Seniors and Roses

Why "SENIORS and ROSES", you ask??    Here's the explanation:  All of these roses are from this Season's first blooms - and all from various grades of rose bushes that have finally reached maturity in their growth.  In previous years, the colors and shapes have been beautiful, but never before have our rose bushes produced such gigantic blooms! It's as if the ROSE bushes have endured their childhood and teenage years (ie, years of cold, snowy, frozen, and icy winters mixed in with years of draught and extreme heat), and then coasted through their adult years ( years of changing seasons and irregular temperature and humidity conditions) to arrive at this year, 2010: the year which defines their Seniority and Senior Status in the garden.  And as SENIORS, don't you agree that these ROSE bushes have produced some of the most beautiful blooms that you have ever seen?  As SENIORS, these ROSES show how they've learned their lessons well to pursue excellence in their blooming.

In ECCLESIASTES chapter 3 verse 11, we find that that the footnotes help us to read this verse as follows:   

"11 He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also He hath set the eternal in their heart without which man cannot find out the work that God hath done."

Having a childlike attitude can help us to be more willing to submit to all that proving ourselves here on earth requires; but, having a mature attitude swells the eternal things of God within our heart, and opens our perspective to look for the Divine and the Beautiful in all of God's Handiwork.

Indeed, we are blessed that God has given us Beauty in our Seasons of Life!

 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

(ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8)

Years ago, Great Papa survived a severe bout with pancreatitis that should have taken his life.  We know that he was blessed through Priesthood blessings for the surgeons to perform experimental (last ditch effort) surgery which bought him some time to allow some healing to take place in his damaged pancreas.  His recovery took several months in the hospital and was labeled a miracle by all his medical support team!  A few of the Doctors made a thorough investigation into his background and lifestyle, to determine if there was something there that contributed to him being able to survive his critical pancreatitis attack that tried to shut down his body.  After, learning that he had never smoked, never drank, or lived in anyway that was destructive to his body - (because of his faithful adherence to the Word of Wisdom) - they pressed to find some other factor that contributed to his survival.  At last, the doctors concluded that Great Papa's life-long daily habit of drinking Chocolate Ovaltine had fortified his body and given his body that "little extra-edge" of health to have endured all of the trials associated with the pancreatitis.

Here's Great Papa (and Great) preparing their Chocolate Ovaltine in "to go" bottles for a breakfast excursion to McDonald's.  Tables are a premium there, because of the many other Seniors who are also venturing out for a morning breakfast outing!

The Ovaltine is ready to go and stays cold in the cooler so it's ready to drink.  There's something to be said about the simple joys of life, about appreciating the little things, and finding the good, therein.

 

There's something to be said about finding joy in a beautiful rose.

 

There's something to be said about being in awe of God's handiwork.

Our INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY FOCUS is by Sister Kathleen H Hughes, in commenting on "
Lessons from the Old Testament: Coming of Age": 

 "It requires spiritual sensitivity and maturity to look outside oneself ...—it is a conscious and courageous decision [we] make each week to serve and bless others’ lives.   It’s rare for a person to be in as dangerous or dramatic a situation as Esther’s, but each of us daily has the privilege of influencing someone, of deciding to show our Heavenly Father that we understand and are grateful for His plan for us and that we accept and are committed to live by the covenants we have made with Him. Like Esther, who was asked by Mordecai, “Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” we have come to the kingdom for this time, and we need faith, testimony, and courage to live up to the promises made to us by the Father. "

Five Perfect Loaves and Brownies Instead of Fishes

Unlike his forefathers before him, Great Papa has chosen a different hobby at 77 yrs old:  BAKING!  Now, mind you, he doesn't just do any old baking from any old recipe.  First, he studies on-line (yes, he's very computer and Internet savy!) and even orders Books so that he'll make a perfect product.

His newly found instructions told him that he needed to weigh his bread dough and surprise! A new digital postal scale is delivered at the front door. Just what was required to weigh those loaves!

Here's a photo of his perfectly weighed and measured bread dough as it's rising:

Just so you know that he's serious, he dons his farmer overalls so that he has access to all of his possible required gadgets and tools.  The next photo shows him hand-washing his whole-wheat grinder and Bosch Bread Dough mixer while his bread is baking:

He wants you to know that he still has perfect vision - except for the close-up things due to the age of his eyes: hence, the All-A-Dollar magnifying glasses so that he can see any missed spots.

Here's Great Papa basting his 5 Perfect Loaves!

OOOOPS! He can't get the bread out!

Aaaaaaah!!!! Perfection!  5 Perfect Loaves AND the Chocolate Chip Brownies that he baked yesterday:

And if you were here, he'd give you some fresh home-made warm Bread and a Chocolate Chip Brownie on the side:

(Great preferred that I not take any pictures of her as she had just washed her hair and it wasn't curled yet.)

