Each Day is a Gift

As I prepared to teach Young Women's today- I thought of a quote I have over my French doors in my bedroom (in two houses)- Each Day Is A Gift~ Untie the Ribbons.  When I began my prayers last night, I began with "thank you for this day."  I had to stop and pause.  Was I really thankful for this day?  I had to back up and reflect about what was so wonderful about this day.

(I didn't share this in my lesson but these were a few things that made yesterday wonderful-)


1.  I spent almost 3 hours at art.  Love this time each week.  I'm painting a beach scene which makes me so excited for September!!!!  And I didn't have to worry about getting home to feed Grandma.  Or anyone.  
2.  Got my hair highlighted which meant I spent several hours with my hairdresser/used to be my kids' babysitter.  Pure pamper time.
3.  went grocery shopping (ugh) but got that chore done in record time.
4.  BFF Cathy is FINALLY back in town.  We haven't been friends for about 5 weeks now so we made up for lost time and went and got a drink and treat and sat in the parking lot of a park and talked and talked and talked.  Because, really, we never run out of things to talk about.
5.  David was in a roping in Farmington all day~ and he came in third out of 400 teams.  Won a (another) beautiful saddle and $$.  He's like a kid.....and that makes me happy!
6.  David finally got home and was in the middle of fixing a few broken sprinklers when the Bishop called.  It seems someone in our rural neighborhood is boarding llamas and they got out.  The neighbors are in Hawaii and llamas were on the loose.  The Bishop called and asked if David could come and chase them down and rope them.  David found them on a residential street and he's running after them with a rope and cars are pulling over to the side of the road taking pictures.  I wish I had seen it!  But it makes me laugh thinking about how fun it would be to drive by and see that chaos.  And of course, David caught them and got them home safe.
7.  Several calls from niece Cami and Mallorie (she and Sam and baby went home to Idaho for the weekend) about Grandma.  She is having her ups and downs and it is stressful for us to think about.  David and I had gone on a date Friday to dinner and the rodeo with Brandi and Doug (so fun!) and we got a frantic call in the middle from Mom totally disorientated and waiting for someone to pick her up and take her home.  But the Idaho relatives are stepping up to the plate and we're just praying that mom will calm down and become familiar with her surroundings and the people serving her.  It's not easy yet.


Back to the lesson.  It was on being receptive to the spirit of the Holy Ghost.  We are blessed with that gift at baptism but like any other gift, it has to be opened and utilized to be of worth. The ribbons need to be untied.   I found this parable and shared it with the girls.  The writer refers to Elder Bednar's talk "May We Always Have His Spirit To be With Us" which I was also using (excellent talk).


          The Parable of the Pink iPod
           (from the blog:  www.raisinglemons.com  )

A few years back my husband gave me a pink iPod for Mother’s Day. He and the kids were so excited to give it to me. They had heard me mention that I really wanted something to play music on and they took note. My husband and kids all got on the computer together and found the perfect iPod. My little daughter picked the pink color.

When Mother’s Day came, I opened my gift and I was completely surprised. I was excited because I really wanted more music in my home.

But I am not really smart enough to figure these gadgets out and I am a little bit lazy.

Weeks passed, months passed, even years passed and there sat the pink iPod.
I never used it.
I didn’t read its manual.
I didn’t experiment or tinker around with it or try to figure the thing out.
I didn’t ask my husband to teach me how to download songs.
I am not even sure I ever took the iPod out of its plastic case that it was boxed in.
The iPod sat in my drawer unused. Which meant I didn’t get to enjoy all the music the iPod could have given me.

A year or two later, my husband found the unused pink iPod. He came to me and pulled the iPod out of the unopened plastic box. He handed it to me and asked me to look on the back. I peeled off the pink rubber protection and that is when I saw that he and the kids had engraven a little message for me on the back of the iPod. I had no idea the message was even there. Since I had never used it, I had never read the engraving.

I felt terrible. My husband and children had given me this awesome gift and I didn’t use it. I didn’t get the benefit of the music or games or info that could have been on there. I didn’t read the message for me on the back. The iPod could’t make my life better because I didn’t know how to use it.
I had been given the gift of the pink iPod but I had never received the gift.


Do you see the subtle distinction between being given a gift and actually receiving it?
Now let me tell you how my pink iPod story is like the Holy Ghost.

We have all been given the gift of the Holy Ghost. After we were baptized, we were confirmed. And someone, that held the Priesthood, laid his hands on our head and said, “Receive the Holy Ghost.”
I used to think that those words meant we got the Holy Ghost right then – at that moment – and that was it.

But Elder Bednar teaches us that “These four words – “Receive the Holy Ghost” – are a not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction – an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon.”

That is fancy for “the Holy Ghost doesn’t just come to you automatically, you gotta do the work to receive the Holy Ghost”.

