Day 13th - It is also Friday.....the 13th day I have been doing this. Anyway, the thing I am most grateful for today is that it is Friday, the start of a 3 day weekend. That is really a wonderful thought. I am grateful for holidays, weekends and sleeping in. I'm just feeling much in the way of blogging though so I guess this will be one of those days where this is all its gonna be.
I have not stopped until just now. I just got home and I left the house at 7:30 this morning. I basically have no idea what I want say today. Trying to think back over my day and find something that really made an impression on me.
Tonight I went to auditions for my theater company. We were holding auditions for Little Mermaid, Jr. The age group of performers is 12 - 18.
Auditioning for anything is hard, but auditioning for musical theater is the worst because you have to act and sing....and we make them sing a capella.
I am so proud of these kids that come and lay it all out there....that is hard but especially hard when you are a teenager. Sometimes I just want to go up on stage and give them a hug because I know they are terrified. (but that might be weird so I don't) I can remember auditioning for musicals when I was a teenager and I remember literally feeling like I was going to die because I was so scared. My heart really goes out to those kids who want it so bad and yet they are almost completely overcome with fear.
And then I love seeing the kids that keep coming back and watching the transformation that happens as they begin to feel more comfortable and confident. It is just the best to be able to be a part of that transformation.
I wish I could give them all a major role. I really love teenagers. I think they are awesome.
So, today I am thankful for those kids who are brave enough to come and audition. We wouldn't have a show without you.
I love to sleep. I look forward to going to sleep everyday. I usually feel like I can never get enough sleep. The older I get the more elusive sleep is becoming.
I have always been a light sleeper. It usually doesn't take much to wake me up. Which is not necessarily a bad thing but it is when you can't go back to sleep then it becomes a problem.
I am not surprised that I feel like I never get enough sleep because ....
I get restless legs and come to find out my allergy medicine that I take so I can breath .......so I can sleep ...... can cause restless legs....WHAT!
Light -- even the smallest sliver of light will wake me up or keep me awake. The dumb blue light on our DVD player in our room is like a freakin lighthouse! I have to cover it with something or I can't sleep.
The first night somewhere new...never sleep. I would be in big trouble if I had to travel a lot.
Heavy walkers - we have tile throughout the house so it really amplifies sound and so I hear if someone in the house gets up and walks to the bathroom or kitchen or comes home late......there is one person in particular and she knows who she is....very heavy walker. Always woke me up.
The jingle Coco's collar makes when she walks....and it becomes ever so much louder when everything is quiet.
Touch - the smallest touch will wake me up. Yes, even a toe reaching over to make sure I am still there....as if I would be somewhere else?....
Starring- my kids know that they don't even have to touch me . . . they can just come into my room and stare at me....I wake up and it freaks me out! Waking up to someone standing over your bed ----- starring at you....Creepy!
So, is it any wonder that I get any sleep ever? Seriously, sleep is precious and I am so grateful when I get a good nights sleep. I am always so jealous of people who can sleep anywhere, anytime....just like a baby. Oh, if only...
My great nephew Abbott
My great nephew Lincoln
Today I am grateful for sleep. Wishing each of you a good nights sleep tonight:)
I made it to double digits. I have been doing this for 10 days now. I give myself a pat on the back for this accomplishment. And of course, now that I have said that I had a hard time coming up with a post for today. But as I looked back over the day there was one thing/person that came to mind. Probably because it was back to school night.
Mr. Hebert, Stafford Hebert or just Hebert. He has had one of my kids in his choir program since I think 2002. It is crazy to think about. He is absolutely my one of the best teachers my kids have had. He has played an important role in my kids love of music and he has helped them develop their musical abilities because heaven knows I was not able to help them. He has a tremendous love of music and it shows in his classes. There is just no way he could do what he does if he didn't love music so much. He often has more than 75 students in his class -- now right there that says something. And I think you would have a hard time finding a former choir student who didn't like him or least appreciate his love of music and what he tries to teach.
So, today I am thankful for this man who has shared his love of music with my children. He really deserves an award for all he does. I could go on and on about it but I won't. Just believe me when I say Sheldon High School is lucky to have him and he is truly a blessing to all the kids who go through his class. So, thank you Mr. Hebert for putting up with my kids for the last 10 years.
Today I am grateful for missionaries. Don't they just bring a smile to your face? I just love these young men and women who sacrifice up to two years of their lives to go out into the world to serve their Heavenly Father. They share the message of a loving Heavenly Father and of our Savior Jesus Christ. These young people are such amazing examples to me and I am just so grateful to them for their service. I am a member today because some missionaries were willing to go out and share the gospel with my family. Currently there are over 50,000 missionaries serving in over 300 missions around the world. I think that is pretty impressive. I love missionaries.
