Returned With Honor!!!!

After an unusual last few weeks, quarantined in the Texas Dallas mission, Josh's return date was moved up by 3 months.  So hard for him not to be able to say goodbye to all the people he has grown to love but understandable under the circumstances.  We, at our end, were soooo excited!

We love this wonderful boy who has the gentlest heart.  I ADORE him so much!  He came home on Wed. and was having a drive-by on Thursday for his friends and Ward.  We didn't want to wait and have to share him so we had Ryan do a drive-by at Brandi's house- which is on the way home from the airport!  It was so wonderful to see him....so HARD not to hug him!!!!  Almost everyone made signs and Brandi got balloons and I got neon bracelets. Brooke and Tanner brought Twisted cookies and we brought some Krispy Kremes.  A party separated by 6 feet (except immediate families).  I think he was surprised and happy!

Thankful for this sweet boy that learned of God's great love for him and in turn, shared that love with the people in Texas!

The Spirit Speaks...

I love all the posts of Mary Stallings on Come Follow Me Daily.  She is so insightful!  I shared this with my Bucket Group when sharing  my stories on my Small Plates.

Have you ever had someone say, “the spirit is so strong in this room right now.” And you haven’t felt it at all?
I have.
It used to fill me with guilt. Not now.
...

Because I realized something:
The spirit speaks to all of us differently. And at different times.
And that is GREAT.
Because it means the spirit is personal. It speaks to all of us in the ways that we need to be spoken to.
My dad gave me an analogy that has always stuck with me regarding the spirit:
———
Mary, when I get allergies, it shows up because of cats and manifests as a rash.
But when your brother gets allergies, it is because of pollen and manifests in watery eyes and nasal congestion.
What if I told Luke the only way allergies came was around cats, and the only way it manifested was a rash?
He would never identify he had an allergy.
Allergies manifest in different situations and in different ways for different people—and the key is, finding out when and how you personally get allergies.
It is the same with the spirit. What matters is figuring out when and how YOU feel the spirit.
———
This advice has a special place in my heart and reminds me of a scripture in this week’s reading:
.
“For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.” (2 Ne 31:3)
.
God speaks to us each personally in a way that we can understand.
To Oliver Cowdery, it was a burning his bosom. Elijah heard a still small voice. To Samuel the Lamanite, it was words carried into his heart. And Jacob literally wrestled an angel.
 

Reading about how others feel the spirit is important. But the MOST important thing is figuring out how the spirit speaks to you.
I once took a week and kept careful track of how the spirit spoke to me. I wrote down in my phone notes the times I felt the spirit and how I felt it. And I am now able to better pin point how God speaks to me.
Are there still moments I wonder “was that the spirit or me?” Absolutely. I think I’ll spend my life learning the difference..and then trying to make it so there IS no difference.
How does the spirit speak to you?
Art by Brian Kershisnik

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Tomorrow is Bucket at Diana's and she's asked me to share some thoughts about recording experiences for books of small plates.  Here is what I am sharing:

              I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES

 

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a weekly women’s study group that best friend Cathy Olsen’s daughter in law, Julie, was teaching.  It was concerning the song I Know That My Redeemer Lives.  One scripture that she used was found in Helaman 5:50- concerning the Lamanites who became converted

“because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received. “

 

I loved being in that room, or any room of women seeking for the Spirit and sharing their own spiritual experiences.  My mind was quickened to several evidences to me that God lives and loves me and is a constant in our lives.

 

One young woman shared a story in the class about lost keys.  I have always said I am a believer in a God of lost keys.  One story comes to my mind- when I was a young mother.

