Saturday, June 27, 2009

Teaching Old Dogs Old Tricks

It is said that
we learn from experience.
Well, I'm here to attest that more often than not
I find myself RElearning from experience.
For example . . .
I am one of the lucky ones. I own a huge set of Cutco knives.
I bought them for myself in 1975 and have used them faithfully through 33
years of marriage. I've enjoyed them so much that, in spite of carrying a
life-long warranty, I haven't been able to part with them long enough
to have their specialized Double-D edges sharpened by the company.
I did, however, finally send the whole kit and kaboodle in to be serviced.
Imagine my excitement when (after two long weeks of "knife"sickness)
they were returned to me.
The company was as good as their word . . .
they sharpened 9 knives and
replaced 9 knives, 2 utensils, & 2 knife trays!
(I promise, this is NOT an advertisement for Cutco)
Anyway, back to my lesson:
The first two years of our marriage my beautiful little fingers
were constantly covered in bandages.
No matter how hard I tried, I could not keep them out of the way
of my wonderful, shiny, SHARP knives.
Eventually I learned to protect my phlanges a little better,
but I think that I wasn't ever completely safe until some of that
sharp steel started to dull.
Remembering my long-ago cuts,
I told myself that I would need to be ever-so careful with my
newly sharpened knives.
I did remember . . .
for about two days.
That is how long it took me to slice into a tomato
and then straight into my finger,
with the reds of the tomato juice and the blood pooling together
as the acid burned into the cut.
Perhaps I should have remembered, too,
that using a cutting board is so much more effective
than cutting directly into my hand.
So, once again I've begun the process of learning how to protect myself.
Do you think it will take this time?

Monday, June 22, 2009

A Still Small Voice

A Still Small Voice
led our pioneer ancestors to the gospel of Jesus Christ
and across a barren wilderness to a new home.
As sisters we joined together on 5 June 2008 to celebrate
our own legacy of hope and faith as we responded
to our own still small voice.
In spite of the overcast skies and rain,
many sisters braved the elements to attend.
Those included Kimber Kempton, Kerri Guthrie,
Judy Hopkins, Gloria LeSueur, Marianne Reading, Louise Elison,
Colleen & Stacy Mons, Micah Warren, Michelle Hammond,
Lisa & Mallory Corbett.

The displays represented the legacy of our ancestors,
the preparedness of the present,
and our hope for a future in the arms of our Savior.

Sisters were invited to wear pioneer clothing.
Some of those attending included Peggy Long,
Ruthann Carter, Denise Stoddard, Maxine Brannigan,
Annette Lambson, & Ellen Jensen.

Sister Jillette Dayton drove from Cokeville, Wyoming
to speak to us about listening to the
still small voice and recognizing the workings of the
Holy Ghost in our lives.
She brought with her a group of family and friends who took
us along The Trail of Hope (similar to that done in Nauvoo).

Prizes were awarded to the best apron & bonnet.
Sisters attending were Hailey Houghtby, Kelsie Carter,
Lois Park, Joan Barker, Karri Wilson, Dolores George,
Gayle & Tara Young, & Modell Lambson.

Those who spoke to us along the Trail of Hope were
representative of Eliza Snow, Brigham Young,
a greeter, Bathsheba Smith, Margaret Judd Clawson,
Sarah Leavitt, Editor of the Missouri Republican,
Mary Goble Pay, & Ben Cummons.
The occasion was held in the backyard of Joan Barker.
Maureen Millar, Colleen Larson, Georgene Duke,
Wendy Killpack, Erin Newton & Betty Mooseman enjoyed a chilly evening.
A dutch oven dinner consisted of stew and bread
with dutch oven desserts and homemade ice cream
eaten from tin pie plates.

Though it was rainy all day, the clouds parted
and the sun shone during the hours of our activity,
though the evening was quite cool.
Just as we said our Amens to the closing prayer,
the winds started up.
We quickly cleaned up and were safe at home when the rains returned.

My Super Power

I should probably be ashamed to admit it,
but sometimes I find myself anxious to become immortal.
Though I recognize my body as a precious gift from God,
I struggle with the constraints of mortality.
So . . . I've been thinking about which super power
I would like to possess if I could choose just one.
Mine would be the ability to
transport myself with a mere thought.
Just imagine it . . .
spend a morning at work,
relax on a Hawaiian beach in the afternoon,
eat dinner in Venice,
and arrive home just in time for a good night's rest.
No worries about owning a car, paying for insurance,
buying gas, or sitting in traffic jams.
Imagine all the ancestral locations I could visit
and my dream of attending every temple in the world
could be realized.
If you could have a super power, what would it be and why???