Sunday Thoughts

 I think I may have missed a Sunday so I'm going to add this as my Sunday Thought even though it is Tuesday evening.

Beautiful words by Sharon Eubank:

"Each of us is going to have deeply wounding experiences, things that should never happen.  Each of us will also, at various times, allow pride and loftiness to corrupt the fruit we bear.  But Jesus Christ is our Savior in all things.  His power reaches to the very bottom and is reliably there for us when we call on Him.  We all beg for mercy for our sins and failures.  He freely gives it.  And He asks us if we an give that same mercy and understanding to each other."

If there is one thing I can give to my posterity in this life, I hope it's helping them understand that.  My love to all my posterity along with my testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ is true and that we do have a living prophet who leads us under the direction of the Savior.  

Saint Becomes Famous

How many of us have had our picture on the front of a magazine?  I can't think of anyone I know who has ever been famous enough to rate a magazine cover.  But now we all know the owner of a famous guide dog who is on the front cover of a Dog Magazine.  Love it!!  At first I thought Abby had somehow inserted Saint's picture on the front of a fake magazine, but this is for real!  Abby, way to take a picture that got chosen to be on the front of the magazine! 

 

Walking

At 5:10 a.m. Monday through Friday, my alarm goes off and I get up, dress warmly and head out the door by 5:30 to meet Mindy Leetham, my neighbor, friend and walking partner.  We have been walking 5 days a week for the past couple months.  We love it and chat all the way.  We cover everything from politics, religion, and a little bit about ourselves and struggles we have gone through.  It has been fun and very rewarding.  The other morning when I stood out in my driveway waiting for Mind I notice the moon and just had to take a picture.

Is that just gorgeous or not.  Can anyone look at that moon and not know that we have a God in Heaven who created this beautiful earth for us to enjoy.  The beauties of nature can sometimes just leave me standing in awe and a grateful heart.  

By the way, we walk 6 miles every morning and when Spring comes we will lengthen our walk adding another mile or more.  We don't really have a goal but we do want to add a couple more miles to our walk.
 

Hayley Celebrates 18 Years

 Congratulations, Hayley on your 18th birthday.  Thanks for the pictures.  I think they were taken for Halloween but your birthday is just a day after so we will post them as your birthday pictures.  Well I thought I had two of you but apparently just have this one but it is so cute that it is okay to post it twice.  Hope you had a happy birthday.

More Halloween Pictures

I got a few more pictures that I thought would be fun to post.  These came from the Gertsons and Abby's creative spirit.  Also, Emmi sent me a couple pictures of what she did for children who live on the base in Georgia.  They had a trunk or treat and Emmi handed out candy bars.  She said that some of the kids actually came back for seconds.  I probably would have if someone was handing out a big candy bar!

More pictures of the Gertson dogs dressed as ghosts.  One of the funny stories was that they couldn't get Maggie and Charlie to keep their heads down so Abby put some food down on the ground and the minute they put their heads down to get their treat she was able to snap the pictures.  Very clever Abby!!

Cute picture of Hayley.  I don't know if this was a costume for Halloween or not but the picture is darling.  

This was the extent of my effort to decorate for Halloween.  I thought I should take a picture of it just to prove that I did have a little Halloween spirit in me.  Oh and I will add here that we had a grand total of two little trick-or-treaters that came to our door.  They were so cute.  I wish I had snapped a picture of them.

I'm sorry this picture of the cracker jack box is out of order.  It should be by the picture of Emmi in her Navy uniform.  But, my inability to figure things out, I can't figure out how to move the picture, so just look at this and then go to the picture of Emmi.  You will see the resemblance!!

I thought this was extremely clever of this home owner.  Loved it!!

Darling picture of Emmi in one of her official uniforms.  

Peyton's 14th Birthday

 It is amazing that Tucker and Jamie's youngest is 14!!  When did that happen?  It was fun for Neal and I to talk with her.  How we miss seeing them.  Here are a couple pictures that Peyton sent to me on her birthday.  

Happy birthday Peyton.  We sure miss all you girls and hope we can get together quickly and safely.  

Election Day and Sunday Thoughts

 Neal and I have made it a habit (probably not a good one) to take our dinner and eat while watching the news.  It has been a long haul with all the negative ads going on continually.  I've never been all that interested in politics but I do feel it is important for me to try and keep up with the candidates and to vote.  That is a freedom that I don't want to take lightly.  As I'm watching the election results I have peace in my heart that I can go to bed tonight so grateful for a living prophet whose counsel is clear, true and comforting instead of what I have heard in the news for the past few months that has been everything opposite.

