Caroline's Birthday Surprise

Happy Day 75

It was a beautiful day for a beautiful girl!  Papa and I are taking her to Dallas for Mary's baptism. Caroline was so surprised and excited. I love happy surprises. 

Texas Trick or Treats

Happy Day 74

Some love from Texas in my mail!

Annie Ballerina

Happy Day 73

Creative costume

Covenants

Happy Day 72

Today was the annual devotional for temple workers. It is held on the fifth floor, the Solemn Assembly Room. Anne attended with me this year.  We climbed a granite spiral staircase until we reached the amazing Solemn Assembly Room. We climbed another small spiral staircase to the balcony and enjoyed close- up views of the speakers. 

Sister Lillian Alldredge - we are children of the covenant. It is written in our hearts. When her elderly father died late one night , her brother stayed with her mother. When he saw her a few hours later, dressed and ready for church he told her she didn't need to go. Her mother said,  "we always attend our church meetings, it's  just what we do ."  We will keep all the covenants and commandments of God. 

"Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish."

D&C 35:24

President O. Claron Alldredge 

Alma Chapter 5

We sang "Now Let us Rejoice". 

Have ye experienced this mighty change in your heart?

Can ye feel so now?

Have ye felt to sing the song of redeeming love?

We learn of his redeeming love in the temple and learn to  "sing that song".   

Psalm of David: Psalms 24:3-10

Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart ; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully. 

He shall receive the blessing from The Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 

This is the generation of them that seek thy face. 

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts. He is the king of Glory. 

Oldest use of the term Redeemer used by Job . "I know my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter-day upon the earth " Job 19:25

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

  Job 38:4,7

In the temple we learn to sing the song of redeeming love. Can ye feel so now?  

Let your hearts rejoice and be exceeding glad - let all the sons of God shout for joy. 

Hosannah in the highest - The Lord shall quickly come to His temple and every knee shall bow. 

Sister Wendy Nelson - seek our your ancestors and do their work. They are not dead!

Elder Rusell M. Nelson 

Covenants and Personal Relationships

Your eternal companion is your highest priority. 

Familes are central to the creator's plan.

The temple is the object of all activity in the church. 

Our relationship with The Lord - we must be anchored to Him. 

His doctrine is ancient and unchanging. 

The covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was renewed through Joseph Smith. Elijah came to the Kirkland Temple April 6, 1836 and coincided with Passover that year. 

The Temple of The Lord is a great symbol of our membership. 

He left an apostolic blessing of health and strength and that our families will be drawn closer to The Lord. 

I'm grateful for that blessing and have faith it will be fulfilled. It was a day never to be forgotten. 

Innocence

Happy Day 71

 

How sweet is carefree childhood?  Brief, precious and priceless. 

Happiest Child Alive

Happy Day 70

Francesca is the happiest child alive. 

She had a birthday and now she's five!

Her sweet daddy is in China and couldn't be here for her big day. He sent love and balloons all the way around the world!  

I love my happy, confident, brilliant Francie. 

The Lord is Good to Me

Happy Day 69

Today I went to Francesca's preschool and attended her chapel services. She was recognized for her birthday. The Bible story of Gideon was presented and the songs and prayers were so sweet. I thought of my dear grandmother, Josephine Malinda Winchell Nuttall.   She was a Presbyterian and lived by the Fruits of the Spirit - a loving and gentle woman. 

Francesca chose this prayer:

The Johnny Appleseed Blessing

    Anonymous

Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun, and the rain, and the apple seed.
The Lord is good to me.

     Amen

I give thanks - The Lord has been so very good to me. 

Team Player

Happy Day 68

Matthew played under the lights at the Highland Park High School - his team won big, 34-0. 

 I love his dedication and love for the game. Practice is every weekday morning at 6:15 a.m. He gets up on his own without a fuss because he loves playing and being part of a team - part of the party!!!

Fruits of the Spirit

Happy Day 67

        Frances in her School Uniform

Today was such a happy day with my Francesca- happy, confident, pure. She taught me a song she learned at her preschool, Highland Park Presbyterian:

The Fruits of the Spirit are

Love, Joy, Peace,

Patience, Goodness, Kindness,

Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.

In such there is no more. 

    Galatians 5:22

I am so very grateful for her wonderful Spirit! 

