Donna's Journey

I arose at 6:30 this morning. Today, my youngest son left for his Priesthood Encampment. He came to hug me goodbye, and with his arms around me, and mine around him, I offered a prayer in his behalf. Then Julia and I headed off for our morning walk.

Julia and I had a wonderful walk. We spoke deeply about many things. One thought that sticks out is that we do not pray and study the scriptures “get the Spirit” but to develop a deep and abiding faith, with that faith come discernment so we can choose the right and thereby strengthen our faith further.

Our walks are usually non-eventful. Yet, somehow, this morning, I had a Klutz spell on the way home. It must have been a sight. Somehow my right foot caught the pavement wrong and caused me to stumble forward, not wanting to have an intimate conversation with the sidewalk, I immediately and intuitively, threw my left foot forward and my arms out to balance. Several twisted and jarring steps later, I was able to come to balance and I never hit the ground. Oh, but did I hurt after the experience. I had alternately twisted and tightened every muscle in my body.

After I got home I studied through Alma 17. The phone rang and it was for me. Then my daughter’s visiting teacher arrived. I went to the kitchen to prepare food. However, first, I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher. I noticed the knives had water spot/rust stains and so I made a paste of baking soda and water and gently rubbed the stains away and then rinsed and dried them to a shine. I cut up the potatoes and then I went to put the poly cutting board in the dishwasher. As I did, it slipped from my fingers and landed on the top of my foot on its edge. Can I say OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! The delicate bones and ligaments hurt and swelling set in. I do not know if anything broke. I hope not. I want to walk. I finally got to making brunch made at noon. Since then, I have elevated my foot and taken aspirin, iced the foot and elevated it.

I guess I was not slowing down fast enough.

This morning I discovered that if I read 2.2 pages of scriptures per mile walked, I would finish all four standard works when I finish my journey. We walked 4 miles this morning, so that would be about 9 pages.

Walked 4 miles.
Read page 234-243 or 9.5 pages. Alma 11, 12, 13 Very powerful chapters– oh to become as the people of Melchizedek!

I still need to choose a scripture to memorize, set my goal getters in the 6 areas of personal and family preparedness, as well as,
select the classic I will be reading this time.

I will post more, here, again later.

Where has the summer gone?

My garden is looking awesome. Tomatoes and peppers are setting, lots of buds on the vine crops and they are growing everywhere! Bush beans are knew high and corn is thigh high. The herbs got crowded out by the bushy plants. I have a place I can plant some new herbs. You can see marigolds peaking through here and there. Everywhere I layered the grass clippings thick, there are no weeds, everywhere I did not, and the plants are not shading the dirt, the weeds are winning. I have work to do.

Today, I pay my daughter’s tuition for fall at GWC. I broke mine into 4 equal payments.

Tonight, we have a family counsel because my husband was exhausted yesterday and was falling asleep in conversation and just needed a nap. We will also have a family home evening lesson.

Summer trips and entertaining seems to have distracted my journey a bit. My husband jokes that we should leave someone home leave town, so when we get to the edge of town and I remember what I forgot to bring, they can drive out, bring the item, and park the car, and join us.

I feel like I did not dovetail my rhythms as I should have. So, I am back at square one.

My daughter was traveling and got derailed as well. So, will have begin our journey together. We invited her friend Kyla to join us as well.

Click here for details Journey to Zion Challenge

Whew! What a summer, so far. I have made two trips to Tehachapi, California, six rips to Cedar City, and two to Monticello. I have been hostess for a month and not even here all the time. Jen gets home from girls camp tomorrow and James goes to scout camp next week. Perhaps it is time to slow down.

I went to the temple tonight with my husband and two other couples, then we went out to dinner. We had a group date!

I have spent the greater part of yesterday and today washing linens, towels, blankets, and laundry, as well as vacuuming, dusting, and general cleaning. I enjoy serving guests and spending time with them. I enjoy cleaning and enjoying peace when things are in order.

The Minerva Teichert Exhibit at the BYU MOA opened today. Perhaps I will go tomorrow.

