Any LDS women with BC?

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited August 2012

    Raro, what a picture you just painted of all the county teachers in bleachers, cheering for themselves at a pep rally!  Seriously, though; we parents think teachers deserve a LOT of thanks, so I'm cheering for you, too :)  (And I hope you had a stadium seat to support your back!)

    I was making copies of Family Home Evening lessons on "faith" in our church library this morning while my daughter was in Seminary.  I'm teaching the Beehives tonight (12-13 yr-old girls) how  to present this lesson  to their families for one of their Personal Progress goals. While I was snooping around for more visual aids to use, I found an old Sunday meeting program with this quote from C.S. Lewis:

    "Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind.  In that case, nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking.  It is merely that when the atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reasons, to arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a byproduct, the sensaation I call thought.  But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true?  It's like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London.  But if I can' trust my own thinking, of course I can't  trust the  arguments leading to Atheism, and  therefore, have no reason to  be an Atheist, or anything else.  Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought: so  I can never use thought to disbelieve God." 

    Did you follow that?  He was quite the  scholar and  spiritualist, combined.  I'd like to find time to read more of his works.....in the next life? :)  I have a LONG list of things I'd like to read and do in the eternities!

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  • raro
    raro Member Posts: 1,092
    edited August 2012

    LOVE that quote! I read his Screwtape Letters, and of course the Narnia books. I can hardly read two sentences of "deep" stuff anymore, though. In the eternities, I intend to fully take advantage of having my brain back!



    I remember seeing an interview with the scholar Hugh Nibley, and he was asked about a near-death experience he had. He didn't want to talk much about it (said it was too sacred) but he did say that the one thing that really impressed him was that in the spirit, his mind was crystal clear. He could think and imagine things much quicker and deeper than in the mortal world. He said it really helped him when he got frustrated with his slowing mental processes, knowing that nothing is really lost. The Lord will restore our brains, our bodies, and everything that is "us." It's a comforting thought when I'm having a chemo-brain moment.



    And hey, our middle school won the award for "the most spirited school"! My head still hurts from all the screaming and cheering (I had no idea adults could cheer louder than kids!) but the principal - my horrible, wicked principal! - actually fetched a chair for me to sit on! I was shocked. :-)



    But I hope you'll keep me in your prayers for tomorrow...I'll be at school until 7 p.m. for open house. I will be falling asleep on my feet by the time I get home, sigh...and none of my students' families usually show up, anyway...



    My kids and I found a book "The LDS Family Hymnbook" and I have no idea where it came from. So we are going through it, one hymn at a time, and talking about the meanings of the words and such. Tonight was "Abide with Me, 'Tis Eventide" and I related it to my son's fear of the dark and of nightmares (he often has terrible nightmares). I showed him how the Lord will always "abide with us" not only in the day but when it's deepest night, as well. It was a tender mercy that we happened to do that hymn just on a night when he was feeling anxious...

    :-)

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    (Edited to retype the link) 

     So how did the open house go, raro?  Hope you stayed awake, and I really hope a parent or two showed up to make it worth your time.  And congrats on your school winning the spirit award--yay for yaying! :)  

    What a terrific thing to do--study the hymns with your kids and apply them in their lives.  I'm partial  to using hymn lyrics in my church talks and lessons if I'm teaching.  They're easier to memorize and  come to my mind, often quicker than scriptures.  I  think the Lord knew many of us would remember gospel principles better when put to music, so the use of hymns is a must for people like me!

    I'm teaching all the Young Women in church this Sunday.  I'm thinking about taking my laptop and playing a video from "mormonmessages.org."  We're helping the girls learn how to write their testimonies of the gospel and put them in a copy of the Book of Mormon to give to a friend or family member--someone they feel is ready to recieve it.  We're also helping them with ideas of how to give the books away and answer questions that might come.  I've been looking forward to this lesson for a long time. I love sharing the gospel! Anyway,  this is the video (sorry my server won't let me copy and paste anything when on BCO--gotta get that fixed!)  

    mormonmessages.org    (copy and paste, then click on the video "Sharing Your Beliefs"

     And I have breaking news: I just got a "loaner phone" from a friend for the next year so I can finally TEXT---Yes! (My old phone finally died.)  My 16 yr.-old daughter gave me a 5 minute "texting 101" last night, and I've been feeling SO good today to finally be able to get a hold of parents of my piano students, my married children, church people and sending "thinking of you" messages to those not feeling well.  It's great!!!!  I'm way behind in technology, but at least I'm getting on board with the texting generation.

