Touched By An Angel

Today I am reminded that life is short.  I am reminded of the many lessons I learned from one of God’s angels here on this earth.  Today as I mourn for my Bishop and his sweet family with the passing of my friend and exemplar, his wife, their mother and grandma. 

Jill Tharp taught me that angels do walk the earth as she served, lifted the hands that hung, hugged those in need of hugs, and listened to those in need of a listening ear. 

As Spirits on a human journey, we are here to help each other bring life-affirming dreams to fruition - to be Angels on Earth by assisting and supporting one another during times of need, as well as in times of joy.  Jill taught me this by her example.

Sometimes, without our even knowing it, we may be called upon by God or the Angels to answer the prayers of others. Our interactions with others may provide answers to problems you didn't know they had and/or your random acts of kindness may bring happiness to a heart that has been riddled with sadness.  Jill taught me that by her example.

I believe in the expression "what goes around, comes around." I know that as I am helping people, others are helping me. Jill taught me that too.

I am reminded that we are God’s hands and feet here on earth and while God can and does perform miracles all the time at His will, he also uses us to do his wondrous work. We must always be listening for those wonderful opportunities to partner with our Father. They fill our hearts with gladness.  Jill taught me that too.

Today I ask myself what else can I do to follow my friend Jill’s example of kindness, faith, and true Christ-like charity and become an instrument in God’s hands.

The Savior taught, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

“This is the first and great commandment.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:36–39).

Joseph F. Smith said: “Charity, or love, is the greatest principle in existence. If we can lend a helping hand to the oppressed, if we can aid those who are despondent and in sorrow, if we can uplift and ameliorate the condition of mankind, it is our mission to do it, it is an essential part of our religion to do it” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1917, 4). When we feel love for God’s children, we are given opportunities to help them in their journey back to His presence.

In the words of President Faust: “You can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to help bring about this great work. … You can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do” (“Instruments in the Hands of God,”Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2005, 115). God treasures those who help His children. I invite all of us to follow the counsel of the prophets and become instruments in the hands of God and be among His treasures because we have helped His children.

Today, I give gratitude to God for granting me the time I spent getting to know Jill.  I am grateful for her friendship and for the many, many ways she touched my life and the lives of my daughters.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve with her and to observe the gospel in action through her quiet example.  I am grateful that I was able to hear her testimony.  I am grateful for the memories – especially the memories my children hold dear.

We have been touched by an angel.  To honor my friend I will work harder to follow her example in listening to the Spirit and lifting the hands that hang, mourning with those that mourn, laughing with those that laugh, strengthening the weak, and spreading the love of God to those that cross my path.

God bless you Jill.  You will be missed.

Conference Review - This Is My Work and Glory

I missed last weeks reading, but I decided to pick up where I needed to be and I will try and catch the other two two talks as time allows.  This week's talk is This Is My Work and Glory by Elder M. Russell Ballard.

His talk addresses the difference between priesthood power and priesthood authority.

My mind raced around to all different thoughts from leadership in the home to people complaining that woman in the church are dominated by men because of the priesthood. (Personally, I don't see a need for he to have the priesthood authority.  I have the ability to access the power of the priesthood anytime I want.)

Elder Ballard taught that it is the power of the priesthood that the "heavens and the earth were created," that miracle happen with, that helped the Savior "to endure the unbearable pain of Gethsemane."  It is the power that has been given to "bind in heaven that which is bound on earth."  It is "a sacred and essential gift of God."

Most importantly the power of the priesthood "comes only when those who exercise it are worthy and acting in accordance to god's will."

See.  I cab access all of that.

Elder Ballard pointed our that just as it really does take two to create children, it take a husband and wife to exercise true power in the priesthood through righteous living.  It takes obedience, love, humility, and patience.  It takes service as we help the weak and strengthen others... particularly in our families.

Sadly, I have seen many priesthood holders, and those that love them, wither and nearly become destroyed because of neglect.  Elder Ballard's story of the tomato plant reminded my of that.  I have also seen some come back to life because of the loving patience of other continually inviting them to bask in the Light and to drink from Living Water.  I have also experienced this feeling for myself.

I remember listening to this talk and thinking of the little struggling tomato plants in my life.  I remember resolving to do better at providing the light and offering the water.

Elder Ballard suggested walking the Church training video.  You can watch those training videos her: http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/the-power-of-god?lang=eng

At any rate, great talk.

Family Matters - a Play

 Once again I have been ask to design and paint a set for my friend Robert and his students at Howard Street Middle School.  This show is called Family Matters.  All he needed was a back drop that he wanted to look like the front of a huge family album or scrapbook and a giant book... with pages that turn.

The backdrop was a piece of cake.  I just used the flats I have used for him in the past.  I took them to my friend Jeff's school and used them to help teach his tech student a different paint technique.

 After painting the 6 flats white, as a base coat and then yellow, as my main color, I taught the students the art of spattering.  Most of the students at least tried it.  However, most of them complained that they had to work.  Although we had warned them that spattering was a mess job, most of them came unprepared to throw paint around.  Still, a few of them actually got pretty good at the art of spattering.

