We are so blessed to have a photographer in the fam.. Addison and Bre are so generous with their time and talent. When I turned 60 I wanted new shots of what Melinda at 60 looks like... I got a wild dress and Wayne was a good sport as always and this is what happened.
Being a Grandparent is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to us.
Dancing through life with Wayne has been an amazing experience.
What I want to say to everyone on this path…
So you’re having a faith crisis? A church questioning? That’s so awesome! This is going to be a great journey for you.
I don’t care where your faith journey takes you. This journey belongs to you and I completely trust that you and God know what you need. What I need you to know is that you will always be loved by me. You can be here even if you don’t believe. You are always welcome in my life as a friend, a neighbor, a family member, a doubter or a seeker.
I’ve gone through the 4 stages of Faith that many of my spiritual mentors speak about.
I was born into Simplicity: inheriting my faith and world view from my parents and people I grew up around; it all felt safe and easily divided into good and bad.
I moved into Complexity: seeing that the world is not black and white and many people are raised different than me and have varying beliefs. I could find truth in many different places outside of my own religion.
Then into Perplexity: where I had a lot of questions about LGBTQ and women issues, and so much struggle, and doubt and I couldn’t find meaning in it; where I looked to the world and distanced myself from my spiritual roots.
And back into Simplicity where I live by faith and a nuanced spirituality, realizing the world is not black and white but full of color and that I don’t need all the answers; where God’s in charge and I feel of His love. And when I do the simple things of attending church, prayer, and extending grace to others…I like who I am and I remember whose I am.
The famous Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes put it nicely: “I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity; but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.”
What I know is faith’s opposite is not doubt, it’s certainty. I'm certain of this, but I don't need to be certain about spiritual things... that's where faith comes into play.
I think there's way too much anxiety about whether people "leave" or "stay" in our religion. (or any religion) I say it's time to lower anxiety levels. Let people grow. Let them develop. Let them choose. Let them vent. Let them grieve. Let them announce. Let them move through their own stages of faith. I'm going to lean in and listen with compassion and curiosity.
There are beautiful things about my church's culture, and there are "interesting" things that I would love to see gone. There are good doctrines. There are doctrines that no longer work for me, and I hope and pray for new revelations that will steer this gigantic -16,000,000 person strong- ship in ways that work for ALL our families. I trust in the 9th Article of faith -- we believe He (God) will YET reveal many great and important truths pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Anxiety about other people's religious choices often stems from our own need for validation for our own choices. I've made my choice to be ALL IN the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and I find joy in that and I believe that God's in charge. Asking “If the church is true?” is not as helpful for me as “Is Jesus found here? “
I love this Pres. Nelson quote: “If friends and family should step away from the church, continue to love them,” he counseled. “... Let your skeptical friends see how much you love the Lord and his gospel. Surprise their doubting hearts with your believing heart.”
To me, at the end of the day, it is all about relationships with my people and what we do as a human family to keep those relationships strong. And my relationship with God.
Maybe "enduring to the end" actually means "loving to the end."
I don’t believe my Heavenly Parents will ever ask me if I kept the people that I love on my exact. same. path.
I think the only question I will be asked concerning others is, “Did you love them and honor their agency to choose.”
The 11th article of faith states: We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. I’ve often read this thinking only of people outside my faith tradition…but now I’m using it more for myself, with in my own household and church congregation.
It all comes back to GRACE. ( my word of the year) Grace for me, grace for my family and strangers and all who walk this earth. I try to be Christ like and I pray that everyone will come unto Christ, but I'm not in charge of that. He is.
Who Am I:
Wife
Mother
Grandmother
Color code: Yellow/ Red
Daughter
Enneagram 7
Sister
DYT Essence 3
Friend
Teacher
Life Coach
Play style: Director
Woman
Myers Briggs: Campaigner ENFP-A
The title that centers me the most:
Child of God
My favorite food is…Mexican and a really good salad.
