Week 67: Flight and Faith

The week began for many with a day off in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. He certainly made the world a better place. We are appreciative of his contributions to the world.

We didn't have the day off, but to make things a little better, I took popcorn -- in honor of  National Popcorn Day -- to share in staff meeting.  Certainly popcorn makes the world a better place, too -- especially when it's enjoyed with friends and family.

Zone Conferences were held on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Elder Hadlock attends those meetings to do safety training and inspect mission cars.  He was grateful for relatively "dry" weather those days.

At the end of a long day!

In fairness to Elder Hadlock -- the photo of him  with his foot up on the desk and "dozing" was staged. I have caught him with his foot up on the desk, but he doesn't sleep on the job.
Though he would like to sometimes I'm sure.

It's been a while since we did some sight seeing so this Saturday we went on a little excursion to the Museum of Flight that is in Tukiwila, Washington, not too far from here.

It was really interesting. Well worth the time and money. In fact, we would like'd to have stayed longer, but we just got too tired. We especially enjoyed the section of the museum that paid tribute to airmen in World War I and World War II. Great review of history. Highly recommend this one if you're ever in the area.

That's about all the "news" we have to report.  I'll move from "flight" to faith and fill some space with an impression from this week's studies. It begins with a story in Matthew 17: 14-21 about the father of an afflicted child. He had approached Jesus's disciples for a blessing for his son, but they were not able to provide it. The father appealed to Jesus who said "if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." ... the father cried out, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."
The Savior goes on to teach about "faith as a grain of mustard seed."

Further study led me to a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland who referred to this story. Here's a quote from that talk:

"When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes. It was of this very incident, this specific miracle that Jesus said,  "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue -- it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know. 

"When problems come and questions arise, do not start your quest for faith by saying how much you do not have, leading as it were with your "unbelief." ..... I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have. Sometimes we act as if an honest declaration of doubt is a higher manifestation of moral courage than is an honest declaration of faith. It is not!  ... Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another. But if you and your family want to be healed, don't let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle." (Ensign, May 2013 p. 93)

I want to exercise more faith -- even when it's the size of a grain of mustard seed, it's possible to move mountains.

I suppose human flight does require a bit of faith.

Life is good. That's all.

Week 66: Reminder to Self: "Will the promised blessings be fulfilled?"

Appetizer

Another week in the WATAC. Things are mostly good. We have been dealing with head colds, but nothing serious. Because of "drier" and warmer weather the first part of the week, Elder Hadlock's joints felt better.

One night this week we enjoyed a lovely dinner with the Blatters and Harwoods at Anthony's, a nice restaurant at Point Defiance. The appetizer was kind of cool, thus the photo. It's a rosemary cracker topped with garlic mashed potatoes and a lovely piece of salmon.

The other photos were taken at the local YMCA. We try to get there a few nights each week and on Saturday mornings. Elder Hadlock is more dedicated than I. He likes to ride the bikes. I'll ride for a bit, but can't stay in one place for long so I go upstairs to use the track. It's a great facility.

Elder Hadlock's workout

Pretty typical week at the office. Elder Hadlock sold another car this week. We got a new mini-van in and now have the older mini-van to get ready for sale.

What Elder Hadlock watches during workout

Looks like our missionary numbers are going to level out a bit. We haven't had very many new missionaries show up on our radar for April and May.

Sis Hadlock's workout -- guess which lane I use?

We feel like things are kind of winding down. We think there is a couple in the "pipeline" who will be able to replace us. Hopefully they'll be able to come mid-March so we can train them before we leave in April.

I think I'll close with some thoughts from a talk given by Elder Carlos A. Godoy in October General Conference. This is the talk that stuck out in my reading this week.  I'm sure many have read it. This will not be anything new to you. But, by my mentioning it here, it will serve as a reminder to myself of something that gave me food for thought all week. I want to remember these principles.

He poses this question: "If you continue to live as you are living, will the promised blessings be fulfilled?" He was  referring to patriarchal blessings, but it could apply to any promised blessing. He also talked about keeping the end in mind when we make decisions. "If we project the possible consequences of these decisions into the future, we can see with greater clarity the best path to take in the present." 

He also asked, "Are we prepared to leave our comfort zones to reach a better place? ... We are not here in this life just to waste our time, grow old, and die. God wants us to grow and achieve our potential. In the words of President Thomas S. Monson: 'Each of you, single or married, regardless of age, has the opportunity to learn and to grow. Expand your knowledge, both intellectual and spiritual, to the full stature of your divine potential.'"

Reminds me of another of my favorite quotes (this is attributed to several authors here's my version):

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, 'Woo Hoo", what a ride! --

I think I want to also slide in with a bowl of buttered popcorn in one hand (maybe some dark chocolate in the other?) -- So ... guess where I'm headed? ........ to read my patriarchal blessing ..... while eating popcorn!

NOTE:  Sam just reminded me that tomorrow is National Popcorn Day!

Week 65: Words Can Be Worth a Thousand Pictures?

A few firsts this week. One of them being that this is the first week I haven't taken a single photo. The other first this week was not having to prepare a lunch for Transfer Day (Tuesday). We had just five new missionaries come in. Three of them (Spanish-speaking from the Mexico MTC) came in later in the day -- just in time for the meeting. President and Sister Blatter picked the other two up in the morning and took them to brunch. It meant I was able to do the check-in process and print boarding passes Tuesday morning for the nine missionaries who went home on Wednesday. Usually I'm at the office late Tuesday night getting all this ready.

