the Evolution of Thomas Hall

okay, Kay Curtiss shamed me into doing a post on this book, because she did a post on her blog referring to written comments I had posted elsewhere, and I figured if I'm going to talk about it, I should talk about it HERE!

"The Evolution of Thomas Hall" is the first time novel for Kieth Merrill. I know Kieth as a movie director and as a columnist for Meridian Magazine and I have always enjoyed his articles. I have to admit that one of the reasons I first picked up the book was because I was curious about how easily he could transition from one genre into such a completely different one. Just for the record, he did it with flying colours! Thats a lot of talent for one person to possess ......
Watch Kieth Merril interview on Fox News about Hollywood being out of touch with our values.... a movement to produce more Family Friendly and Value Oriented Movies

Thomas Hall is an arrogant, self absorbed, extremely talented artist (we're talking Micheangelo) who has taken his God-given gift for granted, not only failing to acknowledge from whence it came, but failing to realize that where much is given much is required. He has a huge sense of entitlement that is in conflict with any seed of humility that might be lying dormant. But as we all know, the Lord is in control, and occasionally He sees fit to compel us to be humble for His greater purposes. And so begins the evolution of Thomas Hall, from the brilliant but 'cowardly agnostic' artist, to a believing man of faith who replaces his need to be worshipped FOR his art, to using his talent to worship THROUGH his art. A Big Difference indeed. At the beginning of the book, you don't like anything about him, although you have to admit he is brilliant, but by the end of the book you'd like him to marry your daughter! The transition / evolution - is not one that is easy, and it is scripted with enough complexity that one never has the idea that it is contrived or convenient. That's my big peeve - I hate plots that are simplistic or cheesy, and that seem too smooth to be realistic. .... Having said that, I am a big believer that people can change. There are noble and great ones who have lost their way but who finally recognize the spirit when their world comes crashing down around them. Paul, Alma the Younger, Ammon, King Lamoni, ..... why not Thomas Hall?

The story is told so beautifully that I could not restrain myself from marking some choice paragraphs and phrases (although these days I usually try to refrain from writing in my books). I have a lot of admiration and respect for an author who can stir my heart so much - with 'words'. That is a talent - no less inspiring than the talent Thomas Hall possessed as a visual artist, and the talent that Kieth Merril possesses as a film maker of the highest order. I respect the individual who is willing to use his or her God-given talents to creating works that uplift and edify the human soul. Kieth Merrill has done that. Not only does he work in the world of Hollywood, creating films that hit the mainstream big screen, but he was commissioned by President Gordon B. Hinckley to create and direct the church's first film intended for the big screen - "Legacy", and then follow it up with "Testament".

Back to Thomas Hall -
Once in a while a book just stands out. This one stands out. I recommend it to those who not only enjoy a good story - well told - but for those of us who want something more. For those who want to be uplifted, edified, and at the end of the 450 pages, to feel that we are better people for having invested that much time into it - Thomas Hall is a buyer!

Store what you Eat & Eat what you Store!

If you're like me, you've had good years and not so good years when it comes to keeping up with Food Storage. Its not like I haven't always been aware of the counsel to keep a food storage. Oh my goodness, since I was a little girl .....
In our early married years there were months that we almost completely depended on it. Many months that I supplemented it with only $100.00 for fresh produce and dairy. Those weren't altogether bad years - just a little challenging in their own way.
Having 5 children, I was used to shopping, canning, gardening, and cooking for a family of 7. But then slowly, those sleeping at our house started dwindling, and the only big meal of the week was Sunday when they all came home. Still I continued to shop, can, garden and cook for a family of 7. It was a tough transition - and apparently I'm a slow learner. My kids started making fun of the expired dates on things that surfaced from the food storage room. Anybody who knows me, knows that I don't have a sense of humour when it comes to laughing at myself. (I inherited that from my dad.) But they were right. Our food storage rotation began to fall badly behind about the same time we bought the Bookstore. (coincidence?)