The Holy Ghost is just like my iPod. If we want Him with us, we have to take the time to figure Him out. We have to study and read the manual. We have to experiment and tinker around and succeed and fail. We have to ask for help and ask questions and we need to act and try even if we are not sure. We have to desire to learn how the Holy Ghost works and how He communicates. We have to figure out how He talks to us.

In Doctrine and Covenants 88:33 it reads, “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.”
It does us no good to be given a gift if we don’t receive it.

So let’s talk for a minute about how we can be sure to RECEIVE the Holy Ghost. Elder Bednar gives us 2 steps:
1. Sincerely Desire. Receiving the Holy Ghost starts with our sincere and constant desire for His companionship in our lives. Pray for Him to be with you. Ask Him to accompany you wherever you go. Invite Him along.
2. Faithfully Obey. Have you ever thought about why God asks us read the scriptures, say our prayers, pay our tithing, go to church, etc? He doesn’t ask us to do all these Holy Habits just to see if we are going to obey or just to keep us busy or just to help us learn. He asks us to keep the commandments because He wants to bless us with the Spirit. We obey so we are prepared to RECEIVE the Holy Ghost.
I testify to you that we want to RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Ghost. Save the Atonement, no gift is greater. We want to know how He works, how He talks, how He operates in our lives. We want him as our constant companion, as our best friend. We want to know the message he has for us. The Holy Ghost brings peace, comfort, knowledge and confidence into our lives if we truly RECEIVE Him.
I know we have all been given the gift of the Holy Ghost, but I would like to invite all of us to truly RECEIVE this gift.  _Tiffany Erickson

Full Circle for Grandma

Grandma Williams is moving into an assisted living facility in Idaho today after several years of living with my parents. I still remember being held and rocked by her an entire night as a child when I was sick. She has served and loved each grandchild and made them feel as if they were her favorite. I am grateful for her example and the opportunity my children have had of being loved by her as I was.- Travis, grandson


This past couple of weeks has been hectic and very emotional for us.  We made the decision about a month or so ago that it was time for my MIL to move back to Idaho (where she is from) and live in an assisted  living situation where she can have 24/7 care.  We have had her with us for almost 6 1/2 years since Dad died.  It has been increasingly more difficult since her dementia has increased.  We have spent many days, over and over again, unpacking her bags that she frequently packs (lol) and waits for someone to take her home. We have the same conversations over and over and over and worried about her falling every day.    When we went out of town, we had to make sure someone could come and stay.  Having Mallorie and Sam living here has been such a big help~ especially having the baby here.  Grandma loved holding and cooing with the baby.  It really was priceless and gave her something to look forward to.  It's been a blessing to our family to have her here with us.  But the last year has been hard in so many ways.

Mallorie's sister, Cami, has really been the instigator of this whole thing.  She could see I was about to fall apart...and set everything in motion.  She found a beautiful place in Shelley, Idaho (where Mom always talked about moving back to) and we ended up moving her there yesterday.  The last few weeks Mallorie and I have exhausted ourselves with going through all of Grandma's things~ unpacking and repacking all that Grandma had packed haphazardly.  We have shared many a good laugh over random things Grandma has saved or packed together (piles and piles of  napkins cut up into squares "because they were so pretty",  toothpicks everywhere, fine collectibles wrapped in Depends for protection, a bag of (at least 12 years old) dried prunes packed with her undies and Christmas cards and hand soap.  Hand soap everywhere.)  Mallorie posted this on Facebook:

I feel so blessed... the last couple months I was able to share the basement at my aunt and uncle's house with my sweet grandma. Today she is going back to where her heart has always been - Idaho! It has been a blessing for me to watch her with Gehrig.  She has absolutely adores him with all her heart, and he has loved her! She has been a blessing and a great example to many people in her life, but for me she has been so much more! She has taught me many things in my life, here are just a few.... that ice cream can and should be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! That there is nothing like an Idaho potato. That there are so many pretty colors in this world.  That an eternal family is one of the greatest gifts our Heavenly Father could have given us, and she has taught me how a marriage is supposed to be. We love her so much and we are so excited for her new little chapter in life!~ Mallorie-granddaughter 

As you can imagine, this hasn't been an easy decision for David and I.  His siblings, of course, were included in the decision but David was really the one needing to "let go."   It's been dang hard.  For all of us...

All of our kids came with kiddos one of two nights for dinner and to say goodbye then David and I took her to Shelley yesterday.  I was surprised and delighted by how beautiful the facility is.  And her room looks out over a potato field..and the beloved hills of Shelley.  It's all the Idaho kids turn to get to spend time with this wonderful, positive woman.  I've been amazed that each year she's gotten nicer if that is possible.  We feel so blessed that we've had this time with her, to be able to serve her.  Love her to the moon and back.

