Hi,
Dad and I were sitting in Church listening to music - I had been struggling to keep the Spirit of Christmas with me this year. I had been non stop trying to catch up on cleaning and shopping and presents etc....it was hard even though I kept expressing gratitude to feel that love I was so used to feeling.
So I asked the question, it is your birthday, I want to remember you and give you a gift, specifically for Thee what could I give you....a thought came back to me of a woman I had known years ago, she had passed away, her son was in jail and I felt this kindred spirit asking me to visit her son in the jail. I could not handle others not knowing that someone loved them and was thinking about them...so dad and I went. We had a beautiful day and a beautiful visit, we had not seen this man in 28 years and he welcomed us as if we had been in his life the whole time.
One of my favorite things in the whole world is to connect - really connect to be real and giving, open and vulnerable and to communicate in a sincere and honest conversation and I realized that I went there to give him a gift but he gave us one.
It really is just another way of connecting with God. Merry Christmas Jesus! Where would we be without His love!

Reflection

Merry Christmas everyone!

As I reflect on Jenn's word to "wonder" I "wonder" at the contrast between Seattle and our little town of Ashburnham. Seattle had overcast skies and even though they had a tree lighting ceremony the houses and yards were bare. It was the strangest thing. There is this overcast spirit there in the winter. It really is dismal there when it rains. One has to make a conscious choice to be positive, uplifting.

As I flew into Manchester last night and looked out the airplane's window I could see the trees with the lights and the individual houses all decorated. I was amazed that you could see them from the airplane. My spirits lifted as I realized I was home... and yet sad that I left a loved one behind. I wondered if I would ever have all of the family together again. The next day was blue sky and brisk fall air...go Ashburnham...but the song says "the bluest skies you'll ever see are in Seattle" that is sooooo true when they are blue - they are dynamite.. for now I will enjoy the wonder of being home and having my husband to hug and a warm fire and soon to see children and grandchildren....Christmas trees and presents and family times together. The whole purpose is to remember the love and feel the love... I wonder how much love I can give today? Does our capacity to give more increase? What helps people to feel loved...

For today, I am thankful to come home to a warm cozy fire in the fireplace and Christmas lights twinkling on the mantle and the biggest hugs from my honeybunch!

Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?

A few weeks ago as all of you know Dad shot himself by accident. One of the tender mercies of the Lord was that he didn't die, it didn't shatter a bone, it had not penetrated an artery but had lodged in a muscle. I remembered how President Eyering had asked us to write down how we had seen the hand of God take care of our family...it comes a conference talk by President Eyering in 2007.

I was so touched that I wanted to make sure I implemented it during such a challenging time. He said, and I quote:

"When our children were very small I started to write down a few things about what happened every day...I heard in my mind - not in my own voice - these words: 'I am not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.'

I went inside. I didn't go to bed. Although I was tired, I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family....

I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: "Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?" As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened....I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. .....Did God send a message just for me?

He loves us and I testify that He loves us and it brings me joy to remember Him...

Today - there is more than one, the tender mercies of the Lord was evident in that we had been looking for over a week for Matthew's diploma. We found it today. The deadline was tomorrow.

We were able to share with a sister a ladder and a meal as she went through moving during this time in her life.

I find it a tender mercy whenever I talk with any of our children and I talked with Jenn, saw Matthew today and talked with Diana...

Jaska and Eli - How precious!

Happy 6th!

Go Jonah! We love you!

Fun pictures of Abby!

It is always a priceless time to spend with family.

Thoughts!

I am in a thoughtful mood, I have talked with some of you about LOVE and we have agreed that it is difficult to describe. Words don't seem to be enough.

I feel surrounded by love and wanted to share a story I came across as I was going through church magazines. It is from the Prophets talk in 2008 called "To Learn, To Do, To Be"

Several years ago I received a letter from a longtime friend. He bore his testimony in that letter. I would like to share part of it with you tonight since it illustrates the strength of the priesthood in one who learned what he should learn, who did what he should do, and who always tried to be what he should be. I shall read excerpts of that letter from my friend Theron W. Borup, who passed away three years ago at the age of 90:

At the age of eight, when I was baptized and received the Holy Ghost, I was much impressed about being good and able to have the Holy Ghost to be a help throughout my life. I was told that the Holy Ghost associated only in good company and that when evil entered our lives, he would leave. Not knowing when I would need his promptings and guidance, I tried to so live that I would not lose this gift. On one occasion it saved my life.

During World War II, I was an engineer-gunner in a B-24 bomber fighting in the South Pacific...One day there was an announcement that the longest bombing flight ever made would be attempted to knock out an oil refinery. The promptings of the Spirit told me a I would be assigned on this flight but that I would not lose my life. At the time I was the president of the LDS group.

