Change or Not

 For the most part I do not think people (at least the average person) like change. and some people do not like it at all and actually will not physically or mentally make change.

I was acquainted with one man who was offered a promotion. His answer was “no I am not going to do that, no matter what the consequences are.

Some changes are subtle, almost no change at all, and yet some people feel even a small change in our lives could almost be a catastrophe.

So would you agree some changes are HARD? My family and I lived in five different homes, 2 different states and each different move involved different circumstances that had to be considered at the time we moved. Each one was harder, more decisions to make and more people to come to agreement on what would be new changes for all.

Why do we not like change, or do we? I believe if you would get a family of parents, children and perhaps grandparents together and told them we were going to make a major change in our lives the majority the majority would have a life changing reason why we should not do it right now!

   Wife: How can I live without Jen, She is the best friend I have ever had and you know how hard it is for me to make friends? And you know it is the first Church calling in my live that I have really enjoyed?

   Son: I will run away if Thad does not live near us!

   Dau: I finally LOVE school. And you know how hard it is for me to make     friends? Can I stay here a live with someone?

And you may even have one that says, ”Yes, Yes, Oh Yes, maybe I will be happy if we move.

Of course there are other types of change besides employment and schooling. I also think that in most cases change makes us stronger, in the long term?

Most of us make some type of changes every day. And depending on our age a lot of changes are made for us. Mom usually decides what we eat---and WE EAT IT. At least it was that way in MY DAY. Dad decides if you can take the car out just for a ride? He may change his mind if you have a problem at school.

I recall I once made a change about how I looked—I decided to change how I ate, and how I used my spare time, so I would look better and have more energy. So you might say I made a conscious decision to change my life style, for the better. I however made an UNCONSCIOUS decision to lie on the couch and watch TV. To have a short nap most afternoon’s –and why jog in the dark? Were these both decisions?

So I guess there are many decisions made every day? I also guess we all have to make different decisions everyday which require a change GOOD, BAD or INDIFFERENT. And each of us has to pick and accomplish the change we want.   AND SOMETIMES IT AIN’T EASY. (Yes this spelling mistake is MY decision?)    

Christmas Memories

          CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

                                  

His oldest daughter had just given him a hug, said “Good Night Dad” and headed for her car. She was the last to leave. We were just finishing up our traditional task of “putting up” the annual Christmas Tree.

He could not remember when the family had started putting up the tree on the 7^th of December, which was his Birthday. He only remembered it had been many years ago.

As his daughter closed the door and got in her car he took a big breath and thought to himself, “thank heaven that is over for another year.”

But was he happy?

In just a few minutes he had picked up a few odds and ends, dropped them on the kitchen table and walked down the hall turning off each light, as he passed them. As he walked, the thought came again, am I tired or just excited?” I am not really tired, and I do not have to do anything tomorrow unless I want too.”

A little grin came on his face as he turned around and went back up the hall, turning the lights on as he passed them. A thought came to his mind about Christmas’s past. In fact many thoughts did and before he knew it he had told himself, I do not have to go to bed, I can get a snack, sit in my favorite chair and think and reminisce of past Christmas’s  that we have celebrated in our home.

He sat down and got his rocker going and squeaking, and just as he thought they would, memories started coming. He had turned on the tree lights again and just as he thought they would, the memories and a few sad times popped into his head.

The first thing on the tree that caught his eye was the two Santa ornaments. There were 12 in the package when we bought them back in the 1960’s,  but there were only two left and they were a treasure---If they only could talk? I think they were made out of a material called gilt. He snickered to himself again and thought how, did they survive this long with all the little hands  that had played with them over the years.

On the kitchen cupboard stood Mr. and Mrs. Claus who was crocheted by his Mother in the 1970’s. And yes they also are a family treasure.

He looked at the porcelain Nativity set and a lot of pictures, and thought maybe it was time to go to bed. I would have plenty of time to reminisce between now and Christmas.

