tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2604504954626280422024-03-13T03:08:40.986-07:00Mormon Mommy GratitudeA Mormon Mommy's GratitudeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-57481566320751134292013-10-21T10:17:00.001-07:002013-10-21T10:17:15.385-07:00I am grateful for the tale of two wolves.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One evening, an elderly<br /> cherokee brave told his<br /> grandson about a battle that<br /> goes on inside people.<br /><br /> He said "my son, the battle is<br /> between two 'wolves' inside us all.<br />One is evil. </div>
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It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow,<br /> regret, greed, arrogance,<br /> self-pity, guilt, resentment,<br /> inferiority, lies, false pride,<br /> superiority, and ego.<br /><br /> The other is good.<br /> It is joy, peace love, hope serenity,<br /> humility, kindness, benevolence,<br /> empathy, generosity,<br /> truth, compassion and faith."<br /><br /> The grandson though about<br /> it for a minute and then asked<br /> his grandfather:<br /><br /> "Which wolf wins?..."<br /><br /> The old cherokee simply replied,<br /> "The one that you feed."</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-29908837358072038542013-10-17T23:26:00.000-07:002013-10-17T23:27:10.368-07:00I am grateful for good laughs.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="Oops! Elizabeth Cramer accidentally launched her 6-month-old baby during a photo shoot in California last month" class="blkBorder" height="414" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/09/21/article-2427837-1821204A00000578-374_634x414.jpg" width="634" /></div>
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I am just grateful that the baby is okay because every time </div>
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I look at this photo I bust a gut. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-88381171008089268512013-10-16T20:16:00.001-07:002013-10-16T20:19:36.940-07:002013 has been a hard year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Tonight I was prompted to read through my gratitude blog. With each entry I felt like my old self was speaking to my current self saying, "You can do this, look how amazing you are, look what you can accomplish, look what you have learned, and look what you have to offer!" I know the old me isn't gone, she just had a hard year, but I am ready to invite her back. I like her. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-89758554324116380102013-03-21T09:13:00.002-07:002013-03-21T09:13:21.685-07:00I am grateful for a lesson on prayer.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A couple of weeks ago, a woman in our ward explained over the pulpit during fast Sunday that it had been 3
years since she had born her testimony because she had been struggling with an
issue. The issue was that the night before her father-in-law was
in a fatal ATV accident, she had prayed that everyone would be safe. She said
it bothered her that her prayer wasn't aswered. She knows that our prayers are
according to God's will, but she questioned why we don't simply pray, "Heavenly
Father, I will accept thy will. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." Why do we
pray for things if it always ends up being according to God's will? She
struggled deeply with this question, but it wasn't until her husband recently
made a simple analogy that her eyes were opened. Her husband said, "You
know how our little nephew is obsessed with his mom's iPad? Well, sometimes our
nephew will ask to play with the iPad and his mom will say yes, but other times
he will ask and his mom will say no. His mom knows what is best for her son,
but her son still needs to ask." <br /><br />God is our Father. We are His
children. He loves us, and He knows what is best for us. Prayer unlocks
blessings that wouldn't have been granted without us asking, but sometimes the
Lord, with his ultimate wisdom and kindness, says no to our requests.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-80029310591799585042012-09-19T13:36:00.001-07:002012-09-19T13:40:21.875-07:00I am grateful for this quote:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>"Women of God can never be like the women of
the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are
tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have
enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough
greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We
have enough popularity; we need more purity." </i><br />
<i>Sis Margaret D.
