An Increase

Here in Kirkland we've been following the tragedy of the disappearance of 21 year old Annie Schmidt. We feel close to her and her family because her brother Spencer was a beloved missionary in our area three or four years ago. You may have heard of Annie's father, Jon Schmidt of The Piano Guys.

Jon Schmidt's friend Steven Sharp Nelson, "the cello guy," shared what he thinks the Schmidt family hopes we will take away from this tragedy. 

An increase of faith and empathy. An increase in gratitude for every moment we have with the people we love. An increase in long hugs instead of stern rebukes. An increase of faith in Divine purposes we cannot yet see. An increase in determination to search out and find people who feel lost and lift them up until they feel lost no more.

To think that nothing came of this tragedy would be a travesty. As metal is placed in the smithy’s fire it turns bright and beautiful. The metal’s true qualities are revealed and its will then bends to the metalsmith’s will. As Jon and his family have been placed in the furnace of affliction they, too, have shone beautifully, their true character has shown through, and they have turned their will over to God, the Great Metalsmith. I know I can speak for many others when I say thank you. Thank you, Jon and the Schmidt family for your light, your integrity, and your humility. The Earth is a softer place because of your strength in struggle. We love you and all together give you a long hug from across all parts of the world.

May we each make the earth a "softer place" for those who are struggling. May we help each other have strength in their struggles. May we have strength in our own struggles. 

Sacrament

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we take the sacrament, or communion, every Sunday. This is the most sacred part of the week and of the worship service. 

"On the night before His Crucifixion, Jesus Christ met with His Apostles and instituted the sacrament (see Luke 22:19–20). After His Resurrection, He instituted the sacrament among the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 18:1–11). Today the sacrament is an ordinance in which Church members partake of bread and water in remembrance of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. This ordinance is an essential part of worship and spiritual development. Through this ordinance, Church members renew the covenants they made with God when they were baptized." (lds.org)

I am thankful for this weekly pause and the opportunity to renew the covenants I have made with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. When I chew the bread, I think of the effort involved in being a disciple of Jesus Christ. When I drink the water and feel it going through my body, I think of the Spirit filling my being and my soul radiating the love of Christ. 

When members aren't able to get to church due to illness or other reasons, they can request that the sacrament be brought to their homes. Once or twice a month that's been happening in our home when Joe isn't able to go to church. 

When the sacrament prayers are read and the bread and water are offered to Joe, our home totally fills with the Spirit. 

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Click here for more about the sacrament

nesting tables from my grandparents' home

Checklist

People who want to keep things in good working order often have checklists to follow. You can find checklists for cars, home, health, and many other aspects of life.  

Adam C. Olson developed this list that could be helpful for checking how I'm doing spiritually. 

• Do I pray regularly and sincerely?

• Do I feast upon the word of God in the scriptures and the teachings of living prophets?

• Do I keep the Sabbath day holy and attend Church meetings regularly?

• Do I fast and pay my tithes and offerings willingly?

• Am I willing to forgive others?

• Do I regularly find ways to serve others?

• Do I remember the Savior at all times and follow His example?

• Do I keep my thoughts and language clean?

• Am I honest in all things?

• Do I keep the Word of Wisdom?

Read Olson's article here

Stuff for Sports Fans

Ohio State Fans - Seattle Seahawks Fans

Don't know who's more fanatical

Or

Which town is more football crazy

Seattle Seahawks blue & green tortilla chips

blue & green flowers

game day cupcakes - blue & green of course!

Costco even carries chocolate covered almonds in Seahawks' colors!

Prayer

"Prayer is a gift from God. We need never feel lost or alone. I testify that every moment of precious prayer can be holy time spent with our Father, in the name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Ghost." (Carol McConkie)

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Juan Uceda has some thought-provoking questions about prayer. 

Do I pray with my lips or my heart?

Do I connect with God or am I just saying prayers?

When I pray do I really want God's will, not my will? (Lord's Prayer)

Do I pray and ask God's input for important decisions?

Do I prepare myself for prayer?

