Reduced to Ashes

You may rememebr my post on the recent fire that took the life of this historical building in a nearby town.

The destruction of this building seemed almost surreal,

 as it had such a history and so many memories attached. 

I also think when you have spiritual experiences somewhere it seems to attach you to that place,

make it more significant. 

 So in a way, it hurt to see that beautiful space go down in flames.

For those of you who aren't following recent local news, in our last session of conference a beautiful announcement was made by our prophet and leader, Thomas S. Monson

This building is to be saved.

It is to be rebuilt and restored.

It is not going to be a tabernacle to us anymore, but instead will be a temple.

It is ultimately receiving the highest honor it can have as a building to our people.

A friend wrote this on Facebook page~

"Our life is like the Provo Tabernacle. We're something very good and we are doing well, but God can see what we can truly become. Sometimes it just takes reducing us to ashes in order for Him to build us up again to our true potential. At the time it occurs, we may not understand why we needed to be burned, but in time we will come to see that we have become something even greater then we could have imagined"

(thanks Meghan)

I have been thinking about this a lot.  I have been wondering about the ups and downs, and thinking about the really- I mean really- painful moments. 

I wonder about truly seeing ourselves as a tabernacle of sorts, a vessel,

and seeing our lives truly as more than just day to day surviving

I can't help but wonder who I am supposed to reach

touch

inspire

connect with

and I hope I find the strength and the space and the submission

to be what I am supposed to be

Or even the strength to just be better than I am

Halloween, I'm Ready

Wow.  It's weird to plan decorations when you move to a new place,

especially after being in the first place for 16 years.

I had everything planned and mapped out,

from where I crammed my books to where I put my holiday decorations.

I pulled out my bins (thanks goodness for plastic bins- that flood demolished eveything cardboard)

and we finally got in the spirit of things around here.

I loved this idea from Pinterest- paint old frames black for a coehsive look and pop in old sppoky pictures.

.

I had downloaded some Hitchcock pictures, but ended up using family pictures from Halloweens past.

I love the way it turned out. 

The above frame I made from just cardboard, and I taped it to the frame already on the piano.

Dressed up my dress form (she scares us everytime we turn the corner)

and added a spooky "3-D" picture from the dollar store.

I probably need a few more pumpkins to liven up the porch,

but this year's "Trick or Treat" banner from Martha Stewart is one of my favorite finds.

Once again the front window is holding my creepy movie poster.

Look closely and you'll find a few creepies in the upstairs windows, too.

And there's the not so creepy critter as well.....

Now to plan the goodies for the Trick or Treater's to take home. 

I can't wait for Halloween!