Sunday, November 20, 2011

We Got Our First Non-pullet Egg Today!

Isn't it lovely? These are the 3 eggs we got today.

Another view of the two pullet eggs and the bigger one.
When I went out to feed chickens and check for eggs, I got a wonderful surprise. This egg was so large it barely fit into the egg carton. The pullet eggs are actually a little larger than they were when the hens first began laying.

Edit: We opened the egg and it was a double yolk. Still, we are getting regular-sized eggs now.

The Culture of Heaven

So, what is the culture of Heaven? I think if we were suddenly immersed in it, we would have a major culture shock.

Some of what we can be pretty sure of is that people don't go around hurting each other, stealing from each other, or cussing at each other. But we are so far removed from Heaven that we really haven't a clue about anything else.

If we were living exactly as God would have us live, borrowing His culture, what would our culture be like? Would we be coercing each other to wear a certain style of clothing? Would we be concerned with one's jewelry and how that person attached that jewelry to one's body?

If we were so close in culture to the culture of heaven, what sort of clothing would we wear? Would it be woven from animal hair or plants or would it be a substance of light?[1]  What would we live in? How would we think? How would it be to live in a society with no need for a police force, an army, locksmiths, lawyers, hospitals, doctors? How would our babies be born? How would we raise our children? What would it be like to live where no one makes laws or creates rules and regulations, but trusts that we have the brains to make our own decisions?

If we had buildings, how would we build them? What would celebrations be like? Would we have them? What would we do all day?

You know, I don't really know enough about what I'm asking to ask the questions I want to ask. These questions I've written all fall short, but I don't know exactly how or why.

What is the culture of heaven? Are we not supposed to find out? Are we not supposed to be having angels of God appearing to us? Are we not supposed to be having dreams and visions? Are we not supposed to see healing of every kind, instead of limping to healers of the mortal persuasion (medical doctors, natural doctors, etc.)?

I want to know. I want to know how I should think if I'm to approach the culture of heaven without culture shock. I want to know how I'm supposed to act, how I'm supposed to think. I believe scriptures, especially a careful and prayerful and open study of the Book of Mormon will give answers to the behavior parts, and even to the thinking parts, to a degree, but I believe that the deepness I'm seeking can only come by direct communication with heaven.

Sometimes I have dreams from God. Sometimes I immediately know the meaning as I'm waking up. Other times I know it's from God but I have to study on what it is I'm supposed to get from it.

I want the culture of heaven. I want the understanding of heaven. I want all who are willing, to be part of this culture of heaven. I don't want one soul to walk in darkness or pain (causing it or being victimized by it). I want to become and once I have become, I want to shout to the skies to bring others that they may also become.



[1] And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 85:7)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Ramblings

I finished my novel at just over 56,000 words on Nov 13th. I'm not planning on going back to add more words to my NaNo count.

I've drawn a few pictures, but not many. I keep feeling like I'm not seeing well enough or the connection between my hand and eye doesn't work. In fact, I think that the fact that I mentioned that I draw at times will put into people's head the illusion that I draw quite well. During my life, I have drawn a few pictures that were fairly good but I am nowhere near as good as I was heading before undefined criticism killed my joy of drawing many years ago.

Similarly, with speaking or reading foreign languages, I'm concerned that mentioning I dabble will cause people to think I am somehow proficient in the languages I play with. Such is not the case.

And if I mention that I am now in a church choir (or have been in them in the past) people will somehow think I can sing.

I am mediocre. I do not fit this world's idea of success in any way, shape or form. Nor do I fit my religion's definition of success in any way, shape, or form (divorced twice totally blew it - and the fact that my children are free to choose makes me a bit of an oddball).

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Success!

I began NaNoWriMo right after midnight on Nov 1. I worked on the writing every day until Saturday night. I took a break from writing on Sunday, then worked twice as hard on Monday. I got to just over 50,000 words on Nov 8th. If we don't count the day I didn't write, I reached my goal in 7 days. That is a record for me. And, besides that, this year's novel is more coherent than the last two years. In other words, the plot lasted longer.

Maybe I'll add more to it, and maybe I won't. I only have about 4 or 5 pictures drawn, so I'll probably throw myself into that for a few days.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Vacation time

I'll be back after NaNoWriMo - which means after I hit 50,000 words. I usually hit that by the middle of the month, but I'm planning on doing my own NaNoDrawMo, even though I don't have a scanner to upload the drawings (and since I couldn't find an online DrawMo, I'd have no place to upload anyway).

I sang in the choir this last Sunday. I really enjoyed it. I haven't been in a choir for a long time, and this choir has enough altos to offset the sopranos. I did practice the song every day during the week so I'd be on tune. Luckily it was simple - key of F (that's the one with B flat, right?) That's the key I sing best in, too.

With all of this, I feel like I'm actually joining the human race.