COME FOLLOW ME....

COME FOLLOW ME…

Years ago, when Primary met on a weekday and the 9, 10, and 11-year old girls were Larks, Bluebirds, and Seagulls, and everybody met at the chapel on Sunday morning for Sunday School and later that day for Sacrament meeting, we would sometimes have lessons or talks in Church about some of the events that would have to happen before Christ’s Second Coming.  Things like temples would dot the land, and the building of a temple at the New Jerusalem.  There were about nine or ten temples at the time, each of which took considerable time to build—and hey, let’s not forget that the Salt Lake Temple took 40 years to build.  Could breathe a sigh of relief on that score.  We’d have a ton of heads-up time if there were going to be lots of temples and one big one.

Oh, and there was occasionally mention that there would come a time we would be having Church at home and not in chapels.

That seemed pretty far-fetched!  I mean, after all, we had all these Church programs.  How in the world would we EVER do all that in our houses?

Well, that Primary girl is now on third base—looking toward home…!  A lot has happened during her seven plus decades that points to fulfillment of prophesy that even SHE can see.

Temples do indeed dot the land—and it didn’t take all that long to build each one since they are not the size and magnitude of the Salt Lake Temple.  And most of them have been built and dedicated since President Hinckley announced his ambitious goal for many, many smaller temples where the people are.  I just look to my own Fort Collins Temple for a perfect example of that!

The curriculum in our Church classes has slowly been revised over the years to reflect compatible topics and themes from the yearly study of one book of scripture during each year for priesthood, Sunday School and Relief Society manuals.  Those curriculum writers produced landmark manuals like Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Preach My Gospel for the Missionaries, Teaching in the Savior’s Way to improve gospel instruction, and now the rich blessings of Come Follow Me for individual and family study at home, supported in our new 2-hour block of Church meetings on Sunday. 

What blessings have come to us in spite of my limited early vision,  seeing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the perspective of the “box” that was so familiar it was difficult to think anything completely different could change our lives in such profound ways.

Since President Nelson began his ministry as our prophet, seer, and revelator just a year ago, we have had the eyes of our understanding opened wide—and I know from some of his more recent remarks—we are going to see even more change which will undoubtedly stretch us in this continuing process.

President Nelson announced in October General Conference the procedural change from three-hour Sunday meetings to two-hour meetings and called it “an adjustment”, wherein we now have a “home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our church buildings.  Now we will be able to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship in our own homes.”

It could be easy to think along the lines that we will be getting out of school early now.  But the main reason we have one less hour in our chapels is so we can spend that hour at home individually or as a family in learning more about the Savior and tune ourselves into His incredible teachings drawn from His personal attributes. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, in the December Ensign, “The Lord’s work has always been ultimately about people, not programs… what the Lord is really hoping to change is you and me.  He wants to change our hearts and enhance our future.”

So, how do we go about doing that? 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell in April 1991 General Conference taught that the fundamentals we need to perfect our faith—and therefore our relationship with the Lord so we can make that change to our hearts—are serving, studying, praying, and worshiping.  But I only want to emphasize how studying and worshiping can touch our hearts and enhance our daily lives. 

In short, I am going to share my experience with the new Come Follow Me curriculum as it has played out in my life the last two weeks.

Two weeks ago on Sunday the 30^th of December, Louis and I sat down after our three hour meeting block and began to discuss just exactly what we thought we should do to implement this program into our family of two empty-nesters with grown children and grandchildren. 

During that brainstorming session of ideas, Louis suggested we each spend an hour studying something from the manual and then come together to share that in “companion study” like he did on his mission.

Now I have never served a proselyting mission. Nor have I ever studied with someone else in a more formal set-up like that.  But it sounded good to me…and the next day which was Monday, we began to implement that plan.