I have to say, if my kid wasn't in the class and if their teacher wasn't one of my best friends, I wouldn't bother going down to the high school again.  These students are rude.  They really don't want to learn.  They don't value the opportunities that they have with the free educational system of this country.  

On Friday, a couple of these students got under my skin.  They were complaining because I was trying to help them grade their set model assignments   While complaining they were bullying Hannah because she had put in a good effort with her model.  They even had the gall to insinuate that I did Hannah's assignment for her.  When I called them on it, one girl whipped around and said something to the effect that I should have anything to say because I wasn't a real teacher and shouldn't be there.  That was it.  I lit into her.

These students are wasting my tax dollars.  They treat their teacher like crap.  They treat fellow students like crap.  They don't do assignments   Yet they expect good grades.  They expect high paying jobs.  They expect privileges   I will not be giving any of those students recommendations.  I will not be recommending them for jobs at the high school regarding rentals.  I will not be "teaching" them anything again.  And I decided to finish my sets myself.  

Sadly, I can see that I am wasting my time, my education, and my experience on these students.  I will teach my kids.  I will allow students that want to learn to work with me.  However, class time may be done for this year.  These kids don't deserve that wonderful space.  They don't deserve the dedicated teacher they have.  And they certainly don't deserve my time any more.  So, the rest of this set was built and painted in my garage.

These kids are also careless.  Good thing flats float.

 After learning splattering we drew designs onto the flat to make it a giant family scrapbook.  I really appreciate one student, Shylie, who is trying to develop her artist skills.  She did a great job.  The class then painted it all in.

 Eventually we finished.  And I haven't gone back.

 We got started on the book at my house.  To complicate things, I had abdominal surgery and couldn't do much but rely on the tender mercies of my sweet daughter and my friends.

I looked high and low for something to make a giant book with turning pages.  I saw all kinds great poster board type papers and even foam core at art stores.  But I couldn't get them in 4x8 sheets and they cost $13-20 a sheet.  Cardboard is not my favorite medium, however, it is affordable.  It took me weeks to find someone willing to sell me a minimum of 15 4x8 sheets of cardboard.

 I had my crew tape the edges to seal the cardboard sheets.  Then we primed both sides so that the cardboard would lay flat and so that we would be able to use paint more sparingly.  It was a bit of a zoo because it takes a long time to dry two side of paint.  I had only been home from surgery for 3 days, so I wasn't up for much.  My dear freinds came and helped and my daughter worked all day.  meanwhile,more than a dozen kids, three dogs, and two cats played around them or in the house.  It was chaos.

Next we taped two sheets of the painted cardboard together in sets.  We then took that opportunity to paint the base color of those pages.  Once again we needed to wait and wait for the pages to dry.  Once they we dry we could fold them and tape the next pages into a book.  We layered tape on the "binding" to make the book stronger.

 Our 15 page book was about 5-6 inches thick.  At first we used 2 inch wide masking tape because we thought Duck Tape wouldn't take the paint.  Eventually, I realized I would need something stronger.  In the end, after all the painting was done, we taped the binding with Duct Tape for added strength.

 This really was a big project.  The binding alone, was something that took some thought.  Sure hope it holds.  :)

 Then we painted the base color for the rest of the pages.

 Eventually, we were ready for lettering.  My friend was willing to get on the ground and draw out the lettering.  That was nice.  She writes better than I do.  I wanted to save time, so I found some wall stickers and colored Duct tape to make the scrapbook pages look more "scrappy happy."

 We started that project on my back deck, but the day got too hot and we eventually had to cover my family room carpet with plastic and move all my furniture around so that we could move the whole thing in doors.

 We used fans to dry things faster... since you can't move on until things are completely dry.  We used wax paper between the pages to keep the paint from sticking too badly and ruining our - or rather- their hard work.

We even pulled out the blow drier... hey!  It was getting late!

The Duct Tape decor was genius!  Not only did it help me get cute pages, it helped to strengthen the pages.

 Eventually, we were able to stand it upright.  My friend John started a giant easel and my sweet husband finished it for me.

 We practiced turning the pages...

And it worked!!!  I am so blessed with great friends and family that helped me on this set.  I won't get to see it all put together with the kids using it.  Hopefully, my friend Robert will take a picture for me.  Meanwhile, one more set out the door this year.

Week at the Boyack's - Week 49

 Today is Mother's Day.  When I was a kid, I'd make my mom breakfast and serve it up special on some kind of tray in her bed.  I'd try a little harder on chores and try to make the day a more pleasant day for a tired mom of 7 kids.  Today I didn't make my mom breakfast in bed.  but I hope my dad did.  Today I didn't get breakfast in bed.  In fact, I woke up and couldn't find anyone.  I walked out of my room and this is what I found... all the furniture moved around... stuff everywhere... a dirty kitchen... and my project near done on the family room floor.

This morning wasn't breakfast in bed, nor showers of gifts.  In fact, with no one in sight I served myself a bowl of cold cereal.  LOL.

