Let it Snow? No! and a Tribute to my Faithful Friends

Ok, we don't really have a choice about the weather but I if we did I would fast forward to spring! I was just thinking last week I might put some primroses in my pots but didn't.  Probably a good thing that I didn't. Nevertheless, I'm so ready for spring to come.  Spring does come sooner here than it does in Utah. In a month it will be very spring like and there will be buds on the trees and tulips and camelias beginning to bloom! By April, we will begin to feel warm again and see even more blossoms and leaves.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to spring.

On a more serious note, my friend Neal Whiteford is about to leave this life. His dear wife Joan is sitting next to his bedside as he goes through the final phase of his mortal life.  Joan and Neal are my heros. Joan is one of the most faithful and stalwart disciples of Jesus Christ I think I've ever known. Her 10 year marriage to Neal has been an experience of faith in every possible way. I have watched the refining of Neal as he's gone through more than 5 years of serious health problems, including becoming a paraplegic and experiencing congestive heart failure. I've also watched the refining of Joan.  During these past 5 years not only has her best friend and dear husband been seriously ill, her daughter died from non-smokers lung cancer. Through it all she and Neal have faithfully served in their callings.  Neal has been a ward clerk, together they've served a church service mission to the LDS employment center, and Joan has served in her stake calling as the stake webmaster, teaching in RS, and filling in with music anytime she's needed.  She's also been a faithful, loving visiting teacher to me. Joan and Neal are loved by everyone in our ward. Every family in our ward has been touched in some way by Joan and Neal and their tireless service.

Joan has had her moments of discouragement and fear. She has wept through Neal's illnesses. She has mourned the loss of a beloved daughter. She has worried through another daughter's divorce and remarriage. I have learned from her as she has pressed forward with steadfast faith in Christ. I have watched her support and encourage Neal -- even when he was so ill and discouraged himself -- he had little to give back to her. I've watched her submit to Heavenly Father's will and accept the answers to prayer that weren't the answers she wanted. Despite receiving the answers she didn't want, she has remained faithful to her covenants and to the Gospel. She has made the choice not to be bitter and angry (even when she felt hurt and angry for a time).

Joan has changed Neal's life and he has changed hers. They have both changed mine. I will be forever grateful for dear, faithful friends who set the example of discipleship. Godspeed to you Neal as you walk into eternity and into the waiting arms of our Savior. Godspeed to you Joan as you press forward in the coming years, knowing that someday Neal will be waiting for you to walk into his arms and on into eternity by his side.

The Hearts of the Children (or We are Family)

Facebook started as a social medium for college kids.  In fact, when I first heard of it my college kids told me about it and explained that it was just for college students.  That was fine! Then, several years later I heard that Facebook was open to anyone.  I ignored it. I didn't think it was something I would ever be interested in.  Almost 3 years ago I was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.  Surgery, chemo, and radiation.  I was able to go to work when I felt good but many weeks I spent at home trying to cope with the side effects of chemo. During that time, I was feeling well enough one day to get online and explore Facebook. I joined up! I requested my kids as friends.  Abby's initial response was, "Mom must be sick, she's joined Facebook!"  For quite awhile I just used it to stay in touch with my kids who were all away from home.  I began to add other friends. Over these 2-3 years something wonderful has happened -- I've reconnected with many of my first cousins and second cousins, and other relatives.

I have many, many, many first cousins (around 40 or so). I actually know most of them. Facebook has brought many of us back together. I enjoy seeing pictures of their kids and grandkids. I love reading posts about what they're doing and thinking. When they're sick or having a hard time I enjoy offering words of encouragement. One of my cousins has battled ovarian cancer during the past couple of years -- I've been able to share with her some of the information I've learned about cancer. (Ovarian and breast cancer and prostate cancer are related and sometimes run in families like ours.) Another one of my cousins lives in Chicago and this week they're being hammered by a bad winter storm -- it's good to keep tabs and know that she and her family is safe. I've discovered that with a couple of my cousins (actually in-law cousins) and I share a lot of similar tastes in favorite TV programs and political views. It's so great to wish them happy birthday. Facebook has brought our extended family back together and helped us reconnect.

I love knowing that I belong to a very large extended family. I like feeling connected to so many really good people. I enjoy having contact with people who share a common heritage, common values (mostly), and common traits and characteristics. I have to think that Facebook is contributing to turning the hearts of the children to their fathers.

Light!

It's staying light later in the day! As I left work a little after 5 p.m. yesterday I realized it was still daylight. Woohoo! After the dark months of November, December, and January this is a wonderful gift. Recently I've been thinking about light and the sun and the Son. Some middle school students were being questioned about whether or not we need light to see. The students did not believe we need light to see. They were probed about their thinking and they believed that even total darkness with absolutely no light -- eventually their eyes would adjust to the dark and they would be able to see. One of the students was placed in a room that was darkened so there was absolutely no light from any source. She was in the room (with an adult) and even after quite a few minutes she believed that eventually she would be able to see. She was not convinced that her eyes would never adjust to a completely dark room and that she would never see in the absence of light. Yet, it is a fact that without light our eyes do not see. We rarely, if ever, experience complete darkness. Possibly in a cave, deep in the earth we could experience this. Most of the time, even in a very dark room, there are tiny fragments of light -- even the littlest bit of light allows us to see.

In relationship to the above fact, I've also been thinking about the fact that all of us are born with the Light of Christ.We are born with the light to see the truth. We are taught in the Book of Mormon that the light or Spirit of Christ is given to every person to enable them to know good from evil. We are not born in darkness, we come from a world and environment filled with the light, the Light of Christ, and we bring that with us into the world. I believe that is why new babies and small children are so sweet and delightful -- they are still touched by the warmth and light of Christ.

I've also been thinking about sunflowers. Sunflowers always follow the sun. We aren't as obedient as sunflowers. We don't always follow the Son. We are born with His light and yet, often we refuse to follow the light. I love thinking about this -- what a wonderful gift from Heavenly Father and all we have to do is nurture and nourish our soul with truth and obedience, and love. When we do this -- we can experience even greater light. When we exercise faith in Christ, unto repentance, choose to be baptized, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and then take His name upon us through the ordinances of the temple, we receive more and more light. We become obedient like the sunflowers.