birthday girl so glad you were born to us

Scares on the surface

Yesterday was our daughters birthday, can't believe she's 46 & that's exactly where I was just yesterday. I looked at my hands yesterday & thought to myself wow they look like an old woman's hands, then a peek in the mirror that night I realized I am getting there. I'm so thankful the dear Lord let me stay just a bit longer here on this earth. A couple of nights ago we attended the 3rd ward's temple night a dear sister was sitting in the front seat with me & sister Smith was in the back seat, the light was green so we weren't slowing down any, there was a car to my left when I noticed him stopping so I slowed & stopped farther in the intersection than the car to my left when a car came through the red light going at least 45 or 50 it never even tried to stop, we were within inches & I know I'd never have lived through that & probably not the other sister in the front seat either. I seen the headlines flash through my mind, in the newspaper headlines reading, two sisters killed in a t bone car crash one from Utah the other from Plano Tx. I sat for a moment in the middle of the intersection as did the other car & heard the phone call to my daughters. Do you know Connie Putnam? We are sorry to have to tell you that she was killed in an auto accident tonight. We experience so many things in a life time which was brought to my attention this week when I received a small package from my niece, inside was another heart shaped rock which she has sent me quite a few beautiful heart shaped rocks over the last 5 years. Her note read, thinking of you this morning, on my walk, I wished for a heart shaped rock to send you I found some extremely imperfect ones, which made me think, we don't all have perfect hearts and...I suppose we can't be too critical when we are trying our best. I finally spotted a plump heart shaped rock, it looks like it is bursting with love. It has some scares on the surface from a lifetime of getting ran over by trucks, graters & cattle trailers. That's sort of how each of our hearts are, scares from a lifetime of experiences. What a lesson & I've pondered all week on my own heart & came up with, sometimes its so soft, tender & so full of charity, other times it's hard almost like it has a shell around it to protect it from being bumped, hurt or damaged. This week for a moment take a look at your own heart & the lifetime of scares it has on it then hopefully we can all fill our own hearts with a little more love & charity for others. I know my own heart is full of gratitude & thankfulness for a little more time to finish up some unfinished work I have. I guess you could say I have some matters unorganized. Last week brought to the surface of my mind just how fast our life can be over & how truly precious it is. Lets all try a little harder to make each day count & do something good in our world today. The thought I received this week & have pondered it "One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became." The scripture is D&C 84:36-38. I want each one of you out there family, friend or acquaintance to know I love you & am so thankful to have had our lives cross paths with each other, I've learned from each one of you & thank you for your friendship. Have a great week & love one another...Sister Putnam

stumbled across my strength

Life is moving pretty fast here in Texas this week. Had a great zone conference & I've defintly come to love the young Elders & Sisters in our zone. They are great young people & take good care of us older ones, well Sister Smith & myself. Some of these missionaries have been going home & it makes your heart just a little sad. We traveled on down to Arlington, Texas today for Time Out For Women just trying to refill our cups. We had tickets for last night but had to cancel for a talent show that my companion sang in. One thing that stood out to me was, think what you're praying for. Is it to be an instrument in God's hands or should we be praying to be in tune with the Lord. I had the honor of taking one completely blind lady & sitting with another almost blind lady at the dinner & talent show. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be blind, I closed my eyes for a bit last night & couldn't see on my plate what I was eating. We visit them each week & can only hope we make their dark world just a little brighter. I love my other companion Sister Telford & knows she would understand them well. They all 3 light up my world. We had taken a couple of ladies out to lunch for ones 84th birthday. One of the ladies is my dear black lady friend I've grown to love her so much, she just makes me laugh brings a spark to my day or you could say adds some spice to my life. We've done lots of visits this past week & met with some great sisters some with great testimonies & others is a little weak but love them all the same. I was able to visit one young lady who is going to have her 2nd baby, she's a member but her husband is not. I just go to her myself upon her request, it was her birthday also last week I stopped them off a pizza for supper. She's such a delight & pray that I may become better acquainted with her that we may learn & grow together as sisters in the gospel. The sweet lady I live with ask me if I was a little sad? No just a little tired, she just shows up in my room with a Ben & Jerry's small ice cream cup & said, "It's a long time till we can eat tomorrow night" thanks Marjean you're a sweetheart. Well I'll wrap up my week with a thought I seen, I'm thankful for my struggle because without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength. I'm just pondering it still but it's food for thought for the week. My scripture this week is Matt 7:7-8 just working on this also. Love ya all & pray for the blessings ya stand in need of... Sister Putnam