Day 3 Sunday, A day of rest

Church starts at 10. I haven’t been to church in ages and am looking forward to the spiritual nourishment. The sacrament hymn is “I stand all amazed”. My eyes leak through the whole song. It offers such sweet words of hope and redemption of ‘the love Jesus offers me… to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine…oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me.’ It is one of my favorite songs. The lyrics are by Charles H Gabriel.

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died

Chorus:
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine
That he should extend his great love unto such as I
Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify

(Repeat chorus)

I think of his hands, pierced and bleeding to pay my debt
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Secure in the promise of life in his victory
Thus ransomed from death I will live to my Savior's praise
And sing of his goodness and mercy through endless days

My parents ward is great. They are truly amazing souls. The Gospel is true everywhere you go but the Church feels different outside the “Mormon belt” of Idaho & Utah. You are unique and special and it is a different kind of feeling of brotherhood.

Since it is the first Sunday of the month that means Fast & Testimony meeting; as soon as the Bishop finishes his testimony Dad gets up and goes to the pulpit and in a loud booming voice declares “Hello. My name is “AGB” and I have been married to my trophy wife “C” for 42 years.” This got chuckles from the crowd and for the next little bit Mom will be known as the trophy wife. J

Church was great and I can’t wait until my life situation is such than I am an active member again. (I don’t like working Sundays but I need to pay the bills too)



with Grandma Bentley



After Church Dad leaves to go get his Mom so she can join us for dinner. We have yummy rice, pork & black bean taco salad with home fried tortilla chips that I could not get enough of. Especially with jalapeno Tabasco sauce on them. My taste buds are watering now just thinking about them. After dinner we watch Independence Day and I help Mom make gingersnaps. No one makes them quite like her. I’ve tried to make them here in Utah and the recipe doesn’t turn out. They are soft and chewy and full of ginger and molasses flavor! Mom & I also slice up a flat of Spooners strawberries. Later we have them with Twinkies. Ok but not the same as the shortcake cups and whipped cream.

My parents’ neighborhood is situated somewhat between two Indian reservations. That’s where you go to get good fireworks. After the sun set all we heard were booms from people setting off fireworks. Some legal - some probably not. Ahhh…such glorious sounds! Especially since the 4^th of July is a big holiday at our house. I only remember one year where we didn’t host the party. That was because we went to Lincoln City, OR and spend time with some relatives. 4^th of July on the beach was cool! Now the party is at my sisters’ house…but that’s for the next blog.

Hi! Mom is waving at you from behind the bush.

It was nice to spend some down time with Mom & Dad since my vacations usually get spent at siblings’ homes with children. The quiet was a nice break AND I got warm gingersnapsJ

They also have a couple hummingbird feeders...