Living Water

For Bucket on Tuesday, I am asking all the girls to send me favorite quotes that I'm compiling into a little packet. I sent off a note to Diana (she and her husband are serving a mission in Long Beach California right now) to get her imput.  She and I are big C.S. Lewis fans- so  it doesn't surprise me that some of her favorite quotes  are also some of my favorite quotes.  In fact, I've probably shared this with you before.  But I love, love, love it....and so here it is again.   The fictional work, The Silver Chair, by C.S. Lewis, a young girl, Jill Pole, has entered a strange wood in the  land of Narnia with her friend, Eustace Scrubb. Due  to poor judgment, she finds herself alone and separated  from Eustace. She is very thirsty and is walking in search of water. She finds a stream, but stops dead in her tracks. Lewis writes,

But although the sight of water made her feel ten times thirstier than before, she didn’t rush forward and drink. She stood as still as if she had been  turned into stone, with her mouth wide open.  And she had a very good reason: just on this side of the stream lay the lion. …“If I run away, it’ll be after  me in a moment,” thought Jill. “And if I go on, I shall  run straight into its mouth.” Anyway, she couldn’t have  moved if she had tried, and she couldn’t take her  eyes off it. How long this lasted, she could not  be sure; it seemed like hours. And the thirst became  so bad that she almost felt she would not mind being  eaten by the lion if only she could be sure of getting  a mouthful of water first. “If you’re thirsty, you may drink.” …For a second she stared here and there, wondering  who had spoken. Then the voice said again, “If you  are thirsty, come and drink.”…It was deeper,  wilder, and stronger; a sort of heavy, golden voice.  It did not make her any less frightened than she  had been before, but it made her frightened in rather  a different way. “Are you not thirsty?” said the Lion. “I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill. “Then drink,” said the Lion. “May I — could I — would you mind going away  while I do?” said Jill. The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low  growl. …The delicious rippling noise of the stream was  driving her nearly frantic. “Will you promise not to – do anything to me, if I do come?” said Jill. “I make no promise,” said the Lion. …“I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill. “Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion. “Oh dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer.  “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.” “There is no other stream,” said the Lion. It never occurred to Jill to disbelieve the Lion – no one who had seen his stern face could do that – and her mind suddenly made itself up. It was the worst  thing she had ever had to do, but she went forward  to the stream, knelt down, and began scooping up  water in her hand. It was the coldest, most refreshing  water she had ever tasted. You didn’t need to drink  much of it, for it quenched your thirst at once.

In Narnia, there is no stream other than Aslan’s that can keep one from dying of thirst. In this world, Christ alone offers us eternal life through His gift of living water.   "Jesus answered her, "if you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me drink," you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water...but whoever drinks of the water that  I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  (John 4:10, 14)  (I just saw that I posted this 8 years ago after a  Stake Conference where a man I really admired reminded us of this story.  He prefaced it by saying,  "Now, God being God didn't have to ask where  Adam was physically...the question was "Adam, where are you in your heart? Where is your loyalty?  What path do you choose?" Bro. Tippetts said,  " With God there are two directions "toward or away."  He went on to talk about Christ being the only "living water" - that which truly fills. We try to fill  ourselves with so much that won't sustain. )

CS Lewis on "Where is God?"

Last week, during my lesson on Adversity, I read this marvelous (though sad) quote from CS Lewis. I think there is always some times in the middle of the storm, when you feel like a door has been slammed. The commentary is by Jeffrey Holland:



One marvelously gifted man, a convert to Christianity, slowly watched his wife dying of cancer. As he observed her slipping away from him with all that she had meant and had given him, his newfound faith about which he had written so much and with which he had strengthened so many others now began to waver. In times of such grief, C. S. Lewis wrote, one runs the risk of asking:

"Where is God? . . . When you are happy. . . [you] turn to Him with gratitude and praise, [and] you will be. . . welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You [might] as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become. There are no lights in the windows. It might be an empty house. . . . [Yet he was once there.] What can this mean? Why is [God] so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?" [C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (New York: Seabury Press, Inc., 1961), pp. 4-5]

Those feelings of abandonment, written in the midst of a terrible grief, slowly passed, and the comfort of Lewis' faith returned, stronger and purer for the test. But note what self-revelation this bitter cup, this bloody baptism, had for him. In an obligation of quite a different kind, he, too, now realized that enlisting for the duration of the war is not a trivial matter, and in the heat of battle he hadn't been so heroic as he had encouraged millions of his readers to be.