I have a just a few pictures here of some of our friends who are currently serving missions Hopefully, I haven't forgotten anyone and I chose to only put up pictures of current missionaries because I know so many people who have served it would be just too many. And no I do not know who those missionaries are in the top picture just one I found.
In no particular order:
David Muncy serving in Brazil.
One of my favorite young men from EGMTC & Strauss
Elders Yagi and Brimhall
two of my most favorite missionaries who have served here in my ward
both are home now but I just couldn't leave them out.
Sister Julia Stapp
my niece who is serving the Philippines
currently in the MTC in Provo but leaving soon.
I love this girl she is awesome
Sister McKenzie Giles
Our noteworthy friend serving in Croatia.
She is still in the MTC in Provo, but will be leaving soon.
Her and Sister Stapp above reported on the same day.
Elder Michael Larsen
Serving in Brazil...one of Ciara's best friends
Elder Zach Jerome
Serving in Minnesota, Spanish speaking. Also, one of Ciara's best friends
Elder Dakota Argyle
Serving in Provo, Utah. Also, one of Ciara's bestest friends.
And this is a picture of Ciara's 3 best friends who are all currently serving.
We miss these boys.
How lucky am I know all these awesome kids? So much love for all of them
and for all the missionaries serving all over the world.
I have not had the best weekend.....sorta feel like a little black cloud is following me around and well it doesn't help me come up with ideas for this blog. Even though I have many things I'm grateful for I just haven't really felt like I want to blog about any of them. I am still not feeling great and I have to go back to work tomorrow and well I think I am having a little bit of a pity party. So, I went to you youtube and started watching some uplifting videos today and this is the one that spoke to me today.
This is my testimony. I know without a doubt that Jesus Christ is my Savior and He can and does help me carry my burdens and knows me and my heartaches. I know that my Redeemer lives and I am so grateful for my testimony. Nothing else really matters when you have this knowledge. This is what is really important. The church is true!
I am posting this with 8 minutes left in the day. Today has been a not so good day. I have been sick all day. I had committed to helping a friend with her sons wedding reception and I just couldn't do it so my sweet Ciara went for me even though she wasn't feeling great either. So today I am grateful for my daughter who went and helped without complaint. And I also need to give a big thanks to Sophia for going and helping too! They are two of the sweetest girls I know.
Today I am grateful for "mormon messages". If you haven't watched any of them you should go to youtube now and check them out. There are so many wonderful videos. These videos help to fill my cup when it is on empty. Just go to youtube and type in mormon messages in the search bar.
This is one of my favorites...
Hope you enjoy it as much a I do. Enjoy your weekend. I know I will. Until tomorrow.
Today I am grateful for a wonderful visiting teacher/friend who took me out for a pedicure. We had a nice time visiting and it was so nice and relaxing. And now my toes are so pretty! Thanks Jan!
I am in love with the beach/ocean. I have decided that I need to live near the ocean. There is just something so peaceful and calming about just sitting and watching the waves and listening to the sounds of waves and seagulls.
It just makes me happy even when I am sad. Just looking at this picture makes me smile. Let's go right now!
Today I am grateful for Coco and not the kind you drink but the kind that is so excited to see you when you come home even if you've you only have been gone for one minute and come back through the door she acts as if you've been gone for days. She has been such a great addition to our family. We love her and she brings so much joy to our family and she makes us laugh a lot. She is not the best watch dog. She barks . . . just not at strangers. Coco barks at things like snails and anything new that comes in the house like a box or big silver pot. Yes, yesterday she was barking at a snail. One day we brought her home a big ham bone because what dog wouldn't love to have a big ham bone to chew on....Coco looked at it and barked at it for awhile and then she would very cautiously go up to and lick it. She never chewed it. Ha ha ha. She isn't even cuddly but she loves to play, in fact, that is pretty much all she wants to do. Her favorite game is to play hide and seek with David. He will go and hide and she she will go seek him out. She loves it. And when she finds him she goes crazy! It is very fun to watch.
So, thank you Ciara for finding us Coco she is our best dog friend.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Day 2
Funny thing about today. I found myself thinking about what I was going to blog about all day....I really have so many things I am grateful for it was hard for me to pick just one thing to focus on today.
But kind of along the same lines as yesterday I come back to family and today I am thankful for living prophets and apostles who receive revelation for us and specifically the Family Proclamation. It has been on my mind a lot as of late. I find myself constantly having to defend and explain my beliefs when it comes to family....specifically about marriage. My beliefs and the worlds are getting farther and farther apart and I sometimes am made to feel like I am a bad person for believing the way I do. I even found myself apologizing to someone at work.....I will not be doing that again. Instead I pray for the courage to stand up for what I know is right. I mean if I am going to offend someone I would rather offend the world then offend my God. I know what is right and I know whose side I am on. I do not need to ever apologize for that again. But that doesn't mean it is easy and it is still hard at times. There are some days my heart aches over this whole issue.
