Finally, Some Good News

This letter came to me today. I thought some of you might be interested in it. My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders: My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the priviledge of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional. She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patroled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would. On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!". I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer. Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi

A Voice From the Past

We were enjoying our weekly Sunday dinner as a family with toddlers running around and boys of various ages doing boy things when I got a phone call. I haven't heard that voice in 20 years! My cousin, Dale Tucker was on the phone.

Dale is doing a lot (spirit of you-know-who...) of genealogy and is in contact with our Grandmother Reed's first cousin who is in her 70's. He has dramatically increased the picture file and history file of the Culbertson line of our family. I am hoping that John will come here for Thanksgiving and that he and I can make a day trip to Midland to see Dale, his wife Rhonda, and our Aunt Jean. I will take copies of all I have and will return ,hopefully, with copies of all he has. I am very excited.

Thought some of you might be interested......

I hope all is well with all of you. Let us know.

Book Tag...another book

I've been tagged...but it is boring.
Transpersonal Medicine A New Approach to Healing Body-Mind-Spirit
by Frank Lawless

"Is there an inherent force within an image - such as a cross or a serpent - that makes it particularly potent for him or her?"



Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

Tag: Donna, Julia, Carl, Fleur, Joshua

Ta..Da!

They aren't finished yet, but here is the preview of the "Fancy Nancy" dolls that I am making for the girls. Their birthday party is the 21st, so I have plenty of time to take care of the final touches.

My friend, and artist, David Rindlisbacher painted their faces, and Vicki is the hair guru.

CALMNESS IN OUR LIVES

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives.



By following simple advice heard on the Dr .Phil show, you too can find inner peace. Dr Phil proclaimed, 'The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished.'



So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, and a box of chocolates. You have no idea how freaking good I feel right now.

The Day After

Well.

Several thoughts come to mind today after spending 14 (that's right, 14!) hours working the election yesterday here in Lubbock County, Texas.

1. There are a lot of very friendly, positive, lovely people living here. I am fortunate to live in a part of the world where it is just plain rude not to be concerned about a stranger. I was thanked numerous times for working the election by voters. Everyone I encountered smiled and acted like they had known me for twenty years. It was a pleasure helping them.

2. MANY young first-time voters came to vote. We do not live close to the university, so I was surprised at the number of young people who came to vote. I am fairly sure it was the influence of Obama's campaign one way or the other.

3. Canes, walkers, oxygen canisters, wheelchairs... old folks don't let anything stand in their way. We even had a couple of buses from old folks homes pull up and disembark the old and the feeble so that they could exercise their constitutional rights.

so what does the picture have to do with this??????????? it's chip staring at the computer this morning. he is in a very bad mood. we are leaving him alone....

I'll Play!!!!

So, here is the list from Eliza (Elizabeth???). You are supposed to highlight in red the things that you have done, count your score and challenge someone else to do this. I challenge Carl. I will email him. Maybe we will hear from him.

My score 61. I will not tell the skinny dipping story!



1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (Paris, Texas!!!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Visited Italy

A Different Halloween

HALLOWEEN!!! How luck am I that my only son married into a family with as much love and outrageous abandon as I have for this often misunderstood holiday!

We all began early in October looking at pumpkins and planning for our All Hallows Eve. The kids began running through the house singing "This is Halloween!" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas", one of their very favorite movies and planning their all-important costumes.

Paul, ever the transformer, insisted that this year he would be Bumblebee. However, he settled for Optimus Prime when no Bumblebee costume was available.

Ellen insisted on reprising my Tinkerbell costume from last year believing that she could not only outdo me in costuming, but beauty as well. She more than succeeded.

And Maggie, our very imaginative and independent grandaughter, vowed that nothing would do but a "Glenda the good witch" costume from one of her favorite movies, "The Wizard of Oz". She has always believed that Billie Burke is simply beautiful in the role of Glenda!

They spent Halloween evening in Amarillo at the Lovett yearly spooky blowout. This year, our former temple president, Scott Hendricks, provided a pony cart which the kids just loved. The theme of the party was "Return". Every year is themed, but this year was extra difficult. The "return" theme was because Pegi and Todd's youngest son just returned from his mission. I had planned to enlarge an image off of the web and get it transferred to a black t-shirt and go as Barak Obama's income tax return. Pegi wore a Minnie Mouse costume for "Minnie happy returns". Todd..."Return of the Jedi". Reed and Fleur did not participate! (no comment)

The Bacons spent the evening handing out candy and awaiting Josh and the other "monkey brothers", his buddies, return from trick or treating. I don't know how long they are going to be able to pull this off. They can't understand why all of the neighbors aren't excited to receive teenage spooks at their doors. So far they are pulling it off. They will do anything for candy but they draw the line at picture taking and making a big deal out of their improvised costumes. If I had been home, there would be pictures of them, also. Matt popped popcorn at the movie for those grinchy souls who chose to attend a movie Halloween night instead of decorating their homes and handing out candy to the little visiting beggers.

I spent Halloween serving in the temple. It was our first week with our new temple presidency. I think this is the first Halloween I have ever missed. But, it was a wonderful way to spend the evening. I didn't miss a thing.