Doncha hate it when a cricket finds its way into your room and right under your bed and hides out until the deep dark of night before starting to chirp? I think it was louder than a cicada. Probably not, but it was drowning out even the box fan next to my bed. 11:30 pm, 12 am, 1 am, and that sucker was still going strong trying to get some female to join him. Well, it was a bedroom....
I tried sweeping it out of there with a broom, and spraying caustic cleaner under there (409 is a great fly-killer, btw). But all to no avail. It had found a perfect hiding place to play his romantic music (to him at least) when I desperately needed a good night's sleep so I could function at work in the morning.
I love the sound of crickets OUTSIDE at night. Wonderful to go to sleep to. My morning alarm music on my phone even has the sound of crickets in it, come to think of it (It's going off again right now-I believe it's music from King Fu Panda). But practically sharing my pillow? .... one word: Torture!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Rise to the Challenge
"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it." --John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776
"The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." George Washington
That experiment is now in your hands. Rise to the challenge.
"The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." George Washington
That experiment is now in your hands. Rise to the challenge.
Friday, October 29, 2010
A Key to Joy Remembered -- Again
So, tonight one of my twins had her first band concert. She has taken up the alto sax (or is it the tenor?), which is practically bigger than she is. But she has a natural talent and she's loving it, and we're loving it that she's loving it.
Then the rest of the evening was spent finishing up Halloween costumes for the girls. A vampire and two witches this year. The costumes are a blend of old and new, a lot of their own creativity, and a splash of mine. Usually one of my favorite fun holidays of the year -- love the drama!
This wasn't really going to be about Halloween, though. It's what I just learned -- or more correctly, RE-learned tonight -- as I put the finishing touches on my three youngest girls' costumes for Halloween.
See, the fact of the matter is I am a middle-aged morbidly obese woman with diabetes and an auto-immune arthritis disease (Psoriatic Arthritis) who also works full time. Consequently, I am often tired at night and at times dread starting major family projects after a full day at work. It just seems so hard!
But I know my REAL job in life is MOTHER with all that entails, so I stuff my exhaustion down, down, down into my imaginary inner cellar where I store things in the darkness I don't have time to deal with and shut and padlock the thick wooden planked door -- picture also, will you, the iron bar I have going across this mighty oak door, and the foot-long padlock I thread through the iron ring. So now my exhaustion is contained, and out of sight and out of my conscious thought. One more deep breath, and I dive in, remembering Dory, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming."
Beginning is still hard, and I too often fail to begin. My oldest daughter Jen's costume still sitting in pieces in a bag in my sewing room is a case in point. I started that one when she was in high school. She has her Master's Degree now and is married.(Sorry, Jen!)
Once I get going I'm okay. As the hours roll by I have to fight with myself to keep going til I finish, but the fight tonight is a mere skirmish compared to what it was when I was young. I have learned discipline over the years, although I am not yet perfect at it. I've learned how to work. (You have no idea what an amazing accomplishment that is!) I know my strength, and how to take "small bites" until the whole thing is done. I guess that's an AA type thing -- well, in my case it would be OA. It's a 'one day at a time' thing, applied to a project. I've figured out in my middle age how to break down a whole project into a series of smaller tasks, and look at just the one task at hand and not try to take on the whole weight of the project all at once. I realize this is something most people learn before their 20, but I didn't learn it until I was over 40. Some of us are just late bloomers, I guess! Still and all, I need to apply this to a few other projects I've been putting off. Hmmm.
Anyway, it all got done tonight, and when I sat back and took it in, enjoying the finished product and imagining the fun the girls are going to have, that padlock on my imaginary inner cellar door spontaneously unlocked, the door swung wide open and intense peace and happiness poured into my heart, filling it so full that I wondered why I thought it was going to be hard at first! And then I realized the truth my fears and selfishness had shut away in that dark cellar -- I remembered what I learn again and again each time I serve my family:
Joy is the Gift God pours out like a mighty river into our hearts whenever we willingly serve each other.
This is my life-long labor -- to corral and disarm those fears and and that selfishness BEFORE they get a chance to kidnap and imprison in the cellar of my subconscious the true principles I'm trying to let Jesus carve into my heart. That's why obedience to correct principles even when we don't want to and we're afraid (especially when we are afraid!) is so important. It is that obedience, in my case tonight it was to the principle of service to my family even though I was tired, that unlocks the eternal truths we have always known within our hearts and allows us to remember them again, as if for the first time.
Nothing like repetition to help the memory: Joy is the Gift God pours out like a mighty river into our hearts whenever we willingly serve each other.
Gotta remember that tomorrow.
Then the rest of the evening was spent finishing up Halloween costumes for the girls. A vampire and two witches this year. The costumes are a blend of old and new, a lot of their own creativity, and a splash of mine. Usually one of my favorite fun holidays of the year -- love the drama!
This wasn't really going to be about Halloween, though. It's what I just learned -- or more correctly, RE-learned tonight -- as I put the finishing touches on my three youngest girls' costumes for Halloween.
See, the fact of the matter is I am a middle-aged morbidly obese woman with diabetes and an auto-immune arthritis disease (Psoriatic Arthritis) who also works full time. Consequently, I am often tired at night and at times dread starting major family projects after a full day at work. It just seems so hard!
