Day 30 - Baptism for the Dead

These are the slips of paper I saved from two of the times I did baptisms for the dead in the Cardston  Temple. Two of the slips you see are from February 7, 1976. I was baptized 72 times on this occasion. The temple was a three hour drive from Calgary. The Young Women would leave at 3am so we could arrive there by 6:00 in the morning. We did this twice a year and always looked forward to it.

I remember dressing in white and then waiting in the room for the patrons to come and get us. One time while we waited there was a family there waiting with their children. They were being sealed. Two little girls and their parents all dressed in white. Someone came to get the parents and took them off to the sealing room to be sealed. The little girls soon followed to be sealed to their newly sealed parents. It was a beautiful thing.

There's a balcony on the left side of this picture. The balcony goes nowhere. There are no stairs to this balcony and there is no door leading onto it. One time I was with a girl who saw spirits standing on this balcony and as each one was baptized they would disappear from her sight. She had been baptized quite a few times and when they told her she was finished she said, "no there's still one more." They told her no but she insisted. She told them she could see people standing on the balcony and that each time she came up out of the water people were disappearing one by one. There was still one more. They searched through the papers and couldn't find anything. Then a man stood up to look around and as he did he moved his foot. There was one paper under his foot. He picked it up. They called the name and said the prayer. She went into the water and when she came out that person was gone.

I have very fond memories of my youthful trips to the Cardston temple.

Day 29 - Rest, Recreation, Time

Eight Pillars - James Allen - The second pillar is Economy.
And he says

          It is a true economy in this particular neither to devote the whole of one's time to work nor to recreation, but to apportion to each its time and place; and so fill out life with those changes which are necessary to a long life and a fruitful existence.
          All agreeable change is recreation, and the mental worker will gain both in the quality and quantity of his work by laying it down at the time appointed for restful and refreshing recreation; while the physical worker will improve in every way by turning to some form of study as a hobby or means of education.
          As we do not spend all our time in eating, or sleeping, or resting, neither should we spend it in exercise or pleasure, but should give recreation its proper place as a natural tonic in the economic scheme of our life.
          Rest is for recuperation after toil. Every self-respecting human being should do sufficient work every day to make his sleep restful and sweet, and his rising up fresh and bright.
          Enough sleep should be taken, but not too much. Over-indulgence on the one hand, or deprivation on the other, are both harmful. It is an easy matter to find out how much sleep one requires. By going to bed early, and getting up early (rising a little earlier every morning if on has been in the habit of spending long hours in bed), one can very soon accurately gauge and adjust the number of hours he or she requires for complete recuperation. It will be found as the sleeping hours are shortened that the sleep becomes more and more sound and sweet, and the waking up more and more alert and bright. People who are to prosper in their work must not give way to ignoble ease and over-indulgence in sleep. Fruitful labor, and not ease, is the true end of life, and ease is only good in so far as it subserves the ends of work. Sloth and prosperity can never be companions, can never even approach each other. The sluggard will never overtake success, but failure will speedily catch up with him, and leave him defeated. Rest is to fit us for greater labour, and not to pamper us in indolence. When the bodily vigour is restored, the end of rest is accomplished. A perfect balance between labour and rest contributes considerably to health, happiness, and prosperity.
          Time is that which we all possess in equal measure. The day is not lengthened for any man. We should therefore see to it that we do not squander its precious minutes in unprofitable waste. He who spends his time in self-indulgence and the pursuit of pleasure, presently finds himself old, and nothing has been accomplished. He who fills full with useful pursuits the minutes as they come and go, grows old in honour and wisdom, and prosperity abides with him. Money wasted can be restored; health wasted can be restored; but time wasted can never be restored.

Day 28 - Christmas Eve

Stitched into the fabric of my life are the Christmas traditions that occurred year after year after year. Dad was kind of a humbug during this season but that is to be expected as he was the one who had to find the money to pay for the holiday. As children we didn't really understand the economics of Christmas. While I vaguely remember a few of the gifts I received it's the sights, the sounds and the tastes that are foremost in my mind.

Lighting up the house was pretty simple back then. Dad strung red and blue lights along the rain gutter. A simple string of real live Christmas size lights all around the perimeter of the house. Simplicity on the humble homes and spectacular illumination in the rich neighborhoods and public parks. On Christmas Eve we always piled into the car and drove around looking at light displays. After being entertained by the lights we drove to Heritage Park to watch the church sponsored live nativity. The scene was set against the backdrop of a hill. A makeshift stable, manger and star. Live people, live animals. It was cold and it was wonderful...unless you are one of the cast members. Back at the house we sat around the Christmas tree singing carols and crunching on candy canes.

