MOMENTS

There are moments in life that are special.

There are moments in life that are common.

There are moments I will forever cherish.

There are moments I wish I could forget.

There are moments that change my life forever.

There are moments that hold me back.

There are moments that push me along.

There are moments that open doors.

There are moments that slam them shut.

There are moments of acceptance.

There are moments abandoned.

There are moments of creation.

There are moments of destruction.

There are moments filled with courage.

There are moments cornered by fear.

All of these moments are a part of me.  All of them helped me create who I am.  They do not define me, but are within me.  They are all Mine.

Chariots of Fire

In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike-and they will-you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed.

(Jeffrey R. Holland, "For Times of Trouble," New Era, Oct. 1980, 15)

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I forget this regularly. Maybe someday I will remember.

Climb Your Mountain

For every hill I’ve tried to climb,

For every stone that bruised my feet,

For all the blood and sweat and grime,

For blinding storms and burning heat,

My heart sings but a grateful song

These are the things that made me strong!

For all the heartache and the tears,

For all the anguish and the pain,

For gloomy days and fruitless years,

And for the hopes that lived in vain,

I do give thanks, for now I know

These were the things that helped me grow!

‘Tis not the softer things in life

Which stimulate man’s will to strive;

But bleak adversity and strife

Do most to keep man’s will alive.

O’er rose-strewn paths the weaklings creep,

But brave hearts dare to climb the steep.

-Unknown Author

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I remember a psychological exercise that my roommates and I did in college and discarding everything and running into the storm was something I looked forward to. I'm not so sure how I feel now. Sometimes I wish for the days that I dared to take on anything.

The Parable of the Jello

And there was a man who was most creative, yea he did create many wonderful things, both with his mind and with his hands. And one day, this man called his daughters and sons unto him, and said, "Behold, this which I have created." And the daughters and sons looked and understood not, for they had never beheld such wonder. For it was clear, and beautiful in color, and stood with much firmness upon the mans' plate. And the sons and daughters did say, "Father, what is it, for we know not." And the father answered and said, "It is jello and it is very firm and strong." And the children knew for they had touched it, and cut it and it had much coolness, and they marveled at its' strength to stand firm.

Then the father set the jello by the fire, and the children watched as the jello grew soft, and lost its' strength, and ran into every direction. And they cried unto their father saying, "where is the jello which you created for us?" And the father answered saying, "You are like unto this jello, created with much strength and greatly desired. My Daughters have much beauty that my neighbors' sons do desire of them, and they seek closeness with them. And my sons, the same is like unto you, and to our neighbors daughters. It is my desire that you understand that closeness as in necking and petting and much kissing does create great warmth as in the fire. This warm fire will cause even the firm and the strong to weaken and to melt."

The father counseled his children saying, "Behold the jello, keep things cool, my children, keep them cool and liken this jello unto thy own life." and the children understood. And they said unto the father, "We will be as jello," and they covenanted to stand firm and strong, and not let the heat of the passion destroy them.

-Author Unknown

Seeking and Receiving Personal Revelation

The Visiting Teaching message this month is a difficult subject for me.

Personal Revelation.

I know that people receive personal revelation. I also know that it is essential to our relationship with God. However, I don't feel like He likes to talk to me so much. I'm no work of perfection walking around or anything so He can't really be not telling me anything because I'm GOOD. I'm not particularly evil either. I have struggled with different things/people over the years, but nothing too terrible.

We're supposed to "prepare to receive personal revelation. . . by studying the scriptures, fasting, praying, and building faith."(Elder Robert D. Hales) So, I'm not very good at this right now, but I have had some pretty dedicated/faithful blocks in my life where I was doing all I could.

We're supposed "study it out in your mind; then . . . ask if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you: therefore, you shall feel that it is right."(D&C 9:8) I'm pretty good at the studying part. Not so good at the asking part (anymore). But I was at one point.

NOTHING.