I was interested to hear Louis’ perspective of those first week topics based on his study and his personal experiences.  Some I had heard.  Some I had not.  We drew from the topical guide and other scriptures to flesh out some of the ideas about gaining and strengthening our own testimonies and how we could be instruments in helping others gain a testimony of the truth for themselves—family members who are not now embracing the gospel and some of those with whom we work.

Louis and I talked about the process of asking questions when we are seeking spiritual knowledge.  And acting in faith remembering it’s all about the Lord’s timetable as we develop His divine characteristic of patience.

We talked in depth about the parables of the sower and the ten virgins.  We asked ourselves when we might have been a foolish virgin and what we did to become one of the wise ones.  We observed people we knew and cared for who had been cast into stony ground and hadn’t thrived with the heat and no water. 

For some years I have wondered if I would ever have the privilege of understanding the mysteries of heaven.  Then, during our discussions of these two parables, I suddenly realized I HAVE been privy to the mysteries of the kingdom because I Do understand those parables.  The Lord said they were not for everyone to understand because they were part of the mysteries of heaven

As we talked about faith, I realized again I have always been a person of faith.  I have always had faith that all will be well—in spite of a couple of really awful things that have happened in my life.  The Lord will continue to take care of me—as He has so capably in the past.  That is a sure truth for me.

In fact, Louis and my discussions didn’t seem to end at a specific time—minute-wise.  We’d be in the car or elsewhere and observations would come to us, and we continued to discuss new aspects of a gospel topic we hadn’t addressed previously or hadn’t even thought of before. 

That was the first week. 

Then I went away for my work as I normally do every week (that first week being at home in an ideal situation with a companion was a fluke!)  During this last week when I arrived at my layover hotel every night, it was always in a different time zone from the one Louis was in.  He was in bed at home some nights.  I was in bed at a hotel on the other end some nights.  Those great discussions DIDN’T happen. 

So, I went back to studying the way I had always done on my own—only now I have dozens more resources to explore.  And reader that I am, that was just a green light to read and read and read without feeling a bit guilty!  What wonderful things I have learned from past conference addresses.  Journals of discourse. Personal experiences.  Discussions with my children…and even people who didn’t even KNOW they were discussing this week’s lesson!

I’m in a unique position:  I have a testimony of the benefit Come Follow Me is to the family—AND to an individual.  I have done both!

More importantly, I have a testimony that having a gospel centered home is just exactly what will assist us in changing our hearts and preparing for a future featuring the Lord’s Second Coming that is glorious beyond anything we could possibly imagine. 

The daily study we do becomes true worship of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Elder Maxwell said, “Failure to do that study is to be intellectually and spiritually malnourished.  In a hardening world, the Lord can pierce our consciousness by using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

I encourage you to embrace this new program!  It is a revelation of transformation that will only make us better than we could make ourselves without the Lord’s guiding hand.

AN EXTRODINARY WOMAN....

I was cleaning out my Primary bag yesterday in preparation for our Presidency meeting last night and our new adventure which begins on Sunday with COME FOLLOW ME and the 2-hour meeting block.  Figured the best way to do that was just turn the bag upside down, dump out the contents and start from there.

Whew!  TWO handfuls of dirty tissues.  Board magnets hiding willy-nilly amongst the detritus.  Old bulletins from Sacrament meetings held months ago.  A thank you card from the Stake Primary for our great Sacrament Meeting presentation in September.  Ward Council notes long since acted upon.  An outdated Handbook 2.  Pens.  Lip balm of at least three varieties.  A pair of bi-focal glasses.  And a long-forgotten spiritual thought I gave in Ward Council early in 2018.

Harold shared the original quote by Susanna Wesley with me while I was still working at Super PC Memory, I think.  I had always appreciated this profound message and for some reason must have been thinking about it around the time Brother Hill assigned me to give a spiritual thought.  

"Take this rule:  whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."

