The Third Floor

As I was getting on the elevator on the first floor this morning at the temple, I shared the ride with one of our older temple workers, a man in his mid to late eighties, who graciously ushered me on first and then asked if I was going up or down. I said I was going up and he said that he was going down, but that he felt he was almost ready to go to the third floor.

I looked at him thinking he was a little confused, and I said, "But the second floor is as high as our temple goes." He lifted his stooped shoulders a little higher and grinned up at me with his beautiful wrinkled face and chuckled, "Well, I'm aiming for much higher, but I suppose I'll have to start on the third floor!"

I laughed with him as I got his joke, and I've thought about his comment most of today. This wonderful righteous man really is ready to go "to the third floor" anytime the Lord calls him home! I thought about "going home" today as I helped with the funeral luncheon for my neighbor's mother who peacefully slipped away Tuesday night. She was a darling little woman with ahlziemer's, who my neighbor and dear friend lovingly brought to her home, and tenderly cared for with such love these last few years.

Debbie posted this on her facebook page: "My mom woke up yesterday evening and we had a delightful time talking to her about all the people she was seeing who had come to "take her home.". She didn't want to be in her jammies with all of them here so we got her all dressed and combed her hair, etc."

Another time when the doorbell rang, her Mom said, "Oh good, maybe they are here to take me home," and she wanted Debbie to help her pack her bags. I thought about Sister Pierce today and smiled to think she wasn't just put on an elevator, but was lovingly escorted to the "third floor" by so many people that love her!

"And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them." D&C 42:46

Back In Time

1906 San Francisco Street Car film - AMAZING
This is really a fascinating piece of history. Traffic seems willy nilly, trolleys, cars, horses, carts, people walking. Seems they all just go wherever there is an opening. The clothing and cars are really interesting.Here's a neat opportunity to enjoy some time travel. The film is from a streetcar traveling down Market Street in San Francisco , four days before the big earthquake/fire that destroyed the area. You can clearly see the clocktower at the end of the street at the Embarcadero Wharf that's still there. The quality & detail is great, so be sure to view it full screen.

The film, was originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!). It was filmed only four days before the quake and shipped by train to NY for processing. Amazing but true!

Embrace This Day!

Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks!

Perspective

"The full cup versus empty cup is up to how we view our circumstances. And who we determine to follow!

Our ‘lot’ or ‘little’ may be dependent upon how poor or rich we observe our allotment to be. The gratitude in our souls for the road ahead of us, and the chance to walk it according to gospel truths, may determine how rich our journey seems."

(Vickey Pahnke Taylor)

She’s A Butterfly

I heard this song by Martina Mcbride on my sister’s blog, and it touched my heart in a way that few ever have. Though I thought I had a handle on it, it seems that April is still my month of mourning, but this year it has been for the loss of parents I never had. I guess you never get over that need. A lot of my friends are at the point in their lives where they are losing and mourning their parents, but they have the wonderful memories and voices of affirmation in their heads of their love and they have ties that will forever bind them to their beloved parents. I only met my father on three occasions in my adult life. The first time his face was of a complete stranger to me, and yet—he wasn’t. I still carried a memory somewhere in my little two-year old heart I guess. He took my brother and I out to dinner, and that night he gave me something I’d never had before, and never had since. It was so elusive I don’t have words for it, but it seemed that he was pleased with me, and with my life, in a way that no one else can be. I’ve never thought of it this way before but could it be akin to the look in Ron’s eyes when he talks with his darling daughters?

Do you believe that we can get messages from people on the other side of the veil? I finally downloaded this song, and I cry and cry when I hear it. I keep thinking that this is a message from my dead Daddy. (That’s what his other children call him.) It feels like he feels this way about me, and wants me to believe it! “Oh Lord, help thou my unbelief!” When I listen it seems possible! I’m going to keep listening!

(And then I found this incredible butterfly picture, with hearts! Is that a coincidence?)

Thank you Daddy!

She remembers when she first got her wings
And how she opened up the day she learned to sing
Then the colors came, erased the black and white
And her whole world changed when she realized

She's a butterfly, pretty as the crimson sky
Nothing's ever gonna bring her down

And everywhere she goes, everybody knows
She's so glad to be alive, she's a butterfly

Like the purest light in a darkened world
So much hope inside, such a lovely girl
You should see her fly, it's almost magical
It makes you wanna cry, she's so beautiful

She's a butterfly, pretty as the crimson sky
Nothing's ever gonna bring her down
And everywhere she goes, everybody knows
She's so glad to be alive, she's a butterfly

God bless the butterfly
Give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
(God bless the butterfly)

God bless the butterfly
Give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground

Oh, she's a butterfly, pretty as the crimson sky
Nothing's ever gonna bring her down
And everywhere she goes, everybody knows
She's so glad to be alive, she's a butterfly
She's a butterfly, she's a butterfly

God bless the butterfly
Give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
(God bless the butterfly)

God bless the butterfly
Give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground

False Evidence Appearing Real

Fear is the opposite of faith. After a tiring day teaching the multitudes Christ and his disciples departed in a ship and as Jesus slept a terrible storm began to toss the ship; fearing for their lives they woke their Lord. In Mark 4:39-40 we read, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm . And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

Too many times I find myself caught in the grip of fear and almost always it is like this acronym: false evidence appearing real. As I pondered this today I was reminded of Jacob’s words in the Book of Mormon. “Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be. . .” (Jacob 4:13)

Things as they really are! Satan constantly presents to my mind, and everyone else who will listen, false evidence which he can make to appear very real indeed!

