Do You Have Room?

As I reflect on this Christmas season, I ask myself this question; "Do I Have Room?"

I hear and read many people who are a "Scrooge" during this time of year. I have to admit that I am almost a scrooge. Not because I don't like Christmas, but because I think I have my heart and mind in the wrong place. If we are being a Scrooge, is it because we are thinking about worldly things? Are we focusing on what we DON'T have? What is Christmas all about? If we are being a Scrooge, we are forgetting what the TRUE meaning of Christmas is.

The true meaning of Christmas is to ponder about our Savior and all that He is and all that He has done for each one of us. I heard this story by Glenn Rawson last Sunday.

The Birth

I want to tell a familiar story with this in mind: Christmas is all about ‘love.’

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” (Luke 2:1)

You know, as Caesar and the oppressive Roman Empire counted and taxed the goods of life from its subjects, the same time a true king was born, who would also number His sheep, but He would free them and give them the abundance of life, not take it. And again, “(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)” (Luke 2:2)

Sometimes I wonder what that’s in there for. But the book of Luke was a letter written to a friend. This parenthetical comment was directed by Luke to his friend Theophilus to give him a point of time reference for the beginning of his story.

And another thought is that every year we send Christmas cards with expressions of love and faith and greeting. So what does that make the Book of Luke then? – the world’s first Christmas card.

“And all went to be taxed, every one unto his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judaea unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.” (Luke 2:3-5)

No matter what the customs of the Jews, Joseph and Mary returned to Bethlehem because God wanted them to, because Jesus must be born in Bethlehem to fulfill the words of the prophets. We can only imagine how arduous that journey must have been for Mary who was full-term. Yet, sacrifice, then and now, brings forth the blessings of Heaven.

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son,…” (Luke 2:6-7)

Jesus was Mary’s firstborn, and the birthright son of Joseph’s family. Later Mary would have at least four more sons, and at least two daughters. So I guess you could say in more ways than one, Jesus stood at the head of large family.

“… and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,…” (Luke 2:7)

To swaddle was to wrap the newborn to provide comfort and security. Isaiah prophesied in the Old Testament that a virgin would conceive and bring forth a son. And then he said right after that, that “…Butter and honey shall he eat…” meaning the son of the virgin. (Isaiah 7:14-15) Butter and honey were staples in the diet of the poor. The meaning seems to be that Jesus would be born in poverty. Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth, or if you will, ‘rags.’

“… and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn[s].” (Luke 2:7)

Mary’s condition would have been obvious. Imagine if an expectant mother came to your door. Could you ever turn her away? Yet in the hardness of their hearts, no one would make room for her in the inns.

Descended from the royal courts on high, the Prince of Peace, the King of Heaven, was born in His own city, among His own people, in a stable.

When Jesus said, “…I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not…” (D&C 6:21), even in His birth it was fulfilled. Bethlehem marked the beginning of the journey for the Savior who would descend below all things that He might rise above all things.

My friends, I hope – I hope with all of my heart that the love of the Savior fills your heart this Christmas, and that love spreads to all men as you make room for Him.

Merry Christmas.

Glenn Rawson – December 2006

If we are being a scrooge and wishing Christmas would just get over with, we need to refocus on what Christmas is all about. It's not about the material gifts we do or do not receive or the material things that we don't have. We honor what Christ has done for us. He wasn't born rich. He didn't go through life without trials. But He has given us the most amazing gift. He has given us the Atonement, the gift of unconditional love.

There will always be those that have more than us and there will always be those that have less. If we focus on those that have less and be thankful for what we DO have, we can have peace and a desire to serve those around us. I believe we will be less selfish and less envious.

May we all remember the true meaning of Christmas and MAKE room for Him all year long!

Do You Have Room?

My Dad's Floppy Sock and Tender Mercies

Years ago I shared my experience with my angel dad.
I have made a few changes to use for my Final Essay for my English class in the Pathway Program.

Jody Shelley

December 6, 2017

ENG 106 L13 Personal Essay

Sister Bowles

My Dad’s Floppy Sock and Tender Mercies

When I was a child and into my teen years, growing up with my dad around was mostly fun. He had a good sense of humor and he liked to have fun. Our friends were always welcomed to our house and dad liked everyone. He reminded me of Charles Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie when it came to liking people.