In my mind I remembered Harold told me it was from one of  President James E. Faust's talks.  Only, I couldn't find it.  I never did find the exact quote in any of President Faust's writings (Sabbath Day, October 1991 General Conference comes the closest)--or anywhere else when I did a search on lds.org.  But I found a lot of other information pertinent to the quote, which I prepared for my spiritual thought from various sources including Wikipedia, and gave that back story before I shared the words the way Susanna Wesley wrote them in a letter on June 8, 1725 to her son.  

When I reread the entire thought I gave that early Sunday morning last year, I was impressed again how the Lord has loved all his people throughout the ages.  There are so many good people who tried to live according to His teachings, even though the gospel hadn't yet been restored.  I think Susanna Wesley is one of my heroines.  She sought light and truth and lived her life in accordance to what she knew was right.  UNDER GREAT DURESS!

Susanna Wesley was born on January 20, 1669, the 25th of 25 children.  Her father,        Dr. Samuel Annesley, was a dissenter of the established Church of England.  At the age of 13, Susanna stopped attending her father's church and joined the official Church of England.  

She was married to a preacher.  They had 19 children, nine of whom died in infancy.  Her husband was a man who couldn't manage money.  They disagreed on everything  from money to politics, and he left her to raise the children alone for long periods of time--sometimes over something as simple as an argument.  

One of their children was crippled.  Another couldn't talk until he was nearly six years old.  Susanna herself was desperately sick most of her life.  There was no money for food or anything else.  Debt plagued them.

Her husband Samuel was once thrown into debtor's prison because their debt was so high, which doubled their problems.  Twice the homes they lived in were burned to the ground, losing everything they owned.  Someone slit their cow's udders so they wouldn't have milk, killed their dog, and burned their flax field.  It was assumed that their church members did these things because of volatile political sermons her husband preached!

When Susanna was young, she promised the Lord that for every hour she spent in entertainment, she would give an hour to Him in prayer and in doing the Word.  Taking care of the house and raising so many kids made this commitment nearly impossible to fulfill.  She had no time for entertainment or for long hours in prayer!  She worked the gardens, milked the cow, schooled the children and managed the entire house herself.  So, she decided instead to give the Lord two hours a day in prayer!  But she struggled to find a secret place to get away and pray in secret to God as she had promised.  Consequently, no matter how challenging her day to day life was, she advised her children that when they saw her with her apron over her head, that meant she was in prayer and couldn't be disturbed.

Susanna Wesley never preached a sermon, published a book, or founded a church, yet the example of faith and religious reverence she set for her children John and Charles inspired them to become powerful spiritual leaders, who launched the Methodist movement.

She wrote that she knew that one day her difficult life would be over and she alone would stand before God and give an account of how she had lived her life.  

Susanna Wesley died in England in 1742 at the age of 73.  

She wrote part of her personal creed as follows:

"How would you judge the lawfulness or unlawfulness of "pleasure"?

Use this rule:

Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sight of God, takes from you your thirst for spiritual things or increases the authority of your body over your mind, then that thing to you is evil.

By this test you may detect evil no matter how subtly or how plausibly temptation may be presented to you.

(NOTE:  I didn't  keep the bibliographical cites from which I took this information.  Just know these are not MY words.  I'm just repeating this information as I recorded it from online sources.)

ASSESSING....

It's New Year's Day 2019, and I am thinking about last year and how I DID NOT accomplish much on my goal list.  Got off to a good start....and then  I let other stuff get in the way.

To recap, I shared five things which sounded pretty simple that I felt would keep my life on track and allow me to achieve some modest accomplishments, as well as a record of some spiritual experiences.

WHAT REALLY TRANSPIRED

1.  I've gotten to the point I can hardly stand to get ready for the day anymore.  It is such a dreaded routine. And the outcome is not really satisfying when I get finished and look in the mirror.  I HATE seeing that oldster staring back at me.

I honestly think that if I let myself, I could go a while without doing more than throwing on some clothes after I brushed my teeth in the morning.  Trouble with that is my face feels greasy--still after all these years!--and my scalp begins to itch.  And I don't want to go anywhere in case someone sees me worse than au naturel.  I would look unkempt.

