Gracious Receiver – Sentinel2Sentinel

Paint and Clay: When it’s time to play!

My friends in Florida own Ceramics Fanatics & Addicted Artists. When they first opened up I painted a simple square ceramic plate using a photograph from NASA to paint a black hole on it. It turned out okay but I knew I could do better so I went back and chose, for some odd reason, to experiment again on a butter dish. It turned out much better.

Now I live in Montgomery, Alabama. I had seen a little ceramic shop a few streets over from where I CrossFit when Lo and Behold! The shop moved into the little shopping plaza right next to the Box. The family who owns the business is absolutely delightful. They are totally customer service oriented, very friendly and extremely knowledgeable.

Finally, I had the opportunity to go make a little something for someone for Christmas. Hope it turns out the way I want it to, that I have the paint just right and the firing goes well because this plate has a #LightTheWorld story behind it.

Literally. It is on the backside of the plate. (tee-hee)

**PAINT AND CLAY**: Paint Your Own Pottery and Canvas Studio

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#LightTheWorld: Giving and Receiving

Screen Shot 2017-12-17 at 10.41.17 PM — #LightTheWorld

Right before we, the Honey-do and I, left to go visit some elderly single sisters from Church, we got a most wonderful telephone call from our friend Jim, who lives in another state. It has been ages since last speaking with him. He was returning my voicemail message from a couple of weeks ago.

We got to talk about his late wife, Helen, and all of the changes he has been through in this past year. Amazing things are still happening in his life even though he has lived ten years, to this day, as a widower. And yet, what a joyful conversation we had filled with incredible memories.

It was in Ohio that we got to know Jim and Helen. We got to know them through our Church many years ago. They, being older and wiser, became great mentors and friends. We were so thankful when we had the opportunity give service back to them when they both had chemotherapy on the same week, Jim in Columbus and Helen closer to home.

The incredible joy that comes from thinking back as to how things were and to see how things have gone forward in life for Jim is overwhelming and wonderful. The Lord’s tender mercies are truly immeasurable.

Jim and Helen became family to us. Even though she has passed on we still feel connected to Jim, knowing that this life is the testing ground, that we will see our Helen again.

Although we do not connect often, we connect often enough to stay in each other’s lives in order to celebrate change, to grieve over losses, and to accept the things that never change.

It is all good.

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A remembrance: Little Carolers

Just saw a post on my Facebook page about a little gift I had given to my friend for her family. It made me smile because I had forgotten about doing that but what a little happy thought, a kindly gesture of gratitude to #LightTheWorld that I live in.

I have the exact same thing only I have not put out my Christmas decorations this year. Just have not gotten around to it.

Thanks my friend. You made my day.

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Reflections: The CSMP – part three

The children were absolutely amazing during the Sacrament service today. Most of them were early, in their seats on the stand, and ever so reverent. The little Sunbeams and CTR 4s were sitting in their seats, waiting with anticipation for their turn to walk up on the stand to be seated at the right moment.

It all went perfectly today. Oh, there were a couple of missteps, a few missing children, two shy ones with one of them managing to say his part while the other just wanted to sing, but honestly I thought the children were as perfect as perfect could be. Everything truly worked out perfectly.

This perfect little program happened because the leaders, the parents, and teachers all worked to make it so. It was their prayers, calling upon the Powers of Heaven to bless the children, that made the difference.

Now by the third hour of Church, in Primary after the presentation, well….. that is a different story, nonetheless, but the joy of that program today lingers as though a dream as I prepare to drift off to sleep feeling a spirit of hope, gratitude, and peace.

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Things that touch the heart

When I was in my late teens, perhaps barely twenty, I remember a gentleman giving a talk and mentioning how tears seem to fall a little easier when one grows older. He noted that it is not always about sadness, it is just that there are things in life that happen to touch the heart.

Psalms 8:3-6

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

What great love our Heavenly Father has for all of His children. How thankful I am for this day to have felt that love, to have seen that love extended in a variety of ways to several people, including myself.

Matthew 7:7-8

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

May I always have a heart filled with gratitude so I can see and appreciate the wonders of this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.

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