From Bristol to Boise with Faith

From Doris: Today Paul and I read chapter twelve from the book Tuck Everlasting with our granddaughter, Enna. This book is one of my favorite books and we are enjoying sharing it with her. Here is a quote from chapter twelve:   “That ’ s what us Tucks are, Winnie. Stuck so ’ s we can ’ t move on. We ain ’ t part of the wheel no more. Dropped off, Winnie. Left behind. And everywhere around us, things is moving and growing and changing.”   This quote summarizes how I have been feeling lately. Stuck. I am trying to move forward, but I am not on the same “wheel” as those around me. Everywhere around me things are growing and changing, and my progress is so slight that it is hard to feel forward progress.   About twenty-five years ago I had a conversation with Cathlene, my sister-in-law. She shared an insight I have never forgotten. She said that the biggest challenge she felt with her own physical trials was not the pain she felt, but her lost dreams for the fut...

  From Doris: Our family has walked 3414.42 miles to Bristol. I have made 77 hexagon flowers. I do not have a metallic taste in my mouth due to the chemotherapy drugs I take, but I do have a persistent sour taste. It is similar to what one gets when drinking orange juice after having had a bite of syrup drenched pancakes. We have raspberry bushes filled with blossoms. We also have a blueberry bush with lots of ripe blueberries. We love reading Sammy Bird books (by author V. Moua) with our grandchildren. Sammy, the main character, asks the reader questions.

 From Andrew: "Rapunzel, let down your hair [hare]"

  From Doris: Our son Tom and his family came from Iowa to stay with us for a few days. It was wonderful to be with all of them. Our granddaughter Enna wanted to make a quilt with me while they were here. Using a technique called “quilt as you sew,” Enna sewed herself a quilt. Even when family is far away physically, we still share memories of times we were together. We will soon have another granddaughter to shower with love. She will be born later this week. I finished sewing an acorn themed quilt top. For the most part our basement painting and improvements are finished. We did not have to live through the heat wave in England during the past few weeks. We live in an air-conditioned house. I am strong enough to attend an endowment session in the temple. I was able to stay at church for 1.5 hours. My cancer is still in remission

  From Doris: I have seen the hand of the Lord in the lives of family members recently diagnosed with cancer. In both cases, the cancer was found early and was treatable.  

  From Doris: John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

  From Doris: TheKing of Love My Shepherd Is   1 The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever. 2 Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth; and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth. 3 Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me; and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me. 4 And so through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.

From Doris: Emily Belle Freeman April 2026 General Conference   “ Jesus Christ brings joy. … You might have a bad day, a bad week, or a bad year. [Just remember,] joy is not the absence of sorrow in your life; [it is] the presence of [Jesus] Christ in your life.”, (quoting For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices )     Larry Corbridge ( YouTube  Stand Forever Series episode 21 )   “Faith is not necessarily the power to get your way, rather the power to go on when you don’t.”   Catherine, Princess of Wales   “Healing, whether personal or collective, is not just about fixing what is wrong. It is about finding balance in how we live. Between effort and acceptance, between control and trust, between thinking and simply being. Because in the end, bravery isn ’ t just about pushing forward. It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain or landscape you are walking.”