I mean, I can count on one hand how many times I have felt prompted. In Twenty-six years, that's not many. Now I don't need to know exactly how many cans of beans I need to buy, but I would like enough communication to make me feel like He cares. Especially with big decisions, school, getting married, large decisions that my Hubby and I make together. None of these things do I get answers for. They are pretty big decisions. Some very life changing. Yet, NOTHING.

Then I've heard the "you have to learn how He speaks to you" speech from Sunday School teachers. Blah blah blah. How am I supposed to learn when he doesn't speak to me? Or when he does it's every few years. Like:

-The Salt Lake City airport leaving for my Mission.  "Don't Go"

-Driving on I-15 to help out family. (No good reason not to go) "Don't go. You'll just end up on the side of the freeway."

Definitely 5 years in between those two experiences. So when I think that it's just me being stupid, I ignore it. When the promptings are so in frequent, how is one supposed to think "this must be legit."?

I'm not very good with subliminal messages. You've just got to tell it to me straight.


How do you know what you're thinking is real?

What are your practices that keep you aware?

The Sacrificial Donut

There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending school in Utah. Brother Christianson taught at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson’s class. Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.

One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Brother Christianson pulled Steve aside and said,
“You think you’re pretty tough, don’t you?”

Steve’s answer was, “Yeah, I do.”

Then Brother Christianson asked, “How many push-ups can you do?”

“200? That’s pretty good, Steve,” Brother Christianson said. “Do you think you could do 300?”

Steve replied, “I don’t know. . .I’ve never done 300 at a time.”

“Do you think you could?” Again asked Brother Christianson.

“Well, I can try,” said Steve.

“Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,” Brother Christianson said. Steve said, “Well. . .I think I can. . .yeah, I can do it.”

Brother Christianson said, “Good! I need you to do this on Friday.”

Friday cam and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren’t the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited- it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get a early start on the weekend.

Brother Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, “Cynthia, do you want a donut?”

Cynthia said, “Yes.”

Brother Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?”

Steve said, “Sure,” and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Brother Christianson put a donut on Cynthia’s desk.

Brother Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, “Joe, do you want a donut?”

Joe said, “Yes.” Brother Christianson asked, “Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?” Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, ‘til Brother Christianson came to Scott. Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When Brother Christianson asked, “Scott do you want a donut?”

Scott’s reply was, “Well, can I do my own push-ups?”

Brother Christianson said, “No, Steve has to do them.”

Then Scott said, “Well, I don’t want one then.”

Brother Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn’t want?”

Steve started to do ten push-ups. Scott said, “HEY! I said I didn’t want one!”

Brother Christianson said, “Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it.” And he put a donut on Scott’s desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Brother Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Brother Christianson asked Jenny, “Jenny, do you want a donut?”

Jenny said, “No.”

Then Brother Christianson asked Steve, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?” Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.

By now, the students were beginning to say “No” and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Brother Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten push-ups in a set because he couldn’t bear to watch all of Steve’s work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Brother Christianson started down the fourth row.

During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room. When Brother Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Brother Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Brother Christianson, “Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?”

Brother Christianson thought for a moment, “Well, they’re your push-ups. You can do them any way that you want.” And Brother Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, “NO! Don’t come in! Stay out!”

Jason didn’t know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said “No, let him come.”

Brother Christianson said, “You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him.”

Steve said, “Yes, let him come in.”

Brother Christianson said, “Okay, I’ll let you get Jason’s out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?”

“Yes.”

“Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?” Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Brother Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve’s arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Brother Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, “Linda, do you want a donut?”

Linda said, very sadly, “No, thank you.”

Brother Christianson asked Steve, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?”

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda. Then Brother Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. “Susan, do you want a donut?”

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, “Brother Christianson, can I help him?”

Brother Christianson, with tears of his own, said, “No, he has to do it alone. Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?”

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Brother Christianson turned to the room and said, “And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, ‘Into thy hands I commend my spirit.’ With the Understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.”

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Do you eat the doughnut or leave it on the desk?

Just something I found that I thought you would enjoy thinking about this Easter Season. Have a wonderful Sabbath.

