Scriptures - Comfort

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
 1 Thessalonians 4:18

I do find comfort in the word of God. I am thankful for the scriptures. 

Hymn - I Believe in Christ

This is a testimony of Christ, set to music. 
I love singing it. I love the message. It touches me deeply every time I sing it. 

Please listen to the video and see how your heart feels. 

I believe in Christ; he is my King!


With all my heart to him I'll sing;


I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,


In grand amens my tongue employ.


I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.


On earth to dwell his soul did come.


He healed the sick; the dead he raised.


Good works were his; his name be praised.

..... 

I believe in Christ--my Lord, my God!


My feet he plants on gospel sod.


I'll worship him with all my might;


He is the source of truth and light.


I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.


From Satan's grasp he sets me free,


And I shall live with joy and love


In his eternal courts above.

I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!


From him I'll gain my fondest dream;


And while I strive through grief and pain,


His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."


I believe in Christ; so come what may,


With him I'll stand in that great day


When on this earth he comes again


To rule among the sons of men.

Click here for all four verses. 

This hymn has a very interesting history. Click here to read more about the hymn and the author. 

Text: Bruce R. McConkie, 1915-1985. 

(c) 1972 IRI
Music: John Longhurst, b. 1940. 

(c) 1985 IRI

Happy Father's Day - Todd Fathers

Three generations of Josephs ca 1937

Joseph Robertson Todd

Joseph Hall Todd

Joseph Clinton Todd

Joe, the Joe you all know and love, is wearing a coat and hat from Scotland. In 1937 his grandfather, Joseph Clinton Todd, was a press representative and invited guest to the World Conference on Faith and Order held in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

Father's Day - My Father

1923 William, Celia & Caryl Holton

January 1924 & May 1924

ca 1924

 Sailor Suit - May 1925 - Billy with Gogain, Anna Sconce Cathcart, ca 1925

Summer 1925 at Lake Wawasee, Indiana

ca 1927 William & Richard with Grandma Sconce, 

Emma Sandusky/Sodowsky Sconce, Celia's grandmother

ca 1927

April 1955

Earthly Father, Heavenly Father

Reflections On Sore Amazed & Watch & More

Not long ago I reread the scriptures about Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. I’ve read the account many times. Many thoughts came into my head and heart. 

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Sore Amazed

Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane - "and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy"

Sore amazed - translated from Greek words meaning amazed, awestruck, astonished.

Sometimes we get part way into a challenging situation and discover “oh my goodness, this is harder than I thought it was going to be! I know I have the love, the desire, strength, and so forth to handle it. I know the big plan, the eternal perspective. I know I am not alone, … but oh, my goodness, this is tough!” As I’ve experienced it, it’s not a depressing feeling; it’s more of a “Whoa!” feeling

My interpretation of “sore amazed,” based on how I read/felt the scripture that day – Jesus Christ knew what He needed to do. He knew He would have to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew He would be crucified. He willingly agreed to suffer these events because He loves us and He agreed to carry out His Father's plan. But when it came time for the part of the Atonement that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was “sore amazed,” “very heavy,” and “my soul is exceeding sorrowful.” He had a deeper, and more immediate, feeling about how difficult (and painful) this was going to be. 

He even asked Heavenly Father, three times, if there was another way to accomplish what needed to be done. There wasn’t. Haven’t we all been at that place, where we’ve prayed for “Possibly another way? Please?”

Most of the time there's no "easy" way out of a challenge. We just keep going. 

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“Tarry ye here and watch with me”

Another message in these verses is the importance of a support group when we’re going through difficult times. Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him. He explained how He was feeling and asked them to “watch” and “tarry.” Three times He asked for their support, three times they fell asleep. “Couldest not thou watch one hour?” Christ asks this after finding them asleep again, after He has just experienced an agony that we cannot begin to comprehend.  His disciples couldn’t stay awake while He did this act of love. Every time I read this question I think about times I wasn’t there to support loved ones going through difficult times. How often have I “fallen sleep” while someone else suffered? Mark says “for their eyes were heavy.” We get physically and emotionally tired sometimes and can’t keep ourselves going even when we know we need to. Even when we want to. Christ is always there for us. Are we always there for Him – and for our loved ones? 

