Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Gratitude Post 14

I am so grateful for our  homeMy home is my favorite places to be.  When I am home I feel the most loved, most comfortable, most at ease and it is where I feel the most like myself.  
 Home is the place where I have so many happy memories. The joy of doing the simple daily tasks, special occasions or just remembering the cocoon-like contentment of sleeping snuggled under a heavy blanket in the winter.  These are the memories that I have tied to home. 
 When I was a teenager we had a house fire.  It took almost eight months before we could move back into our home.   I really missed our house when we lived in temporary housing, but I realized then and now, that the reason I love my home is because of the people who share it with me. 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Gratitude Post 13





I am so grateful to be able to work with the Young Women in my ward.  My favorite calling has always been to work with YW.  I  have been very blessed because so many of my callings have been working with young women. 

Most of my time working with YW have been with the Beehives, although I have spent several years working with Mia Maid, but never Laurels. I guess I am just not that mature yet. 

  They seem to love whatever we are doing, no matter what it is.  They have a positive attitude about EVERYTHING and they think you are a ROCK STAR!!!!  How could you not love that.

 I love our week night activities.  I work with some very stalwart women who are so talented and such an example of service.  I love that I get to be in YW's while my daughter is there too.  She makes me even LOVE it more, if that is possible!!!

   

Monday, November 12, 2012

Gratitude 12



I am so grateful for a great job.  I love working at an elementary school and helping children do their best work.  I love working around wonderful teachers who truly try their best to teach our youth.
I am grateful to rub shoulders with so many amazing women.  So many of my coworkers have become such great friends of mine.  I love my boss too.  She has a heart of GOLD!!!

I love being able to make a difference in the lives of the children. So often I have been told things by them that really make my heart hurt.   I am glad that I can give them a listening ear and show them I care about them. 

 I am grateful there are so many programs available at our school to help the underprivileged.   I love how resilient they are.  I love that they put on a smile each day, when sometimes I know they are very sad.  I often wish I could take some of them home and treat them with the respect they deserve.   Since I only work with small groups for a short time they can sometimes make you feel like your a super star, by just showing up. I wish all of them could really believe and understand that they are truly children of God. 



Gratitude 11

I am grateful for a body that works!!!!   I am grateful for the ability to be able to exercise.  Exercise makes me feel good.  I have always loved exercising.  I can't say that I love running though.  However, I have run a half marathon and I have ran several 5k's.  I admire anyone that is a runner.   

I use to teach Aerobics.  I taught High intensity, low impact, and step aerobics. It wasn't for very long as we moved,  but I did get payed.   I remember at the time that I didn't think I looked that good, but now looking back in my mid 20's I would be happy to be that skinny again, minus the 90's hair of course.  

Anyways, I am grateful for a body.  I am grateful for doctors who help my body run as good as it can. I am grateful for modern medicine to help in any areas I am lacking.  I am grateful for healthy food to put into my body and help it run.  I am grateful for good sleep. 

Gratitude Post 10

 Gratitude 10---I am grateful for my siblings.  I am grateful for my brother Mark and his wife Miriah.  I love living close to their family!!!
 I love my brother Matthew and his wife Suzanne and family.   It is also nice to live close to their family. 
I love my older brother John and his wife Annette.  I am glad that they don't live too far in Boise.  I love that Annette and I were best friends growing up.   I am glad that Jessica is at BYU with her cute hubby.
I love my sister Katie and Tyler, hiding in the back.   Abe is so cute and I miss them, but it is always great to go and visit them in Seattle!!! Come and visit!


And I love my brother Jared.    I can't find a picture of his beautiful family.   I really miss them a ton.   He and Lindsey  and their four children live in Indiana.  So I don't get to see them as much.  I am grateful for the wonderful people that I was able to grow up with.  Thanks so much for the wonderful example you all are to me.   

I am also so grateful for Matt's sibling, Tony, Sharon and Melissa.  I don't have any pictures of your families on my computer.  I am grateful that we get to be members of the same family  and I know you have all made an positive impact on Matt's life!!!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Gratitude for my Mom and Dad!!!

