Sneakin' Around With You

A year ago today my friend Colleen made her return appearance in Heaven.

I'm sure that she did not sneak in but that her arrival was
greatly anticipated.
Her FUNeral was like 3 hours long.

These were some of the flowers Maria and I got for the FUNeral.
We knew she'd love flowers coming out of a pumpkin.
Then we found that box that actually SAID Colleen.
It was a sign.
So today I just want to use my Colleen language and record all the fun things we used to do and say. Maria and my mom will probably understand most of it - well some anyway - the rest of you can think about wonderful inside jokes that make you smile when only the two of you understand.


Colleen memories:
Harold andMaude, Arthur Arthur, The Best Little *House in Texas.
"My brother named..."
Phil (actually Rich), Kirk (actually Rick)
Straight Hand Across, Jen
We can be a bus!
The purple afghan.
Our accident on the way to Phyllis's dad's funeral after we had a prayer.
Hot fudge sundaes.
The Turtle.
Cool Pleasures.



(Sorry it's not right way up)
Heart Attack Window Decor.
Katherine Weeks Genes/Jeans. I still have them.
"Pop Up!" (Bonnie Parkin).
Sister Parkin's silver umbrella pin.
Airflow.
Hurricane Ridge.
Our bracelets.
More precious than rubies conference.
Celebrating New Years at Jack in the Box and watching the fireworks from the middle of Hwy 99. I had our celebration paper in my car for years. It may still be in there actually.
The little purple thing. My little purple thing was black.

Valentine's surprise for KW.
The wild thing monkey.
The enormous monkey for KW when she was sick.
KUU (KW) license plates.
The wet wedding dress story.
We don't ask how, we just ask why.
Treasures of Truth book (ok these are a lot of KW memories too but they so go together)
Deleted.
Tar-jet, Tarzhay, Target. Same store, three different locations.
How she'd always brew the coffee in the hotel room.
Matches in her make-up bag.
"Paradise View"
Going to the symphony for Christmas.
Lip plumper.
The secret way to go to the Temple off of 2nd Ave and 99.
The Contra-alto man singing Handel's Messiah. Wow.
Fetus-man.
The money tree.
Putting one rose bud in water in a bowl from the Stake kitchen for the reception.
Women at the Well.
The Seattle Temple at like 4 in the morning.

Sister Lily.
Loving the Seattle Temple all the time.
Just heading right up to the room instead of going to the Chapel. Don't worry - we're on time.
Praying to get to the Temple on time. You pray, I'll drive. We made it.
Salon Excellence.


Krispy Kremes - "That'll be $8.57 for your two donuts and chocolate milk please."
Eating lunch in the triangle.
Sequim.
Carol.
Aletha.
Blu Water and S'mores.
Blu Water with the Croshaws.
Time Outs.
Chinook.
"Day-oh. One day sale one day sale one day sale. Friday only at the Bon Marche." (sung to the tune of Day-o) One day sales- all the time.
When she got stuck right in the path of the naked bike Fremont parade.
"Tendencies."

Clip on the eyebrow.
Life is Real.
The Bug Stik.
Green Cake.
Thai One On.
Moonshadow.
Moon something - in Richmond Beach - so yummy!
ARTERIALS!!!!!!!!

First favorite everything.
First Favorite Fred Meyers.
Buying a table turkey for her brother named John when he was attached to an IV.
I'm not a real person.
Hair colors changing - on all of us.
Going to see Ed and how he'd shrug up his shoulders when he laughed and how much he loved her. And how much they had decorated their apartment on every square inch for whatever holiday it was.
Sneaking Around With You...
Science Project Hair.
Me falling asleep on the couch ... "Sarah Brown is my..."
Ben and Jerry.
Lunches at China First.
Carl and George at Aldercrest.
Bedroom Makeover with Tanni.
Eating at the Space Needle with Mom and Lacey.
Yes - we'll take the bottle of Martinelli's for $15.
Ice chips in the ER for me.
Olpin Enjoyment Weekend.