This is my Christmas Eve memory.

Crissy Doll - Her hair grew with the push of a button. She's all I wanted for Christmas one year and I got her. I wish I had saved her. 

The Heritage Park Nativity Pageant 

Day 27 - God vs Science

Nietzsche was a philosopher who believed that science killed God. His writings create the notion that as technology has progressed human nature has come to rely on science in such a way that God has become obsolete. When I studied this philosophy and listened to my instructor I journaled this -

Today Professor LaTurner presented a few examples to prove Nietzsche's theory that we believe in science before we believe in God. His first example was a parent of a sick child and do parents call the doctor or pray first? My thoughts drifted to Ammon and the first thing I did when I heard of his accident. An excerpt from a previous writing…

          This was the memory foremost in my mind when my cell phone rang. The familiar ring and the picture ID triggered my mind to believe that Ammon was calling. “Hello Ammon,” I answered.  The unfamiliar voice that spoke into my ear said, “This is not Ammon. This is Matt. I’m with your son at the Flagstaff Medical Center. He was in a boating accident. The medical team is stabilizing him for surgery.” I ran through the information in my mind and then replied, “No, Ammon is at Lake Powell with friends....not in Flagstaff with a medical team.”

Trying to convince a mother who was about to lose all track of reality, Matt explained, “Ammon was in a boating accident. He was run over by a boat and the propeller caught his lower right leg. He lost a lot of blood and his injury is very serious. The medical team is preparing him for surgery. They’re going to try and save his leg.”

          With deep concern for my son I asked, “Who is with him and how did he get to Flagstaff?”

“By helicopter. We life lighted him, ”Matt said, and then went on to explain that the helicopter was small and there was only room for the medical personal and the patient. Ammon was alone in a world he did not know.

I think that at this point I was speechless. Matt asked me if I had any other questions or concerns. I explained that we were LDS and wanted to know if it were possible for Ammon to receive a Priesthood Blessing before he went in for surgery. Matt replied that he was LDS and could do that. The pilot of the helicopter was also LDS and he would check with him to see if he could assist. Miracle number one had just occurred. Ammon was being watched over by angels.

As Professor LaTurner continues with his examples I am very aware that the first thing I did when I heard of Ammon’s accident was turn to God. As much as he needed the surgery, he also needed the constant care of God.

Today I came away from class recognizing that science cannot exist without God and God cannot exist without science. Neither can exist without the other. There are many things in life that come in pairs. Parents for example, every child has two, a mom and a dad. A child cannot be created without a male and female. One provides the egg while the other provides the sperm. Without both the embryo cannot be formed. 

          Then there is the question, which came first, God or science? This reminds me of the question, which came first, the chicken or the egg? Life is a never-ending circle. There is no beginning and there is no end. This is something Nietzsche did not express in is writing.

I study chakra’s and the effect they have on the body. The explanation of Nietzsche’s illness has me concluding that his health issues were caused by the constant war that raged within him. Issues of the stomach and then later a diagnosis of mental illness; I can conclude that the sacral, solar plexis, third eye and crown chakra’s were continually out of balance and the cause of disease beyond repair.

Nietzsche could not accept Christ and therefore could not even fathom the existence of the light of Christ that dwells in every living thing. The chakra’s spin this rainbow of light throughout the body; keeping us filled with the energy of the love and light of Jesus Christ. Without this energy our spirits would be very dark and alone. Nietzsche’s natural humanness fought against his spirit until his life came to an end. When I die I would like to find Nietzsche and find out what he thinks now.

Day 26 - Once...I Went Skiing

Karamea went snowboarding yesterday. She took a lesson and sent us her button which included the stickers she earned during her lesson. This made me smile. This also caused me to remember the time I took skiing lessons at Paskapoo. This was a ski slope on the north side of Calgary. Slope as in hill. Since I was going to ski I decided I needed to have a ski suit. I went to a sale at some store that Mark took me to. I found the most awesome yellow jacket and pants. Mark said I looked like a banana. I thought I would be a little bit of sunshine gliding down the slopes.