    OK--so Ann Romney's speech made  me feel like I was listening  to a General Relief Society broadcast--SOOO inspiring! We can only hope she gets a chance to grace the White House. Can you just imagine the wonderful spirit she'll bring to that very special place?  Mitt's lucky to have such a wonderful eternal companion....and  he's a keeper, too :)

    Have a happy Labor Day weekend, everyone! 

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  • raro
    raro Member Posts: 1,092
    edited September 2012

    Gee, I wonder how the home and visiting teachers would like going to the White House to visit, hehe..



    You would think that I'd be all over the Romney thing, but I guess I've overdosed, so lately I've kind of tuned out. The Washington Post has about 1/2 of its front section devoted to the race, and everyone's opinions of every single thing they do...gah. There's a reason we often call it the Washington Compost, though...it's pretty left wing.

    Congrats on the texting! I've gotten texting down, but my daughter does twittering, and that I will likely never do. I just don't see the need. But texting has been very helpful at times.



    I had the open house, and although I was shaking by the end from sheer fatigue, I made it through. I almost didn't make it through the week, though...just teary and stressed and exhausted. But I had THREE 2-hour naps yesterday, so that tells you how stressed I was! I'm feeling a lot better.



    Our ward is doing a day of service at the end of the month. Apparently, it's a Virginia thing, so a lot of churches are involved. We're doing gathering of food for the food bank. The bishop said today that they had asked our ward to come up with something like 250 pounds of food, and he said that, knowing the size of our ward (500+) and the relative wealth (our county is in the top 10 of the country), he felt that the Savior would want us to contribute 10 times that much. It was a very inspiring talk. As poor as I am, I certainly have food to contribute! :-)

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    I wrote a long post 2 days ago and must've hit an odd key that deleted it--darn!  I'll try again and be more careful on this old, tempermental laptop ;) 

    Sunday was a wonderful day that I shared with someone unique and special.  She's the mother of one of my piano students and has been asking questions about the Mormon faith.  I wasn't sure if she was truly sincere when she said she wanted to come to church with me sometime--she's just so busy and working a lot on weekends.  She called me last Friday and asked what time our meeting started, totally surprising me.  How happy I was to meet her at church and take her to the various classes, introducing  her to my dear Diamond Bar "brothers and sisters" !  It was Fast and Testimony meeting, so she heard people of all ages bear sweet testimonies of our Savior and His gospel.  She even sang the hymns with my family and me and seemed  to enjoy it.  I could tell her heart was open as she absorbed everything that was said and done.  I think she was impressed that we have our young teen-aged men blessing and passing the sacrament.  She  has a son to whom she would like  to provide spiritual direction and responsibility, but  mostly good friends and religious leaders who will support and guide him through his tough teen years.  I know she was feeling the Spirit of  the Lord, telling  her she was in the  right place.  Anyway, it was a wonderful 3 hour experience with this dear lady who's become more than a client to me.  I'll be seeing her again this  Sunday, and this time, she'll be bringing her son and  daughter and possibly her husband.  One more thing--she  mentioned during Sunday School (Gospel Essentials class) how many times she'd seen the missionaries on bikes and wishing she had the courage to stop them and ask to be taught about the LDS (Mormon) church.  She told the class  that she wished missionaries would have knocked on her door because she needed them  to come to her since she was shy and insecure.  Wow!  Missionaries would LOVE finding more people like her, ready to hear their message of the restored gospel!

