Week 7 In the Leafy Treetops
My dearest children, grandchildren...and friends who are listening in....
So....a song keeps going through my mind this week....I'll explain why in a few minutes:
In the leafy treetops the birds sing "Good Morning."
They're first to see the sun.
They must tell everyone.
In the leafy treetops the birds sing "Good Morning."....before 5:00 EVERY morning!!! (Oh, wait....I think that last part isn't part of the song. ;-)!)
We are surrounded here in Zion's Camp by beautiful trees that make homes and resting places for hundreds of birds who love to sing each morning. I looked at my clock one morning this week when they woke me up and it was 4:39 am!! Luckily, I go back to sleep and I really do love their cheery songs!
Another song has taken on greater meaning also as I imagine what it must have been like on a sacred morning:
Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing through the grove,
When within the shaded woodland
Joseph sought the God of love,
When within the shaded woodland
Joseph sought the God of love.
This has been a great week...full of wonderful experiences. Dad has already told you about the sweet baptism experiences. I was so impressed as I sat in the baptistry last Monday watching as a sweet family from Colorado ALL entered the waters of baptism for ancestors. I thought how their children are being blessed by the example of their parents as well as being able to feel the Spirit of the temple. I was talked later in the week with one of the matrons and we were marveling how when we were youth, we were lucky to be able to go to the temple to do baptisms once or twice in our entire youth experience. I got to go twice. Now, youth can go as often as they want to go with their own recommends. Heavenly Father wants His children in the temple, often, because that is what will protect them from the evils of this world we live in! On Saturday, I had a sweet former student come with her family. She had just returned from her mission to Spain....can't believe it had been that long since she was in my class!!!! She was in an awesome Algebra 2 class, one of the last I taught before they changed to the new curriculum, filled with amazing students. I wouldn't be surprised if all of them haven't gone on missions, boys and girls alike. It was fun catching up with her. I didn't teach any of her siblings because they built Salem Jr....sigh....
I had a sweet experience this week that reminded me of my Heavenly Father's love. As you know, I was a little concerned about my ability to do what I needed to do physically on my mission and this week I have been so discouraged. My hip began to hurt this week so much that I couldn't sleep well and standing and sitting were a challenge. Even walking, which usually isn't as much of a problem, was painful. I don't know if it was my knee problems that were affecting the hip or something else. I don't say this by way of complaining....just explaining. I prayed and prayed to know what I could do to take care of the problem. I was faithfully doing the things that I usually do to control the physical discomforts but nothing seemed to work. I just couldn't see living like this for the next 5 and a half months. I reflected back on my setting apart blessings....from my stake president and my temple president....and tried to take comfort in the promised blessings. Finally, as I poured out my heart one night this week, I got the distinct impression that I should ask for a priesthood blessing. I didn't know who to ask besides Richard because I don't have my boys here to help!!! Then, I was feeling a bit discouraged about that....in short Satan was working on me!! I finally asked Richard to ask one of the other Elders at Zion's camp and he came. He was so kind and I was grateful for his priesthood service in my behalf. I felt the love of my Father through that blessing but didn't get immediate relief. Later that day, I was a patron in Initiatory as part of my duties and the blessings and promises sunk deep into my heart. I felt that my Heavenly Father was reaching deep into my heart to comfort me. My pain gradually went away and has been much, much less throughout the rest of the week. More than anything else, I KNOW that my Father WILL make me equal to what He has asked me to do. As I humble myself and ask for His help, He will be beside me.
We had such a sweet experience with the young girl from our Sunday School class. As I told you last week, she was wondering how she should know how Heavenly Father answers her prayers. During Testimony meeting, she got up to bear her testimony and shared an experience that she had with prayer this week. She told how Heavenly Father had answered her direct prayer through the scriptures. How sweet it was!!! We were then able to reference that experience as we taught her about prayer and the Spirit in Sunday school today. The spirit was so strong in all of the meetings today. Our Heavenly Father really cares about her!!! We got the names of the six other youth who should be in our class and we are going to try to encourage them to come back now that there is a youth class. Two of them are in a family that were baptized a year ago but they haven't been coming. We will see what we can do with the Lord's help!! The others we will try to find and contact also but we're not sure yet how the Lord wants us to do that. He loves them....they are His children!!