 

David’s friend Dee Benson was coming into town and needed to borrow our extra car.  He was on his way to our home from downtown Salt Lake.  I hadn’t used that car for awhile and realized I had no idea where the keys were.  I searched and searched to no avail.  You know that panic…and I was getting more frustrated and had all the kids searching the house up and down.  Finally, one of the boys said, “Mom, why don’t we just pray for Heavenly Father to help us?”  I thought to myself, “I don’t want to waste a good prayer on keys.  Heavenly Father doesn’t have time for that.”  But after coming up empty handed, and knowing that Dee would shortly be there, I reluctantly kneeled down at my bedside with my boys.  After the prayer, one of the boys popped up and ran downstairs.  He ran straight to the laundry hall, found an old pair of work boots there- and reached inside and found the set of keys.

 I was humbled to the core.  It was beyond a miracle.  My son Ryan then said we needed to kneel again and thank God for showing us where the keys were.

Again, as one of the boys prayed in gratitude, I was taught by the Spirit- who said to me, “No, the keys aren’t important.  But what IS important is that your boys know that I answer prayers.”

 

What a sacred lesson we all learned that day.  God testified to my sons and I that He lives and hears our prayers and answers sometimes the smallest need.  Without question, our testimonies grew.

 

 

Thursday, January 19, 2017 
 
I mentioned that this year my word is miracles.  I plan to look for them, be available for them, record them and give thanks for them.  They don't have to be bigger than life miracles- like parting of the Red Sea- or raising someone from the dead.  They can be tiny tender mercies that remind us that God is here to help us.

David has been anxious for his first appointment with his orthopedic surgeon.  That appointment was today.  It is hard to get in.  He insisted he could drive, I insisted that he could not.  I won. Yesterday I asked David when his appointment was and he said "3:50 p.m."  That was our plan. 

Last night, after saying my evening prayers, I crawled into bed and as usual, thoughts were swirling around.  When rest finally came, there came a picture into my mind's eye. 

It was a page in my calendar. 

It showed a different time.

I got out of bed and went to actually look.  9:50 a.m.

Thank you.  Thank you.  I will take that tiny miracle and deposit it right into my heart.

 

 

 

 And thirdly, recently our family has had some major trials.  Our hearts have been raked to the coals.  But life goes on- and sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life and trials, it is easy to feel alone and forgotten.  I had been praying, REALLY praying, to know God was aware of what our family was going through and was with us.

Brandi called at the last minute and told me Hallee had a basketball game (she plays on Bingham’s sophomore team) at East High in downtown Salt Lake.  The game was exciting- a comeback story and victory. I was so happy to be there for that.

But I must admit, I’m a bit of a nervous driver and wasn’t real excited to realize I would be driving home in rush hour traffic.

 

The belt route was crazy- 4 lanes each way with cars flying by , weaving in and out of traffic. I   I was a little keyed up zipping along with all the other cars, when suddenly the truck directly in front of me swerved squealing off to the right shoulder.  Like a flash, I realized that the car (and lane) in front of him, and now me- was at a dead stop.  I looked in my mirrors to see the looming traffic but without a choice, I had to swerve to the lane left of me.  My thought was, “This is it.  My life is over.”    I waited for the crash… but there was only silence.  I looked around me.  In my mirror I had only seen packed lanes with zooming cars-  but suddenly no cars were behind or to the side of me.  It was surreal.  And so was the Spirit that whispered, “And you don’t think I’m aware of you.”

Humbled again.  Life preserved.  So thankful for tender mercies that remind me that God is aware. He loves me and my family.  And although we have trials that are sometimes so hard to bear, He lets us know, again and again, that we are not alone.





note: postscript-

Later I told Cathy of my experience.  She said, “Marilyn, when did that happen?”  At approximately the same time, Cathy was leaving her home and paused at the stop sign at Deer Hollow and Wasatch.  She said a dreaded feeling came over her and the thought, “What would I do if something happened to Marilyn?”

That sweet thought was another sweet confirmation that my life matters.

