I Love the Mountains: Messy Middles--Walking Past the Dark and Dreary

Val's note: A few days ago I woke up with an idea about a walking club. Here is a little background. In the last 5 weeks we have had one heart attack, one stroke, and one angioplasty in our little branch of fifty plus families we visit and love.

So, based on the idea that came to me, we are starting a walking club and inviting everyone to join.

Because of the distances between there people, we will not get together every week, much less than every day, just occasionally. I had to share the example of my Uncle Glenn Starkey, who after his first heart attack, started to walk with his wife and after about 15 years, his doctor said he was a wonderful example of what walking can do for you. My encouragement: think about the old adage: " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Join us!

(Two hours a week --10 minutes AM & PM

or just 20 minutes a daycan add zest and length to life!)

Get your hat on! Morning beckons.

18th birthday celebration for our "Amazingly Graceful" student Saturday

We're saying, "It's worth a shot in the dark! Try walking...blessings await!"

Laurene's note:

My youngest brother shared a story he heard at a Paris summer house family reunion this July from our mother. During young single adult years, Shirley graduated from junior college, hoping to finish at another university, first in her family to attend college.

Her father and his wife attended her graduation, but in a misunderstanding did not speak to her then or learn what her new address would be in her new city. A kind friend offered a small amount of money for her rent, and Shirley moved. Alone. About this time, the parents to her fiancé heard of her move, and scoured the town until they discovered a comfortless, forsaken young woman who had just decided that prayer was valueless, vowing not to waste her soul cries.

Pearl is third from left, Ivin fifth from left. This photos is taken a couple of years following the story.

When her fiancé's parents, Ivin and Pearl, showed up on her doorstep, they listened. I have read encouraging notes from Pearl to Shirley as Glendon (then counselor to a mission president, touring a mission of three states and presiding over scores of young missionaries) had sworn off writing letters. This time, however, it was Ivin who engaged the failing faith of a future daughter-in-law to secure a firm promise, that no matter what--she would pray. Every day.

Kristen and Zach in their goal setting remind me of a “messy middle." (What happens after you boldly embark on a dream, work hard, experience progress, but problems arise and less success comes than hoped?) Kristen's post encourages review of routines.

A further post spoke of adding Miracle-grow to our of faith through memories, pondering and speaking our thanks. So, cheers to Grandma and Grandpa Gee for a true rescue. I owe my life to them! We hope to model their dogged diligence--encouraging children, nietos (grandchildren) and friends “when life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to PRAY!”

Here in our Crows Landing turf, a young adult Daniel, shared Saturday his unrelenting rigorous drive to Sacramento, working through the night, college til noon, and racing home to start over a (not uncommon) four-hour commute. When he calls his nursing student sister he ends: “I love you. Goodnight. Pray.”

Brianna, granddaughter to our friend Sofia, perches her prayer doll atop her keyboard to watch her fingers work.

This is not the doll, but hooray for personal "mascots"
(Spanish translation for pet)

Our grandchildren have used flip charts in the morning to help them remember important tasks, including practicing.

I enjoy Brad Wilcox’s idea that the way to compensate Heavenly Friends is the same—practice! Not every note will sound great. In fact, some sound pretty jarring. No matter. Hands apart, then hands together, we learn notes, then scales, chords and arpeggios to ultimately experience orchestral overtones.

Kellie, along with adult education classes, devotes exemplary time in scaling our blue accompaniment book—wanting to finish THIS MONTH (mark, get set, go! while her family is in their current house) competently, confidently played primo in a duet of "Jesus Once of Humble Birth" and "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" for prelude at Relief Society and Sacrament meetings Sunday.

This Thursday, Elder Scott Whiting visited Fresno, but alas! The page is full. So, more later…

In short, what he taught—it is through “grace” or Christ's enabling power

that allows a walk (with our feet shod with the gospel of the preparation of peace) from where we are presently camped to who we want to become!

Yes, we shouted for joy...

But some days are barren, and we wonder...

as we await fruits to our labor...

The lilies of our fields sometimes hold tight before they bloom

But great artistic creation involves ebbs and flows, highs and lows

And it is without compulsory means--putting forth daily, doing our best, that allows our confidence to return, to "wax strong" to flow out and in a permanent way, with faith to light like our winged friend Cindy....