Friendship

A lot of time I use my blog to get things out of my head, To try and formulate thoughts that I have been thinking. This is the case today, read or don't read it doesn't really bother me.

I have been dealing with feelings that I have never had before in my life. Trying to understand them and put them in proper order. So it has taken months to figure out. Although I feel like I am close to a resolution I feel this might be a life time of learning.

You see I have moved many (okay more than many) times in my life. I learned early on to not get to close to people. Well partly because it meant that I would be moving soon. I have a very tender heart and learned at a very young age that if you don't get close to people or don't allow them into your heart it doesn't hurt when you move. But what this also taught me was not to get close to anyone that really included family too.

Sometime during a huge trial in my marriage when I had every right to leave to walk away to move on I choose not to. I had realized that I had a wall built up so high around me to protect me from loosing him that that is exactly what I was allowing to happen. Call it pride call it what ever you want. But at that moment I knew that the worth of His soul was great and he needed me to look beeon my hurt and to take down my wall. To reveal my tender heart. By doing so it saved my marriage made us stronger and closer than ether had every felt. Although we are still walking forward the most important part is that we are walking together.

This through this I had no other choice though but to allow others close to me. I didn't know how to protect my heart and to love my Husband at the same time. I found a "Kindred Spirit" as she calls it in a person, I could only have dreamed of being friends with. The Joy I have felt as she became a strong influence in my life was incredible. Yet, I have also felt the pain of loving someone and knowing with all my heart that they don't want anything to do with me. Before this change in my life I would have never even seen ether side.

Through all of what happened to me I moved again. After moving so many times I knew I could start over be someone new with out anyone knowing who you are and judging you for who you may have been.

So I started over. I loved my knew home. Everyone around my family loved us we were apart of a new family of friends. A group of people that where so colorful it was easy to paint a picture of friendship. My life became so happy and so full of Joy. That I found it mirrored the Saints in Nauvoo. This was my "Season of Joy" I started becoming the person I knew on the inside That person started being the person on the outside. I was learning a Love I had never knew before. I was learning from Dear Friends how to love others. I watched them. Sadly being still not perfect is this knew found Joy I criticized too. I couldn't see a bigger picture of what they were doing because I barely could see the love I was feeling. Yet their friendship and love towards me kept me going these friends had away of just loving me.

Then Early in January my life changed. I came closer than I had ever been to death. These "new" friends taught me about true friendship. A Christlike friendship. I can only describe it as Amazing. These dear sweet people showed up out of no where to help. At the perciese time to achive the labors they needed to do. Although I know I am never alone my Heavenly Father opened my eyes to see exactly how he uses people (friends) to help you.

As I was mending from my trials of the first 8 months of last year. I saw in a different light than I had ever saw Friendships Between my "Kindred Spirit" on the phone blustering me up teaching me one phone call at a time, To those dear sweet friends that lived all around me. They were serving helping and teaching me to serve without telling me how to run my life allowing it to completely be my choices. To me they were truly being the hands of Christ preparing me to experience a trial that for me has far beyond compare to anything I had ever gone through.

By far was this time darker than any one time in my life. My husband lost his job. There where days he couldn't move. He couldn't even talk most days. My Father in law became my rock I relied on his wisdom. Yet I still I had trouble seeing joy at all. Even though I was commanded to find joy. There where days I could not find it. I felt like every time I turned around I was being attacked. How could this be in a matter of a weekend I was moving. Ironically I was moving west. Not much different than the Saints. The choices that I had to make where being criticized and reticualed . Know one was defending me. I can look back and know that they were in they own ways trying to help. But it wasn't the same help that I had just experienced. It was just different yet though it all I am truly grateful for a few people that were intimently involved for they tried with all there hearts to soften a blow that couldn't be made soft. I love them for it.

So now I have moved again in a place where I know nobody. Still reeling from the the experience of the past few months. I am still alone to some point. The difference is that I am healthier. I am starting to be able to find where the feelings of hurt and happiness fit in my heart. I am using this time to look back I find out the type of friend I want to be in my knew home. I am looking back at the friendships I have made learning to be a friend like Johnathan was to David. For it has been said “True friendship strives for unity of purpose, will, desire, heart, and mind. There must be complete trust and transparency, with no hidden agendas. True friendship transcends love as the world understands it. Based on charity, it is patient and kind. As David and Jonathan demonstrated so memorably, it does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud. It is not rude, selfish, or easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs; it does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It can bear anything; it always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. It never fails (see 1 Cor. 13:4–8; Moro. 7:45–47).

