"Heart, Mind and Soul..."

Ephraim's Rescue: A Movie Based On The True Story of the Martin Handcart Company Rescue

2013-04-09T00:20:00.000-05:00

Written and directed by T.C. Christensen, this film shares the story of the rescue of the Martin Handcart Company as they made the trek west in the brutal winter of 1856. The team led by Ephraim Hanks, sets out in the worst part of the year, not knowing if they will find the Company alive or dead, to bring them to their new home into the area now known as "Utah".

The movie is set to be released in select theaters May 31, 2013. Check for openings here:

Find a theater near you

Paul Cardall has really outdone himself with this stirring CD filled with music to dramatize the story of the historical trek of a pioneer handcart group's journey across frozen barren land that would lead them to the promised land, but not without hardship and despair.

A clip of the movie, to be released May 31, 2013 can be seen here, with Mr. Cardall's epic and moving soundtrack...

Ephraim's Rescue Movie Clip

The following clip from the upcoming movie with the heart touching music composed and performed by Paul Cardall can be seen and heard here:
Ephraim's Rescue: Music Score by Paul Cardall (Life & Death)

The CD is now available at various locations, including:

Amazon.com , Deseret Book, Seagull Book, or paulcardall.com

15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy

2012-05-22T22:43:00.000-05:00

Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go:

1. Give up your need to always be right

There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?” Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

2. Give up your need for control

Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you – situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, coworkers, or just strangers you meet on the street – just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.

“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.” Lao Tzu

3. Give up on blame

Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don’t have, for what you feel or don’t feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.

4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk

Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling you – especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.
“The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.” Eckhart Tolle

5. Give up your limiting beliefs

about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!
“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind” Elly Roselle

6. Give up complaining

Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things – people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It’s not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

7. Give up the luxury of criticism

Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.

8. Give up your need to impress others

Stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not just to make others like you. It doesn’t work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not, the moment you take off all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.

9. Give up your resistance to change

Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change – don’t resist it.
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls” Joseph Campbell

10. Give up labels

Stop labeling those things, people or events that you don’t understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open. “The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” Wayne Dyer

11. Give up on your fears

Fear is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist – you created it. It’s all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Give up your excuses

Send them packing and tell them they’re fired. You no longer need them. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck, lying to ourselves, using all kind of excuses – excuses that 99.9% of the time are not even real.

13. Give up the past

I know, I know. It’s hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening, but you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for – the past that you are now dreaming about – was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.

14. Give up attachment

This is a concept that, for most of us is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too, (it still is) but it’s not something impossible. You get better and better at with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things, (and that doesn’t mean you give up your love for them – because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another, attachment comes from a place of fear, while love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.

15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations

Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them, they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them, to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people’s expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need….and eventually they forget about themselves. You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path.

15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy

Check out the Give-a-way!

2012-04-22T20:39:00.002-05:00

Awesome Give-a-way!
Check it out!

http://themisterandlady.blogspot.com/2012/04/anothergiveaway.html?spref=fb

An Officer’s Life

2012-04-12T00:19:00.000-05:00

Chief David Wunnenberg

*You wonder why he pulled you over and gave you a ticket for ...speeding,

He just worked an accident where people died because they were going too fast.

You wonder why that cop was so mean,

He just got done working a case where a drunk driver killed a kid.

You work for 8 hours,

He works for up to 18 hours.

You drink hot coffee to stay awake,

The cold rain in the middle of the night keeps him awake.

You complain of a "headache," and call in sick,

He goes into work still hurt and sore from the guy he had to fight the night before.

You drink your coffee on your way to the mall,

He spills his as he runs Code 3 to a traffic crash with kids trapped inside.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket before you leave the house,

He makes sure his gun is clean and fully loaded and his vest is tight.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you,

He watches his buddy get shot at, and wounded in front of him.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls,

He walks down the highway looking for body parts from a traffic crash.

You complain about how hot it is,

He wears fifty pounds of gear and a bullet proof vest in July and still runs around chasing crack heads.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong,

He runs out before he gets his food to respond to an armed robbery.

You get out of bed in the morning and take your time getting ready,

He gets called out of bed at 2 am after working 12 hours and has to be into work A.S.A.P. for a homicide.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone,

He holds the hair of some college girl while shes puking in the back of his patrol car.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over,

His shift ended 4 hours ago and there's no end in sight.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight,

He can't make any plans because on his off days he still gets called back into work.

