Be Still and Know

Source

New Years and Resolutions are upon us.  You can't not see reminders of it all over the internet and social media.  Weight loss goals, financial goals, fitness goals, educational goals.  I like, everyone else, want to start fresh at the beginning of the year.  Over the past several years, I have participated in one word or one little word resolutions.  It's a much simpler way of doing things, focusing on that one word in all aspects of my life.   Words can be very powerful, especially as we ponderize and internalize.

I have chosen words that I really needed at the time and learned much from over the past years.  Some examples of words I have chosen in the past are:

Simplify
Gratitude
Brave
Loved

This year a scripture keeps resonating with me, and I can't quite keep it to one word.  Psalms 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God."  

I almost feel as if this simple scripture encapsulates every one word I have used in the past.

2016 is a year of spiritual growth for me.  While, yes, I have some fitness and weight goals, too, 'Be Still and Know that I am God" sits first and foremost in my mind and heart.

What is your one word or goal for the year?

 

Living in Gratitude is a Blessing

Ida-Home

I am in love with home, and home is Idaho.  Oh, I love visiting other places...getting my beach fix from time to time, but there is something amazing about my sweet little home of Idaho.  A recent news article in USA Today listed Meridian, Idaho, as the #1 Best City to Live In.  Thank you for telling me what I already knew...Coincidentally, I've lived in #4, too.

I'm not trying to convince you to move here, because, hey, if everyone realized what a great place this was and moved here, it would no longer be that great place...catch my meaning?  But I do want to share it with you because I'm cool like that.  And, since it's November, I want to add how grateful I am for the opportunity to live in this amazing town, in this beautiful State nestled in the Land that I Love.

What's in your backyard?

Being a Man About it...

We operated on faith in sending Miguel to Rexburg with a car.  You see, he didn't have parking for it...and was on a waitlist.  We were really worried, I mean if the car got towed, we'd probably have to drive the 4.5 hours to get it out of car jail because it's in our name.  It was a sketchy few days of moving the car around to different places at night so as not to get booted.  He finally got parking!  It's not where he lives, but it is covered parking...

in REXBURG IDAHO.  

Need I say more?  Feeling very blessed and grateful that Miguel was a man about it and took care of business.  

It's really the simple things in life, you know?

What are you grateful for today?

Loved and One Word

In years past, I have focused on various words as a New Years Resolution.  Instead of goals, focus on one thing in all aspects of my life.  It is that one word thing...you can do it, too.

In years past I have focused on Simplify, Grateful, Be Brave.  Every year, the word just seems to find me.  Somehow I have a spiritual epiphany of what exactly I need.

I recently made an order online that included a free gift.  I wanted to give it for Christmas...I had already gotten Ladybug some jewlrey, my mom makes her own jewelry and it seemed a little over the top for Miguel's girlfriend.  I mean she would think I was weird or something.  So, here I have this lovely necklace that just couldn't find it's right owner.  It didn't seem appropriate to give it to myself.  I can't give myself a necklace that says I am loved.  That's presumptuous isn't it?  And sometimes, I don't feel loved.  Trying to deflect all those Satan darts, I sometimes forget that I AM LOVED.  So, I guess what I have decided as my word of the year is LOVED.  I need to focus on feeling loved, realizing that I am loved whether it be from my family or my Savior and accepting that love...feeling worthy of it instead of dismissing it.  I AM worthy of His love.

We all have things we need to work on.  Don't overwhelm yourself with too many goals.  Choose one word that you truly need to learn from.  It has been life changing for me...

 

What 16 looks like

This is ladybug and her wonder woman pose or superman, yeah, superman...she's a big fan.

She turned 16 on the 4th and broke her mama's heart.  

I told her when she was little to quit that growing up, and she was exasperated at 5 years old and said, 

"I don't know how to stop!"

I don't usually make a big birthday deal...we celebrate with family and offer small gifts.  

But, 16, that birthday is a monumental birthday.  

