Match Up

Calling the Temple to make an appointment, giving my name and the scheduler said..."excellent patron".  

I said...excuse me.  are you saying something to me?
She said...I said 'excellent patron'.  
I asked...why do you say that?  
She replied...because of the Temple appointments you've made.

I was startled to hear her say that.  I've thought a lot about what she said.  Perhaps Temple Appointments Scheduled paint a story but the true story, the reality, the telling detail is not Temple appointments made but Temple appointments kept.  No computer evidence, of calls of cancellations.  or a no-show with no call at all.  uh, um,....procrastinating.  & letting daily life crowd out the real life of the Gospel and pushing the Temple appointment aside.

That sounded so wonderful. Excellent Patron.  such a nice celestial sound.  a little lustre to my life deeds.  like a declaration of worth... Excellent Patron.

Taint so!  Just being honest.  We do the best we can but I do not feel Excellent Patron is our category.  My heart and behavior is not in that computer data.  I hope that someday the two match up but it's not there at this moment!  I'm grateful for that sister saying what she did, as it's really made me think of the importance of doing the best we can, in Temple attendance, so we are what it appears we are in the data base!! We are good patrons and that gives us lots of growing room to achieve excellent patrons!

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 Look who is here from Toppenish!!!

https://lds.org/youth/video/six-brothers?lang=eng

Learning about the enabling power.

 Tuesday was one of those great days that just feels good.  A friend had a birthday and we happened to have BookClub at her house so that was fun.  She has health issues and I loved hearing the tender concern of the women as they asked her how she is doing and desiring to help her in some way.  

Earlier in the day I witnessed a marvelous friend render service, in an act that went way beyond the ordinary, by doing physical work for someone that really needed help.  To see her cheerfulness and willingness and kindness and gentleness and love,  just melted my heart, and I said a prayer of gratitude for such a fantastic woman that is a dear friend. 

In the midst of the chaos and storms, weather-wise and otherwise,  in the world, I am thankful to feel peace within.  My life is so blessed!  I'm rich with wonderful women friends in my life that do so much to make the world a better place!  be it a single home that needs a scrub-down  or succeeding in the endeavors of their professional careers and always with the Gospel in their lives.  

I continue to work on my quest of understanding personal application of the Atonement and increased tutoring from the Holy Ghost.  Followed by increased obedience from me!  Today I was educated and excited by what I learned from this fantastic talk by Elder Bednar  before he was Elder Bednar.  It is just so enlightening.  I dare to say, there is no way that you will read this and not come out of the task, with knowledge/information that you have not thought of.  It's that monumental!!

It will give you a brand new perspective!  do yourself a huge gigantic favor and read Elder Bednar's speech....about the enabling power of the Atonement.

  
                                     In the Strength of the Lord. 

                                                                      Oct. 23 2001

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=browse&speaker=&topic=&type=&year=2001&x=14&y=4

Because

 True our joint Scripture study morning routine, is not glamorous.  If you knocked on the door we'd most likely scurry and not be saying...oh, come on in and join us.  Remember though that we have no children at home and neither of us has a job to hustle off to as many families do...you figure out what works for you and then you do it, enjoy it, learn from it and can then check off of your mental list--scripture study.  

Perhaps there are those that would question the likes of what we call scripture study but if it's truth, it touches your heart, and you enjoy it- how can it be anything but wonderful?!  We don't always wake up at the same time.  When both of us are up, we immediately go to the office, find a conference talk on  our computer and watch/listen, I follow in the magazine/Terry sits up close so he can hear. So bedhead, bath-robed, and all, we feel the Spirit.  We have even listened via U-tube to the likes of Bruce R. McConkie and Neal A. Maxwell and President Hinckley and all sorts of wonderful speakers that we have loved and enjoyed.   

As individuals we study, we talk about lessons, we talk about those type of things but this little tidbit of listening to a Conference talk together, or sometimes we read the old ones from the magazine--whichever way we do it, the sweetest Spirit accompanies those inspired messages and it is just wonderful!!  Love it!