You yell and scream at the squad car that just past you because they slowed you down,

He's in the driver seat of the squad car, going to cut somebody out of their car.

You roll your eyes when a baby cries in public,

He picks up a dead child in his arms and prays that it was crying.

You criticize your police department and say they're never there quick enough,

He blasts the siren while the person in front of him refuses to move while talking on their cell phone.

You hear the jokes about fallen officers and say they should have known better,

He is a hero and runs into situations when everyone else is running away in order to make sure no one else gets hurt and loses his life doing it.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents, you don't,

He would take a bullet for his buddy without question.

You sit there and judge him, saying that it's a waste of money to have them around,

Yet as soon as you need help he is there.

Daughters in My Kingdom

2012-03-06T10:56:00.036-06:00

Visiting Teaching Message

We are daughters of our Father in Heaven. He knows us, loves us, and has a plan for us. Part of that plan includes coming to earth to learn to choose good over evil. When we choose to keep God’s commandments, we honor Him and acknowledge our identity as daughters of God. Relief Society helps us remember this divine heritage.

Relief Society and its history strengthen and support us. Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, said: “As daughters of God, you are preparing for eternal designations, and each of you has a female identity, nature, and responsibility. The success of families, communities, this Church, and the precious plan of salvation is dependent on your faithfulness. … [Our Heavenly Father] intended Relief Society to help build His people and prepare them for the blessings of the temple. He established [Relief Society] to align His daughters with His work and to enlist their help in building His kingdom and strengthening the homes of Zion.”¹

Our Father in Heaven has given us specific work to help build His Kingdom. He has also blessed us with the spiritual gifts we need to accomplish this specific work. Through Relief Society, we have opportunities to use our gifts to strengthen families, help those in need, and learn how to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, said of discipleship: “By patiently walking in the path of discipleship, we demonstrate to ourselves the measure of our faith and our willingness to accept God’s will rather than ours.”²

Let us remember we are daughters of God and strive to live as His disciples. As we do so, we will help build God’s kingdom here on earth and become worthy to return to His presence.

From the Scriptures

Zechariah 2:10; Doctrine and Covenants 25:1, 10, 16; 138:38–39, 56; “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2010, 129)

From Our History

On April 28, 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith said to the sisters in Relief Society: “You are now placed in a situation in which you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in [you]. … If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.”³

Recognizing the power of Relief Society to serve others and to help individuals increase in faith, Zina D. H. Young, third Relief Society general president, promised the sisters in 1893, “If you will dig in the depths of your own hearts you will find, with the aid of the Spirit of the Lord, the pearl of great price, the testimony of this work.”⁴

The True Meaning of Stress

2012-01-06T13:39:00.000-06:00

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all... "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"

1 * Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue!

2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3 * Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4 * Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker..

5 * If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague

6 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it..

7 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

8 * Never buy a car you can't push.

9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

10 * Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

11 * Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

12 * The second mouse gets the cheese.

13 * When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

14 * Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

15 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

16 * Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

17 * We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

18 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

19 * Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.

20 * It was I, your friend!

*Save the earth..... It's the only planet with chocolate!

Author Unknown

We All Love President Henry B. Eyring!

2011-10-02T22:02:00.001-05:00

Picture of my granddaughter
shows we are never too young to

"Follow the Prophet"!

President Henry B. Eyring and Annabella Marie

Fall General Conference 2011

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Gift Idea: The Twelve Days of Christmas

2010-12-10T13:44:00.003-06:00

Paula A. Tomey-Allen

Should start about December 12th or 13th.

I love doing this for a family anonymous each year:

An example:

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a can of pears from the pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two Dove candy bars or two bars of Dove soap.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three cans of chicken from the French hens.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a free calling card.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a can of pineapple rings.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a dozen eggs from the six geese a laying.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a box of Swanson's cake mix and frosting.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eight cans of milk.

On the nineth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, some music for the ladies dancing.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a ceramic frog/scoring pad holder.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a tape of bagpipe music.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a box of drumstick cones and a coupon for free ice cream.

Quote: Our Actions...