Well....on to more worldly....but fun....things!! (Hmmm....that didn't come out right. The above things were fun also!!)
I got my hair cut this week. I finally let desperation overcome my fear of having someone else cut my hair besides the lady who has cut it for over 15 years!!! It is a little shorter than I like but it will be okay. Hair grows....
As Dad said in his post, we went to the Curtiss Museum this week. The thought occurred to me that Heavenly Father must have inspired him as well as so many of his associates to invent these things that we now take for granted but that not only bless our lives but further the work the Lord. Here are a bunch of pics.
Our guide
He started by building bikes and then started experimenting with putting motors on them....motor bikes.
Here is the motorcycle that he rode to set his record of 136.4 mph
He was asked by Alexander Graham Bell to help develop engines that would propel airplanes. This is a replica of his first plane.
In the background the "Jenny"...one of the most used planes in WWI, in training and for barnstorming events.
He invented the first mobile coach...this has a kitchen, sleeping quarters and a living room/dining room area. Hmmm.....first RV. I think I like ours better :-)!
In part of the museum they restore and build old planes. Here are two pictures and then what it will look like when they are done.
My companion
His companion
This is one of his first attempts at a seaplane. The navy commissioned him to develop the seaplane.
A ship was named in his honor. It was at Pearl Harbor...and survived to be instrumental in many of the sea battles in the war.
The museum is located in a picturesque little resort town, Hammondsport, on the shores of Lake Keuka.
The guys' idea of shopping
The restaurant where we ate at the top of a hill...beautiful!
The view from the restaurant
Lake Keuka
Along the sides of the roads there are so many wildflowers. For the last week or so, these purple and white ones have been blooming all over....so beautiful....and then in the last couple of days, there are little white ones that have started popping up. It is so beautiful here. Things change almost daily!!! Each week as we go to church there are new things to see!!
Up close, at the edge of Zion's Camp
In the wild....I made Dad stop at the side of the freeway to take these three pictures. He wasn't too happy but he was a good sport!! Love that guy!!!
This is hard to see but these are the little white ones.
Here they are together.
Well, dear ones, this novel has reached it's conclusion. Love you all so much!!!
Mom/Grandma/Sandy oxoxoxoxox
So....a song keeps going through my mind this week....I'll explain why in a few minutes:
In the leafy treetops the birds sing "Good Morning."
They're first to see the sun.
They must tell everyone.
In the leafy treetops the birds sing "Good Morning."....before 5:00 EVERY morning!!! (Oh, wait....I think that last part isn't part of the song. ;-)!)
We are surrounded here in Zion's Camp by beautiful trees that make homes and resting places for hundreds of birds who love to sing each morning. I looked at my clock one morning this week when they woke me up and it was 4:39 am!! Luckily, I go back to sleep and I really do love their cheery songs!
Another song has taken on greater meaning also as I imagine what it must have been like on a sacred morning:
Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing through the grove,
When within the shaded woodland
Joseph sought the God of love,
When within the shaded woodland
Joseph sought the God of love.
This has been a great week...full of wonderful experiences. Dad has already told you about the sweet baptism experiences. I was so impressed as I sat in the baptistry last Monday watching as a sweet family from Colorado ALL entered the waters of baptism for ancestors. I thought how their children are being blessed by the example of their parents as well as being able to feel the Spirit of the temple. I was talked later in the week with one of the matrons and we were marveling how when we were youth, we were lucky to be able to go to the temple to do baptisms once or twice in our entire youth experience. I got to go twice. Now, youth can go as often as they want to go with their own recommends. Heavenly Father wants His children in the temple, often, because that is what will protect them from the evils of this world we live in! On Saturday, I had a sweet former student come with her family. She had just returned from her mission to Spain....can't believe it had been that long since she was in my class!!!! She was in an awesome Algebra 2 class, one of the last I taught before they changed to the new curriculum, filled with amazing students. I wouldn't be surprised if all of them haven't gone on missions, boys and girls alike. It was fun catching up with her. I didn't teach any of her siblings because they built Salem Jr....sigh....