But I know my REAL job in life is MOTHER with all that entails, so I stuff my exhaustion down, down, down into my imaginary inner cellar where I store things in the darkness I don't have time to deal with and shut and padlock the thick wooden planked door -- picture also, will you, the iron bar I have going across this mighty oak door, and the foot-long padlock I thread through the iron ring. So now my exhaustion is contained, and out of sight and out of my conscious thought. One more deep breath, and I dive in, remembering Dory, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming."
Beginning is still hard, and I too often fail to begin. My oldest daughter Jen's costume still sitting in pieces in a bag in my sewing room is a case in point. I started that one when she was in high school. She has her Master's Degree now and is married.(Sorry, Jen!)
Once I get going I'm okay. As the hours roll by I have to fight with myself to keep going til I finish, but the fight tonight is a mere skirmish compared to what it was when I was young. I have learned discipline over the years, although I am not yet perfect at it. I've learned how to work. (You have no idea what an amazing accomplishment that is!) I know my strength, and how to take "small bites" until the whole thing is done. I guess that's an AA type thing -- well, in my case it would be OA. It's a 'one day at a time' thing, applied to a project. I've figured out in my middle age how to break down a whole project into a series of smaller tasks, and look at just the one task at hand and not try to take on the whole weight of the project all at once. I realize this is something most people learn before their 20, but I didn't learn it until I was over 40. Some of us are just late bloomers, I guess! Still and all, I need to apply this to a few other projects I've been putting off. Hmmm.
Anyway, it all got done tonight, and when I sat back and took it in, enjoying the finished product and imagining the fun the girls are going to have, that padlock on my imaginary inner cellar door spontaneously unlocked, the door swung wide open and intense peace and happiness poured into my heart, filling it so full that I wondered why I thought it was going to be hard at first! And then I realized the truth my fears and selfishness had shut away in that dark cellar -- I remembered what I learn again and again each time I serve my family:
Joy is the Gift God pours out like a mighty river into our hearts whenever we willingly serve each other.
This is my life-long labor -- to corral and disarm those fears and and that selfishness BEFORE they get a chance to kidnap and imprison in the cellar of my subconscious the true principles I'm trying to let Jesus carve into my heart. That's why obedience to correct principles even when we don't want to and we're afraid (especially when we are afraid!) is so important. It is that obedience, in my case tonight it was to the principle of service to my family even though I was tired, that unlocks the eternal truths we have always known within our hearts and allows us to remember them again, as if for the first time.
Nothing like repetition to help the memory: Joy is the Gift God pours out like a mighty river into our hearts whenever we willingly serve each other.
Gotta remember that tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Some Thoughts On Adversity.
There's a saying, we teach best what we most need to learn. Today I am both the learner and the teacher to myself. Rather bizarre, actually.
I received an email from Our Ladies Room saying that there was a reply to a thread I was following. I clicked on it because I didn't remember anything about it. As it turns out, I had written a reply on the thread W-A-Y back in May of 2009 about adversity. I must have been in a really good place, because as I read it I realized it was saying exactly what I needed to hear and had FORGOTTEN!!! So I decided to re-post it here on my blog so I could have it handy to read any time I was feeling stressed out and needed to remember FAITH. :D
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You asked why things were so difficult, why were there so many roadblocks and obstacles if you have been correct in understanding the answer you received and this house is so right for you?
I think we sometimes have a mistaken idea that if something's right, it's going to therefore be easy, everything's going to fall into place, obstacles will be removed as if by miracle, etc. etc. We expect this --because it DOES happen often enough to justify the belief!--so when it doesn't happen, it's very confusing.
The thing is, and your experience illustrates, that it isn't always going to come easy. Sometimes we get the big, sure answers because the path ahead is going to be HARD and we need that witness to lean on when times get tough. It's like the porch light outside my house. I just found it on in the middle of the day. It isn't lighting much right now. The light it gives off appears very small indeed - I have to look directly at it to even notice that it's lit. Certainly it isn't needed in the bright light of the Arizona sunshine. But tonight I will be glad for that little light - it will be a beacon in the darkness when I need it to keep from tripping over my daughters' scooters and bikes they left in the walk way again.
I am reminded of how many times in the Book of Mormon we are told to remember all the great and marvelous things God has done for His children. I think we are given these undeniable witnesses of the Spirit just before difficult and trying times as a light to show the way when the obstacles remain. We just have to remember them, ponder them, immerse ourselves in the memory of the peace and light and joy we felt when the answer came, and lean on that when we bump up against stuff in the night.
Heavenly Father can't always remove the obstacles - how would we grow if we never had to fight through adversity? - but he does always provide comfort, strength and peace in the midst of adversity; and a way out, over and through the obstacles eventually (sometimes through means through to the other side of the veil, but that's okay too. We're all making that journey someday). I think the yes answers before the trials are part of that strengthening, and that peace He gives. It's a reassurance that He knew there were rough waters ahead, and He knew WE would need to know that HE knew. It's another way He is before us, beside us and in front of us in the midst of the battle. Why not before us, behind us and beside us in 'time' too? Comforting thought, especially because it's so true since where God is, time is no longer, and all things, all times, are present before him as one.