Halloween

 You all know how I feel about Halloween.  Never have like dressing up in costumes.  Even as a little girl I wasn't one to be anything but me.  I honestly don't remember ever going trick-or-treating.  I was happier to be home in my warm house and handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters.  But, I got some cute pictures from some of the kids.  For someone who doesn't like Halloween, I bought this gnome witch at Brown Floral.  I just couldn't resist.  Too dang cute to pass up.

This picture was sent to me by Abby and Mallory.  This is Light Year who Abby has trained to be a seeing eye dog and the little one is Brinkley, Mallory's new addition.  How cute is the picture and how obedient are the two dogs posing for the picture.  

Sunday Thoughts

 We went to church again this morning.  I've missed going and love that we can go even if it is only for a quick hour.  Partaking of the sacrament is such a sacred part of our church services and I'm excited to be able to renew my promises at baptism.  So grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Neal and I have been watching a series of the Joseph Smith Papers and it made me think that the times we are living in now and how hard and very different this year of 2020 has been so far.  We are having our own journey and we are all creating and crossing our own trail.  But we are all moving forward with faith in Jesus Christ - just as the pioneers did in the early days of the church.  We are building upon all of the things that were done in the past.  We share the same faith and because of that we will make it through this journey just as the pioneers did through theirs.  

Happy Sabbath!

Winter has come.

 The weatherman reported that we might wake up to snow this morning and he was right on target.  This is what greeted us this Sunday morning.  The first day of actual snow on the ground is always a bit of a shock for me.  I don't look forward to winter and the cold.  I really should move to St. George!

Neal and I are watching The Chosen.  If you haven't seen this series you should absolutely watch them.  They are incredible.  It is a look and the feelings about the Savior from the people's point of view.  Much is taken from the scriptures but much is fiction.  Very moving and very emotional.  

I have to add here that while we were having lunch for Lila Mae's birthday, I brought up the subject of this series and told everyone that they could watch it on Vid-Angel if they didn't want to buy the first season CD.  Now I'm not going to go into detail about how I pronounced Vid-Angel.  I'll just say that everyone had a good laugh at the "Gam Moment".  If you want to know how I slaughtered the name you can ask one of the Gertsons.  I'll just leave it at that.

Owl and Deer

We were lucky enough to see a huge horned owl and 6 deer while at the cabin.  The owl was amazing.

 

Fire at the Cabin

 Last weekend we were invited to Scofield for our last weekend at the cabin before the water is turned off and the cabins are closed for the winter.  We had a fabulous weekend and woke up Sunday morning with a bit of sadness knowing that we would be heading down the canyon for the last time until next Spring.  We had a light breakfast and then decided to play a few hands of bridge before starting dinner and cleaning the cabin.  We were sitting at the table in the front room when Judy happened to notice some black clouds drifting by the window.  Not knowing what it was we continued the play when she noticed someone running between the cabin and the one on the East of us.  Then she saw clouds of black smoke.  We all ran out the front and to the back of the cabin to see that the whole back side of the cabin was on fire.  Ron quickly got the hose and started spraying water on the back while the neighbor came down with a huge fire extinguisher and his son followed with a second one.  After about 1/2 hour we were able to get the fire out.  In the mean time the fire department came up from Helper along with the ambulance.  They checked the cabin inside and out, top and bottom and were assured that the fire was out. After reports were written, hugs were given and mounds of thanks expressed the fire people left.  We ended up having a delicious dinner, cleaning the cabin, packing up and heading home.  The fire damage was not as bad as it could have been.  The fire didn't penetrate the cabin wall.  Just melted the siding and burned the plywood but didn't go through.  

As we were leaving the cabin, Ron asked me to say a prayer before we headed home.  I started but the emotion of the day completely caught up with me and the tears came and my ability to speak was gone.  All of a sudden I felt Judy's arms around me and she finished the prayer.  It was beautiful and sincere.  A moment I will never forget.  I've never heard Judy say a prayer of any kind.  It was a very spiritual and touching moment.

This is a picture of David who first spotted the fire, who called 911 and who came with the two fire extinguishers.  Judy gave him a hug and told him how very grateful they were.  He had tears in his eyes and said he was so grateful that he happened to be outside and saw the smoke.  

