Stake President Killian...

July 20 2018

I had an appointment with Stake President Jason Killian last night.  I have known him for many years, he carries a special spirit about him that I have often admired.  When we first moved into our home Bro Killian was a counselor to my Bishop Steve Collings.  He also helped Lynn put in our sprinkler system around our home.

As I sat in his presents I became aware of how strong his calling is,  you could just feel the presents of something special.  I have often looked up into his friendly eyes as I have talked with him may times.  But this time I felt he could see right through me.  I was surprised...  and wondered when the time comes when we meet our Lord and Savior, if I will be prepared, when he sees right through me...



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Prophet Thomas S. Monson...

3 January 2018

Our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, passed away last night.  He will be greatly missed by me.  I was surprised that he had been called as a Bishop at the age of 22, and a aposel, one of the twelve,  at the age of 36.
A Great man, and Wonderful gift of humor, a caregiver for everyone forever.

Re-dedication of Ogden Temple...

As I was laying in bed tonight trying to go to sleep, my mind kept reflecting on the feelings I had during the session I attended with Lynn, of the re-dedication of the Ogden Temple yesterday.

No regular church service was held because of the Temple re-dedication.  We had attended the middle session at our Stake Building and were reminded that the chapel was a extension of the temple and we were to respect it as if we were in the temple.

President Henry B. Eyring presided over this session.  President Monson had been at the morning session.
Several speakers spoke, and the music was touching...most of it was from the Primary songs testifying of the love for the Lord, and how special our families are.  The speakers also spoke from their heart and expressed the important of family and the temples on the earth.  Some families may have only one chance to go to the temple in their lifetime, and others can go many times.

Also was expressed that only a few people were able to have their work done during the time of Joseph Smith life.  And latter in Utah when temples were built there were only four temples to do all the work for the children of the world, both living and the dead.  While the Salt Lake Temple was being built, People could get their own Endowments done, but not for their dead relatives until the Temple was finish.  It has only been the last few years since Pres. Kimball said the Temples would dot the world and now we have 143.

Temple work has to be done here on earth, as its a world ordnance.

When President Eyring spoke, The feeling of the Spirit was so strong it was hard for me to keep tears from falling, as he spoke there were times he felt the sweetness of the Holy Ghost, and his words struggled to come out.  It was wonderful to feel how strong the influence of the Holy Ghost testified of the truth of the things being spoken.  I had a tingling feeling all over my body.

As we all stood in our places and the meeting came to a close, not a word was spoken, no one moved.  No one wanted to leave.  We stood there in silence.  After the doors opened, we slowly walked out, not a word was heard until we were completely outside the building.

I didn't want to leave, I felt tingling all over...

As I came home and changed cloths, I had the strong feeling I needed to go be with Paulette in the last session.  She lives in a different Stake than myself.  I kind of dismissed it, and again it came, get dressed and go.....I didn't know if I could make it in time, but I quickly got dressed again and drove over to their church stake building.  After showing my Temple Recommend, I found Paulette on the second bench from the front and surprised her, She did not know I was coming.


My Stake President, Stephen Collings, is a very spiritual person.  He has great influence on everyone he meets.  He has always asked us members to  prepare spiritually for any special meeting that comes, including attending the Temple before Conferences, Stake or General, so we can be in tune with our Heavenly Father.
I am not surprised that the influence of the Holy Ghost was present with us.

April Fools Day...

My Dad died thirty-one years ago today....April Fools Day!

I have often had a little laugh inside myself,
       knowing Dad, he would be laughing too...

      He liked a good joke...



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It is Good!...

Creative feelings, is a natural thing....
It comes from our Spiritual side...To create and taking pleasure in our accomplishments, makes us feel good.
God created this beautiful world, And said,  "It is Good!"....
Being we are His children, it is natural to want to create.

Making a dress,  Preparing a meal.  Painting and drawing in many categories.  Music in all its forms.  The gift of Writing, and Crafts.  The pleasure of watching things grow in a Gardens,  or Restoring something to its original beauty, like cars or furniture, or even quilts... Yard work, Painting a room, or just building something.....Helping others, and children is also a gift...
It makes us feel good.....As we  ponder our accomplishments we to say..... It is Good!...


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Jenny Bird....

My Friend, Jenny Bird, a Beautiful Jenday Conure, died March 28th 2012.
I have raised her from the time she received her feathers.

A Sweet, Loving, Gentle bird, who considered me a friend. She died in my arms after giving me a loving last look into my eyes.