So, did I make it a point to get ready for the day as soon as possible after I got up?  Most of the time--when I had to be somewhere at a certain time.  On MY days, I loved it when I DID get ready right away.  Seemed like I had more hours in the day to get things taken care of.

2.  I am very aware of the Lord's hand in my life.  But my problem is that I don't always write down the special experiences when that happens.  Okay.  Let's be honest.  I rarely write them down.  My ministering sister even brought me a little gratitude journal on one of her visits.  That helped me for a while.  I forced myself to write only a brief paragraph for each entry, then it didn't seem so overwhelming of a task.  Then I misplaced the notebook when I took it to work with me.  And by the time I found which safe place I had tucked it into, several of those experiences were so far gone, I couldn't have recorded them if I had taken the time to do it after I had located it.

What I did write were nice little reminders that the Lord knows me, is concerned about my needs and my happiness, but that it truly is through someone else's hand that he blesses me. 

3.  I'm still a die-hard list maker.  Once again this last year, when I actually wrote lists, my time was magically extrapolated into a larger commodity to get housework, projects, correspondence, Primary, etc. taken care of.  President Faust used to teach that he made a list every night in order of priority so he knew exactly what he needed to work on as soon as he greeted a new day.  A sister I knew in Berlin made a list of only three things with the one at the top the absolute HAVE TO DO item.  If she didn't get the other two finished, they rolled over and became a number one HAVE TO DO for the next day.  I used to scoff at that idea because I was so into doing it all--every day.  Three things sounded skimpy.  Now it would be nice if I DID do three things in a day instead of maybe one or two.  

Can I honestly say I mastered that task again.  Noooo.  

4.  Oh, the #52 Stories of Me sounded like such an easy way to add more to my personal/family history.  I did pretty well.  My goal was to do one entry a week.  Then it came to the one suggestion where I was supposed to write about my childhood home.  That one bowled me over.  I loved my home and there was so much I wanted to write and share about it.  I sat down several times to begin.  Would write a paragraph or two, then erase it.  (One version is actually still in drafts.)  It wasn't until much later that I realized I should have written it in short little chapters.  Now that would have been a doable thing.  Along toward the end of the year, I looked ahead and wrote something about a couple of topics that were supposed to come much, much later in the mix.  I should have just kept going doing that, skipping the My Childhood Home one until the others got done.   No one said they HAD to be in the order the list was.

I'm going to give it a try again this next year and see if I can stick with it, work through the ones that bog me down.  The important thing, I'm guessing, is that a person writes SOMETHING about his history.

5.  Along about April I realized that I was getting casual in my scripture study and the relationship between the Lord and me just wasn't as close.  I decided to reread the Book of Mormon ACAD--a chapter a day and see if that helped.  It did.  But my journal entries for the Book of Mormon on my phone ended up being no more than a handful of sentences.  Nothing of any consequence.

Then  came October General Conference when President Nelson gave the sisters four invitations to "help gather scattered Israel".  The second invitation was to read the entire Book of Mormon before the end of the year.  

Now I was in a quandary.  I had just finished Helaman and was into the first chapter of 3rd Nephi.  Should I just continue on reading from my own charted goal?  Should I start over and forget my original goal? I finally decided to do BOTH!  And that was tough to do!  

I had to read lots and lots of chapters every day starting at the beginning of the book for several weeks.  When I finally caught up my second goal with my first goal somewhere in Ether, I just read one chapter a day--making note of all the passages which gave any indication of Christ's divinity and power like President Nelson asked us to do.

I finished that double goal on Saturday night, December 15th.  I felt GOOD!  

With our new manual COME FOLLOW ME for individual study, I decided to start anew with my determination to study the Book of Mormon in 2019  by pondering only a verse or a passage of scripture as it relates to the lesson material in the manual for that week. I have a little notebook I am using, so maybe I will actually make some journal notes.

