Merry Christmas World!

Today we honor the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  By following Him, we can return  live with Him and our Heavenly Father once again.  This is indeed a great thing to celebrate.  Thank you Jesus for your great sacrifice. 

By following the teachings of Jesus Christ we can know joy while here on Earth.  Merry Christmas World!!

Homework....

It seems that the hardest thing this semester for me so far is keeping up with the homework.  Most of my classes are rather labor intensive, more so than in the previous semesters.  In addition, life is running pretty hot right now--as though someone decided to turn the burner on the stove to a high fire.  All together, it is getting me a bit down.  That being said, I put my trust in the Lord that if I do my part, we will be blessed.

E minus 9 days....

It is funny, for the past 2 years I have missed my son, Elder Matthew Helm, as he has served his mission in the Pocatello, Idaho mission.  At times I have missed him so much it has been as a ache inside that nothing would abate.  Only the knowledge that he is serving the Lord has soothed that ache. 

As his mission draws to a close, I marvel that it is finally here--that in 9 short days he will be home (for a bit).  I know that he has served with great honor and has blessed many lives.  As I listen to his brothers and sister pray for him daily, I know that his service has blessed their lives as well.  They have been shown that serving the Lord is a blessing, not a drudgery. 

Matthew's mission has been a difficult one.  In the area where he has served, the people either love the church or hate it--there are few who have never even heard of us.  The opinions are tough and outsiders are not trusted easily.  Yet through these challenges, and others he has continued to serve with not only honor (I expected this) but with great joy as well.  He is like a light that burns brightly not only for those here at home, but those who he comes in contact with.

I am proud to be a missionary mom!  I know that I have been strengthened greatly while he has been gone--our entire family has.  I know that the work he has been doing is important to our Heavenly Father.  I know that God lives and that His son Jesus Christ died for us--he loves us that much.  I know that he restored His Church here to the earth.  I know the scriptures guide us, comfort us, and sustain us each day.  As my son has delivered this message to those who he has come in contact with, I have found myself testifying of these truths almost daily--something I was too afraid to do before.  I am blessed to be a missionary mom, and even though my arms have ached for 2 years to hug him, it is a small sacrifice for the good he has done. 

That being said MATT COMES HOME IN 9 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Knitting,

Tonight for the first time ever, I went to a football game with the intent of actually watching football.  Weird right??  As usual I took you, my precious knitting expecting that soon I would begin to be bored and you and I would begin our traditional football regime of knit and purl.  However that part never came tonight.  I watched the game, yelled and cheered for the players and was excited when we won!  However don't dispare, knitting, I was watching a special person play tonight, one of my former cub scouts, and so had a vested interest in the game.  I am positive that we will get tons of knitting done tomorrow while waiting for the band to play at half time. 

Fall.....

This morning as I was driving to school, the world was shrouded in a blanket of fog.  Most people I know hate the fog, but I love it.  I am reminded of the mists in the Gothic books I read as a teen.  Everything is so mysterious, and yet if you look--look really carefully, you can see the seasons changing. 

Over the years I have told stories to children about how the leaves get painted.  Stories about the fairies who flutter around painting the leaves one by one.  Other stories were of the great painting masters of the past, coming back to earth as angels and painting a wondrous delight for us to see.  In biology I was taught what really happened.  It is boring.  So I will keep my stories or wonderful creatures, angels or fairies who come to earth each fall and paint our leaves--one by one--brilliant yellow, orange and red.

Last week I saw a tree that had a vine that was wrapped around it.  The vine had turned a vibrant red while the tree was still green.  It looked as thought fire was wrapping lovingly around the trunk of the tree.  It was amazing to see.

Look around you.....take time to see the wonders Heavenly Father has given us....see the beauty we are surrounded with.  The world is decorated to give us joy!  Please don't let it go to waste in the vast speed of everyday life.  Take time....be thankful...find joy!

