Jan. 8, 2011 Tucson Shooting Remembered

Tragedy in Tucson – Congresswoman Gabriel Gifford’s Shot

            I live in Tucson. Today is the first anniversary of the tragic shooting of my Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords. This is my journal entry recording my thoughts and reactions of that day written on Jan. 19^th.

            “Gabrielle Giffords was shot along with 16 others at the Safeway store on Ina and Oracle (this is the one that gives our Picture Rocks food pantry their truckload of food on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at a “Congress on the Corner” meet and greet event. A mentally ill 22 year old man opened fire on the long line of people waiting to talk with her.

America Must Put Away the Hateful Words

The whole country was shocked and it’s been on the news constantly. President Obama came to a memorial service for the five dead (including Christine Taylor Greene, a nine year old 3^rd grade student who was just elected to serve on her school’s student council) held at the University of Arizona. There were as many people attending inside as outside the stadium. He said all of the exactly right things, including that earlier after he’d left Gabrielle’s bedside, when her close congressional friends were visiting, she’d opened her eyes for the first time!

He concluded with the idea that America must put away the hateful words, become more respectful in our debates and live up to the ideals and dreams of young Christina and all the other children in our country. 

Season of Healing

Diane Sawyer, ABC news anchor interviewed Mark Kelly, astronaut and Gaby’s husband. Their love Story and his strong quiet devotion to her really touched my heart. It was my thought/impression that Gaby had agreed to this “mission” in life when she came to earth (she has been the epitome of what a congresswoman should be) because she’d done her job so well, but the nation is heading for a political disaster with violence becoming more and more prevalent. Perhaps Gaby’s valiant fight to survive (I made a note in the margin of my journal here that Gaby was voted the most courageous military spouse by soldiers on May 5^th) and her husband’s kind loving response to this tragedy, the death of Christine, so young and perfect, as well as President Obama’s speech and the outpouring of love from Tucson may bring about a season of healing.

A Very Personal Connection

            My daughter’s first husband had told her that he’d planned on taking their four year old son the event, but the little guy had turned off the alarm clock. Whew! Both my daughter and her current husband believe that little boy has had other precognitive events, warning others about something and not being listened to and the event happened. I so very much want my grandson to grow up and become a priesthood holder who can use this gift  from God to benefit His Kingdom on Earth and prepare for Christ’s second coming. I am so glad that he turned his daddy’s alarm clock off that morning.”

Remembering is a Sunday Experience

            It is fitting that today, Sunday, the first anniversary of this tragic event, is a day to do some remembering and reflecting. Today, there will be TV specials (at least here in Tucson) with a review of all the milestones of Gaby’s recovery. They will interview the survivors and surviving families of those who were killed. It is my hope that this remembering will feature all of the good things that have come from that horrible tragic event on January 8^th last year.

           

Now I ask these questions:

            Have we put away the hateful words?

            Have we become more respectful in our debates?

            Are we living up to the ideals and dreams of our young children?

Your Personal Scripture - Your Patriarchal Blessing

Search Your Personal Scripture Diligently

SCRIPTURE: “Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.” –Alma 17:2

            If our Patriarchal Blessing is our personal scripture from God, I guess we’d best be diligent in it’s study that we might know the word of God for us. When I was 24 and read my blessing the first time it was boring to me. Yes, you heard me, boring! I set it aside, even lost it and had to reorder it for Church headquarters. Quite frankly, I had not remembered it correctly at all. Over the years, I repented and began a serious approach to studying it.

Make a Plan of Study

Make a specific plan to be diligent in studying your patriarchal blessing. In the recent July 2011 Ensign there was a wonderful story about the “Islands of Faith: A story of Diligence” that illustrated the life saving principle of diligence. It is here that I found President Henry B. Eyring saying, “However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly.”

            “…Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation. Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies.”

