Exercise

The Things I Know

One quote from a Conference address challenges us all to focus on the things that we DO know, as opposed to those we don't know now.  I've actually made lists of all the things I do know and I thought a good exercise would be for me to share these for my small plates (things sacred to me.) 

To begin with- I know how to forgive.  It's something I've worked on and prayed over and over about and learned about and practiced.  It is hard to describe to another that hasn't had this experience but it is so liberating and refreshing.  It is a power that is harnessed.  Like everyone, I have had my fair share of life's disappointments and betrayals- by family members, by friends and even abuse.  But I'm so thankful that when I read in the Beatitudes- you will be forgiven as you forgive others- is exactly what it means!   Forgiving doesn't necessarily mean forgetting but it becomes remembering with a compassionate heart rather than hate.  I know this.  Forgiveness is possible.  Forgiveness is a gift.

Much of  this Sunday's sacrament meeting was focused on forgiveness.  There were so many thoughts I wanted to ponder.  One of the speakers referenced Pres. Faust's last conference address on forgiveness.  This is part of what he said:

Dr. Sidney Simon, a recognized authority on values realization, has provided an excellent definition of forgiveness as it applies to human relationships:

“Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves.” ⁵

Most of us need time to work through pain and loss. We can find all manner of reasons for postponing forgiveness. One of these reasons is waiting for the wrongdoers to repent before we forgive them. Yet such a delay causes us to forfeit the peace and happiness that could be ours. The folly of rehashing long-past hurts does not bring happiness.

Some hold grudges for a lifetime, unaware that courageously forgiving those who have wronged us is wholesome and therapeutic.

Forgiveness comes more readily when we have faith in God and trust in His word. Such faith “enables people to withstand the worst of humanity. It also enables people to look beyond themselves. More importantly, it enables them to forgive.”    

All of us suffer some injuries from experiences that seem to have no rhyme or reason. We cannot understand or explain them. We may never know why some things happen in this life. The reason for some of our suffering is known only to the Lord. But because it happens, it must be endured. President Howard W. Hunter said that “God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see.”

While I was traveling to and from Washington - I read the book "The Light Between Two Oceans."  It's been on my to-read list for awhile now.  I knew it was sad and I wasn't sure I wanted any gloom.  But the book was beautiful and hard and haunting.  Here is a beautiful quote that sums it up for me: 

“But how? How can you just get over these things?  You've had so much strife but you're always happy. How do you do it?'
'I choose to...I can leave myself to rot in the past, spend my time hating people for what happened, like my father did, or I can forgive and forget.'
'But it's not that easy.'
He smiled that Frank smile. 'Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things...I would have to make a list, a very, very long list and make sure I hated the people on it the right amount. That I did a proper job of hating, too: very Teutonic! No' - his voice became sober- 'we always have a choice. All of us.'" p.323”
― M.L. Stedman     The Light Between Oceans

Odds and Ins

 Whew!  My life is a whirlwind....it seems like I just get home from Washington and then I'm getting back on again.  Got back Friday and finally had time to tweet my computer that went down on me- got serviced- and then didn't work at home.  Heh-Heh- "I" fixed it myself!  I can never fix anything.  I'm still a titch amazed....

Coloring books for adults is a big new trend.  Who would have thought?  I got some cute ones for Christmas and birthday....  they say it is really relaxing and meditative...but I'm not sure either of those go with attention deficit....    But I'm giving them the old college try.

Before I left for my folks, I got a surprise knock on my door from the darling "Achievement Day Girls" (age 8-11 or something like that.)  They sang and I danced for them and they gave me this darling candy parfait.  I love these little girls- several of which I had as nursery leader, then Sunbeam teacher and then 8 year old teacher! 

 

Trying to get pictures off my phone- so here are two of my darling Laurels at our sledding party.  Freezing cold (and yes, I DID stay in the car which was perfect since I had to run emergency potty duty!)  (I'm such a slug!)

 
Yesterday in Young Women's, these were the cute treats prepared for the girls.  Such a cute idea- I DIG it!

 

 

 

Here is the last picture I finished.  I was happy how it turned out.  Still not loving art like I used to love writing poetry but it is good therapy for me.  Nothing like breathing paint fumes to calm the soul....

 

Last week before I went to Washington, we got a text saying DIL Brooke had gone in the middle of the night to have an emergency appendectomy.  (Thankfully they called Brooke's parents to come help with the kids- it was 3 a.m. lol)  David and I went to relieve Brooke's folks during the afternoon and then brought the two little boys and Annee home with us overnight to give Brooke some rest.  We didn't get to bring this sweet baby home since she's a nursing baby....who is just the sweetest baby alive! 

 But the boys and I play cars  (I am just the service station- continually changing batteries in the cars) and Annee plays on her Ipad until I MAKE her play a game with me...which I immediately regret since she'll only play if Grandpa plays and they gang up on me terribly.  Annee loves her cowboy grandpa!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll share about my visit home later but I got home Friday to send my husband off to a Moot Court that he was judging for our grand, Josh.  Glad they could do that together.

 

 

Sooo...that brings us to Saturday.  Our dear friend, Sid, who was our best man at our wedding and who lives in Idaho- was in town dating a gal that lost her husband 3 years ago to ALS.  Come to find out, when I found out where she lives, we have 1/2 a dozen friends in common and she is involved with a singing group that actually performed at one of our Bucket lunches.  Small world.  We had Sid and Joanne over for dinner Saturday night and it was awesome to eat good food and tell stories (well, I told Joanne stories about Sid since we all go way back) and then we played Greed (similar to Farkle) and marbles (Aggravation). 

