Donna's Journey

My sleep patterns seem to be messed up. I must get over these breathing problems and get back to the gym, as it is below 20 degrees outside and not very inviting. I arose later than desired this morning. I studied and pondered III Nephi 22-30 and IV Nephi. This was a “high” after a “crisis” that lead to a turning that lasted centuries. (These cycles are explained in the book The Fourth Turning by Strauss and Howe). A time when the experiences of the people caused them to embrace their central canon and really live it; a high that lasted 200 years.

Back to the Aeneid.

It appears that a shipment of 60 cases of mugs, each weighing in at 36 lbs. (just over a ton!) has arrived and we need to tranfer them to our storage unit before the weather changes.

After the mugs are transferred into storage, we will head to Salt Lake to the Festival of Trees. I will take the Aeneid with us and read it in transit.

I read in transit and we went through the Festival of Trees. I, at first enjoyed the creativity of so many ways people decorated trees. I paired off with my 11 year old son. Soon my heart was heavy as I viewed the pictures by most trees, pictures of loved ones they can no longer hold. My eyes began to flood and I fought it back. My son looked at a picture and then glanced up at me. We walked in silence then he looked at another tree, then to the picture, and then into my eyes. “Mom, those pictures are people who died?” I nodded, and we finished our walk in silence. Just as we finished the manager of the storage unit called to let us know that Fed Ex arrived with our paper order, about 3000 lbs. We went to the car and headed to our storage unit, through the traffic. I read the Aeneid, my heart that was already soft, was stretched more as I read the sad story of Dido and Aeneas, where Aeneas was doing what his God had commanded, an was with heavy heart leaving, and Dido in her grief ends her life on a pyre.

Back to my reading…the kids are playing with friends and dinner is in the oven. It is an hour until dinner, I should be able to get some reading in before the evening with family begins.

I woke at 3:15 and was fully awake. I came to the living room and typed. My husband came out about 5:00 am and we discussed business strategy that was weighing on his mind. There are many logistics in creating a product to fill a niche and then marketing it.

I studied III Nephi 21 this morning and then started in on the Aeneid, which I will take to the dentist. Will he reconstruct or will he crown? It was a temporary crown and he replaced a filling next to it with a porcelain filling. I go back in two weeks for my crown. I read several pages of the Aeneid thinking, this is so familiar. It was. I am now caught up to where I was before. I am now on page 103.

I received my elocution assignment. I will be reciting the birth of Christ in the Christmas recital. So I have that to practice, along with a Christmas poem, and my scripture memory of III Nephi 17 to meet the stake challenge of 25 Book of Mormon scriptures.

Today, 29 November 2006, is my father’s birthday, with mortality behind him, I wonder if it yet holds any significance to him anymore? I think of his story. A boy, born on a farm in Kentucky, in 1923, who rode a horse to a one room school house, who played football for the University of Kentucky, who went off to World War II on an air craft carrier, and raised a family in an exotic place, Hawaii. Though he never finished college, he worked for Philo T. Farnsworth, fixing television sets, and he later tested missiles for the govenrment.

I think of the tragedies in his life and the loneliness he endured. Some the result of his choices and other struggles were not. Ah but is that not the lot of us humans? To some extent we reap what we sow, but to another, we often are touched and even suffer because of what others have sown. This was the man who would sing to me in his deep mellow bass voice, “Going to take a sentimental journey,,,” This tall, handsome man, with a full head of dark hair, even well into his 70s, never needing to dye his hair. When I was a child he would lift me upon his feet and dance with me. He cradled his grandsons and grand daughters in his arms and sang to them too.  He taught me to run, to high jump,
to sail a boat, to think how to fix things. I rmember the days on the ocean, and the hibachis on the beach. He was a good cook on coals.
Just before he died, his neighbors would tell me of how he frightened them at times, climbing to a hot roof, to fix their air conditioner, when he was in his late 70s. He was always serving and helping his neighbors. One day after a seminar in Cedar City, I prayed as I drove to Las Vegas to visit him, “if dad is the classic I am to learn today, let me see him as I need to see him, let me learn what I need to learn.” As I drove he was opened to my mind’s eye and he saw my father and all the good he had done, my heart overflowing for him. That was the last time I saw him alive. I am ever thankful for the seminar I had just attended, as it brought me to Las Vegas to visit my father, and it also turned my heart and mind to the messages of the spirit that day. I had the opportunity to see my fateher one last time, and see him in a new light. Yes, though at times our relationship was rough, I miss this man.