            In your own blessing are there words like diligent or phrases such as, “if you are faithful…?” Included in my own blessing are phrases and words such as “..determination in your heart,”  and “…have a firm conviction,” “unwavering,” “diligently,” and “…shall not rest.” Find these words in your blessing and ponder the subject or topic where they are used. Perhaps this is where the Lord is telling you to focus you attention; where it will bring you the most reward and insight.

QUOTE: “Into the ‘university” of earth comes a totally unique individual, one with certain gifts, certain abilities, and a particular foreordination, an outline of purpose that is probably specific and direct but is hidden behind the veil of mortality.”

            “We have, in the restored Church, access to personal scripture, direct from God, relative to our callings and foreordination in life. The scripture is our patriarchal blessing. At it’s least, this blessing provides the recipient with indication as to the potentials he should perfect, the priorities he should practice, the paths he should pursue.”

            “At best, it gives him direct information about the callings and expectations that God has for his life.”

            “A patriarchal blessing often seems to be a puzzle – and in a way, it is meant to be so. Insight too easily gained is knowledge too seldom used. A blessing will yield its true meaning and specific interpretation only “line upon line, precept upon precept’ and only to one who looks and thinks and asks, with real intent, and with persistence and with faith.”

--- “Life Planning” by Richard M Eyre & Paul H. Dunn, 1979,

 Bookcraft, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, p 49-50

Discover Your Potential and the Road You Must Travel

If you will write down your impressions from the study of the words of diligence found in your patriarchal blessing into your journal, you will see the road you must travel. Sometimes we get buried in the dust of life’s daily battles. Shake off the dust and be firm in your conviction to do what you should be doing, right now at this moment in your life. Set aside the uncertainty of an unknown future, the excitement of  upcoming plans for vacation or travel, the depression over finances, the despair over straying loved ones, and decide now to put in your time with the Lord to understand his will for you.

            I testify that if you are willing to do this, the Lord will bless you with quiet direction and inspiration and your every need will be answered.

A Life Examined

The title of my blog comes from the verse found at Malachi 3:16 which reads, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”

I believe that each of us has some special insight into a few topics that we can share with others as a testimony of sacred principles. One such testimony of mine is that the Lord speaks through his Patriarchs to give individuals divine counsel that is very specific to them.

At least once a week, I will be posting some tips for getting the most out of your patriarchal blessing. The counsel contained in your own blessing may be hidden from your view, just as the scriptures sometimes seem dull or boring or even not understandable upon first or cursory reading. The scriptures are much more that we first notice. Sometimes our not completely understanding them is because we don’t know the meaning of the words, or they are written in a literary form that brings added emphasis, but we don’t even see that literary format. There are many books written about understanding scriptures and many scholars have made lifetime studies of certain prophets or books of scripture.

I suggest that you make understanding your Patriarchal Blessing a lifetime study. Because this is the Lord’s word to you to help guide you in your life, He will inspire you and support you in every effort you make towards understanding what your life is all about. Examine you life. Examine your Patriarchal Blessing. Are they in tune with each other?

Begin Today - Do It!

 How often have you read your Patriarchal Blessing? If this is your own personal scripture revealed from God, how often do you think you should read it?

            We are told to study our scriptures daily. No, I’m not suggesting that you read your patriarchal blessing every day, but shouldn’t you give it a regular place in your scripture study? There are insights to be learned by a regular, diligent study of the Lord’s personalized message to you.

I am hoping that you too will find out how the Lord blesses us, as we take the time to STUDY his words to us through the inspired counsel of the your stake patriarch. After 30 years, I’ve found hidden meanings in words and phrases that are in my own patriarchal blessing.

Find the Scriptures Quoted in your Blessing

 MY SUGGESTION: “Remember to Start this Reading with a Prayer”

Find the scriptures that may be quoted in your blessing and then read the entire chapter where they are located in the Standard Works.

Next print them out so you may add it to your Book of Remembrance or record it in your journal with the thoughts that come from reading it. If you find no actual scripture in yours, find a phrase that is familiar and find it in the topical guide,  then look up those scriptures.

