I went to church in camoulage

Last night, during our DI trip, I found and purchased some Sunday clothes. Non-maternity-new-to-me clothes. Delightful!!! After 9 months of the same skirt and top to church, I had a change of clothes. And they are pretty clothes to boot!

So, today, I went to church in my new clothes, with my hair down and not in a claw ( how I usually wear it on Sunday). On my way out the door while swapping places for church and  leaving sick kiddies with my DH, he gives me a big kiss and tells me how pretty and young I am looking.

When church ended, my nine year old came to Relief Society to find me so we could go home together.

Our conversation on the way home went something like this.

Me (rather happy asking): So, how do you like my new out fit?

Nine year-old: What new out fit?

Me (kind of surprised, because she notices whenever I get anything new): The one I'm wearing. Did you see it?

Nine year-old (somewhat irritated): Of course I saw it. That's why I couldn't find you. Your hair was all different. And those clothes! Mom. No wonder I couldn't find you! You were camouflaged!

So. I guess if I want to hide out from my kids, all I need to do is get new clothes and fix my hair.

Thankful Thursday and French Cut String Beans

 When DH and I married, we decided not to postpone starting our family.  So we were not completely surprised when as newly weds we were expecting our first child.

What we didn't expect was nine months of morning sickness accompanying our scholastic poverty.

One morning we were discussing our plight...both of us jobless, with him in school and living in Hawaii. I had been having what seemed like severe cravings. I wanted a milkshake or fruit. Something fresh, or cold. That something did NOT include canned french cut string beans, which was what we had in our cupboard.

So, laying in bed, hoping for a reprieve from the nausea and vomiting, I tried convincing DH to go for a walk to the nearest Star Market or Jack-in-the-Box and buy me something my stomach would enjoy. Like a piece of fresh fruit or a milkshake.


DH is very practical. We had both been seeking for jobs for a couple of months but were still without work. And looking at the budget...of something like $11.00...and knowing that was all we had, he said very practically, "Honey, I'm sorry. We don't have any money for that. But, there is a can of string beans I can open for you."


With those words, I was convinced DH didn't love me. He did not understand my need to satisfy this craving. He didn't know that I could not stomach another can of string beans. But maybe he did. And maybe he knew that was the best he could give then.


And so, he walked to the shelf, picked up, yes, the last can of beans...which was the last can of anything on our shelves, opened it and handed it to me with a fork.


I slowly ate over half the can, all the while complaining in my mind about the lack of empathy he had over our situation. I thought nothing about this being the last can of anything. I thought nothing about my DH who had nothing for breakfast...and now nothing at all.


Needless to say, the beans stayed down for the most of five minutes. And then I cried. Cried over impatience with this situation. Cried over DH and lack of empathy. Cried over missing family. Just cried. 

Did Heavenly Father remember us in Hawaii? If so, I was convinced He would help. But where was the help?

Shortly after eating and spewing the beans, and feeling really left alone, the mail came. 

Enclosed was an unexpected check from a loved one whom I had loaned money to years previous. The money was enough to cover rent, utilities, expenses, groceries, and yes even a milkshake. 

Time and other pregnancies have helped temper me during these craving moments. To realize the world will not end if I cannot satisfy that craving instantly. 

It has been just recently that DH has explained his side of the story and that I have understood his love in giving me that last can of beans. My selfishness blinded my ability to see this.

Tonight, DH and I went to the temple and reminisced about this experience. I have tender feelings about it now. Tender feelings toward DH. Tender feelings toward God. 

So, tonight for Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for the can of beans.

A hug for the Prophet

Today, I am home from church...sick with a cold...and keeping our little new one away from other sick ones.

And with my two year old home as well, I decided to watch Mormon Messages together with her.

I watched messages from Pres. Uchtdorf and Elder Holland and then Pres. Monson with my two year old asking, "I wannother one".

When Pres. Monson began talking and she saw him, she hopped off my lap, walked to laptop and wrapped her arms little around the screen and said with a smile, "I hug him. Mmmmmm."

What I felt as I watched them speak, she voiced and expressed with own words and Hug.

Is it no wonder children are an heritage of the Lord?

FHE and 14 Fundumentals

Tonight, we took Elder Costa's words to action and taught Pres. Benson's Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet.

We cut out each point and gave each family member 1 or 2 strips to draw their idea of what was said. Then, in order of number, we had each family member read and talk about what they had drawn. DH and I added to their ideas from Pres. Benson's talk.

Okay, and so what we felt as a family was, THE SPIRIT!