  

Crumbs

So loving the Come Follow Me in addition to our New Testament Study class.  Part of my "pondering" when reading the scriptures is "likening it unto me."  For instance, when I recently read in the New Testament- the story of Nathaniel meeting Jesus for the first time- and Jesus surprised Nathaniel by saying, "I knew you.  You were sitting under the fig tree."  I call it a fig tree moment.  A fig tree moment is when you knew that God KNEW you. There are a million fig trees in Jerusalem and it is hot so I'm sure there were many people sitting under them.  But Jesus saw Nathaniel.   When did God pick me (you) out from all the rest?  I can think of so many times but one time during a repentance process, home alone in prayer- it came really strong to me.  How much God loved me, individually.  He knew me so well (and also knew what I would become.) 

Then I read in the scriptures about Jesus cleansing the temple grounds of the money changers and all those who were defiling the temple.  I led the discussion last week in our study class and I asked everyone if any of them had a "cleansing the temple moment.?"  I think people were puzzled until I told two stories.  One was my dear friend Joy- who shared with me that one time she had gone into the chapel of her church and found the Young Men playing poker at the sacrament table.  She had a "temple cleansing" moment!     Much to my Brandi's chagrin (she was about 14-15), I was the Stake Young Women's president and our Stake was sponsoring a Tri-Stake dance- with a huge crowd and also a D.J.  One particular song was being played and it caught my attention- because I knew that the interlude in the song had a blatant sexual message.  I thought surely the DJ would just turn the song down during the interlude- but he didn't.  I had my "temple cleansing moment."  (as I told him I never wanted to hear that song played at a church dance again, he hedged and said that maybe I was over-reacting and it didn't matter.  I replied (think righteous indignation!!!!)- that nothing should be played in the Lord's house that defiled it.  (Picture Brandi cowering in the corner...)  (I never knew I had it in me- I'm pretty non-confrontational...)  It's a funny story now- it wasn't then!

So this past week I studied the woman who came to the table where Jesus was eating and asked for help.  It is the famous "dog" story which always disturbed me a bit until I understood the translation better.  Then I read a post by Emily Freeman addressing this story. She said "It happens every time I read the story of the woman and her daughter.  The woman who begged for the crumbs.  I remember how much I love the lesson we learn from her faith.  How she opened her heart to the Lord.  How her words were filled with faith.  "I will take whatever you give me.  Give me even the crumbs."  And how often is that our prayer...I will take whatever you give me.  Emily went on to share how she was hostessing at a beauty pageant that her niece was participating in.  She describes how hard her niece's life has been and yet how she "chooses" to radiate joy.  How each day she wakes up with a smile and every day she turns to the Lord.  It is a beautiful tribute.  But then she goes on to say, when all the candidates were lined up on the stage- of starting to pray, of course, for her niece to win.  Isn't that what we would pray?  But she stopped and whispered a quiet prayer, "Heavenly Father, You know what to do."  And then she trusted that whatever happened would be right.

My heart was so touched because I had a similar experience in the past two weeks like that.  I was praying fervently for a grand daughter  who needed "one thing."  She wanted it really bad.  I knew the "one thing" wasn't the most important thing but for Gracie, at that moment, her self esteem was all tangled up in that "one thing."  So what is a grandmother to do but I prayed and I prayed.  But even as I prayed, I realized how much more God loves Gracie than I do- and that he knows the end- and what's best for her- even more than I do.  And that disappointments come in life and the dealing of them is how we grow.  And as I continued to pray, I prayed that God, who loved Gracie so much, would deal with this in the way that Gracie would be okay.  It was a "thy Will be done" moment.

The next day, Gracie received the crumbs.  It wasn't the loaf that she desired but it was enough of a good thing that she found joy and her self- esteem remained intact.  I knew as it happened that God was answering my prayer when Gracie was given "enough."

(I know this seems ominous but my grands often read my blog and it is kind of a private story.  I will fill in the blanks when I write this in my personal small plates because believe me, in 10 years I won't have a clue what this moment was all about!!!)

Love the scriptures.  Love applying them in my life.  Love all that God does for me and my family.  I trust Him.  I have Faith in Him.  All is well.  All is well. HIs crumbs are Great.

Thoughts Brimming

Wow- I can't believe I have time to just sit down (surprisingly how much time being a slug can take....) but my heart is heaped up and running over with thoughts and ponderings.  So many but today I'll just share two.

