He is the Gift

  He is the Gift!

Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace 

 

I #GiveThanks for our Prince of Peace

LIGHT

I have used colored lights on my main tree this year.   

The colored lights are cheerful and fit my elf theme for the year,

 but I really miss the calm, peaceful, loving, 

even Christ-like feeling I get from all clear lights.

I love light!  

I love The Light!

I #GiveThanks for LIGHT that bring cheer to my heart and soul,  

and

I #GiveThanks for MUSIC that lights my heart and soul.

This year I have added a tree with sheet music ornaments that I have made.  

It's a work in progress and the grandchildren have rearranged it, so it needs "restored" but I love it.

It does have clear lights and this tree is a reminder of 

the angels singing of Christ's birth.

We too, should sing praises to our Savior.  

It's not very hard to do at this time of year because of all the 

wonderful Christmas music.  

You won't even have to leave your home today to sing along with this

 Social Sing and Serve 

I love Christmas music all year long ... 

because I love Christ all year long.

May the Light of Christ fill our heart and soul - always and forever!

#GiveThanks

 I am grateful for HOPE

"... you are you and you are His. 

If you feel that love more fully, 

you will find more hope in every circumstance

 and in all you do." 

(The Process and Power of Hope, 8 September 2020 Devotional by Kevin J Worthen, President of BYU)

What is hope?

... hope is a motivation to persevere toward a goal or end state, even if we’re skeptical that a positive outcome is likely. 

... hope involves activity, a can-do attitude and a belief that we have a pathway to our desired outcome. Hope is the willpower to change and the way-power to bring about that change."

I #GiveThanks for HOPE

and desire to have a better, more perfect understanding of it 

#GiveThanks

I'm hoping this time I can say a lot in only a few words -

I #GiveThanks for: 

PRAYER - being able to talk to our Heavenly Father. 

Our loving, kind, all knowing, all giving HEAVENLY FATHER, and HIS PLAN OF SALVATION.

The HOLY GHOST - constant COMFORT - always needed, always available.

JESUS CHRIST - His ATONEMENT on my behalf and for each of us, personally. 

The GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST - TEACHINGS, ORDINANCES, COVENANTS, PRIESTHOOD, PROPHETS, SEALINGS ... ALL that the Gospel includes.

The BOOK of MORMON and other scripture.

FAMILY - ETERNITY

#GiveThanks

I was late getting started, so I add one more #GiveThanks - and that is for lights.  I do love lights!
Lamp light, tree lights, candle light, night light, ...  and mostly Christ's Light.

Giving thanks is "a key to hope and healing" so even if I don't post about it, I will continue to #GiveThanks daily.  It helps us feel Christ's Light, and His Love for us.  I am grateful for the comfort, hope, peace, and joy He freely gives us.

I posted about LIGHT last year in this post here.

#GiveThanks

 I #GiveThanks for opportunities to remember the things I am grateful for.  One can feel so much joy and peace as we count our blessings and name them one by one. 

image from Pinterest

I am grateful for our living prophet that guides us and directs us as the Lord would have us do and in ways that always bless our lives as we follow his counsel.  Asking us to #GiveThanks (here and here) was truly inspired.

image from here

#GiveThanks

This is everyday, but today I #GiveThanks for MY FAMILY.  Every family member past and present, and surely even future.  I love that we have eternity to continue to love our family.  For me, Thanksgiving is better because of family ... life is better with family ... 

Family  

where life 

begins and 

love 

never ends 

image found here

#GiveThanks

 Today we spent some time in the kitchen preparing for tomorrow's meal.  I am so grateful for my kitchen - grateful that I don't have to cook on an open fire or carry in all the water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.  There is so much more that a kitchen makes easier, nicer, faster, and even delicious...  

Once again it has become one of my favorite rooms in my house.   I #GiveThanks for my kitchen - today, tomorrow, and every day!!!  

#GiveThanks

(:  I #GiveThanks for Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears  :)

#GiveThanks

Early this morning I received a picture of one of my grandchildren playing with a tractor that my father made.  It brought such happiness, joy, and gratitude to my heart.  

I have seen many of my children and grandchildren play with the toys he has made them and it is always a delightful vision.  

I #GiveThanks for my father and his talents that bless my life and the lives of my loved ones.  

I #GiveThanks for my mother and her talents that bless my life and the lives of my loved ones.  

I have seen those talents throughout my life and have appreciated them.   

