My sad, sad experience with the little birds I grew so attached to make me look forward all the more to this:

Isaiah 11:6-9

6 The awolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of athe asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the bcockatrice’ den.

9 They shall not ahurt nor bdestroy in all my holy cmountain: for the dearth shall be full of the eknowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

 

I wish it were like that now!  Faith, faith…

special delivery!!

special delivery

I must say that this has to be one of the single most beautiful things I have ever seen.  I cannot even put into words how excited I am about these 4 beautiful eggs, and I can’t think of a better farewell gift than a nest full of beauty right where I can spy on it.   I think I will probably have to print this photo really large and hang it in my house in Denver.  Thank you robins.  I will sorely miss you and my haven of trees.

 

I spoke in church today for the last time before we move.  Here’s my talk if you want to read it.

  to-see-things-as-they-really-are.pdf

 

I love Ohio in the spring.

 

Happy Easter!!

 In honor of our twittering friends that are finally returning to our yard I made these little birdies for my kids for Easter. They are felted wool stuffed with wool batting with Barry-engineered copper wire feet.  I also got this book.  It has been hiding in my closet and I can’t keep my hands off of it when the kids are in bed.  It is way, way cool.

happy easter!

Snow has been fluttering down here all day, but still thoughts of rebirth and renewal are at the forefront this weekend.  My mind has been so full of mental clutter.  It seems like the “We’re moving” thoughts are bulky and distracting– taking up so much space, sucking up my time in thoughts of getting the oven fixed, researching carpet prices, finding a match to the white paint on our baseboards and doors.  And while these things are necessary and even exciting in their own way I’m excited for tomorrow, the Sabbath, the most important Sabbath.  I am thankful for the time to focus and reflect on what life is really all about.

It seems the things I read, the lessons I learn from my children, the conversations I have with friends, the sad, painful experiences of loved ones in my family highlight so much what this season of rebirth is all about– love.  Pure, selfless love.  Knowing, believing, seeing that we are all of infinite worth, of infinite potential, full of infinite beauty.  That is what Spring teaches us–and that no matter how bleak and gray and cold the winter is, no matter how dark and deep we are buried, there is rebirth.  The little green shoots will poke their heads up again.  Blossoms will bud, meaning fruit will grow.

There is an infinite source of good, of peace, of renewal, of love.  The sun will always rise, there will be warmth and growth, because the Son did rise.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

the passing of a prophet

I didn’t make my Sunday post yesterday so I’m going to do it today. President Hinckley, the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, died last night.

I will never forget the day he was sustained as prophet. It was a Saturday morning and I was getting ready for my Homecoming date with Ramon Relyea. The General Conference broadcast was on the TV in my parents room and I was drying my hair and various other girly things in front of the mirror in their bathroom. I could see the TV’s reflection in the mirror above my mom’s dresser. After the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang the opening song I felt the power of the conference– that I was witnessing something monumental and eternally significant. The opening prayer was said and then we sustained President Hinckley as the new president and prophet, seer, and revelator. It seems such an ordinary thing– just watching TV and getting ready for the day, but it really was one of the defining moments of my life. As I stood with millions of others around the world to sustain a new prophet I KNEW that it was true. It was real. I felt the overwhelming power of the Holy Ghost with every fiber of my being.

Later, during my second year in college, I had the opportunity to hear President Hinckley speak in person. I need to go through my old journals and see if I can find my notes and impressions from his talk. What I do remember was that I was serving on the Utah State University Institute of Religion council and got a special floor seat. I sat on the very front row, right in the middle. I was face to face with him! I felt the same witness– that he was truly a prophet of God. It reverberated through my entire being.

I am so thankful for his council, wisdom, and insight. I am so thankful for his visionary leadership in helping people throughout the entire world. I am most personally grateful for the example of his beautiful marriage, the partnership he had with his wife, and his obvious love and reverence for her. I want to follow his example. More than anything else in the universe I want a marriage like that– more than anything.

He emphasized the basics of education, personal prayer, meditation and scripture study, of praying daily as couples and families, of holding weekly family home evenings. All such small and simple things that carry profound power. I hear over and over how hard it is to go to school, to pursue life long learning, to commit to daily scripture study and prayer, to gather wiggling tired children everyday for payer and scripture reading. It may be hard, I guess, but my response is this: IT IS SO MUCH HARDER NOT TO. As children of God we need time with him daily. We need to experience the quiet of our own minds– to know what is at our core, to feel who we really are. We need the routine and bond of daily focus on things greater than ourselves with our children and spouses. I believe the one thing that has had the most powerful impact on my family for the good is a very simple thing. Each night before we go to bed Barry and I kneel beside our bed and pray together. We take turns being voice– I’m even days and he’s odd. We kneel in gratitude for the love and friendship we share, for the joy we find in our children, for the comforts we enjoy. We ask for help and insight– that we can grow in love and understanding for each other, that we can guide each of the unique personalities of our children, that we can know how to serve and love others. There is such comfort being united in gratitude, every single day. Sure, I guess it might be a little tricky to establish routines, to go to bed at the same time or overcome whatever obstacle, but my life is easier by doing these little things. We can never get too far off track. I love doing these hard things. IT WOULD BE SO MUCH HARDER NOT TO.

Thank you President Hinckley for your council and example. I love you.