Thursday, June 6, 2013

          Greetings!  What a beautiful day.  We did our exercise walk in the humid, late afternoon and it felt just like the “calm before the storm” does in Idaho with dark gloomy thunderclouds forming and no breeze stirring the leaves.  There was no rain—just a wonderful aura.  There were dozens of people milling around the grounds waiting for the later sessions to end and their journey home to start.  They appeared so comfortable and happy and seemed to bask in the experience of just being there together, all dressed up and bringing salvation to their families.

          There was a sweet older sister who came today to be sealed to her deceased husband and son.  She was very small and stood out in the crowed.  She wore a white dress with a bright blue ruffled apron, a silk-like silver scarf tied over her head covering her hair and hanging down her back, and hot pink slipper-like shoes.  She participated in an endowment session and then the sealing.  Glade was asked to come and be the proxy for her son.  When the ordinance was complete, Pres. Omado handed her a picture of the temple and the signed marriage certificate and essential papers.  Glade said she just looked at them with awe, hugged them to her, and let the tears of joy spill down her face.  It made Glade and those watching share their own tears as well.

          Yesterday a young girl did initiatory work for family names.  I could hear her sniffling before she came to me, and she cried all through the process.  I assume she was doing family names and was overcome.  That sympathetic response to tears is pretty strong and the experience made me realize again how real and important this work is.  This sister was doing a service for people she loved.

          June is one of my favorite months.  Everything is finally green, plants, flowers, and gardens are new, and there is nothing to harvest or preserve yet.  Days are warm, nights are cool, and the summer season stretches forward with the promise of so much fun!  Enjoy!!

            

Resident cat.  It doesn't look like an American cat--it has longer legs and doesn't invite affection like my cuddly cats.  Sister Basset is feeding it and trying to make friends.
El gato es blanco y negro. (nay-grow)