Judy's Journey

Ron and Pamela Visiting

2012-02-11T15:38:00.004+02:00

Ron and Pamela visited Shawn and Annie in Australia.
On their way home they spent a couple of jet-lagged days with us.
We had Doug, Nadia, Jarom, Ethan, Daena and Cabryn join us for a family breakfast together.
They left yesterday for their home in Cape Town.

Les Visiting - Rusty Hook

2012-02-04T19:26:00.003+02:00

We enjoyed Les visiting overnight.
We went to the Rusty Hook for breakfast.
Lovely place!

Vi enjoyed watching the ducks swimming around below us.

Look at the cheeky goat on the table behind the people...

Les and I walked around the lake. Peaceful. Ducks swimming around. We passed the goats foraging on the plants across the lake from the deck where we had breakfast.

We went on and drove around the lovely green Magaliesburg.

I'm glad we paused in our lives to share this morning.

A Way in the Wilderness - February

2012-02-01T06:00:00.004+02:00

"I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs."
Isaiah 41:18

Sunset in Dead Valley, Namibia.

I really like my 2012 calendar. I love the photos. I love the words.

Ache, Ache, Ache

2012-02-01T05:55:00.002+02:00

I did something to my back!

I remember thinking as I moved awkwardly a few days ago "Ooi - that sounds serious...!"
It has been uncomfortable the last few days; I have tried to hold my posture, and move correctly so that it might right itself, quietly groaning at times.
Yesterday afternoon I phoned and made an appointment with the chiropractor for tomorrow.
This morning my back is agonising.

And... there are always compensations in every time of challenge:

This morning I was studying 2 Nephi Chapter 8 - that is: Isaiah 51 and 52:1,2.
My mind is glowing, my heart is comforted.

In November 2001 I was in the Preston Temple reading from Isaiah 51:21-23 -

"21 ¶Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:

22 Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over."

I came home, typed it out, laminated it, and placed it at the side of my computer where I can see it every day.

Today I noticed
"Hearken unto me..." v 1, 4, 7
"Awake, Awake!" v 9, 17, 24
"...put on... stand up... put on... shake thyself... loose thyself..." v 9, 17, 24, 25

Luverly stuff... Just gladdens my heart. Helps me bear my affliction while it lasts.
I know it will pass.

In the meantime I know that being in "The School of Pain" periodically is profitable - usually in several ways. I will do what I can to learn my lessons this time as soon as possible so that I can move on to other Life-Lessons, the learning of which are not necessarily so physically painful. I will rejoice again sometime soon! Will move effortlessly and thankfully in more mechanical and fleshly comfort.

Actually a few weeks ago my shoulder seized. After two days - and looking on the internet (don't you just love it too?!) - I applied heat and cold to it and it eased. I will try that on my back today - perhaps it will help.

Notes from My UK Train Journey

2012-01-28T08:13:00.005+02:00

I just found my notes made on a long change-train journey in the UK - I might have posted on this before...
You had better LOOK.
You had better be where you need to be.
You had better know where you want to go.
Your journey is less stressful if you book ahead.
You can't tell who "knows" and who doesn't.
Such a lot of baggage carried by all.
Wheelie baggage is easier to transport.
There's a lot of "waiting" for the right train.
There's lovely scenery along the way.
When the time to leave is there, you had better be on the right platform.
Listen to the announcements.
Provided you are in the right carriage on the right train you can relax somewhat.
There are a lot of people looking up! (At the information boards)
There's lots of time to reflect.
Better to travel in Summer than in Winter.
A spot on the platform in the sun is so welcome!
People are able to listen or not, to what they want, without disturbing others. (personal mp3's etc)
There are lots of people to observe!
Bundled up people look similar.
Fascinating conversations overheard...
"Did you know about Zip cars in London?"
A double bass player sat next to me for part of my journey - she had to keep an eye on her instrument in the baggage part of the train.
Crowds support efficient infrastructure.
If you listen long enough you learn a LOT!
"Train the ear..." (musicians speaking in the seats behind me)
"Train the body..."
"I bought as expensively as possible and it has certainly paid off!"
Make sure you have food and water when you journey.
Plan your toilet stops.
The window is dirty - that's why I can't see through clearly, I didn't make it dirty.
Don't you know you are a daughter of God? I wondered as I looked at a young woman...
Don't you know you are a man of God? as I watched some young men behaving unbecomingly (in my view)...
We all have 24 hours - we each choose.
I saw some COLD people. (with insufficient clothes for the weather)

I like public transport - when I have the option of both to choose from.
If I had to use it all the time I might find it frustrating.
I might well also Accept the Things I cannot Change...
I am not likely ever to have to find out.
I feel very blessed - again.

A Way in the Wilderness - January

2012-01-26T16:18:00.003+02:00

"Behold, I will do a new thing; it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
Isaiah 43:19

"I provide water in the desert, and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people."
Isaiah 43:20

I went today at last to get my new wall calendar for my kitchen... The calendar theme is "A Way in the Wilderness."

I love it! I know about wildernesses - there is a Way in them.

Isn't the picture beautiful? It is the Lencois Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

Doug and Nadia Family

2012-01-23T08:19:00.002+02:00

Nice Pictures!

I'm glad you joined us last evening.

Love you folks... thanks for being among my folks.

O Lord...

2012-01-23T06:57:00.004+02:00

A good way to start this day - this week -

My selections from 2 Nephi 4 (Nephi's Psalm):

"I know in whom I have trusted...
He hath filled me with his love...
Awake my soul! No longer droop in sin...
Rejoice O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul...
O Lord, I will praise thee forever...
O Lord wilt thou redeem my soul?
O Lord wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!
O Lord I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever...
I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness...
Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God.
Amen."

And now... on - into my day, my week, my life...

Did I...?

2012-01-21T10:50:00.004+02:00

Time for reflection: Years ago I explored "Educate" since I decided that was actually my primary responsibility with our children.

Did I educate them to the best level of my ability -according to the best I knew at the time?

I hope so - I surely did better than MY uninspired best would have been able to accomplish.

And yet... my best was not good enough... for whom? Many - so they have told me through the years - including myself.

All I can continue to do now is - I trust in the Lord with all my heart, and lean not on my own understanding. I work at acknowledging Him in all my ways and listening and following His direction (as I feel it) in all my paths. And when I don't feel it: I use my very best judgment and press on. What else can I do? The past is gone. The future is not here. The present is the past of the future - I can maybe make a difference and increasingly have a better past to look back on, and a better future to live in.

Onward, ever onward. I continue with my parental educating joy and privilege. Working with adult children is different from working with younger ones - I am still learning myself and feeling my way along.

And to our children? Go forward with faith - each one of you children and children-in-law. Build on that of your foundation that you find sure and steadfast. Do the renovating and repairs you need to - and proceed - do your best as you truly educate your children.

As Jacob said "Oh, be wise; what can I say more?" I say so too.

As we all walk the path of our individual lives one day at a time, may we be blessed, and may our children and our children's children's children be blessed - every one of them, born and yet to be born.

May they be cumulatively blessed because we did our best in our part of the race of life that will affect theirs.

Higher Education

2012-01-19T08:57:00.006+02:00

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence"

Robert Frost

May we all "hold on" steadfastly through the storms of our lives and "step down in order to step up" when we need to be humble...

First-Rate Intelligence

2012-01-18T06:56:00.006+02:00

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

We Ever Pray for Thee

2012-01-17T06:13:00.004+02:00

We ever pray for thee, our children dear,
That God will give to thee comfort and cheer;
As the advancing years furrow thy brow,
Still may the light within shine bright as now,
Still may the light within shine bright as now.

We ever pray for thee with all our hearts,
That strength be given thee to do thy part,
To guide and counsel yours from day to day,
To shed a holy light around their way,
To shed a holy light around their way.

We ever pray for thee with fervent love;
And as your parents' prayer is heard above,
Thou shalt be ever blest, and God will give
All that is meet and best while thou shalt live,
All that is meet and best while thou shalt live.

Text: Evan Stevens (red words adapted...)

Healthy Eating

2012-01-16T08:24:00.005+02:00

I made a beautiful fruit salad yesterday - very pretty: strawberries, pineapple, apple and Marula Mania juice - a wonderfully combined acid and sub-acid fruit salad.
Problem... After eating the first bowl I thought - "I can't do this to myself again." It was too tart for me - no matter how ideally combined it was.
I added some healthy papaya, banana, and mango juice this morning - three sweet fruits. Delicious - although not so well combined any more - from some people's points of view.
There's a life-lesson in that for me! I hope I remember this when I need to in my daily living.

My Five Favourites All In A Row

2012-01-14T08:07:00.004+02:00

These five are my favourite Mormonads. They keep me reminded of my priorities.
They are on one of my kitchen cupboards.

Vision

2012-01-12T06:25:00.009+02:00

See it in the distance...

Look up and remember to remember...

Look down and remember to walk it...

Yes... there will be distracting, discouraging, enticing, beautiful or ugly obstacles along my way... "go around, or over or through them. Carry on, Carry on, Carry on. There is always a way, and where there is no way, God can help me make a way to walk my path."

I hope, plan and work each day, to have health enough, wealth enough, wisdom enough, faith enough, courage enough, discipline enough, peace enough, contentment enough - for the whole of my Journey, until I have completed my work on the Earth.

(Pictures - Lifestyle Garden Centre entrance)

Let There Be Peace on Earth

2012-01-11T08:27:00.005+02:00

Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
We are family.
Let us walk with each other
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

(child)
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
We are family.
Let us walk with each other
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

www.links2love.com/christmas-let-there-be-peace-on-earth.htm

note the video at the bottom - enjoy!

Peace Within

2012-01-08T13:34:00.004+02:00

'May today there be peace within.
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that
are born of faith in yourself and others.
May you use the gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content with yourself just the way you are.
Let this knowledge settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”

Saint Therese de Lisieux

The Hero's Journey

2012-01-07T08:55:00.004+02:00

"Most heroic journeys involve going through a dark place - through mountain caverns, the underworld, or labyrinthine passages to emerge, finally, into the light."
Jean Shinoda Bolen

Poster January 2012

2012-01-06T08:28:00.008+02:00

Here's Looking at You Folks...

This morning, after studying deeply in the Isaiah passages of the Book of Mormon, I thought "Enough!"
I opened the curtains and the brilliant sunshine poured into our room.
"Time for another poster."
I went to the cupboard where I keep all my poster sheets of varying colours. "Blue this time."
Then I went to the blue... and thought "No - it's going to be a pink year, so PINK."
I went to my cutouts packet and spread them loosely on the (unmade - Priorities I tell you...) bed, cutting the ones roughly cut and put into the packet.
I quickly chose some, got my glue and stuck them on.

I went to the counselling room and took off the oldest of the four posters and moved the others along making space for the new one.
Ah... my "friends" appear fixed on the cupboard doors behind the older posters... I reflect on them and why I chose them and remind myself of their messages again. I wondered in passing why I had chosen them at the times I did...

This one I remember: We had a meeting at LifeLine becoming aware of our feelings. I decided to come home and depict them. For me they are my ladies with arms linked. One or the other is always centre-stage. When one or the others gets too rough or too powerful or disrespectful of the others, I invite the others to nudge her back into co-operation and collaboration with the group. I recalled again President Boyd K Packer's talk about thoughts that come in from the wings onto the stage of our mind... we choose how long they stay there... my thoughts blend the two applications of the principles.

The little writings are my understanding of even deeper levels and more potent of each of the six feelings which very seldom come into my full and present awareness... but they are there... I invite the "Reverent, Humble and Noble" ones to be present more often. I wonder if I can only be aware of Reverent, Humble and Noble because I have become aware of Misery, Rage and Terror? I'll think on that.

So up went the new poster.

No... something still needs to be added. Back to the Cut Outs packet.

Loosely spread out the contents again looking for... something round. Ah, another sprocket - I'll see if I can find a place for it on the poster. And these hearts are roundish. If I find nothing better, these will do.

And on they went after trying here and there for the sprocket piece.

Here is the finished poster.

I find that I put the posters together thinking they reflect me at the time I make them - sometimes to help me have a vision of where I want to go.

Often I find them instructing me over the months as to where I am at less conscious levels.

Always they cause me to marvel at my sub-conscious and unconscious.
I will enjoy learning from this one.

