New!!!
Wonderful new year for the Youth of the Church.
I love the media they have out to help strengthen the youth.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Book of Mormon - almost finished
I am Almost finished reading the Book of Mormon.
I had hoped to finish on Christmas...
But, nights got later and readings got shorter.
Christmas has come and gone, and I've been able to
get some good reading in.
I am in Helaman.
I hope to finish Sunday :).
We'll see how it goes.
I had hoped to finish on Christmas...
But, nights got later and readings got shorter.
Christmas has come and gone, and I've been able to
get some good reading in.
I am in Helaman.
I hope to finish Sunday :).
We'll see how it goes.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Get ready for Sunday
Saturday is a Special day
It's the day we get ready for Sunday!
Here's to a Sunday getting ready Saturday...
It's the day we get ready for Sunday!
Here's to a Sunday getting ready Saturday...
Friday, December 25, 2009
A white Texas Christmas
My children have been praying for snow on Christmas morning.
My oldest told me that that would be her Christmas wish...since we wouldn't be with "family" for the holidays.
Wednesday, it was a warm 75 degrees. Imagine the delight of children watching the temperature drop to 35 degrees...on a rainy Christmas Eve morning...
Will suggested they pray and ask for Snow...so, as we drove to Wal-Mart, they all bowed their heads and with absolute confidence prayed to Heavenly Father for snow.
I have no doubt what brought the day of snow...
Happy White Christmas from us to you!
My oldest told me that that would be her Christmas wish...since we wouldn't be with "family" for the holidays.
Wednesday, it was a warm 75 degrees. Imagine the delight of children watching the temperature drop to 35 degrees...on a rainy Christmas Eve morning...
Will suggested they pray and ask for Snow...so, as we drove to Wal-Mart, they all bowed their heads and with absolute confidence prayed to Heavenly Father for snow.
I have no doubt what brought the day of snow...
Happy White Christmas from us to you!
Gifts
About gifts.
My children. They Love gifts.
They have hoped for a Christmas like today. Snow, gifts, gifts and more gifts.
I have thought about their excitement and joy of receiving gifts. They were so excited, that they couldn't sleep till wee into the night because Santa would bring gifts for morning.
They love gifts, they love help. They ask for both...a lot.
I think somewhere down the string of years, I figured I was too Old to Want help, too Old to Need help, and to Old to Ask for help. I was too Old to enjoy gifts, too Grown to receive gifts, and too Big to want gifts.
And so these gifts that were given so lovingly, so generously, so anonymously without want of repayment, so as to bless our family...has helped me see His love for me. My need for Him.
It is my "Remember" lesson...to want His help and want His gifts. To accept help...and gifts...because it is His love going through another.
Merry Christmas!
My children. They Love gifts.
They have hoped for a Christmas like today. Snow, gifts, gifts and more gifts.
I have thought about their excitement and joy of receiving gifts. They were so excited, that they couldn't sleep till wee into the night because Santa would bring gifts for morning.
They love gifts, they love help. They ask for both...a lot.
I think somewhere down the string of years, I figured I was too Old to Want help, too Old to Need help, and to Old to Ask for help. I was too Old to enjoy gifts, too Grown to receive gifts, and too Big to want gifts.
And so these gifts that were given so lovingly, so generously, so anonymously without want of repayment, so as to bless our family...has helped me see His love for me. My need for Him.
It is my "Remember" lesson...to want His help and want His gifts. To accept help...and gifts...because it is His love going through another.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A few winks before morning
The gifts are all out. And it is time to catch a few winks and a nod before the kids are up.
We anticipated a sweet, small Christmas.
Not so, this year.
Members in our ward have been watchful over our family. Tomorrow, eyes will light up with the wonderous gifts from many "Santas". These acts of kindness reflect hearts of Christ. Thank you ward family for all you have given.
We anticipated a sweet, small Christmas.
Not so, this year.
Members in our ward have been watchful over our family. Tomorrow, eyes will light up with the wonderous gifts from many "Santas". These acts of kindness reflect hearts of Christ. Thank you ward family for all you have given.
It's Christmas
So here in Texas, the wind blows harder and a bit colder. The air feels warmer before the gusts start. Yesterday was a balming 75 degrees. And today, it has dropped to 30-something degrees. Snow flurries are in the air. Our girls prayed for snow today...and it is coming down.
We've had a lot of "Heavenly Father is watching over us" experiences over the past few weeks...few months that I see now. I wonder why I was so slow to see His hand before. Perhaps being in a "dependent" place causes me to see His hand because I need Him.
Will is still without work...well...without work that provides income. He still applies for employment just about everyday. Our financial situation...from my perspective - which really is so narrow because Heavenly Father can see so much more than I can...looks bleak. And, yet I know, because I have felt so, that Heavenly Father is aware, mindful of our needs and situation.
So experiences 1 & 2:
1. On Tuesday, I used money we got back from a reimbursement check to take the girls to Christmas Shopping at Dollar Tree. Will and I had received an email earlier from our landlady inquiring if we were renewing our contract, and if so, we needed proof of income.
There is no income.
