GRATEFUL FOR CHRISTLIKE FRIENDS

"A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." 

~Arabian proverb

I am blessed to have such friends and family members. I have posted many times how fortunate I am to live where I live.  To live among people who are kind, loving and Christlike. 

I was reading a talk by President Uchtdorf last night.  Some of his comments are so applicable to my friends.  I would like to quote him. 
"To follow Christ is to become more like Him.  It is to learn from His character.  This process is very complex and very simple at the same time.  Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal with real life.  The test comes in practicing what we proclaim.  The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives - as husband or wife, as father or mother, as son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and in our recreation.  Christlike attributes include knowledge and humility, charity and love, obedience and diligence, faith and hope.  These personal character qualitites stand independent of the organizational status of our Church unit.  Christlike attributes are gifts from God and cannot be developed without His help." 

My friends are not perfect, but they strive to live Christlike lives.  They know what love and charity is and they live it.  There is a feeling of security living among these people for come what may, we help and lift one another. 

President Uchtdorf continues:  Christlike attributes are the basics.  They are the fundamental principles that will create the wind beneath our wings.  As we develop Christlike attributes in our own lives, step-by step, they will "bear [us] up as on eagles' wings"  (D&C 124:18). " 

These lovely people bear me up.  I have learned more about kindness, acceptance and unconditional love through my associations than through any manuel. It is the actions and example that teach.  How could I been so blessed to build our home and raise our wonderful children  here 37 years ago?  To raise a family, to learn and grow from the example of people such as these? 

Simple Blessings

I am  grateful for the simple things.

  I could go on forever about the simple blessings that enrich my life. 

 I just have to sit out in my garden for a few moments as the sun goes down,
 feeling the autumn air as it turns my leaves from green to dark yellow and red.

I just have to snip the last flower from my
 garden to brighten up a spot on my table.

I just have to look at the changing seasons, knowing with a surety that spring will come again, as it always does.
And while I wait I will enjoy the fall colors and the winter snow. 

Simple blessings surround me.
My husband's love, a call from a son or daughter, feeling small arms around my neck from a little one, soup from a dear friend, my lovely home, the beauties of nature.
 Simple is what my life is made up of.
 I count these blessings each day.

"Grandchildren, Sunshine to my Soul"

I was blessed with a heritage that continues to guide even as I grow older. 

 I am a grandmother now, and each day I think of my grandparents and the influence they had on me.  I loved being around them. 

 They taught me by their example.  

They were hard workers, they were funny, they were gardeners, they loved their families.  

They loved the gospel and taught me to love it too.

Nothing made my grandparents happier than when their grandchildren were around. 

We played in the orchard and among their flowers. 

 We sang and we were loved.  

We were taught values and what was right and wrong and why our pioneer ancestors came across the plains.

  We knew were we came from.

My parents continued that tradition. 

Showering great amounts of love onto their grandchildren. 

 They loved being with them.

 Showed them how to work how to play and enjoy life. 

 They too had strong testimonies that carried them through happy and sad times. 

 They would be proud of their posterity.

These are my darlings. 

 I try to be the grandmother like those who preceded me.  

It's a different world.  

Things happen so quickly. 

 I love these grandchildren so much and am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their lives. 

 I hope I can influence them for good as my grandparents did. 

 The most important thing is to love them.  

That part I have down!!

"Grandchildren..Sunshine to my soul"

I Went from Sunbeams to Choir Director!! OH NO!!!

When I was a little girl, my grandmother was in our ward.  I remember sitting by her in church.  As she sung the hymns she would point to the alto line and have me sing along with her.  It is my first memory of singing.

I've always loved to sing.  I sang while my dad played the piano.  I loved to belt out "Won't you come Home Bill Bailey," or "Show Me the Way to Go Home."  I sang in the church choir from the time I was twelve and always in school choirs.  When I was fifteen I was the youngest member of the Mormon Youth Choir.  

.  As I've said,  I've always loved singing.  

When we moved to this ward 36 years ago I immediately joined the choir. 

 It has been a blessing in my life.  This ward has the best ward choir around!  So many talented musicians living so close to one another.  

What a blessing.

I love to sing, but am not a great musician.  I never was good at timing.  I've always had to sit next to my neighbor, Betty, so I could follow her and get my notes right.  

And I hate to be in front of people.  I like to be in the back. 

