A few links on Gardening in North Texas

Shawnie has taken over most of the gardening duties in our family, so this is mostly for her…but I want to be in the know as well.


• Dallas Morning news story with a calendar of what to do when in the garden
• Gardening tips
• Somebody’s gardening blog
• http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/
• http://tarrant.tamu.edu/

March Pics

Brittany's Joys of Spring photos:

Brittany's-- Joys of Spring

The Temple

A Family Centered Church

"It is good for people to know . . . how family centered our theology and our lifestyles are. . . .

"Mormons place particularly strong emphasis on family as the basic unit of the Church and of society. We have a deep commitment to marriage (defined as a union between one man and one woman). Polygamy, a limited practice in the early pioneer days of the Church, was discontinued in 1890, some 117 years ago.

"Families and individuals, whether members of our faith or not, can attend Sunday services in our chapels. Here we worship together, instructing one another from the scriptures.

"Latter day Saint families are encouraged to hold family home evenings weekly, usually on Monday nights. This provides a regular and predictable time for parents to teach values to their children and to have fun together. . . .

"The Church has auxiliary programs for women, youth, and children as a support to the family. . . .

M. Russell Ballard, "Faith, Family, Facts, and Fruits," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 26

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Newsroom article from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I found this article on the Newsroom Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I thought you might find it interesting. Click on the link below to view:
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

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"The temple endowment was given by revelation. Thus, it is best understood by revelation, prayerfully sought with a sincere heart. President Brigham Young said, 'Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, . . . and gain your eternal exaltation' (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 416)."

Russell M. Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, 32

Topics: Temple

Gordon Hinckley - Lessons I Learned as a Boy

Story from Our Recent Past, part 2

Kyle wanted me to correct the details... At this point, Kyle had graduated, finished a 3 month internship, and had not had work for 2 or 3 months. Our finances were actually worse than when we were students. The TV fell on its head while we were putting up Christmas decorations, and it was working again before Christmas, but I think it may have been broken longer than a week. Kyle didn't mention the night that the two of us entertained ourselves by opening up the TV, looking at it, poking around it, and then putting it back together. We again returned it to its spot on the TV stand. Then one night while Kyle was out doing church work, I turned on the TV out of habit, and it worked! It truly was a miracle, and it is only one of many that we experienced at that time of our lives.

Phone Call from a Stranger

A movie we recommend ---On Hulu here

Story from our recent past

About four years ago we moved to Waco then later to Lorena. Our experience living in Lorena/Waco has reached a pinnacle in our family. The experiences are far enough in the past that we can tell stories about the time in the same vein as telling stories about the pioneers or our childhood!

On two recent occasions I told the following story (Shawnie will correct need to correct the details, I'm sure...but here goes anyway).

While living in Lorena, one day we were moving furniture around. [I believe it was to take down the Christmas decorations. Whatever the reason, we were moving the TV.] In the process, I placed the TV on the couch to lighten the TV stand for moving. After turning around from depositing the heavy load, I heard a loud bang. To my horror, I turned around to find the TV up-side-down on the floor!

We didn't have much hope that it would work and as a poor student family, we didn't have the funds to replace the TV. Our concerns were soon realized. Plugging in the TV, we found the screen produced Twilight Zone ghosts dancing on the screen.

None-the-less, we decided to keep the TV. The sound worked fine and Shawnie surmised that at least the children could listen to Sesame Street, even if they couldn't see it. So we finished moving things around and placed the TV back on the stand.

The TV continued to function in the same manner for about a week, then much to our surprise, it began working again! The day following its miraculous recovery the explanation of the TV's recovery was revealed. A faith-filled young Brittany had offered a prayer to her Heavenly Father asking that the TV be fixed. The prayer was answered. To this day we still use the TV!

Israel to strike Iran?

How likely is Israel to strike Iran? See this article. Has anyone seen any counter point articles?