It was AMAZING!!! By # 11, we stopped and asked the family what feelings they felt? Peace, happiness were the feelings most easily recognized. We asked them if they knew what they were feeling...and yes, two of our children exclaimed, "The Spirit!"

DH shared a short testimony to wrap up FHE and then our 7 year old wanted to share her testimony (and she is shy as a church mouse). It was a testimony of following living prophets. Another daughter shared hers, I shared mine and then my 7 year old shared again. She was so full of the spirit she wanted to keep sharing (reminds me of reading in the Book of Mormon how when the Spirit filled hearts, testimonies could not be kept quiet).

So, what I want to share tonight is that I know for myself that when we follow the words and counsel from the messages of living prophets and the messages at conference, our families are blessed...with increase of testimony.

Here are the 14 points from Pres. Benson:

1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

Safe Harbor

Today's walk to school for our children stirred a lot of emotions.

Perhaps it's the arrival of our new little addition, Ellie Marie.

Perhaps it's broken hours of sleep.

Perhaps it's hormones adjusting.

Perhaps it's more...

Perhaps...it's knowing that my children...that I have to trust the Lord.

Perhaps in letting go...I am learning to trust Him. Hoping they will follow Him.

I wondered, if when we come here to earth, if Heavenly Father has that longing for each child.

For a safe return.

And yet, He knows the end from the beginning.

He knows US...because He is our Father.

He knows our hearts.

And so, how WISE to send us to families.  With instructions!

I thought how families are a safe harbor for children...for each family member from the "storms of the adversary".

I am thankful for The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I see...I feel Heavenly Father's love for me and my family in it's words. I am comforted in His promises of a happy life with my family...because his promises are sure.

New LDS Website

The New LDS Website is wonderful!!!!

(click here)

I went online to see their scripture section.

FANTASTIC!!!!

You can highlight, write notes on what you've read and then file them in your own study book. It also allows you to share with others.

Take a look and see!!!

Thankful Thursday #2

A bunch of things that happened today that I'm thankful for:

Family scripture study this morning with happy, sleepy kids.

Walking to school with the kiddies.

A surprise walker joining us on the walk...my DH :).

Sunflowers from my youngest picked on the way to school.

A happy day to go to class without tears...for my 1st grader...for the 1st time since school started.

Walking home with DH and baby. We love walks together!!! 

Nap time and Nemo with baby.

Personal scripture study...earlier today rather than when my eyelids are wanting to sleep :).

Welcoming the children home from school.

Able to make a nice dinner for the family.

Hearing my children laugh and play.

Helping them do their homework.

Family prayer.

Hugs and kisses.

Bedtime...ahhhh.

Goodnight!

White lines on a cross walk

I was walking with one of my children today.

An apology walk (as prompted by the Spirit...because I wanted to drive her).

The kind of walk that where we talked along the way before the apology...and then talked again after the apology to say in so many words, "You're doing okay. I love you."

Well, on the way, we crossed a street with 3 painted cross walk lines.

The two main lines were painted very distinctly. But, there was a third partial line, partially painted and partially worn to the outside of the lines. Looked like an "oops" line.

And the following conversation ensued:

Daughter-  Mom, I'm different than other people. I feel like that line right there (pointing to the partially painted partially worn line).  And it feels like everyone else is the perfect line (pointing to the white disctinct line).

Me- Really? You know, you may feel like that, but really, we are all like that line you think you are most like.

Daughter- Really?

Me- Yup. It may look like everyone else is "perfect" but none of us is. We all make mistakes.

Daughter- And those nice white lines are like Heavenly Father and Jesus?

Me- Yup!

Daughter- Because they ARE perfect.

And after the apologies happened, and we walked through the crosswalk lines again, the conversation continued.

Daughter- I feel terrible.

Me- Why?

Daughter- Because I always make mistakes.

Me- Honey, we all make mistakes. That's why there is a BIG word that can help us.

Daughter- Repentance?

Me- Yup. That's the word. We're like these crosswalk lines. There are times when we we are painted bright because we repent...but then we make mistakes and the lines look faded. That's why we have Jesus Christ and repentance. Then we can be painted bright again.

Daughter- Really?

Me- Really.

And so, I'm thankful for the Spirit who knew she needed to talk about feeling inadequate, and for Jesus who can heal us and help us remember...we are inadequate...and that's why we have Him and His atonement. And that HE loves us and wants us to come to Him. And hopefully, a little bit of this conversation has been tucked in her heart. And she will Remember Him.

Joy in Becoming...Feeling God's love

Moses 1:39

"For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

A few days ago, my oldest daughter came home from school, overjoyed that they were offering orchestra classes.

"Oh, Mom, I was listeing to the High School orchestra (they visited her school), and well it didn't take the breath out of me like listening to the bagpipes...but almost! It was so beautiful! I've decided, I'd like to play in the school orchestra. Please?! And I know what  I'd like to play...the violin."

I've been waiting and watching...
wanting to know what makes her heart sing...
what talents she wants to develop...
what her interests are (besides art and reading).

And so when she came home, filled with this desire to want to create beautiful music, and watching her reaction to what she heard and her hope to develop talents filled my heart with soooo much joy. 

My feelings of wanting to help her become everything wonderful Heavenly Father KNOWS she can become filled my heart. And I want to giver her every chance to develop this gift.

I felt like this little part of JOY I felt watching her reach to and want to develop something beautiful inside of her is just a piece of what Heavenly Father feels for me when I discover the gifts He has given me and love them and develop them.  And He let me feel it...He gave me a taste of His love for me...for her...for all of us.

Irritation Management

Ether 12:27- And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. 

Last night, DH and I went to the temple. It is always such a good thing to go. It helps me regain perspective, direction, peace and empathy/understanding.

So, what I discovered after a night at the temple is that I need to chill.

Too often, I get mental over little things...things that don't matter. I have blamed these mental moments on being too tired (which I am sure can have an affect on perspective), I have blamed it on "if only they would listen", or "if they'd try understanding my point of view", and I have blamed it on "they just don't understand!"

Anyway, after pondering "peace and contentment" this past month and wanting to know how to hold onto it when it comes. And after a good long time of trying to figure out how to get it back once it comes and goes, and hold onto it, I think I caught a little glimpse of how to achieve it.

Ouch! Good ouch! But ouch all the same.

So here are the thing I've discovered.

If I want to be happy, it is not by controlling others or situations. I find happiness when I respect my and other's agency.

Demanding others does not bring peace! To me or them. Just irritation and contention (I know...these are no brainers...but I am just learning these in my heart and hoping to get them to stick firm into memory).

Before I get in a rut of demands, when I think I am not happy because things are not going my way, I need to step back and say nothing. But silently, pray for eyes to see and ears to hear and a mouth to be quiet. And then act (PATIENCE).

I am discovering that happiness can be mine...not based on decisions of others, but because I choose it over being irritated.

There are things in my heart that I understand but cannot put into words. The Spirit speaks to me so.

Anyway, Heavenly Father is very patient with my learning curve. He knows I can overcome these things I do that set me back. He doesn't give up on me. He continues to teach me and trust that I'll follow Him. Thankful for His perfect plan and for His Son, Jesus Christ and His perfect atonement. One day, with a lot of prayer, and work, and help from Them, I'll have this mastered.

Thankful Thursday #1

There are days that are full of wonderful ideas for posting. Family events, or non-events, quips from the kiddies, thoughts about things I am learning, conversations with people that impacted me or a loved one, my feelings about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and well, the list could go on.  There are countless things to post about.

Anyway, I was thinking about something President Thomas S. Monson said this past conference: 

"I have chosen simply to say to you at this moment just two words, known as the two most important words in the English language...those words are 'Thank you'."

So, hoping to simplify posts and do something that has consistency, and thinking of all the things I can post, I have chosen Thursdays as  Thankful Thursday posts.

Hope you enjoy the posts as much I am enjoying writing them. I'd love to hear about your Thankful Thursdays .

Here's post #1

Thank you, Dad, for Saturday night shoe polishing.

Every Saturday night, my dad would maticulously clean and polish his Sunday shoes.

I counted myself lucky when I could sit beside him and watch him. It was somekind of father daughter bonding moment for me.

On those nights, he would walk me step by step on how to give the shoes a nice polish. I watched in amazement as his shoes would go from nice to VERY NICE. And sometimes, I'd run to my room and pull out my imitation leather shoes to be polished along side his. 

The nights I felt most fortunate, however, were the ones where he'd hand me the brush or cloth after the KIWI polish was ready to be buffed, and would let me give the shoes a buffing and final shine.

Today, while my DH was away, I pulled the can of black KIWI shoe polish off the shelf and polished his scuffed toed Sunday shoes to my hearts content (btw, they look FANTASTIC)! And all the while, I thought of polishing shoes with Dad.

Thank you, Dad, for those Saturday shoe polishing nights together. Those moments filled my little girl heart with a lot of confidence and certainty that you loved me.   

Deseret Industries, a two year old, and a prayer

So, while spending a day out with my two year old...we stopped at the Deseret Industries.

We go there to look for books...when we are not looking for them at the library. So, it was no surprise when we walked in and my two year old says, " I like the libary! Yea. I like the libary!"

And so, into the "libary" section we went. She pulled books off the shelf while I scoured for some books I hoped to find.

While looking for books on my list, I pulled a copy of the Book of Mormon. I handed it to my two year old and asked her if she would like to have her own copy.

She took it from my hands, squeezed the book close to her chest and smiled. And then, much to my surprise, she flipped open the book, looked at the pages and said a little prayer out loud, thanking Heavenly Father for her book. She was sincere and so happy to have her own copy of the Book of Mormon. So she said another one.

The prayer was so sincere and simple! A sweet reminder that I can thank Heavenly Father for EVERYTHING wherever I am.

Tests...

A late post before going to bed.

I had a great talk with my MIL today. We exchanged stories of trials that have made us stronger.

Listening to her experiences made me think that although we travel different paths, Heavenly Father wants us to come back...no matter how far off or on the path to Him we are. 

And because He wants us all to come back, He sent HIS SON, Jesus Christ to atone for us. To pave the way for us...To help us make it through this testing period.

Watching our children grow, I see that the tests start early...

When our youngest was born, I wondered what she felt, leaving a perfect home and coming here to earth where we, her family, are so imperfect.  We tried to create a place that was peaceful. And, yet, I wondered how her adjustment in the beginning to our home here was.

Today, I watched another daughter, my seven year old endure her own test of going to school. 

It was a HARD day for her.

The Spirit was so kind to teach me, as I talked with her about staying in school, that Jesus did what HE did...

even when HE really didn't want to...

because of that moment ... SHE felt alone...

and afraid...

and wanted to not follow through. 

He DID follow through so He could understand her in this moment of feeling scared and alone.

And HE could be there in a way that I cannot...to comfort and give peace...

And all this because He loves us that much.

Anyway, the tests don't end at seven.  

They keep going.  They are life long. 

I am very thankful for a loving perfect Heavenly Father who sent a loving perfect Son.

What happened when Laman and Lemuel came for a visit

This morning before leaving for church, we had family Book of Mormon time.  We read from 1 Nephi 4.

I think everytime I read this chapter, I am struck with how dense Laman and Lemuel think, behave, ARE.

After an angel comes and declares :

"Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands."

Laman and Lemuel show their absolute lack of faith in the Lord by responding:

"How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?"

And Nephi, being Nephi, says:

"Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands? Therefore let us go up..."

All the while going back to Jerusalem, these two older brothers murmur.

After reading this, I thought, "You've got to be kidding me! These two JUST SAW  and HEARD AN ANGEL!!! Can people really be this faithless?!"

So...skipping to Relief Society and today's lesson and MY LESSON about being faithless...and being faithful.

Our lesson was from the talk by Sis. Julie B Beck, "And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit".

She described sisters all over the world, facing similar and difficult challenges. She says about she has met in these visits:

"...I have felt that there has never been a greater need for increased faith and personal righteousness. There has never been a greater need for strong families and homes. There has never been more that could be done to help others who are in need."
   
Sister Beck points out that PERSONAL REVELATION is the answer to increasing faith, strengthening families, and providing relief. It is the answer to finding answers to our own questions and stand strong and immovable against incredible opposition and difficulty .

"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life."

 

And this is how we get it:

• 
  
  Qualifying for the Lord’s Spirit begins with a desire for that Spirit and implies a certain degree of worthiness.
• 
  
  Keeping the commandments, repenting, and renewing covenants made at baptism lead to the blessing of always having the Lord’s Spirit with us.
• 
  
  Making and keeping temple covenants also adds spiritual strength and power to a woman’s life.
• 
  
  Many answers to difficult questions are found by reading the scriptures because the scriptures are an aid to revelation.
• 
  
  Insight found in scripture accumulates over time, so it is important to spend some time in the scriptures every day.
• 
  
  Daily prayer is also essential to having the Lord’s Spirit with us.
• 
  
  Those who earnestly seek help through prayer and scripture study often have a paper and pencil nearby to write questions and record impressions and ideas.

So, as I sat there in Relief Society, reading and listening to the teacher, I started pondering over what I need to do to receive personal revelation.

In my mind, Laman and Lemuel popped in for a visit. True story!

And this is what they had to offer for advise.

"But my mind is too cluttered and unfocused to really study. I can't do it. Not planned study anyway. I'd never finish or follow through. I'd quit before I started. 

I can't write what I think!  That's  too hard for me because I am too disorganized to write and understand my own thoughts.

This is too hard. I am too short focused to sit and follow this counsel."

I started to write these thoughts on this notepad I carried with me, for I was hoping for somekind of helpful inspiration today.