"You never know how much you really believe anything," he confesses, until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to [tie] a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it? . . . Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief. [Lewis, p. 25] . . . Your [view of] . . . eternal life. . . will not be [very] serious if nothing much [is at] stake. . . . A man. . . has to be knocked silly before he comes to his senses. [p. 43] . . . I had been warned--[indeed,] I had warned myself. . . . [I knew] we were. . . promised sufferings. . . . [That was] part of the program. We were even told, "Blessed are they that mourn," and I accepted it. I've got nothing that I hadn't [agreed to]. . . . [So] if my house. . . collapsed at one blow, that is because it was a house of cards. The faith which "took these things into account" was not [an adequate] faith. . . . If I had really cared, as I thought I did [care], about the sorrows of [others in this] world, [then] I should not have been so overwhelmed when my own sorrow came. . . . I thought I trusted the rope until it mattered. . . . [And when it indeed mattered, I found that it wasn't strong enough.]

. . . You will never discover how serious it [is] until the stakes are raised horribly high; [and God has a way of raising the stakes] . . . [sometimes] only suffering [can] do [that]. [pp. 41-43] [So God is, then, something like a divine physician.] A cruel man might be bribed--might grow tired of his vile sport--might have a temporary fit of mercy, as alcoholics have [temporary] fits of sobriety. But suppose that what you are up against is a [wonderfully skilled] surgeon whose intentions are [solely and absolutely] good. [Then], the kinder and more conscientious he is, [the more he cares about you,] the more inexorably he will go on cutting [in spite of the suffering it may cause. And] if he yielded to your entreaties, if he stopped before the operation was complete, all the pain up to that point would have been useless. . . . [pp. 49-50]
[So I am, you see, one] of God's patients, not yet cured. I know there are not only tears [yet] to be dried but stains [yet] to be scoured. [My] sword will be made even brighter. [p. 49]

Adversity

Even the mere word makes me tremble. Today adversity is the topic that I'm teaching in Sunday School. I've read and read and read and thought and thought and thought and reflected on it all. There are many things that I can't share here (because of space) but I thought I would share a few quotations I am handing out on the subject. In addition, I have printed 5 pages of scriptures dealing with the subject. We can't/shouldn't think of adversity (unless it has been by our own willful choices) as punishment, but rather a natural and NECESSARY part of life. We could not know happiness without knowing sorrow. One of my very favorite quotations is that "Adversity creates two kinds of people- victims and victors." We choose.

I have found that it is much easier to speak of adversity in the past tense rather than the middle of the storm. As with hurricanes and tornados and other calamities, it is difficult to do your preparation at the moment of impact. Scripture tells us that if we are prepared, we shall not fear. Each of us need that personal fortification to survive the storms that come in life. Having a strong relationship with the Savior for me is a must. I am truly weak. I flail often. I get overcome by fear easily and overwhelmed. I'm so grateful I know when I'm empty, when I'm strong. I seek for strong......

Like the mortal life of which they are a part, adversities are temporary. What is permanent is what we become by the way we react to them. Dallin H. Oaks

"It is not on the pinnacle of success and ease where men and women grow most. It is often down in the valley of heartache and disappointment and reverses where men and women grow into strong characters" (in Conference Report, Stockholm Sweden Area Conference, 1974, 70).

"Every reversal can be turned to our benefit and blessing and can make us stronger, more courageous, more godlike" Ezra Taft Benson

Elaine Cannon reminds us of an important way these blessings come and how we can make the most of them. "When we are pushed, stung, defeated, embarrassed, hurt, rejected, tormented, forgotten—when we are in agony of spirit crying out ‘why me?’ we are in a position to learn something"

It is the words the Lord spoke to the children of Israel through the prophet Isaiah: "Behold, I have refined thee, … I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" Isa. 48:10; see also 1 Ne. 20:10).

