1st Hike of the Season

Today, Greg and I went for our first hike of the season!

We hiked up City Creek to the campground, a round trip of about 5 miles. It was a beautiful mild day with just a few hikers and bikers on the trail. It is still early spring here.

The trees were still bare. The creek was clear and pretty as it gurgled through the rocks and logs.
The grass was emerald green and the currant bushes were just starting to bud. The bright red dogwood branches were still without leaves.

We passed several snow patches, and even had to take an alternate trail around an especially large snow patch.

There is still quite a bit of snow on the mountains.

It is supposed to get cold again this weekend; we may even get snow again. So I'm glad we were able to grab this one nice day!

Pres. Thomas S. Monson

Today in the Sunday Morning session of General Conference, Pres. Thomas S. Monson was the last speaker.

I have listened to many of his talks in the past. In some ways, this talk was like the other talks he has given before, but it was very different too. I think everyone who watched agreed that as he spoke, the mantle of the office of the prophet fell upon him.

It was a very spiritual experience, and strengthened my testimony that he truly is a prophet.

My Testimony

When I was 4 yrs-old, I remember lying on the couch with a painful ear infection. My father laid his hands on my head and gave me a priesthood blessing. I had perfect faith that he would heal me. Soon after, the pain left.

I remember sitting in the church with my father, waiting for my turn to be baptized. There were many children there that day, and the wait was long. I do not remember being baptized, but as I walked out to the car afterwards, I felt light and clean, I knew my sins were washed away.

As an awkward 7^th grader in a new, tough school, I had a stressful year. I encountered profanity and vulgarity for the first time, and I was bullied. I suffered with depression. I lived that year in almost constant prayer. I had perfect faith that my Heavenly Father loved me and would help me. And He did.

As a young college student, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy, rebellion, and with personal weakness. Humbled, I finally told the Lord, “I cannot overcome this on my own; I have tried. I need thy help. Please help me!” I had perfect faith that he could heal me. I new feeling came over me, and I knew I could change. And I did. It was a true miracle.

I attended the Institute of Religion and took a class on the Book of Mormon. I had a wonderful instructor who motivated me with his interesting and inspiring lessons. I had never read the Book of Mormon all the way through before. As I read, I seemed to hear the voices of Nephi, Jacob, Mosiah, Moroni and others. I especially loved Jacob. I could hear that they were different people, with different personalities, all testifying of Jesus Christ. I KNEW the Book of Mormon was true!

I looked forward to the day I could enter the temple. One day, my sweetheart and I entered and we were sealed together forever. My beloved Grandfather performed the sealing. I knew that my grandfather held the keys to our eternal marriage. I knew that Greg and I could be together eternally. What a great blessing!

As a young mother, I loved my little son desperately, but was harried and stressed by his normal childhood behavior. One day, I yelled at him, and hurt his feelings - again. I wept with despair at my poor parenting and felt that surely, the Lord was very angry with me. I asked forgiveness of my darling child, and he assured me of his forgiveness and love. But I still felt terrible. I prayed with flowing tears to be a better mother. An impression came to me reminding me of how much I loved that sweet child, and then, Heavenly Father let me know I was His child, and that he loved me, just as I loved my child. A wonderful, warm feeling of love came over me; I will never forget it. I prayed that if my Heavenly Father had a message for me, that he would tell me in the scriptures. I opened the scriptures and they fell open to a page where a parent gave a blessing to a beloved child. I wept with joy to know that he forgave me. I had perfect faith my Heavenly Father loved me.

For several years, I tended children in my home to supplement our income while Greg was in school. I would often hear a voice in my mind, my own voice saying, “If only I had not left the iron there, this would not have happened.” It played over and over in my mind. I was sure that an accident could happen with the hot iron that could injure one of the children. For years, I NEVER left the hot iron. If the phone rang, or I was interrupted while ironing, I picked up the iron and took it to a secure spot. Eventually, the voice went away. I am convinced that the Holy Ghost was warning me, and that because I heeded the warning, I averted a terrible accident. I realized that we have a wonderful guide that can be with us to help us at all times, if we will listen. I knew the Holy Ghost spoke to me.

