Charm and Grace

Several weeks ago, the first cold day of the season, I mentioned to my students how a cup of hot chocolate & a fresh doughnut would hit the spot. An idea was born, and volunteers from each period organized the "event".  I made hot chocolate all day & students supplied the eats. One of my first period girls brought in a toaster & some toaster waffles with all the fixings. Lovely! A good time was had by all.  I had my picture taken but didn't take any, too busy making hot chocolate. Oh well, next year.  This was such a hit, I think I'll do this again, different menu, right before Spring Break.

My friend Connie was waiting for me when I got home from work. (How did she know that it was a discouraging day???) A lovely Pumpkin Spice scented candle was waiting for me in a beautiful gift bag with cheerful paper. (How did she know I adore Pumpkin Spice????)  Obviously, Connie has connections!!!

MACS 1206 lies 4.5 billion light-years from Earth Each of the "lights" is a separate galaxy, like unto our Milky Way. Moses 1: 8 " And it came to pass that Moses looked, and beheld the world upon which he was created; and Moses beheld the world thereof and the ends thereof, and all the children of men which are, and were created; of the same he greatly marveled and wondered." Moses 1: 33  "And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. Verse 35 "But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them. I read a story in the Ensign about a returned missionary that became inactive in the gospel because he on...

My 55th birthday was a quiet day. I picked up a letter from Miles at the post office. He had no way of knowing that earlier that morning I had been cleaning up in the kitchen and wondering if my children remembered me playing with them or reading to them.  In his letter he listed several memories of things from his childhood that brought him happiness. The gift of remembering is a great gift to a parent. Thank you Miles for the very sweet gift. I will always treasure the letter. I opened and read the letter while in the post office. I pondered how I might save it so that it will never be lost.  I need to work on how to save my most precious possessions. I'm still considering how this might be done, and I don't have the answer just yet. I got phone calls from everyone. Ann and David are in Virginia, while John is in China. John & I "skyped" tonight. They are all happy and healthy. I thank God for the technology that makes it possible for familie...

Women are amazing. My daughter Ann is amazing. After being in labor for over 12 hours, her water finally broke in the evening. We headed off to the hospital where she continued with labor from 8 pm to about 2 am in the morning when she finally asked for pain medication. They gave her an epidural that didn't take, and then they gave her another. Ann's and the baby's blood pressure dropped. They finally decide to induce her labor.  David and I stood by Ann's side and helped her push by supporting her legs. She pushed for several hours. The head was delivered but the shoulders were not. The doctor reached in and pulled Jonathan's shoulders with a twisting motion. Jonathan was born around 8 am the next day. His lip and eye were bruised, and his head was elongated from the struggle to be born. When his shoulders were delivered, we could see that the umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around his neck. The doctor slipped his fingers between Jonathan's ne...