, surgically created, or purchased. It is the kind of beauty that doesn’t wash off. It is spiritual attractiveness.”

We are not alone in the battle. The Lord sends encouragement and reassurance, guidance and counsel at every turn. Elder James Talmage stated, “The world’s greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ.” We are beloved spirit daughters of God and our lives have meaning, purpose and direction. Elder N. Eldon Tanner taught, “To mothers, daughters and women everywhere, let me stress the fact that because of your potential and influence for good in the lives of all of us, Satan is determined to destroy you. You can’t compromise with him. You must have the courage, the strength, the desire, and the determination to live as the Lord would have you live.” Sis. Dew reminded us that coming unto Christ means walking away from the world. “We no longer have the luxury of spending our energy on anything that does not lead us and our families to Christ. That is the litmus test for …our lives. In the days ahead, a casual commitment to Christ will not carry us through.”

I once read a metaphor by Roger Williams representing the building of Zion. As I read it, my mind naturally changed the word of “church” to family and taught me much about my responsibilities in my home. It reads, “The garden was the domain of the [family], the gentle, fragile region where the people of God would congregate and try to build lives around the Divine Word. The wilderness was the world lying beyond the garden wall, uncivilized and potentially quite threatening to the garden. The wall separated the two, and the reason for the wall was not that the wilderness needed protection from the garden- the wall was there to protect the garden from the wilderness.”

Defending the family starts with understanding who we are as women and who we’ve always been. It then becomes our job to stand in defense of the family as defined by the Lord, most specifically in the homes we find ourselves in the position to protect. You are the wall protecting yourself and your family from the wilderness – uncivilized and threatening. You are the lioness at the gate.

Last Days

2011-01-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

Our last days in New England were filled with friends and fun. The library gave us the most wonderful, thoughtful send off. We were humbled by their kind deeds and words. Nancy's job there has been one of the hardest things of all to leave behind. The library staff truly loved her and she loved them right back. We even received a Christmas card from one of the librarians who had retired, and upon coming into the library and learning we had moved, sent us a card to wish us well.

We also had to say goodbye to the gentle soul who brought knitting into our lives. Molly met her while at radiation and they became fast friends. This sweet lady adopted all of us and met us regularly to chat and knit. She told the funniest stories of her life and the kids loved hearing about her adventures during the depression years. Generous beyond measure, we will always treasure her in our hearts.

Our last few hours there wouldn't have been complete without a last run to the Book Barn (note the gourds the vines) with our Book Barn buddies. Actually, they were more our "roadies", as we had many fun adventures with them. But one of our favorites was hunting the Book Barn. It was this day I took the pictures I posted a few weeks ago-2 posts down - Beautiful Day. We didn't only play in the ocean that day, we stopped at the Book Barn and also a little junk/antique store.

Ah...the New England "Junk and Antiques" stores...I finally figured them out. You see, you take all your junk, that not even Good Will wants donated, and you spread it out in your yard or under a tent, or in your grandfather's old barn and you put a sign out front reading, "Junk For Sale." You leave the junk there, giving it an opportunity to work on it's patina, for roughly 25 years. You then replace the "Junk For Sale" sign with a "Antiques Sold Here" sign and continue as quite as before.

This particular shop had suffered a fire a few years back and we had never taken the time to stop it. This time, however, an old travelling trunk out front caught me eye. Once inside, I wished we had stopped sooner. It was a great little shop, albeit a little on the pricey side. I think their insurance refusing their claim on the fire (it was caused by a candle left burning in the shop) caused them to tag the items on the high side.

In the back of the shop, I spotted the most beautiful old book - completely tattered and ragging apart. (Some of you will see what drew me to it.) Upon closer inspection, I saw it contained the most beautiful color plates of old Irish estates. I wanted it badly but was in the "WE ARE MOVING TOMORROW!!" mode. No books, Meg, no books! The shopkeeper wanted $20 for it. I was only willing to pay $10. However, my trusty Book Barn Buddy and my children dickered behind my back. They learned that the man had paid $10 for the book and wanted to make a bit off of it. He was willing to go $15. So guess what happened?

My friend told me I would thank her someday, and I must say the guilt of adding one more book to an already...how shall I say...swollen library collection waiting to be packed passed away much quicker than it should have. So here is the part where I say, "Thank you!"