Hope Your Goog Day Was Good!

I've missed you! I haven't had Internet access for a week and the last post I did on my Ipad just before we were out of range and so it wasn't until this morning that I realized I'd titled the last post "Goog Day" instead of "Good Day." A little typo there, but it made me wonder what a Goog Day would be! I think it might have something to do with lots of surprises and fun. So I hope you really did have a Goog Day.

I know I did! God has created an amazingly beautiful world and last week as we visited Alaska I was overwhelmed by the wonders of the world. We saw hump back whales and killer whales and black bears and dense forest and so many bald eagles at one time that I couldn't count them. We saw totem poles and long houses and small villages that made us feel like we'd gone back a hundred years in time.

But one of the most fascinating things on the trip was watching the people. We encountered people who Live in Truth and rolled with the problems a large group and travel always bring about and we encountered people who don't Live in Truth and watched as they created pain for themselves and for those around them.

I've come home more grateful for this beautiful world and much more grateful for the things I've learned about how to eliminate unnecessary pain from my life.

Goog Day

I am in Seattle! We had a wonderful day yesterday with D8 and her family sight seeing in Seattle. We walked through the underground city listening to the tour guide the very interesting history of buildings being built upon sawdust and tidal plains and we saw the results of sunken floors that rose and fell like waves of the sea.

We ate on the wharf and then walked through Pike's Place Market and enjoyed the vendors barking their wares and the street entertainment.

Most of all we enjoyed the incredible hospitality of  D8 and her good husband. They spoil us! And the best--the grand child children. Wonderful day!

Today we board the ship and depart for Alaska.

Bon Voyage!

To celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary Mr. J and I are going on a cruise to Alaska. In the next week we will visit Ketchican, Skagway, Junuea, and Victoria, British Columbia. We are excited, but I am not sure when or if I will have Internet access so my postings may be sporadic.

However, if I get the opportunity, I will share pictures and notes of what I am doing because I'd love to take you along vicariously. I know I'm always grateful to friends who share their adventures with me!

Happy Independence Day!

For me this day is a second thanks giving day. Specifically, it’s a day to give thanks for my wonderful country and my freedom.

I’ve been blessed to travel a lot and have seen some beautiful places in this world, but of all the places I’ve been, I like my home best. (Of course, I know that you in other countries feel the same about your homelands and that is how it should be. But today, being the birthday of my homeland, I am celebrating it!)

I’m grateful to ancestors who gave so much to come here from England, Scotland, Denmark, and Ireland. I’m grateful for all those who gave their lives to make us independent and all those who have served and sacrificed to preserve our freedom and help extend freedom to others.

I am grateful! Happy Birthday, USA!

Watch Out For Un-Truth Tools

When exploring how to Live in Truth we’ve talked a lot about the Truth Tools which are tools that help us alleviate negative mental chatter and negative emotions so that we can enjoy the peace that Living in Truth gives us. But there are counterfeits to the Truth Tools that many people seek after and recommend that we need to beware of. This Un-Truth Tools may for a moment seem to relieve the negative mental chatter and the negative emotions, but with the Un-Truth Tools as soon as the activity stops the negative emotion returns and usually with more intensity.

So what are some of these tools? Drugs, exercise, sex, food, career attainment, sleeping, travel, shopping, entertainment, sports, and pleasurable activities such as massage or spa treatments. Notice that none of these things is bad when used properly. They all have very valuable places in our lives. But the problem occurs when they are used as the source of happiness instead of as an aid to well-being. Then they are like a band aid; they temporarily mask the problem but they don’t solve the problem. As a matter of fact, they can be harmful in that they divert us from the time and thought necessary to analyze, recognize, and solve the problem.

While a slight diversion to help us get our head on straight is often necessary, and is one of the purposes of the Truth Tools, diversion that purports to be the solution, to be the happiness, will never work and will often create more problems.

The adversary has a counterfeit to every true principle, so watching out for and avoiding Un-Truth Tools can save us a lot of pain.

Taught By a Toddler

This weekend we attended the baptism of our granddaughter, Anna. Her little brother, John, is a rambunctious two year old who can’t sit still for even a few seconds. I’ve never seen so much energy! But to add fuel to the fire, he is also very loud. He doesn’t know the meaning of whisper or quiet and when he wants to talk he talks despite what else is going on. There is no shushing him. Therefore D7 had taken him into the hall while the speaker was instructing us about the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When it came time for the confirmation, I walked into the hall to tend to John so that D7 could return to the chapel to hear the blessing. To entertain John I walked around the hall and had him identify Jesus in all the pictures lining the walls. As we came to the last picture, D7 returned. The picture we were then at was the popular picture of the Savior appearing to the Nephites at the temple in Bountiful, a part of which is above. The full picture shows people bowing and crying and the destruction of the temple. I asked John where Jesus was and he pointed to the Savior. Then he said, “Trouble.”

John doesn’t speak in sentences yet, but the word trouble was very clear, and he kept repeating it so I pointed to some of the crying people and asked, “Is this trouble?”

John shook his head yes. Then I pointed to Jesus and asked, “Is this trouble?”

“No,” John said. “Help.”

I was stunned. Two years old, so active I can't figure out how he ever learned that from any lesson ever presented to him, and yet John knows. It makes me wonder if what he knows wasn’t taught to him at all, but is knowledge he brought with him into mortality.

Sabbath Scripture - Bless you!

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself,

and God, even our Father,

which hath loved us,

 and hath given us everlasting consolation,

and good hope through grace,

Comfort your hearts,

and stablish you in every

good word and work.

2 Thessalonians 2:17