Well, as it turned out. I spent most of the time rolling down the hill and I did not like skiing at all. It was cold and I had to put on layers of clothing. I thought I would be accepted into the crowd of cool kids who went to Banff every weekend to ski the slopes with their parents. But I realized I was much happier in the comfort of my warm house listening to my music or watching some ridiculous program on TV.

I am a warm weather girl and I do not like wearing bulky layers of clothing.

Day 25 - The Book of Mormon

Our Sunday School lesson today was about Mormon and the final destruction of the people. Mormon was ten years old when he learned he would be responsible for the plates. He was fifteen when the Lord appeared to him and he received a personal witness of Jesus Christ. In all the days of his life he was never able to experience a world of peace and happiness. All around him was the face of war, persecution and destruction. The people were so wicked that there were no gifts from God and the Holy Ghost could not dwell there. (Mormon 1:14) Despite all of this Mormon continued to stay strong in his testimony and his faith in the Lord.

It is through constant nourishment of my spirit that I am able to stay true to my testimony. Each day I live begins with prayer and scripture study. I know that fasting and prayer, service and charity towards others are the elements that bring peace to my soul. Difficulties have, do and will arise but I know I can fall into the loving arms of my Father in heaven. More than anything I would hope that each of my children will one day embrace this same knowledge. Know that, even though you cannot wrap your arms around Him, Heavenly Father loves you just as tangibly as I love you.

Today while teaching Sunday School I was overcome by the spirit as it spoke to me. Isaac, Ammon and Asa were there and I did my best to finish the lesson. But while watching the video I heard the spirit speak to me. So many have sacrificed so much so that we would have the words that are contained in this book. There are inspiring stories weaved into the fabric of war and persecution and destruction. Everything that is the word of God is important for us to ingest. There is truth in so many places and none of it should be discounted.

I am grateful to the people of the Book of Mormon for being so diligent in recording the history. I am grateful to Joseph Smith for having the faith and the strength to ask the questions and then to be true to the answer he received. I am grateful to my parents for instilling in me a love of the scriptures.

I love that I know these things and that the power of the words are etched in the windows of my mind.

Day 24 - Wedding Day

It's been thirty years and I can recall the crisp November day at the Jordan River Temple. We were sealed by Grandpa Scoville's cousin, Ted E. Brewerton. He was a member of the General Quorum of the Seventy at the time and had the authority to perform our temple sealing. We took pictures by the fountain in front of the temple then headed to a restaurant in Orem for our luncheon.

We were married on Wednesday November 24. Thanksgiving day was the next day and we spent it away from the family. Then we joined them on Friday November 26 for our reception. We spent most of the day decorating the cultural hall with balloons and such.

A few days later we headed up to Calgary for our open house. This was held at the home of Jerry and Trish Peterson. I was their Nanny when I came back from Hawaii. They had four kids and a beautiful home. Trish was the daughter of N. Eldon Tanner, a former apostle.

After our open house we drove up to Banff and spent a couple of nights at the Banff Springs Hotel. We went swimming in the hot springs. This is a beautiful place.

Day 23 - Attempting Art

I had the most amazing art teacher in grade nine. The passion she had for art glistened from her being as she taught us all sorts of amazing techniques. This painting was supposed to look 3D. I drew the lines on a piece of canvas and painted it. She thought it was so awesome and she asked if I would enter it in the art exhibit for the Calgary Stampede. Sure! And it got accepted! I still remember walking through the exhibit and seeing my art on display along with the hundreds of other pieces created by school children.

After all these years this canvas still sits in the trunk along with some of my other youthful keepsakes.

Day 22 - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Canada is in October...actually on the day Americans take a day off to celebrate Columbus Day. Not really that Columbus should be celebrated, but it's a holiday and a day off. Thanksgiving was a time to eat good food. While some of Grandpa's family lived within driving distance we didn't get together with them. I don't really remember Thanksgiving being about family. But it was about food. Grandma always made a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Sometimes we had the missionaries over and back then they could stay all day if that wanted.

Surfing the waves of my brain there is an image of me standing outside on the street in front of my house. I am looking down the road at the leaves floating from the trees and dancing on the ground. I remember feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the beauty around me and thinking that while I'm standing out here in the beauty of nature, my mom is in the kitchen making dinner. I think I will go help her so she can come out and see the beauty too.