Since I have no photos, perhaps I can share a few insightful quotes that we've heard recently. These are from our missionaries that departed this week:

"Your faith will define your mission. Your mission will define your life."

"The Book of Mormon is worth more than it's weight in gold"

"Pursue the peace promised by Christ and avoid the apathy that is offered by the world. Apathy is the modern world's anti-Christ."

"In every decision you decide your destiny."

Today in church a woman spoke on hope. She shared much of an article by Larry Hiller, Hope: The Misunderstood Sister, published in the June 2009 Ensign. (Highly recommend this one).  I particularly like this quote from the article: 

"For me, things I don’t understand about the gospel are like pieces of a larger puzzle I’m working on. If I don’t see where they fit, I put them aside and work on other parts of the picture. From time to time I pick them up and look at them. If I still don’t see how they fit, I put them aside again. I have already received a witness that the whole picture—the restored gospel—is true and complete, so I don’t worry about the pieces that haven’t come together for me yet. They will.

In church we were also introduced to a prayer called the Breton Fisherman's Prayer: 

"O God, Thy sea is great and my boat is so small." 

And finally, as I read President Eyring's talk in October Conference, he used this scripture as an example of how we can receive personal revelation. It is an answer to one of my ongoing questions:

"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. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, ..." (D&C 121:45-46)

I appreciate the wisdom found so often in the words of others, especially the words of counsel from God and His Son Jesus Christ, and living prophets. Words are good. God is good. Life is good.

Week 64: Endings, Beginnings, One Constant.

 Christopher was able to come down from Seattle on Monday afternoon. We met up and went to the Museum of Glass and then dinner at Harbor Lights, one of our favorite restaurants.  Then we all went to the movie Into The Woods. We spoiled ourselves by going to a local theater that uses large Lazy Boy recliners for seating.

Sam flew back to Utah on Tuesday. We sure enjoyed having him here.

Though most days were rainy here, Sam did his best to bring us some "snow." He and his friends in Utah made some incredible paper snowflakes. I've hung them on the windows at the office and here at the apartment.

The other photos are a couple of shots from Zoo Lights at the Point Defiance Zoo.

We celebrated New Years Eve by going to the YMCA.  New Year's Day we went to the movie Unbroken. 

The highlight of the week was going to the Seattle Temple on Saturday. It's been too long since we were last able to go. There's just something rejuvenating and healing about the temple.

There's something rejuvenating about a new year as well. I've always loved January and a fresh start. Someone pointed out in Church today that with the Atonement, every day is a fresh start.  How grateful I am for the cleansing, enabling power of the Atonement. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. As was so often expressed this Christmas season, He Is The Gift. He is my source of stability in good times and rough times. He is the rock. He is my anchor. He is the One Constant in our lives.

Weeks 63: Family Fun

The past few weeks have been extra full of activity.  Had to forego writing on my blog last week, so I'll be making two entries this week.

We were thrilled to have Samuel visit us during the holidays. He got here the morning of our mission Christmas party and was a great help to us. He'd already made banners for the event and sent them to us. Then at the party he was a big help. The Blatters were particularly grateful that he was able to take the mission photos.

Elder portraying Elder Hadlock & his "clicker glasses"

The missionaries seemed to really enjoy themselves for the nearly nine hours that they were together. They had a devotional, did a white-elephant gift exchange, sang lots of Christmas songs, did skits, ate, more skits, and ended on a spiritual note with a few talks and the reading of the last chapter of the Book of Mormon. We were somewhat exhausted at the end of the day, but in a good way!

While Sam was here we were able to take time off to show him around the area and even see a few new things. Despite the daily rain and short daylight hours, we still did a lot.

Sam took lots of photos. Wish I had some of them to post here, but mine will have to do!  We visited the Antique Sandwich Company, Point Defiance, Owen's Beach, Stadium High School,  and Proctor Street on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day was a "lazy" day at home for the most part. The highlight was getting to talk to Benjamin via Facetime. He looked and sounded good. He is very busy as a Zone Leader right now. They have about 22 companionships (that's a lot) in their zone and cover a large area.

We took Sam to Chambers Bay that day. It was quite cold, but Sam can't resist a trip to a beach, looking for sea life (we found crabs), and of course lots of photos

On Friday, we went to Seattle via the Bremerton Ferry. It's quite a scenic route. We took the car on over to Seattle this time though so we didn't have to do so much walking. We met up with Christopher who lives just across the street from the Seattle Center and Space Needle.  The Pacific Science Center is right there, too. We'd never been there and really enjoyed that new adventure. The highlight there was the butterfly exhibit. They have an area where you can go in and experience many beautiful butterflies all around you in a tropical environment. You can watch them as they eat, fly, etc. Some even land on you.  Great fun.

At Pacific Science Center

Had lunch with Christopher, then he had to go to work. We then visited Pike's Place Market for a few hours.


On Saturday we visited the State Capitol Building in Olympia. It's quite beautiful inside and sits in a beautiful spot. Had hoped to go to the Farmer's Market there, but it was closed.

Peanut Butter Temptations

I was grateful for Sam's help on Sunday with Peanut Butter Temptations. We made them to take for Monday treats at the office. Missionaries love them. Some folks will appreciate that Sam unwrapped a miniature Reese's that had five wrappers on it!

Well, that's the summary of Week 63 here in the WATAC. Having Sam here, seeing Christopher, and talking to Benjamin were definitely the highlights of the week.