Book Review: Sacrament Time

Sacrament Time: A Book for LDS Children, by Kathleen H. Barnes and Virginia H. Pearce, Photographs by Don O. Thorpe, Deseret Book, Salk Lake City, Utah, 1973.
This is just a short book on what children can think about to help them be more reverent during the sacrament.  It suggest thinking of things Jesus did,
Jesus prayed to Heavenly Father,
Jesus helped the sad,
Jesus cared for the Sick,
Jesus fed the hungry,
Jesus helped people in trouble,
Jesus obeyed the law,
Jesus loved.
It suggests thinking of ways we can follow these examples of Jesus during the sacrament.
The illustrations are photographs, often of the Holy Land.

Book Review: Diabetes: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Healthy Living Series

This is a  book of many stories, interspersed with practical advise about diabetes from Dr. Byron Hoogwerf of the Cleveland Clinic.  Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen edit the stories.   I think the most important thing I get from this book is motivation, and realization that diabetes is really a disease I need to worry about, and take care of.  I don't want to be dependent on pills forever.
The stories are repetitive, and tell the story of diabetes from several different angles.  As someone growing up with juvenile diabetes,and the parents or siblings of someone with juvenile diabetes.  
Also as being told as an adult that you have type II diabetes, and the consequences, life changes and what this means.  The doctor explains some of the things to be aware of in terms of taking care of you health when you have diabetes.
I enjoyed this book, but more than the practical information, I enjoyed the motivational stories presented. It is decision time.  (Isn't it great that we can so many decision times.)

Book Review : People Who Need People Are the Healthiest People: The Importance of Relationships

This book was co-authored by someone I use to know, Brent Q. Hafen.  He did his graduate studies at SIU when we lived in Carbondale, Ill.  His children were a bit younger than us.  He became a professor in the health field at BYU.  The other author is Kathryn J. Frandsen.  It is published by Behavioral Health Associates, Provo, Utah, 1986.

The idea behind this book is that those who have good relationships are more healthy.  It takes several chapters quoting studies that talk about the health benefits of those who have good relationships, such as marriage, friends and children and grandchildren.   Of course the opposite of having good relationships is loneliness.  It says there are two types of loneliness, predisposing—characteristics of the individual and values—and precipitating—such as loneliness that follows an event. 

“No one is immune from loneliness.  Depending on your needs, your relationships, and your life circumstances at any given time, you may fall victim to feelings of loneliness and abandonment. 

Knowing the issues, and the benefits of good relationships, the book presents several strategies for improving relationships.  This include communication and touching, holding and hugging.  They present an introduction into how to communicate effectively—which includes listening.  They also introduce the topic of touch, and how touch is so important to our human journey. 

The authors also present a good description of a family which is meeting needs for relationships, vs a family which is showing signs of tension. 

This book was written in 1986, but its message is still relevant. 

Book Review: The King Follett Discourse

The King Follett Discourse: The Being and Kind of Being God Is: the Immortality of the Intelligence of Man
By Joseph Smith, The Prophet With Notes and References by B.H. Roberts: Magazine Printing Company 1963
This is the funeral address Joseph Smith delivered at the funeral of King Follett in April of 1844.  There were about twenty thousand gathered for the funeral.  This discourse was reported in Times and Season August 1, 1844.  However it is not a stenographic copy, but the talk as reported by four brethren who took notes.  There are some discrepencies.
Joseph Smith asks the congregation to ask themselves, “What kind of a being God is?”  He then provides this important answer.  “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!  That is the great secret.  If the vail were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by his power, was to make himself visible—I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form of man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God, and received instruction from ,and walked, talked and conversed with him, as one man talks and communes with another.”
It is from this statement that later Lorenzo Snow would summarize, “As man now is, God once was; as god now is, man may become.
Joseph Smith adds to his statement.  “It is the first principle of the gospel to know for certainty the character of God and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, that father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did.”
That is some pretty powerful teaching.  It is this philosophy that separates Mormonism from all other Christian religions.  This philosophy of eternal progression; that we can become as god, and inherit all he has.  This is life eternal.  Joseph Smith continues: “When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascent step by step, until you arrive at the top;  and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation.  But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them.  It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.” 
Joseph Smith was a true prophet.  These are true concepts.  At Liberty Jail he taught this concept, recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 121:
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
 46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.
The God Joseph Smith taught, was a God of great power, with the ability to give worthy gifts, which will flow unto us forever and ever.  That is the God I worship, and strive to know better and better each day.