In two minutes I am off to the Temple, then to lunch with Glenn (he's working the whole Friday today - 5:30 am until about 8:30pm with a 2 hour lunch break) then home for a client, then off to the airport to fetch Vi. She has been in KZN since mid December when we went to Cape Town. She will be glad in some ways and sorry in others to be home again.

Life is full of paradoxes isn't it?

The agony and the ecstasy inextricably linked...
"The terror and the wonder of being human" someone called it.

Here's the full quote:
"...live and love the paradoxes of life,
balancing both the terror and the wonder of being human."
Linda Schierse Leonard "The Wounded Woman" p 102

I Learn All the Time!

2012-01-04T09:07:00.005+02:00

I learnt last year when I was staying with Dianne - my natural hair is actually curly - see my new blog photo with my naturally curly hair. I didn't know that before, I thought it was just wavy. Thanks Dianne!

It's actually a great lot of work daily to have it that way, so I continue to straighten and just... sort of forget it between stylings. Nice to know though - when I want it curly I can just have it that way without too much fuss.

I learnt when I was staying with Pamela - you should apply moisuriser and leave ten minutes for it to soak in before applying any more make-up. I didn't know that before either! Thanks Pamela!

This is how I am using my ten minutes soak-in-time today.

By the way... my ankle is healing well. Rehabilitation time now. I do an exercise to increase its mobility and other exercises to strengthen the wasted muscles in ankle and calf.

Yesterday I went to the Botanic Garden to see if I would be able to manage the walk to where we do Tai Chi. I can, so when they start again this year I will be joining them.

Happy day to you all!

Happy Year to you all... I will be glad to see some of you in person and others of you I am so glad I can see you occasionally virtually, or talk to you by phone/skype etc.

Balance and Joy, Peace and on-going Healing to us all.

2011 - My Review

2012-01-03T06:00:00.008+02:00

Thanks Jen... http://www.jengrantmorris.blogspot.com/

What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Crack-fractured my ankle.

Did you keep your new year's resolutions?
"2011 - Step towards Heaven"
Parts of some of this, all of some of this.

Will you make more resolutions for next year?
Yes – I make simple and important ones every year.
"2012 - Share and Shelve" is my one for the New Year.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my neice Colleen, my neice-in-law Roxane, and one of my counselees.

Did anyone close to you die?
Yes – Brother Arnold. I miss you Brother Arnold.

What countries did you visit?
Actually – my own, and England.
Virtually – many others - including New Zealand through Jen’s blog.

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More restful sleep.
The Quickbooks balanced!
MAFMH.

What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day I proposed a solution which turned out to unfold into a Tender Mercy.
I don’t recall the exact date – I have the Moment clearly etched in my mind.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being involved in a particularly precious Tender Mercy.

What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to keep juggling all my commitments – needing to let go of one for a couple of months. Now I am dealing with the consequences of picking up that commitment again and including it in my juggling of interests and concerns for my daily life.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yep. Crack-fractured my ankle – most Challenging and Instructive.

What was the best thing you bought?
A surprising new skirt found a couple of weeks ago.
An effective new toaster last week.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Douglas. When I phoned him in distress he responded calmly and handled what needed handling and coordinated with all the people involved.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
One of my dear friends made a choice that still causes my heart and soul to ache.
One of my clients changed her mind, then reversed her decision months later.
My own unbridled, ungoverned, grumpiness on occasion.  

Where did most of your money go?
On investments for our retirement.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Tender Mercies of this past year.

What song(s) will always remind you of 2011?
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all (much) around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Words Henry F Lyte - 1793-1847; Music William H Monk - 1823 - 1889

Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Neither really –
I am generally in pursuit of being balanced (happy) in the various facets
of my life at any given time.
b) thinner or fatter?
Heavier. Already in hand and will soon be in my chosen weight range again.
c) richer or poorer?
Richer in many different ways.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Keeping in touch with those I care about - more diligently.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
“Comfort” eating.
Not really any long-term or lasting comfort – more like short-term desperate-eating,
Long-term hefty price to pay with several uncomfortable and inconvenient short and long-term consequences.

How will you be spending Christmas 2012?
In a meaningful way (for me) again – largely, or in private snatches throughout the day.

Where did you begin last year; and where did you end it?
Began less healthy, less complex – ended Healthier, more Instructive, and Constructive - a Huge Multi-faceted Learning Curve.

Did you fall in love in 2011?
Yes – with those who shoulder my Burdens with me,
and those who cheer me as I shoulder the Burdens I alone must carry.

What are your favorite TV programs?
Dr Phil, Oprah, Dr Oz.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No – I don’t hate anyone actually. I feel really sorry for some individuals.

What were the best books you read?
Non-fiction: Scriptures; Great Lives, Great Deeds.
Fiction… Don’t read much - usually only by recommendation…

What was your greatest musical discovery?
“Come Home” Penelope Moody Allen, Michael F Moody

Come home, the Father calls.
Come home, my child, to me.
Come home.
The Holy Ghost will lead you to eternity.

Lest we forget our home’s with God,
This lovely earth, its seas, its sky
And all things beautiful and true
of Heav’nly Father testify.

Come home, the Savior calls.
Come home all who’ll obey.
Come home. The gospel guides
along the straight and narrow way.

Come home, loved voices call.
Come home where you belong.
Come home to live in joy
forever in our fam’ly throng.

Words by Penelope Moody Allen
Music by Michael F. Moody
© 2008 by Penelope Moody Allen and Michael F. Moody.
All rights reserved.
This song may be copied for incidental,
noncommercial church or home use.
This notice must be included on each copy made.

What did you want and get?
A very wondrous and faith-promoting Tender Mercy.

What did you want and not get?
MAFMH.

What was your favorite film of this year?
Nothing stands out…

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I visited with our daughters in England.
I was 66 last birthday – I have had a fabulous year.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
MAFMH.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Dramatic classic. Time for some new injection and unfolding – I can feel it.

What kept you sane?
My spiritual, mental and physical health routines and disciplines.
Quiet sane living.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I am quite hopeful as I consider our Public Prosecutor and all those others among us with integrity.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Don’t much notice politics specifically – nothing comes to mind readily.

Who did you miss?
My daughters. My father. My mother.

Who were among the best new people you met?
Ken Dalgleish maybe – a new member of our writers group.
Galatea Economides maybe – also a new member of our writers group.
Ayanda Sidzatane - newly married and new in our Ward.
Tracy Benjamin, Mpho Modau, Matsie Leopeng, Joyce John - new members in our Ward.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Increasing long-term recovery is miraculously possible.
I can’t do “it” all myself.
I am getting older.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

It Was A Very Good Year
(I remember this crooned by Frank Sinatra)
Original words written by Ervin Drake
(below is my personal and abreviated adaptation…)

When I turned sixty six, it was a very good year.
It was a very good year
With loads of abundant cheer.
I retreat from the ‘world’ stage – now I am sixty six.

************
I know my days are shorter,
I'm in the Autumn of my years
Now I thankfully draw
Treasures from my Store
Laid up in days of yore – these help me open doors.

My Life pours Sweet and Clear.
It’s been a VERY good year.

Cheers 2011 -
I took some wonderful steps towards Heaven.

"Memo to Me When I am 75"

2012-01-02T08:00:00.002+02:00

Food for thought in this new year of 2012:
There is plenty for me to work on in this document that I have kept a while...

Letter from John to John
Written: age 60
Intended reading date: age 75+

1. Don't try to organise your children in their own homes. Let them organise you.

2. If it doesn't matter, don't make an issue of it.

3. Given your age, you probably will be forgetful. Write things down and don't repeat yourself.

4. Pursue photography, woodworking, birding and golfing interests to make yourself socially interactive. Also try to be reasonably up to date with current affairs.

5. Your children have grown older and wiser as well. Don't reject their ideas. Respect their ideas, especially those from financially wise children. Their ideas will be more up to date than yours, and possibly more appropriate in the financial environment of the time.

6. Don't procrastinate when it comes to relocating to smaller, more appropriate accommodation as personal circumstances change. Avoid holding on to the family home when your needs reduce, even though the home may hold precious memories. If your children are urging you to move, comply.

7. Arrange latter retirement accommodation around retirement facilities with frail care..., good access to medical attention and other services related to older people. Don't leave it too late.

8. Don't follow your children around, but, if they seem reasonably settled in one place, try to select a retirement facility near them. It will make it much easier for them, especially near the end.

9. Migrate your investments towards cash-related investments only, as time progresses. Continue with independent, objective advice from a financial advice company.

10. Eliminate unnecessary investment clutter. (Consolidate relatively small investments that are disconnected from the main.)

11. Put arrangements in place to make sure Jill (spouse) can become the principal medical scheme member without undue difficulty.

12. Make sure Jill always has enough cash to survive for one year after your death.

13. Update your will regularly, especially the annexures that detail investments and relevant reference and contact numbers.

14. Keep important documents in a central place so that your heirs can easily access such information.

15. Look after yourself and always look presentable. Your children would like to be proud of you.

16. Prioritise appropriate and regular exercise, especially walking and swimming.

17. Prioritize brain stimulation, especially piano playing and crossword puzzles.

18. Maintain annual medical check-ups.

19. At the appropriate time (around 75) sign a power of attorney in favour of Jill or John Jr so that your personal affairs can be managed during times of frailty or illness. Brief them as to where everything can be found, especially your will and living will. Don't leave this too long.

20. Everything you say should add some value to the conversation. Rather keep quiet than for the sake of saying something.

21. If not being spoken to, don't insist on being part of the conversation.

22. Never embarrass your children or grandchildren. They will avoid you if you do. If they are too fat or too thin, it's their problem, not yours - don't comment.

23. Be ruthless about clutter. If you don't need it or use it, pass it on or throw it away.

Bruce Cameron added

* Tell my children to tell me if they believe I am suffering from dementia.

* Accept that there will be times of loneliness, so don't talk endlessly to strangers. They will listen only out of politeness because they do not want to offend the elderly.

* Always give grandchildren chocolate cake for breakfast.

* Sell my motor vehicle or employ a driver as soon as I need assistance to stand up or I forget why I was out driving the car in the first place.

*Don't scale down my medical scheme option or cancel my membership altogether to save money rather do without somewhere else.

Saturday Star - Personal Finance - 27/3/10, p2

I add:

# Eat healthily. Make sure those around you know what you eat so they can feed you what works for your body when you cannot speak for yourself.

# Fill your mind with good stuff.

# Keep interested and interesting.

# Keep connected with your friends.

# Make and keep younger friends.

Happy Birthday Peter!

2011-12-29T09:43:00.000+02:00

We have shared some good memories!
I hope you have at least one really Sparkling Moment today!

Happy Birthday Patrick!

2011-12-29T08:00:00.002+02:00

I watch the shrub planted around the time you first came into our life. I see it growing bigger, healthy and beautiful. I think of you growing "bigger," "healthy" and "beautiful" too.

Wonderful opportunities we submit ourselves to...

Hope your day is tender and precious. Happy Birthday!

Blessings

2011-12-28T11:16:00.004+02:00

Whilst visiting Ron and Pamela these extra-ordinary books came to me:

Dianne you will be happy to see your red book. I will bring it with me when next I visit.

The yellow book is my mother's recipe book which was my favourite. I am delighted to have it!

Many happy memories of dipping into it and trying this or that recipe. I will probably find we cook differently these days... I shall still enjoy poring over it anyway and remembering.

Thanks Ron and Pamela for the books.

Christmas Day

2011-12-25T17:02:00.005+02:00

We had Doug and Nadia, Jarom Ethan Daena and Cabryn visiting us for lunch today!
Great fun opening presents...

They will all be baking cupcakes and learning as they bake...

Our Church service this morning had some wonderful talks.

We had our three Wards combined with the three Bishops, the Soweto Stake President and two members of the Seventy - they are all in our three Wards.

Some quotes:

"Reflecting on our Christmases Past, our Christmases present and our Christmases future, let us not say another year 'Oops, I've lost Christmas.'" Kathryn Diab

"The Christmas tree without decorations is like the Chapel without people - quiet and empty. I look over this congregation and see the brightly coloured decorations of our Chapel which give it light and colour - with the smallest ones making the most noise... We know the words of the Christmas carols and sing louder. We can learn the words of the other hymns and sing louder all year." John Lombard

Nadia gave a most inspiring talk that had me shedding tears - I didn't take notes.

