Almost here!!....

Truth be told-- I'm just giddy that General Conference is almost here.  Do you have your question/questions that you need an answer for???  Write it down.  Listen for it and it will come.  It might be the exact words spoken.  It might be the Holy Ghost speaking to you while someone says other words.  BUT....one way or the other...whatever the specifics...you will know and it will be wonderful.

What a blessing my hubby is to me.  He's a Conference addict also so we have no squabbling over watching everything at the Conference plus we even look at the things featured in between!!  Yes...we are on fire for Conference.

LOVE IT!!  I believe what they say!

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I've been studying and shame on me for not taking time to jot down who said it or where I read it or the likes.  Not nice to do that...just throwing thoughts out there.  Then it makes me wonder is it because I heard something...did it make me think of things this way?  I'll just share the two things that have really stuck in my mind.

#1  the word nowhere.  it's like going no where.  and yet you can look at it and realize, if you keep trying to overcome/conquer whatever, you will go from being nowhere and can say...I am now here.  For some reason this has just stayed with me.  Sort of like only changing one letter separates Bitter from Better and I am the i.  I have the power to change the complete word by how I handle things.

Perhaps I'm thinking to much?  I enjoy pondering.  Is that the same as thinking?  Whatever...it is how I am.

#2  now this one, I know it was in a Church talk.  not really featured but just a sentence.  Might have been an old BYU devotional talk as I was in their archives today.  The speaker mentioned when Joseph Smith went into the grove of trees to pray, he had a specific question...what Church should he join?  The point being he was prepared for action.  he was going to join whatever Church came to him in answer to that prayer.  he wasn't going to consider if he should join.  He was going to join. 

I thought about how many times... do I pray for answers/guidance/understanding and then mull it over afterwards, when I have already been given the answer, and opt out of action?  how many times do I pray as to who I might help and how or what good deed can I do to alleviate someones suffering...and then end up procrastinating and let the opportunity fade away?  I won't embarrass myself by answering. 

so there you go.  a tour inside my brain that loves to ponder and consider ideas and is brainy enough to know- I need to make my life better and other lives better, by doing as prompted in answer to prayer.

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General Conference!!!!

Families are forever!

You saw pictures of step one, in the adoption process of Julianna and Phillips darling toddler son.

Next step happened Friday night...sealed at the Temple!  It was just beautiful to behold.  I counted it a privilege to be there being as how I'm not kin, so to speak.  Sometimes being sisters in the Gospel makes you kin-folk.  Our Temple is small and has limited seating in the sealing rooms.  We were in the larger of the two and it was filled up.  Well, I think it was.  It was such an emotional event but it seemed full to me.

Julianna's friend, Cheryl, brought Timothy into the room and she looked like an angel carrying an angel, with both of them dressed in white.  Timothy was fascinated with the chandelier, the mirrors, all the people and very happy to see his parents.  One of my absolutely most favorite moments was when the parents were holding hands at the altar, and Timothy's hand was holding theirs and he leaned into his Dad and pressed his head against his Dads forehead as the sealer was speaking.  it made me teary.

Saturday was party time and family and friends from Ward & work- those from hither, thither and yon did a big meet and eat and greet and celebrated such happiness and then Sunday...a blessing at Church...a beautiful inspired blessing was pronounced on this little guy!

It was just a bit of heaven to see the events unfold one after the other and to be an attendee happy spectator. 

I have some pictures from Temple night.  they aren't award winners on focus but you can see it anyhow and maybe share the joy.

missing my friend...

One year ago today I picked my friend, Myra Faye, up and we went to the General Women's Conference in Toppenish.  She was dealing with recently diagnosed brain cancer.  It had really effected her memory.  She said she needed to be near the rest room as her Rx seem to run right through her.  I told her we'd sit in the back on the right hand side and she could just quickly step out into the hall and the bathroom was so close.  She said she couldn't remember where the bathroom was and didn't understand where I planned to have us sit.  I told her that I'd take her if needs be.