For example the only scripture actually quoted in mine is:

“We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; and we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.” -- Abraham 3: 24-25

I ponder this and often ask myself am I doing all things what the Lord has commanded of me? Over the years this has come to mean more than doing or obeying the basic commandments; it means, am I in tune with the Spirit and doing what is being asked of me daily in all the various areas of my life, including family and callings?

In more personal language, "Will I do all things whatsoever the Lord my God shall command?" I've prayed over this and found these phrases in my patriarchal blessing that say, I "shall be an influence for good amongst my fellow associates and friends," as well as, that I shall have a determination in my heart, "to bring to pass much righteousness upon the earth," I’ve been prompted to begin this form of communication, my Malachi 3:16 blog.

QUOTE: by Elder Joseph B Wirthlin, May 2007 Conference Issue of the Ensign, a talk entitled “Life’s Lessons Learned.”

            “I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them.

            Elder Wirthlin quotes Henry David Thoreau, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” (Walden, ed. J Lyndon Shanley, 1971, p 323)

New Year's Resolutions or Goals?

New Year’s Resolutions or Goals?

I’ve never given much thought to the difference between a New Year’s Resolution and a Goal. I heard on the television news that they were taking a poll asking three questions (this was on January 3^rd) about New Year’s Resolutions: Which of these do you anticipate you will do

            1. Breaking the resolution right away

            2. Keeping the resolution for a week

            3. Keeping the resolution for several months

            4. Keeping the resolution all year

In the results taken from viewers, 39% felt they could go through the year; another 29% figured they might make it for several months.

Where do you fall in the poll? Is it time to recommit?

In order to learn a little more about the difference between a resolution and a goal I went to The New World Dictionary to give me some hints. The following are definitions found there.

RESOLUTION: 1) the act or process of resolving something or breaking it up into its constituent parts or elements  2) a resolving, determining; deciding.

RESOLVE: 1) to break up into separate, constituent elements or parts; analyze 2) to change or transform 3) to explain or make clear

GOAL: an object or end that one strives to attain; aim.

Here is what I conclude: to resolve or determine to do something is the motivating desire to change or transform oneself. The goal is the end object of a plan of action, determined by breaking up the process into constituent parts.  A goal must have a definable, measurable result and is usually tied to an end date. Often, short term goals (with date to be achieved by) help one to meet a long term goal.

QUOTE: In the January 2012 Ensign “Recognizing God’s Hand in our Daily Blesings,” by Elder D. Todd Christofferson,  we find a quote by President N. Eldon Tanner, First Counselor in the First Presidency, who said,

 “As we reflect on the value of resolving to do better, let us determine to discipline oursleves to carefully select the resolutions we make, to consider the purpose for making them, and finally to make commitments for keeping them and not letting any obstacle stop us. Let us remind ourselves at the beginning of each day that we can keep a resolution just for that day.”

 –N. Eldon Tanner, “Today I Will….,” Liahona Mar. 2003, 27-28; “Just for Today,”

 New Era, Jan. 1975, 5.

A Resolution is Often Broken Because it was Just an Intention

An Intention Becomes a Resolution When it is Written Down!

Remember to consider why you are making a resolution and carefully identify your motivating factor. Next, set a goal to reach or implement your resolution.  Then commit to keep that resolution DAY by  DAY until you have reached your GOAL.

I use my Patriarchal Blessing to set my personal goals for the year. After prayerfully reading it once a day over a period of time in December, I notice that certain words or phrases pop out at me. I use these for the basis of some personal scripture study. I discover ideas for my New Year’s goals seem to present themselves to me under inspiration. We all know what we ought to be doing. It doesn’t take a magician to tell us these things. I then write down my goals with several dates for meeting smaller steps towards a major goal. Keeping these at the front of my journal helps to keep me on track. I seldom try to resolve to do more than five different things at a time. Too many goals make me just want to give up.

At the six month mark around the beginning of summer, I review how I am doing, and determine whether I need to make what I call “Course Corrections.”

