tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986684684974649072024-03-13T04:03:10.108-07:00"Happier Days to Come!"Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-14342232591918085362016-01-10T12:27:00.000-08:002016-01-10T12:27:02.863-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-25866151819535663572016-01-07T11:04:00.001-08:002016-01-07T11:15:52.236-08:00January 7, 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My husbands family is going through a crazy terrible time right now. It really is so out of this world that makes ordinary sins seem like a swift in the wind. Lots of tears have been shed, prayers pleaded, hours of worry, etc. Things seem to just get worse for a person in his family because of their choices. Its amazing how Oliver's family has handled this situation. Instead of disgust, anger, shunning, etc... they have come together and will not let this rip their family apart. Oliver's Mother sent all of us a quote that I thought showed how the power of the atonement can cause peace in the worst of turmoil...<br />
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"The atonement of Jesus
Christ has the power to bring every person who has ever lived back to
their heavenly home, regardless of how</div>
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they have lived--if they will come unto Christ with full purpose of heart.</div>
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There is no sin that cannot be forgiven, no wound that cannot be healed, no behavior that cannot change."</div>
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How can a mother who has been through what she has feel this way???.... totally willing to look past what has happened and believe in forgiveness, healing, and change.... with a heart ready to love. </div>
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Jenna sometimes we get buried and feel like we can not get out.... but the load is what makes us stronger and you are definitely living proof! I love you a lot! Keep fighting!! <br />
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Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-58631153776612389852015-12-23T14:17:00.001-08:002015-12-23T14:17:11.064-08:00December 22, 20152 Nephi 7: 6-7<br />
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Don't fear what may come.. . The Lord will helpMamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-87332894351456601842015-12-21T07:23:00.000-08:002015-12-21T07:23:03.581-08:00December 21, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't express how much I love Thomas S . Monson. He has given all... everything. .. and will until his last breath for the Lord . I love how all he teaches is for us to be a light and to stand and be an example. It makes me want to push myself to be my best no matter what comesMamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-16280554618049122282015-12-20T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-20T06:00:00.635-08:00December 20, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
This makes my trial seem like a grain of sand in the entire ocean...
this is another video I do not have to say anything... it says it all.
And I know after you watch this you know exactly how I am feeling. I am
grateful for messages like this, that can touch our hearts so deeply,
turn our fear into hope, and our doubt into faith! I am so grateful for
the Savior and I know that every trial will be but a small moment.
Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-8981581046057831872015-12-19T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-19T06:00:00.582-08:00December 19, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(Just a thought)<br />
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KakLb8uKBY<br />
<br />
Listening to this song called Baptism I thought how incredible it is
that through baptism we can become fresh and clean... "new" just like
this perfect little leaf. I also thought of the Atonement of Christ...
we all make mistakes... some big and some small but non the less we need
to become clean again... and also like this new leaf every Spring it
comes out just as beautiful and just as clean.. So can we through the
incredible love that our Savior had and has for each of us imperfect
people! We just have to have the courage to do it! I am so grateful that
each week I can start over by taking the sacrament and I can try again.
I am so grateful that you are a person that never gives up on them self. I love you so
much!Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-16322173688918958882015-12-18T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-18T06:00:00.112-08:00December 18, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Quotes</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“Happiness
is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof,
if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue,
uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of
God.” </span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“Whatever
God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see
the reason there of until all of the events transpire.” </span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“For
he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall
be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these
times as in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of
the Lord is one eternal round" - 1 Nephi 10:19” </span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“When God commands, do it! ” </span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“We
say that God is true; that the Constitution of the United States is
true; that the Bible is true; and that the Book of Mormon is true, and
that Christ is true” </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“The
Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with
ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will
of the Lord.” </span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“God judges men according to the use they make of the light which He gives them.”</span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“Never
give up an old tried friend, who has waded through all manner of toil,
for your sake, and throw him away because fools may tell you he has some
faults.” </span>
</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“Stand Fast Through the Storms of Life."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"You
will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as
necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of
God... God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench
your very heart strings and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit
for an inheritance in the Celestial kingdom of God" </span>
</div>
Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-3633844880040909352015-12-17T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-17T06:00:01.049-08:00December 17, 2015(This is a journal entry I had when I was pregnant with Paige) <br />
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So I was driving to the hospital on yesterday... And I was pretty
certain I was going to finally... for real be going into labor... As I
was driving heart racing with desperation this song came on the radio...<br />
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I sat there bawling as I listened. I thought this is my answer.... I
finally have waited long enough. As I was walking in the hospital trying
and praying my heart out to progress I felt like Heavenly Father was
finally going to answer my prayers and help me not have to endure this
anymore... and I got sent home. What is going on? I didn't feel
frustrated I felt seriously heart broken. I was so sad... Which may seem
so childish. .... I came home and tried my hardest to just take my mind
away from what happened. Later that night I looked I listened to this
song again and I felt very different than when in the car. I felt like I
could do this... again... Heavenly Father may not take away our pain,
sadness, heart aches... it may take thousands of sleepless nights,
hundreds of tears, but I believe I am going to learn something so
important through this hard time... maybe in years to come, but I will
understand one day. As the song says our trials are his mercies in
disguise. I never thought of them in that way. I am grateful I heard
this today... It is one of the hundred things my Heavenly Father has
given me through this hard time to let me know he is still here.Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-35022373366098300232015-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-16T06:00:02.927-08:00December 16, 2015<br /><br />
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(This happened a few years ago in Oregon) <br />
<br />
So I have been having an interesting time lately ... hahah to say the
least. I shared my thoughts with Monkey... well more like told him I was
packing up and moving to Utah and he can join me when he is done with
this madness. So I wasn't handling things very well one evening. Anyways
I left and went on splits with the sister missionaries and when I got back Monkey
had written me a blog. And shared a couple videos... this video really
touched me.<br />
<br />
As I finished watching it with tears rolling down my cheeks I thought,
You know sometimes we prepare ourselves to make it through life. Like
this man who prepared physically to win this race. But sometimes trials
happen and we have to be willing and determined- no matter the pain- to
keep going. And when we don't give up Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ
bust through just like this man's father and helps us make it through.
