My Thanksgiving Thoughts

Greetings to all,
Tis the season to be thankful and grateful, so I am back. I was coming back from Spanish Fork on this beautiful day and as I rounded the bend at Lindon and saw the temple encircled by fluffy white clouds and the blue sky above it, with the sun shining down on it, I realized how truly grateful I am for all God has done for me.

Last night Norm and Sheryl came over. They had been released just a few hours before. We were discussing a few money matters and Norman said, "Can you believe how blessed we are that we can even talk about money and how blessed we are?" "There are so many people who are without."

I hope you don't mind me making up for lost time. I'm afraid Janell isn't here so there will be no pictures. I am proud to say that I have learned to make smiley faces, thanks to Ashlely and hopefully do cut and paste thanks to Janell. We'll see.

Just lately I have realized more and more how God is ever beside me and the Savior has lifted my burdens so many times. The following are three incredible experiences that I have had in just the last six months. I have never taken the opportunity to express my feelings about our trip to New York and Kirtland. I guess that they have been so tender I didn't know how to tell you all what I felt while there. I will never forget the feeling as we drove into Palmyra and I closed my eyes and it felt like I had gone back in time and could see the people of the times walking up and down the street and feel the beat of the hoofs of the horses. It was truly a gift for me, because it prepared me for the experience I have waited for all my life and never thought I would be able to have. Walking where the Prophet walked and hearing the silence and feeling the wonder of the Sacred Grove, will always be a treasure in my heart as I'm sure it was for all of us. On our second trip back, I took the opportunity to go back a third time and stand just inside the Grove and feel it's spirit. It was as if it was calling me back it. I thank God for that incredible time.

We next ventured to Kirtland where so much took place. Singing in the temple was wonderful, and being able to participate in the School of the Prophets and feel the spirit there was so wonderful. One of my very favorite scriptures is in the 76th section of the D&C and to be there where it was received was overpowering. Thanks so much Ken for making the trip possible, Randall and Marian for the best bed and breakfast and entertainment and Norm and Sheryl for a very spiritual experience and wonderful food also.

If you are tired of reading by now you can choose another blog and come back, but I'm on a roll.

My next experience happened just recently. Our Relief Society challenged the sisters to read the Book of Mormon in 60 days. Our goal was to learn more about the Savior and to increase our love for Him and know that He lives. Our Christmas Social will be the culmination. This was September 5th. It had taken me all year to get to about Alma 17. I was reading the Old Testament also. It was a hard decision for me to close the book and start all over again. We each were given our own book to read and write in. Mom said she knew I could do it. There were a few days that passed and I realized the time was going. I had started, but was somewhat behind. Yes, I did start back at the beginning. I realized finally that there were not very many goals in my life that I had actually finished and all of a sudden I wanted for this to be one of them that I did. I will never forget the night of November 4th, 2010 at 11:48 P.M. when I closed the book on the last page. I had read it in 60 days. I wish you could all have that feeling. Mother had gone to bed. I had just been reading about Moroni and I'm sure he just wept at what he saw, but he went ahead and buried the records so that the Lord's promises would be fulfilled and we would be able to have this incredible experience.

My last experience happened today. I attended the funeral of our faithful home teacher. He & his wife never missed. She was my visiting teacher also and we have remained wonderful friends. At the back of the chapel was a young handicapped fellow in a wheelchair. Mentality wise I don't know how old he was. As we sang the last song,'How Great Thou Art,' this loving loud voice came from the back of the room, trying to sing every word. It was such a humbling experience to hear him and realize that he was giving thanks to God even with all the challenges has. I closed my eyes and could hardly sing. All of a sudden a wonderful feeling came over me and I felt as if I were kneeling at the Savior's feet. The tears ran down my cheeks. I am so grateful that this young man was in my presence today and that the Lord taught me what true humility should be like. We should be even as little children.

Thanks for letting me share these precious moments with you. Some of them are very sacred. Please just hold them in your hearts as a testimony that I know God lives and is always mindful of us. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

History in quilting

Greetings to all
I am finally coming down from all of the wonderful experiences we had on our trip, but my body still tells me I'm on eastern time. I had a wonderful time, but I will write about that later. I'm in need of catching up a little on some great things that have happened in my life.

