There is Hope!

 

 

  Like a picked flower cut from the source, we gradually wilt physically and mentally and become vulnerable to a host of degenerative diseases that we simply weren't susceptible to in our early adult years/ but even so , life is still good and today is the day and the season for you to bloom where you are planted!

  Ecclesiastes 3

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 President Thomas S. Monson, prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ, said this: 

We laugh, we cry, we work, we play, we love, we live. And then we die. Death is our universal heritage. All must pass its portals. Death claims the aged, the weary and worn. It visits the youth in the bloom of hope and the glory of expectation. Nor are little children kept beyond its grasp. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “It is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). And dead we would remain but for one Man and His mission, even Jesus of Nazareth. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, His birth fulfilled the inspired pronouncements of many prophets. He was taught from on high. He provided the life, the light, and the way. Multitudes followed Him. Children adored Him. The haughty rejected Him. He spoke in parables. He taught by example. He lived a perfect life. … To all who have lost loved ones, we would … answer: If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth. “I am the resurrection, and the life,” spoke the Master. “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26). Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so.

      Whatever God does, it will be forever

The Buzz about Bee's

     






 To start with dad and I were at church today and this man gave a talk who was himself a beekeeper.  It was sooo interesting I just had to blog it and better yet dad showed me a video on the life of bee's when i got home and all that they do.  It blew me away! We had a good conversation going on about bees and its like I never realized how hard they work and its all for us!!
 I was so amazed at the whole thing... yes I had heard it before but for whatever reason it was like it was all new again.
So when we got home dad knew I was up in the air about bee's so he said would I like to see a video on them and how they work.  I was excited for sure,  that speaker got my attention for sure. ha.  So dad showed me this video about the life and job of the worker bee's.  So you say oh everyone knows about bee's but I say have you really ever thought deeply about why they do what they do?  Dad was so nice to explain alot to me and we went into it pretty deep.  Wow.. dad amazed me , he is so knowledgeable in alot of things and is eager to share it!  Anyway bee's are our lifeline!  How tiny they are and what they do is pretty amazing!  And they really don't want to hurt anyone deliberately. ... O my gosh, they work sooo hard for us and die in just six weeks.  All this for us so we have what we need, thats how important their job is! It is ment to be!  I could go on and on but we are kinda like the bee in some ways, we each are here doing our part while on this earth for however long we have to help each other .... we each do our work and in reality its for the good of the WHOLE....just like the worker bee's , dromes and queen bee.  They all are doing their part for the good of all.... isn't that amazing! .. think about that...course we don't die in six wks....well hope not.  ha. but we will when our work is done.   But still we do what we do everyday and in one way or another it effects others good or bad.
 Wow!  Same goes in our churches, we all do what we do in our work for the church with one aim in mind , its for the whole, to bring others to Christ!  Its all for the good of the whole world in a matter of speaking.  I love this!!  I will never look at another bee without thinking of the great sacrifice they are doing in our behalf!  Its in the plan! We really don't give it much thought in our day to day lives and likely take it for granted but oh how truly amazing this planet really is !!   love,  mama

Quote's

 

 

 

A wise old owl sat in a tree.
The more he heard, the less he spoke,
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Why can’t we be like that wise old bird?

 

  "A bend in the road is not the end of the road...

                                                 

 unless we fail to make the turn." 

 

 

 

Why Laws?

 Laws are not our enemy, they are for our protection!

I just recently learned a lesson and since its fresh on my mind i decided to blog about laws and why we have them......
We all sometimes get off track and goof up ....and so there are laws!
 Fail to stop at a light... get a ticket!
Take drugs ...we get addicted!
Drive too fast ... have a wreck!
Fight with someone .... get hurt!

We even have Heavenly laws......an example of how this works.

