Winter?

What a strange weather we have.  It should be somewhere around freezing and there should be snow on the ground.  Over the past week we have had record breaking warm temperatures in the 50's.  It began raining on Saturday night and it rained steady through all of Sunday and it finally has slowed/stopped today (Monday). 

Lake Pleshek has once again reared its head.  The lower lawn is flooded which always means there is water in my basement.  I've never had water in the basement in December.  There is a blessing in all of this.  If the ground was frozen, all this water would be just sitting rather than soaking in.  But, I do need the ground to freeze so the truckers can get into the woods and bring some wood into the mill. 

It's strange now that I think about the weather and how it affects the truckers that bring wood into the mill.  I still don't know how I feel about being a business owner. 

There are cooler temps forecast for later this week.  Hopefully the lake will be gone by then.  At any rate, as much as I love this warm weather, I'm ready for winter to get here.  It can stay long enough to kill off all the germs and viruses in the air.  I wonder, with these mild temperatures, are the bears hibernating?

Manna Part 2

As I was thinking about the miracle of manna I discovered that the symbolism can go even deeper. As I study and ponder the scriptures, a miracle can occur within me.  Perhaps that miracle will be a mighty change of heart or perhaps an increase in charity.  Whatever it is, the miracle that happened each week on the Sabbath for the children of Israel can happen for each of us too.  I believe that the focus on Sabbath day activities and our observance of it, can be the miracle in our lives.  We have recently been instructed by the Quorum of the Twelve through our local leaders that observance of the Sabbath will bring us closer to the Savior.  What a miracle to feel His love more deeply and understand His atonement better!  Apparently, our miracles aren't so different from those of ancient Israel.  Each Sabbath can be a miracle!

Manna

This week I taught a lesson about the Lord providing Manna to the children of Israel.  I learned some very interesting things as I prepared to teach this lesson.  As with most things, the Lord gives us principles through symbolism.  Manna was to physically feed the people each day.  He could easily have given it once or twice a week but instead gave it every day except the Sabbath.

I learned several things.  First of all, the Lord provided manna every day because he wanted the children of Israel to remember Him every single day.  He wanted them to see His hand in their daily lives by providing for the physical needs.

Secondly, He gave an example of just how important the Sabbath is by providing a miracle each seventh day.  They couldn't gather more than they would use in a day or it would become wormy and stinky.  But, on the sixth day, they were instructed to gather and prepare enough to be used for two days.  How many people didn't listen?  I wonder.  But, I'll bet it only took one time going hungry before they followed the counsel of their prophet, Moses.  The manna never went bad on the Sabbath.

Thirdly, we each need spiritual sustenance each and every day.  Wasn't the miracle of the manna appearing every day a way for the Lord to show us that we need Him every day as well?  We need to immerse ourselves in the scriptures and give thanks through prayer each day.  One day a week is not enough! Going to church on Sunday is wonderful and uplifting and I enjoy it very much.  But I've learned over the years that it is not enough.  I told the youth that this concept reminds me very much of the 10 virgins parable.  Drops are added to our supply each time we pray, read or ponder the scriptures.  I would be in tough shape if the only drops I added were on Sundays.

The following is a quote by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the quorum of the twelve apostles.

“By providing a daily sustenance, one day at a time, Jehovah was trying to teach faith to a nation that over a period of some 400 years had lost much of the faith of their fathers. He was teaching them to trust Him, to ‘look unto [Him] in every thought; doubt not, fear not’ (D&C 6:36). He was providing enough for one day at a time. Except for the sixth day, they could not store manna for use in any succeeding day or days. In essence, the children of Israel had to walk with Him today and trust that He would grant a sufficient amount of food for the next day on the next day, and so on. In that way He could never be too far from their minds and hearts.” 

I love the insights I received as I studied these things on Tuesday night. Seminary has indeed blessed my life more than I could ever imagined.  If people only knew just how blessed they would be and how much they would learn by fulfilling this calling, they would line up outside the bishop's door to volunteer.  Yes, it is held early in the morning.  I was never a morning person.  It took me a couple of years to become a morning person.  Yes, it requires significant study.  But, shouldn't we be studying every day anyway?  I don't spend hours in preparing a lesson.  Yes, sometimes the teenagers ask questions that I may not be able to answer.  I will miss being with the youth each day once I am released.  But, I will cherish the many years I have had the privilege of doing this.  I don't know how much I bless the lives of my students, but they bless mine and I love them!

Freeze it Here...For Now...Or Maybe Not

I remember being a young mother and thinking at different times, "I'd like to freeze my family right where they are."  It was times when things weren't necessarily smoother, but my children were all at ages that I could enjoy.  I love a newborn.  For a short time.  Then I want them to be older so they smile or coo but still snuggle.  I love the age where the child is in discovery mode.  I loved having children who were a bit older and could assist with the younger ones.  I loved the age when we could talk about important things or just have fun together.  I adored the teenage years.  Most people dread them, but I loved them most of all.  My teenagers were people who talked to me about choices and decisions.  There were several times that I felt I just wanted to freeze them in time so they wouldn't grow up.

