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).

Fathers and Sons Campout = Girls Night Out

Chad and the boys went on our ward's annual Fathers and Sons' campout so that means the girls and I had our annual girls night out.  Each year I look forward to our GNO more and more because my girls are getting old enough to look forward to it, appreciate it and realize that it is a special occasion.

The boys left for their campout around 4:30 while Tilly was still taking a nap so to start out the evening we played Chutes and Ladders while Tilly was still asleep.  

Marlee beat Karalee and I really quickly so she took our pictures while we played for 2nd place.

Then we went and played at the "train park" in San Tan Ranch.

I'm a lazy Mom at the park.  I usually just sit and watch while the kids play.  Every once in awhile I'll get up and slide and play with them if they ask me.

Then we went to eat at Some Burros since the girls wanted nachos.

Then we went to the Mall playground while we waited for our movie to start.

We went to see Rio 2"

On Saturday morning our fun continued.  We used my new Belgium waffle maker that I got for my birthday to make a yummy breakfast and we invited our friends Gracie and Emmie to join us.  We even used our fancy dishes.

A More Personal Relationship with the Savior - entry #2

If you'd like to read my previous entry and learn more about this program click HERE.

• Alma 5:14-16 – “And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God?  Have ye received his image in your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?  Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?  Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?  I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day:  Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?  I love Alma chapter 5.  I love that it asks so many introspective questions.  I think this technique allows people to really judge their actions themselves without feeling judged by the person teaching.  During the first part of these verses I feel that Alma is describing what it means to be truly converted and consecrated to the Lord--spiritually born of God (baptism), His image in your countenances (taking upon you His name, doing what the Savior would do), mighty change in your hearts (thinking of others more than yourself by stripping yourself of pride and sharing the gospel), exercising faith (obedience in keeping the commandments and acting on your beliefs).  It is important that we do each of these things in this life because we will be judged of God.  These things will keep us on the straight and narrow path.  If we try our best to do these things and repent and return again to God and to His path through the grace of Jesus Christ after we sin and mess up then we can feel confident that the Lord will say to us “Come unto me ye blessed.”  What could be better than that? 

• Proverbs 31:30-31 – “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”  To me this scripture speaks of motherhood, and service.  Finding favor with man and concentrating on beauty should not be our top priorities.  Fearing the Lord, or keeping his commandments and doing his work should be our priorities and should be where we give most of our time and energy.  Those are the things that will bring praise.  What is the Lord’s work? Bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).  Bearing and raising children and spreading and sharing the gospel are the fruits of our labors that will be able to be carried with us into the next life.  Our children and those we teach will be able to “praise us in the gates.”

Easter/Birthday Dinner Pictures

Family Home Evening Conducting Sheet

For a few weeks now I have thought that it might be a good idea to add a few things to our normal Family Home Evening meeting on Monday nights.  Chad and I discussed it and we decided to make a few changes.  First, I created a Family Home Evening conducting sheet to help the kids learn how to fill it out and how to properly conduct a meeting.  Secondly, we want to make sure we remembered to council together as a family to discuss calendaring and problems or issues that we may be having.  Thirdly, Chad and I want to add Preach My Gospel Missionary training.  In the most recent conference Elder Ballard said,  "I invite all members, regardless of your current calling or level of activity in the Church, to obtain a copy of Preach My Gospel. ... It is a guidebook for missionary work—which means it is a guidebook for all of us. Read it, study it, and then apply what you learn to help you understand how to bring souls to Christ through invitation and follow-up."  The new conducting sheet helps us remember to do these new things.  Hopefully these changes will be a positive thing for our family.

Download a pdf version of the conducting sheet HERE

This is what the conducting sheet looks like.  It used to be cuter until I realized that I would be printing this out every week and that I didn't want to use up a bunch of ink. :)

Happy Easter and Happy Birthday

Today is Easter and it is also my 35th birthday.  I love Easter and I love to celebrate my birthdays.  It has been extra special to be able to celebrate both events on the same day.  Because of Jesus Christ, we can celebrate birthdays for all eternity. My family and I wish all of you a Happy Easter.

A More Personal Relationship with the Savior

Remember back in March when I shared about this program that my ward Relief Society is doing?  I've been slacking a bit, but I want to do better.  Here are my journal entries about the program and about the scriptures that we've already done.

March 21, 2014

I just got this journal at a Relief Society meeting last night.  I am looking forward to this activity.  I think it will bring "significant and subtle blessings".  I just finished entering the dates and scriptures into my calendar on my phone so I will remember to read the assigned scripture every day, along with my normal scripture study.

April 11, 2014

I'm playing catch up today.  I realized that I haven't recorded any thoughts about any of the scriptures we've already studied in this program thus far, and to be honest I've probably only read the assigned scriptures one or two times during the week they were assigned.  I still really like this program and feel it will bring "significant and subtle blessings" so I commit to do better from now on.  Here are my thoughts about each of the scriptures we've already studied:

• Helaman 5:12 - "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  This is one of my all-time favorite scriptures.  One day a few years ago while I was in the temple and I had a long wait to get into do initiatories, I committed this scripture to memory for the second time in my life.  (The first time was when I was in high school seminary.)  My kids also memorized this scripture for our scripture of the month.  I love this scripture because it teaches me that Christ will always be more powerful than Satan.  Good will ultimately triumph over evil.  If I build my foundation upon Christ there is nothing that Satan can throw out at me that I cannot overcome.  I will have hope and faith and happiness instead of misery, fear and "endless wo" if I am founded on "our Reedemer, who is Christ, the Son of God."
• St. John 14:23-27 - "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  If we love God we will do what he's asked and commanded us to do.  Then Heavenly Father will love us by coming unto us.  He will come unto us by sending the Holy Ghost.  God can't fully love us unless we allow Him to be present in our lives by qualifying for the presence of the Holy Ghost.  While we don't have to merit his Grace, we do have to merit the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  His Grace will help us overcome the things that keep us from the presence of the Holy Ghost.  We need to let God love us.  His love is always there for the taking but sometimes we won't let Him in to show us His love.  The Holy Ghost will teach us all things that will help us to build our foundations on Christ.  As a result we can have peace not troubled hearts or fear.
• 3 Nephi 13:14-21 - "For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Moreover, when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father, who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." These scriptures make me think about motives and doing things for the right reasons.  In this day and age where Facebook and blogs are popular and prevalent it is easy to post about good things you've done and expect instant praise.  It's also easy to see someone else post about the good things they've done and to judge them because you think they are not sincere and are only doing things to get praise.  It is also easy to judge those who are judging other.  I've been guilty of all of these things at one time or another in my life.  However, I've come to realize that no one, except the Lord, can know my motives.  Only the Lord knows someone else's motives.  He is the only one who knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts.  When we see others posting about the good they've done maybe its because they want to share what has brought them joy and happiness.  Maybe they were trying to teach.  Maybe they hesitated to share anything at all for fear of being judged.  Only the Lord knows and only the Lord's judgement matters.  Thank goodness for that!!  We need to have charity towards others--assume the best about them and look for the good in them.