Our goal in mortality should be to establish this kind of friendship with each other and with the Savior, thus helping to secure our place with the Eternal Father.” Lynn A. Mickelsen, “Lessons from the Old Testament: True Friendship and Self-Respect,” Ensign, Jun 2006, 30–33

I pray the Lord helps me become a true friend like I have in my life and like Jonathan was to David.

Mothers Who Knows

Today in Relief Society we will be talking about Sister Becks talk "Mother Who Know". I know I have talk about this talk before but I would like relook at it. In preparing for my class.

First I thought I would read each scripture that she quotes in her talk. I'll also put them here. After I read these, thoughts from ever which way came to this brain of mind. Lets see if I can catch them.

Alma 53:21 Yea, they were men of truth and ^asoberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to ^bwalk uprightly before him.

Walking Uprightly envisions Strength and a since of confidence. Why? maybe because it you know to keep the commandment of God Then you know the Spirit is always with you. Therefore you can recognize and feel the presents of the spirit with you at all times and you will learn to know when to walk away from unrighteousness or when to battle it?


Ephesians 6:12 For we ^awrestle not ^bagainst ^cflesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the ^drulers of the ^edarkness of this world, against spiritual ^fwickedness in high places.

I find this interesting. When we talk of the Pioneers he know that they battled extremes when they settled this country. I have always felt that there extremes where more phsycial and our trials in this latter-days is against the unseen powers of Satan. Our Gift as Mothers our to be able to see, teach and understand what those unseen powers are.

Moses 4:26 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living; for thus have I, the Lord God, called the first of all women, which are ^amany.

Genesis 17:16 And I will bless her, and ^agive thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a ^bmother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Eve the mother of many our first Earthy Mother. As I read this I learned or rather reminded that we are not alone. There are many "Mothers" out there We do not ever have to be alone in our walk of Faith. As a sister in this Church we have R.S. as an organized effort to give relief and strength to all those who are in need of such.

Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the ^amother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the ^bgate of those which ^chate them.

Rebekah art our sister. I am reminded of my sister She has a strength and knowledge about her. At time I am in awe by her ability to be a mother to her girls. to see them as Children of God to have a respect for them and know them. Truly she cherishes each of them. Her posterity will truly cherish their grandmother. Not unlike us who cherish Rebekah, Eve, Mary, Elizabeth, or the many women of our past.

1 Nephi 11:

13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of ^aNazareth I beheld a ^bvirgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.

14 And it came to pass that I saw the ^aheavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?

15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the ^acondescension of God?

17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

18 And he said unto me: Behold, the ^avirgin whom thou seest is the ^bmother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the ^aSpirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a ^achild in her arms.

1 Samuel 1:11 And she ^avowed a ^bvow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine ^chandmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no ^drazor come upon his head.

Sister Beck states "Some women are not given the responsibility of bearing children in mortality, but just as Hannah of the Old Testament prayed fervently for her child (see 1 Samuel 1:11), the value women place on motherhood in this life and the attributes of motherhood they attain here will rise with them in the Resurrection (see D&C 130:18).

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18 Whatever principle of ^aintelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the ^bresurrection.

Am I striving to gain these attributes?

Alma 56:48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their ^amothers, saying: We ^bdo not doubt our mothers knew it.

Am I a mother that knew? I know not. I want to be.

Cooking and Timing

I have been married for 14 years now. Yet it is only just now that I have realized that my cooking has improved. Lately, I have been cooking in a kitchen that is not my own. I only brought with me two things from my kitchen: my mixer and my rice cooker. Sometimes the kitchen is very hard to work in because I don't know where things are. Still, I am grateful to be there.

Through the years cooking has been hard for me. If I follow a recipe exactly, it will never turn out for me, no matter how many times it was tested in a test kitchen somewhere. I know it's not logical, it's just the way it is. For instance: Koolaide. How do you screw that up? I have no idea, yet somehow I screw it up every time.

