"Oh remember, remember . . . I urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God's kindness."

President Henry B. Eyring

Monday, August 24, 2009

Queen Bee


Saturday night we went to a gathering of funeral directors. (Ron sells pre-need funeral plans and property.) While there we got talking to an old friend and somehow got on the subject of bees. In Arizona where he was raised, his scoutmaster kept beehives. So, he acquired two of his own. In one of his hives the bees were so mean and aggressive that he could hardly work with them. His scoutmaster and mentor told him to remove and kill the ill tempered Queen Bee and order a new one which he did. After about a month with the new Queen, which is the lifespan of a bee, the bees became so calm and docile that he almost could have handled them without protection. He then paid his wife a wonderful compliment on the tone of love and cooperation she had set for their home, and we all agreed how important it is to be a leader and the effect of that leadership on everyone! I wish I had always been that good of an influence on those I lead and love, but this story of the cranky Queen will help me remember that "when Mamma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

Thespian Society

I woke with an interesting dream. I had formed a little thespian group for children and in my dream I was directing them. That was curious and it helped me remember that about twenty-five years ago I wrote and directed a play for our ward in Green Mountain, Colorado. I cannot even remember how it came about. (I must have opened my mouth at a Ward Council Meeting or something) I had certainly NEVER acted in, wrote, or directed a play before in my life! It was during the bicentennial of our nation. I had read several articles that moved me to my core. One was written in the Readers Digest and the other in the Ensign---all about the founding of this sacred nation and the writing of Constitution of the United States. My stage set was Constitution Hall, and the cast consisted of all men of course. In the back corners of the stage I incorporated scenes from the Book of Mormon and the Prophet Joseph Smith. Ron even played the part of a Nephite! He looked so good with his hairy legs showing! (Can you believe that I enticed my cute shy husband to do that!) Anyway, I just knew, I somehow knew how to spotlight those scenes, while dimming the lights on the frozen men in Philadelphia. Then they would come to life and the scenes of prophecy would black out, and so on, back and forth. It ended with a parade of cast members bursting in from the doors on either side of the cultural hall carrying the flag and singing "Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory of the Coming of The Lord!" The entire production was a testimony of Jesus Christ and the divine nature of this land, the founding of our nation, and the second coming of our Lord and Savior. It moved many to tears!

The curious thing is that I somehow KNEW how to pull all of this off. With absolutely no prior training or experience, yet it was somehow so familiar. As though I'd had that experience. I knew how to draw out the actors and get them to give me what I wanted. I knew what I wanted from lighting, and the costumes---well, there was a lady in our ward who had a stash of them including wigs. It was marvelous. I've never done anything like it since. I had literally forgotten that I ever had. It was one of the most exciting things I've ever done, and this mornings dream has me remembering the whole curious and remarkable thing. I remembered thinking at the time that surely I had participated in something similar in the life before and I had a strong feeling that I would do so again, but I'm quite certain it will be in the next life!

I've thought of all the things I haven't done (like design and build my own home, write another book, build furniture in my own woodworking shop, really learn to be a photographer, sculpt, paint, make a movie, etc., etc. etc.) and probably won't and can't do in this life, but each time I feel a twinge of regret, I am deeply assured that we have eons to live and enough time for all those things in the eternities.

You are all invited to the beautiful home I will someday build, which will be filled with sculpture and paintings and furniture that I have designed and built. (And you know Ron will stop running long enough for a party so he'll be there too!) Mostly I hope our home is filled with love! And, be sure and visit long enough to see my movies and plays!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Morning Poem

When I die, no "in lieu of" for me
Give me FLOWERS, in all their variety!

Bonnie H

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Grandma Rose


I don't know, maybe I'm obsessed with flowers. I can't seem to drink in enough of their beauty! Usually by this time of year though I'm tired of the garden, it's hot and I just maintain without the enthusiasm of early spring! But because I'm entertaining my daughter and her new husband next week, and inviting a few of our friends into our yard to celebrate with them, I've been continually working in the yard. I actually laid a bit of sod today! As I was trimming the roses I cut a few old ones to throw away, when I noticed how beautiful the older roses really are. At closer glance, though they are starting to wilt, they have a kind of beauty so different than the new healthy buds and the flowers in their perfect prime. They are softer somehow and they seem to open themselves up so wide, as though accepting the world, accepting their place in time, and inviting anyone willing, to listen to their wisdom, and bask in their serenity. They made me want to snuggle into their soft fragile bosom and find respite from the cares and demands of the world---soft, sweet, lovely Grandma Roses!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Morning Flowers!


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Beautiful Flowers - Beautiful Night



I wrote this post on July 29th and I'm finally publishing it tonight.

Today I bought some ragtag, leftover flowers at Walmart, and put them together in hanging baskets. I hung them in the empty space by our swimming pool where we had to remove a diseased tree and some shade flowers under the apple tree. They look so happy tonight. I had to visit them just before I went to bed. The night was warm and comforting and beautiful, and as I stepped outside I was greeted with the sweet scent of my huneysuckle and a loud chirping cricket! My little pots of leftover flowers looked so much happier than when I brought them home. I think the Miracle Grow is already reviving them! This week I have felt like the "leftover" flowers, but as I tended to the least of His flowers today, Heavenly Father worked His own loving, comforting miracle in my heart. I'm also grateful for dear friends who tenderly minister to me and love me! Thank You!

I took the pictures tonight. What a difference ten days of love has made to those "marked down" rescued flowers. Doesn't it make you want to sit on the lawn swing by the apple tree and talk into the warm night about wonderful things? Can you smell the honeysuckle, and hear the crickets!

How I love my Heavenly Father who gave us flowers to “gladden our heart!”