Years later, my youngest child was 5 yrs-old. He was a sweet, loving, obedient child. But one day, I grew impatient with him and lost my temper. I had tired so hard so that this last child would never be the object of my temper. But once again, my temper took over, and I behaved badly, and frightened him. For years and years I had prayed over and over and over again to be rid of my horrible temper. I decided I needed more help. Perhaps this was “the kind that cometh not out but with prayer and fasting.” I decided to fast. I didn’t tell anyone I was fasting, I prayed and I explained to the Lord that I had tried on my own to overcome this terrible weakness. I could not do it myself. I needed his help. I had faith that he could help me. And he did. It was a true miracle. I felt calmer. I did not get angry as easily. I learned to recognize when I was getting angry, and just let go. I’ll have to admit that I still struggle with a temper now and then, but since that day, it has been much, much less intense, and much, much less often.

As trials came to many family members, I felt terrible pain at their pain. I felt helpless to help those I loved. I could not sleep well, and I could not think. Greg and I went to the temple, and I prayed to find answers. I listened very carefully and I was given an answer that immediately brought peace to my heart. I understood the reason why my loved ones were suffering, and I UNDERSTOOD why that suffering was necessary, and how it would eventually, add to their joy! I knew it was a true message from the Holy Ghost because where before I was wracked with pain that I could not escape from, after the witness of the Hold Ghost, I was calm, and comforted, and the feeling stayed with me. I know the Hold Ghost speaks to me.

One late night, I was worried about the safety of a child. I heard a voice, say simply, “It will be okay.” It was not just an impression; it was an actual voice in my mind. I had not been able to sleep, but I was immediately comforted and had no more fear. As the days and weeks went by, I continued to feel calm, and received the assurance that the message was not just for that one night when a child traveled on a dark night, but was a more general message that all would turn out alright for this child.

When the Conference Center was completed, we made plans to go to General Conference. It was a beautiful building and we enjoyed seeing the waterfall, paintings, sculptures etc. in the foyer. After walking through a short hall, we entered the huge conference center. Just then the Tabernacle Choir begin to sing, “The Spirit of God, like a Fire is Burning.” Tears sprang to my eyes and I was overcome with joy – I knew the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was true. We took out seats. When Pres. Hinckley entered, that huge room of thousands of people became instantly quiet to honor the prophet of God. I know he was a prophet, and I have a testimony that Pres. Monsen is a prophet.

I have been grateful for the uplifting influence of the Gospel in my life. I am grateful for the wonderful people have been my friends and my acquaintances. I am grateful for the perfect plan of the gospel, the Plan of Happiness, if we will just accept it.

My life has basically been happy. I have an absolutely wonderful husband, and every one of my children is a blessing to me. But I have also had many trials and sorrows. I have felt inadequate, and I have made many mistakes. The gospel helps me learn from my mistakes and trials. The Holy Ghost has comforted when I was sad, I have felt peace when I was in grief. I have felt the power of the priesthood. I have received answers to my prayers. I am so eternally grateful the Savior and his atoning sacrifice for me. I feel his love, and I love him.

I testify that I know! In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen!

Happy Easter!

At his early morning meetings this morning, they teased Greg about dipping his tie in the egg dye!

Another Snowstorm!

Are you tired of seeing pictures of snow?

All the snow was gone, and on Friday the street sweepers came for the first time since winter and swept up all the gravel that had been put down all winter. It is so nice to have the streets clear and clean again.

Then on Saturday, I went to work with Greg and we saw several patients. . As we pulled into the driveway after work, I commented that we would need to rake the yard and do some Spring yard cleanup when we had some time.

At about 3:00 or so it began snowing round "Styrofoam" snow. It was coming down pretty hard and it started to pile up. Greg cleared the surprising amount of snow off my windshield and I headed to the grocery store. When I got out of the store, there was at least 4 inches of snow on the ground and it was coming down very fast in huge flaky snowballs. It was really hard to push the grocery cart through the deep, slippery snow. There was no wind, but the visibility was only about half a block. I cleared off the car so I could see, and by the time I got all the windows cleared, I had to start over. I quickly wiped them again and made sure my car was in 4-wheel drive.

