Making, Keeping, and Living
Selamlar -
I hope this posting finds you Healthy, Joyful, and Full of Vigor!
How has your week been? I wonder how Winter Storm Diego has impacted some. We have not really had much of the white stuff since Sunday. I understand some of you have seen more, but once it falls, isn't it beautiful? I have really enjoyed viewing the beautiful white mountains against the deep blue sky, when we can see it. Now that inversion has started settling in to the valley, we don't see much.
Our week has been eventful. I have had the opportunity to count many blessings this week. I regret to say that I probably do not recognize all the blessings that have come my way, but I am grateful for those that I do see and will work on seeing more.
My pondering has come from D&C 76:113-114
"This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit."
"But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;..."
These verses come on the tail end of section 76. I know that I have read them, studied them, pondered them, and been directed to them over and over again through out my life, but each time I really seek understanding in them, I am able to learn a little bit more. The eyes of my understanding is opened a little wider. Yet, like Joseph and Sidney, I am reminded that there is so much more to understand.
This section reveals just a small window of the many kingdoms of God. I enjoy trying to imagine each of them based on their descriptive writing. They have shared with us a glimpse of the people who will be living in these kingdoms. Can you imagine what they did not describe? What kind of dwellings do the live? What do they do? What don't they do? How do they see themselves? How do they see others? Is there an expectation?
This small glimpse opens the mind to so much more. Then they leave us with a small impression that they did see more, so much more, but were commanded only to write a small portion of it. This is where I have been left to ponder this week.
Based on the characteristics of individuals who have been described, I wonder if they will receive what they expect to receive? I wonder if there are any expectations to be had? I wonder if there is any sense of entitlement among these individuals? I wonder if it is because of such expectations/entitlements that we will witness "gnashing of teeth"? Will the "gnashing" come because of our lack of gratitude, lack of seeing God's hand in our lives, or the expectations that He should give us more, regardless of how much effort we put forth or when and how we see fit instead of how He sees fit in His infinite wisdom?
We are promised that if we will make, keep, and live covenants with God, He will open the windows of heaven. We are told that the mysteries of His kingdom will be revealed. But more importantly, what we need to understand, His wisdom, His timing, His willingness to bestow these blessings upon us will surpass all understanding that we have.
Because of this pondering, I have felt that I need to see more of what I have been given, the little things, not the big. My life is filled with more of the little things than with the big things. I should not expect big things, but be overjoyed with the little things. I should not expect, but should be grateful. I need to trust that His wisdom is greater than mine.
I also need to be better at keeping my end of the covenant. I cannot help but think about Sidney. He was shown so much. Yet, he stopped making, keeping, and living the covenants he had made. As a result, he forfeited them all. We are reminded over and over again by prophets today that making, keeping, and living covenants is not a list that needs to be checked off. It is a pattern of living that defines who we are, how we live, and what we do, everyday, everyday, everyday.
Enough for this week. I hope it has added something to your pondering. I would love to add your pondering to mine, when you are willing to share.
Our week -
The Queen and I have been on vacation, from work anyway. We have done our best to keep busy. I think the Queen is better at it than I am. We were startled from sleep for a Durfee run on Monday morning. We were glad to be included grateful that it has turned out better than it could have. They are in our prayers and thoughts.
There were several days this week that the Queen sequestered herself to her office. She was creating, wrapping, or watching Hallmark. Most of the time it was a combination of all. She has been able to accomplish so much more than I have been able.
When she was not sequestered, we ran errands, visited doctors, cleaned teeth, and envisioned better things. It has been a successful week.
The Professor has also been off. She is a little remorseful that this appears to be her last December of freedom, but she is making the best of it. She filled her days with baking, defending her thesis, party planning, celebrating the end of another degree, and putting out a great holiday celebration.
She mentioned that we should start giving her a title, but it just not roll off the tongue right. We will give credit that with this degree, she could start being a Professor of education beyond elementary/secondary levels.
We have seen more of Tall Man and Ehl-Bo this week. It started with the Durfee run on Monday morning. Ehl-Bo's father experienced a heart attack. He is doing well despite the challenges and on his way to recovery.
Through out the week, it has been good to get updates, talk about travel plans, hear results of doctor's diagnosis, and begin working on changes that might need to be made as a result of all of them.
Tall Man will celebrate his year anniversary at work this week. We look forward to hearing the good that could come of it.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins have checked in here and there. They continue to be busy. The semester is coming to an end and they are doing their best to juggle all that it entails between work and life.
SnackPack has also had a busy week. We were happy to have him take the train up yesterday just to hang out a little. His company has been a blessing. Work is good. School is OK. He is looking forward to the break between semesters and looking for greater opportunities.