Gratitude Day 9
I love my mom and dad  so much.  And I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that I will be able to be reunited with them both someday.  This makes my heart happy.  

The longer I am a parent, the more gratitude I have for mine.

My  mom loved  people.  One of her greatest talents was her ability to love others and treat them with kindness.   I am grateful for the 16 years I was able to be mothered by her. 

When I was a young girl I use to always be wherever she was.  If she was making dinner, I was making dinner.  If she was folding laundry I was folding laundry on her lap.  And the thing I remember, is that she would let me help her.  I know I must have slowed her down,  I realize now her focus wasn't on folding the laundry or making the dinner, but her ultimate focus was on mothering her children. 


My mom was a very forgiving person.  I can never remember her getting upset at me for long.  If I did something that upset her, she would always look at me or another sibling, and say, "Oh how could you?"  I hated disappointing my mom.   She also would always come and ask for our forgiveness if she thought she didn't handle a situation correctly.  Because of the way I was mothered, I try extra hard to never (or rarely yell),  to be a little more patient, and to love how I would want to be loved.  And I try to tell my family each and every day that I love them.

 I love you mom and I try to live the kind of life that will take me where you are.


I am grateful for my Dad....
  He had a sense of humor that was so silly.    He was a hard worker.  I admire his decision to go back to law school with a young family.   That must have been hard for both my mom and dad. 
 
My dad taught me to love learning.   He always carried several books and he never had a problem  paying for any book I wanted. 

My dad loved to cook.  I must admit he was a much better cook than my mom.  My dad was very knowledgeable.  He was a deep thinker and he loved to discuss any current event that was happening.  I have great memories of learning the gospel,  math, and pretty much every other subject from him.

One of the most important lessons my dad taught me was by his example of how he loved my mom.   He always made sure we treated her with deep respect.  
  
My dad taught me through  some experiences with him how to forgive when you have been hurt.  I learned through my experience with him,  that it is okay to be angry, but that it is better, at least for our  heart, to forgive quickly and completely.  
I am grateful for the 21 years I was able to have you on this earth.  I love you and I will see you again someday!!!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Gratitude Day 8


Gratitude Day 8
I am so grateful for Kara.   She is such a well rounded person.   She excels in so many things.  Kara is very friendly and has a very vivacious  personality. 


Kara is a very kind soul.  She has tender feelings towards everyone.   She is very gracious and tries hard to include everyone.  She hates to see anyone get their feelings hurt.  She often does small gestures for others without anyone knowing, to let them know she cares. 

Kara works really hard in school.  She is not a procrastinator and often goes the extra mile to make sure she does her very best job. 
 
Kara loves music.  She loves to play the piano,  guitar, and sing.  She is very willing to share her talents with others too.  

Kara is very stalwart.  Everyday for well over a year, she has read her scriptures daily.  Kara is super excited to go on a mission when she is 19. 

Kara loves to serve others.  She is so cute with children. She loves to babysit, teach piano and be around animals.
Kara loves to do girl stuff and often she does them with me.  She gets excited about stuff like I do, so we have  a lot of good times together!!

Kara, I am so grateful you are my daughter.  Your beauty inside and out shines amazingly!!!  I love you!!!!!

Gratitude Day 7

 Gratitude Day 7
 I am grateful for my son Colton!!!!   Colton is very spontaneous and you never know what humorous things will come out of his mouth.   Colton is extremely cheerful.  He never seems like he can be in a bad mood. 
Colton is very imaginative. When he was in high school he decided he would write a book. He wrote day after day, until he had a novel published.  And I must say it is one of the most clever books about life on another planet. 
 Colton is very enthusiastic.  He loves life and isn't afraid to speak his mind.  One thing I love about Colton is he is so genuine.  You know what he thinks and never have to guess what his opinion is. 

Colton is very charitable.  He is always serving other people. He is not one to brag about what he does.  I usually find out from someone else how he has served them.  Colton is always punctual everywhere he goes.  Colton is very sociable.  He is not afraid to talk to anyone.  He loves meeting new people.


 Colton is such a grateful person.  He always thanks others for the little things.   I adore you Colton and I am so grateful you have made the world a better place.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

The election is over!!!