The following is a definition of these fruits - attributes of a true Christian life. I also love the comparison of the righteous to trees - so symbolic. 

"Fruits of the Spirit" is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christiian life described by Paul in his letter to the Galatians. He references nine attributes to the Fruits of the Spirit.  The  original Greek term translated as "fruit" is singular, signifying that there is one fruit possessing nine attributes.

Throughout the Bible, the righteous are likened to trees,^{[Prov. 11:30]} and in Galatians 5, Paul names the fruit a righteous tree bears. Accordingly, this "fruit" is grown by those who have truly repented and become followers of Jesus^{[Matt. 3:8]} and correspond with God's divine personality worked into the Christian human spirit.^[2] 

It is arguable whether one who does not bear this fruit is truly a Christian. In John's account of the Gospel, Jesus said, "These things I command you, that you love one another",^{[John 15:17]} referred to as the New Commandment or the second greatest commandment. Paul illustrates with these attributes the kind of love that marks a true Christian life. 

"By their fruits ye shall know them."

From Scratch

Happy Day 66

I bought a small purple velvet pumpkin last month at New Orientation. They had lots of colors and sizes and I wanted one of each. I decided to try to make some and had a few fun days crafting. I love the rich colors and there is something so satisfying about working with my hands and creating something from scratch. 

Giant Pumpkin Regatta

Happy Day 65

Spied this on my morning run. Getting ready for the 1:00 pm race. 

David Bradley - a familiar face. 

 2014 largest pumpkin. 1,830 pounds-   State record. Caroline, Henry and James gathered some seeds. Maybe we will have an entry next year. 

Light in Your Vessels

Happy Day 64

Jessica visited last month and bought me this Pumpkin Sugared Doughnut Candle. It fills my house with aroma and light. 

This is a favorite scripture and reminds me that I cannot cross this great deep alone. 

What will ye that I should do

that ye may have light in your vessels?

For behold, ye shall be as a whale 

In the midst of the sea;

for the mountain waves 

shall dash upon you. 

Nevertheless, I will bring you up again

 out of the depths of the sea...

And behold,

 I prepare you against these things;

 for ye cannot cross this great deep

save I prepare you 

against the waves of the sea, 

and the winds which have gone forth 

and the floods which shall come. 

    Ether 2:23-25

A Light in Darkness

Happy Day 63

I snapped this photo as I was driving home from subbing on the evening shift. After a very difficult day, I was grateful for  light and peace. 

Sunrise

Happy Day 62

Sweet Camille sent this beautiful photo of today's sunrise. I love her friend's words of faith and hope. I too find hope and comfort in each new sunrise. 

The waves of Time may devastate our lives,
The frosts of age may check our failing breath,
They shall not touch the spirit that survives
Triumphant over doubt and pain and death.

The blush of dawn may yet restore
Our light and hope and joy once more.
Sad soul, take comfort, nor forget
That sunrise never failed us yet.

    Celia Thaxter

Swinging

Happy Day 61

Happy and carefree - sweet baby James loves to swing high in the sky, and so do I!

It Will All Work Out

Happy Day 60

A friend shared this with me. I love and miss our dear President Hinckley. He was so optimistic and wise. 

 

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. 

Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us if we will put our trust in Him. if we will pray to Him, If we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers. 

        President Gordon B. Hinckley

Happy to See Me

Happy Day 59

Baby James loves me and makes my heart so happy. 

Shannon Street Memories

Happy Day 58

My grandparents lived at 1340 Shannon Street - a happy, magical place. I loved visiting and have happy memories of crumpets, sour dough waffles, Beep, Winder Dairy milk, and my grandparents who really loved me.  I loved all the big old trees, piles and piles of fallen leaves and horse chestnuts. Their color is perfect and I love to stop and gather them. Funny how such little things bring back a flood of memories. 

We were lucky to purchase their home and enjoyed thirteen wonderful years of happiness. Camelot. Holly was nine months when we moved from our State Street apartment "on up to the east side". Over the years I brought home five more babies, my angels from Heaven - Camille, Melissa, Jessica Marguerite, Anne Elizabeth and David Eugene. Shannon Street- Irish and lucky. 

We were so blessed and happy. 

Brilliance

Happy Day 57

Fun morning hike to Wire Mountain. Leaves, mountains, vistas and friends are absolutely brilliant. Grateful. 