Today I decided that I wanted to listen to general conference and I didn't have any particular one in mind I just have some sessions downloaded on my ipad and randomly picked Oct. 2010 Sunday Morning session and I came across this talk by Boyd K Packer. It spoke to my heart. I am sure it was one of the many tender mercies the Lord gives me even when I don't deserve it. I remember hearing this talk when it was first given and I loved it then and I love even more today. I am very grateful today for this talk and this apostle and for my testimony which is my anchor. In todays world we need to have anchor because the waves come and can easily pull you out to sea and you can be lost or find yourself in place you don't want to be.
So, here is the talk in print and in video. I have highlighted just a few things.
Nowhere are the generosity and the kindness and mercy of God more manifest than in repentance.
This general conference was convened at a time when there is such confusion and such danger that our young people hardly know which way they can walk. Having been warned through the revelations that it would be this way, the prophets and apostles have always been shown what to do.
The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith “that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world.”1When the keys were restored, they provided priesthood authority to be present in every home through the grandfathers, the fathers, and the sons.
Fifteen years ago, with the world in turmoil, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the fifth proclamation in the history of the Church. It is a guide that members of the Church would do well to read and to follow.
It states in part: “We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”2
“The Gods went down to organize man in their own image, in the image of the Gods to form they him, male and female to form they them.
“And the Gods said: We will bless them. And … we will cause them to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.”3
This commandment has never been rescinded.
“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.”4
It is intended that we be happy, for “men are, that they might have joy.”5
Lehi taught that men are free and must be “free … to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day.”6
The old saying “The Lord is voting for me, and Lucifer is voting against me, but it is my vote that counts” describes a doctrinal certainty that our agency is more powerful than the adversary’s will. Agency is precious. We can foolishly, blindly give it away, but it cannot be forcibly taken from us.
There is also an age-old excuse: “The devil made me do it.” Not so! He can deceive you and mislead you, but he does not have the power to force you or anyone else to transgress or to keep you in transgression.
To be entrusted with the power to create life carries with it the greatest of joys and dangerous temptations. The gift of mortal life and the capacity to kindle other lives is a supernal blessing. Through the righteous exercise of this power, as in nothing else, we may come close to our Father in Heaven and experience a fulness of joy. This power is not an incidental part of the plan of happiness. It is the key—the very key.
Whether we use this power as the eternal laws require or reject its divine purpose will forever determine what we will become. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”7
There is something very liberating when an individual determines of his or her own free will to be obedient to our Father and our God and expresses that willingness to Him in prayer.
When we obey, we can enjoy these powers in the covenant of marriage. From our fountains of life will spring our children, our family. Love between husband and wife can be constant and bring fulfillment and contentment all the days of our lives.
If one is denied these blessings in mortality, the promise is that they will be provided for in the world to come.
Pure love presupposes that only after a pledge of eternal fidelity, a legal and a lawful ceremony, and ideally after the sealing ordinance in the temple, are those life-giving powers released for the full expression of love. It is to be shared only and solely between man and woman, husband and wife, with that one who is our companion forever. On this the gospel is very plain.
We are free to ignore the commandments, but when the revelations speak in such blunt terms, such as “thou shalt not,” we had better pay attention.
The adversary is jealous toward all who have power to beget life. Satan cannot beget life; he is impotent. “He seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”8He seeks to degrade the righteous use of the life-giving powers by tempting you into immoral relationships.
The Lord used the expression “is like unto” to create an image His followers could understand, such as:
“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man.”9
“The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field.”10
In our day the dreadful influence of pornography is like unto a plague sweeping across the world, infecting one here and one there, relentlessly trying to invade every home, most frequently through the husband and father. The effect of this plague can be, unfortunately often is, spiritually fatal. Lucifer seeks to disrupt “the great plan of redemption,”11“the great plan of happiness.”12
Pornography will always repel the Spirit of Christ and will interrupt the communications between our Heavenly Father and His children and disrupt the tender relationship between husband and wife.
The priesthood holds consummate power. It can protect you from the plague of pornography—and it is a plague—if you are succumbing to its influence. If one is obedient, the priesthood can show how to break a habit and even erase an addiction. Holders of the priesthood have that authority and should employ it to combat evil influences.
We raise an alarm and warn members of the Church to wake up and understand what is going on. Parents, be alert, ever watchful that this wickedness might threaten your family circle.
We teach a standard of moral conduct that will protect us from Satan’s many substitutes or counterfeits for marriage. We must understand that any persuasion to enter into any relationship that is not in harmony with the principles of the gospel must be wrong. From the Book of Mormon we learn that “wickedness never was happiness.”13
Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn temptations toward the impure and unnatural. Not so! Remember, God is our Heavenly Father.