I serve in the temple on Wednesdays and oftentimes substitute on Saturdays (because I laugh- I don't really have a life so I'm anxious to fill in.)  There are a million things in the world I can (and do!) fill my life up with....but this one fills me with not just the love of God (because, man, oh man- His Spirit dwells in His temples!) but also a sense of self-esteem which may sound odd.  When you are almost 100, sometimes you feel like you were as a child being on a merry-go-round and getting flung off or last picked on a team.  No, that is all too dramatic but I don't often feel like I am accomplishing much or matter much.  But I DO in the temple.  For 1 or two days a week, what I do is important and matters  It is time not that I just serve but is a true consecration.  Does that make sense?  It's not about me- it's about me doing something worthwhile for others and it gives me strength and confidence in myself.

That really wasn't even what I wanted to share. Onto another thought:

This past week, a group of women were talking and visiting.  We all live in different areas and one mentioned she used to live in a condo at the mouth of our canyon.  I exclaimed, "Oh, that's in our Stake!  Do you know so and so?"  We went through a list.  One of the names was a very talented semi-famous in the LDS world man and his wife that actually lived next door to my friend.  His very name was familiar to the other women and someone asked where they moved to.  My friend said they moved after their divorce.  Some of the other women exclaimed, "Oh no, they divorced?  What happened?"  My friend said, "I don't know" to which another (making a comment that comes easily in conversation) "You don't know what happened?"  It was quiet for a few seconds and then my friend replied, "Well, nothing that I would say."

Wow!  My heart just leaped as I was taught a beautiful and simple lesson.  "Nothing that I would say."  I love that.  I want to "engraven" that on my heart.  Even in the company of good, good women (and these were)- natural curiosity lends itself to sharing things that shouldn't be shared and discussed.  I learned so much from a lovely lady I admire.

God wants us, as we grow closer to him, to learn to BE like Him.  That is not to speak ill.  I remember a little adage I used in a lesson years ago that said, "Be careful of the tongue.  It is in a wet place and may slip."  I am going to try harder to always speak with kindness and respect.

The other thing I want to share is a thought shared in Stake Conference today by our wonderful friend and neighbor Cheri. (she's a semi- celebrity too- lol- she was asked to be on Martha Stewart because of a blog she used to write and also she's a fabulous singer/songwriter and co-teaches Gospel Doctrine with my husband.) (that last one REALLY makes her semi-famous!)  Cheri referred to a talk given a few years ago by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland called The Cost and Blessing of Discipleship (April 2014)  He talked about the "God" that people in our modern day wants- a God that doesn't demand anything of them.  He gave this analogy:

 It is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds.

Talk about man creating God in his own image! Sometimes—and this seems the greatest irony of all—these folks invoke the name of Jesus as one who was this kind of “comfortable” God. Really? He who said not only should we not break commandments, but we should not even think about breaking them. And if we do think about breaking them, we have already broken them in our heart. Does that sound like “comfortable” doctrine, easy on the ear and popular down at the village love-in?

And what of those who just want to look at sin or touch it from a distance? Jesus said with a flash, if your eye offends you, pluck it out. If your hand offends you, cut it off.¹² “I came not to [bring] peace, but a sword,”¹³ He warned those who thought He spoke only soothing platitudes. No wonder that, sermon after sermon, the local communities “pray[ed] him to depart out of their coasts.”¹⁴ No wonder, miracle after miracle, His power was attributed not to God but to the devil.¹⁵ It is obvious that the bumper sticker question “What would Jesus do?” will not always bring a popular response.

 

At the zenith of His mortal ministry, Jesus said, “Love one another, as I have loved you.”¹⁶ To make certain they understood exactly what kind of love that was, He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”¹⁷ and “whosoever … shall break one of [the] least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be … the least in the kingdom of heaven.”¹⁸ Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet in part because righteousness was always supposed to accompany it. So if love is to be our watchword, as it must be, then by the word of Him who is love personified, we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others. Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning it (which He never ever did even once).

