Jan's father has been having serious heart issues.  He has received medical attention including hospital procedures, Rx and tender loving care from his wife.  Although blood flow to the heart has been restored he is not thriving.  It is disconcerting to know that he is suffering.  On top of his health problems he is afraid to die.  Isn't that an awful combination?  Dean does not believe in God.  He   thinks that death is obliteration.  Pain and Suffering and Fear.  I feel so sorry for him. If I believed what he believes I would be terrified too.

Jan and I would like to ask you to pray for him and for his wife Johnny. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the car John and Lura were in.  Isn't it just awful?

 Sweet Lura is asking for our prayers too.  She has more broken ribs than any doctor at the Regional hospital have ever seen on a person that was still alive.  Her situation is very sensitive.  Early tomorrow morning the daily chest X-ray will disclose if there is too much fluid which will necessitate an extremely painful procedure in which a tube will be inserted to her lungs to drain them.  Lura plans on hiding so they can't find her.  I don't blame her. 

Lura Dear

I was fortunate to speak to Lura a few times yesterday.  Although she has pondered whether surviving this accident was a blessing or not  she is in good humor.  Several times she said things that caused her to laugh-which hurts terribly.  So her laugh is a soft "MmmMmmMmm".  Maybe I should send her some M&M's!  

She is not allowed to eat anything.  So, no M&M's for awhile.

Today Lura will be offered the Sacrament (what a great hospital to be in).

She's been told that the morsel of bread is to be taken to her lips but not eaten.

I will be thinking of Lura today as I partake of the Sacrament.  

The opportunity to Remember and Renew covenants made with God each week is such a blessing.  

Who would I be if I didn't take time each Sabbath day to express gratitude to my Savior for all that He has done for me? 
Who would I be if I wasn't reminded constantly of the promises I have made to Him to always Remember Him, keep His commandments, and to take His name upon me?

I will be Grateful today as I partake.

Sending Prayers and Blessings to dear friends John and Lura who were in a terrible traffic accident last night. 

Updates on their condition can be found on her blog http://grammysnews.blogspot.com/

Shoka

This weekend Craig and I attended inspiring meetings at church.
Sis. Flora Morgan, temple matron,  told of living in Japan when she was a young adult.  Unable to speak many Japanese words she boldly took a floral arrangement class specializing in the ancient style of Shoka.  The instructor was able to communicate with her, regardless of the language barrier, that the end result was to appear as though the floral ingredients were one.  Three varieties are combined to appear as 'one' and fit snugly in a triangular holder within the vase.

One lesson  Flora was given a large branch to include in the arrangement.  There was no way it would fit in the holder.  The teacher assured her it could be done.  Flora took the branch home to cut it with a saw!  A beautiful stem of flowers required all the blossoms to be shed save one.  It seemed such a waste to discard beautiful flowers.
 The end result appeared to be a single flower on a branch with another leaf as though they had grown together in perfection.  Three ingredients in a triangular shape reaching for the sun as though they had grown together.  Beautiful. Majestic. Simple.

She made an analogy between the Shoka arrangement and our lives.  There are many good, worthy and even beautiful opportunities to choose from in life.  But, for us to live worthily of God's greatest blessings we need to focus on those things that are central.    That may require discarding those things that are not as important to make time for the most important.  She, urged that we make time for the temple.

Going to the temple each week is one of the great parts of my life.  It is difficult to put into words the feelings of my heart regarding temple attendance.  I will try:

Appreciation for the Beautiful

Being filled with Peace no matter the storm

Feeling Loved

Feeling Loving

Confidence in God

Hope in His Promises

Increased Faith

Strength of Soul

Renewal of Vision

Refinement of Character 

Desire for Godly things

These are a few of the things that I experience in the temple.

When it comes to decorating the house my favorite motto has been

"A little too much is just about right."  

That is not a good motto for life.

 Simplicity IS beautiful.  

I will endeavor to make my life "Shoka" so that I can be "one" with God.

 

This beautiful "Mr. Lincoln" rose is from our garden.  It measures 7" across.  The fragrance is divine. A beautiful rose.  A gift from Heavenly Father.  One of the nearly infinite number of wonderful  creations he has placed on this earth for the "benefit of man as well as to please the eye and gladden the heart. "

Little things (if I durst to use such a term) such as this beautiful rose, the song of a bird, a peaceful heart, a cupboard of food, a quiet neighborhood, a husband in the next room listening to majestic music cause me to Rejoice.

A million times a day comparisons are displayed in my mind between my sweet life and the life of a Terrified, Traumatized, Homeless Japanese citizen.

I pray that an abundance of supplies and rescuers will save all.

Most of all I pray that each affected person will, from the depths of their soul, cry out to their Maker for divine assistance.  No matter the situation peace and miracles are possible through Him.

A modern day Apostle has said,

"it is through faith that miracles are wrought."

Generally, those miracles will not be physical demonstrations of God's power-parting the Red Sea, raising of the dead, breaking down prison walls, or the appearance of heavenly messengers. By design, most miracles are spiritual demonstrations of God's power-

tender mercies gently bestowed through
impressions,
ideas,
feelings of assurance,
solutions to problems,
strength to meet challenges,
and comfort to bear disappointments
and sorrow.

These miracles come to us as we endure what the scriptures call a 'trial of [our] faith."

Elder Robert D. Hales, Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets
October 2007

May they, in their trial, exert faith.

I woke up this morning with thoughts of what should I do today?  After morning prayer I created a list of possible ideas, some pressing others optional.  Top of the list was emergency preparations, which has become a favorite activity of Craig’s and mine for over a two years (since the election day of Pres. Obama aka The Elected Enemy, as I dubbed him that fatal day).  LahDeeDah I was feeling warm and cozy in my comfy chair. 

Later, Sitting at the computer to begin writing in my journal I saw the news announcement that Japan has been hit by a huge tsunami caused by the largest earthquake ever recorded-8.9.   Yahoo news offered 101 photos of the devastation.  Waves of 23 feet have been recorded.  The death toll will be enormous.  The loss of power, transportation, housing, business, food, will be staggering.

Craig and I resolved that tonight we will go on a date to Lowe’s and Costco to add to our stash.  Meanwhile we offer prayers in behalf of our Japanese brothers and sisters.

We are ready to go out the door to the concert-looking forward to a night of beautiful music.

Kathy, Janet (with 2 of her granddaughters), and their little sister Mimi (who has taken the place of retired DeeDee and Peggy) graciously posed for photos and autographs after the performance.

The concert was a wonderful mix of lovely old time songs and family raconteurs.  Although there were only 2 originals it seemed just as if you were listening to the foursome. 

They were given the slowest standing ovation we have ever been a part of.  Could it have been that getting up swiftly from a sitting position is just a little too hard for the grey-haired fans?

We went away with smiling faces and a 3 disk CD set.

Going to a Concert

Craig and I are going to the Lennon Sister concert this weekend.  

Are you a fan?

Remember the Lawrence Welk show?
Remember the Andy Williams show?
Ahh. Those were the days of music.  

Those were the days of T.V.

Smile :)