Lord Byron said, "Adversity is the first path to truth"

Adversity is the refiner’s fire that bends iron but tempers steel. Pres. Faust

President David O. McKay said: "There are those who have met disaster, which almost seems defeat, who have become somewhat soured in their natures; but if they stop to think, even the adversity which has come to them may prove a means of spiritual uplift. Adversity itself may lead toward and not away from God and spiritual enlightenment; and privation may prove a source of strength if we can but keep the sweetness of mind and spirit" (Treasures of Life[1962], 107–8).

Let us not presume that because the way is at times difficult and challenging, our Heavenly Father is not mindful of us. He is rubbing off our rough edges and sensitizing us for our great responsibilities ahead. James E. Faust

"There is an answer to the passionate longings of the heart for fullness, and I knew it, and the answer is this: Live in all things outside yourself by love, and you will have joy. That is the life of God; it ought to be our life. In him it is accomplished and perfect; but in all created things it is a lesson learned slowly and through difficulty." Robert Browning

Disasters and tribulation are not always for the punishment of the wicked, but often for the sanctification of the righteous. Glen Pace

The Lord is more interested in our growth than our comfort.

We are not to pretend that chastising is fun. But afterwards we gain the peace and joy of well-done.

Adversity is part of the plan. It is our education in this world.

Trust in the Lord. Life is like a roller coaster- around with ups and downs. If our constant response is trust in Heavenly Father we shall be supported.

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." C. S. Lewis

"No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear." C. S. Lewis

"Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ." CS Lewis

"We are what we believe we are. What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step." C.S. Lewis

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?" unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way. ~Author Unknown

A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn. ~Author Unknown

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief. ~William Shakespeare, Othello

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa

I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders. ~Jewish Proverb


When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. ~African Proverb

Adversity introduces a man to himself. ~Author Unknown

God brings men into deep waters, not to drown them, but to cleanse them. ~John Aughey

Thursday Trivia

I have a revolving door in my house.....not really but it seems that way sometimes.

David is so in and out, I forget at moments that we are married. He went to Miami Monday morning, came home last night, left this morning for someplace else until Friday night. He gets tired of the travel. He doesn't always do this but frequently he does and it seems to come in spurts. I have mentioned that he is a trial lawyer...and he represents the University Hospital here. There is a med. school with it so when the docs leave, they go all over the country. I have wondered at times what my MIL thinks of my crazy lifestyle. I'm always running here or going out to lunch there or taking a class here, meeting friends there. The other day I mentioned it to her and said, "When I realized that my husband's career was going to leave me alone so much, I had to make a life for myself." He's always had 60 hour plus work weeks....we had dinner when the kids were growing up between 7:30 and 8:30....because if we didn't, the kids would have never gotten to eat with their dad! Besides being busy, David is a great dad and husband. I love him to death. (how about to "time and eternity?") (to infinity and beyond....)

I forgot to mention last week I got a message on my answering machine- a voice singing "Going to the chapel and we're gonna get married....." PPP (Pretty Patty Petty) was calling from Boise and I knew right away that Kyle, her daughter, got engaged! Kyle lives in Salt Lake and works for the new IHC hospital and I knew that she had met someone she really liked. They will have a small reception (in our yard!) in July. PPP came down for the weekend to help with wedding plans. I get to have her tonight until tomorrow noon! I've mentioned how PPP and Kyle would come and stay with us and Kyle, being a year younger than Tanner, would have sleepovers in Tanner's room. When they got about 10/11, it dawned on us that sleepover time was over! Kyle always called Tanner "THAT boy" and also called Lagoon (the amusement park) "The Goon."

About ten minutes after PPP called, the newly weds, Trista and Tobin called from Provo. Their summer jobs didn't work out and they had just gotten back from Colorado and were homeless. Could they stay until Saturday? Of course!

Today is "THAT boy's" birthday. What can I say about my baby that I haven't whined about, cried about, gone on and on about since he just got married a few months ago. Tanner has been a gift to me, given after I regained my sanity from the other children....5 years (planned) after the last child. He was joyful from the day he was born....was so easy that Elaine was sure I was giving him drugs! Even as an adult, he wakes up happy and goes to bed happy. He is good and kind and funny (always makes me spurt chocolate milk out of my nose) and I adore him.

