July 17, 2009

The morning started with weeding followed by laying around in front of the TV screen. It reached 110 degrees here today (but it was a DRY heat).Even the dogs and chickens were lethargic most of the day. Fortunately, it has cooled off pretty well again this evening.

Kaili headed off to a girlfriend's house for the night and Elizabeth is staying with Molly, so it was just me, Dax, the chickens and the dogs for the afternoon.

I attended an amazing talk at the stake center this evening. The speaker was Sister Chieko Okazaki (former member of the R.S. General Presidency). She had us all laughing at some points and teary-eyed in others. She spoke about so many good things, I will just touch a few of them for now. She started with the idea that hope as an important Gospel principle and said we need to "weave it into the fabric of our lives". She also taught us about the shakers and their concept of "wooden swearing". Wooden swearing is when you slam a door, stomp your feet or slam things around in anger. She pointed out that anger can be a useful and even a righteous emotion in certain circumstances, but she also pointed out that anger is very often selfish, greedy and destructive. She contended wooden swearing can be as destructive as muttering an oath as far as the selfish feeding of anger.

It is supposed to be both hot and humid tomorrow. . .I will be hopeful (and grateful) for the continued functioning of the A/C system . . .