Thoughts and stories, by Pal

For anyone who missed this, it was wonderful!  You'll want to watch it! In Case You Missed the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional By LDS.org  · December 3, 2017 The evening of Sunday, December 3, was the First Presidency’s annual Christmas devotional. The speakers were Sister Cristina Franco of the Primary General Presidency, Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency. They shared seasonal spiritual messages that can help all who listen to them have a more Christ-centered Christmas. The full broadcast is available on Mormon Channel or LDS.org. Watch it below: To read summaries of the messages as reported by the Deseret News,  click here (Sister Franco) ,  here (Elder Duncan)  and  here   (President Uchtdorf).  

A compassionate article about difficult children -- or perhaps you don't have  difficult children! A Loving Perspective on Difficult Children By Wallace Goddard  · November 27, 2017 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE When 3 year-old Ian comes to visit his adoring Papa, we fall easily and naturally into joyous companionship. We play with wind-up toys. We “cook” meals with play dough. We pop popcorn and watch Robots yet again. Loving him is easy. But what about the child who is harder—who is too loud, too negative, too demanding, or too hyper—the child who grates on our nerves? How in the world do parents get a loving perspective on difficult children? That is where God invites us to grow. As I regularly say, irritation is an invitation. We can stay stuck in our this-child-is-a-mess view or we can choose to open our hearts to the child. We can see all the muck in a fallen child or we can see the glory just barel...

At this beautiful Christmas season, I am including the pencil drawing by my grandson, Sam Lieske, of Del Parson's painting of Jesus Christ holding a lamb.  Sam is very gifted, and pursuing a degree in architecture. December 2, 2017 Trails are a Sign of the Times SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY 1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." QUOTE OF THE DAY John Taylor "We complain sometimes about our trials. We need not do that. These are things that are necessary for our perfection. We think sometimes that we are not rightly treated, and I think we think correctly about some of these things. We think there are plots set on foot to entrap us; and I think we think so ...

I have mentioned before that I knew and loved Larry Barkdull, now deceased, who wrote this article.  He was willing to publish 3 Simplified piano books, back in 1989, and 1990, that I had written.    He passed away within the last year. Two of my own grandchildren had statements in their Patriarchal Blessings to the effect that they had a "Council of Grandfathers" who were watching over them.  That goes along with this choice article.   I have his book, "Rescuing Wayward Children", that is very inspirational.  Angels Are Not Always Strangers By Larry Barkdull  · November 26, 2017 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE Editor’s Note: Our friend and longtime Meridian writer Larry Barkdull recently passed away. To remember and honor him this is one of a series of his past articles that we are republishing regularly. As we work to reclaim our wayward children, we are not alone. Often angels are...

I'm reposting the 16th blog I wrote -- 936 blogs ago!  It is well worth reposting! TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013 16. Controlling Anger --And Jumping to Conclusions I learned many important lessons in life from my dear mother, Ruth Allen Miles.  I've mentioned her in here before, and will often I think.  The lesson which I will talk about, I quote from our life story book, page 343: ON ANGER MANAGEMENT: When I was about in the 7th grade, when our family home was still a basement, I remember some Saturday, Mom had left me in charge of my two sisters while she was gone.  I was to see they did their jobs.  I don't remember who came , or what I did or said, but I guess I was quite rude to one of Vina's friends.  When Mom got home, Vina told her of what I'd done, and Mom said, "Pal, why did you act like that?"  I replied, "I was so angry I didn't know what I was doing."  Mother just l...

Two movies to see at this Christmas time!  This one I definitely want to see!  Another that we saw yesterday was "Coco", a Disney animated movie, all about families!   It was such a fascinating story, with many Gospel truths woven into the plot!  It will undoubtedly turn the hearts of people (children included) to some of their ancestors -- and their stories, and their talents and interests! The Man Who Invented Christmas By Maurine Proctor  · November 21, 2017 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE In the somewhat dreary, tedious, violent run of movies this fall, I have been anticipating  The Man Who Invented Christmas  to come to the theaters, but I had no idea that it would be so much more than charming or delightful. This glimpse into Charles Dicken’s life during the six weeks he is writing  The Christmas Carol  is about my favorite theme and perhaps the most important subject...