I just want to mention for any Williams relatives that might be reading this, Jenny Jaggi (Jared's wife) had their baby Sunday evening. A boy....Jacob (Jake) Scott Jaggi. All is well!

This morning is a jam-packed day. I'm going uptown and meeting Sophia for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. She's bringing me the wedding tablecloths she borrowed and I'm taking her Liza's and Barbie's contest winning cookbooks. We missed out on our get-together this weekend so this will have to do. Pottery Barn afterwards to get a gift for Ashley Davies shower this evening. Since it is Tanner's birthday (and dinner) and a house full of company and a shower, it should be a wild night!

I got art re-scheduled at Rochelle's tomorrow since Patty will be here...but in the midst of everything, son Ryan will bring all his Young Men here tomorrow night to camp on our backyard! They swim, ride horses and always do a service project for us. Since Ryan serves in a Hispanic ward, their bbq is carne asada rather than hamburgers. YUM! I think this is their 3rd year coming here. (no park fees!)

In the midst of this craziness, I'm also trying to prepare my SS lesson for Sunday. This week it is on Spiritual Gifts (1 Corn. 12:4-11, also in D & C and B o M.) I've loved reflecting on the topic and things (gifts) of the spirit that sustain us. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

The best fruits are plucked for each by some hand that is not his own. C.S. Lewis

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.~Ruth Ann Schabacker " (this is actually in vinyl over my French doors in my bedroom)

President George Q. Cannon taught: "If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. Have I imperfections? I am full of them. What is my duty? To pray to God to give me the gifts that will correct these imperfections. If I am an angry man, it is my duty to pray for charity, which suffereth long and is kind. Am I an envious man? It is my duty to seek for charity, which envieth not. So with all the gifts of the Gospel. They are intended for this purpose. No man ought to say, "Oh I cannot help this; it is my nature." He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them."
Discernment is a light of protection and direction in a world that grows increasingly dark. You and I can press forward safely and successfully through the mist of darkness and have a clear sense of spiritual direction. Discernment is so much more than recognizing right from wrong. It helps us distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant, the important from the unimportant, and the necessary from that which is merely nice. Elder David Bednar

Stake Conference

This has been our Stake Conference weekend and yesterday put me over the top. As we were leaving the Stake Center, J. was talking to some people and asked me a question and I couldn't even talk...I stammered some gibberish (my normal conversation)...because I just wanted to get home and go into my closet (really wishing I had really CLEANED it last week when I said I would) and just weep (happy weep) and have a little gratitude conversation with God.

Elder Todd Christopherson lives in our Stake and spoke at the end. He told how topics are chosen at General Conference and shared some interesting stories. He shared how in his own preparation, he met with leaders of other Christian churches and they discussed concern over "softness." Rather than being strong in the faith, strong in the scriptures, strong in commitment, strong in the battle against sin....their fear is that we are becoming soft. Soft in the faith, soft in commitment. Soft never wins the battle.

One of my favorite speakers was Larry Tippetts. He taught Institute for many years (maybe still does) and I took classes from him years ago (before Michael Wilcox.) He began by posing the question from God we find in the scriptures, after Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, "Adam, where art thou?"

Now, God being God didn't have to ask where Adam was physically...the question was "Adam, where are you in your heart? Where is your loyalty? What path do you choose?" Bro. Tippetts said, " With God there are two directions "toward or away." He went on to talk about Christ being the only "living water" - that which truly fills. We try to fill ourselves with so much that won't sustain. Besides the story in the scripture (Jesus meeting the woman of Samaria at Jacob's well), he shared the analogy CS Lewis tells in one of his books. In The Silver Chair- a little girl is very thirsty and goes to the stream to get a drink but is frightened because Aslan the Lion is there. She is afraid although he welcomes her to come and drink. She is frustrated because she wants to drink but doesn't want to go through Aslan. She wants some other place to drink.....then Aslan says, ""There is no other stream"

And really....there IS no other stream.

They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters. Jer.2:13
Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. John 4:6-15
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. John 7:37

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Pictures are from last year's children's table.