Book Review: Youth Mental Health First Aid USA for Adults Assisting Young People

C 2012 Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Missouri Department of Mental Health and National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
This book was given to me as part of a training presentation by the same name.  This training is geared towards nonprofessional people, and provides assistance so they can offer help to their family members, friends, community members or others.  It compares this program to first Aid for a physical problem.  First Aid aims to preserve life, prevent further harm, promote recovery and resiliency and provide comfort.  Mental Health First Aid is geared to promote life when a person may be a danger to themselves or others, prevent the problem from becoming worse, promote recovery, provide comfort and support and help to identify or guide a person to appropriate resources and supports.  It does this through the “Youth Mental Health first Aid Action Plan.”  This plan includes five steps which spell out ALGEE.  1) Assess for risk of suicide or harm; 2) Listen nonjudgmentally; 3) Give reassurance and information; 4) Encourage appropriate professional help; 5) Encourage self-help and other support strategies. 
It includes a section on adolescence and young adulthood, and distinguishing these transitional steps which are part of normal development from mental health issues.  It then has a very large section on different mental health issues, and how to apply this model.  These include: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, substance use and attention and disruptive behavior problems. 
It concludes with a how-to handle certain situations.  This includes suicidal thoughts, self injury, panic attacks, trauma, acute psychosis, aggressive behavior and emergencies from alcohol or drug abuse.
This workbook is a tremendous resource.  However, I would advise taking the course so as to have some practice in the techniques before trying them.

Book Review: Memorable Stories with a Message

This book was written by Boyd K Packer.  It is
One of my favorite stories draws upon his military experience “Follow the Bean.”  He explained that pilots during the war would follow a “beam;” a steady signal from the airport, that would let you know you were on course.  “If you moved to one side of the steady signal, it would break up to a ‘dit-da’ the Morse code for the letter A.  If you strayed to the other side of the signal, the beam would break up into a ‘da-dit,’ the Morse code signal for N.  In stormy weather there was always static and interference.  But the life of many a pilot has depended on his hearing, above the roar of the engines and through all the static and interference, that sometimes weak signal from a distant airfield.”
President Pack then draws this gospel analogy: There is a spiritual beam with a constant signal.  If you know how to pray and how to listen, spiritually listen, you may move through life—through clear weather, through storms, through wars, through peace—and be all right.”
May we all learn to take advantage of the spiritual beam, and draw upon the Spirit to guide us in the way we should go and the decisions we make.

a book of sixty short snippets from the discourses and writings of Boyd K Packer.  They cover a broad range of topics.  Some I have heard before during his conference talks.  He draws upon his military experience, experiences in the field of education, church work, and farm experiences to related many different stories.  He talks about his wife and her influence in their home, and ability to head of problems before they became problems, he gives advice to bishops and priesthood leaders on how to make a call using the Spirit “Call instead of Invite”, he talks about encouraging young people with a few words, and of how we are all important in Heavenly Father’s eyes. 

Book Review Dynamic Health: part three

This book is a series of interviews with prominent people in the field of health, with the goal of educating us on taking better care of our health.
Carolyn Finch is a specialist in body language.  The greater percentage of our communication is done through body language, rather than written or verbal.  She describes four personality types, analytic, driver, amiable and expressive.  She talks about the left brain and right brain, and using Brain Gym.  She says using brain exercises we can solve many issues, including sight.  She talks about using the whole brain. To be honest, I think this went over my head and I did not get anything practical from it.
Dr. Earl Mindell is a vitamin specialist. He has written many books including "The Vitamin Bible."  I found this interview much more informative.  I came away from it with a sense of needing to take a daily vitamin, and to do something about my weight.  Nutrition is an area where our knowledge is doubling every couple of years.  You have to stay informed.  He concludes with this simple statement, "If you want to be healthy, you have to responsible for your health in your own hands.  It's as simple as that.  If you want to be sick, don't worry about a thing--it's going to happen.