In the past thirty years of marriage I have wonderful Thanksgiving memories. Gatherings of Scoville's, gatherings of Puriri's in so many of the houses where we've lived. Adventures in the Valley of Fire, Kolob, Snow Canyon, Zion National Park and today at Vernon Worthen Park.

Family is a joy and thanksgiving is just one more opportunity for us to be together.

Day 21 - It's Great to be Eight

Remembering each of you on the day of your baptism -

Rakai - When we lived in the Capitol Hill area of downtown Salt Lake the Stake baptismal font was the one in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. That is where you were baptized. You were baptized on your birthday in the seven o clock hour. You turned 8 at 10:10pm. So you were baptized when you were 7.

Karamea - We were still living in the Capitol Hill area but they built a baptismal font in Stake Center. You were the first person to be baptized in that font. I made you a beautiful white dress and I also made you a long white dress to be baptized in. We had a birthday party for you on the afternoon of your baptism. It was held at the Lion House and as the birthday girl you received a porcelain doll.

Isaac - You were baptized in the Midway Stake Center on May 9. I remember that day because we held off on your baptism so Grandpa and Grandma Puriri could attend. They had been in New Zealand and we waited for them to return.

Ammon - You were also baptized in the Midway Stake Center. We had a special program and Karamea and Isaac sang a song for you.

Asa - You were baptized in the Bloomington Stake Center. Rakai was 16 years old and he baptized you.

Hamilton - You were baptized in the Bloomington Stake Center on December 23, 2006. This is Joseph Smith's birthday.

Day 20 - Summertime Swims & Stuff

School ended the last Friday in June and started the day after Labor Day in September. Summer was July and August. Sunrise was earlier than I woke up and sunset was sometime around midnight. I spent lots of time outside. Grandma didn't let me wear sleeveless shirts but I did have a pair of baby doll pajamas and they showed my arms. My brothers made fun of my farmers tan so I wore a shawl around my shoulders when I had my purple baby dolls on.

We liked to swim at Stanley Park but we didn't always have the money to take the bus there and then pay to get in. Sometimes we set up a Kool Aid stand on the front lawn and sold drinks to passers-by. We counted our money as the day went on and when we had enough to pay our way we packed up the stand and headed for the bus stop.

I spent a lot of time at this pool...day after day after day. By the end of the summer I had a pretty good tan. One time I was standing out on the driveway with Moana and the flies kept landing on me. I was getting annoyed and she said, "your skin is so brown the flies think you are poop. And flies like to land on poop."

Day 19 - It's My Birthday

I am now officially accepted into the 50's club. Oh and I found out on Saturday night when we went to see James Bond that he is also 50. HA! Asa came by my office today and brought me a Sock Monkey journal and a sock monkey mug. A few weeks ago we went to eat at Cracker Barrel. We wandered around the gift shop and I spied the sock monkey display. We checked out all the fun things and Asa and I tried on the hats. Dad and Asa did not know I loved Sock Monkey stuff until that day. The front of my journal says "Monkey Business". Asa says it's a journal for me to write about all of my Monkey Business. We'll see how that goes.

Day 18 - SURPRISE!

This Sunday evening closes a weekend that was one big surprise. I had no idea that you were planning a party for me. I didn't expect or suspect a thing. Your surprise was definitely a surprise. You are all very good a deception.

As I reflect on that moment of surprise I see the images and feel the love of family and friends. I do not pretend to know so much about eternity but I do know that upon entry to the here after we will be reunited with those we love. It will be a sweet reunion as we are wrapped in the arms of those we have longed to see again.

"Hi dad", I said as he walked towards me. In that instant I felt what it would be like to see him for the first time in the here after. Looking beyond him I saw everyone waiting and each hug was a wonderful journey of love and light.

Thank you for creating this magnificent memory. You are all LOVED beyond words.

Day 17 - Banana Nut Muffins

It's Saturday morning and there are brown bananas in the fruit bowl. This happens a lot and when it does I magically turn the uneaten bananas into mini muffins or loaves. After-all one should not waste food...right?

I think that since you have enjoyed so many years of these magical muffins you should have the recipe so that you can make them yourselves. The recipe comes from the Lion House Recipe Book which I received as a bridal shower gift 30 years ago.