Zoopas.
Getting invited to dinner and then just going to Zoopas on Sunday.
The Sundance House.
Gregory Ann.
Septmeber Grass.
The Scary Closet.
Kitchen Dick Road.
Dungeness Spit.
Road Trips.
Christmas downtown -- The Figgy Pudding Contest.
Resting at the Bon Marche.
Claustrophobia!
My birthday party on the patio with the turtle tablecloth and the flip flop key chain.
Riding in the back of a police car - no air bags. - no ticket.
Like 45 police behind us on the bridge after the accident.
Documentation!
Non-verbal communication.
Old Navy - those pajama pants. (Hey I'm wearing them right now!)
You Pick- We Pick.
50th Surprise Birthday Party - "Ok everyone come out of the kitchen!"
Tacky Postcards.
El Gaucho - YUM!
Ivan. Marjorie.

Going to Leavenworth to get her the music box to replace the one that she had gotten in Europe and brought home and showed her roommate and the roommate thought she bought it for her so the roommate took it and thanked Colleen for it!
Chocolate Pudding. Or tapioca for KW but you have to eat it our special way.
LuDean.
Dagne.
Jennie Folan and the greeting card placemats.
Let's go to the Outback cuz you always know what you're gonna get.
Dilletante's.
Movies.
Louise.
Marathon Saturdays.
Her first favorite daughter that she never had.


So many more...
And so many more pics too - I'll have to scan them in though because a lot of our documentation happened before digital cameras.

The day Colleen got sick, she was actually moving down to Utah.
I was so excited for her to come and live close to me.
Her heart was the biggest heart I have ever encountered.
At her FUNeral there were so many people to whom Colleen had been their best (and maybe only) friend.
I miss her -- I can't wait to see her again.

Thinking about Colleen and being so grateful for our memories makes me SO Happy.

Just Dew It

No - not Mountain.

Sheri!

Yesterday, while getting ready for the day, I decided to listen to a Women's Conference talk. The truth is, I just didn't want to listen to another 80's lunch rewind or whatever (yes I was getting ready during the lunch hour). So, in the spirit of trying to be prepared to contribute something to my upcoming assignment, I flipped on this year's BYU Women's Conference and decided against watching Sister Beck's talk again, although that was a hard decision because, boy oh boy, (good expression incidently) is that talk good. Instead I chose Sheri Dew. She's always a crowd pleaser for sure, as well as inspirational, motivational and spiritual.

(The Relief Society Building - yes, there's a building for Relief Society! Directly east of the Temple. :))
(And yes, I took all the pics in this blog - except the ones of me and the one of Sister Dew.)

And this talk did not disappoint. In fact, I've been thinking about it for most of the day and I'm
really feeling like some action is in order.

So I thought I'd share.

The theme of the Conference this year was "Awake, Arise and Come Unto Him" taken from Moroni 10:30-32. Sister Dew talked about how dewing those 3 things will ensure we have the righteous influence Heavenly Father has blessed us with and expects of us in the circles in which we find ourselves.

Sister Dew said, "Influence is not about elevating self, but lifting others."

She also said that "influence to lift others comes as we come unto Christ. To come unto Christ means walking away from the world. And walking away from the world means choosing holiness and purity over worldliness and impurity.
Our Father wants us back, and He wants us back clean."

Isn't that excellent?

She said, "We may not be the first generation of sisters to be influenced by the world but we need to be the last. We’ve got to be the last. The apostle Paul said it best. “It is high time to awake out of sleep… The night is far spent, the day is at hand; therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:11-12).

"If it’s any consolation we’re not the first generation to struggle with this. In 1873, Eliza R. Snow said this to the Relief Society. 'I have thought how necessary for the Saints of the living God to be more of a distinct people than they already are… to be as different from the rest of the world as our privileges are more exalted—we should be a shining light to the nations of the earth. But I often say to myself, are we what we should be?'

We're certainly not the first generation to be influenced by the world but we must be the last.