All of this is temporary anyway. Not our real home. :-) We're just away at boarding school taking courses for an advanced degree - How to be Like Mom and Dad. :-) Classes in patience (Gail, you named this one in your post!), longsuffering, pure love of Christ, service, sacrifice, prayer, hope, faith, virtue, holiness, obedience, etc. etc. etc. and we just keep going, each new experience bringing with it new opportunities to learn to be Christ-like.
I received an email from Our Ladies Room saying that there was a reply to a thread I was following. I clicked on it because I didn't remember anything about it. As it turns out, I had written a reply on the thread W-A-Y back in May of 2009 about adversity. I must have been in a really good place, because as I read it I realized it was saying exactly what I needed to hear and had FORGOTTEN!!! So I decided to re-post it here on my blog so I could have it handy to read any time I was feeling stressed out and needed to remember FAITH. :D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
You asked why things were so difficult, why were there so many roadblocks and obstacles if you have been correct in understanding the answer you received and this house is so right for you?
I think we sometimes have a mistaken idea that if something's right, it's going to therefore be easy, everything's going to fall into place, obstacles will be removed as if by miracle, etc. etc. We expect this --because it DOES happen often enough to justify the belief!--so when it doesn't happen, it's very confusing.
The thing is, and your experience illustrates, that it isn't always going to come easy. Sometimes we get the big, sure answers because the path ahead is going to be HARD and we need that witness to lean on when times get tough. It's like the porch light outside my house. I just found it on in the middle of the day. It isn't lighting much right now. The light it gives off appears very small indeed - I have to look directly at it to even notice that it's lit. Certainly it isn't needed in the bright light of the Arizona sunshine. But tonight I will be glad for that little light - it will be a beacon in the darkness when I need it to keep from tripping over my daughters' scooters and bikes they left in the walk way again.
I am reminded of how many times in the Book of Mormon we are told to remember all the great and marvelous things God has done for His children. I think we are given these undeniable witnesses of the Spirit just before difficult and trying times as a light to show the way when the obstacles remain. We just have to remember them, ponder them, immerse ourselves in the memory of the peace and light and joy we felt when the answer came, and lean on that when we bump up against stuff in the night.
Heavenly Father can't always remove the obstacles - how would we grow if we never had to fight through adversity? - but he does always provide comfort, strength and peace in the midst of adversity; and a way out, over and through the obstacles eventually (sometimes through means through to the other side of the veil, but that's okay too. We're all making that journey someday). I think the yes answers before the trials are part of that strengthening, and that peace He gives. It's a reassurance that He knew there were rough waters ahead, and He knew WE would need to know that HE knew. It's another way He is before us, beside us and in front of us in the midst of the battle. Why not before us, behind us and beside us in 'time' too? Comforting thought, especially because it's so true since where God is, time is no longer, and all things, all times, are present before him as one.
All of this is temporary anyway. Not our real home. :-) We're just away at boarding school taking courses for an advanced degree - How to be Like Mom and Dad. :-) Classes in patience (Gail, you named this one in your post!), longsuffering, pure love of Christ, service, sacrifice, prayer, hope, faith, virtue, holiness, obedience, etc. etc. etc. and we just keep going, each new experience bringing with it new opportunities to learn to be Christ-like.
Monday, September 20, 2010
A Life-Changing Experience at the World Congress of Families
The activities this letter describes took place in August of 2009. Becky, pictured below, is the sister of a friend in my ward. She shared this email with me, and at the end of it Chris and Becky say to feel free to forward it. So, I hope they don't mind, but I'm posting it instead :-) For many years I've been aware of the international war on the family taking place at the UN level, and the very real dangers we face. When the natural (traditional) family is undermined, all society is attacked. The family is the fundamental unit of society. Destroy the foundation and you destroy economies, and then nations.
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Dear Family and Friends,
Most of you know that Chris and I were able to take a trip to The Netherlands this past week - and it was amazing! It was a life changing experience for both of us, and therefore we have to write about it... We’re sending this letter to you because we think you might be interested in the things we experienced and in what we have learned. And! We think this is information that everyone needs to be aware of. So here goes...
Most of you know that Chris and I were able to take a trip to The Netherlands this past week - and it was amazing! It was a life changing experience for both of us, and therefore we have to write about it... We’re sending this letter to you because we think you might be interested in the things we experienced and in what we have learned. And! We think this is information that everyone needs to be aware of. So here goes...
Several months ago I received a monthly newsletter from Family Watch International (FWI) explaining that they were looking for volunteers to help their organization at the World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam in August. Chris had been wanting to go back and visit because he served a 2 year mission there for our church - so I forwarded him the e-mail and said "Are we going?" And we did.
We were able to visit several cities on our trip, but the World Congress that we were able to attend, for 2 out of the 3 days, was unbelievable. I would say it was a "once in a lifetime experience", only Chris and I hope to be able to become more involved and attend again sometime in the future. The World Congress of Families brings together government, religious and community leaders; scholars, experts in family issues, and concerned citizens who are working to preserve the family around the world.
