God's Love

I love this quote and I know it's true. God loves each of us. Always. Just like a child might feel like their mom or dad doesn't love them anymore when they do something naughty, sometimes our choices keep us from feeling God's love. But His love is not conditional. He is always waiting with His arms outstretched when we are ready to turn around. 

Choose Happiness

Spencer has been doing so well on his mission. He's had 2 great companions so far and he's really been embracing his experiences and learning all he can. But last week was hard and some discouragement and even a little depression started to set in. During a routine interview with his mission president later in the week, Spencer was given some very wise counsel. President Nelson told him that when he's faced with a decision of how to feel, he will always choose happiness. Spencer said, "I really like that, so I wrote on a sticky note and put on my desk: 'I will choose happiness. -President Nelson' so I can always remember that."

The video for Day 19 of the Light the World campaign really touched me. It's the journey of an autistic young man named Aaron Jepson. At the end of the video are the words, "In the face of adversity, Aaron chooses happiness." It's a needed message and one that I've been hearing from many different sources lately.



"Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think." I don't know who said it -- it's been attributed to several people including Buddha, Dale Carnegie and Zig Ziglar, but I believe it. It's our thoughts, not our circumstances, that determine our feelings.

Just taking a minute to reframe things may be all it takes to see the blessings and happiness right where we are. Choose happiness. :)

Good Advice

This is the back of a sweatshirt spotted at one of my boys' Cross Country meets. It works great for runners, but I think it applies just as well to life in general. What do you think?

Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.

You Reap What You Sow

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.”  --C. S. Lewis (from The Great Divorce)

I teach an online youth religion class (Seminary) for church. For the past couple of days, the discussion has focused a lot on the consequences of our choices, pointing out that you reap what you sow. In today's Seminary lesson, the questions was asked: Why do you think Satan succeeds in luring some people to his side, even though he will ultimately lose?

In response, one of my students pointed out that Satan succeeds because his path is easier. You don't have to make a commitment. But as a result, you lose the happiness and joy that come from living righteously. 

It's true. While Satan's side is easier and there are no rules to follow, there is also no reward. What a disappointment it will be to find that the lures and "promises" were all a big lie and there is nothing for you in the end. Like C. S. Lewis pointed out, God will say to us, "Thy will be done," and we'll get exactly what we chose. Satan is cleverly deceptive and only when he has you in his chains will you realize that your freedom has been taken away.

Happiness comes when we choose to say to God, "Thy will be done," and His blessings are poured out upon us as we make ourselves eligible for an eternal reward. Rules and guidelines (commandments) are there for our peace and safety. It may initially feel like they are limiting our freedom, but we will soon find that true freedom is possible only through obedience. 

Christ's Atonement made it possible for us to return to our Father in Heaven. It's up to us to choose to make that possibility our reality!

Blessed and Happy...

I've been reading through the talks that were given during the last General Conference (October 2015) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We always make it a priority to watch each session of Conference as a live stream every April and October, but I also make time to read each talk again before the next Conference. I'm just finishing up and have been really inspired by a couple of the addresses from the Sunday afternoon session.

Elder Von G. Keetch gave a talk entitled, "Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God." I really enjoyed his perspective. So many people see the commandments as restrictions or things that keep us from really enjoying life. But Elder Keetch turns it around and shows us that the commandments are a generous gift from a loving Heavenly Father who "gives us divine direction, through His commands and loving guidance, so that we may avoid the dangers--so that we may set a course in our lives that is protected from spiritual predators and the gaping jaws of sin." I love that.

Here's a fun little video that was created for the youth of the church that illustrates a principle similar to one Elder Keetch shared in his talk.

Potential

There was once a sculptor working in his studio with hammer and chisel on a large block of marble. A little boy who was watching him saw nothing except large and small pieces of stone falling to the right and left. He didn't know what was happening. When the little boy returned a few weeks later, he saw to his great surprise, a large and powerful lion sitting in the place where the stone had stood. In amazement he turned to the sculptor and asked, "How did you know there was a lion in there?"