A couple of days ago we watched a Conf. talk from April 2006 by Elder Russell M. Nelson entitled Nurturing Marriage.  At the end of the talk I was surprised when he quoted a song that was sung at our wedding!!  Remember, we weren't in the Church when we got married and it was the custom to have a wedding singer, as a part of the ceremony, to sort of add some dignity and solemnity to the service.  The minister had a list of suggested songs and they even had an organist and singer available.  This one was written in 1902 by Edward Teschemacher and was popular with wedding of the day.  Enjoy Elder Nelson's last paragraph and then the lyrics.

"When you as husband and wife recognize the divine design in your union—when you feel deeply that God has brought you to each other—your vision will be expanded and your understanding enhanced. Such feelings are expressed in words of a song that has long been a favorite of mine:"

                   
                      Because

Because you come to me with naught save love,

And hold my hand and lift mine eyes above,

A wider world of hope and joy I see,

Because you come to me.

Because you speak to me in accents sweet,

I find the roses waking round my feet,

And I am led through tears and joy to thee,

Because you speak to me.

Because God made thee mine, I’ll cherish thee

Through light and darkness, through all time to be,

And pray His love may make our love divine,

Because God made thee mine. 

Sorting and tossing and etc.!

NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The oceanfront mansion Tiger Woods' ex-wife purchased for $12.3 million has been demolished and she is planning to build a new home.
The Palm Beach Post ( bit.ly/Avza2Z) reports that Elin Nordegren (EE'-lihn NOHRD'-grihn) plans to build on the North Palm Beach lot she bought last year. The lot is about 140 miles southeast of Woods' home in Orlando.
The newspaper reports the mansion that was demolished was a two-story, 17,000-square-foot-home built in 1932. It had a swimming pool and an elevator.
Realtor John True of Oceanfront Realty says the lot is in the Seminole Landing development, among the most exclusive in Palm Beach County.

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And the Football player (Brady) and the super model (Bundchen) and their new home is probably finished by now and it sports....22,000 sq.ft./8 bedrooms/18months to build/2wings connected by a covered bridge with all sorts of amenities.  Cost?  $20,000,000.00

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At Terry's recent eye appointment I was reading a magazine called Dwell.  It had people that were against "mindlessly accumulating" things/objects/stuff and opted to live in a state of  "voluntary simplicity".  A newly built loft complex was featured and showed several tenants that had purchased downsizing abodes.  One couple had foregone their 3500 sq. ft. home for a new 750 square foot in the building.  They were extremely happy with the decision.

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Then I read in a recent magazine about The NO Trash Family.  Since 2006 this couple, ages 37 and 48, along with their two sons, ages 11 & 10, have opted to reuse, recycle or compost everything possible so that they have no trash to throw away.  They fill a 1-liter Mason jar with trash and the rest of us average 1,051 pounds annually!  She even carries jars to stores to put her purchased goods in and she has a blog about her efforts.. thezerowastehome 

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Then I read a book plug about a story I'd heard before.  2006, 14 year old riding with her Dad, pulls up to stop light.  Teen notices Mercedes coupe on one side and homeless man on other side. 

She makes observation...if that guy didn't have such a nice car then maybe that guy would have a meal. 
The Dad counters with...What if we didn't have such a nice car? 

So the family of 4 decides to downsize by selling their large home and move to a smaller house and use half of the sales proceeds to sponsor 2 villages in Ghana.  And they did!  Name of book?....The Power of Half by Hannah and Kevin Salwen.

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Ah, yes.  First of the year!  Time for my annual....Just ready to de-junk and downsize in my own way (again!!)!!!  Dug through a pile of stuff and found a sign that I love. Buried and never hung! but I enjoy it anyhow when it surfaces (plus I see the humor in me having it stowed!)

SIMPLIFY

LIVE 

SIMPLY

****** 

LIVE

WELL

 

Quotes that appear lighthearted at first reading!

“Tell the truth and tell it ever, costeth what it will; 

for he who hides the wrong he did, 

does the wrong thing still.” 