Book Review: The Go-Getter: A Story that Tells You How to Be One

This book was written by Peter B. Kyne and published in 1921.
This is an old book, but its message is timeless.  It tells the story of William Peck, a discharged private form the military who lost an arm, and had one leg shortened while serving curing WWI.  However he says he can sell anything, and now that he is finally out of the hospital, he calls for his job at Pacific Coast Lumber.  He goes over the head of the managers, to the owner, who can’t turn him away.  However, much more important than this, Cappy Ricks, the owner is looking for a leader who can take over shipping operations in Shanghai.  It is interesting to note that on the day he was hired, he shares with Mr. Ricks his business card, which would have taken a couple days to print in those days.  He decides to get right to work: 
“Count that day lost whose low descending sun
Finds prices shot to glory and business done for fun.”

He quickly proves his worth as a salesman, but then Cappy has greater plans for him, and proposes the test of the “blue vase.”  This is in exercise where the individual is given and impossible task, if he completes it he will be offered a high paying job.  The task is to purchase a vase on Sunday, and bring it to Mr. Ricks.  The instructions are vague, and purposefully slow.  Additionally it is impossible to get a hold of the store own or manager.  His leg hurts, and his amputated hand itches, but he eventually gets the vase for $2000.  He doesn’t meet the train at the agreed upon time, but overtakes it before it arrives at its destination.  He explains why he completed the task, even though it seemed impossible.  His commander in the services had a motto, “It shall be done.”  It is that attitude and kept him going to surpass the odds against him.  “It shall be done.”  How many of us could use such a motto in our own lives.

Book review: Dynamic Health: Powerful Strategies for Healthy Living! part 2

This is the second and third sections of this book.  It is starting to have a common theme, relationships and thoughts are important.
Dynamic Health Dr. Norman Rosenthal
This is the second interview in the book, Dynamic health with the interviewer David E. Wright.  Dr. Rosenthal is an expert in Seasonal Affective Disorder, and pioneered the use of lamps in its treatment.  He is also a research doctor.  He also pioneered the use of St. John’s Wort for depression.  He contributes these comments with regards to personal health.  “I believe that we need to keep our intellectual mind, our emotional mind, and our body in line.  These are the three domains we need to take care of.  If we take care of all those we have the best chance, not only of leading long lives, but of leading good and healthy ones as well.”  He follows up listing some things he is going to do himself for his health.  These include Yoga which emphasizes relaxation and stretching.  He also talks of emotional peace, and the importance of keeping connected to people who are important to us.  “I think you should ‘mend you fences.’”  “I think it’s so unhealthy to carry anger and negative feelings about with you if you don’t have to.”  He finally adds “love and adventure” as keys to healthy life.  We all need to have goals, and things we are striving for.

Dynamic Health, Todd E. Curzie
Dr. Curzi is a doctor of chiropractic.  He offers his ideas of chiropractic, and how it differs from traditional medicine.  Then he talks about things which lead to healthy living.  “Good nutrition if a huge part of healthy living. … Poor nutrition is a toxin we can prevent on a daily basis.”  He also talks about the need for motion.  He also talks about healing from within.  By this he means through our thought process and life styles, rather than through pills.  “About 70 percent of what we see is stress related.  “In order to stay out of doctors’ offices you need to eat healthy and you need to exercise. … You need to eat healthy, decrease stress, and have a positive mental attitude.   

Book review Dynamic Health: Powerful Strategies for Healthy Living!

This is the first section by Jack Springer

Dr. David Mee-Lee brought this book to a training session today.  He is one of the contributors.  This is a review of just the first chapter.  I found the content to be compelling and important to share.