Imagesource

I found the above story in one of my flats when I was a missionary. I don't have a reference - it was on some random papers that someone had left behind. I've always loved the story and the message. I was thinking about it tonight and wanted to share.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could help others discover their lion within? Goethe said, "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being."

Kung Fu Panda 3

We went to see Kung Fu Panda 3 last night. We're big fans of the first and second movies and this one didn't disappoint. It was unpredictable, funny, and thought provoking.

No spoilers here, but there was a quote near the beginning of the movie that I thought was pretty pertinent to life in general.

If you only do what you can do, 

you'll never be more than you are now.

--Master Shifu

It's true. We have to get out of our comfort zone to realize our true potential. But we can also capitalize on our strengths for the best chance of success (another theme of the movie). 

We all loved the movie and can't wait to see it again! :)

Sweep the Earth

Each week I receive an e-mail full of uplifting quotes from Sweep the Earth. They usually make me smile or think or determine to be better. Sweep the Earth is trying to do just that: Sweep the earth with positive, uplifting messages. The quotes generally come from current or former leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some of the memes are made by Sweep the Earth and some are borrowed from other sources, but all are inspiring and intended to lift, bless and brighten.

Here's a timely and hopeful message from this week's e-mail:

I subscribe, which is why I get the e-mails, but you can visit their site and search for quotes as well. They are searchable by Keyword, Author, or Category. For example, I searched for quotes by Jeffrey R. Holland (always a favorite!) and here are a few - okay, a lot - of the results:

 

 

Aren't they great? And that's just a very small sampling of what you'll find. It's so refreshing to see a website that exists solely to bring hope and joy to others. I just wanted to share so that if you are so inclined, you can subscribe and receive a little bit of sunshine in your inbox each week as well. Or just browse the site when you need a boost, and then share what you find so you can help Sweep the Earth. :)

Gratitude

I thought my front door would be a great place to display my favorite gratitude quote. 

Gratitude turns what we have into enough. 

It really does!

Elder Richard G. Scott

Elder Richard G. Scott passed away this afternoon from causes incident to age.

I will miss his penetrating talks in General Conference where it felt like he knew me and was looking straight into my heart. He often spoke of repentance and the gift of Christ's Atonement. He loved the scriptures and encouraged us to make time to study them regularly. Elder Scott was incredibly knowledgeable yet so very compassionate.

He often spoke of his wife who passed away many years ago. I'm sure there is a grand reunion in heaven tonight!

Elder Scott is the third of the Twelve Apostles to pass away since May. Like President Packer and Elder Perry, Elder Scott will be missed.

I'm Silently Correcting Your Grammar

Paul, a good friend of ours, is SO smart! He understands the English language so well that he's the perfect go-to source whenever there's a question about tense or capitalization or any number of tricky grammar situations. (I had to look up whether or not to capitalize "English" in the previous sentence. Paul would have known.)

Paul is also one of the funniest people we know. I've come to the conclusion that it's impossible to be around Paul for any length of time and be in a bad mood. 

When Jeff and I were invited to Paul's birthday celebration, we wanted to come up with the perfect gift. 

Shortly before we had to leave for the party, we remembered seeing a version of the above t-shirt online. Obviously, it was way too late to order one for Paul so I decided to make him one myself. After a quick run to the store for a t-shirt, I worked up a simple stencil with my vinyl cutter. A little bit of gray paint, a stencil brush and about 20 minutes later, we had our gift. 

Paul loved it! I think things are funnier when they are true. :)

Dinner Table Conversation

Overheard at the dinner table last night:

"Hey guys, I have more money than the government. I have zero dollars." 

{Sterling}

"If heaven's water tastes like chocolate milk, what does heaven's chocolate milk taste like?" 

{Soren}

...apparently stolen from Sterling...

Food for Thought

I saw this great quote in the newspaper while we were on vacation last month. Too true!

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." 

--Frederick Douglass

President Boyd K. Packer

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I just found out a few hours ago that President Packer, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, passed away this afternoon. He was 90 years old and died from causes incident to age.

