P-day-- Bowling

A Cloud picture, just because when the sky is blue and the clouds are puffy, it captures my attention. On our way to bowling with the missionaries---

We had fun hanging out with these cute missionaries and one friend.

Sisters Burnside, Wassmer, Madden, and Moesinger

Elder Jensen, Josh, and Elder Miller

We then headed to the Church to share the leftover cake from Monday night with the missionaries.  That was a fun treat for them.

It is the conversations we have with individual missionaries or companionships that I will miss when we eventually go home.  They are at the beginnings of their adult lives--looking ahead.  They ask good questions and ask for input sincerely. Just as easily they can be silly or be crazy while they play games or shoot basketballs.  They are "real" young adults who are committed to loving Christ and being a servant of His.  It is a honor to know them and to watch their lives unfold in the future.

"Mothering"-- A Facebook Post

Facebook Post:   (September 8)

The photo I shared which was our family photo in the
summer of 2010 just before Scott and Chantel got married.
It was taken in the field directly east of Gary's parents' home and
this is "Grandpa Hall's" tractor.

 "So in the middle of my research today to prepare for the Institute lesson on Tuesday about Latter-day Saints' hymns written by women--I found this sweet end to a poem written by Mabel Jones Gabbott (who wrote one of my favorite Sacrament hymns- "In Humility, Our Savior"), The poem is called "Eve and I."

If I were Eve and the serpent came

(Wise and knowing and calling my name),

And offered me pain and worry and death

And love of child to life’s last breath,

I think I would take the apple and eat

And count the price of mortality sweet.

Mothering is certainly the hardest thing I have done or will ever do, but it is also the most wonderful! How I love these sweet children who call me mom (and the ones who now call me grandma) and even the others who came and went from our home over the years! You each have changed me and made me a different person--a better person because of being loved by you.

And I love watching you love your children, too even though we are in Arkansas.

End of my soapbox...back to researching this amazing women who wrote beautiful hymns of faith, love, and devotion to God and Christ."

Institute: Hymns By Later-day Saint Women

The prior Friday, I had spent most of the day doing research on the 13 women who he lesson focused on.  This isn't all of the hymns written by women in the hymnbook because some are written by other Christian women writers and we will have a lesson specifically about Eliza R. Snow.  It was great to learn more about these women and to connect their stories with their hymns.  I shared about one on Facebook which I will copy over to the blog in a minute.  If you ever have some free time, start googling the names of these writers and learn their stories and their hymns.

Class at work with a learning project about the hymns

Jena, Esther and Esther's mom sharing about their hymn-- Families Can Be Together Forever

I guess we could play Name That Hymn based on these posters related to the gospel principles taught by the hymn.....

The Sisters-----"Lord, I Will Follow Thee"

"Where Can I Turn For Peace"

"Families Can Be Together Forever"

"As Sisters In Zion"   by the two young men in our class

Three of the four photos had temples on them.  We are all in anticipation of the dedication on Sunday.
 

Regional YSA Family Home Evening Devotional

In preparation for the temple dedication on Sunday (today--the first session is happening even as I am typing), Elder and Sister Ellis organized a fireside with a member of the temple presidency--President Sederholm--who serves as the first counselor.  He did a great job, sharing about his courtship and marriage to his wife in the Manti Temple and then talking about the importance of temples.  He allowed time for some questions and answers.  Two things I remember from that section:

1.  The question was asked, "Was there any barriers or opposition to the temple being built here?"  His reply'' "Other than Covid, not really.  The Church members here have such a positive reputation in the area that the building permits and everything went smoothly with 100% support from the city."

2.  A convert who joined the Church in July asked, "Is it common as members of the Church to feel so connected to a temple--for me I just love the Bentonville Temple so much.  Is that just a convert thing?"  Elder Sederholm and all of us could answer that question. His reply was "The Manti Temple has always been that for me because that is where I married my wife--the best thing in my life. However, I am guessing that as I serve in the Bentonville Temple, it will reach that same level of connection to me as Manti. We will see."

Most of us are attached to a temple or two....or many.  Temples are unique places and also holy places and they can bring out the very best in ourselves.  We love them for that!

Afterwards, we had a cake with cream cheese frosting.  I had spent my afternoon making ours and figuring out how to transport the individual parts to Bentonville (about 90 minutes away) and keep them cold.  We managed and the desserts were great.

Sister Cowley who is now serving in Carthage, MO YSA was there so we were able to get one last photo with her before she goes home next month. 

We got an evening photo of the temple which shares the same parking lot with the stake center we met at.  I now have an evening photo as my screen saver on my locked screen.

How blessed we are to have temples on the earth!