    Going along  with this missionary theme, the class I taught last week to the Young Women about writing their testimony in a copy of the Book  of Mormon and giving  it to someone went really well.  They're great kids and want to do good in this world.  I hope they use their faith and find the courage to share this precious book with a friend.  How  perfect it was that I had someone there (although she was in the Relief Society meeting at that time), waiting for a copy of  the Book of Mormon and ready to hear the testimonies of members of our church!  It couldn't have  been timed better :) I'm trying to live what I teach, so I got another  copy of the Book of  Mormon, wrote a brief testimony and note in it to my hairdresser, Melissa, and  gave it to her yesterday.  She was very sweet about it and  said she'd read the things I'd highlighted and marked for her ( 1st, 3rd and 8th paragraphs in the introduction, 3 Nephi 11:1-26 describing Christ's visit to  the Americas after His resurrection, and Moroni 10: 3-5 explaining how to ask the Lord in prayer if the book is  true). Melissa told me that she originally thought that the LDS church was odd and not Christian, but when she got to  know my LDS friend, Gloria, who was her client before I was, she said her opinion changed.  Melissa knew that Gloria was an intelligent, gentle and kind person that expressed love for God and famiy, and that example softened her  heart regarding the LDS church.  I have a special connection with  Gloria besides being LDS.  She and I were diagnosed with BC the same day, but she was stage 4 with mets to lung and brain and triple neg. I miss her a lot, but I know how happy she must be, watching her family that was distant and not speaking to each other pull together with her diagnosis and take care of her.  I'm still in touch with Gloria's son, her sister and nieces. They miss her a lot, but I'm sure they're much happier to be connected again to each other.  I honestly believe that Gloria would suffer through BC again if she knew it would cause her family to reunite.  Sometimes it takes terrible trials to humble us, forgive one another  and bring out the better in us.

    Raro--I'm SO glad you made it through the open house, even though it took every bit of energy you had left.  I'm sorry it was so exhausting, but glad that you got lots of  naps that weekend--yay for naps! I've been kind of burned out on the election/convention  stuff, too, but I'm enjoying the fact that people are getting yet another  chance to take a look at the LDS church and how it centers on Christ and serving others.  I hope more good is done because of this election, informing and clarifying what we believe.

    I'll be teaching my daughter how to make bread tomorrow to use for the sacrament. This is for one  of  her goals in her Young Women Personal Progress.  I hope I can stay out of it and not cover half a loaf with butter and strawberry freezer jam all for myself!

    Have a great weekend, and please share your news, everyone :) 

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  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Member Posts: 846
    edited September 2012

    Hi - Joanne just let me know about this board - so nice to have.  I'm not on here too much.  I live in Utah - I notice none of you ladies are from Utah - maybe some will find this board.  I was diagnoised in January of 2010 (age 49) with ALH - I chose to have nipple sparing PBMX instead of constant monitoring and taking Tamoxifen.  So although I don't have cancer I was at a 40% risk because of strong family history.  I have been very happy with the whole process.

    Jump to August 2012 - one of my best friends that is as healthy as can be got diagnoised with bc at age 58.  She is still in the process of figuring out if she will have lumpectomy or mascetomies.  Her cancer is stage 1, grade 3 - so they think she will have to do chemo.  She is LDS so please keep her in your prayers. 

    Hugs to all of you and thanks for starting this!

    Valerie

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    Welcome, Valerie!  We're glad to hear your surgeries and outcome went well.  Looks like you're helping others, especially your friend who's been recently dx.  She's welcome here, too, and I'm sure would receive lots of support and advice/experience from all the wonderul women on BCO.  We'll keep her in our prayers.

    Last night I went shopping at Trader Joe's--a great store that deals with a lot of organic foods.  I was feeling overwhelmed, looking at the prices of the organic produce, cereals, etc., and wondering how I'll afford this change in my food budget.  It was also a bitter/sweet weekend since it was my cancerversary.  Anyway, I was deep in thought when all of a sudden a woman came up to me and told me how much she loved my hair--wow!  I haven't had a compliment on my hair by anyone (who didn't know that I had cancer) in a long time.  She told me how lucky I was to have such thick, healthy looking hair, so I told her what I went through to get it :)  We talked about the importance and necessity of trials in life to test us and help us grow closer to God.  I told her how much her compliment meant to me, especially at that moment when I was feeling a little blue.  Her eyes filled with tears as she told me that she had been a care-giver to aged parents--never married or had children--and felt lost since they recently passed away.  She went to Mass just before coming to the store and prayed that she would be led to someone in need of an uplifting word.  Selfishly, I believe she was led to the right person :)  This sweet woman said how she loved finding common beliefs within differing faiths and how wonderful it is to focus on them instead of the differences.  I agreed with her and thanked her for having such a kind and open-hearted attitude.  