(In fact, there are so many good quotes from that talk - that'll have to be a new happy little "element" of my blog.)
(Speaking of happy and little - remember Bob Ross? The happy painter? Happy little clouds, happy little trees... I may have to do an 'ode to Bob Ross post'.
Catheryn seriously loved him.)

You know -- I think there is just too much world in my world. I realized it especially when she read again this quote from President Spencer W. Kimball.

"My dear sisters, may I suggest to you something that has not been said before or at least in quite this way. Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different
—in happy ways—
from the women of the world."

Isn't it wonderful that President Kimball say "distinct and different in HAPPY ways"?!!! That alone made me So Happy!

But what are those ways?

I mean - he's talking about drawing "the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality") to the Church.

How are we different in happy ways from such good, spiritual women? Are we?

Rather -- am I?

Sister Dew continued, "It has been 3 decades since that call to action... Are we ever going to do more than just quote President Kimball? We have the gift of the Holy Ghost. A living Prophet. Spiritual gifts. Access to Priesthood power. Ordinances that endow us with knowledge and power. Unique leadership training and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. We should be far more distinctive than even the very finest women in the world. Are we? In our everyday lives do we talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, preach of Christ and testify of him?
Are we women on a mission to build his kingdom? …Are we the women God needs us to be in the latter part of the Latter-days?"

No wonder they want us to study For the Strength of Youth (as Sister Beck emphasizes it). It is the guide by which we can measure just how far the world has moved away from the Gospel and if we are drifting too or holding fast to the Iron Rod.

"Sisters it is high time for us to arise and have the influence that God intended us to have. It is high time for us to lead the women of the world. It’s high time for us to model the distinctiveness and happiness that sets true followers of Jesus Christ apart."

So, the world in my world, and distinct and different in happy way #1.

A good chunk of the world flows right into my living room through the ol'boob tube.

So - today, I unplugged it.

Yep - I'm gonna see if I can just go a week without watching it.

(Or at least make it more difficult so that if I really do need to see something I'll have to make an effort to watch it - you know - a conscious choice instead of just falling back into that comfort zone of nothingness. Watching movies with friends doesn't count, right?)

I mean really - how important are the Kardashian's? Or knowing what's happening on The View? Or having Oprah tell me how to live my best life? I'm pretty sure I know how and it didn't come from listening to the Big O. (Sister Dew said she heard someone quote a talk show host in Relief Society the other day. Then she said, "Come on! Surely we haven't become so numb that we would endorse an openly immoral celebrity in the Lord's organization for women.")

But occasionally I get lulled and think all that nonsense matters.
So I'm grateful that Sister Dew has provided me a wake up call in the form of her talk.

She said, "If we truly want to walk away from the world, our single most important pursuit is
to seek to hear the voice of the Spirit."

She also suggested we think of our life as a ministry (which Sister Parkin suggested here too). Not just church callings or taking care of our regular activities but thinking what can I do to really minister to others.

"I’m not talking about doing more although it may mean doing things differently. I am talking about focus and perhaps further consecration. Making of your life a ministry means consciously asking yourself in regular everyday situations, “Why has the Lord brought me here today?” and then looking for ways to build up people and the kingdom. It means asking the Lord what He needs you to do… Ministering might mean… starting a blog to share what you believe online. (Awesome!) (She didn't say awesome by the way.) It is our stewardship, after all, to pass along the legacy of what it means to be a woman of God to the next generation… We’re the ones who need to define Latter-day Saint Womanhood. Not anyone else. This means speaking up and reaching out. It means seeking to have influence in as many ways and with as many people as possible. Those who think of life as a ministry tend to be less lonely, less likely to feel that life has spun out of control, more inclined to have a gentle heart, more filled with purpose."

She quoted the scripture - "For even the Son of Man came to minister not to be ministered unto" (Mark 10:45) and I find myself thinking, "But of course! He was the Savior! He had to know He was here to serve others and get His comfort from His Father
- the God of all comfort (one of my new favorite scriptures) -
with whom He was totally in tune.

