If Only For a Moment

If only for a moment, the world would come to know,
The brotherly connections between friend and foe

How different would we see, if viewing from that lens?
Would we see mere strangers, or would we see our friends?

The veil that clouds the vision, if parted for awhile,
Would we see our family? And, tears turned to smiles?

If only for a moment, we stopped and pondered some,
About our greater purpose, and where it is that we came from.

I think we'd speak much kinder, and perhaps with greater ease,
If we only just remembered the Creator of the seas.

Our Savior knows your name, and I know that He knows mine.
Engraved upon His hands our we, through all generations of time.

As our older Brother, He saved us from The Fall,
If we would just draw near to Him, do we hear His call?

If only for a moment, we had the eternal view,
And saw our true potential, I wonder what we'd do?

In self-interest would we go about seeking for our own?
Or, with self no longer center-stage, would we then bemoan?

I think perhaps there's power in seeing past the shell,
And remember our existence from before Adam fell.

But, Adam fell that man might be, and we must then hold true,
To all the things that matter most, I wonder what we'd do?

If only for a moment, the world would come to know,
The brotherly connections, between friend and foe... 

June and July

A Lot has happened these past two months. The pandemic seems never ending, and confusing. I say confusing because there is so much misinformation out there that it is difficult to know what to believe. My kids are begging to go back to school, see their friends, go out and about etc. But, it doesn't look like normalcy is going to happen anytime soon. And I wonder if things will ever go back to "normal". I know that sounds gloomy, but so much has happened (happening) in the political world that I am not sure we will ever have back what we once had. Perhaps we will need to roll with the punches in the most faith-filled approach possible--because otherwise it is scary and dreadful. I will attempt to give a quick summary to the events that have unfolded in 2020. I have already discussed some of this in recent posts.

-Preident Donald Trump (perhaps the most hated president in history, but he has done some wonderful things for this country) was acquitted in an impeachment trial

-Covid 19 Pandemic has swept across the globe

-There was a military drone strike that killed an Iranian general. Iran threatened the USA but ultimately no war was started.

-In retaliation Iran launches ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq housing American soldiers

-Locusts swarm (city sized swarms--unlike anything seen in our recent history) Eastern Africa causing much damage to crops 

-China tightens it's grip on Hong Kong

-Fires, lots and lots of fires

-Earthquakes--ever increasing in number

-Attack of religious freedom

-Closures of schools and churches and temples-- adding to the attack on religious liberty

-Full lock-downs of businesses

-Statewide curfews

-Toilet paper shortage and other shortages of food and cleaning supplies (thankfully this has slowly gotten better)

-Race riots-- this deserves a post in and of itself, but I don't have the time to go into detail. BLM is a very liberal organization, coupled with Antifa (a domestic terrorist organization). They are on a mission to destroy western civilization as we know it, including the destruction of the family entirely. They have trained Marxists leading and organizing protests and upheaval. Major cities have seen a surge in violence. I believe I read that Chicago's shootings have risen 115% over the last few weeks. This organization has many radical and liberal agendas, and have terrorized the nation.

-Connected to BLM historic statues all across the nation have been torn down and vandalized in an attempt to erase our American heritage and history

-New, racist terrorist groups (Black Militia) have emerged inciting violence

-Also connected to BLM is a movement to defund and rid the nation of police

-A new surge in socialist/communist policies

I think that's most of it. The most frightening things is the destruction to American liberties and history, along with all of the violence and rioting. The divisiveness that I am seeing across the nation is appalling.  

So, while we sit at home with a disruption in school and church (although limited church is supposed to start back up again in two weeks), I worry that we will not ever see "normal" again. I worry about this great nation. The Brethren are concerned about our religious liberties being jeopardized. They've made some strongly worded speeches about it, and they have told us that now is the time to act. We must defend religious freedom. We can do so civilly, with kindness, but we must defend it. We must teach our children about our American heritage and why religious freedom matters. 

I have full confidence in my ability to be a force for good in my sphere of influence. I have full confidence because I know that I chose to come to earth at this time. If I chose it (my patriarchal blessing tells me so), then I must have believed then that I could do it with faith in my heart--not fear. I believe that Heavenly Father had faith in me to do it also, else why would He send me here at this time? He needed strong and valiant soldiers to promote faith, defend freedom, and lovingly guide His children home. I like to believe that I said, "here am I, send me". It starts in the home. It starts in our hearts. My heart is in the right place as I guide my own children. I just want to go back to church and the temple.

Here are some pictures of those children for you to enjoy as I shift my focus away from the doom and gloom around us.

We went to a magic show when the lock down was lifted. It was in my friend's home. The kids had a good time.

Not the best picture of me, but Daisy was being cute and actually liked me this day, so I documented it.

Cubby fell at Michelle's and needed his face glued back together.

We have been enjoying swimming, and I took this picture because I liked the volume that my hair had after being wind blown. LOL

I took a bike ride before my surgery and really enjoyed the oasis hidden along the desert trail. So I documented that too.

More fun at the pool with Lily.

Mercedes had a fun birthday party with cousins and a couple of friends who were done quarantining. 

Luke did a magic show at her party

We love celebrating Jon Mark and his 40th. It was low key because of quarantine, but he had a good birthday. He got himself a Treager Grill and a punching bag.

We went to Utah for a quick trip to meet Kevin and Courtney's baby, Maylee. Her blessing was performed at home because of Covid 19 restrictions.