So, there is my assessment.  Fell short from my desired goal on every single item.  Yet I profited from the little I did manage to get done.

LOOKING AHEAD

One of my perpetual goals year after year used to be read the Ensign magazine cover to cover every month.  It's been a few years since I actually did that.  I started reading the magazine online since I have my smart phone with me all the time.  That is great, but again no notes to readily access.  

I always have the current monthly copy on my bedside table.  Sometimes I actually take it on my trip with me.  I'm committing to reading it cover to cover every month once again.  Great supplemental material for our new COME FOLLOW ME and there are always reprints of devotional addresses or specific articles written by the General Authorities.

In addition, I will keep working on the goals I set for 2018.  They are actually really great goals, and there is no harm in continuing with them.  They will only help me stay organized and through that effort forge a closer relationship with the Savior as I stay on the covenant path.

A NEW YEAR.  A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO DO BETTER....   

CHRISTMAS BEGINS WITH CHRIST!

Our Relief Society sisters began this year with a Carlson Farm Ward theme for 2018: “I Will Choose Him Again”.  Each month we have explored how best we can emulate the Savior through joy, love, radiating His light, extending forgiveness, and the other several topics we touched on throughout the ensuing months.

Then, as a conclusion to this year’s challenge to “Choose Him Again”, the ward Relief Society chose for a December theme simply “Choose Christ”.

I was thinking about that theme while I was sitting in Primary Sharing Time last Sunday. (Happily, I am still the ward Primary president!)  When it was Singing Time, the song leader cleverly introduced the songs for the month by talking about the symbols of Christmas which are each representative about some aspect of Christ.  Those symbols were hidden around the room in Christmas gift bags which the kids took turns finding. It was fun watching them gleefully participate in this treasure hunt as the activity unfolded.

The song leader started with a small tree and while she was taking it out of the bag explained that Christmas trees are Evergreen trees.   Not only do they symbolize the “living” Christ because they are always green and alive, but the branches of an Evergreen tree all point upward to heaven.

Next was the star which gave direction to the shepherds and the Wise Men who came seeking him. That star also guides us to Him.

Then she placed a string of lights on the tree.  The kids had no trouble recognizing that the lights also represent the “light of Christ”. 

She told them red is the first color of Christmas.  It represents the blood which Christ our Savior shed for us to redeem us from our sins. 

As she put presents under the tree, she reminded them that Christ was God’s gift to the world for our redemption.  And…presents significantly typify the gifts the Wise Men brought to the Christ child. 

When she held up a small poinsettia bloom, the kids correlated that poinsettias are also star-shaped.  There are two colors: red typifying the first color of Christmas and white for Christ’s purity.

Candy canes have a special meaning, too.  The crook at the top is a reminder that Christ is the Good Shepherd who watches over all of us, bringing the one back to the fold if any stray.

 Holly came next.  It is important because the red berries and prickly green leaves last all year.  The sharp edges of the holly leaf are a reminder of the thorns placed on the Savior’s head before his crucifixion.

When she pulled a wreath out of a colorful bag, she told the kids that a wreath’s circular shape represents one eternal round.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ's family for eternity!

And last…she said bells symbolize the announcement of Christ’s birth, as their joyful peal reminds us of that remarkable news every time they ring.

While the song leader was having the kids share what they knew about these symbols of Christmas, I thought about how the world is trying so very hard to take Christ right out of Christmas!  

There are blatant substitutions.  Winter holiday.  Forest animals.  Specialized ornaments.  ANYTHING but Christ.  It is getting ever more difficult even to find simple Nativity sets.  And the big department stores that could be counted on to have the really gorgeous—and expensive—Nativity sets no longer carry them.  No one wants them.

But…in spite of trying to take Christ out of Christmas—there He still is!  Right before our very eyes as we decorate our trees with stars, with lights, and bells, etc. and bustle about finding the perfect present to give to our special people.  The stores are FULL of Christ!