*Matthew 26:38– watch with me. The other gospels say “watch”

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Abba

"And he said, Abba, Father," - Abba is an Aramaic intimate name for father. I remember Dad telling me that when Jesus used this, He was saying "Daddy" to His Heavenly Father. I can still feel the tenderness in Dad's manner when he related this. 

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"Rise up, let us go"

When I read this I thought of Dad and his frequent use of "onward and upward." Get on with it. Christ has just been through agony and pain that we will never be able to understand. So much that, as Luke puts it, "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Yet somehow He is able, willing, and ready to "rise up, let us go" knowing He is going to be betrayed and crucified. I imagine He's able to do this because He knows the Resurrection is also part of the plan. Glory follows the pain. That belief and sometimes knowledge of what awaits us, enables us to "rise up" and get going - plowing through the challenge before us. 

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    "And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

    And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

    And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

    Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. (Mark 14: 32-42)

Not Alone

Isn’t it wonderful that our support system for getting through life includes help from the other side of the veil? I’m referring not only to Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit but also ancestors and friends who have passed to the other side. Sometimes we’re privileged to have an experience in which we feel, see, or otherwise know about that help. I think most of the time we’re clueless about the amount and kind of support we receive from the other side. 

Here are some scriptures that help me remember that I am not alone.  

“For I will go before your face,” the Lord declared. “I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (Doctrine & Covenants 84:88).

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 “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”  2Kings 6: 15-17

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Russell M. Nelson talks of “heaven-sent lift” for “heaven-sent duties.” Blogger April Perry tells how that phrase helped her realize she’s not alone as she faces tough situations in her life. Check out her post here. It was her post that caused me to ponder this topic. 

We are not alone.

The Kitchen Table

The kitchen table was the heart of the Holton home. 

When guests came, they often sat in the kitchen instead of the living room.

My sister sent me this poem about a kitchen table.

Perhaps the World Ends Here* 

by Joy Harjo

The world begins at a kitchen table.  No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table.  So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners.  They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human.  We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children.  They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

........

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow.  We pray of suffering and remorse.  We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

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February 1952 - I think we're doing something with Valentines here.

January 1953 - Jan, Tom & Susan

Three little people or two adults fit here

I always felt a bit penned in when I sat on this side of the table

It wasn't easy to get in and out of that space.

September 1955 Cousin Melissa was visiting

July 1957 - I think I'm more than a little excited with these baby kittens!

Mom's high chair is behind me. It's still being used, now by her great-grandchildren

 December 1956 splatter painting

July 1977 - I love the "chaos" in this picture - and Dad is calmly chewing his food 

Susan is feeding Christopher in the high chair. Julius is waiting for Christopher to drop something. Jan is holding Adam. Someone's baby bottle is under the table. Two other grandchildren peek from the right side. 

ca 1980 - This is a classic!

Mom and Dad were such sticklers for manners. Then we all left home and they got Julius.

We were totally amazed that Julius was allowed at the table and drooling was OK!

February 28, 2004 - probably one of the last family gatherings at the kitchen table. Both our parents had died, Mom in February 2003 and Dad in December 2003. Speaker phone in the middle of the table - probably so we could include our Boston sibling in the conversation. Brownies - in honor of Mom. She always had chocolate treats.

We decided the kitchen table would be one of the last things out of the house. 

It was.

 March 31, 2004

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First photo perhaps in 2002
Entire poem here

Communication

We’re at a point in our journey here on earth that we have much more earth time behind us than in front of us. 

Our current phase of life has some pretty big unknowns including how long we have left, health issues, where we’re going to live, and so forth. Each phase of life has its unknowns, these are some big ones we’re facing. 

None of this depresses us because we have a firm belief in eternal life. So the end of our time here on earth is a transition, an end of Act II and lead in to Act III – life after death. I would, however, welcome a bit more information so we could make informed choices. :) I’m a planner and an organizer. Patience, flexibility, and moving forward with faith are things I’ve had to learn – and relearn, and keep practicing. 