 (I'm short, so it's easy to get lost among the taller choir members.)

Singing in the choir is my joy.

Not standing in FRONT!!!!

After teaching five little boys in my Sunbeam class I didn't think I would find 

a calling more challenging ..

But my new calling is much more challenging, terrifying, headache giving than any five boys in any Sunbeam class could ever be!!!  

I am now the Choir Director in our Ward. 

Nothing prepared me for this!  

I felt that I could do most callings in the church with my eyes closed.  

Well, I certainly can't close my eyes in this calling..except when I'm praying, which will be all the time now.  

The one thing I am sure of.  Heavenly Father is there for us when we are serving Him.  

(I'm counting on it!)

"The fragrance always stays in the hand that give the Rose"

What a wonderful world. 

 That is a strange sentence to write down after reading the newspaper and listening to the news.  There are so many things going on that can bring a person down.
 I have had a particularly rough month.
 But even with all the heartache, physical illness and all kinds of other strange goings on..there is still so much of heaven everywhere.
 The contrast for me is so strong.
 When I get down or falter or go back a step or two,
 what keeps me going is the army that Heavenly Father chose to bless me with.
   I believe that Heavenly Father works through us.
 I am constantly amazed by the courage of people like Tyler Hallsey and his family and Burgen Jensen and her family.
 They give me strength.

 I live in an area that could only be called Heaven in the middle of a world in crisis.
  Here we have a bit of peace. 
A little bit of land with houses dotting the hill..and those homes are filled with people who all have problems,
 but who take care of each other
Such a pure love dwells here. 
The closeness that we feel is priceless.
 The love that ties us together is a rare thread, it doesn't break.
 All of the people give of themselves over and over again.  They never stop, they just keep on giving.  I have been the recipient of their generosity and love over and over.

 

"..have miracles ceased?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."

 

Moroni 71: 29

 

Miracles have not ceased and angels do exist. 
They are all living in my neighborhood. 

 

"..charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.."

 

Moroni 71:47

 

And these angels who live here have the charity that this scripture is talking about. 

My dear friends and neighbors have given out so many roses over the years. 
It smells like a rose garden as you walk down the street.

I am so grateful I live among these lovely people.

My Pioneer Heritage

I think of my heritage all year long, but am most grateful during this month.  As I enjoy the comforts of my home and the beauty that surrounds me.  When I go to church in our comfortable buildings, when I go downtown and see the Temple, the conference center, the beautiful gardens that surround them..I am reminded again of how it all began.  I have relatives who were there in the beginning.  Who suffered, sacrificed and died so that I might enjoy the blessings that I have. In this modern world it is easy to forget, but I think it is good to remember.  It keeps me grounded and also grateful for what I have.    Here are a few entries in some of my family's journals as they settled the Salt Lake Valley and came across the plains.

 

"When we got inside the valley I think if there were ever a glad people it was us.  And when we got located the next thing was for us to get some wheat in the ground.  The land were very dry and I did not know what to do for the best.  So we sowed some wheat, the land being so dry it did not grow up til the spring." 

~Andrew Jackson Allen

 

Edward and Julia Ann Bagley were travelling with their children and another family across the plains.  "Cholera hit the wagon on June 20, Julia Anne got up in the morning and cooked breakfast for the family.  She came down with Cholera, which is a contagious infection of the intestines, and by sundown she had died and was buried about 40 miles from Mormon Grove.  This left the little band motherless and both men without wives.  Men of less faith would have turned back, but they continued on. 

 By Saturday,  two more Bagley children died."

 

"Seventy five years later Julia Anne and Edward's son, Alma, was 82 years old and he could still describe her death.  He said that the wolves howled and the morning doves mourned, and then he cried just as he had when he was a 7 year old boy."

 

"Julia Anne and Edward left a large family who had a great impact on the early Mormon settlements."

 

May 20, 1848

 

"There was a cold snap that froze the vines, and things in the ground were easily killed.  Now the fall wheat we had got was just beginning to put the head out of the ground and the frost killed it.  This was a trying time.  Those crickets also were eating at the fall wheat.  Many of us were out of bread .  Just now the seagulls came in flocks by the thousands and began to eat the crickets.  They would cover the fields and fill themselves and then they would fly to the water and drink, then they would vomit them up and go again and fill up again.  They seemed to repeat this time after time after time, and soon they destroyed the crickets in measure.  We contributed this to the hand of the Lord in our behalf.  If those gulls had not destroyed them, they would have destroyed all of our growing crops.  And that would have brought great suffering among the people."

