By Christine Thackeray
I'm panting and sweating and running around like a crazy lady but I have to blog. It's my turn and I missed last time because I was at a family reunion. So today I helped put on a wedding shower this morning, getting to the church at 7:45 am and cooking for two hours about five incredible recipes that I never would have made for my own family but must have come right off a show with Martha Stewart.
With the napkins folded and the garnishes shining, the women arrived and we welcomed and laughed and ate and gave advice and ate some more. It was great. When it was over, my friend had to rush out because she had a friend that was having a baby so I was stuck cleaning up more than I thought. You should have seen me rushing around trying to get out of there so I could be home for my nine year old's birthday.
I walked in as everybody was getting antsy. My eleven year old daughter grabbed the presents and we ran in the back room and wrapped them with Christmas paper because it was the only wrapping paper we could find. Then we started loading kids in the car when I suddenly remembered it was my turn to blog so here I am tapping like crazy on the computer, making everyone frustrated.
Tonight I leave the party early to go on a Relief Society retreat with the women in my new ward that I don't really know at all. AHHH! Too much of a good thing but so much better than not enough. Don't you think?
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Birthday Season
By Kristine John
We have 5 of our 7 children's birthdays between the end of June and the middle of August.
It is definitely a birthday season for us.
Today is my oldest daughter's birthday.
She's growing into a beautiful young woman, way too fast.
She'll enter middle school this year, and for some reason, I feel older and more concerned with her going this year than I did two years ago when my oldest entered middle school.
It is a joy to celebrate her, in a way that is focused and fun.
She'll have her first "friend" party this evening, and we are in the throes of preparation for that.
I'm excited to see her be the center of attention.
In a large family, that opportunity only comes along once in a while.
She definitely deserves the spotlight.
Forgive me while I run...
Today I've got to put my mom hat on first.
We have 5 of our 7 children's birthdays between the end of June and the middle of August.
It is definitely a birthday season for us.
Today is my oldest daughter's birthday.
She's growing into a beautiful young woman, way too fast.
She'll enter middle school this year, and for some reason, I feel older and more concerned with her going this year than I did two years ago when my oldest entered middle school.
It is a joy to celebrate her, in a way that is focused and fun.
She'll have her first "friend" party this evening, and we are in the throes of preparation for that.
I'm excited to see her be the center of attention.
In a large family, that opportunity only comes along once in a while.
She definitely deserves the spotlight.
Forgive me while I run...
Today I've got to put my mom hat on first.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Missing in Action
Our posts have been a bit sparse this week, but that's because Betsy and Anna were at the ANWA writer's retreat. When they post, they can (or I will) pre-date their posts to fall on their usual days.
Unfortunately, Kari Pike had a death in the family, and that's why you didn't see a post from her on Thursday. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
~Marsha
Unfortunately, Kari Pike had a death in the family, and that's why you didn't see a post from her on Thursday. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
~Marsha
Monday, July 14, 2008
Another Tender Mercy
by Rene Allen
Today’s blog is going to be very short. It’s 9:30 pm. The day has been eventful.
This morning I had one of my grandchildren while his mother took his older brother and sister to their swim meet. Perhaps you recall swim meets, the hours of waiting for the seconds your children are in the water. Hyrum is 3 and would like to compete as well only he can’t swim yet. So he had Grandma time this morning.
As we were getting ready to deliver him to his mother because I had another appointment, she called. Can you watch him longer, she wanted to know? Her husband, my son, had been in an accident on his way to work.
Of course, I’ll watch him, I said. Call me when you know something. I went to my appointment then drove to the hospital.
It could have been worse. He blacked out, reason unknown at this point, crossed into on-coming traffic and went up an embankment. The car flipped to its side but didn’t roll. It crashed back to all four wheels. At least this is what observers say. My son can only remember pieces of it.
He is okay. No one else was hit or injured. This wasn’t a little tender mercy. It was huge.
Tonight, he’s in the hospital but only for observation. My husband and I just said our prayers together and expressed our gratitude for the blessings of this day.
It’s where I want to stop, now, being grateful. Everything could have been so much worse.