The only thing that's different between Him and me however - besides the absolutely obvious many things - is me.
Heavenly Father would bless me with the same comfort. The same peace. The same opportunity to serve in my circle if I would do the same things as Jesus did while He was away from His Father the same as I am now.
We have the same commandments and the same promises.
(How miraculous is that?!).

Except - it's all made possible for me through Jesus Christ.

So it's almost even more incumbent on me to follow Him - since He gave me the example - perfectly - and provided the way for me to get back on the path - lovingly and miraculously mercifully.

I'm kind-of overwhelmed by it all this morning.

Sister Beck said, "There is eternal power and influence in motherhood."
So true.

Sister Dew believes it too.

"What is our potential influence as we and our sisters across the earth rally together for the cause of Jesus Christ? Will you consider the collective power of one? What if every woman in Relief Society living near a Temple went to the Temple just one extra time this year. How much more revelation would flow into the homes of the church? Or – what if we each did one thing this month, just one, to improve our ability to hear the voice of the Spirit? Or – one thing to become more pure? Or – tuned out one talk show and studied scriptures instead… Or – went to cheer on one Laurel we’re not related to. Have you noticed how many times I have said or? What is one thing you could do and would be willing to do? Or – and here’s the big question – what if every sister in Relief Society looked and prayed for one just one opportunity to share the Gospel this year? ...Now does this seem just outrageous? Or is it exactly what President Kimball foresaw; that we, we would be a significant force in both the numerical and spiritual growth of the Church in the last days. I believe it. And I believe it’s high time we make it happen. I’m going to try. Will you?"

Yes, Sister Dew! YES!

"Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said this, 'Something is going to be asked of this dispensation that’s never been asked before. We must be ready to present the Church of the Lamb, to the Lamb, and when that happens, we must be looking and acting like His Church.' This may seem impossible but… with the Lord’s help and our best effort we will prevail…

Our Father sent us now precisely because He knew we would not stop until we got the job done. We are followers of Jesus Christ and we have been his followers and loved Him for a long, long time. Nothing is more important than working and sacrificing and enduring for Him. Let us be the generation of women that, finally, walks away from the world. If we will awake, arise and come unto Christ we will have a degree of influence…that has no limit and no end.

We can do this. I know we can."

That's because the women of the Church have the ability to be different and distinct in happy ways from the women of the world because we have the Gift of the Holy Ghost! And when we follow His promptings (acting quickly to follow every inspiration that is honorable and right) - whether we are mothering our own children or another's (including perhaps someone who may have children older than we are (aka old lady friends)) - we can have influence.

I could go on and on and on. Surprised?

I'll step down from my soapbox for today... but not for long. :)
What are you dewing to avoid worldly influence?
How dew you righteously minister to and influence others?
What are we dewing to prepare the Church of the Lamb to present to the Lamb when He comes?
I'm not saying you aren't, I'm saying you are -- please tell me how!

(And, seriously, if you're still reading at this point, leave me a comment. You get a prize. Just tell me you saw this. :))

Sister Dew quoting President Monson said -
"We cannot escape the influence our lives have upon the lives of others."

She's right - I mean it's one way or the other - not in between.
But we can certainly choose the things by which we will be influenced.

And how grateful I feel for those righteous women who have had influence on my life.

And so many more... Boy, do I love those ladies.

So I'm going to Just Dew It.

And a new resolve to try harder, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and the Promise of the Atonement make me So Happy.

Something Extraordinary

Some days are just so incredibly happy.

Don't you ever feel like you're the luckiest girl in the world?

Me too!!!

These two ladies are extraordinary.
Between them (and really each alone) they have visited practically all the countries in the world and
blessed more lives than are numerable.

I mean they have literally changed the world!

From service to literacy to transitioning to "Get[ting] a Life" and "Personal Ministries,"they have changed the world.

And I got to be with them!

