Thoughts and stories, by Pal

BYU Study Reveals One of  the Biggest Mistakes Parents  Make + 4 Things Your Kids Need to Learn There are so many dangers and pitfalls in the world, it often seems as though parenting is making sure our children  don't  do certain things.  Don't  touch that hot stove.  Don't  run into the street.  Don't  take drugs. As valuable as such restrictions can be, a mastery of them does not equal balanced children or parenting. This was the subject of research done by Laura Padilla-Walker, Associate Professor at BYU and Associate Director of the university's School of Family Life. In a recent research brief, Padilla-Walker concluded that in order for a child to flourish during his or her adolescence, simply "not being bad" isn't good enough.  "If we ignore the good, we tell children what they shouldn’t do, but don’t replace it with what they should do," Padilla-Walker said. "We focus so much on eliminating bad be...

These are beautiful quotes which are really inspiring.  When we are young, we don't often think about the Spirit World, and life after this mortal life.  I'll admit I think of it much more since my dear husband passed away, and I am getting on in years!  It truly is important to live our lives here in a way that we can have a glorious resurrection, without a lot of regrets! Wayne is 2nd from the right on the front row.  In this group are several who have already passed away -- bishops, and other wonderful leaders.  I imagine at that age they didn't think 60 years ahead! July 11, 2016 Mortal Life SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY Doctrine & Covenants 138:14 "All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. " QUOTE OF THE DAY Heber J. Grant "We of this Church have been told of the Lord that befor...

By Dennis Weaver  · July 6, 2016  13 Tips for Perfect Cookies Thirteen Tips for Perfect Cookies Sometimes it’s the little things, attention to detail, that makes cookies better. Here are thirteen ways that you can make your cookies perfect. Use great ingredients.  Your cookies won’t be better than your ingredients and grocery stores usually compete on cost. Mediocre chocolate chips mean mediocre cookies. Pay attention to expiration dates . Fresh flour or fresh cinnamon is better. If cinnamon has been sitting in your cupboard for three years, throw it out. Measure carefully . Baking is precision. Check your measuring cups and spoons to be sure they are accurate. Chances are good they are not. Use a kitchen scale to check your measures. One cup of water should weigh eight ounces. Pay attention to temperature . Cream your sugar with firm butter; don’t let it melt. If your butter and sugar mixture is soft, your cookies won’t be ...

Tomorrow, July 4th, is the anniversary of two major events in my husband Wayne D Eckman's life! In 1953, he returned home from his 2 and a half year mission to Sweden,  and was awaiting his draft papers to be in the army, during the Korean War period.  In August, the next month, is when Wayne and I were introduced by mutual friends, on a blind date.  My best friend from Dixie High School had married one of his best friends in Murray, Utah.  They picked me up from an old Church in Salt Lake City, I forget which one, where we were attending a family reunion.  We just rode around and they 2 men mostly talked about memories of their high school days, and Wayne's mission.  Wayne said he would write to me, and I told him to write to:  Pal Miles, St. George, Utah, and it would get to me!  It would in those days.            My favorite photo of Wayne on his mission to Sweden, 1950-1953. Then Wayne went in the...

This is a beautiful quote by President Howard W. Hunter.  When we went on our mission to Sweden in May of 1994, returning in September, 1995, the first thing we heard when we got off the airplane in Sweden was that President Ezra Taft Benson had passed away, and President Howard W. Hunter was the new prophet.  Then he passed away the next June, and President Gordon B. Hinckley was the new prophet.  So we didn't get to see Pres. Hunter much.  The events that  transpired on this day in history are interesting -- including the dedication of the Swedish Temple, which we attended while we were in Sweden.   This is Wayne and I when we attended the Temple near Stockholm, Sweden. Latter Day Light DAILY DEVOTIONAL July 2, 2016 Integrity and Truth SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY Doctrine and Covenants 124:15 "And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his hear...

6 Beautiful Reminders for  When You Don't Feel Good  Enough by Lloyd Newell, excerpted from "Celebrating Music and the Spoken Word"  | Jun. 23, 2016 Mormon Life Music and the Spoken Word  has been uplifting and inspiring listeners for more than half a century now with spiritual music and a touching message every Sunday morning. And for the last 25 of those years, the familiar voice of Lloyd Newell has introduced the program. Here are just six of those messages from over the years—messages that encourage us to move forward in life and inspire us to overcome trials. 1. Have an Eternal Perspective Our common lot is to be born into an imperfect world, filled with disappointment and unanswered questions. It is natural, in these circumstances, to worry about the future. We wonder if things will work out for us—and for our loved ones. Too often we try to make sense of life based on a very narrow perspective, which is somewhat l...

This is an update about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the chance I had to play that wonderful organ! 2016 European Tour—Ticket Update 6/23—Updates: Berlin: Concert is sold out . Frankfurt  and  Vienna:  Concerts are currently sold out. Tickets may be available the day of concert. Nuremberg:  A limited number of tickets are still available. Zurich ,  Brussels , and  Rotterdam : Good tickets are still available in all price ranges. 4/18—Paris Update : The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will not perform in Paris on the 2016 European tour. Those interested in seeing the Choir and Orchestra in person during this tour could attend the  Zurich, Switzerland  concert on Wednesday, July 6 or the  Brussels Belgium  concert on Monday, July 11. Good seats are available for both concerts. Tickets are on sale for the highly-anticipated 2016 Mormon Tabernacle Choir European tour. Find  purchase and...