Fun Times

 Josh and Heather have been off on a wonderful vacation for the past couple of weeks.  The MBA program Josh is finishing has a tour they take students on as part of their business training and if they want, they can take their spouse.  Their trip was to Dubai, Turkey and Spain to visit some of the business and financial institutions in each country.  Here are a couple of the sites they were able to visit.

Dubai -- Worlds tallest building

Cool Mosque

The Lobby of their hotel in Dubai

Wouldn't it be nice to have rules in our malls!!

Again in Turkey

Looking up at the tallest building

Josh and Heather in Turkey

With two little ones (Matt and Emma), there was some worry about what to do --  but between Heather’s folks coming out from Virginia for a week and the kids staying with us the rest of the time, we were able to put them at ease

We really love having Matt and Emma with us (as we do all the other grandchildren).  They are so sweet and good natured most of the time and even when they aren’t, we just love them anyway. And who wouldn't love to have  Emma's cute gravely, little girl voice calling them all the time!! J

Grandma Whitmer likes to keep them busy so we had a couple of swimming days where they could practice their water skills.  Matt is a little more timid but Emma loves to play hard in the water.  (Thought I had some pictures but they are on the other camera.  Maybe later.) Before we were done, both had experienced some things that they really came to like.  Being grandparents is much more fun than being parents – except for the old, creaky body thingey. 

Thanks to Josh and Heather for trusting us enough to have their sweet little tykes for all this time.  Hope we didn’t teach them too many bad habits.

EPIPHANY

We all have those moments when something becomes very clear and we wonder why it never occurred before.  Once in a while, I have those as I read the scriptures.

The other night I was reading the Book of Mormon and pondering some of the things Moroni taught in chapter 7 of his book.  I love these verses because there are so many practical applications that keep me out of trouble.

In the middle of considering faith and some of its ramifications I noticed an idea that had passed by me all the times I had read these verses before.  It was in the middle of a discussion on another topic, sort of hidden amongst the trees and more like an aside put in by Moroni.  As many times as I have read the Book of Mormon, I never noticed this delicious tidbit found in Moroni 7:27-28:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and has sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his right of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?  For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.

I know that some of you will say, “Duh, Mike, how come you don’t know that?”  A part of me DOES know that but I have never seen it or felt is so clearly stated in the scriptures.

This profound little statement gives me a better view of the Atonement and the power it has to save the souls of mankind.

Christ suffered for all our trials, sins, weaknesses, etc. (Alma 7:11-13) , not because He wanted to look cool or have some big blessing, but so that He could claim us as His when the time for choosing arrived.  Without His mercy and love, we would be left to the powers of the adversary and would become subject to his will.  Jesus will ‘advocate’ with the Father, against Lucifer, for the souls of God’s children.  All who will allow Him, will find relief from the torments of the evil one.  Those who deny His redeeming power will find themselves outside the power of His mercy.

If ever there was a miracle (the subject Moroni was considering when this came out), this is the greatest of all.  A God who cares enough about His people to come and prepare a way for their redemption.  What a message we have as Christians and members of the Kingdom of God on Earth.

I know that my Redeemer Lives!!