Enter the Harvest 72 Food Rotation System (and the beginning of my long relationship with Shelf Reliance). We figured nothing could be more expensive than throwing out all the 'too-old'  food that had seriously crossed the date-line. I hate wasting what I previously considered a good investment.
The Harvest 72 was the answer we wished we'd had 25 years before. It holds up to 600 cans and takes up less room on the floor than we were used to. It cleaned up our food storage area and made rotating a snap. We decided that the time we could have most benefitted from it, was when we could least afford it, so we bit the bullet and gave one to each of our married children that Christmas.

Our youngest son (the one who claimed we were trying to kill him by making him drink expired apple juice - brrrruther!) left for a mission to the Philippines on July 1 2009. We decided that from that day we would stop buying groceries until we had 'eaten-down' our food storage so that we could freshen it up. Wouldn't he be surprised when he came home! We gave our married kids cans of oats and other basics that we weren't using regularly enough. Our committment was to buy only fresh produce and fresh dairy, for as long as it took. It was sorta fun actually. Our Sunday family dinners transformed somewhat - time warped back to the days of our kids' childhoods. That was okay.
We did that for MONTHS! The following April we had a family of 5 adults move in with us for three months. We continued only buying fresh produce and dairy while eating down our existing food storage.
Thats two years of not having bought basics at the grocery store. One Sunday our Bishop announced a challenge to the ward: to go for one entire week living completely on what was stored in our home. HAH! Child's Play! Bring it ON! Our son comes home in only weeks, and we still haven't gone through it yet, (although there are significant bare spots now).

Somewhere in there, we started thinking that it was time to get back into the 'acquiring' mode of Food Storage, but we discovered that as difficult as it was to get out of the habit of shopping for the long term, it was just as difficult to get back into the habit, and we found ourselves in very unfamiliar territory - trying to re-start. Our food storage began to have seious gaps in it, and we knew we needed to fill them, but in our new habit of not grocery shopping, never got around to it. .... Food Storage shopping really is a habit. And so is Food Storage eating!

Shelf Reliance to the rescue again! Right about the time that we were most compelled to action, we discovered that SR's THRIVE 'Q' Program was coming to Canada. We had begun carrying THRIVE Freeze Dried Foods in our store in January 2010, and as we slowly became familiar with it, we were more and more impressed with the quality of each product. (My favorites are Spinach and Strawberries, or Mangoes, or Peaches, or Raspberries...) We had watched with mild interest from an arms length distance as it launched in the United States, but now - suddenly all that changed!

The NEW Q Program: 
The purpose of the Q program - over the regular retail program of selling THRIVE only in stores like ours, is that it "Brings it HOME" - letting people taste it and learn how to use it in their own homes. It encourages friends to share with friends, and provides a whole new way of personalizing a product that simply must be tried to be appreciated.
Its specialty is the Freeze Dried Fruits and Vegetables - which have a shelf life of between 25 - 30 years!
Q. What is the difference between Freeze Dried and dehydrated food?
A. Freeze Drying is a much gentler process of preserving than dehydrating. Foods are dehydrated with the use of low heat, altering the appearance, texture, and unfortunately the food value. To be of use, the food most often must be rehydrated with water, time and occassionally heat. Freeze Dried foods are flash frozen to temperatures of between 50-80 degrees below zero. In that state their natural moisture is removed - creating a product of almost 0% moisture. This process locks in the natural colour, flavour, texture and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables better than any other method of food presevation. Because of the 0 moisture content, it has a sealed shelf life of between 20 - 30 years!

The most common questions people associate with Food Storage are:

Q1 - What do I Buy? and How Much do I Buy?

Q2 - How can I afford it?

Q3 - How do I use it?

Q4 - How do I store it properly? and for how long? 

The 'Q' Program solves these concerns and many more. 

