Sunshine Scripture 8

And God called the dry land Earth: and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:10

How joyous it is to stand on the shore of the "great waters" and watch as the endless roll of waves meets the dry land.
Experience the crash and murmur, the tumble, the tumult, the ebb and flow. Feel the life force of the moving waters. Smell the salty air. And thank God for both the sturdy dry land under your feet and the gathering of the waters. Know that it is good.

Our Trip to Richfield

Don and I went to Richfield to Kirsten and Richard's so we could see them and meet Sarah for the first time. We had a wonderful time. Kirsten is always so warm and welcoming that we love to be around her. Rebecca's bubbly fun way of expressing herself (with lots of hand movements involved) made me smile. Spencer was away at play practice for some of the evening so we didn't get to hear as much from him. He plans to be an actor some day and will make a good one. Richard made a scrumptious pasta dinner with noodles alfredo, wonderful vegetable dishes and a fruit lasagna for dessert. It was a joy to hear Sarah's fun laugh. Her eyes sparkle and she is full of enthusiasm. Ken and Devi entertained us, too--it was especially funny to see Ken growl and scare Devi who ran to the bedroom to hide. (Devi is the dog, in case you didn't know that.) Don and I also found the Mystic Springs (hot mineral water formations and pools) fascinating. My family records say that my great, great-grandfather, Abraham Washburn, helped found Monroe, Utah and was most likely the first white man ever to soak in those HOT waters. We stopped at the Monroe cemetery to view the grave sites of several of my ancestors. We capped the trip off by attending a session of the Manti temple, my favorite temple in many ways. All in all it was a good trip!

Sunshine Scripture 7

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Temples are built to be a place on earth where God can dwell. We make them of the very best materials, and fill them with beauty so we can find peace there and feel Him near us.
You are a temple, built by God of the most marvelous materials, shining with His spiritual inheritance. Keep your temple clean and pure. Only let what is worthy enter.

Teri and Kids Come to Visit

It was wonderful to have some time to visit with Teri and her two youngest, McKay and Jaycie. South Carolina is a long way away, so we are thankful for any time we get to spend together. McKay enjoyed playing with the little magnet rods and balls and using them to make the letters of his name. Jaycie liked wearing her brother's shoes. How blessed we are to have family.

Sunshine scripture 6

. . . [H]e did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

The Acts 14:17

Rain is such a refreshment to the world. It brings the aroma of life and living to dry and dusty days. Rain brings hope of green abundance—a promise of fruitful harvests to come. Let your heart rejoice in rain, food, and God's gift of gladness.

Remembering Michelle

Our flag is at half-mast. The wind last night loosened our flag so that this morning it was nearly at half-mast. I went out to fix it, but somehow it seemed right to me to that we should announce publicly the mourning we are experiencing inside us. So, rather than raise it, I lowered it all the way to the half-way point.
Don's young daughter, only 36 years of age, took her life last Wednesday night. For years she has struggled with physical and emotional pain that has been overwhelming in its intensity. I guess she finally reached the limit of what she could endure.
Don's heart is broken. We both struggle with waves of sorrow that rise and fall. We talk a lot about how beautiful Michelle is, and remember her sense of humor and adventure, her love of riding horses, her love for her children. We are glad that she is released from the burden of her pains, but it is hard to accept that she is gone from this sphere of life. How grateful we are for our knowledge and testimony of God's love. I can picture her snuggled in his arms. We love you, Michelle.
Our flag is at half-mast.

While Emily and Mom are at the Movie

Becky tried on my shoes. They weren't quite the right size. We raised the flag. (Don't worry, it didn't touch the ground.) And Kaleb and Becky were curious about the peeling bark on our white birch tree. It was great to "explore" the yard together. (If you want to see a picture of Emily letting a tarantula climb over her hand, go to the internet site below:
http:www.heraldextra.com/content/view/274843/17/)
It has been a joy having them all visit for a while.

Sunshine Scripture 5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

I Peter 1:3

Picture a wiggly, active, “lively hope," like a little child who can't sit still: eager, full of curiosity, skipping, running, turning, peering into crevasses, wide awake. That sounds so much better than a lazy slug of hope that droops on its bed, listless, weak, and apathetic. Shake your hope awake. Get it moving.