The Rock of our Redeemer

A week ago Sunday, my ward Relief Society gave us a 12 week challenge to encourage us to draw closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We have each been given a notebook with a picture of the Savior attached to the front, and a list of 12 scriptures.   The idea is to concentrate on one scripture each week, reading and pondering the scripture of the week every day as part of our personal scripture study, then sometime during the week taking time to write our thoughts and feelings about the scripture in the notebook.   In December we will gather together and share some of our thoughts on these scriptures and on our Savior.

 I'll probably write some of my thoughts in the notebook, but seeing as how I usually write much better on the computer, I'll probably write just as much or more here.  The fact that our Heavenly Father has seen fit to provide us with a Savior is without a doubt the greatest Tender Mercy that ever has been or ever will be. 

 So, here is the Scripture for week one, and yes, I did read it every single day this past week: 

                                                                                                                                      

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
Helaman 5:12

The first thing that came to my mind when reading this scripture was the primary song that we have been singing lately in Primary this year:  “The wise man built his house upon a rock.”  Of course this refers to the rock of a testimony or a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Our testimony should be based on our Savior, Jesus Christ, as should the way that we live our life each and every day.   Everything we do or decide, the way we act, should be based on our knowledge of the example and teachings of Jesus Christ.  He is the Son of God, our Father, our loving Father who provided this earth life as part of his plan of salvation for every man and woman, and for me.

Jesus Christ is His son, His partner in his work, or even you could say, His business.  He is our mediator, our representative, our “sales rep”, who has this wonderful partnership with God the father.   We’re so blessed to have this “in” with Our Father.

Another hymn that comes to mind is an old favorite of mine, “Oh Thou Rock of Our Salvation, Jesus Savior of the World.” I especially love the chorus:  “Gather round the standard bearer, gather round in strength of youth.”   We need to gather around the Savior, our standard bearer, our leader in this war that we are waging against sin and darkness and evil.  Every day we need to gather round, make him our center, our guide, and the focus of everything we do every day.  I sure hope that I can do better at this.

And now, this coming week’s scripture:

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:  and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.   He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings:  and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14: 23-27

Simple Pleasures

 Resting in a comfy chair after a cool sunny morning of working in the yard, the air from the slowly moving ceiling fan gently caressing the skin,  the pleasant sounds of others working outside drifiting in through the open window, and enjoying a big fat oatmeal cookie with a tall cold glass of milk.  What can be better than that?

Angels and Mortality

The first experience that I ever had with having a loved one pass from this life into the next was when I was just ten years old and my cousin and his new wife were killed in a car accident.  I still remember the shock I felt when we received the news, and the unbelief that someone that I had known and loved had died.   Since then, I have experienced the deaths of my grandparents and many other loved ones and friends.  I am blessed to still have both of my parents nearby and relatively healthy, along with all of my siblings and their families.  Though five of my six children are now adults, I still think of myself as young and inexperienced, and so it still surprises and shocks me when someone I know well passes away, especially those who are near my own age or younger.   

I recently wrote a very short post expressing some thoughts I had about angels around us.  In D&C 84:88  we are promised that as we go about doing what we should be doing, we will have angels round about us to bear us up.  I believe that those of our loved ones who have gone on to the next world before us are still able to be aware of our lives and situations.

Yesterday we attended the funeral service for another of my friends and neighbors who has been a great example and mentor to me.  She was a counselor to me in what was probably my most difficult calling so far in my life.  During her service yesterday,  and then again today in our Fast and Testimony meeting we were privileged to hear tributes to her and testimonies that my neighbor is in a better place, freed from the bondage of the illness of her mortal body, and that she has been called to continue her work on the other side of the veil.  Today as we sang our closing hymn the strongest reassurance came over me that she has joined the ranks of the angels that are watching over me and cheering for me from the other side.  Of course I know that she has many other more important tasks than just cheering me on, but it is a comfort to know that as my life moves forward, and more and more of my friends and loved ones move on to the other side, and my band of guardian angels or my cheering section is only increasing in size.  It is just one more bit of comfort to give me faith and courage to continue on when times are hard. 

And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.
                                                     Doctrine and Covenants 84:88

Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Randall

In honor of our 29th wedding anniversary, I'd like to revisit one of my favorite blog posts:

(with number 11 added)

TOP TEN REASONS WHY I LOVE RANDALL

Randall with his chocolate covered Kumquats at a recent family dinner.

11.  I love Randall because he's a creative cook!

 10. I love Randall for his enthusiasm about things he cares about---making cookies with the girl he just met at the ward dance, new babies and children (especially his own), a new KitchenAid or juicer for his wife, art and creating things, playing soccer, refereeing soccer, REAL SL Soccer,----etc.

9. Because he’s cute and good looking and makes me tingle!

8. Because he doesn’t worry too much about what others think . . . he knows his strengths (and he’s hip and cool!)

7. He’s smart, he loves to read and learn, remembers almost everything important, can figure out solutions to puzzles and problems that stymie other people.

6. He works hard and values a job well done.

5. He’s loyal and honest with family, friends, country, customers, and all he comes in contact with.

4. He is faithful to me and to his family. He provides for our needs and often goes without himself. He shares!

3. He is faithful to the Lord and he honors his Priesthood.

2. He serves his God and his fellow men.

1. Number one reason I love Randall—he is a true example of charity; he is always kind and longsuffering . . . he accepts people for who they are and finds the good in everyone.

Happy Anniversary, Randall!  I love you!!