After thinking these words, I felt pretty much defeated.  The thoughts were self-defeating...and useless.

And then....

The thought came back to Nephi.

REMEMBER NEPHI'S WORDS TO HIS BROTHERS!
"let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth."

Thank you, Nephi for being FAITHFUL!!!

I felt a growing determination to be steadfast and immovable.

The Spirit taught me:

Pray with faith and then just DO IT!

Remember Nephi and his faithless brothers. BE LIKE NEPHI!

Do the things Sister Beck counseled to SEEK AND UNDERSTAND MY WILL...not to show others that you are doing the right things.

I pondered on the thought that I don't have to be deceived.

I NEED TO SEEK THE LORD so I don't believe the "murmuring voices of doubt and hardship to follow the Lord".
 
And then the Spirit gave me direction...specific direction I was hoping for and seeking.

The Spirit witnessed to me, that HE WILL HELP ME (and anyone for that matter) to DO what the Lord asks.
 
And I CAN DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS.  Because, His promises are sure!
 
Just like Nephi and his brothers who saw and heard an angel...
I can be like Nephi and reply:
 
"...let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth..."
 
My lesson on personal revelation, was personal revelation!

Preterm labor vs preterm contractions

Yes. Believe it or not there is a difference.

Preterm labor is something you want stopped because a baby will come soon (progressing before it's time).

Preterm contractions (I think this is false labor) is something you want stopped because it is just a lot of pain (lots of pain without any progress before it's time) that doesn't stop.

Not sure which I am having...at this point...
But I'm not willing to go in to be sent home with the latter.

Here's to waiting...

How do I help my Children? Revelation - II

How do I help my children?

Thinking about this last night, I realized that one of the most important things I can do is to steer their feet, their hearts and their minds to Jesus Christ. I need to Teach them to how to Listen to the Spirit and then Act according to what they have received.

Elder David A  Bednar suggested that teaching our children is more than just feeding them doctrine:
"As gospel learners, we should be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). ...Parents have the sacred responsibility to help children to act and to seek learning by faith. And a child is never too young to take part in this pattern of learning.
... As parents and gospel instructors, you and I are not in the business of distributing fish; rather, our work is to help our children learn “to fish” and to become spiritually steadfast. This vital objective is best accomplished as we encourage our children to act in accordance with correct principles—as we help them to learn by doing... Such learning requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception....
The spiritual understanding you and I have been blessed to receive, and which has been confirmed as true in our hearts, simply cannot be given to our children. The tuition of diligence and of learning by study and also by faith must be paid to obtain and personally “own” such knowledge. Only in this way can what is known in the mind also be felt in the heart. Only in this way can a child move beyond relying upon the spiritual knowledge and experiences of parents and adults and claim those blessings for himself or herself. Only in this way can our children be prepared spiritually for the challenges of mortality."

I also thought about Pres. Henry B Eyring's address given to the Priesthood in October 2009's conference (click here).


One final thought on this from Sister Matsumori about helping others recognize the spirit.
She gives some very helpful steps to move me in the place where I can effectively teach my children to recognize the spirit.

1st: Understand the Doctrine.
In order to do this, I need to know the doctrine so I understand the doctrine I am teaching. So, this begins with personal daily scripture study accompanied with prayer. Then I can teach correct doctrine

About teaching doctrine, she says: "The importance of helping others understand is described in the Doctrine and Covenants. Parents “in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized” are told to help their children “understand the doctrine.”

2nd: Share personal testimony.
Sister Matsumori taught, "We can help others become more familiar with the promptings of the Spirit when we share our testimony of the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives."

3rd: Provide and envirionment where the spirit can be felt. How can we do this?
Her counsel is:
"One reason we are encouraged to pray and read the scriptures every single day is that both of these activities invite the Spirit into our homes and into the lives of our family members.


"Because the Spirit is often described as a still, small voice, it is also important to have a time of quiet in our lives as well. The Lord has counseled us to “be still, and know that I am God.” If we provide a still and quiet time each day when we are not bombarded by television, computer, video games, or personal electronic devices, we allow that still, small voice an opportunity to provide personal revelation and to whisper sweet guidance, reassurance, and comfort to us."

So.

How do I help my children?

• Daily scripture study...family and personal.
• Daily personal prayers...as well as family prayers.
• Repent often so I can be worthy of the Spirit's influence.
• Listen and heed His promptings.
• Teach the doctrine, bear testimony, and provide a place where the Spirit can be felt.

How do I help my children? Personal Revelation!

Today, as I prayed for each of my children, I was confident that Heavenly Father would answer my prayers. I am relying on revelation!