Nadauld</i><br />
<em></em><br />
This quote is sustaining me as I work through many challenging PTA President duties.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-3079101749100860952012-09-09T17:26:00.003-07:002012-09-09T17:26:34.090-07:00The Holy Ghost is real!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night, the ER doctor at the hospital </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">explained to me that there were many viruses that mimicked the appendicitis-like symptoms my six year old daughter was exhibiting. I couldn't blame him for thinking she only had a virus. It was hard to believe that the happy, bouncy little girl we saw before us was, only an hour ago, doubled over in excruciating pain. I immediately felt very foolish for bringing my daughter into the ER, but then the doctor asked, "Would you like her to give a urine sample to rule out a urinary tract infection, or would you like her blood drawn to examine her white blood count, or would you like to have an ultra sound ordered?" I inwardly chuckled because I felt like I was ordering from some kind of medical fast food menu, but really this was no laughing matter. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">The ER doctor didn't sound too keen about the ultrasound option because of the length of time it would take to round up the ultrasound tech, and he also felt that the chances of finding the appendix in an ultrasound was low.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"> As he spoke, it hit me how completely in control and out of control I was. The decisions for my daughter's care depended on me and my minuscule amount of medical knowledge. Thank goodness I had my sister, a nurse, with me, or I would have walked away when they suggested putting a needle in my daughter's arm. And thank goodness my sister had a close friend who was an ultrasound tech, so I could call her and pick her brain about the chances of finding an appendix in a little, thin 6 year old girl ... which turns out to be remarkably high. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Continually throughout the night, a quote by Sis Beck fluttered through my mind, "This is when revelation hits reality." I really only had one option, and that was to pray and listen for His guidance. As the night wore on, it became very apparent to me that I was being prompted to ask for an ultrasound for my daughter. Miraculously the ultrasound became the only piece of evidence that definitively diagnosed what the problem was ... acute appendicitis. We were checked into the children's hospital by 4 a.m. on Sunday, and surgery began at 9:00 a.m. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">I know the Holy Ghost is real. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-34791121814082949182012-07-28T07:27:00.002-07:002012-07-28T07:27:55.502-07:00I am grateful for this Chinese proverb.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Good Luck Bad
Luck!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #783896; font-size: medium;">There
is a Chinese story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields. One
day, the horse escaped into the hills and when the farmer's neighbors
sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, "Bad luck?
Good luck? Who knows?" A week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses
from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good
luck. His reply was, "Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?"</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #783896; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<b style="color: #783896;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #783896; font-size: medium;">Then, when the farmer's son was
attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his
leg. Everyone thought this very bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction
was, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?"<br /><br />Some weeks later, the army marched
into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When
they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg, they let him off. Now was that
good luck or bad luck? Who knows?</span></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-25730292951754343552012-07-20T23:27:00.000-07:002012-07-26T23:28:13.652-07:00I am grateful for one year ago ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;">Today is my one year post CCSVI procedure anniversary, and I am feeling great!!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> I am also feeling very grateful and happy, so I just might have to celebrate ...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">and I don't think the kids will mind if we do. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Have a wonderful day everyone!!! </span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-6215480544798181682012-07-13T11:23:00.001-07:002012-07-13T11:23:20.191-07:00I am grateful for the prayer in my heart.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">How I want to be with my Heavenly Father again! How I want to run up to Him and put my arms around Him and weep. I want to tell Him how I served Him, that I struggled at times and was not as valiant as I should have been, but how I really tried and that I never forgot how I dearly wanted to be with Him again. </span><br style="color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">The words of Alma ring in my ears, "Oh, that I were an angel and could have one wish of my heart, to cry repentance unto every people." I feel such compassion and love for ALL of God's children because I know what it is like to be as Lot's wife looking too much in the past, to be as Jonah wanting only to run away from his trials, to be as Laman and Lemuel murmuring because things were too hard, to be as Sariah doubting priesthood guidance, to be as the prodigal son straying from the path, to be as the prodigal son's brother jealous and feeling like things are unfair. But I have felt, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, and through the gift of the Holy Ghost, such a joy that I cannot explain. I feel an inner light that is so strong and so powerful that I want everyone around me to know how much I, and their Savior, and our Father in Heaven love them. I want everyone to feel of this redeeming love, and to drink deeply of His everlasting joy. </span><br style="color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Cardo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-16946642712098782642012-07-05T07:50:00.003-07:002012-07-05T07:50:33.765-07:00I am grateful for light.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white;">I have been drawn to the subject of
<em>light</em> lately. I find myself frequently pondering upon the words "sun"
and "son," and marveling at their similarities. For example, we look to the sun
to provide light, warmth and life. Likewise, we look to our Savior, the Son of
God , to provide<em> light</em> (3 Nephi 19:25), <em>warmth</em> (3 Nephi
19:13), and Eternal life (Romans 6:23). </span><br /><br />Last fast and testimony
meeting, I was thinking about the concept of<em> light</em> with regards to
testimonies, and I wondered to myself, "How can someone say I KNOW the Gospel of
Jesus Christ is true?" Suddenly the image of the sun entered my mind, and I
began to contemplate on how I KNOW the sun is real. I KNOW the sun is real
because it rises everyday, but really that fact alone isn't enough. It occurred
to me that the sun could rise and set without me even knowing it was there if it
wasn't for the <em>warmth</em> and <em>light</em> it provided. Because of this
<em>warmth</em> and <em>light</em> that I tangibly feel and see everyday of my
life, I can say with perfect knowledge, I KNOW that the sun is real.
