whatever

Feel the Love

Thank you Dear Children- for your calls of love, notes of gratitude and acts of service-

You bless me more than you know.

   Children, I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know:  if you continue to search and find ways to serve as you do now, your life will be filled with happiness..... It is almost as though you are on the Lord’s errand; and you will then discover that, when you are on the Lord’s errand, you are entitled to the Lord’s help. Serve always-

Thanks for all you do for me.

Love you tons- Mom

"My life"

Ellie, Papa and Grammer

With respect to our stewardship for our families, I've heard some teach that when we report to the Savior and He asks us to give an account of our earthly responsibilities, two important questions will relate to our families. The first will be our relationship with our spouse, and the second will be about each of our children....and may I add Grandchildren.

My Family is my life.

I journal here about much of it.....things that are close to my heart or  deeply personal I keep carefully else where.  This blog is a little piece of me....an autobiography if you will. =)

..... there may be incidents in my experience that are more noble and praiseworthy then some that I share here. I try to share a little  "flash" of my life and stories of faithfulness....I try to truthfully record my real self and not what other people may see me as. 

I know much of what I write may be ordinary events and places...maybe a little boring....but I'm hoping that somewhere here, there will also be rich passages that my posterity will quote.=)

 {I can dream can't I?}

So, I write my goings and comings, some of my thoughts, my achievements , associations and triumphs, my impressions and my testimony.

Boring sure.... but if nothing else comes from this blog.....but that my children and Grandchildren know I love them dearly....then Happy Day, all is well.

 

 

When I was younger I remember President Spencer W. Kimball {Yep, I'm that old} saying something like this...

" Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events."

 

That's enough to keep me recording. =)

Sorry, about this random thought.

 

Blue Glass & Cottage flowers-

Few flowers last from April to November. Some of the most beautiful bloom for only a month at most. To really enjoy a garden, you have to plant corners and drifts and rows of flowers that will bloom and grace the garden, each in its own season.

Such is life- to really enjoy our life, we need to understand that everyday will not be filled with roses- but each flower or weed brings its own beauty, adventure or trial.  It best to enjoy the flowers that are now blooming and not pine for blossoms past or future. 

Look through the weeds/trials and pick out the best blooms you can...then share your happy vase with those you love.

 Even if we cannot pick the flowers from our gardens to send to those who suffer, we can learn to let feelings of love and support for our family and friends dominate our lives...and to enjoy the bouquet in its season. 

In my life today are sweet-peas, crocuses, forget-me-nots and fruit blossoms.....

What is blooming in your life now?

{Sharing my Happy Vase with you today.}

Be the Warmth-

I need to remember-

LOOK for my motives before I speak. Do I mention someone because I care about them, or do I put them down to make myself look better?

REALIZE that I am not perfect either. Think about the things that someone could dig up on me if they wanted to. Wouldn’t I rather leave them buried?

Need to remember the one keeping quiet about the tale is probably the one I should believe…not the one spreading the tale.

Remember to be the warmth- By not gossiping, I can create a warm shelter where those who know me realize they can come and freely discuss any problems they are having without fear that things will be inappropriately discussed or repeated.

Remember- The big thing about telling derogatory things about people is that in doing so we counteract the ability of others to forgive those people.

Remember how it feels/hurts  to find out others are spreading  gossip about me.

Just Remember.....goal 2012

 

 

Stake Primary Leadership- "Choose To Teach"

The meeting-  Stake Primary Leadership- "Choose to Teach"

• Teaching By the Spirit:   Pam
• Proper Way to Prepare A Lesson:  Teresa
• Lesson Activity Ideas:  Lisa
• Teaching Children With Disabilities:  Beverly

 

 

1. Invitations- By Lisa 
2. Decorations- By Teresa-  Our Primary colors are 1, 2, 3 Red, Yellow and Blue
3. "The Proper Way to Prepare a Lesson" Hand out- Teresa {Wooden utensil's & red polka dot straws.}  Using object lesson-compared preparing a meal as steps to preparing for a lesson.

 

 Paper place-mats- used as a visual in my Lesson "The Proper Way to Prepare a Lesson."

The Set up-

 The Handout-

• Bev -made the Blackboard clipboards- adorable.
• Pam- made the candied apples- fabulous.

 

The meeting went well and it always so fun to meet up with all the Lovely Primary Sisters.

Happy Day

Paper Vintage placemats-

Wooden spoons-  Garnish

Fabric -  St. Helen Oregon Walmart

Choosing Happiness-

This post stems from a short conversation I had a couple days ago- ....seeing me on crutches I was greeted with..."Well, guess your life isn't perfect after all"  said with a little smirk on their face as they walked away.

This took me by surprize....why would anyone find joy in anyone's discomfort?   I know I may be at  some fault - on this blog I share the things that make my days a little brighter-  I believe Nobody's life is quite what it seems on a blog post.....and I understand that....but some maynot.

Sickness, disappointment and the loss of people I love has come at times in my life.  On the way to Stanford University for my Husbands cancer treatments- I step out of the car and couldn't walk.  I have degenerative arthritis.... which lead to a bone scan....but, all is well.

 Also this week my Dad who is battling cancer was sent to the hospital and we were told he has just days left..... and then given some hope for longer days with us.

My point here is- I believe the misery upon which we constantly focus will be what life will hand us.   I know dwelling on our sorrow makes it hard to see our blessings.....I believe we can be richly blessed when we see blessings clearly even in the midst of our trials. 