    We hugged and parted since the store was closed (and we were the last ones there!). I got in my car and silently prayed that this woman would find her place in life, continuing to serve others, and would be blessed with everything she needed to live a long and happy life.  I may never see her again in mortality, but I hope to see her again on the other side.  I have a lot more things I'd like to share with her :) 

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    OMGoodness, Ray!  I'm sorry I didn't see your post (I left mine for a few hours and just finished it).  I can't believe what you've been through, and I offer my sincere condolences about losing the baby.  My heart goes out to you and your husband.  You have a big decision to make about chemo.  I wish I had some solid advice and experience, but my stats are different with a positive node and suspected vascular invasion.  I needed chemo and Herceptin--no question about it.  I hope you've had a priesthood blessing (maybe more than one?) to give you comfort and help guide you in the right direction.  You know the routine--make a choice, pray if it's right, and the Lord will let you know if it's the best decision through the power of the Holy Ghost.  I was in a slightly similar situation with deciding whether I should do chemo with Herceptin.  I never had such a strong feeling in my life, nor such a strong "voice" in my head that gave me the answer.  I was wavering in my original decision, which I'd prayed about, but that voice brought me back to the correct path that was right for me.  

    You're in my prayers, Ray, and please stay in touch.  Blessings of comfort and a clear mind to you and your husband! 

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  • mcbird
    mcbird Member Posts: 381
    edited September 2012

    Hello all, I too am LDS and I live in the Albuq, NM area.  I was dx with mets in 09 and was told to go home and get my affairs in order but Heavenly Father has his own timetable and I am still here over three years later.  I have had many blessings from the Priesthood in our ward and I am very grateful for them.

    Firscall, one of the Brothers in my ward was dx with BC before I was.  He was my Home Teacher at the time, he has been through the wringer as well but is doing fine at this time.  Hugs and blessings to all.  Darla

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    Hi, Darla!  Glad you found us and shared your story.  I think that's pretty unique to have a Home Teacher with BC--wow!  It's good to hear that both of you are hanging in there and doing well.  I imagine you have a special bond :)

    I'm going to take a chance and play the "do you know" game we LDS tend to play....so...do you know Kathryn and Mark Mattox who used to live in Albuquerque?  They've since moved to Alexandria, Virginia, but lived in NM for a few years.  He's retired military, but took a position in DC.  It would be a fun coincidence if you knew them.  They both were in the Israel semester abroad program with me in 1978 and ended up getting married years later.  

    Thanks, again, for joining our group.  Looking  forward to hearing more from you! 

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  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Member Posts: 846
    edited September 2012

    Ray - so sorry to hear about losing the baby :( - that is soooo hard and you are so young.  Hang in there - and we will all be praying for you. 

    Joanne - loved hearing about your experience.

    Darla - it's good to hear you are doing well - hope you continue to do so.

    Hugs, Valerie

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    Glad you liked the experience I shared, Valerie--thanks :)

    Here's a wonderful video some of you may have seen already.  It's the first of a 3 part series from "Mormon Messages."  I just love the way it attributes the good people are inclined to do because of the light of Christ that's in each of us.  

     http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages

    My daughter received a bookmark at Girls' Camp this year with a quote from Pres. Uchdorf.  I  think it's worth posting here since we have been or are going  through some tough adversity with BC.