<br /><br />Then I began to ponder upon how I KNOW the gospel of Jesus Christ is
true, and how I KNOW that Jesus Christ is my Savior. And I discovered that I
KNOW these things are true because, just like the sun, the <em>light</em> of
Christ powerfully rises within me and radiates in my countenance to all those
around me when I choose to follow the Savior's teachings. I am then blessed
with the <em>warmth</em> and peace of the Holy Ghost which greater testifies to
me of my Savior's existance and His plan. Oppositely, when I do not follow the
principles taught by our Savior, I am dark and inwardly it feels like my life is
void of the sun. Simply put, when I follow the Son, I feel <em>light</em>. When
I choose to stray from the Son, I feel darkness. <br /><br />
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So, just as perfectly as I KNOW the sun is real, I
KNOW that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's true church
on earth, and Jesus Christ is my Savior. <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/16.9?lang=eng#8"><span style="color: #a21d84;">Mosiah
16:9</span></a> <span class="highlight">"He</span> is the <span class="highlight">light</span> and the life of the world; yea, a <span class="highlight">light</span> that is endless, <page-break page="179"></page-break>that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which
is endless, that there can be no more death." As a side note, don't you love
that the one day we have dedicated to full worship of our Savior is called
"Sun"day.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-68982776678493971082012-06-26T19:25:00.001-07:002012-06-26T19:25:23.678-07:00I am grateful for thoughtful emails my sweetheart forwards me to brighten my day.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This one is written by Jack Rushton.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I have no man…</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <b>[To help me]…"<u></u><u></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">I was glued to the TV like many of you I am sure, the evening Nick Wallenda walked a third of a mile across Niagara Falls, from the United States side to the Canadian side on a 2 inch steel cable. We may question his sanity risking his life in this way, but there is also, I believe, much to be admired and even learned from his daring feat.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">It took two years of intense planning to accomplish his goal. He had trained for most of his life to walk the wire across Niagara Falls. We may question having that kind of goal, but for him it was an important part of his life. It was not just wishful thinking on his part, for along with his dream went meticulous, detailed planning and self-discipline that made the vision and dream a reality.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">As I watched him I was impressed by his calm demeanor and confidence, which I believe came to him through his detailed and profound preparation. And yet at the same time, I sensed his humility and lack of being arrogant and overconfident. I could hardly believe my eyes as I watched what he was doing.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">I think the thing that struck a chord with me the most however, is when he was in the midst of the mist with the wind swirling around him, and <b>he was all alone</b>. No man could help him get out of the mist and wind and across the cable to safety.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">I know, as many as you also know how frightening it is to realize that you are all alone with no one to help you through your challenging and often times frightening circumstance. It was then I heard him seeking help from the only source available to him on the 2 inch cable, dangerously dangling 20 stories above Niagara Falls. Nick began praying fervently to God and to the Savior to help him get to the other side safely and not let him plunge into the menacing chasm and certain death that lurked below him in the blackness of the night.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">What a personal reminder and lesson this heartfelt prayer was to me personally. We really need never feel we are alone if we have faith in a loving Heavenly Father, and in the power of prayer. Sometimes we need to be reminded of this great truth.