This election was said by many to be a "crossroads of great consequence."  I am sadden by the outcome, but not surprised.  I don't dislike Obama.  I try to respect his viewpoint.  I am proud to say I voted for Mitt Romney.   I am not prejudice.  I didn't vote for Mitt because he was Mormon, that would be very prejudice IMHO. 
I voted for him because he stood for what I believe.  I was affirming what I wanted  America to be.  And yes, I was passing judgment on Obama because of how he handled some of the critical issues that concern our day.  
I am saddened today. Some of the quotes  below helped  me get out of my slump. 

The Future is as BRIGHT as our Faith...Pres. Thomas S. Monson
We must keep our faith & do our part! Let us focus on the blessings & miracles all around us. There is so much we can do & we truly need to find the 'joy' in every moment & every day!
The 1st Presidency of the LDS church said, "We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States.

After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people." GREAT ADVICE I will heed their counsel..."
 A friend of mine said, after the election, "I feel that HIS will cannot and will not be thwarted by anything done by man. We can have faith in that. We can strengthen ourselves, we can and MUST strengthen our families, and we can continue to work to strengthen our communities. None of that has changed. We will do HIS will and that will triumph.
 
 Okay, The President was re-elected. The choice has been made. Now as a United States citizen, you are bound to be loyal to the laws of your country. Victory is only one minute, and so is defeat. Now it's time to get to work! Congrats to those of you who supported the President. And those of us who didn't, it's time for some grace in defeat and to be examples of what we believe without belligerence or sour grapes! Plus, it will be nice just to be friends again! *smile!

It appears President Obama will have four more years. I will support him in every positive pursuit he undertakes. I hope he will do a good job. If our nation's morals and values erode, God help us. If we abandon our friends abroad, God help us. If we debt ourselves into slavery, God help us. If we abandon our constitution, our nation's inspired charter, God help us. I hope and pray that in the next four years, our nation will not ignore the ugly problems we face, but will work together to solve them. God help us, and our children, and our children's children if we don't.
 “I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them, 1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy: 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against: And, 3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.” -- John Wesley, October 6, 1774

Presidents can make changes for good or for bad, but WE are the ones who can make the biggest difference for people in our own communities. Volunteer for good causes, help people you see all around you who are suffering, contribute to charities you support, write to your local politicians so they can understand your views, give of your time and means to make your town or city a better place and most of all? Love thy neighbor as thyself, whether they agree with you or not. - Karen Chapman Williams
Now on to my gratitude post!!! :) 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Gratitude Day 6


Gratitude
I am so grateful for my son Spencer.  Spencer seriously knows something about pretty much EVERYTHING!!!  It is always enlightening to hear his opinion about any given topic. He is one of the most authentic people I know.

Spencer is a wonderful son and brother.  He is very aware of others needs.   One example of this was a couple of summers ago I had surgery and was pretty much confined to my room for way too long.  Spencer faithfully came and checked on me many times a day to make sure I had everything I needed. He even set up his entertainment system in my room, so I wouldn't be bored.   
Spencer is very helpful. Anything I ask him to do, he does, even if he hates it. He is a very loyal person and keeps the commitments he makes. He is a protector and is always looking out for the underdog.
 Spencer saved up his own money to go volunteer in Fiji this summer. He has a great love for others and really tries to make a difference anywhere he goes.
Spencer loves music and he seems to always be listening to it. Spencer is really funny.  I love the humor he finds out of life, very entertaining.  I love you Spencer and I am proud to call you my son.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Gratitude 4 and 5

Gratitude  Day 4
I am so grateful for the gift of life!  "Live every moment, love every day, cause before you know it, precious time slips away." Today I am grateful for life. ♥ 
 
 I really believe that life is a gift.  One we can't treasure too much.  There is so much of life that is divine.  This year when I turned the age my mother never got to become, I felt a heavy heart,
 realizing I am living days she never got the chance to live.  I vowed to myself that in my little circle of influence I would try to make a difference as best I could.   And deciding this has really helped me know how precious life  truly is. 



