a little bit of heaven

Hi Quinn,

So, you’re the birthday boy this week. I can’t believe you are seven-years-old! Well, that means it’s time for me to give you the seven-year-old challenge that I’ve given all your cousins. Some have taken it; others haven’t. The ones that did it can tell you it was a great experience.

Basically, the seven-year-old challenge asks you to listen to an audio recording for ten minutes, reading along with the narrator in your own Book of Mormon. Quinn, I know you are young, but gaining a testimony of God's will change your life. Each and every time you read it; it will change your life. You and I have the ultimate goal of eternal life with our Heavenly Father and Jesus. For this to become reality, it is vital to make choices throughout our lives that will lead us to this great goal. Reading scriptures daily is one of these important choices, because it allows the Holy Ghost to teach us our very own personal plan designed by Heavenly Father. We also learn about another choice; keeping the commandments. When we keep the commandments, our lives are happier and less difficult. Of course, we will still have problems, but they will be easier to handle with God’s help. His help is one of the blessings of keeping the commandments.

Another benefit of this listening and reading is improved reading skills. While reading the greatest and most correct book on earth, you can’t help but increase vocabulary, word attack skills, and comprehension. Good readers are smart people. And as you know, it is fun to be smart.

Yes, accomplishing this challenge requires some pretty grown up actions. Each day as you go to sleep or sit at the breakfast table, you can remember to turn on the narrator and follow along in your book. Ten minutes is such a short time or about as long as takes to eat a bowl of cereal.

You may wonder how I got this idea. The first time I got through the whole Bible, I listened to a great Shakespearian actor read it. It came to life for me. Another time I listened to the Book of Mormon. This year I’m listening to the Book of Mormon in the mornings and the Bible at night. Sure I can and do read without listening, but somehow listening is like an angel reading them to me or a little bit of heaven in my room.

Don’t worry if you can’t understand everything the first time through. I’ve read the scriptures many, many times and still learn new things every day. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, learning here a little and there a little.

It’s so funny; one lady I told about the seven-year-old challenge asked what’s the prize for finishing. She wanted to know what sort of accountability system we used. When she asked, I thought she was kidding; she wasn’t. This question boggled my mind. The reward is a testimony of the gospel and the scriptures as well as personal satisfaction for finishing a big goal. The accountability is learning to keep your word to yourself. Just like most of life, you can choose good or not, be happy or not, be contentious or not, be honest or not, be loyal or not, be studious or not. You get the idea.

We also sent Thornton Burgess Animal Stories set that Uncle Spencer enjoyed around your age. He liked them, because they are silly stories about animals and nature. When he was a little boy, we spent one day a week hiking mountain trails or walking along the seashore. We took our sketchbooks and drew all sorts of things; I guess you can say we both love nature.

Finally, we sent a set of Minecraft Legos, which we hope you don’t already have. We sent it to Tyson, who said it was one of his favorite birthday gifts.

Dash got a puppy tooth pulled the other day. It was infected and stunk like crazy. Once it was out, she stopped stinking. Plus, she has all sorts of energy that she never had before. I guess it was making her sick. Anyway, she’s pretty silly and crazy now. She climbs on the back of the couch to look out the window, because there are no low windows or sliding glass doors in this cottage.

I forgot how much I love the NW. Although the sunny skies of the dessert are nice, I actually enjoy the rain more. What is wrong with me!!??!! We drive north and a huge lake is ever so close. We drive west and the Pacific Ocean greets us. We drive southeast and little lakes dot the land. Water is so pleasing and peaceful. Maybe the difference is this little cottage. While it is only 350 square feet, it is fairly bright. Plus, and this is a big one, the floor is heated by circulating hot water. It doesn’t feel bone chilling cold. Dash and I love to walk at the park just a couple doors down. It’s so nice that I wish I could transplant it to an acre further out in the country and live there forever.

Well, Quinn, please, don’t forget that we love you, your parents love you, Heavenly Father loves you, and Jesus loves you. That’s a lot of love. Because things will go wrong and you will have problems it is very important to always remember this love. We are on your side. We want you to succeed. Choose to be happy, obedient, gentle, loyal, kind, and good. Think before you speak or react to others. Refuse to let other people ‘make you mad.’

the sum

"Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction. And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," Alma 10:19-20.

