Sabbath Day

Today was our Stake Conference and it was a good one. Our new Stake President likes to call people out of the congregation. He did that Saturday Adult Session and Sunday too. The people that he called on did such a great job "bearing their testimonies" I wonder what their messages might be if given time to prepare. However the two sisters who were called on mentioned that they just had feelings that perhaps they would be asked to speak. One brother was our old Stake President's Dad. Brother Hyde is probably about 80 years old and still "rides the range" collecting his cattle. He said he doesn't see very well, and the two Spanish guys, who he obviously loves a lot, told him there were cows and pointed them out to him. Brother Hyde said, "Those aren't cows those are rocks" a bit later the guy, who didn't speak English well ask the other to interpret, and tell Bro. Hyde, " those rocks down there are moving". I'm sure that wasn't as funny with my interpretation, but it was quite funny when he told the story.
We have a new Mission President and his wife. Our old President, Andres needed to go to Salt Lake City for cancer treatments therefore he was released. This new Mission President McCrackin was sent as a Mission President to Bolivia but needed to be released when his wife became too ill to go on. She seems well now. They were ask into Elder Holland's office last Tuesday, they packed Wednesday, moved out on Thursday, flew out on Friday and started work on Saturday and spoke in Fallon Saturday and Sunday. She said in 3 days she has given 6 talks and she isn't one that enjoys speaking.
A member of the Temple Presidency spoke and his wife also. It reminded me of the experiences that I have had in the temple this new year. I had been having a hard time getting to the temple, it just seemed that thing after thing took priority. The new years resolution for me was to go to the temple once a week until March. I didn't mention it to anyone, just knowing how things go (you know). The first week I got ready to go, told LaVar what my plans were and just drove to Reno a hour away. The next week a friend said she was interested in going with me, it was a great time. The week next she drove and we took the other Relief Society Sisters that signed up for that day. The week after that LaVar went with me. Then Ralph and Cecile were able to go the next week, Ralph fell and cut his head and he still wanted to go and even drove. It has just gone that way. This last Thursday was the crowning day so far. I saw things I have never seen before, I heard things I have never heard before and I felt things I have never felt before. It was most remarkable. I think I have a clearer idea what LaVar and I need to be doing, not really ready to say much about that yet, but it feels so good. Of course LaVar had already worked out these things in his mind. I just needed a witness myself. I love to have a direction in our life.
I think when we had all you guys at home and we needed to make a decision the Lord just spoke with clarity above the din. Now he expects more introspection more time given to meditation. More from us. So you with children all around it's not possible, and I understand that. I am not saying you need to do this. Your Heavenly Father knows you are doing the best thing ever, but as one gets older and has more choices for our time, and we need direction like always, he just might expect more. When the sweet sweet Spirit comes it is just like a fresh breeze in a "funky" ( like Ollie would say) room that is too warm. I am a bit amazed at the power I feel to stay focused and power to accomplish. Tomorrow? I hope I can sustain these feelings.
Nothing in my experience is as sweet as these feelings, though being with you guys and your "yiddle" (Ollie again) ones comes very close. Have I told you yet today how much you mean to me? I love each one of you dearly. Only the love of the Lord means more to me than you do, and it is a very close second. I live for the days I can be near you, my puzzle is that I can't be with all of you at any one time. I need to leave my husband to be with you guys and visa versa. Even when I go to Utah I can't be with two families for very long etc. Its just the way it is. But I love to visit and we will be happy to family hop and spread around. We are just happy that for now you are pretty much in one area. Though Tim and Laura rocked the boat for now. Thank you for being so precious and easy to love. We are so proud of each one of you and we are grateful, and pray for each of you several times a day. Thank you for all the good you do for your families, and others. We love you we truely do. Your Mom and Dad