Banana Nut Bread (or in our case) MAGICAL MUFFINS

1/2 cup margarine (I use butter)
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed bananas (2 bananas)
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice (fresh squeezed use 1/4 lemon)
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat. Add bananas, milk, and lemon juice. Sift dry ingredients and add. Add nuts. Bake in well-greased 8x4x3-inch loaf pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees F. Makes 1 loaf.

or

Spray mini muffin tin and add one spoonful of batter into each cup.

The magical ingredient is LOVE. So if you do not make them with LOVE in your heart then they will not taste as good as mom's.

Day 16 - Early Morning Seminary

I woke up at 5:45 every morning. We ate porridge and toast for breakfast. Then headed out to seminary which started at 7:00 am. It was held at the church and we walked there in the bitter cold of the Canadian White North. Just opening the door and stepping out into the cold was enough to freeze my hair off. I could hear the snow crack under my boots as I walked and I could also hear the sound of the steam coming out of the chimneys. This was a sign of warm inside and cold outside. 

Despite the cold I achieved 100% attendance for my four years of seminary. There were days when I was sick and missed but I asked for something to do so I could get credit for not being there. Some days we had seminary at JB's for breakfast. The teacher called this physical and spiritual nourishment for the day ahead. 

I loved Scripture Chase competitions. I studied hard and I knew the scriptures. We crinkled up the pages of our scriptures so we could find the scriptures immediately after the clue was given. We won trophies. It was fun! 

Seminary started my day out with a spiritual boost. It was 45 minutes of inspiration before I headed off to school. 

Day 15 - Runaways

Rakai and Karamea...yep both of them tried to run away from home...when they were like 2 or something.

Rakai
We were fixing up the house at 258 Main Street in Salt Lake and getting ready to move into it. I was vacuuming with the really loud wet vac. Dad came in and said he was going to pick up some supplies and then he left. I finished what I was doing and turned off the vacuum. It was unusually quiet. I wandered around the house yelling for Rakai. There was no response. I went out in the unfenced yard and looked around. He was no where. We had not moved into the house yet. I didn't know any of the neighbors. This was a very unfamiliar place. I went out into the street frantically running up and down. I couldn't find him anywhere. There were no cell phones back then and I didn't have car because dad had taken it to the store. I was stranded in this place and didn't know where my son was. Maybe 20 minutes later I get a knock on the door. I ran and there stood Rakai hand in hand with a stranger. "Is this your little boy?"

As it turns out, Rakai wanted to go with his dad to the store. Ra drove off and Rakai tried to chase him down. He wandered off too far and couldn't remember how to get back home. It is not normal for a little two year old boy to be wandering the streets alone. The kind stranger saw him and took the time to walk around the neighborhood with him. Rakai was returned home safely.

Karamea
She tried to runaway twice when we lived at that same house. One time I was is the kitchen doing breakfast dishes. There was a beautiful view of the street from the big kitchen windows. I looked down and saw a little girl standing in the middle of the road wearing pink slipper pajamas. What the heck? That's not just any little girl...that's my little girl. I dropped the dish turned off the water and ran out the door and down the road. By that time a person who had driven by stopped and went over to rescue her. Karamea had climbed out of her bed and taken off down the road without even coming in to say good morning to her mother.

On another occasion...three year old Rakai who heard the siren of a fire truck and he knew it was close by. He ran up to see what all the commotion was. I did not know this and I didn't even know he was missing...untiiilll...a knock at the door and there stands a fireman with Rakai in his arms. I look beyond the their bodies and notice that the fire truck is parked almost in my drive and starring back at me is a truck full of firemen. Humiliating to say the least. Apparently they saw "the lone boy" standing there and decided that wasn't safe. They picked him up and put him in the truck. When they were finished with the call he showed them the way back to the house.

And then there's Asa
He ran away twice...that I can remember.

He was two the first time he ran away. He didn't actually know he was running away. He was pushing his Tonka dump truck on the road and he was just looking down while he was pushing. This was when we lived on Los Padres. He pushed the truck up to Escalante, turned right, kept going, crossed Tonaquint and looked up. He had no idea where he was. Luckily he was still in the boundaries of the ward and some people in our ward looked out their window and saw him. They went out and got him and brought him into the house then they called us. When I went over to get him he was sitting at the kitchen counter eating french toast with his nursery friend Alicia.

Another time he ran away because he was angry. I think he was 5 or something. He packed up a lunch and some toys in his backpack and off he went. He came back eventually...probably when he ran out of food.

