Life Outside My Window

I hung a birdfeeder on our pear tree outside the kitchen window. What happened is amazing. For the first day, it just hung there. Then, word (or cheeps) got around. Timidly, the first birds tested out my offering. Soon their friends joined them. I love watching the flitting, the hopping, the soaring back to the trees when they are startled. I had all kinds of visitors, tiny little sparrows, beautiful redwinged blackbirds, red cardinals and of course, the grackles. Grackles are a black, crowlike bird with iridescent bluish/black heads. They come in groups and take over. One will land on the feeder and actually shake it so that food spills out onto the ground. The other grackles simply wait for the food to fall to them. I wish I could put up a sign that says they aren't welcome but I don't suppose they can read. But other birds take advantage of the spilled seeds and peck at the edges trying to stay out of the way of the greedy grackles. I also have a couple of squirrels who come to enjoy the feast. They eat the large pieces of corn or sunflower seeds using their little front paws and nibble so daintily. The grackles actually are providing a service for others even though they don't realize it! Meanwhile, the robins are busy cocking their heads to the ground and listening for worms. They would rather have some meat in their diets, I guess.
All this action and entertainment just for the price of a little feeder and a $2 bag of birdseed! I won't continue to feed them all summer as they will have plenty of wild food in the woods behind us. But for a couple of weeks, I will enjoy the nature show right outside the kitchen window.

Semesters of Higher Learning

Last night at our adult meeting of stake conference, Bruce Duffield gave a talk with this title. He said that just as we send our children off to college so they can learn and gain further experience so has our Heavenly Father sent us here to earth for the same reasons. He quoted the scripture "to every thing there is a season ...". He said that instead of "season" he would substitute "semester". A semester has a beginning and also an ending. Our semesters here on earth may include those with easy classes where things are joyful and simple. But other semesters may include health, financial, marital difficulties or problems with children or aged parents. Sometimes we wonder if we will ever make it through. But he reminded us that we have a teacher/professor who loves us and gives us chances to do extra credit or makes us feel like we are the "teacher's pet". He wants us to succeed and even though we must go through the difficult times, we will eventually be able to pass. President Duffield referred to Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail and the very difficult experiences of that time. But it was then that the Lord spoke to Joseph and gave him hope and comfort. The trial wasn't taken away but he came through it cleansed and refined.
Our "Semesters of Higher Learning" are different for each of us. He then told of a "midterm" exam that their family has been through recently. Sister Denise D. was diagnosed on July 30 with a brain tumor. In the October stake conference, Pres. D. asked us to pray for her as she was getting ready for some procedures to try to shrink the tumor as it was inoperable. She went through chemo and radiation therapy through the winter. Recently, the neurologist told them that the tumor hasn't grown and it looks like the treatment was effective. They now have much more emphathy for those who are suffering. They realize the blessings of the sealing power more than ever. They have appreciated the expressions of love and friendship that have been shown to their family. Even if the semester ends with death (looks like she will live much longer), they will have learned so much through the experience.
I thought his thoughts were so inspiring and wanted to share them with you. Even though I am not able to present his ideas adequately, I hope that I have been able to convey the general messages that he wanted to share.
It seems to me that a lot of our semesters overlap and we have to repeat classes sometimes. Of course, I know that this is just a metaphor and that life is very complicated. But having passed through many semesters in my life, I do feel that I can share my experience with those of you who are still in the middle of it all. Life with little children is HARD - life with teenagers is HARDER. I think that you are all "passing" with good grades and want you to know that Dad and I are pulling for you and want to help where we can. We love you!!

YES, We Felt It

Dad felt the bed and window shake - he was awake already. I remember feeling a jolt but I went right back to sleep without even considering that it might be an earthquake! The Last Days are here!

5.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE ROCKS ILLINOIS!

A 5.4-magnitude earthquake that appeared to rival the strongest recorded in the region rocked people up to 450 miles away early Friday, surprising residents unaccustomed to such a powerful Midwest temblor.

The quake just before 4:37 a.m. was centered six miles from West Salem, Ill., and 66 miles from Evansville, Ind. It was felt in such distant cities as Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Des Moines, Iowa, 450 miles northwest of the epicenter, but there were no early reports of injuries or significant damage.

"It shook our house where it woke me up," said David Behm of Philo, 10 miles south of Champaign. "Windows were rattling, and you could hear it. The house was shaking inches. For people in central Illinois, this is a big deal. It's not like California."

Bonnie Lucas, a morning co-host at WHO-AM in Des Moines, said she was sitting in her office when she felt her chair move. She grabbed her desk, and then heard the ceiling panels start to creak. The shaking lasted about 5 seconds, she said.

The quake shook skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop, 240 miles north of the epicenter, and in downtown Indianapolis, about 160 miles northeast of it.

Irvetta McMurtry of Cincinnati said she felt the rattling for up to 20 seconds.

"All of a sudden, I was awakened by this rumbling shaking," said McMurtry, 43. "My bed is an older wood frame bed, so the bed started to creak and shake, and it was almost like somebody was taking my mattress and moving it back and forth."

Lucas Griswold, a dispatcher in West Salem, said the Edwards County sheriff's department received reports of minor damage and no injuries.

"Oh, yeah, I felt it. It was interesting," Griswold said. "A lot of shaking."

Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Todd Ringle in Evansville said there were no immediate reports of damage.

The quake occurred in the Illinois basin-Ozark dome region, which covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The organization's Web site said earthquakes occur irregularly in the area, and that the largest historical earthquake in the region — also a magnitude 5.4 — caused damage in southern Illinois in 1968.

The region is located in a region bordering the much more seismically active New Madrid seismic zone, according to the geological survey's Web site. In 1811 and 1812, the New Madrid fault produced a series of earthquakes estimated at magnitude 7.0 or greater.