See: My Mother, Today is Her Birthday. pPosted 20 October 2006.

I woke to a winter wonderland! I am grateful for the snow.

I studied III Nephi 20.

I have been doing a study of works mentioned in Jane Eyre. Wow.

Jeremy made a delicious brunch. After lunch I noticed that I had sheered off the back side of a tooth. It crumbled and I must have ingested it. Yuck.

Read more Jane Eyre. Every time I got to a book or event I googled it. I realized that Charlotte was writing to an audience that was literate and held a culture held in common. The Google searches broadened me, I have been collecting and reading many of the books mentioned. I knew from previous conversation with Julie Earley that Charlotte had used the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in writing Jane Eyre, and dates quoted correspond. However, today I was reading the Lowood part of her story and realized that it was probable that Charlotte read the bible passages that were listed in her prayer book and then wrote Jane Eyre, influencing the turns of the story. Jane had arrived at Lowood School on 20 January, just 10 days before the regicide of Charles I, which was commemorated in Jane’s prayer book, but was removed by Queen Victoria eleven years later. There was a discussion of Charles I, at Lowood during those few days before 30 January. Thus, the days mentioned in the story are probably also the day she was writing that part of the book. I have read scriptures in the morning and, at times, there is a discernable thread through my writings that day. I could relate how that could happen.

I saw other things in Jane Eyre as well. All of the books quoted were either classics even in our time, or well read in her time. The book takes you into history, geography, the french language, English culture of the mid 19th century, mythology, Shakespeare, the Bible, 19th century educational philosophies, and more. When I see Shakespeare, The Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, and Greek Mythology (and most likely Virgil, though he is a Latin poet) , I realized that Charlotte’s canon had played out in her work. Those who shared her canon, had the cultural literacy to get the most from her work. However, even a culturally illiterate person like me, can gain much from her work. Ah, such is a classic!

I had my Orem Lyceum adult class this afternoon. We discussed Jane Eyre and the first 13 Ingredients of Core and Love of Learning A Recipe for Success. “Winter is the annual return to the core phase.” Winter is also the perfect time for those in the Scholar phase, you do not want to spend a lot of time in the cold. Glad I live in a cold climate! “Winters make men.” Glenn Doman once pointed out that countries that had floors that they swept and let children crawl on them, were nations that developed written language, as crawling develops convergence of vision and aides reading. Think about that, those are the countries that had books, people read, people discussed, people thought, and freedom was developed there. I am glad winter is here, I am being drawn to read.

Three important principles stuck out to me. I need to revisit Sundays, morning routines, and evenings. I challenged us all to look at these three ingredients and think of one thing to do that will improve each area. Evenings are for inspiring. That makes sense, the farm work was done and families came together. I also need to revisit my morning routine and defaults. OOOOOOOOOOoohhhhhhhhhh and Sundays. I am so glad that in four weeks, we will switch Sunday schedules, I am ready for morning church meetings. I look forwards to the long afternoon and evening rhythms that develop. Afternoon church pushes us, especially when there are firesides, morning seems to go longer. I just like morning schedule.

I finished reading the Oedipus cycle, reading Antigone tonight. Now I must Complete my reading of The Aeneid. I am on page 72 of 412, I will take it to the dentist with me tomorrow. I am being moved by this literature.

Good Night.

I woke and studied III Nephi 19. I ate 3 clementines for breakfast and a handful of pistachios.

I cleaned all of the slat blinds in the kitchen and living room. Less dust means better breathing for me.

I read more of Antigone.

I was visit taught.

I returned a phone call from my friend Shawn, in Southern California. We discussed the wider needs of the wider TJed community.

I went shopping to take advantage of food sales and stocking up. One thing was not an advertised special, I prayed because we were out. I got there and it was on sale for .99 and was on sale somewhere else for 1.99, regularly 2.25 so stocked up.

Family home evening was on remembering the reason for the season and the condescension of God.

