"How is it possible," the author pondered, "to feel sorrow amidst the absolute JOY?"
She described a poignant moment in her life where she was feeling such incredible joy; and yet underneath it all, was a gnawing feeling of sorrow about a family member whose life was being lived in a prison.
Her thoughts were tender, heart-felt and expressive of the vast array of emotions it is possible to have at any given moment.
She concluded her essay with an astute observation about life;
"Our lives are constantly in flux; our lives constantly have a swirl of emotions. We must choose very wisely on which ones we allow our minds to linger."
Well spoken....indeed.
12.02.2013
Welcome, December!
It's a wonderful time of year.
So, just enjoy...
And, for me, be sure to remember what it's really all about!
So, just enjoy...
And, for me, be sure to remember what it's really all about!
11.27.2013
Hey, I'm JUST Like the Government...
....I'm spending into next month already!
It seems to work for them.
Maybe it will work for MOI!
You see, what with Thanksgiving and all....
Expenses got a little higher than normal.
My budget is shot.
But, hey, no worries.
I will do just what our government does on an hourly basis;
Spend what I don't have,
Borrow from tomorrow to pay today,
And go blissfully on my merry way.
No worries, no stress, just spend, spend, spend into the future.
This could get to be a HABIT!
It seems to work for them.
Maybe it will work for MOI!
You see, what with Thanksgiving and all....
Expenses got a little higher than normal.
My budget is shot.
But, hey, no worries.
I will do just what our government does on an hourly basis;
Spend what I don't have,
Borrow from tomorrow to pay today,
And go blissfully on my merry way.
No worries, no stress, just spend, spend, spend into the future.
This could get to be a HABIT!
11.26.2013
Sunday Stories to Share...
except that I really heard this on a Monday. (Since our church is so late, I don't get my Sunday visits in very often. I come home from nursery exhausted, so I relax, and then it's too dark/late to go visiting!)
But, here's the story I heard on Monday.
Bette -in her 60's - comes from a family of 11 children. Four have died.
When her oldest brother was 18 years old, he belonged to a gun club in high school....the students were not allowed to have the bullets and the teacher kept them....(this was many years ago, so things are definitely different now!)
At any rate, a couple of the boys had a gun with them at the lunch break. As a joke, one pointed the rifle towards Van Allen (Bette's brother), and said jokingly, "I'm going to shoot you."
And, he shot.
Van Allen put his hand to the side of his neck, and said, "You got me!" He fell forward on his face.
All the people gathered thought it was a joke and went over and told him to get up. When he didn't get up, and they rolled him over, a pool of blood was streaming from his neck.
He died on the way to the hospital.
The day after the shooting, the sheriff came to the home of the young dead student. The Sheriff said, "I'm going to arrest the boy who shot your son. I'm putting him in jail for murder."
Bette's mother said, "Oh, no, you are NOT! That was an accident...he didn't mean to hurt my son. You can't put him in jail for an accident."
The sherif replied, "But he committed murder!"
And, Bette's mother said, "He did not commit murder...what happened was an accident - pure and simple. Let him be."
What an inspiring great story. Today, we live in such a litigious society that the parents would have sued the boy, the school, the sheriff's department, the bus driver, the school nurse, the gun company, the dry cleaners, and the mayor.
But, Bette's mom - in the midst of her own terrible sorrow and grief - said, "It was an accident. Let him be."
Bette concluded the story by telling me that her mother had a big heart; she genuinely cared about people.
And, I can see that is true!
But, here's the story I heard on Monday.
Bette -in her 60's - comes from a family of 11 children. Four have died.
When her oldest brother was 18 years old, he belonged to a gun club in high school....the students were not allowed to have the bullets and the teacher kept them....(this was many years ago, so things are definitely different now!)
At any rate, a couple of the boys had a gun with them at the lunch break. As a joke, one pointed the rifle towards Van Allen (Bette's brother), and said jokingly, "I'm going to shoot you."
And, he shot.
Van Allen put his hand to the side of his neck, and said, "You got me!" He fell forward on his face.
All the people gathered thought it was a joke and went over and told him to get up. When he didn't get up, and they rolled him over, a pool of blood was streaming from his neck.
He died on the way to the hospital.
The day after the shooting, the sheriff came to the home of the young dead student. The Sheriff said, "I'm going to arrest the boy who shot your son. I'm putting him in jail for murder."
