Have you ever wondered what it will be like when Jesus Christ comes back again?
Our Scarlett, age 8, drew a picture on how she thinks it will look.
You were in your jammies and all ready for bed, but I'm glad I got to see your beautiful picture.
Do you have a house from your past you dream about? I do.
I check on that house through the internet, now and then.
Still same owner who bought it from us 31 years ago.
Until two days ago, when I saw this....
It looked better when we lived there.
Lots of memories on that porch.
I need to explain first.
This video is old, with no sound. 37 years ago! So the quality is not the best.
Just a simple little day.
Can I also point out that Grandmas and Moms are different. I handed my baby over to the 5 year old. Grandmas don't do that.
Just hang in there while Brock and Logan are being themselves, and then notice how the music changes as soon as my Mom enters the picture. I didn't plan that or arrange it. It just happens. And rightfully so.
Trying to cover up Den's Christmas present that arrived the night before Halloween....
BYU football is a huge deal to Grandpa Dennis!
The game did not go well today. So our Montana grands were trying to cheer him up. (I think it worked!)
It happened on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago. While Den was still sleeping, I went to the family room and opened the slider to let fresh air in.
Problem is I forgot to turn off the house alarm first, so it went blaring! I hurried over to the panel to put our code in, but no matter how many times I tried, the alarm would not go off! This had never happened before.
Nothing would get rid of that very painful loud alarm. I tried as best I could to keep my fingers in my ears.
Den bolts awake, and he couldn’t get it to stop either. Soon our phone was ringing from the alarm company asking if we were okay. I said yes, but the alarm wouldn't quit (I was shouting into the phone so he could hear me above all the noise. Or maybe so I could hear myself.)
The alarm company soon connected me to a tech, Thomas, who sounded like he was from India.
While on the phone with Thomas the tech, I yelled to Dennis something about how I hoped we wouldn't be late to church. Thomas must have heard that, because about 10 min later when the alarm was finally silenced, this was our conversation:
Thomas: So do you go to church?
Me: Yes
T: Are you Catholic?
Me: No
T: You aren’t Catholic?
M: No. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
T: mmm (or some such sound)
M: Have you ever heard of our church?
T: No ...(pause...) So do you believe in Jesus Christ?’
M: Yes I do.
T: Is that the same God the Catholics believe in?
M: Yes
T: So it’s the same God Catholics believe in? (like he wanted to make sure he heard it right)
M: Yes it is
T: The same one...oh okay
I regret that I didn't ask, “So do you believe in Jesus Christ?”
I really blew it because it dropped right then, and we were back talking about my alarm.
It wasn’t until he got our alarm fixed and we were off the phone that I thought to myself,
WHY didn't I ask him about his beliefs?
Only looking back did I realize he wanted to talk about Jesus Christ. I could feel it. I would have loved that. My brain just does not process things as quickly as it use to, and especially not while under stress.
I think he wanted to talk about it. Perhaps he was searching as so many people are now.
So why am I bringing this up? Mostly for myself, so I will hopefully be more in tune next time this should happen. But also for you. People out there are hurting, and searching.
We all need Jesus Christ. He is our best friend, or He could be if we want Him to be. He is the Savior of the world.
You don't have to have any special prayers. Just talk to Him like he is sitting right there with you. If you are sincere, I promise He will be listening. Keep trying. Keep praying.
I can't tell Thomas. I will most likely never hear from him again. So I'm telling you. ❤️
“When love of Christ envelops our lives, we approach disagreements with meekness, patience, and kindness. We worry less about our own sensitivities and more about our neighbor’s. We seek to moderate and unify. We do not engage in “doubtful disputations,” judge those with whom we disagree, or try to cause them to stumble. Instead, we assume that those with whom we disagree are doing the best they can with the life experiences they have.”
-Dale G Renlund
1. Den and I enjoyed this documentary recently. Identical triplets adopted into 3 different families. None of the boys knew the others existed until they accidentally came together. Fascinated us both.
2. Our granddaughters, Scarlett and Annie are over 2 years apart, yet they are nearing the same size. McKenna says they get mistaken for twins.
So this story will make sense, I will start with my grandparents,
Earl and Lella Slinkard...
Casey and I have the same Great Great Grandparents, Solomon and Laura Slinkard.
Elizabeth is Casey's Great Grandma, and my Great Aunt.
The sister just under Elizabeth, is Ellen my Great Grandma.
And do you see Laura down a few years on that list?
She had quite the story that made headlines back in the day.
Casey's Great Grandma Elizabeth, (after the death of her first husband), with her new husband Mr W William Hughes, and her youngest daughter Henrietta.
Cousin Casey has an interesting website with lots of personal stories: Write Me Something Beautiful.
Meet my 3rd cousin Casey in this 10 minute film. It's about an incredible experience he went through shortly after the death of his son.
The Letter from Steven Date on Vimeo.
Our almost 10 year old grandson Grant, loves to draw. He's incredibly bright. He also has autism.
So often we don't know what's going on in his mind. But now that he draws, it's like opening up this huge surprise each time.
Drawing hair styles is one of his specialties.
But so far this one has been my most favorite of all!
I was a bit alarmed. To me, it looked like she was at a clinic or maybe ER. So I reached out to her and asked if she was okay....
I think our 5 year old Juliet had something very wise to say...especially at the very end.
Funerals are always hard, but especially those of a child.
I got to attend Charles Decker’s funeral yesterday through zoom. He was 12 years old and for the past 2 years has battled bone cancer. I’ve followed his mom’s blog since he was a toddler. He’s the oldest of 10 children.
It was so sweet and so sacred.
Towards the end of the service, their bishop spoke. He said he got permission of the family to share a story. One evening a few weeks ago he was with Charles and his parents. They were just talking about experiences and memories with Charles, who was totally asleep, eyes closed. His Dad was talking about how grateful they are for the Deacon's Quorum (which consists of boys ages 11-13 from their ward at church) How they went out of their way to be a friend and spend time with Charles and throw parties for him.
Right in the middle of this discussion Charles bolted up in bed eyes still closed, and he said, “They were always making special accommodations for me. They’re a good group.” Then he laid back down and was back to sleep. As the bishop was telling this story at the funeral he looked up at the audience and said, “Thank you Deacons.”
Their stake president also spoke. He said that having lived as long as he has, he realizes better the scripture, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and neither are your ways my ways,”
He went to explain "that there is great purpose in the things the Lord does, and He does it so we can learn how to love. That we can give of ourselves, and then we can replicate in a small way the way the Savior loved. The way He gave himself." He testified that, "Jesus is the Savior of the world. He taught us how to love and may we do so every day of our lives."
I share these from his mom's blog....
Just a little pre-graduating gathering for our DIL Amy.... Not everyday a Mom of 7 and a Grandma of 7, graduates from college. It was not ...