~Andrew Jackson Allen

 

 

As I think about these people and many more, and all the hardships they went through. Then I think about the difficulties and adversity that we go through today.  Would I trade with them?  I don't know.  Their adversities were different.  Their hardships seemed only to make them stronger, more  determine to move forward.  Their families were of utmost importance.  I would like to meet these people, to listen to their stories from their mouths, to learn from them.
Will I measure up? 
 

 I am grateful to them for leading the way in my own family. 

 Because of the gospel, they came together and taught their children. 

Who became my grandparents and parents.

  They taught me. 

 And it continues. 

"Blessed honored Pioneer."

Extraordinary Women

 I was reading in my book "Daughters in my Kingdom." 

The first paragraph in that book is the best as it talks about  examples of ordinary women who accomplish extraordinary things as they exercise their faith.  I have been blessed to be surrounded by such women. 

You don't hear about these women in magazines, newspapers, or movies.

  These are real women, who have amazing stories, who live life with courage and faith. 

 They overcome heartbreak and discouragement and come through stronger. 

They are beautiful because of the way they live and meet their challenges.

From Grama Bagley I may not have learned the art of quilting or stitching

 (that skipped generations to my daughters),

but I feel a kinship with her when I think about home, children and church.

Here is a quote from her journal,

 where she describes her feelings when she is about to lose her home.

 "I have become attached to this place. I love the flowers, trees, and shrubs we have struggled to raise from a veritable rock pile. As president of the mutual I have attended five sessions of the annual conference. I have mixed emotions. It was an inspiration to hear Elder Widtsoe say, 'I am as clay in the hands of a potter.' Now I know it is my duty to forget material things and respond to the call and do the will of my Father in Heaven.
It is my desire to do a small amount of good while I am young. If someone could say of me, 'she helped me over a rough spot or helped me catch the spirit of the gospel', I would feel my life had not been in vain. The loss of our home and my human weaknesses make me feel I should resign. Then I realize it is an opportunity and I would be cheating myself of growth in our church which means more than anything else."
Another entry in October of 1936 "
Many things and events have impressed me and helped my testimony to grow. Not long ago, our three sons all passed the sacrament together. It gave me a feeling I could not describe. I wish then that I could write a poem describing my inner most gratitude for 3 fine sons.
"Not long after this my grama and grampa lost their oldest son, Alan to a heart ailment, that he had struggled with for years. One night when Alan was very ill a young man in the ward, Lamont Gunderson,

 came over to give him a blessing.

He told them later that he was about to bless Alan that he would get better, but felt inspired to end with a plea for the Lord to take Alan, that his suffering would be brief.

Alan passed away very quietly that night while being held in his dad's arms.

 He was 18 years old.

 A year later grama wrote:

"Here it is a year since Alan left us. It is as fresh in my mind as if it were yesterday. Oh the heartache. Only a mother who has had a similar experience can know the feeling. The tears flow as freely because of the wound which is as deep as the day he left. It is not in my power to describe my emotions to lose one so fond of life. He brought so much joy into our home. Now it is like trying to go full speed on three wheels or some such impossible thing."

 

Grama had other problems to deal with in her life. 

 But she rose to the occasion.  She handled them with grace. 

 Always being there for her family.  Family was the most important thing to her.  She was a simple woman.  She learned early to serve others. 

 She was an ordinary woman who was extraordinary.

 

Another extraordinary woman is my sister, Jolyn.

 

She's the youngest in our family.  She became a widow at the age of forty one. 

She has four children. 

 At this young age she realized she had to reinvent herself. 

She has been an example of strength and generosity to the members of our family. 

Giving back to the Hospital that tried so hard to save her husband's life. 

 Always smiling.. I'm sure she get's down, but seldom does she show it to anyone. 

 As her children have grown and left home, she's had to start over again. 

She's stays busy by serving in the church,
 loving and playing with grandchildren and exploring the world. 

She is the most adventurous woman I know. 

Travelling the world..nothing slows her down. 

 She is a woman of a different time,
but much like our grandmother she rises to the occasion,
 through service, through her faith,
 she is extraordinary. 

