ColoradoBennett

Jessica, thanks for the recommendation for The Secret Life of Bees. I loved it. The Penguin Readers Guide describes the book as, "A story of mothers lost and found, love, conviction, and forgiveness, The Secret Life of Bees boldly explores life's wounds and reveals the deeper meaning of home and the redemptive simplicity of "choosing what matters." It was an interesting weekend. I finished that book, through a lot of tears. Then on Saturday night we went to see my bio dad, Jon Redden. Below is a picture of where he lives. I can't put the picture on my blog because I don't want my sister to see it.
We visited him for about 3 hours. I cried when we left, over his situation and how lonely he must be. All he wants is to get back up to Alaska where his dad is living. His dad told him that his house was too small for the both of them, so Jon spent last winter in a tent on a rocky beach in Alaska. He said it reached 22 below and he thought he was going to freeze to death. It is amazing he didn't. I cannot get my mind around the situation. Why he can't just learn to read, get a job and pay child support to my sister and live like an average American. This scripture keeps running through my mind:

“Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance …
“But … whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent. …
“For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have?” (Mosiah 4:17–20).

And Chieko Okazaki said "WE NEVER KNOW ENOUGH TO JUDGE ANYONE" (she doesn't speak in caps lock, I just added that for effect.)"

I have myself convinced that I knew Jon Redden before we came to earth. Maybe I had a conversation with him like "OK so you are going to be a 'deadbeat dad' but it'll be easy for me to forgive you. You will be plagued with all manner of addictions, which I will not understand, but maybe I can help you feel the love of God in your life. I will be blessed with a wonderful childhood with a mother and grandparents who love and cherish me. Your childhood will be filled with hurt and anger and abandonment. I will get married to an indescribably wonderful guy who loves me beyond what I could ever imagine. He and I will have children who will fill me with such joy and happiness. My husband will work hard to provide for our family so that I can stay home and nurture our children. Somehow our paths will cross and I will see that maybe I've been given so much, so many blessings of love and prosperity, so that I might reach out to you." I can't explain how fervently I want to help him.

On a happier note, the Primary children had an activity at the Denver Temple on Saturday morning. We took a guided tour around the outside then had a 'pioneer picnic' on the lawn. The girls and I just loved it. Doesn't it look like our Savior is embracing these children in the arms of His love? Saying, "Because of the covenant ye shall be called the children of Christ, Mosiah 5: 7. If ye will lay hold upon every good thing, ye certainly will be a child of Christ, Moro. 7: 19. Fear not, little children, for you are mine, D&C 50: 40-41".