On the way home, I had to go up a steep hill. Several people in their cars were at the side of the road, on cell phones, because they couldn't get up the hill. There were two cars ahead of me, and they were fishtailing, so I kept way back in case they started sliding down the hill. Sure enough, they did slide, but were able to stop and get over to the side.

With my heavy 4-wheel drive Suburban in low gear, I was pretty sure I could make it, so I slowly made my way up the hill. I got home just fine.

After Greg and Glen helped me bring in the groceries, they put on their warm clothes and headed out to sled down the street! Greg went down several times. I went down with Glen once, and then tried to go again by myself, but several cars were trying to get up the street so I had to stop.

One car tried about 4 or 5 times and finally had to park at the bottom and walk up to his house.

Later, Glen called to us to check out what he had made in the backyard!

This is one of he biggest storms we've had in several years. We got about 5-6 inches in about 2 hours. It will probably all melt away in a day or two, so we didn't even bother to shovel the driveway.

The snow is beautiful, we really need the water, I really do like snow, but all the same, I hope that soon I will post pictures of daffodils!


Click on the photos to see them supersized!

Easter Displays

I've been working full-time this week while our receptionist recovers from surgery.

Here are some pictures of the Easter Displays at work. These in on shelves one above the other in the waiting room, so this is pretty close to how they are actually arranged. If you click on the pictures they will enlarge.

A Peaceful Weekend

March 1, 2008

This has been a peaceful, meaningful weekend.

On Friday, Feb 29th, Greg decided that since leap day is an "extra" day, that he would take a day off from work. So that morning we went to the temple in Idaho Falls.

It was a good session with a great spirit to it. I was nice to go in the morning when we were fresh and alert. I thought about the people from beyond the veil who might be present to witness the ordinances done for them. I received inspiration, reassurance and peace to my soul.

In the Telestial room, we chose to join the prayer circle. A older man in a wheelchair was also in the circle. When we got to the Celestial room, Greg pointed out that there were some changes. The beautiful murals now extended up higher. A few months ago, the false ceiling had been removed and so that you could look up into the tower and see the stained glass windows. A new, beautiful crystal chandelier made rainbows in the light. I had commented that I thought it would be nice if the mural could extend up into the new space - and now it did! I think that the original mural was also touched up a little and more flowers were added. This is a picture of the Celestial Room before the ceiling was raised. It is so beautiful; the Idaho Falls Temple is my favorite temple.

Then on Saturday, I participated in the Stake Baptism as part of my calling in the Stake Primary. When we arrived, the font, which should have been full, had only a few inches of water. The plug in the bottom had not seated correctly so the water was leaking out as it was filled. The Councilor from the Stake Presidency, and a father of a child who was going to be baptized swiftly began filling big vats in the kitchen with warm water, then wheeling them across the cultural hall on carts to the font and dumping them in. Members of the Stake Primary filled pitchers in the rest room and emptied them into the font. Greg was in the building, because he comes to help set up audiovisual equipment for the baptism. So I found him, and he found a hose in the Stake Young Women's camp closet. He hooked it up to the warm water tap in the custodial closet, which fortunately was near the font room, and ran the hose into the font. Be the time the baptism started, we had enough water. It was not quite as warm, because the water heater couldn't keep up, but it wasn't cold either.

I gave the Baptism lesson - a simple outline of the Plan of Salvation. The children were beautiful. I had taken a picture of each of them in their white clothes with their fathers. We then printed out the pictures and put them on a scrapbook page, with a page on the back to record their thoughts and memories of their special day.

While each child and their family and friends left the chapel to go to the baptisms, I put in a movie for the other people to watch as they waited for their turn. The movie is about the Savior, and is very interesting and moving. I always brings me to tears.

Several people thanked me after the baptism, and said they really liked my lesson, and said they really enjoyed the spirituality of the baptism and how we do it in our Stake.