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Because of my own mobility impaired circumstances, I am attracted to the Savior's healing miracles of those who were paralyzed and crippled. One of my favorite healing miracles took place at the Pool of Bethesda, as recorded by John in chapter 5 of his gospel. A man who had been severely “mobility impaired” for 38 years of his life, was approached by Jesus as he lay by the side of the Pool. The tradition was that an angel had "troubled" the water at some point in time and ever after it would periodically bubble up spontaneously each day. The tradition was that the first person into the Pool after the "troubling" of the water would be healed. Let's read some of John's beautiful account of what transpired:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt;"> <i>"</i></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt;">And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2878051052607457510" name="1380683ca55337cf_6" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline: 0px;"></a>When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2878051052607457510" name="1380683ca55337cf_7" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline: 0px;"></a>The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the <b>pool</b>: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2878051052607457510" name="1380683ca55337cf_8" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline: 0px;"></a> Jesus saith unto him Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2878051052607457510" name="1380683ca55337cf_9" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline: 0px;"></a> And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked…" [John 5:5-9]</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Several things are important to me in John's account. He saw the crippled man and knew he had been in that condition for a long time. He knows everything! That is comforting to me personally. I like to think he knows I have been in my condition for a long time. He, of course, knew that the paralyzed man wanted to be healed, but that he didn't know how to go about bringing that miracle into his life. The man could only say, "I have no man [to help me into the water so that I can be healed.]" At this time in his life he was totally dependent upon the "arm of flesh." And then comes the great lesson (for me anyway) "<b><i>Rise, take up thy bed and walk</i></b>!" The paralyzed man was alone in the sense that no mortal would help him into the water so that he could be healed, so he thought. The Savior taught him and all of us who have read this account down through the centuries that we are never really alone. We are not entirely dependent upon others or "the troubling of the waters" to help us through our challenging times, as long as we have faith in our Heavenly Father and in the infinite atonement of His Beloved Son in our behalf.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Thankfully, I learned this important lesson as a young missionary in November, 1958, in a small Mayan Indian village in Guatemala, which was nestled high in the mountains in the middle of a magnificent Ponderosa Pine forest. I went there after spending only one week in the mission home in Salt Lake City. In those days there was no 2 months of language training at the MTC. After spending just one night in the mission home in Guatemala City, I was sent to this little village. To say I experienced cultural shock is the understatement of the century. The room in which we lived had no windows and large rats lived within its walls, chirping to each other all night long. I didn't know what they were talking about but it made me feel very uneasy. The cockroaches were huge and as soon as the lights were out you could hear them skittering across the floor and up and down the walls. There were "Moby Fleas<b>" </b>that seemed to be so happy that I had come to Guatemala to visit them. I was terribly homesick and physically sick as well, with the beginning of amoebic dysentery. I had never been that miserable in all my life. My companion was just finishing his 2 1/2 year mission; he would go home within the month, and was not very sympathetic to my puny sufferings. He was the only person in the village that spoke English and he would only speak to me in Spanish. I had never felt so alone.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">After about a week, I woke up in the middle of the night, extremely sick, and had to get to the bathroom as quickly as I could. The bathroom was on the other side of our patio. I made a mad dash across the patio to the bathroom, forgetting that a clothesline was strung across the length of the patio. Running as fast as I could, the clothesline caught me across the neck and threw me on my back to the patio's tiled floor. I didn't make it to the bathroom, to say the least! As I lay there on my back staring up into that beautiful moonlit Guatemala sky, I cried out, "If only my dad could see me now, he would send me an airplane ticket so that I could come home. He would never let one of his sons live under these horrible conditions in this miserable village and country!" And then the thought came into my mind that my dad was at least 3000 miles away and couldn't help me. I realized also that no one in the village, not even my companion, could help me either. And so I rolled over onto my hands and knees and offered the most heartfelt prayer I had ever offered up to that time in my life. I needed help! I just couldn't go on this way and I knew it. By the time I cleaned up and got into bed I was a different young man. I didn't see an angel or hear an audible voice, but I was immersed in the Spirit to such an extent that I was filled with peace and the knowledge that I could not just endure one night in Guatemala, but many nights and many years if need be. That night I learned I need never feel again that I was alone!