The pain and difficulty doesn't leave but with Christ's help we are able
to continue... Until the end, when Christ lets us go and finish the
race ourselves.<br />
<br />
I am so grateful Monkey shared this with me. It gave me such a boost to
keep walking even though at times I feel like I have had enough. I am so
grateful for my Savior who through hard times helps carry us through.<br />
Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-69129073093059946552015-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-15T06:00:03.421-08:00December 15, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh man I don't have words for this one... Brings me back down to earth! Love you J!Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-20245304126017381932015-12-14T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-14T06:00:09.648-08:00Decemeber 14, 2015<div class="" id="p5">
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<div class="" id="p5" style="text-align: center;">
(This talk is much better when listened to from Elder Ucthdorf!)</div>
<div class="" id="p5">
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<div class="" id="p5">
<br /></div>
<div class="" id="p5">
My
beloved sisters and dear friends, I am delighted to be with you today,
and I am grateful to be in the presence of our dear prophet, President
Thomas S. Monson. President, we love you. We are saddened by the loss of
our three precious friends and true Apostles of the Lord. We miss
President Packer, Elder Perry, and Elder Scott; we love them. We pray
for their families and friends.</div>
<div class="" id="p6">
I
always look forward to this session of conference—the beautiful music
and the counsel from our inspired sisters bring the Spirit in great
abundance. I am a better person after being in your company.</div>
<div class="" id="p7">
As
I pondered what I should say to you today, my thoughts turned to the
way the Savior taught. It is interesting how He was able to teach the
most sublime truths using simple stories. His parables invited His
disciples to embrace truths not just with their minds but also with
their hearts and to connect eternal principles with their everyday
lives.<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#1-13768_000_14uchtdorf">1</a></sup> Our dear President Monson is also a master at teaching with personal experiences that touch the heart.<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#2-13768_000_14uchtdorf">2</a></sup></div>
<div class="" id="p8">
Today,
I too will give my message by expressing my thoughts and feelings in
the form of a story. I invite you to listen with the Spirit. The <a class="no-link-style" href="https://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng">Holy Ghost</a> will help you to find the message <span class="emphasis">for you</span> in this parable.</div>
<div class="topic">
<h2>
Great-Aunt Rose</h2>
<div class="" id="p10">
The
story is about a girl named Eva. There are two important things you
should know about Eva. One is that she was 11 years old in this story.
And the other is that she absolutely, positively did <span class="emphasis">not</span> want to go and live with her great-aunt Rose. Not at all. No way.</div>
<div class="" id="p11">
But
Eva’s mother was going to have surgery that required a lengthy
recovery. So Eva’s parents were sending her to spend the summer with
Great-Aunt Rose.</div>
<div class="" id="p12">
In
Eva’s mind, there were a thousand reasons why this was a bad idea. For
one thing, it would mean being away from her mother. It would also mean
leaving her <a class="no-link-style" href="http://www.mormon.org/values/family">family</a>
and friends. And besides, she didn’t even know Great-Aunt Rose. She was
quite comfortable, thank you very much, right where she was.</div>
<div class="" id="p13">
But
no amount of arguing or eye-rolling could change the decision. So Eva
packed up a suitcase and took the long drive with her father to
Great-Aunt Rose’s house.</div>
<div class="" id="p14">
From the moment Eva stepped inside the house, she hated it.</div>
<div class="" id="p15">
Everything
was so old! Every inch was packed with old books, strange-colored
bottles, and plastic bins spilling over with beads, bows, and buttons.</div>
<div class="" id="p16">
Great-Aunt
Rose lived there alone; she had never married. The only other
inhabitant was a gray cat who liked to find the highest point in every
room and perch there, staring like a hungry tiger at everything below.</div>
<div class="" id="p17">
Even
the house itself seemed lonely. It was out in the countryside, where
the houses are far apart. No one Eva’s age lived within half a mile.