He thought about his “Magnificent Seven” his pet name for his seven Great Grand Children. And just an hour ago his old house was rumbling with children’s noises, just as it has in the past. The next thought was,” how could seven little people make THAT MUCH noise?” And the interesting thing was they could pass it on from one generation to the next.

He chuckled again as he recalled the years past when Santa came to our home on Christmas and brought everyone a present. To receive your gift each person had to sit on Santa’s lap and report that they had been good! One year when he sat on Santa’s lap and Santa asked if he had been good, all the children shouted. NO, but as Santa reached for a lump of coal for Grandpa’s  gift his oldest Grandchild yelled He is good, he is always good. And I think she had a tear drop or two fall, as she grabbed the lump of coal and hid it in the basement.   

Oh how many memories and how many good times were held in their home throughout the years and now in his old age they are only memories.

After sitting in his favorite chair and reminisced about his favorite time of year, he slowly got up and walked down the hall----Not with memories of sugar plums dancing in his head---but wishing that his wife (who was the spark-plug of the family) could have been here to celebrate with us.—But then who knows ----PERHAPS SHE WAS?        

WRB 14 Dec 2018

MINISTERING

I have been thinking about all the emphasis that has been put on ministering in the Church recently and I recalled when a Stake President ask us to write a statement of our beliefs many years ago. This is what I wrote—but I think it also fits the ministering mold that we are talking about now so, I thought I would copy it and try to accomplish at least part of it now that 25 years have passed. 

STATEMENT OF BELIEFS
W.R. BALDWIN

Sept 19, 1992

We were challenged in Stake Conference to write down on paper a Statement of our Beliefs so we could refer to it and so our children might read it later in our lives. I chose to do it in the form of The Articles of Faith, so here it is:

1.I believe that families are the key to perfection, not only in the Church but also in world affairs, politics, and every day living. To be close together as a family and to help each other in time of need or stress, is truly a Godsend and could change many lives.

2.I believe in Jesus Christ, God the Father and the Holy Ghost and in the Plan of Salvation that they have set up for us to follow.

3.I believe that much good can come from all people, if we are honest in our dealings with all people. If we do good, for the sake of doing good and not to see how much credit we will get for what we do.

4.I believe that the laws of this free land were instigated to protect us and not to punish us. I believe we should abide the laws, keeping in mind, that we have the free agency to choose to keep the laws or not, just like we have the free agency to keep the laws of God or not. However we also must keep in mind if we break either temporal or eternal laws we must pay the penalty. 

5.I believe that contention is a tool of Satan, that causes disputes, arguments and quarreling in every home at one time or another. Contention in one person invariably causes hurt in others. If we truly put ourselves in the other persons shoes we would be on our first step to doing away with contention.

6.I believe that if every member of our Church would share their testimony with someone else, the Church would grow at a rate which we cannot imagine. Our Prophet has told us this. Why should we doubt it?

7.I believe that we as members of the Church have many latent talents and that sometimes we are called to positions to help us bring out new talents, and not because we are an expert in the field we are called in.

8.I believe the Lord answers our prayers. If we pray with sincerity, expecting to receive an answer, and we are living worthily, we can receive answers to our prayers. Sometimes the answer may not come immediately, and sometimes it may not be what we want to hear or feel but our prayers will be answered.

9.I believe as we become older the small things in life take on new meaning. Comments from children and grandchildren become precious to us. Small acts of kindness become more meaningful. At least to me they have. The Church also has become more of a center piece of my life and a guide as to what I choose to do and how I will act and react.

Wally Baldwin  Nov-8-2018

COMMUNE with NATURE

    I was cleaning out some papers and as usual I re-saved more than I threw away. I found the notes for this blog so I updated it a little and decided to post it. I imagine at least a few people out there in cyber- space think at least a little like I do.

   My first thought was obvious to me. That is, what does it mean to commune. Then next you might ask with whom do we commune and what about?