Today's baking experience kind of reminds us of the 5 Loaves and 2 Fishes, reminding us that it is ONLY the Bread of Life that can fill us and warm our hearts!

Our INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY focus is from Pres. James E. Faust, 'Five Loaves and Two Fishes': "Some months ago, as Elder Spencer J. Condie and I were in the Salt Lake airport, we unexpectedly met a devoted and faithful couple who have been friends for long years. This couple has spent a lifetime of service, meekly, faithfully, and effectively trying to build up the Church in many places in the world. Elder Condie noted, “Isn’t it remarkable what people with five loaves and two fishes do to build up the kingdom of God.” This kind of quiet, devoted service to me is surely a fulfillment of the word of God “that the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers” (D&C 1:23). Today I would like to speak of those of us who have only talents equal to five loaves and two fishes to offer the Savior to help feed the multitudes.

In our time, we seem to have forgotten the miracle of the five loaves and the two fishes in favor of the miracles wrought by the mind and hand of men....With this great knowledge has come also some skepticism about the simple and profound eternal truths taught in the miracle of the loaves and of the fishes—namely, that God rules in the heavens and the earth through his infinite intelligence and goodness.

We are also to understand and remember that we too, like the lad in the New Testament account, are the spirit children of our Heavenly Father, that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior, and the Redeemer of the world. We believe that in the centuries following the establishment of his kingdom upon the earth, the doctrines and the ordinances were changed, resulting in a falling away and the loss of the keys of priesthood authority from the earth. A miracle even greater than that of the loaves and the fishes was the vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who saw the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove near Palmyra, New York. Subsequently the keys, the priesthood, and the saving ordinances were restored in their fulness, and Christ’s church was reestablished in our time. Thus God has again “fed” us and filled our “baskets” to overflowing.

It has been said that this church does not necessarily attract great people but more often makes ordinary people great. Many nameless people with gifts equal only to five loaves and two small fishes magnify their callings and serve without attention or recognition, feeding literally thousands.

....What is the central characteristic of those having only five loaves and two fishes? What makes it possible, under the Master’s touch, for them to serve, lift, and bless so that they touch for good the lives of hundreds, even thousands? After a lifetime of dealing in the affairs of men and women, I believe it is the ability to overcome personal ego and pride—both are enemies to the full enjoyment of the Spirit of God and walking humbly before him.....

What of those who have talents equal only to two loaves and one fish? They do much of the hard, menial, unchallenging, poorly compensated work of the world. Life may not have been quite fair to them. They struggle to have enough to hold body and soul together. But they are not forgotten. If their talents are used to build the kingdom of God and serve others, they will fully enjoy the promises of the Savior. The great promise of the Savior is that they “shall receive [their] reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23). The one who had only two talents was able to say, “Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.” Thus said the Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter … into the joy of thy lord” (Matt. 25:22–23)."


Oh, how we need today's focus! The snow is really here and the lake is frozen!

Kind of looks like when hell freezes over!  Cold and Winter are NOT good things at the Bevan Resort! It's a good thing we have Warm Bread and Chocolate to comfort us with heavenly thoughts!

Drinking from Heaven's Cup

My Cup Overflows With More Than Chocolate!

I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now.


But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow

And as I go along life's way,

I'm reaping better than I sowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.



Haven't got a lot of riches,

and sometimes the going's tough

But I've got loving ones all around me,

and that makes me rich enough.

I thank GOD for his Blessings, and the Mercies HE's bestowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong, My faith wore somewhat thin.

But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again.

 
So LORD, help me not to gripe, about

the tough rows I have hoed.

I'm drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If GOD gives me strength and courage,

When the way grows steep and rough.

I'll not ask for other blessings,

I'm already Blessed enough.



And may I never be too busy,

to help others bear their loads..

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

When I think of how many people in this world have it worse than I do, I realize just how BLESSED WE really are.

Our INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY focus for today comes from the Easter talk by Elder David B. Haight on 'Remembering the Savior's Atonement':  "My thoughts of late have been on our Savior, His atonement, and the effectiveness of our sacrament meetings. When we contemplate the most sacred meetings in the Church, sacrament meeting is one of the most important."

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Becoming a Fan of the Living Prophet on Facebook

This is truly one of those Moments of Timeless Pleasure! - No, not a Ghirardelli Chocolate Moment. Rather, something better, something profound, and somthing with meaning. This Moment came about because we were able to click on the Fan Button in Facebook for our Living Prophet and the Lord's Apostles. It felt so rewarding and we truly felt blessed to have that opportunity! Such a simple thing has wrapped our hearts with immense emotion - making it a Memorable Timeless Moment of  Joy!  

Our INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY focus for today is by Pres. James E. Faust in a First Presidency Message on 'Continuing Revelation':  "Each of the 92 Apostles called since then has been sustained as a prophet, seer, and revelator. If we do not sustain the living prophet, whoever he may be, we die spiritually."

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