When my dad was just a boy, maybe around 10 years old but not yet a teenager, he got his toes cut off on his right foot up to the middle of his arch during a farming accident with some kind of potato conveyor belt. It cut it half way off and his dad had to cut it the rest of the way off to free him from the machine. This resulted in him having a limp for the rest of his life. His foot stopped him from doing many of the things that he wanted to do, but I never heard him complain about it and he would often tease us with his partial foot.

There were times when our friends were over to the house and my dad would take off his shoes. Now this wasn’t just a boring event. After he took off his right shoe, he would look at his floppy sock, shake it, and look shocked. There was only part of his foot in his sock, the area where the toes were supposed to be, the sock was floppy. He would ask us kids where his foot went? He would then proceed to look for his foot in his shoe, under the chairs and get us all looking as well. Then he would chase us kids around with his floppy sock, with a limp, because he couldn’t run well with that right foot. Dad had all of us screaming and laughing.  He would run the best he could but of course it was with a limp. This also made his back hurt for many years.

A few years after I got married, my parents divorced and both my parents eventually married other spouses. My brother and I were both married with our own little families by then and we were pretty stable in our lives. Several events happened and eventually things were pretty strained between my dad and I. We never took the chance to make a complete amends before he passed away, but he did tell me he loved me during one of his coherent times on his death bed.

Fast forward to the year 2010, a year and a half after dad passed away. My husband, Doran, and I have a few running routes. One route goes past the cemetery where my father is buried. When we run by the cemetery we are always saying "Hi" to dad and all the others there. Sometimes when I am having a rough time during a run, I am constantly calling on my dad to help me. While I was out on a run in the canyon with Doran, training for a Half Marathon, I had an amazing experience. It was a beautiful day and a great run. We started up the canyon and we were going to run down to home. It would be a total of eight miles. Because Doran was usually faster than me, he would run a little ahead of me but he wouldn't go far and then turn around and come back to me. This particular run was not bad because it was mostly downhill. So, this is why I was a little confused as to what happened.

For the first time I did not use my iPod. I just listened to my breathing, my shoes hitting the road and the vehicles rushing by. Like I said, it was a beautiful run. I did a pretty good job pacing myself the whole time and I was feeling good. About mile five all of a sudden, my dad popped into my thoughts. At this time, I am wondering why? I am not struggling and calling for his help yet. But then the feeling got stronger. Pretty soon I could feel him running next to me, yes, FEEL him running, on BOTH feet, and he was young, maybe his early 20’s. He was on my right side. The feeling was SO strong that I could almost SEE him. He was enjoying the run and I could feel that he was smiling. At this time, I am just sobbing while I am running. I didn’t dare look towards dad or change my pace. The feelings were so strong that I didn’t want to break the “spell”. Doran turned around and saw I had tears just streaming down my face, so he came back to see if I was okay. I couldn't say much at the moment and just said "Yes, I'll tell you later." I motioned him to go on ahead, so he did. I felt my dad slowly leave but I felt his love and support for me. Because of the previous issues before dad died, for years I wondered if he still loved me and if he was mad at me. But this tender mercy let me know that he was happy with me and for me.

I am so thankful for my testimony of the hereafter, of eternal families, and of the Atonement and how we can all repent and strive to be better each day so that we can see our loved ones again.

            What a wonderful blessing it was for me to experience this tender mercy. I truly ran with my angel dad. Doran is so good to help me achieve my goals and I now KNOW for sure that my dad will be with me as well when I need his help. Even though dad had his weaknesses, along with the rest of us, he always supported my brother and I in any endeavor we took on. He was my biggest fan and I know he will continue to be my biggest fan.

The Wall and The Pit

For years we have been wanting to fix up our garden and around the fire pit but we just didn't know what to do.

Finally dad decided to get busy and quit procrastinating.

He had to dig trenches, add some sprinkler lines, and smooth the "pit" area.

Then we picked out some pavers for the divider wall and fire-pit and went to work.

First thing we had to do was put some gravel down for the paver base.

Then our pavers were delivered.

The first row is complete.

The progress on the second row.

The second row is complete.

Now the finishing touches on the third and final row.

I had dad put an entrance to the garden.

Complete. Now we will begin on the fire-pit area.

I helped dad with the first row and then I went in to watch Women's Conference.