I found comfort today in Isaiah 61:1-4 as he prophesied of Christ with these marvelous verses: "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

As I read of the fulfillment of Isaiah's words in Luke 4:16-21 the spirit testified to me again that Jesus Christ lives! He did fulfill His mission! He IS the Christ! He has, again and again, bound up my broken heart—He has comforted me when I mourn, He has given me beauty (my Ron and beautiful children) for ashes (of not having parents!) He has given me joy for mourning, (when I miss my Robert) the garment of praise (when I had no earthly mother or father to tell me that I am adored or loved) for the spirit of heaviness. He has testified to me that I have been planted by the Lord where I am in this life! (It's not very clear why, but I TRUST that someday I will know!) And, He has helped me to build up the old wastes, (in my heart) and raise up the former desolations in my soul! And because I have taught the gospel to my children it is my prayer that the desolations of many generations will be repaired!

I know that God knows my heart and is merciful to those that love Him, and I love Him! And, I know the way to replace fear with faith is to always remember that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!” (Philippians 4:13)

Mother

I found out last night that my mother is dying and I am grieving, but not because I will miss her, but because I never had her. I haven't lived with her since I was ten years old—fifty years ago. It is hard to be the pariah of her family, but I cannot change what is. I can only be grateful that she gave me life, and through her troubled family I was exposed to the gospel! I am so grateful to have my wonderful Ron! He is my constant—the one who loves me! And, I’m grateful for my beautiful children!

I am hopeful that in the next life she will be able to see more clearly, to find a tiny piece of love for me, and to find peace and rest to her soul and to know that I forgive her. When I was little I called her Mamma. She had dark cholocate eyes, and thick beautiful dark brown hair with a hint of auburn when It caught the sun. I always wanted to have her hair instead of my golden locks and freckles. She was my sun and my moon and my stars. May God now bless and keep my Mamma!

Cover Your Mouth When Yawning In Public

As I watched someone in church today let out a big YAWN (without covering their mouth) which of course, is contagious, I couldn’t stifle my yawn—but I DID cover my mouth! I covered my mouth because whenever I yawn, I hear my high school dance teacher Virginia McDonald’s voice, “Always cover your mouth when yawning in public!” She taught her students much, much more than dance. She also taught us etiquette and poise. I was so scared of that woman, but I will never forget some of the things she taught us—she had a great influence on my life.

“Don’t speak with your mouth full. Don’t cross your legs when sitting in front of people. Stand with your shoulders straight. When in doubt follow the lead of your host or hostess. Take a gift when invited to dinner. Don’t interrupt others while having a conversation. Always say thank you, and be grateful for what you do have and don’t waste time on what you don’t, as well as many, many others!”

It made me think of all the other voices I hear in my head.

I read the book “Dave at Night” this week, by Gail Carson Levine who is the author of “Ella Enchanted.” My daughter recommended it, but warned me I would need a box of Kleenex. I actually needed two, because it’s the story of an orphan, and for me “Dave” was my father, who really did grow up in an orphanage. Orphan stories always have a common theme running through them—nobody wants them, and they are always told how worthless they are and that they will never amount to anything. Boy, do I relate. I was raised by a grandmother who was orphaned by the time she was seven. She grew up as a “poor relation” and I’m certain she was fed all those lines—which she then passed on to me! I’m amazed at how often those old negative voices still try to haunt me, but we don’t have to be an orphan to feel inadequate. The world is filled and her cup literally runneth over with negative messages for any, and all, who will listen and entertain them! The negative voices who keep trying to convince us all, that we will never amount to anything—that we cannot possibly accomplish this or that.

Thank Heavens for the best voice in my head!

Thank Heavens for the voice of the Lord! Which I KNOW, though it’s a still small voice, can override all the other voices vying for attention in our heads and hearts, and saying, “You are my daughter and I LOVE you. Hang on. Keep trying. You’ll do better next time. I adore you! Your presence (while we are in prayer) makes me so happy, thank you for visiting with me today. Please come again tomorrow. When you get homesick, come to my Holy Temple and there I’ll give you rest and there you can remember my promises! This life is only for a little season, and then I will hold you in my arms again!”

I think Heavenly Father also wants me to show my consideration for others (which is really what good manners are, according to Mrs. McDonald) by covering my mouth when yawning in public, but so much more importantly remembering that truly, “I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me!”

Missionary Shoes

A Hampton Roads, Virginia newspaper asked a reporter to choose a "day in the life" and do a photo essay. He chose Mormon Missionaries. I loved this picture. It's what I want my spiritual shoes to look like, and it's a good reminder to me that every time I feel down, the minute I do a service for or lift another soul the sun comes out in my heart again! I've decided that it's not how many people have loved you in this life that counts—it's how many people YOU have loved! Lord, let me love like this missionary!

In the November 2000 Ensign Alexander B. Morrison said, "As you come to know 'that when ye are in the service of your fellow [men] ye are only in the service of your God' (Mosiah 2:17), you will seek to wear out your life in the service of the Master. He will wrap you about in the cloak of His redeeming love, and your life will be changed forever."

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/03/prayers-and-processions-mormon-missionaries

I Forgive You