Ron and the police officer filling out all the reports.

All of the firemen, behind the cabin doing their inspection.

These next two pictures are the shed right behind the cabin.  It didn't catch on fire but the heat was so intense that it melted the siding.

I felt so badly for Ron and Judy.  The fire was started by some coals from the fire that were not out.  Ron thought they were and set them back behind cabin and the wind, that morning, started the embers up and the wood pile caught and from there the fire to the cabin wall.

We were grateful no one was hurt and that we made it home safety.  However, it took us 3 1/2 hours to get home.  The traffic was horrible coming out of the canyon.  But we offered our thanks that we made it home safe and we were all well.

 

Celebrating birthdays

Lila Mae turned 89 this year.  And she is still going strong.  She still makes bread every morning for the Dairy Keen and also works for 4 hours every day at the Dairy Keen.  She is amazing.  She goes shopping with Susan every Saturday and keeps herself busy doing lots of projects.  She is amazing.  Happy birthday Lila Mae and we pray you will be around for another 10 years.  We met Lila Mae and Susan at Joe Vera's for Mexican food and had a fun time visiting and laughing.  

On the way home, Annie drove us through Provo Canyon into Midway and then up past Wasatch Park and through Guardmans Pass.  We came out at the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon.  It was a beautiful ride and a very fun day.  I wish I had taken a picture of Hayley leaning out the window letting the warm air blow in her face.  It was a really fun day. 

Funny story.  Lila Mae saw some masks in a magazine and saw this one and thought it was pretty with the leaves and Fall looking, so she order it.  When it came and she looked at it closely and then asked Susan if the leaves looked like Marijuana leaves. Sure enough that is exactly what they are.  I told her she had to put it on so I could take a picture of my 89 year old sister sporting a marijuana leaves mask!  Yes we all laughed and laughed.

This is a picture of Tucker and his family celebrating his birthday.  Great picture and a very happy birthday to Tucker!

Mallory also had her birthday and we went to the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate her special day.  Even with the COVID issues we were able to gather.  I took an extra long lunch hour that day to meet them there and celebrate.  Happy birthday my little missionary!

Oh, and I have to add here that while we were with Lila Mae and Susan, Abby got word from her Stake President that her mission papers had been officially sent in to the church offices.  So now we get to wait for a few weeks to here where our second little missionary will be serving.  So happy and proud of you Abby!
 

Sunday Thoughts

 With this weekend being General Conference, my mind is swirling with thoughts that I want to record.  This conference has been amazing and so reassuring.  

President Nelson said, 

    "Unusual times bring unusual rewards.  20 new temples in 2020.  This is a unique time to grow                 spiritually.  Lay hold on the words of Christ and let God prevail in our lives."

Bednar said:  

    "Periodic tests are a vital element of our spiritual learning.  Our test is to help us prove, examine and         try.  we should prepare temporarily and spiritually.  We should press forward in Christ, stand in             holy places and be not moved."

Michelle Craig:

    "Understand your identify and purpose.  What am I doing that I should stop doing and what am I not     doing that I should be doing."  

Quinten Cook:

    "Do better.  Live righteously and be a Zion people."

Rasband (One of my most favorite speakers)

    "Temples rise above the world.  There are 168 of them."

    He also talked about our temple recommend.  He said "The temple recommend interview is to qualify     us to live in harmony with Jesus Christ.  The recommend opens the gates of Heaven"

    He also said the "Being worth to attend the temple has not been suspended even though temples have     been closed.  Our recommends are a protection from the adversary and a promise that the spirit will         be with you."

I am so grateful for conference and the uplifting and encouraging words from our prophet and apostles who serve as witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ.

President Nelson:

    "A pandemic cannot and will not stop the Lord from embracing us.  His love is constant.  He never         stops watching over us.  He has promised that He will be on our right hand and on our left, that His         Spirit will be in our hearts, and that even His angels will surround us."

    

Little gifts that mean a lot to a Grandmother

 I was watering the plants the other day and noticed this little butterfly wood cutout that sits in my Christmas Cactus.  I honestly don't remember the occasion that it was given to Neal and I.  But, it brought an emotional moment to me as I thought about my California grandchildren and how I long to see them.  This was made for me by Jordyn Lyn in 2009.  Most of the coloring on the back side is faded but it still has the little message clearly on the front.