Thursday, December 29, 2011

Prophet's Blessing

President Thomas S. Monson left us with these powerful words at the end of October 2011 Conference. I want to burn them into my heart and remember them forever.
"I bear testimony to you that this work is true, that our Savior lives, and that He guides and directs His Church here upon the earth. I leave with you my witness and my testimony that God our Eternal Father lives and loves us. He is indeed our Father, and He is personal and real. May we realize and understand how close to us He is willing to come, how far He is willing to go to help us, how much He loves us, and how much He does and is willing to do for us.
May He bless you. May His promised peace be with you now and always."

Monday, December 26, 2011

SavvySavings Book Review

Savvy $aving by Melissa Jennings and Shelly King, from the hit blog www.stockpilingmoms.com is a great way to get your family budget under control and give you peace of mind because you’ll never have to run to the store when company is coming again.
This book is easy to read, has great suggestions from coupon clipping to budgeting your spending dollar. It will help you with monthly menu planning. It gives you specific tips for savings at individual drug stores, grocery stores, specialty stores and mega superstores.
I love the little tips scattered generously throughout the book.
Blogs and web sites are suggested to augment your spending dollar. These authors include everything from twitter to your AAA card.
Check this book out. It’s worth its weight in gold, literally. I loved it. Christy

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

That of Most Worth

For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you. . . .that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to . . . bring souls unto me. D&C 15:4,6

I ask myself this question daily. What will I do today to further God's kingdom? Genealogy, temple work, loving my children and grandchildren, giving to the needy in body and spirit?

What will you do?

Monday, December 19, 2011

Aassassination of Governor Boggs

“After an attempted assassination, Governor Lilburn Boggs couldn’t prove who’d taken a shot at him, leaving the identity of his assailant a mystery. Twenty-five years later and after the passing of Gov. Boggs, Detective Calvin Pogue has been hired by the Boggs family to open this cold case and find out the truth about the assassin. From Missouri to California and into the heart of the Utah territory, Detective Pogue relentlessly seeks clues that lead him to the legendary Mormon gunman Porter R ockwell—who still isn’t making things easy for anyone!” Back cover.
Anyone who loves good historical fiction and sleuthing fun will love this book. The characters are well-developed, and picturesque descriptions along with great imagery augment this delicious mystery. Miller’s subplots add depth to the story as he looks at all sides of the somewhat complex issue.
Rod Miller is a noted writer of the old west, and his style brings this story to life. The only things wanting as I read the novel were end notes and original-source references. As a student of history, I’m always looking to primary sources for more information.
This book will make a gift to the history buffs in your family. Happy reading!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Fractured Light

I’m dying, I thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of ice.

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.

In this breathtaking and romantic adventure, Rachel McClellan delivers a truly mesmerizing story that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Llona is a strong, compassionate protagonist that must learn to manage and work with her gift of light.As she becomes stronger this light is her survival weapon against the fear that haunts her.

The plot is fast-paced as the Auras and Vykens square off. Good story development and writing, along with a great dash of twists and turns to keep the readers attention.

YA readers will love this debut fantasy novel. Well done!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Carving With Angels

Carving with Angels is a delightful Christmas story. Yes, it’s about one of Santa’s elves. Elderly and blind, Papa Adam has given up on his great carving skill and life itself. All he can think about is his aches and pains and when dinner is coming—until a five-year-old Angel comes into his life.
Diane Tolley’s writing skill is superb. Especially cute is the conversation between Papa Adam and Dasher. She brings the reindeer to life with grunts, nudges and slobbery kisses which will enchant the entire family.
Papa Adam and his little Angel create a special surprise and save Christmas. But, more important than that they learn lessons about love, service, enduring to the end and the special gifts of forgotten handicapped elves. This charming book will delight young and old alike and will be a great addition to your Christmas collection.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Righteousness

“The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isaiah 32:17

Monday, December 12, 2011

Friendship

I have some very dear friends that I've been with this past weekend. We have laughed and cried together. What a blessing love is in our lives. I bask in it's nurturing warmth.

Friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold.
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Heritage

Heritage is passed heart to heart. Henry B. Eyring

When I read this quote, I had to think about it a little. The things I love about my grandmother and great-grandmother are the things I came to love. They both had a committment to the Savior; they both loved to read; they both lived by the Spirit.

It made me think about the things I'm teaching my grandchildren that are important to me. What is important to you? Are you passing your values on to those who come after you? I hope I am.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Carving with Angels

Carving Angels - Behind the Wood Shavings

I love a background story.
Just as I love the secondary characters in a movie.
Each adds . . . substance.
And, let's face it, the lead story and the lead characters have all been done to death. The world is looking for something fresh and new.
But who says that fresh and new can't be siphoned off of the old and overdone?
Carving Angels came from just such an idea.
I was looking at a picture of Santa Claus, riding in his famous sleigh.
Pulled by his equally famous reindeer.
And the thought struck me - 'Huh. I wonder where he got his sleigh?' It is such an integral part of the whole 'Santa' story, but no one has ever explained where it came from.
Did he mail order it?
The number of stamps alone would be mind-boggling.
Visit 'Sleighs R Us' on one of his weekend getaways to New York or places south?
Possible, but doubtful. For one thing, I've never seen a 'Sleighs R Us' store.
Even in Edmonton.
I sincerely doubt that one could find a Sears or Costco at the North Pole.
The only other solutions seemed to be either union-made (elves), or non-union 'constructed in someone's shop' (also elves).
Bingo.
I had my premise.
Santa's sleigh was constructed by elves.
Or more particularly, by an elf.
A very gifted elf.
But what kind of gifts?
A metal worker/welder?
I'm sure they have them in abundance at the North Pole. After all, who else could construct the plethora of things metal that appear under our tree on Christmas morning?
Okay, that's one possibility.
Computer whiz.
Handy, especially when it came to interior bells and whistles.
But, let's face it, a virtual sleigh, though it might look good on the silver screen, really couldn't pass muster when it came to actually carrying the big guy and serving as a repository for the all-important toys and gifts.
Computer whizzes - out.
Wait. What about a wood carver?
We're talking about a night spent in an open sleigh in sub-zero temperatures.
Okay, yes, I know that many of Santa's deliveries are to tropical and sub-tropical locales, but we should plan for the frozen-est, rather than the warm-est, right?
Moving on . . .
Hmm. Wood vs. metal.
Wood is so much warmer than metal.
Anyone who has done the all important/stupid frozen metal-tongue test (and I'm not saying I have) knows that wood, even when frozen solid, simply does not have the sticking power of super-cooled metal.
A definite plus for the wood argument.
Let's go with that.
So. A wood-carving elf.
Now, how can we make him (or her) special.
And at the same time make his (all right, I've decided he's a guy) accomplishment just a bit . . . tougher. Harder to imagine.
Or believe.
We'll give him a handicap.
Something to overcome.
Something that will make his achievement that much more astounding.
Age?
Good.
Infirmity?
Better.
Blind?
Perfect.
And we'll drag in his tiny little granddaughter because she is so sweet and cute and because she is equally handicapped by age.
And because we need someone to help on the rare occasions when our carver actually needs to 'see'.
So now, all we need is a bit of background: A former career as Santa's chief carver, followed by ten years of despair.
And the story is set.
Carving Angels is born.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Work

Work enables us to survive disappointments and tragedies of the mortal experience. Hard-earned achievement brings a sense of self-worth. Conference report Elder Todd Christofferson, November Ensign, 2010, p. 17.