Chapter one features Jack Singer as he is interviewed by David E. Wright.  Singer indicates that research shows that two out of every three patients at family practice have symptoms, but do not have a physical organic diseasing causing those symptoms.  Singer studies the effect of our thoughts and our minds on disease, including suppression of the immune system.  He blames our “internal critic” for much of what ails us.  The internal critic is that part of us that tells us something might go wrong, we can’t do it etc.  These negative thoughts impact our immune system.  The spark our internal self preservation measures, including tightening of the muscles, a shot of adrenaline, etc.  These mechanisms, are meant to be used on occasion, instead they are used hundreds of times daily, and this is breaking our bodies down.  He says children are taught this attitude form the age of six to eighteen when they are subject to 148,000 negative comments by teachers, parents, friends etc as compared to 4,000 positive “you can do it” comments.  As a result our self talk 55,000 words a day, is mostly negative.  He points out that the health of optimists is much better than those with negative attitudes.  Confronting life with the attitude that it will work out in the end, it’s a drawback but not a catastrophe etc., leads to better health.  He also points out other attitudes that effect health.  A sense of humor can be key.  Twenty seconds of hearty laughing can equal three minutes of rowing for the health of the heart.  He points out his secret to better health.  One is to assert yourself.  Another is to forgive others.  Holding on to grudges does not help.  Being spiritual is another.  Having faith is important for health.  Next, to thank a mentor can be a big lift to our health.  This could be a teacher, or someone who had a profound influence on us.  I remember a few years ago my brother Charlie, going to his old football coach, and visiting with him, and making a small book of his memories of his coach.  This kind of thing is a big lift.  Another is to practice random acts of kindness, give up you space in line for someone who is harried, take supper or treats to a neighbor, or a kind word.  You can also volunteer.  Places I have enjoyed volunteers have been Scouts, Special Olympics, Mormon Helping Hands and coaching youth sports and officiating youth sports.  He says the most important key for health is relationships with family and friends.  These people are healthier and recover from disease faster.  Even those who are single can have important relationships with siblings and others. 

Book Review: Experiencing Grief (Journeying Through Grief)

I found this book at the library in the used book section.  20c for a book is my kind of book.  This is book two of a four part series: Journeying Through Grief.  (Buying used you don't always get the whole set.)  It is suggested for three months after a loss.  It is written by Kenneth C. Haugk of Stephen Ministries.
I think the most significant thing this book says is "you cannot not grieve."  By this the author is saying that we can put on a happy face, but grief is grief, and we cannot just whisk it away, it will have its day.  The book quotes Therese Rando, "There is no way around the pain that you naturally feel when someone you love dies."  You can't go over it, under it, or around it. ... Going through it is what will help heal you."  The Bible says, "Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Mathew 5:4
Another concept I found interesting was that of firsts.  After a loss, there are many firsts without are loved one.  Holidays and special events become a part of this.  Each in and of it self is a hard time and a reexperiencing of the loss. 
In Isaiah we read of how the Lord can help us through these times:
1...I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee...  (Isaiah 43)

The Book of Mormon echos this:  17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.  (1 Nephi 11)

Another concept from the pamphlet is that of secondary looses.  We not only loss a love one, we loss what ever else that person may have been in our life, financial support, listening ear, etc etc.

This pamphlet suggests going through the emotions; it hurts.  A good cry, or many good cries are ok as we deal with this loss.  The pamphlet conclude with; Is it Christian to grieve?  One might also ask, knowing all we do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Is it Mormon to grieve?  I think the answe  r is a resounded yes.  We can have faith, and still feel pain and loss.  "Jesus wept."  (John 11:35)  Many times we too as mortals need to cry, need to grieve.

Book Review: ****The Willows in Winter William Horwood. (t0 mmoboe)

Rarely does a sequel written by a different author, capture the charm of the original book.  However in this case, pleasantly the author does capture the tone of Kenneth Graham.  We are again introduced to Mole, River Rat, Toad and Badger.  Mole is lost when he breaks through the ice, trying to get to his friends, who he incorrectly thinks are in danger.  Thus we are off on a new adventure.  Badger is recruited, who in turn recruits the weasels and sloats, and a great search is begun.  It proves fruitless.  However, Toad is now enthralled by flying machines rather than by cars.  His services are recruited.  His enthusiasm gets him into more trouble than he had ever been in before, and this after betraying his friends.  River Rat is dumped, in a parachute thankfully.  However Toad ends up in to town where the police and judges are out to get him.

Mole ends up rescuing himself.  This book is about relationships, and coming to terms with an eccentric friend, who gets into trouble, but makes life interesting.  The book also leaves a starting place for more adventures, as Rat and Mole have seen the Beyond.

Book review: ****What is the Purpose of Life?

What is the Purpose of Life? 

This is another book written by April J. McMurtry.  This is a short concise book and to the point.  It answers in essence that question by answering sub questions.  Where did I come from?  Why am I here?  Where am I going after this life?  Each of these questions gets a chapter.  Other chapters include Jesus Christ, the Great Apostasy and Restoration.  She devotes chapter to our stages in our immortal journey: Premortal Life, Mortality and Life After Death.  She has a chapter entitled Today.  I enjoyed the chapter entitled Postscript: The Rest of the Story for in this chapter Sister McMurtry offers her testimony, but also the challenge for those who are seeking truth, to ask Heavenly Father.  She issues the challenge, but also explains how to receive direction from the Holy Spirit.