Today’s blog is going to be very short. It’s 9:30 pm. The day has been eventful.
This morning I had one of my grandchildren while his mother took his older brother and sister to their swim meet. Perhaps you recall swim meets, the hours of waiting for the seconds your children are in the water. Hyrum is 3 and would like to compete as well only he can’t swim yet. So he had Grandma time this morning.
As we were getting ready to deliver him to his mother because I had another appointment, she called. Can you watch him longer, she wanted to know? Her husband, my son, had been in an accident on his way to work.
Of course, I’ll watch him, I said. Call me when you know something. I went to my appointment then drove to the hospital.
It could have been worse. He blacked out, reason unknown at this point, crossed into on-coming traffic and went up an embankment. The car flipped to its side but didn’t roll. It crashed back to all four wheels. At least this is what observers say. My son can only remember pieces of it.
He is okay. No one else was hit or injured. This wasn’t a little tender mercy. It was huge.
Tonight, he’s in the hospital but only for observation. My husband and I just said our prayers together and expressed our gratitude for the blessings of this day.
It’s where I want to stop, now, being grateful. Everything could have been so much worse.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Season of Sacrifice
by Marsha Ward
One of the books I've read this summer is titled Season of Sacrifice, a historical novel by Tristi Pinkston. It's a fictionalized biographical account of her ancestor, Ben Perkins, whose skills and imagination provided the way for the Saints going to the San Juan in Southeastern Utah to get through the Hole in the Rock.
The book began in Wales, where Ben was put to work in the coal mines at a tender age, learning how to use blasting powder to blow coal loose for carting out of the mine. After he joined the LDS Church, he was presented with the opportunity to go to America to Zion--the Great Salt Lake Valley. He left behind a budding relationship with Mary Ann Williams, but before he left, he received her promise to come to America later with his family.
The novel continues with Ben and Mary Ann's marriage when she arrives in Utah, their settling in Cedar City, and then their call to go on the San Juan mission. An expected six-week trip turned into a horrendous journey of six month's duration. The Saints battled the elements and the terrain, building roads and scaling mountains, always facing seemingly unsurmountable odds in achieving their goal to take their wagons and their families to a new place for a new life.
The final section deals with the difficulties wrought on the family by polygamy, when Ben proposes to Mary Ann's younger sister, Sarah. As Mary Ann put it, "I had prepared myself for a stranger, for a woman I hardly knew. You would build her a house far away from mine, and I could pretend the whole thing didn't exist. I could do that, Ben. I could love you and care for you and pretend that there wasn't some other woman out there, also loving you and caring for you . . . You've taken that blissful ignorance away from me."
Once the author realized that the characters (her ancestors) weren't converted to polygamy, but to obeying God, and believing in His promise that all would be made right someday, she was able to tell the story of how they came to the same conclusions.
The book contains over 300 pages of text, including notes. Frankly, given my eye problems in the past, I wondered how long it would take me to read the novel. Once I began, I flew through it, even staying up far too late at night to finish. It's a satisfying read, one I recommend.
One of the books I've read this summer is titled Season of Sacrifice, a historical novel by Tristi Pinkston. It's a fictionalized biographical account of her ancestor, Ben Perkins, whose skills and imagination provided the way for the Saints going to the San Juan in Southeastern Utah to get through the Hole in the Rock.
The book began in Wales, where Ben was put to work in the coal mines at a tender age, learning how to use blasting powder to blow coal loose for carting out of the mine. After he joined the LDS Church, he was presented with the opportunity to go to America to Zion--the Great Salt Lake Valley. He left behind a budding relationship with Mary Ann Williams, but before he left, he received her promise to come to America later with his family.
The novel continues with Ben and Mary Ann's marriage when she arrives in Utah, their settling in Cedar City, and then their call to go on the San Juan mission. An expected six-week trip turned into a horrendous journey of six month's duration. The Saints battled the elements and the terrain, building roads and scaling mountains, always facing seemingly unsurmountable odds in achieving their goal to take their wagons and their families to a new place for a new life.