Thank You for my Freedom

A friend posted this on her facebook--I was very touched and wanted to repost it here:

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock , did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintend, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?' She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' ... ... 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.' And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren’s classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/ she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.' At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.. Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.' By the way, this is a true story. Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U. S. Veterans

Last week, my son in law was sworn in by the Army.  I am reminded of the many men and women in my family and those who are friends, that have served our country in various branches of the military, so that I can be free.  I am very thankful for the sacrifice of those who have served and those who have been left behind to pray, so that I can enjoy the freedom of living in this great country.  Be proud to be an American!  Never forget that freedom is NOT free!

Have you ever...

Have you ever had a day that several things went wrong and yet all you felt inside was a feeling of joy and love?  That is what my day was like.  If you asked me, I would tell you that I had a great day.  Several things happened that should have caused me stress, and yet all I feel is the love of my friends and family around me, most of all I feel my Saviors love.  Inside I feel joy.  What an amazing feeling....

Dear Knitting,

Dear Knitting,

I have been thinking that the reason you and I haven't gotten very far on the projects this past Summer was that I lacked motivation, but to my surprise it isn't that at all!  Apparently we just needed to go to a football game.  Yes my little pointy friends, a football game. 

Last school year, we blamed me going back to school, not even thinking about the fact that there were not any children in band for the first time in well over a decade.  Jessica had to choose between a class she wanted to take and one she needed to take as they were both taught at the same time--she chose the one she needed.  See no football game--no knitting at said football game to fill the time when the band is NOT on the field. 

Therefore, it is very important that we attend the football game so that we can knit while the players do whatever it is that they do with that little brown ball.  Last Friday we embraced the football game and knit a baby hat.  I can't wait until next week when we start the birdcage covers at the football game.  Yep, to knit we need football......Oh dear, what will we do when Daniel graduates and there is no more football while waiting for the band to play?

I saw this pansy (they are my favorite you know) and had to share it--the center looks like an angel waiting to bless our day!  Reading in the scriptures we are taught about angels and how Heavenly Father sends angels to help us.  Remember that sometimes the angel Heavenly Father sends to help you, is the person standing next to you, asking "how can I help."  I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend filled with family and friends.

Moment to Moment

A few days ago, I watched one of the Mormon Messages found on http://www.lds.org/  about making moments count.  Neal A. Maxwell said "Moments are the molecules that make up eternity."  The entire point is to slow down and appreciate what is always around you. 

Sometimes I feel that life is moving at mock 4, and I wonder if I will get everything done.  After watching this clip, I realize that it is the moments that count and that we will remember in our later years.  This has been reinforced by listening to Ethel during our visits.  The things she remembers through her senior dementia are small moments in her life.  Some of the bad, but surprisingly most of them good.  Having a number of friends who are in the "senior" catagory, I have discovered that this holds true for most of them.  Thier lives were at a slower pace.  Sometimes I have heard that it is technology that drives our faster pace--I wonder though if it is not more of the "want it all" attitude so prevelant today.  Just a thought.

So for us here at Helm Haven, we are going to slow things down a bit.  Make the moments togther count more for eternal things, and less for transient joys.  To those of you who read this....I wish you joy in your journey of life this week.  Remember to find the joy in each day. 

My little warriors...

Each Sunday I teach 6-9 Sunbeams.  And while my body gets quite a workout each week, they are a joy!  I love teaching these young children.  They are so honest.  A few weeks I was trying to explain my church calling to a friend who is a non-member.  When last we spoke of church things and what I was doing, I was Relief Society President.  She thought I had been demoted, when in fact I feel just the opposite.  So was trying to explain why I felt promoted instead, and had to borrow a term from Mandy.  I told her that I taught little 3 year old warriors for God.  Her reply?  "Good grief Cheryl, you are getting them while they are pretty young!"  To all my parents.....Thank You for sharing your little ones with me each Sunday! 

If ye are prepared....

The day started like any other day, with Bill getting the children up for school at 5:30 am (seminary doesn't start until next week).  The storm last night was fierce, however the sun was up.  It was a bright new day.  The children went to school to find the power was out and some classes could run on the generator--up until the cooks discovered that the freezers how gone out and there was no food to feed the 1200+ always hungry teens.  So they sent them home. 