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are aware of us individually. I know that the Holy Ghost can help us in our communication with them. I know we can receive direction and counsel as we face tough choices. I also know that the counsel comes in many different ways and the timing isn’t always the timing I wish for. 

I’ve thought quite a bit about communication with God and its many forms. Sometimes the answer to a question comes clearly, sometimes out of the blue, and I know exactly what I’m to do. I love that kind of communication. Other times I get little nudges here and there until one day I realize I’ve got tiny pieces that add up to an answer, to a direction I’m to take. 

David Bednar likens this to the difference between light that comes from turning on a light switch and light from night turning into morning. One brings light immediately and the other brings light so gradually it might take a while before you realize that it’s there.  This gradual discernment of light is expressed in a scripture verse that talks about doctrine that distills on our souls like “dews from heaven.” Distillation is a very gradual process. The other day I had been praying mightily about something and wanted a “writing on the wall” answer. In a quiet moment, that scripture came to me and I realized the answer had already “distilled” itself in my being and I just hadn’t recognized it. 

Sometimes the direction from God comes as a feeling, sometimes as a voice that’s felt more than heard. Sometimes the direction doesn’t come at all and we have to hang on to our faith and use what we’ve learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ to move forward – all the time being open to further light and knowledge that might come our way.

I am thankful for the ability to communicate with God. I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, the example He is and the path he shows us, the teachings He gives us. I am thankful for the Holy Ghost and all He does to help us in the communication with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

hand in hand

 companions for life

companions for eternity

May 2015

Click here for links to previous posts about our anniversaries 

and our journey together

Paths of Light

If you look VERY closely, you can see threadlike trails leading to this tree.

For some reason they have a greenish tint in the photos.

In the early morning light the trails were clear and they glistened. 

You'll just have to imagine how awesome it looked.

What came to my mind -

The Tree of Life - a symbol in many ancient cultures. In The Book of Mormon, the Tree of Life is in the dream of prophet Lehi where it represents the love of God. Our journeys should lead to the tree of life, the love of God. 

I'm reading a book in which one of the main characters can see people's paths, 

physical traces of people backwards through time.

Wordsworth's poem about our coming to earth 

"trailing clouds of glory do we come / From God, who is our home"

I hope I am leaving a light-filled path as I journey through this life on earth. 

Kirkland Evening

At the park on a June evening

This is downtown Kirkland - isn't it beautiful?

dinner at Alanya Cafe

pide (Turkish pizza), doner plate (Turkish gyro) & lentil soup

We had lots of leftovers to eat the next day

Christ - Comforter & Prince of Peace

Comforter

"Jesus Christ promised, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18). He will give us “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:3). Because Christ suffered the Atonement for each of us, He will not forget us." 

Christ's role as Comforter has made an immense difference in my life. As I have learned of Him and developed a relationship with Him, I treasure the way He can comfort me during challenging times. I feel His arms outstretched and sometimes feel myself "encircled in the arms of His love." 2 Nephi 1: 15

With that feeling of love I've come to better understand Christ's role as the Prince of Peace. 

 Prince of Peace

Jesus Christ said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

I have felt that peace. I give thanks for His love and the comfort and peace He brings into my life. 

Life - Musings

Recently I was sitting in a friend's apartment. T & I were visiting C, a member of our congregation. T and I are assigned as visiting teachers to C and three other women. We visit them at least once a month; touch base with them periodically, especially if we don't see them at church; send notes and texts of encouragement; and so forth. When we visit, we see how each woman is doing and deliver a message, hopefully one that's useful and full of the Spirit. 

C lives on the third floor and has a wonderful view of Lake Washington and Seattle. I could have gotten a much better shot if I'd gone out on her balcony, but I wanted to show you what I saw when I had this experience. 

While we talked, I glanced out the window and saw this very non-Central Ohio sight. My whole being was filled with a very complex mix of thoughts and feelings. Who would have thought that seeing Lake Washington and Seattle would be part of my daily life? That certainly wasn't in the life plan I'd prepared. Yet here I was - in a very happy place. 

Being involved in our community and church family brings new and great people into our lives. Being in this part of the country adds wonderful adventures to our lives. 