Over the years, I have accomplished much towards becoming the kind of person I believe Heavenly Father wants me to be. Using my own patriarchal blessing helps me to eliminate distracting topics in life that lure me away from my life mission as stated therein.

Good Luck in your Goal Setting for 2012! Let me know how you are doing.

New Journal - Begin Today

JOURNAL KEEPING

Journals are your own scriptures that you write for your descendants, just as the Bible or Book of Mormon is a record of the men who wrote those books in their time. We would know very little about the great prophets without their writings that have come down to us throughout the years. In fact, there are many missing writings by prophets mentioned in the scriptures that we no longer have written record extant. 

If you want to keep a really meaningful journal, write with prayer and insight.

You say, "I'm no prophet, what the heck, my own kids may never read this stuff I'm writing, so should I still keep a journal?" Yes. There is a psychological benefit to keeping a journal. Well, maybe there are several benefits, the least of which is simply to watch your own thinking progress over the years. 

SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO WRITE

I've read some journals by others that are simply a "what I did today" kind of listing and found that I really don't care that you ate for breakfast every day, etc. what I concluded from reading this type of journal was that the person who wrote them simply reflected their own personality... to me they were boring and not very creative. If I was their great great grandchild perhaps I would laugh at what they chose to eat or what new invention at the time had flopped since they wrote. I read a journal kept by a mid-wife in the early 1800's and found it fascinating, wanted more detail and was amazed at how sensitive she was to her client's needs and mourned with her over the deaths that she could not prevent.

Who are you writing for?

Some twenty years ago, I had an epiphany about journal writing after reading a book by Julia Cameron entitled, "The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity." This book was designed to 'unblock' writers, musicians and artists, so that they could get back into their creating works of art. Cameron presented the concept of Morning Pages.

Here is a description that I found about Morning Pages:  

"Morning pages are three pages of writing (long hand) anything that comes to your head. Julia Cameron suggests that you make Morning Pages a practice that you keep every day while you are working through The Artist's Way, and hopefully, beyond.

When I first read about Morning Pages, my first thoughts were...Everyday? 3 pages? Only by hand? She's GOT to be kidding! What will I write about?

The point to Morning Pages isn't to write incredible, novel-quality prose. The writing you do in your Morning Pages may not even be suitable for a letter to a friend! It's the little bits and pieces that run around in your head out of control. The words may not even piece together into full sentences. What you write doesn't have to make sense to any person on the face of the planet -- or even to yourself a few days later." 

I began Morning Pages (these are definitely not journal entries) as part of this creativity process back in 1993, but they evolved into much, much more as I integrated what I learned into my concept of what a journal should be. I found that I had created a habit that was a really good one. I had set a regular time each day to to write so I kept it up. During this process I started each session in my journal with a prayer, and soon I discovered that even though I was a visual artist (college degree in painting and drawing) that I began to write beyond what were my capabilities at the time (so I thought.) I perceived this new ability as writing under inspiration or via the Holy Ghost. To this day, I marvel at some of the things I wrote.  Let me say here that my every day entries are usually  not inspirational. I've noticed, given the perspective of time,  there are bursts of insight here and there but that's all.

Last year was particularly a good year for inspired writing and I credit that to my basing my goals on this verse for the year:

 2011 Journal Quote on Front Cover and Theme from Patriarchal Blessing

"Our Minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understanding, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain previously, nor ever before thought of." --Joseph Smith, JS History verse 74

Selecting a Format

For those who are beginning to write in a journal I have some suggestions about the format you choose. When I first began, I was seduced by the beautiful matching bound journals that I saw in the LDS bookstore. I bought four of them thinking that was a good start. WRONG. I was scared to write in them. One reason was the ink was sooooo permanent and pencil rubbed off onto the next page. Some years later, I even went back, embarrassed over something I'd written, that I used a razor blade to cut out  those pages. 

Another thing I discovered about myself was that I loved keeping a travel journal, so I would buy a cute little artsy journal to carry with me on a trip. The problem then was how to incorporate all these various size pages into a continuum of what was, "My Journal." 