I hope this posting finds you Healthy, Joyful, and Full of Vigor!
How has your week been? I wonder how Winter Storm Diego has impacted some. We have not really had much of the white stuff since Sunday. I understand some of you have seen more, but once it falls, isn't it beautiful? I have really enjoyed viewing the beautiful white mountains against the deep blue sky, when we can see it. Now that inversion has started settling in to the valley, we don't see much.
Our week has been eventful. I have had the opportunity to count many blessings this week. I regret to say that I probably do not recognize all the blessings that have come my way, but I am grateful for those that I do see and will work on seeing more.
My pondering has come from D&C 76:113-114
"This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit."
"But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;..."
These verses come on the tail end of section 76. I know that I have read them, studied them, pondered them, and been directed to them over and over again through out my life, but each time I really seek understanding in them, I am able to learn a little bit more. The eyes of my understanding is opened a little wider. Yet, like Joseph and Sidney, I am reminded that there is so much more to understand.
This section reveals just a small window of the many kingdoms of God. I enjoy trying to imagine each of them based on their descriptive writing. They have shared with us a glimpse of the people who will be living in these kingdoms. Can you imagine what they did not describe? What kind of dwellings do the live? What do they do? What don't they do? How do they see themselves? How do they see others? Is there an expectation?
This small glimpse opens the mind to so much more. Then they leave us with a small impression that they did see more, so much more, but were commanded only to write a small portion of it. This is where I have been left to ponder this week.
Based on the characteristics of individuals who have been described, I wonder if they will receive what they expect to receive? I wonder if there are any expectations to be had? I wonder if there is any sense of entitlement among these individuals? I wonder if it is because of such expectations/entitlements that we will witness "gnashing of teeth"? Will the "gnashing" come because of our lack of gratitude, lack of seeing God's hand in our lives, or the expectations that He should give us more, regardless of how much effort we put forth or when and how we see fit instead of how He sees fit in His infinite wisdom?
We are promised that if we will make, keep, and live covenants with God, He will open the windows of heaven. We are told that the mysteries of His kingdom will be revealed. But more importantly, what we need to understand, His wisdom, His timing, His willingness to bestow these blessings upon us will surpass all understanding that we have.
Because of this pondering, I have felt that I need to see more of what I have been given, the little things, not the big. My life is filled with more of the little things than with the big things. I should not expect big things, but be overjoyed with the little things. I should not expect, but should be grateful. I need to trust that His wisdom is greater than mine.
I also need to be better at keeping my end of the covenant. I cannot help but think about Sidney. He was shown so much. Yet, he stopped making, keeping, and living the covenants he had made. As a result, he forfeited them all. We are reminded over and over again by prophets today that making, keeping, and living covenants is not a list that needs to be checked off. It is a pattern of living that defines who we are, how we live, and what we do, everyday, everyday, everyday.
Enough for this week. I hope it has added something to your pondering. I would love to add your pondering to mine, when you are willing to share.
Our week -
The Queen and I have been on vacation, from work anyway. We have done our best to keep busy. I think the Queen is better at it than I am. We were startled from sleep for a Durfee run on Monday morning. We were glad to be included grateful that it has turned out better than it could have. They are in our prayers and thoughts.
There were several days this week that the Queen sequestered herself to her office. She was creating, wrapping, or watching Hallmark. Most of the time it was a combination of all. She has been able to accomplish so much more than I have been able.
When she was not sequestered, we ran errands, visited doctors, cleaned teeth, and envisioned better things. It has been a successful week.
The Professor has also been off. She is a little remorseful that this appears to be her last December of freedom, but she is making the best of it. She filled her days with baking, defending her thesis, party planning, celebrating the end of another degree, and putting out a great holiday celebration.
She mentioned that we should start giving her a title, but it just not roll off the tongue right. We will give credit that with this degree, she could start being a Professor of education beyond elementary/secondary levels.
We have seen more of Tall Man and Ehl-Bo this week. It started with the Durfee run on Monday morning. Ehl-Bo's father experienced a heart attack. He is doing well despite the challenges and on his way to recovery.
Through out the week, it has been good to get updates, talk about travel plans, hear results of doctor's diagnosis, and begin working on changes that might need to be made as a result of all of them.
Tall Man will celebrate his year anniversary at work this week. We look forward to hearing the good that could come of it.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins have checked in here and there. They continue to be busy. The semester is coming to an end and they are doing their best to juggle all that it entails between work and life.
SnackPack has also had a busy week. We were happy to have him take the train up yesterday just to hang out a little. His company has been a blessing. Work is good. School is OK. He is looking forward to the break between semesters and looking for greater opportunities.
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