There were over 60 countries represented at this Congress. We heard speakers from the USA, Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland, Budapest, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Poland, Italy, Russia, Nigeria - to name a few. Never have we been in the presence of so many people with "titles". We were rubbing shoulders with the likes of those in the European Parliament, high profile case lawyers, doctors, the Archbishop of Utrecht, members of the Australian parliament, a King from Africa, presidents of several international organizations, a Chief Rabbi, etc. This gives you an idea of the caliber of people that were in attendance; however, the final day of the Congress Elder Nelson (a member of the Quorum of the twelve apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and his wife Wendy were in attendance. We were able to talk with him, shake his hand, and be in close proximity to him for most of the day. What an experience that was...
At the Congress we were taught, and even experienced, the forces that are threatening "the natural family" - as it was referred too (a family consisting of a married husband and wife with children). We knew the traditional family was under attack, but had no idea what has really been going on. We were not aware of the magnitude of influence of those who would destroy our family and yours; my role as a wife & mother and Chris's role as a husband & father.
For those of you who have never been to Amsterdam I will try and explain the atmosphere. This is going to be pretty blunt. The Netherlands was the first country to allow same-sex marriage. They promote (yes, promote) their famous "red-light" district (legalized prostitution) as a recreational activity, with pages of "playboy" style ads in their city guides that are distributed everywhere! You can find every form of pornography on the streets of Amsterdam - you don't have to look for it, it's just there - in the form of postcards, posters, shirts, socks, cigarette lighters, even candy. They have legalized marijuana and have koffie shops (spelled with a "k") where you can order and smoke it. One could probably get a high just walking down some of the streets - it's everywhere (along with alcohol). The attitude is "live and let live" and pretty much anything goes. Aware of this "free to do what you want" prevalence we were dumbfounded when we learned that the speeches given at the World Congress of Families were censored by the Dutch government! They did not want anyone speaking or distributing material against homosexuality. The double standard was unbelievable!
As stated earlier, we went to the Congress as volunteers for FWI. We were able to talk with Sharon Slater, the president, about some of her experiences at the UN in her fight to preserve the family. Amazing to me is the fact that there really are organizations out there who are trying to destroy the family - literally destroy it! They are well organized and well funded - sadly, even through our tax dollars. Sharon has just printed a book tilted "Stand for the Family". This book is a must read for everyone. She goes through her experiences at the UN and how NGO's (non-governmental organizations) are heavily influencing legislation that is effecting how you and I live. Regardless of whether the US ambassador to the UN signs the treaties (which would bind us to certain international laws), some activist judges as well as the Supreme Court are actually interpreting our constitution based on the treaties that other countries have signed - which is completely ridiculous. I am not aware of any other book in print that explains what actually goes on at the UN. Sharon has over a decade's experience that she shares with us, and she started her journey as a stay-at-home mom, just like many of us. I have two copies of the book that I am going to let people borrow for 1-2 weeks at a time on a first come first serve basis. Although I would highly recommend purchasing your own.
Here's a link to FWI's website http://www.familywatchinternational.org/fwi/ Make sure you sign their petition while you're there! The signing of the petition allows FWI to represent all those who support families when at the UN. Thus giving them the backing they need to help fight legislation that destroys the family. Imagine the difference between, “This is bad legislation” and , “This is bad legislation and these thousands of people support us on this.” So please sign the petition whether you buy the book or not!
I hope this doesn't sound like a whole lot of political mumbo jumbo. These threats are real. This was such an eye opening experience in seeing the reality of the war that is at hand. There were several examples given at the Congress where religious rights and freedoms are being taken away - even here in the US.
As we were literally being taught at the feet of an Apostle of The Lord at the Congress, I was struck particularly by one paragraph of Elder Nelson's speech...
"Furthermore, those who seek to undermine traditional marriage and family would effectively limit the rights of those who do uphold the sanctity of these institutions. This consequence leads to another major concern— the eventual erosion of religious liberty, including the liberty to defend, promote, and practice traditional family values.7 Religious liberty is essential if we are to raise up righteous children. Morally responsible families will not marginalize religious liberty, they will nurture and protect it."
If this is not motivation enough to do something, then I don't know what is. You can read all of Elder Nelson's speech here at the lower portion of the page http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/elder-russell-m-nelson-addre sses-international-conference-on-families along with Sister Nelson’s and Sherry Dew’s.
[Interjecting here -- I could not find the talks on the link above, but they were easily accessible on the World Congress of Families website.
Elder Nelson's talk: http://www.worldcongress.org/wcf5.spkrs/wcf5.nelsonr.htm
Sheri Dew: http://www.worldcongress.org/wcf5.spkrs/wcf5.dew.htm
Index of talks, click on the title of the talk to see it: http://www.worldcongress.org/WCF5/wcf5.spkrs.htm]
We met with so many good, religious people from many countries who stand up to the attacks on the natural family. There are those, like the religious of Holland, who face incredible obstacles on a daily basis. Those that stand for the family are NOT in the minority as the media would have us believe. However, it would seem there are smaller, developing countries who need our numbers to make a difference, and in turn we need their fortitude. It was mentioned more than once at the Congress that if it wasn't for the Muslim countries (who are very pro-family) much of the anti-family legislation proposed at the UN would pass. We have learned that even ONE person can make a difference; that a stay-at-home mom with a belief in the traditional family can influence UN legislation that in turn influences millions, even billions.
