In Heaven

That's where my mother's beautiful spirit landed today when she took flight from the narrow confines of earth. My sister Jamie was with her, holding her hand, patting her shoulder, singing to her. I'm so glad she wasn't alone at the time of her departure.

When I was a child, I never called her Mommy. It was always Mama. And when I was older, I switched to Mother. But soon after Jamie called with the news of her passsing, instinctively I cried out several times, "My Mommy is gone, my Mommy is gone!" Then thoughts of the wonderful welcome she was receiving in heaven filled me with comfort, and happiness for her. Daddy's there, my brother Jim, too, our cute Jordan, her parents, siblings, and many friends. What a party! An eternalparty! Save some nectar and ambrosia for me, Mama, I'll be coming along later.

Quite a bit later, it turns out.... unless unexpected developments await. I kept another New Year's resolution yesterday by having an appointment with my local oncologist. It'd been awhile since I'd seen him. I could not bring myself to go back to that clinic where Jordan had had to spend so much time, until I was strong enough to handle it. Everyone was very kind, my blood work looked good, I'm doing great! The doc asked if I wanted to come back in a year or in six months. Just to be really nice, and to help keep him in plenty of vacation and investing money, I said I'd come back in six months. Party party for me! I know this stubborn old CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, is slowly, slowly scheming to take over my bone marrow, but in the meantime I am enjoying my life. We talked about which drugs to use next time to knock it down, when it comes out swinging again.

Back to heaven for a moment, here's a heavenly thought to ponder from President Lorenzo Snow:
"Think of the promises that are made to you in the beautiful and glorious ceremony that is used in the marriage covenant in the temple. When two Latter-day Saints are united together in marriage, promises are made to them concerning their offspring, that reach from eternity to eternity. They are promised that they shall have the power and the right to govern and control and administer salvation and exaltation and glory to their offspring worlds without end. And what offspring they do not have here, undoubtedly there will be opportunities to have them hereafter. What else could man wish? A man and a woman in the other life, having celestial bodies, free from sickness and disease, glorified and beautified beyond description, standing in the midst of their posterity, governing and controlling them, administering life, exaltation, and glory, worlds without end” (Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, 138).

My worthy, faithful parents will always be my parents, my siblings my siblings, my husband my husband, our children our children, and so on and on. Worlds and worlds of family without end. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

On Doubting

A few months ago, I learned from a reliable source that a mutual friend had become a self-described atheist. Since that time I've been trying to understand how one loses one's faith and goes from believing in a loving God to denying His existence altogether. In this person's case, I think I've gained a pretty good idea of how it happened. I know now that no one is immune from losing his faith, and so I'm sounding a warning to all! Only, it's not my voice you'll hear, it's the voice of a prophet of God. Now that's someone worth listening to!

President Thomas S. Monson:
Should doubt knock at your doorway, just say to those skeptical, disturbing, rebellious thoughts: “I propose to stay with my faith, with the faith of my people. I know that happiness and contentment are there, and I forbid you, agnostic, doubting thoughts,to destroy the house of my faith. I grant that I cannot explain the miracles of theBible, and I do not attempt to do so, but I accept God’s word. I wasn’t with Joseph, but I believe him. My faith did not come to me through science, and I will not permitso-called science to destroy it. When I change my mind about God and His work, only the inspiration of God will change it.” (from a CES Fireside on Jan. 11, 2009, and also on Nov. 6, 2005)

Then there's this to consider from Orson Scott Card, a noted author, a clearer thinker and communicator than I, and a man I highly regard:
"Henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Ephesians 4:14).
The "winds of doctrine" in our culture blow this way and that, sometimes advanced by charlatans (as with "recovered memories") and sometimes by fervent believers who don't pause to question their own questions.What makes me sad is how many Latter-day Saints leap like kites into these winds and then cut the thread of faith that would have left them with some connection to truth. Untethered, they blow wherever the wind takes them.They think they're smarter than ordinary Latter-day Saints. They think they have"graduated from the gospel." In fact they have flunked out.

I don't mean that faithful Saints never question anything. In fact, the gospel ofJesus Christ, just like good science, demands that believers find out the truth of old and new revelations for ourselves.If the gospel is true, it can bear all manner of questions -- as long as we are open-minded enough to keep questioning. To doubt our own doubts. To be skeptical of our skepticism.But the common pattern is for would-be "intellectuals" to seize upon some scrap of evidence that either justifies their sins or allows them to feel superior to the poor rubes who actually believe all that "gospel stuff," and then refuse to admit any further questions or evidence.But I ask: Are you actually applying your mind to test these ideas? Or are you merely joining a club of people who believe them without question? (from "Avoiding theSyndrome of Shaken Faith," Mormon Times).

When I was being harshly blown about, not so much by the winds of doctrine but by the storms of life circumstances, it was my testimony of Jesus Christ that kept me anchored to safety and security. I know, I know, safety and security are so unexciting, so tame. You're an adventurer! Nevertheless, please, please, when you feel the hungry winds howling about you, don't let them have their way with you. Counsel with those of strong faith. Don't try to go it alone, or turn to others who are blowing in the breeze. Don't give up!Too much is at stake! Fight to "be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life!" (Mosiah 5:15).