Make a mental note when you see these emblems that denote something important about Christ’s birth, life, and death, that Christ is still in Christmas!  Celebrate this year with a glad heart for the message of hope and love that His birth, which we celebrate each December 25^th, promised so many years ago.  His life simply cannot be erased.

CHOOSE CHRIST! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

PS Another really meaningful way to choose Christ is to participate in the LDS Church’s Christmas initiative this year.  There has been much opportunity provided by the Church in the previous Christmas seasons to reach out to others in an uplifting and helpful way.  This year is yet another opportunity to make a difference through service to our neighbors near and far away from us.  Check it out!  Just google “Light the World 2018” for ideas on how to participate in all kinds of service projects, either solo or with groups.

ALL ABLAZE !!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2018

Celebrated my 73rd birthday this last weekend.  First on Saturday with Louis,  Brice, Judy, Cheyenne, Cameron, Burgandy, Brittany, Ro, and Pippa.  A total smorgasbord of snacks and a birthday cake made with a recipe from my way, way past.  It is called 1, 2, 3, 4 Cake.  Simple yellow with almond flavoring, powdered sugar frosting topped with coconut.

We went to visit my mother's sister Cornelia and family once when I was just a little girl  and stayed for dinner.  This was the dessert.  I fell in love with it--NOT chocolate--and begged my mother to get the recipe.  It has been in my own recipes for years since I left for BYU and was a favorite choice for me when birthday time rolled around.  Ross used to make it for me.  But because he would always forget to separate the eggs and beat the whites by themselves to add at the end, he wrote a big note on the recipe  READ THIS with an arrow pointing to that part of the directions.

Anyway, when I found out Brittany and her kids were going to be here for my birthday, I sent her a copy of the recipe and asked if she would make it for my birthday.  She did.  And it was sooooo good!

The family insisted on the whole ration of candles to top the cake.  Not only was there barely room to place them all, but that amount of candles were putting out a fair amount of heat.  I had picked up a lighter with a long nozzle at the dollar store earlier that day so no one would get burnt fingers trying to light the candles.  An alarm sounded at the cash register to alert the clerk to the possibility a minor was trying to purchase the lighter.  She looked at me and said, "I assume you are over 18?"   I told her, "Just a bit.  I'll be 73 tomorrow."  The she came back with, "Not too much over 18,  though."

Was I able to blow all those candles out with just one breath?  You bet I did!  And am looking forward to my wish coming true.   (Smoke filled the kitchen but fortunately, the smoke alarm didn't go off.) 

The celebration continued all day Sunday (my ACTUAL birthday on the 2nd) as I spent the time with my Primary kids and friends who dropped in during the evening with small gifts.  It was a good celebration.  One that pointed me in a positive direction for the remaining 20 months before I TRULY retire for real on my 20th anniversary with United on August 7, 2020.

Wish me luck...and "many more"....

COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL ISSUES #52 STORIES OF ME....(week 47)

QUESTION:  Is there someone in your life who has inspired you to care more about the community and global issues?

ANSWER:  No.  None of the rhetoric that blasts the media has done anything for me but be turned off by the strident--and often--inaccurate reports that scream from the internet and the news.

About the only awareness for these issues that I have had in my life has come from the gospel of Jesus Christ and the ministering opportunities that my local congregation has afforded me to serve or the individual efforts I have made to "minister" when I feel a personal inspiration to do so.

I pray.  And at times I add my "Widow's Mite" to the other reservoirs of "mites" to assist in local, national, and international crises.

I guess by pretty much all "standards" out there, I am UNCARING.  UNFEELING.  And PRIVILEGED not to have been impacted or even touched by the disasters so prevalent in the world.

Does that make me a BAD person?

CHRISTMAS IS COMING....!