The book also includes all of the scriptures written out which she uses in her text.  She also has copied the testimony of the apostles which is entitled “The Living Christ.”  She also includes the references for the sources she uses.  The only complaint I would have is she often just sites the author rather than indicating where you can find the particular reference.

I enjoyed this read.  As I mentioned it is a short read, but it does involve a considerable amount of meditation and

Book Review: ****^Ride the Laughing Wind (to mmboe)

I found this book in Sheri's home library.  It is written by Blaine and Brenton Yorganson and published by Bookcraft in 1984.  I enjoyed this book immensely.  It is not a book that is meant to be rushed through.  It is a slow read.  That is because of the beauty of the words.  These words are meant to be savored and not to be rushed over.

The poetry in the book is moving, and is generally in the form of a prayer.   Here is a marriage poem:

O Great Tiaowa hear the voice we send, hear the voice we send at last as one.  Wa!

Give the love Between us tenderness.  Wa!
Give this love between us honesty.  Wa!
Give this love between us playfulness.   Wa!
Give this love between us power.   Wa!
Give this love between us excitement.   Wa!
Give this love between us meaning.   Wa!
Give all this love to us, we plead, forever.   Wa!
 From this you can see why I say this is a book to be relished and enjoyed, not read quickly.
This book tells the story of a couple, who were found amongst the ruins of the ancient ones, in a cliff dwelling that no one had noticed for hundreds of years.  This is the explanation given by these two authors as to why they were there.
It is a beautiful love story, which the actors almost overlook.  However it is also a story of the ancient ways of peace, and the new ways of hate.  It is a story of betrayal.  It is a story of makeshift family.  The village of the four young people is destroyed at the first of the book, and this is their fleeing into the wilderness to escape the evil men pursuing them.   They make a family, and flourish, and this that family's story.
I enjoyed my time with this book, and recommend it to those who are interested.  I am sure you could find in through Amazon.

Book Review: The Book of Mormon: A Family Discussion Guide

This book is written by a member of our ward, April McMurtrey.  It can be had through Amazon.com.  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Aapril+mcmurtrey&keywords=april+mcmurtrey&ie=UTF8&qid=1323640842
This is not a traditional book where you take it and read it from cover to cover.  However it is meant as a companion to reading the Book of Mormon.  It asks questions which will be conducive to fulfilling the requirement of Moroni, "...and ponder it in your hearts." (Moroni 10:3)

This book is geared to help direct family scripture reading.  It can also supplement reading for next year in Sunday School (which is gong to be focused on the Book of Mormon,)  family scripture study, and personal scripture study.  I am hoping that we can use this for Family Home Evening study over the next couple of years. 

I recommend this book to those who are seeking to enhance their study of the Book of Mormon--whether for family or personal study.

Book Review: ***Brother Brigham's Gold (To mmboe)

This book is an enjoyable read, and I must admit it kept me interested enough that I was through is in only three days.  I found the book amongst Sheri's collection of books.  I am sure it is not available in any library close to Manteca.  It was published in 1984.

The adventure and excitement is there, and keeps you guessing as to what is going to happen next.  And the theme is one I had heard about many times before, the lost gold mines in the Uintah Mountains known either as the Rhoades Mine, or the Brigham Mine or the lost Spanish mines.  Many are the legends with regards to this mine, and Thomas Rhoades (who had found plenty of gold in California before turning his back on California and settling with the Saints in Utah, who had special permission to extract gold by the Indians provided he not let anyone know where the mine was located.  Later this privilege was extended to his son, Caleb Rhoades.  For a sample of the legends you can check this website http://www.angelfire.com/trek/forthetruth/uintatreasure.html 
Part of the Matt Warner includes his shooting and killing people who were following his partner up Dry Creek Canyon, outside of Vernal, as they were looking for this very mine.  The mine seems to be surrounded by death and hardship.  You can read this story here:
http://www.prospector-utah.com/matt.htm

The story of the lost gold mines has intrigued me, not that I would want to go looking for gold in those mountains.  But I have been through them several times, and have seen evidence of old mines.  It is a fascinating story that just doesn't go away.