    "Adversity teaches us things we cannot learn, otherwise.  Adversity helps to develop a depth  of character that comes in no other way.  Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012
    Have you ever opened your scriptures and used them, literally, to help your child/teen solve a problem (or ARE the problem ;)?  I've heard about parents who are able to do this and I'm impressed.  I think involving the scriptures (if done in a humble, caring way) invites the spirit in the home when there is anger, confusion, hurt feelings, etc.  3 of my children are married and have their own families, and one son is attending college, but I still have a 16 yr-old daughter at home that I need to watch over and lead in the right direction.  The next time there's an "issue" or some drama at home (like every other day!), I think  I'll use that wonderful Topical Guide in our bible and find some scriptures that may help in a needed teaching moment.  Maybe it will help me calm down, too, and learn something along with my daughter.  And hey--our kids can argue with us as their parents, but how can they argue with the holy word of God? Smile
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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    Happy Friday to All!

    It's looking like a good weekend ahead for my family and me.  Hope it's the same for you.   Tomorrow I'll be going to the temple in Redlands, early in the morning, with members of my ward.  My sweet aunt in Utah gave me some family names for my temple trip, so this time it will be extra special.  I'm also looking forward to having lunch with a neighbor of mine that I dearly love.  She and I are opposite in our political offiliation, but we get along well and love to catch up at our sentimental spot from our kid-raising days: Burger King--ha!  I can't believe how we still like to eat there, just for old times' sake :) I'm also looking forward to Sunday--a day of rest from our temporal labors.  I love meeting with the members of my ward and getting my  spiritual battery recharged for the rest of the  week.  Oh, how I need that!

    I'd like to bring up a subject for my LDS friends on this board: please remember how much our actions and words can influence others about our faith.   

    Recently, I was accused of reporting someone about their disparaging post about Mormons. I had read the post and decided to send a polite "clarification" PM to her, but this caused her to believe I had reported her, which I did not.  It's unfortunate--the timing--because I happened to PM her near the time she was reported and resticted, which caused her  much grief.  I learned a lesson from this, and that's that my words, printed, always need to be respectful and without malice. Luckily, I said a quick prayer before sending her the PM (because I was pretty upset after reading the post) and asked for help in knowing what to write.  I felt good about it, but wish it had been received in a better spirit.  It's sad, but also wonderful at the same time because I was able to get rid of my hurt feelings this morning after a long talk with the Lord.  I actually found myself mentioning this BCO sister by name in my prayer, asking that she receive peace, comfort and a softened heart about the LDS faith.  I believe it's possible that she was very hurt in the past by some LDS people, which is very unfortunate.  Mormons aren't perfect and don't have a corner on the market for Christian behavior.  I just hope she will  forgive whom ever or what ever for what was done that was negative.

    I know how much we LDS are being watched, which is not to sound vain; it's just that we're a peculiar group that is  growing larger and more discussed in the public square.  I hope and pray all of us are able to live our faith in all we say and do, following Christ's example, and look to Him for help when we're tempted to do otherwise.  I  find myself doing more and more repenting in my night time prayers, hoping I'll get another chance to do better the next day :) 

    Love and blessings, unmeasured, to all our BC sisters! 

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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited September 2012

    I hope everyone is having a nice Sunday.   A little over a week ago, I had an outbreak of shingles on my right arm, which is the arm affected by my surgeries.  It was a major outbreak, but I started the medication very promptly and it has subsided.  I think that the chemo set the stage for having this happen, and I'm glad to have medications for it.  

    Also this week, we received a call from Salt Lake.  My son has a mission call to Brazil and was scheduled to leave on Nov 27.  They called to say that his visa went through ahead of schedule, and asked if he wanted to go sooner.  So Oct 16 it is.  6 weeks earlier, which is one transfer.  I look forward to having him in the mission field.  He is very ready and excited to go. 

