THANKFUL

TUESDAY,  17 NOVEMBER 2015

We had rain all evening, it was great.

I took our grandsons to school for my daughter today.  She had pulled some of her Christmas out and had put up some decorations.   The Merry Christmas sign was above the fish tank. 

 There is a beautiful wreath in her mirror.  Leif and Luke wanted me to see they are the same size as the box inside the fireplace!  We were on our mission last Christmas, so I missed all these beautiful 

decorations in their new home.

Well, my daughter got me to thinking about my own decorations...what I had left here.  So I dug out my Christmas boxes in the storage room.  I mostly have nativity scenes left from all I did not give away before we took off on our mission.  I saved from "paper to plastic"! Ha!  This is the Book of Mormon nativity I cut out of the friend years ago.

 Keate, Grandpa Arts step father, made this little napkin holder years ago for us.

 When you live in a cave, away from neighbors...decorating is for us to see.  I put our wreaths and some colored lights in the kitchen window...I will wait until after Thanksgiving to keep them lit!

 Elder and Sister Southward gave us this 14 piece Willow Nativity as our farewell from our Presidency...three years ago.  Thank's Southwards!  This is my favorite nativity and I am thinking it is so inspirational to us that I just might leave it up all year.  We are so THANKFUL that we had our temple experience with the Southwards, Murnans, Fishes and all the temple workers.  Now that makes for perfect Christmas memories.

 Our ceramic church that has a steeple and lights..."Open the door and see all the people"!

We are in the middle of studying Moses still, in Seminary, and the 10 Commandments.  Of course today we studied Exodus when the Israelites built the Golden Calf...and Moses appeared with the tablets of stone after 40 days of being on Mount Sinai.  "Why did you build this idol, Aaron"?  "We melted the gold and it just turned into a Golden Calf".  Yah, Right!  Does this remind us of Santa Claus, presents and the true meaning of Christmas?  Hum?  I think this Christmas may be a little different for us all as we open our gifts and remember our blessings of The Savior's Birthday.   Moses throws down the stones and breaks them as the people are not worthy to worship what is on them.  The Lord destroys 3,000 people because of this golden idol they chose to worship.  Moses is told to make two new stones and go back up into to Mount Sinai where he receives "the lesser laws".  Sad to see we as a society still struggle with these "New Tablets of Stone".

 So now the meeting place or new tabernacle or tent of meeting has been removed to the outer edges of the camp.  Here the people may practice "the carnal commandments" and perfect themselves once again in The Lords eyes.  Moses returns with the 10 commandments to help his people repent and once again turn to The Lord and His Higher Priesthood.  And here we are removing the 10 commandments from our State Capital in Oklahoma...hum...I suppose they need to be written on stone in our hearts and hearths.  Not an easy task for me...how are you all doing?
Then the Children of Israel are asked to give of their substance to build the tabernacle...and to wash and anoint Aaron and his sons & place the newly built holy objects within the tabernacle....Have you made an appointment with your Bishop (Moses) to declare your tithing so you can serve in the Temple like Aaron and his sons?

The scriptures hold the keys to The Lords teachings in this life.  Will we become perfect on this earth?  "A chapter a day will light your way".

I saw this beautiful "song" on facebook today.  I learned one of my Young Women, from days gone by, wrote these beautiful words.  Thank you, Erin, for your grown up example.  Love these comforting words, they are beautiful. 

"In a sea of shifting values
Tossed on every wave
While the winds wail around me
I will not be afraid
To call out for my captain
To calm the waves in me
When I stand a little taller
It's only then I finally see...

I stand in holy places
Protected from the storm
Anchored safe in harbor
Though my sails are ripped and worn
I stand in holy places
And I will not move
Until the Lord is come 
And says 'well done'
He is the hope I hold onto"

Erin Jones Shepherd

 I begin serving in the temple office this evening.  These words help me to know I can do that and still get up early and teach our class.  Life is good.

WEDNESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2015
Yep, the lesson went well this morning because I served in the temple last evening...now for a nap!
SATURDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2015
Burr...it is freezing in Oklahoma today!  Here are some highlights of the last few days.
Grandpa just threw tons of branches into the gully.

The basket ball goal at the Hansen's is now available to back up into again...not!

 Brenna and her mom Sarah after Brenna sang in the play "Legally Blond".  Great job Brenna!

I got a picture with Brenna after the play on Friday night.

The Hansen family and Grandma Gene, on Thursday evening, waiting for Brenna's play to begin.

We are so thankful that our daughter, Heather, is healing from her heart surgery so well.

Morning snuggles with the Hansen's...to my delight!

Our Princess Rachel at Brenna's play.

Brenna's brother and parents before the play began on Thursday night.  We are so thankful that Ryan has a job now with Sonic.

Luke spent all Friday evening coloring his Thanksgiving booklet he made at school.  Thanks for reading me your book Luke!

Grandpa is cleaning our shower this morning and preparing to watch BYU play football this afternoon...BYU won their basketball game last evening...Yay Cougars!  Great game this afternoon

also!  It was a good "Senior Day"!  BYU beat Fresno State 52-10...even Moroni played!  Great game

sons of Bronco!  We are watching OSU playing Baylor right now and it is a tense game...stay tuned! 

The Baylor Bears are growling....

Our Seminary class, on Friday, was about the Lord commanding Moses to set the tabernacle in order for the entrance into Canaan the promised land.  I purchased some peach water for them to drink during our lesson...I figured they would not want to drink milk and honey!  Peaches and cream water is almost like crimson and cream, OU colors, right?   I found this bottled water that had the perfect expiration date...a sign for me.  Because I had two parents "expire" from this life on July 16th.  Remember only Caleb and Joshua, of the first generation, were allowed to enter the promised land.  The rest of the first generation to depart from Egypt were not allowed entrance...thus they wandered the desert for 40 years.  Ug!  

“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye

 have no promise” (D&C 82:10).

"Grandma, take a picture of me please"...said "Cannon".

Is he sliding on a bannister in the promised land?

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  John 20:29

So this has been a good week.  We teach two days next week...while some of our grandchildren are off of school for the whole week.  It will be good for us to concentrate on the scriptures before Thanksgiving.  We are so THANKFUL for each of you.  We are THANKFUL for Moses and his teachings.  We are especially THANKFUL for The Savior and His Atonement.  We are THANKFUL for our family and the blessings they are to us.  We love each of them and you.  Remember to be kind and especially let your children know they are loved.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EACH OF YOU AND TO AMERICA...THE LAND OF PROMISE!

The other land of milk and honey is our homeland.

God Bless The U S A

Hug's always,

Grandpa Arthur and Grandma

Arthur & Gene