When George passed away, I set a goal to make quilts for Tara and Eric, with pictures, that would give them special memories of their dad. With all that happened in my life, it seemed I would never be able to accomplish my goal. I am happy to report that as of April, my goal was finally reached.


Thanks to lots of encouragement and a talented and great friend, I was able to get them done. She is a tremendous quilter and so kind. Her sister machine quilted them for me, but the piecing I did and Elaine helped me to put them together. We were both stitching the binding about 45 minutes before the post office closed so I could send Eric's for Christmas. I know angels carried it there, because Canadian mail does not move that fast. He had it the day before Christmas.

Alas, Tara didn't get hers until the first of April. It is such a good feeling to finish a goal. It seems like forever since I was able to do it. Janell downloaded my pictures, so she said she would help me put it on the blog so you could see it. Thanks Janell! All of you have a great and best day ever!

Angels Among Us

Today I was trying to think just what I could write that would be of worth to all my blogger family. I realized that one of the things that has come to mean so much to me lately, is the Atonement. It's hard to even comprehend that the Savior could take upon Himself everything that happens to us and lift us up in our good times and especially in our hard times. It has been a real growth time for me. I love the scriptures like never before or maybe I've just forgotten.

The other day mom and I were in our religion class, we take on Tuesday, and the instructor was talking about angels. His comment really struck home to me. He said that when we are living the way the Lord has taught us and we attend Sacrament Meeting to partake of the Sacrament, that when the deacons offer us the sacrament they are opening the door for angels to administer to us. That was so profound to me it really made me think and I wanted to weep.

He said that they are all around us and are ready to help us as is needed. It also set me to thinking that God administers to all of us, but he needs another kind of angel to also help in His work. He needs children that are ready, willing and prepared to be His angels to administer to His children here on the earth. Every day we encounter angels among us. I have been administered to by angels from the other side and those among us . I visit teach a sister who has a challenge. When I visit her I also feel I am in the presence of an angel. The Lord tells us that when we are in the service of our fellow beings that we are in His service. We also learned that when we take upon us His name, we are as if the Savior was there to do the work.

This has really made me think how important our home teaching and visiting teaching is and for whom we administer. May we all be ready when the Lord needs us. I love you all!

My Special Valentine From Heaven

Sometimes the Lord sends us a small miracle to make our day. Monday indeed was one of these days. After leaving school, I decided to go to the cemetery to see how everything looked and to talk a little with George. The day was so clear and beautiful and everything looked great. I even decided to let George keep his Christmas tree until Valentines Day. He always wanted it up into February.

Then I headed for the car. I looked out my front windshield and the view of the mountain covered with snow took my breath away. There happen to be a few trees right there and I decided to shoot through the trees and get the mountain in the trees with the clear blue sky in the background.

I took the picture and then checked my camera to see what it looked like. This is what I saw. It was so startling I almost cried. George had sent me a Valentine. To look at the trees you would not have realized it would do this. They were just hanging there, but for me it was my miracle. Happy Valentines to you George and to all of you!

LUNCH AT SCHOOL WITH MY CUTE GIRLS

Well, here I am again at Janell's doing my blog. She just has the right vibes that get me going.

I had the greatest day on Monday! I stopped at Hickory Kist in Spanish Fork and picked up Tara's and Kynslie's favorite sandwiches, chips and cookies and headed off to Brockbank Elementary. On Mondays Kynslie goes to pre-school at Tara's school, so I thought it would be fun to have lunch with both of them before she went home and Tara had her next class.

Kynslie is now four and loves everything about school, so we had a great time just visiting and chatting. It brought back great memories of good times and most of all I was able to spend some time with my girls.

I loved reading all about what the rest of you are doing with your children and grandchildren so I decided to add a little of my own. I then went to take Kynslie home and spend a little time with my little man Ian. He's so cute and active. He's nine months old now and pulling himself up to the furniture. He also loves to dance. I'm sure George would love that. All in all I had a great afternoon.