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    Sorry to hear about your shingles, Dr. Firstcall--dang it!  But you're lucky you took the meds early on and beat it.  I hear the pain can be excruciating!  Hope you dodged the worst.  My 82  yr-old friend in my ward just  got over shingles.  She had it for 5 months and really didn't think she'd get past it.  She's stubborn and wouldn't take the meds for more than a few days because she didn't think it was working.  I guess that's why it hit her so hard--not taking the full course of meds?  Anyway, it was good to see her at church today, and I'm glad you lived to tell your shingles tale. too.  Best to your son on his mission adventure.  You know he'll come back a changed young man for  the better...and  maybe develop a thing for samba music ;)

    OK--for all you LDS readers, here's a little funny from our High Councilman's talk in Sacrament meeting:  

    "My young son looks forward to being ordained a Deacon and passing the sacrament when he's 12.  He told my wife the other day that in just a few more years, he would be ordained to the "Organic Priesthood." Too cute! Well, I guess you could  say the Aaronic Priesthood he was referring to is simple, non-synthetic, healthful and contains no chemicals ;) 

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  • vmudrow
    vmudrow Member Posts: 846
    edited September 2012

    It was a busy weekend - my tennis team from Utah went to Boise to compete in the Intermountain Sectional tournament - we played Idaho, Montana, Colorado and Nevada.  Each team brought little gifts for the other teams - Nevada brought dice, and for Utah we brought green jello (with a recipe) - everyone thought our gift was perfect.  Anyway we actually ended up winning Intermountain and now move on to Sectionals at Indian Wells in October.  We drove home from Boise just in time to get to church and see the dedication of the Brigham City Temple - it was very special.  Boyd K. Packer spoke and he has quite the sense of humor.  Anyway it was a great weekend!

    I have had shingles - they are miserable - hope you get over them soon :(

    Congrats on the mission call to Brazil - I think he will love it!!

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  • TallM
    TallM Member Posts: 1,596
    edited September 2012

    Hi all & thanks Joanne for bringing me back to BC:) It's been a while since I've posted anything to BC. I enjoyed reading the post & know how strong all of you are. Some journeys you have been through. Ray-I can't imagine:o



    I thought I'd say a quick hi & hope the week goes well for everyone & stays on the right track. Life definitely takes twist & turns that we are unable to plan on & know which way they will lead. But with strength from above & those around us the impossible becomes possible.



    Everyone has an expectation date with some lasting longer than others. With the love and support of those around us we are granted a gift with each new day, each new hour and each minute. For each second I'm grateful, lucky & bleast.



    Have a great week & I'll try to look in more often. When I was first diagnose last October, this site was a big help & strength. I'm finding I can use a little more right now:) I lost a dear friend last week who fought bravely for 10 years with 3 different types of cancer at 3 different times. She is still a strength to me & many others & will continue to be. Take care & keep fighting.

    -Malinda. xxx

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  • TallM
    TallM Member Posts: 1,596
    edited September 2012

    Ray totally agree with you. Everything is on the Lords time. Ya my diagnosis kind of stinks but I try not to think about that. The Drs have been amazed w/my progress & have actually said its divine intervention. My last MRI showed no sign of the cancer in my brain. It was just gone. And in my body on exam there's no evidence. The onc says I'm essentially in remission! I'm still doing chemo, Herceptin but miracles are taking place:)



    One of the keys is just to keep going. Left foot right foot:) Have a great weekend everyone. I'm headed to the Yellowstone area to take in the beauty up there:)

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  • TallM
    TallM Member Posts: 1,596
    edited September 2012

    Thanks! I'm excited too:-D



    It's amazing how many don't believe in 'a god.' I think when someone goes through cancer or a crisis in life they have a change of heart. I'm not for sure about that but I've heard stories. For example when someone goes to war they find God fast. Esp if the situation is front lines criticle.



    Thank goodness I believe because it sure makes this journey a lot easier & I can feel the comfort & peace everyday. The poem footprints comes to mind often & I feel the Lord carrying me a lot of the way.

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  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited September 2012

    Amen!

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  • TallM
    TallM Member Posts: 1,596
    edited September 2012

    I love that there's a 'footprintsangel' here. Sweet! Thanks!

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    Yep--our "foots" is a special angel lady on BCO.  We're thankful  for  her and the good spirit she  brings to the board :)

    Congrats on your tennis  match,  Valerie--way to go!  Love the green jello as a prize from the Utah team--clever.  Did you include grated carrots?  My Utahn mom's favorite added ingredient, plus some pineapple. Glad you made it for the temple dedication, too.  Such a wonderful weekend you had!