Experts say another major New Madrid quake could destroy buildings, bridges, roads and other infrastructure, disrupt communications and isolate areas.

My Passion

Well, besides my family - this has been an important passion in my life lately. A few years ago, I learned about a small humanitarian aid group that meets once a week at the church. I started off sewing things at home and dropping them off there because I was working and couldn't come on the weekday morning. When I quit, I started going over and there found so much enjoyment and so many close friends. There are only about 7 of us that regularly come, but others join in once in a while. When people hear about us, they donate their unwanted fabrics and trims. Our leader, Ann Winward, has a basement full of donations that we just keep working to use. Of course, we all have our own fabrics to choose from and we have done amazing things. I made about 100 quilts (mostly lap or crib size) and almost 100 dresses plus other various things last year.
It is so fun to choose some fabrics that go together and then see what I can come up with. It is like doing puzzles only far more practical and lasting. I try to use every bit of the fabric so I don't have any orphans left over. Making "prairie points" around the edges helps to use up pieces of fabric (4" x 4" folded on the diagonal twice) and seems to tie all the various fabrics together.
On Monday, when I thought I was going to be a little down after my trip, Joyce Smith called and wanted to see if we could get more fabric from Pieceful Heart (a local quilt shop). So we called and they did have some bags to donate. They have been very generous before and we have taken some of the quilts we have made over to show them. We got the bags, dumped them out and sorted the pieces into colors. We found about 3 quilts that were already partly made! Can't imagine who would give away something that was nearly finished. We went upstairs by the machine and laid out some blocks that were already done. After much manuvering, we made a very nice design. Then, I sewed the pieces together as she handed them to me so we didn't get them mixed up. It was my idea of a great afternoon. Now I am getting three quilts finished to take today. I use the pillowcase method (sew around all sides leaving just about 10 inches open). Then we sew the batting on and turn the quilt inside out and it is all finished except sewing that opening and staystitching around the edge. Then the women in our group tie them with colorful yarn and they are ready to go off to Salt Lake City to be distributed all over the world! It makes me very happy to think that some of my "artistry" is being used by someone who needs it and will appreciate it.
One the 26th of April, the stake is having a women's conference and doing a tying project (the quilts that we have made). We are decorating with all sorts of quilts. It should be great. I hope some more women will catch the vision and see what can be done with scraps! Our lives are like a quilt, with each piece representing an experience or trial. The finished product will be a beautiful life tied together and presented as our efforts here on earth.

Day 9

We got our bags packed and out for pickup, ate one last wonderful breakfast in the Calypso Restaurant overlooking the Caribbean. Then we loaded the bus and went downtown Belize City for an hour of shopping. It was a Saturday and there were lots of people there. We went into a "department" store - everything there imaginable. I even found my Book Club book on a rack and purchased it. We bought ice cream from a vendor outside and got to see what life is like in this part of the world. Finally, we headed to the small Belize City airport and waited for our flight to Miami.
Then another adventure began - trying to get home. It seems that everything that could go wrong, did. Our planes were late, had mechanical problems, the passport checking lines in Miami were huge. We finally got to the place where we were to board the plane (thinking that we might have missed it) to find that it was late. We were so glad to finally land in Chicago only to find that our baggage was not there. No food places were open (it was after 1:00 a.m.). We had some nuts but that was about all. But finally we were ready to leave only to have to wait for a cab. We were thankful to arrive home and find all was well and climb into our own beds! Our adventures of this journey to the Lands of the Book of Mormon will always be in our minds. We are glad that we are able to share a few of the pictures and experiences with you. Go if you ever get the chance!

Day 8

We left the hotel and began our day with a trip to Tower Hill where we boarded our riverboat to cruise up the New River. We saw blue heron, crocodiles, hawks, turtles along the way. The water lilies were everywhere. When we arrived at Lamanai, we could see the ruins come into view. We took a trek through the jungle to get to the ruins. There were huge masks depicting dead rulers and gods. Our guide pointed out many things to us but one of the most interesting was that there had been a period of total darkness of 72 hours at one point. He gave biblical references to the time when the earth stood still. We all thought of course, of the time in the Book of Mormon when there was total darkness on this continent for the space of 3 days when Christ was crucified in Jerusalem. It was more proof to me that the Book of Mormon is true.
Our trip back to Belize City was double the speed of the trip there. We raced a couple of other speedboats for a time. If there was a native fisherman in a small canoe, we had to slow almost to a stop so we wouldn't overturn him with our wake. A fascinating day ending with dinner at the Smoky Mermaid in downtown Belize City. We took the bus and went as a group for safety. It was a beautiful outdoor setting with the moon shining bright above us.
When we returned, we spent some time down by the beach in hammocks with our friends, the Worltons. We were in a peaceful setting with the Caribbean Sea stretching out before us as far as we could see. The sunset above was so beautiful and but it was kind of sad to know that we would be leaving this paradise and returning to our home the next day.

Day 7

This is the day we traveled through the Guatemalan counryside to the border and crossed into Belize, formerly known as British Honduras. (Rulon said the border trouble we encountered was here, not going into Honduras.) The mountains and farmlands on the way into Belize City were so dramatic. We checked into the Princess Hotel. Some of the group left by speedboat to snorkel off a small island on Belize's Great Barrier Reef. Rulon and I opted to rest at the hotel and explore a couple of surrounding blocks. We had been warned of the dangers of going too far away from the hotel, especially at night. There is a lot of crime and we didn't want to have any bad experiences. In Belize, we heard English (spoken) with a Creole accent) and saw lots of black faces. We felt very white here. Our more adventurous friends returned and we all went to eat together. I had a lot of fish on this trip!