After my children came home from school, I felt His guidance as we did homework together, He added patience so I could listen, and even when feelings were hurt when I was too quick to speak, He helped my ears to hear and a heart to feel in the "I'm Sorry"s and "I forgive you"s. And specifically, direct answers to questions that have been pondering in my heart came...when I needed them.

I have confidence in the promises:

"Revelation can come hour by hour and moment by moment as we do the right things. When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed. For instance, mothers can feel help from the Spirit even when tired, noisy children are clamoring for attention, but they can be distanced from the Spirit if they lose their temper with children. Being in the right places allows us to receive guidance. It requires a conscious effort to diminish distractions, but having the Spirit of revelation makes it possible to prevail over opposition and persist in faith through difficult days and essential routine tasks. Personal revelation gives us the understanding of what to do every day to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek those who need our help. Because personal revelation is a constantly renewable source of strength, it is possible to feel bathed in help even during turbulent times.

We are told to put our trust in that Spirit which leads us “to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously.” We are also told that this Spirit will enlighten our minds, fill our souls with joy, and help us know all things we should do. Promised personal revelation comes when we ask for it, prepare for it, and go forward in faith, trusting that it will be poured out upon us."

-Julie B Beck, Conference 2010

China and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

News about The Church in China (click here).

Happy Family Home Evening

Yes!

We had a Happy Family Home Evening tonight!!!

YEAH!!!

Let me clarify...it was formal...ish...kind of...but not.

It really led off like some kind of circus affair. Hmmm. Not what I had in mind for FHE.  But it was happy all through FHE.

We began with me conducting FHE tonight...and well...I was conducting a formal meeting of one (me).

So, noticing that everyone else was really in a FUN mood, I tried changing my tone  from formal to ... semi formalish but trying to be fun... (okay, truth be told...I hate admitting it...but too often I act like Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh. Ish)!.

As the opening song started, "Love at Home", oh my, I wondered about FHE for this night. 
The redition was...Something Unlike I've ever heard...truly!

I believe from the sound of the family, 
we all sang the hymn...
in our own key...
with parts...
on purpose.

Really.

I exagerate not!

It was really something else to hear. I wonder if I will get to hear a replay of this one day.

I think by at his point I figured out that what I really needed to do was smile and breathe and listen and watch...because everyone was Happy! And FHE is about happy.

When the laughter died down, we did have as quiet and reverent of a prayer as we could.

The playful mood continued and so we had some kind of move and stretch and laugh some more before we moved to scripture and motto.

Our lesson started with a brief 2 minutes of Q&A of "What makes you Happy?"

Answers that were common were: no school, playing with family, laughing, being kind, love at home. 

Then, we divided into teams. Each team picked a scripture from the Topical Guide under HAPPY, and then prepared a song with actions to sing for the family.

Team dad and daughters 2&3 read from Psalms 127:3-5. They sang a medley of "Daddy's Homecoming" and "Happy Family" and ended with a Cheer. It was AWESOME!

Team 11 year, Mom and 2 year old read a scripture from John 13:15, 17. We sang "Jesus Said Love Everyone" with actions from all three of us. It was SWEET!

By this time, we were all together in a Happy Family mood.

We rallied together and played a round of 3 five minute games that included everyone:
Build up blocks and let the youngest knock 'em down... Lots of laughter
Chase after the youngest for the missing block...More laughter
and finally....
Hide and seek!

There were no tears. It was a great night of games!

When the games ended, we joined together for a final closing of FHE and reviewed that things that make us Happy.

We agreed that how we treat each other affects us being Happy.  Being kind to each other makes a happy home.

So, for our activity this week:

Each of us drew a secret "Happy Person" out of a hat. 
For the rest of this week, we are to do something for our "Happy Person" to feel happy.

I'd say, tonight's FHE's was HAPPY!

To boot, we had fudgy yummy no bake cookies for a treat.....mmmm!

Spirit testifies Truth

I love feeling the spirit.

I love having the spirit work through me to touch others.

Today, I spoke in church, and I felt both.

Something I learned today, I need a lot of repentance. And to think I thought I was repenting enough...is there really such a thing?

This was a subject that I needed to give because I have been forgetting to Come to Him.

The Lord is very kind to remind me this way.

These are the sources I used for the talk.

Elder Neil A Anderson gave a wonderful discourse on this repentance (click here).

Elder Jeffrey R Holland talked about coming to Christ through Faith in Christ, repentance, baptism and temple covenants, and then living our covenants (click here).

The people of King Benjamin are a great example of Coming to Christ. They followed the same pattern that Elder Holland outlines (click here...see chapters 1-6).