It started to rain a bit so dad got a clever with the patio umbrella.

Then the sod. That stuff was heavy!!

Here is the completed project.

This weekend we will have our first marshmallow roast since the redo.

Great job, Dad!

Go me as well. I hefted almost as many blocks as dad did on this project.

So I can say that it was OUR project.

We make a great team!

Camping is good for the soul!

My second writing assignment was something that "I Believe".

As I started writing, the words and memories just started to flow. However, we are only allowed so many words but it made me think how nice it would be if I would write more of my memories.

I usually have a hard time remembering anything.

Camping is good for the soul

I believe that camping is good for the soul. Why? Because when I was a little girl, our family started making strong bonds by camping together as a family. I love most of my memories of camping. Not all were good, but most of them still make me giddy inside.

When I was about the age of four, we first started with a camper shell on the back of our pickup, preparing and eating our meals on a picnic table or the tailgate of the truck. Then about the age of six, we upgraded to a camper. Finally, when I was about a fourth or fifth grader, we went upscale and purchased a camp trailer. Can you say indoor plumbing?

Most of our summer vacations were camping at various places. One of my earliest memories was traveling to Nevada City, Montana, and visiting the “Two-Story Outhouse”. We thought that was quite the hoot! However, my favorite camping trips were on the weekends when we would take our trailer and go camping in the canyons. My only sibling was my brother, who was a grade older. He and I had the freedom to go hiking on the trails, riding our bikes around the camp ground, and exploring in the woods, even without our parents. I made many friends on our camping trips and often exchanged addresses with our “friends”. We would pen pal for a while until we lost the addresses.

As I got older and had my own family, we carried on the camping tradition, but for me it was a different awareness. Now, I enjoy the relaxation, the walks under the canopy of the trees and falling leaves, the hikes on the narrow trails, and crossing streams on bridges, or on dry rocks in the stream. I also like hearing the crickets at night, or while we share stories around the crackling fire, as we fumble with our sticky, roasted marshmallows.

Just the other day, I heard a radio host mention that researchers show that nature is good as a calming effect. In an Express article, Sound of nature: People become more calm when they hear natural sounds. MICHAEL KNOWLES  writes: “The gentle burbling of a brook or the sound of the wind in the trees can physically change our mind and bodily systems, helping us to relax.”

Thus, my favorite time of the year is camping season. Is it any wonder that my favorite theme is leaves, and forest green? I love camping, nature, and the wonderful memories that were made when I was a little girl. As an adult, I loved teaching my children all about the camping world.

Now that the kids are grown, and don’t go camping with us as often, I love to sit in the trailer with no phone, and no tv, while it is raining outside. I love to listen to the sound of the pitter patter of rain falling, knowing that it will smell wonderful and new when we step outside, after the rain is done.

                Yes! Camping is good for the soul!

Happy snowMEN!!

I LOVE these Happy snowMEN.

They are my favorite guys!

Obviously Daddy is a little jealous and doesn't know what to think.

Anyway...

About a week before we went up to see Cortney while she had her baby, we took daddy to the Dr. because he had a sore throat. We needed him well before he got to hold the baby. 

Results:

He had a virus that would go away in a few days.

Since he had it for a couple of days already he was not contagious. 

We informed the Dr. why we were taking the trip and he asked if we were both caught up on our tetanus/whooping cough boosters, so that we could hold the brand new baby.

Uh...Well Doran just had a tetanus a few years ago but I didn't know when the last booster I had.

He told Daddy to bar the door until he checked my records.

Come to find out...I needed a booster shot for HIS visit!!

I think that might be the last time that I go to the Dr. with Doran. He walked out of there unscathed and void of any needle holes.

I, on the other hand, received a very unflattering band-aid to cover my wound and then a sore arm for a few days as well.

August 22, 2017

But we were good to go to hold the new baby!

Dear Bed

We had our first writing assignment in English and for the past two lessons we worked on a

Love Letter to something. 

We were to make it fun and creative.

I'm not a writer but I enjoyed writing about one of my favorite things...

MY BED

Dear Bed,

            “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”*…from the top of your headboard way down to your footboard. Your headboard has served us well over the years. I hope that you liked the facelift we gave you a few years ago with that deep rich tan. You do look more dashing than ever. Your cupboards and drawers have faithfully held our clothes and books for many years. You have also reminded us when it is time to purge our old clothes when you jam your drawers or start spitting out excess clothing from the cupboards. However, I wish you would dust yourself, but because you have been such a great provider, I will continue to dust you when the need arises or at least when the Halloween “spider webs” are out of season.