We enjoyed the Conference and headed home.  We sat and visited for a long while.  Planned some things for the next week.  She even mentioned we could run over for beans/rice at our favorite restaurant right then.  We didn't go.  A year later and I wish we had.

That outing was the last she went on.

All of our plans quickly plummeted as she died 4 weeks later.

I really miss my friend.  Today I sat there and enjoyed this years General Woman's Conference and thought again...live life to it's fullest and love and appreciate your friends.  and...have no regrets!  Except for wishing we'd gone to eat for one last time that night I have no regrets.  We had planned to go the next week.

I still miss him....

Hang in there....

look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.  (Doctrine & Covenants 6:36)

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He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. (Ps. 147:3)

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I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. … I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. (Jer. 31:13, 25.)

(I have friends that will enjoy these scriptures as much as I do.)

Picture Hanging...

Terry and I listen/watch a General Conference together each day.  We started spending so much time trying to figure out what one to have featured each day or debating if we'd already heard it, that it seemed like we could have listened to a full talk, in the time we spent going back and forth.  So a few days ago we decided to start with the oldest available talks (1971) and start with April conference and systematically go through them.  A week or so into it and it's going good.

I've been impressed with so many things that have been said and I just have to share this one with you... it's fraught with wisdom!!!  Liking that word-- fraught! This is filled with wisdom!  

It's by Sterling W. Sill....

This philosophy of excellence was demonstrated by the artist Whistler, who once painted a tiny picture of a spray of roses. The artistry involved was magnificent. Never before, it seemed, had the art of man been able to execute quite so deftly a reproduction of the art of nature. The picture was the envy of the artists who saw it, the despair of the collectors who yearned to buy it for their collections, but Whistler refused steadfastly to sell it.

“For,” said he, “whenever I feel that my hand has lost its cunning, whenever I doubt my ability, I look at the little picture of the spray of roses and say to myself, ‘Whistler, you painted that. Your hand drew it. Your imagination conceived the colors. Your skill put the roses on the canvas.’ Then,” he said, “I know that what I have done I can do again.”

Then he gave us a great philosophy of success. He said, “Hang on the walls of your mind the memory of your successes. Take counsel of your strength, not your weakness. Think of the good jobs you have done. Think of the times when you rose above your average level of performance and carried out an idea or a dream or a desire for which you had deeply longed. Hang these pictures on the walls of your mind and look at them as you travel the roadway of life.”

age doesn't matter...

I shared this with the YW but I'm young at heart, just like you are!, and I just love this statement.  For me I'm claiming this counsel as it just feels right to do so!!  Join me!....

You are creatures of divinity; you are daughters of the Almighty. Limitless is your potential. Magnificent is your future, if you will take control of it.

The whole gamut of human endeavor is now open to women. There is not anything that you cannot do if you will set your mind to it. You can include in the dream of the woman you would like to be a picture of one qualified to serve society and make a significant contribution to the world of which she will be a part.

For you, my dear friends, the sky is the limit. You can be excellent in every way. You can be first class. Respect yourself.

Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities, and forever and always be loyal to the Church.

Gordon B. Hinckley, How Can I Become the Woman of Whom I Dream?, April 2001

A love story....

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to see a wonderful couple finalize the legality of their adoption of their foster son.  He had been with them since he was 5 days old and is now over a year.  Many of us had prayed for this day and had seen the heartache and trials at times that they have endured in this quest.  They are a couple that makes the word family a wonderful word to actually see in real life.

They had never put a picture of his face on FB until that court date. They had not shared with anyone what his name would be.  When the judge asked them...what is his name?  They said... His name is Timothy Hyrum Iverson.

I loved that part of the proceedings.  Both Julianna and Phillip are fluent in ASL and when that brief interchange happened with the judge, I thought of Elizabeth and Zacharias and the naming of their son...

Luke 1:62-63
 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

 63 And he asked for a ^awriting table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

I also thought about Timothy of the NT and the love and tenderness of Paul's tutoring him.

1 Tim 4:12
12 Let no man ^adespise thy youth; but be thou an^bexample of the believers, in word, in ^cconversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in ^dpurity.

