A new way of thinking

Calvin told me that the welfare specialist talked to the Stake Leaders last night and we both had some new thoughts from it. Rich people know things that average people don't, average people know things that poor and rich people don't know, and poor people know things that either of the others know. So when rich people, like the ones that run Congress, try to give homes to poor people, the rich people expect the poor people to know what the rich people know, but they don't. They don't know what they can and can't afford, they don't know what to do to be able to afford it. They don't know how to keep the house or keep it up. They just haven't been taught rich people knowledge. The rich people in Congress think they are doing something so good and so noble, and when it crashes they don't understand why. I plan on writing some paper letters to a few people in Congress. Maybe if they can understand what went wrong, maybe they can fix it. Instead of just ranting and raving at them, maybe they just were trying and did it the wrong way. There is a story of refugees coming to America and nearly starving to death cause they were given canned food and a can opener, but no one ever showed them there was food in the cans or how to use a can opener. Maybe it is a little bit like that?

Music is God's language to me

I can't think of how many times I have listened to music and ended up with tears falling. My kids used to just sit next to me and rub my neck while I cried. But it is like God is speaking to my heart. I think it is so important to listen to only the good music so that we don't cloud up our ability to hear that spirit to spirit communication. Our school went to a "contemporary ballet" a few months ago and it was not uplifting. One of the students turned to me and said about some younger children that were watching, "Mrs. Winward, those little kids shouldn't be watching this." She stopped then added, "We shouldn't be watching this!" She was right. People confuse art with indecency. They are not the same, and allowing yourself to be pulled into indecency with the call of, but it is art, is just shameful. Art is to uplift. If it doesn't pull you closer to God, it isn't art, no matter what any expert says.

Wedding

The wedding is over and Cynthia and Thomas are on their way to California. We had a lots of family come to the wedding and that is always nice. Then quite a few people came to the open house, and considering the weather, that was really good of them. It rained or snowed all day long. But that didn't seem to dampen the day and we all made it. We did have a houseful on Saturday, 18 people, that was interesting. Thanks goodness for sleeping bags and mattresses. I am just grateful that everyone is safe. Considering all the challenges of weather, roads and the flooded basement, the day went acceptably well.

Six days till the wedding

All is moving along well. Sara's dress is mostly done. I hope when I get it washed and ironed it will look right. The quilt is done, that is a comfort. I think we have everything set up for the open house. I just hope all goes well, that the weather is nice, that everyone is happy and well. And mostly I hope that the day is everything Thomas and Cynthia want it to be.

Little miracles

This might not sound like a miracle, but it was. Calvin went downstairs last night to get a hammer. I am thinking, it is Sunday! Then he called in that voice that say trouble. The water softener had been dripping in the storage room. Oh brother. The miracles, well he found it, and the water was in the hall but had not gone into the family room so my quilt blocks were dry. Dad worked on fixing the water problem while I started carrying everything out of that room. All the kids totes and boxes are in there. We tore up the carpet in the storage room, threw away the padding. Currently it reminds me of the old days, fan running in the basement. We fixed that old problem, now this. Anyway, we have company coming in less than two weeks. Daniel's room, in which they will be staying, is loaded to the ceiling with tons of stuff. I did want to get it cleaned out. The little miracles are, that Calvin went down there at all, that Mark came and helped so we could turn the water back on, that I had just recently cleared most of the sleeping bags and boxes off of that floor and stored them in the closet or in totes. Nearly nothing is ruined, well except the carpet pad. And the new carpet is safe! I am grateful for little miracles! I am also exhausted!

The wedding is coming

The invitations are ready, the quilt is getting done, the bridesmaid's dress is almost done. The wedding is coming.

Merry Christmas

Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!