"One day when we stand before the Saviour we will have a recollection of all our guilt. Those of the Kingdom of the Father do the will of the Father... Live the gospel with exactness... We can, and ought to, do better: being more forgiving, more kind, more patient, not finding fault but uplifting. I am aquainted with the Lord. I have become aquainted with the Lord irrespective of the calling I hold. The God we worship is not dead. It is not a light matter. Our glorious Father sent His beloved Son Jesus Christ. Be true to the sacred trust." Elder Christoffel Golden Jr

A lovely way to celebrate the Birthday of the Saviour of the World with the World.

And, yes, we lit the Birthday candle and thought of Him as we watched it burn right down.

Jesus' Birthday Candle

2011-12-24T12:09:00.002+02:00

Ready for lighting tomorrow as we celebrate the event of His birth. I am so grateful He condescended to come and live among us and show us a better Way to Live.

Blessed Christmas to You and Yours

2011-12-24T06:00:00.002+02:00

We hope you have a memorable Christmas 2011 - remembering too how very blessed we all are.

God bless us all in 2012.

Happy Birthday Shawn!

2011-12-22T10:00:00.000+02:00

A LOT has changed since this day...

Hope your day today is just what gladdens your heart!

Monday This Week

2011-12-22T09:15:00.001+02:00

Les treated us to a trip to his Garden of Eden workplace - Kirstenbosch.
We paused in the dell at the natural spring source long ago transformed into a bathing place.
Thanks for these pictures Les. I left my camera in the car. What was I thinking!?

You can see a bit of the bath behind us.

And off again on a sunset flight - to home, beloved home.

Goodbye Cape Town.

Lovely clouds.

Goodbye Robben Island - get to see you another time.

The two hour flight is a pleasure!

Doug fetched us at Lanseria. Thanks Doug for keeping the home-fires watched over from next door.

Sunday Last/This Week

2011-12-22T09:10:00.001+02:00

Sunday was filled with beautiful Christmas music sung at Ward and Stake Level.

I sang with the Powrie group in item 2 "He Sent His Son", and in item 8 "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" - the Relief Society group.

The organisers of the Ward programme:

Later in the day we joined the Stake in enjoying this wonderful programme.

Excellent renditions reminding us of the Reason for the Season.

Thank you all those who blessed my life with your music this Sabbath day.

We also met several we have not seen for a long time: Ann van Vuuren, Trevor and Sarie Herbert (by the way - they are the parents of Shelly's husband Andrew), Duncan and his wife MacMillan, Ian Wrench; and we saw from home: Emelian Agyare-Dwomoh.

Saturday Last Week

2011-12-22T09:00:00.004+02:00

Tim just can't help being a nice guy... because that's who he is...
We went to Fishoek to have fish and chips on the rocks... Lots of people. We pause in the traffic and a young woman comes darting to Tim's driver's window (Jonathan driving) "Do you have jumper cables? I left my lights on and the car won't start..." "I do." says Tim thoughtfully and proceeds to get the cables to help her. He murmurs to me as he passes "I just put them in the car this morning..."

We drove on, got the best fish and chips in the country and walked to the rocks with the seagulls hovering hopefully. Wonderful time together eating wonderful fish and chips!

Three of my beloved men. How fortunate am I to have many others as well!

We took the Chapman's Peak drive. Some ruins along the way:

How's that for wind-blown!

Breath-taking. Hot too!

And up over Ou Kaapse Weg. Lovely views from the top.

Plenty of wild flowers on all the mountainsides.

Home again and off with Ron and Pamela for a walk on one of the West Coast beaches near their home.

I stopped to buy a newspaper for the TV viewing for the week. As I came out of the store this is the view I had. Wonderful!

Thank you all for another wonderful day in your beautiful City.

Friday Last Week

2011-12-22T06:15:00.003+02:00

Thanks Tim for organising two of your children to join us for breakfast.

Jonathan, Tim and Susan.

Tim, Glenn and I took a drive up Table Mountain. Tim parked his bakkie beneath some friendly pine trees and I relaxed whilst they walked and took a climb up part of the mountain.
Lovely views. Peaceful time I spent there.

Hot day and the long queues of people wanting to go up the cable car earlier had dissipated by the time we left the mountain.

Ron, Pamela, Glenn and I travelled together to the reason for our trip this weekend to the Cape - A Carol Evening organised by my cousin and her husband for family and friends - held at their home in Simon's Town. This house was built by my Uncle Paul and Aunt Pixie so I visited there frequently as a child. Uncle Paul was the Naval Attache in Portugal so there are influences of Portugal all over the house.

Allan - our host and Cindy (Les and Sally's daughter) playing the piano.
The singing was earnest and joyous.

Some of the crowd - Rohan, Colleen and Amy to the right of the picture. Gillian sitting in the chair in the corner.

The three children there dressed as Nativity characters.

Peaceful view over False Bay from the pool deck - with the soft sound of the sea below.

Cindy played beautifully throughout the evening. Her sister Colleen is standing next to her - they sang a duet of O Holy Night.

Pool deck just outside the lounge area.

Charming piano decoration.

I liked the reflections of the inside of the room and the view outside mingled in this photograph.

Some of the family and friends on the pool deck. Andrew, Shelly and children Joshua, 3yrs old, and Hannah, one plus, decided not to come. When I see the pictures of the pool I realise I would not have had a relaxed moment if the little ones had been there! Probably neither would the parents. Times and seasons... Benefits and sacrifices...

You can just see Elisabeth van Heesh (my cousin - Aunt Ruth's daughter [my mother's sister]) , then Sally, Gillian (my cousin - Aunt Pixie's daughter [my father's sister]), and her husband Allan Grose. Allan and Gillian were the hosts of the Carol evening in their home.

Goodbye Simon's Town and twinkling lights...

Thanks Les for inviting us a few weeks ago - 6th November part of email:

"If you can get to the Fairest Cape again 16 December we have our annual gathering at the Grose home in Simonstown for carolling and family get-together. It is really fun. Cindy reckons it is awesome, the highlight of Christmas."

I thought "Why not? Let's do it." I am glad we did. I am glad we could.

Thursday Last Week

2011-12-22T06:00:00.001+02:00

What a way to start the day... 5:45am and a gorgeous sunrise at Lanseria.

Les fetched us and off we went to see and tend Mom's grave on the way to Les and Sally's home.

We took a trip to the Waterfront. Holiday atmosphere.

A little bird so casually trotting ahead of us - that's Cindy's hand in its protective gear - she manages tendonitis which flares at times when she plays the piano a lot.

And off to the beach - Glen Beach next door to Camps Bay. Now THIS is my favourite kind of beach!

White sand, granite rocks, crashing beautiful blue sea. Even an overcast day - just for me!

Interesting patterns in the sand.

And on our way home we visited my cousin Patrick - Aunt Ruth and Uncle Ulick McNally's son.

He is holding the shield presented to him by the hospital where he worked - for long service.
Good to see you again Patrick!

We had a lovely home supper with Ron and Pamela - Tim was there too.
We slept at Ron and Pamela's peaceful home for the four nights we were away.

Taking Back Christmas for Christ

2011-12-21T05:59:00.003+02:00

Mary-Ann Shearer writes...

"For many years since becoming a Christian I have questioned the celebration of Christmas. It struck me early on that Christmas as celebrated by the world was so commercial and meaningless with Santa and Rudolph and Holly and Ivy, Jingle Bells and Wishing Wells. In fact Christmas in our family had been traditionally a time of tension and family disputes, probably connected to the financial strain of overspending in December and with it seeing family members we might not usually (want to) spend time with.

Anyway over the years we read various things about Christmas being a pagan holiday and that it should not be observed by true believers, so Christmas kind of drifted into a place where it irritated us and we tried to avoid all the trappings, wrappings, the malls and parties.

We gave gifts, grudgingly, to our children and told everyone else we did not celebrate it and Mark especially would get very irritated by our staff in the business all expecting bonuses and special treatment.

Anyway in December 2008 God laid on my heart that we need to invite people over for lunch on Christmas day, that were far from their home countries - like we were in 2007 when we spent our first Christmas outside of South Africa in the USA. While there we were shown such love and hospitality by friends in California, that we had our best Christmas ever and I began to realise that Christmas is a very powerful time of the year, as it gives us a perfect opportunity to show love, kindness and care to even strangers without being treated with suspicion. The fact that the world celebrates it is pretty mind-blowing even though they focus on the wrong thing.

With this on my mind and also wanting to make this a time to remember for our grandson, Stephen, who lives with us, this year God prompted me to ask 3 Zimbabweans and 16 DRC (Congolese) refugees to have lunch with us, included were 8 children for Stephen to play with.

I decided to drag out the long forgotten Christmas decorations and Mark and Stephen went down to the small forest at the bottom of our garden and cut us a small tree.

Sitting with Stephen I wanted to make decorating the tree about God and His grace and not about presents and noise and flashing lights and it came to me that;

The Tree

Symbolises the tree of Life.
This represents Christ in whom God has given us New Life.

It also symbolises God’s awesome creation.
Conifers are traditionally used as Christmas trees and as I had been looking for trees in my garden to plant as wind breaks (we live in a windy area), I realised that Conifers are also most commonly used as wind breaks because they can stand the wind because of their long and strong tap root system. This tree represents us being in Christ, we have roots that reached down deep, so deep that we can be pummelled all day and night by the winds of life and remain stable and firm and be a ‘wind break’ for others’ It is the conifers that grow the tallest and live the longest in our windy area, and man - can this wind pump; sometimes up to speeds of 60km/h. So strong that it rips off roofs and can, and did, recently blow over a large bus in Cape Town!

In Christ we protect others from the storms of life, we have deep roots that find water in the driest times and reach the highest heights we need to live lives of purpose and meaning, we should soften the wind, and give much needed shade and on the hottest days when the temperature reaches over 40C (over 100oF) give off a sweet fragrance just like the conifers do.

It is when under fire and tested that we become more like Him.

The Lights and Tinsel

Represents our Messiah, Jesus Christ being the Light of the world and as such our Saviour. The tinsel represents us becoming lights to the world by reflecting His light.

The Lights represent God’s word, which is the light to our path.

The Angels

They were the first to bring the good news to the world that our Saviour was born in Bethlehem.

They are a reminder that we need to take this good news and share it with the world, to preach the good news to the uttermost corners of the world.

They are also a reminder that our loving Father gives His angels charge over us.

The Baubles and the colour Red

I explained to Stephen that the baubles represent the world and that God so loved this world that He sent His only son to die in our place and save us. We have red baubles and I explained that red on the tree and at Christmas represents the blood that was shed for us – God’s Grace.

The Gifts

Represent the ultimate gift, the most perfect gift that God has given us, our salvation through His son and sharing Christ’s inheritance, as we become sons and daughters of the most High God!

With this in mind we attended a small Christmas service at a little Baptist church down the road and when the pastor asked who had a testimony to share about Christmas, I suddenly realised that I had a wonderful testimony; I had surrendered my life to Christ many years ago on 25 December 1974. It then came to me that my Joy had been stolen, and I had been deceived into believing that because Christmas had become commercial I needed to avoid it, but in fact I had the best reason to throw a huge party and celebrate, because I had met my Saviour on this day and been given a New Life forever!

Right there in that little church under the trees I decided that I was going to spend 2009 taking back Christmas for Christ because we, all of us believers have a reason to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and the tree, the giving of God’s ultimate gift to the world, His only son, that we might spend eternity with Him. My only regret is that I have avoided celebrating His gift to me for over 20 years! Man have I some catching up to do!

So what of the 23 people for Christmas lunch?

It was our best Christmas ever; we shared our testimonies of how we came to Christ and spent a day with people that could give us nothing except the joy of knowing that it IS more blessed to give than receive and a reminder of why we will always celebrate Christmas and why we need to Take Back Christmas for Christ.

Join me in my quest to take back Christmas for Christ and search for the real reason we celebrate at this time of the year!"

(I made minor punctuation and spelling changes)

Blessed Christmas to us all as we celebrate with the world - in the world, but not of it, as we rejoice and remember the birth of our Saviour, Jesus the Christ.

14 Day Walk - Day 14 - Ponder. Commit. Re-Commit.

2011-12-20T07:21:00.001+02:00

Moroni: 7:40-48 - What is the pure love of Christ?
These 14 days have I felt a greater love for my Saviour? Have I felt His love for me?
How can I show Him that I live a little more each day as He would have me live?