Although this (and all scripture) is a history of people long ago, it was recorded for our day. A representative government cannot work if the people are not virtuous. It is impossible to save a wicked people from itself. The time has come in the U.S. that the voice of the people choose iniquity and transgression. Are we then ripe for destruction? Is there still time to repent? The whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. If the majority of the people repent and choose righteousness, we may yet retain our liberty.

peace and happiness

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20. We live in that day, when good is called evil. People lose their jobs or worse for defending the commandments of God. Fornication, murder, and all manner of sin is heralded as good, while those who fight to keep the commandments are called narrow-minded, backward, bigots. I've yet to meet a happy addict, whether food, alcohol, tobacco, sex, gambling, or drugs. Single parenthood or foster care isn't better than an intact family with father, mother, and children. Killing unborn children isn't the good 'choice' some trick women into believing. Bending 'truth' to the situation is still lying. Forcing people to support evil or idle lifestyles of others is stealing. Allowing teachers to propagandize children without regard to their parents wishes usurps the sanctity of the family and the community. Boys growing up without fathers run rampant in the streets, killing, raping, and stealing. Girls dress provocatively but are incensed when someone looks. Men won't commit to family life. Women act macho and attempt to raise children alone. God gave us commandments to promote peace and happiness.

quite refreshing

Praying For...Sammy that she will gain a close relationship with Jesus Christ and learn the joy found in feasting upon the Word...that she and other children around the world will be blessed with freedom from evil influences, hunger, and danger during childhood...that leaders of nations will soften their hearts and embrace peace.

Ponderizations..."Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8. It is so easy to slip away from the straight and narrow and fall into sin.

Yorkie Yarns...traveling up for tax season, Dash was a champ...except in the hotel...every time someone walked by the room, she barked like one possessed of a demon. Although I don't sleep with animals as a rule, I put the leash on her and brought her to bed. This settled her down so we could all sleep. She loves the cottage and park here.

Teaching Little Children...I miss my little friends very much. Maybe I can find a place to volunteer here.

I Write...I finally figured out a problem for the new book I'm writing. Because I'm the optimistic type and love my characters as if they were real, I have a terrible time giving them problems. Painting a picture of the characters and setting is no problem. I love researching each little piece to the puzzle, which always has something to do with teaching children, planting a garden, and raising dogs in some exotic location.

Cucina Fresca...you've heard of i-pads and i-phones, but I bet i-pots boggle a bit. Since this place only has a hot plate, I decided to try out the instant pot: rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker, saute pan, yogurt maker, warmer, and steamer. Apparently, it will cook dry pintos in 30 minutes or soaked ones in 10. There will be no more scrambling to come up with dinner when the pintos are still hard in the slow cooker. I can't wait to steam some fat-free, plant-perfect, blue corn calabacitas y frijoles negros tamales, mmmm.

Bibliophilia...sent Sammy Blue Willow by Doris Gates, a Newbery honor book. Since I haven't read it yet, a used copy is coming here, too. I also got her and some of the other grands Scripture Power! Book of Mormon Journal for Children by Elizabeth Dorathy. It's a great journal that I tried out last fall. Although it is a bit too juvenile for me, it had some thought provoking questions. It will be great for Sammy, Cole, Gayle, and Oakley if they choose to utilize it. I hope to be some sort of example for good with my grands, which is why I send them letters, great literature, art books, science kits, and now scripture journals.

Sound of Music...I also sent Sammy the first DVDs in the Piano for Life series by Mark Almond. It's a great way to learn to play the piano, because they gain an understanding of the basic structures of harmony before learning to read music. With traditional (and very expensive methods), many people give up out of exasperation and frustration. With Mark Almond's method, people can play beautiful music and improvisation on their journey to reading music. No more Hot Cross Buns for months on end. Two of my children learned the harmony method intuitively. In fact it was hard to get S to focus on his lesson material each week as he improvised chord structure to Nintendo tunes. I enjoyed the method immensely until access to a piano stopped. Finally, my arthritis pain is gone, which will allow me to play my uke again. However, the frozen shoulder prevents violin at all. It seems every time I pick up my violin, something forces me to lay it down again. Maybe, that pastime will need to remain a lovely memory.

Needle News...I have come up with a design for a new crossover bag. I bought one that is almost right, but now I know exactly what I want. Also, the skirt I'm working on is almost perfect. I have a cheap skirt from Walmart with a great fit. I'm using it as the basic pattern but adding a front kick pleat instead of the back slit--plus I might put in a couple, concealed, zipper pockets. Sewing by hand is slow process but more rewarding.

Movement...the park a couple doors down is right on the river. It's a nice walk but only feels safe in the afternoons, when it's filled with mothers and their small children. I'm such a scaredy cat. There is another park the other direction with a dog park. I haven't tried that one, since I didn't have a dog last year. Essentrics is still a wonder for me. Each hour I like to take ten minute stretch breaks, which I plan to use to reintroduce yoga poses alternating with outdoor mini walks. I'm also going to incorporate Dr. Kim's shoulder exercises, as his foam rolling completely healed my back and hip pain. Frozen shoulder is a bear.


Cottage Life...I have the best of both worlds. Up here I live in a tiny house and down home my home is spacious. Cottage living forces one to focus on needs vs wants. As I select items to include in a 350 square foot life, I focus on quality over quantity. It's quite refreshing.

get it

This is the lesson God has been trying to teach me over the last few years. I hope I get it this time.