What a weekend!

Does it get much better than this?

Our first time to bring home a fresh papaya -- nearly watermelon-sized. Mmmmm!

And we watched Spiderman II, and I actually liked the last 30 minutes or so! My reputation has been totally ruined! = )

The Ballheim Book

The Bender and VanOrsdal books are closed,
and the Ballheim book is O P E N !!!

More fun than anyone should ever be able to have.

The Rest of the Story

More than a month ago, President Lawyer asked me to speak at the Saturday evening session of stake conference about the love that grows between us and our ancestors as we find them and do their temple work as well as New FamilySearch. Quite daunted by the assignment, I came home and emailed Jacque Martin, the gal who introduced me to the Church, and asked her to pray for me that my preparation and delivery would go well. She was happy to do that for me.

After President Lawyer talked to me about my talk, I hadn’t planned to begin preparing right away — I had a month to prepare. The next morning I read my scriptures. I’ve been trying to journal after I read even if I don’t see anything profound as I read. Sometimes connections and ‘likening’ happen as I journal. That particular Monday morning I was tempted to skip journaling. But I decided that I would because it was the right thing to do.

As I began journaling, two thoughts came to mind: the title of a book I had recently been given Look What Love Has Done! and the story about finding my Thomas Alvin family. I opened a new Word document to jot down the thoughts. More thoughts began coming, so I put aside plans for the day and just worked on my talk. I finished, felt good about it, and set it aside.

Yesterday began as usual — a quick breakfast, then scriptures. It isn’t often that I feel the spirit as soon as I sit down to read, but there it was. It didn’t end when I finished my scriptures. As I went about my routine tasks, there it was. Even when I was cleaning my bathrooms, there it was! A couple hours before I needed to leave, I sat down to refresh my memory of what I had written, there it was still. As I went through a practice run, there it was, even stronger. I’d given talks before in sacrament meeting and never had these kinds of feelings. I wondered if it was just because it was the whole stake gathering and the Lord was more mindful of a stake gathering than a ward gathering.

After I came home and found email from Jacque saying that she had been praying for me all day Saturday, and I understood what had happened. No wonder I had felt the spirit so strongly!

It reminds me of the year Bethany went to Pioneer Trek. Because she often experienced so much pain, I prayed for her often through the first two days because I knew the kinds of hardships that they would encounter. The Sunday schedule for Trek was not strenuous, so when Sunday came, I returned to praying for her as I always did. When I picked her up on Monday she was elated. She told me that she had been able to participate fully in the tough experiences without pain, and for that she was grateful, but by Sunday the pain returned. What a powerful lesson we both learned as I shared my part of the story.

I am so grateful for Jacque and for her continuous, frequent, and fervent prayers. It has strengthened my testimony of prayer. As always, she is a blessing in my life.

Ramona

My friend, Ramona is going to speak today in stake conference. The theme of the conference has been ‘A Mighty Change of Heart’ (a continuation of our stake's '2x4' goals).

Ramona is a recent convert and a wonderful example of a mighty change of heart. Her husband was a less-active member. When she first came to church, she was sort of fearing all the boogiemen — something scary, who knows...

The more she came, the more she began to glow with testimony. She now teaches the Gospel Essentials class, and is doing a marvelous job. Very dedicated woman. I am looking forward to hearing her speak.

Still here!

We went to the temple last night. Given events at the LA and SLC temples, I wondered as we drove, whether there would be any protesters there. Whew! None!

A friend who has lived here all her life says that things like this happened at our temple when the ERA debate was raging.
And we’re still here!

I remember President Hinckley saying

Back in the days of the great Depression,
an old sign dangled by one staple from a piece of rusting barbed wire.

The owner of the farm had written:
Burned out by drought,
Drowned out by flud waters,
Et out by jack-rabbits,
Sold out by sheriff,
Still here!

Somebody had to do it!

Today Dad and I raked the leaves in the front yard. As I looked at the huge pile of golden leaves, I couldn't imagine a pile of leaves and no one jumping in it. So, I took a dive.

Dad couldn't believe it. = ) He dashed in for the camera, took a shot, then covered all but my face, and took another one.

Who says I have no yellow???

= )

Can you believe ...

Twenty years ago last night, we were trick or treating in Columbia with the Diamonds.
Twenty years ago today we were moving into our house in Gaithersburg.

Time flies.

Always something happening in family history!

By yesterday, Grandma and Grandpa's affairs were pretty much in order, and I had a 'free' day. After lunch I decided I would try to visit Pam, a 2nd cousin who lives 3 miles from Grandma and Grandpa’s home. I called to see if she was home — got no answer, but left a message that I was just calling to say, ‘hi.’ She returned my call while I was leaving a message on her machine. Her message said all was well, she was just cleaning up leaves in her back yard and didn’t reach her phone in time. I decided to forget the phone call — I’d just go over and help her with the leaves.