Christmas is coming!  And I feel that old familiar aura of holiday anticipation about me, in spite of the fact that this is only the first week in November.  The stores are already completely full of everything Christmas from décor to apparel to decorations to specialty food items.  Some of that stuff has been in the stores since summer--depending on the store and what kind of merchandise it sells. But that was pretty easy to overlook until I went to a Nativity Sneak Peek early this week.

Our northern Colorado book/gift store which carried Latter-day Saint items  recently became an Independent Deseret Book store and changed its name from Moroni Books to Latter-Day Books and Gifts.  It was through the auspices of Deseret Book that this little store held the Nativity event--along with every other Deseret Book affiliate or independent book store across the country.

Even though this is NOT the year I display my beautiful collection  of Nativities, my interest was piqued.  I am always out on a trip when it comes to these kinds of events, but this time I saw that I was going to be in town.  Without thinking, I clicked on the box and requested two FREE tickets.  Maybe Louis and I could slip up to Fort Collins that night after he finished driving.

I was out on my walk a couple of days later when I thought, "Why not invite Cathy Callahan, my all time favorite next door neighbor to go with me?  She could come up here in the late afternoon, we could grab a bite to eat and be at the store by 6:30."  I don't like to drive if I don't have to, so I wasn't sure what her response would be.

It was an enthusiastic, "Yes!"  She had enjoyed my Nativity Festival last Christmas and thought this would be nice.  Though she is Catholic, she is the one who wrote to me what a wonderful tribute my display was to the Lord and how my love of Him  inspired others after seeing the article in the newspaper and visiting my home.  She said I had touched many hearts for the Christmas season and had done what Christ asks of all of us --to share and spread His word and love to His people.  I was glad she was interested in driving up to Johnstown from Arvada, and we made plans.

I hadn't been to the store since its remodel to a Deseret Book affiliate.  Wow!  The location also expanded into the space next to it, and now looks like the real deal.  Instead of a crowded little space with limited inventory, it seemed to have a little bit of everything.  The shelving, the displays, the whole persona was authentic.  You can't tell it from any other DB in the country.  What a transformation!

The Sneak Peek was supposed to showcase 19 NEW Nativity sets, all of which are in the current catalog that arrived in the mail a couple of days later.  There are some really nice large sets.  Some smaller ones, too.  Many of them are part of a Fair Trade kind of thing that assists people in other countries to earn a living selling culturally authentic merchandise.  I have seen similar kinds of initiatives in other online sites and Protestant/Catholic stores which I pop into when I am out on my layovers.

(Side note:  The year-round Christmas store in San Diego closed permanently October 1st.  I was sad about that.  It was always a big impetus to get out and walk there--plus some of my Nativity sets and ornaments came Mistletoe over a period of a dozen years.)

The other night, I allowed myself to purchase a small "paper quill" nativity from Cambodia.  I don't think I have one from there.  I'll put it up this year.  Then it will be a nice addition to my International Table next Christmas.

The new Christmas album from David Archuleta was playing in the background.  I have never paid much attention to him or his singing.  I know he was some kind of winner for American Idol then went on a mission and later sang with the Choir at Temple Square for one of the Christmas concerts.  But, I really liked this music softly wafting through the store.  THAT alone is unusual for me.  I'm pretty much a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas music.  Only the carols--not Christmas songs.  And either instrumental or sung by a great choir like the Church's.  

So, I took a chance and bought the album, as well as the nativity set.  I listened to it in the car on my next trip to DIA and back.  And I really listened to the words.  Never been keen on "Mary, Do You Know?" and "Immanuel", but his renditions were tender and loving.  The selections he wrote himself are full of gospel principles about Christ and His mission on earth.  Well.....I think I made a good purchase.  I do love Christmas music.

I'm almost sorry this isn't the year I display my nativity collection.  I have the time off, and that little Sneak Peek just whetted my appetite for that wonderful, spiritual uplift in the unique way I choose to celebrate Christmas.  

Make plans to share all that with me next Christmas! 
One child.  One star.  One night.