Thoughts and stories, by Pal

I just love this article!  It is a feel good article!  This is one of the places our Humanitarian donations go!  I'd love to serve a mission like this if I were younger!     · May 24, 2020 Cover image: Children at Rashen School in Erbil, Iraq. LDSCHARITIES built new bathrooms, donated a computer, printer, and playground equipment. If you were asked to name one of the most notoriously unstable regions in the world, Syria would likely be the first country to come to mind. Images of bombed-out cities that resemble disaster films, as well as chilling pictures of refugee children washed up on the shores of Greece have circulated the globe ever since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. The raging violence has resulted in an estimated 450,000 deaths. As problematic as the death count is the refugee crisis. Syria has become the face of the modern crisis, with 5 million refugees who have fled the country and 13.5 million people who are internally displaced.

I follow Brad McBride's blog called "Thus We See", which used to be named "Middleaged Mormon Man", and really enjoy it.  You could also go there and sign up to receive his free posts.    Today he posted a Baccalaureate Speech written basically to his son, who is graduating from High School this year, and anyone else who would like to read it.  I am one of those who has been inspired with it.   It would be great for all to read -- not just graduates!  Go to "Thus We See" and there is a link where you can sign up. My Unsolicited Baccalaureate Speech            by  Brad McBride |         Posted on  May 24, 2020 My son graduated this week! Our final, fifth experience. On the upside it wasn’t 100 degrees on the bleachers, nor did it rain- because no event was held. On the downside, it was a furthering of the Class of 2020’s experience in missing out. Our High School has a  Baccalaureate  ceremony on a Sunday preceding graduation. I

Dear Readers,  During this pandemic I have read and watched many inspiring stories.  Yesterday I spent almost the entire day reading through several journals I have written since I was 16.  I haven't been an avid journal writer, and while raising 9 children, there were periods of time I didn't write at all.  So I have been able to get a quick view of my life during many busy, happy and sometimes sad years.  I had forgotten many of the problems we faced, and many of my children are now facing as they are raising their own children.   At this time I am 85 and a half years old.  I have 29 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren, with numbers 24 and 25 great grandchildren on the way.  We have experienced most of the problems that come with those numbers and that many lives, and I have seen most types of situations.  In one video I watched this morning, the word "Remember" came up a lot.  I realized that my reading of these past journals helped me "Remember"

This is a rather long article, and you may want to read it over more than one time period.  But it is so inspiring, I wanted to include the entire thing.  It was on Meridian Magazine, and gives so many wonderful thoughts for families! LINE UPON LINE Seeking Family Revelation through Awareness, Perspective, and by Being in Holy Places By  Richard and Linda Eyre  and  Saydi Eyre Shumway  · May 18, 2020 Editor’s Note:  New York Times #1 Bestselling Authors Richard and Linda Eyre join forces with their daughter Saydi (an “in the trenches” mother of four young children) to produce this series on the why-tos and the how-tos of receiving the Direct-Stewardship inspiration, guidance, and revelation we need to create strong and righteous families in this difficult world.  This is article 5 in a multi-part weekly series which will run here in Meridian every Tuesday. ( Click  here  to read article 1 ,  here  to read article 2 ,  here  to read article 3 , and  here  to