Now if you've read to the end of this letter - thank you! And we hope you'll now go out and do something about it. Here are a few things you can do: If you have the means - donate to FWI or other family-oriented organizations. Even small amounts add up, and they surely can use it right now. Subscribe to pro-family newsletters and educate yourself about what is going on. Read Sharon's book - you will have so much the advantage of knowing what is really happening. Educate others. And do missionary work. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the key to saving the family. If you have any questions let us know.
Thanks,
Chris & Becky
Friday, September 17, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Atonement of Housework
I was reading Hugh Nibley this week. In Temples and Cosmos he quotes a scientist named Lyall Matthew from England, “Left to itself, everything tends to become more and more disorderly, until the final and natural state of things is a completely random distribution of matter. Any kind of order is unnatural and happens only by chance encounters.”
The normal state of matter is to be unorganized, says Nibley. However, something holds that matter together. Or restores it. Atonement. As Br. Nibley states, “’Atonement’ brings particles back together again.”
The way Br. Nibley puts it sends my mind into many different paths of thought – a new perspective on the atonement, and its infinite nature, and why the Atonement that Jesus wrought is effective also for the earth, dirt, rocks, sand, trees, plants, insects, animals, along with brothers and sisters. The force that holds everything together is hard at work in a far more infinite capacity than I ever comprehended before.
On another tangent, this sheds new light on the role and responsibility of mothers. It is the normal and natural state for my children to be at each other’s throats (well, not literally), and for the house to fall apart. Entropy is a natural law and is hard at work in my yard and in my house. And in my family. (Another thought - if Jesus is the author of the atonement, let us say, of syntropy, as the scientists have labeled the force that holds the universe and the atom together in Nibley’s day, than is Satan the author of entropy?)
As the mom of my family, and the homemaker, Father in Heaven has given me the responsibility of being the force that holds the family together temporally and spiritually. In my patriarchal blessing I’m specifically instructed in the manner in which I am to teach my family the gospel: with patience, love unfeigned, long-suffering, kindness, and without harassment or pressure of any kind. So, in order to be the force that holds the family together in the gospel, I’m not to use force at all, but love - the pure love of Christ. A paradox. As much a paradox as syntropy itself? (By definition, a paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement that is nevertheless true, or possibly true.)
As a mom, I’m also responsible for caring for the home – seeing that the dishes are done, the laundry is clean, etc. etc. etc. I am supposed to be the syntropy factor in my home. And syntropy is stronger than entropy.
My home is a microcosm of the universe. The natural state of my home is disorder. If it’s the natural and normal state of things to tend to become more and more disorderly, then I can stop blaming myself for things following their natural course. At the same time, I can view putting order back into the home as an act of creation – organizing my world. I’m the goddess of my home, with the responsibility of keeping it ordered and organized. Looked at this way, it becomes a FUN thing – Divinely inspired. I am imitating God, following the Lord, by caring for my home. I am participating in a small way in a god-like and godly activity. This puts new meaning for me into the scripture “organize yourselves.” It’s like He’s saying in this scripture, “be like me.” Which is exactly what he DID.
I guess the biggest thing I feel from this is the reduction of guilt and blame for the house being a wreck. Whenever everything fell apart, I felt like it was my fault. Now I know it’s the natural order of things to fall apart. Wallowing in guilt is foolish - it’s not happening because I’m a terrible person. It’s happening because it’s the natural state of things on this mortal earth! It’s suppose to do that!! Which frees me up to stop fighting my job in all this – to be the force for order in my home. To create at-one-ment with God right here, right now. Not THE Atonement – that’s not what I mean. But to be a creative force, a force of CREATION, in my home! It’s exciting to think of myself that way. It puts a different spin on it all. It also lets me see that whatever order I achieve each day, it’s something to be proud of, to take pride in, and gratitude too. Every little bit of order is a step in the right direction.
It also gives me the realization that taking care of my home, cleaning etc, is a spiritual as well as physical activity and responsibility. Makes it easier to do somehow. I feel like there’s a greater purpose – the world is wrong to believe its demeaning work. Anything that is an act of creation is an important thing to do. Fascinating.....
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sweeter than Chocolate!
I just have to say I'm so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I’ve been trying to correct a few things in my daily life and am astonished and humbled anew at God’s generosity!
Our stake president gave a talk in Ward Conference a few weeks ago, and I was pierced to the heart because I have not made daily prayer and scripture study with my little girls the highest priority - even more important than physical food. My hubby also felt the burning desire to correct our course in this. We came home committed to doing better and made a plan. We haven't been perfect by any stretch. The difficult circumstances we've been in financially have not changed (though I still have hope). Yet, somehow it all seems so much easier than it was! And tonight my heart is so happy - almost like what falling in love feels like! Sweet beyond measure.
Making even the smallest effort to do as Jesus taught, to pray, to study His Word, to try to be like Him in my actions, even when I fail (which happens many times a day), I'm still so much happier deep down than trying to “go it alone”. His yoke really is easier and lighter than when I try to rule my own life. The spiritual reward for just TRYING to do better, be better, is nothing short of miraculous.
If there's something in your own life that could be improved, give it a shot! The week's going to pass anyway. Talk it over with the Lord and ask for His strength and will to accomplish the change you want to make for the better, and see how good YOU feel at the end of a week!
By small and simple things shall great things be brought to pass. Nothing tastes as good as the Spirit in my heart feels. Not even chocolate!