That is how I settled on the three ring binder/notebook format. I use the pockets front and back for clippings I collect that interest me, use plastic page protectors for other art and photos, AND it is of sufficient size so that I can write as long or as short an entry as I wish. I can start on a new page and keep an entry on it's own page or section, or I can continue dating entries day by day on the same page. I in fact use both of these in any given year. Since I use standard college ruled notepaper, a few pages are easily folded into quarters to accompany me on a trip. No longer do I have to repunch tiny pages to fit into my journal when I get home.

I absolutely love writing long hand, but if you dread the thought of writing long hand, use the computer. I know that I can type much faster than I can write. I can get more down typing. Store your journal pages on the computer but remember to back up regularly to a CD/DVD. This format can be fun because you can add photos and video clips.

As Latter-Day Saints we've been given some suggestions as to what we should include in our journals:

You and your travels

Love of Family

Interest in our Surroundings

Diligence in performing daily tasks

Faith during trials

Testimony

Understanding of the Gospel

Glimpses into the lives of others

Affairs of the Church

Brief history of your life, parentage, birth

When you were baptized and by whom

All of your official acts – callings

God’s dealing with you

Blessings given to you, written and preserved

Power and blessings of God made manifest in your preservation from danger

Fulfillment of prophesies and revelations of God

Our modern day prophets didn’t know they would be prophets, but they were obedient in keeping their journals. When a book about their lives was to be written, there was a rich source of materials for the biographer to draw upon. You might ask yourself, “What would you like to know about your ancestor’ lives? What does this suggest about what you could write in your own journal?

Begin your quest to know what the Lord expects of you in this life by reading and studying your patriarchal blessing and keep an eternal record by writing insights in your journal.

Tournament of Roses Parade – A Family Tradition

A Family Tradition is started in Pasadena

My Grandmother was celebrating her first birthday in cold, snowy central Illinois when the first Tournament of Roses Parade was held in Pasadena, California. The Tournament of Roses committee was founded in 1895 and wanted to let the world know how beautiful their city was on January 1^st.  They decked out horse drawn carriages with roses and other flowers that were so abundant in Southern California, then added flowers to the horses, got a few bands for a Parade down Orange Grove Blvd and Colorado Blvd. to begin a 123 year old tradition . They had photographs and postcards made; newspapers covered the parade and the rest is history.

Not only my history but many families have a tradition around this parade. The host on ABC's coverage of the 2012 parade shared how his mother cried when he told her he was coming home to cover the parade. 

This is my family tradition. Living in Pasadena, it was a given you would have contact with the Rose Parade. My parents took us and we sat in the bleachers set up along Colorado Blvd. When my parents divorced my mother rented a house on Cooley Place just a few short blocks from Victory Park where the parade ended and the floats were on display for a few days. The man we rented the house from had horses and was part of a mounted group that road in the parade each year. My sister would join the neighborhood kids to go down and pluck orchids and roses from the wilting floats just before they were moved to be dismantled. I remember with awe viewing those huge constructions that were completely covered with organic material. My most vivid memory was the wonderful smell of the flowers. I’ve always loved roses and flower since then.

In 2012 this  Rose Float Showcase is a paid admission area where the floats are displayed after the parade, for close-up viewing. The floats are parked along Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards in Pasadena, near Pasadena High School and Victory Park, for three hours after the parade. On the day after the parade (occasionally two days when January 3 falls on Saturday or Sunday), the first two early morning hours (7-9) are reserved for seniors and the disabled, and the rest of day's worth of viewing for the general public. There were three days of viewing in 2010, Jan. 1 (1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.), Jan. 2 and 3. A fair-like environment with food and souvenir vending stands is created for public enjoyment. Handicap access and assistance is provided. Some of the animated floats are put on display with their animation running. Unfortunately, as time goes on the flowers wilt and thus the best viewing is right after the parade.

