Sunday thoughts....

Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to really good people?  We hear that going through challenges/adversity it will make us grow.  yada yada yada.  The reason I say Yada yada yada because it can get so tiresome to hear others say that things will get better and you will have grown, when all you are wishing for at the moment is that it would go away and things would go back to what it use to be.

Having said that even though it is tiresome to hear, the first statement is absolutely true! I absolutely now that it is true.  I have seen it come true in my own life.  We do learn from it, grow and looking back 5 year later a person sees that they made it through in one piece.  A person now has pure empathy because they have been through it and can help others that are going through it cope.  My thoughts are that sometimes we just have no control over things that happen to us.  It sucks sometimes doesn't it?  Yes it sure does!  All you can do is be their for the people that are hurting and listen to those prompting which leads me to my Sunday thought.

  Today in church, sacrament meeting, Sunday school and relief society centered around helping those that are in need, spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc.  It was not just on help others but being in tune enough spiritually to really truly brighten someone's life.   Have you ever had that still small voice telling you go visit someone, just make a phone call, send a note?  Have you done it or just ignored it saying your to busy?  Have you been the recipient of someone who had a feeling to call you or calling you out of the blue just to chat and you really needed it? How did it make you feel? I had this happen a few weeks ago from one of my blogging friends (she called just to talk and that day I was really had a hard day and just needed to talk to a friend).   I myself have been guilty of not listening to the spirit.  And it really sucks when I realized that by not listening it had an negative impact.  What if you do listen to the still sweet small whisper and it makes a whole HUGE difference in someone's life?   We never know what people are going through and the suffering going on. What if by a call, visit, letter or just an act of compassion and empathy can make someone feel loved who hasn't been feeling loved, needed who haven't been feeling needed,  appreciated whom haven't been feeling appreciated. 

My heart is full today.  I don't think it has been as full like this in a very long time.   The message from church was quite clear.   We need to stay in tune and never deny those prompting so that we can be each other support, friends, a shoulder to cry on during hard times, and  much more.   We as women especially have the special gift of  receiving prompting.    My  heart goes out to the people I love (family and friends), people in our community, people in the world, which whom are suffering right now.   BIG HUGE HUGS!!!!!!

It's all about pure love!!!!  It's not just caring because you have to, it caring because you really truly care.   Just loving each other and being their for each other in good times and times of crisis. 

Sunday Thought

I thought I would share a spiritual thought today since I have not posted one in a few weeks. But first some most important tidbits of what happened special today. My EJ was ordained a Deacon. He was all smiles all day today. EJ would not let me take a picture of him so I don't have any to post of his special day. I can't believe that my baby will be passing the sacrament next week. I wish I could bring a camera into church to take a picture of him passing sacrament but that would probably be considered not really reverent and good. :) We are very proud of him and the decisions he has made.

Today in Sunday school we had a real good lesson on being Steadfast in Christ so my post will focus on this aspect. Relief Society was combined today and they just had a sister from the LDS family Services talking about there adoption program and their new Addiction counseling program.

The lesson was centered around 2 Nephi chapter 31 and 32. I think the most thought provoking and spiritual part of the lesson was when we talked about 2 Nephi 31: 18-21 which reads:

18 And then are ye in this ^astrait and narrow ^bpath which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which ^cwitnesses of the ^dFather and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow ^apath, I would ask if all is ^bdone? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken ^cfaith in him, ^drelying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to ^esave.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a ^asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of ^bhope, and a ^clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and ^dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have ^eeternal life.

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the ^away; and there is ^bnone other way nor ^cname given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the ^ddoctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the ^eFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is ^fone God, without end. Amen.

I thought about these versus and they touched my heart. What does it mean for me to "press forward with steadfactness in Christ", having faith in Christ and enduring to the end? It means never giving up, it means picking up the pieces when things don't go as planned and relying on the Savior to helps us through those trials. It means starting fresh, renewing and trying hard to do the things that are right. That is all our savior asks us. He doesn't ask us to be perfect but that we try hard and endure to the end with faith in him.

That is my Spiritual thought for today.

BTW, off the topic...start my Microbiology class tomorrow. I am still waiting to see if I got into the Saturday only online morning class up at S. Seattle CC, still #1 on the waiting list. I have called, emailed the instructor and have not heard back. Until I find out I have to attend the Microbiology class that I signed up for at Green River and that is Monday through Thursday 10-12 UGH. Luckily I thought ahead to sign up for the class at green river just in case. Micro classes usually have a long waiting list and fill up fast. UPDATE: I got into the saturday class at South Seattle CC. They called me this morning to let me know that I was able to get into the class. The part that was so funny was I actually was standing in Line at Green River waiting to pay for my Microbiology book when the call came in. I put back the book and booked over to Seattle to register.. HE HE.

Spiritual Thought

I think what I am going to do it post a spiritual thought and goal setting every Sunday to add something more then everyday mundane things to our blog.

I have been in a funk the last few days. Sad probably a little but more realizing that my oldest baby is 6 years away from leaving the nest, he is turning 12 in a week, (6 years will go fast too) and we have been so busy that we not done hardly anything with him for good memories and have quality time with him. Each individual child of mine have been lost in the collective 5, if that makes sense to anyone. I realized we have only been camping once his whole life, hardly had any family vacations (even weekend ones), and I find myself so overwhelm that I have to admit that I so look forward to the kids going to bed every night. I know some of you will say "don't beat yourself up over it". It not really beating myself up it realizing I can do better and will. Does that make sense? I want my kids to remember there home as a sanctuary. I want them to have good memories of life as a kid not that they where a burden to me. I am done with the sappy stuff of my life. Now on to what I have learned from my few days of being in a funk.