A1 - With the Q Program, you can enter your family's food storage requirements - ie: how many people are you buying for? are you planning for a 6 month supply? a 1 year supply? .... With the information you input, the program calculates what you need. Since most of us are not starting from scratch, you can tailor it to fit your specific needs. That is your Queue.

A2 - You decide how much you want to spend on a monthly basis 'buying down' your Queue. Its a pay-as-you-go plan, so that you can fit it into your family's budget. Since you'll want to incorporate it into your meals immediately, you will start noticing savings right away, starting with less waste. In the Q you indicate how much you want to spend per month, and also what day of the month you want the payment being charged to your credit card. Based on your input your package is delivered right to your door every month!

Because life is full of changes, the Q program is flexible to allow for those changes. Want to increase your payments? no problem? Want to decrease your payments? No problem. Want to add to your Q? No problem. Want to subtract from it? Stop it? No problem. Its your Q. You are in charge of it.

A3 - THRIVE Foods are delicious and pure. Know what the ingredient label on the brocolli can says? "Brocolli". Contents of the can of spinach? "Spinach". What a concept eh? No preservatives. No artificial colours, flavour enhancers, sweeteners, or anything else you can't pronounce. Because of the 0% moisture content, it is not necessary to add preservatives. When I was a young mom, I lived by the adage "if you can't pronouce it - don' eat it". With THRIVE, that's easy!
Because THRIVE Foods are so easy to incorporate into your everyday meals, you'll find yourself using them more and more.

At this moment the open (that means I'm using them regularly) cans of THRIVE Foods I have in my pantry are: 

Spinach / Brocolli / Raspberries / Pancake Mix / Brownie Mix (what can I say?) / Taco TVP / Bacon TVP / Baking Powder

There's hardly a day goes by that I don't use it. I made spagetti sauce last Sunday with the taco TVP and we were half way through the meal before I remembered to point out what it was. My family assumed it had been ground beef. It was delicious.

Use it? Not a Problem!

A4 - Because of the extensive shelf life, it is easy to relax about rotating THRIVE foods, but nevertheless, rotation (first in / first out) is always important. For convenience, the packaging date is stamped on each can - simply add 25 years to know you are using it before expiration.
Using an FRS (Food Rotation System) like the Harvest 72 above, is the easiest way of ensuring excellent rotation.

Q - So the Big Question is: How and When Can I BUY My Own Q?

A - We are anxiously waiting for the official launch of the Q Home Party Program in Canada. We are suited up, and at the starting line. As soon as the official government approval is given and we get the green light, we're READY to GO! That very day, we will have a link on the front page of our website. Simply go into it, click on the 'Q' option and away you go.

Since we have a list of people wanting to be the first in Canada to get their Q's, we'll send out an email on the day we get the green light - to everyone on our email list - letting you know and giving you the link you will need. We'll also post it on our Facebook Fan Page.

Not receiving our emails? Join our email club. Join our Facebook Page.
If you have any questions contact Cindy at cindy@generationsbookstore.com

   

We are looking for Consultants!

If you would like to earn money while you are building your food storage, Talk to Us!
WE NEED CONSULTANTS Who are willing to SHARE this Great product with others.

Being a consultant is fun and easy, and will help you accomplish your goal of completing your food storage, while providing you with a steady income.

 

To become part of the THRIVE Team.ca contact Cindy at Generations LDS Bookstore

email: cindy@generationsbookstore.com

http://www.generationsbookstore.com/

Gone are the days when we were overwhelmed with the difficulty of Food Storage!
The THRIVE Q simplified it all.
Obeying the counsel to have a year's supply has never been so easy!

:-)
Cindy

Diantha's Crossing

Diantha's Crossing

If you haven't discovered this film yet, you're in for a Treat! - done by BYU - a GREAT Film! 

Perfect for those who like to 'think', and who enjoy a story beneath the story.

