Exquisite Grand Opening

I've had a delightful week watching my first orchid bloom open up. This is my first orchid and I've had it for over two years. When I first got it from the store in full bloom, the blooms lasted about 5 months. For the past two years I have been watching, waiting and caring. And it has paid off.

Nature's Bouquet

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Enjoy some of my photos from my adventure to Sunrise at Mt. Rainier. Thanks to Loretta and Chris for letting me tag along. It was a wonderful day.

There is Sunshine in my Soul Today

Today I taught a lesson at church. The lesson was from a General Conference talk by Elder Richard G. Scott from April 1996. The title of his talk is Finding Joy in Life.

I wanted to share a few highlights from his talk. To read it in it's entirety click here.

Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenges are events in life, not life itself.

We are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. We are here to be tried, to prove ourselves so that we can receive the additional blessings God has for us. The tempering effect of patience is required.

We are one of the noblest of God's creations. His intent is that our lives be gloriously beautiful regardless of our circumstances. As we are grateful and obedient, we can become all the God intends us to be.

If we question everything we are asked to do, or dig in our heels at every unpleasant challenge, we make it harder for the Lord to bless us.

Find the compensatory blessing in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He deprives you of something you very much want.

Attempt to be creative for the joy it brings. Being creative will help you enjoy life. It engenders a spirit of gratitude. It develops latent talent, sharpens your capacity to reason, to act, and to find purpose in life. It dispels loneliness and heartache. It gives a renewal, a spark of enthusiasm, and zest for life.

Learn from aspiring individuals who have made peace with their challenges and live with joy amid adversity.

No matter how difficult something you or a loved one faces, it should not take over your life and be the center of all your interest.

Challenges are growth experiences, temporary scenes to be played out in the background of a pleasant life.

First Flight

Yesterday I "flew" in a wind tunnel. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. I was in a group of 10. First we sat and watched a training video, and then we learned the body position and hand signals for the instructor to communicate with us.

We then put on our flight suits with the attached straps going under our feet then tennis shoes on. Ear plugs, goggles and a helmet completed the outfit.

Once we were trained and suited up, we sat on the bench and waited our turn. One at a time we took our turn. We stood in the small door way in our ready position and then just flew into the wind tunnel. The instructor then took hold of us and assisted as we "flew" around.

The flight suits actually have handles on your shoulders and on the sides so the instructor can grab you and keep you in place. You basically lay out like Superman, hands and feet out, knees slightly bent.

When flying the wind is comforting, you bounce alittle and the instructor tries to keep you in proper form to move around. I could never actually see the instructor except for his hand signals in front of my face or when his hand would move my hand out to extend my arm.

You are only in the tunnel for 60 seconds. Then we sat and watched the others fly and then we got a second turn.

At the end the instructor went into the tunnel and soared right up to the top. Up and down a few times showing his skill.

It was a great experience and I will fly again. I want to learn to control the wind and my body as it's in motion in the wind.