Next comes the Temple sealing and the big family party with lots of out of towners coming for the celebration and then his name and blessing.  Sharing this journey, as our Ward has been privy to do, has been exhilarating and inspiring!!  a privilege for sure!!

I love the pictures they put on FB.  following those are a couple of pictures I took. Enjoy!

The countdown started with this picture that had been posted for quite a while and even posted morning of...

Isn't that so cute/sweet/clever/tender the way they did that??

After things were all done.

None of the 4 above are my pictures and now I post mine and they are easily recognizable as mine!

early preparation...

I love Church meetings, especially conferences.  right now is that time that I love...Stake Conference, General Women's Conference, April General Conference...one right after the other.  I'm already thinking of menu for General Conference.  We literally sit for two days and watch it all.  Love being in my house (yes, at times relaxed in my old comfy bathrobe) and enjoying this modern day miracle of sitting in my living room and seeing the happenings.

I'm mentioning Gen. Conference now because it's time to get ready to receive the gift of GC.  I like to make a guess at what might be mentioned...like- last days/food storage/gays and that sort of thing but the really biggy for me is to seek answers to my personal questions.  Right now I actually only have one question in my mind and maybe it will shift to something else or maybe it will stay and I'll have a couple of more, that I really want some guidance or a confirmation of.  

I'll write it on a paper and be excited, happy and relieved when I get my answer!!  so right now am giving you a heads up....time to make your list of questions or question!!  

Terry and I heard this on one of your Conference talks.  True it covers broader answers to problems that we all share in mortality but we can have personal help (IF we ask in prayer for that guidance/revelation)

My dear brothers and sisters, I feel it both a privilege and a blessing to be present at this inspirational conference, and I know that the answers to many of today’s problems are to be found in the messages being given by our leaders.    Franklin D. Richards  (GC April 1971)

This is from 2013 but still rings true....

good thought!

There are some readers that need this great thought as I did!!!  something to think about....

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I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.

— Leonardo da Vinci

Wonderful day...

Tuesday, the Temple was open again after being closed for awhile for winter maintenance.  First day and it was packed.  Lots of young full-time missionaries. 

I love the feeling of total peace in the Temple.  I also love knowing I can receive answers to prayers...guidance...confirmation of being/doing right.  I went alone and enjoyed the journey...prayer and thinking.

My heart is full of gratitude to be so close to a Temple.  55 minutes away.

Generosity with words...

Sometimes I spend time shuffling my thoughts as if they were puzzle pieces.  Turning and examining various ideas on various things on how I feel and how it fits into my life.  That is what I've been doing.

I started a couple of days ago to write about Church service and it's many benefits and morphed into talking about loving those you serve in those callings which right now focuses on my Laurel class.  I realized I came to the conclusion, years ago, that unconditional love is the entire focus of the Saviors ministry...the basis of all His service/miracles/parables and His very life.  and....as a believer/follower I need to learn/do the same.  So I realized that love wasn't really the subject, nor an awakening to me, to know that it is a necessary attribute to strive to acquire/develop.  beyond necessary....it is essential.

What I started to explain, and got off track, what was coming with a sense of amazement to me, is the service we render through our callings, eventually impacts us with great memories but even more startling is to realize those callings, while we might not realize it at the time, will bless those we serve and it will come to their mind, years and years later.  The importance of callings really impacted me as I received notes from girls, now adult women, sharing their love and appreciation for something that happened a life time ago.  Something as simple as a weekly class. 

 My life has been so blessed in the last several weeks by generous thoughts that have arrived in my life in cards/letters/emails.  So appreciated and came right at the time I needed to hear those sentiments.   

Retraction!!

Sunday night Melissa reminded me that I said I'd post a picture a month!  Of me!!  I told her I changed my mind and I needed to say so to you.  So I did 2!  Just can't handle it!  Must have been something in the air when I made such a rash decision to actually say I'd do such a whack-o thing monthly!!  Whack-o for me anyhow. 

Melissa, I know you've already seen this but here you go...I did put a picture on!, already seen on FB, and with that I am retracting that earlier statement!!  No promise of any pictures of me on my blog.

