Hopes in the Darkness

“… together they watched the fireflies 

twinkle in and out 

like hopes in the darkness.” 

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Elizabeth Chadwick 

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How Awesome Is This!

If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.  Doctrine and Covenants 42: 61

Heavenly Father has so much He wants to share with us – revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge. And why – so we can know the mysteries and peaceable things, those things that bring joy and so we can have life eternal. That’s all real and it’s all pretty awesome!

We start the process by asking.

Signs of Spring

Swimsuits & Primroses

Spring has sprung at Costco!

I thought it interesting that the swimsuit colors match primrose colors

Fun Music

Official title - Tabernacle Organist Richard Elliott and the Orchestra at Temple Square perform "Hot Pipes" (Movement no. 4 - Jazz Concerto for Organ and Orchestra) 

It's very happy music!

Check out the keyboard camera as well as the foot pedal camera

Notice that the organist doesn't have any music in front of him!

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Prayer - Doing & Becoming

We've been given the gift of prayer, an opportunity to communicate with God - to feel His love, to receive His counsel, to develop a relationship with Him. It's real. It's possible. How awesome is that?!

I'm learning that prayer involves communication about not only the things I want or need to do but also the kind of person I want to become. 

I like David Bednar's thoughts on using prayer to spiritually create the day and then going out and making it happen. 

"...  meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal creation or the actual execution of the day. Just as the temporal creation was linked to and a continuation of the spiritual creation, so meaningful morning and evening prayers are linked to and are a continuation of each other.

At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer." David Bednar

In Tune

One of my ongoing goals is to be more in tune with God so I can hear His counsel. One of the roles of the Holy Ghost is to help with that communication.

Jesus tells us - "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14: 26

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The Holy Ghost communicates with the spirit through the mind more than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings, and through impressions and promptings. It is not always easy to describe inspiration. The scriptures teach us that we may “feel” the words of spiritual communication more than hear them, and see with spiritual rather than mortal eyes. Boyd K. Packer

More on the Holy Ghost here

Write or Type?

Paper or digital

To write or type my journal - that is the question!

I've been journaling for about 25 years. In 2008 I switched from hand writing my journal to typing it. I enjoy typing and I like the idea of having a digital record. Searching that digital journal has come in handy when I've needed to find the date of an event or something else I'm trying to remember. 

In December I started having the feeling I should write in a paper journal instead of digital. I wasn't very enthusiastic about that feeling. I decided to handwrite my scripture journal on paper and see how that goes. I've been surprised at my reaction. There's something about putting pen to paper that feels very different from putting fingers to a keyboard. I like the feeling of pen on paper. I like the feel and sound of the paper as I turn the pages. 

I wrote - "We'll see how it goes."

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Click here and here for some interesting comments on writing vs typing.

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Many people think my keyboard is strange. It's ergonomic (split). I've been using it for years and find it very comfortable. 

Fervent

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: …"    1Peter 4: 8

I like the use of “fervent.” It implies some intensity. 

Loving and caring for each other with intensity. 

That’s how Christ loves us. 

That’s how He’d like us to love each other.

The Heavens Declare

The heavens declare the glory of God; 

and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Psalm 19: 1

When I walked down to the lake and saw this sunset, my whole being was filled with the joy & truth expressed in this scripture. Too bad a picture can't adequately capture the sight and can't convey the feeling - it was an awe-inspiring experience. 

Sunset

Sunset at Marina Park in Kirkland, not far from where we live

Light and water - some magnificent symbolism 

looking east - the light and pink colors are reflected in the building

the moon peaks out of the pink-tinged clouds

moments that words and images can't adequately capture

awesome!

Sunrise

I am fascinated with light - especially the way it manifests over the lake

a recent sunrise at Marina Park, not far from where we live

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 The boat is at "public parking" and is from Alaska. It's been here a few weeks. 

They're There

Just because we can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are real. Even more real than these magnificent Olympic Mountains. Sometimes you see them and sometimes you don't - but they are always there. 

Sometimes you have to look very carefully. 

Sometimes you have to wait until conditions are just right. 

Sometimes you come up over a hill or around a bend and there they are

breathtaking

They are real!

Hallelujah!

Shopping at Costco

The products at our nearby Costco reflect our part of the country and the diversity of the people who live here.

There's a huge seafood section. Penn Cove Mussels are farmed in the waters of Whidbey Island. 

Seaweed snacks - we haven't tried this yet, have you?

Many products reflect the huge Indian population in the area

Recently Costco started carrying halal goat cubes and lamb from New Zealand

Shopping at Costco can be an adventure. You never know what you'll find!

Gift-Giving

This is a season of gift-giving.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?" (Doctrine & Covenants 88:33)

“Life is God’s gift to man. What we do with our life is our gift to God.” (Harold B. Lee)

“As the Christmas season envelops us with all its glory, may we, as did the Wise Men, seek a bright, particular star to guide us to our Christmas opportunity in service to our fellowman. May we all make the journey to Bethlehem in spirit, taking with us a tender, caring heart as our gift to the Savior.”  Thomas S. Monson

Early Morning Walks

So much to see in downtown Kirkland on my early morning walks

We have two construction projects downtown. The work starts very early. Right now these double dump trucks are hauling tons of dirt from both sites. Wonder where all that dirt is going?

Early morning buses leave Kirkland's transit center 

Kirkland's Christmas tree - back of library in middle of picture - Heathman Hotel on the right. The transit center pictured above is between the library and hotel. 

Some of the sculptures dress up for Christmas too

Pansies in late December

A reminder that we can grow even when we're in a challenging situation

Deliveries for the French Bakery - bread in paper sacks 

& pastries & cakes in cardboard boxes

Big delivery trucks in small alleys

Big delivery trucks on narrow downtown streets

Always beautiful at the lake

That's Seattle across Lake Washington

Panorama from Marina Park in downtown Kirkland