Best News Ticker Ever

One of my favorite quotes ever is from Thomas S. Monson:

 "The Lord is in the details of our life." 

I love this quote simply because I know it is true.  He is aware of us -- each of us. He know us personally and helps us individually. I'm constantly amazed and humbled by the way He answers my prayers and the fact that He does.

Without getting too personal, I also wanted to share a simple concept I'm learning more and more lately:

Return good for evil.

When people are inconsiderate or even outright cruel, I find great peace in showing them kindness instead of revenge or anger. I wish I could tell you the AWESOME experience I had last week. Basically, the Spirit told me to do something nice for someone I was very upset with. I didn't like the way she was treating me and the things she had been saying. When confronted by her, the Spirit literally spoke to me to do something nice. I did and the results were nothing short of MIRACULOUS! She smiled, I smiled, AND... those feelings of hurt completely and instantly went away.

I am determined not to let all the mean and grumpy people bring me down!

I'm learning more and more that forgiveness is an action on MY part. Not just saying sorry (and definitely not waiting for the other person to apoligize -- that may never happen), but actually DOING something to make amends. Ahhhh. My heart feels good. :)

I was in the temple yesterday and I had to wait awhile before they could take me in to do the ordinance. It was no coincidence to me when a very special person just happened to be there yesterday and we got to visit while we waited together. I just met her recently and she is becoming a great friend. What an amazing lady!! I'll have to write a blog post about her. 

Anyway, about half way through the ordinances, I suddenly became very antsy and felt the need to check the clock. I carpool with another good friend for our little Kindergartners and I knew I had at least another 20 minutes before I had to leave. However, this feeling wouldn't go away and I kept feeling like I need to leave sooner. After about 5 more minutes, I couldn't ignore the feeling any longer, so I told the temple workers I had to leave early. I got to my locker and the Spirt prompted me immediately, "Check your phone!" 

Now, when I tell you the Spirit "spoke to me" or "prompted me" -- it's like a sound recording in my head of my voice, but it's playing in the back of my mind. You know when you watch the news on TV and there's a news ticker running along the bottom of the screen with the latest updates and developing stories and such? I've finally learned that's what the promptings of the Holy Ghost are like to me. I have this special "news ticker" flash across the back of my mind whenever the Spirit is trying to tell me something. I just have to focus on the voice I hear and I can literally "see" that ticker through my mind. 

So back to the story -- I check my phone (in the locker room/dressing room of the temple -- weird I know, but the Spirit told me to). There was a text from my carpool friend sent much earlier saying she wouldn't be able to pick up Beck today and hoped I could. WOW!! Of course I could because the Spirit told me to leave the temple early. It was amazing! Such a simple thing, but I'm so grateful. I was able to pick up Beck right on time and another little girl that I pick up also. It worked out perfectly. 

Now, I know nothing terrible would have happened if I didn't listen to this prompting. I probably would have been about 10-15 minutes late picking up Beck. The teachers probably would have taken him to the office to wait for me and then try to call me, but I'm just so grateful he didn't have to worry or be afraid. I'm SO thankful I didn't have to feel stressed about being late and getting there in a hurry. It was just so comforting to me to KNOW Heavenly Father is aware of me and my family and our life.

How could we ever go wrong if we ALWAYS listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost?

How can we ALWAYS make sure we are listening?

I want to make sure my life isn't too busy to hear these promptings. I need to slow down and be aware of what's going on and what the Spirit is trying to tell me. I need to make time in my life to act on those promptings. The Lord IS in the details of our life. We need to listen to what He wants us to do.

Another good friend in our new ward made me this beautiful necklace last week! I KNOW she was listening to the Spirit. She had no idea the week I'd had or all of things on my mind that day. I was really feeling down. She somehow knew I needed a friend and stopped by to cheer me up and see how I was doing. There wasn't anything terribly wrong, but I just needed the reassurance there are people out there who care about me. Thank you!

The little stones surrounding the eternity symbol are all of our birthstones (my children, Zeke, and me). I LOVE it! By the way, can you see the little cat scratch just above the edge of my shirt on the right? That's how you know it's ME. I love those crazy fur-balls. 

I know there are people out there who need our help and our friendship. We need to pray for guidance to know who they are and what they need. We can be instruments in God's hands in answering the prayers of another.

Another favorite quote,  

"A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous."

The world is still full of so much good. We need to look for it and ADD to it. 

Busy Bee

Here's some pictures of our trip to Bear Lake last weekend. The water's really high this year, not much beach area. But we had a great time anyway.


Zoe and Beck are in our little cubby shelf thing by the garage... the kids love to climb up there.


And also a picture of Zoe's Halloween dress she's been begging me to make ever since we found the fabric in my storage box a few months ago (it's not going to be that long) She's going to be the Blue Fairy from "Pinocchio". (The fabric we already have is blue, so that's what I suggested she could be, aren't I sneaky?)

Well, I don't know what's up with me, I've just been busy busy lately... I've got this sewing bug and even a yard work bug and cleaning bug (Man, I must be sick, because this is NOT like me!) Maybe I'm finally recovering some energy after being released in May from almost 4 years in Young Women's. If I were pregnant (NO!!!! I'm NOT!) -- I would call all of this energy "nesting" I suppose. It feels good to get a bunch of little things done that I've been neglecting forever and in some cases I've even forgot about. I found two cute shirts of mine in my sewing basket today that have needed mending for so long... I forgot I had them! Wow!! It feels like I have new clothes.

