Garden and thoughts

I love the Hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth." I know this probably sounds strange but gardens always remind me of that song. This is my meager garden that I am trying right now to protect from the elements - it got cold here again. They have been sleeping with a sheet over them! I planted 19 pots to date and some of them have more than 1 plant in them. I have tomatoes (lots), broccoli, peppers, eggplant, lettuce, and a herb garden (basil, thyme, parley, sage) I have already enjoyed the herbs a lot. I love to look out my back door and see them - they look beautiful to me. In my blog about going to see the Amish, Asia commented that farmers had to have a lot of faith in God to rely on the earth to feed their families and sustain their livelihoods. Here in MO I have come to realize how true that is and how many families here struggle to make it year after year. I have learned a great appreciation for the very hard work that they do, the little money involved and to buy products from the area. I am trying this year to do my part - at least I will have tomatoes readily available - I think I needed up with 7-8 plants! I am going to get some squash when it becomes available - I am lazy and use the already plants plants instead of the seeds.

Other thoughts - this week I have thought a lot about the scriptures and the miracles that are in my life everyday. I am reading the book "The Holy Secret" by James Ferrell, I got it when I was visiting home. I am also reading the New Testament right now. My goal is to gain a stronger and firmer testimony of the Bible (probably sounds strange but I always go to the Book of Mormon for my answers and I want to know that I can find them in the Bible as well), I want to learn more of Christ, I want to understand the parables in the Bible better and apply them to my life. As I have read with these purposes in mind and prayed that the Spirit would help me I have been blessed. In my P blessing it says that I "am blessed with faith that will lead you to understand the scriptures. As you progress in your understanding of the scriptures you will have also the ability to interpret the scriptures to those around you." That is an amazing promise and I really don't feel like I have done my part in making it happen. After studying for comps I started to wonder what what wrong with me that I didn't study the gospel with the same urgency. I had plenty of excuses - anything from time to knowing how to really dive in to what I wanted to learn. But with all things the Lord had an answer and I am so grateful. I learned a lot about myself during the last few months and so it has been a great experience.
The one thing I love most about reading and understanding the scriptures is that the Spirit is so much closer and firmer in my life. As I work on one thing than several other weaknesses pop up but they don't feel as overwhelming and I know that the Lord will help me if I do my part. I have been fasting almost every Sunday for the past few months for various things (comps, friends, family, Zion-Grace, etc.) and have been blessed with a much stronger testimony of fasting. I have seen it work in my life and I am forever grateful. Being fast Sunday I had the privilege of listening to testimonies of those that are in my ward. How grateful I am to be in such a wonderful ward with such wonderful people. Their testimonies and examples have helped me so much in the past few years. I can't fully express what is in my heart but that I am so very grateful to be part of such a wonderful work.
Our Bishop gives us a challenge each summer. The first one here was to read the BofM in the summer, then last year was to be prepared with our food storage and financially for 3 months and this year it is to give away 100 Books of Mormon! So, I challenge all my faithful readers (all 2 or 3 of you) to pray about whom in your life would be a good person to give the book that has changed all of our lives. I will keep track on my blog of what I have decided and together we can have the faith and courage to do this. I know that it will work and that those we share the Book of Mormon with will be blessed, I know I have and am every single time I read it! Just think about it! Have a wonderful sabbath day!

Panda Quilt

Here is Abby Wallen's quilt (Suzan's baby for those that can't keep up with last name changes :) )

Spring

I love the Spring and it is finally spring here! It was a yucky and cold winter but it has finally warmed up and the trees are in full bloom! Yeah!!!! Here are some of the pretty trees.