I can not tell you how my broken heart crys for her.
I hope I may have the privilege of seeing her again on the other side of the vail.

Jenny was eight years old. She died young...

Falling Leaves of Fall...

Sitting at a conference table looking out one of many windows, from the ceiling, to about two feet from the floor. Each were divided by small panes, of four across, all the way down to the bottom of the glass. The building was surrounded by lots of trees turning into fall colors. Most of them were in shades of green, turning bright yellow colors. I was surprised to see a few of the maple leaves having some green, mostly yellow, and some red touches here and there. They were so beautiful....

For most of the time we were there, the wind blew the leaves across the windows. It reminded me of falling snow, but these were beautiful bright falling leaves. On the other side of the parking lot, a tree with its beautiful red leafs, added to the wonderful feeling of fall. When we left for home, I gathered a small handful of colored leafs to enjoy.

Every where you look, the mountains are arraide in hugues of fall colors.
I have enjoyed the fall season, more this year than any other, since moving back to Utah....

Blue Day...

I HAD ONE OF THOSE DAYS!!

New Year 2011

A new Year....A new day....A new hour.... A new page.... A new moment in time...

Every thing is fresh... and starting new... with blank pages before you.

What will be written on these pages before the end of this given time?

Looking back... Hopefully... they will contain mostly smiles...

Where is Time?

One Year a person who prepared our taxes, asked me how many years did I think I would live? I answered him, as long as my kids still need me, I will be here!

Looking back through this year and all its complications, I see a over view, (that has nothing to do with all that has happened this year.) that all my kids are quickly getting to the point of not needing me. Which is good for them, but not so much for me. They have turned out to be good and great people, and care about each other in their own way.

I have really felt that way, and perhaps some insight. Also at my age now, even though still considered young, I feel my strength weakening. and others who are a lot older than I, running circles around me.

Bernard Walker said that the "Golden Years of Life" are not when you are old and retired. But when you have your young family around you, and you are busily keeping up with them doing things, that bring you the most happiness.
Not when your old, stiff, painful, sick, and alone.
I agree with him.

I have alot of friends I can talk to, and I have a list of things that have to be done.
But its my family that I long for....and they are all grown up...

Gratitude...

Even at my age now, my heart flutters, and I feel a deep satisfaction inside as I watch the accomplishments of my kids....their hard work, and the caring and helping of each other....It is warming to the heart.

I am still here...

Just wanted you to know that I am still around and have not fallen apart yet... Last June had hip #2 replaced. I am doing well...

Be Thankful...

"Joy is not found in the waiting rooms of our dream of tomorrows.
True joy must be found in the crowded, complex, painful, challenging, cluttered rooms of "right now." Sister Jaroldeen Edwards.

Take the time to enjoy the things around you that bring beauty into your eyes. Don't be in such a hurry that you pass things by that the Lord has created to brighten and uplift your day. Spend a little time to be grateful for blessings that make our lives a little better. Do something to make someone elts feel happier today... :)

Mirror mirror on the wall...

I look in the mirror and ponder the face that is looking back at me. It seems to have gotten older, alot this year... wrinkles have deepen, and my skin is loosing its elasticity. The gray hair on my head has been covered with dye, and it helps me from feeling older, just a little slower. Age marks have started showing up on my skin, and the ugly black hairs around my mouth and chin are pesky, and wont go away.

My smile is still there, just have to push a few more wrinkles out of the way. My eyes seem bright as ever, just needing glasses to see more clearly...however they seem a little tired lately.

I sit here feeling sorry for myself, when I look out the window and see my neighbors white and black cat, with three legs, just enjoying himself. He is usually playing in our garden in the morning times. He loves being there. Missing one of his front legs slows him down a little, but it doesn't stop him at all...He is quite a cat...

Frustrating...

Have you ever been in a position where a decision had to be made, and it rested upon your shoulders??? you try to make the correct one.....and find out afterwards it was wrong...

Well it has happened to me a few times. But this one really gets my goat....
Its not that it was really important to anybody elts.

I have been trying to acquire some things for my husband and I, that we would use for a year. I have been keeping a list of things we normally use and trying to figure out what amount we would use for a year.

One of the items I have been working on is Landry soap. A few months ago I had tried a different brand that was new. I seemed to like it. Being it was a powder I knew it would have a good shelf life. After a couple of months I could not find it in the stores any more, but to my surprise I ran across it in a "dollar" store, at a lower cost than I had been paying for it. I happily started buying the boxes until I had enough.