My son called tonight, while Roger and I were out for our walk, to let us know he was alive and safe. My son is a senior rocket engineer at the Mojave Airport for a small aerospace start up firm, Masten Space Systems.

A local firm, to the company where my son works, Scaled Composites LLC had a huge explosion today that took the life of two men, critically injured, four, and one with minor injuries. We mourn their loss, and are grateful that more were not injured or killed. Our prayers are with them at this time.

This is a tragic loss for the independent aerospace community.

My friend Tracy’s car is still not fixed so she borrowed her mechanic’s car and drove home this afternoon.

I spent my afternoon shopping, doing laundry, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning blinds, etc. I was not able to do a lot of that over the last few weeks.

I put fresh green beans, and crookneck squash in the steamer and sliced an onion and put it over the beans. Roger lit up the grill and grilled some petite steaks. While he grilled I took the beauty of my garden and then started weeding a bit.

I took a walk with Roger tonight and watched the most beautiful cloud lightening show. The lightning was illuminating between cloud and it was awesome, but there was no sound, it was so surreal. While we were on the walk the winds took the heat away and dropped the temperatures. It is balmy and cool out there. Just before we ended our walk we met up with some friends. They asked if we would join them and some mutual friends for the temple and dinner tomorrow night. Yes! We also got a phone call from my son in California. That will be a separate post.

Happy Christmas in July.

den with an over heated car that had cooled sufficiently to head south again. We told them we would meet them in Filmore at the Chevron (we had stopped there on the way down for a “necessary break.” So we knew where to tell him to go. When we got there, neither of the fans were spinning to cool the engine. So, we transfered their things and the sleeping children into our van and turned around and headed to California. We arrived at their apartment in Tehachapi around 730 this morning. My husband let me sleep, while he helped get my son’s other car to the shop, because the started stopped working. We headed back around noon, stopping at the rocket company to say goodbye to my son. Yes, he went to work this morning.

I called Lisa to see how here appointment went. She discovered she has cancer in April and is working through her options. She was unable to talk and called just as we got gas in Summit. We had traveled over 700 miles since we gas up at summit last night at nine. Her appointment had not gone well. I felt helpless. What could I do? I turned it over in my mind, over and over again.

We got to Filmore around 930. My husband was able to start the car. He rolled the windows down and turned on the heater in the car, and this was so the heater could pull the heat off the engine block. Roger drove in front and I in back. Now my mind was clear and focused. I came up with a plan. We got home around 1130. The car made it.

I invited Tracy for a late walk. Yes, I had left a house full of guests in the hospitality of my children, so I could tend to the needs of my friend and then my family. I shared my idea with Tracy. We took my idea and brainstormed. We walked until 130 am.

It really is wonderful how every challenged dovetailed and worked smoothly. In the wake, solutions came. I head to sleep now and will work on this idea today. Time is vital.

While going through papers today, looking for my grandmother’s recipe, I found this poem that my father had clipped from the newspaper and taped to his chalk board. I read it and thought of him. I thought I would share it with you.

When I come to the end of the day
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love we once shared-
Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Maker’s plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss me, but let me go.

This morning I had an appointment with Lancome. They had their corporate people there and so I went for a makeup session. I asked for a classic, professional, but natural look. I do not ask for much. I learned new ways (for me) to put on my makeup I like the softer yet professional look.

Thirty-four years and six months ago, today, I was baptized. Sixty-four years and three days ago my parents married. Tonight I went to the Mt. Timpanogas Temple and was sealed to my parents, they, to each other, and my father to his parents. we also performed similar ordinances for many ancestors. I came early. I filled out the paperwork. I was led to the bride’s room to prepare. They wanted to make this very special for me. The bride’s room is a lovely peaceful and elegant place. I joined my husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, niece & husband, as well as a close friend and her husband, in the largest celestial room. I have waited for this day, for a very long time. I praise His name for the blessings He sowers on me, knowing that all things will work together for good, because I love God and am called according to His purpose. I am grateful for His providence in my behalf. My heart bursts with joy!

This was such a special day! Lives were changed today.