School is now out. I can hardly believe that. Worse Nader is now a 1st grader. Holy cow I am getting old. Whats even worse Bobo is a might 7th grader. I thought it was bad when Haybear went into 7th, but Bobo. He is my little boy, my baby, right?
I stop for a minute and wonder how do this happen. How did they grow so fast. Where did all the time go to. Then I look in the mirror and find yes, my first gray hair.(I pulled that fast by the way.)Not to mention the lines that I used to call my forehead. And then the answer comes to me. They grew up because I did. Somewhere along the way for the most part I grew up.
I stopped worry about what others thought of me, and started worrying about what I thought of myself. I started to see what worth there was in time and wisdom, and hope that I have much much more time to gain more wisdom. I very much need it.
But the kids. They grow so fast. They were small and helpless and needed me. Now they are big and teenagers and think I am crazy. They may be right. But I love them. Eye rolling, whatevering, I'm right your wrong, Please knock before you come in,(at least they say please) fiercely independent, teenagers.
I love them.
So now I say OK go ahead and grow up. Tell me when its over and you need me again. I think I will go take a nap. Bring on the chocolate!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
“The Carpenter of Nazareth”
I have just started to read Broken Things to Mend by Jeffrey R Holland. I have not gotten but 10 pages in and need to share this wonderful poem with you. I will still let you know how wonderful the book is. I know it will be, However I didn't think this could wait. I hope it moves you the way it did me.
In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath,
Passes the place where once abode
The Carpenter of Nazareth.
And up and down the dusty way
The village folk would often wend;
And on the bench, beside Him, lay
Their broken things for Him to mend.
The maiden with the doll she broke,
The woman with the broken chair,
The man with broken plough, or yoke,
Said, “Can you mend it, Carpenter?”
And each received the thing he sought,
In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;
The broken thing which each had brought
Returned again a perfect whole.
So, up the hill the long years through,
With heavy step and wistful eye,
The burdened souls their way pursue,
Uttering each the plaintive cry:
“O Carpenter of Nazareth,
This heart, that’s broken past repair,
This life, that’s shattered nigh to death,
Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?”
And by His kind and ready hand,
His own sweet life is woven through
Our broken lives, until they stand
A New Creation—“all things new.”
“The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,
Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,
Mould Thou into the perfect part,
O, Carpenter of Nazareth!”
- George Blair, “The Carpenter of Nazareth”
In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath,
Passes the place where once abode
The Carpenter of Nazareth.
And up and down the dusty way
The village folk would often wend;
And on the bench, beside Him, lay
Their broken things for Him to mend.
The maiden with the doll she broke,
The woman with the broken chair,
The man with broken plough, or yoke,
Said, “Can you mend it, Carpenter?”
And each received the thing he sought,
In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;
The broken thing which each had brought
Returned again a perfect whole.
So, up the hill the long years through,
With heavy step and wistful eye,
The burdened souls their way pursue,
Uttering each the plaintive cry:
“O Carpenter of Nazareth,
This heart, that’s broken past repair,
This life, that’s shattered nigh to death,
Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?”
And by His kind and ready hand,
His own sweet life is woven through
Our broken lives, until they stand
A New Creation—“all things new.”
“The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,
Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,
Mould Thou into the perfect part,
O, Carpenter of Nazareth!”
- George Blair, “The Carpenter of Nazareth”
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Words of Wisdom
So I was not sleeping and was able to finish a new book. I should say new to me. A small two talk book from general conference 2005
Modesty, Makeovers, and the Pursuit of Physical Beauty.
what Mothers and daughters Need to Know
Jeffrey R Holland and Susan W. Tanner
What a beautiful book. Full of great insight on the body and how we see and treat it.
Jeffrey R Holland states in his talk To Mothers and daughters, "Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. And knows what you can become through faith in him." "Be a woman of Christ. Cherish your esteemed place in the sight of God. He needs you." What wonderful words of wisdom. What women young or old would not want to be the best her she can.
Susan W. Tanner goes on in her talk The sanctity of the Body, " I testify that the body is a gift to be treated with gratitude and respect." "Happiness comes from accepting the bodies we have been given as divine gifts and enhancing our natural attributes, not from remaking our bodies." She is clear that it is OK to take very good care of your body, but is also clear that we must not make it our focus. She tells what her mother taught her, " You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentration on others." What great council. What a Christ like behavior to teach your child.
I loved reading this book and am passing it on to Haybear to read.
It is a great testimony to me that we have this modern day revelation from great leaders of the church.
Every mother should read this book. Weather she has sons or daughters. weather she has yet to have children. Or even the leader of children. Of course you could pull up the talks online at lds.org or you can get this beautiful book from the library.
Modesty, Makeovers, and the Pursuit of Physical Beauty.
what Mothers and daughters Need to Know
Jeffrey R Holland and Susan W. Tanner
What a beautiful book. Full of great insight on the body and how we see and treat it.
Jeffrey R Holland states in his talk To Mothers and daughters, "Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. And knows what you can become through faith in him." "Be a woman of Christ. Cherish your esteemed place in the sight of God. He needs you." What wonderful words of wisdom. What women young or old would not want to be the best her she can.
Susan W. Tanner goes on in her talk The sanctity of the Body, " I testify that the body is a gift to be treated with gratitude and respect." "Happiness comes from accepting the bodies we have been given as divine gifts and enhancing our natural attributes, not from remaking our bodies." She is clear that it is OK to take very good care of your body, but is also clear that we must not make it our focus. She tells what her mother taught her, " You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentration on others." What great council. What a Christ like behavior to teach your child.
I loved reading this book and am passing it on to Haybear to read.
It is a great testimony to me that we have this modern day revelation from great leaders of the church.
