10 Favorite Things

Here are my current top 10 favorite things, in no particular order.

Singing hymns at church

Jane Eyre

Jane Austen

Goat cheese with anything; honey, salad, pizza

Cross-stitching and watching PBS

Christmas

Big kitchens (this one is a tad big, but doesn’t it look nice!)

Buying clothes at end of season clearances (everything under 10 dollars!)

Rainy days, provided they aren’t too chilly

Seeing family, but definitely not the trip getting there. I used to love the travel when I was a kid, now I’m the adult and the travel is not the best part anymore.

Farewell to a Prophet of God

It seems special to have my grandfather and the prophet pass so close to one another. I am deeply grateful for the influence of both men in my life. I'm sure Grandpa Bennion is greeting the prophet and I know President Hinckley is happy to be reunited with his wife.


I am saddened by President Hinckley's passing, but it is purely selfish in nature. I shall miss singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" to him at conference time. I loved him as the prophet and felt he loved me even though I never met him personally. I know the next time I sing that song I shall shed many tears.


I loved President Hinckley's humor. My favorite conference memory is Elder Nelson speaking exclusively about President Hinckley and giving him much deserved praise. President Hinckley was conducting the session and first challenged Elder Nelson to a duel in the basement of the Tabernacle and then later repented of his challenge.


I love how he used his cane to greet people and never considered it an impediment. He had a great love for Nauvoo and the Prophet Joseph and I was able to see him many times while growing up because of my proximity to that special place. His conviction that Joseph was a true prophet is stronger than any I have ever heard. I am grateful for his service to the church, to his example and words of wisdom, for his love of all mankind, and for the great love he had for his wife. The last time I heard him talk was at our stake conference on Sunday, January 13. He spoke about strong marriages and the sacred relationship between a man and woman. I am so glad he is again with his sweet wife.

The Perilous World We Live In

The world is a dangerous and frighteningly treacherous place. All around are socks snatched from dryers, snacks forgotten under couch cushions, toys flushed down the toilet. Stink Eye Girl and Nose Licking Boy run rampant with none to stand in their way.

Will no one stand up to the challenge of these formidable foes?

*Legend of Zelda Theme Music*

Here are the heroes that will save us! Link, the Hero of Time and Link, Hero of Winds! Sporting their stylish blue caps and brandishing fearsome swords they shall vanquish all foes that stand in their way.
Yes, that is a very round about way of displaying my most recent knitting project. My sister Eliza knit a Doby hat for my father and then converted the pattern into a Link hat for herself. My kids fell in love with the hat at Christmas time and I decided knitting would be good to learn. I actually made the blue cap with the plain Doby pattern because I had never read a knitting pattern before. Trying to add in Eliza’s alterations while being unfamiliar with the stitches and what they were doing would have been disastrous. Now that I’ve made one hat I can see the purpose and look of the stitches, and I may even adjust the Link hat pattern myself. Thanks for the pattern Eliza, and soon you will see Little Green Boy hat pictures and maybe even a fire temple hat.

Memories of Grandpa Bennion

Pristine calm as the first sunrays chased away early morning dew glistening on the cow pasture. Serene chirping of birds on the fences as a gentle breeze caresses leaves in the wood. Rustic pots thrown by Uncle Joe fill shelves in the kitchen. These are my memories of Grandpa and Grandma’s home. So peaceful and perfect, except for one thing. . .Grandpa.

Seeing the picture of Grandpa’s face when the nurse said no Thai food reminds me why I was scared of him as a young child. For years I would not hug Grandpa and I didn’t want to get kisses from him. We visited once a year, and the infrequency made the whole experience strange to me. I distinctly remember one year thinking to myself that it was silly not to want to hug Grandpa. I decided from that moment on I would not let it bother me anymore and to prove it I gave him a big hug when we said goodbye. I think I was around six or seven.

Once I overcame my childhood fears I loved the visits to Missouri at Easter or during the summer. I remember one summer in particular. It was 1996 and I was to be a junior in high school that fall. I was taking my first physics class. I had signed up for AP physics and was very nervous about being in a class with seniors who had already taken a physics course. I voiced my concerns to Grandpa and he proceeded to tell me about taking a course in college, geology I think it was, and most of the other class members had previous experience in the field, some had even taught high school classes on the subject. The class was quite intimidating. He told me that he worked hard and did much better in the class than many others because of it. He told me to not be afraid, but to do my best and I would do just fine in my class. I am so grateful for his words to me. They gave me courage, confidence, and a determination to work hard and vindicate his confidence in me. That summer also happened to be a year of summer Olympic games and my father, Grandpa, and I spent time watching the 3-meter springboard event, calculating the entry velocity of the divers. I shall never forget that time, though I do not remember who took home the gold. Grandpa took time to comfort and encourage me and it remains in my mind a sweet, treasured moment.

I am deeply saddened that I cannot attend the funeral to be with my family and celebrate Grandpa’s life and legacy. My heart, thoughts, and prayers will be with you along with those of my husband and children. Grandpa was a great Patriarch and High Priest to the Lord. He raised a wonderful family with marvelous posterity. I am so blessed to be a part of his lineage. I take great comfort in the words of a hymn we sang in church today for I know we shall see him again.

“The law was broken; Jesus died
That justice might be satisfied,
That man might not remain a slave
Of death, of hell, or of the grave,
But rise triumphant from the tomb,
And in eternal splendor bloom,
Freed from the pow’r of death and pain,
With Christ, the Lord, to rule and reign.”

Though gone from us for a season, Grandpa has indeed risen triumphant to be with family gone on ahead. He shall prepare a place for us when we meet him again. Oh, how joyous and sweet that day shall be.

