Out of the Mouth of an Angel! (The Temple and my Parents house)

The other day my Mother and Father got a phone call at 1:30am. It was a Rep from the State of Arizona asking to place two children in their home. (My Parents have been licensed for Long-term Foster care and Emergency Foster care for over40 years) The Mother was a drug addict and had been caught with possession of Marijuana and Heroin. The Two children, a 6 year old girl Angel and 4 year old boy Anthony, arrived at my Parent’s house at 4:30am. They only had the clothing on their backs and that did not included shoes. Now many people don’t have these kinds of experiences. However I grew up as a Foster child and after being adopted by my Foster Mother and father continued to be around Foster children. This was a normal thing for us to see. However, thankfully my parents have been doing this for so long that they know how to handle the children with love and care. Most of the time when a child arrives at a foster home they are so scared and confused. It can show in signs of Anger, Violence, Crying, shyness, and sometimes they arrive in a zombie like state. Most have gone though a boggling shuffle of people. The Officer who stays with them until a state representative can pick them up, a Clerk or person while the rep finds a placement home, the Rep who drops them off at the home, Case workers, Social Workers, and then the Foster parents. By this time the Child is so confused or in a state of abandonment it is hard to make them feel safe. My Parents let then sleep near each other to help them feel safe. As soon as it was light outside my parents went to get them clothing and shoes. Anthony who I believe has been mothered by the 6 year old Angel seemed happy. Nothing was out of place for him. Other then the weirdness of a different house he seemed fine. But Angel seemed to act so much older than her age. She did not seem like a child. Anthony looked to her as his mother figure.

While shopping, we found out that Anthony loved Spiderman. When people asked him what his name was he told them “My name is Spiderman, but my nick name is Anthony.” What a cute little guy! Angel was still very cautious and quite. We did see a light in her eye when we went looking for a dress for Church on Sunday. Our whole family made trips to get the two of them things they needed. Can I just say how much I love my family for their willingness to give to others in need. Even the Starving college students in our family gave. I love you guys!
Angel and Spiderman (Anthony) had a hard night the first night. Apparently, their mother had mad them sit in the room with her as she watched scary movies. The Mother talked a lot of ghost when she was high on drugs. So my parents left the light on, and open all the closet doors and bed room doors so they could see there were no monsters or ghost. Angel patted Anthony’s back until he fell asleep. And after a while she fell asleep. Then next day she started to act different. You could tell that even though she may not be sure about the people around her, she knew she was safe in this house she was in. She was talking to my twin Ginny about it. She said she was sad. She liked this house and she felt safe but she was sad because it was not hers. She asked my sister if she would ever have a house like this of her own? And what do you tell her at that point. Ginny and I have seen the system fail so many times. Ginny and I were one of the lucky ones. We found our happy ending at the age of 12 when our parents were finally able to adopt us and have us sealed to them. All Ginny could tell her was “I hope so.” Angel then said she hoped it was a home safe like this one.

Later that same day some friends in my Parents Ward were going to the Temple to get seal to each other. So I met my Parents down at the Arizona LDS Temple and of course I brought my camera to take pictures of Angel and Anthony. This way if they stay we can have some pictures to put up of them and pictures to send to their Mother. Of course if they don’t stay then we have pictures to keep and remember them by. So while walking around the Temple we took pictures of them both while trying to stay out of the way of the Brides and Grooms that were around the Temple snapping their own photos. While walking passed one of the Brides with her Groom Anthony said “Look it’s a Princess” Then groom, who was drinking a bottle of water, almost spit out his drink while trying to hold in his chuckle. The Bride blushed and beamed at the comment. After we passed Anthony asked “Why is the Princess here?” With out skipping a beat Angel told him “Duh, to get married in the Castle” while she pointed to the Temple. As I smiled at her for that comment it happened… She smiled and it was like seeing a flower open. I saw the little girl she was supposed to be... The little girl that felt safe. After my Friends came out I started taking pictures and at first I could not get all the shot I wanted due to Angel Clinging to my leg. I did not want her to push her away. It was the first time she had opened up and who knew how long it would be before she clamed up again. Normally Children in foster care will open up for moments and close themselves back up. And they will continue to open and close themselves to you until they know your safe and you’re not going to leave. The Older the child is the longer it will take.

