CLEANING CLEAN

In the stress and busyness of last week I failed to post the one serene event that made me pause mid-week.  Wednesday December 23, 9:45pm (yes that's almost my bedtime) I reported to the St. George Temple to ENJOY 2 hours of cleaning clean.  This is also the day to celebrate the life of Joseph Smith.  As Hamilton continually reminded me, it was his 204th birthday.  Happy Birthday Joseph.

I arrived at the temple in regular temple going clothes and was immediately given white scrubs to change into.  After changing we met in the chapel for a prayer and thought before going on to our assignment.  I was assigned to the baptistry.  It was quiet and peaceful and there were times I would visualize the fact that I was cleaning the House of the Lord.  Incredible, to say the least.

This will be a peaceful experience and cherished memory.  Then Christmas happened 2 days later.   

INVICTUS

Tonight we saw this movie.  The story of Nelson Mandela and his support of the South African rugby team.  In 1995 they had the heart to win the World Cup against the New Zealand All Blacks.  The title of the movie comes from the poem Invictus.  Nelson Mandela had the poem written on a scrap of paper.  The poem was his motivation to survive during twenty seven years of prison.  This movie is filled with inspiration!

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus is a short poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley.  It was written in 1875 and first published in 1888.  At the age of 12, Henley became a victim of tuberculosis of the bone. In spite of this, in 1867 he successfully passed the Oxford local examination as a senior student. His diseased foot had to be amputated directly below the knee; physicians had announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate. Henley persevered and survived with one foot intact. He was discharged in 1875 and was able to lead an active life for nearly 30 years despite his disability. With an artificial foot he lived until the age of 53. The poem was written from a hospital bed.

SMELLS LIKE CHRISTMAS

Coconut bread at Christmas time.  It's tradition.  The first 10 loaves are in the oven.  The boys ask why I only make it to give away.  They just don't remember that they get more than their fair share.  Tomorrow I will make a few loaves of Pizza Bread.  Also a Christmas tradition.  I'm not sure why.  I guess I just don't remember to make it the rest of the year.

It's a busy time of year but I am taking time to realize the lights.  I am enjoying them more this year than in years past.  I think it is because Isaac said that in Germany they do not decorate with lights the way we do in the US.

I love the simplest of light displays.  In our front yard there are 2 palm trees glowing, pillars lined with lights of blue and a thin strand of white runs along the outline of the roof.  So simple and such a reminder of the colors of the beach.

The beach...now there's a place I would like to be. Any tropical island will do.  Just someplace where I can feel embraced by the warmth of the sun.

My week in review - Work, work, work.  Service project on Thursday.  I joined a few members of the rotary club as we assisted in wrapping thousands of presents for needy children in the community.  It's the first year I have experienced this well oiled machine that has been running for more than 20 years.  It's a giant Santa's workshop and there are hundreds of community volunteers.  I think this year more than 2,100 children will receive Christmas gifts where otherwise there would've been none.  This is something delightful.

Also on Thursday, Sunshiner Christmas party...funner than I thought it was going to be.

Then on Friday, Hamilton's birthday.  It is such a joy to fall back into the memories of the year of his birth.  Such a quiet and peaceful Christmas that year.  And a relief to feel that my family was complete.

Ra travels tomorrow for a 3 day business trip.  Back on Wednesday afternoon.  Just in time to clean the temple.  

We are joining members of our ward in cleaning the temple from 9:45 to midnight on Wednesday.  This day happens to be December 23, the day to celebrate the birth of Joseph Smith.  Kind of cool to be cleaning in the temple in the quiet of that evening.         

FREEDOM THROUGH DISCIPLINE

A quote from the book I am reading - Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot

"As I sit here in the window of this cottage I can see a sailboat skimming silently along the horizon.  It is a beautiful image of freedom.  But the freedom of the sailboat to move so swiftly and beautifully is the result of obedience to laws.  The builder of the boat had to know the proper ratio of beam to keel and mast.  The one who sails the boat obeys the rules of sailing.  A ship tacking against the wind moves deviously, but when she runs with a strong tide or a following wind she takes to herself the power of tide and wind and they become her own.  She is doing the thing she was made for.  She is free not by disobeying the rules but by obeying them."

And scripture to agree with Elisabeth Elliot - Doctrine and Covenants 98:8

"I the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free."