“His Hands"

His hands... Tools of creation...
Stronger than nations Power without end....
And yet through them...
We find our truest friend.

His hands... Sermons of kindness...
Healing men's blindness
Halting years of pain...
Children waiting...
To be held again.

His hands would serve His whole life through
Showing man what hands might do
Giving, ever giving endlessly
Each day was filled with selflessness
And I'll not rest ...
Til I make of my hands what they could be
Like the ones from Galilee.

His hands... Warming a beggar...
Lifting a leper
Calling back the dead...
Breaking bread...
Five thousand fed.

His hands... Hushing contention...
Pointing to Heaven
Ever free of sin...
Then bidding man to follow Him

They take his hands...
His mighty hands...
Those gentle hands
And then they pierce them...
They pierce them
He lets them because of love
From birth to death...
Was selflessness
And clearly now...
I see Him with His hands calling to me
And though I'm not yet how I could be
I will make my hands like those from Galilee.

(Words taken from the song "His Hands" – Kenneth Cope)

14 Day Walk - Day 13 - Learn

2011-12-19T06:00:00.001+02:00

Seek learning even by study and also by faith.

How can the Holy Ghost help me to know the truth?

D&C 88:118
And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

How can I gain a knowledge of Jesus Christ?
Do I take the time to read my scriptures each day?
Do I take the time to pray AND listen for the answers?
In all my decisions today will I ask, "What would Christ do?"

“I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;
And by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive“ (D&C 11:11-14; emphasis added).

Analogies with physical light help us understand the power of spiritual light.
A bulb ignited in a dark room overpowers darkness. Yet if the darkness is too intense, it can overpower light, as with a bulb plunged into a bucket of black ink.
Spiritual light overcomes the darkness of ignorance and disbelief.
When transgression severely clouds a life, the focused spiritual truths of repentance cut the blackness as a laser penetrates the darkest ink.."

14 Day Walk - Day 12 - Refine Attitude

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000+02:00

- Look for the Positive in All Things

Do I see myself and others as Heavenly Father sees us?

Do my thoughts and actions affect my attitude?

Am I living my life so that those who know me but don't know the Savior will want to know Him?
Will I be touched by the Master's Hand as I live my life?

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge Part of talk: Richard G. Scott Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86

President Ezra Taft Benson emphasized the importance of spiritual knowledge, saying:
We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit. The most important [thing] you can do is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. Learn the doctrine. Master the principles.

You must see that searching the scriptures is not a burden laid upon [us] by the Lord, but a marvellous blessing and opportunity (Ensign, Nov. 1986, p. 47).
President Spencer W. Kimball commented:

Spiritual learning takes precedence. The secular without the foundation of the spiritual is like the foam upon the milk, the fleeting shadow. One need not choose between the two for there is opportunity to get both simultaneous (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 390).

As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles. Carefully separate them from the detail used to explain them. Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances. A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and compelling circumstances. It is worth great effort to organize the truth we gather to simple statements of principle. I have tried to do that with gaining spiritual knowledge. The result is now shared in hope that it will be a beginning place for your study. That statement of principle is:
To acquire spiritual knowledge and to obey it with wisdom, one must:
In humility, seek divine light.
Exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
Hearken to His counsel.
Keep His commandments.
As spiritual knowledge unfolds, it must be understood, valued, obeyed, remembered, and expanded.

The following scriptures teach why we should seek divine light.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105; emphasis added).
I, the Lord, will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words (2 Ne. 10:14; emphasis added).
It is I that speak; I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee.
Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. (D&C 11:11,12)

Happy Birthday Dennis...

2011-12-15T09:41:00.001+02:00

Fare thee well Dennis - fare thee very well...

14 Day Walk - Day 11 - Do Good Works

2011-12-15T06:00:00.003+02:00

Alma 41:3 - And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.

Do I possess Christ-like qualities of patience, brotherly kindness, and charity?

What can I do to better develop those qualities within myself?

Am I willing to give up things of the world in order to receive His good gifts?

Do something to lift another today.

“The Joy of Womanhood,” Margaret D. Nadauld, Ensign, Nov 2000, 14–16

I am inspired by the lives of good and faithful women. From the beginning of time the Lord has placed significant trust in them. He has sent us to earth for such a time as this to perform a grand and glorious mission. The Doctrine and Covenants teaches, “Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labour in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men” (D&C 138:56). What a wonderful vision that gives us of our purpose on earth.

Where much is given, much is required. Our Heavenly Father asks His daughters to walk in virtue, to live in righteousness so that we can fulfil our life’s mission and His purposes. He wants us to be successful, and He will help us as we seek His help.

That women were born into this earth female was determined long before mortal birth, as were the divine differences of male and female. I love the clarity of the teachings of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve in the proclamation on the family, where they state, “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” From that statement we are taught that every girl was feminine and female in spirit long before her mortal birth.

God sent women to earth with some qualities in extra capacity. In speaking to young women, President Faust observed that femininity “is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your … capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each … possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.”

Our outward appearance is a reflection of what we are on the inside. Our lives reflect that for which we seek. And if with all our hearts we truly seek to know the Saviour and to be more like Him, we shall be, for He is our divine, eternal Brother. But He is more than that. He is our precious Saviour, our dear Redeemer. We ask with Alma of old, “Have ye received his image in your countenances?” (Alma 5:14).

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their outward appearance. These women understand their stewardship over their bodies and treat them with dignity. They care for their bodies as they would a holy temple, for they understand the Lord’s teaching: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16). Women who love God would never abuse or deface a temple with graffiti. Nor would they throw open the doors of that holy, dedicated edifice and invite the world to look on. How even more sacred is the body, for it was not made by man. It was formed by God. We are the stewards, the keepers of the cleanliness and purity with which it came from heaven. “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor. 3:17).

Grateful daughters of God guard their bodies carefully, for they know they are the wellspring of life and they reverence life. They don’t uncover their bodies to find favour with the world. They walk in modesty to be in favour with their Father in Heaven. For they know He loves them dearly.

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their attitude. They know that the errand of angels is given to women, and they desire to be on God’s errand to love His children and minister to them, to teach them the doctrines of salvation, to call them to repentance, to save them in perilous circumstances, to guide them in the performance of His work, to deliver His messages. 3 They understand that they can bless their Father’s children in their homes and neighbourhoods and beyond. Women who are grateful to be daughters of God bring glory to His name.

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their abilities. They fulfill their divine potential and magnify their God-given gifts. They are capable, strong women who bless families, serve others, and understand that “the glory of God is intelligence” (D&C 93:36). They are women who embrace enduring virtues in order to be all that our Father needs them to be. The prophet Jacob spoke of some of those virtues when he said their “feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God” (Jacob 2:7).

You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their reverence for motherhood, even when that blessing has been withheld from them for a time. In those circumstances, their righteous influence can be a blessing in the lives of children they love. Their exemplary teachings can echo the voice of a faithful home and resonate truth in the hearts of children who need another witness.

Grateful daughters of God love Him and teach their children to love Him without reservation and without resentment. They are like the mothers of Helaman’s youthful army, who had such great faith and “had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them” (Alma 56:47).

When you observe kind and gentle mothers in action, you see women of great strength. Their families can feel a spirit of love and respect and safety when they are near her as she seeks the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the guidance of His Spirit. They are blessed by her wisdom and good judgment. The husbands and children, whose lives they bless, will contribute to the stability of societies all over this world. Grateful daughters of God learn truths from their mothers and grandmothers and aunts. They teach their daughters the joyful art of creating a home. They seek fine educations for their children and have a thirst for knowledge themselves. They help their children develop skills that they can use in serving others. They know that the way they have chosen is not the easy way, but they know it is absolutely worth their finest efforts.

They understand what Elder Neal A. Maxwell meant when he said: “When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighbourhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?”

Daughters of God know that it is the nurturing nature of women that can bring everlasting blessings, and they live to cultivate this divine attribute. Surely when a woman reverences motherhood, her children will arise up and call her blessed (see Prov. 31:28).

Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.

Sisters, regardless of your age, please understand all that you are and must be, all that you were prepared to be in royal courts on high by God Himself. May we use with gratitude the priceless gifts we have been given for the lifting of mankind to higher thinking and nobler aspirations, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The Touch of the Master's Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought
it scarcely worth his while To waste his time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good friends?" He cried.
"Who'll start the bidding for me? One dollar! Only one? And who will make it two? Two dollars, once. And Three! Three dollars, once. And three dollars, twice. And going, and going," but no...

From the back of the room a grey-haired man came forward and picked up the bow.
And wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet as carolling angels sing.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and low, Said,
"What am I bid for the old violin?"
As he held up the bow.
"One thousand dollars, and who'll make it two. Two thousand dollars, and three! Three thousand, once. And three thousand, twice. And going, and going, and gone!" said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We don't quite understand
What changed its worth."
Swift came the reply.
"Twas the touch of the master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like this old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine. A game and he travels on.
He's going once, and going twice. And going, and almost gone.
But the Master comes, and the thoughtless crowd never can quite understand
The worth of a soul, and the change that is wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

Recipe - Ginger Drops

2011-12-14T18:31:00.005+02:00

I got this recipe from Sister Mellander - Older couple missionary.
We love these gingery biscuits!

Ginger Drops

Mix together (1)

3 cups flour
2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 Tablespoon ground ginger
pinch salt

Cream together (2)

175g margerine
175g butter
2 c white sugar

Add to (2)
4 Tablespoons molasses or treacle
2 eggs

Mix (1) into (2)

Drop by spoonsful onto ungreased baking sheet allowing for spreading
Bake 200C for 12 – 15 minutes. This mixture makes about 5 dozen
Cool slightly before carefully removing from baking sheet onto cooling rack

Enjoy!

14 Day Walk - Day 10 - Pause to Help and Lift Another

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000+02:00

“A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another”

We need to walk more resolutely and more charitably the path that Jesus has shown. We need to “pause to help and lift another” and surely we will find “strength beyond [our] own.”
If we would do more to learn “the healer’s art,” there would be untold chances to use it, to touch the “wounded and the weary” and show to all “a gentle[r] heart.” Yes, Lord, we should follow thee.

“A new commandment I give unto you,” he said, “That ye love one another; … By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35.)

This love that we should have for our brothers and sisters in the human family, and that Christ has for every one of us, is called charity or “the pure love of Christ.” (Moro. 7:47.)

It is the love that prompted the suffering and sacrifice of Christ’s atonement. It is the highest pinnacle the human soul can reach and the deepest expression of the human heart. Howard W. Hunter, “A More Excellent Way,” Ensign, May 1992, 61

Do something to lift another today.

Happy Anniversary Mike and Jodi!

2011-12-13T09:34:00.001+02:00

You've come a long way so far - since not so long ago...

And Eternity ahead of you - Congratulations!
Press forward onward, ever onward - with our love and God's blessings.

14 Day Walk - Day 9 - Choose

2011-12-13T06:00:00.001+02:00

Do I strive to make my weaknesses become strengths?

Do I think about the Saviour when I have a choice to make?

Will my decisions cause the Saviour to suffer?

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 14:15 …choose you this day whom ye will serve; …as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

“In His Steps,” Ensign, Ezra Taft Benson, Sep 1988, 2

In all ages prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it—this is a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time than there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been so well organized. Now is the great day of the devil’s power. But now is also the great day of the Lord’s power, with the greatest number of priesthood holders on the earth.

Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last days and fulfil our foreordained missions?

Great battles can make great heroes and heroines. We will never have a better opportunity to be valiant in a more crucial cause than in the battle we face today and in the immediate future. Some of the greatest battles we will face will be fought within the silent chambers of our own souls. David’s battles in the field against the foe were not as critical as David’s battles in the palace against a lustful eye.

Each of us has his or her own battlefield. The tactics which the enemy will use against us will vary from time to time. He will seek to exploit our weak spots, so we must be alert to the devil’s devious designs—the subtle sins and clever compromises as well as the obvious offences.
We must remember that the devil seeks to make all men miserable like unto himself. We must also remember that the Lord loves us and seeks for us the fullness of joy which He enjoys. We must choose whom we will serve.

Christ lived on earth and was subject to all manner of temptation, but He won every battle. He is the most successful warrior that ever walked the earth, and He wants to help us win every battle, be it personal or public. When we fall short, His atonement will compensate for us on condition of our repentance.