I noticed this last week that our clothing was starting to look a little faded. Your right it was the soap I was using. And now I have a year supply of fading soap for my cloths....

It wouldn't be so bad, but I have spent time to collect the boxes, money (in short supply), planning about the amount needed. Not to mention the cost of clothing, etc, to have everything fade out... AND...what do I do with a year supply of fading soap, that does not live up to my standards..........AND.. then doing it all over again, or half way at least.

I feel so Frustrated, and wonder how many more mistakes I will make before I reach my goals, or if I ever will....

Just Venting...

Have you ever had a terrible pain in your stomic and can't get any relief from it no matter what you do ???
Well I do... when I don't have connection with my kids. It seems silly I know.... but they are part of me, and I have to know they are happy, or safe, or busy doing something, no matter what is happening in their life. I guess you could call it "A Mother Thing".

For Thirty seven years I have given everything I had to help my kids, it wasn't easy for me then, stumbling blocks have always been part of my path. And yet they have all grown to be wonderful people. I guess I just need to know they are safe and happy more often.

I have 6 children, 5 that are living.

One I never hear from, unless she needs something, (it may be a long time,) her dad and I are now facing retirement.

I have one, when important things are happening in her life, good or bad, she goes Invisible....for a while... Sometimes its hard to get communication started again, and you just have to wait and wait and wait.....time goes by very slowly....

The other 3 check in fairly often, even if its "I am at work, just checking in, I'll call you later..." or "read my blog....I made a new entry"...... Its just so good to hear the sound of their voice, even if its "Hi..that's all"....

I often feel the movie of the "The Mailbox" fits my life.

8 weeks ago I had Major Surgery. I didn't realize what a big thing it was, until it was over.
I was surprised to see very few of my children cared what was happening to me, or how I felt.... I felt all alone.... If it hadn't been for my visiting teacher, and Lynn, the therapist, and my vampire (nurse) I would have had no one. I guess folks have no idea, unless they have been through it themselfs.

I hope I die before Lynn does, I don't think I can handle loneliness...I am too much of a social bug...

I don't mean to get morbid, as I was saying, I am just "Venting"....I guess I grew up during a time where family depended upon family. When there was a need, family came to help out. When my daughters needed help, I and some of my daughters went to help, even when it was out of state. I guess times are changing, and it's not the way things are done in todays world.

That is a really sad thought... For service really brings love and closeness of family, closer together.

Are you saying goodby...

I think one of the hardest experiences of life, is to watch someone on the edge of this life, and moving toward the next. A young father trying desperately to keep his family together, as his wife lay in a hospital bed, edging toward the end of this life. Laying in a Coma, with the Dr. saying that there is much brain damage.

I see the tender love he has for her, and the love in the faces of the children for their parents. He is trying to stay strong for his children's sake, but inside is a different story.

Many prays are lifting unto heaven in their behalf, with hopes and prayers of all who surrounds them...

We don't understand how fragile our marvelous human bodies are, and how easily they can be damaged, or how short the time we have here, really is...

Maybe we should consider what is really important to us...

Update: Elaina Brimhall, Kevin's wife, died today 3-31-08 in Provo, Utah

Lynn was asked to conduct the funeral service for Elaina on Sat 3-5-08.
Burg Mortuary, in Provo Utah. She will be buried in Provo City Cemetery.

Kevin is Verl and Sharon Brimhall son. Verl is my Brother.

A Beautiful Bird...

Driving to my home in Grantsville, one would think they were in the country. It is a small town and I love it here. The main road to our home is long and in one area winding with tall trees, looming on each side of the road. With winter here the trees are bare and dormant.

One morning as we were driving on snow packed roads I happened to look up into the trees we were passing through, and to my surprise, a Bald Eagle was sitting there. Three year ago when our home was starting to be built, we saw two Bald Eagles, one was sitting in the same group of trees. I wondered at the time with the explosion of home building in our area, if people would chase away these beautiful birds. They were not seen last year, and I feared they were gone.

We stoped the car and watched in amazement of this beautiful bird, hoping that he will come back often, as we enjoy his beauty. It is a wonderful feeling to think we have the privilege of seeing Bald Eagles in our neighborhood.

How was it made?...