2010-12-05T09:20:00.002-06:00

Learn to give your time, your money, or an encouraging word. When you show love, you are showing God to the world. And don't worry if you don't get any credit. When you let somebody in traffic in front of you, you may never see that person again. When you give somebody twenty dollars because you had compassion in your heart, you may never hear back from them, but let me assure you, God is keeping the records. He's seen every time you've been good to somebody. He's heard every encouraging word you've spoken. God has seen all the times you went out of your way to help somebody but they never even said thank you. The Scripture says when you do things in secret, when you do things without getting any credit, when nobody thanks you, God sees it, and you will even receive a greater reward. ~Joel Osteen

It is the VETERAN...

2010-11-11T00:24:00.000-06:00

It was the Veteran,
Not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It was the Veteran,
Not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It was the Veteran,
Not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It was the Veteran,
Not the police,
Who has given us the right to be secure in our persons.

It was the Veteran,
Not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the right to demonstrate.

It is the Veteran,
Not the politician,
Who defends our Nation.

It is the Veteran,
Who salutes the flag.
Who served under the flag.
Who gave his oath to support and defend
The Constitution and Our Nation
Against all Enemies, Foreign and Domestic.

It is the Veteran,
Willing to give his life to protect your freedoms and mine.
Whose coffin is draped by the flag.

It was the Veteran,
With faith in God
Who has given us all our Freedoms.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

Happy Birthday Lisa Joy! 7 August 2010

2010-08-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

Today is my sister Lisa's birthday, She is younger than I and is my only sister. We share our family with five brothers, from our parents two marriages. We are blessed sisters.

Our father was a a career man in the Navy and then the Air Force for a total of 23 years. I was born in Texas while dad was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base and Lisa was born at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. We have always been close and after many years apart, now live in the same town, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

We still today enjoy our sister time together and being close enough to take rides, go to the movies and talk on the phone daily. Being children of the 50's we were among the original Barbie Doll owners and played with them for hours on end.

For her birthday gift, she has requested my Beef Stroganoff. We will oblige.

Have a wonderful day Lisa and I send you my Love, Hugs and Butterfly Kisses!

Love,

Paula

Goings on with Hey,Hey,Paula 6 August 2010

2010-08-06T15:15:00.000-05:00

I've not blogged in quite a while. Life has been hectic and filled with thoughts, actions and deeds!

In the thought department, I am thinking of changing out my home. With mobile homes you can do that easy! Just order a new one and have them replace your old one! Mine is twelve years old and is in need of remodeling or replacing. The one I am looking at has three bedrooms, two full baths, kitchen, living room, laundry room. Same as I have now, but different design and cool features like a soaker tub and big pantry and it is ten feet longer! Still working out all the details. Process involves, deciding if I want to switch out or remodel mine...?

It's action time for my youngest! They just found out they are expecting their first youngin'! That will make three grandchildren to bless me! Daddy will be heading off to the Air Force the end of August, so we'll need to make sure there are lots of pictures!

Calla and Jeff

The oldest grandkids are growing leaps and bounds! As Zac celebrates his 15th birthday August 9th, he'll receive the "long awaited" driver's permit! Around the corner, Kayla is preparing to graduate from high school 2011 and pick a college! Boy do I feel old...

Zac and Kayla

Annette and John

Life is good... Health is same... The Lord blesses us each and every day... Summer is here and HOT and I love my A/C!

Love, Hugs and Buitterfly Kisses,
Hey,Hey,Paula

The bosses of our house, minus Mia who needs her photo taken yet

Similiar Mia

Hey,Hey,Paula's Challenge for the Week April 25, 2010:

2010-04-26T12:34:00.001-05:00

I am going to challenge myself this week to clean up my yard.

I challenge you to do the same!

So much trash blows onto my lawn because I am at the end of the street. People seems to think my yard is a dumping ground for paper, pop cans and poo...

If it's salvageable, recycle! Don't pitch good stuff! Donate it!

Please return and report on how you met the challenge and the affect it caused!

Hey, Hey, Paula's Challenge for the Week of April 18, 2010

2010-04-21T01:35:00.000-05:00

I am going to challenge myself this week to clean out my car.

I challenge you to do the same!

I need to do it now before whatever is under the seats multiples and takes over the car! Have you seen that commercial in the AMC movie theatre? It shows vines and stuff coming alive underneath the seats! Eww! Won't put my purse on the floor anymore!

