Saturday Morning

So I have had a decision to make. I enjoy gardening, especially fruits and veggies. It's Saturday and I had registered a couple of weeks ago for a free class on composting this morning. I've been wanting to learn more about composting and get a composter started for my backyard for a year or two. Luis is going to watch the girls while I go. However, yesterday I started having the feeling that I should go to the temple instead. It's a choice. A small decision, but every decision changes the direction we are headed. I could go to the temple another day, so why am I feeling that I should go right during the class. I don't know. Choices.

Mother's who know

Life has been very busy lately. I have been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with it however, each time I think about it the thought comes to my mind, "Mother's who know do less." I am recognizing the truth in this saying and have decided to apply it. Letting go of things is hard, but I can see how much it will benefit my girls and husband.

Mothers Who Know Do Less

Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.

Julie B. Beck

Come Unto Christ

As I am preparing to teach my lesson tomorrow in Church, I am reflecting on the article in the Ensign magazine "Come unto Christ" By President Henry B. Eyring Second Counselor in the First Presidency. He asks us to reflect often on how the Atonement of Jesus Christ has changed us. So I then pose the question to myself, "How has the Atonement changed me?". I first remember specific times when I felt the power of forgiveness and the overwhelming peace and joy that accompanied that. I remember low and sad times when I knew that there really was someone else there to know what I felt and what I was going through, because Christ has descended below all and risen again. Because of the Atonement I am blessed with peace and knowledge of the hereafter when someone I know passes on.

After Luis and I got married I was organizing his things in the spare closet in order to fit more in. I was consolidating all the packaging he had kept from all the computer software, there were so many boxes. Later we determined that apparently I had thrown away the Quicken box that had a special number on it needed to reinstall Quicken on the computer. A virus required us to restore our computer to factory settings and reinstall programs. We weren't able to reinstall Quicken and have been without it since. We have been wanting to be more organized in our finances and use Quicken again, and so I was praying and hoping that I had just misplaced the Quicken box. I searched Quicken online to see how much it was and they have a free online Quicken that we are able to use. What a big little blessing.

Quote of the Day: "As we ask in faith, we can receive revelation upon revelation and knowledge upon knowledge and come to know the mysteries and peaceable things that bring joy and eternal life. The mysteries are those matters that can only be known and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost." Elder David A. Bednar

Heartache

I am sitting at the computer trying to put together some activities for Mimi to keep her busy and help her listen to the General Conference of my church tomorrow. I came across some pictures of President Hinckley. While I whole heartedly support our new president, President Monson, there is still an ache in my heart and tears in my eyes every time I see a picture of President Hinckley. I miss him so much. For the last 10 years or so, he has been the person on earth that I have looked to the most for guidance. I know that he is a Prophet of God and that he is also the most Christ-like person I have observed.

Whenever he spoke, I felt his love so deeply in my heart that it melted away other concerns. Though his body became feeble his testimony and his eternal vision was always clear and strong. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. This strengthened me during pivotal years of college and work before marrying. His counsel that he imparted has shaped me, my life, and my family that my husband and I have created. His counsel inspired me to be better, to be the best person, friend, wife, mother that I could be. I truly miss him. I thank my Heavenly Father for sustaining President Hinckley for so many years, that he was able to have such a profound influence on everyone that knew of him. His example of being steadfast, and hardworking motivates me to "go to work" and accomplish great things. I love you President Hinckley and continue to miss you!

Jars of Baby Food

Today I was at the grocery store and saw a clearance bin had baby food jars for 30 cents each. I was shocked to see them that cheap and loaded up. On my way home, I pieced it together. This was a direct answer to my prayers a couple of weeks ago. I had prayed that I would be able to be more wise in my spending and staying within my budget. Baby food is a necessity, but the cost does ad up quickly. I recognized that the Lord was helping me and not just with today's purchase. But the last time I bought baby food, I was at Target and again found a lot of baby food on clearance for a great price. And then between these two purchases, a friend asked me if I could use the baby food that her youngest doesn't eat anymore. We often look for the Lord's hand in our lives in big important ways, when he most frequently helps out with the small and simple things. By noticing this answered prayer I know that my Heavenly Father listens to even the small things that are important to me. He truly does love us.

Quote of the Week

To open the musical Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye, a Russian dairyman of Jewish descent, speaks these lines:
“Here in Anatevka we have our traditions for everything—how to eat, how to sleep, how to work, even how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered; we wear these little prayer shawls. This shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, how did this tradition get started? I’ll tell you—I don’t know! But it’s a tradition. Because of our traditions everyone here knows who he is and what God expects him to do.”
I hope that as I teach my little daughters how to pray, love, worship, and study the scriptures, that they will know who they are. That they are daughters of a loving God and that they will know His will for them in all things. This quote is a reminder to me that our daily activities become our traditions and I must choose wisely.