Pageant 2014

We again were able to participate in the Mormon Miracle Pageant and had a wonderful time.  The pageant is a special tradition for us as we enjoy performing in it, inviting people to come and watch or be in it, and help with the behind the scenes of setting up, scenery and chairs, feeding the masses and putting it all away.

 This year we were able to have some fun principle parts.  Isaac has been looking forward to portraying young Joseph Smith and was very pleased to have the opportunity.  I was able to portray his mother, Lucy Mack Smith.  Together we did a scene in Lucy's kitchen where Joseph explains that he knows his mother's church is not true because he has seen God the Father and His son Jesus Christ and they told him that the true church of Jesus Christ was not on the earth.

When I first married Mr. O and we were in the pageant together his mother told me of one of her favorite pageants when he had played young Joseph and she had been Lucy and what a sweet experience to share with her son.  I feel very grateful to have followed that tradition and shared this special moment with my son as he spoke the words of Joseph Smith and we both felt our testimony strengthened.

They cast 3 Joseph Smiths to be able to do all the different parts.  Isaac shared this role with Josh Peterson and Mitch Russell. Two more really great boys.

 Dane and his best friend, Mark Bishop, played the parts of Zarahemna and Captain Moroni.   There are the best parts for the boys and they all hope to get it.  These two young men are sharing July 13 for their farewells and will leave on full-time, 2 year missions in July.  They got to address a youth group that was here for pageant and Mark, as Zarahemna spoke about slothfulness and Dane, as Captain Moroni, spoke of being a man of preparedness.  They both did an amazing job.

But they still had a lot of fun playing around.

We had 3 girls from Idaho, Elizabeth, Cassidi, and Abby, stay with us for the month and participate in pageant.  

We also participated in our regular group scenes with Sim and Debbie.  They still love portraying Christ in American, handcart pioneers, and this year we did the New England scene where we are in various congregations with young Joseph wondering which church to join.

This is Jeremy.  He is legally blind but still regularly is in the pageant.  This year I got to walk with him in the first pioneer scene in case he needed any help 'crossing the plains'.  He did very well on his own but I felt a special closeness because of my own family history.  I have a grandfather, Thomas Davis Giles, who joined the church in Wales, 4 years later was a victim of a mine accident in which both of his eyes were crushed from his head.  He lived but was of course blind.  He had a hobby of playing the harp and continued to develop this talent.  Eight years after his accident he and his wife with three children left Wales to emigrate to Zion.  In Chicago their year-old daughter died.  They reached Iowa City and joined the Bunker company where Thomas pulled his handcart.  Not long after they started, his wife gave birth to another daughter who died soon after.  A few weeks later his wife died. He was left with his two sons, ages seven and nine.  The boys were sent back to some family friends in a later company (which ended up being one of the wagon companies that traveled with the Martin and Willie companies).  Thomas continued on with his hand cart and through incredible odds and trials arrived in the Salt Lake Valley and there he reared a righteous family.  The woman that cared for his sons eventually married Thomas and it is through Thomas and Hannah that I am descended.  So it was this grandfather that I imagined and thought of as we performed together over and over.  It was another sweet moment in pageant.

Grateful:
665 community hard work for a good cause
666 great families coming together and giving so much time and talent.
667 testimony building as we performed and visited in the audience
668 sweet friends and family that came to see us perform.

a new calling

In our church we accept callings.  We are willing to recognize our leaders as called of God and having stewardship over our ward congregation.  We don't ask for or aspire to positions.  We wait and trust that the Lord knows what is best and will reveal to our leaders the proper order in our ward.  Youth group leaders (young mens and young womens) are expected to be very good with youth.  They have a huge responsibility to be good examples, wise, humble, prayerful, with lots of good ideas, energy, and talents. You do not apply for the job or prepare an amazing portfolio for the very important position of shaping and guiding our next leaders.  You simple say, "OK, I'll do my best".

Normally a president is called.  They are given time to learn about the program, time to prayerfully select counselors and then together they begin this new journey with youth and parents trusting that you will in fact, learn the ropes and do your best and be an influence for good.

Sunday was not my day to play piano in primary.  In the summer we take off for cub scouts.  My responsibilities were few.  My baby girl is turning 8 next month and I went with her to visit with the bishop about her upcoming baptism.  I had not even a hunch that my life was about to change.