Gratitude Day 5 
I am so grateful for my son Coby! He has always been such a disciplined person and a very obedient child.   Coby is very dependable and is a deep thinker.  He is very compassionate and always tries to look for the good.  He is one of the most positive people I know.  He has a great attitude and he handles challenges with ease.  I have always admired his quest for knowledge.

  Coby has always wanted to understand pretty much anything.  He asked so many questions when he was a child about how things worked.  He loved to read, and  he would read in one day, what most children read in a month.

Coby is  very smart and I learn something from him with every encounter.  I love to talk to him about politics, religious topics and pretty much anything. 

 One thing I admire about him is, even if he completely doesn't agree with another person's point of view, you would never know it. 
  He is just very open minded and never makes you feel like your opinion isn't as valuable as his.  He is not judgmental and because of that he is able to get a long with so many people. 
I love you Coby and I am so proud of you!!!!  

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Gratitude post 1, 2, and 3

For the month of November I am again trying to list all of the things I am grateful for each day of the whole month!  Gratitude 1 
I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ.   Because of Him I  am able to repent and progress in this life. I know that I am a Child of God and that the Atonement is for each one of us---regardless of what we may do.
 As I have come to understand the power of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ I feel a peace that is not of this world.  I know that as I repent and seek the Lord in my daily life I notice an increase in my love for others. I  know that as I accept myself and others -- that it is, one of the great evidences of a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atoning power. 
Gratitude 2

I have so much gratitude for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  I feel like having this gift, is by far, the greatest gift I have ever been given.  I gave a lesson last month to all of the Young Women in our ward about  the Holy Ghost.    I focused on the heart and how the Holy Ghost truly can change our heart. I believe that the Holy Ghost is the greatest teacher. 

Gratitude 3
 I am grateful for  my husband Matt.  He is my best friend and my everything.   He brings a lot of joy to our family and he is always looking for little ways to serve our family.  I always have to be careful that I don't ask for something or mention something I like or it seems he will buy it for me or make a way for it to happen.  Matt has sacrificed so much for me. 
 I have been quite stressed since our new insurance will no longer cover my medicine for Hypopituitarism/pituitary gland/Panhypopituirtarism.  For a long time doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with me and I just felt pain awful.   Finally, years ago, I found a doctor who did the right tests and diagnosed correctly.  After I got on the medication, my life truly changed for the better, I felt healthy and FULL of ENERGY.  Anyways,  our new insurance, that we got when Matt changed jobs,  will not pay for this medicine because of a myriad of reasons. 

  I have been fighting with my insurance for months to no avail.  I have been trying to go without my  medicine, but it has caused me to take a nose dive with my health.  Matt wouldn't let that happen and went out and sold something so he could buy my medicine without me knowing.   This may sound like a small thing, but it isn't.  My shot---medicine cost over $700.00 a month.  I am very grateful that he didn't listen to me and cared enough about me to get it.  I will continue to fight my insurance!  I love you Matt!!!!!
 (Just on  a side note,  the reason my insurance company tells me that they won't cover my medicine is because of Obama care and the more I look into this, the truer I find that, their words were correct! 

Friday, November 2, 2012

Time out for Women!!!!

Last weekend I had the privilege to go to Time Out for Women.  The tickets were sold out, after I promised my girlfriend Diane we would go together. Luckily, I mentioned it to my friend Camille and she knew where I could get an extra ticket!!!  Thank you, thank you.    These notes are more for me, to remember the weekend and spirit there.

As mentioned in another post, below are some of my favorite quotes or thoughts.

