Mormon Bloggers

This is a continuation from Part 1 19. The Gateway We Call Death, Russell M. Nelson, Deseret Book, 1995 – I get the impression this one was written as something you would give to a friend who had just suffered the loss of a loved one but didn’t understand doctrines of salvation. It’s a good little book but just a little too basic for me. There is a chapter on Life after Death and one entitled The Veil is Sometimes Thin but there’s just not a lot there beyond what you can already read in the scriptures or should have learned in Sunday school. Elder Nelson reminds us that “Our purpose in life is to be tested, to develop faith, to make and keep sacred covenants and later, to leave.” I’m afraid there in nothing in this book about NDEs or any real detail about what the spirit world is like. Joseph taught that we ought to study this subject more than any other. I’m constantly surprised by how little some people know about life after death. This is a good starter book for those... Read the rest of this entry »

In a recent Facebook post I mentioned I had dozens of books on NDEs. A friend asked for my recommendations of those books so I decided to review them. Obviously I won’t have space to review all of them in detail but perhaps a paragraph on each might be helpful to someone. At the very least it will be helpful to me to remember these books and my experiences in reading them. The books are listed in reverse order by date published and are by no means comprehensive. It is simply a list of books in my personal library. As far as I can remember, I have read all of them. I may not be able to recall some of the details of the earlier ones but will share what stands out and why I thought they were worth reading. Someday I should transfer these reviews to Goodreads. This review has taken the better part of a week because I kept getting sidetracked in re-reading. There are so many wonderful things I have learned from these books about the spirit world, life after death, suicide, the Savior, the... Read the rest of this entry »

“Everyone has an official wish list of things they think are “reasonable”. What about the unofficial wish list? The one that common sense tells you to ignore? The list that exists deep in your mind, the list that keeps you up at night, that makes your toes wiggle when you think of it? Why not choose that list for a change? How long have you dreamed of being, having, and doing what you really want? Think big, as when it comes to your goals, the size of your ambition does matter.” -First Rule of Success:  Be Decisive, Gary Ryan Blair  Read More →

I have been on an emotional roller coaster since my post last week and woke up this morning thinking I should share with you where I’m heading.  Thank you for the amazing advice and concern and encouragement I received from several of you!  That’s absolutely the best part about writing and putting myself out there. The big picture answer from my little breakdown is that I am definitely dealing with a life issue.  The struggle between dreams and reality isn’t solved overnight and doesn’t have a 1-2-3-step process to resolution.  What does that mean?  I’m not going to simply wake up one day having dropped the need to travel and explore and be free from routine.  I can wake up each day recognizing that not every year is going to be a big travel year.  This year, for starters, is not going to find me cavorting overseas and now that I’ve thought about that clearly, I’ve accepted it completely. Even in my muddling... Read the rest of this entry »

My husband is in Seattle this week.  My boys and I were going to meet him there for the Easter weekend and go exploring on the Olympic Peninsula, but the the weather forecast was for low 50′s and rainy.  We’re not going.  We were going to go to the Redwoods for my 2-year-old’s birthday, but we didn’t.  I wanted to drive to San Diego, leave my kids with family, and go on a cruise this summer before the baby comes.  Completely off the table.  And the year-long adventure I’ve been dreaming about?  Most definitely not going to happen. In full disclaimer, my kids and I are going back to the Sparks Flea Market next month to hang out with my family.  I used all my frequent flyer miles and all our free hotel nights to get us there.  They were going to waste and it’s not looking like I will be using them for anything else anytime soon…I don’t travel anymore. Would you mind being the bounce board for my... Read the rest of this entry »

What are you planning for the New Year?  Read More →

My passport has expired.  I’d lost my driver’s license and was hunting for the legal documents I needed to replace it when I came across the well-worn little blue book.  I opened it up to take a mini-trip down memory lane and instantly felt a dagger of pain tear through my traveling soul.  I let out a scream and started to cry.  My husband came running to see what was the matter and then stood in a stupor fearing I’d finally completely lost my mind.  I felt like my life was over. The truth is that my life has been changing.  I’ve noticed over the past few months that my travel-planning is more of an afterthought.  The dreams are constantly in my mind, but the opportunities pass and I’m left reflecting on how I let practicality or financial responsibility make the decision for me.  Where in the past I would have spent the last two months spontaneously road-tripping, the farthest I’ve actually been is 2 hours from... Read the rest of this entry »

