Way of Life

"Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places."  Dallin Oakes

Consciously and conscientiously choosing Christ results is a life with great depth and meaning. What a wonderful way of life it is. 

Carrots & Politics

Did you  know there's a political aspect to orange carrots? 

Until the 17th century most carrots were purple, yellow, and white. 

Then Dutch farmers started growing orange carrots in tribute to William of Orange who led the fight for Dutch independence. Orange carrots were used as a "political weapon during the rise and fall of the House of Orange." source.  Read more here and here

Less Clueless

I have many experiences designed to remind me to pay closer attention. I'd been up about an hour, going about my morning routine. Then I stepped on the treadmill, looked down and noticed that my shoes didn't match. 

How many things and people am I not tuned in to? 

I want to be less clueless and more observant. 

Cousin Time

My cousin came to Seattle to visit us and see some high school friends. 

On the way home from the airport we stopped at Kerry Park 

for a great tourist photo. What a view!

Friday morning we took a long walk around Kirkland. 

At Heritage Park we spotted an eagle (above, top center)

We're in line to get on the ferry to take us from Mukilteo to Clinton on Whidbey Island. Clam chowder from Ivar's is always a treat, no matter what time of day. Ivar's has a quick, walk-up stand. below - looking back at Mukilteo

 We stopped at Coupeville for lunch at Toby's Tavern. A sign advertises "fresh mussels." The mussels are "farmed" in the bay just down the street from the restaurant. I tried them once. They must be an acquired taste. 

Coupeville is a lovely little town. Click on picture for larger image. 

Browsing in "Far From Normal" my cousin found the book "Anguished English." We discovered that our fathers shared a love of this kind of book - and shared many other traits. This is the store where Joe found the rooster that now graces our hearth along with his friends. 

 Deception Pass is a beautiful area. 

The bridge connects Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island.

History of the bridge here

 

We drove home through the tulips fields, meandering along the back roads, knowing the tulips were several weeks past peak bloom. Just as my cousin was asking what else was grown in the area, we came upon this field of purple iris - awesome sight!

We drove by RoozenGaarde, just in case we'd find some blooming tulips. The display garden was open. We were delighted with the beautiful late-season tulips. We had the garden all to ourselves in the late afternoon light. It was interesting to watch my artist cousin try to capture the beautiful light on the tulips. 

above - the colors in this tulip were amazing

below - the sun lit up the fringed edges of this tulip

Click here for tulip pictures from our excursion in April

Christ - Advocate

Advocate 

"Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father. The word advocate has Latin roots meaning “one who pleads for another.” The Savior pleads for us, using understanding, justice, and mercy. Knowing this can fill us with love and gratitude for His Atonement.

“Listen to [Jesus Christ] who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5)."

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"  1John 2: 1

One of the most poignant examples of advocacy happened when Christ was on the cross. Referring to the criminals who hung on crosses on either side of Him, Christ said, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23: 34  He was advocating for others even at the end of His earth life. 

I am thankful for Christ's advocacy on my behalf. 

Click here to see scriptures about Christ as our Advocate.

Navigation

I've been slow to transition to the latest and greatest navigation tools. Paper maps to the in-car GPS was slow. Often I still print out maps "just in case." I like paper maps and getting an overview of where I'm going, and how. 

For some reason the map apps on my iPhone were confusing to me - until this trip to Ohio. 

This trip it worked flawlessly - or more accurately stated, the operator knew how to use the app. Why did it seem so easy, so obvious, when in the past it was anything but obvious to me?

I thought about a spiritual application - the program, information and directions were there all along - I just didn’t know how to access them and use them even though I had made an attempt to learn. 

That’s like God and the gospel. It takes practice and more than one or even several attempts. Once we get the "hang of it" we're surprised we ever thought it was complicated. 

More Transitions

Changes in technology certainly offer us many different ways of doing things 

at this point in our lives. 

Moving from point and shoot digital camera to the camera on my phone - the camera on the phone is better than the camera on my midrange Fujifilm camera for most of the pictures I take. The separate camera is still better for zoom and macro shots. It certainly is handy to always have a camera in my pocket. 

Dad's interest in and love of words impacted me. I used to stash paper dictionaries in various places around the house so I could easily look up words. With my iPhone I no longer need paper dictionaries. My dictionary app is well used.