But I know that my parents have help hundred of children feel safe. And the way they do this is having the Spirit of God in their home and around their lives. I know that when I go to the Temple grounds I feel safe. How often do we as members hear from non members that they love the feeling of LDS member’s homes? I have a firm testimony that Children are highly sensitive to feeling the Spirit of the Lord. It is because they are so innocent. I know that we as members have to live worthy to have that spirit in our homes. The Same Spirit that we feel on the Temple Grounds. We have to do this for our sakes, for the sake of our family, and for the sake of the lost sheep that the Lord will send to you. I pray that when others come to my home that they feel the Lord spirit as my little Angel did. And I pray they feel safe and welcomed for as long as the Lord blesses me with their presence.

Mom and Pop Got a Hair Cut

My Mom and Dad got a hair cut and I had to snap a few Pictures.

Dad was a good sport when we gave him a mohawk! LOl

Man, My Mom and Dad are good-looking.

What does Water mean?

My wonderful teacher Brother D Wright, who is the Director at the ASU Tempe LDS Institute, said one day at the end of class… “If you ever have some free time and want to have some real fun…Look up Water in the Scriptures and see all the different ways his prophets of old have dealt with water. See what you find.” So like a dummy I took him up on it. I can’t say it was the hoot and hollering type of fun, but I can say it was the eye open to Godly things type of fun.

Now keep in mind I don’t know if I looked too much into this or if it will mean anything to you. But it meant something to me.

In the beginning was the creation and waters in at the very beginning. The 2nd verse in the whole bible is about the spirit moving over the face of the water. He then creates the Sky to divide the water and then the earth. On the 6th day He then declares “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures”. And Then He created Adam and Eve who being human are made up of 50 to 70% water. So water is a big part of creation. (Stick with me guys I know you might hate this part. LOL) When a young woman goes though her menstrual cycle she will retain water. The menstrual cycle being a sign (in bible times) of being a woman and ready to bare children or create life. Also the same way a pregnant woman will retain water in her body while carrying a child. When a baby is in the womb about to be born we wait for “the water to break”.

I know I said I might be stretching this but stick with me.

Putting aside the all humans can not live very long with out water… most of the Bible takes place in the Desert so water was very valuable. Most of the time the lands described in the bible is dry and only got rain at certain times of the year. So the people needed to learn how to store rain or channel the water from nearby streams. In most setting back then getting your drinking water was part of the day’s duties. One would have to normally walk a distance and possibly need something to draw the water and then also something to carry the water back. Now I don’t know about you but I tend to believe that water ,even though does not look very heavy, could become heavier and heavier as I walked back carrying it ... this could be a struggle if you were a weak person.

In many stories water can be a blessing and a curse at the same time… depending on whom side you were on. In the case of the flood, it was a curse to those who were wicked. But it was also a blessing to clean the world of the wicked and those who choose God’s side were spared. In the case of the parting of the red sea, the waters parted for the Lord people to cross. However, for the Pharaoh and his army the water would be their death. God brings drought to the earth to punish the wicked. Like when the Israelite people disobeyed the Lord and Worshiped the Canaanite Gods. The Lord brings Rain as a blessing as Joel said “Oh children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord you God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication“. In the Book of Mormon, Lehi and his family cross the Sea to the Promise Land but when members of his family become wicked and murmur against Gods followers the sea becomes violent. It is not until they stop their wickedness and ask for forgiven that the seas are settled.

The fact that Jesus picked Fishermen to come and follow him and become fisher of men says a lot. These men would have been near water most of their life.. And being fishermen, they would have seen sea waters be full of Nourishment yet something to fear during a deadly storm.

Water is used in Miracles that reveals Authority and power such as: Jesus Calming the Sea, Walking on Water, healing a blind man by washing in the pool of Siloam, Leprosy healed by bathing in the River Jordan, Water into Wine, and Water into Blood, Moses Striking the rock and Water coming forth,

Water is also use as a way of Deliverance. Moses is set to drift down the Nile and is saved as an infant. Nephi and his family are taken across the sea to the Promise land.

Water is used in one of Jesus final act towards his disciples. The act of Washing their feet and by this act it shows the both the sign of his upcoming death and the disciples readiness to be his ministry after he was gone.

