Moved from old blog to here

All the old posts from my old blog, Seeking For Truth, have been moved here. This will be my active blog from now on. Thanks again to my brilliant son Jim (who had no part of writing this) for the help in getting this new blog set up!

"Boker Tov": A Day at Tel Dan

(In 1985 I was able to spend 6 weeks participating in an archaeological dig at Tel Dan in Israel. I wrote this article which was published in Latter-Day Digest, June 1994, vol.3 no.6.)

As the Digest is no longer in print, I thought I would like to share what I wrote here on the blog.

The dreaded knock sounds on my door. "Boker tov is Hebrew for good morning, but what it really means is "time to get up" At 4:30 a.m., it seems my eyes have been closed for only a few minutes. Could it be that time already?

I sit up immediately. Any lingering will result in oversleeping. I dress quickly. Today is my sixth day at Tel Dan, Israel, where at age forty-one, I am finally fulfilling my dream of participating in an archaeological dig. It is part of my master's program in religion.

After the quick first breakfast, the fouty of us sleepily take our seats on the bus that drives us to the site of the dig. Tel Dan is one of the most beautiful places in northern Israel. I love the majestic trees that are everywhere on the site. I get off the bus and trudge up the hill to my area. The early morning sun begins to rise. It filters through the leaves and casts magical golden shadows on the winding dirt pathways. The moist morning air is filled with expectation. What will we discover today?

I arrive at my site-Area K-a series of archaeological squares that have been opened up near an ancient mud-brick gate dating back to the time of the biblical partiarch Abraham (2000 B.C.). I work with a group of six others. We use pickaxes to break up the hard ground, and as we shovel the dirt into buckets, we search for remnants of pottery and other artifacts.

We work until 9:00 A.M., and then head for a second breakfast. It's almost always the same: a hard-boiled egg, tomatoes and cucumbers, bread and peanut butter. It feels good to eat and rest.

Back to work. Now the sun is blazing down on our square. We've torn down part of an ancient wall and loaded a wheelbarrow with the heavy rocks-a task I would never have believed myself capable of, and yet I somehow push myself beyond the limits of my strength. What an exhilarating feeling!

Today is a good digging day. Our group finds a Hellenistic fish plate from the second-century B.C/, a three legged pot from the Israelite period(700 b.c.) and the head of a fertility goddess. Archaeology is like a treasure hunt. I never know what the next turn of my trowel will uncover.

A fruit break revives me until lunch time. Lunch consists of something like pizza. It leaves a heavy feeling in my stomach. I refill my thermos at the ice-cold stream that runs through the center of Dan. It feels so good to splash my sweat-streaked face before I head back for two more hours of backbreaking labor.

At 3:00 p.m. we clean up the site. I carry two heavy buckets filled with broken pottery back to the lunch site, where we spend an hour washing and preparing the shards for the expert who will piece them together.

By this time, the bus is waiting for us at the bottom of the hill. It's a welcome sight.

Arriving back at the Kibbutz, we drag off the bus. I'm filthy, but too exhausted to take a shower, so I take a nap first. The rest of the afternoon is spent washing my dusty clothes in cold water and hanging them out to dry. Then my five roommates and I discuss which of the five usual entrees we might be served this evening. We all hate "mystery meat". Only the schnitzel is appetizing . We take turns fantasizing about what we would most like to eat. I am craving Kentucky Fried Chicken.

At dinnertime, one of the students brings up the fact that I am Mormon, and asks me what feels like a loaded question. In the process of answering him,, I get to tell the story of Lehi and his family coming to the American continent. I notice that one of the Jewish volunteers is fascinated by what I say. She asks some questions and then replies that it makes sense to her that some of her people would have been led away by the Lord. It's an exciting conversation.

After supper(it was mystery meat), I return to my room. I open a letter from my husband Jim. He reports that the Relief Society has taken pity on him and our five children in my absence and has sent over several hot meals for them. He writes that the kids are really impressed, since no one is even sick. Jim writes of his love for me. I sense his loneliness. Two months is a long time to be apart.

I write in my journal, then write to JIm, tellling him of my excitement about all the new things I'm learning and experiencing. I express my deep gratitude that I have been blessed with a husband who is willing to sacrifice so that I can follow my dream.