So I have learned a different way to cook, what I call "Going With The Flow". Basically I cook to taste, feel, and sight. Yesterday I made pulled pork. There was not enough BBQ Sauce in the fridge. So I made my own, throwing in a bowl all the things I thought it needed, tasting it, and then repeating the process until it tasted right. When I made sweet and sour chicken, the process I used to bread the chicken was this: I put the chicken into a milk and egg mixture and then into flour full of seasoning and back again until it felt right. When it was done it was just the right texture to hold up against the sauce. Sight comes to play mainly with plating the meal, but I have had to learn to not cook the veggies to long or they lose their color. When cooking like this, sometimes things don't turn out very well. Most of the time, however, I create something that is wonderful.

This brings me to timing

My step dad (my Daddy) was an incredible cook. He would walk into the kitchen cook a wonderful meal and walk out of the kitchen leaving it better than when he was in it. I never had anything that he made that I didn't love. I have often thought about him and wondered how did he do that. I am sure he couldn't have told me ether it was just one of his talents. As I have been married there have been times - brief though they were- where I tried to follow after him.

Since I have been here I have realized that somewhere I have began to learn how to do just that. Almost on a daily bases when I walk out of the kitchen with the meal on the table it is cleaner then when I walked in. I am also realizing that I enjoy making a meal more than a free for all. As I am leaning to cook foods and knowing the timing to do so I can use the time better. Cleaning around me when needed is easier to do. Yet, so is adding more attention to a specific area of a meal. Somewhere I have learned to add my heart to a meal. Rather than creating a feed trough.

So, the other day I was noticing this as my Mother in Law and I where working together to make lunch of leftovers. I was cutting apples and tangerines when she asked, "Do they ever get to eat just a whole apple?" I was set back I didn't know what to say, how to answer her question.
Yes they each fruit all the time. Without my help. The answer I gave was just as shocking to me as the question. "Yes, I am sure they do. But does it hurt to take a moment and serve my family?" Until this point I had never 100% realized that is what I was doing.

That is what cooking and using timing has taught me. I can serve them in a way that somehow comes from my heart. When I take the time to put extra effort into a meal I benefit because I am learning to deepen my heart, while they enjoy the labors. But when time is used wisely and the kitchen is clean whoever finishes the clean up has less to do and can spend more time doing the things they need to do.

In the past time was truly wasted on meals and clean up because I didn't have the talent or the desire to have it. Yet the Lord has found away to teach me a simple truth. A house of order truly will give you more time to spend with Lord and serving him with the mind set of serving others.

-------

Thomas S. Monson, “Building Your Eternal Home,” Ensign, Oct 1999, 2

Our house is to be a house of order. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven,” advised Ecclesiastes, the Preacher. 14 Such is true in our lives. Let us provide time for family, time for work, time for study, time for service, time for recreation, time for self—but above all, time for Christ.

Then our house will be a house of order.

Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Cultivating Divine Attributes,” Ensign, Nov 1998, 25

Once faith grows into a firm, abiding testimony, giving us hope in our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness; once we see through the eye of faith that we are children of a loving Father who has given us the gift of His Son to redeem us, we experience a mighty change in our hearts. 27 We feel “to sing the song of redeeming love,” 28 and our hearts overflow with charity. Knowing that the love of God “is the most desirable of all things … and the most joyous to the soul,” 29 we want to share our joy with others. We want to serve them and bless them.

Derek A. Cuthbert, “The Spirituality of Service,” Ensign, May 1990, 12
Service changes people. It refines, purifies, gives a finer perspective, and brings out the best in each one of us. It gets us looking outward instead of inward. It prompts us to consider others’ needs ahead of our own. Righteous service is the expression of true charity, such as the Savior showed.

Motherhood-What LDS Women Do Best

I am at a time in my life were everything is magnified the sorrow is more sorrowful, the joy more joyful etc. I have had friends and family all seem to be going through times in there lives that make them think ponder and maybe move forward. Yesterday was one of those moments in my own life that even during my day I found myself being full of Joy yet very reflective. So when one of my dearest friends asked me a question about this months VT message we started chatting and when we had to go I felt that I had to push forward with some thoughts. These thoughts have become my Lesson of Life.

The Question that got it all started is from Ensign Oct 2007 Visiting Teaching Message. How can I prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ? Does "prepare" mean spiritual or temporal? I read the lesson and took it to mean spiritual.

Kathleen H. Hughes, former first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency:
" 'Ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small
things proceedeth that which is great' (D&C 64:[33]; emphasis
added). . . . The great work we wish to do will proceed from 'small
things.' One of those small things, I have learned, is that I must find
the time to fill my own spiritual reservoir each day" ("Out of Small Things," Liahona, Nov. 2004, 109).