 Cami filled her room with pictures.

 Common Dining room

Adjoining kitchen where meals are prepared.

Grandma already has a new best friend, Eva, who is the grandmother of one of Mallorie's best friends, Kaitlin that often comes and stays with us.  They can play "do you know who" everyday and it will be new to them.  Eva is 94 (Grandma will be 91 in August!)  (Grandma's about 5"2" so you can imagine that Eva is probably about 4 foot nothin!)

 My heart is breaking. Such a gift after never having grandparents nearby to have her so close this past 6 years. I too love that my children have also been blessed by her loving influence. So very grateful for the daily service and sacrifices of my parents who made it possible for her to be near to us!!~  Brandi

Being Young

I've worked with the teenagers in the Young Women's program forever.  I've been with hundreds of girls (and love getting notes from them years later) as several times as YW's president and Stake YW's president and advisors and loved every girl I met.   I have so many great memories that I could go on and on about- girl's camp, spiritual experiences, pranks, lessons, crafts, New Beginnings, Personal Progress.  I thought I would be happy to work in the Young Women's program forever.  Then about 15 years ago, one of our kids went on a loop-de-loop of life and we went with him.  For about 5 years I thought my guts were strung out on a table (sorry about the graphics)...and I was so spent, it took a long time to recover.  The thought of working in Young Women's to me became paralyzing.  I did not want to be responsible for anyone else's teenagers.  I didn't want to love kids and see some make devastating choices.  I didn't want to worry about if they were dating too early or about intimacy issues or how they were dressed or if they were being tempted to drink and use drugs.  I didn't want to deal with language issues and  bad movie choices.   I was just done.  I didn't want more opportunities to have my heart broken.

And I have dodged many bullets in not working in that program for all this time.

I have steadfastly felt that way until a few months ago.

A few months ago I was having a heart to heart with God.  That's not unusual but I was sharing with him that I was empty and lonely and tired of trying to heal from life on my own.  I humbled myself enough to say, "Thy will be done."  So I guess I wasn't too surprised when about a week later, I got a phone call asking if I could meet with a member of the Bishopric.  I calmly said yes.  That day I was asked to work in Young Women.  Again.  I calmly said yes.  When I was sustained in church, just an hour later, I sat there wondering how I could be so calm about the whole thing.  Really, I had NOT wanted to work with teenagers again.

As I was praying, during the sacrament, the Spirit whispered to me loud and clear- "I don't need you to judge or worry about what these girls are doing or how they are dressing.   I just want you to do 2 things~ love them and bear witness of me."

Oh!  You mean I don't have to be their policeman or mom?   I can do that.  I love easily and I love the Lord.  All the other  concerns just brushed away.  My heart is there.  I instantly loved the girls and I adore the leaders I work with.  Each day when I say my prayers, it is with gratitude that the Lord loves me and knows what I need to fill my bucket and has allowed me time to heal, and be humbled...and be ready to do His will.

Although I'm almost a hundred, these darling girls have welcomed me.  I'm looking forward to all the memories we will make.

from Jeffrey Holland: 

First of all, I want you to be proud you are a woman. I want you to feel the reality of what that means, to know who you truly are. You are literally a spirit daughter of heavenly parents with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. That surpassing truth should be fixed deep in your soul and be fundamental to every decision you make as you grow into mature womanhood. There could never be a greater authentication of your dignity, your worth, your privileges, and your promise. Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. He hears your prayers. He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations. And He knows what you can become through faith in Him.

June

 Yes, I am still alive.  Life is busy, crazy, fun, frustrating, heartbreaking, joyful....you know.  Life!

June was a busy but wonderful month.  It started out with Girl's Camp- which I already posted about.  I also took our Young Women to the temple one night- which was beautiful- but I'll tell more about Young Women's at a later date.

The middle of June is when we always go to Lake Powell on the houseboat.  This was "friend's year" (as opposed to "family year"- which my kiddos don't let me forget...)  We had all 7 couples-Kirk and Cathy Olsen, Brendalyn and Joe Baer, Funny Kathy and Greg Wilson, Penny and Tom Gwilliam, Elaine and Roger Christensen, Valene and George Cook and us.  The weather was perfect, the company hysterical.  David's about the only one that still cares about skiing  but great comedy was had by all on the new tube (Sweet Mable or something....it's a great tube- takes 2 or 3) and jet ski riding and competition barrel racing with jet ski's instead of horses!  Everyone takes a meal so we eat GREAT food all week, talk about how we can't eat another bite....then we're eating a minute later.  Lots of games of Hand and Foot going on.  Lots of great talk and inspiring talk and dang funny talk.  We only came away with with 3 broken toes, one set of bruised ribs, several busted egos, one chewed up rope in the back props.  I started getting that stinky cough cold on the way there...and gave it to David....and Elaine got it when she got home. I don't think she's speaking to me yet.  She came home from Powell, then off to a National Poetry convention that she had to do a lot of things at....and she was coughing and chilling so bad, she had to come home early.  So sorry.  Oh, and we had our boat trailer backed into another boat trailer (not David driving- that's where busted egos come in!) and one tool backfiring and hitting Greg in the forehead and probably needing stitches.  We always say if we don't see blood at Lake Powell, we're not playing hard enough.  I love these dear friends of ours- who are constant in our lives.  They are all such good, good people, love their insides and out!

