The End of the World Is Coming!

Yesterday was the scheduled end of the world.

Well, unless something happened that I don't know about, it didn't happen.

I have had quite a few chuckles about it, but it has been a time for reflection, too.

1.) I don't believe at all that the guys in the vans with the nifty t-shirts were the ones who would come and tell us to prepare, and

2.) All joking aside, I wonder if the some of the attitudes were similar to those in Noah's time, or when Samuel stood on the wall.

We know it is coming. We have been heading in that direction for thousands of years. We are blessed to have a living prophet to look to. We have been taught and we all understand how it will end. We just don't know when. So...should we be like a high school student who knows that the senior project is due and work on it the whole semester, or should we be like the one who procrastinates the project until the end, and then can't finish it. I need to work on procrastinating a little less.

Stake Conference

Today was stake conference. I was so touched by what every single one of the speakers said.
When President Taylor spoke on heritage, I thought of how blessed I am. Since I was born, my parents made it a point for us to know and associate with our extended family. This is one of the greatest blessings of my life. I have such fond memories of family reunions with the 'old' Clarks and Fackrells. I loved staying at Grandma Jolley's house and picking cherries in the summer. I remember the antique dentistry things my Grandpa Clark had, and the waterfall lamp that looked like real water when you spun it. I remember him singing, "I'll Take You to Your Home, Kathleen" to me, right up until he died in the late 70's. It isn't the memories of these people that I cling most tight to, though. It is the legacy and the heritage they have left me of knowing what I should be doing, how to do it, and what the reward can be if I do it all my life.

The next two speakers related their own conversion stories. One was our stake's Young Men president, and the other one was the stake Primary president. I have known both of them for more than 30 years. It was odd to me that I didn't remember that they had ever been less active. As they talked about the people who helped them back into activity, and the hard things they had to go through to get there, I was touched. Sister Larson said that sometimes you have to give up hard things to get better things. She was speaking specifically of friends and associates. I know that has been true in my own life. Brother Fairchild gave a brief overview of the plan of salvation and reminded us that when we were born, our memories of that better place were erased. I had my own testimony strengthened when the Spirit spoke to me and said, "But, you have been given and taught all you need to remember. You just have to remember."

As a member of the temple presidency and the mission president spoke, each related the blessings of the temple. I felt blessed as I though about the prospect of having an eternal family, and that Mark and I have made covenants to that end. I thought of my precious niece and what a blessing it is to her family to know they can have her again someday.

I also LOVED how the temple and mission president's wives stood with them.

Then, Elder Chambers spoke. He related the last days of Joseph Smith's life. One thing that stood out to me was a part of the story I don't think I had ever heard. He told that Joseph realized at one point that the mobs were only after him and Hyrum. He told the saints he would leave and they would be safe. Well, the mobs did come, and in a threatening way, told the saints that they wouldn't stop until they had Joseph Smith in their custody. They all left, but one--who reiterated the threat. This is the part that struck me: "The Saints were so overwhelmed with fear that they gave up their faith." In my mind, these early saints have been the standard to look to when life gets overwhelming. I have felt that the things they had to go through were harder than anything I personally have had to endure. To think that in that moment, that they called the Prophet back because they were afraid. Wow. We can't blame them, when life gets overwhelming, it is easy to let fear guide our actions. I have done it too many times to count. But, I was struck by the lesson: We shouldn't EVER let our fears overcome our faith. Easier said than done....but something I can and should work on. I have just decided to try harder to make my decisions based on faith.

The music was AMAZING! After Elder Chambers talk, the men's choir sang, "Come, Come Ye Saints." It went perfectly with his talk. They also sang, "I Need Thee Every Hour."

I am grateful that I was able to go today, feel the Spirit and sit with my daughters and their kids. My pitcher feels more full today than it has in a while.

Just a couple of thoughts

I was just listening to the Book of Mormon on the church's website. I LOVE the Book of Mormon. Anyway, I have been reading about Alma and the sons of Mosiah. Tonight was the story of Ammon giving the first discussion to Lamoni. One thing really struck me tonight, in verse 5 of chapter 18 it reads: "Now this was the atradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father, that there was a Great Spirit..." Lamoni's father did not have the gospel growing up, only the traditions of his fathers which were changed and diluted, BUT..he taught his son about a great Spirit. Those little seeds planted by those without the gospel but with faith can have the greatest impact. This is why the Lord prepares hearts, sends missionaries and the work goes on. This is what happened in my own family. Mark was raised outside of the church by good parents who taught him to love God. One day his dad told him about the temple. Years later when he wants to marry a Mormon girl, he asks, "What do I have to do to go into the temple? My father told me that when you are married there, you are married forever." My Markie, Lamoni. Both influenced for good by their fathers.

Saturday night I had Loucee over to spend the night. She goes to church with us because, "I love Jesus, he is at church." It was late and she needed to go to sleep, but there was A LOT going on so I laid down with her until she went to sleep. We had this little conversation:
Lou: "You spoil me. You get me LOTS of stuff. I know you love me."
Me: "Yes, I do."
I saw this as a teaching moment, that we don't measure love by how much "stuff" someone gives us. Therefore, I told her about things that people do for her that don't cost money, but are longer lasting and show her how much she is loved.
Lou: "But Jesus loves me, he spoils me."
Just as I was about to try to convince her she was mistaken, she said, "He gave me a good mom, birds, pretty skies, new baby brother, ..." As she continued her list I realized she was right. We ARE spoiled.