Exhaustion takes over, and I say a quick prayer of gratitude to the Lord. I have never felt so tired. I've never felt so alive! I lie down and close my eyes, and am barely asleep when I hear a knock on the door. "Boker tov."

Some of my favorite quotes

"The words of scripture only point to the types of truth that beacon us into the treasure house. The words can stimulate inquiry to which the Holy Ghost can respond with an expanding vision that transcends language."

--M. Catherine Thomas

"To every bruised, despairing, distraught soul-for everyone who feels overwhelmed by his or her own flaws and failures and frailities-the Lord has made a promise. If we will only repent and not give up on ourselves, he will do a miracle. He will create in you a clean heart.

For his own reasons, the Lord provides answers to some questions placed here and there throughout the scriptures. We are to find them. We are to earn them."

--Elder Boyd K Packer

"Let me this very moment begin anew, and now say with all my heart, "I will forsake my sins and be righteous."

--Joseph Smith

"Anything that makes me feel small and wretched does not come from God, who desires most of all for me to remember whose daughter I am and what glorious vista's await me."

--M. Catherine Thomas

"If there is a desire, a commandment, an order (that you read in scripture) then be off at once to do accordingly when you read God's word, it is not the obscure passages which impose a duty on you, but that which you understand and with that you must instantly comply. God's word is given in order that you shall act in accordance with, not in order that you shall practice the art of interpreting it."

--Soren Kierkeguard

"God is giving away the secrets of the universe. But are we listening?'

--Elder Neil A. Maxwell

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find that he can make more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, and increase their opportunities."

--President Ezra Taft Benson

"The standard is clear. If something we think, hear or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing or doing that thing."

--Elder David A. Bednar

Help from my awesome son Jim

After trying to figure out how to put everything on my blog, I gave up and called Jim, who knows just about everything there is to know about computers (and lots of other things as well). He helpled me put links to the blogs written by others in our family. I am so excited to have them available to look at. I have a lot catching up to do as each of them has so much to see and read.

Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks Jim!

The Joy of Learning

(Originally posted at old blog, Seeking For Truth)

This is my very first blog. I am excited to learn all about how I can communicate with people from all over the world. As I learn how to add things to the blog, there will be many interesting things I can share, and opportunities to learn from those who communicate with me.

I guess I'll begin with telling a little about myself and why learning is so important to me.

I have been happily married for 47 years. We have 6 children and 8 grandchildren. My husband is a retired Judge. Most of our lives we spent in Long Beach California.

Our lives have been full of joy and adventure. For example, in June of this year, my husband and I returned from the last of our teaching experiences in China. We taught at universities in Xi'an, Beijing and Wuxi China, for a total of 3 and a half years. At first I was terrified, as I have never been a professional teacher. I do have a Master's degree in religion from Vanguard University and a Certificate in Archaeology from UCLA, but I just went to school because I love learning, and was a stay at home mom while our children were home. I started going back to school when they were all in school.

About 25 years ago, as part of my Masters program, I was able to participate in an archaeological dig at Tel Dan in Israel. We dug for 6 weeks, and found many exciting things. Then we were able to travel to Egypt, Greece and Jordan for several weeks.

My husband Jim deserves the Husband of the Century award for staying home with the children while I went off on that extraordinary adventure.

I love the Hebrew language, and can read the Bible and speak a little.

My love for the Book of Mormon has also sparked an interest is Meso-American archaeology. So I have attended the Texas Meetings of the Maya Workshops, and have taken classes in Mayan Heiroglyphics and traveled to Mexico and Guatemala to see the ancient ruins.

One of our sons married a Cambodian, and we were able to travel there to witness the Marriage. While there we also visited Thailand and Hong Kong.

My husband and I love to travel, and it is so fun to learn about other cultures and beliefs.

My family has found great joy through living the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Through much study, and prayer, and experience in living the principles taught in the church , we have been helped through all the everyday challenges of life.

I know that there is a loving God who is our Heavenly Father, and that he has a great plan of happiness. Our family has experienced many miracles and answered prayers, and tender mercies over the years. Although some believe that Mormons are not Christian, nothing could be further from the truth. We know and Love our Savior Jesus Christ and believe that it is only through his atoning sacrifice that we can be saved.

As soon as possible I will learn how to add links to very interesting sites that can be explored by those interested in learning more. As I said, this is my first attempt at blogging, and I have a lot to learn.

With so much to learn about so many things, life is an exciting adventure.