Off to bed. I need to finish Jane Eyre in the morning!

Good night!

I studied III Nephi 18, this morning.

Roger made delicious french toast this morning. I am still under the weather, but will be teaching the my primary class. The lesson today is “I Can Forgive Others.”

After dinner there was a knock at the door, Audry and Justin stopped to see if Julia needed a ride back to GWC. So she left and was in bed at a decent time. This spared us a 6-8 hour round trip in the morning.

Our home teacher taught us a wonderful lesson and we shared insight around the tree.

I sit by the livingroom window, in my burgandy chair wingbacked chair, between hearth and Christmas tree. To my right is the tree full of memories of Christmases past and hopeful of Christmases to come. To my left is the fireplace mantel, laden with creches collected over the years. I have 22 nativities, ones I have made, ones that were made by friends, gifts, and ones purchased over the years. Some are on the mantel and others spread throughout the room. I must say I do love the ambiance of this time of year. All we lack is snow, or we will be singing Mele Kalikimaka! We probably will anyway. My children cannot image Santa in board shorts and a flower lei, but that was the Santa of my youth.

The Christmas Classics rest on the hearth. I collect those as well. The evenings over the next month, where we gather and to read stories and have special devotionals. On my hearth is a special binder, a book with letters of Christmases past, in my in-laws home, from 1942 on. I love to look back over the years. I enjoy reading snatches from Children’s Classics that deal with Christmas: Little Women, Little House on the Prarie, Laddie, Little Britches, etc. as we ponder how blessed we have been and think of how to bless others. I look with anticipation to stories such as The Christmas Carol, The Little Red Buckets, The Christmas Miracle of Jonanthan Toomey, The Christmas Dress for Ellen, The Christmas Box, A Christmas Parable, and many short stories (which I have collected over the years. This year, we will add my daughter, Julia’s, Christmas story that she polished at GWC.

Of course we always tell the secret service Christmas elves story and fluff the manger with family acts of service.

This week we plan to go to the Festival of Trees, which raises funds for Primary Children’s Hospital. I remember going to the Festival of Trees in Hawaii, at the Princess Kaiulani Hotel, when I was a child. I love to see the creativity of others.

Jeremy is into architecture and he wants us to build a Salt Lake Temple Ginger Bread House. That may be an all day endeavor, counts for school, with all the design, art, and engineering involved. They want to show case a gingerbread village on the marble topped buffet in the kitchen. I will report what actually happens. Maybe even a picture on my blog.

Each year I have my children make gifts for family members. I have Morning Devotional and Power of the Hour, then study time, each day. During the last two hours of study time, after lunch, I get to help children individually make their gifts. We will do baking but not much this year, as too much sugar just lowers our resistance and we get sick.

We are on grandbaby watch. My daughter-in-law has surgery tomorrow, which may trigger labor. If not, she is due around Christmas, and this is the first child she has carried this long. So, I keep flexible. Some things may happen, others may not, and new things are bound to take place. James and some neighbor boys, six in all, will be taking Christmas Cheer to a few nursing homes. We have an elocution recital in December. Both are new activities. We will see what the family decides to do to bring joy to others.

Oh, we cannot forget the music!! Children and mom seem drawn to the piano to place Christmas music. We carol as we drive and view the lights. The annual Church televised Christmas Devotional. The Stake Annual Christmas Sing-in, where each ward sings a Carol and then we all sing carols as a stake and selections from the Messiah. Ah, and what will our ward do on Christmas Eve Day?

A time to renounce war, proclaim peace, turn the hearts of the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children.

I woke this morning around 7:00. I had my devotions and studied III Nephi 17. I then decided to format the chapter in two colomns, print it off on card stock and cut it into 3.5 x 1.2 inches cards so I could memorize it. When I was done preparing that, I decided to also format III Nephi 12 in the same way. These are two excellent chapters and it only takes a few moments each day to memorize a verse a day. Memorizing is such a benefit to the heart and mind.

I remember hearing this from a talk by Spencer W. Kimball:

“We want our homes to be blessed by sister scriptorians, whether you are single or married, young or old, widowed or living in a family.”