The final section deals with the difficulties wrought on the family by polygamy, when Ben proposes to Mary Ann's younger sister, Sarah. As Mary Ann put it, "I had prepared myself for a stranger, for a woman I hardly knew. You would build her a house far away from mine, and I could pretend the whole thing didn't exist. I could do that, Ben. I could love you and care for you and pretend that there wasn't some other woman out there, also loving you and caring for you . . . You've taken that blissful ignorance away from me."
Once the author realized that the characters (her ancestors) weren't converted to polygamy, but to obeying God, and believing in His promise that all would be made right someday, she was able to tell the story of how they came to the same conclusions.
The book contains over 300 pages of text, including notes. Frankly, given my eye problems in the past, I wondered how long it would take me to read the novel. Once I began, I flew through it, even staying up far too late at night to finish. It's a satisfying read, one I recommend.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Speak Kind Words
Verse 1
Let us oft speak kind words to each other.
If we’re in the mood or we’re not.
When our words are given without thought
Retrieval may never be bought.
Hate words, idle gossip and slander
Will shame and drive us apart.
They’ll sadden the heart that’s repining,
Kill courage, all hope and our love.
Verse 2
Spiteful words, quick retorts, snide remarks
Come quickly and wound instantly
They are words no one wants to hear.
They gash just like rocks or a spear,
They hurt the receiver, you and me;
At home or where ever we may be.
Till hearts break and minds close to view
A friendship we’ll never renew.
Chorus
Oh the service we give will be kind words and live
Forever in everyone’s heart.
Let us oft speak kind words to each other;
Never let hurt our lips depart.
(Adaptation from LDS Hymnal #232 by Margaret Larsen Turley 7/12/08)
Recently at work, church and home I’ve had occasion to reflect on what the effect of my spoken and written words has been, whether given in person, via phone, through e-mail or other means. At times I have a sharp tongue that lashes out in anger, self-defense, and protection of loved ones or sometimes plain selfishness. Later when the simmering pot is on the back burner I often wish I could undo, un-say, un-send what I said even though it may have been justified in my mind at the time, or I may have been correct. When given time to think about the situation I can come up with a softer way to approach, kinder words to correct, or a better method to teach. Then I regret that I can’t erase the damage done, there is no way to retrieve the impression on vulnerable minds and hearts, and sometimes irreparable damage is done.
So, I hope in the future to count to ten before speaking, delay sending an e-mail until I can objectively review the intent and the effect it may have, and remember that I am speaking or writing to a child of God. So even if I am hurt by what someone else says or does, rather than react I hope to act as Christ our Exemplar would. I also ask forgiveness from any whom I may have offended recently or in the past.
Let us oft speak kind words to each other.
If we’re in the mood or we’re not.
When our words are given without thought
Retrieval may never be bought.
Hate words, idle gossip and slander
Will shame and drive us apart.
They’ll sadden the heart that’s repining,
Kill courage, all hope and our love.
Verse 2
Spiteful words, quick retorts, snide remarks
Come quickly and wound instantly
They are words no one wants to hear.
They gash just like rocks or a spear,
They hurt the receiver, you and me;
At home or where ever we may be.
Till hearts break and minds close to view
A friendship we’ll never renew.
Chorus
Oh the service we give will be kind words and live
Forever in everyone’s heart.
Let us oft speak kind words to each other;
Never let hurt our lips depart.
(Adaptation from LDS Hymnal #232 by Margaret Larsen Turley 7/12/08)
Recently at work, church and home I’ve had occasion to reflect on what the effect of my spoken and written words has been, whether given in person, via phone, through e-mail or other means. At times I have a sharp tongue that lashes out in anger, self-defense, and protection of loved ones or sometimes plain selfishness. Later when the simmering pot is on the back burner I often wish I could undo, un-say, un-send what I said even though it may have been justified in my mind at the time, or I may have been correct. When given time to think about the situation I can come up with a softer way to approach, kinder words to correct, or a better method to teach. Then I regret that I can’t erase the damage done, there is no way to retrieve the impression on vulnerable minds and hearts, and sometimes irreparable damage is done.
So, I hope in the future to count to ten before speaking, delay sending an e-mail until I can objectively review the intent and the effect it may have, and remember that I am speaking or writing to a child of God. So even if I am hurt by what someone else says or does, rather than react I hope to act as Christ our Exemplar would. I also ask forgiveness from any whom I may have offended recently or in the past.
