I can hardly believe it

I gave My Last Lecture. I have been thinking about it all year and collecting ideas for things I might like to share, and suddenly one day last week, it was here. I went into my last two classes and gave the lecture in each one. (Can you really give a Last Lecture two times?)

The students were wonderful, even taking notes like they might be hearing something they might like to remember. They were very kind afterwards, one class looking serious and shaking my hand and the other class applauding. A former student even remembered that I had told him about my plan months ago and he came to listen in. That was nice.

I talked about 12 things I thought were important like "Be present," and "Some things are not what they seem," then finished up with the story of Joseph in Egypt. I admire him sooooo much. How would it be to be sold by your brothers and then have to deal with a strange country, strange language, strange culture, and people who didn't even believe in the same God you do. But Joseph did it, even being unjustly accused by Potiphar's wife and languishing in jail for years.

In spite of all that injustice, he rose to the top time and time again. And, above all, he kept his faith and his knowledge of revelation from God.

Years later, when his brothers came to get food from Egypt, he had already forgiven them. Amazing!

How did he do all that under such difficult circumstances? I love his integrity and his courage; his hope and his hard work; his stalwartness and his leadership. In the end he tells his brothers that he knows he was sent to Egypt to preserve all their lives.

My friend, Laurie Swim, took me to see Emma Smith, the movie, afterward. It's a great movie. Then Laurie took me to her house where she gave me dessert---four kinds---and had fireworks---sparklers in a dish of salt or sugar! Shades of Thanksgiving at ein Gev. Thank you, Laurie.

I felt properly celebrated and grateful for the whole experience. Now we gradually begin on the next phase.

Happy Birthday, Zach

www.relianceint.com/zach

I remember the day you were born

Two birthdays this week. The baby at the top is Zach, 11 years old on April 2.

The baby on the right is Olle, 9 years old on April 5.

What blessings to our family you both are, firstborn sons. I'm amazed at the things you are learning and the things you can already do. I love your stories and your jokes. I love your songs and your drawings. I love your ball games and your plays. I love your energy and your clever ideas. I love your humor and your serious thoughts. I love everything about you. Most of all I am so grateful you both came to turn me into a "Bamma!" Happy Birthday!

I'm dreaming of a white...April 6th?

Look what we woke up to this morning!

Daddy is supposed to be driving to Reading this morning for Priesthood session.

Guess what?  I decided to start my own blog.  It is http://zeusnation.blogspot.com.  I want to be able to put my own pictures from my new camera and songs I've written and other stuff on it for you guys and my friends.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLLE YESTERDAY! We love you and hope you had a great day.

Easter

I think about Jerusalem. I envision the donkey the Savior rode from Bethphage. I've seen so many donkeys in that land. I think of the crowds following Him across the Mount of Olives waving their palm branches. I think of "the place of the skull outside the Garden Tomb where the Palestinian bus station is and I see the likeness still.

But most of all I think about the Garden Tomb and all that it brings of hope. I remember the words of all the kind British guides I have ever known in that beautiful place who always say, "Remember, the tomb is empty."

And that is the witness I send you on this Easter day. The tomb is empty. He lives. He loves us. He teaches us. He guides us. He blesses us with living prophets. He restored His church through Joseph smith. He has atoned for our sins, errors, pain, heartache, and mistakes, though we must do our part to have the Atonement work in our lives. I am confident we can do it. yes, the tomb is empty. And that makes all the difference.

Easter Party at Bamma's

We had our Easter party today and missed the cousins a lot who are in London. We didn't have nearly as much candy on the lawn as we usually have. You can even see in the picture of all four children that we still have some unmelted snow on the lawn. But it was a beautiful day.

Uncle Rolf gave a really neat lesson on the last week of the Savior's life. Olle and Leif listened so carefully. Then Sally added the part about how the spirit goes to work with Heavenly Father and the body stays in the earth until resurrection. After she showed the picture of the Savior with His spirit, she had pictures for each of the children of Finn with his spirit separating from his body. It was really easy to understand.

The candy hunt went well and the egg dyeing was as interesting as usual with lots of cracked eggs and lots of spilled dye, and lots of blue fingers, too. We loved it.

It's fun to celebrate together. We're thinking of our London cousins today.

My Squirrel is Awake

While I was putting ham in the oven for Olle and Leif and Elsa, I looked out my kitchen window to find my squirrel eating away on my dried up back lawn! He's beautiful.

Remember how I told you in October that I watched him gather leaves and tuck them in the hollow under my sidewalk by the back door? I've thought of him so many times over the winter, wondering if he was sleeping warm while the snow was so deep everywhere. And now here he is! Awake and just fine.

I wonder if he has any squirrel friends in the neighborhood. It's odd for a squirrel to be all alone somewhere. How did he get here? Where did he come from? All I know is I'm glad he chose my yard for his home.

I wish I could take a picture to show you. But every little sound scares him. I'll keep watching, though, to see if I can get a picture when he doesn't know.

Today is cold and windy, though the sun is shining. I hope his bed under the sidewalk is still warm.