Last night my son-in-law, my FAVORITE son-in-law, spent hours in the U of U hospital (with Brandi) getting an extensive MRI. We won't have any results for a few days but just the time spent in the machine was excruciating. Please, please, please, we need some answers. Ryan and Brandi both need relief.

I miss the olden days when our family would team up with either David's sister, Laraine and family or with the Dahlquist's. Each of our family has grown, with kid's married and everyone needing to start their own traditions. Today for dinner we will have 19....that doesn't seem like very many to me. All of our kids and their counterparts except Brandi and Ryan and family will be with us.

Last night was heaven cooking. David was at a Jazz game, Tanner gone all evening so I just cooked and cooked. I got the dressing done first, sweet potatoes that are mashed and full of sugar and butter and topped with a praline topping (Heather White's Aunt Jan's recipe.) The mashed potatoes are ready to just be reheated in a crock pot. Two pumpkin roll-ups are in the freezer. The turkey got put in the oven about 10:00 to slow cook most of the evening. This morning I'll just make rolls...then walk with Brendalyn, then home to make the green bean casserole and another couple of desserts. Can I tell you how cooking makes me happy?

The Utah State student that died from alcohol poisoning this past week is my friend, Maniac Rose's nephew's brother-in-law. Their whole family is grieving over this fine boy that got caught up in the craziness of Fraternity hazing. What heartache.

This is our first Thanksgiving without my dear father-in-law. I don't mean this post to sound sad and maudlin...I truly am so thankful for all our blessings. I'm so happy that David's mom is with us.....she was lost for months...but now she has settled into her "routine" and worn out several brooms sweeping. I've never seen anyone sweep so much. She is such a wonderful woman.

I'm anticipating a wonderful day of eating and playing games with the family. I'll leave with my one my favorite CS Lewis quotes:

(From The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe- C.S. Lewis)"

At first Edmund tried to remember that it is rude to speak with one's mouth full, but soon he forgot about this and thought only of trying to shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate the more he wanted to eat...."

Another Fondue and a Note to the Great-Great-Greats

Last night our Valentine dinner turned out so wonderful. And I know that you are probably getting sick of my fondue recipes but besides the Chocolate Almond (by the end of the evening, people WERE just eating it with their spoons!), I also made this one. It is delicious! Really, I had forgotten how much I loved fondue. I was married in the seventies...and I think we got 4 fondue pots for wedding gifts. And 4 hibachi grills. Those were the "seventies" gifts! I think I still had one of the pots until a year or so ago, when one of my kids (actually David!) used it to melt wax for his skies. He also used my hair dryer. Ruined that as well. He's such a kid!

Caramel Apple Fondue
Ingredients

82 small soft caramel candies (about 1 1/2 pounds)

3/4 cup apple cider

1/2 cup half-and-half object

Dash of ground nutmeg , cinnamon (pumpkin pie spice would work as well)

Preparation: Place candies and cider in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat; cook 12 minutes or until candies melt, stirring frequently. (I actually did the whole process in the microwave) Stir in half-and-half and spices. Reduce heat, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour into a fondue pot. Keep warm over low flame. Serve with apple wedges, bananas, berries, rice krispie treats, etc.

Last night I had a restless night. I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep for a couple of hours. When I did sleep, I wrote my blog entry for today. I thought. Of course it was in the dream. This morning the idea was gone. So, I wanted to borrow a few thoughts from other blogs that have gotten me thinking.

The picture at the beginning and this one here both look like they are enhanced. You don't really believe that people do those kinds of stunts. But they are real....the snowboarder is Tenille's little brother, Jake Welch, who is sponsored by a dozen companies and flies all over the world snowboarding and making magazines and films. In his journal he wrote that "alcohol" was poison. While his buddies were all sleeping off the night before, he was able to have the photographer all to himself and got these great shots in Chile. This kid has snowboarded with the best of them....well, he is included in the best of them.....for years. And he is only about 20. Just the neatest kid.

Well, while he was practicing this past week, he tore his ACL. He's out for at least a year. The sport has been rough on his body. The disappointment has got to be horrific.

And I've been worrying about him. And then Marta shared a disappointment that her young son had not making a ball team that they thought for sure he would make. And then I thought of all the disappointments that make up a life. I won't bring up the roadshow......

