A Family Story

Jeanne Leave a comment

Here is a vacation story when I was about 13 years old. Our family (Mom, Dad, me, and my sister, who was 17) were going to Disneyland. My sister and I had planned and planned and looked at maps. We were so excited. I don’t think Mom or Dad were that excited at all, but they knew we were. We’d been talking about it ever since Disneyland opened a few years before we planned to go.

So my dad, who is a car mechanic–a really good one–gets his boss to lend him a car that has air conditioning, because we are driving there and it;s probably going to be hot, and my Mom hates to be hot.

So we took off, and along the way we stopped at Zions National Park the next morning. While we stopped and parked and went into a gift shop, something really bad happened in the car’s engine. All of the electrical wiring burned up! Without all the wires, the engine won’t even start or run at all. There’s no parts store or garage in Zions. But, my very smart and kind Dad spent the hot day out in the parking lot fixing the engine using only what he had is his small tool box–while we lounged in the gift shop and cafe…waiting..(and worrying).

He was out in the sun so long that the top of his forehead and head got sunburned, and it turned into a huge blister that covered the whole top of his head! He hardly mentioned it, and certainly didn’t complain. He actually was able to fix the car, to our great joy; however, he could not fix the AC! Over the next few hours of driving across the hot desert at night, that whole fluid-filled blister sagged down toward his eyes, making him look like an owl, but he was so determined that we have a great vacation that he did everything with joy and enthusiasm!

He seemed to love Disneyland, and he even barked like the seals in Knott’s Berry Farm..and he never complained.

Now, that was love! The kind of love families have. No one will ever love you like your family does. Try to notice the kind things they do for you all the time, and know how lucky you are to have a fun-loving family.

You know…I don’t know that I ever thanked my Dad for all he did for us on that vacation..Be sure to see the kind things your Mom and Dad do for you, and just a quick thank you sentence will mean a lot to them.

Also, when I was in grade school, I noticed a cute plush elephant in the window of the Lowe Drug store in Montpelier. I mentioned it to Mom and Dad, but they didn’t have a lot of money, and couldn’t just always buy me what I wanted. One day my Dad said he’d drive me back to school after lunch (I wold walk home for lunch) and he stopped by the Lowe Drug and bought me the elephant! I was so happy!

The Lowe Drug elephant is on the left. They are all dressed in robes I made from washcloths.

JUST YOU RELAX

Jeanne Leave a comment

Just you relax, my dearest friend, or truth may pass us by.
We need the help of both of us to look trials in their eye.
Only when we see life clearly can we truly work together.
Remember, dearest friend, perfection takes forever!

All life’s trials give to us experience as we share our chosen path.
Hold tight to the iron rod past all life’s painful gaps.
Remember we belong together in all life’s thincks and thins.
Together we can last forever. We with Christ, will always win.

Just you relax in Christ Jesus and grow high on eternity.
Only God’s truth can protect us and keep us safe eternally.

When we relax and trust in Christ, P.E.A.C.E.* on E.A.R.T.H.’S Force* can begin to sprout and grow.
Please remember, my best friend, the joy and pains we share between all the tears and the rips to us as we forever grow and mend.

Being still is always a better pathway than confusion or anxiety caused by so many things we encounter in everyday life. We live in a time that often fools us into thinking that problems should be solved immeiately. There is always a pill for pain. I love the line: “perfection takes forever”. Slow down. Be mindfull, and notice the beauty and good that surrounds you.

And, for what it’s worth, I’ve come to the conclustion that just the physical act of smiling does something to the brain. I believe it fools the brain into thinking that we are happy, whether we are or not, and it responds as such. Go ahead a try it. Anytime. There is a verse in the Book of Mormon that says, “Man is that he might have joy.” And, as the poem counsels, if you really want lasting joy, invite Jesus Christ into your life. I’ve found this to be true.

*P.E.A.C.E. (Paradise, Earth and Community Effort) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to reducing pollution. E.A.R.T.H.’S Force (Earth Action Return To Health Service Force) is a branch of P.E.A.C.E. that utilizes the unemployed poor as a work force to develop local projects to restore the natural environment. More information is found at our-peace.org

Please check out churchofjesuschrist.org for infomation on the Book of Mormon, and a plethora of other topics.

The Raven’s Call

Jeanne Leave a comment 
The raven's call was heard by us while at the aviary. He was sleek and strong.
When we met this friendly raven (black as night), we played along.
He would hand us sticks through his wire cage. We passed them back to this black sage.
At Tracy Aviary we had a friend at our young age.

