It'll All Work Out

"I couldn’t provide my children better protection against darkness than to teach their souls to fly above it, to teach them to rise above the middling, the tawdry, the base, and follow me into the beautiful, the exalting, the holy. Satan ensures that the reds and blacks always will be there. In her position as her child’s first defense, the mother must identify the blues and yellows, and she must teach a child how to fly to them."

This quote is by the blogger at bostonshumways.blogspot.com, the sister of the blogger of 71 Toes, who is going through a very hard time right now (link on my blog list).   What an awesome thought to keep in mind as we raise our families here on earth.  And 71 Toes has some expressive artwork on her latest post; the paintings so reflect the truth of our situations, and the last is so comforting. 

We have lots of help!

___

Phillip came over today and we watched Episode 3 of the BBC's production of Sherlock, off of Netflix.  That is such a good series!  The star is the villain on the latest Star Trek movie,

and Watson is Bilbo on The Hobbit, so you can imagine the level of acting.

 Speaking of Netflix, we are cutting our cable tv.

Between Netflix and Hulu and our dvds, we have plenty to watch, and we need to spend our time being more active and productive, anyway.  Cable tv, even when you are selective, can just swallow you up,

'cause there is always something on, even if it's not really important.

So, I look forward to being free of that pull. : )

The back yard here, a few feet from our door, has a privacy fence up now.

Yahoo!

I can sit out there and not worry about Leto running off, or about being stared at.

It's just me and my books or crosswords or letters, and the sun - which I wear a hat against,

but love the warmth and light of it!

Mark picked some lilacs for me today.

I don't know where he got them;

he takes Leto for a run around our neighboring field each day, and he must have found them then -

I just know that I love them!

They smell so good.  Almost as good as bacon, or baking bread or freshly-cut grass.  

Or watermelon or strawberries or storms.

Or the smell of the sun on your skin.

Or roses.

Between music and art and nature and babies and romance and books and eternal truths,

aren't there so many wonderful things in this world?

Things to fly to with our families,

above the hard things

Things to cleave to and not let go

Gordon B. Hinckley told us to be confident

 that it will all work out in the long run

I love knowing that!

Here's the newest picture of baby Eden, courtesy of her momma:

Could you just die?!  lol

Take care and we love you! 

xoxoxo

Veteran's Day - I Love These Guys

Phillip and Buddies on Deployment

Hi.  I've been thinking about Phillip and his Army buddies all weekend.  They were/are in the Army Infantry as Combat Engineers, which means they drive the roads at a snail's pace, watching for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).  It's pretty crazy.

They did this in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Combat Engineers would go out on the roads for six days, then have one day of relaxation, one of Physical Training, and one to work on vehicles and equipment; then go out for another six days on the roads.

They worked in all types of weather and in all conditions.  There were people waiting for them to come along.  Sometimes the bombers were successful and they'd kill or wound Phillip's friends.  Three times they got Phillip, but he was just injured, not killed.  But it made him verrry jumpy inside, knowing that the bomb that was destroyed would be put right back in place, buried even deeper this time, and more cleverly situated.  And those bombers were just waiting for them. 

There were a few others besides Phillip with the dubious distinction of being hit numerous times.  

No one wanted to ride with more than one of them together - they felt it would be tempting fate, and I don't blame them.   

I know that Phillip and his friends had other experiences that were truly shocking, that they don't talk about.  In fact, they don't like to talk about what they went through at all.  Not only is it difficult, they seem to take an obstinate pride in not being one of the glory hounds, so to speak.  

Phillip hasn't complained.   He just wanted to do his job, never wearing his uniform when he was home on leave, never wanting a hero's welcome.

Well, just like on other patriotic holidays, I can't help myself.  After hearing so many songs and speeches this weekend (if you can, check out the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's program from 2011.  It is so awesome!) about the job our military performs to protect the land I love, my heart is full.  I am so grateful for what my dad, brothers, uncles, father-in-law, and nephews have all done.  It was that same type of soldiering - keeping the faith with their buddies and not asking for anything more - that goes on, unheralded, all the time.  I respect that so much.

Thank you, guys.  (And gals that do and have done the same.)  Thank you.

We are doing well, looking forward to Haley and Dallin's move!!

We love you!

xoxoxo

Ketchup

Hi, all...it's so hard to post once I am behind, because I feel so bad for letting you down!  However, I am ready to face the music now.  I have no excuse - I have spent lots of time on Pinterest (and you should go find my page and look at my incredible boards!  It's so much fun!)