"The combat was ferocious as we flew over Borneo. Our plane was hit by attacking planes and soon burst into flames, and the pilot told us to prepare to jump. I went out last. We were shot at by enemy pilots as we floated down. I had trouble inflating my life raft. Bobbing up and down in the water, I began to drown and passed out. I came to momentarily and cried, "God save me!" Again I tried inflating the life raft and this time was successful. With just enough air in it to keep me afloat, I rolled over on top of it, too exhausted to move.

For three days we floated about in enemy territory with ships all about us and planes overhead. Why they couldn't see a yellow group of rafts on blue water is a mystery," he wrote. "A storm came up and waves thirty feet high almost tore our rafts apart. Three days went by with no food or water. The others asked me if I prayed. I answered that I did pray and we would indeed be rescued. That evening we saw our submarine that was there to rescue us, but it passed by. The next morning it did the same. We knew this was the last day it would be in the area. Then came the promptings of the Holy Ghost. "You have the priesthood. Command the sub to pick you up." Silently I prayed, "In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the priesthood, turn about and pick you up. Silently I prayed, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the priesthood, turn about and pick us up. In a few minutes they were alongside of us. When on deck, the captain...said, "I don't know how we ever found you, for we were not even looking for you. "

I leave with you my testimony that this work in which we are engaged is true. The Lord is at the helm. That we may ever follow Him is my sincere prayer.

"LOVE"

Shane with his dogs.

Matthew with Emma, Zach, and Jonathan

WE BELONG TO A FAMILY THAT LOVES US!

The Power to Ponder

Hi,

I came across this message and it touched me very deeply and I decided to post it where I could return to it and it wouldn't be lost and also so others could enjoy it.

This is from a newsletter in our church.

When Jesus Christ came to teach the Nephites, he said, "Therefore, go ye unto your homes and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again. " (3 Ne 17:3)

Moroni used this same term as he closed his record "Behold I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things,...ye would remember how merciful th Lord hath been unto the children of men,... and ponder it in your hearts." (Moroni 10:3)

Ponder means to weigh mentally, think deeply about, deliberate, or meditate. By pondering, we give the Spirit an opportunity to impress and direct us. Pondering is a powerful link btween the heart and the mind. As we read the scriptures, our hearts and minds are touched. If we use the gift to ponder, w can take the eternal truths and realize how we can incorporate them into our daily actions.

Stilless, is essential to inner peace - the peace which opens the way for the Lord to speak in our soul. God speaks more often to our souls than he does in open vision. We need to prepare ourseves to listen by being still.

Pondering is a progressive mental pursuit. It is a great gift to those who have learned to use it. We can find understanding, insight, and practical application of the gospel if we use the power we have to ponder.

Application

I know that Rich was pondering the idea to have a garden, only we did not know where in the yard to place it that would work. As he pondered - it wasn't instant - he said "I have got it". We know that where to put it did not come from our own mental working because we had done that. It was only after including Heavenly Father and pondering did it work. We are thankful and have benefited from an abundance of vegetables. We also gained a testimony when asked to do something and asking he answers.

Mike's Graduation!!!!!

GO MIKE!!!!! Many years, many hours, much self-discipline. No one could have done the studying for you! CONGRATULATIONS!
It happened in Boston under the pavilion. The weather was perfect! A beautiful day all the way around.

Love and home!

Angela and Diana gave me flowers for Mother's Day. I thought the color was striking. I really love flowers. I threw in some pictures of the yard and gardens that dad has been working on.

We are so excited. We have a strawberry bed with strawberries that bear fruit until fall. We planted the usual, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, peas, spinach, squash. There is something so peaceful about being in a garden.

Mike and Sara had given me a Cala lilly - I thought it would die but it didn't! One of my joys!

Abby with grandma and grandpa!

We have had so much fun with Abby over the last year while Mike was in school. We had a membership in the winter time so Rich and I could swim each morning and they had a great gymn for the children. We took her there quite often. She absolutely loved it.

Winter

I love Winter --- I know everyone complains. I love it. Granted I don't have to shovel it. I love the beauty, the silence, the knowledge that there is a time and a season for everything and it is the earth's turn to sleep and rest.

I love happy times with the famly. I love curling up in front of the fire with warm fuzzy pj's and a great book. I love snuggling with grandkids my husband. I love having friends over and sharing precious memories.

Random pictures over the last few months!

I do not understand computers -----------I am a pretty patient person.......the reason I haven't added to my blog is because it would not let me upload pictures...so I moved forward in other areas of my life thinking I would spend some time figuring it out but never had the time. So tonight I tried again.... it will only let me upload one picture. Thank you for the one!