Diantha is an elderly midwife. She lives in Salt Lake City in 1858, at the time that Johnson's army is marching in. Short months after the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Brother Brigham buries the temple and disguises it as a field being planted. He promises to burn the city to the ground before he lets it go. Most Mormons have been evacuated, he leaves a few men behind to observe and bring word.

Diantha was leaving with the rest when an emigrant woman, near to delivering her first child - a non-Mormon from Missouri way, on her way out west with her husband - has need of Diantha's special talent.

In the setting of Diantha's warm and comfortable cabin, we learn of Diantha's conversion to the gospel, her testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, her difficult history with the saints from Kirkland, through to the tops of the mountains in Utah territory. We learn that although she is a Christian woman, all is not well in her little corner of Zion. She struggles with hateful feelings toward those who have caused so much hurt over the years, and guilt that accompanies such unChristlike behavior. 

A stranger arrives at her door and while she tenderly cares for her patient, in the quiet hours, she visits with the kind stranger, who looks hautingly familiar somehow .... .

"[Diantha] is both angry and kind, sad and funny as she talks, moving almost effortlessly from topic to topic without losing her place.
Along the way, she confronts her fears, her guilt and her prejudice against those who have caused her family and friends pain. .... "  click HERE to read Mormon Times article

click picture to watch trailer

http://www.mormontimes.com/article/7399/Dianthas-Crossing-is-a-well-deserved-showcase

This is the film you want to show in your adult FHE group, Reader's group, or any other collection of adults or older teens who enjoy 'thinking' and iscussing the gospel.

Not really a family film - not because its inappropriate, just because it has nothing to offer children. With that in mind however, I fully intend to watch it with my oldest granddaughter (8) if her parents are agreeable. I think it would promote a great discussion and fodder for many future like-minded discussions.

In my humble opinion, it is one of the best films we've seen for a long time. 

Every home should have one. Every RS should watch it, every empty nesters group should watch it, as well as every serious minded adult FHE group .....

Full of poignant scenes and dialogue from early church history. A visual, sensory dissertation on the transition from this life to the world after this one. Latter-day Saint theology on the imponderable questions concerning the intersection between spirits and mortals. It begs to be discussed afterward. It should be discussed. It could be the catalyst for some awesome gospel discussions. ..........

Okay, enough said. You'd think I produced it or something, the way I'm going on about it. But you know, its fun to come across something you think is so wonderful. THIS kind of discovery (and revealing it) is what makes owning the bookstore worth it!

Diantha's Crossing - DVD

I Loved It! - Cindy

WOW! A Great Movie. Well written, well directed, well acted. Touching. Just enough below-the-surface message to make it deep. An ending to remember. Great film to digest and disect in an adult FHE, Readers Club, or just among friends. Absolutely BRILLIANT!
High recommendation from Cindy

The year is 1858. As the U.S. Army marches on Salt Lake City, Brigham Young has ordered the Saints to evacuate their homes. Diantha Clay - powerfully portrayed by veteran Barta Heiner, A BYU professor who wrote and performed the original stage production - is an aging midwife who stays behind to help a woman about to give birth. The woman was knocked unconscious when her husband struck her as they passed Diantha's cabin, and now Diantha struggles to hold the door shut against the angry husband.

In the next scene, the husband is gone; Diantha now faces a smiling stranger who seems to know her but doesn't explain why he's there. As Diantha tends to her laboring patient and converses with the stranger, she reflects on her childhood and a myriad of memories - from miraculous healings to painful decisions. She takes the stranger to Far West with her to visit a terrible time in her past. Along the way, she confronts her fears, her guilt, and her prejudice against those who have caused pain to her family and her friends. This moving and thought-provoking production will be a treasured addition to any DVD library.

Price: (CDN) $14.95

Available at Generations LDS Bookstore

Enjoy!