We have never met before. I ‘met’ her as I was doing family history — enjoyed chatting on the phone about names, dates and places.

Her husband unexpectedly passed away in March.   She emailed me in August to let me know. Since then, I’ve called her a couple times just to chat for a few minutes just to give some variety to her days and help somewhat as she’s adjusting to being alone.

What a moment it was when she opened the door. “Pam?” -- “Peggy?” and then big hugs and laughing and more big hugs. It was so by ‘chance’ that we were able to get together. After my call, she’d run out to buy a newspaper. After returning home, she thought she’d run to the bank, but decided not to go. A minute or so later, the doorbell rang. Not chance, I know! = )

We ended up spending the day together. She took me to see her grandma’s grave — my great aunt. We shared stories and laughed the whole day. By evening, I’d put PAF on her computer and imported 800 or so names — from her granddaughter to as far back as it goes. She was thrilled.

My family just expanded — or so it seems. Next visit, I hope to meet her brother, her son, and their families.

Always something happening with family history! Tooooo fun!

Inspired inspiring talks

Justin and Bonnie Jean, what inspired talks you gave!

Justin, I loved the story about Corrie ten Boom -- she is one of my heroes. The story of her shaking hands with her former tormentor is powerful.

I love the quote from President Hinckley:

When we look for the worst in anyone, we will find it. But if we will concentrate on the best, that element will grow until it sparkles.

I've come to believe that the most real part of a person is what we see when they are at their very best; all the rest will be burned away in the process of repentance and forgiveness.

Bonnie Jean, your comments reminded me of a story I heard in our ward conference many years ago. The stake RS president shared a story about a visit with a sister when she was a ward RS president. The woman came to confide in her that she was going to begin divorce proceedings because she no longer loved her husband. The RS president counseled her to go home and love her husband. The woman replied, "You didn't hear me! I said I don't love him." The RS president countered, "You didn't hear me! I said to go home and LOVE HIM! Love is an action verb! Go and treat him with love and as if you loved him."

The woman agreed to follow the counsel given. Sometime later, the two women were visiting. The RS president asked how things were going in her marriage. The woman replied, "You won't believe this! HE CHANGED!" = ) The RS presidents testimony to us: Nothing is more powerful than love.

The power of love can truly work miracles.

Thank you both for sharing your inspired and inspiring talks.

Magnificent!

This morning I drove to church along the 'back' way to enjoy the scenery along the way.

We had had heavy rain last night, and this morning there were patches of fog in some areas. A patch of fog far on my left attracted my attention -- clouds of varying colors of grey in the sky, fabulous fall-colored trees surrounded by fog with the further away trees fading away with the fog. Simply magnificent!

My mind snapped a photo, but how I would have loved to have it preserved in a real photo! A great artist could have made it a masterpiece. (Sorry. No photo attached!)

Why does it feel like Sunday?

I guess because we spent the day in the temple ...

The temple presidency is being released. I've really loved President Hammond -- well, I've really loved his wife. She's one of those unusual people that makes you feel loved and appreciated -- even at first meeting. Somewhat like Brother Blackmer.

I've heard her speak several times before and loved her, but we actually crossed paths one evening. At the temple, Dad and I always take the elevators up, but we always take the stairs down, because the stained glass is so beautiful and you can hear the fountain even 7 stories away. One evening as we were going down, I asked a question and we stopped on one of the landings to discuss it. Not long after, Sister Hammond came up the stairs. We had a short and sweet conversation and then she proceeded up. A few minutes later, as she was on her way down, she greeted us as if we were old friends.

She told a story about how the Church obtained the land for the temple. Under President Kimball's leadership, the decision was made to build a temple in the Washington DC area. A few people came to look over various sites. The site they most liked was the current site, but they were told it was unavailable. They contacted the owners -- 3 Jewish men. The men confirmed what they had been told. Plans for the site were being finalized and would be signed in one week. It was to be an upscale shopping area surrounded by townhouses.

The Church's representatives made their case. The plans they had were for a temple where people would come to worship God. A place of peace. A place of beauty. Would these three Jewish men consider going home and praying about their decision.

The next morning, the call came in. "The land is yours."

Cool.

Pakistan Marriott Hotel blast Saturday

http://www.newsmax.com/international/as_pakistan_explosion/2008/09/20/132758.html This is the hotel Dad always stayed at. I'm SO glad he isn't traveling this year!

Although it may not be related to the bombing at all, this was posted on Friday. http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/20080919RT

Major problem. Help!

Dad just bought an iPod Touch. He's pleased. It's cool.
Big problem, though. We called our Palms 'beamers', but and iPod Touch can't beam.

iPod Touch seems like too long to say. I suggested we just pull out the key letters and call it an 'itch,' but, on second thought, maybe not.

Brain. Hm ... no.

You see what a horrible fix we're in.
Suggestions welcomed!