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Through the years that knowledge has helped me deal with a number of challenging circumstances that have come into my life. The feelings of loneliness and despair I felt when a neurosurgeon gave my family and me his prognosis regarding my future cannot be adequately expressed. He told us that I would never be able to move my body again, breathe again on my own, speak, eat solid food, or live outside a care facility as long as I lived. But I knew because of what had happened to me in November, 1958, in a little Indian village, that as dark and fearsome as the future looked, I knew I was not alone and somehow with HIS help my family and I would get through this.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">I am convinced that if we have sufficient faith in Christ and the power of prayer we can never truthfully say, "<b><i>I have no man to help me</i></b>…"<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Dad/Grandpa/Jack</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jack<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.jackrushton.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.jackrushton.com</a><u></u><u></u></div>
<div class="yiv103280268MsoNormal" style="padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.observationsbyjack.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.observationsbyjack.blogspot.com</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-81717725417940412642012-06-10T21:59:00.000-07:002012-06-30T09:17:21.454-07:00I am grateful for rainbows.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
They never cease to thrill me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pzjrAim-Pc/T8cGfwiX92I/AAAAAAAABzo/-osJr8n6Cro/s1600/rainbow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pzjrAim-Pc/T8cGfwiX92I/AAAAAAAABzo/-osJr8n6Cro/s640/rainbow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-42816761260948473662012-06-04T05:58:00.000-07:002012-06-04T05:58:33.346-07:00I am just grateful.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My health, my children, my husband, my parents, my friends, my Heavenly Father, my Savior and the Spirit. I am grateful!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-39924338791031201712012-05-22T16:39:00.000-07:002012-06-04T05:57:54.759-07:00I am grateful for my new beautiful anthem.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><b> </b></i>I am officially crazy! I just agreed to be the PTA
president for the upcoming year. Why me? Basically because I was asked by the principal to
do it, but before I accepted I told her that I would have to ask my
husband and kids for their approval and support. After talking to them,
and a quick call to the current PTA president to pick her brain, I came
to the conclusion ... why not me! <br />
<br />
And that is why "Take Time to be Holy" is going to be my new anthem.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div class="verses">
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</div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li class="first">Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;<br />Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.<br />Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,<br />Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.</li>
<li>Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;<br />Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.<br />By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;<br />Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.</li>
<li>Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;<br />And run not before Him, whatever betide.<br />In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,<br />And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.</li>
<li>Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,<br />Each thought and each motive beneath His control.<br />Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,<br />Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above. </li>
</ol>
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-79434445465024327982012-05-10T19:10:00.005-07:002012-05-24T09:20:51.532-07:00I am grateful for my eight year old's questions.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My sweet eight year old is having
trouble going to sleep at night. To help remedy this, I have been
chatting with him until he falls asleep. Our chats consist of him
asking thoughtful, hard questions, and I do my best to answer them.