Cindy

For God So Loved the World

 It is only days before Easter, and although I've been waiting for spring for a long time, it surprises me that Easter is already on the threshold. Easter, when my kids were young was a fun time - full of much loved traditions - some carried over from when I was a child. I'm big on traditions. Memories are attached to traditions, and as a parent I took my responsibility very seriously to make sure those were 'good' memories, and righteous traditions. We tried to teach our family the significance behind our celebration of Easter, but I know there is big room for improvement in the foundation that we set for them.
My kids have grown up and have families of their own, and I have every confidence that they will be better parents than we were. They'll take what we gave them and magnify it. They came from a strong Latter-day Saint home - a good spring board to improve from. It is not only important that they do so, it is vital. Failure to 'be better' at teaching the gospel and strengthening righteous traditions, will be tragic, as the risk to their children is even greater than the risk to my own - as we enter the final inning of these last days.

I watch with interest as they take advantage of all teaching moments. I consider it my responsibility as a grandparent - to assist them in every way I can. I do not consider my job as a parent over now that they have grown up, I do recognize however, that it has evolved into more of a supportive roll. I'm good with that.
It helps to be able to refer to the myriad of resources that exist today for that exact purpose. We have Lehi's assurance that there will always be opposition in ALL things. That means that as dark and evil and depraved as the world gets - the flip side is all the more glorious and enlightened. That is comforting and reassuring to me, and I am grateful for the many many many things that are here for me to take advantage of as I teach my grandchildren, and strengthen their parents. I'm trusting in Lehi. But he's never led me wrong yet. ..... :-)

Its Easter. And as President Hinckley taught us, "There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsamane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection." Easter is the MAIN EVENT. Everything before it and after it, hinges on what happened during that critical week over 2000 years ago.

Watch Elder Holland's message below on Easter

  I'm not saying for a single moment that there is something wrong with Easter Eggs and bunnies and chicks, and all the other symbols of renewal and life and spring. I think they're wonderful - especially if they're made of chocolate. But they ARE symbols after all. They're not the main event.

What do you do to strengthen your family and teach your children about the meaning of Easter?
I'd love to hear about it.

"if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things..."

"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things ... " 13th Article of Faith
For those of us who believe that our vote counts, "seeking after these things" becomes more than a mere statement, it is is reality, a chance to VOTE! President Hinckley, in referring to entertainment, once reminded us that to a very large degree, we get what we pay for. When the only movies that are successful in the theatres are the awesome and impressive, though somewhat perverted, versions of the world we live in (as Hollywood sees it) - then we can assume that enough of us are 'voting' with our tickets for them. Enough said for now - you don't want to get me started on that.....

Once in a while though, something really "virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy" comes to town. And BYU Idaho Symphony has received plenty of "good report" from those lucky enough to have seen them in concert. Saturday, April 16 2011 - the Robert Tegler Theatre, at the Concordia University Campus in Edmonton, will be the place to be to drink in teh beautiful sounds of hte Greatest Master Composers of the last two centuries. Suitable for all those who love beautiful music, and recommended for ages 12 and up, this concert promises to be a fun and enriching evening for all.

Sunday dress please, this is a classy affair. Originally recommended for 18 and over, the sponsors have deferred to popular request and reduced the age suggestion. I'm glad they did. If youth have an interest in the beautiful music of the Great Masters, they definitely should be encouraged in that direction ....

Tickets are available at Generations LDS Bookstore and are only $10.00 EACH.

No, REALLY! Only $10.00!

Now WHAT can you see or do in this city for $10.00 these days?

Calling All Osmond Fans!

It never ceases to amaze me when I hear how many people not only have great memories of the Osmonds from back in the day, but who actually track their membership in the church, or the beginnings of their testimony back to their influence. They had a stronger following than I realized, and unlike most of the celebrities of the time - were not only wholesome in their entertainment, but  clearly, did a lot of good through it.
It shouldn't surprise any of us to know that they are still going strong.