The father of one of my childhood friends, Lynn Sluder Dotts, was a businessman and volunteered for the Tournament of Roses Committee and wanted to work his way up to be chairman one day. I don’t know if he ever made it but I do know he wore the traditional white suit. I was very impressed with this man’s dedication as a community volunteer. All the girls I grew  up with wanted to be in the parade, most desiring to be the Queen or one of her court. At the time you had to attend Pasadena City College, so that was one of my goals. But alas, we moved to Pomona when I was in fifth grade and by then I realized that that dream wasn’t going to happen.

We did however watch the parade on TV whenever possible. It became a New Year’s tradition. This year was unique. Only 14 times in the history of the Parade did January 1 fall on Sunday; and the committee made a decision early on to postpone the parade to Monday so people could attend church.

 The Junior Rose Bowl Parade

When I attended Cerritos Jr. College I played in the band and it just happened that one year our football team won the honor of playing in the Rose Bowl and I was able to march in the Junior Rose Bowl Parade. It was held much earlier around Thanksgiving. The Junior Rose Bowl game was played in the same stadium as the Big Game Event. The Junior Rose Bowl was played from 1946–71 and 1976–77. Between 1946–66 and 1976–77, the game pitted the California Junior College football champions vs. The NJCAA football champions for the National Championship. It was organized by the Pasadena Junior Chamber of Commerce. The Junior Rose Bowl became the Pasadena Bowl football game from 1967–71; it was billed as the Junior Rose Bowl the first two years, but instead two teams from the NCAA College Division competed (then later the University Division, usually featuring teams that were not invited to other major bowls).

Downey Rose Float  

After college I began working as the Director for the Downey Museum of Art in Downey, California and became involved in their Downey Rose Float Association Committee. Because of this affiliation I often submitted designs for a float and finally my design was selected for the Downey entry in the Tournament of Roses Parade in the Bi-centennial year of 1976. I watched the men at the Downey Maintenance Yard  build the chassis over the engine, weld the rod iron or rebar structural elements to match my design. I got a call to come down to correct one of  the positions of a pair of oxen pulling a conestoga wagon because they couldn’t get it quite right. We twisted it’s head up and rearing to the side and it worked. On the float where Miss Downey and her court rode there was a reference to a lunar lander at the rear the space shuttle takes off over planet earth. These images tell the story of Downey's history from Pioneer to Space. Rockwell International was located in Downey and the Space Shuttle was built there.

1976 Downey Rose Float entitled "Tomorrow the Stars"

My design didn't win any prizes. It was quite an experience to see this float being built from the ground up. I even got to glue flowers on our float (every part of the flower is used; and the building smells fabulous, but it's COLD) and I'll always remember sleeping beside it after it was lined up ready to go in line with the other floats on Orange Grove Blvd. the night before. This was to guard it. Passing people wanted to pick off the flowers. Also that glue... I had to throw away the clothes I wore when I glued seed and flowers onto the skin coating the structural parts and it was permanent glue (had glue on my hands and everywhere, even after using the solvent.)

You had to be sixteen to work on attaching flowers, leaves, grass and seeds to the float. So when my family moved back to the United States from Mexico I wanted my daughter to see what it was like to participate in building a float. I called the Downey Rose Float Association and got permission for her to participate and our family took a week of vacation and stayed with my sister in Downey. My daughter really did get the chance to work on the 2003 Downey Float for a couple days, but was so excited that she got to stay up long hours into the night before it had to pass inspection to get out onto the road and it’s trip from Downey up to Padadena. We enjoyed a bus trip to the parade (didn’t have to worry about parking, walking, etc) AND had great seats. We even got to sleep on the trip home because we were all so tired. It was the culmination of a family tradition for me.

2003 Downey Float Construction- Shown here sorting flower parts

My daughter commented last year on this opportunity, “Something I will always remember fondly was getting to work on Downey's float with my cousin back in 2002. We stayed up ALL night to get it done in time and then went in the morning to watch the parade.” She now has a son age 5 and a small daughter age 15 months. Wonder if they will ever get the chance to work on a Rose Parade Float?