I went to a free concert last Friday with my family to see a band called Moosebutter.  Self-billed as a comedy acapella group, I had never seen them in person, but was promised a night of hilarity.  Not necessarily because the band is good or funny, but because my in-laws are notorious for making fun of something until you’re laughing so hard they start laughing at you. Moosebutter on Friday night consisted of four middle-aged guys (I say middle-aged hesitantly because one of them went to school with my husband and that would mean I’ve now labelled myself with that heavy moniker) jumping around and shouting out melodic song parodies.  I think sometimes they have only two guys and maybe sometimes they have five or six.  This night there was a beat-boxer, a phenomenal falsetto, and two other guys.  About every 10 minutes I found them genuinely entertaining, and then I morphed back into complete boredom and confusion.  The show went on for nearly... Read the rest of this entry »

 A few weeks ago I broke my resolve to save money by suppressing all travel desires.  With 24-hour’s notice and an invitation from family to join them in the Grand Canyon, I hastily packed my bags, loaded bewildered kids in the car, and hit the open road.  It was the perfect way to welcome spring and summer adventure back from hibernation. Apparently a little too perfect because now my imagination has gotten the best of me.  With extended family trips already scheduled to San Diego in the summer and Iowa in the winter most people’s vacation budget would be full.  I guess it’s all in your priorities.  My home is humble and my kids wear hand-me-down clothes and that’s fine for me.  Its what makes the going possible. So what else is on the itinerary?  Well…. ~An unexpected additional trip to Iowa and Kansas next week.  Fact is, I miss my family.  And my boys miss playing with grandpa’s antique toy trucks.... Read the rest of this entry »

I saved and I planned and my $100 dream day finally came.  Here’s a timeline of the whole event: March 25th-Ben and I pulled out his ridiculously busy calendar and penciled in the only day he had free for the rest of ever.  April 7 was my only option. April 6th, 2:00pm-Ben calls to ask how I would feel about pushing the day back a couple weeks.  He decided to call at the last minute instead of texting to hear the truth in voice when I tell him it’s fine.  Smart guy. April 6th, 6:00pm-Ben gets home and knows it’s not fine.  Tries to cancel his work meeting but I won’t let him.  He finds a baby-sitter so I won’t make his next few weeks miserable. April 7th-SHOPPING DAY!      8:30 Pack the kids off with dad and on my way to Salt Lake City      9:00 Pull into my first store-Sugarhouse-and discover the store doesn’t open until 10AM.  Apparently nothing in Sugarhouse opens before 10AM…except... Read the rest of this entry »

A few weeks ago I mentioned a blogging grant I’d applied for.  At the time it was a bit of a pipe-dream.  Since then an opportunity has opened up to take my little dream and make it into something big.  To say I’m excited would be A ridiculous understatement.  The dream is going forward. This grant would be the icing on the cake.  Will you help by voting and sharing the link with your friends?  Voting ends April 15 and you can vote daily.   EXPLORING OUT MY FRONT DOOR   Read More →

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints held their annual General Conference this weekend.  Available almost immediately world-wide via internet streaming and radio broadcast, I still appreciate the blessing of living in Utah and being able to watch it live on network tv.  This year I tried to keep my boys interested with coloring pages and crafts that taught the names of the leaders who were speaking.  For the first time in many years I was able to enjoy all four sessions without too many child distractions.   So many of the messages spoke directly to troubles or worries I have in my life, but the talk I can’t get out of my head today was by Elder Lynn G. Robbins. The difference between “doing” and “being.”  I asked my husband last night what he needs from me-how I can be a better wife and make his life more enjoyable.  I was expecting a long list of chores like “put away the laundry instead of leaving it folded... Read the rest of this entry »