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Power of One
By Rebecca Talley
I’ve been thinking about the power of one lately. We are all aware of the One who sacrificed his life and took upon him our sins through the atonement (which has one contained within the word). The Savior had the power to save his life, but he chose to lay it down for each of us. The Savior is the one who provides the way for each of us to gain exaltation. It is only through his name that we can be saved. He is the one shepherd and we must come unto his fold.
We read in the scriptures how the Father and the Son are one. Some misinterpret this to mean that they are the same person, but we understand this to mean that they are one in purpose, they are unified. We are counseled to be one with our spouse. Our families should be one. Our organizations within the church should also be one. When we have the same purpose, the same goal, the same vision we can be one.
In Doctrine and Covenants 18:15 we read, “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!” How great will be our joy in bringing one soul back to God. Of course, when we bring more than one soul our joy is multiplied, but even bringing one soul will make a difference. As teachers and leaders we are counseled that even if our words only touch one person in our class or organization, it will be worth the sacrifice to reach that one person. If a lesson or a talk or a testimony can make a difference in just one life, how great will be our joy.
In these latter days, we can see the power of one in Joseph Smith. Through his unyielding testimony and faithfulness, he restored the gospel to us. He was only one young boy who has since changed the lives of so many. The world saw him as an insignificant teenager, but we see him as one who’s changed the world. He could easily have been overwhelmed by his calling and believed that he, as just one person, couldn’t make such a difference, but he did. One young boy made a difference.
Rosa Parks stood, or sat, alone and with courage and determination, she made a difference.
What can we learn from these examples? There is power in one.
We often hear that one person cannot do much or make a difference, but I believe we can. Each one of us can have an impact on those around us. Each time we pick up a pen or sit at our keyboards we are using the power of one. Every time we compose an article or create a story we are using the power of one. Though we may never know the effect our words might have on another, we have the power to change lives because our words may be the healing balm that comforts, teaches, or helps someone else. If only one life is touched by something we’ve written, it is worth the sacrifice to create it.
There is power in one.
I’ve been thinking about the power of one lately. We are all aware of the One who sacrificed his life and took upon him our sins through the atonement (which has one contained within the word). The Savior had the power to save his life, but he chose to lay it down for each of us. The Savior is the one who provides the way for each of us to gain exaltation. It is only through his name that we can be saved. He is the one shepherd and we must come unto his fold.
We read in the scriptures how the Father and the Son are one. Some misinterpret this to mean that they are the same person, but we understand this to mean that they are one in purpose, they are unified. We are counseled to be one with our spouse. Our families should be one. Our organizations within the church should also be one. When we have the same purpose, the same goal, the same vision we can be one.
In Doctrine and Covenants 18:15 we read, “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!” How great will be our joy in bringing one soul back to God. Of course, when we bring more than one soul our joy is multiplied, but even bringing one soul will make a difference. As teachers and leaders we are counseled that even if our words only touch one person in our class or organization, it will be worth the sacrifice to reach that one person. If a lesson or a talk or a testimony can make a difference in just one life, how great will be our joy.
In these latter days, we can see the power of one in Joseph Smith. Through his unyielding testimony and faithfulness, he restored the gospel to us. He was only one young boy who has since changed the lives of so many. The world saw him as an insignificant teenager, but we see him as one who’s changed the world. He could easily have been overwhelmed by his calling and believed that he, as just one person, couldn’t make such a difference, but he did. One young boy made a difference.
Rosa Parks stood, or sat, alone and with courage and determination, she made a difference.
What can we learn from these examples? There is power in one.
We often hear that one person cannot do much or make a difference, but I believe we can. Each one of us can have an impact on those around us. Each time we pick up a pen or sit at our keyboards we are using the power of one. Every time we compose an article or create a story we are using the power of one. Though we may never know the effect our words might have on another, we have the power to change lives because our words may be the healing balm that comforts, teaches, or helps someone else. If only one life is touched by something we’ve written, it is worth the sacrifice to create it.
There is power in one.
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