Checkers

Dear Daniel,

We played checkers this afternoon.

As we played, I was black and you were red.  I advanced across the board, and upon reaching the other side, we would both say, "King me!"

It occurred to me that this could definitely serve as a parable.

If we do not advance across the board, there is no possibility of declaring, "King me!"  And what fun is checkers if no one ever gets to be a king?  We must advance or there is no purpose to playing.

~Mom<3

Me Eider

My husband and I, joined by our 4 year old, ate Chinese for lunch this past week.  My husband was on his lunch break, and after leaving to return to work, little Daniel and I remained.  Daniel took his daddy's chair sitting across from me.  Across the narrow aisle were two men, obviously landscapers by profession, also on their lunch break.  Daniel wanted ice cream.  I got mint chocolate chip.  He got vanilla with blue stripes.  

The landscaper across the aisle, says to his friend sitting across from him, "I don't like grapes with seeds in them."  

"Me eider," says Daniel, continuing to eat his ice cream.  

Helaman 5:12

Dear Daniel,

This is for you and everyone.

"And now, Daniel, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that you must build your foundation that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which you are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12, adapted to your name)

This morning I was led to read Helaman 5:10.  It turns out my friend (who doesn't really know me, but I'd like to consider him my friend) got spanked and excommunicated by the church.  Amazingly, he seems to feel no hostility or resentment toward anyone involved.  I am amazed by his pure love of Christ.

Helaman 5:10 tells me

And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom (these are pretty awesome words, and I do remember them) in the city of Ammonihah (which had since become destroyed, as he and Alma warned/prophecied); for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.

Big difference noted.  The Lord will not come to redeem us in our sins, but from our sins.  What, exactly, does that mean?  The next verse tells us that the difference is repentance.  And I learned from Denver and my other friend Daniel that repent means "to turn" to God.  Denver wrote that to repent in Greek means "to come home".  I really love that, much better than the Latin translation, "to feel sorrow" or "to feel pain".  Interesting, indeed, that we choose the negative connotation.  God would have us return home, wouldn't he?

I love you.
~Mom<3  

Are We Really Idolators?

Dear Daniel,

Would I be off track if I said I think that many of us are idolators?  Meaning, we worship false gods?  You are not old enough to understand this at present.  Your favorite thing is your "BB", and that's about all you need to be happy.

There seems to be a high that comes when we find something to connect with and worship.  I remember once meeting someone who I was a major fan of.  I was so excited to meet her that I began coughing because my mouth got so dry from the excitement of it all.  I chalked it up to being excited to meet a new friend.  But no matter what I thought then, I realize now I was idol worshiping.  Oh, thou fabulous famous person, you are so much better than I am and so I'm hyperventilating at your greatness.  Kind of repulsing when I think of it.

Should we ever be so anxious/excited to see a living human being that we get that nervous?  Should we care if a human being touches our hand at a concert or devotional, simply because they're famous?  Should we hang posters of baseball players in our bedrooms, because they're quite talented?  Should we look up to them as role models?

(photo source)

In regards to our religion, I was struck by an article I stumbled upon where someone posted about the oddity of being offended when a church leader's name is read in the news without including the middle initial. I found myself guilty.  Why would I be offended that a church leader's name would be read just like any other human being, without their middle initial?  Are they all lawyers, or clothiers (like "Joseph A. Banks")?

(photo source)

Having realized this, I feel a little sheepish, reading some of the LDS themed online articles which are written solely for the purpose of allowing voyeurism of these men and women.  It doesn't feel comfortable anymore.

Putting one human being, or any kind of fandom, above or before God, is idolatry.  Worshiping a false god.

(photo source)

It might not be a golden calf, like Aaron shaped at the children of Israel's wishes.  It might be more subtle than that, but in some ways, it's still overt and highly visible, if we take a moment to ponder it.  Like my post a bit ago, where I was lamenting how little money I had.  Idol worship.  GUILTY!!!

Some worship status.  Some worship fame, or public acclaim.  Some worship worldly goods, like a fine, clean home.  Some worship news figures, some worship sports and either watch or play all day.  Some obsess over the latest music, their musical talents, or other hobbies like art, travel, homemaking, or business.  Some (like me) have trouble with addictions like facebook or texting, or even blogging or surfing the net.  Some have addictions to political parties, and only their party will save the country, the continent, or the world.  Others worship more severe addictions that I prefer not to even speak of.