Okay, besides becoming aware of Eden, we also went to baby Ava's blessing and Alex and Tristan's baptisms, which were awesome.  The boys got many gifts of tie tacs and other items to help them remember the covenants they have made.  And I heard that Alex announced his baptism in his testimony on Sunday ("I did it!  Yes, I got baptized!"  Or something along that line, lol.)

Also, Phillip came over and we watched Beauty and the Beast in HD on his Blu-Ray player.  It was gorgeous, with an almost 3-D effect.  Now I appreciate Blu-Rays much more than I did.
Phillip finally got a hair cut, after he completed his promise to grow his hair for one year.  He looks great now!  I'll bet his coworkers were surprised at the difference, since they'd never seen him with shorter hair.

Justin and Tara and her children, Alexandra and Eric, were up here for the blessing and baptisms.  Alexandra is a friendly little girl and is Alaina's age, I believe.  I miss her now, after visiting so much.

Dallin and Haley were up here on Friday and Saturday (he had an interview here), and it was great to see them all!  Paige and Hunter are so cute!  And Haley got to come visit me on Friday afternoon, during Dallin's interview.  Paige and Hunter have been up so much at night, it will be nice for her when they give her a break!  :/  Good thing they're adorable.

Kattie and Ben's house held lots of people on Saturday, with both sides of the family that for Ava's blessing.  Ava slept so much that I didn't really see here open her eyes - she's still that new.  I loved going over there.  I love their little place so much, and Kattie and Ben have made it so peaceful and wholesome-feeling...an oasis in this world of ours.  Ahhh...

Ben has been working 80-plus hour weeks lately.  He is also doing online courses for his Mortician's license.  Whew!  Hope he can keep up!  And Linda is due the end of August - I think with a girl.  Exciting!

Megan is done with nursing school for the summer.  Hallelujah!  Melinda's schoolwork doesn't end for a while yet, for the summer break.  She gets very little time off before classes start again.  Enjoy your breaks, girls!

Mark is babbling to himself.  He must be getting sleepy.  We've been watching some old movies on tv lately, he's been mowing and pruning the yard, unasked, just to help out.  They are having lots of trouble managing things since he left the last place he worked.  Oh well.

We were waiting to hear more on a job in N Dakota.  It seemed rather promising, but no go.  I was kind of relieved.  If we keep waiting long enough, maybe Julie will have something for Mark in Las Vegas again, haha.

I'd better close for now, before I erase this or something like that.  I enjoy your comments and posts so much!  Don't be discouraged, okay?  You're all doing great things in the world, even when you are just learning about yourself and your role in things.

We love you!
xoxoxo

I want you to meet someone...

Her name is Breanna

I recently became friends with her on Facebook

Turns out, we have a lot in common

We both love literature and horses and the same books and movies

and crafts and cooking (I still love finding recipes!)

Breanna lives in Anchorage, Alaska

where much of her family is

I think that's where she grew up, 

but I haven't had the chance to ask her about that yet.  

I admire Bree and her family so much,

because of this little girl, Eden Brynn:

  

Isn't she a doll?
She's our granddaughter

She is Breanna and Seth's baby

And you might know that Seth is unable to see Eden

because he is incarcerated, and will be for at least a year more

(Kids, pay attention, because there are all kinds of consequences

that you cannot anticipate right now, based on the little choices you

are making right now, day to day!)

We didn't know about Eden's existence until last Sunday,

on Mother's Day

And now I can't help but love Breanna and her family,

because they have been taking such good care of Eden.

Breanna, you are so strong!

(Great grandma, grandma, Breanna, and little Eden)

Eden has had some very serious health problems.

I read about it through her momo's (grandma Maureen's) words
as she experienced that time

(Eden with her tracheotomy) 

(Great grandpa with Eden in the hospital)

They have loved and prayed for Eden,

and they nursed her through surgery to remove an internal birthmark
that interfered with her breathing (and a tracheotomy),

and all the care and heart-wrenching moments that that must have entailed
during 13 days in the PICU and 24/7 nursing care at home
The whole family prayed for her to survive.
Can you imagine? 

Thanks to their care and their prayers to our Heavenly Father,

Eden is alive today

 

(Her first smile after being sick)

How can I thank them enough for that?

I feel so humbled in the face of it

so blessed by the miracle of her survival

Here are more pictures of Eden, plus some of her
Anchorage family
Hope you enjoy them
and I hope you reach out to Bre and her family,
on Facebook and in the mail

Welcome little Eden Brynn!