We had a lovely early birthday lunch together and I loved every second of getting to be with my lovely Sister Jack and Sister Parkin. Aren't they just the best???
(And isn't my jacket so cute?)
Yummy food at The Garden in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building downtown and wonderful company!
The perfect birthday lunch.

This was the scene of the rest of my afternoon happiness:

It was so nice to be at the Temple.
We saw lots of people we knew throughout the day and that made it fun too!

But mostly it was just fun being with my favorite ladies...
Isn't it wonderful that Heavenly Father knows exactly what will make us so happy?!
I am so extraordinarily grateful for my friends who bring so much love and happiness to my life!!

My Wonderfully Extraordinary Friends make me -- So Happy!

The Emerald City (Day 2)

Well - Before I tell you about Day 2 of Seattle I have to tell you that

my real happiness today
comes in the form of an early birthday present!

This Friday I get to have lunch with two of my favorite ladies!!! ELJ and her friend...

Bonnie Parkin!

I'm so excited!!! I love love love Sister Parkin!

I'm thrilled and grateful and, again, fairly sure that I'm the favorite of all of God's Children!!

So I'll have happiness to share on Friday! I can't wait!

And to transition...

Sister Parkin used to live in Seattle Too!!! Yeah for Seattle!

(Colleen memories again! We bought each other a lovely little umbrella pin just like Sister Parkin when she came to visit and told us to "Just pop up!" and said she had bought it at Pike Place Market.
Love it!)

So - My second wonderful day in Seattle.
Mostly my day consisted of A. - People I love:

First - My former co-workers:

Those are some wonderful ladies. I miss working with them!

Second - My "German Lutheran Family":

The Mobley's
These are two of the best people you could ever be lucky enough to meet.
Nowhere are people more genuine and loving and good!
Richard can build anything in the world and Tina --
well what can't Tina do!
Being in Seattle always reminds me how lucky I am to know the best people in the world!


And Harriet:

(How come I don't have a picture of me and Harriet together? Where are those pics from my 30th b'day party?
Mo - do you have any? Very Strange!!!
Harriet is not Hilda in front or Stella behind her. She's the lovely behind both other lovely ladies.)
Oh I wish you could all know Harriet!!! She is so fantastic. Kind and fun and so kind and generous and loving and wonderful. I absolutely love being with her!

Third - Stella:

I must say, I'm so disappointed we didn't get a new picture together.
She is stunningly beautiful.
This September she will celebrate 100 years of life! She is amazing.

Fourth - My wonderful Temple Friends.
Obviously I don't have pictures of seeing my Temple Friends - but it was so wonderful to see them!!! Oh Wait!!!

This is my very favorite Sister Brown - she came to my graduation party and ironically I didn't see her when I went to the Temple this time but she definitely means the Temple to me!

I didn't even change out of my street clothes -- I just ran around and talked to everyone and
OF COURSE at yummy chocolate pudding!
There's nowhere like the Seattle Temple.

B. - Places I love:

1. The Temple!



(This is actually a picture of the Chapel behind the Temple - but it's so beautiful!)



#2 - Green Lake. It was nighttime by the time I got there to walk around - so here are some pictures from when I used to live in Seattle.


I swear Green Lake is a little heaven on earth.

And C - Food I love:

1. Lunch and tea at the Mobley's with Harriet joining us for tea and dessert! Such wonderful Seattle memories - It was always my favorite thing to have "tea with jam and bread" with Harriet!

Harriet and I stopped at Tully's and I had a Yerba Mate Latte! YUM (no it's not coffee...) Seattle AND Argentina!
Why is Tully's also not in SLC??

2. I should've taken a picture of the Dick's Deluxe Burger that I ate after my walk around Green Lake. I was sitting there alone in the car, eating a burger, fries and a coke when the song "I'm Too Sexy" came on the radio. I had to laugh. Perfect soundtrack for me stuffing my face at 11:00 at night - alone in the driveup at Dick's. I'm definitely too sexy.


Found an old pic...
So many things make me so happy today. So much Happiness!!!
Really. So Happy.