As a country, President Kimball lamented that we trusted more in the arm of the flesh, building up a massive military, than the arm of God.  We worship the salvation and security promised by guns and steel, rather than praying to God for our salvation, like the Nephites or Ammonites did.  We are idol worshipers.

Daniel, it's time to change.  I'm not quite sure how, besides first becoming aware of it.  It's certainly hard to overcome our habits.  But to know Him is to overcome the idols.

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." - John 17:3

~Mom<3 

Spirit Sensitivity

Dear Daniel,

I'm DONE!!!  Today I took my final examination required to become a massage therapist.  When I began this blog over a year and a half ago (?), I never expected that this "major shift" would turn me into a massage therapist!  But here we are, and I'm almost done.  In a few days you'll have your mommy completely home again, and we can make as many messes as we want.

(Thank you for the beautiful flowers! xoxo!)

I've missed getting to spend my days with you and Austin.  Sure, the older ones were at school all day, and mostly I'd be here for them.  I hope you and your siblings weren't traumatized by hanging out with your pappy and daddy half the days.  I know lots of people do that situation, where the mom just isn't able to be in the home.  But this decision felt hard for me, despite its rightness, because it didn't make sense in so many ways.  I remember worrying to one of my classmates, saying those exact "I hope my boys aren't traumatized" words.  She said to me, "They'll be just fine!"  Hopefully time proves her right. You seem to be just fine.

There's a magical discovery that happened during these months of school.  There is a power in our bodies that few of us realize, and it is the power of one's spirit.  Generally we neglect, and many even deny, that such a thing is there.  But when we die, it is our ever-living spirit which carries on, while our bodies return to the ground from whence we are told they came.  In practicing massage, I have learned to greater feel my own spirit, and the literal impact it can have on the spirits of others.

I remember several years ago, not quite understanding why my own spirit seemed so unique.  Some situations bothered me more than they would bother the average person.  WaWa always said that I needed to "toughen up" my skin, and not be so sensitive.  At times she's right, but I'm observing that it is my sensitive skin that is in fact a gift.  I don't need to necessarily please other people, or worry about holding up my pride.  It doesn't matter if I'm the only one to ever apologize for doing something wrong, while the other party feels their pride in "being right".  It'll work itself out.  I trust that being sensitive and impacted by the spirits and energies of others is part of who I am, and part of the gifts that God has given me.

Perhaps this might not be that insightful for you, and perhaps it will be.  Some people take offense at things that should not be taken offense at, and it will be up to you to forgive them, and not let their negative spirits cut into your beautiful, sensitive spirit.  You seem to be as easily affected by others' energies as I am, so will warn you that this can hurt, when you are unprepared.  But get prepared.  Take care of your body, and show it respect, so that you appreciate and protect the gift that is inherent in you, as it is in me.

You are my sunshine...

I'm so glad I get to spend more time with you.  It is the biggest relief, to know that I can now be home with you each and every day if I want to.  I hope that with accomplishing this remarkable goal, it will bless your life as you grow.  It certainly has awakened a power I never knew existed.

xoxoxoxo
~Mom<3

Heavenward

Dear Josten, Magdalene, Austin and Daniel,

Today I fasted for your grandmother.  So did her ward.  She's been diagnosed with cancer, and they haven't even been able to locate where the cancer is originating.  We believe in miracles, so we fasted with hope.  The doctors just told us about 2 hours ago to prepare for her to not make it through the night.

There seems to be something going on in heaven.  A lot of very wonderful people are passing, and your grandmother Mary is indeed wonderful.  I love her as I know you do.  It makes no sense to me that someone can be fine one day, and then 2 weeks later be passing so quickly through the veil.  She has not gone yet, and somehow we still hope she will be granted a miracle.  

During our last phone call together, your grandma cried that she wasn't ready to die yet.  She wanted to see her grandkids grow up.  I hope and pray she still has that resolve, but I also know she has no fear of passing.  She has intense love of our Savior, so there is no fear for where she's headed.  

It's all just so unexpected.  

I do believe something's going on, beyond.  Maybe, since some of you are very sensitive to things going on beyond the veil – maybe she will come and clue you in, and you can clue some of the rest of us in on the action.  Hopefully it's not quite yet.    

Love you all,

~Mom<3