He is home!

My son Peter returned from his mission to Florida.  He saved thousands of dollars to pay for his mission, put off college, dating, fun to serve for 2 years being strictly obedient to mission rules, living on a very limited budget, talking to strangers every day.  He is home now and all he can say is he is so thankful for the gift of a mission and the blessing to have served for 2 years.

It is amazing to me how the simpleness of the gospel doesn't always make sense.
The simpleness of giving up your own desires to serve others makes you happy.
The simpleness of living the rules of the gospel makes you free.
The simpleness of keeping covenants brings you opportunities.
The simpleness of hard work brings new energy.
The simpleness of smiling first brings joy to everyone.

I am so grateful that the secret success of gospel living is right in front of all of us.  We simply need to embrace it.  Trust the Lord's plan for us.  Do our best and watch the good unfold.

*I wanted to share some of the fun pictures but for some reason my computer is no longer allowing me or giving me the option of re-sizing pictures.  Please help.

grateful:
310  Safe arrival of my missionary
311 Being the first to get a hug from my missionary
312 late nights visiting with my missionary
313 Seeing gratitude in Peter's eyes, actions and words
314 support of family and friends at the airport
315 for mechanic projects that offer a chance for this missionary to transition back to the physical labor he loves.  A chance to get dirty and see results.
316 Temple trip with Mr. O and Peter
317 that December is coming and you don't need money to be happy

I am thankful God so loves us!

He sent his son Jesus Christ.



grateful
305  My Father in Heaven loves me and you
306  My Savior, Jesus Christ lived! and died for me!
307  He has overcome the world
308  Christ's church has been restored upon the earth
309  I am a member of His church

Apple sauce

This last spring we had a big wind at apparently the wrong time.  I was so grateful that we didn't get a frost while our fruit trees were in bloom but I didn't realize the damage a heavy wind can do.  When your blossom get blown away, you don't get fruit.  No apples this year and we were feeling rather neglected.  Imagine my surprise when are little grocery store had big fuji apples at 2lb for $1.  It was an answer to prayers last week and I made applesauce.   Here is how I do applesauce.


We wash and then peel and core the apples.  Last year I had home grown organic apples so I didn't even peel them.  Just quartered and cored.  Then put them in the blender with some water or juice.  I'm trying a cranraspberry 100%juice this year.  Liquid added just so that the blender can puree the apples. I did about 1 cup per blender full.

Pour puree into pot and heat through.  At this point we added just a little sugar.  Our apples were sweet so I added about 1/2 cup to 6 quarts of sauce (it keeps my husband happy) and a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Put into prepared jars and then process according the recommendations in your area.  We got about 40 quarts of apple sauce from 60 lb of apples.  That was less than a $1 a quart.  Not bad when having to buy apples.  I'm feeling blessed and grateful.

grateful
300  apples do go on sale
301  My first born son turned 21 today.  I'm missing him.  I haven't seen him for 2 years but he will be home in 13 days and I will get to hug him again.
302  YW auxiliary training last night was great.  Curriculum is unchanged (truths are eternal) but they have some great new learning resources that will bless the young women, their leaders as we learn to prepare and all of our families as we grow in the gospel.
303   that when I feel like having some slower days and watching a movie in the middle of the day, I have the flexibility and freedom to do so.  Now I just have to overcome the guilt (or the need to have a lazy day).
304  that after spending all day at home with my children learning and having fun together they still don't want me to leave for an hour tonight to go to institute.

Celebrating veterans

Friday night we attended a program honoring veterans.  The young men put it together with the help of there very ambitious and talented Bro. Thomas.  They built and painted white crosses, organized 3 different rooms with a screen for showing pictures of 2 wars and a flag draped casket.  As we arrived we walked reverently through a column of our local national guard soldiers to the cultural hall filled with white crosses representing Arlington Cemetery and the walls lined with scouts in uniform holding flags. We enjoyed a time together in the chapel with flag ceremony, a couple of women who shared their feelings about the servicemen in their lives and then we received an assignment to a war.  We rotated through the three rooms hearing stories about soldiers in those wars and personal stories from the vets there.

It was rather sweet to see my 3 sons in their scout uniforms honor others in uniform who had sacrificed and do sacrifice so much for our country and all that the United States of America stands for.

these pictures taken as we were cleaning up, not the full effect.

Today as I watched the 16yo teaching the 8yo how to tie his tie, seeing them in white shirts, ties -the uniform of the priesthood I again counted my blessings.  I am so grateful for sons.  In just over 2 weeks my first born son returns from his mission.  Two years serving the Lord in Florida.  I miss him. He will come back a man prepared to move forward in those things that  men are called to do.  I know that he will be willing and capable of great things that are part of his mission and purpose in life.  Boys becoming men is a true miracle to witness.  I am grateful for each of them and their desire to follow in the footsteps of their father and to bring honor to the priesthood.  Men of God.

As I have some quiet time to prepare dinner I enjoyed listening to this sequence of videos about World War II.  Again grateful for veterans, men willing to sacrifice all for others, and I wonder what the future holds from my sons.

Grateful
288 Veterans Day.  A yearly reminder of the need to thank and honor those serving in our military forces.
289 We have a noble army, navy, air force, and coast guard
290 for those who gave their lives
291 for those who came home to their families
292 for 4 sons
293 this country in truly in the Lord's hands
294 for the United States of America
295 The star spangled banner and all it stands for "one nation under God"  There is no comma there like it often sounds when the pledge of allegiance is recited.  We are one nation under God and must remain so.
296 my husband trusts me enough to ask me spur of the moment to talk in church
297 for another lesson in learning to forgive those who put us in uncomfortable situations.
298 that it is 17 days until my missionary comes home.  His birthday is this week.
299 we have food storage

Hope

Reading in Romans today and appreciated this reminder of hope.  Chapter 5

vs 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulations worketh patience;   vs 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

We may be headed for some great tribulations but it brings gifts of patience, experience and hope.  I look to the hope and will rejoice in the good all along the way.

