Monday, December 29, 2008

A Perfect Brightness of Hope






2 Ne. 31: 20

 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.


Thursday, December 4, 2008

the babe was born



the babe was born.
i suppose he cried
and there never was a Christmas
until this day.

his parents felt the joy
that all parents feel,
at the snuggle of his head
into their chests.

then the singing began
from the black, starry night.
caused by the joy 
of the birth of 
this babe

and the baby grew.
he was one year old.
a first uttered prayer
schooled by his parents
like you and me.

he was taught not to touch some things,
to be careful, and kind.
hold a hand when you walk in the market,
pet the animals softly.

and every Christmas, he grew 
wiser and wiser,
and the heavens
continued to sing.

then the boy that skinned his knees,
became the man that 
healed our hearts
and saved mankind

and the angels broke forth
in a joyful chorus
as he came back to the
starry heavens.

i can hear them singing now
waiting for the day, 
the day that he was  born.
i ponder his  birth

then tears unwillingly
cleanse my face,
my heart burns bright and fierce
for i know the truth of this Christmas 

He lives,
He loves me,
He knows me by name.
tender brother, 
tiny babe,
Jesus Christ;  

the Savior of my soul. 




Sunday, November 16, 2008

A Son Committed to His Father

"I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me."
John 8:28

"The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do...For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth."
John 15: 19-20

"Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established."
Proverbs 16:3

Prayer moves God, and when God moves in your life, things get exciting!
-Joni Eareckson Tada

I often question my real commitment to our Heavenly Father, and strive to be the kind of daughter He would be proud of.  I desire and pray  to ever be mindful of:

the spirit of love
the needs of others
to be as a pitcher of water pure and clean
pouring goodness into the lives of others
being a vessel of the spirit
remembering I am a temple
 leading others to Him
being a teachable daughter
guiding others toward His unconditional love for them
learning from Him unconditional love
remembering I have far to go
and that He is patient.  ; )


What commitments have you made to your Father?
 





Friday, November 14, 2008

I think the world is glorious




I think the world is glorious and lovely as can be.
The birds and bees and blossoms bring sweet messages to me.

I sing, and sing, and sing, and sing
A song of joy and love.
I sing, and sing, and sing, and sing
My thanks to God above.

~Anna Johnson


Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.



What songs of gratitude do you sing this day?






Sunday, November 9, 2008

Praise Him...




"Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show."

St. Francis of Assisi



Saturday, November 8, 2008

Trust Him


Let (us) ask in faith, with no doubting
James 1:6

"Trusting God's faithfulness dispels our fearfulness."
Vernon Grounds



Friday, November 7, 2008

The Family of Adam



2 Ne. 9: 21
And he cometh into the world 
that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; 
for behold, 
he suffereth the pains of all men, 
yea, 
the pains of every living creature, 
both men, 
women,
 and children, 
who belong to the family of Adam.


Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Christ is the Light to All Mankind



Christ Is the Light to All Mankind
Gordon B. Hinckley

"We are far short of the goal he set for us, but we must never lose sight of it; nor must we forget that our great climb toward the light, toward perfection, would not be possible except for his teachings, his life, his death, and his resurrection. I testify that Christ is the light to all mankind."



Sunday, November 2, 2008

an eye single to His glory





And if your eye be single to my glory, 
your whole bodies shall be filled with light,
and there shall be no darkness in you; 
and that body which is filled with light 
comprehendeth all things.

D&C 88:67



Thursday, October 30, 2008

He is Light


John 1: 4-5, 7-9
 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
• • •
 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
... (He) was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.


"From within or from behind, a light shines through us upon things, and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is all."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

be still my soul





Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Sibelius and Von Schelgel

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

i am free





I go to work
I go to church
I eat good food
I wear warm clothes
I say what is on my mind
I can talk to whoever I want to talk to
I can drive anywhere I want to go
I can walk with whoever I wish to walk with
I eat what I want
I read what I desire
I sing any song I choose
I am educated
I am clean
I am American
I am free
Thanks to those who have fought for my freedom.