If it's salvageable, recycle! Don't pitch good stuff! Donate it!

Please return and report on how you met the challenge and the affect it caused!

Hey,Hey,Paula's Challenge for the Week April 11, 2010:

2010-04-14T04:20:00.002-05:00

This week I would like you to start or work on a family tree of your immediate family. Start with yourself and see how many blanks you can fill in.

The following link will take you to free software you can download to make a tree on your computer.

Free PAF Family History Software

Or, you can print off sheets here and start filling them out.

Blank Charts and Forms

Happy tree climbing!

Return and report!

Hey,Hey,Paula

Hey,Hey,Paula's Challenge for the Week April 4, 2010:

2010-04-05T01:46:00.001-05:00

I am going to challenge myself this week to clean out one drawer.

I challenge you to do the same!

It could be a small one or a larger one. I am thinking of one of my junk drawers in the kitchen. Maybe it will multiply to more!

And, if it's salvageable, recycle! Don't pitch good stuff! Donate it!

Spring and Easter reminds me of cleansing, so it's time to do some Spring Cleaning!

Please return and report on how you met the challenge and the affect it caused!

This is the Christ

2010-04-04T11:24:00.001-05:00

This is the Christ
James E. Faust

Performed by Mormon Tabernacle Choir

They heard his voice, a voice so mild,
It pierced them through and made their souls to quake.
They saw Him come, a man in white,
The Savior, who had suffered for their sake.
And each could testify:

This is the Christ.
This is the Christ, the Holy Son of God,
Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.
This is the Christ, the Healer of our souls,
Who ransomed us with love divine.

I read His words, the words He prayed,
While bearing sorrow in Gethsemane.
I feel His love, the price He paid.
How many drops of blood were spilled for me?
With Saints of old in joyful cry,
I too can testify:

This is the Christ.
This is the Christ, the holy Son of God,
Our Saviour, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.
This is the Christ, the healer of our souls,
Who ransomed us with love divine.

Blessed Easter! God Lives! Jesus is The Christ!

2010-04-02T07:40:00.002-05:00

"Be Still and Know"

by Alex Boye

Psalms 46:10

Video: The Secular Church - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

2010-03-29T16:22:00.000-05:00

By: SethAdamSmith

The Secular Church - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

"In 1978, the late Neal A. Maxwell (former Apostle in the Mormon Church) delivered a powerful and prophetic sermon at Brigham Young University concerning what he called "the secular church."

In this talk he predicted the rise of irreligion as the new state religion and prophesied that the important moral issues of life, family, marriage and religious rights would become subjects of intense persecution by the Secular Church.

Although he does evoke a few examples from the Book of Mormon, Elder Maxwell's talk is a message and a warning to people of all faiths."

Hey,Hey,Paula's Challenge for the Week March 28, 2010:

2010-03-28T19:03:00.002-05:00

I am going to challenge myself this week to do something kind for another person.

I challenge you to do the same!

It could be as small as picking up trash in your neighbor's yard to preparing a meal for someone who is ill.

Please return and report on how you met the challenge and the affect it caused!

Hey,Hey,Paula's Challenge for the Week

2010-03-21T08:14:00.004-05:00

I am going to challenge myself today to sit down

and write at least one letter and at least one card

and mail them the old fashioned way with a stamp

and via the US Postal service!

I challenge you to do the same!

In this age of technology, letter writing is becoming
a lost art. My elderly step-mother loves to get letters
and so do I!

Please return and report on how you met the challenge
and the affect it caused!

Journal Entry from the Past Triggering Tears 30 August 2003

2010-03-20T01:49:00.003-05:00

Do you ever have those days where you find yourself in tears and kind of numb? When there’s a taste of null and void in your mouth and to have one straight thought can’t be mastered?

My son in law lost his brother this past week in a work related accident and my family members find themselves reminded of how it was six years ago when we lost our son Michael in a car accident. I want to call his mother and give her my regards, but then I get teary and realize I would not be any good at this point. Just thinking about talking with her brings back the memories of our own experiences. My oldest daughter and I talk on the phone and our voices crack as we clear our throats, as the memories flood back and time is once again turned back.

There are little things that can set me off, as I find myself listening to the radio at a red light and the memorial song to Notorious Big "I'll Be Missing You" comes on. Him and Michael died the same year, 1997, along with Princess Diane. Michael's friends requested we play it for the service and we did, as we left the chapel. It was a perfect song for this setting and time.

Every step I take, every move I make

Every single day, every time I pray

I'll be missing you…

Thinking of the day, when you went away

What a life to take, what a bond to break

I'll be missing you...

When I run across my mother's handwriting whether it be on a letter I have saved, a recipe she wrote out or perhaps a card she sent to say "Happy Birthday", I find myself running my fingers across the dried up ink to see if I can still feel the pulse of her emotions as she wrote that message that I still treasure to this day. I remember her calmness and how she was the true matriarch of our family and cared for all us children and my father while he served in the Air Force. I have learned much from her example and each meal I prepare or task I do, reminds me of her and the way she taught me or at least tried to teach me the correct way. I, being my father’s daughter, on the other hand tend to be a little defiant at times and do things my own way. Usually, my results are not as good as her’s. And once again, a lesson is learned, even through the veil.

When I went to visit my family in North Carolina recently, my sister brought out photograph albums and old memories. She had safely tucked away the baby clothes, now aged yellow with time, that my mother has sacredly kept all these years of our moving and growing up. We compared pictures with clothes to decide what was whose. She lets me bring the coveted treasure home with promises to keep them safe and to clean them, as I am able.

As I look at my “good intention project pile” beside me, there lies these tiny, infant clothes placed on top of “Michael’s White Box”. The box that holds the last mementos of my son which were given to me by the funeral home. Sympathy cards and funeral announcements fill the box that is only opened when I need to be assured that I still have that part of him left with me. His military dog tags and a beautiful guest registry with a peace dove adorning its’ blue covering quietly rest inside, along with important papers and a surplus of pictures I had duplicated for friends and family.

He is casually sitting in a seat at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, home of his beloved Cardinals. A beautiful smile fills his face and you can see the happiness that radiates this day as he is with Molly, the only girl he ever truly loved. I have wished him a lifetime of “Mollys” when I remember how happy he was at that time. And then, my vision is blurred by this sacred “trigger” as it brings on happier times when the world was calmer and life seemed to be perfect.

An old Jim Croce song from 1975 comes to mind titled “Time In A Bottle”. Michael and Annette were small and we lived in North Carolina when that song came out. I remember it well.

If I could save time in a bottle

The first thing that I'd like to do

Is to save every day

Till Eternity passes away

Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever

If words could make wishes come true

I'd save every day like a treasure and then,

Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time

To do the things you want to do

Once you find them

I've looked around enough to know

That you're the one I want to go

Through time with

If I had a box just for wishes

And dreams that had never come true

The box would be empty

Except for the memory

Of how they were answered by you

The world lost Jim Croce shortly after he wrote that and other memorable songs. Fortunately for us, the memories and the words live on and in today’s world of technology we can find Jim’s voice once again on Amazon.com and I find myself wishing I could find a “Michael.com”.

But, there’s not, and I remember his face and his voice calling me “Ma!” He is sitting right beside me and gives me one of his famous hugs, as I try to type and get to the last word of my humble, throat grabbing thought and emotion. They say it gets easier with time… I don’t know who “they” are, but “they” must have never buried a child.

So today, I cry for many women. One, would be my son-in-law’s mother, Wilma. I remember how she tried to comfort me when I experienced the same agony and emotions, while trying to be strong for others. I cry for my daughter who once again experiences the hurt all over again, as she wears her hat of the strong wife, mother and daughter-in-law that she needs to be right now. For the step-mother who loved him as her own and his sister and all the others, men and women, who knew his smile, his touch and his life.

We can not “put time in a bottle” or create a living “.com” site for those who have passed where we can see them and communicate freely. But, we can take these precious memories and these triggers and savor each second and each smile and know that in the eternal rhelm of things that life is eternal and families will be together forever someday.

And then, ever so gently, another “trigger” comes to my thoughts…

I have a family here on earth. They are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

Families can be together forever Through Heavenly Father's plan.

I always want to be with my own family, And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.

