Friendship

Sunday was an inspirational day for me. We had a great RS lesson from the Joseph Smith manual on friendship. Joseph Smith said some very profound things that made me reflect on my feelings about friendship. Some of the attributes of friendship were, "...faithful, long suffering, noble, true, companion, social, kind, generous, mirth loving, holy, pure, just, undaunted, firm, unchangeable." When I look at that list I can think of many many friends that fit that description and, like Joseph Smith, I feel greatly blessed.
"I don't care what a man's character is; if he is my friend-a true friend, I will be a friend to him, and preach the Gospel of salvation to him, and give him good counsel, helping him out of his difficulties." In one of my book clubs we discussed what animal we are most like, a couple of friends said I was closest to a Wolf. Fierce and deadly if crossed, but loyal and protective to the pack. My friends are many things, but none of them are perfect and I try to look past that to the heart. They are my friends and no matter what others say about them, or how they are judged I continue to stand by them, giving them advice when needed, and hopefully peace of mind when they are troubled. That is what loyal means to me. I may not agree with what they do, but I never leave them alone in their trials. And on the flip side, friends may not agree with me, or what I do, but knowing they support me gives me the lift I need to keep going.
The last paragraph I really liked was a letter Joseph Smith wrote while he was in hiding, "These I have met in prosperity, and they were my friends; and I now meet them in adversity, and they are still my warmer friends. These love the God that I serve; they love the truths that I promulgate; they love those virtuous, and those holy doctrines that I cherish in my bosom with the warmest feelings of my heart, and with that zeal which cannot be denied..." Trials are the true test of friendships. I have a handful of friends that I have been through the fire with and they are still my truest and most loyal friends. They forgive me my weaknesses, my grouchy days, my weeks of no phone call, and they still come to my aide at a moments notice. I can only hope that I am also that type of friend to them. "...that I may toil for them, and administer to their comfort also. They shall not want a friend while I live; my heart shall love those, and my hands shall toil for those, who love and toil for me, and shall ever be found faithful to my friends. Shall I be ungrateful? Verily No! God forbid!"

Pictures I Love!

Here are a few pictures I took of beautiful things and people. I hope you will all look at these pictures and have a strong desire to save a 3rd world country. This will aide me in my endevours to save the world via my new camera! Thank you!

The People I Love

This is a picture of the children I love more than life. We are at Antelope Island and my fabulous sister A took the pic of us!

Friends and Lunch

Yesterday was a blast from the past. M who I went to elementary school, Jr. High, High School, and roomed for with 2 years at Ricks College, contacted S (who went to Ricks with us) and I. Thank heavens for M and her determination to get us together, because she set up a "play date" for us and we got together for an afternoon of catching up. Our kids had fun playing in the water and we had fun chatting and laughing. It was so good to see them again and I look forward to our "girls only" night when we can shed the children! We did miss M2 who couldn't make it from a state far away :( and hope to catch her the next time she is in town!
I walked away rejuvenated, feeling younger, and joyful. These ladies are great examples to me and their friendship means a lot. It was a breath of fresh air, uplifting, and I could go on and on about how wonderful it was...but I will spare you the bliss!
I did however have an incident on the way out of the park which gave us all something to say: Hayden: "Did that guy want to marry you? I don't want him to be my dad!" Hunter: "Is that the craziest man you have ever met? Compare that to the guys in NY...which is worse?" Harley: (rolling her 13 year old eyes) "He should have been talking to me!" What a way to end the day!