Something to think about...

I really liked this post (even though I don't yet have children)...

"I have found one of the best ways to examine the life you are living is asking yourself, 'Will I regret this?' I picture myself in a rocking chair on a front porch, watching my grandchildren, or great grandchildren play on the lawn. Will I look back with peace in my heart? Will I say, 'I wish I would have slowed down and savored every moment?' It's not really a fun thing to do, but it always enables you to spit out the right answer. It always tells me to stay focused, run against the grain of the times, and enjoy the small moments. It reminds me to stay strong and centered about what I want to believe...that simply raising your children, being a mother and a wife, is enough, when everything we read and hear and see is sending us the opposite message. To say 'no' to the excess's of life, and 'yes' to the things that really count."

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you. ~John De Paola

Where I'm From

I am from green trees and rolling hills,
From pounds of pollen in the spring
And shiny icy streets in the winter.
I am from afghans crafted with love by my great-grandmother,
From enormous family gatherings
Where I don't know a soul.
("Oh honey, she's your 4th cousin, once removed!")
I am from impromptu soccer games in the cul-de-sac
With the neighborhood kids who know I had no skills to speak of,
But let me play anyway.
I am from the gaggle of girls who acted out
Dramatic stories with our barbies
Every summer afternoon
On my porch.
I am from long-winded, embellished family stories,
Passed down from generation to generation,
Firmly embedded in the community of my forefathers,
Always with some humor added.
I am from music of all sorts,
Whether instrumental or vocal,
Classical or jazz-tinged,
All notes, tones and pitches streaming through the house.
I am from family dinners and family home evenings,
Family movie nights and games,
And daddy-daughter dates.
I am from love, faith, and nurturing,
And I am grateful for where I'm from,
And want to carry these things on.

This was a writing exercise inspired by Tiffany and this poem.

For the women of the church

"...in whatever life circumstance you find yourself—as a wife, as a mother, as a single mother, as a divorced woman, as a widowed or a single woman—the Lord our God will open up responsibilities and blessings far beyond your ability to imagine.

May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don’t reach beyond your capacity. Don’t set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don’t feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones. The virtue of your own life will be a light to those who sit in darkness, because you are a living witness of the fulness of the gospel (see D&C 45:28). Wherever you have been planted on this beautiful but often troubled earth of ours, you can be the one to 'succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees' (D&C 81:5).

My dear sisters, as you live your daily life with all its blessings and challenges, let me assure you that the Lord loves you. He knows you. He listens to your prayers, and He answers those prayers, wherever on this world you may be. He wants you to succeed in this life and in eternity."

The Influence of Righteous Women By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Thoughtful...

You know that saying, "Let Go & Let God?" I read this post today & felt so humbled. (No, for all 5 of you who read my blog, I am not pregnant.) But it struck me that we often don't get what we want - marriage, babies, that corner office, financial security, etc. - because it's on our timetable, our plan, and Heavenly Father has something else for us to learn while we wait.

When I was thinking I'd never be married, I finally learned to just let go & be. (That's not to say that I didn't have my occasional struggles or frustrations sometimes with being alone.) But on the whole, looking back, I think I learned to just have fun, accept what God doled out to me & try to see how I could serve Him in the process. Did I ever mature. ;) And that was the year I became friends with Jared. It's interesting - once I kind of gave up & relaxed, things fell into place.

I often wonder if we were more willing to submit our wills to God, if we would be happier with our lives as a result. If we stop fighting so hard for what we want & what we think is best, if we'd be more in tune with the Spirit & more generally at peace. Life seems to be more about what you learn from what's given to you than accomplishing it all in the supposed perfect pattern, and I'm grateful for that reminder. Thanks, Jane.

In Memoriam

Thought for today

“There is no infirmity, affliction, or adversity that Christ did not feel in Gethsemane. . . .“President Howard W. Hunter said: ‘If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right’ (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1997], 40).”
Rafael E. Pino, “Faith in Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 41–42

Great little Etsy Shop

I love this great Etsy shop, Chalkboard Wisdom, which combines my love of quotes with useable art.
(Hopefully one day I'll be able to spend some money on things like this & not on, you know, food.)