As my brother said, this is the end of an era. President Packer was a great teacher and always consistent and practical in his teachings on the family, repentance, understanding doctrine, and obedience, just to name a few.

When I think of President Packer, the first quote that comes to mind is, "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior."

One thing I know for sure, President Packer knew and loved the Savior Jesus Christ. He testified of Him countless times during his 45 year tenure as one of His chosen apostles.

He will be missed.

"We need not live in fear of the future. We have every reason to rejoice
and little reason to fear. If we follow the promptings of the Spirit,
we will be safe, whatever the future holds. We will be shown what to do."

Elder L. Tom Perry

Imagesource

Today Elder Perry, second in seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, passed away from a sudden and vigorous case of cancer at the age of 92. It is our Stake Conference this weekend and Elder D. Todd Christofferson is here as our visiting authority. He excused himself during the Priesthood Leadership Meeting to take the phone call informing him of Elder Perry's death. I was sad when I heard the news a couple hours later. Elder Perry will be missed. He spoke at General Conference in April and appeared to be strong and healthy. I'm grateful that his decline was quick and he didn't have to suffer long.

Elder Perry and Elder Christofferson at General Conference, April 2015

Graphic Design: Memes

I had some time on my hands the other day so I decided to match up some favorite quotes with pictures I found on www.morguefile.com. (They have some amazing free photos!) I love stuff like this!!

This is my favorite scripture. Doctrine and Covenants 6:34.

Doodles and Designs

I've always wanted to try my hand at graphic design. I finally got myself a tablet that hooks to my computer and lets me draw and write with much more control than I could get with a mouse or touch pad. It's awesome!

I used it (along with Photoshop Elements) to design our Christmas card and Sadie's Valentines.  But most of the time I just doodle.

I'm planning to teach myself how to use a vector graphics program so I can do even more, but for now I'm having a ball!

Choices

I have a lot of catching up to do, but until then, I wanted to share this awesome quote I stumbled upon. So good. So true.

"Your life is the outcome of the

choices you make.

Put the  power of choice

to work for you."

Bruce A. Carlson

A Few Random Things

So this is what it looks like in my little corner of the world...

Can you believe all that snow? It's crazy! There are piles of snow everywhere. We were all completely surprised to find out that school would be in session today. The roads are still a little bit scary and all morning I worried about those poor kids waiting at bus stops in knee-high snow (or if they happened to be standing at this corner, snow that swallowed them whole!) Yuck.

Yesterday Jeff sent Sam out to shovel the next-door-neighbor's driveway and walk. It was a huge task and the snow was deep and heavy. Sam had carved out a small area and was working his way out when he heard a honk. He looked up to see a guy in a big truck with a plow. He motioned for Sam to move out of the way. In two passes, he cleared the entire driveway saving Sam over an hour of work. It made Sam's entire day. Hooray for the mystery snowplow guy!

Here is my cute little Sadie-bug reading with her friends. She begged and begged for the pink elephant for Christmas two years in a row. This year her wish was granted and she loves that thing like crazy! I think it hogs the bed, though, because she sure falls out of bed a lot since it arrived!

This is a beautiful sunset from a week or two ago. We've had more stunning sunsets this winter than ever before. It seems like every night or two I get a brilliant display out my kitchen window. Love it!

And last but not least, there seems to be a lot of complaining around here about things that are a normal part of life but that keep us from doing what we really want to do. Here is one of my current favorite quotes by C.S. Lewis who puts it all into perspective:

"The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own' or 'real' life. The truth is, of course, that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life -- the life God is sending one day by day."

That's all for now. :)

Trying My Hand at Graphic Design

Last weekend I got a simple program that allows me to create some pretty cool stuff. I'm having a great time experimenting with graphic design, which is something I've long wished that I could do. Here are my first two creations. Someday, after I have a lot of experience behind me, I may look back on these and think they are cheesy or too busy or whatever, but today they make me happy. :)

I got the background photo here.