A police officer gives a citation to this person who's license has expired.  He tells  the officer he and his family are going through a tough time financially and he had to choose between getting his registration renewed or feeding his family.  Of course he gets food for his family.  This person has broken the law but when he opens the folded paper to see the cost of the ticket ....he finds a $100 dollar bill!  the officer has paid the fine with his own money.  And so the laws of God are similar, to help us too ,....Jesus, he paid our fine.....with his own life!  He knew we would goof up, make mistakes and need to feel good again!  He payed the price on the cross.  / just like the policeman who payed for the man's mistake.  Look at the hope it gives us!
And he appeared to Joseph, not a mythical  person we can't relate to but a heavenly exalted man.  He made it so and now we don't have to carry our burdens alone.  We can start over again and again each time we fall down!   How wonderful is that!  

                  That one act changed everything! 
that is His law! thats why we do our best to keep the laws / earth laws  as well as  God's  Laws! Some feel its too hard but the laws don't bind us.... they actually set us free!    

                         God's law is a law of LOVE!






 Here it is:

Message to My children

                       You're valuable!!

I thank my Heavenly Father every day for you! 
Valerie 
Randy
Angie
Todd
Leslie
Stacey 
Jenny
He uses you to bless me and others.
I am honored that He chose me to be your parent.
You are an important part of our family.
Seeing you smile makes me happy.
I am proud of your accomplishments.
You work hard for your family & children
You are valuable to me and
                               you are valuable to God!

I'll love you forever!!!!!

Who Am I?

I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do , you might just as well turn over to me,
I will be able to do them quickly and correctly,
I am easily managed, you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done,
And after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men!
And, alas , of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though i work with all the precision of a machine
Plus the intelligence of a man.
You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin ,
It makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me
And i will put the world at your feet.
Be easy with me , and i will destroy you.  Who am I?
I am HABIT!

This blew me away!

Bro. Toronto is in sixties,  served a mission as a young man in South America.  He said he had been on his mission maybe a year and his companion just new out of MTC.  Anyway he said they were tracking one day and knocked on door of this man who cheerfully greeted them and said "I know you, you are missionaries from the Mormon Church."  Bro. T. said yes and he welcomed them in.  After some introduction and casual talk he said to them, "How would you boys like to come and have a hour to speak to my students about your religion?  Wow, Bro. Toronto was a bit taken back.  The man continued to speak and said "I am a teacher of a Theological Seminary Class and would be pleased if you would come speak at our assembly on Fri.   He said he and his companion looked at each other and Bro. Toronto  knew his companion wasn't quite ready for this. ha.  Bro. T. said he was nervous but excepted his invitation to speak. Have to tell you here that Bro. Toronto is a great speaker and I can see him doing this.... told him one day that he and Bro. Erickson are running neck to neck as my favorite speakers. he laughed/  so back to the talk , the professor said" fine see you this wk.and you can speak for a hour"  they then confirmed the day and time.    Well Bro. T. said he did some serious praying and showed up at the Professor's Building and the professor right off told the class " listen up class today we have Mormon Missionaries here to speak to us about their Mormon cult and don't forget to take notes." Bro. Toronto thought oh great!
Well that remark didn't stop him .....only brought the spirit stronger to bro. Toronto.  He started and went on to tell them about the church that Christ had while here on earth and how all that was lost when  Jesus died and His Apostles died and how his Teachings and Priesthood needed to be restored.  the Savior waited for the right time and appeared to the young boy Joseph and went on to say that Christ is a resurrected celestial  being with fresh and blood, not some mystical person that fills the whole universe but a person like you and I but a celestialized exhalted being . We are made in His image as it tells us in the Scriptures!
well Bro. Toronto said he did this likeBro. T.  barely got started again when the professor jumps up and says "class now take notes."  three times as he could hardly get a good start when the professor jumps up again and said "class hope your taking notes on this."   and so this time  Bro. T. said he then  turned around and actually pointed his finger at the professor and said you said i can have a hour and i want that hour with no more interruptions! He agreed to his promise and never jumped up again, Bro. Toronto said he likely felt bad being reprimaned in front of his students. But he noticed many agreed he should have the floor.  Now you have to know Bro. Toronto to appreciate how he spoke out to this professor and to appreciate his demearor.....   anyway the professor agreed not to interrupt  him again and he set down for the remainder of  Bro. Toronto's talk.  Bro. Toronto got his hour and saw heads nodding in agreement with many of the things he said.  I loved it!  He said he felt he was given the spirit as he spoke that day! He testified of Christ!   He felt many of the things he said touched hearts that day.  So would he ever know the results of that day, likely not.  Would it cause any to think, maybe!  He said he may never know....but he said i do know that even if I got just one person to thinking that day, it will have been well worth while!
He said no other church comes even close to having this enlightment and knowledge that we have! 
   I loved this talk,  it touched my heart and built my testimony of the Savior and His work even more.  Our Savior has a body / but one difference / it is a spiritual celestialized heavenly body. He overcame the world! Gosh, loved his talk!   I know its true!  The Church of Jesus Christ  called by his name, of latter day saints/  for thats what they called followers of Christ in his day, Saints!  His Church with all his Teachings Restored is back on the Earth!  I feel thats pretty Wonderful!   love you guys, mama

