The Dream of the Night

 I have been reading all 5 books of scriptures as my 2021 goal and most recently was reading how Moses took a rod from each of the 12 tribes with the name 'engraved' on each to determine who would be the priests...even tho the Lord had already decreed it...Aaron.  The 12 rods were taken to the tabernacle and the rod of Aaron's not only bloomed buds, but also blossomed and bore almonds.  All three stages of the rod at one time.  

Last year for Robert's birthday I bought him a log that was supposed to grow mushrooms in a year but so far I haven't seen a mushroom at all...but then again, I am not going to eat a mushroom.  After the dream I went out to check on the log...still nothing but here's the dream:

So last night after worrying all day about Marissa and that anathema person who has FINALLY filed divorce papers but wants custody of the kids, etc, etc., etc.  I finally slip into sleep.

And what do I get? ...a dream!  The setting initially was 3830 but at some point, it was Marissa's home.  I had decided to go check out the log. But instead of mushrooms, I found that the log had burst forth with buckeyes.  I brought the log into the house and as I was standing at the kitchen sink, separating the buckeyes from their sheaths, my mom passed by almost like an ethereal specter.  I stopped what I was during, turning away from the sink and she disappeared.  I called to Robert to come quickly.  We stood backs to the sink, staring into space and suddenly my mom appeared again, more solidly this time.  

I was SO happy to see her and suddenly Bonpapa was standing behind her. They both looked so good and so happy.  Both were wearing what I was used to seeing them wear.  Especially the blue outfit my mom had on, one that I have seen her wear in life.  I showed her the log and we looked at it and she drew closer to me at the sink as I continued to separate the nuts.  Mom didn't help but watched me with interest.

I asked her what she thought about the house today.  She looked around and showed me her approval when suddenly I realized we had appeared in Marissa's kitchen.  I asked if she knew about Marissa's situation and Mom spoke the first words.  "Oh yes, we know.  We have seen it. and it is awful that this has happened to our faithful girl."  I asked if she was there for Marissa from beyond the veil.  "Absolutely!  We are all there for her.   And we will be.  And she and the boys will be fine."  

There were tears on my face and joy in my heart and then she and Roger just walked off, or disappeared.  More like they just faded into nothingness.  

BUT I saw her.  I was with her.  I could nearly smell her.  It was such a comfort to me. And now I hope I can remember this dream for those moments when Anathema's words and acts cause me to have a knot in my stomach.  But I am so grateful that Marissa has had nothing but visits/feelings/sights from beyond the veil and have made her stronger.

She will be fine.  The boys will be fine.  A second testimony of this was given to me this morning and came from President Dallin H. Oaks' talk at October General Conference, Women's session:

In the midst of hardships, the divine assurance is always “be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours” (Doctrine and Covenants 78:18). How does this happen? How did it happen for the pioneers? How will it happen to women of God today? By our following prophetic guidance, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against [us],” the Lord said by revelation in April 1830. “Yea,” He said, “… the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 21:6). “Fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:34).

With the Lord’s promises, we “lift up [our] heart[s] and rejoice” (Doctrine and Covenants 25:13), and “with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:15), we go forward on the covenant path.

It's been a while since I was given a dream that calmed me and instructed me.  For this I am SO grateful.

Having shared this with Marissa, here's her reply:

Oh, mom. First off, I am so grateful that you were able to experience this gift. I know it is what your heart needed-you needed your mom and you needed to have your own encounter with her and bon papa. And secondly, I am grateful you shared it. It is a specific answer to maybe not prayers, because I'm not sure I officially prayed over it, but of my own inner ruminations. On one of my recent solo walks, I kept thinking about gunner and bonpapa, and kept wondering if they knew what was going on (although I definitely already know they know, it was more like a repeating mantra in my mind, or a repeating thought: to what degree did they know? How did bonpapa, who knew and loved hank, feel?, etc.). I found myself wondering what advice gunner would have for me, given all the hard things she went through in her life.

What a perfect reminder to me that as things start to ramp up and get serious, I have no reason to worry, or to feel powerless. My ancestors are here, as they have always been. My guardians are guarding. The power is mine. Come hell or high water, quite literally, I am fine because I have the foundation. If gunner says my boys and I are going to be ok, then doggone it, my boys and I will be ok. Are ok. 

Thanks for sharing!

Love ya.

PS. still doing just fine.

BOY IS SHE A STRONG ONE, MY RIGHTEOUS DAUGHTER!

Coy and Autumn

 When the Christensens came to celebrate my birthday, Coy had said he wanted to sew with Granny.  Luckily I had a lot of fleece from Teri Stencil that was already cut into strips.  I took Coy upstairs and with him, between my legs or on my lap we used the serger to sew the strips together.  We were not able to totally finish the quilt because his young years made it difficult for him to sit that long but he certainly accomplished most of the blanket.  All the seams weren't exact but for a 3 year old, certainly exact enough.  I completed the edges and then decided I would embroider COY BOONE on the center strip.  Coy will be able to trace the letters with his fingers and perhaps this will help him to see letters.

Also during this trip, Autumn brought me a bag filled with wonderful chocolate cookies. She's turned into quite the baker and chocolatier.  I asked her if she had a name yet and since she didn't we mulled over some names and ended with Better Boop Baker.  So before I sent off Coy's blanket, I decided Autumn needed an apron.  