I honestly cannot imagine how people do selfies!!  They enjoy it!!  Love it!!  and I certainly enjoy their pictures of themselves!  So keep it up everyone.  I'm checking you out!!

My beautiful friend, Chelle!  love her!!

Mothers take note....

Big Challenge (I think so.)

So I've told you about my friend Mariah in previous blogs.  (in January 2014?)

a few reminder facts... 

She was married and had 4 children.  Outstanding/brainiac/talented/great parent (always winning parent of the month type things)/loyal friend/hardworking/educated.   Active in Church.  Sealed in Temple.

Another woman in her same Ward...sort of carbon copy of Mariah.  5 children.

They find out/figure out, however that sort of thing happens, that they are gay.

In love.  with each other.

Divorces for both of them.

Stay active in their Ward.

Time goes on.

They get married.

Both end up ex'd.

Still attending Church in their Ward.

Both have testimonies.

So...you know that I've said a few times to you Momma's...how are you going to explain this entire homosexual scenario to your children?  How are you going to explain... our religion does not believe, does not support gay marriage, will not change the doctrine at any point?  How do you teach to love someone while viewing their actions as sin?

So...we have the family Proclamation...we have Scriptures that denounce this practice...we have living Apostles...we have videos and publications from the Church to teach these facts.  so evidently there are things out there for your consideration in covering this landmine territory.


Heavy on my mind right now, because Mariah and her wife just announced,  they got married 8 months ago, so it's out there for everyone to see in cyber space--

isn't the perplexing basic question...

 ...how will you treat these beautiful children at Church, Moms?  how will you teach your children to treat them in Primary?  at Scouts?  Activity days?  YW?  YM?

To all the adults teaching each of these age groups...how will we conduct ourselves?

Guess the first rule, the basic challenge is...unconditional love for all concerned?

One side of Mariah's Christmas card 2014.

The Ladder

Quite some time back I shared a poem by a reader that I was captivated by it.  I just love it.  It's called The Ladder and I printed it at the end of this news....Amy has decided to do a blog about her pain from which she is working at healing herself!!!  She says.....

For a long time now I have had a desire to share my healing journey in a way that could help others. I have feared speaking out, though, because of not wanting to offend others or make people uncomfortable who know my ex-husband. Today marks 3 years since leaving my marriage. During that time I have faced persecution and been judged for the choice to leave. I have purposefully remained quiet but am now choosing to use my voice. I have started a blog, not to criticize my ex or speak about specifics from my past, but to share experiences and feelings as I move forward to connect to my true self. If you desire to join me on my journey, please follow my blog! It is a slow start, but I had to just get the first post done. More to come!
http://freedomtobecome.blogspot.com/2015/03/freedom.html

Freedom to Become: Freedom

freedomtobecome.blogspot.com|By Amy Tiare

The Ladder

by Amy Tiare

Teetering on a broken ladder

Unsafe, unclear

Halfway to my destination

Do I go up?

Do I go down?

Does it matter at this point?

The ladder will soon give way

Looking down at the cliff below

Jagged, rocky

Pain is what awaits me

What to do?

Which direction to choose?

Is there even a choice?

Can’t even remember which direction I was going

Looking up at the broken rungs above

Dizzy, weak

Fear keeps me holding on

Can I make it?

Can I continue to hold on?

Is there any way to save me?

There is no way out of this

A scene flashes before my eyes

Pain, anguish

The Savior suffers in Gethsemane

Can he make it through?

Can he complete the task?

Is it too much for Him to take?

He endures it well and fulfills his mission

A voice enters my mind

Calm, gentle

“My child, I am here for you.

What will you choose?

Go down? I will catch you.

Go up? I will reach for you.

Choose. I cannot help as long as you are still.”

I listen to my heart

Pounding, racing

I listen to my head

What will happen if I move?

Will the ladder break?

What will become of me?

A choice is made. I let go…

6 words to NEVER say!!!

Christ's life, His scriptural teachings, His Church, the RS organization I adhere to-- are all centered and based on service.   