   In my limited vocabulary, to commune is to talk with people, but not just a conversation but a deep or sincere conversation. But on second thought does it have to be people? If we let our imagination go a little can we commune with animals, or things, or even something as steadfast as a beautiful forest scene? After thinking about it a little, it is my opinion we could commune with all of these ----or perhaps communing with some of these things might be considered talking to yourself?  However it might be OK just to talk to yourself and you might get some honest answers?

   The next question might be, to whom do you talk and what do you talk about during these quiet precious times.

   There are so many subjects and so many paths and trails to follow that there may not be an answer. I will give my opinion and you can have yours? We can commune with people in many places but I think it should be a strong emotional time, however with kind feelings and most of the time not just “talking to yourself.”

I believe most people commune with their pets if they have them. Especially people with dogs seem to develop a way to commune. They instinctively know when to run, when to walk, when to stop, when to lay down for a belly rub, or stop along the way to smell each tree, stump or light pole.

   My wife was not a dog lover, but whenever she set at her craft table or quilting frames our old Dalmatian knew he was welcome to come and lay on her feet and warm them up. He did not bark and she did not talk to him but they did somehow commune with each other, that it was OK to lay on her feet, but only if she was crafting or quilting, any other time was not acceptable and he knew it!

   One of my favorite memories was to be either alone or with one or two other people in a forest setting. It was never a feeling of “bad loneliness” it was more of a feeling of complete relaxation, with no one to talk to, and no one to answer to. During those times it seemed like my mind would bounce from one subject to the other and then on to another. Perhaps I was communing with my mind? I did not have to sort them into subjects in my mind. Perhaps I might like to recall one or two later, if they were GOOD thoughts but I doubt it?

   All of these thoughts seemed to have brought me back to my original subject which was “can you commune with nature?” Can you commune with nature, or does it have to be another person? I think My Opinion is obvious because of what I have written above!

   I recall one time we were at our mountain cabin for a week and I was sitting on the front deck looking through a pair of binoculars and my wife came out and sat by me. She was kind of smiling and asked “ well can you see it?” When I did not answer she said, “Well what are you looking for?” I answered that I did not know, but when I found it I would let her know.”

   I guess she was trying to commune with me, and I was trying to commune with nature but we we were neither doing a very good job.

   Do you suppose that communing means the same thing to all people? I don’t think so but of course that is just MY opinion. Do all people read the same books, go to the same movies, play the same games. Of course not! It would be a boring old world if that was the case. Does anyone besides me argue with yourself? And is that communing?

    Well this subject did not become a “blog” easily. I started it sometime ago when I was communing with myself as to the benefits of having an afternoon nap or not! Now if I was in the mountains, just taking in the scenery, there would be no question. I for sure would take an afternoon nap or meditate for a while.—Meditate Now there is a good word for a blog—perhaps later on.

WRB 3 July 2018       

16 TONS

       16 TONS--- by Merle Travis

How many of you or a friend of yours are on my Face Book (HIAWATHA UTAH) because you relate to this song, because you, your parents, your kids or a good friend fit the mold of a :COAL MINER or a relative of one? 

Some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lion
Can't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

If you see me comin', better step aside
A lotta men didn't, a lotta men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't a-get you, then the left one will

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

WR Baldwin 24 Jun 2018
These lyrics  came from Wikipedia 

MEMORIES ON A WINTER NIGHT

                                     MEMORIES ON A WINTER NIGHT

February 2018

As I sat here in my rocker-glider a few nights ago and even though it was the middle of February, we were also in the middle of real good snow storms. Of course we have had some storms, especially in the mountains, before now, but very little in the valley. This translates to not much snow and a shortage of water this summer. I thought, “I really like that.” But do I ?

My thoughts shifted back to when I was young and care free and believe it or not I loved the winter. I loved sleigh riding and ice skating (although the skates were MUCH different than they are today.) We had snowball fights or just threw snowballs at the girls on our way to school and back.

Winter seemed to be a season all its own, and I loved it. Every winter we had an abundance of snow. I loved it but I am not sure the adults were that fond of it. Yes we got cold, but it did not seem to bother the kids like it does the adults now.