Looking for hope and good

I was so disappointed   I didn't think it possible.  I thought the people of America would surely see things as they are and choose a better way.  When they called Ohio last night the tears came.  They said Obama would continue to be our president.  Feelings of fear for the future and a deep desire to shake all those grinning people.

I have to look deeper inside for answers.  I have to pray harder and trust God.  I pray that the many good people-half of our population feeling loss will not give up, that they will continue to stand for right and truth, work for the better of our country.  I pray that the Obama administration is truly hearing many of its citizens and will work with us to truly make this country great, a place where hard work and moral values are cherished, where the American dream is possible, where the good of individuals shines through.

We can turn to God for meaning, understanding, and hope.  I believe many of our nation will be praying harder than ever.  Maybe even more will remember our founding values, our great constitution, the principles on which this country was founded. May we educate ourselves.  No room to be passive.  Somewhere our votes matter and we can stand for truth and righteousness, nobly and boldly expecting and seeing good.

I've been up since 2:30am.  I finally had to check the computer to make sure I remembered correctly, hoping that some last minute count had changed the result.  I've listened to the kind speeches and am grateful for the integrity and goodness of Mitt Romney.  I pray that he and his many supporters will continue to work for our country where they can.

My thoughts turn to my Heavenly Father and I remember in the Old Testament when things looked bad for Israel.  Again and again they sinned, repented and enjoyed God's blessings.  The line that comes to me is about there being more with us than against us.  It is better for us to accept this gift of relying so much on Him.  I don't feel confident relying on the leadership of our nation but I will pray fervently for them and our nation.  I will know more fully that all good comes from God and in his arm I will trust.

"What you think you can’t handle — might actually be God handing you a gift"
" And I think of everything I have chaffed against and railed about and howled to the heavens and who am I to know what is best or not — but when you bow and surrender to the sovereignty of God then you are in the posture to receive all as a gift. "

 these are the words I read on Holy Experience and feelings of hope return.  He can make all things work for our good.

grateful:
278 true principles are eternal
279 God is in his heaven
280 government change is a slow road with checks and balances
281 many people in American are good
282 each day I can see the hand of God in my life
283 the internet is available at all hours of the day and so many good people share good things and there is hope.
284 that through all challenges, trials, disappointments we can turn to a loving Heavenly Father for understanding, strength, hope
285 that either way the election goes it is now time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
286 to be teaching my children of the voting process and how to be a patriotic citizen of the US
287 that good men can be found and are willing to fight the hard fight, represent the people and graciously move on when things don't work as planned.  I would love to see Romney and Ryan find ways to be involved in shaping the good of our country.

Slow down

Listening to a sweet song:

Slow down, don't dance so fast
Time is short and the music won't last
Slow down, take it slower
Hear the music before the song is over 

It is a song by Lyndsi Houskeeper, (written by a friend of mine, Phil Theobald).  It is just after feeling so overwhelmed and I think there use to be a time when I needed to slow down but it is now life swirling around me that needs to slow down. I'm content to just stay inside watching snowflakes fall and chop vegetables.  I wonder why everything seems to speed up as your family grows up and how can I possibly keep up and still slow down.

Then I remember that way back in January before I knew that the last half of this year would not only include 2 missionaries coming home but 2 new grandchildren, a new man in my daughter's life and so much good speeding around me, I remember that the word for this year is PRESENT.  My desire to be present, to live in the moment.  My desire to enjoy the presents from heaven and the Heavenly Presence.

It was while pushing Nellie at the park that she taught me more about enjoying the present.  I would push her and in moments she would be complaining that I wasn't constantly pushing.  She was going high and swinging but she wasn't enjoying it, only the small instances when I was pushing.  Had I been doing that?  Had I been missing the ride in between the high moments that were still worth cherishing?

I have been guilty of the sin of wrong thinking.  I have worried about the what ifs, or the hows.  I began this post last week soon after the post Change Is Coming.  I am feeling more at peace.  I was listening to a children's series on the first principles of the gospel.  The song I heard talked about Noah being the right one for the job of building the ark, Moses being the right one for the job of leading the children of Israel out of bondage. . .   Each time God calls a person to do a job - he is the right one for the job.  I'm a little slow but it finally occurred to me that God calls me to jobs.  He has asked me to fulfill the roles of wife and mother and even grandmother.  He called me to this job.  Therefore, I'm the right one for the job.  I'm the right mom for my children. I'm the right grandmother for these grandchildren.  I have what it takes (with his enabling power) to do the job he gives me.  Worrying that I'm doing it wrong or will mess up or won't know how to be or do whatever the future holds is not empowering me or exercising faith.  I have a job to do and I can do it with His help.  I know very well that I will make mistakes, that I will feel foolish, embarrassed, awkward and dumb but even in those moments (that seem to last a very long time) I can feel confident that he will use them to bless those he has called me to serve.  And he will teach me, sometimes through trial and error, how to become better at my job.  When I submit to him he can truly use me for good and we can do the job.

Grateful
273 Lessons learned from my granddaughter
274 the Lord uses music to send messages to me
275 to be fasting for the healing of our country, that God's will will be down in this next presidential election
276 that even a worrier like me can find peace and a desire to better see the good - and enjoy it.
277 my rain gutters got cleaned out, one step closer to prepared for winter.
278 that we had a milk cow, enjoyed raw fresh milk and that the next couple of months off will bring a calf and more milk.