Day 14 - Dance Festival

In grade twelve the youth of Calgary were invited to be in a dance festival. We spent many long hours preparing for this event. Our youth activity night was dedicated to practices. We would go to the chapel early on Saturday morning to practice. We did this for months. Paul was my dance partner. Hundreds of youth came from all over the region. This was very exciting because normally we did not see this many youth, who all believed as we did, in one place. It was powerful and it was so much fun to be among young men and women who held the same standards.

I was in two different dance numbers. Since there were so many of us they asked that anyone who knew how to sew should make their own costumes. I made my two outfits and the outfit for Paul. For one dance I wore a white dress with a silver bodice. For another we were supposed to be at a 1950's soc hop. I wore a black skirt with a yellow ribbon around the bottom. Yellow shirt and black bandana around my neck. Also, yellow socks. They wanted us all to match so we didn't wear shoes...just our yellow socks. By then end of the night the top was yellow and the bottom was black.

I remember the finale. More than a thousand of us standing on the floor of the arena singing As I Have Loved You. We were holding a small light. It must've looked really awesome. I don't know how it looked from above. But I do know how I felt. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks and the arms of my peers around me as we sang with our lights and our hearts.

There was peace in this moment and I knew the power of the spirit as I stood among youth who held tight to their testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. This was a blessing in my life and has given me strength through the years.

I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for allowing me to come to this earth with a knowledge of the gospel and with the faith to believe and embrace truth.

Day 13 - Dance Dance Dance

Growing up in my house meant music. Not the kind we produced ourselves. My parents couldn't really afford lessons for us. We dabbled a little with the piano and Mark had a guitar but none of us were very persistent at it. The kind of music I'm talking about was produced - record albums, eight track tapes, cassettes, reel to reel. One way or another there was always a way to listen to music.

Well, if you're going to listen to music you might as well dance.

My friend, and cousin, Leanne Brewerton took a modeling class together and at the end of the class we were supposed to present a talent. Leanne and I dressed in choreographed a dance to some disco song, bought matching outfits and performed. I remember long hours of practicing in the living room and younger brothers teasing us about our dance steps. Older brothers, however, were a different story.

Sometimes on a warm Saturday afternoon we would take the music outside in the backyard. We had to go out there because we were doing the "JIVE" and we needed lots of room. Mark, Garry, Moana and myself would spend lots of time practicing our moves. We stole the show at the Saturday Night Dance.

What's that you ask?

The LDS church sponsored the Saturday Night Dance. It was definitely the place to be on Saturday night. Everyone went! We had to have a current SND card to get through the door. We got that from our Bishop after we suffered through a bi-yearly interview. The dances were fun though. People actually danced. I remember kids calling my brothers for a ride to the dance. Mark had a station wagon so he could fit lots of people. Once the four of us were in the car he still had room for 5 more. With three older siblings I was lucky enough to always have a ride. It wasn't very often that I spent Saturday afternoon calling around for a ride.

You're not a teenager if you think eating after 11:00 at night is off limits. After the dance we always went somewhere for food. Peter's Drive-In, Mother's Pizza, A&W - it was like the dance ended but all the people just ended up at the local food chain. I wonder what the employees thought of 50 plus kids showing up at their restaurant at 11:30 on Saturday night.

So we danced. And we loved it.

Day 12 - A Favorite Treat

Asa requested this treat for Family Home Evening yesterday. Instead we went to the Visitor's Center with Joel, Carly and Anna. We watched the Joseph Smith movie and then went back to Rakai's for dessert. But here's the recipe as I wrote it back in 1998.

Day 11 - Snowball Fights

We lived three blocks from the church. You may find that normal but living anywhere outside of Utah and being near a church is a very rare thing. Since we lived so close dad decided we should walk to church. High heels and skirts, suits and dress shoes - we walked and we held onto each other while we slippery slided our way up the road.

I remember one Sunday when dad had taken the car to church and we didn't know it. Dad had left the church, driven home and was hiding at the side of the house with a load full of snowballs. We were walking along enjoying the brisk Calgary air and beautiful blue skies when out of no where we are pelted with snowballs.

What the?

We look up and there is dad peeking around the side of the house with this huge smile on his face. He had a pile of snowballs and he was chucking them at us one after another. Of course we scrambled to defend ourselves.

In our church shoes we slid to the snow and with ungloved hands grabbed snow, molded it into a ball and began throwing them back at the enemy. So funny! This was totally premeditated because he had a bunch of snowballs all stored up.

