He's here! Knox Aaron Stephenson arrived from heaven on March 28, 2011, at 2:15 PM, weighing in at 8 lbs. 8 oz., 20 1/2-in. He is absolutely perfect and adorable. He is living proof that the world goes on and blessings abound. I love him with all my heart...and he's only days old. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for allowing me to be with my precious daughter and son-in-law for the birth of this sweet baby. I will treasure this gift always. 
My sweet Uncle Raymond Uharriet passed away last night after a brave, horrendous struggle of over a dozen years with health issues, including cancer. My heart is sad, but only for me and our family. I am ecstatic for Uncle Ray! He has received his graduation papers at last, which is what he has been praying for for a long time. He is finally going home. He's finally free from the body that was a plague and a source of intense pain. He is finally going to see those who passed before him, especially those who went too soon and caused Uncle Ray to question why his boarding pass hadn't been stamped yet. Uncle Ray was a giant of knowledge, a keeper of the flame of patriotism, a library of stories that made you laugh & cry, a cheerleader of all your best efforts, a man who loved a good Coca-Cola and Tootsie Pop, and a lover of life and mankind. One of his favorite stories he liked to tell me was how I was no bigger than a shoebox when I was born, with a head full of dark curls. And, I'll never forget when I was a grown woman and a wife and a mother, and he came quietly down the stairs of my house early in the morning of a May 30, holding a bouquet of flowers, to wake me and wish me a Happy Birthday. Just a few weeks ago, he told us President Abraham Lincoln was going to "come for him" when it was all over. I don't doubt that Abe would. I can see them, crossing into heaven, Uncle Ray in full uniform regalia, giving President Lincoln the punch line to a good story. Lucky Abe. Lucky Uncle Ray. God bless you forever...I love you. 
I remember the first time I saw this picture. I was roaming through Seagull Book, turned the corner--and literally stopped in my tracks. The Spirit brought tears to my eyes. I could see myself as this little girl, clinging to my Savior through the trials of life. Like now. Knowing how His everlasting kindness will never depart. Knowing that He will always have His arms around me, in all the tests, in all the pain, in all the worry and anxiety, in all the fear, and in all the tears. I love Him with all my heart. I know He will never let go. I am so grateful for the knowing, for the testimony, for all the times before now when I felt Him near. I am blessed.
I had to laugh at this image that popped up when I typed in "Goliath"! YES! This is how it feels at times, when the part of us that is puny human being is face to face with something huge and scary. It is that "elephant in the room", as my Aunt B says. Well, I've got one thing to say to that beast in front of me - I've got God in my corner, mister! I've got family and friends. I've got prayers and fasting. I've got the temple. I've got the scriptures. I've got a plan for my life that may have included you as a footnote, but you are not the main character or the theme. And guess what? This is not my first rodeo! I've been bucked off before, but I'm going to keep getting up. If you want to follow "my journey", click on the link at the top of the page under my banner. And thanks to all you wonderful "Davids" who are fighting this right along with me - I feel your strength. 
If ever I've needed a bucketload of Spring and all the delicious flowers, scents, warmth, and energy it brings, it's TODAY! I've gone without a coat now for...three days. Tomorrow, a storm. Yesterday, when I considered the warmth coming in through the windows of my house, I had longings for that new fence we're supposed to build this summer--just so I could spread a blanket on the lawn (that's also supposed to be built this summer) and just SOAK IT IN without every neighbor's eye on my lily-whites! I walked around our little yard and searched for those first green shoots of the bulbs I planted...but they're still asleep. Come, Spring! I need your healing rays and happy promises.
Remember Marlo Thomas in the TV sitcom "That Girl" in the 60's? I loved that show! Marlo was perky, beautiful, smart, & funny...and to top it off, she had the cutest hair! The year was 1968--I was 9 years old. I was visiting Grandma Lillie at her house on Woodlawn Avenue in Montpelier (had to be summer--look at those shorts and white anklets!) and I begged Grandma to let me go to the beauty parlor to get my hair done like Marlo. She had to have been somewhat reluctant--I WAS only 9 and liked to climb trees and ride bikes and rollerskate, and I'm sure it cost her a pretty penny--but bless her sweet heart! she agreed. I remember the invigorating shampoo as I lay back in the chair...I remember the mountains of fat curlers pinned to my head and sitting under the hot, noisy dryer...I remember the thick clouds of hairspray that glued the hairstyle to my head...and then, I remember Grandma taking this picture in her driveway, with the poppies waving willy-nilly behind me in the summer breeze, and me feeling so very grown up and HIP and beautiful! I also remember Grandma urging me to "be a lady" so all the work and expense of this "do" would last, and oh, I tried so hard. I even remember going to bed that night and trying to sleep without my head touching the pillow, which was, of course, impossible, so that I awoke the next morning to disaster--no more curls, no more poof, no more Marlo. Just plain old me. My little heart was broken. I was sad for Grandma, too, that she had paid for something that lasted only one day and could not be fixed or redone, no matter how hard we tried. It taught me a lesson about vanity and how quickly our pride can be dashed! It also taught me that nothing is so important as what's inside. And when Grandma helped me comb out the snarls from the hairspray and said, "It's okay. I like you better this way," I believed her, thank heavens.