I love the thought of filling my own spiritual reservoir. After I read that I wondered how my friend and I talked about how this applies to motherhood.

What is Motherhood. I have come to believe that children are an important part of Motherhood but a small part of the bigger picture. Why, you wonder. The only way I can describe it is to talk about Priesthood. Is giving blessings the most important thing the Priesthood does? Is there one thing more important than another? I would say no every aspect of the Priesthood is equally important just some aspects are use more often than others. Motherhood is like this too. Children and the bearing of them are a very important part of Motherhood. What are the other aspects?

To answer this I turn to what seems to have given the LDS blog world much to talk about. I am talking of Sister Beck's talks from RS General Conference and October's General Conference. I am never read or heard more concise talks on Motherhood. I will also use some quotes from Elder Dallin H Oats talk from the same conference titled Good, Better, Best.

Sister Beck states "I believe that the women of this Church are the finest, most capable women in the world.", "When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants
with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their
children.", "Latter-day Saint women should be the very best in the world at
upholding, nurturing, and protecting families. I have every confidence
that our women will do this and will come to be known as mothers who
"knew" (Alma 56:48)." as well as talking of a conversation with the prophet "I have expressed to him my confidence that the women of this Church
will stand strong and immovable in our faith in Jesus Christ and His
restored gospel; strong and immovable in upholding, nourishing, and
protecting our families; and strong and immovable in providing relief."

Isn't that just amazing I love that little booster shot.

Taking from her two talks Motherhood is
1. Bearing Children
2. Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants
3. Being Nurtures
4. Being Leaders
5. Being Teachers
6. Doing Less
7. Standing Strong and Immovable in Faith
8. Standing Strong and Immovable in Family
9. Standing Strong and Immovable in Relief
10. Elder Oaks Knowing Good, Better, Best


From this list you can see there is much more than child bearing although it does carry a lot of wait in our lives. Most of these will be can be learn with children around us. but I have been asked to understand the meaning of Motherhood and so by looking deeper into this topic and reading these talk with a different pair of glasses I have found that Motherhood is beautiful and something to truly cherish with or without children. One of my greatest examples of Motherhood is one of my good friends without children. She has shown me a love for motherhood that is just incredible to me she is the Greatest Mother I have ever met yet through no fault of her own she has yet to be bless with children in this mortal experience.

So I thought I would use her example to explain my thoughts. I'll call her Jane. I'll only touch on a few because each could be a lesson of life.
1. Bearing Children- "but just as Hannah of the Old Testament prayed fervently for her child (see 1 Samuel 1:11),
the value women place on motherhood in this life and the attributes of
motherhood they attain here will rise with them in the Resurrection
(see D&C 130:18).
Women who desire and work toward that blessing in this life are
promised they will receive it for all eternity, and eternity is much,
much longer than mortality. There is eternal influence and power in
motherhood." I love this quote. I learned the other day that the word hope in the spiritual since means absolute. It will happen. Jane has Hope in this promise. I know this because of her example.
2. Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants- "Mothers who know honor sacred ordinances and covenants." I have see Jane cherish her covenants I have seen her morn with those that needed to morn even with her heart was broken in two.
3. Nurtures-"To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Nurturing mothers are knowledgeable, but all the education women attain
will avail them nothing if they do not have the skill to make a home
that creates a climate for spiritual growth. Growth happens best in a
"house of order," and women should pattern their homes after the Lord's
house (see D&C 109).
Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping
growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role
bestowed on women." When Jane was RS Pres. I got to witness this Nurturing side and I got to see her differently and how her home truly was becoming a house of order. I found myself wanting that and although I am not anywhere near getting it I have seen a goal and been touch by it.
4. Leaders-These wise mothers who know are selective about their own activities
and involvement to conserve their limited strength in order to maximize
their influence where it matters most. Time Management is not my best suit but I have watched Jane tell me I only have ten mins to talk on the phone talk and get off. So that she could get off and make dinner for her husband or be able to help him do something he needed. She knows and tries to achieve what matters most in her life.
5. Standing Strong and Immovable in Family- "The only place Latter-day Saint women will learn the whole and complete
truth about their indispensable role in the plan of happiness is in
this Church and its doctrine." "...to preserve our potential to belong to eternal families." "Women find true happiness when they understand and delight in their unique role within the plan of salvation." "Much of the great work of this society in the past has been centered in
helping Latter-day Saint women strengthen families, with emphasis on
improving our nurturing skills—homemaking skills, parenting skills, and
marriage skills. Families mean work, but they are our great work—and we
are not afraid of work.""We uphold, nourish, and protect them." Jane and any other women in my life have shone me the important of families. Have given me the chance to be apart of something to be apart of there families to help me learn skills I needed to develop my own family.