Our stake president gave a talk in Ward Conference a few weeks ago, and I was pierced to the heart because I have not made daily prayer and scripture study with my little girls the highest priority - even more important than physical food. My hubby also felt the burning desire to correct our course in this. We came home committed to doing better and made a plan. We haven't been perfect by any stretch. The difficult circumstances we've been in financially have not changed (though I still have hope). Yet, somehow it all seems so much easier than it was! And tonight my heart is so happy - almost like what falling in love feels like! Sweet beyond measure.
Making even the smallest effort to do as Jesus taught, to pray, to study His Word, to try to be like Him in my actions, even when I fail (which happens many times a day), I'm still so much happier deep down than trying to “go it alone”. His yoke really is easier and lighter than when I try to rule my own life. The spiritual reward for just TRYING to do better, be better, is nothing short of miraculous.
If there's something in your own life that could be improved, give it a shot! The week's going to pass anyway. Talk it over with the Lord and ask for His strength and will to accomplish the change you want to make for the better, and see how good YOU feel at the end of a week!
By small and simple things shall great things be brought to pass. Nothing tastes as good as the Spirit in my heart feels. Not even chocolate!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
It's been a while....
So much has happened since last I wrote. Two of my children are MARRIED!!! Still blows me away, but I'm so deeply happy for them. They've made good choices, and I believe that as they stay close to God and the Church, keeping the commandments, they will have great joy and peace in their marriages. Such amazing blessings come from following Jesus Christ. My cup runneth over....
Then on to January and New Year's, which was very quietly spent at home with the little girls. Then our 25th Anniversary on the 3rd, Grandma's b'day on the 4th, and Jenny and William's Open House on the 8th.
Whew!!! We survived.
I think it has taken me this long to recover!
Great gratitude for great blessings.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Does the Government Have the Right to Play Robin Hood?
On Facebook today I saw some comments that I just had to respond to. This guy, Thomas, was idealistically preaching the essential right of health care for all via the government, and even went so far as to invite us to "rejoice already!" that we're finally going to get this panacea that will cure obesity, all ill health, increase productivity and make a shining city on a hill out of all of America once again. Okay, he didn't quite put it that way, but ...well, maybe not those words but that was definitely his picture. I just had to respond. This is just too critical a fallacy to ignore.
First, there is no correlation between obesity and a lack of health care or insurance! And there is no sudden miracle cure for obesity that's going to occur because we now have that golden ticket of all golden tickets to paradise - ObamaCare!!! Hallelujah! Let all the Church bells ring!
Silly.
And then I went on to paraphrase and then quote Cleon Skousen. If you haven't read The Five Thousand Year Leap you are missing out on one of the most powerful books on the Constitution and our Founding Fathers I have ever come across. And it's even an easy read!
So here was my response to Thomas the Utopian:
@ Thomas - Sorry, but safety most definitely does not include being "safe from medical bankruptcy, safe from breach of contract when medical insurance companies decide to cut you off when you get sick, or being able to seek affordable medical insurance" (with a few edits). The proper role of gov't is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things. It's that simple.
The Founders understood what people, especially the Liberals and so-called Progressives, these days don't get anymore -- the people cannot delegate to their gov't the power to do anything except that which they have the lawful right to do themselves. For example, in that spirit of benevolence you are feeling for your fellow Americans, do you have the right to give your neighbor's second car to the guy across the street because his was totaled? Of course not. You'd be arrested for car theft. However, the 2-car neighbor could generously donate the car to his friend on his own, but that is his decision and not your prerogative.
Does it make it any more legit for you to go to your President and your Congressional Representatives and lobby for your neighbor in need and get them to pass a law that forces your 2-car neighbor to hand over his 'extra' car to the gov't for them to then hand it to the guy with none?
It doesn't. No amount of compassion changes the natural law that the prosperous neighbor is entitled to protection of his property. If the gov't steps in and in the name of compassion changes the law that takes away one man's rights in order to play Robin Hood, "the man who has lost his car has not only lost the rights to his property, but (since it is now the 'law') he has lost all right to appeal for help in protecting his property." (Skousen, _The 5000 Year Leap_ p 88)
"The...Founders recognized that the moment the gov't is authorized to start leveling the material possessions of the rich in order to have an 'equal distribution...', the gov't thereafter has the power to deprive any of the people of their 'equal' rights to enjoy their lives, liberties, and property." (Ibid)
There is no reasonable, logical argument with that. Natural law is what the Constitution is based on - our natural, inalienable rights. We cannot afford to let the current administration overrun the Constitution and our God-given rights. This tyranny has to stop or this nation as we know it will perish.
Here's the link to the article that generated the comments, and the comments. I'm sure the conversation will continue.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=161220723966&ref=nf
First, there is no correlation between obesity and a lack of health care or insurance! And there is no sudden miracle cure for obesity that's going to occur because we now have that golden ticket of all golden tickets to paradise - ObamaCare!!! Hallelujah! Let all the Church bells ring!
Silly.
And then I went on to paraphrase and then quote Cleon Skousen. If you haven't read The Five Thousand Year Leap you are missing out on one of the most powerful books on the Constitution and our Founding Fathers I have ever come across. And it's even an easy read!