As for the book, it combines the persecution of polygamous families at this time, with the legend of the mines.  It has a young man who found some gold while herding sheep at its center.  The gold is used to bail his father, in jail as a result of being a polygamous.  However word of the find attracts a group of outlaws who are intent on forcing the young man to lead them to the gold.  The book also adds a love story, and somehow the girl gets to the mine as well (that is the part of the story that went a bit too far.) 

Book Review: "To Whom it may Concern" William O. Ashton

This book I borrowed from the Stevens Creek Ward Library, and I decided to read it before taking it back.  Marvin O. Ashton was the father of Marvin J. Ashton.  H married a Jeremy making him my grandmother's cousin-in-law, and Marvin J. Ashton my mom's second cousin.  Marvin O. Ashton was presiding bishop of the church for many years.  My mother tells the story of his spending time with the family in Idaho Falls when he was there for a dedication.  He later mailed two-person piano music to my mom and her twin as they had played for him on the piano while he was there.  He may have also helped my grandparents on their way to reactivation and going through the temple.

The book is a collection of stories, ninety of them, and then other stories and lessons to tell the story.  A couple of them stood out.  One story is entitled python eggs.  He tells how in India, the native country of the pythons it is important to seek out python eggs and smash them with your heel before they hatch.  In this way they could prevent the dead venomous snake from being born.  He explained this further telling about a young man who absolutely refused a drink with his friends, even when they tried to force them.  This young man told a story about someone who had given in to that first drink, eventually became an alcoholic, and in a drunken stupor had forced his wife and baby out on a cold winter night.  When he realized what he had done the next morning he came to his senses, and found his wife dead, her body wrapped around the baby to keep him warm.  The young man said he had been that baby.  It is best o smash the python eggs before they hatch.

He referred to "Stop, Look and Listen several times.  I like this statement as I use to sing this song to the kids growing up.  He has another chapter called "Constant Aim" about a man new to farming.  He was trying to plow a field, and someone told him to keep his aim towards a mark, like a stone, at the other end of the field.  However he pigged a pig rather than a stone, and the pig kept moving.  As a result his plowing job was all over the place. 

Many chapters are time sensitive and geared to bishops.  It was written right after WWII.  By today's sensitivities we might refer to his attitude as being racist in light of comments about "Israelitish" people and "colored" people.  It was a different time then.

He also told the story "I can sleep when the Wind Blows."  This story is about the man hired after saying this sentence, and then when the big storm came he slept through it.  The farmer was disappointed, but then discovered the hand could actually sleep because he had already prepared everything for the storm. 

This book was an enjoyable read.  Now I just have to get the book back to Cupertino.

Book Review: ***Trust by Robert E. Wells

This book was published in 1983 by Bookcraft.  I found it on my shelf.  Robert E. Wells is  seventy.  I met him in Argentina as he was the area general authority, and lived in the ward where I served for a time.  Of course he is also known as the father of Miss America, Charlene Wells Hawke.

The idea behind this book as to compare trust in the Lord, to the trust in the banking industry.  Robert E. Wells comes from this background.  He pointed out that the bank looks at three criteria in establishing a loan.  These criteria are character, capacity and collateral.  he points out that character is mostly establish by honesty.  By following through when we say we are going to do something.  Capacity in a spiritual sense id developing the ability to serve in the kingdom.  This is done through testimony, and learning to follow the spirit. We also develop capacity by praying and studying the scriptures.  The last area of collateral is best measured by our ability to follow the prophets.  To be a fried of the Lord, have spiritual collateral, we must be a friend of the prophet.  This implies that we follow the prophet, accept their revelations, and mold our lives around their instruction.  The question is raised whether we would have followed the prophets in old times, or been among those who stoned the prophets.  The answer is in our relation with the present day prophet.  If we accept them and follow the living prophet, we would have done the same in old times.  However if we reject the present-day prophet, so we would have rejected past prophets. 

Trust in the Lord he explains, quoting Reinhold Niebuhr, is to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. 

This book as enjoyable.  I picked it because it was short, but it did get me thinking as well.

Discussion on Adoption: Part Two

I am back for another try at this theme as I slowly make my way through the book "Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adopted Parents Knew" by Sherrie Eldridge. The two chapters I read present the first two things: 1. "I suffered a profound loss before I was adopted. It is not your fault." 2. "I need to be taught that I have special needs rising our of adoption loss, of which I need not be ashamed."