A MOMENT WITH ASA

There are few precious conversations that have existed with my young teen children.  Not because we do not talk but more because the topic of conversation is not always filled with insight to their souls.

Asa has short hair but has kept a section of his hair long just to see how long he can really get it.  This section sits just behind his left ear.  Every once and while I have to spend a few moments taking that long section and braiding three small braids.  Just this past week we took the time and as we did he opened his heart to me.

Asa - "I can't imagine being dead because right now my life is really good."

Me - "What's good about your life?"

Asa - "My family, the church, soccer, school, riding my bike, friends, being free to do what I want.  I don't really like school but I know it's important to learn.  Sometimes church is boring but I know it's good for me and the things I learn from it make me feel peaceful.  I'm just really happy and dieing right now would suck."

The next day I was on a bus with Leadership Dixie traveling to Colorado City.  Colorado City sits on the Utah/Arizona border.  It's a place where people practice polygamy.  There are two groups there; the extreme FLDS and the more calm FLDS known as the Centennial Park.  There are a group of boys called The Lost Boys who are known as outcasts from the extreme FLDS.  While traveling on the bus we listened to Caleb, a lost boy, describe his experience of living in Colorado City.

Caleb left when he was fourteen.  He made the decision to leave and told his father.  His father got angry, packed up his stuff, put it and Caleb outside the front door and told his son to find his own way out of town.  Caleb called his older brother, who had already made it out and came to pick him up.  One of Caleb's reasons for leaving was that he was pulled out of school at the end of 7th grade and made to work construction in Mesquite.  They woke up every morning at 4:30, made the 2 hour journey to Mesquite, worked until dark, then drove back.  Every day for 2 years and when he got a paycheck he only saw the pay stub.  His father took his money.  After leaving Colorado City or tried to go back to school but couldn't figure out how to function in the 'real world'.  After years of trying he received his GED and is now attending Dixie State College.  Caleb says there are more than 1,000 boys who have left and he know of at least 80 who are here in St. George.  Caleb's family consisted of 2 wives, 33 children - 11 brothers, 22 sisters.  Eight boys and 3 girls have escaped from the abuse that existed in his home.

As we were drove listening to Caleb point out the landmarks of Colorado City my soul was saddened.  It was clear to me that darkness exists in this place and that my Father in Heaven is sad at the state of these lost souls.  Then I remembered the words of Asa just the night before.

There is joy in knowing that my children find peace in the life that exists for them.   

HEATLESS

Seriously!  No heat in my house!  At 7:07pm it is 30 degrees outside and 60 degrees in my house.  What will it be at 2:00am?  No doubt my electric blanket will be dialed up to HIGH tonight and I will be dreaming of the tropics.  It better be fixed tomorrow or I'm going to the Marriot.

MY SAGGY DOG IS SICK

A few months ago Rakai felt the need to rescue an english bull dog puppy from a bad situation.  As the mother and keeper of this house I STRONGLY disagreed.  But he brought him home anyway.  I reminded him that he would soon be leaving and I would inherit the care of this dog.

Remember when you were young and you had to rescue every stray animal you saw even if they weren't a stray.  I do.  One time I hid a kitten in my bedroom for 3 days before my parents figured it out.  I guess I cannot be too upset at Rakai for rescueing Leopold and at the fact that today I am taking care of a very sick dog.

Last night he ate my shoe.  BAD dog!  We forgot to lock him up when we left the house.  He went into my closet, retrieved an espadrille and ate it to shreds.  All night long and all day long he has been throwing up pieces of espadrille string.  It's his karma for being bad.  What goes around comes around, even if you are a dog.

I'm feeling a little like the mother of a sick child - cleaning up  vomit washing sheets and blankets.  Leo is now on an 8 hour diet of ice cubes.  Then, from the info I got off the internet, he can eat rice and boiled chicken.  Now I have to admit, Leo is a substitute child while I am missing Rakai and Isaac.  I really don't mind being his mom.

SIPPIN' TEA

A visit to Dixie Nutrition today.  It's St. George's version of Whole Foods...but we really need a Whole Foods.  Strolling the isle I found a new kind of tea.  Ginger-Peppermint.  MMMM sounded so yummy.  When I got home from work I kicked off my shoes, changed into my jammies and brewed a cup of tea.

Oh my.  Have you ever been to the Oasis Cafe in Salt Lake.  They have amazing tea.  This tea almost matches it.  I am so comforted.

Now I have to make dinner.