Sheri Dew (CEO of Deseret Book)
 I LOVE Sheri Dew.  She is such a gifted speaker conveying so much emotion and strength.  She use to live right above my old neighborhood and she served as the stake Relief Society president.
She talked about 5 points.
1.  We know whose church we belong to and what that means.  The Lord doesn't do things as man does it.  The Lord has always been the champion of women.
2. Women are vital to the church.  Nothing is held back from us in the temple.  She talked about how when the church was established women couldn't own land, or vote.  Yet, Joseph Smith, organized the R.S and nothing was ever held back from women like it was during this time period.
3. We know that women are eligible for the highest blessings.  She said that everyone has had difficult  as well as excellent experiences with priesthood brethren.  Forgive them,  we are all just human.
4.  We have just as much access to priesthood power as men do.
5.  The curriculum of how the Lord feels about us is in the temple and the scriptures.  Always ask, what does it mean and how does it apply to me?
What does the Lord need for me to do?  Women have power, influence, and great spiritual promptings.
 Virginia Pearce (daughter of Gordon B. Hinckely)
"When we have a problem with another person.  The real relationship that is estranged is our relationship with the Savior.
Forgiveness is only possible when we have a strong covenant with the Savior.  When we desire the best for whoever hurt us, that is a great indicator that we have forgiven them.
She talked a lot about Pahoran and how he dealt with the letters written by Moroni.   She said she believes that he chose not to be offended when he realized  that even though Moroni's actions were less than perfect,  that his motives were good.
To help us forgive others, it is a good idea, to remember someone we have hurt so we will be more  likely to have more compassion for them.
We always have a choice to be rude or kind.
Forgiveness is between us and the Lord, it really is never between  us and the person we feel has offended us."     She also shared how her husband had passed away from a terminal illness in the last few years. 
Jenny Oaks Baker (violinist and daughter of Dallin Oaks)


Jenny is such a talented violinist.  I have never heard her before live. It was fun to listen to her talk and share some of her experiences about her life.


 Chris Williams (he is the author of  Let it Go) I had just finished reading his book that I got at the library so it was fresh on my mind.

"After the accident, I knew nothing would be okay for a while, but I had the assurance that the Savior had already borne my grief and I knew that one day I would be made whole.

You can't feel the master's touch without feeling his mercy.
What burden could I lay at the foot of the Savior?   He did a video that I highly recommend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zwQ_7q-fU

Mercy River
I have heard Mercy River live at BYU's Women's Conference.  They are such down to earth women who share such a powerful testimony through their music.   They shared their testimonies between songs.  There husbands surprised them and showed up and they each shared stories about their wife. 

Our Best Bites cookbook authors 

These two were so real!!!!  They were a HOOT and they shared stories about their daily struggles with motherhood and life.  They talked about how we need to enjoy the little things because someday they will be the big things.  They talked about how families are messy.  They talked about how we mother others every day.  Sara lost her mother at a young age (I could so relate to her struggles).  But she talked about how others have mothered her, to the friend who gives her advice, to someone who teaches her an important lesson.  I had never thought about it that way.  It really encouraged me to look for opportunities to love and serve others.

Brad Wilcox
He talked about how well we know the name of the Savior and how opportunity at discipleship.  How well we knew his name.   He  talked about the different names Christ has been given and what each of them mean to him.     He said that mothers need to remember, "that it isn't a reflection on us what our children choose to become, if we have talked them correct principles."  Then he asked, "Which trials of yours are your mercy in disguise?"  I loved this question. 

John Bytheway

 He said that looking at his problems helps us know how BIG our God is.  He talked about Faith not being in what we could do, but in what the Lord has planned. Not in what we plan or think we need.   He talked about marinating meat and how marinate means that we soak up what is around us.  The way we spend our days we become.  If we surround ourselves with greatness we will become great.  He said you are the average of the 5 people you hang around with the most.  He talked about how God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively person.  He said he knew that because that is how he feels when he has his spirit with him.    He asked us how old our soul was, not how old our body was.  Who is more your father, the father of your spirit or of your body?   He said to fill our mind with thoughts of Christ and fill our hearts with the love of Christ.   
  



Emily Freeman
I had never heard Emily Freeman speak before.  I LOVED her.  She is so wise and gentle.  She talked about the middle of our story. She said too often people focus on the end of their story and not the middle that was HARD.
1.  The Lord is aware of us and he knows the obstacles that seem hard.  She challenged us to put our hearts in the right place even when it seems impossible.
2.Trust his word and that he will be with you.
3. Trust  his timing.  peace=contentment  She told about two families that were praying for the opposite of each others to illustrate her point.
4.  Learn to trust his example.
5.  Trust sacrifice will lead to miracles.  Maybe not always in this life time.  Ask yourself, "What is it I need to learn or sacrifice?