Water is part of Gods Laws. Holding a considerable place in Temple Ceremony, the Levitical priests were required to wash with water under the Old Testament Law. Aaron was instructed to Bath in water before offering sacrifices. Moses provided a Bronze basin of water for priest for wash their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle.

Jesus also calls himself the source of living water. And humans being born in a sack of water, Drinking water for continued life, and who clean our selves in and with water... I can see why he could be called the source of our living water.

In Lehi’s Vision a river of water separates the Tree of life and the worldly building.

Water is the means by which we are born again. Being Baptized… Being submerged under the water. Where you have no Air (Breath is not possible, in a sense death), Vision is changed and then you come up and out of the water... Clean. Which is the whole point of baptism... Right?!? To put to death the old you or sins of your Natural man. To have a new outlook and become clean.

SO in my short 4 hours of searching for how the Prophets of the Lord use water I am in awe. I am sure I could find more but do I need to prove any more. The Lord used Water for so many things. But in all things he used it for was to testify that He is real and he is All Powerful yet Merciful and Just.

I don’t know if I got out of this exercise the same things Brother Wright did... And am I done studying this... Nope... I got a lot to think about and more study as I bring this subject of Water to his Latter- Day Church. Maybe I will write more about it when I learn more.

And to Brother Wright... Next time you say Real Fun please give me something of the hoot and hollering type. :)

Pool of Bethesda

At Institute class tonight Brother D. Wright talked about St John Chapter 5. He asked us to start readying Verses 1-9.. The story goes something like this...

In Jerusalem near the Sheep Market was a pool of water and this pool was called the pool of Bethesda. And near this pool sit and lay a “great Multitude” of People. Now these people were all matter of sick people. In the bible it calls them “impotent folk”. Some were Blind, withered, lame, and any other type of case that would seek at person to be healed. The Multitude would sit and wait to see the water ripple in the pool of Bethesda. For it was said that a Angel would come down into the pool and cause the water to ripple. And if you were able to step into the water at that time you could be made whole and healed.
It was on the Sabbath day that Jesus came to this pool. Jesus saw a man who was 38 years old who was “impotent” for a long time. And Jesus knew he had waited a long time near the pool. Jesus asked him “Wilt thou be made whole?”
The man tell Jesus that he has no one to help him. When the Ripples come someone steps on or over me and gets in the pool before me. This man does not seem to know who Jesus is. And , Jesus says in reply to his complaints saying “ Rise, take up thy bed, and walk”. As soon and Jesus commands this, the man was healed and he picked up his bed and walked away. Jesus did not tell him who he was and continued on his way.

After reading this Brother Wright asked us these questions
Ÿ What was Wrong with the Man?
Ÿ What would you had done for the Man?
Ÿ Do you think what you would have done been Right?
Ÿ What did Jesus do?
Ÿ Was he right to do what he did?

I was confused about the 1st questions. What was wrong with the man? I could not tell what exactly was wrong with the man. And it turned out to be a trick question. The Bible does not tell us what exactly was wrong with this man. But a fellow Student observed that in the bible the Lord heals a lot but usually when he does heal and a story is told on a certain healing that the person being heals has something more to learn. Be it More faith, obedience, repentance, or forgiveness. So this guy may have been a sinner as well.

The 2nd Question I thought was straight forward. What would I have done for the man? Since I don’t think I could have healed him, I would have helped put him in the water when the watered rippled. Although Brother Wright says there was no way to know when it would have rippled. I could be hours, Days, or weeks.

The 3rd Question... Do you think what you would have done would’ve been right? I said yes but as we discussed the question in class I started to change my mind. Would the water really heal him? Did the man really want to be healed? The man never said that he wanted to be healed. He just goes into complaints as to why he could not get to the water.

4th Question... What did Jesus do? And that was in black and white right?!? I couldn't get this one wrong... He told him to get up and pick up your bed and walk. (This one I got right Yeah!)

5th Question... Was Jesus right to do what he did? And DUH this is Jesus ... The Savior...of course he was right to do it.

