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.

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. 

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?

 

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?

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

Trust Him

Let (us) ask in faith, with no doubting

James 1:6

"Trusting God's faithfulness dispels our fearfulness."

Vernon Grounds

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.

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."

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

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

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

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.

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....

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.....

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.....

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....

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?

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?

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...

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! ; )

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..........."  ; )

  

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  ; )