My parents are wonderful examples to me and they have taught me (and my siblings) well.  I appreciate all they have done and continue to do for me.  I love them.

#GiveThanks

President Nelson spoke to us through a video message on Friday (link here) and encouraged us to have and share gratitude.  He invited us to post on social media for seven days using the hashtag #GiveThanks. 

I apologize that this is my first post (without sharing the reasons why - that's another story) - we'll just be happy that I finally figured it out :)  

This is how I social media!

I had such a beautiful experience today during the closing prayer of our sacrament meeting.  Actually, the whole meeting was wonderful, starting with the opening prayer, when my thoughts turned to my mother-n-law, Idris.  

I cannot share all of the thoughts and impressions I felt during the meeting - there were many - but I do want to share one that happened during the closing prayer, given by the spouse of the person who gave the opening prayer.  For privacy reasons I will not share their names, so I hope it's not too confusing.

Idris would visit with him on occasion when she was in the store where he worked.  I remember her talking about him with kindness and love, and I remember him (and his family) coming to visit her.  She loved this man and his family and wished for them to be taught and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized.  

She passed away before she could see that happen, but it did eventually happen.  They were baptized at the beginning of this year when guests were limited due to Covid restrictions.  I was disappointed that I could not attend because I truly wished to be there, and I also wanted to somehow represent my mother-in-law.  

I was reminded of this because of the prayers given today.

At the end of the closing prayer I had a beautiful tender vision that brightened my heart and soul.  I suppose it was more of a thought but I could see it in my mind.  I could see Idris gathering all of her family and friends in heaven, gesturing with her arms inviting all to come watch this lovely family as they made covenants with the Lord and performed this sacred saving ordinance.  I could feel her excitement as she did this with such exuberance.  I could see the smile on her face and the light in her eyes.  I imagine she was giving and receiving loving hugs and kisses on the cheek to and from those loved ones she was gathering. And knowing her, everyone around her, even those she did not know, were her loved ones. It was a glorious thought and vision in my mind.  I was caught up in it so much that, I'm sorry to say, I missed the last several seconds of the prayer.  It was just over and things were quiet - the prayer and then my thoughts/vision.  I then felt sorry that I missed the closing of his prayer but grateful for the tender feelings that I was left with.

I don't know how things really happen in the Spirit World, but this was a precious moment and my heart was touched and filled with love and joy.  This little vision in my mind that took place all at once, within only a few seconds time was a tender mercy that brightened my whole day. I'm still smiling!  And I #GiveThanks for it!

I am so grateful for the Spirit that touches our hearts and minds - for the inspiration that comes, for guidance and direction, for warmth and comfort, for love and joy - from heaven.  

President Nelson also shares "The Story Behind My Global Prayer of Gratitude"  (link here)

LIGHT

One morning after it had rained all night, I walked outside to the water hydrant and noticed the wet and soggy ground and felt a cloudy, gloominess surrounding me.  It seemed almost tangible.  It was maybe 9:00 am so there was daylight but no ray of light or brightness.  The words "this cold and dreary world" came into my mind and I was beginning to feel a bit discouraged and depressed.

As I continued my short journey back into the house I felt the need to look up to the sky with a wish to see the sun and brightness that comes with it.  Only then did I see the sun trying to shine through the clouds.  It wasn't covering the earth like it does on a bright summer day but it was there.  I lifted my head and looked up and there was the light and brightness I was in need of.  It was there - I just had to seek it.  The correlation between that bit of light in the sky and Christ's Light was instantly on my mind, just as was the joy that replaced the gloominess in my heart.

I walked into the house, grabbed my phone and went back out to take a picture to remind me of what I had just seen and felt.

The next morning our power went out, making it difficult to see things because it was still dark outside, so I lit some oil lamps and candles and sat down with a flashlight to read the "Come, Follow Me - For Individuals and Families" manual and the scriptures it suggested for the week.

I almost didn't read the suggested scriptures (Matthew 2 and Luke 2) because I knew the story they were telling, but then decided I'd better read them.   Luke 2:32 spoke to my heart and soul as I read the words Simeon used to describe Christ - "A light to lighten the Gentiles".

I immediately remembered the experience I had the previous day and thought about the new and present conditions surrounding me again that morning (which was darkness and a flashlight to make it possible to see and read the scriptures) and I felt a tender blessing of love, and once again I felt and knew that Christ knows me personally.  He sent these experiences to help, comfort, enlighten, and guide me.