On this blog....I choose Happiness.  I choose to be grateful.  Even when trials come,  I believe the wise choose happiness.

Of course, I know there are times in everyone’s life when it is difficult to smile, times of trial and tragedy, times of distress and misfortune. But even in such depressing times it is helpful and wise to look to the future with hope and optimism......that's why I choose to be Happy.

When I read other blogs and see their "perfect" life I smile- for I know too....that they are choosing Happiness..... I think it is wise to do that.

So please excuse me if I use this blog as my Happy Place- please smile when you think my life is perfect and remember that I too  have trials.

May I share my Testimony-

Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so.

This I know that  Jesus  is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He  who died on the cross to atone for our sins. May we be blessed with the Spirit of Christ this Christmas season,  I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, amen.

 

 

 

experience joy-

I find that if I take the time to appreciate the little things, I experience joy.  When I'm at the cottage....walking by this little corner hutch makes me smile.  I think of the people who have given me these things and I experience joy.

This little corner in the cottage kitchen....makes me smile- love the color of the chairs.

I've spent the last week...thinking about worrying about cancer- fun right?  It's not been so bad...not fun...but not so bad.

While my Dad was in getting his bone scan- I read this quote from  Dieter F. Uchtdorf  book "Your Happily Ever After."

"In Fairly tale stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise.  Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way.  Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."  

I was glad I found that little book to read while Dad was getting his bone scan.  I had read a few pages to Dad before he went into receive his treatment....

"Sandwiched between their "Once upon a time" and "happily ever after," they all had to experience great adversity. {talking about fairy tales}

"Dads comment as he was getting his shot- Will I  glow in the dark?  got us all laughing.

He helped us experience joy...even in the depth of  his pain. {We found out later that the cancer had spread to most of the bones in his upper body...but, still it wasn't the end of the world for him.} We came home took care of the chickens had dinner laughed and talked...we experience joy.

 

The day after I got home from my Dads- Danny and I went to Stanford, again another cancer test....all is well and things are good, a much better outcome than my Fathers. We all have life challenges some turn out better than others....we each have our own trials to bare.

"It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your lifes story will develop." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Adversity and afflictions shall be but a small moment; then if you endure it well, God shall exalt you on high." D&C 121:7-8

All around me are small little things that bring me joy- it's up to me to experience the joy that they bring.

My Once upon a Time is now and I'm working on my HappilyEver After....and experiening joy sandwiched between the trials.  

 

 

 

Looking for the Good-

 

I love how the Forthysia looks this time of year....it's the brightest thing in the yard.  The minute I drive up to the house or step out the door this is what I focus on.

Have you ever noticed that there are some people no matter what is going on in their lives focus on the bad?   Look hard enough and you can find the bad in almost anything.....Take for example this picture......Look hard enough, and you can discover some bad. { notice all the little woodpecker holes} perhaps you may of never noticed them...had I not pointed them out to you.

and....perhaps you focused on the Forthysia first because I mentioned it. 

We have a choice....on how we view this life, people, etc.   I think we can usually find the good and the bad in most people, situations etc.-  What do we focus the hardest on?.... finding the good or the bad?

This saying is over my washer and dryer-

Work is either fun or drudgery.  It depends on your attitude.......I like fun.

 

It's hard to be around people that find only the bad...or seem to be looking only at the bad.... to the point they never see the good that is really there.

 At times I may  "dwell" more on the bad....my goal this year, look for more of the good .

 President Dieter F. Uchtdorfe said-

"We have a choice. We can seek for the bad in others. Or we can make peace and work to extend to others the understanding, fairness, and forgiveness we so desperately desire for ourselves. It is our choice; for whatever we seek, that we will certainly find."

 

 
My goal look for the good in others  and in day to day happenings, know that I will have bad things happen in my life.....but try to focus on the good.

It's all in our attitude and what we choose to focus on.

 

Morning Blossoms- How Great Thou Art-

Today I felt a deep reverence for both the creation and the Creator.

 

 With demanding routines of everyday life I quietly forget sometimes to observe God’s miracles taking place around me.

 

Today as I drove home from Church- the foothills stood out like a green emerald island- with fluffy white clouds hanging low….and little windows of bright light shinning down on them like a spotlight from heaven, making the green all the more brilliant.

I wanted to stop and stand on top of my car so I could take a picture of all that wonder, but I didn’t; my heart swelled up in thanks to a Loving Heavenly Father for such a sight. {I just wanted to do a standing ovation right there, but I didn’t; words of thanks were said aloud.}

 

When thru the woods and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze,

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art! How great thou art!

 

I know that God created this earth and the universe. I know that we are his children wherever we live on the earth, without regard to our nationality or the color of our skin. Most important, I know that God lives and is the Creator of us all.

 

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy pow’r thru out  the universe displayed;

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art! How great thou art!

 

{Pictures from our C V garden}

Stake Primary Leadership-

Last Thrusday we had our Stake Primary leadership  meeting. {I'm the second counselor in the Stake Primary}

Our theme for the meeting was...." If I listen with my Heart" {a new primary song}
 

We had a sister from  the Mariposa branch play this song on her violin.  Wonderful.

 
Our Decorations centered around a "Heart" 

• We had heart shaped cupcakes
• Favors-Heart shaped rice warmers and a heart shaped pin.

 

We had a sister talk on organization- wonderful tips and ideas.

We also played "Handbook" jeopardy ....to help the sisters get to know their handbooks better.

These meetings are always a wonderful time to meet with the sisters to get to know them better and to share our ideas and thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
It's wonderful working with these ladies.