After the bishop finished talking to Debbie, he turned to me and shared how the Lord had told him very strongly that I am to be the new Young Women's president.  I cried, expressed my fear.  He gave me a steady look and said, will you.  Despite the immediate doubts in my ability or desire for such a position, I said yes.  Girls camp is in 3 weeks and he does not want to mess with anything else so he asked that we not change anything in the organization.  An hour later I was at a meeting about girls camp and then in sacrament meeting where my name was offered and sustained. During Sunday school I was set apart and by the third hour of church I was in young women's class and attended a class presidency meeting afterward.

My mind has been whirling.  My heart pounding. My eyes leaking.  I wonder how, and what, and why.  The amazing part is that I am feeling a peace.  I almost fight the peace and feel like I should be in a crazy panic but there is a sweet peace that says it will all work out.  My family is already very busy with lots of wonderful events.  We have a baptism with lots of family coming.  A missionary farewell with lots of family coming.  A new grandbaby coming in 3 weeks as well as girls camp.  My missionary leaves the end of the month.  To finish this month we have guests coming to stay with us for pageant and my sweet daughter is bringing home her boyfriend to meet us and he and his family will stay with us so they can also attend pageant.

Each time I list it all out I think "AAAAyyeee!".  But I don't feel it.  I feel like it will all work out.  I don't know how but I want to focus on the peace and move forward daily with steps that bring order to my life and create balance.  I want to learn to manage my time better and to certainly not just manage whatever is loudest at the moment.  I want to celebrate my missionary and maybe do his eagle court of honor also.  I want time to prepare my daughter for her baptism that it may be a very important and special step in her life that she begin with understanding and with increased testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I want to support my bishop, magnify my calling, create unity in my presidency and in all the young women's program and I want to make sure that I always take time to prepare each day to have the spirit guiding me because I have taken time to study, pray, and journal every quiet whisper he blesses me with.

Other than a few goals to get accomplished by the end of July, I'm enjoying the lazy days of summer.  I might have to make another batch of Popsicles.  Maybe I'll delegate that one.  :)

Grateful:
651 The Joyful Burden of Discipleship 
652 That amazing women are blessing my life
653 amazing Young Women are entering my life and inspiring me
654 Tender mercies that are simplifying my day and it happened yesterday too!  Traded principle part dates with the other Lucy.  Cabin suddenly available for an extra friend and her family.  Thoughtful friend that volunteered to cover at tonight's pageant dinners.

oops, is it worth it

So I have been trying to get new carpet in the library.  I finally got paint in my living room but haven't loved the color.  Now I'm thinking that it is a good thing I didn't replace or repaint yet.  Yesterday I found scribbling on my walls and trim.  The freshest, newest paint in the house.  The room where I haven't even dared put up pictures is now colored on.

Tonight I came home late to find Daisy's, our 1 year old dog, paws white.  I found white smeared on the floor.  It looked like paint?  I found paw paint prints in the kitchen.  We found a bucket of paint spilled in the back hall and more prints in the back bedroom on the carpet.  Then I found paw prints on the library carpet. The very carpet that I had hoped to replace and grateful that we haven't yet.  And it was actually the blue of our library walls.

One of the many frustrations of animals.  Once the deed is done and over, the teaching opportunity is past.  All that is left is for the humans in my house to learn from the mistake.  Trash cans were tipped over and chewed up trash left around.  Not happy.  No one to yell at.

So my thoughts have turned to "Is it worth it?"  Would I rather not let a dog in the house?  There are actually lots of nice things about pets too and this was really a people training problem.  What about the coloring on the wall?  Should I guard my house and monitor the children closely or insist that the parent always be near by?  I don't think so.  If the price of having others feel welcome in my home, cousin time and freedom to play was that I might get a little drawing on the wall occasionally, then it is worth the risk.

The paint has been cleaned up.  The guests in our home that probably could be blamed a little never saw the mess.  Really it comes down to my own choices and lack of communication and training.  I would love a picture perfect home and new carpet but for now I will enjoy the experiences of having people in my life and count the good and the bad as a blessing.

Grateful:
645 for time to be calm, deal with the mess and ponder
646 really great cleaning help from my guests.  My love language is service
647 berry cheesecake at kneaders
648 another great evening of training with Kirk Duncan
649 my family is all safely home and heading to bed
650 my daughter is falling in love with a very good man

Am I a fanatic?