    Thanks  for posting  about  your belief in God, Ray and TallM.  I love reading posts like  yours; full of faith, hope and love of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus  Christ. 

    I had a very tough day, but I'm happy to report that when I was teaching some piano students this afternoon and listened to them playing the hymns they'd chosen to learn, "Our Savior's Love" and "Love at Home," it just warmed my heart and gave my spirit the lift it really needed. It's wonderful  how the hymns of the church have  the ability to bring us peace and chase the clouds away.  

    To  all our LDS readers: Remember the General  Relief Society Broadcast is tomorrow night--don't miss it! It will be a spiritual feast to hear our General  RS presidency speak and members of the First Presidency, too.  I LOVE General Conference meetings! :)

    Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and tell us how your Yellowstone trip went, TallM! ~ 

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  • raro
    raro Member Posts: 1,092
    edited September 2012

    Well, here in Virginia, we are having a Day of Service. The governor declared Saturday, Sept 29th to be a day of service, and for months our stake has been planning all sorts of things. Each ward came up with ideas for service. Our ward is assembling hygiene kits, but other wards are doing some really nice things like blankets for hospital patients and food for the shelters. We have been asked to donate 500 pounds of food by the stake president, but our bishop commented to the ward that our ward alone could and should donate 3 times that much. Since our ward is pretty wealthy (aside from me, that is, hehe) I will be interested to know how much we donate. I like days of service like this, especially before general conference, because it puts us in a more humble and spiritual mood.

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  • TallM
    TallM Member Posts: 1,596
    edited September 2012

    Joanne-I'm sorry you had a bad day! I don't like those days. Hopefully it is better & brighter today. I guess we need the bad times to make the good ones even sweeter:) I'm glad the hymns were able to lift you up. They have many great messages & such power.



    I'm in Jackson Hole now & heading to Rockefeller lodge, Jenny's Lake area & the back side of the Tetons. Then onto the west gate leading to west Yellowstone.



    The colors & scenery have been beautiful w/perfect weather. We just ate at the Merry Piglett a yummy Mexican restaurant next to the bunnery (another yummy place). Both are off of the town square with all the antlers:)



    Then went for a brief look at the beautiful art galleries. Now off to the rest of the journey.



    I hope everyone feels good this weekend & is able to enjoy it. xxx

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited September 2012

    What sweeties all  of you are!  Thanks for making my day brighter with your wonderful posts of concern for my crummy day, for each other, and your sharing goodness.  I'm glad we can share struggles, too, and know that we can count on each other for a listening ear (reading eye? ;) and a soft shoulder if it's especially troubling. 

    What a fabulous trip you're taking, TallM!  I think we're all feeling like we're on the journey with you as you describe the lovely visual and delicious details.  Please keep it up and share more!   

    I'm on to thrift store shopping with  my daughter today.  She's hunting for big, bulky, patterned men's sweaters (circa 80's) for her Fall wardrobe.  Can you believe that style may be back?  I'm curious to see what her taste is, and it better be half off!

    It's my husband's 58th birthday, and he's being a very good sport, waiting to celebrate it later in the week so I can be with my LDS sisters at the RS broadcast tonight (dinner at  the stk ctr, first).  I'll make it up to him :)

    Love you ladies! 

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  • TallM
    TallM Member Posts: 1,596
    edited September 2012

    Agreed Ray. Theres no way I could make this journey with out the help from above. It would be almost if not impossible. I too love modern technology:)



    Thanks Joanne for the reminder about the RS broadcast. It was great & I enjoyed the music too. "I need thee every hour." So perfect. It humbled me.



    Off to see the elk in Yellowstone @ mammoth today. They like to hang out there in the fall. Saw a few animals y-day, bison, elk, birds. Not a whole lot this time, but it's always beautiful.



    Have a great Sunday everyone.

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited October 2012

    Hello, lovely sisters!