The Candy Cane

We give to you
A simple shepherd’s crook
To remind you of the shepherd
Who walked the hills of Galilee.

To remind you that you too are called
To follow the Shepherd’s way
To care for the lambs of our Father
So that none will go astray.

For each lamb of our Fathers
Is precious to behold
And we must teach them by his spirit
To bring them safely to his fold.

So as you view the shepherd’s crook
As it hangs on your Christmas tree
Remember you walk in the footsteps
Of the Shepherd from Galilee.


By Linda Maizer

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I have always loved this poem. There are all sorts of wonderful analogies for the Candy Cane. I haven't found one I didn't like. Today this one reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. The love, support, and silent help we give to each other. Everyone seems a bit more giving during this time. Those in need receive help more readily and we spend our hours determined to find the perfect gifts for our family, friends, and even strangers.

It's hard to be young, just out of college, new family and want to help others out when you have little or nothing to give. We just can't do everything. It's hard to pick and choose who you will help and how. My hubby and I have spent the whole month trying to figure out what we can do to help out. Realistically, we don't have much. But we want to. Our busy lives keep getting in the way. We will find something before the end of the year. And I'll tell you about it.

What do you do at Christmas?

What am I dreaming about? Part 1

"There is no substitute under the heavens for productive labor. It is the process by which dreams become realities. It is the process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements."

~President Gordon B. Hinckley, "I Believe," Ensign, Aug 1992, 4.

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My Dreams? What are those? I live so often in reality that I forget this little addition to my life. There are many things that I want to accomplish. Many thoughts that are still in the vision stage.

Just what am I going to do with them?

Will they stay idle visions or become dynamic achievements?

Our Deepest Fear. . .

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you.
It is not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear. Our presence automatically liberates others.

**Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural Speech**

Your Constant Companion

I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the tasks you do you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed. you must merely be firm with me. Show me how you want something done, and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great people and, alas, of all failures as well. Those who are great, I have made great. those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, but I work with all the precision of a machine, plus the intelligence of a man. you may run me for profit or run me for ruin. It makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I? I am HABIT.

--Author Unknown

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I hope you can look at your habits and know they are benefiting your life and not pulling you down. If they are undesirable habits I hope you have the strength to over come them and develop a new, replacement habit.

Have a wonderful Sabbath.

Personal Interview with the Savior

In June 1965, President David O. McKay, while conversing with some brethren, admonished:

Let me assure you, brethren that some day you will have a personal Priesthood Interview with the Savior, Himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which he will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.

First, He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. Have you actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?

Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. . .

Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.

Fourth, He will want a summary of your activity in your church assignment. . .

Fifth, He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings.

Sixth, He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community.

****Taken from the book, Strengthening Our Families: An In-depth Look at the Proclamation on the Family. Edited by David C. Dollahite. Pg. 98. ****


I post this quote not to incriminate any of our husbands, but to only address the accountability that we will undoubtedly share. This quote began as one of my favorites when I was younger because of what the 'guys' were responsible for, but now my attention is drawn to what I am responsible for. It's a reminder of my need to address my priorities and make sure that I am keeping them in order.

I thought you would enjoy it. Have a wonderful Sabbath day

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark. . . .

ONE: Don't miss the boat.

TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

SIX: Build your future on high ground.

SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

NINE: When you're stressed, float a while.

TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

~Anonymous

~Be Ye Therefore Perfect~

"Be Ye Therefore Perfect"

James 1:4, Matt 5:48, 3 Nephi 12:48

"If the. . . passage I have quoted is not worded to our understanding, we can alter the phraseology of the sentence, and say: "Be ye perfect as ye can," for that is all we can do. When we are doing as well as we know how in the sphere and station which we occupy here, we are justified in the justice, righteousness, mercy, and judgement that go before the Lord of heaven and earth. We are justified as the angels who go before the throne of God. The sin that will cleave to the posterity of Adam and Eve is that they have not done as well as they know how." Brigham Young, JD, 21:129

Just a thought for our wonderful Sabbath day.