As we grew old and memory fades, another raven took front page.
At Yellowstone we stopped for lunch.  This raven came and watched us brunch.
He begged for food.  We gave him some.  He flew to a perch & oh what fun!
I threw him food & some he caught.  Then he would stash the food he got.

This old picnic ground was a special spot.  This raven gave us quite a lot.
Here and there, he would go to hide his stash.  This was his plot.
As we returned from year to year.  The raven aged & death grew near.
He flew more slowly, until we saw him no more one passing year.

To Yellowstone we drove one day & on a fence along the way,
We saw a row of ravins there--a thousand strong cawed in the air!
We wondered as we drove along:  Was his family watching till we were gone?
P.E.A.C.E.* on E.A.R.T.H.S Forces* wishes you all to find a friend who will call--
Rockchuck or birds; ravens are fine.  All God's creatures bring us true P.E.A.C.E. of mind.

Bob truly has a facination for ravens. The poem speaks the truth. I was there. Ravens have definitely captured his heart. So, when he turned 80 last month, I was delighted to find him a stained glass lamp with 3 ravens on it. He was delighted and spends much time studying it and how it is constructed and how the light changes the color of some of the glass pieces, and how noble the ravens look. Our connections with nature can bring us to witness the awe of God’s creations, from the breaching whales to the lilting surprise of a monarch butterfly. Or from a giant redwood tree to the tiny hand of a newborn baby. We are indeed surrounded with evidences of God’s wondrous creative power here on earth. Just now we were delighted with a badly needed soaking rain. Indeed, we should appreciate each breath we take, and every day we are blessed to see more miracles.

We always look forward to comments from our readers. Tell us what you are grateful for? What things in nature bring you delight?

*P.E.A.C.E. (Paradise, Earth and Community Effort) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to reducing pollution. E.A.R.T.H.S Force (Earth, Action Return to Health Service Force) is a branch on P.E.A.C.E. that utilies the unemployed poor as a work force to develop local projects to restore the natural environment.

More information is available at our-peace.org

Please connect with churchofjesuschrist.org as a link to a great library of information from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Fear

Jeanne Leave a comment 
Fear can be good or bad upon life's earthly sod.
The beginning of true knowledge, is the true fear of God.
This kind of fear leads us to respect for all our Lord gives us.
This fear keeps us on the path, unto our Father's loving trust.

Worldly fear takes our souls & causes doubts & sin to grow.
To fear what others may think, can take us from truth's goal.
Fear can lead  to worldly sins, as Satan's hooks reel us in.
Let's pray for strength to overcome those fears that tear us within.

Fear can be good or bad; some warn us of life's foes.
As we walk through man's poisons, Jesus the Christ will guide each soul.
If we but fear & honor Him, the spirit helps us to truly see.
As we respect and trust in God, His love will set us free.

We believe the fear of God starts us on Christ's true and holy way,
And leads us through this world of sin to wisdom's bright new day.
Christ's P.E.A.C.E. * & E.A.R.T.H.'S Force * help us love and serve the weak & poor.
The love of God will heal all fears, and open Heaven's door.

  • P.E.A.C.E. (Paradise, Earth and Community Effort) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to reducing pollution. E.A.R.T.H.’S Force (Earth, Action Return To Health Service Force) is a branch of P.E.A.C.E. that utilies the umemployed poor as a work force to develop local projects to restore the natural environment. More information is available at our-peace.org.

Fear (not the healthy ‘respect for God’ kind of fear), but the fears caused by death, unemployment, illnesses, war, disasters, etc. are common to all of us, and can be disabling and cause our lives to become unbearable. As in a recent post in June 2025 entitled “Her hand were just too little” there are ways discussed to break the grip of fear and misery. By turning to Christ, our problems will not suddenly be removed, but we can be strengthend to carry on in life, even if we do not understand the “whys” right now. The greater faith that we have…the faith that believes Jesus Christ will bless us as he has promised to do, the less power fear has to upend our lives. Jesus will ‘lead us along’ (D&C 78:18) and help us to be of good cheer in all circumstances.

Log onto churchofjesuschrist.org to explore a wealth of comforting and inspirational thoughts.