As I was finishing up my reading the power came back on and I realized how these things could be considered coincidence to some, but to me, it was DIVINE.   Had I chosen to not read the scriptures because I already knew what they said or just put it all down and stopped studying because the lights went out, I would have missed out on a wonderful and tender, personal experience.



Now, a week later, in the light, warmth and comfort of my home, but with an overwhelming concern (even a "gloominess") on my mind and in my heart, I sat to finish my personal study of "Come, Follow Me" and the scriptures for this week.   I read the journal notes I had written as I read thru the week and saw things like;

"Christ is the TRUE LIGHT, and all have it."  

"He saves all who come unto Him and Believe Him."  

"He is the only way!"

I re-read John 1:4-10 and the ideas in the manual for those verses, and I was again reminded that "the Savior is the Light of [our] lives."



No matter what our earthly or mental surroundings and conditions, no matter who we are or where we are, no matter what we have said or done or felt or otherwise experienced,  no matter how dark and dreary things seem or are, ... NO MATTER WHAT ... I KNOW

"The LIGHT 

SHINETH in DARKNESS" 

(John 1:5)

The experiences of the last couple weeks have helped me remember how grateful I am for His LIGHT.  I know that He will be present if we allow Him to be, if we SEEK HIM.    Look for Him.   Look to Him.

I am grateful to the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their inspired direction and guidance and for the new Come, Follow Me - For Individuals and Families.  I look forward to the enlightenment that can come as we continue to study through the year.

I know that our lives are better as we put Christ in the center of all that we do.  He is our strength.  HE IS THE ONLY WAY!





Well, I had this post complete - or so I thought, and was going to come back to publish it after a phone call I had and some studying for seminary, but then ...

As I was studying for seminary.  I read the word enlightens in the scriptures and decided to study a bit more about it since it has been on my mind of late and I had just written about it.

I found a talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Hope of God's Light and read the first portion of it, Entrance to Enlightenment.  He spoke of a painting with the same title so I searched for and found it.   In doing so, it led me to another small article about the picture, in Arts.

Entrance to Enlightenment

I won't spend time re-writing what each of those articles said, but I added links.  I will once again add how wonderful it is to be enlightened, and add this:

understand that darkness exists - but do not dwell there

LIGHT ALSO EXISTS 

DWELL THERE!

Special Days

July 16, 1957 was a special day, when God sent a son - Terry Wayne Hebdon - to Keith and Idris Hebdon, joining four siblings who surely loved and adored him.  In a few more years a couple more children were added to the family.  Those 7 children surely brought joy to their parents and grandparents.

A new family was created in February 1980 when Terry and I (Elaine) were married.  As our family began to grow we experienced the joy and love that comes from having children.  Many years later we experienced the joy of adding spouses for our children, and then of course, the addition of grandchildren.  Each addition is special and I am grateful for the special days we have experienced and continue to experience.

Let me share a few of our most recent special days:


May 14, 2018 was a special day because we added a granddaughter to our family.
Sylvie Jane - born to Michael and Tawnee, joining three siblings that love and adore her.

June 3, 2018 was a special day because we added a grandson to our family.
Bo Terry - the first child born to, and loved and adored by, Chase and Rebekah.

June 7, 2018 was a special day because we added a grandson to our family.
Canyon Thomas - born to Thomas and Dana, joining four siblings that love and adore him.

June 30, 2018 was a special day, when we added a granddaughter to our family.
Lennon James Lynn - born to Brandon and Megan, joining one sibling that loves and adores her.

With these new births, Terry and I have 20 grandchildren = 10 grandsons and 10 granddaughters.

I can say with confidence that Terry and I find great joy in adding these special children to our family. We love and adore each and every one.  Each addition to our family is a wonderful piece of joy added to brighten the day and the eternity we will enjoy forever.

Easter Blessings

This Easter season gave me many opportunities to testify of my faith in Christ and in The Resurrection.

I was first asked to share in Primary Sharing Time, then the next week I was asked to share in Young Women, and of course Seminary gives me several opportunities, and then Easter was here to remind me.

I have a hard time bringing my thoughts and words together to make sense and struggled to want to share my deepest feelings.  I knew I should so after prayer and pondering I came up with a presentation using the photographs and plaques around my house.

It has remained on my mind for weeks. It is important to me so I decided to write it down.  It is a "feel good" memory. It's a "feel good" trust and faith in our Redeemer, and I share it now:

I call this a love story.