My friend Carol lives a life of service.  She always has and I believe she always will.  She is a human dynamo.  She has single-handedly taken care of our entire Ward at times.  She knows every needful thing to do and does it.  Pronto.  Without delay.  She is amazing!  I know this sounds exaggerated but really I could produce Ward witnesses that would back me up on this phenomenal woman.  None of us could match her if we tried and I'm glad that isn't expected of any of us.

My life is blessed with the presence of many great women and the commonality, beyond Church membership, is each has a kind and giving heart.  Each gives in their own way.  They have figured out their own personal ministry.  (Ministry.  I like the word and want to blog about that beautiful word.)

At different times in my life, I've done different levels of service. 

Right now I feel like my own personal life is my own personal service project!!  So many changes in our life and I'm feeling more in control of "us".

anyhow....
 
This article is one of the best, if not the best, I've ever read.  read the comments also.  they are eye-openers!  The Six Word Phrase All Mormons Should Stop Saying  here

Neuroplasticity

Our friend Darrel is a retired high school Biology teacher.  His wife was diagnosed with dementia a couple of years ago.  We were visiting one time about the brain and he shared that when he went to college that he was taught, and then taught his students, that you were born with so many brain cells and eventually they would die off and couldn't replenish themselves or be healed.  We talked about what had been discovered since that time and how Terry had that stroke 2 years ago and the amazing things we learned, that he could heal his brain and reconnect broken lengths through therapy.  It's called neuroplasticity.

I just read about the merits of neruoplasticity in this article Faith to Heal the Brain here
It's an amazing article. For those of you in SLC area they are having a special presentation.  I know there are several of you that would want to attend this in hopes it would help your child.  The book by Norman Doidge is called The Brain That Changes Itself .  I am so curious!  If I was in Utah, I'd go with you!

Norman Doidge in Salt Lake City on March 31st.

If you or your loved ones suffer from mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, and addictions, or neurological challenges such as chronic pain, ADD, LD, TBI, stroke, MS, dementia, Parkinson’s, and Autism, or if you want to learn what you can do to preserve and enhance brain function, join us. Avalon Hills Treatment Centers invite you to attend a night with Dr. Norman Doidge, MD. Hear stories of faith, hope and personal triumph and remarkable discoveries and recoveries from the frontiers of neuroplasticity on Tuesday, March 31st at 7 pm at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

Click below to reserve your tickets.

https://www.avalonhillsfoundation.org/register/register/

To find out more about how the new science of Neuroplasticity can help you overcome your challenges and/or preserve and enhance brain function, join us on March 31st.

God's love = His commandments

this is such a great talk Free Forever, to Act for Themselves by Elder Christofferson here

(two paragraphs to whet your appetite!)

So God does not save us “just as we are,” first, because “just as we are” we are unclean, and “no unclean thing can dwell … in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man [of Holiness].”⁴ And second, God will not act to make us something we do not choose by our actions to become. Truly He loves us, and because He loves us, He neither compels nor abandons us. Rather He helps and guides us. Indeed, the real manifestation of God’s love is His commandments.

and

I am under no illusion that this can be achieved by our own efforts alone without His very substantial and constant help. “We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”²⁴ And we do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity or goodness before God will help—divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. But I know that beyond desiring His help, we must exert ourselves, repent, and choose God for Him to be able to act in our lives consistent with justice and moral agency. My plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with.

dreaming...

I bought the book  

21 Principles-Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit 

 by Elder Richard G. Scott.

Over the years I've learned so much from his words and I looked forward to reading the book.  I have not been disappointed in the least!  I've always thought I knew what a dream was.  I mean dreams that are revelatory/instructive on a spiritual level.  I remember two very distinct dreams concerning callings in the Church.  One was a dream of a calling that would happen (it did 5 months later) and the other was how to do a particular calling that I was already in.  

A dream...seeing it like a movie.  A dream of being awakened, by specific detailed voice instructions, out of a sound sleep, as to how to handle a current calling or what calling was in the future and how to do it.  Those are the types of dreams, that are familiar to all of us.  At least I'm assuming so.