Marta shared the lyrics to a song from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." One stanza reads:

"Every bursted bubble has a glory!
Each abysmal failure makes a point!
Every glowing path that goes astray,
Shows you how to find a better way.
So every time you stumble never grumble.
Next time you'll bumble even less!
For up from the ashes,
grow the roses of success!"

It sure is hard, when life brings you disappointments, to immediately start looking for the silver lining. I do think it is important to allow ourselves the stages of grieving, for healing. It is a challenge not to let disappointment define us for the rest of our lives. For me, as I have reflected on some disappointments in my life, I realize in retrospect that I can "thank God for unanswered prayers."

One of the most meaningful scriptures to me is found in the writings of Paul. He writes in Philippians 4:11-"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."That scripture is so much more meaningful when you realize that Paul wrote that while he was in prison.
Wow, great-great-greats- I'm sorry I am sounding melancholy this morning. It must be from all that fondue that I am so urging you to indulge in! I guess what I am saying is that it is important to use disappointment to turn in a new direction. It is certainly not something we should beat ourselves up with.

C.S. Lewis said, in Pilgrim's Regress,
"And what is this valley called?""We call it now simply Wisdom's Valley; but the oldest maps mark it as the Valley of Humiliation."
I don't think it is wrong to grieve or to be sad. It is a healing process. We don't have to see the blessing right now...just know that God is in charge and He can make things right. And He can help us through the storm. And oftentimes that which seems as failure, may be really be a protection in disguise....
And sometimes it is only with time, that we can look back at our lives and see those valleys with wisdom and as the turning point to greater joy in our lives. But until that happens, just mix up a big pot of fondue. Get a big spoon. Eat the whole pot yourself, if you wish. Then get back on your feet, go to work and know that you are loved.

Christmas Grapes-2004

Before we moved, right in the middle of remodeling this home and packing and trying to get Tanner outfitted for his mission, the grapes came on. I should have just let them go. I really hate to can and prided myself that I had given it up. But what do you do when you have purchased a property with a zillion fruit trees and vines? I had already done tons of plums and begged people to come and get the pears from the 50 (!) pear trees. So I was bottling grape juice, running to the new (old) home to meet with a subcontractor, running back to bottle more grapes, running back to meet with someone else. Finally, after about 6 hours of this, I had "had" it! I looked around my kitchen that was covered with grapes and vines and leaves and bottles and lids and stickiness everywhere and I totally lost it. My family didn't grow up on canned grape juice and I realized probably no one would drink it. I flipped off the stove and made a decision. I decided to run away. I was frustrated with moving and packing and remodeling an entire home, upstairs and down within 3 months, working with two different contractors, busy with my new Stake RS calling and life in general. I was tired. And then those darn grapes were glaring at me! I hopped in the car and just headed, somewhere, anywhere.

In the middle of my driving, my son-in-law called me. He asked what I was doing so I told him I was running away. He said, "Good, run away to this shop where they have great hardware for cabinets." Ryan was working for a cabinet company at the time and he was in charge of my kitchen and cabinets. He gave me the address of the hardware store and I turned the car around and headed there. I could not have known the tender mercy that would greet me.

As I pulled up to the old building, there painted on the cinder block walls was a quote from Galileo. Imagine how I felt when I read,

"The sun, with all those planets swirling around it and depending on it, still has time to smile on each bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else to do."

At first I laughed, then cried. I felt like it was a little God gift. A reminder to me that God is mindful of each of us. Of me.

In General Conference of that year, there was a quote used by Elder Miller in the Sat. morning session. It was a quote, actually, from CS Lewis that said:


"[God] has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. He does not have to deal with us in the mass. You are as much alone with Him as if you were the only being He had ever created. When Christ died, He died for you individually just as much as if you had been the only man [or woman] in the world" (Mere Christianity [1943], 131).

And that is really the best Christmas story. That God lives! And loves us individually. What a wonderful thing to not just celebrate his birth but try and through our lives, celebrate his gift to us, His life.

So, each year around this time, I make grape jelly from my grape juice and share it with my neighbors. I still don't love canning, but I love the grapes. They speak to me in the language of God's love.