Thoughts and stories, by Pal

 Dear friends, Well, in 2021, I plan to write my own thoughts and feelings about what is happening, has happened, or may happen! Many years ago, perhaps 20, my husband Wayne (passed on Feb. 21, 2016) and I were standing in a line at either a funeral or wedding -- remember when we used to be able to do that, and enjoy seeing good friends at the same time, and visiting. Someone asked me how we and our family were doing.  As I have 9 children, and numerous grandchildren (and now--great grandchildren,) I said "Well, at this time everything is going quite well!"  The person who asked me said "I'd be careful!  Something is bound to happen!"  Sure enough it did!  But I can't remember what.  There always seems to be something going on with someone in our family (happy and sometimes sad)! I was feeling really good when I painted this in October for a granddaughter. About 2 months ago, even though we were -- and still are -- in the middle of the Covid pandemic, ...

This is a very thoughtful article!  Meridian Magazine has such timely and appropriate articles! "Thank You!"  from me for their great thoughtful articles! Rooted Out: An Invitation for Self-Examination By  Lynne Perry Christofferson  · June 17, 2020 The ugly specter of racism has reared its head in ways that cannot be ignored. Shocking deaths, protests–both peaceful and violent, and countless stories of cruelty and oppression have dominated the news. It takes a significant story to edge a pandemic out of the spotlight. For weeks I have scrolled through scores of social media posts on the subject of racism. Some of them impassioned rants, some attempting to educate the white, privileged population, and others offering constructive ways to show support to Black business owners. I have also spent hours trying to identify what my personal responsibility is in all of this. Though I don’t have all the answers, three separate stories keep floa...

This is how I hope to live my life -- In CRESCENDO! What We Can Learn from Church Leaders About Growing Older, "Living Life in Crescendo" by LDS Living  | Aug. 24, 2018 Makes You Think On December 19, 2008, Steven R. Covey wrote in a blog post, “I am now 76 years old and could easily retire. But I’m not retired and I don’t plan to retire. I don’t believe in retirement. Why, people ask me? Simply, I have a life motto. It is: Live life in crescendo.”  This week, my friend Randal Wright gave 11 talks at BYU Education Week 2018. I first met Wright as an EFY counselor in Illinois in 2011 and he has remained a mentor and friend, so I was intrigued to see that he would be teaching 11 classes over the course of Education Week with the same title “Living Life in Crescendo.” I wasn’t familiar with the Steven R. Covey quote beforehand, so when I sat down with Wright on Wednesday afternoon, I asked what inspired this theme. After making it c...

I wrote on Sunday that I would write about my notes from our West Bountiful Stake Women's Conference, held Saturday, January 27, 2018.   I will write what I can here, but I have references to a 32 minute you-tube talk about grace, and a speech he gave at BYU on Grace.  I encourage you if you have time to check them out, by copying and pasting the links below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLXr9it_pbY The following link is the above talk written out to read: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox_his-grace-is-sufficient/      I had never met Brad Wilcox, but I had heard so much about him over the years.  My son Wayne had been his teacher for Spanish when Brad was in the MTC, and having struggles learning the language at that time.  Later he was a wonderful missionary, and became a Mission President in Chile.  I was anxious to go up after and speak to him.  When I told him I was Wayne's...

On this, my 1,000th entry on my blog, I am starting a different plan.   I have written many family stories about ancestors, etc., and also included many beautiful thoughts I have taken from others who have written for LDS Living, and Meridian Magazine and other places of interest.  I have always posted who wrote them, etc., and I hope I haven't done it wrong.  But for those of you who want to read these thoughts, I know you can do on your own if you take the trouble to do it.  You can check out many subjects under "Labels" on the blog to find many timeless articles on various subjects. Below is the link to sign up for Latterdaylight.com -- which daily has a scripture, and quote from a prophet about the scripture.  It also has a daily guide for reading the Scriptures in a year's time, and things that have happened in the LDS Church on this day, since it began.  It also has a link to watching or reading a Conference talk, and has recently started a book,...

Dear family and friends!  These are great thoughts to lighten up your day!  I am heading to California to visit my son McKay for the Memorial Day Weekend!  I wish all of you a great and safe holiday weekend!   May 26, 2017 Be Your Best SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY Genesis 17:1 ""And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. " QUOTE OF THE DAY Lorenzo Snow "If we could read in detail the life of Abraham or the lives of other great and holy men we would doubtless find that their efforts to be righteous were not always crowned with success. Hence we should not be discouraged if we should be overcome in a weak moment; but, on the contrary, straightway repent of the error or the wrong we may have committed, and as far as possible repair it, and then seek to God for renewed strength to go on and do better" ( Teachings ...