I am trying to learn Motherhood and all it's meanings and jobs but I think the biggest think I am learning is to love and cherish all those you love around you. Just as the Priesthood Holders are learning what it truly means to hold the Priesthood of God so must I learn what is means to have Motherhood.

Lessons of Life

A few of my visitors and friends have asked what is a lesson of life. So I thought I would post this link to a group I belong to and the description for the main page.

Lessons of Life

Lessons of Life (LL) is a simple scripture study/journal writing program that will help you connect your life experiences to the scriptures. Take the lessons you've learned in your lifetime, write of them, and search the scriptures to find 1-2 verses that will remind you of it. (Bonus: This program is also handy for lessons and talks.)

Shoe's

Shoes, do we really want to wear another's?

My life has had it's ups and downs. My trials and
joys have been plenty.

Today as I was reading my home mommies email list that
I am a part of the saying "walk a day in another mans
shoes" and the Question do you really want to compare
or walk in theres came to my mind. So I Thought for
my Lesson of Life I would take a few moments and
reflect. Please realize these are personal and meant
to for me to put on "paper" some of my thoughts.

Through all of this I am reminded of the letter Paul
sent to the Corinthians Of the gifts of the spirit.
To Some it is given, What You look it up. But the
Greatest is Charity. Remember that Charity suffereth
long and is kind; charity envieth not; charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave
itself unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil rejoiceth not in iniquity,m
but rejoiceth in the truth, Beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things endureth all
things Charity never faileth


At first I wondered why this scripture came to me but
I Think I know now after some thought. I have gone
through many trails that many have not and vise visa.
Yet Charity envieth not. envy is not just coveting
someone else's treasure but is also coveting someone
trials. Charity is not easily provoked. this one is a
hard one for me just like the lords prayer pray for
those that spightfully use you. as I looked at each of
these traits of Charity I realized that the gifts of
the spirit has been there and is with me through all
of my trials. How much are they worth to me. Do they
sit on a shelf and collect dust or am I striving to
recognize them for what they are and learn to use
them.

For I know that Charity is the pure love of Christ.
But how can I learn to have charity if I cannot
experience the pain. How can I learn to love as the
Savior?

Each of the gifts of the spirit can be used in each
trial we come across. Yet they are gifts for us to
use just for that trial. Are we ready to just cast
them aside to envy another's. I beg to persuade
myself and others not to. Cherish those gifts search
for them they are there and apart of our lives made
especially for us and only us. To streghten, mold, and
shape us to become the Daughters and Son of our
Heavenly Father that he know we are.

The Tides of Life

Hymns, Count Your Blessings, no. 241

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one,And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,And you will be singing as the days go by.

3. When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold. Count your many blessings; money cannot buyYour reward in heaven nor your home on high.

4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged; God is over all. Count your many blessings; angels will attend,Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

[Chorus]
Count your blessings; Name them one by one.
Count your blessings; See what God hath done.
Count your blessings; Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings; See what God hath done.

Text: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856–1922

Music: Edwin O. Excell, 1851–1921

D&C 78:17–19

Alma 34:38

Sometimes we look at our life and wonder what we are doing is it right is it what we need to do. Sometimes we look at our lives feeling overwhelmed we don't want to move on and there are even time when in our heart we cannot seem to even move forward. I've had those times and during those times for the most part I would feel the love of the Lord in my life in the beginning of those trials, but something had changed.

After the last BIG trail in my life I felt the as if the tides of a storm had beat out of me all hope for life. I wondered where the in the world was the Lord 'cause he surly wasn't with me. Deep in my heart I knew this wasn't true he hadn't really left me. I stopped believing him. Sure I believed in who he was but I stopped believing him. I had stopped trusting in him. I stopped doing the things that I know in my heart I should never stop doing. Yes the simple things like praying with real intent or pondering with an open heart the scriptures.

