Sunny Snow

  The words sunny and snow are two words we don't say much here in the Northwest. They are extraordinary and they make us respond in extreme ways.

Waking up to unexpectant snow makes us, Northwesterners in general, more tentative about going to work. It can cause us to run to the store and buy bread and candles. Sun, as well, can bring on a removal of clothing exposing our under exposed skin to the coveted rays. It can make us lazy and over relaxed. 

   Thus we can see that extremes in our lives bring on unusual behavior. I struggle with "keeping my head" and staying steady. One answer to better balance is less "futurizing". I learned that word in a yoga class. While I had closed eyes the teacher gave us a gentle direction to stop our minds from running ahead in time. It struck me how much I live in the future and I became more aware of "now'.  Right now I am watching the sun melt off the snow and recalibrating my plans for the day. My life may be composed of oddly shaped rocks, which don't stack up well, but nonetheless I can stay steady by being in the "now".

Book of Mormon Sunday II- Alma 15-21

    As the story continues I am again reminded of the strong friendship forged between Alma and Amulek. After facing death together, seeing others die for their beliefs, and constantly finding ways to teach the gospel, these two men are strengthened by their bond through the Lord.
  Alma 15:18 "Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord."

  The believing saints, who withstood persecution, begin to live "in the manner of happiness" and are strengthened by the spirit.

   Alma16:16 "And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming --That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God."

   Meanwhile, the story of the sons of Mosiah continues. They meet up Alma and tell of their mission experiences.

   Alma 17:2 "Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore 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 a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God."

   These verses give account of how these missionaries prepared themselves. This preparation gives fruit to a strong abiding love, which I think makes them so successful.

   Alma 20:26 "And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly"

  One of the biggest miracles in the Book of Mormon is the conversion of the Lamanites. And this miracles had it's roots in the desires of Lehi and Nephi who prayed diligently for their posterity. Nephi saw his brother's people in vision and surely this period of time was sweet for him to see.

Alma 21:23 "And Ammon did preach unto the people of king Lamoni; and it came to pass that he did teach them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And he did exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God."

New Exhibits for First Friday Art Tour

     On the first Friday of every month the local galleries change up their exhibits and everyone stays open late to invite everyone into town. I visited in the quilt shop to see the quilt exhibits and to appreciate the new space.

    The new shop has open space for tables which allows classes to go on right in the store. My favorite quilts were varied in subject and hues.

                    The black background just makes these colors pop. The pieces in this quilt seemed countless.

         Frogs are in the middle jumping between strips of coolness and those beady eyes are around the entire edge.

                    This quilt was inspired by the old photo which was framed off to the left. So whimsical!

                     For all of you who refuse to wear shoes, this quilt is a red carpet for your favorite foot attire.

                                          The cupcake fad may be fading but this quilt showcases every flavor.

   I liked the artist who went for switching up an old design and piecing these in a new combination.

This quiltshop always amazes me with their artistic design and innovativeness. I couldn't imagine this business having longevity but I have been wrong so far. There are quilters coming to this shop from hundreds of miles away.

I purchased some music fabric to make a new covering for my baby grand and I hope to show it off in the

 near future.                 

About Bumblebees and Crows

Happy March!

There are some things that I don't know that I can't do and telling me will just mess me up, so shh.......

     I still am a young crow at many things and need to follow the old crows who have mastered the skills
I want to learn. I have learned that if I hang around enough old crows I start thinking I can do it, too.

The Crows

 The old crow is getting slow.

 The young crow is not.

 Of what the young crow does not know

 The old crow knows a lot.

 At knowing things the old crow

 Is still the young crow's master. 

 What does the slow old crow not know?

 --How to go faster.

 The young crow flies above, below,

 And rings around the slow old crow.

 What does the fast young crow not know?

 --Where to go.

What Is In A Name?

    Imagine my surprise when my son texted me with the name of his new daughter.; Anna Gabriele.