 

As I write this post I can think of countless others and will probably post about them in weeks to come.
 These women keep me going.
They go about their lives without much fanfare.
 They just go out there and get things done,
 because they love their families..because they love the Lord, because they have faith,
 because they are righteous.

 

"In any and every age of the world when God has called or commanded man or a people to perform a certain work, they through determination and perserverance, and faith in him, have been enabled to accomplish it."

 

~Wilford Woodruff

Enjoy the Marvelous Journey-a lesson from my mom

These last few days, I've found myself feeling a little down

Life goes along and I feel extremely blessed, yet things do pile up. 

 I can usually deal, but I've got lots to do and then my back flares up and puts me down.

 (literally)

 So irritating..so as I was wallowing I just happened to open a book of my mom's. 

 It was her outline for Relief Society lessons. 

 I just happened to open it to a lesson written just for me

(was this by chance..or is mom watching over me?) 

 

Anyway, as I read through the lesson I could hear my mother as if she was talking to me.

The lesson was titled

 "Making Effective Use of Present Circumstances." 

Basically the lesson teaches us (me) to be happy in the present,

 to not look for something to happen down the road. 

 Mom tells how wise Merlin gave King Arthur good advice when the King was feeling low. 

"The best thing for being sad, said Merlin, is to learn something. 

That is the only thing that never fails." 

 

So I need to stop and ask myself,

 "what am I suppose to learn in my present circumstance?" 

 How can I improve myself and my life right now? 

 

She told of a young girl who was having trouble living in a far away land being newly married. 

 The young girl wanted to give up and come home. 

Her mother wrote her a short message -

"Two men look out from prison bars; one saw mud, the other saw the stars."

The girl realized from this brief message that she needed to change the way she was looking at things and she would be happy.

 

She includes these quotes.  "Oliver Wendell Holmes said:  Many people die with their music still in them.  Why is this so?  Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live.  Before they know it, time runs out.  Tagor expressed a similar thought in these words: I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung."

 

President Kimball, "My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung.  Let us not die with our music still in us.  Let us rather use this precious mortal probation to move confidently and gloriously upward toward the eternal life."

She ends the lesson saying,

 "Our challenge then is to see life as a whole, to discover the wonders of the present and to enjoy the marvelous journey."

She certainly enjoyed every minute of her journey!

I'm grateful to my angel mother who is still teaching me how to live. 

She continues to watch over me, she continues to be an example to me..what a blessing she continues to be in my life.

What a wonderful world

This past week has been amazing.  We have had so much fun being with the gang back here in PA.  They are such good kids.  Busy with all the activities that boys are involved with.  Basketball, soccer, getting ready for baseball.. school, church.  They have good friends.  It is nice to sit back and watch their comings and goings, to be apart of it all for a few short days.  

This past weekend has been really special.  As I sat in James and Becky's ward Relief Society and enjoyed the lesson given (i don't get to relief society often as i spend my time with the sunbeams back home) I was so touched.  The subject was "See Others as They May Become."  This beautifully given lesson taught how we should see past issues people might have and see their potential set the stage for events that would happen later in the evening.  

After church we went to a party for James' boss.  It was his birthday.  There were tons of people there, none that I knew, but I was immediately impressed by their friendliness, their close family ties and how quickly they made us feel apart of the group.  Immediately upon arrival we were met and greeted by our host and hostess and every other family member and made to feel so welcome.  I found myself sitting by our host's mother in law and an aunt.  These women were so kind and gracious.  The aunt and I talked almost the whole time we were at the party and I was amazed by how much we had in common.  We came from different backgrounds, religions, geographical locations, yet in just a short time a bond was created and I felt a true love for this woman.   

I have also been following the facebook page "Whatever it Takes"  telling the story of our friend Chricker Hallsey's son, Tyer who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  The courage that they have as they face this trial is amazing.  Watching the support of wonderful friends, family and total strangers is uplifting and makes we want to be a better person.  

So I have been uplifted these past few day.
 I am grateful we were able to be here.
Grateful for the experiences we have had while we were here,
 grateful for a renewed sense of goodness in the world.
 Grateful for friends who see my potential,
and in spite of myself... love me anyway.
 Because of their love,  because of the goodness of others,
I want to be better.
It truly is a wonderful world.

Who is in Charge???

Last Friday I brought Dylan home for a little late night fun with us. 

 It was the start of a busy weekend. 