I learned that it was me that pulled away. I feel that I did that because I was not able to focus on the more important things rather I focus on my life and the trials that were all around me became a greater focus. In doing so I lost sight of believing Him and started wallowing in my own despair. I lost sight of me the Daughter of God. The Glorious woman that he Created. That person within that is full of kindness and love, full of the spiritual gifts that the Lord has given.

As I started to realize this I began to get up early so that I could see the sunrise. The sunrise has always been a time to recalibrate my life and that is when it started I was able to move forward slowly ever so slowly I was able to move back into his light. The tides around me decrease and although the world around me still feel apart i was able to see past the trial at hand. I began to see the Joy Love Happiness that the Lord had for me surround me.

Now in my life I am facing another big trial I feel the Lord with me helping me.

What will I do this time?

31243, Hymns, The Lord Is My Light, no. 89

1. The Lord is my light; then why should I fear? By day and by night his presence is near.
He is my salvation from sorrow and sin; This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring.

2. The Lord is my light; tho clouds may arise, Faith, stronger than sight, looks up thru the skies
Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign. Then how can I ever in darkness remain?

3. The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength. I know in his might I’ll conquer at length.
My weakness in mercy he covers with pow’r, And, walking by faith, I am blest ev’ry hour.

4. The Lord is my light, my all and in all. There is in his sight no darkness at all.
He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King. With Saints and with angels his praises I’ll sing.

[Chorus]
The Lord is my light; He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night he leads, He leads me along.

Text: James Nicholson, 1828–1876

Music: John R. Sweney, 1837–1899

Psalm 27:1

Isaiah 12:2

Birthday Blessings

Birthday's are always hard for me. I love to hate them. I love others peoples but I hate my own. It's not for the usual stuff like getting old that I don't mind. It's the not really wanting a big deal made over it but wanting a big deal made.

Maybe for me birthdays really should be everyday. My birthday this year I learned something about following the spirit. This year I had so many people follow the spirit and it truly blessed my life. Such as my VT. She told me about her week on Sunday every day last week she felt she should make a cake. She couldn't figure it out why she needed to make a cake, the only friend she knew that was having a birthday lived to far away. Then she felt she should check her calendar but every time she would think about it she would get off track or not be near it. So she went ahead and followed her prompting and got the stuff for the cake. Then later that week she realized it was my birthday.

My hubby forgot to buy eggs to make a cake so I didn't have a cake. No big deal I thought maybe next year. Then later that evening my VT called me and told me of the above story and would I mind if she brought it over. When I got off the phone I cried. My day was not that big of a deal, there were no presents. Yet the Lord found it fit to bless my day anyway. This is just one example of the many blessings I received that day.

This year our Visiting Teaching Messages have been about Becoming an instrument in the hands of God.

Kathleen H. Hughes, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency: “The Lord has touched my spirit time and again, and more often than not, His touch has reached me through the hand of a friend. … Perhaps [we] would feel more of His love if [we] looked for His hand in the actions of those who care for [us]. … God knows the needs of His children, and He often works through us, prompting us to help one another. When we act on such promptings, we tread on holy ground, for we are allowed the opportunity to serve as an agent of God in answering a prayer” (“What Greater Goodness Can We Know: Christlike Friends,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2005, 74–76).

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “There is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others. Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us. In the words of the Lord to Joshua … , ‘be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God [will be] with thee whithersoever thou goest’ (Joshua 1:9)” (“The Need for Greater Kindness,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2006, 61).

How grateful I am to my kind Heavenly Father for my birthday gifts that meant more to me than any gift I could have dreamed wanting.

Now I must go write thank-you notes!

Have we lost the art in Domestic Arts?

There are times in our lives where things -thoughts, ideas- just seem to pop out at you. Sometimes they are even shouting. Yesterday and today seem to be one of those times.

I love the Arts. Plays, Music, Paintings and all sorts of mediums that allow one to show expression of our lives. Yesterday I was listening to the July 2007 Ensign and I heard these two quotes from the article "Three Tools to Build a Sacred Home" by Shirley R. Klein pg. 44

"While modern conveniences have delivered us from some of the work of caring for a home, they have led to a decline in home life. We are tempted to disregard the value of everyday home activities like having family meals, and in the process we lose important opportunities for individual and family growth. Author Cheryl Mendelson explains: “As people turn more and more to outside institutions to have their [everyday] needs met . . . , [our] skills and expectations . . . diminish, in turn decreasing the chance that people’s homes can satisfy their needs.”Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (1999), 7–8."