Paul promised that “God … will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”14You can, if you will, break the habits and conquer an addiction and come away from that which is not worthy of any member of the Church. As Alma cautioned, we must “watch and pray continually.”15
Isaiah warned, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”16
Years ago I visited a school in Albuquerque. The teacher told me about a youngster who brought a kitten to class. As you can imagine, that disrupted everything. She had him hold the kitten up in front of the children.
It went well until one of the children asked, “Is it a boy kitty or a girl kitty?”
Not wanting to get into that lesson, the teacher said, “It doesn’t matter. It’s just a kitty.”
But they persisted. Finally, one boy raised his hand and said, “I know how you can tell.”
Resigned to face it, the teacher said, “How can you tell?”
And the student answered, “You can vote on it!”
You may laugh at this story, but if we are not alert, there are those today who not only tolerate but advocate voting to change laws that would legalize immorality, as if a vote would somehow alter the designs of God’s laws and nature. A law against nature would be impossible to enforce. For instance, what good would a vote against the law of gravity do?
There are both moral and physical laws “irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world” that cannot be changed.17History demonstrates over and over again that moral standards cannot be changed by battle and cannot be changed by ballot. To legalize that which is basically wrong or evil will not prevent the pain and penalties that will follow as surely as night follows day.
Regardless of the opposition, we are determined to stay on course. We will hold to the principles and laws and ordinances of the gospel. If they are misunderstood either innocently or willfully, so be it. We cannot change; we will not change the moral standard. We quickly lose our way when we disobey the laws of God. If we do not protect and foster the family, civilization and our liberties must needs perish.
“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”18
Every soul confined in a prison of sin, guilt, or perversion has a key to the gate. The key is labeled “repentance.” If you know how to use this key, the adversary cannot hold you. The twin principles of repentance andforgiveness exceed in strength the awesome power of the tempter. If you are bound by a habit or an addiction that is unworthy, you must stop conduct that is harmful. Angels will coach you,19and priesthood leaders will guide you through those difficult times.
Nowhere are the generosity and the kindness and mercy of God more manifest than in repentance. Do you understand the consummate cleansing power of the Atonement made by the Son of God, our Savior, our Redeemer? He said, “I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.”20In that supernal act of love, the Savior paid the penalties for our sins so that we might not have to pay.
For those who truly desire it, there is a way back. Repentance is like unto a detergent. Even ground-in stains of sin will come out.
Priesthood holders carry with them the antidote to remove the terrible images of pornography and to wash away guilt. The priesthood has the power to unlock the influence of our habits, even to unchain from addiction, however tight the grip. It can heal over the scars of past mistakes.
I know of no more beautiful and consoling words in all of revelation than these: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.”21
Sometimes, even after confession and paying penalties, the most difficult part of repentance is to forgive one’s self. You must come to know that forgiveness means forgiveness.
“As often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.”22
President Joseph Fielding Smith told me of a repentant woman struggling to find her way out of a very immoral life. She asked him what she should do now.
In turn, he asked her to read to him from the Old Testament the account of Lot’s wife, who was turned to a pillar of salt.23Then he asked her, “What lesson do you gain from those verses?”
She answered, “The Lord will destroy the wicked.”
“Not so!” President Smith said that the lesson for this repentant woman and for you is “Don’t look back!”24
Strangely enough, it may be that the simplest and most powerful prevention and cure for pornography, or any unclean act, is to ignore and avoid it. Delete from the mind any unworthy thought that tries to take root. Once you have decided to remain clean, you are asserting your God-given agency. And then, as President Smith counseled, “Don’t look back.”
I promise that ahead of you is peace and happiness for you and your family. The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home. And I invoke the blessings of the Lord upon you who are struggling against this terrible plague, to find the healing that is available to us in the priesthood of the Lord. I bear witness of that power in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Until tomorrow. And thanks for your nice comments. I really was/am just doing this for me but if it helps others then all the better.
So, I've been a little blah lately. Nothing I can really put my finger on but I don't like it. I was in church today thinking about this and how I don't like how I'm feeling and it came to me that I need to be better. . . that I need to be better at all those very basic things - prayer, scripture study etc. I decided that I needed something to help me re-fill, re-charge, whatever, you want to call it. I just need to get out of my slump. And for some reason I started thinking about how I have so much to be grateful for and well this idea of a gratitude blog was born. I have decided that everyday I am going to blog about something I am grateful for and some days I know it will be short but I want to do it.
This is for me and if you want to participate please feel free to tell me what your grateful for. I am sure it will help me to get out of my slump.
Day 1
Today I am grateful for temple's and my eternal family.
I'm feeling better already.
Seriously, what an amazing family I have and more than anything I want to be with them for forever.
