Sparkling Morning

Early one morning last week I walked out our door 

and was greeted with absolute beauty. 

In the distance I could see the majestic, snow-capped Olympic Mountains 

and shimmering Lake Washington.

The light made everything look beautiful, 

even in the parts of downtown that were still in shadow. 

 According to the bank sign, it was 26 degrees - that's very cold for Kirkland

Frost made wonderful patterns on the leaves, flowers, and grass

I walked to the lake

 I wish these pictures better captured the awesome combination of morning light, cold clear air, snow-capped mountains and the sparkling water

If you look closely, you can see the mountains on the other side of the lake

More mountains in the distance

No ducks at the park this morning

There's bright, vivid green here year round. 

The flower buds are already on this bush - just waiting for warmer weather. 

 The Olympic Mountains from our street - 

with and without wires and phone poles

Contribute to the Momentum

"We are grateful that we have a work to do and the Lord needs our willing service. This gospel is going to fill the earth, and it can’t be stopped. It is our responsibility to contribute to the momentum.”   

Rosemary Wixom

Family Priorities

Daryl Hoole gave great advice for parents - and grandparents - when she talked about how to help children achieve economic, emotional, intellectual, social self-reliance as well as spiritual self-reliance. Spiritual self reliance is "a prerequisite to service. It is a key to spiritual growth and progress."

Nurturing, teaching, and training children can effectively take place in homes that include: 

-Loving and listening environment

-Exemplary environment – teaching by example

-Respectful, kind, caring environment

-Teaching and training environment

-Gospel centered environment

"Children are extremely perceptive in picking up the emphasis — or priority — of our homes and lifestyles, however subtle it may be. Think for a moment and be honest with yourself — how do you stress such things as education, music, sports, vacations, careers, fun times, traditions, clean houses, good food, cars and other material possessions?" It is important to "seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you," as it says in Matthew 6:33.

"In homes where the gospel is emphasized above everything else, children come to understand why the gift of eternal life is the greatest of all the gifts of God. Preparing them to be worthy of that gift is of the highest priority. It matters so much, in fact, that nothing else can compare, nothing even comes close."

Daryl Hoole 

Reminders

Every once in a while we find these green numbered stickers on something - a reminder that the moving company transported a LOT of boxes and other "stuff" across country for us. 

In March we celebrate the second anniversary of our move. Those two years have just flown by!

Objects & Stories

"The things our ancestors leave us are much more than aesthetic objects. They are physical reminders of our ancestors' legacies to us ... A family Bible, an heirloom recipe, a treasured quilt each carry stories that can influence our way of being and thinking for generations. ... Material objects such as these contain unwritten histories ..."

"Habits of Being - Mormon Women's Material Culture" - This book struck a cord with me. I loved the pictures and the essays that accompanied them. One reviewer commented on the importance of searching out connections to our past, writing them, and archiving them safely.

Periodically I've blogged about a material object with a connection to our family's past (here and here). As I post more pictures from the past, I'll comment on objects in the pictures as well as the people (examples here and here).

When we make time to record the stories of the objects and people in our lives, we are leaving a treasure for those who come after us. 

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image & quote

Habits of Being: Mormon Women's Material Culture

Editor: Elizabeth Pinborough; Publisher: Exponent II

2012

Ich Dien - I Serve

1994

   MY FATHER

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Ich Dien

Many years ago I read that the motto of the Prince of Wales is "Ich Dien" (I serve). This seemed to me to be an appropriate motto to serve as a guide for my life.

I used this on a flag I made for a camping trip, but nowhere else.

When we were in Wales in 1992, I found a small lapel button showing the device of the Prince of Wales - - three plumes inside a gold crown, with the words "Ich Dien" in the background. I bought the button and glued it to my skean dhu to serve as a reminder.

I have tried to serve others in many capacities. and trust that I may be able to continue to do so for many years.

  

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skean dhu – small, single-edged knife; part of traditional Scottish Highland dress; instead of tucking the knife in the top of kilt hose, Bill had a holder for it in his boot

Scanned & digitized (OCR) from typed copy William Holton included in his “The End Times,” a notebook he left to guide us through all that needed to be done when he passed to the other side

jht notes 22 December 2012

images – Wikipedia Commons 

ich dien

skean dhu - here and here 

Too Busy?

Amen!

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