Anyway, I felt the the spirit witness as I shared thoughts from these lovely scriptures. I felt the spirit witness as I shared my own testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. His church is restored on the earth TODAY and is led by LIVING PROPHETS. And these truths can be known by everyone...as stated in the introduction of the Book of Mormon:

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10: 3-5.)



Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah."

The spirit is wonderful!


I know Jesus wants us all to come to Him.

               Today!

His atonement can make me/us clean, and happy.

And that is worth living for!

Happy Post

Hmmmm.

I am speaking tomorrow in church about testimony and Christ and coming to Him.
This week has been an exceptionally doozy of a week.

Sweet and sour...

So, while I am trying to "get the spirit" for this talk to come together and knowing I haven't met my own expectations for the day...for the week...for the year...

I think this is a test of the Emergency "Good-Better-Best" Broadcast System!

So, here's to tuning in so I can hear.

Sink into the Heart

I am currently reading in the book of Mosiah.

A quick summary of where I am...

Abinadi, a prophet sent to call the people and more particularly a wicked king to repentance, has been captured,  imprisoned, and now tied up, is presented to the king.

His BOLD declaration of God's call to repentance and promises for the people and the king  if they choose to repent or not to repent mulls around and hardens the hearts of the wicked priests.

They try to slay him.

But, because he has not finished delivering God's message to the king, no one can touch him.

So, bound before the king, prophet Abinadi declares redemption through Jesus Christ. Repentance and Salvation.

Okay, so for the purpose of this post...

I was struck by a couple of verses where Abinadi BOLDY tells them the condition of the their hearts...

Mosiah 12:27

"Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise..."

Mosiah 13:7
"Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities..."

Mosiah 13:11
"And now I read unto you the remainder of the acommandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts..."

I was struck by the contrast of the condition of the heart of righteous King Benjamin and his people. 

Before he turns over his reign to his son, he too preaches repentence and redemption through Christ to his people.

Preparing them for his message he declares:

Mosiah 2:9
"My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. "

First they are instructed to use their senses.

And they do...

And, in contrast to the wicked king and his people, we read:

Mosiah 4:2
"And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men."

Mosiah 5:2
"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."

And this change of heart caused for outward actions...and the people covenant to follow Christ.

And again with the heart...

Mosiah 5:7
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters."

finally...

Mosiah 5:11,12,13
"11 ... therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.

12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts...
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"
 
There is something peaceful and enriching about letting Christ sink deep into my heart...

...something beautiful about REMEMBERING to retain HIS name in my heart

...and something POWERUL and SAFE, KNOWING HE is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIGHT.

I know that He makes the heart soft...

When I REMEMBER Him, and He is sunk into my heart, I am softer and kinder...patient and more understanding...

I am His.

So, tomorrow, I'll try again to rememember...

Knowing that when I forget...which I do too often as life busies around me...

I can trust in His perfect atonement...and repent and try again...

And when I do, I will feel His love just as King Benjamin's people did.

School and Blessings

With the beginning of school I've heard the anxieties of our children.

They are real. They have taken up a bulk of their thinking the past couple of weeks.

Some of these anxieties are familiar anxieties I had at the beginning of the school year and some are different.

Here are just a few:

Am I going to do well in school?  What if I don't? What if I am behind?

Will I make any friends? What if no one wants to play with me?

What if my friends want me to choose wrong things? If I don't do what they want me to, they might not like me.

Are there bullies?

Is my teacher nice?  What if she's not?

As a family, we have been praying for several weeks that our children will feel the Lord's love for them. That they would have the courage to make good choices in school. That they would feel confident in their learning.

Knowing that the Lord is ALWAYS aware of us and will bless us IF WE ASK HIM, we have been asking and waiting.

Today, listening to their school experiences and watching them as they did homework, I saw and felt a reassurance of the Lord's love for them. I saw His hand in their lives.

One child came home overjoyed that she found a friend.

Another child was able to concentrate and FINISH her homework. Her focus and determination was AMAZING! By the end of the night, she was reassured that she can learn...VERY WELL! She could feel the happiness that comes from growing

Our other child felt confident in understanding her studies. I could hear her excitement for learning. This same child, after several years of feeling like she has been without true friends, has extended friendship to others. 

I see the Lord's hand in these small...yet big things today.

"In the STRENGTH of the LORD, we can do hard things!"

Music Appreciation

D&C 25:12
     "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing on their heads."

I lead the music for sisters in Relief Society.

Today, the music was BEAUTIFUL!