    Hope you all had a restful Sabbath.  I'm happy to read your posts about the Relief Society broadcast.  It was wonderful, wasn't it?  I agree, TallM--the women's choir was beautiful!  I loved each talk by our new RS General Presidency, and Pres. Eyring always touches my heart with his tender words. 

    When Pres. Burton gave her talk I wrote just a few notes, and this one stood out the most: "All that is unfair in life will be made right through the atonement (of Jesus Christ)."  So many things seem unfair and we long to have things made "right" in our lives.  It's comforting to  know  that the atonement allows this to happen.  

    Ray--I was thinking about your concern re difficulties being placed on anyone, especially the Lord.  You're just too sweet not to  want to burden anyone :)...but it's OK--our Savior has felt every sorrow, sin and physical pain we've experienced.  This  is why it's natural for us to cast our burdens upon him--he's  already felt them and knows how to comfort us while we're in the  midst of them.  Here's a quote from Sister Reeves' talk I copied from the Deseret News:

    Individuals must turn to the Lord for strength and comfort when they are weighed down by the anguish, sin, adversity and pains of life. "He has not forgotten you," she said. "Whatever sin or weakness or pain or struggle or trial you are going through, he knows and understands those very moments. He loves you. And he will carry you through those moments."

    Remember that story Sis. Burton told about the woman falling  into the  pit and crying for help?  Someone eventually heard her cries and lowered a ladder.  Then she retold the story, using the Savior as the one who lowered the ladder, but he also descended down into the pit and lovingly showed her how to use the ladder to climb out. I really loved this analogy.

    Here's the Deseret News link for a synopsis of the broadcast talks:

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765608071/More-than-20000-women-gather-for-LDS-Churchs-General-Relief-Society-Meeting.html?pg=2 

    If you'd like to see a picture of the new Relief Society General Presidency, here's a link:

    http://www.lds.org/church/events/general-relief-society-meeting-to-be-held-september-29-2012?lang=eng 

    I think the broadcast is available on LDS.org if you want to hear it.

    Have a good week, everyone, and I look forward to reading more from all of you! 

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  • TallM
    TallM Member Posts: 1,596
    edited October 2012

    Joanne-perfectly said. Thanks for the references too. Love reading your post.



    Ray-I somewhat know how you feel. Not wanting people to know. It makes it more real & you want to feel "normal" as long as possible. I may be way off. At some point you may find strength from those around you & I bet you are loved by many.



    Thank goodness for the attonment. He will lift us up & cary us through. He wants us to surrender our souls to Him. Sometimes He's the only one that understands.



    Have a great day everyone. It's a beautiful day for a beautiful start of the week. Live, Laugh, Love. Enjoy everyone. xxx

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  • Joanne58
    Joanne58 Member Posts: 1,117
    edited October 2012

    Ray, I'm SOOO green-eyed right now about your cool weather and a nap on the backyard swing!  Sounds heavenly.  We're  having the opposite of "heavenly," with 102 degree weather and I'm about to leave my house and walk in it, anyway--ugh!  Enjoy your much deserved rest outside and try not to think of your poor ol' sweating to death California pal too much ;)

    TallM - Do you feel refreshed from your trip?  I'm assuming you went with your folks, and I'm wondering how they are, too.  Please give them my best.  I also wanted your input on teaching an 8 yr-old Autistic boy piano lessons.  I've only met him once and the mother is very hopeful that I'll be able to handle him.  He goes to a special school, so  he isn't mainstreamed.  I have a few students with ADHD and they're a challenge to keep focused, but Autism is something I haven't dealt with in teaching piano.  Any advice would be great!

    Sunday I was with the youth during the 3rd hr of church to hear a young couple's presentation on dating.  It was fabulous!  This new couple in our ward related well to the  youth and used a fun video for presenting the principle of "worth waiting for"--remaining chaste and  saving yourself for marriage.  It's a bit  long, but SO worth watching, especially seeing the children's faces at the end.  Some of these kids are pretty entertaining to watch.  The boys that discover the microphone are adorable :)  Enjoy!

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR9UWj1q304

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