Jesus knows His kingdom will triumph, and He wants us to triumph with it. He knows in advance every strategy the enemy will use against us and the kingdom. He knows our weaknesses and He knows our strengths. By personal revelation, we may discover some of our strengths through careful and prayerful study of our patriarchal blessing. In prayer we can ask Him to reveal to us our weaknesses so that we can amend our lives. The Lord has promised:
“If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. … if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27.)

My ancestors’ experiences as handcart pioneers on Rocky Ridge in 1856 reminded me that we are not alone in our struggles.

My second great-grandmother Julia Hill and her sister Emily were baptized as teens in England, and then their parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Hill, disowned them.

Nevertheless, Julia and Emily earned their own passage to America and sailed from Liverpool on the ship Thornton. Also on board this ship was Captain James G. Willey, who led the fourth handcart company west.

Once 23-year-old Julia and 20-year-old Emily arrived in Iowa, they joined the Willey handcart company. Early winter snowstorms caused everyone to suffer from hunger and exposure. On Rocky Ridge in Wyoming, many starved or froze to death. Those who survived were comforted in their suffering by their testimonies of Jesus Christ. But I believe what saved Julia and Emily, in addition to their testimonies, was their love for each other as sisters.

Drawing Strength

During one particularly difficult time for me, I prayed for understanding and had a dream about Julia and Emily. Their example of sisterhood lifted and encouraged me. Whether what I saw in my dream really happened exactly as I imagined does not matter to me. What does matter is the lesson I learned. I came to see clearly the parallel between it and my own struggle.

In my dream, I could see Julia and Emily stranded in the snow on the windy summit of Rocky Ridge with the rest of the Willey handcart company. They had no heavy clothing to keep them warm. Julia was sitting in the snow, shaking. She could not carry on. Emily, who was freezing as well, knew that if she did not help Julia stand up, Julia would die. As Emily wrapped her arms around her sister to help her up, Julia began to cry—but no tears came, only soft whimpering sounds. Together they walked slowly to their handcart. Thirteen died that terrible night. Julia and Emily survived.

We all have trials, but like Julia and Emily we needn’t perish on the windswept summit alone. Though we may feel abandoned, we are not. The Saviour is near, and our brothers and sisters in the gospel are near as well. Perhaps we can even do as Emily did and lift another, even though we ourselves are suffering. When we do this, our brothers and sisters become as important as ourselves. We become sanctified—made clean and holy through our service. We become more like our Saviour.

Julia and Emily understood this.

Moments of Deep Sadness

2011-12-13T05:51:00.004+02:00

We went to our Desert Club.
Carol Venables was finishing off the preparing of a wonderful dinner for us all.
Tony, her usual able and willing helper, was in bed - just fetched from tests in hospital.
Her daughter Kathryn (Catherine?) was helping her.
I had a deeply sad moment.
My daughters are so far away...

With my monthly magazine came a book of crossword and other mental puzzles.
I thought "If I lived closer to... who is it? I know either Angela or Gillian just loves puzzles... I can't remember... If we lived closer together I would know."
Another moment of very deep sadness...

All this amidst being profoundly aware of the miracles as we approach the conclusion of sacred Family Services work that has been ongoing for about a year.
Also the miracle of my ankle healing and being gratefully aware of the incremental progress -my injury was 10 weeks ago.

What a rich and meaningful life I am blessed to live.
I am grateful for all these things in my life that give me heart-tenderising experience, and that I know are for my good and God's glory.

Remember this Jane?!

2011-12-12T08:53:00.004+02:00

We were visiting Glastonbury (if I remember correctly...). As we walked down a quaint side street we heard urgent, slightly raised voices... We discovered a couple of young adults were trying to move the couch through the door.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of their effort at solving their problem.

I hope they accomplished their objective...

14 Day Walk - Day 8 - Be Good

2011-12-12T06:00:00.001+02:00

Do I do the right things for the right reasons?

Do I set a righteous example for others?

Do I believe that Heavenly Father is watching over me and knows what I do?

Col 1:10 - That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

“I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on roses
And the voice I hear falling
On my ear the son of God discloses

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known”

Merle Haggard

Happy Birthday Phillipa!

2011-12-11T08:29:00.004+02:00

Happy Birthday sweet Phillipa!
Here are some of my favourite photographs of you...

Thanks for the memories dear granddaughter - God bless you.

Solid, Soaking Rain

2011-12-09T12:19:00.003+02:00

Rivulets of wonderful cool rain - it's been raining for hours and hours - just what we need!

14 Day Walk - Day 7 - Keep His Commandments

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001+02:00

In the spring we often see kites flying freely in the air. At first you assume the kite string is holding the kite down and as you hold the string you can feel the kite tugging to be set free. You imagine that if you let go of the string, the kite would soar off into the atmosphere. But in reality if you let go of the string, what happens to the kite? It plummets to the earth. The commandments are like the kite string. They appear to others to be holding us down, keeping us from soaring, when in reality it is our obedience to the commandments that allow us to reach our highest potential as sons and daughters of Heavenly Father.

1 Nephi 2:20 - And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.

Do I keep the commandments and do I realize they are given to us by a loving Father in Heaven who wants the best for us?

The Power of Example, Tambuli, Apr. 1982, By President N. Eldon Tanner

The example we set before the world will determine, in large measure, whether we gain friends or enemies. It is most important that each of us live according to the standards of the Church, adhering to the precepts of the gospel and keeping the commandments of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which have been so well defined for us.

It is always impressive to read the stirring stories of what can be accomplished through the power of good example. I recently read a story which I would like to repeat. A non-member relates that about ten years ago he was assistant manager of a discount store where they hired 16-18 year old students to work the night shift. He stated:
“I don't remember how I hired the first Mormon girl, who was about 16 or 17, and I don't even remember her name. But I'll never forget her example. She was unusually honest, dependable and neat and clean, yet those words can't fully describe her the way I'd like. Compared to other kids, she was really noticeable. “

Soon he hired one of her friends and found that she, too, was an exemplary employee. Both were friendly and helpful in their attitudes towards other employees and the customers.

Pretty soon I tried to hire any more of their Mormon friends that I could find. Individually and collectively, they were the best people I ever had work for me, he said. Never was there a single occasion when any of them disappointed me or proved to be untrustworthy. They were the finest employees and fellow workers than anyone could want.

One night he wanted a pizza for dinner but was unable to leave the store, so one of the Mormon girls went to get it for him. When she returned he found she had been in a minor accident. He offered to pay for the damages to her car because she was on his errand, but she refused, saying it was her responsibility. He said: “I didn't think many young people that age would have that kind of character and I've never forgotten it.”

This man recently met some LDS missionaries through his son, has had some of the discussions, and has attended some meetings. “I have found that the things I admired in those girls 10 years ago are also found among the Mormon adults I have met, he said. I like their emphasis on the family and they seem to me like the happiest group of people I have ever met.”

How wonderful it would be if all of us could make that kind of impression on those with whom we come in contact!

Another recent article about a conversion carried this headline: “Example Is Vital Conversion Factor.”

We hear many stories of conversions through the example of some of our members, but think of the impact if we all were having so as to influence others by our example.
We are fortunate to have the gospel of Jesus Christ and to understand what it can mean to us as we prepare ourselves here to live forever in the presence of God. The world does not understand the meaning of eternal life; we have the opportunity and responsibility, therefore, to teach all nations this glorious principle.

14 Day Walk - Day 6 - Hold to the Rod

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000+02:00

What does ‘Hold to the Iron Rod’ mean to me?

How does the word of God lead to the joy and happiness by partaking of the tree of life?

If the Saviour came today, would I be worthy to kneel at his feet?

By faithfully holding fast to the word of God, we are led to a fullness of joy.
Although the young man in the story is much younger than many of us. The story has good insight into this subject.

Tears of frustration filled my eyes, so I couldn’t make sense of the words I had been reading.

“And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward,” read the verses I was studying for seminary. “And they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree” (1 Ne. 8:24).

I was 14 and struggling. I didn’t have many friends. Those I had were beginning to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, pornography, and immoral behaviour. The pressure to participate was growing daily. I was struggling to stand up for my beliefs. I was struggling to find friends. I could understand why temptation was called “mists of darkness” (1 Ne. 12:17). I felt blind to the light of the Spirit.

I was trying to do what was right, doing my best to follow “the path which led to the tree” (1 Ne. 8:22). But I could relate to those people “who had commenced in the path” but were lost because of the “mist of darkness.” I felt like I had “wandered off and [was] lost” too (1 Ne. 8:23).

I rarely cried. But that night in my room, as I read those verses, I couldn’t keep the tears from spilling out. I really felt lost, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted a solid metal handrail right there by my bed that I could grab on to and follow back to heaven.

My seminary teacher had said the rod of iron symbolizes the word of God in the scriptures and given through the prophets today. But I couldn’t hold on to a symbol. I shut my scriptures and poured my heart into prayer: “Father, where is my iron rod?”

The question stuck in my head for days. Then one night, like Lehi, I “dreamed a dream” (1 Ne. 8:2).

In my dream I was on my stomach on the seminary classroom floor. Something behind me held my legs so tightly that I couldn’t get free, and it was slowly pulling me backwards. Terror smashed me so I could hardly breathe. I was too scared to look back, but I knew I was being dragged into a darkness that would mean more than death. It meant spiritual destruction.

I looked around desperately for anything I could grab on to. It was then that I saw in front of me the Book of Mormon resting on a chair. Somehow I knew that if I could just make it to the book, I would be safe.

I woke up halfway between safety and destruction. I knew I had to go one way or the other.

Suddenly, I was more interested in the Book of Mormon. But while the dream was my wake-up call to read the Book of Mormon, it was the actual reading that changed my life. The Lord blessed me for being obedient. I found spiritual strength in the face of temptations. I found confidence to break ties with my old friends and reassurance that I was better off by myself until my prayers to find better friends were answered.

Most important, I could feel the Spirit when I read the Book of Mormon. I could feel the love of God. It felt so good I never wanted to put the book down. I had found my iron rod.

Soon after, tears again blurred the words I was reading. But this time they were tears of joy as I read Nephi’s promise to his brothers.
“And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?

“And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction” (1 Ne. 15:23–34)

A Look Both Ways, Janet G. Lee, New Era, Feb. 1994, 46

My four-year-old niece Mollie was playing at her grandmother's house one day when she asked if she could cross the street to visit a favourite aunt. Mollie was cautioned to look carefully both ways before crossing. Always an inquisitive child, she questioned this procedure, so her grandmother replied, You could easily get hit by a car, and I love you so much I don't want anything to happen to you.

Before long Mollie was back. You lied to me! You said I would get hit by a car if I didn't look both ways. Well, I closed my eyes and ran over and back and a car didn't hit me!

Just as a loving grandmother cautioned a four-year-old child to look both ways before crossing a street, a loving Father in Heaven has given us detailed instructions to ensure our happiness and safe arrival at our ultimate destination.

Yet we often question the consequences, or think we can get away with taking chances, so we close our eyes to some of God's commandments and cross the street of life. At such times it appears that we might not get hurt if we obey only some of God's laws. But the Lord has said, 'Keep my commandments.' He didn't say, 'Look this list over and pick out what you think applies,' or Try to work on part of these some of the time.' His instructions were simple, yet direct and unqualified 'Keep my commandments'.

You can just close your eyes and rush across the road. But what if you do it when a car is coming?

Recipe - Vetkoek

2011-12-07T13:23:00.009+02:00

I was out of bread today so I made some Vetkoek a la Philippa Powrie
They are always delicious

Vetkoek

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (or more - to taste)
water to make a sticky mixture

Mix together lightly
Drop in by tablespoons into a pan with medium heat shallow oil
Allow to brown slowly
Turn over carefully
Brown on other side
Take out and cool

I like to eat lukewarm with butter and apricot jam, or butter and slices/grated cheddar cheese.
Simple... Delicious.

Thanks Mom!

14 Day Walk - Day 5 - Reap

2011-12-07T06:00:00.001+02:00

Reap the Fruits of Your Labours

Do not be discouraged. Be longsuffering, joyous and of good cheer.

Do I have the spirit of love, joy, peace and longsuffering?
They shall know me by my desires and works.