So now we continue with the story...
(Verses 10 - 18)

The Jews went to the Man whom Jesus had healed and said... It is the Sabbath day and the law prohibits work on the Sabbath day. You are Carrying your bed on the Sabbath day and that is a violation to the laws. The Man tells them it was not his fault that a man came to him and healed him and it was his fault that he was carrying his bed. The Jews asked him who the healer was and the healed man said he did not know his name. The healed man found Jesus in the temple. Jesus said to the healed man, “ye are whole” (or healed). Now “sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee” . The Healed man left Jesus and went to the Jews and told them where to find him. The Jew go after Jesus and Persecute him and want to slay him for breaking the law of the Sabbath day. Jesus just says his Father who is God has a work and he was doing his Fathers work. This make the Jews very upset. They want to kill him now for not just breaking the Sabbath day but also saying that God was his Father.

Now going back to Question 5 : Was Jesus right to do what he did? Now I know the Answer is still Duh Yes, it’s Jesus so of course he is right. But I beg to see it this way... Ok this is a very light version what is going on... But men want to put to death a man for healing another man.

This is not just a story about the Savior teaching us to be about your Father in Heavens work on all days. It is more than just a story of the Hardness and Pride of Men not understanding his work. But it is a beautiful story about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He Died for everyone even the ones who would betray him, or turn away from him. His Atonement is for us all and we all have to choose what it is worth to us.

These Verses remind me of my Fallen Brother and Sisters who are Saints... who have fallen way from the teachings of Christ. I was among you at one time. It was easy to sit beside my other “Impotent” friends. Not to have to get up and carry my bed and walk. It was easier to be around those who did not expect too much from me. The Lords way is not always an easy one.. More over than not it is a hard path to stay on. It takes constant care on my part to learn more, do more, love more, forgive more, and keep trying to be like him. And that can be hard but in the end worth it!

With easy things conquered, come very little worth or reward... But with hard things conquered, come great worth and reward.

So perk up and "Stand Still"

Mini Captain Moroni aka Kasarah

I was given such a gift the other day. On Thursday 11/5/09 I went over to Kasarah's (A new member of the Church) home to talk about what we were going to talk about in our Visit teaching Lesson this Month. We talked during the week and decided to met Thursday and give ourselves time to pick out our favorite talk from General Conference.

When I came over to her home I was amazed. Her home felt and looked like it had always been an LDS Home. And then we started to talk about Conference... Wow this lady is awesome! The spirit is so strong with her and I could not find the will to leave the harm feeling of the spirit around her. What I thought would be a 2 hour visit to get to know each other... turned out to be about 5 and a half hours of scripture study about the Power of the Holy Ghost, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and a lot of prayer. It was amazing :) I learned so much!

We talked about how the Holy Ghost talks and leads each of us. We talk about how now a days we can take for granted the fact the we can hear a prophet speak to us. I remember the first time I ever heard a Prophet speak... It was when I was 9 or 10 years old... and it was President Hunter. The Prophet before him (Benson) did not speak for himself in his final years as a prophet... Usually someone would read a message from him. But I remember when President Hunter was called as the Prophet and he got up to speak to the Church. I was so in awe. I remember thinking why don't all people listen to him.

And this last General Conference Kasarah got to hear for the 1st time a Prophet speak to her. And what a wonderful feeling that was for her. She gave up everything to join this church... (Her home, Her Job, Her old friends) She said it was all worth it... it was worth it because of the peace the Holy Ghost gives her.

What a strong and wonderful soul this lady has. Look out world I think we may have a Mini Captain Moroni... So Wave your flag high Kasarah! Love ya!

Zuma

This place closed down but I had to stop by and have something to eat before they went out of Biz. :0(

