Fred and Paula’s Most Excellent Adventure

We have a lady in Japan studying the gospel.  She asked, "How do you know when you feel the spirit?" There have been big spiritual moments in my life, but for me I most often feel the spirit in the small things.  A beautiful sunset, a flower, the mountains, a quiet moment reading scriptures, during prayer, spending time with loved ones, listening to music, listening to talks at church are all ways I feel the spirit.  In the New Testament, We learn about the fruits of the spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,     Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.                                                               Galatians 5:22-23 If you have felt any of these feelings, then you have experienced the spirit. Through my work at the Church...

Temple Square is offering free daily organ recitals from both the Tabernacle and the Conference Center.  Fred and I took the opportunity to enjoy one of the concerts.  It was so impressive to listen to this recital on the Pipe Organs.  The organist was amazing. At the Church History Library, I am reading the history of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple ground breaking, cultural celebration, open house, and dedication.  These are the testimonies that were placed in the cornerstone of the temple.  I can feel the same spirit that I feel in the temple as I read these testimonies.  Some make me laugh and others make me cry.  It has been a good experience.  I can see how the Lord touches so many lives from this one event of building the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  This is God's work. I see his hand in the small, tender mercies for his children. This weekend we had the opportunity to watch our 2 year old granddaughter while my daughter Laura celebrated her ...

Another blessing of waiting…..This weekend we had the opportunity to fly to Illinois for our granddaughter’s baptism.  It is so wonderful to share this special time with Lily and her family. I love watching our grandchildren grow. Each one has their own personality and strengths.  Lily loves beautiful things, especially flowers.  When I see flowers, I think of her.   Baptism is a covenant we make to follow the Savior.  It is symbolic of leaving behind the old person and becoming new. I remember thinking as an 8-year-old that I wanted to be perfect so that I could be as clean as I was on the day I was baptized.  I didn’t understand that Jesus Christ provided a way for us to be clean through repentance and change.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be renewed and try again to become better.  No news on Japan.  The COVID cases are rising in Japan as they are in other parts of the world.  At the Chu...

 This week, I have come to a realization that for now, this is my mission.  I call it the "hybrid" portion of our mission.  We work 40+ hours a week between Japan and Salt Lake City Headquarters mission.  Prior to this week, I have thought of our mission as waiting until we can go to Japan.  I realize this could take a very long time as the COVID delta variant rages on.  We move forward taking one day at a time.  It's not like we are alone in this.  The entire world has been working remotely for over a year and a half.   I create a mission newsletter every 6 weeks for the missionaries.  I am learning new computer skills and using the creative side of my brain.  My goal is to document the events and people of the mission.  I also provide articles to lift and support the missionaries.  The Mission President and missionaries help translate portions of the newsletter into Japanese. These newsletters will be complied into an an...

 I became super frustrated this week when I tried to take a review quiz in Japanese and failed miserably.  Those of you who know me well, know that I have been studying Japanese over three years.  Fred says, "How do you think I feel.  I have been studying over 40 years."  It is definitely a challenging language.  I could feel my blood pressure rising. The next day, we went to the temple.  I love how my perspective changed as I came to realize again that  God is all powerful and He is in charge.  My minuscule efforts are just baby steps in the grand scheme of things.  Through Him, all things are possible. At the Church History Library, I am reading the family history of the grandson of President Joseph F Smith.  I am reading the correspondence between the prophet and his grandson, Joseph S Nelson.  President Joseph F Smith was a loving grandfather who supported his grandson throughout his life.  I think about the love I hav...