Life is good

and

We are very thankful

Things - Weariness?

"Every increased possession loads us with new weariness." 

John Ruskin

During our journeys here on earth we tend to accumulate a LOT of stuff! Mom and Dad lived in their home more than 50 years. Result - a house full of memories and things. 

And then there was the process of cleaning out West North Street for our move west. Every possession accumulated in our 34 years in that house had to be evaluated. Did we need it? Did we want it? Was it worth hauling across country (and paying for that hauling)?

As we boxed things up at North Street, it was interesting to pay attention to the feeling as my desk and surrounding bookcases were emptied. Part of me loved the feeling of being surrounded by books and cozy reading chairs. But then I also liked the feeling as that space was emptied. As we left the house for the last time, we were amazed how large it looked when it was empty. 

Once we arrived at our new home in Kirkland, we had a few days before the moving van arrived with its 260+ boxes. Our son and his wife had set up a table, chairs, and air mattresses for us. (They offerered for us to stay at their house but we wanted to get acquainted with our new space and neighborhood). There was a feeling of freedom and lightness to live in a place with no clutter and so little stuff.

I've written about our ongoing downsizing. Eventually we'll end up in a smaller place. I have a  good feeling when I empty a bin or box - discarding or donating something that we haven't used since our move. Sometimes we look at something we've been saving and ask ourselves if our children will want to deal with this after we are gone. Sometimes the answer is "no" and we discard or donate the item. If it's a keepsake or knicknack that's spent the last 30 years in a storage bin, should it be passed along now or should we just admit that we might as well be the people who make the decision to discard it?

I want to get to the place that each possession has a purpose or a family connection. I don't want "weariness" attached to the things in my life. 

Presence

Recently four of us got together for lunch 

We sat on the friend's back porch and enjoyed two hours of

beautiful weather

great food 

wonderful conversation 

awesome friendship

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My favorite memories from a recent visit to Ohio

are the conversations with family & friends

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Last summer's family reunion - there's no way to describe how precious that together time was - especially end of day conversations in our room or around the campfire. 

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When it comes down to it - the greatest gift we can give each other is 

our presence - being there for and with each other

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Apostles Today

L. Tom Perry 1922 - 2015

“Elder Perry was ordained an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 1974, … Elder Perry’s commanding physical presence combined with his enthusiasm and optimistic style made him a forceful as well as a popular figure among Church members across the world.”

“We must be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ,” Elder Perry taught … “We want others to know that we believe He is the central figure in all human history. His life and teachings are the heart of the Bible and the other books we consider to be holy scripture.”*

We had two interactions with Elder Perry. The first was not long after we were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We drove to the stake center in Reynoldsburg for our first stake conference, probably in early 1982. People were very excited because L. Tom Perry, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, was going to be there. We knew apostles were important in Christ’s day and the fact that this church had apostles was significant to us.  We were still growing in understanding and appreciation of apostles and what they did in modern days. 

Apostles are special witnesses of Christ. And that’s what Elder Perry did. I was serving with the children during part of the stake conference meetings – and that’s where Elder Perry was – with the children, testifying of Christ. I remember him sitting in a small chair in front of the children. That was quite a sight because he’s very tall. He held a picture of Christ and talked with the children about Jesus. I remember being impressed that of all the groups he could have taught during that time period, he chose to teach the children. Somehow I knew this man truly was an apostle of the Lord. It became real to me as I watched him and felt what he was doing and saying. 

Our next encounter was decades later. Elder Perry came to Columbus in May 1995 for a regional meeting. I think it was held at the convention center in downtown Columbus. Elder and Sister Perry spoke at the conference. After the meeting we had an opportunity to talk with Elder and Sister Perry (stake presidencies and their spouses were seated on the stand). I was struck by how tall Elder Perry was. He was very friendly and easy to talk with. After the conference Elder and Sister Perry were driving to Dayton, Ohio to do family history research. Sister Perry’s family was from Dayton. 

Elder Perry’s witness of Christ, his enthusiasm for the gospel, and his wonderful smile will long be remembered. 

*quote 

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