classylady

Yes!!! How fun that would be.

Sunday21, I fly stand-by, so never really sure if I’ll get on my flights. Because of that I rarely make hotel reservations more than a couple days in advance. Some of the least expensive places may already be booked by then, but I have had no problem finding places to stay and I usually find decent rates. Last September and early October three of us traveled to Greece and Italy. I made reservations as we traveled. Stayed at a great Airbnb in Naples, and a bed and breakfast in Rome, and small hotels in Athens and Florence. None of these were large luxury hotels. All I need is a decent bed to sleep in since we are gone all day. Athens was under $60 a night. The others probably ranged around $70 to $80 a night. Then, later in October we flew to Germany and returned out of Amsterdam. The only place I had trouble finding decent rates last minute was in Amsterdam. Couldn’t find anything under $150 a night. We book through reputable web sites and have never had a problem.

Also, many people get their license for emergency response. In a disaster event, most likely cell phones and land-lines will be down. Technician Class in most cases would be good enough for that kind of help. My husband belongs to several community ham radio groups that assist with emergencies and civic events such as parades, etc.

I have four sons. Three of them have their license now. The remaining son wants to get his this year also. He wants it because he goes off-road a lot and is thinking of using a radio to communicate in case of an emergency, or communicate between members of the group that is off-road with him. Would that radio work under those circumstances?

We have tall mountains out here, which of course without repeaters, block our signals. I know we need a taller antenna than what we have to get into some of the repeaters. My husband knows what repeaters to use. Let me know when you get your antenna up.

Do you have your ham license? My husband is in the process of upgrading our antenna. I don’t want anything that’s too big, so our opinions are at loggerheads. 🤪

We don’t have one of these. Sounds like a good radio to have.

I grew up with an older brother who has his Advanced License (no longer available, between a General and Extra Class), and a younger brother who does have his Extra Class. They were always building antennas, radios, and other electronic devices. My husband loves electronics too. He has about 8 Ham radios. Most of them are hand-held though. I admit, I don’t like those huge antennas that, IMO, make a house look trashy. We aren’t into the radio-controlled vehicles or drones. My brothers and husband have talked to people all over the world with their radios. It’s definitely their hobby, and it can get expensive.

I’m pretty stoked! I actually passed the exam! If you knew how little I know about electronics you would have been surprised I was able to pass. It was an all morning and afternoon class with the test afterwards. I was dismayed at the material that needed to be learned, especially as it was in an area I know very little about. The terms were all Greek to me. My husband has had his license for over 20 years. He’s quite happy I was able to pass the test. I think he had his doubts. Two of my sons took the test with me and they both got their licenses too. Yay! Can you tell I’m excited?

My DiL did the bikini body building so her fat ratio wasn’t too low. Here’s some photos. I tried to find some photos that weren’t too risqué.

I don’t know what the cause is. She did figure or bikini body building, I can’t remember which. But, I would think the training for their Iron Man competitions were more intense. I have heard (and maybe it’s an old-wives-tale) that extreme exercise may hinder fertility.

I have a daughter-in-law that was into women’s body building competitions. She did very well winning several competitions. But, I’m glad she’s out of it now. She and her husband (my son) also trained for and competed in several Iron Man races. Since that time she has not been able to get pregnant. They had 2 children prior to all that that training, but now she hasn’t been able to conceive. They’ve been trying for over two years. I’m afraid it has damaged her.

I don’t like contention. I tend to shy away from any discussions/topics that may become toxic. And, it isn’t because I don’t feel strongly about certain topics. I have very strong opinions. I just try to disengage when it gets contentious. I’ve found I can usually stay calm, even when I don’t agree.

If you search you can find great deals on flights. Norwegian Air had terrific deals last year. And if I remember correctly, it seems like hotel prices were reasonable. I can’t remember what we paid for our bed and breakfast in October. But, it wasn’t too expensive.

I haven’t done a lot of research, but I have read journals and other family histories that has really helped bond me to my deceased ancestors. Now, it’s becoming an important focus for me. It didn’t interest me for a long time. I don’t know why the spirit of Elijah wasn’t more prevalent in my younger years, but I sure have it now.

That will look very nice. You’ll be fine. Don’t over stress about it.

I buy shirts that have built in jackets that go with them. It’s my favorite type of shirt. The outer jacket can’t be removed because it’s sewn onto the shirt. I do wear camisoles under some of my summer tops. The style these days seems to have cut-outs or a lace inset that would show garments, so I wear a cami underneath.

I wish we knew more about the sealing power between parents and children and between husband and wife. I’m sure it goes along with the Abrahamic Covenant. And even though we study the Abrahamic Covenant, I don’t believe we fully understand all the ramifications it entails. There is special power in belonging to the house of Abraham, including Priesthood. And, all can receive those blessings! Eventually, as all proxy work is completed, and all mankind is sealed into the family of God, all will be under the Abrahamic Covenant. Though, I’m not sure if those who reject it will be under the Abrahamic Covenant. And, that goes back to the question of wayward children. There’s only so much a parent can do. But, yet we are told wayward children of righteous Covenant keeping parents will some day have a desire to return back to the divine arms (tentacles). But, IMO, if that child has no desire to return, their agency will not be overridden. I appreciate your insight TFP. Thanks.