Melancholy

August and September have traditionally been pretty melancholy months for me.  July is usually cram packed full of holidays and reunions and visits with family, and then comes August and the realization that school will soon be starting and summer will be over.  When I was in school, and  my kids were in school, it was an exciting time too, with shopping and preparing for a new school year.  The busyness and the excitement of a new school year usually help to offset the melancholy.   This year DD4, my baby, my youngest, will be a Senior in High School, and we really don't have much shopping to do this year.  This is  an exciting and a happy time, but also a sad and melancholy time too.  A 23 year long era of having kids in public school is about to end.  My kids are almost all grown up!  To add to the sadness, DD2 will be soon leaving for grad school, and our house will be one daughter emptier.  Sending kids off to school always makes me sad.  Happy too, but  a lot of sad.

This morning I woke at 6 am, before the alarm, and could not go back to sleep, so of course I got up to find something to do.  I was a bit surprised that it was still so dark at 6 am already.  We haven’t had any early morning commitments this summer, and what with so many of the family working evening/night time schedules, and being the natural night owls that we are, I’ve fallen into the habit of sleeping in later this summer.  Earlier this summer  when I was often up at 6, it was obviously morning time!  Even this Monday when DD4 needed to be ready to leave for camp at 7 am I didn’t notice the darkness.  Such sadness that our hemisphere is getting darker already! 

Yes, we have missed DD4 this week, but trust that she is surviving a week surrounded by multitudes of young ladies and leaders  at  Camp.  Hopefully she has had some fun times with some fun girls.  I had high hopes of being very proactive and accomplishing much stuff this week while she was gone (ie, writing, weeding, cleaning), but actually haven’t been very motivated.  DD2 and I have done a bit of mattress shopping, as she needs to know what she likes and wants for a new bed before she’s faced with actually buying a bed on her own once she get to grad school.   But mostly after coming home from a hectic day at work, I have been just reading a bit more than usual, and have spent more time perusing some of my favorite blogs than I normally do, so it’s been a rather restful week actually.  Maybe I’ll get my act together and do better at the chores and cleaning and weeding etc. next week.

This has actually been a monumental year in that we did not have even one child moving this past spring!  The first time in almost ten years!  It was heavenly!  But now this month we have two daughters moving.    DD3 will need to move home for a week or two, then back to her new apartment, which means that she will need to commute almost an hour to work each day for a while.  And we will need to store her things here, all while DD2 is getting packed up to leave for Grad School. 

So, how do you and your family deal with new school year changes?

Shopping Success

So, for the past several weeks I have occasionally been dragging DD4 out on the search for new jeans. Now DD4 is a bit different than many young ladies in that she greatly dislikes shopping of most kinds, especially clothes shopping. Normally we both avoid  shopping for clothes for her untill it is absolutely necessary, but it has gotten to the point where she literally has had no jeans, slacks, shorts, or pants of any kind (except for pajamas) without major rips and holes. For the first few weeks of summer it wasn't such a big deal, but she has two major events coming up where she will be away from home for days at a time, in public, amongst friends and strangers rather than enjoying her summer quietly at home with family.

So, every week or few days lately we've gone out in search of jeans that will be acceptable in size, style, color, fit, and comfort for DD4. The search has been rather futile. The budget is tight, the requirements are high, and patience and tempers are short. The jeans that meet the size, style, color and comfort requirements do not fit the budget. The jeans that meet the budget requirements do not fit the requirements of size, style, color and comfort. Last week we finally purchased one pair of jeans at the thrift store that was merely acceptable. However, for a several day stay away from home and laundry facilities, one pair is not sufficient.

Last night we had another shopping trip that ended in short tempers, frayed nerves, almost tears, and no new jeans. The time was up and the stores were all closing, so we returned home empty handed. The first trip begins tomorrow, so tonight was the last ditch effort. We returned to a store where we had shopped several weeks ago and found a style, size, color, and fit that worked. But the price had been too high. Tonight we hit the jackpot! They were on sale, clearance sale! And, we purchased three, yes three pairs of jeans for less than it we would have paid for one pair of the jeans we were looking at last night!

Hallelujah!  Hip Hip Hooray! I'm cheering loudly for all to hear (or at least read.)

Success.  :)

Family, Fireworks, Faith, and Priesthood

It's been a good weekend filled with concerts in the park and fireworks to celebrate the birthday of our city.   DD4 and I started out at the first concert on Thursday night, (the symphony, one of my favorites) on Friday night we added DD1 and DD2 and some fireworks, then on Saturday we included DH, DS1 and his friend, and DD3, along with assorted friends and inlaws, a few munchies, visiting, dancing to the music and even more awsome fireworks.   My favorite kind of weekend, in spite of traffic and late night bedtimes.

Today was also good, sitting in church, soaking up the spirit and the testimonies after watching some very awesome young men bless and pass the sacrament.  One of the young men blessed the sacrament for his very first time, and did so clearly and carefully without a stumble.  He has some disabilities, but still did an awesome job, and it was so wonderful to see beaming and so proud of his accomplishment.  We have many wonderful, faithful youth in our ward, with strong testimonies.

I also loved the great testimonies that were borne, testifying that faith can grow and flourish, as long as we continue to nurture it.  One sister compared it to her new back lawn, planted with little tiny plugs of grass seedlings, being faithfully watered three times a day, now starting to grown and spread and hopefully to grow to a new, lush lawn.  Reading, praying, and living the commandments;  that's what grows our faith and brings us true happiness.