 

**************

Anyway, just a few Sunday thoughts swirling around my head.  I've invited whoever in the family can, to come over today for tacos, which are really burritos.  I'm also making the Taco Bell pizzas (recipe on the cooking blog) and also have a big pot of black beans simmering on the stove (with lots of onion and spices.)  My heart is full, as always, in this wonderful season.  And with wonderful spicy good cooking on the stove! Today is a great day!

Conquering Heros

This is something I've wanted to journal about for over a year but I guess I can share more of the journey here.

 

This is Abby Ward- one of my darling Laurels.  A Sterling Scholar in Science, with scholarships galore, a wonderful pianist, an outstanding photographer, just an amazing girl!  She conquered cancer in her sophomore year. She's determined and a fighter. She completed her first year of college.  And did I mention her beautiful smile and fabulous attitude?

 

 

 

 

A little over a year ago, she got her mission call to Sweden...the same mission her brother just returned from!  She was so happy!!! 

 

  On July 5, 2016 she went hiking above our homes to Lisa Falls with her 14 year old brother.  At the top of the falls, Abby tried to cross a small stream- and slipped, falling 50 feet to the rocks and water below.  It took her brother 20 minutes to descend to where she was and to turn her face completely out of the water.  A helicopter arrived about 20 minutes later and airlifted her to the hospital. (You can't even see the top of the falls in this picture.)

Abby lay in a coma for over 6 weeks.  I remember not knowing what to pray for, fearing brain damage and the myriad of things that might never heal.

 

 

 
Our Ward and neighborhood and truly thousands of friends from all over the world (including her "would-be mission in Sweden) fasted and prayed for Abby's healing.  We wore wristbands reading
"Conquering Heros for Abby" to remind us to constantly keep her in our prayers.

 
 
Gradually Abby opened her eyes and the trach tube could be removed (I actually think the trach was removed while she was still comatose.)

Her parents posted Abby's progress or lack of it-
 every single hard day punctuated with even a sliver of hope. We would weep when we would read of the pain and frustration and fear their family felt and yet they were comforted by the Spirit in such profound ways and shared that as well.

Here are two posts from her mom:


As we continue on this journey with our Abby, we have experienced so many emotions. Fear, heartache, sadness, exhaustion, peace, hope, love (so much love). This has been impossibly hard for the whole family. Abby is a huge presence in our world. She really is the center of our home. It's so quiet without her laugh, her sassy attitude, her constant activity, her stuff everywhere. My two sweet girls share a big bedroom and now it's too big--a void fills half of it. Estee... doesn't want to be there without Abby. It's a lot for a nine-year-old to deal with, it's a lot for this adult to deal with too. Even as our hearts break and long for her we feel hopeful and peaceful. When I look at her laying here, she's so peaceful, as if she's telling me, "It's going to be okay mom." Everything will be okay. The type of injury to her brain is not one that typically heals fast or sometimes at all. We don't know what to expect. We know that Abby is not the typical girl. She will fight, she's so full of fight. I love her and can't wait for her to come back to us. Thank you for the continued prayers, love, and HOPE

 and another:

Day 12. My beautiful 18 year old daughter has been in a coma for 12 days. We wait. Waiting is so hard. It's so hard to be patient and to watch events that we were going to do slip by on the calendar. It is hard to "take it 3 days at a time" when each minute is excruciating. It is hard to look at events in the future and realize that they don't matter, because our entire world has changed. It is hard to be strong and faithful while I am so tired and frustrated.
We have been... encouraged during therapy sessions. They sit her up, she holds her head up a little better now, she opens her eyes a little, blinks, and sometimes obeys a few commands. She's in there. She's so determined. She has always been driven and has been able to achieve so much and overcome so many obstacles in her life.