I appreciate how nonjudgmental you are. You don’t care when I come to bed with my hairy legs, messy hair and no makeup on my face. You don’t care if my jammies are old, torn or very unflattering. No matter how heavy I get, you never seem to groan under my weight, for which I am grateful. I know you won’t go and gossip to your friends on my unkempt and ever aging appearance.

When I am sick, tired, or lazy, you have always been there for me. We have been through many happy, excited and even long, lonely, and night-sweat nights together. You have wrapped your Malden Mills Polar Fleece sheets around me when I needed it most. Even when I toss and turn all night, you refuse to give up on me. You will always accept me with open, cozy sheets. I love how you cuddle with me when my alarm goes off but we need to set some better rules about snuggling past the snooze button.

You have helped me grieve by letting me cry into your mattress and our buddy, the pillow. We have rejoiced together with our family, when we would all gather on you and have bedtime stories or watch a movie together. We have also rejoiced over our employment, when we have had advancements, awards, or pay increases; and just plain old everyday accomplishments. You have comforted me when I’ve had nightmares and let me relax during wonderful dreams.

There have been times where you have helped me from overeating by letting me be too comfortable to get up and eat a midnight snack. However; on those rare occasions, ok many occasions, that I have brought food to bed with me, you didn’t complain, even when I dropped crumbs all over you.

You are the first thing I think of when bedtime rolls around (and even WAY before then). On those occasions when I travel, I constantly think of you and how you must be missing me, as I miss you. I can’t wait until I get back so you can hold me in your memory foam mattress. Believe me, you are always on my mind.

So, after all these years, I am forever grateful for your service and sacrifice on my behalf and on behalf of my whole family, because we have all shared your comfort. I hope to keep you around even as we both get old and ratty together.

Love your biggest fan,

Jody

*Reference: How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806 - 1861

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

There have been so many things happen this year that I don't even know where to start and hopefully I WILL slip in some posts here and there. But for now I want to start with the most recent thing on my mind.

Yesterday at church, April gave a lesson on "learning". She then asked us to think about what we have learned from others or what we have learned in general. The things that came to mind were:

• I have learned I am in charge of my own choices.
• I can learn from someones example and use it as a guide or a deterrent.
• We all have different gifts and it's ok if we don't know it all or can do it all.
• We need to do the best of what we can do.
• With hard work, I can learn and do more than I thought I could.

For years I have thought that I was uneducated and was unable to learn because I definitely have trouble retaining thing that I DO learn. I am thankful that I heeded the prompting to take the Pathway Classes that started in January. For some people the first two semesters were a breeze. (Semester 1: "Life Skills" and "Book of Mormon - First part"; Semester 2: Dreaded "Math" and "Book of Mormon - Second Part") For me, they were stressful and a lot of work and dedication on my part, and love, kindness and patience from Doran. He has been such a trooper and supporter during this learning season. At the end of those two semesters I was able to get straight A's except one 88% and on 96%. Those scores really bothered me because I guess I am a perfectionist and wanted straight A's on ALL my assignments and quizzes. One bonus for these semesters is that most of the quizzes, you had two chances, which I took advantage of several times.

I loved the "Life Skills" class and how it teaches you how to become a hard working, honest student. I LOVED to Book of Mormon classes. I was able to not only read the whole Book of Mormon but I was also able to STUDY it along with using the Book of Mormon Student Manual. That manual is awesome! I never took seminary or institute so these past several months I thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Math...well we won't even discussed that stressful, heart wrenching, tear jerking experience.

We have had seven weeks off for the summer and now the third semester just began on Saturday. This semester we will be studying "English, Basic Writing" and "Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel". I still want to figure out to keep studying the Book of Mormon without it getting pushed to the side. As far as English...this scares me a little bit as well. Along with our classes, the third semester students are also required to be mentors for those taking Pathway L, which are students that are learning English. We will meet with them via video chat once a week to help them practice. There are guidelines that we need to follow and always be positive and upbeat and help them learn. I hope I can be a help to my partner instead of hindrance.

And so it begins...