New Year Resolution

My mother in law told me that Elder Wirthlin spoke about LDS members and blogs during the winter 2008 graduation ceremony at BYUH. He encouraged those present to become active in blogging on the internet and to use their blogs to share their testimonies of the gospel. This will be one of my serious, spiritual entries.

I love making New Year resolutions. I thrive on organized schedules and lists I can check off. I just finished reading the book Priesthood Blessings by Donald E. Goff. Yes it took me forever, but it was one of the most soul-searching experiences I have ever had. I highly recommend it. A quote in the book from Lorenzo Snow has motivated my New Year’s resolution for this year and for each year for the rest of my life.

“When our friends are stricken down by sickness and disease, or when our little ones are in the agonies of pain and death, there should be Elders in our midst who have educated themselves so thoroughly in developing the gifts of the Spirit within them, and in whom the Saints have such perfect confidence, that they would always be sought after. . .There are men among us who possess the gift of healing, and might have great faith; but they do not exercise the gift, they do not live for it, and, therefore, do not have the power to use it so effectively as they might. There are men in this Church who are as good in their hearts and feelings as men ever were, but lack faith and energy, and do not obtain really what is their privilege to receive. . .The gift of the Gospel must be cultivated by diligence and perseverance.”

In every ward I have ever lived there have been people I admire for their understanding of the gospel and charity, the fervor of their testimony, and willingness to serve the Lord. They have not always held a role of leadership in the ward, but through their example I am strengthened and sustained. They are pillars upon which I lean. I am comfortable in knowing that they are stronger and more knowledgeable than I. I am safe in their shadows knowing the work will continue because of them.

Lately, I have come to realize I am selling my birthright and perhaps hindering the work of the Lord through my complacency. I feel I am one of those members spoken of by President Snow. “There are [members of] this Church who are as good in their hearts and feelings as [people] ever were, but lack faith and energy, and do not obtain really what is their privilege to receive [i.e. the gifts of the Spirit].” I can develop the fervor of testimony and understanding I witness in others if I study the scriptures and words of the prophets diligently and prayerfully. I can develop the charity and willingness to serve the Lord that I see in others if I give myself to that pursuit might, mind, and soul.

I realize now that, though I am at times more confident in other people’s testimony and understanding, I can become as confident in myself because that is how God will see me if I seek Him always. I will be a better servant for Him here on earth. I will still be inspired by great members of the church, but rather than hide in their shadows I will boldly stand with them in furthering the kingdom of God.

Christmas 2007 in Iowa

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We spent the holiday in Iowa with my entire family. That was such a wonderful experience. The kids got to see snow again and they loved it. We did many fun things like sledding, building a snowman (actually a snow geezer since we put hair coming out his ears and nose), snowball fights, and baking Christmas cookies. I had to help Spencer out in the snowball fight against Aunt Emma. Spencer didn’t quite understand that you must pick up fistfuls of snow to coordinate a successful assault. Instead, he kept trying to pinch the snow between his fingers and thumb, most ineffective. For Christmas grandma gave the kids apron/smocks so they could help me in the kitchen. Now all I need is a bigger kitchen for them to help in. The kids tried out their new little smocks while making Christmas cookies with Grandma. Spencer’s favorite part was eating the candies, which was fine until he started eating the candies off the unbaked cookies. Emma told him not to do that and he took it quite personally. He’s such a sensitive little boy sometimes. We loved seeing all the family and look forward to sharing our life and pictures with you and our friends this coming year.

I've Been Tagged

A friend of mine tagged me on her blog so now I get to tag other people. In school I much preferred variations of tag like TV tag, freeze tag, or water balloon tag. Like those games, this blog tag is not your basic tag’em and they’re it game. Oh no. It's much more personal than that. Now you, poor tagged souls that you are, must bare 6 dark secrets about yourself for all to read. Well, maybe not secrets, and I suppose they don't need to be dark, but they most assuredly must be about you! Here are the rules.

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. Unwinding to me is sitting in front of the TV watching one of Jane Austin’s books brought to the silver screen while cross stitching. I think a part of me would love to live in that time period provided I was a ‘truly accomplished woman’ possessed of a large fortune.

2. My favorite animals are frogs. Right now my sister and I are collaborating on a baby afghan pattern with frogs and foliage. I dislike all the cross-stitch patterns for baby boy afghans being teddy bear or sporting motifs. I shall stand up for the rights of oppressed frogs everywhere. They deserve to be portrayed in stitching just as much as the furrier, cuddlier animals.

3. I live in California right now. Being so far away from any family, I have realized just how important they are to me. I enjoyed the freedom of college where I could spread my wings, but now I want my children to be near their extended family. “A child needs a grandparent to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world.” - Charles and Ann Moore

4. I have been amazed lately how much I am learning in my life about myself and God’s plan for me. I realize now that for a long while I was stuck on a plateau and never even knew it. One of the greatest things about life is that you are forever learning and will still only know the tiniest fraction about life and yet we each have the potential to comprehend it all one day.

5. I have an ultra sensitive belly button. I can’t stand having anyone or anything touch it. One of the most uncomfortable stages of pregnancy for me is when your belly is stretched so far that your belly button goes flat or, worse, protrudes. *shudder*

6. I like things organized. The dvds must be catalogued, categorized, and then alphabetized on the shelf. The dirty dishes in the sink cause me stress. The children’s toys cannot be thrown into any old drawer, but must be carefully sorted into proper bins. Folding clean laundry and putting it away is a highlight of my day. Rearranging rooms so that everything has an even more specific place and is in that place makes me happier.

And now the people I wish to tag: Kristi, Eliza, Mary Lois, Megan, Kristin, and Becky. I look forward to your tag lists.