Don't Be In A Hurry

Our lives are full of people and tasks. The days fly by - a week is gone, then a month, and before you know it, it's a new year!  

John Thomas counsels us to not be in a hurry. 

Don’t be in a hurry to forget the first commandment – love God with all our 

heart, soul, mind, strength

            Don’t be in a hurry to do it all yourself – let the Lord help

            Don’t be in a hurry to fill your days with busyness

            Don’t be in hurry to be done

We need to make time to "slow down and ponder so that [we] can feel the Lord's love for you." (Bonnie Parkin)

This reminds me of counsel Joe used to give a young father who at times was overwhelmed with work and his young family. Joe told him, “take time to smell the diapers.” That young father’s four children are now all away from home and some have children of their own. I’m sure there are days he wishes for those hectic days when the children were young, yes, even the smelly diapers. 

Sharing Stories

These thoughts from O. Brent Black reinforce the importance of preserving and sharing stories. 

"My sincere hope is that the writings and stories ... will be sources of strength for my children, grandchildren and more for the years ahead," he said. 

"... How blessed we are if, ... we can sit down at our kitchen table and there review stories of the past from those we have loved, and learn anew the lessons and messages that they have left for us. We must realize that at the very moment we are writing our own stories to be recorded as part of a history which will sometime in the future be reviewed again and again." (Church News; article published August 19, 2000; no longer online)

 left - 1934 - Baby Joseph Todd with mother Mary Elizabeth Neely Todd & her father Alonzo Neeley (Trapper) & Alonzo's mother Mary Taylor Neely (Mamaw)

right - Baby William Holton with parents Celia & Caryl

~1927 Mary Floyd with sister Elizabeth

Mary Floyd Holton's parents in 1896

Mildred Browne & Harry Floyd

Teenaged Mary Elizabeth Neely's passport photo 1919

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9/1/20 typo corrected

Feasting & Pressing Forward

“Feast” on the scriptures 

“Press forward” with faith and action

We have a choice with the gospel of Jesus Christ. How intensely do we act on our discipleship? Are we actively engaged with the Lord and His work?

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” (2Nephi 31: 20)

Books - Poldark - One More Time

I like the Poldark series by Winston Graham so much that I asked for and received the whole series, 12 books, for Christmas.First time around, I borrowed the books from the library.

"Poldark is a series of historical novels by Winston Graham, published from 1945 to 1953 and continued from 1973 to 2002. The series comprises 12 novels: the first seven are set in the 18th century, concluding in Christmas 1799; the remaining five are concerned with the early years of the 19th century and the lives of the descendants of the previous novels' main characters. Graham wrote the first four Poldark books during the 1940s and 1950s. Following a long hiatus, he decided to resume the series and published The Black Moon in 1973.

The main character, Ross Poldark, is a British Army officer who returns to his home in Cornwall from the American Revolutionary War only to find that his fiancée Elizabeth Chynoweth believed him dead and is about to marry his cousin Francis Poldark. Ross attempts to restore his own fortunes by reopening one of the family's derelict tin mines. After several years, he marries Demelza Carne, a poor servant girl, and is gradually reconciled to the loss of Elizabeth's love." Wikipedia

Just recently I started Book #1 again. So far, it's even better the second time around. 

You can tell how much I enjoyed the books by checking out the blog posts I wrote as I read the books the first time. Read more here and here

Click here for a summary of all the books. 

Coincidence or Tender Mercy

On Saturday I was rearranging these books, 250+ books. A booklet fell away from the piles. When I picked it up, I felt a surge of love from God. The next day I was teaching a lesson on the Sabbath and the Sacrament. When I originally read these three articles I was moved enough to tear them out of the journal and save them. I wasn't looking for them as I did the rearranging but I'm certainly glad I found them - or they found me. 

Was this a coincidence or a tender mercy from God?

I choose to receive it as a message that Heavenly Father is aware of me and what I'm doing. I am thankful for reminders like this. 

Valentines

Our love for each other and for Christ and His gospel 

has increased during this part of our journey

Our love and marriage are eternal - eternal Valentines!

top photo November 2017

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, ...

Downtown Kirkland is dotted with cranes and construction 

- and sometimes you see porta potties swinging in the sky!

February Blossoms

In bloom the first week of February

All in downtown Kirkland, not far from our place

Ducks In A Row

Why were these ducks all in a row? 

Was there a warm current on this chilly day? 

Was there food lined up underneath them? 

I feel we've spent the last few years getting our ducks in a row so we'd be prepared for the changes coming our way. 

What's the origin of the phrase "ducks in a row?" Does is have to do with a line of ducks like this? Or with pool? Or even shipbuilding? Bowling?

Click here for some interesting possibilities

Day of Decision

When we look back on our lives, we sometimes recognize a day of decision. A day, or two or three or more, in which we make a decision that makes a significant difference in the course of our lives.  

I was moved by this account of Gordon Hinckley's day of decision. As a young, discouraged missionary, he had a decision to make. He decided to turn himself and his life over to the Lord. What a difference it made for him and for the millions of people who were blessed by his love and his service on behalf of the Lord. 

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In July 1987 Gordon Hinckley, then a counselor in First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, traveled to Preston, England on assignment. 54 years previously he served there as a missionary. On this return trip he visited several sites of importance from his mission, including the house where he and his companion lived all those years ago. The current resident came out and invited President and Sister Hinckley into her home and said they were welcome to go upstairs to the bedroom where young Gordon Hinckley had an experience that set the course for the rest of his life. Gerry Avant, who was along on the trip, describes that visit. 

“Then we got in the car. I was in the back seat with President and Sister Hinckley. As we started to drive off, he spoke with tears in his eyes and emotion in his voice. He said, “I had to go upstairs to that room. That is where I experienced a day of decision.”

“He explained that he had become discouraged as a young missionary because he had arrived in Preston in poor health and no one seemed interested in hearing his message.

“I wrote a letter home to my father and told him I felt I was wasting my time and his money,” President Hinckley said. “My father wrote back a very short letter. It said, ‘Dear Gordon, I have your letter. I have only one suggestion: Forget yourself and go to work.’

“I went upstairs to that bedroom and got on my knees, and said to the Lord, ‘I will try to forget myself and go to work. I will try to lose my life in Thy service, but I need help.’ That was my day of decision.”

President Hinckley said marvelous things had happened to him since then, having traveled throughout the world on the Lord’s errand.

“And,” he added, “it all started here in Preston.”

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Forget ourselves and go to work, all the time asking for the Lord's help. That's a great plan for moving on through challenging times in our lives. 

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Read entire article here

Stand Still

“… let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. Doctrine and Covenants 123: 17

I've thought of this scripture frequently. Lately I'm more aware than usual that there's only so much I can do about all that's swirling around in my life and in my head and my heart. I need to be better at recognizing what I can do, what's in my "power," and then being still enough to let God work in my life - and recognize that work being done.