(I think it's hilarious how it seems like Seth is
being tortured and forced to wear little girlie clothes :-P )

 

  

 

We love you!

xoxoxo

Daily Happenings; Daily Transformations

Hello there!  I'm so excited!  Haley and Dallin are here in Idaho for him to interview for a job!  She's coming over tomorrow with the kids, so we can visit.  Yay!  

And Saturday Alex and Tristan are getting baptized!  They're having a luncheon afterwards, too.

And Sunday Kattie and Ben's baby Ava is getting blessed!  I believe they're having a dinner after, too.

Isn't that all exciting?  I feel sad that Megan and Brooks can't be here for it all.  I so want to visit West Virginia!  At least we can talk about our experiences, and Skype and blog.  And at some point, we can even make those blogs into books for our children and grandchildren to have.  Can you imagine?

I have pictures of my grandparents and great-grandparents, and they must've felt the same way when those were taken: what a wonder it likely was, and something that previous generations had not had the benefit of.  Their children and descendants would have their exact likenesses, to keep in perpetuity!

Most of us have hard copies and cds of pictures of our fore-bearers, scanned into computers and shared with our families. (Which reminds me that I owe a cd to Bonnie and Dennis! : )

These family pictures and other records are sacred.  I love to look at the scans of pictures from long ago and go in really close, to see the details of the yards and homes, clothing and hairstyles.  And faces.  I can't get enough of faces...I look in their eyes and wonder how I'm doing, in their eyes.  I feel their love from the other side, and their desire for me to make choices that will lead me back to our Heavenly Father.   They are rooting for all of us!

I've always held the hope that when I die, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I will be magically transformed into the person I want to be, worthy to live with my family and my Heavenly parents and Christ for eternity.  I've always wanted that so much and believed in it!

_ _ _

Okay, now I'm going to wax philosophical for a while:  

I think that most of us, whatever our specific beliefs, desire relief from the parts of earth life that are discouraging and painful and destructive.  Admittedly, all of us make poor choices at times, and those choices have consequences.  Some of us are misled or confused, wandering away from peace and understanding.   And, believe it or not, there are some that actually enjoy entropy and destruction.  Their actions cause much of the pain and suffering.

Over time, for most of us, our lives begin to reflect our true desires: often, this may not be reflected in worldly success, but in the quality of our existence and whether our life has a sense of purpose and meaning.  Some of us, however, still suffer anxiety and fears that hold us back.  We wonder if we are making the best use of our time and making the best choices.  We are so aware of our choices that we have a hard time making them, and we continually second-guess ourselves.  I was like this.

One day, when I was reading the scriptures and praying about these things, it suddenly dawned on me that the Atonement works right now, whenever I repent.  Jesus Christ's sacrifice washes my garments clean in this life - there's no waiting!  And Christ promises that all things will work together for good, for them that love God.  As long as my desires and efforts are sincere, they are acceptable. 

So as we sincerely repent, we are made pure - we are literally transformed.  And we are invited to do that freely, every day.  We are invited to talk to our Heavenly Father whenever we want to.  He wants us to ask for His help, and He gives us guidance and comfort through the Holy Ghost.  

That change in our spirits affect everything in our lives!  Eternity is right now - there's no waiting for the miracle of light and joy, even as we are living in a temporal world.

Most of you are probably aware of all this, but somehow I didn't internalize the immediacy of the Atonement in our lives.  And that understanding makes it possible to open my eyes and look around with gratitude, to see opportunities to act, and to accept my own efforts.

I know that we are partners with our Heavenly Father.  He knows us and accepts and loves us.  He guides and teaches us, and makes our small, daily efforts so much more than what we can see with our earthly eyes.  

What a blessing we have in the Atonement! 

I just had to share those experiences with you, and pray that my thoughts and the things I learn might help you, just as you help me. 

_ _ _

Now, back to the daily details. ; )

My aide helped me rearrange things in here yesterday (she is such a good worker!), and it's so much better!  We took the long craft table all the way down to the window and moved the little craft table down where my computer table was; that, we moved towards the window.  Anyway, the result is that Leto still has his bed by the window, and the little craft table isn't sticking out.  And I have a dedicated writing table!  Even Mark remarked that the whole area looks so much better, and I can write by the lamp, with all my materials handy and nothing else on that table.  I'm so happy with the results!

As for other news, I don't have much.  Emme came over one afternoon, all by herself.  We watched Ponyo and snuggled in bed, and Grandpa brought us each a big chocolate chip cookie. : )  

It's been snowing lately, even in May.  And it's not a freak, one-day thing, either.  Mark said that this is the second-coldest Spring on record! 

And that's all that I can remember right now.  We're hanging in there!

We love you!  Hugs to everyone!

xoxoxo