I had a sweet experience this week that reminded me of my Heavenly Father's love. As you know, I was a little concerned about my ability to do what I needed to do physically on my mission and this week I have been so discouraged. My hip began to hurt this week so much that I couldn't sleep well and standing and sitting were a challenge. Even walking, which usually isn't as much of a problem, was painful. I don't know if it was my knee problems that were affecting the hip or something else. I don't say this by way of complaining....just explaining. I prayed and prayed to know what I could do to take care of the problem. I was faithfully doing the things that I usually do to control the physical discomforts but nothing seemed to work. I just couldn't see living like this for the next 5 and a half months. I reflected back on my setting apart blessings....from my stake president and my temple president....and tried to take comfort in the promised blessings. Finally, as I poured out my heart one night this week, I got the distinct impression that I should ask for a priesthood blessing. I didn't know who to ask besides Richard because I don't have my boys here to help!!! Then, I was feeling a bit discouraged about that....in short Satan was working on me!! I finally asked Richard to ask one of the other Elders at Zion's camp and he came. He was so kind and I was grateful for his priesthood service in my behalf. I felt the love of my Father through that blessing but didn't get immediate relief. Later that day, I was a patron in Initiatory as part of my duties and the blessings and promises sunk deep into my heart. I felt that my Heavenly Father was reaching deep into my heart to comfort me. My pain gradually went away and has been much, much less throughout the rest of the week. More than anything else, I KNOW that my Father WILL make me equal to what He has asked me to do. As I humble myself and ask for His help, He will be beside me.
We had such a sweet experience with the young girl from our Sunday School class. As I told you last week, she was wondering how she should know how Heavenly Father answers her prayers. During Testimony meeting, she got up to bear her testimony and shared an experience that she had with prayer this week. She told how Heavenly Father had answered her direct prayer through the scriptures. How sweet it was!!! We were then able to reference that experience as we taught her about prayer and the Spirit in Sunday school today. The spirit was so strong in all of the meetings today. Our Heavenly Father really cares about her!!! We got the names of the six other youth who should be in our class and we are going to try to encourage them to come back now that there is a youth class. Two of them are in a family that were baptized a year ago but they haven't been coming. We will see what we can do with the Lord's help!! The others we will try to find and contact also but we're not sure yet how the Lord wants us to do that. He loves them....they are His children!!
Well....on to more worldly....but fun....things!! (Hmmm....that didn't come out right. The above things were fun also!!)
I got my hair cut this week. I finally let desperation overcome my fear of having someone else cut my hair besides the lady who has cut it for over 15 years!!! It is a little shorter than I like but it will be okay. Hair grows....
As Dad said in his post, we went to the Curtiss Museum this week. The thought occurred to me that Heavenly Father must have inspired him as well as so many of his associates to invent these things that we now take for granted but that not only bless our lives but further the work the Lord. Here are a bunch of pics.
Our guide
He started by building bikes and then started experimenting with putting motors on them....motor bikes.
This is one of his first attempts at a seaplane. The navy commissioned him to develop the seaplane.
A ship was named in his honor. It was at Pearl Harbor...and survived to be instrumental in many of the sea battles in the war.
The museum is located in a picturesque little resort town, Hammondsport, on the shores of Lake Keuka.
Lake Keuka
Along the sides of the roads there are so many wildflowers. For the last week or so, these purple and white ones have been blooming all over....so beautiful....and then in the last couple of days, there are little white ones that have started popping up. It is so beautiful here. Things change almost daily!!! Each week as we go to church there are new things to see!!
Well, dear ones, this novel has reached it's conclusion. Love you all so much!!!
Mom/Grandma/Sandy oxoxoxoxox
Gwenie: I love you.
ReplyDeleteOwen: Thank you for writing these stories on your blog.
Ellora: I miss you and I hope you have a great mission.
Chalyse: I loved that you wrote the stories because it helps strengthen my testimony when I hear stories about the Church and God.
Adaline: Nice Grandama. I love you! (Grandama is a combination of grandma and granddad).