Between these two people -

Terry and Elaine Hebdon

We met 39 years ago.

We were married 38 years ago ...,

Because we were married in an LDS temple by a man with the proper Priesthood / Sealing authority, the two of us and all the children we would have could be together forever.  

A couple years later our family began to grow, and in time, the Lord had sent us a total of nine children.

The last time all 11 of us were together was after Gregory came home from his mission and before Brandon left on his mission (the last week of July 2003).  

(The opportunity to be together at this time was a tender mercy in itself.  Brandon was to leave almost a month before Gregory returned, but I sent him for one last dental cleaning before he left for two years without one.  The dentist was not supposed to take x-rays but fortunately he did, which allowed him to find a hole in Brandon's jaw bone.  An elbow in the face could have broken his bone, so it needed repaired before he left, meaning Brandon's mission would begin a couple months later than he was first assigned, allowing some time between their missions. )

The next time we had an opportunity for us all to be together was in December 2014.

You will probably first notice that there are many more family members in this photo.

Then, as you look closer, you will notice one of the original 11 (or the original 2) is not pictured.  

In December 2014 there were 27 family members and one of them (Terry Wayne Hebdon) had passed away.  

More family members have been added - in April 2018 there are 35 members of our family, and this summer we will add 4 more grandchildren, making a total of 39.

At this point, Terry has not met two daughters-in-law and his son-in-law, and a third of his grandchildren, and they have not met him nor will they see each other in this life.  More than half of his grandchildren won't remember him, even though he has loved them and held them in his arms.

After the birth of our grandchildren this summer only half of his grandchildren will have met him, and of course this number will continue to grow, and some day we will also add another daughter-in-law to those numbers.  

However, because of another love story this separation will not last forever.

Our Heavenly Father sent His Only Begotten Son to earth to make eternity possible, and Jesus Christ accepted this Plan of Redemption - a Plan of Happiness.

Because of Jesus Christ's acceptance of this plan, His birth, His life, His teachings, His Atonement, His death, His Resurrection, and His love we will all see each other and live together forever.

I am grateful!

Because of Him our family is eternal!

I did not add this next picture (that has been hanging on our wall for many years) to my presentation, but I do add it to my testimony today.   And it's all because of Christ.

  (I loved the saying and created a visual using a picture from our wedding collection.)

The Promise

-

Across the years I will walk with you ~

Love in our hearts; adventures new:

And when our time on earth is through,

You'll have my hand in heaven too.

Grateful for Tender Mercies of the Lord

While I was taking down my Christmas tree I was watching or listening to movies and their music.
I often need a movie or music in the background to keep me going (if I'm not studying seminary lessons).

I started with Moana - it has some fun music.

I watched the most recent Beauty and the Beast.  Some of the music in these movies are just fun, and others have lyrics that inspire.  Great listening!

[Verse 1]

How does a moment last forever?

How can a story never die?

It is love we must hold onto

Never easy, but we try

Sometimes our happiness is captured

Somehow, our time and place stand still

Love lives on inside our hearts and always will

[Chorus]

Minutes turn to hours, days to years then gone

But when all else has been forgotten

Still our song lives on

[Verse 2]

Maybe some moments weren’t so perfect

Maybe some memories not so sweet

But we have to know some bad times

Or our lives are incomplete

Then when the shadows overtake us

Just when we feel all hope is gone

We’ll hear our song and know once more

Our love lives on

[Verse 3]

How does a moment last forever?

How does our happiness endure?

Through the darkest of our troubles

Love is beauty, love is pure

Love pays no mind to desolation

It flows like a river through the soul

Protects, persists, and perseveres

And makes us whole

[Chorus]

Minutes turn to hours, days to years then gone

But when all else has been forgotten

Still our song lives on

How does a moment last forever
When our song lives on

~ ~ ~

November and December are wonderful times of the year when we have holidays that help us remember the important things in life.    I feel blessed to have my darkest, most sorrowful moment (that of my husband passing away) be surrounded by these two holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas - because it helps me, or almost makes me feel the love of God.

Still it is a solemn time of year for me and in the background of this wonderful time of year there is sorrow.  I am so grateful that even with that deep sorrow, there is still a great amount of joy - knowing that we have been promised to each other for eternity.  I do have much to look forward to. I know I sound wishy-washy but it really is a back and forth time of year for me.


