The Giver of the Gummies

I had a great object lesson this morning in seminary. I gave each youth a bag of 10 gummi bears. I asked if anyone wanted to give them back and two young men did. They apparently don't like gummies. I explained to them that the early saints weren't strong enough to live the law of consecration so the Lord gave them something else.

I asked the other eight youth if they would give back one of their gummies since I, the Giver of the Gummies gave them to them in the first place. Each one did. I then poured out many blessings to each of them by giving them many more gummies.

It was a great lesson on the law of the tithe. The only thing I felt bad about was that I didn't have anything else for the two young men who gave their all. It couldn't have gone better. I always love it when a lesson comes together. The funny thing is Sammi did this same thing (with M&M's) with one of her investigators. Great minds!

The Return of Winter

After a beautiful melting week last week, we had this sight on Sunday night and all day Monday. In fact, it's still snowing on this Tuesday morning. What do I expect? It's February. Winter in Wisconsin happens to still be here.

When I opened the back door this morning because the cat wanted to go outside, I found this. The wind had blown the snow up against the door and when I opened it, I had this wall.

Thank goodness it was a holiday as my husband got to go out in his own good time and remove snow. He gets on his tractor and clears out the neighborhood. He goes to the Haffners and across the street by Lornie and up the road to Evie. He then takes care of the back yard as well.

There was about a foot of snow. We were promised that much and it delivered. I have some good piles of snow on the lower lawn which I'm afraid will turn into a pond in my basement come spring. If the snow melts slowly we'll be alright. But, if it melts very quickly we'll have a repeat of the pond we last fall.

The snow doesn't bother me. I know a lot of people are ready for winter to be over. I just look forward to the next season but not before I enjoy the one we're in. I guess the only reason I don't want snow is that my track season is coming and I'm afraid we'll be training in the snow.

The Officials and the Athlete

The basketball season is almost complete and finally my two officials, Pat and Erin had the opportunity to work together at one of Andrew's games on Friday night. We didn't have the opportunity to take any photos at the game so I took some when we got home. Here they are imitating a local official who stands very strangley while watching the game.

Erin got to give her first technical foul this year and it wasn't on Andrew. She looks like she means business.

Pat says he was traveling and Erin says it was an offensive foul. Andrew doesn't look too convinced by either one.

Finally, a shot that was tasteful and beautiful. Erin had a good season. I told her the second season is much easier than the first and the money is easy, easy, easy.

Andrew had a good season. His team didn't have a winning record, but he improved immensely over the course of the season. He's also grown again. He now stands 6'2"!

Power

I had an interesting conversation with Erin this week. We talked about the power of electricity. Isn't it interesting that we take for granted the power we possess in turning on a light switch. At our whim we can turn the lights on or off. But, if for some reason the power supply is compromised, we are helpless to make the lights come on by flipping that switch. Suddenly we have no power.

As I was teaching a seminary lesson this week, we talked about different types of power. We decided electricity, generators, motors and batteries all were sources of power. I spoke to the youth about the power of heaven that comes to us as we enter the sacred walls of the temple and receive all that our Father has for us. As we hold a temple recommend, we have that power available to us. We can turn on the power and use it as necessary. But, if we fail to qualify for a recommend, we are helpless as to calling down the powers of heaven.

As for me, I possess a recommend and plan to for all my life. I need the powers of heaven in my life daily. I need to access them on a regular basis. I bore my witness of the strength that comes as we "turn on" those powers with which we are bestowed in the temple. What a great lesson it was for me personally. Thank you Erin for having a seemingly meaningless conversation with me. There was much power in your words and they've helped my understanding immensely!

Mom's Birthday

A happy birthday to my mom. She would have been 73 years old today. As I think of that now, 73 is not all that old so when she passed at 55 she was really young.I loved her dry sense of humor. It is very evident in some of her writings. I'm glad she had that talent and shared it as now my children get to know her through the things she wrote and I get to remember as I read them. Priceless treasures is exactly what they are.

She served in the stake Relief Society for several years before her death. This photo was one of a fashion show she and her presidency did. Here she's modeling her "ball gown." It still makes me laugh to think about her looking so regal with all those ridiculous balls attached to her gown. She ran that runway as though she were the queen!

She was Nana to 17 grandchildren upon her death. Eight more joined afterward. This is baby Tom. He so loved his Nana. She enjoyed him too. I won't say she had favorites for I don't think she did. But she did have a personal relationship with each grandchild that was such, that I as a parent thought each of my children took their turn being her favorite. I miss her interaction with those kids. I sometimes look at the great-grandchildren and think of the comments she would make about their personalities.

I loved watching her with my dad. Anyone who watched them could tell that they were totally in love. They were married for 35 years which was much too short of a time. This photo is a sample of the many I have in which they are almost always holding hands or touching in some way. Her coworker told me that she could "see" how much my parents loved one another. My dad would barely get in the door after work and she would be there to greet him with a kiss. If she were outside working in the garden or yard, he would find her and greet her with a kiss. My parents were always kissing in front of us. I'm thankful that they did because I have their great example of how I hope my marriage is turning out.

She gone now for 18 birthdays. Do we get to celebrate birthdays in the next life? If we do, Happy Birthday Mom!

Global Warming?

Hundreds gathered to protest global warming. Saw this on Tina's facebook and had to share. Hope you got the same giggle I did. Also, someone has WAY too much time on their hands.