From David Osmond's new CD "Road Less Traveled" and his Aunt Marie's new CD "I Can Do This" (after the tragic and heart breaking suicide of her son) , we are still hearing their music and feeling their influence. In fact there is an entire chapter on Marie Osmond in the new book Women of Character: Profiles on Prominent LDS Women, written by beloved authors Susan Easton Black and Mary Jane Woodger.

David Osmond also sings on the Best Selling CD Nashville Tribute to Joseph Smith - our most popular CD of all time.
His Uncle Wayne - a VERY funny man, shares tender moments in his book "Laugh Lines".
His Uncle Jay - shares the story behind the story in is autobiography "Stages".

If YOU have any memories of the Osmond's music or experiences to share about them, we'd love to hear about them.

You can buy any of these products by clicking on them. Or shop anytime day or night by going to
http://www.generationsbookstore.com/ - where you can shop in your pajamas (hee hee) :-)

General Conference Women's Nite Out

While the Men are at Priesthood the Women can get together for a "Women's Nite Out".

We hold it every General Conference during the Priesthood session on Saturday evening.

We have been doing it for so long it has become a tradition for many, as well as ourselves. 

Many of our attendees are regulars and never miss. This year we put up a big sign behind our cash wrap announcing it, and that served as a good reminder. Lately we started using facebook too, as a reminder, and it surprised me that some women were still unaware of it, so we had a few newbies join us this year. We always send out a couple of emails prior, that we entitle "Sisters, we have a Date ..." with a few sneak peaks at some of the deals.

* We always have refreshments - usually prepared from one of our new cookbooks. 

* We always have door prizes that we draw for every 15 minutes. 

* We always give away a small gift at the cash wrap. our gift as a thank-you for coming. This year we gave the booklet "Blessings on the Hands of Women" by President Boyd K. Packer.

* We often have a grand prize - of a big framed canvas edition of one of Master Photographer - Hank de Lespinasse's signed and numbered, limited edition photographs of the Edmonton Temple. Most of the time we begin the draw for the picture at GC Women's Nite - and actually draw the name for Mothers Day or Christmas. That way somebody gets a wonderful Christmas gift or Mother's Day gift. It also spreads out the enthusiasm from one evening to several weeks, and gives more people a chance to win.

* We usually have a local author or artist come in to sign. This Women's Nite Bobbi Gray was signing her book Lunenberg Letters.

* We also played the NEW Midway to Heaven movie.

* We offer double reward points for the day.

* And we always have some time limited, great deals - like: 

a piece of art for 1/2 price 

a BOGO table. Buy One Get One FREE. It was very popular.

this year our entire SALE ISLAND was Buy 3 Get 1 FREE. Also very popular.

Its a Great evening to:

1) gather with friends, and see people you haven't seen for awhile 

2) get some GREAT Deals

3) have something to nibble on

4) get something for 'free'

5) enter our drawings for possible prizes (the odds are high you will win something)

and 6) smile for an hour or so.

There is no question that it is an 'Event', and it has become a favorite tradition that we look forward to. Before my grandchildren arrived, it was a tradition with my own girls. My daughter and daughters in law all came into the store to help out. It was a fun way for us to spend time together while our husbands went to the Priesthood session. One by one though, grandchildren arrived to complicate things and trumped me. I miss that time with my girls but think my grandkids are dandy so they're worth it. good thing grandkids are so wonderful  :-)

As a sign of changing times though, my oldest granddaughter is now old enough to come in to help, and sometimes does when we have large shipments etc. I'm sure she'd love to come in next General Conference. Her Mom worked in the store when she was young too. In fact her Uncle Luke started working in the store when he was only 6 years old!  ..... I use the term 'work' rather loosely. :o)

If you have ever attended our Women's Nite Out Events - we'd love to hear your comments!
If you haven't, watch for it next General Conference. SAVE the DATE - its pretty 'dependable'. Of course you can visit us anytime day or night at

http://www.generationsbookstore.com/  Then you can even shop in your pajamas! :o) You can't do that IN the store.....