"In general conference, President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) warned: “Many of the social restraints which in the past have helped to reinforce and to shore up the family are dissolving and disappearing. The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us.” “Families Can Be Eternal,” Ensign, Nov. 1980, 4."

Today my Sister and I was talking of a dear friend of hers. This friend has her 4 children going of to school this year. She has wrestled with the idea of if she is supposed to go to work now that she has no children at home or should she stay within the home. The above quotes were brought back to my mind as we talked. Added to the quote which I found at my new best website.

Domestic Cookery By Elizabeth Ellicott Lea
Baltimore: Cushings and Bailey, 1869. Interest: Pennsylvania Dutch, Quaker
" Introduction Domestic Cookery, Useful Receipts, and Hints to Young Housekeepers. In 1845, Elizabeth Ellicott Lea published this volume in Baltimore, at her own expense. It is subtitled "Hints to Young Housekeepers" and was meant to serve as a handbook for the inexperienced bride, who knew little or nothing about domestic arts. The book met with great success; it was in print for twenty-five years, with at least 19 editions."

This book was first published in 1845 for those girls who were not trained in the joys of domestic arts.

Have we lost the art in “Domestic Arts”? Do we seem embarrassed to state we are mothers first and for most when asked what we do. Is it easier to give a trade for fear of being put down or thought less of. In our culture so many women have to work outside the home. Are we finding it easier to lose sight of this import art just as the school districts find it easy to cut spending on music or art classes.

Surly in todays world domestic arts is just as needed as it was in 1845. Yet what does it consist of? Gone our the days where instructions for making cheese, rendering lard and tallow for soap and candles, washing, mending, dyeing, making mattresses - and many other things a 19th century housewife was responsible for doing. Do we have our own set of mediums to use. Do we truly create master pieces out of hoping in our cars and going to the local big box store? Have we even thought of doing so?

These are questions that have been shouting in my head today these are scuttles thoughts. I hope as I come to terms with my life and the daily chores that I realized the arts work I am weaving in my life. The music I am creating around my home as I strive to be a Mother and Wife in these latter-days.

Don'tcha Just Love Sunday's

I think Sundays are the best! Everything is slower on a Sunday. Sure it gets busy Esp. when your working hard to do your callings and get everyone out the door. Yet, on the Sundays that I force myself to slow down my inner clock I am at peace and it seems as though the caos around me slows down.

How does this happen? I have wonder this many different times and I seem to come up with all kinds off answers. Although even with them there seems to be a common thread. I quote from a talk given by Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Sunday Will Come,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 28–30

"I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross.

On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth.

Those evil men who sought His life rejoiced. Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse. On that day they stood triumphant.

On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair. The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.

On that Friday the Apostles were devastated. Jesus, their Savior—the man who had walked on water and raised the dead—was Himself at the mercy of wicked men. They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.

On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.

It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.

I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.

But the doom of that day did not endure.

The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.

And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."

Even though my weeks or days can be hard. Sunday will come! As I focus on that glorious day peace feels my soul and for a moment the Sunday has come.

Happy Easter

I love this picture. Why? Because on this day, a day that had been looked forward to for thousands of years, a day that will be remembered throughout eternity, our Lord and Savior took the time to soothe a troubled heart.

John 20
11 ¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12 And seeth two ^aangels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and ^asaw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, ^aMaster .

17 Jesus saith unto her, ^aTouch me not; for I am not yet ^b ascended to my ^cFather: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my ^d Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

There have been times in my life where I felt hopeless, where it seemed that the things that were most important had been taken from me. As I have looked back at those times in my life, I have realized that by listening for and recognizing the sweet, still, and small voice of the Lord speaking to me through the Holy Spirit, letting go of my pride, adjusting my priorities, putting forth the effort to re-focus on the Lord, and surrendering my will to him, I was able to to see that He would take time to comfort me.

There is a hymn that eloquently describes my feelings about my Lord. I have copied the text of the hymn below.

I Know that My Redeemer Lives
By: Samuel Medley

I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living head!

He lives to bless me with his love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with his eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend;
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to his name!
He lives, my savior, still the same;
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!