With the mixed emotions I certainly had while taking the lights off my tree I heard something on Beauty and the Beast that pierced my heart.

It was while Belle and her father were in the dungeon with the beast, and Belle offered to stay there forever if the beast would let her father go free.

She was asking for a minute to say good-bye before her father was released and the beast didn't seem to think it was necessary.  Belle didn't give up, and replied;

"FOREVER CAN SPARE A MINUTE"

Wow!  I need to remember this!
Our time on earth is but a moment compared to our Heavenly Father's time - eternity.  So every suffering or sorrow we endure here on earth is but a minute to Him and we can endure it with His help.

In seminary we are studying the stories about Alma and Amulek (including, but not limited to Alma 14) and this quote, FOREVER CAN SPARE A MINUTE, is perfect - reminding us that any trial on earth, even all of our time on earth, is but a minute and we must continue in faith, with patience and hope of the blessings we will receive in eternity.

I was the one who had it all

I was the master of my fate

I never needed anybody in my life

I learned the truth too late

I'll never shake away the pain

I close my eyes but she's still there

I let her steal into my melancholy heart

It's more than I can bear

Now I know she'll never leave me

Even as she runs away

She will still torment me

Calm me, hurt me

Move me, come what may

Wasting in my lonely tower

Waiting by an open door

I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in

And be with me for evermore

I rage against the trials of love

I curse the fading of the light

Though she's already flown so far beyond my reach

She's never out of sight

Now I know she'll never leave me

Even as she fades from view

She will still inspire me

Be a part of everything I do

Wasting in my lonely tower

Waiting by an open door

I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in

And as the long, long nights begin

I'll think of all that might have been

Waiting here for evermore

~ ~ ~

Such a long post to say what I felt, and I'm not sure I've done it justice.  I'll just say - I am so grateful for tender mercies of the Lord to remind me of the important things in life and encourage me to move forward in faith.

Sometimes simple phrases in songs or movies can encourage and uplift and enlighten. They are a reminder to the heart, mind, and soul that all is or will be well, in the Lords time.



And I'll add one last song - by Josh Groban, I Believe

A REMEMBERING Christmas

This Christmas holiday was another one of those joyful occasions when family gathers together.  It is always fun to see children and grandchildren enjoy being together.

We opened gifts as usual but there was something added to our gift opening that was unique and special for us this year.  

I wanted our children and grandchildren to remember special moments with their loved ones so I asked each to text, email, or write a memory of a certain person or people before they opened each gift.  It's important to share these memories and hold them close to our hearts. It helps build a connection that can last forever.  

I knew it would be fun to read, but it was even more special than I had hoped it would be.  What a wonderful Christmas gift it was reading these memories.  I asked for memories of Terry, his parents, and my parents.

Among the gifts were some "homemade" gifts made by my mother and father.  This is a train he made for us years ago (when Gregory was born).  The kids played with it for years until I put it up on the library shelves for safe keeping, coming down only a few times for a grandchild's request.

Dad and mom made more this year after asking each of their children how many they would like.  I ordered one for each of our children and gave it to them for Christmas.  

I also received a homemade Christmas gift from my parents - a shuffle board.  There will, of course, be much more fun in the future.  

In this picture one of the grandchildren spilled their mini m&ms onto the board.  This brought a cheerful noise and created another fun activity.

There were many fun activities during the holiday - like playing in the snow.   

We also enjoyed going to the theater to watch a movie.  Something we have done a few times in the past.  

This year we saw FERDINAND at the Lee Theater in Ephrata ..., with pizza.  :)   

This story is about Ferdinand - a bull in Spain who would rather sit under the cork tree and smell flowers than fight in the bullfights. 

I bought this book for Terry many years ago.  It was a fun story for Terry and I because of Terry's service to the Spain, Barcelona mission (1976-78). Unfortunately I'm not sure if our children really remember us reading it to them much.  I did pull it out and read it to those here at the house the day before we went to the movie.

It was a cute movie, though a bit different than the book.  Because of the connection with the book I felt like Terry was a part of this fun family adventure.  I am sure he would have enjoyed it too.  I am anxious for the video to come out so I can own it.


This Christmas we remembered fun moments from our past and it will be a fun Christmas to remember.  I have invited all to continue to send me memories for the next few months, if not forever.  When I asked for these memories I knew it would be great to receive them, but it feels more like I gave myself a special Christmas gift. I enjoyed reading every word and recalling the special moments each talked about.

There is joy in remembering.