November 7

I am thankful for the Ensign magazine and the thoughts, feelings and inspiration that come to me when I read it.  This scripture in the article I read today really gave me peace:
          "Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still,
           with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God,
           and for his arm to be revealed"    D&C 123:17
We are never standing alone when we stand for truth, the Lord is always standing with us.

Thursday Thought

"What we love determines what we seek.
What we seek determines what we think and do.
What we think and do determines who we are - and who we will become."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf “The Love of God” November 2009 Ensign

And a comforting reminder from the same talk:

"God does not look on the outward appearance.  I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked."

Thursday Thought

Happy 16th Birthday Hannah (yesterday)!

I gave a lesson on Sunday about Gratitude so my thoughts for today are along those lines too.
  "Be grateful. Every day is a new canvas—a new opportunity.  My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we ‘accentuate the positive.’ I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort” President Gordon B. Hinckley

 “The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life”  Robert Louis Stevenson

I am so grateful for who I am, I love my family and my life.  I try to make choices each day that are directed by the Spirit and I am grateful for that. If you haven't opened up the January Ensign yet, take a few minutes and read "Living the Abundant Life" by President Thomas S. Monson. He issues a challenge to everyone to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for a life filled with success, goodness, and blessings! I love where he says: "We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude."  We always have a choice in what kind of attitude we will have. I'm going to take his challenge, I hope you will too:)  Love to you all!

Thursday Thought

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs

Now to DO IT!

Thursday Thought...Life is good!

"If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back." Regina Brett

This is Nathan's shoe, he is working hard and loving it!

Thursday Thought

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize

 they were the big things." Robert Brault

Don't blink....

Thursday Thought

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it."  ~Mary Engelbreit

Thursday Thought

“Some battles are better won by example than by persuasion.” -Chris Guillebeau

This quote came from the author of a book I read recently: "The Art of Non-Conformity".  Doesn't really sound like me does it... I really enjoyed this book though! It's not the idea that I want to travel the world or try to live like Chris Guillebeau lives, but it's more the idea of just living life how I want to and not worrying so much about how life is "supposed" to be.  I was keeping stuff out of guilt..."what will the person who gave me _____ think if they come over and it's not displayed in my home." "Everyone has a _______ so we probably need one too."  My clothes, hair, house, car, etc. etc. etc. "should" be or look a certain way (like other peoples look, of course!)  Anyway, what I learned from the book is to STOP that kind of thinking. 

The quote is from his web-site today, it really made me think about people who just never seem to LISTEN.  Most all the time it is better just to go on living your life and being an example of good, happy things, rather than trying to persuade them to see why you choose to live with a good and happy attitude:)  So that is the thought for the day:

“Some battles are better won by example than by persuasion.”

Thursday Thought

"And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them."  Doctrine and Covenants 109:22

This is my thought for today.  I'm planning to print it out and place it near the door to our home so that when we come and go we can be mindful of the love and power of our Heavenly Father, and so that we can know that we are being watched over.

Thursday Thought

"There are two types of pain you will go through in life, the pain of discipline and the pain of regret."
— Jim Rohn

This is a thought that a missionary friend of ours used in his talk this past week.  Hannah said it is also hanging on the wall in her gym class at school.  It really made me think when I heard it, I guess because it applies to everything in life.  The first thing I thought of was the pain I have been having with my lower back.  If I had been disciplined I would have stayed physically fit throughout my life and would not have to work so hard at it now, I am suffering the pain of regret for that.  There is also the disclipline to do what is right no matter the consequences.  Sometimes even when you choose to do the right thing, people get upset with you and you may suffer. NO REGRETS though, because choosing to ignore a situation or to look the other way will always cause the pain of regret.  You could have done something about the situation and instead you choose to ignore it. The pain of regret is always heavier than the pain of discipline.

Christmas...

“And in despair, I bowed my head: ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said. for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men!’” – H.W. Longfellow


This quote is just beautiful, and full of Faith.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!