He played with Gramps, watched a little TV and then crawled into our big bed with me,

 (which he loves...the pillows and feather comforter are soooo soft.) 

 There he listened to a few lullabies and drifted off to sleep. 

 It was pretty much the only idylic part of the last few days.

 

Usually even the most organized and best laid plans don't go without something happening to mess it up just a bit.  Take my post from Saturday night about my Sunbeam class. 

Of course as plans and lessons are laid out it is always with the best intentions, until you are faced with a group of three year olds. 

 (you'd think I'd know this, since this is the average age of who I deal with 90 percent of my life.)

I had a well planned lesson. 

Beautiful valentine cookies on a stick,

 a valentine card for each child. 

 Stories, a game that went along with the lesson. 

 Music, snacks for when they get hungry, 

 their own little cup for a sip of water, a flannel board story where they helped.

 

 That's where the organization ended.

 

At 1:40 when our primary started

the chaos began. 

 It is the afternoon so these little ones start out a little droopy anyway,

 by the time they get to class half are saying "I'm tired"

(That is if they can even talk!) 

One child tried to escape out the window,

another little boy just wanted to eat the whole class time. 

 He was not interested in anything except when he would get fed next. 

another layed down on the floor

another is eating his shirt

(not the one who is hungry) 

 

My class is broken up into a number of increments to keep their attention. 

 I'll need to double those increments in the future.

 (And practice doing cartwheels and standing on my head to keep their attention.)

 

 To top everything off my contact was screwy and I couldn't see anything,

so my picture story with the storylines on the back of the pictures was totally made up,

 because I couldn't see it, 

 (I had read it a number of times, so I had the jist of the story). 

 

 The title of the Lesson was "My Heavenly Father and Jesus love me." 

 Each part of the lesson reiterated this.  I had them repeat it back to me, so if they remembered nothing else from the lesson they would remember that. 

 When I asked one little boy what the lesson was about,

 he said,

"cookies."

 (Which little boy do you think said that?)  

 I had given him about three tiny oreos and as I gave them to him I said

"who loves you?" answer: Heavenly Father and Jesus.

 Then they got a cookie. 

 

 One fell asleep in my arms during sharing time and another was just about there as she snuggled  close. 

 Hopefully they know I love them and will feel loved and secure when they come to primary.

On to other adventures! 

Yesterday Dylan was shown who the boss was by Sam. 

 Sam is usually sweet and good to Dylan, but he was having an off day yesterday and making sure that Dylan knew who was in charge

 (and it wasn't me). 

Today we had Dylan and Wren over here. 

I guess Dylan, being the older, bigger child was going to show Wren a few things. 

 He did play pretty well with her, showing her his socks,

but explaining to her who is in charge

of all the toys.

..and it isn't Wren. 

I've decided no matter what we grown ups do,

 the kids are really running the show.

Jesus Loves the Sunbeams

 

The lesson this week for my Sunbeams is, "Heavenly Father and Jesus love me."

 

Of course They do!  This is a perfect lesson for this week as Valentine's Day is coming up.  So each child will get a valentine card  like the one above, and then they will be sent home with a valentine cookie on a stick and a special valentine for their mom and dad.  Here is an example.  (Abby don't look)

 

 

 

The kids love using the old fashioned flannel board.  They love to put the  pieces on the board as I tell the story.  I sit on a little chair right down on their level and put the flannel board on the floor.  That way they can put the pieces on easily.  They like the same story told several times and I think this is a good idea because it helps them remember the most important part of the lesson. 

 

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam!

I have been in the Primary Presidency for the past few years.  We were released a few weeks ago and I was put in as the Sunbeam teacher.  I am so excited to be in with these little ones. 

They are a bit nervous as it is their first experience being in a class. 

 Our church is at 12:30, many of these children are tired by the time they come to primary, so that can be a little challenging. 

 I am so grateful to all of those women who have blogs and helps online. 

 There are so many teaching aids to help with lessons, handouts etc. 

 The thing that I find most helpful in teaching the Sunbeams is having time increments

Basically an extension of the nursery, without as much playtime

Easing them into more lesson time each week. 

 Lesson time, craft time, snacktime, playtime, storytime.

 I feel that if they leave with just a small idea of what the lesson is about I've reached my goal. 

 I try not to cram too much in, just focus on the main idea of the lesson. 

 

Today our lesson is teaching that Jesus is Heavenly Father's Son. 

