Blogging With Beth

I came across this incredible quote while flipping through an LDS book I had on the shelf.

"I believe that in his justice and mercy [God] will give us the maximum reward for our acts, give us all that he can give, and in the reverse, I believe that he will impose upon us the minimum penalty which it is possible for him to impose."

  - J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Conference Report, October 1953, p. 84

This I can't get over.  As I grew up in the Church, I didn't hear enough of this perspective.  While it in no way tolerates or encourages sin, it also expresses the clear preference our Heavenly Father has for mercy while still meeting the absolute need for justice.

Other minutiae of today:

*I was diagnosed with rosacea.  My mother and aunt both had this problem, and it has a familial component, so there you are.  It is recommended that I avoid both the sun and stress...which I'm not at all sure is possible in this life, but I'll do my best.

*Hannah received a new book from Gaga that included a set of miniature Princess pets.  She hasn't stopped playing with it all day.  She creates an entire world around her toys and animals, and lives happily in it for hours.

*Hunter and I took a walk this evening while the girls were away at church and with Dad.  We just went around the block, and I suggested crossing Ruddiman to the overlook by Muskegon Lake.  He was so surprised I would think to cross a street!  :)  We had a great time.

*Helena went to Activity Days with her friend Brielle tonight.  Helena is so blessed to have lots of good friends at church, and a few gems at school, too.  She seems to be a natural missionary, and doesn't mind inviting Brielle every time they have Activity Days.  She is growing up rapidly, and easily looks like a twelve year old.  Also, she's started band and is the only person playing the clarinet in her fifth grade class.

*Dan took Hannah to the property this evening, but took my van instead of his Freestyle, thus depriving him of all the necessary tools he needs to get things done over there.  Instead, he spend most of the time jumping on the trampoline with Hannah.  Maybe that was better for both of them anyway.

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."  L.M. Montgomery

I've been in a really interesting mental space lately.  Days go by when it feels like I'm almost an observer, while simultaneously experiencing life as it happens.

Then, tonight, I sat down to do something for Hunter's school and put on R.E.M.'s "Out of Time" album, and it might as well have been 1991.  I couldn't feel the difference!  It made me think about how strange time is...and how quickly it passes...and how much I haven't appreciated it as it happens.

I'm getting closer to the midway point of life, and frankly, it won't do anymore to postpone goals or experiences, telling myself that "life is long," or "I will work on that in a few years, when the kids are all grown."  Hannah won't be grown for 15 more years, and...well, I'm not waiting to get going until then.  I can't actually say that I have some big goals or plans that I've been pushing off.  I just know that if needs doing, "Now is the best time of [my] life!"