A Good Heart

Happy Day 56

I read this book in the spring, before it was announced the 2014 Pulitizer Prize winner. I have been thinking about it today and grateful I know that no matter the state of mind or heart, we always have agency. We can choose a good heart-placing God, faith and family above one's self. I'm grateful for good choices, even when they have been hard. 

I'm grateful for covenants and promises kept. I'm grateful for self-control and respect. I'm grateful for truth and the blessing of an eternal perspective. I'm grateful not to be tossed to and fro on the winds of worldly self-indulgence. At the same time, I'm so sad for those who willfully cast themselves into the fire. 

"Only here's what I really, really want someone to explain to me. What if one happens to be possessed of a heart that can't be trusted--? What if the heart, for its own unfathomable reasons, leads one willfully and in a cloud of unspeakable radiance away from health, domesticity, civic responsibility and strong social connections and all the blandly-held common virtues and instead straight toward a beautiful flare of ruin, self-immolation, disaster?...If your deepest self is singing and coaxing you straight toward the bonfire, is it better to turn away? Stop your ears with wax? Ignore all the perverse glory your heart is screaming at you? Set yourself on the course that will lead you dutifully towards the norm, reasonable hours and regular medical check-ups, stable relationships and steady career advancement the New York Times and brunch on Sunday, all with the promise of being somehow a better person? Or...is it better to throw yourself head first and laughing into the holy rage calling your name?"

     Donna Tartt

Best of all he loved the Fall

Happy Day 55

“Best of all he loved the fall
The leaves yellow on the cottonwoods
Leaves floating on the trout streams
And above the hills
The high blue windless skies
Now he will be a part of them forever"

Ernest Hemingway aptly expressed my feelings for this season - such a glorious time of year.

 I savor these beautiful fall days, cool nights, brisk mornings, pumpkins , brilliant leaves, bulb planting, harvesting, running, crunching leaves beneath my feet, cozy clothes, comfort food, change, a fresh start, new beginnings...

Rise to the Occasion.

Happy Day 54

Matt and Holly treated me to a delicious soufflé lunch at the French restaurant, Rise, a wonderful Dalllas favorite of Laura Bush.  I ordered the cookbook, "Rise to the Occasion" and look forward to cooking  my first soufflé. 

I've enjoyed a wonderful week in Dallas with the Mathisons. It is fun to be a part of their busy lives, filled with so many good things. 

"Rise to the Occasion" - my new mantra. This is my season of testing but know "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." 

    Philippians 4:13

Older and Wiser?

Happy Day 53

This morning was quiet and a bit lonely as I ran through beautiful Highland Park. Old homes and old neighborhoods are my favorite - new just can't compare. Preservation of old homes is becoming a thing of the past as is preservation of our Judeo-Christian laws, ethics and sense of morality. 

We lose so much - history and traditions, time honored values and firm foundations - as old is tossed aside and replaced with new and trendy.  Older and wiser?  I hope so. 

                   Dallas Country Club

Follow the Prophet

Happy Day 52

"According to the world's standards, following the prophet may be unpopular, politically incorrect or socially unacceptable.  But following the prophet is always right."

      Carol F. McConkie

               Watching Conference 

I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know we are led by a living prophet. He will not lead us astray. He will guide us safely home. 

"Follow the Prophet - in this there is safety and peace. "

Deep in the Heart

Happy Day 51

I am grateful for all my precious grandchildren. I carry them in my heart always . Their goodness, purity, love, light, strength, faith and innocence light my way through darkness. Truly they are all deep in my heart - those near and far away. 

I'm visiting the Mathisons this week. I love being where -

 "The Stars at Night are big and bright Deep in the Heart of Texas"!

Pumpkin Village

Happy Day 50

Papa and I had so much fun visiting the Dallas Arboretum with Francesca - pure magic!

The original home and 66 acres of land overlooking White Rock Lake were donated to SMU and later purchased by the city of Dallas. The home is Hacienda Style - we could move right in. 

Serving a Purpose Greater than One's Self

     Happy Day 49

Dave and I visited the George W. Bush Library - architecture by Robert A. H. Stern - very magnificent and inspiring. Dave couldn't resist purchasing a G.W. Bush Stetson. He looks mighty handsome y'all!

We respect Laura  and President George W. Bush for their service, faith, love and devotion for family, God and country.  We love the USA and pray we can be worthy of God 's blessings.