                                                             --by Zig Ziglar 

                                                                 (quoting his Mother)

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Be who you are 

and say what you feel

because 

those who mind don't matter 

and

those who matter don't mind.

                                 --by Dr. Seuss

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Whatever needs a backward walking...

leave behind.

move forward! 

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The past is to learn from,

not to live in.

                                    --by Richard L. Evans

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(little gems.  love them!! hope you enjoyed them)

Something to think about

These 5 short chapters remind me of my Spiritual journey, on learning and improving communication with the Holy Ghost, and the prompts I am endeavoring to take action on immediately and not delay/procrastinate/ignore in responding .

                          the following one page is delightful and you will see the truth in this...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

in

FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS

                                       http://www.panhala.net/Archive/Autobiography.html

Quiet One-Liners

J.W. Anderson sent the following comment yesterday.  (that reminds me...I really want to have there be some way that comments show down the side and others can comment on others comments.  awkward sentence but you know what I mean.  I'm clueless but someone knows how and I will find them!)  Anyhow I enjoyed what JW said....

If we could all just desire to have a greater out-pouring of the spirit in our lives and then actually "move upon" what he gives us...what a different experience we would have! Our greatest gift....agency. What we fought for! There is such clarity, inspiration, enlightenment and personal revelation at our fingertips. My problem is that I typically have the "volume" of my daily routine turned up so loud, I couldn't feel the spirit (much less hear it) if it were screaming in my face. My goal this year is to turn the "volume" down and create an inviting space for the spirit to be heard. Thank you for your inspiration and example!!

January 3, 2012 3:21 PM 

 In light of what JW said it really made me think of times of personal revelation when there was no doubt of what needed to be done.  Church callings seem to be a time of strong personal revelation and sometimes family needs warrant personal revelation and once in awhile on the spot/fill the gap/please-right now!,  personal revelation comes into play.  Maybe those larger more detailed happenings are easier to not ignore.  Maybe a dream or distinct directives or the likes are easier to recognize.  Those sorts of things insist they be written down and acted upon.  

No doubt about the biggies. 

 

Maybe these quiet one-liners are the key to experiencing more of actually being directed by the Holy Ghost?  A part of experiencing the constant companionship of such?  I'm beginning to think so.  Ummm.  I wish you could tell me your thoughts but you can't.  I have to be more attune to move past the thought and take action.  I do hear the thought.  But...I debate myself out of action or I simply discard and toss aside the very idea that just suddenly popped into my head/heart/feeling.  

 My average this year, on day 3, is 2 strikes and one hit.  2 ignores.  1 action.  The interesting thing to me also is these were not earth shattering little zingers BUT if I had just followed through I would have had more peace, more time and instead of being a bobble head with the attitude after the fact of ...well, if that doesn't beat all!... I could have experienced the good satisfying feeling of moving when prompted.

 Remember the Prophet (who was it?!) that was told...Move the wagon.  now that is a short directive, for sure.  wasn't it 3 times he did that?  but he was spared by that very action.  Maybe major things do come from these short cloud-soft thoughts/feelings/voice.  It has become very important to me to act when prompted. 

How many times have I had, one-time only, reader board moments of thoughts scroll across and never to be seen again!?  except for me mulling over and discarding "she's sick" (or other maladies) or "call______"  "take food"   "go visit"  (etc.), there have been many times I've sabotaged direction by deciding that I know best.  (well, hello prideful one!  Haughty, aren't you?)

So repentance.  again.  

As JW mentioned we need enough quiet within ourselves to be able to hear a breeze.  well, he didn't say that but he did mention being quiet.  and it is like hearing a very soft  gentle breeze- like whisper.  Maybe these are the fleeting thoughts that we've heard about.  Wasn't it a still voice in the Book of Mormon that couldn't be heard until there was a settling of the loudness.  Those layers of loudness had to be discarded to get to the heart of the matter.  The stillness where revelatory ideas, to guide us, to counsel us, to comfort us, to warn us, to direct us, to make life easier and simpler, can be heard in the quietness within ourselves.

Oh, me oh my.  Yes.  This is something worth focusing on.  Hear.  Heed.  Hearken.