Fun memory and for a minute there I actually liked the snow.

Day 10 - I Worked

At fourteen years old my neighbor gave me my first job. She owned a beauty salon. It was my job to wash the hair of the ladies and to make their coffee. I was really good at washing hair but having never known even the aroma of coffee, I wasn't very good at making it. I walked up to the salon each day after school. One day I had to walk in the rain. I arrived, the boss thanked me for my diligence then gave me the day off with pay.

Then I worked at the car dealership on McLeod Drive. I arrived at 4pm each day and filed the daily invoices for an hour. Then from 5pm - 9pm I sat at the receptionist desk in the showroom and answered the phone. The salesmen hung out a my desk quite frequently. Sometimes I would have to get a ride home from one of them. 

For ten days every summer I worked at the Calgary Stampede. It was a family tradition. Moana worked at one of the entry gates, Mark and Garry dressed up in the midway animal outfits, Dad worked the cowboy gate and I worked in the grandstand. We had to wear stampede colors - white shirts, red pants and a white cowboy hat. 

Work was an important part of my life growing up - newspaper routes and  selling lemonade in the front yard, summer jobs and working as dad's secretary. Wonderful memories and lessons that taught me the value of accomplishing something and earning the reward.  

Day 9 - Why Not Now?

One Sunday morning after my morning prayer I headed to the kitchen to start on some things while everyone was sleeping. I had asked for the safety of my children and to know how I could help them choose to embrace the gospel. I placed my computer on the kitchen counter and pulled up lds.org. I went to the conference talks and randomly pulled up October 1974. I looked for Neal A. Maxwell and clicked on his name. The title of the talk was Why Not Now? It was exactly the answer I needed. Latter in the day I printed a hard copy and marked it all up with underlinings and asterisks.He says, "there is a real craving for your companionship and a genuine need for your unique strengths." This is what I have been telling my children for years. The Lord need their beautiful spirits and the unique way they see the world. He needs them to share their light with those within the walls of the church as well as those without.

In his talk he gave some warnings to those who do not wish to commit to the gospel NOW.

Do not look too deeply into the eyes of the pleasure-seekers about you, for if you do, you will see a certain sadness in sensuality, and you will hear artificiality in the laughter of licentiousness.

Do not look too deeply, either, into the motives of those who deny God, for you may notice their doubts of doubt.

Do not risk thinking the unthinkable, lest you find yourself drawn with a deep and powerful pull toward the reality that God does exist, that he loves you, and that finally there is no escaping him or his love!

Do not think too much about what you are teaching your family, for what in you is merely casualness about Christianity may, in your children, become hostility; for what you have not defended, your children may reject angrily.

Do not reflect on the practicality of gospel standards such as abstaining from alcohol; for if you do, a surf of statistics will wash over you, confirming that abstinence is ultimately the only cure for alcoholism that is both preventive and redemptive. You will also see that the living of one protective principle of the gospel is better than a thousand compensatory governmental programs—which programs are, so often, like “straightening deck chairs on the Titanic.”

Do not think too much, either, about other doctrines, such as the importance of love at home; because if you think about them very long—in a world full of orphans with parents—you will be grasped by a reality that will make your teeth chatter.

Do not think, either, about the doctrine that you are a child of God, for if you do, it will be the beginning of belonging.

Do not dare to read the Book of Mormon seriously, or you may suddenly realize that it is inlaid with incredibly important insights from a millennium of sacred history.

Do not overpack the luggage you plan to take with you when you leave this world, for we simply cannot get most mortal things by celestial customs; only the eternal things are portable.

Do not pray, for you will get answers from a listening and loving Father.

Do not think too much, either, about the possibility that there are living prophets in the world today. Think instead about how those who are so sustained seem quite ordinary in many ways. Forget that other prophets were fishermen and tentmakers—ordinary enough to scarcely be noticed—except for what they said and what they did! For the winds of tribulation, which blow out some men’s candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of these special men.

Do not let yourself reflect too much on the social, political, and economic indicators that suggest the gathering storm, lest you realize that there is an inseparable connection between the keeping of the commandments and the well-being of society.

Do not read what the holiest inhabitant ever to live on this planet said about the necessity of certain ordinances, or you will see that he allowed for no exceptions, including himself.