Every mother should read this book. Weather she has sons or daughters. weather she has yet to have children. Or even the leader of children. Of course you could pull up the talks online at lds.org or you can get this beautiful book from the library.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Be Your Best You
Ralph Waldo Emerson said "What lies behind, and what lies before us, are tiny matter compared to what lies within us."
I have thought a lot about those words. I have wondered if I worry to much about what I can't change. Or worry about things that have not yet happened, and then lose sight of what that worry does to me at the time.
Do I punish myself for my past. Wishing I could change what has been done. Do I hold on to the past and wish I could have done it better. Or do I learn from where I was to be better now.
Do I dwell on the future hoping it will be all I dream for. Or do I work now to improve me to make those dreams real.
Can I focus on now being the very best me I can be. Can I look inside to make sure that right now I am kind and gentle. Can I right now learn and grow from where I am. Can I right now forgive myself for not being perfect and decide that that is what my Savior is for. Can I right now decide that I am good enough.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Book #3
The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox
"Christ doesn't just make up the difference. He make all the difference."
This may be my new favorite book. I loved it. Brad Wilcox has a way of letting you know. That yes you must do all you can, but it is a matter of obedience and faith. There is a gap between us and the father. But Christ has already filled it. He has already made up the difference.
He likened the atonement to the sacrament pray. We know it must be perfect. But the young men can keep trying with no limit on how many times they can do it until they get it right. They are not made to feel less for making a mistake during the pray and they get to start new the next Sunday.
The atonement works like that. We can keep repenting and improving. Even if we make the same mistake again. Of course we should not try to continue to sin. We must keep working towards improving our selves. But if and when we mess again. (I know I do.) We can turn to our Heavenly Father and because of our Savior we can be forgiven.
This book is amazing. I thought I would come away feeling worse. Feeling like I can not make it back to my Heavenly Father. Instead I felt hope. Knowing that I am imperfect and knowing that is why I came here. I came to this earth to gain a body and become like my Father in Heaven.
I am so thankful for the knowledge. Hope is a very good feeling.
"Christ doesn't just make up the difference. He make all the difference."
This may be my new favorite book. I loved it. Brad Wilcox has a way of letting you know. That yes you must do all you can, but it is a matter of obedience and faith. There is a gap between us and the father. But Christ has already filled it. He has already made up the difference.
He likened the atonement to the sacrament pray. We know it must be perfect. But the young men can keep trying with no limit on how many times they can do it until they get it right. They are not made to feel less for making a mistake during the pray and they get to start new the next Sunday.
The atonement works like that. We can keep repenting and improving. Even if we make the same mistake again. Of course we should not try to continue to sin. We must keep working towards improving our selves. But if and when we mess again. (I know I do.) We can turn to our Heavenly Father and because of our Savior we can be forgiven.
This book is amazing. I thought I would come away feeling worse. Feeling like I can not make it back to my Heavenly Father. Instead I felt hope. Knowing that I am imperfect and knowing that is why I came here. I came to this earth to gain a body and become like my Father in Heaven.
I am so thankful for the knowledge. Hope is a very good feeling.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Women's Conference
I know I still need to share book #3. It is coming. I thought I would share how wonderful women's conference was, so next year you all will want to come.
First I have to thank Tracy for going with me. I called her a little more then a week before and said please join me. It was nice that she could come. We had such a wonderful time and learned so much. And the brownies down there are a little piece of heaven.
We went to 5 classes a day and I thought I would share a few things I learned from some of them.
One class we went to was I love to see the Temple- Temple worship in our life
Spencer W Kimbell said " If you understood the ordnance's of the temple, you would crawl on your hands and feet thousands of miles to obtain them."
They added, As we return and when we are ready the Lord will teach us. Regular attendance will bring Revelation. Principle by principle.
Another class we went to and the one I think I loved the most. (not just because Bro Christansen was my stake pres and because I love him,) But because I learned so much.
Faith is not only a feeling. It is a decision.
He said Faith will take a long time to become what we want. " Be as perfect as you can"
Your faith is as good as your understanding of Christ. The more you understand him and love him the greater your faith.
Satin will tell you that your faith isn't good enough. You are not good enough. That is when you need to pray " Help me not to demand of myself that which I can not do."
To gain greater faith you have to accept yourself. Then do your best to become acquainted with your savior.
That is what I learned anyway. I loved going. I find women's conference to be a recharge just in the nick of time. I always come away better then I went.
You can read some of the talks online. But I would recommend you just go. Find the time for yourself. You will always be grateful for the help along the way.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
In this moment
Do not wait to be beautiful. Be your beautiful, authentic self right now.
If the world offers up negativity and despair, surprise the world by giving back love and kindness. Send out the energy that you wish to experience, and you are certain to experience it.
Happiness and fulfillment are alive in this moment. Allow them to flow freely and creatively through your life.
Fall in love all over again with the miracle of being. Your imagination is great and magnificent, yet it cannot hold even a fraction of the possibilities.
You'll do, say and act your best when you feel your best. Feel the limitless wonder of this very moment.
Be beautiful, alive, aware and filled with the energy of the possible. In this moment, is every dream made and fulfilled.
-- Ralph Marston
If the world offers up negativity and despair, surprise the world by giving back love and kindness. Send out the energy that you wish to experience, and you are certain to experience it.
Happiness and fulfillment are alive in this moment. Allow them to flow freely and creatively through your life.
Fall in love all over again with the miracle of being. Your imagination is great and magnificent, yet it cannot hold even a fraction of the possibilities.
You'll do, say and act your best when you feel your best. Feel the limitless wonder of this very moment.
Be beautiful, alive, aware and filled with the energy of the possible. In this moment, is every dream made and fulfilled.
-- Ralph Marston
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