This weekend is MV stake conference. I have to admit that most years I don't ever go to the stake conference on Sunday as it is so stressful for us with 5 active children. If you have ever sat behind us in church you will know what I am talking about. HE I do however go to the adult session on Saturday night and James usually goes to the priesthood session. I told James this morning that our kids are old enough to sit in conference and from now on we will be going. We have to set a example for the kids.

Last night we went to the adult session of stake conference and as I sat in the pews of the stake center, I had a HUGE wake up call. The topic was individual growth with the focus on preparing our children for the future (especially during teenage years). We had a few talks on the importance of loving our youth, making memories with your children, and helping them learn to have to spirit and many other things. Did this answer all my sad questions or what?

Elder John B. Dickson from the quorum of the seventy came and spoke about creating traditions that our children will follow. That through example our children will learn what is important. He stressed sticking to the basics(click on the hyperlink): reading scriptures, FHE, Family Prayer, and teaching our children the importance of personal prayer and scripture study. He stress that the adversary is mindful of our children's weaknesses and that these principles will help them to withstand the darts of the adversary. He also talked to us about being a example to our children, that they should see us attending the temple, reading scriptures, fulfilling our church callings,etc if we expect them to. He also stressed the importance of spending time with our kids to know them.

So having heard that I am determined to be the example my kids need. Here are my goals for the year:

• No more skipping Stake Conference.
• No more skipping scripture study because I am worn down and want the kids to "just go to bed". I have missed 2 weeks straight of scripture study because of this.
• No more FHE Fights and just giving up. OK we will probably still have the fights but I will not give up. HE
• Trying to go to the temple at least once a quarter.
• Spend quality time with each of the kids so they feel important and so we bond with them
• Have a family camp out each year. My kids need the memories
• Encourage my children to go to youth activities even if they are bogged down with sports commitments. Hey they can be late a little or leave a little early from sports if they have to as long as they go. Have to think about this now as EJ will be going to Young Mens in a week. :)
• Have date night with James at least 2 times a month or more. Our kids needs to see mommy and daddy loving each other.
• Just love each other, love my children even when they do something wrong.

Then I came home and read "Pay it forward" post on Stacy's blog and I was touched also. Thank you stacy. There is still alot of good out there in the world.

Oh and Tami Thanks for the call this week. I do miss being close enough to everyone to just walk over to your house but glad to be out of the neighborhood just the same. It's bitter sweet.

I will end with 2 poems I thought where great.

If I Could Do It All Again...
If I had my child to raise all over again, I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later. I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less. I would do less correcting and more connecting. I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less and know to care more. I'd take more hikes and fly more kites. I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I'd do more hugging and less tugging. I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often. I would be firm less often, and affirm much more. I'd model less about the love of power, And more about the power of Love.
~ By Diane Loomans

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
When You Thought I Wasn't Looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one. When You Thought I Wasn't Looking, I saw you feed a stray cat,and I thought it was good to be kind to animals. When You Thought I Wasn't Looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things. When You Thought I Wasn't Looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved. When You Thought I Wasn't Looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry. When You Thought I Wasn't Looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
~Author Unknown

The Power of One

In our ward's Relief Society we have a wonderful program called the "Power of One". All of the women has been given a notebook/journal so we can keep track of our "Power of One" moments. Moments of service, missionary work, spiritual self improvement. Consider this is Sunday and I am home sick w/ AJ and CJ (I am drugged up on IB profen and Tylenol so I feel a little better now) I decided to post something that is spiritual and that has been on my mind alot recently.

"Out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D &C 64:33)

"There is no one great thing that we can do to obtain eternal life, and it seems to me that the great lesson to be learned in the world today is to apply in the little acts and duties of life the glorious principles of the Gospel. Life, after all, is made up of little things...The dark night is made pleasant by the glimmer of what seem to be little stars; and so the true Christian Life is made up of little Christ-like acts performed this hour, this minute, in the home, in the quorum, in the organization, in the town, wherever our life and acts may be cast" David O. Mckay

Thinking about what David O Mckay said and the scripture my thoughts are, "what are some things I can do that would make a difference to the world around me?" I came to the conclusion that the most important thing that I could ever ever do in this life is teach my children the gospel and raise righteous boys and girl that will someday serve the lord. How many lives will my boys and girl change through missionary work? If I try my best to teach them right and how it is very important to serve a mission(for my boys and Rae if she wants to) and get married in the temple and have a family then I will have made a huge contribution.

Anothe power of one moment:

I have been teaching my kids the importance of saying their own personal prayers. Every night I have been reminding them to thank the lord, talk to the lord, and that HF wants us to go to him in prayer. TJ came to me one day and said " Mom, when I pray to Heavenly Father, he talks back to me". I was so amazed at what TJ told me. He is a boy of 10 but has enough faith to know that Heavenly Father will talk to him if he needs it. To him it was not a still small voice. Out of small things proceedth that which is great!

I am grateful that I have grown up in the LDS church. I would be a lost soul if I did not have the church, I know that without a shadow of a doubt. I have been trully blessed.