Alma 36:25
25 - Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labours;

14 Day Walk - Day 4 - Fish

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000+02:00

Be Ye Fishers of Men

Matthew 4:19 “ And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Pray for a missionary experience. “

Mark 1:17 “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. “

Read and ponder on this day’s words as you go about your God-given hours today.

Heber J. Grant said- The best way in the world to show our love for our neighbour is to go forth and proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ."

D&C 4:4 - For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

Luke 5:1-11
1 - "And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 - And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 - And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 - Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 - And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 - And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 - And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 - When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 - For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 - And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 - And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

The 'fishers of men' are covering the earth with the gospel net in search of the faithful. Joseph Smith said- 'We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object.'

Galatians 5:22 ,23
22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 - Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.

Proverbs 8:19 “My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.“

1 Nephi 8:10 “And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.”

1 Nephi 11:21-22
21 - And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
22 - And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which shedddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

D&C 18:38 “And by their desires and their works you shall know them. “

Heber J. Grant's Testimony
“I know that God lives, I know that Jesus is the Christ, I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, I know that the Gospel tree is alive, that it is growing, that the fruits of the Gospel growing upon the tree are good. I have reached out my hand, and have plucked the fruits of the Gospel, I have eaten of them and they are sweet, yea, above all that is sweet. That is the inspiration that comes to every Latter-day Saint who realizes the force of this Gospel that we have espoused. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the plan of life and salvation. God lives; Jesus is the Christ, and He is the chief corner stone of this great work He is directing it, and He will continue to direct it.”

Recipe - Apricot Jam

2011-12-05T16:29:00.003+02:00

We have a goodly crop of apricots this year - I just made the first of several batches. Here is my recipe:

I usually choose a time to cook it when I am cooking supper, or watching Television or listening to the radio...)

Apricot Jam

Pick a bowl of apricots
Depip and de-blemish them (no need to peel)
Weigh them
Put them in a bowl/pot
Weigh equal weight of sugar to weight of apricots
Pour the sugar over the apricots in the bowl - covering the fruit
Leave on the counter 12 to 18 hours for the sugar to melt/partially melt

The next day:

Select clean canning bottles

Put the bottles on their side (opening facing the door) in a 100 degree C oven
Put the clean lids aside where you plan to work when filling the bottles

Blend the apricots and sugar until fairly mushy
Pour into a pot/or two or three, until half full
Place on medium heated stove plate
Stir constantly to prevent the jam 'catching' on the bottom of the pot - the mixture will froth up, and over, if you don't watch and attend to it (Take the pot half of the stove if necessary, or lower the heat slightly, or blow the bubbles until they settle down, or all of these
Keep stirring regularly while the jam thickens whilst gently boiling away
(When I want to rest the spoon I put a peg on its handle and rest it against the side of the pot (spoon in the pot) so that the spoon stays from getting the handle all sticky)
The colour of the jam changes as it gets to ready
The jam also "plops" more thickly as it boils
And the froth all but boils away
Test the consistency of the jam - drop a drop on a side plate: if it runs still it is not ready yet
When a drop holds its convex shape on the sideplate the jam is ready to be bottled

Work steadily and fairly quickly now:

I use tongs to take a hot bottle out of the oven
Put the hot bottle on a cork mat or other heat-protective surface
I have a Judy-cut plastic funnel to keep the top edge of the canning bottle clean - this goes into the neck of the bottle
Pour some jam into the bottle, then spoon the last little bit in until it is a half a ring-finger nail or so from the top of the bottle
Put on the clean canning lid
Put on the screw lid until just tight
Pick up the bottle by the lid with your one hand, with the "Tricky Dicky" in the other grab the bottom of the bottle and tighten firmly - be quick or you'll begin to burn!
Put the tightened bottle on another heat protected surface to clear your work space for the next bottle to be filled

If I do not have enough to fill the last bottle: I keep it in the frig until I can the next time.

Put the partially filled bottle in the oven with the clean bottles - the jam in that partially full bottle will heat through and be ready to fill up with the new batch and seal as above.

So now you know how I do it every year...
My home-made apricot jam is delicious! And simple for me to make!

14 Day Walk - Day 3 - Obey

2011-12-05T06:00:00.001+02:00

- Be Obedient and Be Blessed –

“What manner of men (or women) ought ye to be?”

Missionaries quickly learn that the reward for obedience is the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit. With that companionship a missionary cannot fail. So, it is with us as we strive to do what is right – we will always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost to guide us.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

D&C 130:21 When we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

Listen closely for the still small voice today to guide you where ere you should go. Read this story to give your more insight on obedience.

“Faith Obedience,” R. Conrad Schultz, Ensign, May 2002, 29

In this world in which we live, things are not always what they appear to be. We sometimes are unaware of the powerful forces pulling on us. Appearances can be very deceptive.

A few years ago I had an experience with deceptive appearances where the results could have been tragic. My wife’s cousin and family were visiting us from Utah. It was a calm summer day on the Oregon coast, and we were fishing in the ocean. It was pleasant, and we were having a good time catching salmon, when for some reason I turned around to see a huge eight-foot wave bearing down upon us. I only had time to shout a warning before the wave hit us broadside. Somehow the boat stayed upright, but Gary, our cousin, was thrown overboard. We were all wearing life jackets and with some difficulty manoeuvred the boat, half filled with water, to where he was floating and pulled him aboard.

We had been hit by what is called a sneaker wave. It doesn’t happen often, and there is no way to predict an occurrence. Later we found that up and down the Oregon-Washington coast, five people had drowned that day in three separate boating accidents. All were caused by the same sneaker wave, which for no apparent reason had welled up off the ocean surface. At the time we went out over the bar, the ocean was flat and calm and gave no sign of any danger. But the ocean turned out to be very deceptive and not at all what it appeared to be.

As we make our way through this life’s journey, we must continually be on guard and watch for those things which are deceptive and not what they appear to be. If we are not careful, the sneaker waves in life can be as deadly as those in the ocean.

One of the sneaky ploys of the adversary is to have us believe that unquestioning obedience to the principles and commandments of God is blind obedience. His goal is to have us believe that we should be following our own worldly ways and selfish ambitions. This he does by persuading us that “blindly” following the prophets and obeying the commandments is not thinking for ourselves. He teaches that it is not intelligent to do something just because we are told to do so by a living prophet or by prophets who speak to us from the scriptures.

Our unquestioning obedience to the Lord’s commandments is not blind obedience. President Boyd K. Packer in the April conference of 1983 taught us about this: “Latter-day Saints are not obedient because they are compelled to be obedient. They are obedient because they know certain spiritual truths and have decided, as an expression of their own individual agency, to obey the commandments of God. … We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see” (“Agency and Control,” Ensign, May 1983, 66).

Spencer W. Kimball said-"No person who has been converted to the gospel should shirk his responsibility to teach the truth to others. This is our privilege. This is our duty. This is a command from the Lord."

Original Author/s unknown to me.

Christmas Angels 2011

2011-12-04T16:03:00.004+02:00

We had Doug, Nadia and children for lunch today.

The children had great fun unpacking all the angels and arranging them around the Nativity scene.

Our choir of angels grows!

And the bare little Christmas tree is there - the decorations in a bowl next to it.

The children are invited to do good deeds and then come and select a decoration to put on the tree. Last year the tree was full by the time Christmas came - we then lit the lights and enjoyed a peaceful feeling of much good having been done by many.

Happy Birthday Hilmar!

2011-12-04T05:59:00.002+02:00

Hope you find much to smile about this special day of the year for you!

God bless you!

We love you!

Happy Birthday Gillian!

2011-12-03T11:43:00.005+02:00

A trip down memory lane...

Happy Birthday Love!

God bless you today and always.

Happy Anniversay Grant and Jen!

2011-12-02T10:49:00.001+02:00

Blessings on you both!
Hope you make a memory somehow...

14 Day Walk - Day 2 - Pray

2011-12-02T06:33:00.001+02:00

Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?

If you pray, why worry? and if you worry, why pray?

Work as if it is all up to you and pray like it is all up to the Lord.

Sometimes, we have to P.U.S.H. a little harder.
Read the following story to see how prayer and trusting in the Lord will make things happen.

The Rock / P.U.S.H.

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Saviour appeared.

The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

This the man did, day after day.

For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing it with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Noticing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind. "You have been pushing against this rock for a long time, And it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.

These troubled thoughts discouraged and dishearten the man. "Why kill myself over this?" I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough.

And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord" he said, "I have laboured long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even been able to budge that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, When I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is simple obedience and Faith in Him...

By all means exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.

P.U.S.H. ! When everything seems to get you down or go wrong, ...Just P.U.S.H.! When people don't react the way you think they should, ... Just P.U.S.H.! P.U.S.H.---- PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!!!!!!!!!

God can reveal to us our talents and our strengths so that we will know what we can build upon. Be assured that in all our righteous endeavors, we can say, as did Paul: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”(Philip. 4:13.)

Also be assured, as Paul said further, that there will be no temptation befall us but what is common to man: but God will, with each temptation, provide a way to escape. (See 1 Cor. 10:13.)

(Original Author/s of this 14 Day Walk unknown...)

14 Day Walk - Day 1 - Increase Faith

2011-12-01T06:06:00.004+02:00

D&C 14:7 “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."

"I am a Child of a loving Father in Heaven. Trust in Him and have faith. He will never lead me astray."

Peace Be unto You
(John 20:19-29)

19 ¶Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 ¶But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 ¶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Peace Be unto You - Friend, Apr. 1976, 36
In the evening of the day Jesus was resurrected, His disciples met together in a room with the doors shut tightly against the Jews whom they feared. Suddenly, Jesus was standing in their midst. The apostles were startled and perhaps a little frightened, for they supposed they were seeing only a spirit.
To ease their alarm, Jesus spoke to them saying, Peace be unto you, and then to help them know that it was really He, Jesus showed them the mark of the soldier's spear in His side and the nail prints in His hands and feet where He had hung on the cross.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
One of the apostles, Thomas, called Didymus, was not present when Jesus appeared to the others. When he was told of the Saviour’s visit he would not believe his brethren. However, eight days later Thomas was meeting with the disciples behind closed doors when, without warning, Jesus again appeared before them in the room. And again He allayed their fears by saying, Peace be unto you.
Then, knowing of Thomas's doubts, He said to that disciple, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Thomas realized now that all that he had been told was true and answered, My Lord and My God.
Then with a mild reprimand, the Saviour told Thomas what the difference is between belief and a true faith:
Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Gone is the sting of death. The grave is robbed of its victory.
He was the master of life and death, the man of miracles. It was He who made the blind to see, the lame to walk, the dead to live.

(Original Author/s of this 14 Day Walk unknown...)

Love You!

2011-12-01T05:54:00.001+02:00

I am sorting photos... Glad I took these! Love you!

Love this!

2011-11-30T08:39:00.003+02:00

I love this avenue!

Many memories.

Our Dad used to walk along here as a child.

I have driven along it many times - enjoying it every time.

They once butchered the trees (in my opinion - I guess 'they' had their reasons for cutting all the upward branches off leaving just stumps) - I was very sad.

Now most people would not know the miracle of the recovery of these trees.

I do. I am grateful.

Happy Birthday Shirley and Andrew!

2011-11-29T06:03:00.002+02:00

I haven't taken pictures of you in a while - memories for you!

I hope your day is memorable!

Close up

2011-11-28T05:43:00.004+02:00

Jacaranda flowers up close.

Usually there are only flowers and not leaves - so this is unusual.

Recommended Movie - The Letter Writer

2011-11-27T12:56:00.000+02:00

The film tells the inspiring story of Maggy Fuller, a rebellious and troubled teenager, who receives a life-affirming letter in the mail from an unknown source. When she tracks down the writer of the letter—an old man in a rest home she has never met before —she decides to become a letter writer herself. But when the old man suddenly dies, she must search for her own purpose in life in spite of the fact that she is all on her own.

I saw it on BYU Television.

Les and Arnold

2011-11-26T12:34:00.003+02:00

Nadia's father's burial place in the centre foreground, Arnold's burial place in the centre back row - the fresh grave with the black marker.
I am glad Arnold Foxcroft Williams and Les Westpfahl are buried near each other.

Glenn is Accomplishing!

2011-11-25T09:14:00.003+02:00

In the cupboards... behind the scenes - the result is lights that illuminate the walk from the carport to the flat - sensitive to the click of a remote.