 

It was great that when the box arrived, the kids were at home and by phone I could share in the moment.  What great kids.

Now I need to find special things to do for the rest.

Covid Church

 I love it when I can watch church meetings from home...because of this:

this is Dawn talking about being in 6th grade and getting her hair cut with a tail and how her mom (me) loves boxes of hair colors and how I bleached the tail so she went to school that way.

But it's easy to change the outward appearance but we need to change our natures from the inside.  Excellent talk!

Shop with....MARISSA?

 Marissa called this noon and asked if I was around to meet her at our new Hobby Lobby in Avon.  Marissa NEVER goes shopping and never has asked me to meet up with her.  SO..naturally,  I dropped everything and met her. Then I had to take a picture to prove we'd been there.

I had been working on a new bread recipe in my new Ankarscum mixer even tho it was a recipe that could be made by hand.  It is a recipe made with Sweetened Condensed Milk.  So I left Robert with specific instructions on what to do and how and when so he was able to try out the new kitchen machine as well.  I knew I wouldn't be gone long since truly Marissa is not a shopper. But it a fun 30 minutes.  

Now to see how this dough works.  Well, look how wonderfully the rolls turned out. Thanks Robert.

Mastermind the Game

 

Henry requested a MasterMind game which proved to be very inexpensive that he said he could buy it himself...Mr MoneyBags SnowRemover! But we decided to gift it to him.   It arrived and he was thrilled.

Henry roped Simon into playing and was surprised at what a worthy opponent he turned out to be. 

AND after school!

also, this was from a few days ago. Simon's just working on the science kit you gave him

HUGE snow storm

 The storm was 2000 miles wide and reached from Texas/Mexico clear to New England.  Texas has monumental snowfall and is without power and water.

I started a KAL with Nomadic Knits...this hat.  It can be done in 7 hours.  Previously I had KAL a green  cowl with River Colors in Rocky River.  I so enjoy knitting...it's so calming.

Trump Acquitted

 After his second Impeachment Trial, former President Trump was acquitted.  And that was ridiculous.  I knew it would end this way but I had hoped.  At least 6 Republicans voted to convict.  Now I just have to hope that the various states will file against Trump and somehow stop him from every running again.

It was very clear that Trump had ramped up these insane Proud Boys, militant Right, to have an insurrection and attack on the US Capitol building while the legislature was qualifying the election results on Jan. 6, 2021.  It was shameful and horrible.  One cop died, one had his eye gouged out, a couple had brain damage.  Afterwards 2 cops committed suicide.  4 of the rioters died but honesty those I don't care about.  It's all about choice and accountability.

Turning 72

 My birthday is on the 8th but Jocelyn and Steve brought all 6 kids Saturday and spent the night.  Plus Marissa had the boys this weekend, luckily, and so she and the boys came both days.  It was absolutely wonderful and loud and fun with lots of food.

Jocelyn bought me a cake, I made 2 cakes, Marcia Hassel came down with one and then Teri arrived with a cheesecake.  Yipes...I am so ready for something not sweet.  PLUS...cute adorable Coy asked to sew with Granny so sew we did.  He used the serger and made himself a blanket altho I needed to finish it after he left so I will be mailing it to him.

 

 

Guy and Marissa...Jocelyn brought the cloth banner!

Marcia Hassel with this mighty tall home made angel food cake with raspberries.

Me and my girls...masked for safety.  Luckily Robert and I both got our first Covid Vaccination shots on Feb 2 and will get the 2nd ones on March 2!

I think Coy is going to be a baker because he was sure interested in my Ankarsrum mixer.

Here's the funny story behind my new kitchen mixer.  I had mentioned to Robert that when and IF my old Bosch died, I was not going to replace it with another Bosch since word is that the Bosch quality is not the same. I had researched it and found this wonderful Ankarsrum Assistant from Sweden.  Thereafter, Robert bought me 2 used sewing machines...quilting and a serger...so altho he said he would get it for me for Christmas I told him "no", the sewing machines were plenty but then jokingly said, 'but my birthday is in February".  Time passes and I went to help Robert clean out his rolltop desk and noticed the catalog for the Ankarsrum.  I asked why he had it and he said, "Oh I was going to buy it for you for Christmas and forgot" .  I had to remind him that I already had the sewing machines. Mid January Robert hands me the catalog and says, "order this for your birthday. I'll push the ORDER button". He did.  It arrived but I made him keep it in the basement so I was not tempted.  A few days before this weekend, Robert was in the basement and realized my birthday was coming up and he hadn't bought me a gift.  Then he turned around and saw the big box and was relieved that he had bought something.  So cute..so endearing. so love this man of mine!

 

Steve was very much interested in how the machine parts worked and how they differ from the Bosch.  He seemed to approve.

Robert spoke at Stake Conference which was virtual but since he still wasn't able to drive, Steve offered to take him for me.  We watched from home and I snagged this screen shot and turned it into my watch face. .

Gift from Dawn.

gifts from Christensens

A zen board from Kennedys

From Marissa and the boys!

So it was a lovely weekend and the send off as everyone left was poppers and confetti gun.  Delightful.