Well Said

Go HERE if you've been wondering how I've been lately.  It's well said, and I probably could have written it myself if I wasn't drowning in it.  

Thanks for sharing, Kate.  :)  I haven't quite decided how to put my feelings into words, but Glennon words it pretty well.  In fact, I think she's been a fly on my wall the last two months.

Striving, ever striving

"We would do well to slow down a little...focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most."

For convenience, the link to the talk:  Of Things That Matter Most

"Diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the World."

-President Dieiter F. Uchtdorf 

Just a little reminder for myself that I wanted to share.  Now I need to go wash my running makeup from my face and do the dishes.  ♥

Inspiration

Please pause the music on my sidebar and enjoy this inspirational video...

**I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Relief Society Conference in my Stake this morning.  It. Was. Wonderful.  The only bad part was I didn't have my diaper bag, so I didn't have tissues, or a burp cloth, or ANYTHING to wipe my wet and teary face with.  LOL!  I learned a few things about myself, as well as what I can do better to improve my attitude and circumstances, if you will.  This "Mormon Message" was shared in the last class I could attend before slipping home to nurse Kortlen...and I felt like I couldn't hardly breathe both times I watched it...but I didn't want to bawl in the middle of all the women, so I just held it in.  My heart wants to burst.  With gratitude, with comfort, and with love.

I keep watching it over, and over, and over.  Part of what keeps drawing me in is President Ucktdorf's passionate voice, part of it is the beautiful and intense music.  But the most important and inspirational part to me is the meaningful message.  Guess it's just something I need to hear today.  Right now.

"President Dieter F. Uchtdorf invites us to rely on the Spirit and use our divinely inherited ability to create things of substance and beauty. "

Enjoy.



Hopefully my renewed drive to eliminate unnecessary distractions (good-bye Facebook, netflix, questionable movies, computer time and television) will allow me to be closer to the Spirit and I'll be able to be available to listen more closely to guidance and direction.

Hopefully my children will appreciate the new attitude and tone in our home.

Hopefully communication between all individuals in our home will improve.

And hopefully, we'll find the peace and balance we've been taught to invite into and create in our home.

Today before my mom left, she helped me hang a picture of Christ prominently in our living room.  We've never had a picture of Christ hanging where it's the first thing you see.  Thanks, mom!  (And thanks dad, for letting us climb on you on the couch to hang everything else.)  My next 'to-do' is to finish and print a picture of a Temple for our living room, our bedroom, and our boys' room.  I have big ideas...just need the weather to be nicer, and the paycheck to be bigger.

I also re-hung a document our church issued in 1995, called, "The Family:  A Proclamation to the World".  You can read the actual document, and about it, HERE.  It means so much to me and my little family.

Big changes.  Little changes.  Changes, period.  Change is good.  And these changes are for the better.  They're inspired, and maybe you'll find a little inspiration in them to improve your own life, if that's what it needs.  It's what our family needs right now.

_____________________

And yes.  I completely deleted myself from facebook.  Not just my friends this time. The best part?  I don't even feel a tiny bit bad about it.  LOL!  If you don't know how to get a hold of me by now, maybe we're not as close as I thought.  :)  And if you'd like to *be* a close friend, shoot me an email...maybe we can work something out.  In fact, I'm sure we can. 

{A Plea}

{A Plea for the Relief Society}

Written at the request of Mrs. Rhonda Snell, first President of the Relief Society of Spanis Fork and read at the celebration of the 24th of July, 1867.

Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.  John, Chap. VI. ver. 12.

____________________

Let us gather up the fragments,

That nothing may be lost,

And never mind how trifling, or

How small may be their cost.

Economy is heaven's law,

Let us observe and see;

A tiny drop, a single grain, 

Each of some use can be.

Union is strength, and when we meet

And in one cause unite,

Much may be done to help and bless,

And make the burden light.

We bring our little bits of cloth,

Our bunch of wool or thread;

And busy fingers work awhile;

And soon a quilt is made.

We give our mite the poor to help,

their pressing wants relieve,

But do we realize how much,

We each from God receive?

On this glad day, when through these vales,

The saints with joy have met,

Can we while pleasure thrills the heart,

The absent ones forget?

Our people now in distant lands,

Would glad these blessings share,

And from them oft, for help from us, 

Ascends the fervent prayer.

Oppressed with poverty, they sigh,

While sin and crime abound;

And evils now unknown to us,

Encompass them around.

By us a Prophet's voice is heard,

Our eyes can see this face,

Would they not prize above all joys,

In Zion's land a place?

Perhaps the little we have done,

Is registered on high,

And, when the books at least are read

Will not unnoticed lie.

But do we each give all we can

When any call is made?

Or is our first desire to know

How little can be paid?

Does it sometimes seem hard to part

With what we earn so dear?

As Saints of God we ought to live

Above all selfish fear.

'Tis faith alone, can understand

the charge so wisely given,

(Though some may fear to run the risk,)

"Lay treasures up in Heaven."

~ Hannah Last Cornaby

My great- great-grandmother

{Woman's Mission}

I never wished to be a queen,
     To wear the robes of state,
Or have my name enrolled among
     The famous or the great.

I never cared for "woman's rights,"
     Nor ever had a fear,
But that if woman sought, sh'd find
     Her own, her proper sphere.

I know that woman's missions' great,
     Yet comprehends the small,
The tiny, trifling things of life,
     Important to us all.

In this, true woman finds her sphere,
     Her happiness complete,
In loving, helping, blessing all
     With whom she chance to meet.

What need for her of Congress' halls,
     Or legislative cares,
The promptings of her woman's soul,
     Is all the law she hears.

The law of love implanted there,
     By our great Parent's hand,
If not perverted, safely guides,
     Woman in every land.

I wish I had the power to write,
     Woman to vindicate,
To tell her true nobility,
     E'en in this fallen state.

I never wished for wealth or fame,
     For I have understood,
How poor and valueless are these,
     Compared with being good.

               ~Hannah Last Cornaby
               b. March 17, 1822, Beccles, Suffolk England
               d. Sept. 1, 1905

{well said}

So true. 

Listen to the talk here.
Read the talk here (to be updated on Thursday, when the print version is available.)