I don't think so.  I do believe in going to church every Sunday, even on vacation.  I tried a swear word out loud in a field by myself and it just wasn't worth it.  I dress modestly even when on vacation or doing sports. I don't see rated R movies.  I am uncomfortable with certain books, art, even news.  I don't watch sports and discourage it on Sundays or during family night. I don't have to hear the words of a song to want to turn it off, some just drag me down quick.  I don't think "Sunday music" is just for Sunday.  I know my day goes better when I start with prayer and scripture study.  I have been known to kneel down in the middle of the day to plea for help.  When the prophet tells me something I should or shouldn't do - I try hard to be completely obedient.  I accept callings (though I really need to love and magnify them better).  I do believe that my religion should shine through my every day.

I have been wondering about why I feel so strongly and why others or I may feel judged for choosing this life.  I don't believe I just stop doing my best because others are choosing a different path and might feel judged by my choices.  Why is that?  It seems to be okay to criticize the "religious" for being so righteous.  I worried about being judged as a goody goody.  I want to be good, as good as possible.  I want to worry more about offending God than offending someone here.  That does not mean that I think I am better than anyone else.  I know and recognize that I am not even close.  I have to work very hard to be good and I am sure that we each have our own areas that we are excelling.  We each have our own place on the path.

For me it is not about looking good or being in the right.  It is more about my desire to please my Savior.  It is about my need for his help and when I am doing my best I feel like I can ask for his help.  I need his help. I need the help of angels.  I need the promises that accompany regular temple worship, covenant keeping, scripture reading.  I need to repent regularly and ask if I can please try again.  I know I am not here to earn my own way back to heaven.  I am hear to learn, to grow, to become more like my Savior and to enjoy his gift of the atonement.  I can become clean again.  I can be empowered.  I can be an instrument in his hands to bless the lives of others.  I want to be an influence for good in my family.  I want them to seek God because they see the joy in my life from seeking to please him..

It is not about being better or more worthy or comparing in any way. It is about trying to be the best me I can be with the knowledge that I have.  That was important for me to figure out.  I don't need to feel uncomfortable around people doing other things and I don't need to change my actions to make them more comfortable.  We just learn to respect one another, love one another and cheer each other on.

Some sources that have really helped me are

• Sheri Dew's talk from BYU Women's conference that reminds me I don't want to live below my privileges.  I need all the help I can get.
• I am also trying to figure out my purpose, my mission, even a current goal that I should be working towards and this talk by Elder Richard Scott helps "As you consistently focus your life on the most basic principles, you will gain an understanding of what you are to do, and you will produce more fruit for the Lord and more happiness for yourself"
• I also recently read an article that shared that scripture study should start with prayer, include paper and pencil but also that we should go back and read the notes we have taken and look for patterns.  I just recently finished a journal full of scripture study notes and as I start back in 2011 reading I am amazed and grateful for the insights that still speak to me, teach me and are inspiration specific for me. 
• Let your Faith Show by Elder Russell M. Nelson  "The word religion literally means “to ligate again” or “to tie back” to God.¹The question we might ask ourselves is, are we securely tied to God so that our faith shows, or are we actually tied to something else? "  "In pursuit of their goals, will their religion show or will it be hidden? Are they tied back to God or to man?"  " Truth is truth! It is not divisible, and any part of it cannot be set aside."  "Keeping divine commandments brings blessings, every time! Breaking divine commandments brings a loss of blessings, every time!^{5"  and finally "} Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with [faith] have courage as well.”^12"

My goal is to be a valiant joyful daughter of God,  I am grateful:
642 for my testimony of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel
643 there is not a limit on how many times I can repent
644 this life is shared with a lot of great people and we get to help each other.

Little tasks add up

I am beginning a mentoring/training class.  Our first meeting together was last night.  We came away with assignments and insights.  We were able to choose 2 buddies so that as a threesome we would daily be accountable for action steps towards goals.

We also learned that negative thoughts or negative emotions will stop progress.  We will be recognizing those negative thoughts and feelings, writing them down and shredding them.  It has to do with make the unseen (thoughts and emotions) seen so that we can recognize the lies and get them out of our head.  I am anxious to clean up my head.

We are to  daily plan action steps, to keep our buddies accountable through daily phone calls.  We each have our own main goal that we are seeking to accomplish.  My goal is to accept responsibilities, create a plan, and finish the job.  For me this is an area that I find scary.  I don't like to make formal (out loud where people can hear me) goals.  I also get overwhelmed with figuring out the steps.  I can do hard things once I get through this planning stage so I am hoping to find success.

It is a matter of creating order.  In my reading this morning I was reminded that it is the little steps, easy and simple steps that make us who we are.  I found this article on facebook and even the simple, yet very necessary step of nicely making my bed sets a tone for the day, for my ability to succeed.