Her Hands Were Just Too Little

Jeanne Leave a comment

I stumbled across an old journal entry yesterday and thought to use it this week. My Grand Daughter, who was 4 years old at the time of the journal entry, wanted to play with her dollhouse. It was in her bedroom, but she wanted it out in the living room by me, so that she could show me all the things it could do. She was gone for a few minutes, and I was busy doing some dumb thing. She came out looking very sad and showed me her hands and said, “They’re just too little. They are not big enough. They are not strong enough!” The look on her face matched her destressing words. I then realized that she was too little to carry the dollhouse by herself. I went in her room and saw her futile efforts. I carried the dollhouse into the living room, and we had a good time examining it’s possibilities.

Don’t we all get tired, and aren’t there times when we just can’t do it all ourselves? We really do need each other, in all sorts of ways. All of us might be able to say that we just aren’t strong enough, and that our hands are too small! I hope we are there for each other whenever any of us say that, and I hope we can feel the love when the job gets done because somebody helped us.

And then there are those times when our world falls apart, and even though friends or family try to comfort and help, we are still left broken, or hurt, or in despair–beyond the reach of any hands, except those of Jesus.

President Russell M. Nelson, prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has counseled1 “Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. He will heal you from sadness and fear. He will heal you from the wounds of this world. Turn to Him! Follow Him!”

There is nothing like His power to apply comfort, understanding, or peace to us as we turn to Him in times of need. He knows us and loves us perfectly, and suffered in Gethsemane that he might know how to succor each of us. He descended below all things that he might be able to lift us up.

.1 Conference Address. April 2023. Entire text can be found on churchofjesuschrist.org under conference messages, April 2023 “The Answer is Always Jesus.”

Paradise, Earth and Community Effort (P.E.A.C.E.) is committed to help solve pollution in all forms. This blog is an appendage of that non-profit corporation: our-peace.org

Pilgrim’s Lament

Jeanne Leave a comment

This is an exerpt from a poem written by my daughter. The theme of my thinking today is centered in ‘faith’. What is it? How does it compare to ‘confidence’? And…what does it have to do with me?

Brave little bird. Left the security of a nest to choose this spot. Confidence?

Faith? New horizons. What adventures lie ahead? And now, a few lines from

Pilgrim’s Lament:

This journey that is mine
Confidence
Earned in sweat and blood
To stand tall
To rise above
With my back against the wall
Step into the void
With an air of grace and poise
To leap without a noise
Even when I'm terrified
Even when I'm dead inside

My grandson sent this scripture in a text to me several weeks ago, and I’ve been thinking about it every day. Thinking about a clouded dark window pane with images on the other side that simply aren’t discernable through the glass. Just figures moving here and there and an occasional hint of something grand that almost reaches a memory of long ago….a good memory, almost within reach:

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.”

What thoughts, or feelings, or events surface in your mind? I think about the Apostle Peter, stepping out of the boat, walking on water toward Christ. Like stepping into the void, even when terrified. Like being the brave little bird, and even though you may only see darkly, moving toward, moving forward in a direction you percieve as good and right. We all occasionally walk on water, don’t we?

We know so little of the powers that created all we see. We are infants, but are growing and learning and stepping out with faith and confidence that there is something wonderful waiting on the doorstep.

I encourage you to explore the wonderful things on the doorstep, and direct you to a clear source with a plethora of information to discover pathways that lead to good and light: www.churchofjesuschrist.org



OLLIE’S SONG

Jeanne Leave a comment

Come away wee little laddie.
Lean your head upon my breast.
Come away with me to dreamland.
Close your eyes and take a rest.

Oh, wee lad, you are a treasure;
More than silver, more than gold.
You’re a gift sent straight from Heaven;
Ours to love and ours to hold.

May the stars that light the heavens
Sine their light throughout the night,
Stand a watch as you are sleeping,
‘Til the morning shines her light.

May the son1 shine down upon you;
Keep you safe and keep you warm.
May our love abide forever;
Keep you far away from harm.

Oh, wee lad, you are a treasure;
More than silver, more than gold.
You’re a gift sent straight from Heaven;
Ours to love and ours to hold.

May you always know we love you,
Little Laddie, boy of mine!

Children and Grandchildren pay tribute to their fathers and grandfathers on Father’s Day, but, today we celebrate the blessing of family…parents, children, grandparents. This poem was written upon the birth of our last grandson as an expression of love, and also as expression of gratitude to our Father in Heaven for blessing us with another miraculous grandchild, and also a tender petition for him, and all of us, to be watched over and cared for.