I recently had a unique experience of flying on Southwest airline from Los Vegas Nevada to Salt Lake City Utah. I know allot of people fly all the time and it doesn't bother them. I thought I would be extremely nervous as its been many years since I have flown in a plane. And its along ways to fall down. However I chose a seat next to a window, and was surprised to see the front end of the jet motor just outside, and the wing in the seat in back of me. Saying goodbye to my family was fast, enough that it left my head swirling. Family's are no longer permitted to walk you to the gate, because of security.
A young lady sat in my row with a seat in between us. I asked her if she was ok, as she looked nervous or sick. she said she was fine and ask me if I would like to look at a magazine, Martha Stuart, or some smut! I thanked her, but I was more interested in watching out the window.

It was time to leave Los Vegas, and the pilot started to pressurise the plane. That made me feel real funny, almost a panic type feeling. As we raced down the runway, I thought about how these motors outside my window, had so much power that they could push a plane through the air, and fast enough for it to stay up.

I watched outside my window, and just couldn't get enough of the beauty I saw. We flew over Los Vegas, and headed for the desert areas. The clouds were stunning, all different levels and types, mixed with storm clouds to. I could see the lakes and how they spread out and how the rivers emptied into them. This was a holiday weekend, so all over the lake was a huge bunch of white dots with tails. All around this large lake was dry land. You could see patterns of how the land would wash away with rain. You could also see the rainbow color streaks of earth. I was amazed with the river that seemed to flow forever, and we seem to be following it. Everything seemed to be dry except where this river was. My guess that their was about a mile on each side of this river that was green. It would wind its way through the land like a snake, and in little pockets next to the river would be a small community. And close by would be 2 or 3 houses and beautiful farm lands laid out. then quite a ways down would be another small community, all snuggled in the bends of the river. Another thing of interest was this river also had allot of white dots with tails on it.

Flat land closer to Los Veges, had farm lands of green circles. I didn't count them, but I bet there might be close to 50 or so of them. Circles, half circles and a few squares.
I didn't hear the airline Stuart ask me what I would like to drink, because I was watching the rainbows in the clouds, and the shadow of the plane as we passed thick white clouds.
I thought to my self how the pilots have this privilege everyday, of seeing this beautiful world from this point of view. To be so high 30 thousand feet, and to look down and see things that one would not see unless they were here. As I watched the scenery below us, even the popcorn clouds, I wondered how all this was made? and what did Our Lord see, as all this was created.
I was also fascinated to see how people chose where they wanted to live.

The Pilot announced we would be making our decent, and we were about 91 miles from Salt Lake City. I had the feeling that we might see Tooele, and Grantsville and I wondered if I could see my house. I could see a letter on the mountain range a ways away. And a interesting pond looking water spot. I thought this can't be Tooele, for there is no mountain range seen in what would have been Grantsville, and the Great Salt Lake, is much larger, and doesn't come that far on the backside of Grantsville. As I looked harder to make out the letter on the mountain below, I discovered it to be a "Y". We were flying over Provo. The "Y" is for BYU. Provo is where I was born, the area I grew up in and knew very well.

I had never seen Provo, and Orem from this point of view......Utah lake, and all the area around it. I was surprised to see that the land between the mountain range and the lake was flat.
I could see Provo, Springville and even far south. We passed Orem, PG, Lehi, American Fork.
We flew on the west side of Utah Lake, I looked down and was amazed to see it almost filled with homes, where they did not exist anywhere before. There were 3 areas now being prepared for new homes to be built.

We followed the Jordon river flying north. I saw the Jordon River Temple right under me.
I looked over the valley of homes, every where. Homes on top of the point of the mountain, and on its side. Homes crammed into crevasses of mountains surrounding SLC. Homes as far as you could see.

I thought of all the people who lived in these homes, in a huge city. And I thought of the small communities, and farmers who chose not to live in a large city, but along the river. How each one is a child of Our Father in Heaven. And He knows where each one is, and knows that child, Hears his prayers and grants his blessings.

This was only a small part of this beautiful world, with many cities, and many rivers, and many children. He knows us all personally...He is our Father...He knows us by name, and He Loves us.
9-4-07

In a land of stone...

I am visiting a land where rocks burn black without any fire! As far as I can see, I look out across this desert, and see few bushes and small grasses and rocks across the land, darken as if they may have been in a fire. I even saw a retaining wall of round rocks all black on the top and light colored on the bottom where the rocks sit on the earth. It was very strange to see... The explanation was, the sun burns the rocks and plants because in this area there is very little rain, and the temperature easily reaches 120 degrees. For me this is hard to believe that rocks can burn, but I have seen it with my own eyes in Bullhead city, Ariz. 8-30-07