This is no exception--at least I hope it's not. I know she's in there trying to make her body work. She is fighting hard and conquering this trial like she has so many before.
After making such progress, she's having a set back now. She has an infection somewhere and now she has a fever to prove it. I feel like this should be a small set back, but small set backs don't feel small. They feel like insurmountable mountains and our discouragement grows.
But then I look at her, I feel her presence, I see her peaceful face, and I somehow know it will be ok and I find that my hope is returned.
Please keep praying for a miracle, this will take a miracle to heal Abby. I'm placing my tender broken heart and my trust in my God "for with God nothing is impossible" Luke 1:37.

 

Abby has been in every kind of therapy imaginable.  Her walk is stilted but her determination is

truly awe-inspiring!

 

 
 Finally she got to come home.

 She has been able to fund-raise for Primary Children's Hospital

 
 And recently walked part of the Radnor Race with several of her Nueroworks teammates and raised $2500 for brain-injured patients.  She said the walk was a killer.

 

Abby's journey has been a miracle to all those who know her.  She's inspired hundreds with her invincible spirit.  This is one of her favorite quotes.

 

 

  This year, Abby celebrated her "Un-Death-Day" (that just goes to show her amazing humor!).  Hundreds celebrated with her.

 

Today, it's been exactly one year since I fell off one of the cliffs at Lisa Falls. That hike may be the stupidest thing I've done. Now, it's a feat if I walk around a gas station unassisted. But whatever, I'm getting better, and at least I can walk!
I have some photos from my hike that day. They would be awesome photos, if the hike had ended a little differently.

But really, I didn't know that God still did miracles like that. I learned first-hand that His power is the same today as it was when the Jews were trapped in Egypt, and Moses saved them. We can have that power fight our battles for us if we are doing as we know we should. @ Lisa Falls
                                                   -Abby-


Abby is our conquering hero.  I can't wait to see where life will take her.  Wherever it is, I know she will be amazing!

Bucket- Plant a Seed in Your Heart

Yesterday was Bucket at Erica Nordquist's.  I came home ready to burst- not just from the yummy lunch but our activity.  Erica had us come armed with our favorite scriptures or talks or quotes and showed us how to use our iphones to sink all our notes from our "paper scriptures"- that we don't want to let go of.  I came home on fire!

 

For lunch, Ericka duplicated the Turkey Sunflower Craisen salad from Kneader's with Poppy Seed Dressing

 

 

and made this decadent layered cake...

 

that she THEN kicked up another notch by drizzling with chocolate sauce!!!!!

 

 

Our cute favors with Easter candies in a terra cotta pot.

 

Then the activity-

 

For instance, I have several quotes that I love written on blank pages of my scriptures and notes in all the margins.  Here is one of the quotes-

 

 by Karl Haglund- When his brothers scoffed at Nephi for trying to build a ship in the wilderness, Nephi reminded them of all the witnesses they had received, and then he said that they were rebelling against the Lord because they “were past feeling, that [they] could not feel his words. …” (1 Ne. 17:45.) Most of us face the other problem: we are before feeling. We wonder why we hear the same things over and over again, until the day comes when we feel, not just hear, words.

Robert Frost said it another way:

“Our very life depends on everything’s

Recurring till we answer from within.

The thousandth time may prove the charm.”

(“Snow,” Mountain Interval.)

 

Now, when I go to 1 Ne.17:45 online (through Gospel Library)- there is a icon next to the scripture that tells me to go to my notes (one click) and I will have the quote.  You can highlight, underline, link, bookmark, tag, cut and paste and write notes here. Maybe even stand on your head.   It is amazing how wonderful innovative technology  can be!!!  I can even insert my journal selections into the notes.

 

 

Love these good women who inspire me to be better!  Erica- THANK YOU!!!!!

Heart Deposit

The above painting is called "A Woman Who Listens" by Caitlin Connolly.

I mentioned that this year my word is miracles.  I plan to look for them, be available for them, record them and give thanks for them.  They don't have to be bigger than life miracles- like parting of the Red Sea- or raising someone from the dead.  They can be tiny tender mercies that remind us that God is here to help us.