We will talk about how they have father's and how much their dad's love them.  We will walk around in dad's shoes for awhile

I will let them tell me what they do with their dad's. 

They will put flannel board cutouts up while I tell them how Jesus was born

how when He

was twelve his parents couldn't find him. 

Oh my, what would your parents do if they couldn't find you?!!!

We will sing Away in a Manger and Once there was a Baby to the tune of Once there was a snowman. 

 Keeping everything simple.

  I am surrounded by little ones through the week, and this just seems like the natural place for me to be!

Christmas Bells are Ringing!

Early Saturday morning before Christmas the Choir always practices. 

Just to make sure we remember our songs for Church the next day.

It is so nice just to go and see my friends, who love music, love one another and love singing praises to our Savior. 

There's always something to laugh at, or some song that makes everybody cry...

 (either from the message or how badly we sing it!)

We have so many talented people. Several who play the flute, soloists.

 A bell choir, and Pat, who has kept the music in our ward alive for over thirty five years.

 She's amazing.

We hope the angels will sing with us tomorrow. 

 (They have on many occasions, you know.) 

Merry Christmas

Grateful for this Nation

After months of watching, reading and listening to the different political parties present their case, I am grateful the election is finally over.  I am somewhat disappointed by the outcome, but not as upset as many seem to be.  For I am an eternal optimist who loves this country. I know who is in charge, and because of that, I have faith that we will be taken care of.

 

  I love what The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints wrote today.

 

" 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 judgement as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people.

 

We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process, which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service,  We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors."

 

 

As I  travel through this beautiful country and read the words of our Founding Fathers I have come to appreciate this nation.  There have been many times through our history when there has been division among its people.  But we come through and become stronger and better. 

 

 

 

 

I just read Washington's Earnest Prayer.  It seems as applicable today as it might have been all those many years ago.

 

"I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humilty and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation."

 

George Washington

A Child's Prayer

"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."

 

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson

 

As I listened to Jake say the prayer over lunch yesterday I was touched by his words.  He prayed for his mom and dad, Sam, Dylan, Gramas and Grampas, friends, Marta, Dan, Benji and Seth.  He thanked Heavenly Father for the grass and the flowers and the blue sky and the nice day.  He blessed his house, he actually went on for so long that Dylan and Sam were eating and making quite a bit of noice before Jake finally said..Amen.  Even though as he prayed it got a lot more confusing in the room, I'm sure that Jake was heard. 

Jake takes turning five seriously.  He tries hard to share and help, because now, he is grown up.  He remembers when he was little and sometimes wishes for those simple days when he could just play. If he forgets to be good, he is truly sorry.  

He is an example to me in taking the simple things seriously.  He helps me to realize that it does matter how I speak to others, that listening is important, that all the little mundane things I do each day, I should do with a flare.  I should smile more, and hug those I love more.  I should serve more.  As I watch Jake and my other little charges, I learn that they are not perfect, they are little, they are learning.  I am old, yet still learning to improve and enjoy life.  I can always do better.  Phyllis McGinley says, "the wonderful thing about saints is that they were human...they lost their tempers, got hungry, scolded God, were egotistical, or testy or impatient in their turns, made mistakes and regretted them.  Still they went on doggedly blundering toward heaven." 

 

I'm grateful for the example of Saints who are imperfect, yet continue to try.  I am grateful for a little boy's prayer who reminds me to appreciate and be happy with the simple things that this life offers, and inspires me to be a better person.

A little bit of wisdom from June

Every once in awhile, I need a little visit with my mom.  I am fortunate enough to have an outline of lessons from when she was a teacher in Relief Society.  I love to read through it, see her handwriting and her thoughts on how she would present her lesson.  There are many quotes from different people scattered through this notebook.  But her thoughts and feelings are everywhere.  Of any of her possessions I have, her thoughts in her handwriting are my most valued.

 

 

 

"Mormon Women: Quest for equality" an article from the Tribune

I was reading the Trib this morning.  The article's in the "Faith" section were very interesting concering many LDS women's quest for equality.  It wasn't so much that they wanted the Priesthood, just more responsibility, more visiblilty.  I consider myself a modern woman.  I don't sit in the backseat where my husband is concerned. I am good at letting people know how I feel.  Yet, as I read this article, I felt (even though everyone is entitled to their own ideas)  that a big point was being missed. I know our Bishop well, and work closely with our Relief Society President.  They go about doing many charitible acts with no one ever knowing.  They ask for neither recognition or praise.