Just remembering those at war in my prayers today,
and praying for peace.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

winter saves what is pure




I love to see when leaves depart,
The clear anatomy arrive,
Winter, the paragon of art,
That kills all forms of life and feeling
Save what is pure and will survive.

Roy Campbell

I had a poster with this first stanza  of the poem "Autumn" hanging on my wall for a few years when I was 12-16 years old.  There was a beautiful picture of a train winding it's way through a mountain pass with naked trees.  I bought it from a book club in the 6th grade for $1.   Little did I know the impact the poster and poem would have on my development as a person.

I was asked to give a 'thought' in my family home evening group as a freshman in college.  Like some freshmen, I was struggling with issues of independence, friendship,  boyfriends, etc.  The world was crashing in.  This poem came to mind.  I realized how important this stanza was to me, as I interpreted it to mean that trials make us better.  Make us pure.  Strip us of superficiality and vanity.  Keep us humble. Bring us to who we really are. It brought to me the realization that our suffering is the sanctification of our souls.  In a sense, a beautiful process, because it makes us stronger, better, and more close to our Father in Heaven. 

I don't really look forward to the season of winter, or the winter-like phases of my life, but realize the outcome is worth it.  Spring with flowers that knock your socks off, sun and clear skies. There is a sadness and disappointment when some of my plants don't make it through the winter, but I realize my garden is better and more beautiful with those that have survived.  

Just like me.  And just like you.

How have your winters made you a better person....



Thursday, September 4, 2008

life can be good...








Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. 
~Hans Christian Anderson

so many quotes about "life".  it is what you make it, it's what happens when you are making plans, it is unexpected, it is what it is....etc.

in my five decades, there is one thing i know for sure.  life can be good in almost any circumstance because God has made it.

my friend erna told me once she had an elderly neighbor who greeted her every day with "isn't this just the greatest day you have ever lived?"  erna found it a little unbelievable.  i thought it believable.  why?  to live a good life is to savor all good things.  air, water, sunshine, rain, snow, grass, flowers, food, love,  movement, song, the absence of things that are bad, the presence of things that are good...

life can be good, if you choose to dwell in the land of good things. this i know, for i live in that place.  ; )

where do you live?  can you think in your heart how life can be good for you.....

Monday, September 1, 2008

Stillness




time to be still

quiet

thoughts on my day

sounds from the other room

metal spoon clicking on a bowl

rain on the glass

old ben ticking

buzz of a lightbulb

my breath

in

out

still

sweet stillness


what do you feel when you are still.....







Saturday, August 30, 2008

I Appreciate.....






"Just think how happy you would be if you lost everything you have right now, and then got it back again."

Frances Rodman

This quote was on my thinkyummythoughts web site last week, and it has really hit home to me the past couple of days. 

I have a little gal I work with named Katie who I adore.  She is 7.  I am her speech therapist.  She is a wild little woman who is approximately 2 -3 years old in her language development.  She came to me because of the frustration of her original therapist.  The therapist couldn't connect with her.  With me....it was immediate.  Love at first sight!  We play, she says "no" alot, we laugh, she teases me...it is delightful.

Last Wednesday I learned that Katie's house burned down.  My heart broke. I know she doesn't understand what has happened.  I have learned that her behaviors are out of control and she is beside herself.  I talked to her mom and asked if I could help purchase some items for Katie. She said yes.

Soooo...yesterday I went to Walmart and browsed through the little girls department.  I started with pants.  Realized, she would probably need at least 4 or 5 pairs....oh yes and then shirts. 4 or 5.  And then a sweatshirt because it is getting cold.  Oh...she will need socks!!!!  10 pair.  Oh yes, and probably underwear, at least 7....PJs!!!!  My cart was getting fuller and fuller.... Shoes~! Darn, I didn't think to get the size of those!  ohmygosh...she needs bedding I bet!!!!  Sheets, blankets, pillows.....yup.  And toys.  

I started to envision this little girl with just the clothes on her back, staring at her house on fire.  Her world crumbling before her eyes.  And, I remembered this quote from the other day.
I reflected on the simple things in my life that I am grateful for....

my clothes
my socks
my underwear
my shoes
my hairbrush
my toothbrush
my bed
my sheets
my pillow
my blankets
shelter
a place to go to at the end of the day
my security

I appreciate these things.

And you?  What do you appreciate today....



Tuesday, August 26, 2008

summer




august

sunflowers
black eyed susans bunch by the pavement
blue blue electric blue skies
6:30 am and all the windows open 
the white kitchen curtains blow quietly to the side
cool fresh touch of autumn air
i wait for the burning sun
to spread it's light upon the mountains
savoring august
before the chill of season's change

what are you enjoying about summer?



Saturday, August 23, 2008

under my feet


certain things just make you stop and relish what is happening. here's what makes me stop and say "ahhhhhhh"

on the bottoms of my feet....

satin pillows
dew drops on fresh grass
sitting on the concrete edge of a pool and dipping my feet in the agua on a hot sunny day
kisses
flannel sheets on my bed for winter
massage
pebbles in a creek
bubble wrap
my kitty karl's fur
thick, clean carpet
drying my feet with towels straight out of the dryer
my cold feet on my husband's warm leg ; )
thick lotion
fuzzy slippers


what makes your feet happy?




Wednesday, August 20, 2008

listen......


time to listen to the songs of the earth...

the sun has gone down and i sit on my front steps...i hear...

crickets chirping on a cool august night
sudden silence
water refreshing the earth as sprinklers come on (lovin' that mist ; )
hushed voices...it is quiet
slight breeze rocking the branches of our tall pine trees
soft muted train whistles echo from the other side of town
bell chimes from the university bell tower, it is 9:45 
darkness starts to quiet the neighborhood
kittie karl meows, looking for me
karl sits on my lap...his purring is soft and soothing
car lights catch us as it rounds the corner
summer night i don't want to end...


Sunday, August 17, 2008


count your many blessings, name them one by one...

Blessings.  To some it is all about fortune, being lucky, grabbing pie in the sky.
To some...it about learning from the pebble in the shoe of life.
I have said at certain times in my life that I am
grateful for the trials I have endured.  
They have turned into blessings.
Truly.
I know how good a good day is, because I have had days that were bad.  
Good days are blessings.
I am blessed with quiet, because I have had noise.
Quiet is a blessing.
I am filled with joy when my shoulders don't hurt, and feel it a blessing.
Not having pain sometimes is a blessing.
School was hard, but now I make better money.
School is a blessing.
Bearing and raising children was hard.
My children are blessings.

Adam fell that man might be.  That was hard.
Man is that he might have joy. That is a blessing.

Have you had trials that have turned into blessings? Tell me about it! ; )


Thursday, August 14, 2008

there is a secret to happiness


it's a secret.   here are the clues...

I am ____________________  ______

colorful fall leaves
the first clean snow
fresh, cool summer mornings
my eyes
my tastebuds
my legs and arms
me
 you being you
 a soft bed and warm covers
color
light
sweetness on my tongue
my children
my parents
my brothers and sisters
my friends
the hand of God in my life
being employed
my warm home
reading
singing
helping
being helped
flowers
water
my husband who hugs me and holds my hand and loves me
sweet scents
baths
family get togethers
my grandson
so  very much more.......

So...what are you ______________   ______?
(Figured it out yet?  ; )


8-27-08......the secret is "I am grateful for..........."  ; )

  

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

happy summery flavoriness




mmmmmm.......some foods just make me love life.

jamba juice 'orange apeel' (extra large... ; )
cheerios
juicy ripe pears
honeydew melon with fresh lime
perfectly ripe nectarines
romaine lettuce with dried cranberries, walnuts , cucumbers and balsamic vinegar
steamy baked potatoes, butter, light sour cream
steamed snap green beans, butter, S&P (not overcooked...)
tomatoes from the vine
lemonade with raspberries 
firm, juicy green and purple grapes
cucumber slices with greek cucumber dressing
peachy lemonade slushes

tell me what makes you love life! mmmmmmmmmmm  ; )