Elder Scott gave me new perspective on a different type of dreaming.  I'd never heard this before. I think it's powerful and enlightening.....

Principle 16

One of the most memorable and powerful patterns of communication by the Spirit is through dreams.  I have learned that when the transition from being fully asleep to being fully awake is almost imperceptible, it is a signal that the Lord has taught something very important through a dream.

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This is a truth to me....

(I just added a great quote by President Benson to yesterday's blog post.  it's towards the end.  you will enjoy it.  I promise!)

Sharing life....

A friend has endured some harsh things in her life.  It left her somewhat devastated as there are still remnants dangling out there, hanging over her head, possibilities that may happen down the line.

Those past painful things are so haunting and make us halt our progress, as it oozes over into other relatively healthy areas, of our life.  What to do?  Obviously...sing the song from Frozen and read books about letting things go and pray and fast and try to forget and move on.  Easier said than done.

One solution--  Years ago we found ourselves in a dreadful business deal.  It was destructive to us.  A man lied.  We trusted.  He ended up fine.  We ended up broke and broken.    Terry went to work at the North Slope. We moved.  Our pain personally was almost to much as we tried to begin again.

Each time he came home we would rehash what had happened.  The violation of trust. The dishonesty. What had been said and what the reality of the books really were.  For two weeks we'd relive, rekindle, re-ignite the entire scenario.

Next time...same conversation.  over and over and over.

One week we talked that this was stopping our progress.  We couldn't really feel the Spirit.  We were overcome with regret/pain/remorse/blame/guilt and on and on.

We decided to tell each other our story one more time, with all the gory details, and how we had wrangled with a coiled rattlesnake and he won! and to never mention it or talk about it again.  To just let it go.

We relived it by it's telling, in full minute detail, to each other and then we prayed and told the Lord...He knew the truth.  He knew our hearts.  We had been to trusting etc. etc.  True the fellow took advantage of us but also true- he did not force us to sign anything.  We exercised our agency and acted accordingly by signing.  Our choice.  That fatal signing.

Next time he came home we didn't really know how to act.  Our routine of our self-justified griping/complaining/victimized etc. had taken over our communication.  We struggled to shift and keep our word of absolutely no communication about this single incident.

It took time but as we cleared that toxic debris from our minds/thoughts/speech, it faded further and further from our life and then the Lord could have space for His thoughts/Spirit.  We started healing.

I have a couple of scars from minor things, like a cut that required stitches, years and years ago.  I can see the scar.  I remember the entire bloody painful incident. Today??-- I have no pain at all.  The scar does not hurt nor does the memory of how it happened pain me.  I just know it happened, how it happened, it was fixed, and I've heard that scar tissue is extremely strong so actually I'm stronger than I used to be.

We have never talked again about that happening that undid us.  You know what?....right now in telling this--it's like my finger scar-- I know what happened, it is fixed the best it can be, by releasing it unto the atmosphere and giving our pain over to the Lord.  I'm not in pain.  I am stronger.  Even in knowing/living with the consequence that remains....Interwoven in the fabric of our life tapestry...still evident today. and yet...  I am still stronger.

In life we will have more than one rug pulled out from underneath us and we have to learn how to deal with it and apply the Atonement to whatever ails us...be it big or small.

I share this now because maybe, just maybe, what I learned will help my friend to figure out what will work for her in her personal plight.  I hope so.

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Paul said--
"...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Philip 3:13-14

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I just found this marvelous quote by President Benson...

I hope we will not live in the past. People who live in the past don't have very much future.  There is a great tendency for us to lament about our losses, about decisions we have made that we think in retrospect were probably wrong decisions.  There is a great tendency for us to feel badly about the circumstances with which we are surrounded, thinking they might have been better had we made different decisions.  We can profit by the experience of the past.  But let us not spend our time worrying about decisions that have been made, mistakes that have been made.  Let us live in the present and in the future. (1988)

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always do your own due diligence.  a part of my personal creed... as President Reagan said....

 Trust but Verify

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