"...a moment of prayer is a very, very sacred moment." Juan Uceda

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"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). ... Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.  Bible Dictionary

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"Heartfelt prayer comes from the depths of the soul. Our mind and heart are directed toward God with full and complete attention. When we pray from the heart, we are not just saying words or “going through the motions”; we are seeking to draw nearer to our Father in Heaven, to commune with Him in a personal and intimate manner. Heartfelt prayer is the furthest thing from a memorized recitation. We do not simply talk at God; rather, we talk with Him. This does not imply a face-to-face conversation as Moses experienced, but it does suggest communing with God by listening to the still, small voice of the Spirit. It means allowing time both during a prayer and after a prayer to hear spiritual promptings." Bruce Porter  

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Sacred moment with God. Commune with God. Isn't it awesome that this is even possible!

Prayer - a gift from God. 

Connected?

Have you ever tried to print something from your computer and wound up getting frustrated because you got the message “printer is not connected?” That happened to me recently. All the usual fixes didn’t work and I was getting a bit exasperated. Finally I noticed that I had turned off the wifi connection. No wonder it wasn’t connecting!!! 

This made me think about my connection with God. How often do I feel disconnected? When it happens, do I look for the simple reasons first? Perhaps I’m not praying. Perhaps I’m not studying scriptures. Perhaps I’m not worshiping. Perhaps I’m not serving. Usually my disconnects can be traced to causes I can easily address. 

Book - Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English

Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons 

After escaping Germany during WWII, Jack and Sadie Rosenblum, together with their baby daughter, settle into a life of acting "English." In post-war England, however, no golf club will admit a Rosenblum. So Jack hatches a wild idea: he'll build his own. It's an obsession Sadie does not share, particularly when Jack relocates them to a thatched roof cottage in Dorset to embark on his project.  worldcat - image & summary 

JHT - When the Rosenblums arrive in England they are given a pamphlet written for immigrants on how to act like the English. This list becomes Jack's blueprint for fitting in. Wife Sadie years for life back in Germany. She is obsessed with remembering and doesn't want to become English. 

Author Natasha Solomons uses her grandparents' experiences as the basis for this book. They were Jews who left Germany to settle in England. Internet searches didn't reveal whether or not her grandfather built a golf course as Jack did in this story. 

This wasn't a page-turner for me. At times I came close to giving up on the book. I'm glad I persevered. When I read the last few pages, the word that came to my mind was "sweet." Jack and Sadie both found friendship and a new home and they rekindled their love and appreciation for each other. 

I read the author's The Song of Hartgrove Hall and requested two of her other books from the library. This author is Jewish; religion or ethnic background seems to be an aspect of each of her books. 

Themes I noticed – friendship, belonging, and relationship with the land. Can you remember the past in a way that it doesn't interfere with enjoying and learning from the present?

Read more at goodreads.com

Author's website

Wendy's & The Spirit

Joe had a craving for Wendy's chili and Frosty the other day. As I walked home from the nearby Wendy's, I was reminded of a very special experience with the Spirit, Dad, and Wendy's Frosty. 

In December 2003 Dad was in Madison County hospital with pneumonia. As I was driving into London to see him one day, it came into my mind, "Get him a Frosty." I questioned the feeling because I didn't know if Dad even liked Frosty*. I thought I'd ask him and then get it on the next trip over. "GET HIM A FROSTY!" came to me very emphatically. So I did. Dad was delighted. The texture, temperature, and flavor greatly appealed to him. The word got out and the refrigerator freezer on Dad's corridor was soon filled to overflowing with Frosty for Dad! 

I treasure this memory as an example of the way the Spirit can help us with answers to questions we haven't even asked. If we follow the promptings, we can receive ideas that enable us to help ourselves or others - sometimes it's help with something "big." Sometimes it's something seemingly small - like a Frosty. 

June 2003

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Footnotes :)

-*Wendy's tweeted that the plural of Frosty is Frosty

-Back in 2003 Wendy's was using bright yellow cups. 

-A while back I read that the word "MOM" was "hidden" in the collar of Wendy's dress. A Wendy's representative said it was totally unintentional. 

That Time of Year

It's that time of year

Christmas trees at Costco

Beautiful roses are still blooming

New Book Smell

Recently I walked into a bookstore 

and was enveloped in that wonderful new book smell. 

I love bookstores.

Golden Years

“We are old now, and in due time, we will be summoned beyond the veil. ... We try to teach the practical things we have learned over the years to those who are younger—to our family and to others.

“We cannot do what we once did, but we have become more than ever we were before. … Keep the fire of your testimony of the restored gospel and your witness of our Redeemer burning so brightly that our children can warm their hands by the fire of your faith.” Boyd Packer