She can date and at some point, when "I'm ready", 

She can drive.

Can you tell what Ladybug's favorite color is?  

I love mason jars, and decided to use them for putting out the treats...

We used them for cutlery, too.
Cutlery...that's a funny word.

What an amazing, sweet, smart and righteous daughter Ladybug has become!

I am grateful and feel truly blessed.

*Happy Birthday to you printable here

*Celebrate banner printable here

Be Brave

Back in 2012, along with many other bloggers, I participated in the Word of the Year.  My word that year was Simplify...I simplified in many areas of my life from physical clutter to spiritual clutter to clutter of my time uses.  Then came 2013, and the word that chose me was Grateful.  That word was life changing and I will forever be focusing on it daily.  Shortly before December I decided that the word of 2014 would be Brave.  I had been asked to teach a group of women on Sundays.  It was a stretch spiritually as well as, my nerves just being frayed speaking in front of my peers.  So Brave for 2014 has become my motto.

Source

Since then, I have been asked to do even harder things through 2014.  I have been asked to run our Youth organization over the Young women...to be their mentor, their leader, helping them learn to Come Unto Christ.  I have chosen several wonderful, strong, Christ-filled women to serve alongside me.   I am grateful for this experience, and I know that as I Simplify and prioritize, I will have the time to devote to this awesome responsibility.  It is interesting to me how these two words have helped prepare me for being Brave.  However, I am humble and nervous.  Scared, yet excited.  I am a paradox.  I know that as I am Brave, that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  Philipians 4:13.

What hard things have you been asked to do? 

Have you chosen a 'Word of the Year'?

 

A Grateful Heart

Source

Over the past year I have tried to focus on finding gratitude in my every day living.  I mentioned my personal quest in this post back in January.

For the third year in a row, I have read Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts...It seems to refocus my mind and heart on this whole gratitude thing.  It really is quite amazing...I guess it has become a tradition.

Source

As we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow with our families and friends, make it a goal to live with a grateful heart all year long.  It truly is life changing...

Source

Winter Pause

The weather has grown chilly...in the afternoons I want to wrap up in a blanket and read by the fireplace.  That's not always possible, but it is my secret wish...There are things I love and hate about the changing...I love the crisp puffs of breath, the crunchy leaves, the feeling of nesting.  I love the anticipation and excitement with the first dusting of snow.  But, I hate the shorter days...It makes me crave bed way too early, and then I just become way too lazy.

One of my favorite treats when the weather turns is a nice cup of herb tea.  I grew up on herbal tea and love it,  myself, but I can't get Ladybug to enjoy the experience with me..And tea drinking is an experience.  When I grasp that warm mug between my hands and inhale it's steamy goodness I feel all homey and warm inside.

The one thing I've find about herb tea drinking is that it creates a pause in our day.  As I take a pause to sip some warm tea, I also take a moment to reflect, and those moments create more moments of gratitude and who doesn't want to feel grateful...like ALL THE TIME.  So in honor of Thanksgiving and all that is grateful, sit back and have a warm cup of herb tea and just inhale...

These are the fixings for my favorite cup of tea...

What is your favorite drink to chase off the chill?

The Art of Creating

Sometimes on those rare occasion, I can be down right crafty...but the mood has to strike just right, and the moon has to align a certain way...other times, I can be crafty when someone else has been inspired and done most of the work.

The other night I participated in this most awesome night of women gathering together to craft and eat and chat...It was amazing.  I didn't even have to brainstorm a thing...just go, pay and craft away.  The kits were already done, I just had to paint and put it together.  I felt so accomplished coming home with three projects.  If you live in the area, you can follow her blog...check out the cute projects she offered and watch for future events.  She is uber reasonable.

This is by far my favorite..

Creating makes me happy, and I am grateful for good friends.