Human Battleship

So last night at FHE my ward activity is Human Battleship. The committee sets up the Volleyball nets and Covers the net with Sheets so one side of the court cannot see the other side of the court. The teams are chosen, the prayer is said, and its time to get a chair and sit somewhere on the court and say another prayer that you don’t get hit with a Nerf ball.
Jason gives the count down to fire off all Nerf balls (about 9 balls total) over the covered net.
3-2-1 throw…
And the ball I throw does not even make it over the net! LOL (great!)
But my teammates do great and get a few members from the other team out.
Jason gives another count down to fire off all Nerf balls… But this time they will be thrown at my team. (Time to pray)
3-2-1 throw…
And wouldn’t you know it… Nobody gets out on my team.
Now this continues this way and I feel that I am safe... No need to pray because apparently the other team really needs help. So I start to talk to Amber about her upcoming babysitting event with the one of the world cutest kids. And what happens...
I got hit! Ohh MAN!
The thing is, I’m not mad about being hit… I’m mad because it was because I was not paying attention. I could have easily talked to Amber and paid attention but I did not feel that the other team was any kind of threat.
And isn't that how staying faithful in the Gospel works in our lives. In the beginning you rely on the Lord so much. You pray not to "get hit" and your prayers get answered. After a while you get comfortable that you are untouchable. You think you don’t have to watch out for "Flying Nerf balls". That is until you get "hit"… Then your back to square one the next time you get in the game. (Praying you don’t get hit!) I don’t know about anyone else but I sometime get lost in good things (Like talking to a friend) and I let my guard down. And I know I can Talk and Watch at the same time… But why did I not do it? Why did I let my Guard down when I knew the other team would be throwing things at me?
And what a lesson I learned playing Human Battleship… I drove home thinking about my life and how Satan has his own team. He and His Team throw Spiritual Nerf balls at us all the time and we know he is trying to get us out of the game. How do we become Spiritually Prepared in life?

Elder Henry B. Eyring said

in "Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady," Liahona, Nov 2005

"We will need to have developed and nurtured faith in Jesus Christ long before Satan hits us, as he will, with doubts and appeals to our carnal desires and with lying voices saying that good is bad and that there is no sin. Those spiritual storms are already raging. We can expect that they will worsen until the Savior returns."

"However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly. We can do that by deciding now to be more quick to obey and more determined to endure. Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation. Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies."

"Let me suggest to you four settings in which to practice quick and steady obedience. One is the command to feast upon the word of God. A second is to pray always. A third is the commandment to be a full-tithe payer. And the fourth is to escape from sin and its terrible effects. Each takes faith to start and then to persevere. And all can strengthen your capacity to know and obey the Lord’s commands."

And know these words to be true. I know that Satan and his team members are out there. They are waiting for me to let my guard down. But if I follow Elder Eyring’s Counsel I will be safe.

There’s a Nazi on my TV!

A friend and I started the P90X workout program today. P90X or Power 90 Extreme is a home exercise system developed by Tony Horton ('The Nazi' only cuz he is forcing me to admit how out of shape I am and making me Work, Work Work! LOL). It is a type of interval training.
So I get up at 6am so I can be at my friends home at 6:30am. The workout is an hour long and I think… “It’s only an hour, how hard could it be!”
Man was I wrong. By 30 min into the workout I am thinking to myself.”Why am I doing this, Why am I listening to the Nazi on the TV saying it only 16 reps, everyone has to do 16 reps” We were only doing 10 Lbs and I was dying. So my friend says lets give it 90days and just see.
Ok is bad that I am already counting down and dreading to see the Nazi on the TV tomorrow?

Have you ever been kicked out of a Hospital?

Ok so my Dad is in the VA hospital in Tucson, Arizona. But, my family has a thing about having Sunday time together. Ok so every Sunday we have Dinner or get together and play games.
Well with dad being in the VA hospital we all deicided that we were going to still get together and we all made the 2 hour trip to Tucson. We are laughing and talking and just having a good old time right. And then the nurse comes in and says... "I'm sorry but the head nurse here said that the limit for each patient is 2 or 3 visitors” Mind you we only had a few family members (7) that had arrived at that point.
Well no wonder nobody gets better in the VA… haven’t these people ever heard that Happiness and Laughter have healing powers. So we all took turns visiting my Dad and then made our way back home.
Wow, I just could not believe it! What rebels I have in my Family... LOl Kicked out of the Hospital... Im sure the head nurse was thinking "Those Crazy Mormons" LOL

The Bishopric should not make you cry!

I love my Bishopric! I might be just a little partial to them but I really think I have the best Bishopric. Although!...
Today Brother Phelps called me over as I am trying to leaving Church to go visit my Dad. He did not know anything about my dad being in the hospital (nor had he ever met my dad). He just wanted to pull me aside and ask me to let my Dad know “what a wonderful job he did raising me”
Man how the floodgate opened. How did he know what to say…? That dang Spirit will tell on you all the time! Here I am trying to say as little as possible to the Ward members about my troubles and the Spirit tells on me!
I love that the Priesthood holders in my singles ward are so in sync to the needs of our members. And they follow the prompting of the spirit.
Thanks Brother Phelps!