My best act was after a boatload of us had been out touring.  When we came back to the houseboat, I said I'd jump off the front of the boat to the houseboat to tie up.  I jumped- one foot on the houseboat and 1 foot still in the ski boat.  My splits were amazing- everyone was impressed- and no one dared laugh when I fell in- until I came up laughing with a mouth full of lake water.  Truly, my dad called me twinkle toes for a reason.

Here's Rogers post-email:

Thanks to Dave and Marilyn for another Great Lake Powell trip. While recovering, I have had a few random thoughts and observation that I will share:

Marilyn proved, once again to be the ultimate hostess.

Dave continues to make the rest of us look old. (He also encourages us to do things that will accelerate our aging).

Kirk pretty much spend the week screwing up.

Most foolish statements of the week:

1. Roger, "We have found a spot up Annie's canyon that is protected from the wind."  (total wind for two days)

2. Valene, (referring to her consideration of tube riding)  "I would feel safer if Greg was driving."  (Greg flipped David and Roger- Roger flew over David's head- they both ejected about 20 feet.  Bruised ribs for David...)

3. Greg (speaking to Kirk re Dave's truck), "Why don't you drive." (that's when one trailer was backed into another....)

Wisest statements:

1. Joe, "I don't think that I should do that."

2. Kathy, "You are kidding, aren't you?"

3. Joe, " I had better not do that."

Pre-trip rumors that proved to be unfounded:

1. We would run out of food.

2. We would run out of gas.

3. George had signed a deal with Speedo Swim Wear.  (I don't think I saw him in a suit all week!)


New records:

1. Penny: Set new tubing speed record for her at 8.9 mph (briefly). Her prior record: 0 mph.

2. Marilyn: (see above)

3. Valene: (see above)

4. Brendalyn: 18 minutes of continuous laughing at death (while riding a tube).

5. Tom: 5.6 hours of uninterrupted jet ski riding with no relief of any kind.

Thanks for a great time



This is the view waking up in the morning above the houseboat.  The sky was the amazing blue.  At night you could see every star and be dusted with the Milky Way.  Heaven.

Came home to my happy garden.  It has brought me such joy this year.  Yesterday I picked my first zucchini and first yellow squash.  No one in the house jumped up and down.  David said, "I thought zucchini's were something neighbors left on your doorstep and then you'd carve boats out of them."  Heh, I grew them with love and can't wait to make my favorite cheesy chicken and squash pasta with them.

We got home from Powell on Friday night.  Monday night we hosted the Platinum Group (our funny name for our empty nesters group.)  Bob and Brenda Bailey asked if we could do the activity for June and wanted to have a rodeo here.  David got roping buddies and put on a show.  The audience was divided into groups to cheer on their teams.  Nancy Tillotsen was our beautiful flag carrier  and rodeo queen. Bob wanted a grand finish- so after my loud NO vote, David had a buddy bring hides to ride.  You have a cowhide drug on the ground, pulled by a rope and the horse.  The horse is galloping by and a (crazy) person jumps on the hide and is drug all around the area.  Fast.  Did I mention non of these guys are spring chicks?  Hysterical.

Nick and Cari Larsen brought their chuck wagon and did bbq chicken and ribs, corn on the cob, etc.  We had about 50 people and it was great fun.

No sooner than the rodeo was over, it was time to pack up and head to the Miller Lodge with our Bucket group plus husbands.  Gail is so generous with all her "stuff."  This "stuff" is the lodge she owns, on 14,000 acres near Preston, Idaho (think Napoleon Dynamite.)  Besides the beautiful cabin, there is another outbuilding with a huge garage system plus an indoor gym and meeting rooms for when they have NBA Jazz conference retreats there.  David was in heaven in the gym.  They have their own lake- with a pontoon boat for fishing, and several paddle boats that we took out like ducks.  They also have ATV's and miles and miles of trails for exploration.

It was heaven.  Truly.

 And did I mention the food?  Every meal marvelous.

Remember when we were in Guatemala and I took a picture of my favorite place in the cabana.  My ugly toe picture?

Well, here is mine from the Miller Lodge!

 #yesstilltheugliesttoesintheworldbuttheyarehappyatthismoment

and so....that's life from a slug.  Signing off.  Goodbye- June!