How important is the "behind the scenes" work!

Thanks Les for starting the lights... Thanks Glenn for continuing and finishing the job.

Glenn is also planning to work on the spare cars - Dennis' Corolla breaks and the Cressida oil leak.

Cindy is Visiting

2011-11-24T08:27:00.004+02:00

Lucky 13 for us.
Glenn, Vi, Cindy and I went for a drive and stopped at a country tea garden near the Magaliesburg. Our time there was delightful as was the drive.

Cindy and I stopped at Dischem to get something. We found a part RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR! I look for those these days. I reverse parked and stopped. How close is this! I didn't even realise there was a post there. Cindy said "Take a photo!"

We went for a drive and went to Alice Art Gallery. Met the painter Porchie there. He is called Porchie because that was what he was called at school short for Portuguese.

My favourite Alice Art Gallery Cow is moved to another spot in the garden. Nice pose Cindy!

Cindy realised the tree house was not as easy to get into as it was when she was young... swinging chain and pole ladder. And she could stand up in it - in the middle.

We went for a drive to Garden World for tea another day. They have done some re-arranging. Where the farm animals used to be is now landscaped and gardened. These are some of the new water features. Certainly child-friendly!

Cindy the cat lady...

Our home has been sprinkled and filled with cheer, piano playing and singing. Delightful!

Thanks for visiting dear Cindy!

Glenn has been off work this week, doing this and that around the house so he has joined us for some of our trips, as has Vi at times.

The family services work has been urgent so plans for yesterday had yield to the needs of a little soul.

Our rainy cool, cloudy and also partly hot and humid days have passed like a dream.

Breathing Space - My Life is Good!

2011-11-23T22:36:00.003+02:00

Over the past three weeks just when I thought they couldn't possibly get more spelendid... they did!
I guess with yesterdays storm and todays torrents of rain the Jacarandas will be dishevelled.
I love this time of year with the glorious purple trees.
Their beauty and grace lifts my spirits and gladdens my heart.

Storm

2011-11-23T07:50:00.002+02:00

Great storm last night...
Thunder, lightning, gale, drenching rain.
Stunning.
I'm glad I was home and dry.
This morning before 6am I was out skimming the pool of the debris shed during the storm. The first time I can do this for seven weeks. I was glad to be out in the misty cool morning. It felt heavenly to me.
On-going urgent Family Services business this morning.
I feel God's presence in this work.
I am thankful to have the nature, the developed talents, the connections, the opportunity to do LDS Family Services Work.
I know our God cares about each of us, old, young, great, small.

Recipe - Briyani

2011-11-19T07:33:00.005+02:00

Mmmm!

We had the missionaries for supper last night, plus Cindy Powrie visiting from Cape Town. Smells wonderful whilst slow cooking, and tastes very delicious...

Here is Charmaine Westraad's recipe - all Briyani's are better the day after...

BRIYANI
1 cup rice

1 cup brown or black lentils

2 large chopped onions

2 large cubed potatoes

500 - 750g chicken

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 green pepper - chop

garlic to taste

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1 tin chopped tomato and onion mix

1 tablespoon lemon juice

4 teaspoons sugar

1 cup tomato sauce

1 Briyani Spice Pack (available from our Fruit and Veg City)

Water/vegetable water to cover - check periodically add more if needed to make stew consistency

I know there is a "Method" which is followed "reverently" by many.

Last night I put the raw lot in a caserole in the oven at lunch time and let it all happen. I took out the chicken when I considered it thoroughly cooked, cooled it, flaked it, and returned it to the caserole dish.

Sometimes I cook the rice, lentils and sauted potatoes and onions separately - I have a small slow cooker.

This makes a LOT - we fed five hearty meals last night with second helpings and will have another meal sometime for the four of us.

I served it with steamed mixed vegetables and a tossed green salad.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Richard!

2011-11-18T09:52:00.003+02:00

Hey Richard - Happy 18th Birthday for yesterday!

(Les and Sally's youngest...)

Happy Birthday Damien and Daniel!

2011-11-14T06:52:00.003+02:00

Two older pictures of these cousins - children of Tim's children - one Nicky's son, one Jen's son...

Happy 15th birthday Damien.
Happy 10th birthday Daniel.

Tender Mercy... Cheers Arnold...

2011-11-09T08:34:00.005+02:00

Brother Arnold Foxcroft Williams died this morning.

I have not been able to visit him for a month with my foot incapacitated.

Thursday I felt an urgency to visit him. He was in Helen Joseph hospital. I decided to just get there. They would not let me in... not visiting hours yet - no exceptions! I was evidently not thinking clearly.

Thursday afternoon Angela Simon phoned and told me she was taking him from hospital back to Floroma Frail Care Facility where he has been living, and I have been visiting him for several years.

Friday I planned to make sure I visited him. The carpeters came and layed new carpet in the lounge/diningroom and entrance hall... my foot was stressed, I didn't get there.

Saturday I made my way to visit him after cleaning at the Chapel. Angela and Julia Arenze (a nurse in our Ward) were there visiting and ministering to him. I was shocked at how in a matter of weeks since I saw him last he had become so much more frail. I felt helpless to do more than I could do - lean over him, stroke his arm and hand and talk gently and briefly to him. I was sorry to leave... but I could not do anything else but leave him to the care, or lack of care of the facility.

Sunday I was unable to visit him. I decided I would be sure to visit again on Monday.

Monday Julia phoned me. She asked me to take her there in the evening - Angela is away on business in Cape Town and made her promise to visit and tend to him in her absence. Julia had an accident on Sunday and her car was written off.

I fetched Julia at 6pm and we visited struggling Arnold. Julia massaged his frail body and talked so lovingly to him. I watched and learned. I was glad I could be there again - although profoundly, deeply disturbed by his frailty and struggling breathing, and at the same time so glad to be in the presence of a tender, ministering angel who knew more than me what to do. I was thoroughly conscious of my helplessness and ignorance.

Last night I had clients at 6pm. I thought about who I could ask to take Julia. I felt to ask sister Norwai Tarr, another nurse - with no children at home. I phoned. She only gets home from work at the time Julia needed fetching... I settled my mind next to ask Ronell Wrench - another older sister who might be able to be available. She graciously accepted my request. After visiting she send me an sms to say he was not doing well at all. Knowing she had no previous visit to him to compare to, I was not sure of whether he was worse than my Monday night visit.

Tonight I need to be at Ward Council meeting. I wondered again how I might spread the load and ask another sister likely to be able to take Julia again. I settled on Sharon Courtellis. I had not yet phoned her to see if she could help us when I had a call from the Bishop telling me Arnold died.

A wave of gratitude, and some gentle tears, for the tender mercies of our God, washed over me that Arnold is released from his valiant, enduring to the end, earthly life...

Fare well Arnold. I shall always remember you. I hope you get to see my Mom and Dad and spend some time with them.

Fare you very well dear Arnold.

The Light is Earlier...

2011-11-07T07:51:00.002+02:00

This is a view on the way to the Temple early Friday mornings.

I am glad the light is earlier these days.

I am glad the storms are back - because the air smells so sweet afterwards, the air is so clear.

I am glad the rain falls more - the earth is responding abundantly.

Happy Birthday Mike!

2011-11-05T06:31:00.001+02:00

Happy memories we have made over the years!
God bless you.

Onward and upward, one day at a time!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-11-05T06:24:00.001+02:00

Thanks for the memories...

Be well - wherever you are and whatever you are doing...

Recognise anyone?

2011-11-02T08:46:00.005+02:00

More from Doug's photos... Copy of copy not very good...

I see Doug, Ange and Di, Jack Stevens, Carolin Copeland, Derril McKnight. Is that Lillian Eppel too? Is that Neville van Rooyen? Is Anne Greer there?

Dianne replied - (Thanks!): Doug Neville, Jack, Derril, Tarquin, Andrew, Desmond, (2 not known), Wade, Stuart, Carolin, Gregg, Jon, Caitlyn, Dianne, Samantha, (1not known), Lillian and Angela.

Memories...

2011-11-02T07:55:00.004+02:00

Doug came in chuckling and handed me a couple of packets of photographs:

This one 1989? 1990? I guess... Let me know if you can date it more accurately.
Taken on a Sunday outside in the Chapel grounds.

Families can be together forever...
I love you!

Joy in the Morning

2011-11-01T06:22:00.004+02:00

Morning Musings on this significant day to me... I notice odd things - today is the 1st of November 2011 - 1/11/11 -

The Scale of Consciousness

"Where do you function most in your life?"
"Lower levels of Pride and below… or Higher levels of Love or Above?"
Christie Marie Sheldon

Enlightenment 700+ Purple
Gratitude 700
Peace 600
Joy and Healing 540 Blue
Love 500

Reason 400
Acceptance and Forgiveness 350
Willingness 310 Turquoise
Neutrality 250
Courage 200 Green

Pride 175
Anger 150 Yellow Green
Desire 125
Fear 100 Yellow
Grief 75
Apathy 50 Orange
Guilt 30
Shame 20 Red

quoted by Christie Marie from "Power vs Force" Dr David Hawkins
www.loveorabove.com for more about Christie Marie Sheldon

If you are feeling guilt or shame etc
Shift to a feeling with a higher number: what might you be angry or neutral about?
And then shift your mood again - what might you be able to accept a little more, or forgive…
Then shift again to what/who you love or what is peaceful or what you can be grateful for.

You can also imagine, or touch or look at or eat something of the associated colour value…
You can be around the colours and "breathe them in" too…

This is my interpretation of the material that recently came into my awareness. Thank you, again, Gail. I have found it useful to live my minutes, hours and days more consciously and deliberately - more profitably - more peacefully and purposefully.

I can connect with some more of my Joy again in a shorter space of time.

I LOVE living in this age of abundant information! Thank you all who do your little bit of my being able to access so many answers to questions which would otherwise cause me to grope and stumble!

I feel thrilled and completely delighted when I discover meaningful-to-me information that feels good and true and useful and helps me live my life in what feels like more fertile and bountiful circumstances - without anything "out there" necessarily changing!

On another note:

I just finished reading the November Ensign. My spirit feels comforted. My mind feels more enlightened. I feel able to press forward, step by step, with increased steadfastness, holding to the rod, looking forward, trusting and believing in my Saviour.

I have come to the conclusion that I do not have a "before" and an "after." All I have is an "after." How can I understand the value of the abundance I have, without having had the scarcity of a "before"??? So I carry on, carry on, carry on - having faith, hope and charity for more and more of my fellows with whom I share parts of my journey from day to day.

(I have had other types of "before's" and I am EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE of my "after's" in those aspects of my life.)

On Sunday someone came to me and greeted me. She said "Do you remember me?" I had to say "No." She told me her unusual name. I remembered her unusual name, but had no recollection at all of how and why I had known her. I guessed she was probably one of my counselees from time past. I enjoyed her confident peacefulness as we exchanged a few more words in the foyer of our chapel.

After occasional pondering, it came to me this morning who she is. I still don't remember what we worked together with for several hours over several weeks. Into my mind popped "I the Lord remember... no more..." I am glad I can remember no more some of the harrowing experiences of beloved children of God who have come into my presence for a tiny part of our separate journeys through this life.

I am glad tough times pass. I am glad there is a safe way through and past our sometimes overwhelming and frightening - potentially terrifying - circumstances.

"Onward, ever onward... Forward, pressing forward, As a triumph song we sing - God our strength will be - Press forward ever called to serve our King!"

God is so good, God is so good, God has been so, so very good to Me - and Mine.

I pray He be Good to You and Yours today too.

Ah, There You Are!

2011-10-31T06:19:00.004+02:00

This is how I feel this morning... I am sure I will be able to say this later today...

"I misplaced my joy this morning. I woke up to find it missing like a set of lost keys. I started looking for it everywhere. I looked for it in the morning paper. It wasn’t there. I looked for it in my books. It wasn’t there. I looked for it in some music. It wasn’t there. I looked for it while I ate breakfast, got the kids ready for school, and headed out the door this morning, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.

When I finally got back home I decided to take a walk. I thought that if I couldn’t find my joy then at least I could get some exercise. The last leaves of Autumn were thickly covering the ground. I walked for a while on this beautiful, crunchy carpet and breathed in the fresh, cool air. It was so peaceful and wonderful. After walking for a bit I stopped and smiled. I suddenly knew where to look. I glanced down and saw my joy peeking up at me from deep inside my soul. It had been sitting there right next to my love and God’s love just waiting for me to find it. “Ah, there you are,” I said. Then I laughed at myself for not knowing where to look all along.