Now all my children are adults.  I don't want to freeze them in time anymore.  In fact, they've become more than just my children.  They've become my friends and the people I want to spend time with.  I do love my life at this point with being a mother and a Nana.  I still am Mom to Tom, Erin and Andrew.  They still want me around and ask my advice.  Clare and Sammi are mothers to their own children but they still ask advice as well. I love being a missionary mom.  Although, in just eight short months that will end.  I love that we can talk about both temporal and spiritual things.

I'm Nana to my precious grandchildren.  I'm loving the ages they are.  Cami is old enough to talk to. She's growing up way too fast.  Adam loves to tell me things and show me things that are of interest to him.  Brock just loves to hang out with me and be my buddy.  Evie, well, she's in a league of her own.  She's so imaginative.  I love that some days she is a "chick" and other days a "honey."  Butchy is such a smiley little nugget.  Each has their own distinctive personality and I love them all so, so much!

I love my life with my sweetheart.  We can take time to go out on dates or plan a weekend away.  I love serving at his side while he is the stake president.  I don't go with him very often, but I love to be the silent support system for him.  I've seen the growth but more important, I've seen the love that he has for people.  I love that we are able to attend the temple each month together.

My years teaching seminary are so precious to me.  I love the youth that I've been able to serve.  I've found that I love the scriptures in ways that I never would have known if I hadn't had this sacred opportunity. 

Do I really want to freeze my life in time anymore?  Nope.  I look forward to whatever the good Lord has in store for me.  I look forward to opportunities that may come my/our way.  Life is grand and I love it!

My Pumpkin

 What do these two pictures have in common?

They are both "Punkins."

About a week or so ago, I called Evie, "Punkin."  She has not forgotten that.  She tells people that she is Nana's Punkin.  In fact, she has self proclaimed herself, "Nana's favorite punkin."

Prior to that I called her "Chickadoo" out of the blue and she told everyone that she was a chickadoo.  She has been so fun to have in our home.  

Noah's Ark

Seminary has begun and we are now in our 5th week.  Last week we studied Noah's story about the Ark and the animals and the wickedness of the people who were killed in the flood.  As I drove to church that Thursday morning, I noticed the sky.  It was so beautiful!  I was glad I had my camera to capture the beauty I was witnessing.

After we read a bit about how big the Ark measured, we did the math.  450' long x 75' wide and 45' tall.  That makes it as high as our church building, as wide as the parking lot plus the sidewalk and as long as two parking lots.

 While some of the youth did the measuring, others were creating the animals that would come along on the journey.  Syd drawing flamingos, I think.

 The entire group, minus Neal.

 A flurry of activity in creating animals.

 Crista's butterfly.

 Emma's pair of giraffes.

 Mackenzie and Tiana with Alyssa at the unseen end measuring "around the corner" so we could get a visual of just how long this vessel was.

Savana's pig.  Not certain what Meckenzie drew.  I think a pair of bears.

At any rate, it was so much fun having them outside and doing something practical and enjoying the experience.  A classroom is a great way to learn things but at times it is more practical to get off the chair and actually do it.  I think this is a lesson that they will not forget!

Amazing youth whom I am blessed to spend my mornings with.

Time

I've found that time stand still for no one.  My dad has been gone for over a year already.  Where has the time gone?  Wasn't it just yesterday that we were dealing with doctor appointments and wondering what was going on?  Didn't we just get that horrible diagnosis?

Andrew will be home in about nine months from serving a two year mission.  Where has that time gone?  Didn't he just finish high school?  Didn't we just drop him off at the Missionary Training Center? 

Little Butchy is already 6 months old.  Wasn't he just born last month?  How about Cami?  She is in 3rd grade.  THIRD GRADE!!!  Am I old enough to have an eight year old granddaughter? 

I see a few leaves beginning to change their colors.  I see gardens winding down and the bounteous harvests.  Wasn't it just yesterday that we were wishing the snow would melt?

I began teaching my eighth year of seminary.  Eight years!  How can that be?  I am not a morning person!  I can't do that!  It has been a joy and an absolute privilege to be with these marvelous youth in the mornings.  But eight years?

My husband has been the stake president for 8 1/2 years.  What?  Wasn't he just called? 

Time is a precious commodity that there never seems to be enough of.  And yet, for those people who while away the hours because they can't do for themselves any longer, it seems that time is all they have.  Too much time. 

As I think about my loved ones who have passed, there is never enough time.  There's always the wish for one more day or one more hug or one more "I love you." 

With that thought, I am absolutely grateful for the knowledge of eternity.  The knowledge that families can be together forever.  That marriage is not just until death do us part.  God is in control.  Of that I am certain. 

I understand more than ever that LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E.  What greater gift can we give those whom we love than to spend time with them?