 

I fixed teriyaki salmon with Sriracha cream, salad with blackberries and feta, roasted sweet potatoes and butternut squash- and Joanne brought rolls and Swedish Cream for dessert. 

 
 We are going to LOVE making memories with these two friends- one old/one new.

(Sid left his dice here for the game...and I texted that we were keeping them hostage which Sid texted back that was okay just so we didn't practice.  Ha- like practicing this game would help!)


Yesterday was a lovely day at church.  Because of some amazing things that happened this past week (which I'll share in my private journal-) my heart was totally filled with love and gratitude for the Lord.  I have specifically been praying for several things - in addition to more faith- and...

can I just say, God is a God of miracles.  His love and attention never ceases to amaze me.  Blessed.  Blessed.  Blessed to the corner recesses of my heart.....

After church I prepared a GIANT lasagna and had lots of the family over for dinner. I totally forgot I was dieting....  Bummer.

 Love my kiddos. Love to spend time with my folks.   Love my Valentine.  Love to come home to David and family and friends and our Ward family.  Loved to love and be loved!  I'm a Valentines kind of girl.

“Your family’s never in your past. You carry it around with you everywhere.” - (quote from The Light Between Two Oceans)

Yummy recipes

Bucket at Funny Kathy's was delightful was some new dishes to try.  A baked potato soup with asiago cheese and a new chicken salad.  Soooo good.  Check out the cooking blog.

Temple Bliss

This week we had Bucket at Funny Kathy's house.  As always, wonderful food (fabulous recipes to follow) and conversation.  As we were talking about various things, Sheron F- who was recently called to the Temple Presidency of the Draper Temple- (which  means she can't come to Bucket except when the Temple closes which  was this week.)- said she was speaking to a Women's Conference next week and wanted our thoughts about the temple.  I shared some thoughts and friend Gail said she was also speaking in Sacrament Meeting this week on the temple and could I forward her my remarks.  I searched my old posts and found this one.

This topic is especially dear to me this month as David and I actually started as Temple workers in the Draper Temple.   Just two weeks so far but it has already been a spiritual feast.  I'll share more later:

A line from one of my friend's poem (Elaine Christensen) says, "Some days you know God loves you." Wed. was one of those days. While I was at Lake Powell, I had the opportunity to read a book that I’ve been anxious to devour. It is called "The Holy Secret" by James Ferrill, the author of "The Peacegiver." "The Peacegiver" was a life-changing book for me so I was anxious to read his next book. I wasn’t disappointed. The premise of this novel is the question "Why don’t we love Holy things?"

"Many today carry a secret: We do not love what we have been commanded to love. We do not love what is holy. Although we might reverence things that are deemed holy- the temple, for example, and the scriptures, and the Sabbath- we do not love them. Not really. Not with our whole souls.'  James Ferrill

Our actions as a people suggest that as a body of believers we do not love what is holy. Do we do what we do out of obedience or do we love it? Are we "passionate" about reading the scriptures, passionate about keeping the Sabbath day holy, passionate about attending the temple.

I have been having conversations in my head and with my sweet friend, J. about the temple. I have had miraculous experiences in the temple. I feel the Spirit there. I yearn to do what is right. But I’m not passionate about going. My friend, J. is. I see that I am missing out on something.

It reminds me of when Travis left on his mission. Tenille and Travis were high school "true loves"....Travis and Tenille’s brother, Trent, went out about the same time. One day Tenille came to our house just glowing. She told us she had just turned in her mission papers. She said she loved getting their letters, loved reading about their experiences but WANTED her very own wonderful experiences. So she did! Awesome!

I feel that way about the temple and J.
I WANT to feel the way she feels because I realize that I’m missing out on something big. I was anxious to go to the temple this week, since I’m giving a talk on Sunday, but our Jordan River temple is closed. So I called J. to see if she would like to go with me to the Timpanogos temple. It was an amazing experience. Instead of being rushed, I prepared. We sat in the car for 1 ½ hours before even entering the temple (which is one of my favorites...it is so beautiful...I’m mesmerized by the glass work) talking about holy things. We were both going with prayers in our hearts. We were going to worship not just "do" the work. I was alive and attentive during the session. We spent much time in the Celestial room, apart, pondering the things we each needed to discuss with the Lord. I left with new insight, filled and almost bursting with adoration. It truly was a holy day. Thank you, J. for your influence and listening ears. (These are a few quotes that J. has shared with me through the last year...)

D & C 109:22- And we ask thee, Holy Father, that they servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon then, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them. (I've really not thought of leaving the temple "armed with power." Don't we all need that desperately?)
The Lord has planted within us a divinity; and that divine immortal spirit requires to be fed. That divinity within us needs food from the fountain from which it emanated.
Brigham Young Turn our meanderings into a sacred pilgrimage. Unknown
He does know, He does understand, He does care. And He has had us sacrifice to build sacred houses where the linkage of His heart, His 'bowels of compassion' can merge with ours.
Truman Madsen

Burnt Offerings

There are roasted veggies and then there are ROASTED veggies!  (Don't take a nap while the Brussels are roasting...)