We pulled our sleighs up the hill and rode down so many times we felt like we could not make it one more time--- but then we went up again --- forgetting that eventually we would have to walk home. And when we did walk home out pants and shoes were wet and frozen stiff from our ankles to out waist.

   

We would eventually quit and make it home and get out of our wet, frozen clothes as fast as we could and wrap up in a toasty (homemade) quilt, sit in front of the kitchen stove until we were warm and ready to either eat or go to bed.

   

Then my memory bank skipped; My life had changed, I was not a kid  or an adolescent or a teen ager, I was somewhere in those years where you don’t really fit in anyplace, but seem to slip back and forth from one age group or another.

   

The memories of going to school filled my mind. Yes, I walked back and forth to school and yes it was about a mile each way and they both were uphill? But I liked it. In the winter our boots and gloves were soaked when we got to the school house. We would take them off and dry them on the steam heated radiator. I have never forgotten that smell as long as I have lived.

   

We did not have fancy clothes for all seasons like we do now days. We wore the same ones all year, and it was OK because we did not know any better. And of course we walked everywhere, summer or winter until I was 17 and we finally got a car.

I am not sure when it happened, but all at once it seemed I was an adolescent. It was a terrible time and a wonderful time. It was an age where you don’t fit in a lot of places. You are still a kid, or maybe not? However your parents still felt that way. But then there were times when they want you to act like a grown-up. And then there were the times even I was not sure where I fit in?

   

Then you take one step past adolescents --- you could drive. And we bought a brand new family car. It all at once was a different world.

We still walked a lot and we had to shovel a place in front of our home to park the car. AND where we lived the snow was many times three feet deep, and there was no such thing as a snow-blower. People got stuck often. It seems everyone carried a snow shovel in the trunk of their car. If the car windows iced up you cleaned then off with a little cloth bag filled with rock salt that was kept in the (glove box.) Yes that is what it was called.

I finally outgrew adolescence, I still enjoyed winter activities and could drive a car to get to them. We still had to keep a parking spot shoveled free of snow. Then we built a garage, which was Wonderful. I still did not like shoveling  snow---- and OH what I would have given for a snow blower.

Life went on. I moved to the city, but did not like city life. Winter in the city was a time for hibernation. I lived in Salt Lake and spent a lot of time in winter, watching TV, driving back and forth to work, and I hated city driving in the winter.

Then I met my wife to be and my social habits changed a lot. I almost gave up on TV (the screen had an enormous 10” screen), as I was too busy driving back and, forth from Provo to Salt Lake at one or two o’clock and it got where the Winter trips were really a drudge trying to keep my old Buick on the slippery roads.

Then we were married and had kids and winter seemed to slip back to one of my favorite seasons again. We went snowmobiling as a family and I tried skiing, but I quickly found out I was not a natural born skier. After I broke a rib on a ski trip with my son I gave up skiing--- and I never missed it!

   

At that time of my life I did enjoy ice-fishing, but my favorite winter activity was snowmobiling. I was told I was like a kid with a new toy--- and Yes, I did have a few “dicey” experiences with my machines. We, as a family went through six of them before I finally gave it up because of OLD AGE.

As I progressed to what I lovingly called “old age” I sold my machines and bought a snow blower. And NO it was not a good trade.

Now I sit in the house and watch the snow come down and I curse it. I can’t play in it anymore and it was a struggle to get it off of my driveway.

However, when I turned 80 I had a Guardian Angel visit my home and one morning after a big snowstorm I looked out the window, not liking what I expected to see, and the snow had magically disappeared. The driveway and sidewalks were clear. YES, I think I know who that Angel is but I have never thought of a proper way to thank him.

So now I watch the kids play in the snow and wonder how they can call that fun--- Then I get a memory jog and remember I at one time did all those things once myself a LONG TIME AGO.

               And YES Currier and Ives are some of my favorite paintings!        

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER