Queen Elsa, Somersaults, and Silliness

The other night I dropped my two teenage children off for a Sunday fireside * (devotional) at a church member's house.  I saw one of my friends, and also the Young Women's President pull up to the house on her bike.  I'd been meaning to talk to her, so I left my car running and jumped out to check on how my excessively shy girl is doing in her church youth classes. --Not great. ;\ 

After visiting a minute with my friend, an 8 yr. old daughter (from inside the house) came up to me and started talking to me. I said goodbye to H, as she hurried in for the fireside and turned to visit with J . A bright, beautiful, articulate child. She's warm, trusting, and naturally loving and open. And well, it's hard  for me not to enjoy myself around those kind of people!

J and I have visited many times before, but on this night she was carrying her Queen Elsa barbie doll and a fun conversation ensued on the movie frozen, and specifically "Queen Elsa."  I tried to convince her to like Princess Anna more.  But, her mind could bot be changed.  

Me:  But why do you like Princess Elsa so much?
J.  (correction) Queen Elsa! 

Me:  Okay! ;) Queen Elsa!

J; "Queen Elsa can do cool magic with her hands, and her dress is so pretty, and she's sooo beautiful." (and she tilted her head down to tightly hug her Queen Elsa to her heart. 

Me: (teasingly) Yeah, okay, so she builds really cool ice castles and a cute snowman, BUT Princess Elsa is forgiving, she sings so pretty, and never stops loving-- You know that sad part (and I imitate a spoken child's voice)  "Do you wanna build a snowman?"

J: Yeah, but Queen Elsa sings (and J breaks into song) "The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen..."  

Me. You sing so pretty J.

J:  Thanks, now you try it.  

Me:  What are the words again? (I only know the words "Let it Go! Let it Go!...")

J: (repeats the words she sang)

Me:  I start singing it.

J:  Hey, you sound just like Queen Elsa!

Me: Thanks :)

Me:  But J, Anna has the same hair color as we do! (Dark Brown)

J: (cutely correcting me!) "Her hair is red!" 

Me: (puzzled, and thinking back to a visual image I have of Anna,) "Oh, yeah, I guess it is kind of reddish"  

J:  (Holding a handful of her long hair to shine in the setting sun) "look" 

[I understood immediately her unspoken intent, for I'd done the same thing many times myself!  Yes, brown hair usually has reddish undertones when the light shines through]

Me: (holding up my hair for the sun to also shine through) "Yeah, and I have reddish hair too"  

J; (Giggling) We both have the same hair as Anna!

You can thank me, because that's the abridged version of our conversation on that topic!

We also spoke about all kinds of things-- like how there is a mean girl who won't let her play with her friend K.C. at school, and how how she has a chandelier in her room, and a desk that was her brother's and she's scraping of the black chalk paint from it because she already has a chalkboard, and how her parents used to have cats but one was smushed by a car and the other by the garage door! 

And, of course, I told her how I have a chandelier in my front room.  Which I call my "temple room" (but it never really looks quite as clean as a temple, because my children are mess makers!)

And how we have 2 pet bunnies, and a hamster, but we used to have pigeons, bunnies, dogs, and chickens! 

And on and on we visited-- because that's what two talkative girls do! ;)

One of my favorite things J told was a story about how one morning, when she was still asleep, her sister woke her up by throwing herself on J-- and then they proceeded to re-enact a scene from Frozen--- Which of course J and her sister have memorized!!  And little J acted it out for me, and explained she kept her eyes closed and her sister opened one of them just like Elsa. She was proud of her ability to act asleep.

Young Anna: [climbs into Elsa's bed] Elsa. Psst. Elsa! Wake up, wake up, wake up!

Young Elsa: [half-asleep] Anna, go back to sleep.

Young Anna: I just can't. 

[dramatically] The sky's awake, 

so I'm awake, so we have to play!

Young Elsa: [smiling] Go play by yourself! 

[nudges Anna off the bed]

[Anna hits the floor with a thud, but smiles 

and climbs back up on the bed. 

She opens one of Elsa's eyes]

Young Anna: [mischievously] Do you wanna build a snowman?

Somehow after sharing the story she told me how she could almost do a somersault. I followed her over to the grass and she tried very hard, but wasn't quite making it.  I showed her how to place her feet and tuck her head toward her knees and how to push off with her legs and hands.  I gave her a push over and she did a successful somersault.

We practiced several more times.  And I even demonstrated a somersault twice in my perfectly mature, ladylike manners (and all dressed in my knee length peasant skirt and blouse!!)  She thought that was too funny.  (But, then again, she's a giggly, happy child, and doesn't have a mean bone in her body.  I'm not so sure any onlookers were as generous as she was. I don't mind occasionally marching to my own rat-a-tat-tat--- drum beat! ;)  After I had her practice a few more somersaults, she started to get the hang of it.  (She still needs to put more speed into pushing off though.)

[Reminds me of a song: "If you don't happen to like me pass me by!!"]

J moved on to something else.  This time she showed me how to move and twist around the tall basketball hoop on the drive way.  Because she's a petite girl, and still developing coordination, like other children her age, it took care and thought on her part.  She finished her feat, and said, "Now you try it." 

When J had me take a turn to copy what she had done, I worried that that it would look too easy if I did it like she did.  I have the leg length to reach stepping spots that she'd had trouble with.  I didn't want to make it seem like a "piece of cake," and squash any of her wonderful self-esteem, so  I modified what I did.  I danced around it like an awkward pirouetting ballerina.  She watched me, and then corrected me nicely "No, that's not how you do it." She then demonstrated and told me again to give it a try.  I just laughed and said, I might fall and hit my head on the cement if I did.  :))  

Well, I was having a great time visiting with her, but made my apologies, and told her I should be getting home.  After all, I was only there 30-40 minutes!

As always, you may be asking,  "Goodness, what is the point of Christine's long winded play by play of her conversation and playtime with J."  I'm glad you asked.  :)  I'll tell you.

1. Children need role models. Not only do children get into trouble without proper attention, but it also affects their self-esteem.  Children derive increased confidence when they are listened to and engage in happy social relationships. (Okay, I'm not going to write a research paper here.  So I won't bother to support any of my facts or theories! Just go with it, okay?!)
2. It's a great way to remember how you acted and felt as a child.  We live in a world of distraction.  As adults we tent to always be off cleaning, sending emails, checking Facebook, editing photos, watching movies, working, or doing our civic or church duties.  I realize those things can be important and necessary, but there is something truly satisfying when engaging with children.  You are reminded of perspectives and views of the world you saw when you were much closer to the ground.  Memories you've long forgotten.
3. Making eye contact is more rewarding than staring at a lap top, cell phone, or ipod. Having this time with J, reminded me that I want to give my full and undivided attention to my own children.  I certainly try.  And I have a lot of fun, precious, and special stories I could share of my conversations and experiences with them.  But, giving your undivided attention to one child is vastly different than dividing it with 5!  It can be downright challenging!  And sometime I feel exhausted in the effort.
   
   From this experience I felt renewed in my desire to make sure I am setting aside opportunities in which I have alone time with each of my children.   Not just alone time in the house, while my 4 year old helps me clean in the kitchen or bedroom, or my 13 year old makes cookies (and I give her baking tips), but also alone time going outside more.  Doing such things as jumping on the trampoline, going on a walk or bike ride, a "date" with just Mom and/or Dad, or practicing somersaults together are just a few of the many possibilities!
   
   I do a lot of those things, but I realized after talking with J, that I'm going to need to actually make conscious effort to stop what I'm doing and give them regular time and attention, especially as it relates to going outdoors- in all kinds of weather.
   
   
4. Children gain confidence for positive interactions with adults.  Today on Facebook I saw a short clip about "acting like a girl."  
   It's pathetic commentary on how society views females.  If I can pay attention to not just my daughter's, but son's, or other children, and give encouragement and let them know I care, then I'm hopeful they will know how special they are, and that's it's alright to be themselves!  (I mean, seriously, if at my age I can do a somersault and not act embarrassed that someone might see me, then I hope it relays the message that "I'm alright with myself," and they like themselves as they are too!)
   
   OH, and guys, I better not hear you tell your son's "What!!  Are you gonna cry like a girl now?! Buck up and be a man." (I won't step all the way on my soap box now, but needless to say,  I don't increase in respect when men talk that way to their sons!)

We can learn to be more like Jesus! (Not to mention children can remind us how Heavenly Father loves us with the same compassion and mercy, and that we are of value in His sight.)  Think of all the wonderful qualities I've described of J. Think of the sweet, endearing qualities in children you know and love.

• Children are generally accepting of everyone. 
• Children love to experiment and learn. 
• Children are trusting. 
•  Children are teachable. 
• Children forgive quickly. 
• Children love to laugh and giggle. 
• Children aren't afraid of appearances. 
• Children speak with direct honesty!
• Children have tremendous faith in everyone and everything. 
• Children are what the savior admonished us to be like! 

In  Matthew 18 we read:

 1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the ^agreatest in the kingdom of heaven?

 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little ^achildren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 4 Whosoever therefore shall ^ahumble himself as this little ^bchild, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my ^aname receiveth me.

 6 But whoso shall ^aoffend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

I hope we will work harder to show love to the Heavenly Father's children of all ages.  I know it can be hard at times, but He trusts us to show His love and care.  And when we do, we will each be blessed.

Christine

I took the this other day up our beautiful canyon.  We ate Little Caesar's for a picnic and explored around the water. 

P.S. Update and Warning! ;)  

Not all interactions are going to be as pleasant as the one I described above!!  

My stinker M wanted to be in the photo when I took a picture of
this card I made at Relief Society the other night.
Our card making didn't go this well tonight!! :P

After writing this blog, I went to test my ability to set aside my distractions, and pay close attention to my children.  First I said we'd have a craft time, while the 2 oldest were at their church youth activity. 

I went to get some pretty scrapbook paper in the basement, and discovered my boys had dumped a big bag of cereal on the front sidewalk.  I had them help me first clean it up, so we could make cards. It had been a rainy day and the Lucky Charms stuck to the sidewalk! It took longer than anticipated to clean.

Here are M and S the next night.  There were fighting over the
pillows and the chair.  :(  I don't mind a little fun, or temporary mess,
but when the fighting and crying starts, I do whatever I can to
improve the situation. Usually they are the best of friend tho!

Once finished, I gathered the paper and made my way into my bedroom (which was clean most of the day) but suddenly the boys were leaping from chair to bed and wrestling with each other, and piling up pillows and blankets and a crib mattress for more fun.  

Promises are important for me to keep to my children, so I was trying to make bright Halloween inspired greeting cards with my 9 year old daughter.  The boys were suppose to have participated, but they were having to much fun with all the bedding!  

Meanwhile, my two oldest came home from the church activity.  Realizing it was getting late, I called
for it to be scripture time.  My 15 year old read from the Doctrine and Covenants, while I tried to quietly pick up and get the boys to settle down. Needless to say, but they weren't terribly quiet during scriptures.

If only our prayer time looked this reverent!!

C finished a short chapter, and that meant prayer time.  My 13 year old, K, quickly drops to her knees and starts praying. I say  "Wait for the rest of us to kneel"  I lovingly threatened ;) asked the boys to kneel and be quiet.  Ummm...yeah, the sound went from loud sillies to softer reverent sillies.  My 7 year old, H, chimed in and started to pray a quick prayer (They worry that I might beat them.  I'm not into short prayers!)  Tonight I felt very happy that it was short and sweet.  As the three oldest went off quietly to bed.  I was left to wrangle the 2 wild ones! (4 and 7 years old)

I was so tired and wanted to get to bed early myself, but you probably can tell that they were too rowdy for that.  I had a clever idea of "Which of you can go potty the fastest" Off the boys raced.  Little M (4) made it to my toilet first and peed quickly.  Then S jumped on the same toilet as soon as M finished (don't ask me why they didn't choose separate bathrooms tonight, but they didn't!)  S too peed quickly.  But as he stood, with laughing disdain cried out, "He peed on my bottom and now it's burning!"  I'm like, "What are you talking about 'He peed on your bottom'?!" (And of course there was no way I could keep a straight face at that!!  (We were all laughing) [Mystery was soon solved.  I learned that S sat down to pee and got M's"hot" pee to "burn" him--translated by me "He peed on the toilet and now I have very warm pee on my patootie!")

(Okay, that may be one of those "You had to be there to get it" kind of stories!)

While S was getting his pull ups on, M was complaining of how he wanted to sleep in my bed.
"No way!" I replied.  I explained to him again, the same thing I'd told him this morning. (Which made him laugh every time I told him that wasn't happening again.)

You see, last night I gave in because I was so very tired and didn't feel I had the energy to muster a firm action against it.  Well, with him in the bed I had bad dreams all night! (Heat always causes this for me. And I even had the window A/C blowing on me!)  There's a reason I call him "My sweaty little bed hog." Worst still, but last night his feet were often pummeling me in the stomach!  He promised me that tonight he'd stay farther away from me.  But there was no changing my mind!

Because I refused to let his hot-tempered self share my bed (Dad's out of town), he was ornery about getting on his own bed.  S was being surprisingly cooperative by this point, so I said, "Come into S's room, I'm going to read a book.  I cuddled with S on my lap and M near me.  They had a lot of fun reading about Thomas's first day of school.  M wanted me to read it again, and he also wanted "2 more books"   then "No, 3 more books" (That's what you get when they are learning their numbers in preschool!)  No more books.  The night had been too crazy.

I was enjoying the snuggle time with S, so I decided to take a minute to ask him some questions

about his day.  I asked him about the friends he played with today.  He told me Jaden, and the new boy Connor.  Then I asked what they played.  He'd told me he'd played with sand earlier, but now he added a new dimension to this conversation..... 

S:  Oh we played guns.  We shot each other with our hands, like this (mimics gun hands and starts shooting me and little M. who was looking through the picture book again.

Me. (a bit distressed!)  But guns can kill people, it's not nice to even pretend.

S.  We also played knives, and we stuck them into ourselves. (Mimics a knife in his chest)

Me: (Motherly distress is growing.  I'm worried I may be raising a killer! But trying to keep it light.  Trying....)  Did you pretend to die?

S.  (ignoring the question.  He was much to excited to tell me more!)  And I also shot off a bee shooter!

Me:  A bee shooter?  What's that?

S.  (And ignoring the answer in his enthusiasm) And a fish shooter. (pauses) No, I didn't shoot a fish shooter, I just made that up just now.  Yeah, and the bee gun shoots out bees and they sting the other person.

Okay, do you see the definitive difference between girls and boys!!  Here I was expecting this happy little jaunt down memory lane, through sunshine and flowers, and I get instead- killing!  (Fortunately, I do have to add that he is an uber sweet boy!  And emulates the Christ like qualities I mention above, but he is just that- a boy! ;)

Reminds me of a poem my Mother often told me as a little girl.   (Hey look, I can draw a happy memory from that crazy boy experience!)

What are little boys made of? Made of?
What are little boys made of?

Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails

That's what little boys are made of!"

What are little girls made of? Made of?
What are little girls made of?

"Sugar and spice and all things nice

That's what little girls are made of!

Well, I think tonight is one of my longest posts, but I couldn't resist drawing a comparison to my experiences of two different children.

 The house is now quiet. The boys finally fell asleep by 10 (Late! but better than midnight! And in their own beds!) I can sit here and laughingly reflect on children and family life.  And I realize that "Out of the mouths of babes" seems to lose it's seriousness, in moments like these.  But truly, I am thankful for my life, and for all my many blessings.

I am reminded of an epiphany I had with a song from Frozen while in the temple recently.  (And I'm pretty sure you've never heard this analogy drawn from the song "In Summer."  So please check back to read it. I think it's a lesson we can all use in life!
===

 *(DEFINITION: A "fireside" is a gathering of people-- usually it is of a more spiritual nature, but sometimes it can just be playing games and eating donuts.  You know, as "sitting around the fireside" and visiting.  Except usually there isn't a fire involved. :)   

I Am A Child of God

or watch I am a Child of God on Electric Guitar!

Meditation

Last night as I knelt to pray at my soft recliner chair, I felt some worry over a future matter.  I asked a specific question of Heavenly Father.  As usual I stayed on my knees, and I meditated over things relating to this matter, and my worries over the possible dynamics.  I find that as I talk with Heavenly Father and think through thing that it allows me to clear my mind.  I have learned over the last couple of years that there is a difference between praying, and meditation.  It won't be easy to describe, but I will try to simply share those differences.

Here are the definitions from the dictionary.  (Phew!  Now I can spare you the 200 sentences I'd have used in trying to explain it myself!! ;)

Definition of prayer (n)
Bing Dictionary
prayer
[ prer ]

1. address to God: a spoken or unspoken address to God, a deity, or a saint.

2.  addressing of God: the act or practice of making spoken or unspoken addresses to God, a deity, or a saint

3.  something wished for: something that is wanted or hoped for very much

synonyms: entreaty · appeal · plea · request · desire · hope · wish · supplication

Definition of meditation (n)
Bing Dictionary
med·i·ta·tion
[ mèddi táysh'n ]

1.  emptying or concentration of mind: the emptying of the mind of thoughts, or the concentration of the mind on one thing, in order to aid mental or spiritual development, 

2.  contemplation, or relaxation

3.  pondering of something: the act of thinking about something carefully, calmly, seriously, and for some time, or an instance of such thinking
serious study of topic: an extended and serious study of a topic

Anyone can offer up a quick prayer in which they direct their questions to God.  

But meditation is the time when I feel the greatest communication occurs!!
Meditation takes a lot more effort, and more time.  

A lot of people complain about how they don't always remember their prayers or their scriptures, but I don't understand it.  If you could communicate with God and Heaven, wouldn't you?  
Well, you can.  And that comes by allowing your self to not just pray for direction, comfort, and answers, but also listening for those answers.

Honestly, listening is the hard part.  And sometimes you will think to yourself, "Maybe I imaged that word, thought, song, scripture, or long forgotten memory."  I have done that a lot in the course of my life.  But now, well now I pay attention.  I'm always trying to keep my spiritual ears open to hearing the Spirit of God.

I like to stay on my knees, and give myself the time to relax myself into a meditative state.  I describe meditation as not just a relaxed state of mind and body, but also a sleepy-like state.  In fact, it is not uncommon for me to kind of sleep, but still be praying, thinking, and mediating.

That's what I was doing last night, when a hymn played into my thoughts.  Immediately my mind became more alert, and aware that a song was playing into my thoughts.  A hymn, in this instance. I hummed into my little miniature hand held digital recorder the melody that was floating silently into my thoughts. (I got mine at Staples, but you can get it at Walmart, and many other places in store or online.  Make sure it has a USB port to transfer it to your computer.  That's how I send some songs to my music friends, so that can see if they can name a tune that I cannot name myself!)  

Last nights hymn was a familiar melody, and yet I couldn't seem to place any songs to it.  I took the few words I thought I knew and searched them at music.lds.org .  None of the hymns sounded like the one I was humming.  As I read through the list of hymns, the title of it came clearly to my thoughts.  I was excited that the Spirit of God was helping me, when on my own I could not remember the hymn.  It was:
"Lord, Dismiss us with Thy blessings"

I immediately went and looked up the words.  It appeared to be an answer to my prayer!  

Heavenly Father was letting me know I'd be taken care of.  Not only as it pertained to my worry, but in all things.

1. Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing;
Fill our hearts with joy and peace.
Let us each, thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace.
Oh, refresh us, oh, refresh us,
Trav'ling thru this wilderness.
Oh, refresh us, oh, refresh us,
Trav'ling thru this wilderness.

2. Thanks we give and adoration
For the gospel's joyful sound.
May the fruits of thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound.
Ever faithful, ever faithful
To the truth may we be found.
Ever faithful, ever faithful
To the truth may we be found.

Text: John Fawcett, 1740-1817
Music: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778

I like to read the associated scriptures to the hymns, and they proved even more exiting to me. There were some things that really stood out as answers to me.  Here's a couple of scriptures that stood out to me.

Psalms 31:

 23 O ^alove the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord ^bpreserveth the^cfaithful, and plentifully ^drewardeth the proud doer.

 24 Be of good ^acourage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that ^bhope in the Lord.

Doctrine and Covenants 6:

14 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast ^ainquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.

 15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy ^amind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been ^benlightened by the ^cSpirit of truth;

 16 Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that ^aknowest thy thoughts and the ^bintents of thy ^cheart.

22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might ^aknow concerning the truth of these things. 

23 Did I not speak ^apeace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater ^bwitness can you have than from God? 

Okay, I hesitate to share those scripture, because spiritual experiences are personal.  But I believe I have shared this experience with care.

You may wonder why I share it at all. I'll tell you!  I want you to know that Heavenly Father does hear and answer prayers.  He wants us to learn to remember Him, like He remembers us.  He wants us to be worthy to hear and receive the voice of the Spirit, so that we can have peace and comfort in our lives.

I promise you that if you seek with a pure heart to know the will of God for your life.  The truth of things you need to know to move forward, or special assurances to give you hope, (and much more) will be yours if you give God the same amount of attention (preferably more!) than you give your cell phone, Facebook, Youtube, movies, music, and any entertainment in life.

As you make wholesome choices, even though all around you people are doing just about any and every offense toward God, (You know, all the "freedoms" they think they have, but really are losing by careless, cowardly, or rebellious choices.) you will find more peace, joy, and freedom that you ever thought possible.

I used to think I could never change.  I used to believe there was no more happiness that I would ever feel.  I used to think I'd remain deficient all my life in learning how to love.  But truly, as I've given my life over to Heavenly Father, He's made so much more out of me and my life, than I could have ever dreamed.

Do, do you think you might like to try meditating?!  It takes some practice to relax and not stop short. Not all answers come immediately,but some will, and if you listen carefully you will hear heaven whisper answers, direction, and comfort to you.

Stay longer on your knees to pray.  Stay longer to listen, and meditate.  Quiet the noises of the world (like television, radio, and being "wired") and patiently pour out the anxieties of your heart to God in prayer and meditation, so you too can hear the voice of the divine as Martin Luther, Jr., I, and so many others have!

Heavenly Father wants to bless you, and he will if you try a little harder each day.
I have faith in your capacity to improve!

God bless you in your efforts,
Christine

P.S.  Sometimes you will not get answers directly on your knees.  After all, there are things to be done, people to serve, spouses, friends, and children to give attention to, and jobs to finish, BUT if you go about the minutes and hours of your day with a prayerful heart, many answers will come.  I've gotten answers at some very unexpected times-- while mopping, doing laundry, reading a story to my children.  God is pleased with us when we move forward with not just faith, but also with action.

A Friend In Need

Today I was blessed by one of my friends.  I feel so thankful. :)
I don't have a vehicle any more.  Our transmission went out on the van. And there is no money to fix it.

Getting around is a challenge, but it has been a good learning lesson for me.  It has reminded me to be grateful for what I do have.  Especially for the healthy feet and body that can carry me around my community as I walk around to visit with various friends on any given day. I'm also especially thankful for the friends, who come to my rescue when I need help.

Today I really wanted to go to a nearby LDS temple. I needed solace after my feelings of last night. My friend, M. came to my aid and drove me.  We both went to the temple together and renewed our friendship.  Afterward, she stopped me at Staples to pick up two amazing BYU Speeches.  And then she took me to Walmart for a few things. (Milk in specific.  It's no fun to be without milk with so many children!)

I used to be the one to take a disabled family member around to various stores, because she doesn't have a vehicle.  I tried to be cheerful, but occasionally I found it more of an annoyance to go to 5 places in one day.  After this experience of being with my cheerful friend, I realized that when I have a car again some day, that I will remember this experience and try to treat her with greater care and compassion.

Mosiah 4:12-13 (Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ)

 12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the ^alove of God, and always ^bretain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the ^cknowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

 13 And ye will not have a ^amind to injure one another, but to live^bpeaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

I hope you are able to see things to be thankful for. I hope that you have friends to watch over you in
your hours of need.  And that you will be the kind of friend to yourself and others that you most love.

I hope that if you are lonely that you will seek to know Heavenly Father better through prayer.  Give him your loneliness and burdens, and pray for His guidance to teach you and reshape you, and restructure the life you are living.  It is possible.

I have been blessed by Heavenly Father, through the powerful grace of Jesus Christ's atonement.  I never knew that life could be so richly rewarding and happy. I never knew I could become someone more.  I have become a new person through Christ, and so CAN YOU!

Regards,
Christine

Martin Luther King Jr. an Unfamiliar Story that gives Me Hope!

Since I've essentially lost a dear friend to the winds of fate and circumstance, my heart is not completely at peace.   Well, it is, and yet it isn't.  I miss my ability to express myself through emails and share the beautiful things I've read, or insights I have had that have helped buoy me up--always in hopes to inspire my friend.

Tonight, I feel that absence more than usual. Well, maybe about the same---- but usually I try to keep myself busily engaged in life and forget all that transpired. :\ I saw my friend face to face today, and I had to keep my silence-- even though I had so much I wanted to ask,  so much to learn and understand, so much to share with about God's mercy toward me and my family.

I don't like feeling melancholy over such matters.  More than anything, because I KNOW in very small portion, some of the amazing things my future holds.  And more than that, I don't need to look far to realize, that when all is said, and done I've been blessed in rich abundance.

Heavenly Father has truly blessed me, and continues to bless me.  There is NEVER a day I live or experience in which I do not see His hand and assurances that I am His child, and in his care.  So why then should I have any misgivings in my faith that He will take care of me?!

To top off my basic reason to be thankful, I have many more reasons.

• I live in a safe, healthy community.  
• I have 5 beautiful children. 
• My husband is a good, righteous man--and lately has really been working hard to improve his spiritual side.  (Not to mention that when I went down to do laundry tonight, there wasn't really anything to do. He helps me to keep up on it!!:) 
• I have friends who love and watch over me.  
• I'm accepted warmly and with open arms at church.  
• I have strength, energy, and relatively good health.  I am intelligent, capable, and creative.

And on and on the list could go on...

I listened to amazing BYU speech today as I cleaned out my fridge, and I realized some interesting things that I never knew.

I was particularly struck by a NEW STORY I read about Martin Luther King Jr.  I too have been having some doubts about circumstances playing out around me, and wondering if I'm holding on too long to a dream.  I worry that I care so much, when I should just move on, and forget my feelings, and in turn my hopes of a different future I see for our family.

I am inspired by these words of a speech, entitled: Healing = Courage + Action + Grace  by Jonathan G. Sandberg

     And in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., who was recently listed in Ted Stewart’s The Mark of a Giant² as one of seven people who changed the world, I start with an example from his life that so clearly highlights these principles. Look for courage, action, and grace as I read his words:

     Almost immediately after the [bus boycott] started we had begun to receive threatening telephone calls and letters. They increased as time went on. . . .One night . . . I couldn’t sleep. It seemed that all of my fears had come down on me at once. . . .

     . . . I had heard these things before, but for some reason that night it got to me. . . . I went to the kitchen and . . . I sat there and thought about a beautiful little daughter who had just been born. . . . I started thinking about a dedicated and loyal wife, who was over there asleep. And she could be taken from me, or I could be taken from her. And I got to the point that I couldn’t take it any longer. . . . With my head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud . . . : “Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right. I think I’m right. I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now, I’m faltering. I’m losing my courage. Now, I am afraid. . . . I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.”

     It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying: “Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And lo, I will be with you. Even until the end of the world.”I tell you . . . I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on. He promised never to leave me alone. At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I had never experienced Him before. Almost at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything.³

     Can you see in this example the pathway to healing? Courage to face a difficult situation and stand for truth, acting in faith by turning to God in prayer, and peace and strength from the Lord through His grace—courage, action, grace.

I know that this will pass over--- eventually.  But until then I will remember my experiences of divinity, and those of Martin Luther, and I will also take heart in the hymn: Be Still My Soul.  I believe every word of it!!!

1. Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b. 1697;
trans. by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

Even now a song plays into my mind to remind me that the Lord will take care of me, and that He keeps his promises, and that he will deliver me--just as he did his people so long ago.  I take such comfort for these Hebrew words that quietly played into my thoughts...

"Ashira l'adonai ki ga'oh ga'ah
Ashira l'adonai ki ga'oh ga'ah
Michamocha, ba-elim adonai
Michamocha nedar-bakodesh
Nachitah v'chasd'cha, am zu ga'alta
Nachitah v'chasd'cha, am zu gaalta
Ashira, Ashira, Ashira..."

Translation:
"I will sing unto Adonai for He has triumphed gloriously.
I will sing unto Adonai for He has triumphed gloriously.
Who is like You, O Adondai, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness?
In Your mercy, you lead the people You redeemed.
In Your mercy, you lead the people You redeemed.
I will sing, I will sing, I will sing..."

(Based on the song Moses sings in Exodus 15:1-18-from the song: When You Believe.  Prince of Egypt.)

 1 Then ^asang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto theLord, and spake, saying, I will ^bsing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

 2 The ^aLord is my ^bstrength and song, and he is become my^csalvation: he is my God, and I will ^dprepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will ^eexalt him.

I am loved by Heavenly Father, and so are you.  Pray for His direction.  Listen to the quiet words, thoughts, songs, and memories that will play into your thoughts at the most unexpected moments.  If you listen, you also will see God's hand in your life.  

My warm regards, Christine

The Maze of Life

I'm so happy to be back.  It's been a long month or so.  I've been working so hard around our house to finish my long to-do list that I shared with you a post or two ago.  I've also been without a computer for weeks now.  That was hard, because I love to express myself through writing!  But, I'm back, so let me share some of my reminders of Heavenly Father's awareness of his children.

I woke up hearing this song into my thoughts.  As with many songs, I do not feel it is coincidence.  I knew it was a message about my life (each of our lives)!  The way we spend our time.  The places we make effort and hard work.  The pruning and refining of beautiful roses and pesterous moles and weeds.  But in the end we have a sublime experience in the garden of our lives!!

1. Definition of sublime (adj)

   • sub·lime
   • [ sə blī́m ]
   1. beautiful: so awe-inspiringly beautiful as to seem almost heavenly
   2. morally worthy: of the highest moral or spiritual value
   3. complete: complete or utter
   synonyms: beautiful · inspiring · inspirational · uplifting · awe-inspiring · moving

( See if you can read into it the meaning I did.)

Plant a hedge, cut it back
Dig a hole try to fill it
Plant a rose, tie it back
Find a mole, try to kill it

It's a maze this garden, it's a maze of ways
Any man can spend his day
It's a maze, this garden, it's a maze of paths
But a soul can find the way

For an old man knows how a year it goes
How the cold hard ground in the spring comes 'round
How the seeds take hold and the birds unfold
How an English garden grows

Skip, skipped the ladies to the master's gate
Sip, sipped the ladies while the master ate
Tiptoed the chambermaids and stole their pearls
Snip, snipped the gardener and cut off their curls

Come along, love, come fly away, fly along
Come along, fly away home
Come along, love, you've come a long way
You've flown all the day, fly away home

Miss a step, trip and fall
Miss the path, meet the wall
Miss the way, miss a turn
Getting lost is how you learn

It's a maze, this garden, it's a maze of paths
Meant to lead a man astray
Take a left and then, turning left again
How a soul can find the way

For an old man knows how a year it goes
How the cold hard ground in the spring comes 'round
How in time it shows how a garden grows
How an English garden grows

How the roses climb
How sublime the time
When an English garden grows

=================================

With all but one of my 5 children back in school all day, I am going to try even harder to improve the hours I've been allotted.

My new prayers are filled with fervor to grow in my love and gratitude for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.

I am also praying to REMEMBER. I am praying to remember special memories of family and friends, in hopes that I can find some healing to things that cause my heart to hurt.  If we can remember the past---especially thinking with gratitude upon those touching, beautiful moments of loving emotion--- I believe we can be healed of the numbing effects of forgetfulness.

I'm praying with renewed fervor to have charity as a blessing from Heavenly Father.  I need that charity, compassion, empathy.  I need that love, more than anything, to help me accept others as they are, and are capable of becoming.  (Not how I feel they SHOULD be now!)  