"If you want to change the world, start by making your bed"  William H. McRaven



There are little things I can do to get in alignment.  As I seek to be obedient I will be blessed with divine power.  I can be obedient to my goals.  I can get up with the alarm goes off.  I can choose to exercise.  I can stick to my eating plan.

This video talks about how we can learn to change the world.  I do want to change my world.  I know that there is great room for improvement.  Really we are all on a similar course of working to make things better.  We are working to bring order, discipline, joyful relationships.  We can help each other and bring each other hope.

Moments away starting to change the world—for the better.

It will not be easy.

But, YOU are the class of 2014—the class that can affect the lives of 800 million people in the next century.

Start each day with a task completed.

Find someone to help you through life.

Respect everyone.

Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, but if take you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up—if you do these things, then next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today and—what started here will indeed have changed the world—for the better.

Grateful:

636 Making my bed DOES make a difference and is worth the effort

637 I can celebrate each step of the way and wisely choose the direction those steps take me.

638 Kneader's cheesecake and Thai yellow curry

639 My children listening to the Chronicles of Narnia

640 Isaac has begun a lawn mowing business and business is booming.  He is handling it all really well and pleasing his customers.

641 making time to blog and share my feelings.

some candid shots of our wedding this weekend

We had such a wonderful time.  We had our home town open house on Friday night and then the temple sealing the next morning followed by a wedding luncheon and reception that night in Rachel's home town.  We had so much family support and love.  I couldn't ask for a better way to celebrate the coming together of town wonderful young people creating another family.

 Peter and Rachel chose to do their pictures together the day before their wedding.  The bride got to get ready at my house. Such a tender moment to see Rachel and her mom preparing for such a special day.  Liz, her sister in law was the photographer.  We will share her pictures later when we get them.

 All my girls together!  Each so beautiful and loved.

 Watching Peter see Rachel for the first time in her gown was sweet.  Even as beautiful as she looked, he gazed into her eyes.

 We had some fun decorating the church cultural hall.  Her colors were orange and mint and we did lots with burlap, dots, pictures, paper flowers, lights, and gold fish on every table.

We had a fruit pizza bar where each person collected a cookie (plain sugar cookie from the local bakery) with cream cheese frosting and then added their own fruit (grapes, pineapple, banana, and strawberries) or not.  We served ice water with orange slices floating in it.

 Some thought the frosting the very best part of the evening.

Sweet grandpa O. is slowing down but we were so glad he felt well enough to join in our celebrating and even made it to the temple thanks to sweet aunt Kristen.

 Emily was sure  pleasing the guys with her great smile.  (Josh and Emily)

 We ended up with plenty of time to taste the goodies and play around a bit.

 Some just really needed a chance to spend time outside with the rocks and their Poppi.

Elise and John catching a dip.

 With the open house the night before, the bride and groom said good-night and we took down one party and prepared for the luncheon the next day.  We simply turned up the wedding playlist with lots of fun dancing music and had our own little dance.

 My chance to do a little swing dancing with my son, the groom.

 Cousins catching a few moves that resulted in a split pair of trousers, oops.

Jaiden and Emily

Dane and Elise

 And finally wedding morning as we head off to the temple.

Elise, Julie, and Natalie

 Rachel's favorite color happens to be orange and there is the peak at her beautiful shoes.

 We had an extremely efficient photographer who zipped us through the group pictures and sent us to lunch.

 We served barbeque turkey, creamy potatoes, tossed green salad, hard rolls with butter and razmataz cake.  It was perfect and well received. Mr. O and sons did the bbq-ing early Saturday morning.  Dear friends Michelle, Shelly, Linda, Melody and Lannette took care of all the food and kitchen duties.  Because we didn't have a lot of people show for the open house we had some delicious leftovers that disappeared with all the family we had around.  It all worked out beautifully.

The best part was definitely celebrating with family and family support.  I am really wondering if receptions/open houses are fading away in our culture.  I am not sure how I feel about this.  I remember so much support from my ward, my friends.  Really it is about family but I love helping a new family get established and sharing the good hopes and dreams that we have for each other.  I don't know that I have much influence on how our community supports receptions but I also don't know if it is something we should continue to put in the time, effort and expense in hopes that people will come.  I have 3 married and 5 to go. Still lots of time to figure out what works best for each couple.  So glad we did celebrate big for this sweet couple.  I love Peter and Rachel so much and have so much confidence in their future and the love they share.