We have a small group of sisters that attend this meeting. When we sing, the voices are few. But, today, it was enriched with Primary children's voices...and voices of testimony!

As our practice song/hymn for August, the RS president asked us to learn, "I Know that My Savior Loves Me".

So, for the past weeks, we've been learning this song (Click Here to Listen).

Today, before singing together, a sister read about how the song came to be (Click Here).

I invited the older classes in Primary to sing with us...
So, after this sister read, the children sang...
and the sisters joined in...
and the Spirit was sooooo beautiful...
testifying of Jesus Christ and His love for each of us. And our love for Him.

Music is such a powerful tool!

It can Bring us to Christ.


It can Remind us of our Divine Nature and Potential.

It can Testify that God lives and loves us and is very much aware of our needs and cares and lives.


It can Testify of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A couple of great short reads about the power of music
click here and click here and click here and finally click here.

Today, I witnessed the power of music. I felt the love that the we sisters and the children have for Jesus Christ and I felt His love for each of us.

It was BEAUTIFUL!

Book of Mormon Game

Before reading to our children tonight, we played a game that was introduced to us by the Sister Missionaries in our area.

They call it "The Scripture Search Game".

So the object of the game is to see how a randomly picked scripture applies to the subject chosen.

The first subject our 9 year-old daughter chose was baptism.

I opened the book and let the pages fan through my fingers until one of the other children shouted, "STOP!"

I asked, "Left or right"(referring to which side of the page we would read from).

Another daugher answered, "Right".

I asked, "Left or right" again (now picking the column from which we would be reading).

"Right."

Then I had them pick one of the verses (31-34 in this particular column)from that column.

So, think baptism.

And this is the verse that was randomly picked.

Moroni 10: 32
"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

Our 11 year-old described it this way...
When we come to Christ, we have faith in Him. And when we deny ourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all our might mind and strength, we repent. And that leads to Baptism.

She talked about the steps that lead to baptism.

I thought about how having faith in Christ leads us to repentance...wanting a change of heart. Which leads us to making covenants with Him. Because we trust that His grace is sufficient for us and we can nowise deny the power of God.

The second topic was prayer.
And the scripture was 3 Nephi 11:7

"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him."

So, the answer from our daughters, "The people of Nephi were praying a lot and because they had been praying, they could hear Heavenly Father speak."

Finally, the last topic was missionary work.
We landed on Alma 11:23

Amulek is preaching to the people of Ammonihah.

"Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?"

And with this verse, there was a laugh and giggle because Amulek is preaching repentance and faith on Christ.

So, thank you, Sister Missionaries for introducing this game.

Caused for some pondering and really nice gospel discussion.

Sorry I'm reading

Sorry, I'm reading, so I'm going to take the night off (another one from blogging).
I'm reading with my daughter.

Hope to post tomorrow...

Goodnight!

Alive in Christ

Yesterday I was feeling very blue.

At some point, I curled up in bed to take a nap hoping to sleep off some

of the sleepy sadness I was feeling.

It felt familiar...depression of not too long ago.

As I lay in bed, I reached up for the scriptures and read where I had left

off the night before.

Mosiah Chapter 3

A beautiful chapter on Jesus Christ's atonement.

When I came to verse 19...which reads:

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

...my spirit felt the need to reach for the Atonement to heal and lift and

pull me from the place I was in.

I had been relying on my dear husband to help pull me out of the blue and

depressed state in which I felt stuck.

And when I read this verse, I knew to Whom I needed to turn.

Only in Christ can my burdens truly be lifted.

So, in that quiet moment,

I poured out my heart...

and waited...

and listened....

I felt His peaceful reassurance,

and comfort

that coming to Him is the only sure Way to find peace.

Sometime later, after sleeping for just a short while,

I woke,

my spirit lifted,

filled with hope and reassurance of God's and Christ's love for me.

Fingers and Toes

A conversation I had yesterday with my 7 year-old after clipping her fingernails and toenails and she had gathered them all into her hands.

7 year-old: Mom, do you know what I am going to do with these (fingernails and toenails)?

Mom: Um. Collect them in a jar?

7 year-old: Nope! I'm going to plant them!

Mom: Really? What do you think will grow?

7 year-old: I'm not sure.

Mom: Hmmm. Would be interesting to see what grows. Well, there are some great spots for planting out back.

7 year-old: Thanks, Mom!


Today, the conversation continued.


Mom: Well, did you plant your fingernails and toenails?

7 year-old: Yup! Out back in the dirt where that little stick tree is sticking out.

Mom: And what do you think will grow?

7 year-old: A tree with fingernails and toenails.

I am almost tempted to plant some seeds there...tee hee!