Strong Christians Needed

“We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope through tragedy, who can lift others by their example and their compassion, and who can consistently overcome temptations. We need strong Christians who can make important things happen by their faith and who can defend the truth of Jesus Christ against moral relativism and militant atheism.”
D. Todd Christofferson, “The Power of Covenants,” Ensign, May 2009, 19–20

I'm in love with this site...

I want to be Marta when I grow up.
Or at least have her crafty skills, anyway. ;)

What makes me, me - Things I love

A great read

To me it appears that our splendid sisters sometimes undervalue their abilities—they focus on what is lacking or imperfect rather than what has been accomplished and who they really are.
...
You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us.⁵ The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.
If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it.
Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. “There is a great work for the Saints to do,” he said. “Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.”⁶
...
Being compassionate is another great work of our Heavenly Father and a fundamental characteristic of who we are as a people. We are commanded to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”⁷ Disciples of Christ throughout all ages of the world have been distinguished by their compassion. Those who follow the Savior “mourn with those that mourn . . . and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.”⁸
When we reach out to bless the lives of others, our lives are blessed as well. Service and sacrifice open the windows of heaven, allowing choice blessings to descend upon us. Surely our beloved Heavenly Father smiles upon those who care for the least of His children.
...
You wonderful sisters render compassionate service to others for reasons that supersede desires for personal benefits. In this you emulate the Savior, who, though a king, did not seek position, nor was He concerned about whether others noticed Him. He did not bother to compete with others. His thoughts were always tuned to help others. He taught, healed, conversed, and listened to others. He knew that greatness had little to do with outward signs of prosperity or position. He taught and lived by this doctrine: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”¹³
In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers.
...
Read the entire talk here.

Inspiring

This woman is truly inspiring. I'm so glad I read her blog & am thankful for the little pieces of life she is thankful for everyday.

Good stuff

Some more great quotes for you:

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter – E.E. Cummings

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless -Mother Teresa

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others. -Cicero

Whatever you are, be a good one -Abraham Lincoln

We can do no great things - only small things with great love -Mother Teresa
(This is Jared's favorite.)

There is a fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness” -Dave Barry

I believe in God like I believe in the sun - not because I can see it, but because of it all things are seen -C S Lewis

And quite possibly my favorite...

There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them – Sylvia Plath

All quotes found from another great Vinyl shop, "It's a Sign."
I love them!

Thoughts for today...

"It remains only for you and me to both seek and tender that forgiveness—to both repent and to extend charity to others—which enables us to pass through the door the Savior holds open, thus to cross the threshold from this life into exaltation. Today is the day to forgive others their trespasses, secure in the knowledge that the Lord will thus forgive ours. As Luke significantly recorded, 'Be ye therefore merciful' (Luke 6:36; emphasis added). Perfection may elude us here, but we can be merciful. And in the end, repenting and forgiving are among God’s chief requirements of us."

Lance B. Wickman, “Today,” Ensign, May 2008, 103–5

"Sometimes we carry unhappy feelings about past hurts too long. We spend too much energy dwelling on things that have passed and cannot be changed. We struggle to close the door and let go of the hurt. If, after time, we can forgive whatever may have caused the hurt, we will tap 'into a life-giving source of comfort' through the Atonement, and the 'sweet peace' of forgiveness will be ours ("My Journey to Forgiving," Ensign, Feb. 1997. 43). Some injuries are so hurtful and deep that healing comes only with help from a higher power and hope for perfect justice and restitution in the next life. . . . You can tap into that higher power and receive precious comfort and sweet peace."

James E. Faust, "Instruments in the Hands of God," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 115

"May God help us to be a little kinder, showing forth greater forbearance, to be more forgiving, more willing to walk the second mile, to reach down and lift up those who may have sinned but have brought forth the fruits of repentance, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "Forgiveness," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 84

"Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don't sing and bells don't ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result."

Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Come What May, and Love It," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 26

"I delight in the Lord's mercies and miracles (see "Bless Our Fast, We Pray," Hymns, no. 138). I know that His tender mercies and His miracles, large and small, are real. They come in His way and on His timetable. Sometimes it is not until we have reached our extremity. Jesus's disciples on the Sea of Galilee had to toil in rowing against a contrary wind all through the night before Jesus finally came to their aid. He did not come until the "fourth watch," meaning near dawn. Yet He did come. (See Mark 6:45-51.) My testimony is that miracles do come, though sometimes not until the fourth watch."

Susan W. Tanner, "My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord," Ensign, May 2008, 83

"The Lord has given us agency, the right and the responsibility to decide. He tests us by allowing us to be challenged. He assures us that He will not suffer us to be tempted beyond our ability to withstand. But we must understand that great challenges make great men. We don't seek tribulation, but if we respond in faith, the Lord strengthens us."

Dennis E. Simmons, "But If Not . . .," Ensign, May 2004, 73

"Challenges, difficulties, question, doubts—these are part of our mortality. But we are not alone. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have enormous spiritual reservoirs of light and truth available to us. Fear and faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time. In our days of difficulty, we choose the road of faith. Jesus said, 'Be not afraid, only believe' (Mark 5:36)."

Neil L. Andersen, "You Know Enough, Ensign," Nov. 2008, 14

"Take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He 'would fight [our] battles, [our] children's battles, and [the battles of our] children's children' (D&C 98:37)."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Ministry of Angels, Ensign," Nov. 2008, 30

"I hope all of you dear sisters, married or single, never wonder if you have worth in the sight of the Lord and to the leaders of the Church. We love you. We respect you and appreciate your influence in preserving the family and assisting with the growth and the spiritual vitality of the Church. Let us remember that “the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World”). The scriptures and the teachings of the prophets and apostles help all family members to prepare together now to be together through all eternity. I pray that God will continually bless the women of the Church to find joy and happiness in their sacred roles as daughters of God."

M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110

"Reserved to come forth in these last days and labor for our Father and His Son are some of the most valiant and noble of our Father's sons and daughters. Their valiance and nobility were demonstrated in the pre-earth struggle with Satan. . . .

". . . You are those who chose good over evil and who exhibited 'exceedingly great faith' and 'good works.' And because of your personal history, you were entrusted to come to the earth in these last days to do again what you did before—to once again choose good over evil, exercise exceedingly great faith, and perform good works—and to do so in behalf of the kingdom of God on the earth and your fellowman!"

James J. Hamula, "Winning the War against Evil," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 50–51

Ahhh. I always feel better after hearing from the Lord's anointed in our day. I love the Gospel so much! It gives me such great peace.

Yum!

I'm SO making these.

Bakerella is pure awesomeness. I adore her blog.

I can't get enough of these prints

So much whimsy, artistry & beauty here. I'm finding all sorts of amazingly creative people through the Web, blogging & Etsy. I love it.

Go here to see Helen Dardik's blog & here for her items on Etsy.

Because we could all use a little hope...

I love this.

Want to try it? Go here.

Today's inspiring image

I found this breathtaking image here.

I love sunsets. Always have. Something about the way the sun lights the sky on fire has always fascinated, calmed & moved me.

Living in this part of Virginia has garnered some pretty spectacular sunsets, and I've been lucky enough to enjoy them on my way home from somewhere (work, church, a friend's house - wherever). I get lost in thought about how beautiful this earth is - and how amazing God is - when I stare up into such a picturesque image.

Isn't nature awesome? I find such great joy in scenes like these.

Things As They Really Are

My awesome visiting teacher, Jenissa, sent me this great link to a talk by Elder Bednar, Things as They Really Are. I've been thinking a lot lately about how we let daily distractions - even important items, pleasurable pursuits & the like - get in the way of what's really important. After all, why are we here? What are we here to do? When I think of life that way, it puts a whole different spin - and motivation - on my daily activities.

Read the talk here.

The illusion of beauty...

Stand up to it! I really like what Dove is doing in their campaigns. Exposing the fallacies of the magazines & unrealistic standards...

Watch the commercial here.