Christmas 2014

 Just reminding myself to blog our Christmas here.

List Of Songs I Enjoy!

Yesterday When I Was Young
And I Love You So
What A Difference You Made In My Life
Smokey Mountain Rain
I Believe
In My Life
You Looked at me
O Divine Redeemer....more to come


MUSIC WASHES AWAY FROM THE SOUL 
                                THE DUST OF EVERYDAY LIFE!!
by Berthold Auerbach

Visit to Leslies

Went to Leslie's for Soren's baptism but it was postponed.  None the less, it was still a wonderful chance to visit the grandchildren,  Aria, Soren and Ander plus Rob let me use his flight miles so it didn't cost me anything. Wow, that was so nice of him.   While there got to visit  Rob's mom's home and his brother's. 

Santa Cruz.... at beach... too cold to swim but with wet suits some people were out there. 

Bank I got for Soren.

Boys going off to school. 

Leslie and Aria    Leslie and I
Scout helps with decorating the tree.

                                 The trip started out kind of crazy with  getting there and then coming home.  Certainly had its moments.  Going, the plane had engine trouble so we circled and came back to Orlando and finally after a hour or so got moving again.  Now returning home,  Rob took me to airport and we didn't foresee any problem but got stuck in traffic bumper to bumper for near two hours and we knew right then I wouldn't make the flight.  Think goodness Rob knew what to do. I felt so sorry for him.  Think he was stressed over it but he got on top of things pretty fast and had me call a number and he talked to the lady and they rescheduled me for another flight which left in a hour and we felt sure I could make that one. Which I did. :) 

Rob did really well and was pretty patient during the whole thing. Maybe he was a little stressed but was calm and for me I really have lived long enough to not sweat the small stuff  as they say. :)

I saw some great sights and will post them here and for sure it was really nice seeing and spending time with the family. 

Jen's cat Plo

Jen has wanted a cat forever and this is " Plo" who she hand picked out of a small group there in Texas.  Now she calls him the cat from H ---. ha.  People tell her he is just a baby being six months old and will outgrow some of his craziness and nipping at her feet.  Took a few pictures of him while visiting her. 
Anyway this kitty gives Jen some hard times and I tell her its ok to find him a new home if its really what she wants to do.  but she says no!  she really does like him now and then and for sure he is company for her BUT?  guess sometimes he is a real pain. :)
I will add more pictures here of Plo as time goes by and let you know if he is warming up and becoming the

" lap kitty" Jen so badly wanted!  :)

Myself through the Years

ABOUT ME.....