I was feeling very troubled about the current situation which is - we are here, states away from parents and siblings and "easy help". We are in a place where truly, our dependence on the Lord feels paramount. The Church has been helping us with food...and friendship...and callings. I would be lost without the Church. I would be lost without knowing that God speaks to us today.
Anyway, I was in the car with the children, despairing our situation. I bowed by head and offers a silent prayer to Heavenly Father asking for peace, for reassurance....My cell rang. It was Sis. Ballard. She had "something" to drop off for our family...not from her, but from another family who wanted to give us something for Christmas. I imagined packages for the children :). After bing in the store a few minutes, I called Will to let Him know about Sis. Ballard coming over.
Our conversation went something like this.
M- Hello?
W- Hello.
M- Hi Dear. I wanted to let you know that Sis. Ballard is on her way over to drop something off for the family.
W- Oh. She already came. And she brought a jar of money.
M- (GASP) Are you serious?
W- Yes. I think there's about $100.00 in here.
M- Oh, my goodness (and at this point, I started sobbing in the store).
W- I know. I can't believe it....
Anyway, I was overcome in that moment to know that the Lord is mindful of our needs and wants and situation.
Later that night, we had a secret Santa leave us gifts on the walk in front of our home.
And then even later, the peace came.
2. I woke at midnight. Anxious, unable to sleep. So, I did what I felt to. I opened my Book of Mormon.
I LOVE the Book of Mormon. It has brought me closer to Christ. It has whispered peace in the night. It has lifted my thoughts to Heavenly places.
So, on this night, I read and read and read...for 2 hours...uninterrupted. I read about Aaron and the conversion of the Lamanite King to when Alma, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Amulek, Zeezrom, Shiblon and Corianton went to preach repentance to the Zoramites.
And after reading, peace came. I felt Heavenly Fathers kindness. His teaching me.
Heavenly Father wants me to be humble. To be maleable. To be submissive.
And I can choose to be so or not so.
And I choose now to be so. I make so many mistakes. But this is why Jesus is. Because we need Him...I need Him to help me back. In my quite times of praying, I feel His love so gently wrapping me, enfolding me. My eyes cannot stay dry...the tears, they just come. He is the miracle of Christmas.
I remembered that we are here in Texas because God wants us here and He will provide a way. His way.
We've had a lot of "Heavenly Father is watching over us" experiences over the past few weeks...few months that I see now. I wonder why I was so slow to see His hand before. Perhaps being in a "dependent" place causes me to see His hand because I need Him.
Will is still without work...well...without work that provides income. He still applies for employment just about everyday. Our financial situation...from my perspective - which really is so narrow because Heavenly Father can see so much more than I can...looks bleak. And, yet I know, because I have felt so, that Heavenly Father is aware, mindful of our needs and situation.
So experiences 1 & 2:
1. On Tuesday, I used money we got back from a reimbursement check to take the girls to Christmas Shopping at Dollar Tree. Will and I had received an email earlier from our landlady inquiring if we were renewing our contract, and if so, we needed proof of income.
There is no income.
I was feeling very troubled about the current situation which is - we are here, states away from parents and siblings and "easy help". We are in a place where truly, our dependence on the Lord feels paramount. The Church has been helping us with food...and friendship...and callings. I would be lost without the Church. I would be lost without knowing that God speaks to us today.
Anyway, I was in the car with the children, despairing our situation. I bowed by head and offers a silent prayer to Heavenly Father asking for peace, for reassurance....My cell rang. It was Sis. Ballard. She had "something" to drop off for our family...not from her, but from another family who wanted to give us something for Christmas. I imagined packages for the children :). After bing in the store a few minutes, I called Will to let Him know about Sis. Ballard coming over.
Our conversation went something like this.
M- Hello?
W- Hello.
M- Hi Dear. I wanted to let you know that Sis. Ballard is on her way over to drop something off for the family.
W- Oh. She already came. And she brought a jar of money.
M- (GASP) Are you serious?
W- Yes. I think there's about $100.00 in here.
M- Oh, my goodness (and at this point, I started sobbing in the store).
W- I know. I can't believe it....
Anyway, I was overcome in that moment to know that the Lord is mindful of our needs and wants and situation.
Later that night, we had a secret Santa leave us gifts on the walk in front of our home.
And then even later, the peace came.
2. I woke at midnight. Anxious, unable to sleep. So, I did what I felt to. I opened my Book of Mormon.
I LOVE the Book of Mormon. It has brought me closer to Christ. It has whispered peace in the night. It has lifted my thoughts to Heavenly places.
So, on this night, I read and read and read...for 2 hours...uninterrupted. I read about Aaron and the conversion of the Lamanite King to when Alma, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Amulek, Zeezrom, Shiblon and Corianton went to preach repentance to the Zoramites.
And after reading, peace came. I felt Heavenly Fathers kindness. His teaching me.
Heavenly Father wants me to be humble. To be maleable. To be submissive.
And I can choose to be so or not so.
And I choose now to be so. I make so many mistakes. But this is why Jesus is. Because we need Him...I need Him to help me back. In my quite times of praying, I feel His love so gently wrapping me, enfolding me. My eyes cannot stay dry...the tears, they just come. He is the miracle of Christmas.
I remembered that we are here in Texas because God wants us here and He will provide a way. His way.
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