My How Things Can Change or Have They?

by Terri Wagner

When I joined the church at the tender age of 17 and went off to college, I hated it when the talks or conversations were about the end of times. After all, I was young, lots of dreams, places to go, people to see, that sort of thing. It was the 70s, and then it was overpopulation, global freezing, dying polar bears, Jimmy Carter's economy, lack of morals, women's lib, crumbling public schools, you name it, we had it including the dreaded and disgusting rock and roll!!! And always the threat of nuclear destruction from the Soviet Union.

Every day someone would discuss the end times as if it were right around the corner. I used to worry about having food storage because I was in college and had non-member parents. They laughed uproariously when I timidly suggested we needed to have something on hand (that has changed just so you know). Continental drift was a major discussion for late night pizza/study sessions, and that included all the dire upheavals the world would experience as we one day would just slam into each other. Course as I always pointed out that would pretty end the overpopulation situation, LOL.

We could not have known about the coming 20 odd years of peace and prosperity courtesy of Ronald Reagan and a responsible Congress. I just knew that world was a pretty cool place, and I wanted my chance to experience everything I could. We didn't call it a bucket list back then, but in a way that is what it was. I had lots of things on that list. And I was afraid I would not have the time to do them. Sooner more than later, the end times would happen, and the earth as I knew it would pass away.

Fast forward now about 30 years from then. We now have hmmm global warming, dying polar bears, totally messed up public school system, the new yet old economic turndown, an almost complete breakdown of the family, rock and rock changed to rap, and well yes women's lib (now they want the priesthood), and you get the picture...and still the threat of nuclear destruction.

And I'm older and some of those bucket list things have been done and checked off and remember with great joy and delight. But I'm not done yet. And somehow I don't think the world is finished yet either. We have work to do. President Monson has made it clear. I'm glad. I'm still not ready for the end of the end!

I'm not Polyanna but I'm not Cassandra either. I just happen to like the world I came to and am not quite ready to leave yet. When the end time comes, maybe then, I'll be ok with it. Until then let me start working on that list and add some things as well.

Sugar and Spice

By Claire Enos

"Sugar and spice and everything nice that's what girls are made of."

Lately we've all heard a lot of talk as women in a group from the LDS Church decided to wait outside the doors at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, demanding to be let into the Priesthood meeting Saturday night. Earlier tonight, it was covered on the news here in Idaho, and I've seen articles all over facebook, for and against women having the priesthood (which is what these women stand for). I have friends who are for women having the priesthood, and I'm not discounting their feelings in any way. After all, we are all entitled to our own opinions, right?

This post isn't about that whole debacle (though I probably will be posting one on my personal blog sometime soon, if you somehow inexplicably would like my opinion on that matter). It's about the inherent attributes we, as women and daughters of a Heavenly King, all share.

I know I'm young, but in the short years I've been around I've come to realize that there's something special about every young woman I've met who knows who she is. She has a glow about her, and she's nice and sweet. She's not bitter or harsh. She is more than just her name, or her family, or even her religion. She is a Daughter of God, and she knows it. She knows how to act. She might make mistakes, but she knows that they can be forgiven, and she can turn things around, and she works toward that.

None of us are perfect, however I know deep down inside we all have these attributes, or we can if we are willing to accept who we are and work on becoming that person.

Why is all this important?

Because, I think it's important for every woman on Earth to know that she is Special. She is one of a kind. She is wanted and needed. She has a purpose (after all, she wouldn't be here if she didn't). We don't need "equality." Not in the worldly sense of the word, anyway. We are already equal, we are already important to the Plan. We can't live without men, and men can't live without us.

Well, for having no idea what I was going to write about, I think I did a pretty darn good job. I hope I haven't bored you all to tears, or that I don't seem too high and mighty. Because, believe me, I have a LOT to learn in this life, and I plan to make good use of the time I have left in life to learn all I can.

<3Claire

Pears, A Tradition of love

by Christy Monson

I remember as a child washing, paring, and slicing fruit to dry in a shelved, screened-in chest my grandmother had made. It was rickety but serviceable as we placed it, loaded with pears, in the sun to dry the fall's harvest. When the fruit was dry, we layered the dehydrated snacks into covered tin cans and placed them in a cupboard in the basement. During the winter, I used to love to creep into the old wooden cabinet in the unfinished rock cellar to enjoy the sweets.

Through the years our family has continued this fall ritual, washing, paring and slicing summer's goodness to enjoy through the winter months. What began with my grandmother has been carried on by my mother, and now it's my turn to spearhead this tradition. Children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren wait to enjoy the results.

This practice has come to mean much more than just preserving the fruit of the vine. Tradition and love go into every slice of sweetness.

I just sent this picture to my children. Their grandmother is dying of cancer, yet here she is still arranging the pear slices on the drying trays--truly a gift of love.

The grandchildren and great grandchildren live all over the United States. I went to the post office yesterday to mail everyone's package of pears. The little families wait for this time of year just like they anticipate Christmas. The love that comes with each parcel means much more than the fruit itself.

Family tradition? Yes. A Love gift? Yes. Nurturing family members? Absolutely.

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put in that action. Mother Teresa

Take a few minutes today and think of the traditions of love you are building in your family. 

I'm sure my grandmother had no idea the custom she was starting with her homemade screened in chest filled with sliced pears. It was a gift of love and continues to be so.

What gifts of love are you giving them?

Mother reading to the great grandchildren when she was well

"Can" I do it?

by Marsha Ward

I live in an area where apples grow in massive quantities when we have a good crop year--like we did this summer. Many of the property owners hereabouts are absentees; these little cottages are their second homes, yet they have apple trees on the property which were planted years ago, and those trees continue to bear, year after year.

Tree by the Car Wash (the creek)

Most of the absentee owners not only like you to pick the fruit, but often beg you to do so in order that the tree limbs don't get over-burdened and split off. One branch mishap occurred just across the road from me a month ago.

Tree before it lost a limb due to excess weight of apples. Nearly fell on a car parked nearby!

My daughter visited me last week, and took home a HUGE box full of apples she had picked. I have a smaller portion here. However, all around me, I see fruit going to waste. 

I hate that.

I decided I could do my small bit to prevent waste, so last week I purchased a water-bath canner, jars and lids, and utensils. My intention is to [gulp] make applesauce and apple butter, and bottle it for the coming winter.

I know. I have a novel to write.

There are plenty of trees from which to pick apples. That isn't the problem.

This tree is right across the road, and the apples are now red, ripe, and very delicious. 

The neighbor across the road would be most happy if I would go over and pick the apples. The neighbor next to them invites me to pick anytime from her trees. And she has a lot of trees!

My only problems are time, strength, and endurance.

And yet, I'm going to make an attempt, because I can't stand to see the waste.

Can I can? We shall see!