It is amazing how we so often look for joy in every single place except the only place where it can truly be found, within ourselves.

We are like the person running around searching for the glasses that are perched on the top of his head. We need to stop the search.

We need to look deep into our souls and see the joy that has been sitting there all along. It isn’t hidden and it isn’t hard to find. It is there shining brightly right next to God’s love and our love. It is just waiting for us to smile down and say, “Ah, there you are.”

Reach down and grab that joy today. Choose it, rejoice in it and live in it. Take it along with your love and God’s love and share it with the world.
And if you ever misplace it again remember where to look for it first."

Joe Mazella

Thanks Cindybabe for linking me to Joe Mazella.

Visiting Teaching...

2011-10-27T15:23:00.004+02:00

So much to bear in mind!

New members baptised, some move into or out of our Ward.

Some work, some do not, some want morning afternoon or evening visits.

Some cannot get to some places.

Some drive, some do not.

Some who drive do not have a car when they want to visit.

Some who drive and need to visit at night, do not drive at night.

And then there is the Cascade effect...

And on and on and on!

I was determined to not make changes for a couple of months - good intentions... not possible to do.

We spent a couple of hours this morning on our Visiting Teaching.

I am grateful to have my counsellors work with me on this as we ponder, pray and do what needs doing.

Johannesburg City

2011-10-26T08:39:00.004+02:00

On our trip to Johannesburg down-town a while ago I took these photographs - I was particularly charmed by the reflections. As I looked at them on the computer I was delighted by the reflections inside as well as outside the car...
Notice the trees planted in the city - my heart rejoiced. Urban renewal.

Pile up...

2011-10-25T15:28:00.005+02:00

As I see the "Things To Do" pile up all around me...
As I am reminded by my ankle when I do too much in a day...
As I realise again that I cannot do this or that at the moment...
As I clump around so slowly...
As I adapt according to the supplies I have in our home...
As I delegate what I can't do myself...
As I plan my trips from one part of the house to the other...
As I think where I can shop parking right outside...

Sometimes I feel tired.
Sometimes I feel discouraged.

I am learning and practicing - to keep those moments to 90 seconds. Then I take the time, make the time, to shift my energy to Love or Above. THANK YOU GAIL!

http://www.loveorabove.com/

Join me!

Sometimes I yo-yo at the lower and middle levels before being able to shift to the higher levels of energy for more/most of the time. That's OK. I'm OK for now. I am where I am, able to do what I am able to do - for now.

I remember the talk by President Uchtdorf about when times are bumpy... SLOW DOWN. Remember the speed bumps he talked about? I actually knew I needed to slow down. My body was talking to me in gentle sentences. I was working on slowing down. Now I am slowed right down - for sure! In the physical way at least.

Three weeks past, three weeks to go of the generic six weeks healing time. In my brighter moments (most of the time) I feel right chirpy! Half way! Counting down! 21 days to go!

I definitely count my blessings and name them one by one... I am glad this is a crack and not a break or multiple fracture. I am very grateful this is temporary and not permanent. I am thankful beyond expression that I can take the air-cast off several times a day and rest from the 90% angle it keeps my ankle. And on... and on... and on!

Happy day, happier day, to all of us...

Happy Anniversary Craig and Roxane!

2011-10-25T15:24:00.003+02:00

3 Years! Congratulations!

Cheerio Kathleen...

2011-10-25T09:23:00.001+02:00

Friday before last was the Memorial Service in our Ward of Kathleen Phyllis Rogers Maxwell - beloved of Eleanor Maxwell, Sharon Beytel, Patricia Simonoff, Quintyn and Carmen (not sure of her surname now) and many other extended family members and friends...

I parked outside the flower shop, chose carnations, a fine purple fillerand a white little daisy bunch. I came home and made a flower arrangement for the Memorial service. Angela's rose bush was in glorious full bloom so I added these roses above to the huge arrangement.

After leaving the flowers there for the multi-ward viewing of the General Conference over the weekend, we brought it home. I dismantled the huge arrangement into two (actually three) arrangements: the roses, the carnations and purple filler, and the white little daisies. Vi chose the roses and I enjoyed (am still enjoying) the carnation and filler on the dining room table, and the daisies have been on the sideboard for the week.

I wondered how I would manage the overseeing of the gathering afterwards with my handicapped left foot. Kathleen died early in the week and the memorial service was the Friday of that week - no Sunday between to organise a team.

As the people filed into the chapel I felt my level of anxiety rise... I had put out 50 glasses and plates - there must have been 150 to 200 people.

Bless Relief Society! Bless OUR Relief Society!

Karen Williamson was her Visiting Teacher for many years, she was attentive in Relief Society service the whole time during Kathleen's illness and then at the Memorial Service too. Dorah Mkhabela, my first counsellor came to help, also ready and willing. Samantha Williamson, Futhi Mdletshe and Rorisang Mokolobate were also at the service.

We all pitched in, did what needed doing and served the family and friends of dear Kathleen who has been suffering, and finally succumbed to, the ravages of cancer for several months.

This was so faith-promoting for me. I now have time... a chance to ponder and plan for any other such eventuality which will no doubt occur sometime again whilst I am Relief Society President.

I came home deeply grateful for my little band of sisters, a small part of the Worldwide Circle of Sisters.

The roses planted to inspire and honour you, Angela, and remember you, have bloomed abundantly and beautifully!

The other roses planted to inspire and honour and remember you others of my beloved family are also blooming gloriously!

I hope you are inspired from On High, and know you are honoured and remembered, as was Kathleen by loved-ones.

For Me To Work On...

2011-10-24T09:18:00.002+02:00

Happy Birthday Ethan!

2011-10-21T13:56:00.007+02:00

Precious Boy - Many moods...

Hope your day is great!

Hope your next year is great!

The Aircast (Moonboot, Airboot)

2011-10-19T08:27:00.004+02:00

I decided to try it again yesterday.

My life is good! My foot is more comfortable.

I am trying different ways to walk with the boot being higher than my other shoe, and heavy. Any ideas?

I consulted the internet and got some good ideas - just not about the difference in height with my two feet. I thought about getting wedge shoes and wearing just the one to equal the height of the cast. Seems a fag.

Countdown Continues

2011-10-18T06:55:00.004+02:00

I am now at day 29 and counting down in my generic "six-week recovery time!"
The swelling on my top lip and my ankle is down, the bruising all but faded.

There is much I can still do...
Organise and help
Relief Society business
Family Services business
Measured spurts of this and that around the house
I can iron a shirt at a time now...

There is much I can do now that I can't/don't so much normally...
Read!
Watch television
Sleep
Rest
Send people on errands
Stay home

Also, there is much that I do that I normally do - my regular responsibilities, most of which I enjoy doing. I am learning every day. I love learning!

I can tell as the day goes by whether I have been wise - and I am happy.
Unwise? My life is uncomfortable and sometimes painful.
My mood is testy and regretful.

I am sure there is a lesson in all this for me, as well as for all of us.

Our South East Africa Area viewed General Conference this last weekend.
It was good to review our loving counsel from our General Authority Leaders.
I am grateful for the clarity I feel of how to press forward with steadfast faith in Christ.

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

2011-10-16T10:03:00.000+02:00

The Great Trek from Gauteng to Cape Town begins in this photo... Good for you!
I am proud of you!
Hope your birthday is one you will be pleased to remember!
Make it a good one!
We hope to see you soon when you visit Johannesburg...

Happy Birthday Jen!

2011-10-15T09:57:00.001+02:00

Hope your day is precious! Make a memory... Make it a good one.

Happy Anniversary Pete and Gillian!

2011-10-13T06:05:00.004+02:00

Congratulations to you both!
We thought of you on the 10th...

I wonder what you will be doing in 14 years time?

Enjoy your days together...

We love you!

A Week of "How Do I...?"

2011-10-12T10:48:00.006+02:00

Simple things I usually do:

How do I close/open the curtains each day?
How do I prepare meals for my family?
How do I iron Glenn's shirts?
How do I make the bed?
How do I wash my hair?
How do I get into/out of the bath?
How do I get my shopping done?
How do I keep my half-cast bandages clean?
How do I get dressed?
How do I carry things around?

Figuring these, and many others, out has been fascinating and an interesting challenge!

I decided one of my tasks was best done with by getting down on my bedroom carpet.
When I was done I realised... "How do I get up off the floor?!"

Each day I am sensible enough my ankle feels a little more healed.

I decided the doctor said it would likely take six weeks to heal. That's 42 days. I made a chart of forty two days. I am making progress - 35 days, or fewer I hope, to go.

I have an airboot (moonboot) but when I used it the first time my poor ankle was so irritated I decided I would decide when I choose to use it next. In the meantime half-cast, and crutches sometimes, are actually more comfortable for me.

I have done a lot of reading - always love that!
One of my clients lent me "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" Robin Sharma - I am thoroughly enjoying that.

And The Church Moves On... We have had boundaries re-aligned in our Ward and gained several members from Weltevreden Park Ward; there is a new Ward formed in the Roodepoort Stake - Ruimsig, with Bishop Robbie Pienaar. Roodepoort Ward has a new Bishop - Paul Levy, Krugersdorp II Ward also has a new Bishop - Giels Bibb.

How do we make our new Ward members feel welcome?

Life is good. Life is interesting. I have so, so much to be grateful for!

I can drive! I have an automatic car and it is my left ankle that is injured. I am especially grateful for that. Yesterday, instead of our usual trip to the Botanical Garden, Vi and I took a drive to Krugersdorp to Key West and sat and enjoyed looking at the dam and the many ducks and people. Then we drove past Aunty Win's home and on to "Boomhuisie" where we parked close to the door and went in. We chose a little table on the edge of the swimming-pool-turned-koi-fish-pond and had delicious omlettes.

We passed our Tuesday morning very well indeed.

Busy Life!

2011-10-05T09:47:00.004+02:00

We had Les, Sally and Richard visiting for the weekend, as well as Rohan, Colleen and baby Amy. We had Doug, Nadia, Jarom, Ethan, Daena and Cabryn also for Sunday lunch!

Monday was Sally's Mom's 80th birthday. They had had a gourmet dinner celebration last Saturday, and on Monday Les, Sally, Richard and I went and visaited her on the day.

A light moment between Sally and Richard who are frequently teasing each other. Delightful!

They all left for the Temple Accomodation Tuesday morning and Vi and I went shopping at Clearwater. I stumbled on some paving in the parking lot and... I have a cracked ankle bone. A new use for your much loved and used shoe bag Jane! Thank you!

All is well. I am getting around just fine. I will enjoy the time to rest more!

Cape Point Nature Reserve

2011-09-30T09:44:00.004+02:00

Some examples of fein-bos. I was surprised to see how high some of it grew - probably to shoulder height?
A vast view.

And in another direction. Bleak.

And to the coast in the reserve.

Cape Point. The wind was blowing mightily as you can see the spray blowing backwards.

An un-fed-by-humans baboon going about his business. There are some more near him - not visible.

The path to the lighthouse - the old one. The new one is built lower down - more visible. Can you see how Pamela's hair is blowing to the front of her?!

Views along the way higher and heigher to the lighthouse.

And here we are at the top. 9623 km to London. Wind blowing so hard I wondered if I would ever get the tangles out of my hair! Yes, I should have had a hair band. Yes I did have a hair band - the wind loostened my hair and I was afraid I would lose it. Next time I will be better prepared.

Despite the concern about the camera shaing in the wind, here is a lovely view back the other side from the beautiful views so far.

A dear little flower bravely growing in these hostile conditions.

Early fortification evidence.

A wonderful next portion of the days spent with Ron and Pamela!

Thank you!

A Drive with Ron and Pamela

2011-09-30T09:10:00.002+02:00

So good for my soul to see lovely Noordhoek beach. The wind was blowing so hard I wondered if there would be camera shake!

The type of inclement weather I love!

Good memories of Noordhoek Beach from the past. I was grateful to be able to visit again.

Thanks Ron and Pamela...

Gorgeous!

2011-09-29T10:04:00.001+02:00

Our national flower growing in the wild all around where we walked and drove...