"Families Can Be Together Forever"

Journal Entry from the Past 11 May 2003

2010-03-20T00:35:00.005-05:00

This morning I am awakened to breakfast cooking, but no one is here but me and the house is closed up. Boy, those hash browns sure smell good!! My son Michael has sent me a Mother's Day message through the veil. He passed away six years ago this month, May 31 at 24. Perhaps my mother is helping him and the two children I lost to miscarriages.

On my shelf I admire my cards from my children. There's a new one from Annette and Calla and a past one from Michael, that I bring out to join the others every year. Now, we are all together again. Families are forever.

Happy Mother's Day to you all! May you be blessed this day and always with all you stand in need of. God Bless you with the scent of roses and with abundant love in your heart and a day of eternal blessings.

Journal Entry from the Past 19 Mar 2003

2010-03-19T23:47:00.001-05:00

Leonard Erskine Clark

22 Mar 1933 - 5 Jun 2006

My Traveling Buddy... I miss him

I can hear him laughing, "I'm having a ball over here!"

Today would have been Michael’s 30th birthday. My friend Leonard made the long road trip with me back to Burlington to take him his new flag, as I have come to do every year since March 19, 1998 the year after he died.

Then it was on through Nauvoo and then Keokuk to take Mom her’s as well. On the way back, as we left Ottumwa, it was announced on the radio that war had officially bagan in Iraq. We just sat in silence as we listened to the newscaster. Wow… What more can one say…?

Journal Entry from the Past 17 Aug 2002

2010-03-19T23:34:00.003-05:00

Be Not Afraid

by Greg Olsen

I have noticed recently on a website that I belong to that many have written of losing loved ones in their lives and how it has affected them and those around them. I just wanted to take the time to put my thoughts to pen and see if I can share with you some of my knowledge of the eternal rhelm. I don't have all the answers. All the answers have not yet been revealed to us. It is not time. But, when He feels the time is right, we will know. We just need to have patience. A blessing from God? I know so.

I recently attended a memorial service to honor the life of my friend Dale Fisher. It was a beautiful service filled with memories, music and testimonies of the life he lived here on the earth and the life he is now living on the other side of the ever-so-thin veil in the Spirit World. His life now is one that is pain free, worry free and filled with eternal bliss. He still has to work. Sorry, no rest there either. But, it is a different kind of work. It is doing the work of our Father in Heaven and teaching those who have never had the opportunity to learn about our Savior, Jesus Christ, while they were here on the earth.

We all need to learn of Him and decide what path we wish to take and realize that all the decisions we make have eternal consequences. A blessing from God? I know so. I read here of people who are hurting and have lost all faith and belief that there is a God. I hear stories of the trials and tribulations that many experience and in doing so, are looking for answers. "Who am I?", "Where did I come from?", "Where am I going after this life?" Many of us search for our identity and that journey can take us in various directions and to a variety of answers. Some are awesome while other bring sorrow.

If you are reading this, and wondering these things, just know the following statements to be true. A blessing from God? I know so. You are a child of God. He loves you. He created you in his image. He will NEVER give up on you. He wants you to succeed in this life. He has such wonderful plans in mind just for you as an individual and your family as an eternal unit. Life will not always be easy. Some will seem to struggle more so than others. But, we are each one accountable for ourselves and our actions.

As parents, we are responsible to teach and train up our children in the lessons of right and wrong. If we error, there is a way to correct the error. The Savior died for our sins. We don't need to carry them with us forever like rocks upon our shoulders. We only need to repent and work to do not let these errors happen again. There is a way out. Why did He make that possible? It goes back to the first two sentences, "You are a child of God. He loves you." A blessing from God? I know so.

I want to share with you a series of very special experiences that strengthened my testimony of these things I have written. These experiences are special to me and I love to share them with anyone who wants to know answers or needs to hear of my testimony. When I look at the whole story, I see how the Lord prepared my family and I to get through this and go on. A blessing from God? I know so.

My son Michael was killed in a car accident early Saturday morning, May 31, 1997 at the age of 24. He lived 300 miles away from me in Burlington, IA with his father. On the Friday night prior to this, I had driven and stayed overnight at my brother's in Ft. Madison, IA, which is 20 minutes away from Burlington. My youngest daughter, a friend's daughter and I were on our way to the dedication of the St. Louis Missouri LDS Temple. We were going to make it a long weekend, which would include a trip to Six Flags. Michael didn't know I was there and I called his father to let him know we were in town and that I would like to see Michael before we left for St. Louis. He informed me that Michael was out with his friends, but that he would leave him a note and he wrote down my brother's unlisted number, which he otherwise did not have. I was only 20 minutes away, not six hours. A blessing from God? I know so.