So here was my response to Thomas the Utopian:
@ Thomas - Sorry, but safety most definitely does not include being "safe from medical bankruptcy, safe from breach of contract when medical insurance companies decide to cut you off when you get sick, or being able to seek affordable medical insurance" (with a few edits). The proper role of gov't is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things. It's that simple.
The Founders understood what people, especially the Liberals and so-called Progressives, these days don't get anymore -- the people cannot delegate to their gov't the power to do anything except that which they have the lawful right to do themselves. For example, in that spirit of benevolence you are feeling for your fellow Americans, do you have the right to give your neighbor's second car to the guy across the street because his was totaled? Of course not. You'd be arrested for car theft. However, the 2-car neighbor could generously donate the car to his friend on his own, but that is his decision and not your prerogative.
Does it make it any more legit for you to go to your President and your Congressional Representatives and lobby for your neighbor in need and get them to pass a law that forces your 2-car neighbor to hand over his 'extra' car to the gov't for them to then hand it to the guy with none?
It doesn't. No amount of compassion changes the natural law that the prosperous neighbor is entitled to protection of his property. If the gov't steps in and in the name of compassion changes the law that takes away one man's rights in order to play Robin Hood, "the man who has lost his car has not only lost the rights to his property, but (since it is now the 'law') he has lost all right to appeal for help in protecting his property." (Skousen, _The 5000 Year Leap_ p 88)
"The...Founders recognized that the moment the gov't is authorized to start leveling the material possessions of the rich in order to have an 'equal distribution...', the gov't thereafter has the power to deprive any of the people of their 'equal' rights to enjoy their lives, liberties, and property." (Ibid)
There is no reasonable, logical argument with that. Natural law is what the Constitution is based on - our natural, inalienable rights. We cannot afford to let the current administration overrun the Constitution and our God-given rights. This tyranny has to stop or this nation as we know it will perish.
Here's the link to the article that generated the comments, and the comments. I'm sure the conversation will continue.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=161220723966&ref=nf
Saturday, October 24, 2009
ObamaCare - It All Comes Down to This......
This was sent to me as a forward via email. I don't know where it started or who the gentlemen is in the photo but I agree 100% with its sentiments. Thought it was worth putting it out there.
This should be read and understood
by all Americans
by all Americans
Democrats, Republicans, EVERYONE!!
To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature,
- The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775 You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.
- Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke
- Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.
- War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more.
- Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are brok.
- Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.
- The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.
You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars -- you have sold our children and our grandchildren's future for your social programs, causing us to be bankrupt according to our current president's own words during his campaign to push the bail out.
AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM??
In case you missed the point, the answer is NO! You have not earned our trust! You do not have the majority of American citizens' permission to create yet another failed social program with our tax dollars.
Oh, right, you're not using our tax dollars. You're using money you borrowed from CHINA because your failed social programs and spend spend spend mentality have bankrupted our country.
Oh, right, you're not using our tax dollars. You're using money you borrowed from CHINA because your failed social programs and spend spend spend mentality have bankrupted our country.
Friday, October 23, 2009
So, my hard drive crashed.....
Yes. It did. It had all my clients' web page templates and working files, ALL my work with Sarah from the last 12 years, all my journal entries for the last 10 years (thank goodness I printed several reams of stuff a few years ago!), AND worst of all, all our family photos since our first digital camera in 2004.
I can hear your groans. I know you feel my pain as if it was your own. Weirdly enough, I didn't feel the agony I expected. At all. I just felt at peace, like it was only temporary. So far my dh (webspeak for dear husband since the early 90's, or da*m husband, depending on your state of mind and willingness to use profanity)has not been able to recover any data from it, but we are still not without hope.
And the good news is all the family pictures had been backed up. We lost very few, if any of those!
So, word to the wise -- Get an external hard drive and back up your data EVERY WEEK!! I wish I had.
I can hear your groans. I know you feel my pain as if it was your own. Weirdly enough, I didn't feel the agony I expected. At all. I just felt at peace, like it was only temporary. So far my dh (webspeak for dear husband since the early 90's, or da*m husband, depending on your state of mind and willingness to use profanity)has not been able to recover any data from it, but we are still not without hope.
And the good news is all the family pictures had been backed up. We lost very few, if any of those!
So, word to the wise -- Get an external hard drive and back up your data EVERY WEEK!! I wish I had.
Remember the John Birch Society?
One of my facebook friends posted this video of Robert Welch, founder of the John Birch Society. Man, this guy nailed it back in 1958 and again in 1978. He saw exactly what was coming. It's practically prophetic. We are living exactly what he warned us was coming if we did not "wipe the dust of the Insiders" from our eyes. Check it out for yourself. It's well worth watching.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Investor's Business Daily - Lies, Earmarks And Corruption All In One Bill
I received this in an email from John Shadegg, R-AZ - I'm on his email list. I cannot help but believe that the Dems in power in Congress and the White House who are willing to vote for this TRAVESTY (yes I'm shouting) of a bill have crossed the line into true evil. the man who wrote this and the people who support it no longer represent the people who elected them. they no longer serve this nation. they no longer care about the success of this nation nor support and defend the Constitution according to their oath of office.