My favorite restaurant is… Plates and palates for salads and El Dorados for street tacos.
On a perfect day I would… go for a morning hike, sit in the sun maybe at a beach or a pool, read/listen to a book, have friends for lunch at a great salad restaurant and family for dinner with Mexican food. Talk and laugh and watch a sunset. Go to a movie or have a Musical theatre Sing-a-long. Perform in or see a show.
My favorite season is… Summer
The best show on TV is… This is Us.
I’m really awesome at… coaching people, listening to podcasts.
My favorite color is…. Yellow, Sunset colors
If I could go anywhere it would be… Machu Pichu, Alaskan cruise, Thailand, Always Scotland, Israel- this November!
The thing that scares me the most is.. not having good relationships with my family. But I’m not really scared of that..or really of anything. I live by faith. Physically scared of getting too close to the edge of a cliff or roof top.
When we stop for a treat I like to get.. good cookie, a chocolate Oreo, almond concrete, or rhubarb pie- or really any pie.
My favorite radio song is.. Adele songs- "Easy on Me."
My favorite spiritual song is… Amazing Grace and How great thou Art.
My favorite book is… The Hiding Place. Read in 5th grade and many times since. The story and themes have stayed with me. I like reading a lot of books...and have atleast 2 going at all times.
My favorite movie is.. original West Side Story, and The Godfather 1and 2 (I’ve watched it too many times.)
Wayne set up shades and chairs and scone stuff and all my local kids pitched in to help with my drop in birthday party. It was so fun to visit and see everyone. Kathleen and Kimi put out a paper on the driveway for people to write notes about "what we love about Melinda" ...and I also received many cards, texts, phone call from Laila , facebook messages and fun gifts. I even had friend, Larry Keinke come and sing me a birthday song on my door step.
The Bountiful city fireworks in my honor were great. Tru screeched in the driveway right as they were starting and was amazed. He didn't know Bountiful city had moved the fireworks off of the 24th holiday. He thought we would be doing our own "gutter works" in the street - so he was impressed. Wayne and Landon pulled all the scones and worked over the hot fryer so I could visit. We served 160 scones to family and friends. I felt very loved.
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| Me and the Grands |
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| My birthday twin.. Wendy Inkley...we share this day |
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| Landon pulling scones... |
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| Luke and Kathleen Newman |
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| Jeanette and Mark Harris |
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| Bob and Kimi Farley |
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| Madison, Tim and Linda Wangsgaard |
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| Preston, Angela and Guy Brown |
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| Nash, Tami and Rob Madsen |
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| Holly and Wanee Welch ( Wanee had 7 scones) |
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| Jo and Ron Watson |
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| Clark, Sandy and Shelbi Bentley |
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| Jill Allsop |
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| Mitch and Erin Perkins |
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| Getting 69 cans of Fresca! |
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| Bob and Diane Lake |
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| Lexi Edgar and Teri and Mark Bateman |
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| Adam and Christine Cole |
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| Kurt and Cate Gentry |
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| Robyn and Kevin Martin |
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| Leon and Janet Webster |
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| Birthday lunch with Paula and Myken |
SECRETS OUT: I started a new birthday tradition to celebrate being 60– Tim and Linda Wangsgaard and Wayne and I were out the night before and basically I was dared to run around in my birthday suit when the clock strikes midnight to celebrate heading into my 60th birthday– so of course I did. The funny part is I was too tired to stay up til midnight so I had to set an alarm or a few minutes to , then wake up Wayne, who was shaking his head, not quite believing I was going to do this… and then I DID!! We have security camera footage to prove it. I promptly asked Wayne to delete the evidence. It was freeing..and fun…I couldn't stop laughing....and this is the first birthday of being empty nesters..so it was all doable. Linda will do it on her birthday and we will see about Wayne and Tim…. It’s our new tradition. (I can see me at 90 with my boobs at my knees….)