Early the next morning, I was talking to my friend Ceci on the phone and we were interrupted by the operator who said that she had an emergency phone call from Mike F. and would we please give up our line so he could call through? I of course thought it was my son, a Jr. not his father the Sr. His father then called and told me I needed to get to Burlington quickly, as Michael had been in a car accident. He didn't tell me any more other than to come to his brother's house and not the hospital.

My brother drove me there and while traveling made the statement, "You know, in situations like this, we need to understand that the worse may have happened." From the moment I got into his vehicle, I began praying for answers. Through the Gift of the Holy Ghost, I then received the personal revelation, and replied to him, "either he is already gone or we will have to make the decision to "pull the plug". I knew he was gone. But I knew that he was just fine where he was. A blessing from God? I know so.

When we got to his dad's brother's, we were met by his dad, his uncle and wife and their pastor. It was then they gave us the news. After tears and explanations as to what happened, I immediately went to the kitchen table and sat down with pen and paper to put together a funeral service and make arrangements. I only got through this in the calmest possible way possible, by the "Comforter" enveloping my body in the compassion and love of our Father in Heaven. A blessing from God? I know so.

One of the first things that came up was life insurance to pay for a funeral. Did Michael have any? He had just changed jobs two weeks before this happened and new coverage would not have started yet. Who to call on Saturday? So, I called his present employer to tell them of his loss and to ask them. No, he had none with them. So, I got to thinking about Motorola where he had worked before. Would someone be there on Saturday? So, I called and got ahold of a supervisor of the day shift that was indeed working. He said he would get ahold of the Human Resource person and have her call me. So, a little while later, she called. She had made a special trip into the office to check the records. Yes, he was covered. Matter of fact, his life insurance expired that day, May 31. A blessing from God? I know so.

Because it was an accident, it would pay at double indemnity (value) and Michael had made his dad and I equal beneficiaries. Our son literally got his parents on the path to better financial stability. We were able to pay for his funeral expenses and we both were able to pay off bills and put a down payment on a house. A blessing from God? I know so.

At the funeral, the soloist was singing a hymn called, "Families Can Be Together Forever". When he was singing the second verse, chorus, I literally heard my son singing at my right shoulder,

"Families can be together forever,

through Heavenly Father's plan.

I always want to be with my own family

and the Lord has showed me how I can.

The Lord has showed me how I can."

I looked at my friend at my right to see if she heard as well, but she was just listening to the soloist. This was a special gift for a mother who was in mourning. After the service, I spoke to the man who had sung and shared with him that I had heard Michael singing with him. He smiled and said, "I felt him there with me." A blessing from God? I know so.

Michael was not perfect. That night he died, he had been drinking and playing basketball with his friends. He hadn't been to church since he was a teenager and decided to rebel with mom as to getting up on Sunday morning. But, whenever he called me he always closed with, "I love you!" Whenever we saw one another, he always enveloped my 5'6" "motherly" frame with his 6'3" lanky frame with what I have fondly called, "Michael's Hug". A blessing from God? I know so.

In our religion, we have sacred ordinances that a person needs to accomplish on their journey to "higher and better things". Some of these ordinances can only be accomplished in the temple. If a person does not do them while they are living, they can be done by "proxy" or in their behalf by another member of the same gender a year after they have died. The person who has passed on, still makes the decision to accept this work or not.

I had Michael's temple work done a year after he died and as I waited for his affirmation to come somehow, someway to know he had accepted this work, I went up to his "proxy" to hug him and thank him for doing this for Michael. When he hugged me back, it was "Michael's Hug"; not the hug of a stranger. Michael had indeed repented and come back to the fold. A blessing from God? I know so.

Many times in my life, I have been blessed with various situations that have made me stand back and take notice. I have been in situations I thought there was no way out of and done things that I later regretted doing. But, through all of this, once I found out about the "pure love of Christ", I began to see that I could come out of it and I could smile and laugh again. It was then that I came to the knowledge and understanding, that if I do my part and live worthy, that I would indeed be blessed with the eternities with my family. A blessing from God? I know so.