Our church is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I am quite sure He never wanted or asked for more recognition as He went about his life's mission.  I picture Him serving quietly, never asking for any praise.  He was a teacher who was trying to teach us to serve, to love unconditionly, to do these quietly. 

I have had many things in my life that have not turned out as I would have expected.  Illness, problems within the family, death of loved ones.  Yet those near and dear to me have stepped forward with loving care, helping when most needed, never asking for anything, just loving and serving when they saw the need.  This to me is what our Church is about.  This is what The Savior taught us to do.  As for me, I have so much responsibility with church callings, family, serving those in my neighborhood, loving and being loved by my friends, that I have no need or time for anymore responsibility and I certainly don't care if anybody knows what I am doing as I go about my life trying, (and I emphasize the word trying, because that's all it is - just trying) to be like Jesus.

The Sermon on the Mount

This week has flown by.  We're trying to get ready to get out of town.  I've wanted to post since Sunday and haven't found the time.  The little ones are all finally asleep, so I have a moment of quiet.  It seems to me as I have gone through difficult times in the past and as loved ones and friends go through different phases where they are struggling, I always go back to thinking of simple things.  Maybe it is because I am a simple person and so simple solutions seem the best way.  Things like loving one another, being kind to others, patience, letting our light shine in a dark world, prayer, seeking wisdom.
Last Sunday in sharing time the theme was, The Sermon on the Mount.  The lesson was broken down into four parts.  Prayer, Hunger, Light, Love.  Four simple words, but with all the power in the world if actually put into our lives.  There was a question given to the older children.  "What would you do if someone was saying unkind things about you behind your back?"  The answer was suppose to be, you try to be kind to them anyway, letting your light shine.  But my sweet children went much deeper last Sunday.  A young boy in our ward who has had a very sad life raised his hand and said this very thing happens to him, all the time.  I asked what he did in the situation.  He replied, "I don't know, I just feel bad."  I could see that he was getting a little teary, so I asked the children what they could do for this young boy, who was one of us, our friend, our neighbor.  The children were very quiet, then hands started coming up. " We can all be extra nice to John (not his real name),"  a young girl said.  Another young man raised his hand and said, (his exact words)  "if you want a solution to this problem, we need to say a prayer for John and for whoever said the bad words, we need to pray together to help John."  This was from a little guy who is just eight years old.  After that we all talked together about how we as a primary could pray for John and could gather around him and give him support and love.  Last Sunday, these children learned the lessons the Savior gave in the Sermon on the Mount, and then they taught me.  They listened to the words of the Savior, the were confronted with a problem and they came up with solutions using His powerful, yet simple teachings to help a young friend.
Again I am grateful to be surrounded by children who remind me daily what is important in this life.  As I teach Sam to be "nice and gentle" to Dylan, I remind myself that those I love need to be treated just the same way.  As Jake demands my attention while he entertains me with his adventures and all that goes on in his wonderful imagination, I am reminded that others like to be heard.  The comings and goings and stories are important and I must be better at listening.  These little ones love hugs and loves,  who doesn't?  I need to remember to compliment out loud rather than just think that someone looks nice.  I must remember to hug and love those who are so dear to me.  And so as I go through my busy days, it is always good to take a moment and think of those teachings.  Take a moment to pray,  hunger for those great words that will lead me,  let my light shine, and love, always, unconditionally.

Hymn of Hope

On Easter Sunday our choir sang some beautiful songs.  Our choir loves to sing together.  We might not be as young as we once were, but we still enjoy the messages and melodies we learn as a choir.  One particular song really touched me this year.  The title was "Hymn of Hope."  The words decribe just how I feel about the Savior and the Easter message.

"Jesus who was scorned, forsaken, smitten, wounded, crucified,
We, with love and trust unshaken, Take Thee as our Hope and Guide.

Watchful Shepherd, mighty Savior; Tender Healer, ever near.
King of kings, by whose free favor we o'er-come each foe and fear.

We are pilgrims, lone and stranger, And we need Thy constant care,
Till we pass earth's toils and dangers, And Thy final triumph share."

As I see the world come alive this spring I am again reminded of all that I have been blessed with.  Because of what the Savior did personally for me I have a feeling of peace and hope.