“Regardless of your particular circumstance, as you become more familiar with the truths of the scriptures, you will be more and more effective in keeping the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. Become scholars of the scriptures- not to put others down, but to lift them up! After all, who has greater need to “treasure up” the truths of the gospel (on which they may call in their moment of need) than do women and mothers who do so much nurturing and teaching?” President Spencer W. Kimball “The Role of Righteous Women” Women’s Fireside 15 September 1979

“I have discovered that many times you do not fully understand a scripture until you memorize it. And sometimes I have memorized a scripture because it seemed important and valuable to me- then afterwords I discovered deeper meanings that I hadn’t even known were there.

When you find a passage that particularly impress you, consider taking the time to commit it to memory, word perfect. Then will you not only be able to remember it, but you will probably grow in your understanding, as well.

But that’s not all. By memorizing scripture you show the Lord that you esteem His words to be of great value- and then He will more likely speak to you and give you more.” Elder Gene R. Cook, “Searching the Scriptures” p 114

I got to pondering these ideas. What if I also added the transforming Epiphanies I get when the Lord speaks to my heart from the classics and poetry I read, as well? Are they not also from Him?

TIme to help the family with our traditional Saturday brunch, which the kids call big breakfast! Jeremy got the Christmas decorating going. The tree is done and beautiful.

I did not get much read today.

I did get some laundry washed and folded. Shopping done. Ran into a friend that has been missing for 5 years, glad he is alive. Glad my friend has closure and her husband home. I returned a copy of LOTR because it was missing 4 pages. B&N gave me a new copy.

I watched Take the Lead with Julia and Jeremy tonight. Wow, that was match, latch, and lead, based on a true story. I would have to include it with Stand and Deliver, Conrak, Mr. Holland’s Opus, The King and I, and the Sound of Music, as innovative teacher movies.

Goodnight.

A long night. I do not think I will be able to do much today, but finish working on my readings for my two seminar classes.

I found it necessary to drink herbal tea this morning; raspberry, squawvine, nettles, red clover, alfalfa, lemon grass, and thyme. This was all unexpected at my age.

I am reading Antigone this morning and then I will move on to finish the Aeneid. I have papers to write and the timeline to complete for my other class.

Note: This evening–

I did read a fair amount in Antigone. Friends came in from out of town, so we took them to lunch at Magelby’s Grill and Oyster Bar. We shared with them the concepts associated on living in 60% of our income and giving 10% to Tithing, 10% to Emergency Buffer (Short Term Savings), 10% to Retirement (Long Term Savings), and 10% to Philanthropic causes. We shared what has happened since we began this journey. I havr two adult children that we have shared this with and they are doing it.

I came home and read some more. Then Jeremy came in and reminded me that it was time to move the furniture to prepare for the Christmas tree. We did and we cleared the hearth and mantel. Nothing like the Christmas shift to let you know how much you are in need of purging. With the reading I need to do and helping children make their presents I do not see purging happen until we take time the tree. Out with the old and in with the new. All in all, I love the spirit that this time of year brings. I cannot wait to take out the Christmas Carol and begin to read. I have a grandson due around Christmas. My 29th wedding anniversary is just 4 days after Christmas. First, Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am grateful for so many things. I won’t list them here, as once i get started I do not think I will stop. Perhaps I have a poem coming on…

I kept it quite simple today. .I did not do potato casserole, yams, green bean casserole, jello, or apple stuffing. All of which I love but had no energy for. We had a salad, roast turkey, creamed gravy, jasmine rice, beouf beans, and pumpkin pie. We ate dinner at normal dinner time, and had the pie later. We did not stuff ourselves, we just enjoyed each other. We covered the map on the table, with a table cloth, and then laid out china, flatware, napkins, and crystal. I reflected on fine dining, manners, and etiquette. The difference between a refined person and one who is not is that once learned, these become part of who the refined person is. Whereas others only see these devises as tools used to impress others. The first becomes a gracious person. The latter is one who others can see through, ah the Empress has no clothes! In other words, gentility is not some thing you turn off and on like a light switch or faucet, it is a way of being.

I got to speak to my son in California last night. His wife has surgery on Monday. We hope labor does not start before then. After that it is normal pregnancy all the way and hopefully it is before New Years.