Elder Faust does point out that they will have to pay the price for their sins, and their reward will be based on their works, and that salvation does not mean exaltation. It is up to the Lord to forgive whom He will forgive. We have no idea what is in the heart of the sinner. Christ knows all. With that said, there is still Something in the sealing of children to parents that I don’t think we are fully aware of. Blessings that we don’t fully understand.

Very true. The scripture says it all. But, just like I keep my husband awake for such a lengthy time when I’m in the mood to talk (and why it’s always late at night, I don’t know), I like to flesh out my reasoning and all the particulars I can think of. My husband groans when I get in that mood. 🤪

James E. Faust in April 2003 Sunday morning session of General Conference gave a great talk called “Dear Are the Sheep That Have Wandered.” According to him: “But what if the children who have been taught by faithful, loving parents have rebelled or been led astray? Is there hope? The grief of a parent over a rebellious child is almost inconsolable. King David’s third son, Absalom, killed one of his brothers and also led a rebellion against his father. Absalom was killed by Joab. Upon hearing of Absalom’s death, King David wept and expressed his sadness: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”6 ... I believe and accept the comforting statement of Elder Orson F. Whitney: “The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.”8 A principle in this statement that is often overlooked is that they must fully repent and “suffer for their sins and “pay their debt to justice.” I recognize that now is the time “to prepare to meet God.”9 If the repentance of the wayward children does not happen in this life, is it still possible for the cords of the sealing to be strong enough for them yet to work out their repentance? In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told, “The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God, “And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.”10 We remember that the prodigal son wasted his inheritance, and when it was all gone he came back to his father’s house. There he was welcomed back into the family, but his inheritance was spent.11 Mercy will not rob justice, and the sealing power of faithful parents will only claim wayward children upon the condition of their repentance and Christ’s Atonement. Repentant wayward children will enjoy salvation and all the blessings that go with it, but exaltation is much more. It must be fully earned. The question as to who will be exalted must be left to the Lord in His mercy. There are very few whose rebellion and evil deeds are so great that they have “sinned away the power to repent.” That judgment must also be left up to the Lord. He tells us, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive”... What I get from this is that yes, there is repentance after death, but the reward received will be according to works. We are all heirs of salvation, but exaltation is much more. It must be fully earned. And, the Lord will forgive “whom I will forgive.” Note: Bolded areas were added by me. Edit: I don’t know why this pasted so terribly. I tried to edit, but it looks great when pulled up in edit mode. Sorry about this.

We do know “that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.” And, I’ve heard it will be very difficult to change once we’re on the other side. But, I also believe that repentance would need to be available to everyone, even after we die. None of us are perfect. When we die we most likely will have sins that we committed that we didn’t get a chance to repent from. For example, we could have lost our temper at our kids and spouse and said something we shouldn’t have, and then dropped dead from a heart attack before having a chance to say you’re sorry and repent of your mistake. “No unclean thing can dwell with God”. So, in my opinion there must be a means for all of us to somehow repent of our sins that we didn’t get a chance to resolve before our death. And, that ties back to whatever spirit possesses us at the time we die. If we have a repentant spirit, and believe in Christ and his atonement, and would have repented if we had the chance while on earth, then I believe that is how we will be after we die. If we have an unrepentant spirit, then that is most likely how we will still be after death. In my opinion, I don’t believe after we die that we will remember everything from our premortal existence. Missionaries are still needed on the other side of the veil (D&C 138). If we all remembered our premortal life, there wouldn’t be any need for the gospel to be taught. Everyone would know it. So, in my opinion, we will probably still be walking in faith on the other side of the veil. Those who are in Paradise will have more knowledge of the Savior, perhaps for some, firsthand knowledge. Those who are in Spirit Prison may need the missionaries and family members to help them on their road to knowing and accepting their Savior. If they then see the error of their ways, then I would be hopeful that repentance plays a part for them. And I assume we will rejoice just as the father did in the parable of the Prodigal Son when his son saw the error of his ways and returned home.

Simply put: “Wickedness never was happiness.” Knowing the gospel as you do, if you give in it will bring tremendous emotional and spiritual pain and sorrow. One cannot simply go through the steps of repentance without godly sorrow. And to feel true godly sorrow can be harrowing and heart breaking. Please take the necessary steps to keep yourself on the right track. Please avoid the pain and sorrow that comes from breaking this beautiful commandment of being chaste.

Sometimes, even when we don’t agree with certain things, we do them because it’s the policy. I remember all the hoops I had to jump to get my degree at the University. No need to gripe and complain, I just did what was required and got my degree. Every time I get my passport renewed there are requirements (policy) I need to meet in order to qualify. To me it’s worth going through the hoops to get my passport. I love traveling. There are reasons for policies. Most likely someone abused the system so a policy was needed. You may not like the policy, but it’s there for a purpose. Look at the goal. In your case, eternal marriage to your fiancé, and do what is needed to reach that goal. Look at the positives, such as being grateful for the love she has for you and that you’re both worthy to go to the temple to be sealed.

For me, nonverbal cues are extremely important. I am a very good reader of nonverbal cues. I stress whenever I have to make phone calls. And, I think it’s because I can’t see the other persons expressions at the other end of the line. It’s practically a phobia for me. I don’t stress over the written word like I do phone calls.