David has been anxious for his first appointment with his orthopedic surgeon.  That appointment was today.  It is hard to get in.  He insisted he could drive, I insisted that he could not.  I won. Yesterday I asked David when his appointment was and he said "3:50 p.m."  That was our plan. 

Last night, after saying my evening prayers, I crawled into bed and as usual, thoughts were swirling around.  When rest finally came, there came a picture into my mind's eye. 

It was a page in my calendar. 

It showed a different time.

I got out of bed and went to actually look.  9:50 a.m.

Thank you.  Thank you.  I will take that tiny miracle and deposit it right into my heart.

Windows and Doors

A week or so ago, one of my favorite artists in the world died.  His name was James Christensen.  One day when I was in the throws of motherhood/wifehood/daughterhood/every-kind of hood, I remember standing in an art gallery in Foothill Village, by myself....and seeing the painting The Responsible Woman -

and feeling such emotion.

 

It was the first piece of artwork that made me cry.

 

Now.

 

The Difference Between Night and Day

or Men and Women

or Right Brained/Left Brained

or .....

 

 

I was so moved by the piece that I told David about it.  Told him I wanted it so dearly.  Told him I knew we couldn't afford to buy it AND have it framed but I would be happy, for now, with just the print.

 

Christmas came.  There was a huge picture under the tree.  I could tell there was a picture frame through the wrapping.  I couldn't believe it!  David bought me the picture and had it framed!  I could hardly contain myself.

 

I opened up the present....and there was a lovely Al Rounds painting.  My face fell.  David said, "Don't you like it?"  I said, "Well, yes, but the painting I told you I wanted was The Responsible Woman."

 

"Yes," he exclaimed, "but this one was bigger for less money!"

 

 

The next year David wasn't going to make the same mistake and headed to the gallery to buy me MY picture.  It was sold out and now on the secondary market and no way on earth could we afford to buy it.

 

Sigh.

 

So the next year, I got the puzzle of The Responsible Woman.

 

The End

 

 

I think one of the reasons why I loved James' artwork so much is that it is full of metaphor.  I looked at this painting and almost got weary from all the different things I was responsible for...and yet, this woman was flying (with red shoes, no less!) with light held up ahead to guide her.

 

Wow.  It gave me strength.

 

 

 

I remember when the Apostle Neil Maxwell died.  What a loss to me in my life.  I had a sweet experience when I was a Stake Young Women's President, and we had asked his wife to be our keynote speaker at a Young Women's Conference.  She consented.  Imagine how I felt when our Stake President called me to tell me Sister Maxwell was sick and would not be able to come!  My heart sank.  His next words were, "Elder Maxwell has consented to take her place."

Wow!  He was such a remarkable man, full of wisdom and beautiful language and imagery.  He was a light in so many people's lives.  At that conference, he gave an apostolic blessing which I will never forget.....and in doing so, answered the prayers of a grieving friend in the audience who had lost a child.  I remember it was like a ray of light from his soul to hers...and I was witness of that sweet miracle.

So, when he died, I mourned.  The church mourned.  I could not believe that we would have to live without his profound testimony and insight.

Pause.

David Bednar was called to replace him.

I had never heard of him.



Can I just say, that from the first time he spoke, that man's words went straight to my heart......


So, what I am getting to is that saying, "When God shuts a window, he opens a door."  We all suffer losses in life- but somehow those holes in our lives get replaced with beautiful things.  I was thinking about the irony of that while I have been taking care of my husband this past week after surgery.  What really is a loss for him....has turned to a sweet experience for he and I- for me to be able to serve him with love and patience.  I will count this as a blessing in my life.

I found a new artist yesterday.  I have actually seen her work before but had never scrolled through a whole collection.

My heart started to pound.

Look at this picture.  This theme.  It is called "Woman With Things On Her Arm."  She is my Responsible Woman in a different light.  The artist's name is Caitlin Connolly.  Her art will help fill my hole.

 

I'm going to go out and buy some red shoes.