Be Believing

September 3, 2014

In the first few verses of 1 Nephi 4, Nephi recorded an experience he had with his brothers where he was giving them a pep talk because they had expressed doubt that the Lord could deliver Laban into their hands.  Even after they had seen an angel, they still doubted.  Verse 3 particularly stood out to me, it says, “Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt?  Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.”

The belief that the Lord could deliver him, made all the difference in Nephi’s life.  He Believed!  He was believing.  Or in other words, he had faith.  I know that the Lord can deliver me!  I know he can deliver you too!!

Part of what helped Nephi to have that faith is the fact that he REMEMBERED his fathers.  Knowing about our heritage can make a big difference in our lives.  It has made a difference in my life.  Reading about my great grandparents who joined the church even thought they were persecuted and learning that they stayed true to their faith even when things were hard gives me strength.  It helps me to believe, to be believing, to have faith.  I want to be like Nephi!!

This is my Great Grandmother, Gerda Alma Reinholdson Hendrickson.  She was the only member of her family to join the church.  Her mother did not like the Mormons and disowned her.  Her mother told her brother to begin introducing her around town as a harlot.  One day her brother went to her apartment and pointed a gun to her head and told her to deny her faith.  She said, "You may take my life, but never my faith."  If my Grandma could be faithful, so can I!!

Wasted Watermelons

August 18, 2014

Today I threw several watermelons away that rotted because I never harvested them.  Sadly, this isn’t the only thing I’ve grown that has gone to waste.  I do great at planting a garden and weeding the first month or so then when things get a little hot outside I get too tired, busy, lazy, etc. to go out and harvest the things that are there waiting for me.  This made me think about other blessings that I might be able to claim if I made a little effort.  What is keeping me from those blessings?  Laziness, being to busy, anger, resentment, low self-esteem, inability to forgive, pride, feeling ashamed, fear, retaliation, and vengeance are all tools of Satan to keep me from claiming the blessing that could be mine.

However, the teachings of Jesus Christ, which are the key to mostly likely achieving happiness in individual and family life, gives the antidote to those temptations.  Jesus Christ teaches, diligence, being still long enough to ponder, joy, happiness for others, individual worth, divine nature, reaching out to others, forgiveness, humility, asking for advice, heeding good advice, praise, faith, sympathy, turning things over to the Lord by using his atonement.

I also realize that I could have also blessed other’s lives if I would have shared my watermelons with my neighbors instead of letting them rot in my own yard.  The Lord wants me to claim blessings to bless my life and the lives of those around me.

Love,

Mindy

Hymns are Powerful Sermons

I love Hymns!  I love primary songs and sacred music.  I love that with only a few, simple words they can teach powerful sermons.  I love that they can penetrate deeply into my soul.  Several times in my life I have had words to hymns and primary songs come to my mind to give me comfort and peace and/or teach me the words of God.  On Monday morning as I was driving school carpool we were listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Pandora.  As they sang “Where Love Is” the phrase “'Tis love we get when love we bring” stood out to me.  To back track a little farther, on Sunday in my ward’s Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class, my friend Nicole Rudd shared that when we do good to others, we get good returned to us because it is a principle of the law of the harvest.  So on Monday morning that phrase stood out to me as another principle of the law of the harvest.  It also reminded me to give love in all my relationships and to teach my children to love others if they want to be loved.

Life Lessons

What life lessons have you learned?  A few weeks ago I was asked if I had any suggestions or wisdom about life. These life lessons are what popped into my head: 

1) Give sincere compliments to as many people as you can
2) Be confident
3) Read your scriptures daily 
4) Say your prayers every night and morning and keep a prayer in your heart
5) Look for opportunities to help others
6) Stretch yourself by doing hard things
7) Attend church every week and be on time so you can take the sacrament

These things have brought me happiness even through hard times.

One of our Favorite Dinners - Goulash

Goulash

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t salt

½ t pepper

2 cups water

1 large (28oz) can crushed tomatoes

½ T Italian seasoning

2 bay leaves

2 T soy sauce

½ t garlic powder

½ t seasoned salt

1½ cups dried elbow macaroni

In a large pot (at least 3 quarts), brown the ground beef, with the onion, minced garlic, salt and pepper over medium-high heat until no pink remains and the onions are tender.  Spoon off any grease.   Add the 2 cups water, along with the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, soy sauce, garlic powder, and seasoned salt. Stir well. Add the elbow macaroni, stir well, cover and simmer for about 15 - 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves, and serve.

