Picture of the Day

Please note the hue of Abe's mustache.

The Canine Caper

This afternoon as I ventured out in my slippers through the snow to the mailbox, Morgan squeezed past me and right into the path of a never-before-seen extra large brown dog just poking his nose into our driveway. The two immediately squared off, and I tried my doggie diplomacy for Morgan's sake, as the hair was up on the intruder's neck. After a few tense rounds of dog chicken, I called Morgan to follow me back indoors, when the brown monster whizzed ungracefully past me into the house and right on into the kitchen with Hannah and Laurel! In the immediate commotion, the feller ran into the living room, snatched Morgan's large rawhide bone, and ran right back through the still open door, a triply offended Morgan in quick pursuit. But it was too late, as the bandit was down the street before she could get out the door. I think he would make a good boyfriend for Morgie. "I'm a retriever. I couldn't leave her if I tried."

Abe's Name Games

Enjoy hearing your name said by one of the most popular characters in babydom. Also, the end of the movie reveals a never-before-seen breakthrough for Abe's relationship with his Dad. His "Amen" at the end may one day lead to the "AMENs" that his Baba says.

Choose This Day

Rachel shared some inspired thoughts with me as we spoke on the phone this week. She referenced a youtube film based on a recent conference talk by President Eyring that you probably remember which is front and center on lds.org today, titled "Choose This Day." Rachel says that she has been focusing every day on the prayer in the quote that follows from that film. That's how she stays lovely. That's how I wish to live.

"It is hard to know when we have done enough for the atonement to change our natures and so qualify us for eternal life. And we don’t know how many days we will have to give the service necessary for that mighty change to come.

In the hardest trials, as long as you have the power to pray, you can ask a loving God, 'Please, let me serve this day. It doesn’t matter to me how few things I may be able to do. Just let me know what I can do. I will obey this day. I know that I can, with thy help.'”

P.S. Happy Birthday Laurelina!

Hannah Rose Flowers

Hannah is another one we keep hearing about. Here are two unsolicited email compliments I received this week: From Skinny Jenny Jardine: "Thank you SO much for sending me the link to Hannah's inner*i. I looked through every photo. She is incredible...so many arresting and and amazing images. I loved it... beautiful art." Dad's cousin Susan Bastian, Mom of Sera, (the actress) said, "I am in absolute awe at Hannah's gift!! Her pictures are just out of this world! I kept thinking I had the wrong pictures because these were obviously National Geographic quality--and they are!! I will be looking forward to watching this young lady's star rise." Today in the parking lot the stake Primary president said, "I can't believe your daughter's pictures. They are so beautiful! I mean, they really are! I looked at every one. I became a fan (on facebook). I especially love the ones from Africa." I told her that they were really photos of our own refugees in Salt Lake, and she said, "Now they mean even more to me." When we were meeting Hannah's boss at the vault the other day, he said, "Hannah is a great employee. She contributes a great deal at work. She is so talented. We are so lucky to have Hannah." Smile. Keep up the great work sweet, beautiful, talented Hannah!!!

It Makes Me Feel Like Flowers

Last week I got a call from Laurel's Mia Maid leader. She said, "I just have to tell you how wonderful Laurel is!" She then took many minutes telling me that Laurel is so engaged in class, that she is confident with so many kinds of people, and that she has her head on straight. She said, "I wish I could be like Laurel right now! She is the light in that class. She's what makes it worth teaching." I know Carrie loves all the girls, but she wanted me to know that Laurel is special, and that she is a leader. This is pretty much exactly what I heard at parent teacher conference. Three of her teachers said things like, "She is the kind of student that makes it worthwhile to teach," "She is always engaged." "Laurel brings a great, positive attitude into classroom." Just today as we were going in to sacrament meeting, Sr. Stevens caught up to me and said, "Your daughter is growing up! I couldn't believe how lovely she was and how serious about her job (at the wedding)last night." Finally, this email titled "Your cute daughter" from Jennie Lloyd arrived two days ago after Laurel spoke in a stake YW/RS meeting: "I loved Laurel's talk and her demeanor. So refreshing that she referred to scripture time as 'me' time. If only all of us RS sisters could catch that vision!" Just wanted to pass on the good news about our Little Dootie Q at almost 15 years-old ;). As she humbly acknowledges these days, "I am a princess." And she is. I love her, and I know you do, too!

The Book of Mormon

Dear Family,

As Elder Holland spoke with a force that pierced our hearts yesterday about the beloved Book of Mormon, I wept because of the deep truth of his words, and my recognition of how much of the fabric of my life the Book of Mormon has become. Its true principles have distilled upon my soul since I was Laurel's age, but unlike her, much more insecure in my life. It was then that I realized from my seminary teacher that I was supposed to read the Book of Mormon every day.

I knew almost nothing about it, except that Nephi and Lehi had left the Old World for the new, and that Nephi's brothers were really bad guys you would never want in your family. I knew it talked about Jesus's visit to the Americas. I had probably heard of Alma the Younger. And that was about all.

Though I berated myself very heavily for not reading every day, I read the Book of Mormon often, and my eyes and heart were always opened when I did. The spirit filled that little basement bedroom with my painted footprints on the floor, the taco candle, the door made-into-a-desk, and the giant hamburger poster!

In my pretty extreme loneliness, I heard the voice of the Lord through the Book of Mormon, and for the first time learned details of the atonement that I had never known. I learned that wickedness never was happiness. I learned that it was the evil spirit that taught me not to pray. I learned that the atonement was infinite.

It was clear as anything in my life that the book was true. I knew it then through no great manifestation, but through the many whisperings of the still small voice to a lanky, insecure Lark Evans. I could never deny that testimony, then or now. It came from the Spirit of Truth, and it gave me when I needed it very much a knowledge of where I needed to go, and how I should get there. It gave me hope for my life, and a deep desire to live so that I would always have that spirit, that intelligence and light.

Since then the book and its Author have been best friends and true companions to me. The Lord has gently held my hand to the rod, and beckoned me to follow, to partake of the fruit of that beautiful tree of light! I have so many favorite scriptures, as we all do. Early favorites were Helaman 5:12 and 2 Nephi 32:8-9.

A favorite less-quoted scripture comes from Jacob 3:2 "O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."

This is my testimony of the Book of Mormon. But like Elder Holland's, my testimony is made of a thousand facets and many times that experiences with the Spirit and the book. It touches me every day now as it did in my little basement room around 1973. It is true!

What is your testimony of the Book of Mormon? What are your favorite scriptures?

With Love,

Mom