Another night, I was reading about Alma and Amulek. It was the time that they were being forced to watch the terrible sight of the believers being burned. Amulek told Alma, (in different words, I'm sure) "We should stop this." I am positive this would be one of the most horrifying sights ever known to the human mind. I would want to stop it. I would do anything to stop it. Alma resisted. He said the events would stand in judgment against those of the tradition of Nehor. It made me think. Sometimes, when our lives seem hard and we pray for help and deliverance, is help withheld for the same reason. That maybe the Lord is gathering evidence for the final judgment? I know we receive help, but when the problem doesn't go away, or the peace doesn't come for a while...


Like I said, just a couple of thoughts.

What I Love

I have been watching one of my facebook friends tell one thing she loves every day. It has made me think about the things that I love. So here goes (in no particular order):
Mark, my five children, two kid-in-laws, eleven grandkids, every student I have ever taught, my parents, my brothers and sisters and their spouses, the gospel of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, my Father in Heaven, the Book of Mormon, hot bread, reading, snow, fires, great friends (so many that I can't name them each), stocking feet, dandelions, facebook, music, learning, sunrises with my dad, good senses of humor, shopping, fettuccine, my job, starry nights, girls camp, zumba, being challenged, babies, soup, math, cartoons, the Atonement, driving, how my testimony grows, saltines with butter or cheese, scrabble, volleyball, being paid, being warm, family reunions, my extended family (those still with us, and those who have gone on before), my eye specialist, old scary movies, shoes that fit, having my hair washed by someone else, talking with my sisters, my bed, rain, jumping in puddles, chocolate, mashed potatoes, walking, Peeps, sleeping in, snuggling the grandkids, birth, testimony meeting, programs of the church, my bay window, my neighborhood, westerns, science, google, grilled ham and cheese, summer nights, winter nights, clean sheets, well-worn jeans, sweatshirts, Dancing with the Stars, caramel popcorn, reading aloud to kids, seeing things, having my back rubbed or tickled, quiet, noise, meeting new people, telling stories, buying cars, getting a good deal, vacuuming, eating out, seeing kids 'get it,' the temple, understanding some Spanish, brownies, Frank Sinatra songs, and Sunday meals with my family.

Of course there is more, but....

GREAT Grandma

Once in a while you meet someone who is great in every sense of the word. My grandma was that person.

Today the world is a sadder place because her spirit is no longer in it. I think the world knows it.

Here are a few reasons my grandma was great:
1-She was clean. Every thing about her was clean. I remember many times going to her home to spend the night. We couldn't eat until EVERYTHING in the house was cleaned. We vacuumed, swept, made the beds, put everything away--all before we could choose what we wanted for breakfast.
2-She let us choose our own breakfast when we stayed with her. That might not be something to many people, but it meant everything to me. I was important to her.
3-She always had cool stuff in her purse at church and never got after us to be more quiet with it.
4-She loved her grandkids. She held the two newest at Christmas party just last Saturday. She knew all of her grandkid's names. No small feat, there are a LOT of them. She knew where they were in life. She could tell you what one of the little ones did in a school play.
5-She could cook. When my kids were little, she called her "the grandma who cooks good." She could make something delicious out of anything.
6-She liked her house clean, but would move the kitchen table into the front room when a crowd gathered--and she didn't worry about stuff getting on the carpet.
7-She opened her doors to everyone. Everyone felt welcomed in her house.
9-She brought me birthday treats every year I have taught. The last couple of years she brought packaged yummies, but before that she made cookies.
10-She was forgiving.
11-She was an example of everything that is good in this world. She showed faith, she loved, she was kind, she was patient.
12-She has taught me that you can do things that are uncomfortable, you just keep doing them, then they are easier.
13-She showed me how to serve, and that you are never too old to help others. I remember that grandpa told the Bishop that grandma was getting old and needed a break from taking meals into the homes of the 'sick and afflicted.' The Bishop replied that someone needed to help her pass the sign up sheet past her when it came around. That would help he said.
14-She taught me to pray. She often asked me if I did remember to pray. She often told me that I was in her prayers.

She has been so lonely for my grandpa who passed away last January. Living without him has been so hard for her. The hardest thing she has ever had to endure. But she did endure, and well. Today when he came for her, she went without hesitation.

Vera Oram was a great-grandma, long before I ever had my first baby. More than that, she was a great person. I will miss her tremendously.

A Little Holiday Treat for You!

This has been getting around facebook. It brings me to tears.





And he shall reign forever and ever.

King of Kings...Lord of Lords...

Hallelujah.



(Merry Christmas)

Its snowing

I just wonder how long it would take for the bottom of my computer screen to get an inch of snow if I didn't scroll up. Its like the toostie pop question. Who has time to find out....still....I wonder.


Thank you for hanging around for that little bit of weirdness.


I actually wrote a whole paragraph, but erased it because it gave an insight into my brain that I try to keep hidden. I wonder why I feel the need to explain that I deleted text. I think I need counseling. Please refer to the second paragraph.