Busy

I have been so busy I haven't had time to update this much. I need to add some pictures from different things but for now you just get words. I finished Suzan's panda baby quilt and sent it to her yesterday so when she gets it I am going to post a picture of how it turned out. I don't want to ruin the surprise for by posting it before she gets the package. Abby Wallen is due in the next few weeks but if she is not born by the 21st of May she will be induced. Suzan is hoping she comes earlier than that. I am going to go see her and Liz on May 23rd and stay for about a week. I am hoping that it will be a relaxing trip. I am excited to meet Miss Abby and to visit with Liz and her family. Marcie finished up the Families Are Forever crossstich that I wanted to make for the Larson's but didn't have time so I asked her to do it and she did an awesome job in no time at all. She is amazingly fast - it took her about 4 weeks and is beautiful. When I get it back from the frame shop I will post a picture. I planted a containter garden yesterday with my neighbors grand daughter that is 4, her name is Tagen, like Megan with a T. She helped to dig the holes and plant the vegetable plants. I spent more time talking with my neighbors on both sides yesterday than I have since I moved here - sad I know.
Amy, Jen and I went to the temple on Sat. In the session were two single guys - now that is a strnge expereince for us. It was interesting - Jen is very worried about my relationship status, even though she is 3 years older than me and single, and ended up calling some guy later that night, when I was not around, to see if would have been weird for her to go up and ask about where he is from, etc. for me. I thought that was a little weird, I am a big girl and can do things like that if I feel inclined. I just don't think that the celestrail room is somewhere you should be flirting with people in, unless you are married I guess. Anyway, the one guy really reminded me of Aaron Larson in many ways. Different look but about the same height, coloring and what I could observe temperment, so yes I was watching just didn't feel it was the right place to act. What do you guys think? I will probably never see him again but you never know.
My questions for comps are coming along and things seem to be going well. I am also working on my grant part as well. I am planning on turning my answers in on May 9th. So, the next couple of weeks will be a barrell of fun I am sure.

This past weekend

This weekend was wonderful. I flew into Houston and got a new phone - you don't understand how exciting that is. Then we went home and went out for Mexican food - a must when you visit Houston. On Saturday Mama and I planted some of the many plants that needed to be planted in the morning. Then we traveled to Meyer Park and had a great BBQ with Shelly's and Donna's families and our Beth. Then we went to the church bookstore and JoAnn's (always fun). Later we met Shelly and her family and saw "Horton Hears a Who" which is a cute show. Nathan and Lizzy kept telling me that it was really silly because animals don't talk in English! We bought one large tub of popcorn for $5.45 and had it refilled twice between the 12 of us. I think that we got the better end of that deal. That night Nathan, Mandy and I slept on the trampoline! I had told Nathan once that we could and I figured that this was a good enough time and the least amount of bugs. It got down to about 40 degrees I think and the dew was extra thick so everything was wet. Mandy kept coughing and I felt like a terrible adult letting her sleep in the cold. After being woken up about 10 times from her coughing I convinced her that we should go inside at 3:00am. Nathan and Mandy still wanted to sleep in their sleeping bags on the hardwood floors in the living room but I opted for one of Mandy's beds. I was really tired after that fun filled night!
On Sunday we got up and Daddy and I packed and then we headed out to Victoria's blessing, we got there early and went in to save seats. Donna showed up and we found out that Brad had thrown up all the way to church so she took him home. So, she asked Daddy to give the blessing. It was a nice blessing and I instantly felt the Lord's love for our sweet Victoria. That was wonderful! Then we were off to the airport. Daddy and I got there early and we had dinner and hung out in the President's lounge. It was nice to spend one on one time with Daddy. My flight was delayed and so I got home from KC at 1:00am. It was really hard to stay awake that last hour or so (the great sleep from the night before was catching up with me).
I have no pictures of this weekend - so everyone that took some need to send them to me!

Baby Larson

Well, I just talked with April Steed and Zion-Grace was born at 3:52 this morning. Liz was induced yesterday but because Zion-Grace's head was not pushing against the cervix to soften it up it took a very long time. Zion-Grace was very small (April didn't know how much she weighed) but she lived for 50 minutes!! Parents, siblings and the grandparents all got to hold her while she was alive and then the rest of Liz and Aaron's siblings that were there got to hold her after she passed away. April said she was beautiful, typical absence of the skull but that with the hat on that she looked normal. Elizabeth is doing well, resting right now, the doctor had to literally reach up and pull the baby down so I am sure that she is sore and tired.
What a blessing and answer to prayers that she was born alive and that she lived for so long. They are all resting now because of the late night but when I talk to Liz later this week I will let everyone know any other details. Just thought everyone would want to know.

clarification

Cyndi asked me in her comments about my last post about Autumn. She has not passed away but has been very ill for the past 5 or 6 years. She is doing better right now but I don't think she will be with us in 10 years and asking her to be is not kind. Her body is tired and she doesn't need to learn anything more - she is really here to teach all of us.

The Steeds just wanted to make sure that she had a plot in the same cometary that they would be in and so went ahead and bought hers when they were buying their own.

I haven't heard from Liz (they will email) and tomorrow is Aaron's birthday so I am hoping that she does not come on that day but he is fine with it, he has a wonderful eternal perspective, Liz says she thinks it is one of the gifts the Lord has blessed him with.