EVIL REIGNS IN AMERICA. It's that simple. How else can something like this be explained? No one in their right minds can believe that a government that has yet to ever run a 'business' -- USPS, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. -- successfully, keeping it out of the red, keeping it solvent, keeping it thriving -- could possibly take over the entire health care industry successfully. this is going to be an unmitigated disaster if any of these bills pass in any shape or form.
I'll let Shadegg and his co-author speak for themselves. Here's the link. I hope you'll take time to read this and WRITE TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN before it is too late!
www.investors.com
Kathy
EVIL REIGNS IN AMERICA. It's that simple. How else can something like this be explained? No one in their right minds can believe that a government that has yet to ever run a 'business' -- USPS, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. -- successfully, keeping it out of the red, keeping it solvent, keeping it thriving -- could possibly take over the entire health care industry successfully. this is going to be an unmitigated disaster if any of these bills pass in any shape or form.
I'll let Shadegg and his co-author speak for themselves. Here's the link. I hope you'll take time to read this and WRITE TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN before it is too late!
www.investors.com
Kathy
Monday, October 12, 2009
Re-discovering writing
I must admit, I'm having so much fun writing again. I don't know if what I've been doing is any good, but at the moment I'm just out to please myself and remember what little I used to know about writing. After that, or along with it, I am excited to learn more that I don't know - this would be the full bucket my little drop of previous knowledge came from.
I've re-joined my old writer's group, Arizona Night Writers Association....oops....Excuse me! AMERICAN Night Writers Association. I was even around when the group expanded into other states, requiring the name change, so I don't know why I keep forgetting. Well, I'll just refer to it in future as ANWA for short, and that will solve (hide) my memory issues.
At my first meeting I was told that writers need to blog, and that publishers actually look at them if they are seriously considering your work. I wanted to say, you're kidding, right? Aren't they too busy to bother with all the millions of blogs out there? And under that what I was really fearing was, I've seen some truly fabulous blogs - some funny, some delightful, some brilliantly written, some beautifully designed and presented - how am I supposed to compete with that? And what if someone doesn't like my conservative loud-mouthed posts I'm sure I'll write in reaction to the insanity going on on the Hill? And then the conversation in the group moved on and so did I.
Thing is, I committed myself to getting on paper the idea I've been kicking around for a magazine article, and to have it ready by the next writer's group meeting. I didn't quite make the deadline - there was a lot of dusting off and revving up in my brain to do between now and then, and family activities seriously cut in to any writing time I had (I hear you, excuses, excuses!) -- but I can now say that it is completed! Well, the first draft is ready for critiquing. Which means I think it's done, but not sure what might be 'wrong' that I can't see, since I'm incapable of editing myself. So time to send it off to the yahoo critique group ANWA has.
I love this writer's group!! They are SUPER organized. I guess if you are around long enough, you figure out how to do it right. It also helps that it's a bunch of women who love what I love, and are encouraging each other, and me now, to reach for our dreams while still putting God and family first. Very cool women. And very SMART. I'm thrilled to be in their company!
But I've digressed. Which I do a LOT.
The point was, in working on the article idea, my love for writing was awakened, and I realized that I needed to blog. I needed a place to write. To put my rantings and musings in a place that might connect with others. Well, more 'others' than just Facebook, where I've been doing most of my ranting. :-)
So, this is my first post on my first blog. Now I have to test how to add a PDF file to the blog so I can then explain it to another member of the group.
I've re-joined my old writer's group, Arizona Night Writers Association....oops....Excuse me! AMERICAN Night Writers Association. I was even around when the group expanded into other states, requiring the name change, so I don't know why I keep forgetting. Well, I'll just refer to it in future as ANWA for short, and that will solve (hide) my memory issues.
At my first meeting I was told that writers need to blog, and that publishers actually look at them if they are seriously considering your work. I wanted to say, you're kidding, right? Aren't they too busy to bother with all the millions of blogs out there? And under that what I was really fearing was, I've seen some truly fabulous blogs - some funny, some delightful, some brilliantly written, some beautifully designed and presented - how am I supposed to compete with that? And what if someone doesn't like my conservative loud-mouthed posts I'm sure I'll write in reaction to the insanity going on on the Hill? And then the conversation in the group moved on and so did I.
Thing is, I committed myself to getting on paper the idea I've been kicking around for a magazine article, and to have it ready by the next writer's group meeting. I didn't quite make the deadline - there was a lot of dusting off and revving up in my brain to do between now and then, and family activities seriously cut in to any writing time I had (I hear you, excuses, excuses!) -- but I can now say that it is completed! Well, the first draft is ready for critiquing. Which means I think it's done, but not sure what might be 'wrong' that I can't see, since I'm incapable of editing myself. So time to send it off to the yahoo critique group ANWA has.
I love this writer's group!! They are SUPER organized. I guess if you are around long enough, you figure out how to do it right. It also helps that it's a bunch of women who love what I love, and are encouraging each other, and me now, to reach for our dreams while still putting God and family first. Very cool women. And very SMART. I'm thrilled to be in their company!
But I've digressed. Which I do a LOT.
The point was, in working on the article idea, my love for writing was awakened, and I realized that I needed to blog. I needed a place to write. To put my rantings and musings in a place that might connect with others. Well, more 'others' than just Facebook, where I've been doing most of my ranting. :-)
So, this is my first post on my first blog. Now I have to test how to add a PDF file to the blog so I can then explain it to another member of the group.
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