Optional Mix-ins:  Diced fresh zucchini and/or diced pepperoni.  If adding fresh zucchini, add it before putting in the elbow macaroni and you may need add little bit more water.  (We added these in tonight and it was delicious.)

Other Notes:

Sometimes this turns out too salty.  I tried to make adjustments but if it is still too salty add a little sugar and it will counteract the salt.

Tilly going back for more!

Father's Day Tribute to Three Wonderful Men

As today is Father's Day, I'd like to honor the three father's who mean the most to me.

First, Chad, the Father of my Children.  I couldn't ask for a more kind, patient, humble, capable, loving, charitable man to be the father of my children.  He looks for the best in others and is a friend to everyone.  He loves being a Father and I love watching him hold our babies.  I am so lucky to be married to him.  My kids are so lucky to have him as their father.  He is amazing.

Chad's first day as a father.  He is holding Spencer just minutes after he was born. Dec. 6, 2001

Chad and Tilly at the Natural Bridge area.

Chad and Spencer indexing

Playing play-doh with Marlee and Tilly

Next is my Daddy.  I am so lucky to have been raised by such an, outgoing, fun loving cowboy.  My dad was kind, a great teacher, a great motivator (sometimes with a spanking), honorable, honest, respectful and respected.  After a recent conversation with my brother-in-law Trever, I pulled out the letters that my Mom and Dad wrote me as part of a stake youth conference.  My parents loved being parents and they were good about praising their children and helping them reach their potential.  I am so lucky to have such a good Father and Mother.  I loved being around my Dad.  He seemed to receive positive attention and praise wherever he went.  He was a friend to all and could find a connection with pretty much everyone he met.

A trip to the State Capitol when the Snowflake Madrigals were invited to sing the national anthem my Senior year. 

And lastly, but not least, is my father-in-law Arthur Sanders.  I am so thankful for him and the wonderful man he helped raise.  He taught Chad by his good example how to be a fun, loving, kind father.  He is inventive and Chad also has that wonderful trait.  He loves the Lord and is a wonderful father and grandfather.

Shall I Falter, or Shall I Finish?

This morning I read the sad news about a tragic accident that occurred yesterday on the way to church in which my cousin’s toddler was killed.  This had me reflecting about other major trials that several other loved ones are going through.  Two people I love recently battled life threatening illnesses that have left not only physical but emotional scars as well.  Two people I love are going through a divorce that is also causing arguments, anger, sadness and stress within the family.  People I love have struggled with infertility.  People I love recently delivered a still born baby and are struggling as life marches on.  I know of a young mother who was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.  When hard trials hurt those I love sometimes I feel a type of survivor’s guilt, but when I have gone through trials of my own I haven’t wanted other people to feel guilty for what I am going through.  As I’ve thought about these circumstances I remembered something President Thomas S. Monson said, “Brothers and sisters, it may be safely assumed that no person has ever lived entirely free of suffering and sorrow. ... When the pathway of life takes a cruel turn, there is the temptation to ask the question ‘Why me?’ At times there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel, no sunrise to end the night’s darkness. We feel encompassed by the disappointment of shattered dreams and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea, ‘Is there no balm in Gilead?’  We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We become impatient for a solution to our problems, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.  The difficulties which come to us present us with the real test of our ability to endure. A fundamental question remains to be answered by each of us: Shall I falter, or shall I finish?” 

I’ve come to realize that every one of us is going to have a major, knock down trial at least once in this life.  At times life is going to test your very limits and give you more than you can handle … on your own.  But you will never be given more than you can handle with the help of our Savior Jesus Christ.  He is mighty to save (2 Ne. 31:19).  He has surely borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isiah 53:4).  Jesus Christ will help us finish when we feel like faltering.  He is why we can have hope when everything seems so bleak.  

President Monson goes onto say, "The history of the Church in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, is replete with the experiences of those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer. The reason? They have made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives. This is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. We will still experience difficult challenges, but we will be able to face them, to meet them head-on, and to emerge victorious" (I Will Not Fail Thee nor Forsake Thee).

Life is short and temporary.  Hug your children a little tighter.  Love a little bit more.  Be more kind.  Forgive and make amends with those you may be at odds with today.  Don't wait until tomorrow.  You may not get another tomorrow.  You don't have to agree with each other, but maybe you can agree to disagree and move forward with love.

One more quote that brings me comfort today.  "We Are Not Made for Endings--In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings. Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Grateful in Any Circumstances).