I agree with the author, adopted children suffer a loss, no matter how young they are. However I really had a hard time getting my head around the second chapter. Dwelling on the loss, and the "special needs" at first seems like picking a scab over and over. It really does nothing to heal, but just keeps festering the wound. I do like that the author admits that all children are different, and have their own needs, "...Each adoptee is unique. Study your child, enter into play with her, observe her interacting with others. All these activities will enable you to compile a list of your particular child's special needs."

As our Tony has temper tantrums, or behavior that is more active than we would like, I wonder how much of that is due to his loss experiences, how much is due to interaction with other foster children who weren't always well behaved, how much is being three-years-old, how much is being tired etc. There is no exact science with people.

In dealing with Tony, I like the advice of Lloyd Newell, narrator for the Tabernacle Choir who is quoting a medical doctor, "The key to our survival is love. When we love someone, and feel loved by them, somehow along the way our suffering subsides. Our deepest wounds begin healing. Our hearts start to feel safe enough to be vulnerable, and open a little wider. We begin experiencing our own emotions and the feelings of those around us."

Maybe I am naive in thinking we can love our ways through anything, but I focus every day on making sure Tony knows that I love him. I try to validate him. I let him know I love him because he is different than the rest of the family. I love his curly hair, that he is tall and skinny, that his skin is darker, that he has a sharp chin. I also support him in the things he likes to do. He loves Spider Man. He likes different movies and T.V. shows than I do. But I watch "Dinosaur Tales" and enjoy his movies.

I revel in the Miracle of Tony and how he came to us, even though it wasn't by traditional means. His birth was a miracle and I am thankful to his birth mother for this. His adoption was also a miracle. I let Tony know how much of a miracle he is, as I have done with my birth children.

I just want to also approach things with caution. I go by the axiom, Don't make things worse." I feel if we dwell too much on something, we may give the depression someone is defective or less than someone else. I do not want to do this. A solid foundation of love can heal many wounds, and that is what Sheri and I hope to create, is a loving and accepting environment.
http://billywardlefamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/adoption-theories.html

Book review: Voices From the Bottom of the Bowl, Thomas Edward Cheney

In this case the "bowl" is the Teton Basin and the bottom of the bowl is Victor, ID. I find this book interesting as it is the community where my great grandfather homesteaded in the early 1900s. It is a series of short stories, and at times family members are part of the stories.

The author talks about how he was baptized by my Great Grandfather William Wardle at age eight along with William's daughter Delilah. The baptism took place in the winter, and there was ice at the edge of the creek. Afterwards Grandfather Wardle told him to get out of his clothes and warm himself and dry by the fire. He had already seen Delilah naked doing this, and then put himself on display in like manner against his will.

He tells a school story about Uncle Leo (my dad's uncle.) This was a story about his school: "That year I hated Leo Wardle, a classmate; a retention and therefore a bigger, older, stronger boy. He teased me by yelling, 'Tommy, Tommy titmouse/ laid an egg in our house/ egg was rotten good for nothing/ so was Tommy titmouse.' He wrestled my marbles away from me and never returned them. He sat behind me and poked me in the back. Like a botfly in a horse's nose he stung me. I declared I hated him, which amplified my hate. When he spurred me in the back and whispered, 'loan me some paper,' I searched my vocabulary for the meanest words I could write to repulse him. On a sheet of my tablet I wrote in big, underlined, illuminated words, 'Kiss My Ass!' and held it up for him to see.

He writes than when his stepfather was sick, many neighbors came to pay their respects. He was swinging with Delilah Wardle (my Dad's aunt) when he noticed they were carrying a bed out of the house. It was then that he discovered that his stepfather had died from typhoid fever.

Earlier in this story, when his stepfather was sick and couldn't work, they indicate a Jim Shaw was working in his place him. This would be my great grandfather, father of my grandmother Melissa Shaw Wardle.

Finally the author talks of the last time he smoked. Marion Thompson was one of the boys who smoked with him. Marion married my dad's aunt Mary Wardle.

I have also enjoyed the stories because it talks of things in which my family also participated. It talks of the school, the town, the train, the farms and the homes. It also talks about the people he related with as he was growing up. There are many interesting characters in a small town. He concludes the last story quoting his mother, who was responding to her son about the difficult life in the Basin, "Ease is not a virtue to seek for young, vigorous people. The pursuit of easy things makes people week...Pleasure comes through striving and surviving."