As always, we love to hear you share your comments and experiences with us. Also, the best family document we know of can be found by typing in ‘Family Proclamation’ in the search bar of the following website: www.churchofjesuschrist.org, which also contains a mountain of life changing information.

  1. Double meaning of coarse: Sun and Son of God, Jesus Christ
    ↩︎

FATHER’S DAY

Jeanne Leave a comment 
Father's Day is a time when children show how much they care.
Through phone calls or visits from far away, or dinners we do share.
Father's Day is time to reflect on memories from the past-
Of Dad & Grandpas dear to us.  Good memories always last.

Now, I'm a Grandpa & a Father.  Each child has helped us grow.
With the help of my best friend, her love helps us to know
True P.E.A.C.E. ON E.A.R.T.H.* comes when we serve God's family.
Helping all souls love Jesus Christ, is the only perfect key.

So when I say, "I love you all", I include all living things-
From mountains high to desert low, where all creation sings.
Dearest ones, please hear God's songs so we may live together
Throughout all eternity, in Christ we live forever.

We're happiest when each of you are happy in your lives.
We pray each dawn & eve for each of you to find true P.E.A.C.E.* of mind.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY



  • P.E.A.C.E. (Paradise, Earth And Community Effort) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to reducing pollution. E.A.R.T.H.S FORCE (Earth Action Return To Health Service Force) is a branch of P.E.A.C.E. that utilizes the unemployed poor as a work force to develop local projects to restore the natural environment. More information is available at www.our-peace.org.

More information about how to connect to Jesus Christ can be found on www.churchofjesuschrist.org

Eclipse

Jeanne Leave a comment

Last October our family traveled to central Utah (Palisades State Park) to view a solar eclipse….a ring of fire.

Today, April 8, 2024, I’ve been watching a total eclipse on TV, and am reminded of the awe we felt last October. I especially remember how remarkably colder it got, and we scrambled for our coats. My camera equipment is not phenomenal, and so the images I took are not the best, but, nonetheless are good reminders of our experience 6 months ago.

News casters on TV have referred to the event as being “bigger than us” and “spiritual”. It is a testimony to me of the incomprehensible majesty of the creation of our earth, and how nurtured we are by God. Think of how cold it got when we were without the sun for just a few minutes, and imagine what it would be like it the sun stopped shining for us, or the earth stopped moving in it’s orbit around the sun, or just stopped spinning?!

…and I am grateful that there is a power far beyond what I can imagine, that can create in such beauty and harmony. And so, I am committed to look for it everyday: every time I take breath, every morning when I open my eyes and they can see, and my brain can interpret what they see, and I can taste, and feel a warm breeze, and the tulips bloom…..billions of miracles right in front of me.

And I am glad the sun is shining in it’s fullness today, warming the planet to just the right temperature, and night time will come, but so will a sunrise tomorrow, and tomorrow. Plants will grow and rain will fall; all in perfect harmony.

Share Glad Tidings

Jeanne Leave a comment 
Share glad tidings  of great joy  unto every soul.
When we find  something of great worth, share that truth  so we all can grow.
The Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-Day Saints  teaches what is true.
Let us invite  souls everywhere.  Repentance  makes us new.

When we share  the Gospel's light  with others  that we see,
We must ask for  the Holy Ghost  to help set their  spirits free.
For only God  can enter in  and touch the  hearts of man.
With holy fire  the Holy Ghost testifies of  God's great plan.

There are countless souls  upon this earth  who know not  where to look.
Duty calls  us who know  to give each soul  God's Holy Books,
And share our testimony  with every willing soul.
With guidance from  the Holy Ghost, each child is helped  to grow.

Great shall be  each soul's reward, with every soul  we help save.
We share the truth  of Christ our LORD  & we build  beyond the grave.
Christ is the way, the truth & light.  There is no other way.
Share glad tidings  of great joy  and share it  every day.

In April 2023, President (and prophet) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Russell M Nelson, extended this invitation, “….study .. the account of the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites in the Americas, as recorded in 3 Nephi. Not long before that appearance, His voice was heard among the people, including these words of supplication: ‘Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?….behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive.’

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ extends that same invitation to you today. I plead with you to come unto Him so that He can heal you! He will heal you from sin as you repent. He will heal you from sadness and fear. He will heal you from the wounds of this world.

Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about HIs Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him! …I testify that following Him is the only way to enduring happiness.”