Do not search the scriptures to see if good people still need the Church, for the best being who ever lived organized the Church—because random, individual goodness is not enough in the fight against evil.

Do not, if you have been offended, recall that while you may have been bumped by an ecclesiastical elbow, the chip was on your shoulder long before the elbow appeared.

Do not be fully honest about the hypocrisy of those in the Church who may pretend to be better than they are, or you will soon realize that there is also another form of hypocrisy—appearing to be less committed than one really is!

Yes, brothers and sisters, it is best to avoid all such things as these if you wish to continue to delay deciding about Christ and his church.

However, Joshua didn’t say choose you next year whom you will serve; he spoke of “this day,” while there is still daylight and before the darkness becomes more and more normal.

Day 8 - Playtime Rules

Someone posted this photo on Facebook and I could completely relate so I thought I would add it to this 30 day blogging thing I'm doing.

Street lights didn't come on in Calgary until 11:00pm in the summer. After dinner we ran outside to play. Dad would always come out whistling at us to come home and clean up the kitchen. One time I ran down to the neighbor who was a police officer and asked him to handcuffs my hands together so I wouldn't have to do the dishes. That worked for about 5 minutes.

Mom would sit on the front step watching us run around with the neighborhood kids. We loved to play hide and seek. Whoever was "IT" stood at the street pole counting to 100 then off the seeker would go to find hiders. Sometimes mom would give us hints and quietly point in the direction of a hider.

Daylight until 11:00 meant fun into the late hours of the night. Warm and wonderful skies. Sometimes we even got to see the auroa borealis.

Day 7 - Ten Speed Bike

My ten speed bike was my best friend when I was fifteen. We lived a few blocks from the beautiful Glenmore Reservoir and the destination location of Heritage Park. I would ride my bike there then sit and watch the sunset. Sometimes I left on my bike and would be gone for hours. I rode all around as far as I could. In those days there was no such thing as a helmet. I rode on the main road with the cars speeding by me. And I lived! Imagine that!

Sunset on Glenmore Reservoir

Day 6 - Remember

Immediately after giving birth to Hamilton I was resting on the hospital bed waiting to be taken to my room. Hamilton was all cleaned up and wrapped up like a sausage. Only his cute little face could be seen. Dad held Hamilton out in front of his face. And he said, "welcome to the world my son." Hamilton sneezed.

According to wikipedia - A sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa. A sneeze expels air forcibly from the mouth and nose in an explosive, spasmodic involuntary action resulting chiefly from irritation of the nasal mucous membrane. Sneezing can sometime be linked to sudden exposure to bright light. 

Just a few minutes old and the miraculous machine we call a body is at work doing it's job. I remember smiling and thanking my father in heaven for the beauty of this healthy little boy that would be the final curtain for our family.  

Day 5 - Veteran's of War

DOCUTAH and the St. George Vet Center are screening a film this weekend called Souvenirs: Healing After the War. We met yesterday to discuss the logistics of the event. I walked into a room full of war veterans and did not expect to be enlightened the way that I was.

I was surrounded by six people who had experienced combat duty in either Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. The person leading the discussion opened up the conversation and then everyone just spoke freely. At first I just listened but then I realized that I was emotionally impacted by the things that were being said and so I picked up my pen and began to write.

"The whole world seems uncommitted."
"No one wants to take charge."
"When you see something that needs doing...just get it done. Who cares if it doesn't fall into your job description."
"There is so much chaos and disorder. I would rather be there than home."
"I guess I assume to know what other people are thinking about me...I don't fit in...that guy is attacking me."
"I have no patience for anything."
"We had to hate bad enough to make the fight personal. It wasn't about fighting for the country it was about fighting for the guy next to me."
"I am no more alive in my life. If my life isn't on the line then it's not worth living."

At one point in the conversation one of the men turned to me and said, "As a civilian, and I don't mean to offend you, but as a civilian, what questions would you ask."

First of all, I didn't know I was supposed to be offended because I was a civilian. Then I explained to the group that as a civilian I don't know the questions to ask. Given the opportunity I would simply open the conversation with "tell me your story" and then just sit and listen. I haven't experienced what you've experienced so I don't even know what questions to ask. 

While we were supposed to be planning the logistics of the event I walked away enlightened, educated and renewed. The lesson here is to open your heart, mind and soul and be ready for every opportunity to light up your world. See the good and while you feel the pain recognize the joy. 

God is in all things.