At this time I am 73...been married fifty three years.
I have 7 children .....five girls and two boys
I have 13 grandchildren
Grew up in Vincennes, Indiana
Favorite place we lived...probably have to say Brunswick, Georgia in my young days.  Had some fun times with my friend Betty Stackhouse...
Person most like to meet... years ago would had to say Kathy Lee and Regis /  today B.of M. prophets that I have read about.
Favorite Singer...years ago was....Ronnie Milsap , Donny and Marie, Kenny Rodgers, Glen Campbell, and so many more.  list is endless ....loved to hear  Kenny Rodgers sing "Through TheYears"  ...dad and I both enjoyed all the old romantic music.. and today Alan Jackson singing  "Remember When "is one of my favorite!!
What drives me crazy....O my,  dirty dishes in sink that dad leaving his shoes all over the place,  towels not hung up after used and put onto hook in bathroom.. and last would be dad not taking his used dishes to the sink. ugh!   retirement!!   ha!
Things that scare me.....roaches for sure and  getting older somewhat /don't like the thought that i might not be able to do for myself one day.Yikes!
Favorite pass time....puzzles, blogging, sudoku, reading, decorating my home. O and thrift stores. ha.
Places worked....After high school at a glass factory. dry cleaners short periold, three years at Sears Outlet and eight years at Walmart and a Video store years ago when  Jen was a toddler and the owner let me take her to work with me. She would play in the store while i worked. 
Favorite tv show.... HGTV , love the Property Brothers!!
Favorite meal... corn on cob,potatoe salad, chicken,  dessert banana nut bread
Most amazing scene....guess would have to say Niagria Falls and Grand Canyon
My philosophy.. never judge another unless you have walked in their shoes.
First car I drove.... was a studebaker/ Lillie Todd taught me to drive and that was my brother Roscoe's first wife.... first car after we married was a 1953 Green Chevy.
What i wanted to be as a young girl....Opera Singer / influenced by  movie "Showboat" and "South Pacific" or a Professional  Skater!  loved to skate/ will brag cause felt was second to the best in our little town at our roller rink. ha.
Story will tell one day.... how i overcame having to deal with some major set backs as a young child and teenager ... tryed to keep my chin up!
 Best friend growing up.....for sure its my brother Bump!!

Our Twilight Years/ Donna and Dottie

I tell Donna this is our twilight years and whatever we want to do , now is the time!  Donna and I often talk about how fast the time is passing and how we are getting older and likely for the most part we don't even realize its happening.  But yes the years are sneaking up on us, and its here. And yes we are trying to stay positive!  I tell Donna she is not allowed to go before me!!  ha. Told her I checked on it and we have ten to eleven good years left to do whatever we want to do. Feel certain she will outlive me. Donna has a real love of life and of people which will keep her moving along like the energizing bunny. ha. 

Have this great poem which will fit in here just perfectly here. First time i found it I couldn't stop laughing and shared it with Donna.  We both laughed sooo hard!   I will  also post  a picture of  Donna and Dottie here in our older years.  ha.   Funny how all these years we have been living pretty near each other but never did I dream we would ever end of in the same town. guess it was ment to be!   Its been a blessing for me for sure.  Now for the story.

 The Three Sisters /  Knock On Wood

Three sisters ages 92, 94 & 96 live together.  One night the 96 year old draws a bath.
She puts her foot in and pauses.  She yells to the other sisters, Was I getting in or out of the bath?
The 94 year old yells back, I don't know I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses:
"Was I going up the stairs or down?" the 92 year old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea, listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, I sure hope I never get that forgetful!" as she knocks on wood.  Then she yells, " I will come up and help both of you as soon as I see who is at the door. "
  So so funny, shared with Donna and we both cracked up laughing!!

Visit to Texas

Well got back from my visit out to see Jen and the big state of Texas.  Here is some pictures i took.  I miss her already and her cat Plo.

               
View from her apt.  thats Texas country!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Plo loved to get on our puzzle. ha                                           

 Got tv hooked up. yay!  lots of day shows anyway. ha.

Visit to Leslie's in Ca.

So had a wonderful time with Leslie and boys in Ca.   To sum it up i got to rock baby Aria alot which i loved and played games with the boys.  Photo's here soon of fun visit.     Here is list of games I played with boys:
Twister
Pop the Pig
Go Fish
Connect Four

Ander loves taking care of Aria.  Soren too and let me tell you this is the happiest baby I have ever seen!!
Seriously, always a smile , always happy!!                                     

My Baptism

This was taken on my baptism day.
My dad baptised me in what was called the gravel pit. ha.  They had no fonts in the church  for baptisms back in the  those days.
 Anyway it was kinda like a lake but around it was tons of gravel and it was where all us kids went to swim during the hot summer days. We likely had no money to go to Rainbow Beach as often as we would like so this was the next best thing. Don't  remember alot about this day other than being a little nervous.  :)