Thursday, October 20, 2011

"Look, Mom! I'm Angel Moroni on top of the temple."


When I heard the proclamation, I came around the corner from washing dishes to behold my little climber atop the exercise bike. He proceeded to make a trumpet noise and shouted, "Jesus is coming! [more fanfare] The gospel is restored!"

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Olive Fingers

The baseball glove shown is the one I used as a kid. Now, my kid rarely takes it off. Luckily, for him, he only needs one hand to eat olives.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Backyard in Autumn





Our leaf pile became a campfire for roasting hot dogs

   
That was fun; now let's play baseball. (surprize, surprize)




Saturday, October 1, 2011

Kindle a Fire

Isaiah 50:11
"Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow."

For years, I was intrigued by the imagery of kindling sparks, fire and light in the first sentence of this scripture. But, I never understood and even felt slightly disturbed by the seemingly strange juxtaposition of second sentence, especially considering the discordant ideas presented. First, the beautiful imagery of light, hope, faith, then sorrow??? and at the hand of the Lord? What is going on here?

Several times in the last couple months, I've pondered over this scripture. In the last few days, I've received additional insight that presents a profound beauty and wisdom of the previously disturbing juxtaposition mentioned above.

When the scripture above is considered with a connection to Genesis 3:16 and Moses 5:11, a whole new meaning opens up in my heart and mind.

Genesis 3:16
"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children . . . ."

Moses 5:11
"And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."

When I think of the sorrow at the hand of the Lord as mentioned in Isaiah as the sorrow that comes with the creation of children and families, then the juxtaposition makes sense. The positive imagery in the first sentence comes to life with such a deeper meaning.

"Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled."

Sparks become Children. Fire becomes Family. Light becomes Love.