That looks lovely and sounds nice, and it happens to be my name. It is reversed from my name, actually, mine being Gabriele Johanna. I have a lovely granddaughter, Amazing Grace, who carries my name as her middle name, as well, and we laugh together about how fun it is to share a name.
   Has it been an easy name to carry? Not always because my mother's pronunciation of it was German and it had so many vowel sounds in it that it was hard to say in English: Gaw-bree-ay-le was correct. At the time I was a teenager, a famous football player, Roman Gabriel, was getting news coverage and so I stopped correcting people. I explained that I had the feminine version of that name and that I was really named after an angel.
   My daughter-in-law, the one with the new baby who shares my name, was visiting some Christmases ago and made me a lovely sign for my refrigerator. I see it every day and hope that I can live up to the kind sentiments. Now she can hope that her daughter becomes all those things, as well.

Book of Mormon Sunday II- Alma 8-14

        I am not a seeker of signs but I have been seeing some. The number two is frequently presented to me in different venues. 

    One re-current theme in the Book of Mormon is the "two ways".  Nephi describes these two paths as "choosing liberty, or eternal life" or "choosing captivity and spiritual death through the power of the devil". Given this argument, who wouldn't choose liberty? But this liberty is not freedom to do as we please. This freedom is gained by walking in the ways of God and keeping his commandments. 

   Is it possible there is a third way; my way? I found a lesson in a reality show, of all things. The Biggest Loser teaches the concept that to be successful at losing weight and restoring your life you must "walk the walk " according to the trainers and planners of the show or you will find yourself kicked off the ranch. The "walk" is hard and the contestants are tested each day as to whether they will work as hard as possible. I totally understand why some of them try to approach it through the "third way". They are thinking, "I am trying as hard as possible, I deserve to rest or just give up" 

  "I can slack off a little and no one will know." 

  " If I get kicked off the ranch, I can still do my own thing and get the desired outcome."

   But, the winners of this game choose the "way of liberty" because they can not regain their physical health without intervention. They see "the way" as their only hope. It takes a while to see the lie in the "third way" because we want very much to create our own reality. 

   So, in the continuing story of the teaching of Alma more evidence is given of the enabling power offered by the Savior, through the atonement. These chapters show the sweetness of relationships forged through "walking in the ways of God". Take for example the relationship between the Almas; father and son. Both men have walked the path of "captivity and death". In repenting from these errors in judgement they both have similar "enabling power" granted to them from angels who desire to strengthen them.

   

   Mosiah 26:14 "And it came to pass that after he had poured out his whole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying:Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith in the words alone of my servant Abinadi."

Alma 8:10 "Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance....15   Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you."

    The foremost relationship is that between Alma and the Lord,  but the relationship between Alma and Amulek is also very sweet. Alma stayed many days with Amulek before they started preaching to the people of Ammonihah. I would love to know what they talked about.
   Alma 8:30 "And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost. And they had power given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their power until they were bound in bands and cast into prison. Now, this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them."
   Alma and Amulek, bound together in a relationship with God, teach the "way". The people in Ammonihah hear this compelling explanation of the two ways.


   Alma 12:33 "But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;

34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest."

    The first way is the way of repentance and the pathway is the soft heart towards the Savior who can then offer his mercy.

      Alma 12:35 "And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.  Now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first."


   The second way is the way of iniquity and the pathway is a hardening of the heart towards the Savior which stops our progression and results in the second death, the death of the spirit.

  

     Alma 12:37 "And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word."


   That makes sense, doesn't it? I can see the only possible "way" is the way of life eternal. Everlasting destruction is not so good and the third way does not exist.  

    

Two New Things

     I love receiving gifts which I don't know I want and today I want to celebrate two new things, the first being ever so much more important than the second, but fun nevertheless.
   Number 1; the little girl I waited for in Phoenix has arrived on her birthday.

 I am so pleased to know she is here and well. Anna Gabriele is 9 lbs. 5 ounces and has joined the Teacher Son Family with little Emmaline as her big sister.

     Number 2; while I was away I received a new door. I didn't know I needed one but I really like it.

     I think a new door opens on the day of your birth which brings you into a mortal world unlike you have experienced before. It is a wonderful and awesome existence. When I see this new door I will think to be grateful for my time on earth, whether it makes me sad, frustrated, or unbelievably joyous. When one door closes another opens up. That is sappy, isn't it?