My Daughter and Her Cousin in front of the 2003 Downey Float

 Here is the professional photo of the 2003 Downey Float entry entitled "Midnight Rescue"

2012 Downey Float Entry Wins Award

I still enjoy watching the parade every year. This year Downey’s float won The Founder’s Award for Most Beautiful Self-built Float. There are very few floats that are in this self-built category. Most floats are designed and built by professional companies. This year Downey’s entry was called “Enchanted Paradise” and featured a volcano, water slide, and Easter Island-style statues. 

Way to Go Downey!!!!

New year, New journal, and Saying Good-bye

Happy New Year!

NEW JOURNAL

Today, I move all of my well-prayed over resolutions (read that Goals) for the New Year into a New Journal. I move my patriarchal blessing over, create a cover for my journal, (some years very elaborate, others really simple) and transfer over a few sections that I am currently writing in on various topics as well as some pages of notes on studies that I'm into. It always amazes me that I didn't write as much as I set out to write. But, this past year I guess I did pretty well. I don't write every day, and quite frankly, I sometimes don't even write about those really special spiritual experiences that occurred like I should. It's very cathartic to set that old Journal that says 2011 on the shelf besides the other previous years in the bookcase. I probably won't look at it for awhile. I'll be concentrating on my NEW JOURNAL for 2012.
But Hey, it's a New Year. A New Beginning and I can have good intentions, set goals and begin anew!!!! Yippee!!
On the way to church today, my husband said to me, "I think God likes New Years." I said what do you mean? He replied, "Well, I think he knew mankind needed the markers of days, months, and years to help us learn to keep perspective. You know, set goals, and try to achieve them in some sort of time context."
I pondered that and now I think I realize that since God isn't on the same time continuum as we are, (all things are present before Him) it may very well be helpful to Him, too, as well as to us to have a New Year. We remember birthdays, anniversaries and special holiday dates so that we can mark our progress in mortality. What better than a New Year? Every culture and every calendar has their own celebrations for the beginning of a New Year. The Chinese New Year comes on January 23, 2012, The Year of the Dragon,  and has it's own traditions to celebrate. The Hebrew calendar of course, also has it's New Year celebration, Rosh HaShanah, which was celebrated on September 29-30, 2011 and ushered in the year 5772.

What do I do on New Year's Day? 

I remember my Grandmother who was born on this day in 1889.
I start a new journal with new goals.
And I have one other tradition...you might call it a family tradition: I watch the Rose Parade from wherever I happen to be living. Tomorrow I will tell you about this family tradition in more detail.

Well, the rug was pulled from under me today. One of my traditions, since childhood growing up in Pasadena, CA was to watch the Tournament of Roses Parade, but this year because the January 1st fell on Sunday, the parade will be tomorrow. That is really good, as far as I'm concerned because now I can spend this day, not in the world of flowers, bands, horses and floats with copious commercial breaks, but instead spend it reading the scriptures, praying over which family in my genealogy that I'd like to research and send to the temple, AND rest. My husband and I have both been under the weather for a couple months and today was the first time (our ward's new hour for starting Sunday meetings is now eleven a.m instead of nine a.m.) we both attended together, each with our walker, and stayed for the entire three meeting block. Friends greeted us and were so pleased to see us, that it filled our hearts with joy.

Saying Good-bye

You ask, what on earth do you mean, you just started writing this blog  you can't say good-bye!
No, No, I mean good-bye to the old year, the old bad habits that were conquered, and good bye to the twenty five pounds that I successfully lost. Things like that.
But there are some sad good-byes, too,  like people I admired who died this past year, experiences that I may not have again (like traveling to Pasadena, CA cause I just can't sit that long, and the car won't make it there in one piece), also the peace of mind knowing that my husband's health is still good. It's not, and probably this will be a permanent thing since he is 81 and has prostate  cancer that has metastasized to his spine. So Good-byes are an integral part of remembering.