This promise from Elder Richard G. Scott resonates with truth to me, and I hope it does to you too. I've actually experienced it to some degree!
"You cannot today remotely imagine what that decision to be unwaveringly obedient to the Lord will allow you to accomplish in life. Your quiet, uncompromising determination to live a righteous life will couple you to inspiration and power beyond your capacity now to understand" (Making the Right Decisions," Ensign, May 1991, 34).

I believe all these things with all my heart, and I write them for you to read when you need them, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

And It Came to Pass

Yesterday afternoon. We had our share of snafoos to work through, but, wheeeeeee, our debut has come and gone and it was a sweeeeeet success! Really, does anything ever happen completely snafoolessly anyway? Not for me it doesn't. And that's ok by me, as long as it turns out in the end. The residents of the nursing home were so friendly and appreciative. Generous with their applause, they asked us to come back soon. And I overheard Colin say that we would! Yay, that's what I was hoping for.

After we finished our songs, four for each of us, Colin spontaneously did something that really touched my heart. He walked through the room, with me holding his arm, greeting each person individually, and thanked them for coming to listen to us. I loved seeing my son put his concern for others above his own comfort level. He's naturally a little reticent, so to get to observe his kind interactions was heart-warming for his mama, who typically does not get to observe much at all. Truth is, this was just as much a service for me as it was for the sometimes overlooked folks in the nursing home. Kudos to Colin for making it possible for me. And big hugs to Dan, for the great gift of a karaoke player.

Catch A Falling Star

Better yet, you might want to catch a rising star. That would be Colin, or maybe even me. Our first gig has been booked for this coming week. We're sure to be the singing sensation for the over seventy crowd in no time! I was poised to ask for your suggestions on what to call our little duo, but maybe The Rising Stars would be a good name. What do you think? If you come up with something we like better, you just may win an autographed copy of our first CD....if there ever is a first CD. We'll be singing eight golden oldies: Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Catch a Falling Star, Que Sera Sera, Honey Comb, Running Bear, Doggie in the Window, Way Down Upon the Swanee River, and O Susannah. Wish us luck! Please!

My sweet little mother lives with my sister, Jamie, in Melbourne, FL. She began receiving hospice care just before Christmas, and it looks like her time on earth is growing short. My siblings and i, and other friends and relatives, will most likely be meeting in our hometown of Moultrie, GA, to honor and pay tribute to her before much longer. My mom is the ultimate rising star, and I will love her always, and miss her for awhile, until we are reunited. I talked to her today. Her speech was slurred and slow, but she still managed to give her favorite and most important message to me, "I love all my children. I have the best children in the world, and I hope they know how much I love them." She said she wished we all lived in the same town. And, Mom, I think we will someday! I am counting on it.

As for our other rising star, it's young Shane Joseph Washburn. He got a mention in our local newspaper today. Go, Shane the lion-hearted! Roar your way to wrestling stardom, in this, your senior year!

"The eventual winner of the 130-pound division at the 2009 Rollie Lane Invitational wrestling tournament will have the ultimate bragging rights. Of the 16 wrestlers who advanced to the second day of the tournament, the top eight seeds have loaded resumes."

"There's a lot of good wrestlers at 130 pounds," Mountain View High coach Cliff Laughlin said. "They are all competitive and they're all good athletes. They all know each other, so when they go out there and do battle, they know what the other guy's going to do and sometimes it just comes up to athleticism. The guy that's going to win is the better athlete or better at that time period."

"Three of the 130-pound qualifiers are reigning state champions, including two who are also defending Rollie Lane champs. American Falls' Paden Johnson and Salmon's Otto Phillips won state and Rollie last season. Johnson claimed the 130-pound 3A state and Rollie titles, while Phillips was the 3A 125-pound and Rollie winner. Lewiston's Tracey Huffman rounds out the reigning state title holders in the class.He won the 5A 125-pound state championship a year ago. At least five others - Mountain View's Holden Packard, Blackfoot's Kyle Williams, Borah's Shane Washburn, Burns, Oregon's Brendan Palmer and Nyssa, Oregon's Kyle Schoorl- have been state winners, placers or qualifiers in previous seasons....."

http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/story/628297.html

My New Year's Revolution!

1. I will not teach RS anymore! That's because I've been called as a primary teacher. I taught my class, 9-turning-10-year-olds, for the first time this week, and it was delightful! Marie and I have six wonderful kids in our class, out of 99 in the whole primary.

2. I plan to eat more candy this year! Why not? I can't find any evidence that there's candy in heaven, and I've refrained too long. Just finished a bag of peanut M&M's. But, I will lose weight anyway. Just watch!

3. I am going to make more noise this year! SING! SING A SONG! SING OUT LOUD! SING OUT STRONG!!!

4. I shall learn a little yoga! What an opportunity I have, a live-in teacher right here with me.

5. No matter what, I'm going to paint something this year! Probably our fence, but who knows? I feel artistic!

6. I'll give away or throw away a lot of stored stuff! The proverbial rainy day came and we didn't need any of it after all. Bye bye books, magazines, too small snow pants, LP's, old bikes and lawn mowers, etc! Only food can stay.

7. I'm going to tear out some plants and make room for ones I like more! Heh heh heh. Rip out first, and ask forgiveness later!

Ok, I guess that's all for now. But the month isn't over, it's barely just begun. Maybe other diabolical schemes will spring to mind, and I'm more than ready to entertain them all!