Jessica injured her eye with her contact on July 4th weekend. I told her that she looked like a Revolutionary War soldier.

Hannah enjoying her slurpy.

The Month of May

The month of May was a busy one. Quarantine is lifting somewhat. Life is returning to a sort of normal, but not really. Racial tensions are high, political tensions are high, our country seems to be at a boiling point with much contention and division. Riots and looting are destroying businesses and buildings all across the nation. The whole world seems to be in commotion, truly we are seeing a fulfillment of prophecy regarding the last days.

 While I do feel a sense of security and peace in my own little corner of the world, eventually I venture onto social platforms where "justice warriors" are in full battle mode with their words that cut. It weighs me down. I wish I didn't have such easy access to 24 hour news streams and social media. I can't seem to help myself, and I know it affects me negatively. I find myself praying for peace and healing for it seems as though I can say for myself,  "… And in despair I bowed my head, there is no peace on earth I said, for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men…" In fact, if I were to write a scripture about May of 2020, like the prophets of old, this is what I would write: "There began to be much contention throughout all the land. For the people began to divide themselves into tribes, neighbor against neighbor, kindred against kindred, and friends turned to foes. There had been great prosperity throughout the land, but the people denied God and His power thereof. Therefore, the people began to be lifted up into the pride of their own hearts, for they had become vain as to the things of the world. Wo unto this people, for the Spirit of the Lord had ceased to be with man, for the people made a mockery of all that was good." That's what I would write to depict what is happening in the world around me. What a depressing post! On to the pictures and positivity! 

Taylor was in town with Lance. We had a good time visiting with her daily. She and I liked to work out in the mornings. We had a birthday party for Lance while she was in town, and it was a huge success. Taylor is pregnant with a baby girl and my kids were very excited about it. Cubby laid his head on her belly and exclaimed as someone might exclaim "I felt a kick!" instead exclaimed, "Awe, I can hear the baby's vagina!" Hahaha

Jon Mark and I played water games with the kids and had a blast playing sharks and minnows.

One positive thing regarding this quarantine is that our mornings are slow, perhaps too slow. Jon Mark has a difficult time getting out of bed and going to work early whenever I stay in bed. It causes him to come home from work later in the evenings which isn't ideal, but I do love our slower mornings. I took these pictures while he was sleeping so that I could reflect on these slower times when life gets back to normal and we begin rushing out the door to get the kids to school.

The flash kind of woke him up for this one. :)

Jon Mark did a good job on the husband end of making me feel special for Mother's Day. The kids forgot. When I woke up and greeted them with, "Should I close my eyes while you run to give me my presents and cards" I knew full well that they had forgotten. But, they hurried and scribbled some notes together for me. Caleb had thoughtfully given me pictures and notes a day earlier, just because. He's a sweet little buddy, he kisses the top of my hand every night at bedtime. It's his preferred way of showing affection and I love it. He loves me a lot and told me the other day, with all the sincerity he could muster in that 5 year old body, that he'd die for me. And I believed him, because he said it with such conviction. He asked me about the resurrection and if I'd still get to be his mommy. The other night I cried during a family TV show we watch together and my boys were very sweet. Luke hugged me, Joshua patted me on the shoulder and said, "I love you, mom" and Cubby wiped my tears with his finger (I thought for a moment that he was trying to poke me in the eye). He went through a stage where he called his aunts to just talk to them like all the time. I'd find him on the phone chatting with Michelle, or over hearing him tell on me to Jessica about the mean things I did to him (LOL). I'd hear him tell Michelle that she owed him a present. He's asked me recently how to pop a pimple and then he's tried to pop mine. I don't want to forget things like that.

Luke had a birthday. He's now 9 and still waiting patiently to go on his 8 is great trip with his Haws grandparents. Their plans got messed up with the pandemic. He's a sweet boy, but I think this pandemic has kind of gotten to him. He's ready to see his friends. The other day I found a letter that he intended to mail to his crush, Allie. It said, "Dear Allie, I miss you. I wish that I had something to send to you but all I can do is pray that I run into you. Have you seen the Mandalorian? I have. You keep the crows out of my garden and you keep my force field running. Love, Luke" He's truly a Casanova with a big heart and a bold way of showing it.

I had a rough day the other, perhaps the quarantine had gotten to me also. Being cooped up with the kids who are also cooped up can have it's moments. I had a less than stellar moment. I lost my cool and cried in front of the kids. They're used to seeing me cry during touching moments when watching movies, or spiritual moments at church, but they are unaccustomed to seeing me cry out of anger or frustration. I think I scared them. I found this note from my daughters. Sweet girls. Service in times of need seems to come naturally to them.

We went camping with my parents and had a great time! We brought the zip line and spent a lot of time on it. We played fugitive at night with flash lights. We played around in the creek bed. The boys brought back a horny toad. My parents were great company. We had good discussions at night and I really enjoy talking to them. My dad took some great pictures with his camera.

Mercedes used Hannah as her model for a recreation of the Mona Lisa. I drew the back ground because she almost scrapped the whole project because she couldn't get it right. 

So, as you can see, life in my little corner of the world is very blessed and for that I am so thankful. May 2020 has brought a lot of contention to the world, but the church is strong and spiritual moments and experiences for those who are looking for them are not scarce. There's still a lot of good. We have enjoyed the good.