As I have run my errands, I found that there are many still without power living and working here is St. Joseph.  They say that there 70,000 people in St Joseph and out lying areas without power.  With all of the limbs and lines down, they don't know when the power would be back on.  I feel very blessed that we are not of that number, while just 2 blocks in any direction are feeling the effects of no power and above 90 degree tempratures. 

My home has been opened to those who need a place to stay, and my freezer is being filled with other's food (carefully marked) so it will not spoil.  It is times like this that make me grateful for all I learned growing up.  Preparedness wasn't just something we talked about, it was something we lived and breathed each day.  However that being said--I do not yet have a generator, and if our power goes, it will NOT be a good thing.

I trimmed and set Ethel's hair, adding new earings for the week.  We spent time visiting as we do each week.  She likes it when I read to her from my vast collection of fairy tales on my Kindle.  With her living in the nursing home, I have been able to rediscover the joy of visiting with her rather than the constant difficulty of trying to take care of her needs.  I feel there is a balance to all of that.

Lastly I went to purchase my books for the upcoming semester--oh my, talk about sticker shock.  Even with most of the books being used, it was still almost $600.  As there is still one more class to buy as yet (the books are still in printing).  How much more will it be this semester, I wonder?  Yet, I look at these books with wonder.....I am living my dream of going  school.  Each day is as a long awaited gift that I treasure.   

Until We Meet Again...

On May 8th my Uncle Mike died.  He was a man I had a bond with, that for me was deep, abiding and strong.  He taught me so much, but mostly how to give of myself or serve others with a joyful heart.  It is still too raw for me to write much, so I will borrow from my cousin Mike Bess, (known in the family as lil Mike, because his son is young Mike--we have lots of Mikes in our family)who writes eloquently what I am feeling.  I wish all of you could have known the great man my Uncle Mike was--for me he lives on, and the best way to honor his memory is to pass on his stories and his love.

Uncle Mike--always a smile!

Dearest all... the final sitrep from the Pacific.

Of all the finest men, ...the finest father, the finest grandfather, the finest friend, the finest husband, the finest companion, the finest person,... he made the list. Chief Michael R. McComb. For me, my Dad. To you, your loved one. Our so very much loved one. The man who took me under his caring kindness from the days of my youth until the day of his final sail of the Pacific he loved; who taught me directly over and again what charity means by his example. He loved me, he loved us, with the deepest kindest love. Such a heart, such a tremendous heart.

I have considered over the years what I would be, what I would not have now were it not for him. So much...I would not have my wife, my children, grandchildren; for it was by him I crossed the globe to the Islands of the Philippines where I met my future wife. It was by him that my mother was convinced to let him and I bring her to the states for me to marry even though I was still young.  If there was ever a question of any kind about life matters, he was there. He has always been there. Always.


It is written that Charity never faileth, and indeed, his never did. Neither failed his love. His love of family and friends. Oh how he loved us, and us him!  Please consider him now... and all the wonderful reasons you love him; for he surely loved you. And yes, he still does.  My faith is that he lives now on the other side of the veil and I know I will see him again and I so, ...so very much already, ...long for that day.  What joy I will have again then, to see that ever smiling face and feel that so loving embrace... of my Dad.  It is my faith that you too shall see him again. Remember him throughout your lives now in the best way; be as loving and charitable to all.


Collect your pictures, your memories, your stories. Tell them to your children and your children's children.

May we never forget this sailor... Chief Michael R. McComb


He sails ahead of us and no doubt will be working some way of preparing and arranging great things for us. You know he will. He always did.
Carry on Chief, carry on McComb, carry on Dad, carry on Gpa, carry on GGpa, carry on dear brother, carry on dear beloved of us all who remain...With tears, and smiles and hearts overwhelmed with love for you,.. as you did with us,... we bid you Adieu


Michael R. McComb January 15, 1946 - May 8, 2011.


May the wind always be at your back and may you have following seas


Adieu

Uncle Mike



Uncle Mike and Aunt Jeannine



Snow . . . . .

