I Love the Mountains: "This is thy gift--apply unto it"

Following a prophet who likes to "begin with the end in mind," our daily duty includes preaching to every creature

and pointing towards the temple.

A recent piano lesson rippled from a zone conference, where we were asked about our gifts and to think about ways to "apply" such gifts. (So, what if we practice?)

Application came when Laurene was invited to accompany

"I Wonder When He Comes Again"

Some of us yearn to hear: "You've served me well my little child" but have trouble reaching the notes. This is some music transcribed for that reason, on the fly, for a fireside where our area authority seventy told of tearing his Achilles tendon as a mission president in Peru, limping along with help, then lauding purposes of self-reliance seminars currently being rolled out here--(miracles follow faith and focus.)

Laurene attended a course of this type just before piling everything we could tuck into our Corolla to head for California. Personal experiences gathered from the class include hearing a family therapist talk about an unexpected surgery: Choking on a $40,000 hospital bill, she approached her ecclesiastical leader. "Pay your tithing," he counseled. She tithed. When she called the billing receptionist to begin the process of paying down her bill for the operation, the receptionist answered, "You owe nothing." The doctor had written off the charge. The woman told us that since that day, she has determined she can not afford NOT to pay tithing.

Our Crows Landing branch president told this month of a time when his choice was to pay bills or pay his tithing. "I am not comfortable to let my tithing slide." He wrote the check, and did not look back. As days of almond harvest approached, his processing plant had more orders than they could handle. As he began to turn orders away, he watched a truck drive away and thought of the biblical verse and promise:

8 ¶ ^aWill a man ^brob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In ^ctithes and offerings. 9 Ye are ^acursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the ^atithes into the storehouse...and ^cprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not ^dopen you the ^ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a ^fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi continues: 11 And I will ^arebuke the ^bdevourer for

your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your

ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time

in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. 12 And all nations shall

call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith

the Lord of hosts.

A Kaysville neighbor defines "devourer rebuked" as having his lawn mower run for twenty years and driving a car since college.

Our windows of heaven opened this month as we changed cell phone carriers. Believing it necessary to purchase an expensive new phone, we lacked wisdom and asked for help. Combing through "wire cutter comparisons," we found our preferred phone that we previously heard was incompatible) actually connects with chosen carrier.

(Read fine print!)

After watching our customer service helper juggle, and try, try, and try again--Voila! Two phones for the price of none. Both now work--phone cost, zero.

Rushing to make a meeting in that city, my keys got misplaced. Here are keys with character found outside friend Antonio's door. With keys (and connections) restored, we are grateful to make to stretch pennies and honor limits.

From Dad--
Speaking of vines and maturing harvest,

we enjoyed the fruits of our labors in teaching piano

with a talent show with 20 or so participants including 2 skits, a poem, and the rest piano including Val (We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet) and Laurene (Clemente, Sonatina in G.)

We had a little bit of rain which reminds us that a lot of roads have signs on them "Caution: This Area Can Flood." I enjoy doing thumbs up thumbs down or math with all of the young children.

(One of us is studying about "entering into his rest." The other simply does it!)

A flower of October has come in five wonderful conference sessions...still gathering fragrance and color.

with or without socks

(Our translating amigo came, feet shod to offer satellite connections to friends without internet--some at our church, other with friends at a comfortable home.)

Another amiga attended who is learning with us about preparing for temple blessings.

One afternoon she shared pictures of her past

and memories of aunts and cousins crying "¡Elidia, Elidia! every time she approached their ranch south of the border.

My father's brother periodically shares stories about my grandparents. Reading Great Grandpa William E's walking one to 37 miles daily recorded in a leather day book on a mission to Colorado in 1898 , we appreciate more a roof over our heads, a recovering middle toe ("I shall break them, with a rod of iron"--translate, look before you leap!)

and a loaner car (see below.)

Final miracle of the absent minded professor: (Dad)