Wrapping up Gratitude Like a Gift

Source

You can read Part 1 here
You can read Part 2 here

I’m sure we are all familiar with the Great Oprah Winfrey.  We may snicker and giggle about Oprah and her counsel for happy living, but her advice on Gratitude Journals was surely inspired.  As we thank our Heavenly Father verbally for our many gifts, is it not also appropriate to write them down, to journal them for later reflection?  There have been studies done on the effect of keeping gratitude lists or gratitude journals.  Studies have shown that those who keep lists have

• A significant absence of stress and depression
• They make better progress toward important goals
• These people report high levels of energy and determination
• They feel closer in their relationships and build stronger relationships
• Feel an increase of happiness of more than 25% over those who do not list their gratitude's

I don’t know about you, but who doesn't want to live happier!  This gratitude thing is like the “Holy Grail” of happiness. 

In Luke Chapter 17 we read about Christ and the Ten Lepers.  We all know the story…Christ healed ten, but only one returned and gave thanks to the Savior.  What I find interesting is the Savior in verse 19 says “arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole.”  Hadn't the Savior already healed the Leper?  I wonder if the Savior was referring to the healing balm of gratitude in this man’s heart.  His heart was healed.  Thomas S. Monson said of this, ”Through divine intervention those who were lepers were spared from a cruel, lingering death and given a new lease on life.  The expressed gratitude by one merited the Master's blessings; the ingratitude shown by the nine, His disappointment." End quote.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to disappoint my Savior.  

 Joseph B. Wirthlin goes on to say in his article Living in Thanksgiving Daily, “Those who live in thanksgiving daily, however, have a way of opening their eyes and seeing the wonders and beauties of this world as though seeing them for the first time.  I encourage you to look around you.  Notice the people you care about.  Notice the fragrance of the flowers and the song of the birds.  Notice and give thanks for the blue sky, the color of the leaves, and the white of the clouds.  Enjoy every sight, every smell, every taste, and every sound.  When we open our eyes and give thanks for the bountiful beauty of this life, we live in thanksgiving daily.” End quote.   

When the Lord went up to teach the people in what has been called the Sermon on the Mount.  After realizing that the multitude was 5,000 strong and that there were only a few loaves and fishes to feed them, the disciples became concerned.  But Christ, blessed the food and gave thanks, and it was enough.  Brothers and sisters, it was enough.  Thanksgiving precedes the miracle, and it will be enough!

I really love Psalms, in Psalms 69:30 & 32 it says “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving…The humble shall see this, and be glad; and your heart shall live that seek God.”  A thankful heart is a heart filled with God.  I’d like to close with the words of President Thomas S. Monson, “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings but it also unlocks the doors of heaven.”  

**Sources:

• Bible
• Book of Mormon
• lds.org
• A Holy Experience
• (in)Courage

**Originally published on 11/28/2012**

When Prayers aren't enough...

Source

When you believe, prayers should always be enough...But sometimes you are the answer to someone's prayers.  In the wake of the horrible typhoon that hit the Philippines this past week, there are so many opportunities to help and serve those in need from afar.  Numerous organizations are collecting goods and money towards this relief cause.   I'm grateful to be a part of an organization that had relief and aid on the way almost immediately.   They delivered food and hygiene kits to the  evacuation centers.  They are even providing temporary housing to over 14,000 people in many of the church meetinghouses throughout the Philippines.

There are approximately 200 LDS Missionaries serving in Tacloban.  That is 200 eighteen to twenty one year old young men and women who have volunteered of their time and money to teach and serve the people in Tacloban, Philippines.  For a time, there was no contact with them.  Then all but twenty-four were unaccounted for...then they were all found.  Safe.  Such a blessing and a miracle, considering...Their church mission has turned from one of proselything to one of serving and helping to rebuild this hard hit community.

We can't all be in the Philippines to help rebuild, but we can all offer prayers and aid from home.  I can think of no better way to show my Gratitude to my Heavenly Father right now than by helping my fellow brothers and sisters.  I am not touting one organization over another.  As long as they are legit, they are all good...

If you can, think about donating this season to those who are truly in need.

Source for facts in article