Birthday's and Fireflies

So the 15th was my Birthday. It's funny how once you pass a certain age, birthday's seem to serve only as a reminder of how old you are getting. But I remember when I was a kid, couldn't wait to get to thirteen, because then I would be a teenager. Couldn't wait to get to sweet 16. Couldn't wait to get to 18 and move out of the house. Couldn't wait to get to 21 because I could drink. (Though I really don't, it was just a principles thing, lol)

This year though, as I began to dread another nothing birthday, I happened to remember one of my favorite memories from my younger years. I had just started working dispatch at a sheriff's office, and every once in a while we would do a ride along for our shift. (This consisted of a dispatcher riding in plain clothes with a deputy in order to see things from their point of view, give us a break from the desk, and help promote inter-office unity.) Back to the story...

I ended up doing a ride along with an officer that had been on for probably around 5 years or so. He was new enough that the job hadn't gotten to him and turned him gruff, but had been around enough he had the on the job stories to tell that regular people wouldn't believe. The night was slow so we decided to do a couple of home checks for people that had gone on vacation. (This is where an officer goes by a house to make sure everything is still in correct order, no break-in's or suspicious activity.) It was just after dark when we made it to the house. We checked everything, all normal. As we headed back to the car a buzz went past his ear.

"What was that."
"I dunno, I didn't see anything."

His flashlight clicked back on, but there was nothing to see. He shrugged at me, I shrugged back. He clicked the flashlight back of and we headed for the car. Then we started to see them. Tiny specks of glowing light.

At first I didn't have a clue, then it dawned on me. Fireflies! I hadn't seen fireflies since I had been about 9 or 10.

"Fireflies!" We gasped in unison.
"Oh, they're so beautiful." I sighed. "I haven't seen them since I was small."
"Really?" he questioned.
"I know. I thought they were all gone with all the light pollution."
"We still have a few around."he replied. Then he began to flash the flashlight on and off similar to the lightning bugs. Soon there were tons of fireflies around him, he turned the light off, and tucked it into his belt. He swung his arms around trying to catch them for a few minutes. Then he brought cupped hands down in front of him.
"Come here."
Soon I was standing beside him peering into his cupped hands. He had caught a firefly just for me so I could see one up close.

Now to anyone else, I'm sure two grown adults huddled together staring at a beetle with a glowing butt must sound a bit odd, but it was in that moment that as an adult I remembered that magic is real if you know where to look. At that moment I watched a rugged cop magically turn back into a little boy. I don't know if he even remembers this moment as it was over 10 years ago now, but it was a very special moment for me, and one I am ashamed to admit I had forgotten until recently.

So with another birthday though true I am another year older, I am also another year younger as I remember it is the small and simple things that make us happy, and with happiness comes youth.

Be Happy, and Grow Young with me. :D

Sick

So sorry about not posting a Mormon Monday yesterday. I was not feeling well the whole day. I do promise that I will be getting a regular post here though either today or tomorrow. I will also resume Mormon Monday next Monday and will be relocating it to a separate blog slotted just for that found here: http://mormonmonday.blogspot.com/ . Trying to keep that organization thing going. :D

Thank you all for sticking with me as I've figured out this whole blogging thing. I hope you will enjoy this new year with me.

Mormon Monday

                image courtesy of https://www.lds.org/church/news/triple-combinations-available-in-indonesian,-thai?lang=eng

How's everyone doing on those New Year resolutions?

Good I am hoping. All is well here. Managed to get everything organized and planned out accordingly, now just to keep this momentum up through the rest of the year. :D

So for Mormon Monday's I am going to be sharing the things I have learned through my previous week's scripture study as well as posting questions, so please feel free to interact with me. I will also be posting some Family Home Evening ideas as they come to mind, and perhaps even a quick comic sketch of things that I may relate to, or things that stand out to me while reading.

I will be focusing on the Book of Mormon as well as Doctrine and Covenants (D&C, we're studying this in Sunday School) for now, but will let you know if I change it.

Again, it is not my intent to cause hard feelings, or confusion, just to open doorways for communication.

So in Sunday school this week, we discussed the introduction to D&C as well as a few of the sections. I personally have found this fascinating as I haven't studied D&C on my own before now. (And really it has been years since I've dusted off my scriptures and read them-but keeping with my resolution of spiritual enlightenment I am now).

The main thing I found so impressionable was that D&C is modern revelation, and (this is the kicker for me) it is meant for ALL PEOPLE and I quote, " Although most of the sections are directed to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the messages, warnings, and exhortations are for the benefit of all mankind, and contain an invitation to all people everywhere to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ," (D&C, explanatory introduction). How amazing and wonderful for me to find out, and to encourage my heart and mind that I am doing the right thing in my spiritual journey and wanting to share with you all.

In the Book of Mormon, I read all through the introduction as well as 1 Nephi Chapters 1-7.

One of the things that sticks out most in my mind is the unwavering faith that Nephi has. What great faith that has to take, even before he sees angels of the Lord, Nephi's father would ask him to do something and he did because he trusted in his father and his fathers beliefs.

With children of my own, I can only pray that I will raise my children correctly and that they will turn out as obedient.

The other thing that stands out is Laman and Lemuel's rebellion. I can only picture them in modern time as teenagers going "Now what did he forget?" for the times they had to go back to Jerusalem and retrieve things. Again, with children I can understand from a certain aspect where they were coming from, but once an angel had shown himself to them. Sorry guys, now your just being deliberately hard headed. I do have a rough sketch in mind for this and will add it later.

I look forward to hearing your opinions on the subject, and hope I haven't bored you with my ramblings.

If you are not familiar with the Book of Mormon and would like a FREE copy please visit this site and request one: http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon