The Book of Mormon

6 Apr

A few weeks ago, I decided that in addition to my study in the Old Testament, I really needed to read the Book of Mormon every day. I’ve been reading very small amounts and writing a quick summary of what I read and my thoughts each morning. After I began, friends have reminded me of promises that were made to us by President Nelson if we would read the Book of Mormon.
“And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.” Oct 2018
“I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life.” Oct 2017

These reminders increased my resolve to be diligent in my goal. I am already realizing the promised blessings. Yesterday as I struggled with some pretty strong cognitive dissonance (how can this be and this be?) An answer came to me as I read. And this morning again, more comfort and reassurance that God knows all things from the beginning and he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. The Book of Mormon brings God’s power into my life, and He fulfills the promises made by His prophet, Russell M Nelson.

(Pictured: the Book of Mormon that was my mom’s and that I totally took, along with the matching Bible, without asking when I went to college and have used ever since.)

Spring fun

3 Apr

Can you think of anything more idyllic on a spring Sunday afternoon than eating an ice cream cone outdoors in a light shower of rain? #goodlife

Skeeter

A Real Story

2 Apr

Friday night, Skeeter was overtired and in his bed, crying over all the unfair things. So I sat down and started to read from a book of Fairy Tales, hoping to calm him down.

“I want to hear something real,” came the moan from under the blankets on Skeeter’s bed.

So I pulled out The Book of Indians, by Holling C Holling and started reading that.

“I don’t want to hear about Indians,” wailed Skeeter.

“I want to hear something real, like Peter Rabbit.”

Ahh Skeeter, I agree. Peter Rabbit is indeed real.

I think the great poet, Edgar A Guest would agree

PAGING MR MCGREGOR
Edgar A Guest

Say, Mr McGregor, do still you go hoeing
That garden of yours when the green things are growing?
It’s years since I gave up the glorious habit
Of reading of you and that bold Peter Rabbit,
But the son with your story who once went to bed to,
Now has a son of his own to be read to.

Say, Mr. McGregor – oh dreadful misgiving!
I hope you are still in the land of the living;
That while I’ve been delving in Tennyson’s meter,
No evil has happened to you or to Peter.
That while I’ve been pondering Shelley and Browning,
You haven’t met death via murder or drowning.

Say, Mr. McGregor – what’s time to a story?
Only real people age and grow ugly and hoary,
But book people live and keep on with their duty,
Grow younger and stronger and richer in beauty.
And surely while twenty five years I’ve been aging
That foot race with Peter you’ve daily been staging.

Say, Mr McGregor, I think it now fitting,
To tell you the classics I’ll shortly be quitting.
That now there’s a grandson – a bright little beggar
Who’ll soon want to hear about Mr McGregor
And a grandpa about to resume his old habit.
Of reading the story of young Peter Rabbit

Snow Cones!

19 Mar
Block Party!

Free snow cones and bouncy houses at the old hospital, which is now run by a non-profit organization and houses services and businesses like my piano school.

I’m so blessed to have an inexpensive place to rent to give piano lessons in. My house needed to stop being the place!!

Math Puzzle

16 Mar

For our math game today we tried a challenge from @mathforlove Arrange the ten cards to make a pyramid so that each number is the difference of the two below it. My kids announced that it was impossible after 20 minutes. I worked on it for another 30ish minutes and solved it…or so I thought.

I found a mistake. Not solved yet.

Who needs lunch when there is a puzzle to solve!?

Tiny Polka Dot Cards from MathforLove

Book Review: Mel Fell

14 Mar
Zekey Pie

Two enthusiastic thumbs up for “Mel Fell” by Corey R Tabor

New Chicks

8 Mar

Evidence #1 Spring is coming

100 Days in my Wool Dress!

28 Feb

Day 100! I did it!

What will I wear tomorrow?
this dress.

I love having it as the basic beginning of my outfits. The dress continues. I’m just going to stop counting days.

What did I learn? I learned that having less clothing and less decisions to make every day equals less stress for me. I feel more “myself” and comfortable in my own skin.

I used to worry continually about having chosen the wrong outfit for wherever I was going. I thought the answer was more clothes, but it turns out, the answer was less clothes! While I did occasionally feel like I was too dressy for an occasion (due to accessories) I stopped feeling like I chose wrong every day.

I was able to let go of lots of things from my closet. I let go of mental junk too. I can’t explain it exactly, but physical clutter and mental clutter went away hand in hand.

Things I didn’t like about the dress- I did struggle with static cling some- but finally figured out that it was being caused by my non-natural fiber tights, and not the wool dress.

Purchasing merino tights and merino leggings solves my static problem.

I did wish for a more exciting color than black sometimes. I like having pockets, but these were not the most attractive pockets ever. In the beginning of the challenge, one of the reasons I did lots of layered looks was that I did not love the placement of the pockets. However, I am not bothered by how they look anymore. I’m used to how they look, and I like having them.

More good stuff: I love having a uniform that is just “ me looking like me.” I got to use a lot more of my jewelry and scarves because the main clothing decision was already made. I love reducing my laundry both for my time and for the environment. I learned how to mend a wool garment (but never had to use that knowledge on my dress.) I’m really looking forward to experiencing spring and summer in my dress. #100daydresschallenge #woolandmaggie #sustainablefashion #woolie.

Question from a friends:

How tall are you? Did you feel under dressed for church?

Answer:

I am 5’8”. I did not feel underdressed for church. The fabric has a little bit of sheen, so it doesn’t look like a cotton t-shirt. I was able to dress casual or dressy just by which shoes and other accessories I paired with my dress.

I bought the long version of the Wool& Maggie. It barely brushed the top of my knee. At some point, one of my kids threw Maggie in the dryer, and she got an inch shorter. This made her feel too short to wear without tights or leggings. Here are some of my Sunday outfits:

Day 97 of the 100-Day Dress Challenge

25 Feb
Morning Glory

In the middle of an elimination diet to figure out why Apple Pie’s tummy hurts all the time.

So far it seems like gluten, dairy, and eggs could be the problems.

I wanted to make sourdough pancakes this morning, but Nina was up first, so I figured I had better make her pancakes first (Gluten-free, Egg-free, dairy-free).

But we were out of gluten-free flour. So first I had to grind brown and white rice to make the GF flour so I could make GF pancake mix so I could make GF pancakes.

And then I was tired so I thought I might stop, but there weren’t enough pancakes, so I made the sourdough pancakes too. And now my back hurts! Time for yoga and a rest.

And here is a beautiful quote from a letter Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote to his daughter:

“Finish every day and be done with it. For manners and for wise living it is a vice to remember. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it well and serenely, and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day for all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the rotten yesterdays.”

Source: Letter to his daughter Ellen, reprinted in The Letters of Ralph Waldo Emerson

When he says “it is a vice to remember,” I think he is saying it is bad manners to remember other peoples’ mistakes and especially to bring them up in conversation. We have to allow others to be human, to repent and grow. It is also wisdom to apply that to ourselves as well. Forgive yourself and allow yourself to grow.

Corrie Ten Boom said, “Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

Corrie Ten Boom advised us not to let tomorrow rob today of its strength. Ralph Waldo Emerson is advising us not to let yesterday rob today of joy. Both are such good advice.

❤️ GlowWorm

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Making Bread with Mom

23 Feb

The early bird gets to help mom make bread.

Skeeter Pie
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