The gift of family

Before Christmas I mentioned that I really wanted new family "cousin" photo's.  It had been 5 years and Sierra is 2 and not in any photos.  Our sweet family made it happen.  McCalvy's came up from Cedar City UT.  Kristen made sure her girls could come up and Tucker made sure he could come.  We picked Sunday afternoon December 27.  Gil and I had gone driving to see if there was a spot with Bogus in the background but the weather didn't cooperate.  It was socked in with hoar frost everywhere.  We went to Eagle Island State Park by the equestrian barns instead.  What a cool place.  What great photos.

Snow glorious snow

We have had over a week of inversion and smog- so since I'm longing for sunshine and blue sky, I decided to put a few of my favorite snow photos up. These are from before.  Post written Jan 20 2009

Chilcoot Lake Trip

This was at the end. 3 six year olds with very dirty faces. As Stella says: "That's camping for you". It was a lot of fun.

 This quote has had a profound effect on me.  When my brother Glen was in the hospital getting his heart fixed, Nancy couldn't be with him because of covid restrictions.  I was puttering in our little garden and thinking about how our mom loved to work in the morning outside while it was cool and then I thought of Glen being alone and Nancy worrying about him. Then I realized that Glen isn't alone.  Mom and Dad are very aware of his situation  and I'm sure mom was right there beside him while he was there.  It was a very comforting thought. 

"Ask for Angels to HELP"

J. R . Holland

   "Can you imagine the effort it took these angels who pushed from the rear of handcarts. . . If angels can manage that, they can certainly help you and me over our present Rocky Ridges.  we know the Lord gets His work done with the help of His angels.  So could you use a little more help in your life? If so, keep your covenants with more exactness than ever before.  and then ask for Angels to help you with what ever you need.  Or ask for them to be dispached to help those you love." Wendy Watson Nelson, 2015 BYU womens conference.

Art by Clark Kelly Price

 

“How firm our foundation?  The foundation of this Church was forged long before the world was.  It is strong.  It is true.  It is eternal. The foundation of one’s individual faith, if anchored firmly to eternal truth, allows each of us to reach upward with an eternal perspective.  That faith will give hope when there is no hope.  It will give us joy here and eternal life hereafter.”  Russell M. Nelson Apr. 2002 GenConf.

May 3, 2020  I had a very special experience yesterday.  I belong to a facebook group called Worldwide Unified.  It evolved from the world wide fast when people of many faiths and countries joined in the fast and shared experiences.  It didn't end with the fast on Good Friday. People kept requesting prayers for many reasons.  Covid 10, Cancer, Auto accidents, suicide, faith.  They also put in their faith expeieriences and miracles.  I have tried to increase my prayers of faith, so when I would read one asking for prayers, I would stop and say a prayer right then.  But by the end of many little prayers I kind of felt like I was bothering God with one more request.  were my prayers rote? I really wanted to pray in faith but by the end of the day, I was skipping the details and saying a prayer in general.  Was that fulfilling the request for prayers.  Yesterday morning (May 2) I read a plea from a woman who is trying to turn her life around and wanted to make an appointment with her bishop and her husband was skeptical.  As I read this, I was filled with so much love for this woman.  I realized that this was what I was missing.  Love for the people I was praying for and Heavenly Father, Jesus love us with that incredible love.  It was so sweet to feel that love.  I felt that love for each post I read.  Gave a prayer of thanks and love.  Fast forward to this morning - my brother Glen is in the hospital (heart attack) Nancy took him in early this morning because he was having trouble breathing.  Yesterdays miracle for me, gave me so much love for my brother.  tears of love.  I am so grateful.   The following is an example of the tender posts. 

‎Nick Barratt‎ to Worldwide Unified

5 hrs · 

As we prepare to say goodbye to our loved ones who are been called home, We can often think that life is on fair and why is this happening to me?

As I was coming to terms with the passing of my sweetheart I had a prayer tomorrow God and it went something like this. Dear heavenly Father, I fully submit today I will whatever the outcome and i give unto you my wife, I know that you need a more than me even though now this is quite hard to understand I know that you understand the big picture and that as an angel on this earth she was needed home. I love you and accept your plan.

It wasn’t until after I accepted the will of God that miracles started to happen, my life is unbelievably blessed. I have my family my kids my God.

As my kids were saying goodbye to their mum, She gently whispered to them I love you as she was struggling to speak at this time. This was so tender and so sacred as her fleshy tabernacle clung onto life. 

I testify to you there is life after death I know this of myself independent of anybody else. As she was called home the angels rejoice and heavenly father said she’s home.

I know sometimes life can seem on fair, life can seem so hard and sometimes unrelenting, but if We put our faith in Christ, his tender mercies will rain down upon us and he will lift us to a place where we can live again, breathe again and enjoy and live to the measure of our creation.

I testify to you there is a plan for you, Centre your life around Christ and he will lift you to places where you never could have dreamed.

Have a great day ❤️

Dede N Mike Wright‎ to Worldwide Fast April 10

8 hrs · 

I have had a friend mock me because they didn’t see an immediate miracle happen after the worldwide fast. I know that our fast was accepted and I know that our prayers are being heard. I know that God will deliver us from this trial when the timing is right. We need to continue to have faith and to continue to pray.

I was pondering today and thought of Daniel in the lions den. God didn’t take Daniel out of the lions den right away did He? No. Why? Daniel was faithful, that’s why he was in the lions den—because he had faith that even if he did pray God would deliver him. Daniel had faith, and faith is supposed to produce results right? So why didn’t God take him out?

Because if God would have just taken Daniel out of the lions den—he wouldn’t have been able to have had the experience of being in the lions den and not being eaten. If God would have taken him out, Daniel would have known that, yes God does deliver us FROM difficulty, but he would not have learned that God also delivers us IN difficulty! Having God deliver us in difficulty requires more faith, more prayer, and more trust.

The loins in that den were ready to kill Daniel but they didn’t because Daniel had faith. In Daniel’s time of need, God sent an angel to hold back the lions—to deliver him IN the trial so he could grow, learn, and become. When morning came and they opened the lions den, there was Daniel with the lions without a scratch on him. Daniel had learned what he needed to from that experience and was then delivered FROM the lions den.

God hasn’t delivered us FROM the pandemic yet but He certainly is delivering us IN this pandemic. So instead of wishing to be out and focusing on the negative—look around and see God’s angels holding back your lions. When the timing is right God will deliver us FROM this, until then let’s remember He is delivering us IN this. ❤️