But my messy house, my project in the family room, the mess in the yard... and the chickens moved to the yard so we can finally air out the garage are all reminders of my choice to be a mom and that today is a good day. (I do have to add that after church John came home and cleaned the kitchen for me).  It is a good day because I made it through a few hours of church... better than last week.  Dinner smell very good.  It is peaceful in my house today.

 I miss McKay.  I miss her help and hard work around the house.  I miss that she likes to work with me in the garden.  This year my garden suffered.  It got warm fast and the weeds took of like a bat out of hell.  With surgery three weeks ago, I haven't been able to get out and wage war on all the grass, and thorns growing in my veggie garden and throughout my flower beds.  Poor John hasn't been able to make a dent either because all extra time has gone to Chad's Eagle Project and Lillian's softball games.  Anyway, we were trying, but not making progress.

 But McKay had a plan.  She enlisted the help of Hannah and John and Sister Christy to make the veggie garden a reality.  I must admit, I've never cried at a gift... but I did this time.  McKay knew what I needed and too care of business.  She tried to get her siblings involved.  She got her dad to get the beds ready... and on Tuesday she got the YW over to my house to plant my veggies.  It was amazing.  Of course, everyone didn't work equally, but I don't care.  The garden is planted.

John spent the rest of the evenings in the week, and some time on Saturday  getting the hoses in and planting what didn't get in on Tuesday night. We just have a few seeds left to go, but at this point we will be able to enjoy tomatoes, various squashes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, beans, peas, raspberries, and stuff. Hopefully, John can help me get in some spinach, carrots, lettuce, beets, and broccoli.  We didn't get weed barrier in, so we will have to weed more.  Still... I am not garden-less.  Thanks McKay, John and Hannah.... and all the YW that helped.

 Now I am just hoping my flower beds survive until I can get out there and get the weeds choking out my beautiful flowers.  My mom started but there is so much more to go.  John says that now that the veggies are in he will move to the front yard.  sure love spring.

 The next great gift I received today was the gift of service from Hannah and my friend Shar, and today John.  Before surgery I started a set project for my friend Robert.  However, I wasn't able to get my hands on materials until the afternoon before surgery.  Three weeks later, I still can't lift stuff and I can't get down on the ground... so Hannah and Shar saved my butt and finished my GIANT 8x8 foot book for Roberts set.

 For the last three Saturdays they have dedicated hours to prepping, painting and detailing the pages of this monstrosity.  Yesterday was the longest.  We all started around 9... I had to leave to a meeting around 12:30... Shar stayed until 2... When I got back from my meeting at 5, Hannah was still working.  I did what I could to help (not much) and Hannah kept going.  At midnight we finished the last page.

I used wall stickers for decorations. I also used colored duct tape.  It was brilliant!  Not only did it look cool, it helped hold the whole thing together.  This book is heavy and the cardboard wasn't going to hold up without extra help.

 Hannah knew I needed to get this done because Robert's show is this week.  She gave up going to see the choir compete at State to help me.  She even made herself sick, not eating and drinking enough throughout the day.

 She even broke out the blow dryer to make it all dry faster so she could turn the page to paint it.  We started on the deck in the morning.  However, she had to move the furniture around in the afternoon to move the whole thing indoors.  It was so hot that the paint started to peal off the pages and the tape holding the thing together started to lift.

It finally cooled around 8 and we were able to move back to the deck... until midnight when we were tired and wanted it to dry... without the dew damaging it all.  Then this afternoon, John finished the giant easel that hold it up.  Later tonight he will help me deliver it.  And I will be able to let this project go and feel good that I made... with a little help from my friends... and amazing daughter!

Kimber and Ray and Ben stopped by.  They spent the day at the Jessops.  At least I got to kiss the cute little face of this little Super Hero.

He is always good for a giggle... even though he has developed an opinion... learned to scream at a high pitch and smack people to display his dis-satisfaction... and gets mad if anyone else touches or hugs his mom.

 In other news.  Lilli played another game on Saturday.  Sadly, this game they lost.

 She should have played a second game, but she left to take dance pictures.  Next week is the dance recital.  I guess next week won't be a boring week.

 Chad's choir went to sing at State.  I heard recordings.  I think they did a great job.  They did rank 4th.  They were sad.  They shouldn't be. They made a great effort.  This will be his last thing as a high school student.  Tomorrow he starts class at Chemeketa Community College. He will be getting his GED and then beginning a program to earn his diploma and an Associates Degree together.

but the biggest news of the week is that I'M FREE!  I no longer have to be the Chief Taxi Driver.  Chad passed the driving test and I can now ask him to go to the store or go get his sister or take his own self to any destination.  Ok... so it will be a little expensive, but it just may be worth the added cost.

So, this Mother's Day wasn't a typical Mother's Day by any stretch of the imagination.  Today, my friend Fred posted on Facebook, "Ask not what your mother can do for you but what you can do to remind her that starting tomorrow it's back to normal."  Nothing like a healthy does of perspective.  Lol.  But I must say, this Mother's Day has been nice... a peaceful home... veggies growing in the garden... chickens in the yard and not in the house... a cute little grandson... a project out the door... a new taxi driver...  in all, a great day.

Until next week...