For example, a few nights ago, we discussed the origin of Heavenly
Father, the location of heaven, and the concept of eternal time and
space. Whew! I can't wait to hear what questions surface tonight. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-7754002423925786172012-05-05T13:37:00.001-07:002012-05-10T19:27:07.251-07:00I am grateful for parables.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love this line:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Downing another quart of pickle juice any time anyone around you </i><br />
<i>has a happy moment."</i></div>
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-37436624214171923922012-05-02T08:43:00.000-07:002012-05-02T08:45:03.665-07:00I am grateful for the question, "Why?"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 id="post-title">
<div class="ipe-format-title">
<div>
Episcopal Priest Describes Her Visit to a Mormon Temple</div>
</div>
</h1>
<div class="post-info">
<span id="blog-date">24 April 2012 — </span>POSTED <i>by </i><span class="ipe-format-none" id="blog-author">Lyman Kirkland</span></div>
<img _cke_saved_src="/media/kansas-city-exterior-evening.jpg/blog" alt="" src="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/media/kansas-city-exterior-evening.jpg/blog" /><br />
<i>Photo caption: Exterior of the Kansas City Missouri Temple</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Writing in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/danielle-tumminio/inside-a-mormon-temple-a-female-episcopal-priest-visits_b_1430206.html"><i>Huffington Post</i></a>
about her visit to the Kansas City Missouri Temple open house of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Danielle Tumminio, an
Episcopal priest and theologian, captures the “why” of belief and
religious practice, an element frequently missing in religious news
coverage. Tumminio visited the Kansas City Temple open house to answer
the questions “What does a Mormon temple look like, and what happens
inside it?” and “Would I feel God's presence in this space, even though
it's not a space that's sacred for me?”<br />
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints has 136 operating temples around the world and
more under construction. Church members often travel long distances to
worship in them (temples differ from the nearly 18,000 Mormon chapels
throughout the world used for regular Sunday services). Each temple has a
public open house prior to its dedication.<br />
Tumminio described what she experienced during her visit to the Kansas City Temple open house:<br />
<blockquote>
Like Dante, who saw God face to face but had no words to describe the
encounter, I have few words to describe what I felt in that moment. But
I can say this: While it did not convert me, nor did it make me want to
be a Mormon, the silence and peace I felt reminded me of the many other
times I've felt close to God, whether in an Episcopal cathedral, in a
clear, warm ocean or in my ratty old car. And because of that, I came to
understand why temples exist and why they are so important to Mormons
across the world.</blockquote>
While many journalists sincerely strive to report
accurately on religion, capturing the essence of the religious
experience transcends accuracy and is lost in most news articles.
Latter-day Saints (and all people of faith) appreciate it when
journalists get the facts straight about their faith. But to go beyond
the facts and actually capture the “why” of belief and faith is
refreshing.<br />
Read the full article in the <i>Huffington Post</i> here: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/danielle-tumminio/inside-a-mormon-temple-a-female-episcopal-priest-visits_b_1430206.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/danielle-tumminio/inside-a-mormon-temple-a-female-episcopal-priest-visits_b_1430206.html</a><br />
<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-82951063471553009892012-05-01T09:55:00.003-07:002012-05-01T17:12:41.880-07:00I am grateful for this quote.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Administer in the spirit of love and patience to your husbands and to your children; <b>guard
the little ones; do not permit them to imbibe the spirit of intolerance
or hatred to any nation or to any people; keep firearms out of their
hands; do not allow them to play at war nor to find amusement in
imitating death in battle</b>; inculcate the spirit of loyalty to
country and flag, but help them to feel that they are soldiers of the
Cross and that if they must needs take up arms in the defense of
liberty, of country and homes they shall do so without rancor or
bitterness.... Teach the peaceable things of the kingdom [and] look
after the needy more diligently than ever."<br />
Emmeline B. Wells (Daughters in My Kingdom, pg 64)</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-31324412951625228652012-04-24T08:09:00.000-07:002012-04-24T08:09:32.829-07:00I am grateful for wholesome youtube videos.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-52553217074667821662012-04-11T15:22:00.004-07:002012-04-20T16:10:03.211-07:00I am grateful for the hand of the Lord in my life.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today I saw His hand by the help I was given to deal with a difficult phone call. <br />
<br />
