blessings

after watching that advice from elder eyring, i started to think of the things that we have been blessed with lately and had to write them down.

today my sweet friend came and took max and ava for the day. this is the second time she has done this and what an enormous help it is. i am able to get the laundry done, i am able to relax, it is wonderful. i know that they are in good hands and are having a wonderful time with her, so i have peace of mind.

we are buying a house. that, in and of itself, is an enormous blessing in how things have just fallen into place and how good we feel about this house. but since we will not be living in the city anymore, we will be very far from a busline for paul to get into seattle to work. it is possible for him to take a bus but the commute would be very, very long. so, we have been praying and hoping for some way to get a commuter car. a cheaper than cheap commuter car since we already have our van payments and will now be buying a house. paul has been stressed out and worried and constantly looking on craiglist and just last week i was talking to my sister and she mentioned that grandpa is giving away his car. for free. i just knew it was meant to be. i knew it was an answer to my prayers. so, instead taylor will give us back our car which we gave to him and he will take grandpa's car. i have no doubt that the Lord's hand was in this.

his hand

fasting

i think these verses of isaiah, regarding the blessings of the fast, are so beautiful and poetic. i have received countless blessings from fasting and and am so grateful for this commandment.


is not this the fast that i have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?

is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor
that are cast out to thy house?
when thou seest the naked,
that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself
from thine own flesh?

then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the Lord shall be they rereward.
{protection}

then shalt thou call,
and the Lord shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and he shall say,
Here I am.
if thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,
the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul;
then shall thy light rise in obscurity,
and they darkness be as the noonday:

and the Lord shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought,
and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

and they that shall be of thee
shall build the old waste places:
thou shalt raise up the foundations
of many generations;
and thou shalt be called,
the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of paths to dwell in.

isaiah 58:6-12