However, I just haven't really been in the mood to blog. Too many thoughts and feelings I don't really want to share with anyone. Too many crazy things going on. I want to be positive and share good things. I've always been a bit of a non-conformist type person. Not quite sure if that's the right word, but I just kinda do my own thing. Every once in awhile I'll meet someone who doesn't mind that about me, but usually people just can't handle it. Well, I'm pretty sure I'm a complete nutter, but what the hey, I have an awesome husband and 4 healthy children to love me anyway. Thanks to my friend, Jill, for the quote: "There is pleasure, sure, in being mad, which none but madmen know!" -John Dryden

We are looking forward to Zeke finishing school in December! We're still hoping and praying for enough money to pay his tuition. We don't have all of it yet, but I have a very good feeling whenever I think or pray about it. I know something will happen to help us get him through school. I'm so thankful for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is so wonderful not to be stressed about it.

I also wanted to share another great reminder of the power of prayer and faith. Well, just to set up the story, Zeke gets paid on the 5th and the 20th of every month. Friday was the 16th and well, we're out of money (no biggie, it's just the way it is right now). I've got plenty of food in the house, but I looked at some recipes and thought if I just had some egg noodles, carrots, and mozzarella cheese, I could put together some nice meals until Tuesday. (not those things together necessarily) So, I'm a very straight forward person when it comes to prayer. I knelt down and asked Heavenly Father if I could come up with just enough money for those things I would be fine until payday. Later that day, I went to get the mail and guess what?! Yep, there in the mailbox was a $5 rebate check from a rebate I had sent in months ago and forgot about. Is it a coincidence that it arrived on Friday? I think not!! Jeffrey R. Holland said, "A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous." Thank YOU very much... I went to the store today and got exactly what I wanted. (and free candy for the kids from the bank! SCORE!!) I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.

I also like another quote from Mary Poppins, "Enough is as good as a feast." I am truly thankful for the desire we have had to follow the prophet and "live within our means". It has been a great blessing in our family. We are so happy for little things and we are so good at not spending money. Try it, it's harder than you think, but I promise you that the peace that comes with it is priceless!

I'm rambling... I should be going through my Primary lesson..... ok, that's why I've got all of this energy to do OTHER things... it's called PROCRASTINATION... now if that's not the best motivator to do anything but the thing you're supposed to be doing, I don't know what is :) Hope you're all having a FABULOUS summer!

Overwhelmed... with Gratitude

Had a great time last night. I went to a Luau for the Laurels and Priests in our Stake. Even though I'm not in Young Women's anymore, I was invited because my sweet hubby is in the Stake YM. We watched the movie, "Forever Strong", it's based on the true story of the Highland, Utah Rugby team. I've seen it many times... and I love it every time I watch it. Afterwards, Zeke and a couple other people spoke to the youth. The Spirit was so strong. I felt so happy. I thought of my life way back in 1993... I am so "LUCKY" to be here. But luck has nothing to do with it. I was spared for some reason... I often wonder why.

To make a very long story short: My friends and roommates at Snow College were so influential to me and the beginnings of my testimony. I will be forever grateful to my wonderful roommate, Jen (Edwards) Mortensen. I owe her my life. I really do. I was LOST (and that is an enormous understatement!) She was the one who invited me to church with her... and she was not embarrassed to have me come with her and sit by her... even though EVERY head in the chapel spun around and stared the first time I walked in.

I remember finding a Bible that my old Sunday School teacher had given to me (thanks, Brother Swan), opening it (probably for the first time ever, really!) and thinking, Jen's so happy, I want to be happy, I want to have what she has, I wonder if this is really what it's all about. I'm going to find out... I randomly turned to Matthew 11: 28-30... and the words literally glowed and jumped right off the page: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." This one scripture changed my life forever... I knew what I needed to do, I knew where I could find peace and hope and joy...

In 1994, I went to a fireside at Snow College and heard a song from Michael Webb that told my story so well,

Once I was blind
I could not see the Truth
I had lost the vision of my youth
And the line between wrong and right
became cloudy and blurred with time
and the darkness swallowed the Light
once I was blind

Once I was deaf
the world and all it's noise
filled my mind
and I could not hear His voice
whispering in my ear
Oh, I heard what I chose to hear
I gave no heed
I thought I knew best
once I was deaf

But He healed me
He opened my eyes and ears
and He changed me
erasing the scars of years
and now my heart understands
and I am whole again

Once I was lame
crippled and bent with sin
my crooked feet refused to follow Him
I let go of the rod and staff
and I stumbled right off the path
falling down, falling away
once I was lame

But He healed me
He opened my eyes and ears
and He saved me
and carries me through the years
Finally my heart understands
and I am whole again
I can see
I can hear
I can walk
I will run to Him.

I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I just woke up this morning feeling so thankful and I wanted all of you to know why. It really is that AWESOME :)

Today......

Well, today is going to be very interesting to say the least....... I can't say more right now.......

But so far, I got the kids up and off to school except for Kaia...... she has afternoon kindergarten.......and she had a rough night. It's 9am and she's still sleeping....

Beck is playing with his "new" train... thanks Brody!

Zeke is off to work/school. He has his last senior design presentation tonight! After tomorrow, one more semester down, one more to go....... hopefully.

I just have to share this quote "Sometimes the Lord calms the storm, and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child" My life is a mere drizzle compared to other people's "storms", but to me my life feels like a never-ending monsoon season, and yet, I feel so calm. And THAT is making me anxious! For those of you who don't know me, I question everything, maybe too much. I'm calm and I feel peaceful, that should be enough, right? no, I am thinking, "What is wrong with me? How could I possibly feel calm right now?" Well, I have been blessed. The Holy Ghost has brought this amazing peace into my heart....

Anyway, gotta make some treats for young women's tonight...... and oh yeah, I should probably shower. I shower everyday. This is my gift to me :)