Hazy Morning at the Lake

The smoke from fires in the Pacific Northwest make for smoky mornings & orange rising suns (Marina Park)

Tears

"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief... and unspeakable love." 

Washington Irving 

Detail from art by Caitlin Connolly

Focus on What the Lord Wants

“Forget about yourself and what people may think of you, whether they are impressed or disappointed or anything else. Just focus on what I want to give them through you. Focus on what I want them to hear through you.” (the Lord to newly called apostle D. Todd Christofferson) 

Focusing on the Lord and what He wants us to do and say makes all the difference for us and those with whom we come in contact. 

Joe & Flowers

Joe had a fondness for marigolds. He said he thinks it came from pictures on Marigold milk containers when he was a child. I haven't been able to find an image from that time period. 

Joe also liked pansies, especially the ones with "faces" on them. He bought this Peggy Karr glass pansy bowl for me at Maple Lee Flowers and Gifts in Worthington

Glory in the Mystery

Sometimes we find ourselves at a crossroads that are full of opportunities. 

These are good times to ponder, pray, and “glory in the mystery” as Megan Armknecht notes in her article “How to Face Uncertainty with Faith.” 

“When I was choosing where I would go to graduate school, I was faced with many wonderful options. As I weighed the choices in my mind and prayed for direction, I had the overwhelming sense that this decision was up to me; the Lord would ratify any decision I made in this situation.”

A “trusted mentor” listened to her list of pros and cons of her various options. He told her,  “You have two great options here. I don’t think you can mess this choice up. It might seem trite, but ultimately it comes down to the heart wants what the heart wants. So, what do you want?  … I know that these choices can be agonizing … But before you make any decision, just take an hour or two to go outside, walk around, and glory in the mystery that is your future.”

 “…  be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours” (Doctrine & Covenants 78:17–18).

We can better understand and appreciate the mystery if we slow down, ponder and pray more, and glory in that mystery that is the future.