Bette's mother said, "Oh, no, you are NOT! That was an accident...he didn't mean to hurt my son. You can't put him in jail for an accident."
The sherif replied, "But he committed murder!"
And, Bette's mother said, "He did not commit murder...what happened was an accident - pure and simple. Let him be."
What an inspiring great story. Today, we live in such a litigious society that the parents would have sued the boy, the school, the sheriff's department, the bus driver, the school nurse, the gun company, the dry cleaners, and the mayor.
But, Bette's mom - in the midst of her own terrible sorrow and grief - said, "It was an accident. Let him be."
Bette concluded the story by telling me that her mother had a big heart; she genuinely cared about people.
And, I can see that is true!
11.23.2013
Feeding the Missionaries
60 missionaries in this little town!
WHAT?!?!?! yes, that's right - 60!
So, that means a family can have the missionaries over for dinner OFTEN...right!?!?!?!?
WRONG!
It's an especial treat to even GET THEM over, as they are being wined and dined every night by all the members of our Stake. So, when the ward mission leader called and said there was an opening the next day, we said,
YES...bring them on! We are ready!
So, here they came; Elder Larsen and Elder Lewis...what good, good young men!
They were polite, enthusiastic, eager, energetic about spreading the Gospel. It was just plain marvelous to have them in our home.
Thanks, Elders, for the blessing you left on our home and for the opportunity to feed you both.
We are grateful for your service, and you made me think of what our grandsons must be doing right now.
Oh, missionaries; there is nothing quite like them!
WHAT?!?!?! yes, that's right - 60!
So, that means a family can have the missionaries over for dinner OFTEN...right!?!?!?!?
WRONG!
It's an especial treat to even GET THEM over, as they are being wined and dined every night by all the members of our Stake. So, when the ward mission leader called and said there was an opening the next day, we said,
YES...bring them on! We are ready!
So, here they came; Elder Larsen and Elder Lewis...what good, good young men!
They were polite, enthusiastic, eager, energetic about spreading the Gospel. It was just plain marvelous to have them in our home.
Thanks, Elders, for the blessing you left on our home and for the opportunity to feed you both.
We are grateful for your service, and you made me think of what our grandsons must be doing right now.
Oh, missionaries; there is nothing quite like them!
11.22.2013
Picture From the Past - WAY Past
While working on a calendar project for our family, I happened across this picture...made me smile...
Ah YOUTH, where have you gone?
This was taken about three months after we were married; it's the Christmas Dance at Idaho State University....December 1964.
My mother made the beautiful dress - (I wonder what ever happened to it?)
Allen didn't really want to go, but I thought we should; I didn't want to be old marrieds after only four months for heaven's sake!
Those were the days...
LONG GONE!
(Side note: Allen still uses those glasses on occasion - I just bought a pair that look exactly like his, and my hair is exactly the same - except lots thinner - as it was all those years ago..now all these facts are quite scary: same hair - same glasses...but, unfortunately much different weight!)
Ah YOUTH, where have you gone?
This was taken about three months after we were married; it's the Christmas Dance at Idaho State University....December 1964.
My mother made the beautiful dress - (I wonder what ever happened to it?)
Allen didn't really want to go, but I thought we should; I didn't want to be old marrieds after only four months for heaven's sake!
Those were the days...
LONG GONE!
(Side note: Allen still uses those glasses on occasion - I just bought a pair that look exactly like his, and my hair is exactly the same - except lots thinner - as it was all those years ago..now all these facts are quite scary: same hair - same glasses...but, unfortunately much different weight!)
11.19.2013
Family Home Evening....
is alive and well in our neighborhood...
On the past two Mondays, we were invited to share FHE with:
the STOUT family,
and the URE family.
It was so awesome.
Prayer,
Lesson, (both on music!)
Treat time (such good good treats; I need recipes!).
Oh, good times.
Such marvelous wonderful families teaching their children in an environment of love, laughter, and most of all; wrestling.
Thank you dear friends....they are memories I will long cherish!
On the past two Mondays, we were invited to share FHE with:
the STOUT family,
and the URE family.
It was so awesome.
Prayer,
Lesson, (both on music!)
Treat time (such good good treats; I need recipes!).
Oh, good times.
Such marvelous wonderful families teaching their children in an environment of love, laughter, and most of all; wrestling.
Thank you dear friends....they are memories I will long cherish!
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Weekend with the BROTHERS.
Not a lot of pictures. But, A LOT of love. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. It was simply AMAZING!