Heavenly Father has been patient with me in my learning.  I owe the same to my children, family, and all I associate with.  I may not always agree with them, but I need to love them despite my (hopefully silent) disagreements.

 9 Only take ^aheed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou ^bforget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but ^cteach them thy^dsons, and thy sons’ sons;"   

Deuteronomy 4:9

I hope you, my readers are well.  Keep the faith, even when it feels like things could not get better.  Our loving creator has your best interest in mind and heart.
Christine.

In Sickness and in Health

Since Tuesday I have been ill.  It began in the early morning hours.  (Isn't that how it always is!)  Initially I thought it was because I'd been up late typing in my journal, and snacked on some fresh garden peas and raspberries, that my friend let me pick from her garden! :)  I soon realized that those stomach spasms weren't a "stomach ache" from eating too late.  In fact, I had acquired a stomach bug!

I've been blessed so very  very much over the last 2 years with good health that I could only express gratitude that I'd been blessed with such health, and that this opportunity was allowing me to refine my understanding of empathy towards others.  I never want to forget what so many people experience, or what I have in my life experiences, just because I am in a time of amazing health and energy.

So, there I was.  2 long days of staying mostly in bed or visiting my friendly neighborhood potty.  Wishing I could finish installing the quarter round, or finishing up the last wall of painting, or eat a bit of anything without terrible spasms.  But no, I lay in bed sleeping and moaning instead.  (And how dare my husband suggest that I'm a bigger baby than him when I am sick! ;)

I was worried that today I wouldn't be able to attend my husbands performance at a local re-enactment center.  I didn't even plan ahead to go.  But 5 minutes before we needed to leave (with all 5 of our children) I realized I'd been given a blessing of health again.  I truly rose from my bed of affliction, and walked.  I spent the whole day walking in fact.  Taking my children on pony rides, making pioneer hankerchief dolls, playing stick games, exploring pioneer houses, riding the miniature train, and enjoying many other activities.  In fact, it was a hot day, but all I could do was frequently express my heart felt joy and gratitude at being able to be there with my children, and enjoying the blessing to make memories with them.

When I came home I got down on my knees in the cool and quiet of my room and thanked Heavenly Father for giving me such a blessing of a wonderful day, that I would have missed out on.  And, I should also mention that 3 of my 5 children had started feeling sick like me all day yesterday.  So the mere fact that they woke up in perfect health, says a lot as well.

As I got up from praying, the LDS Primary song, "Can A Little Child Like Me" played into my thoughts....


1. Can a little child like me
Thank the Father fittingly?
Yes, oh yes! Be good and true,
Patient, kind in all you do!
Love the Lord and do your part;
Learn to say with all your heart:

Father, we thank thee!
Father, we thank thee!
Father in Heaven, we thank thee!

2. For the fruit upon the tree,
For the birds that sing of thee,
For the sunshine warm and bright,
For the day and for the night,
For the joyful work and true
That a little child may do,

Father, we thank thee!
Father, we thank thee!
Father in Heaven, we thank thee!

Words: Mary M. Dodge, about 1831-1905
Music: W. K. Bassford, 1839-1902

You can listen to the melody of the song here: https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/can-a-little-child-like-me?lang=eng

Part of the secret of my happiness in life is that I've learned how to have a heart filled with gratitude.  I used to feel sorry for myself, and didn't focus as well on what I had.  I tried, but I fell short, because I spent too much time being self-absorbed.  Everything in my world is better because I try to keep a constant prayer of Gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for my many blessings and opportunities.  Gratitude is the key to not only happiness, but love, and the sweet blessings and assurances that come from the Holy Ghost.

It takes work to be grateful. I remember improving this skill when I was in college and I started keeping a gratitude journal after watching something about it on the Oprah show.  That was a turning point for me.  Initially it was hard work, because I hadn't developed the skill of focusing on my blessings.  Someday's my 5 things were hard to come up with, and I didn't "feel" the real meaning behind my words.  I wrote simple things like "I'm thankful for hands that can write."  "I'm thankful for the good food I had to eat at lunch"  But as time progressed, I learned to see with clearer truth all that I had, and I started writing little experiences about my day.  Such as the day that a church member gave me a bag of oranges, and how thankful I was because we were very poor and didn't have money for such things.

Pray to be grateful, and look for every opportunity to be grateful.  Even if it's just about the basics of like like, "I have a bed to sleep in" or "I have clothes to wear."  Your words may not feel very sincere to you, because (like me) you may take those things for granted, but soon enough through diligence and prayer, you will feel the power of those words!

Psalm 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: 

be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

I know we can each take steps toward being grateful in all things.  I know it will bless and improve our outlook on life!
Christine

P.S.  I'll try to add photos of my day soon. But my laptop is broken :P