If we choose to look, we can see the hand of the Lord in every aspect of our daily lives.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-3306519997464097482012-04-09T17:00:00.000-07:002012-04-09T17:00:29.220-07:00I am grateful for my beautiful little ballerina.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HSZ3IctyjQg/T4N4ELntwaI/AAAAAAAABtI/fpXIOmfEcHs/s1600/DSCN1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HSZ3IctyjQg/T4N4ELntwaI/AAAAAAAABtI/fpXIOmfEcHs/s640/DSCN1636.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-14331879512196082882012-04-06T15:45:00.002-07:002012-04-06T16:08:05.093-07:00I am grateful for Easter.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oXrOG02NMB0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Easter Everyone!!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Let us take the time this holiday weekend to kneel before our Heavenly Father,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and say a prayer of gratitude for our Redeemer's sacrifice, love and mercy. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-25974543834199804912012-04-05T08:50:00.001-07:002012-04-06T15:49:05.927-07:00I am grateful for these quotes by Elder Wilson on parenting.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="" style="text-align: center;"><i>A ... tragic side effect of unrighteous dominion can be a loss of trust in God’s love. I have known some people who were subject to demanding and controlling leaders or parents, and they have found it hard to feel the very love from their Heavenly Father that would sustain them and motivate them along the path of righteousness.</i></div><div class="" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div></div><div class="" style="text-align: center;"><i>If we are going to help those in our stewardships make the all-important link with heaven, we must be the kind of parent and leader described in Doctrine and Covenants, section 121. We must act “only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.”<sup class="noteMarker"> <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2012/04/only-upon-the-principles-of-righteousness?lang=eng#9-10485_000_54wilso"></a></sup>President Henry B. Eyring has said, “Of all the help we can give … young people, the greatest will be to let them feel our confidence that they are on the path home to God and that they can make it.”</i></div><div class="" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="text-align: center;"><i><sup class="noteMarker"> </sup></i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>As we consider the principles that should guide us in the Church and at home, let me close with an illustration from the biography of President Thomas S. Monson. Ann Dibb, the Monsons’ daughter, says that to this day, when she walks in the front door of the house where she was raised, her father will say, “Oh, look who’s here. And aren’t we glad, and isn’t she beautiful?” She goes on to say: “My parents always give me some compliment; it doesn’t matter what I look like or what I’ve been doing. … When I go and visit my parents, I know I am loved, I am complimented, I am made welcome, I am home.”</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ckqSQFAfbzs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><i><br />
</i></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-91657220358941446772012-04-02T18:29:00.000-07:002012-04-02T18:29:01.944-07:00I am grateful for President Uchtdorf.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If you haven't listened to his message on forgiveness than you are missing out!!! Listen <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2012/04?lang=eng&vid=1541950013001&cid=4">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260450495462628042.post-11160427297875670472012-03-30T21:02:00.004-07:002012-04-09T17:16:16.831-07:00I am grateful for simple yummy recipes.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKnqOa6bzJk/T4N7yOke7mI/AAAAAAAABtQ/2UnMC0XaVSw/s1600/DSCN1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKnqOa6bzJk/T4N7yOke7mI/AAAAAAAABtQ/2UnMC0XaVSw/s320/DSCN1647.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
My friend had a baby last week, so I decided to bring her dinner. The problem was that I looked in my fridge and the only thing I could find were some frozen chicken breasts. So I leafed through my plethora of recipe books to find a simple chicken recipe with the least amount of ingredients. And low and behold I found this:<br />
<br />
<u><b>Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches</b></u><br />
1 (4 pound) bag frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts<br />
1 (16 ounce) bottle BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce)<br />
1 cup water<br />
2 dozen hamburger buns<br />
<br />
<i>Place frozen chicken breasts in crock pot. Pour barbecue sauce and water over top and cook for 5 hours on high heat. Before serving, shred chicken with two forks to pull it apart and mix in sauce well. Spoon onto buns or rolls.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
This meal was a hit! It was quick, easy and fed a ton of people. I served it with carrots and dip, potato chips, and a fruit salad made up of pineapples and strawberries. HEAVEN!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0