Thoughts and stories, by Pal

Today I have been feeling especially thankful for all my blessings.  I know there are so many people in this world struggling in one way or another.  There are those without the necessities of life, and those who are struggling with relationships, job problems, family stresses, loss of comforts of life, etc.  I am so grateful when I am able to help someone with their problems in one way or another.  My life has had many problems, ups and downs, and now I have come to a point where I realize that I have had the help of the Lord in every day life, as well as the big problems that have come in life.     I know that everyone in this world can have the same blessings of peace in this life.  If we try to face each day, and make it the best we can, the future takes care of itself.  I guess Wayne and I are optimists!  I do believe that the problems that come to us "give us experience," and are for our good.  And by doing the best we can w...

Dear family and friends,  It's almost 12:27 a.m., and I am so tired.  We had family and friends here and played games until midnight.  I will write more in the morning, when I can think!  I will just post a fun family photo or two, and tell you all how much I love our dear family, and all the dear people we know -- and don't know!  I know this Gospel is true, and that is my testimony for the beginning of this New Year! ! ! These dear babies are now in college, Anita and Sam on the left, and Tacy, Jordan, and Calli on the right, who has her degree as a registered nurse.    Probably about 21 years ago! This is Allen and Holli, and Chris, their son now 27!   This dear grandson below, Nicholas Pratt Kramer (named after my dad) is 33 this New Year's Day!  We wondered just before he was born if he would be the New Year baby, but he wasn't born until about 9  a.m.                 ...

I enjoyed this article in Meridian Magazine today, and I thought it could relate to acting on our good intentions as far as New Year's resolutions are concerned also.  If we have anyone in a care center that we have thought of visiting, or even calling on the phone, let's do it today, before the New Year 2014 begins! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL YOU DEAR PEOPLE, AND BE SAFE TONIGHT!  WE WILL BE PLAYING GAMES HERE FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE AT OUR HOME IN ST. GEORGE, UTAH -- IF YOU LIVE CLOSE AND DON'T HAVE PLANS, CALL US, AND INVITE YOURSELF!      Home     LDS Church     Personal Voice    Acting On Good Intentions Tuesday, December 31 2013 Acting On Good Intentions By Daris Howard Comment on Article My dad used to say that good intentions are never enough; they must be acted upon. Still, I find myself too often with good intentions which I don’t follow through on. That was wha...

I'm posting this early so you can use ideas for tonight's Family Home Evening, if you want to. This time of year always brings me the feeling of looking back over my recent past, and wanting to improve myself in several areas.  I ran across  what I consider to be a gem -- below -- a daily free newsletter from LDS Living -- I am posting it below, because it gives free ideas each week for family home evening lessons, and other LDS items.  You can each sign up for it if you want to also.  This one is for New Year's!             This is a photo of Christmas, 1958, when Wayne M. was 2, and Delsy 7 months . I haven't been a person that gets too involved in New Year's resolutions, as I have a hard time keeping them!  However, I have decided on some things that I will really try harder to do this coming year.  Writing this blog daily has been a lesson on self discipline to me -- Hope it carries over ! !  1.  G...

I believe I learned something about myself this morning (something that I need to change for the better). We were reading the newspaper as is our custom, and I was reading the A section with main news. Wayne handed me the sports section, which I rarely read (almost never!) and said "Let's trade!" I knew that he knew I didn't want to read the sports section! I gave the A section to him, but made a sarcastic remark. I immediately didn't feel at peace, and realized I was not right. I realized I had taken offence over something that wasn't meant that way. I believe sarcasm can be very destructive to relationships!  (I did apologize!) Then the talk during the Tabernacle Choir broadcast told about "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, and the story of Scrooge. He said that it is a classic story of how people can and do change for the better. He mentioned that we call a stingy person a "Scrooge", and that even in the dictionary it is de...

I follow a blog that I really enjoy.  I think you would enjoy it also, so I'm putting in the blog he did for December 26, 2013 -- just 2 days ago.  So what you read below is Brian Mickelson's blog.   I'm assuming it is okay to copy and paste this, as it is on a public blog. This is the link in case you'd like to follow him also:     http://wp.me/pJYOD-nU Brian Mickelson…. Thoughts, updates, and information about, well, everything… I'm reading President Henry B. Eyring's biography . I'm not far into it, but I like it. Of course, there is a section of two on his parents, Henry and Mildred and how their lives and faith impacted young Henry ("Hal") who would eventually serve in the leading quorums of the church. Here is a short quote from Henry (the father and award-winning scientist): "I like contradictions. I like a little bit of a mess, and I am glad when one of the brethren says something that I think is little b...

When I was about 18 years old, I received a lovely comforting blessing from the 88 year old Patriarch, for whom I typed blessings.  He said the day would come when I would serve a mission.  At that time (1953) a girl had to be 23 years old to serve a mission.  I didn't expect to be able to go then, and I did get married about 2 weeks before I turned 21.   We began to have a family, and after having 9 children over 18 years, our lives were quite busy.  But we still had a desire to go on a couple mission when we could.  Finally, in 1993, after our last child, a daughter Pam, got married, we put in our papers.  Wayne had gone on a mission to Sweden when he was young, in the early 1950's.  He had kept up on the language, so we were thrilled when we received a call in December 1993 to go to Sweden.  But we had 5 months before we were to go early in May, 1994. In a trip up north during that time, we went to the Mission Home in Provo and a...