Update on Elizabeth

I talked with Elizabeth last night and she told me that Zion-Grace will be born at the latest next Monday, April 14th. Elizabeth was put on bed rest about 3 weeks ago because she was having so many contractions and then at the end of last week they discovered that the amionic fluid was building up very quickly and so the specialist is worried about placenta eruption. So, they took her off bed rest and we will just wait and see if Zion-Grace comes this week or if they need to induce on Monday. Liz struggled with letting all that happen, but after much prayer feels that her life is at risk if they wait beyond that time. She is currently at 27 weeks.

All of her siblings are coming into town for the funeral/grave side and they have a plot for her in Orem next to the one that the Steeds have bought for Autumn. Liz and Aaron felt that it was the perfect place, two celestial beings lying next to each other until the resurrection. They are going to have some photos taken with her in the hospital and are hoping that she will live just for a little bit so that she will be alive in them and that they can hold her. Her kids are having a hard time with the fact that it is happening so soon and Liz said she feels like much more than just a few months is being taken from her (they were going to induce labor in late May - original EDD was 7/16/08). So, I thought that I would update everyone so that they can keep them in their thoughts and prayers this week.

I am planning on making a donation to Heifer International in place of flowers for Zion-Grace Elizabeth Larson if any of you would like to join me. I was planning on making it on Wednesday, so just let me know.

Conference

Well, another wonderful general conference has come and gone. With every year I wish that it could continue and that I could continue to feel the Spirit that strongly, feel the peace of every conference and be feed at a great feast of spiritual teachings. I too felt the mantel of the presidency fall on President Monson as I listened to him speak and give us counsel. I have always loved him and now that love has deepened and he is no longer the wise story teller but I am better able to see the amazing example he has set by living his life.

I decided that I am going to have a new tradition in regards to conference. I have decided that I am going to use my china on conference weekend meals. The scriptures teach us to feast upon the words of Christ and during conference we feast upon the words of living prophets, sears and revelators speaking for Christ, so I can't think of a better time than to use the china in respect for an important few days of our lives. I hope that makes sense. Amy, Kim and I started today, we used the china I found at Grandma's after she passed away and the crystal goblets, it was really nice and made the day seem a little more special.

Realization

For the past 19 hours or so I have been trying to figure out why I am so hesitant to tell people what happened. I thought at first it was because I was embarrassed but, honestly I did my best. Then I thought because it was awkward to tell everyone but finally I decided that it is because I have sop much great support I felt like I was letting everyone down. The hardest part of yesterday was not being able to answer Linda's question, which she thought I knew. Of everyone on the committee I know her the best, respect her the most and have spent the most time with her. It was hard not to please her I guess. Now, before anyone thinks anything I am not a pleaser like Shelly, Bob and Cyndi (I hope that is not news to any of you - I love you) but I don't want to let people down that have invested in me and that I care about. So, I am so glad that you guys are there - you buoy me up and help me through yucky times - I just don't want you to lose faith in me either. (Good thing work isn't that challenging today!)

Today's Update

Well, I went to bed last night at 8:30 because it had been such an exhausting and mentally challenging day. I cam e to work today wondering about what happened yesterday and where I really stood. I talked with my boss in our normal weekly meeting and she told me that I shouldn't be worried that it is just another little bump in the process. It made me feel much better about the whole thing. I will have the questions sometime next week so, then my time will start. I am hoping to be able to finish it before the month mark so that I can stay on track for my deadline of Dec. All in all, I feel pretty good, they asked hard questions that most of my peers also could not answer on the spot and this will give me the chance to brush up on and prove myself with regards to research methods. Of course, eternally I don't think a month is going to make much difference. :)

The Results

Well, first off thanks for all the prayers and such, it did help. This is what happened, it is not what I wanted to but it will be okay. I defended somewhat well and then they spoke with each other and came up with this plan. They thought I did a good job with some of it but that I was shaky on research methods, which I probably am. My last class that talked about research design was in 2002 and was not very good. So, they, Michael and Linda, are going to write a new question together. This question will be one were I get to use sources (!!!!!!!) thank goodness and write up the essay. The expectations are different but I think it will be fine. I will have a month to complete it, that seems to long and then email it to everyone. They will then read it and if it is good enough then I pass. The good news is that other students have done this exact process before and it all went well. I had just spoken with a student that has Jean as her advisor as well and had to do the exact same thing. So not the greatest news but not the end of the world either.