Sabrina, my daughter from Utah, and her dear husband sure did some nice things for me this weekend - the best was fixing the gutter over the garage which had been all bent out of shape for several years - Wayne replaced it and it looks GREAT! Then they cleaned some areas around the house and brought some produce, green beans and squash and potatos. Wonderful sweet people. I surely appreciate all they did!

angel memories

When my girls were quite small - about 4 and 2 - we lived in Oakland in Navy housing. We had to go across a 5 lane major hiway and walk about 3 1/2 blocks to the housing office to pay the rent. One day, as we were walking, a huge Boxer dog came to us. I determined that since I had 2 small children with me I wouldn't really pay him much attention and so walked on. He ranged from one side of me to the other but stayed fairly close. As we went along there was a car with 2 men in it parked where we had to pass by - it went on down the block and around a corner and then stopped there where we would have to go past it again - this happened 2 times and then I was at the housing office and went in to pay my bill. When I looked out, the car had moved but was still there and I remember thinking that the dog would be gone and regreting it. However, when I stepped out of the office here was the dog and he walked with me, still ranging back and forth. The car went on til we were almost to the highway and then it stopped where I would have to go past it again. I decided to turn down the block and go a different way and the car backed up and started to follow me. The dog, beautiful big guy that he was, came and walked RIGHT beside me. Needless to say the car and occupants left me alone! The dog (angel) took me right to my door, sniffed around to be sure it was ok and then left. I thanked him profusely as you can imagine. Angels come in all forms and I am grateful for them all.

Sunday Nov 28, 2010

In Sunday School this morning we studied Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego. The actual lesson was integrity. These young men were put in a place of great responsibility and honor by the King, Nebuchadnezzar, but he required them to eat the food and wine of his own household. They could not do this because the food was not prepared according to Jewish law and they were bound by their religion and the religious law to not eat certain things. They had made a covenant with the Lord that they determined to obey. To the point that it could have cost them their lives and but for the Lord would have. They were greatly blessed for their integrity in keeping that covenant.

This reminded me of a precious dog that we had while my girls were growing up. He was part Dachshund and part sheep dog. He looked Dachshund but with a much deeper chest. He had a wire that he loved to play with - part of an old coat hanger that had been straightened. He would carry it around the yard, hide it and later go get it again. If we took hold of it he WOULD not let go. We could pick him up several feet off the ground by holding on to each side and he would not let go. This strength and determination is what we each need in this time of great trouble in the world. We will need every ounce of determination, integrity, sheer grit to be able to survive the coming troubles.

Ghandi said regarding taking beef broth after having promised his mother that he would remain a vegetarian all his life, that he would not even to save his life and that a promise was a promise and he would remain true to his promise. That is integrity. May we all have that kind of integrity especially regarding our vows in the Temple and the covenants we have made with the Lord.

A couple of the quotes from RS were - Sow a thought, reap an act,
Sow an act, reap a habit,
Sow a habit, reap a character,
Sow a character, reap an eternal destiny --- E. D. Boardman

When you judge someone you do not have time to love them - Mother Theresa