Snow is falling on the ground
On the rooftop, all around. . .

I don't think I can properly express just how tired I am of winter.  It has been a harsh winter here this year.  Lots of snow and ice.  I so long to see beautiful flowers pushing up through the ground......

School is going fantastic.  We just finished up bones in A&P.  Now I get two weeks to learn all about muscles.  I just wish that the names were easier to say and more importantly for my tests, spell.  In Microcomputers, I am learning so much.  I have always loved working on the computer, but learning even more about word, excell, and powerpoint is tons of fun.  Sometimes I forget that it really is a class.  HIT is going well.  I am calling this semester so far "Alphabet Soup."  So named because of all of the acronyms for the various government agencies, programs, and tests that health providers use.  Funny thing about HIT stuff though--it is as if someone is just reminding me of things I always have known--like a door opening in the brain.  Mandy says that I am hardwired for HIT--Josh just says I am becoming a HIT MOM.  I think he is going to dress up as a Mob Boss for my graduation--sometime in the "I can't see it yet" future.  It makes me smile.

Snow + Boots x Walking = Pain

It is a fact, that I haven't really left the house much in the past few winters.  I have had my hands full taking care of Ethel and being sick.  So when it snowed, I thought "no problem, I have boots--really good ones too."  Feeling confident in having proper outdoor walking equipment--(I have special gripper spikes that go on my boots if it is too icy, as well as my boots) I went to school. 
College students study
as they walk and walk and walk,
College students think
as they walk and walk and walk. . .
Anyway, after 3 days of criss crossing the campus, wearing my super, duper, 5 pounds each, boots--didn't need the spikes--well I have a lot of pain in my tookus, and my legs, and my lower back and my lower abs. . .Guess what?  On Monday I will put those boots on again.  Dad said no pain, no gain.  I don't think he meant from walking in boots!  Wait!?!  Could this be a new exercise program hidden by the boots?  Someone pass the naproxen please.

And So It Begins. . .

I went to my school email address yesterday.  No real reason, just curious to see if anything important might be happening.  There it was sitting in my inbox--an email from one of my professors.  Yep I have a test on the first day of class.  Time to study.

Dear Knitting,

My have we been productive during this break.  You and I have made 3 scarves, 1 hat and 1 1/2 mittens.  Oh how nice it has been to have the yarn run through my fingers and knit up into pretty things. Knitting has been such a joy, however we have a problem. . .

So here is the plan
1.  We are going to donate some of the yarn to a worthy project that our friend is doing.
2.  We are going keep an ongoing project in the the little knitting bags that our Bill got us for Christmas that fit in my school book bags. (the elevator incident wouldn't have been so bad if you had been there with me)
3.  Knitting between classes is a good study break--I know I need to do that--and won't make me miss you so much. 

Hopefully this will help to build up stock, use up yarn and keep me sane.

Lots of Love.

The Gate Of The Year

A friend had this poem, I felt I had to post it.  To all of you who are like me, standing at the gate of the unknown, move forward standing steadfast and our Father in Heaven will guide us all. 

~ THE GATE OF THE YEAR ~

by Minnie Louise Harkins

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year

'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'

And he replied,

'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God

Trod gladly into the night

He led me towards the hills

And the breaking of day in the lone east.

So heart be still!

What need our human life to know

If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things

Both high and low,

God hideth his intention."

May 2011 be filled with many blessings for all of us, dear friends, as we remember that Heavenly Father sees the entire plan, while we only see a small part. 

POD Children

I am pretty sure that aliens have come and replaced my three younger children with POD look alikes.  Either that or they have contracted some weird "I am doing my chores without being asked" virus.  For the past few days, Jessica, Josh and Daniel have been getting up, fixing me breakfast in bed and then doing all of their chores first thing in the morning.  Anybody who has teens, knows this is so not normal behavior.  Even though my teens are pretty much more helpful than most teens, this is not normal behavior even for them.  Now the conundrum--wish for my teens back, or keep the POD children?  I must think this through carefully!