That made Eva feel lonely too.</div>
<div class="" id="p18">
At
first she didn’t pay much attention to Great-Aunt Rose. She mostly
thought about her mother. Sometimes, she would stay awake at night,
praying with all her soul that her mother would be well. And though it
didn’t happen right away, Eva began to feel that God was watching over
her mother.</div>
<div class="" id="p19">
Word
finally came that the operation was a success, and now all that was
left for Eva to do was to endure till the end of summer. But oh, how she
hated enduring!</div>
<div class="" id="p20">
With
her mind now at ease about her mother, Eva began to notice Great-Aunt
Rose a little more. She was a large woman—everything about her was
large: her voice, her smile, her personality. It wasn’t easy for her to
get around, but she always sang and laughed while she worked, and the
sound of her laughter filled the house. Every night she sat down on her
overstuffed sofa, pulled out her scriptures, and read out loud. And as
she read, she sometimes made comments like “Oh, he shouldn’t have done
that!” or “What wouldn’t I give to have been there!” or “Isn’t that the
most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard!” And every evening as the two of
them knelt by Eva’s bed to pray, Great-Aunt Rose would say the most
beautiful prayers, thanking her Heavenly Father for the blue jays and
the spruce trees, the sunsets and the stars, and the “wonder of being
alive.” It sounded to Eva as though Rose knew God as a friend.</div>
<div class="" id="p21">
Over time, Eva made a surprising discovery: Great-Aunt Rose was quite possibly the happiest person she had ever known!</div>
<div class="" id="p22">
But how could that be?</div>
<div class="" id="p23">
What did she have to be happy about?</div>
<div class="" id="p24">
She
had never married, she had no children, she had no one to keep her
company except that creepy cat, and she had a hard time doing simple
things like tying her shoes and walking up stairs.</div>
<div class="" id="p25">
When
she went to town, she wore embarrassingly big, bright hats. But people
didn’t laugh at her. Instead, they crowded around her, wanting to talk
to her. Rose had been a schoolteacher, and it wasn’t uncommon for former
students—now grown up with children of their own—to stop and chat. They
thanked her for being a good influence in their lives. They often
laughed. Sometimes they even cried.</div>
<div class="" id="p26">
As
the summer progressed, Eva spent more and more time with Rose. They
went on long walks, and Eva learned the difference between sparrows and
finches. She picked wild elderberries and made marmalade from oranges.
She learned about her great-great-grandmother who left her beloved
homeland, sailed across an ocean, and walked across the plains to be
with the Saints.</div>
<div class="" id="p27">
Soon
Eva made another startling discovery: not only was Great-Aunt Rose one
of the happiest persons she knew, but Eva herself was happier whenever
she was around her.</div>
<div class="" id="p28">
The
days of summer were passing more quickly now. Before Eva knew it,
Great-Aunt Rose said it would soon be time for Eva to return home.
Though Eva had been looking forward to that moment since the day she
arrived, she wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it now. She realized
she was actually going to miss this strange old house with the stalker
cat and her beloved great-aunt Rose.</div>
<div class="" id="p29">
The
day before her father arrived to pick her up, Eva asked the question
she had been wondering about for weeks: “Aunt Rose, why are you so
happy?”</div>
<div class="" id="p30">
Aunt
Rose looked at her carefully and then guided her to a painting that
hung in the front room. It had been a gift from a talented dear friend.</div>
<div class="" id="p31">
“What do you see there?” she asked.</div>
<img alt="" src="https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/general-conference/2015/10/pioneer-girl-skipping_1572947_inl.jpg" />
<div class="" id="p32">
Eva
had noticed the painting before, but she hadn’t really looked at it
closely. A girl in pioneer dress skipped along a bright blue path. The
grass and trees were a vibrant green. Eva said, “It’s a painting of a
girl. Looks like she’s skipping.”</div>
<div class="" id="p33">
“Yes, it is a <span class="emphasis">pioneer</span>
girl skipping along happily,” Aunt Rose said. “I imagine there were
many dark and dreary days for the pioneers. Their life was so hard—we
can’t even imagine. But in this painting, everything is bright and
hopeful. This girl has a spring in her step, and she is moving forward
and upward.”</div>
<div class="" id="p34">
Eva
was silent, so Great-Aunt Rose continued: “There is enough that doesn’t
go right in life, so anyone can work themselves into a puddle of
pessimism and a mess of melancholy. But I know people who, even when
things don’t work out, focus on the wonders and miracles of life. These
folks are the happiest people I know.”</div>
<div class="" id="p35">
“But,” Eva said, “you can’t just flip a switch and go from sad to happy.”</div>
<div class="" id="p36">
“No, perhaps not,” Aunt Rose smiled gently, “but God didn’t design us to be sad. He created us to have joy!<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#3-13768_000_14uchtdorf">3</a></sup>
So if we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright, hopeful
things of life. And sure enough, the world will become brighter. No, it
doesn’t happen instantly, but honestly, how many good things do? Seems
to me that the best things, like homemade bread or orange marmalade,
take patience and work.”</div>
<div class="" id="p37">
Eva thought about it a moment and said, “Maybe it’s not so simple for people who don’t have everything perfect in their lives.”</div>
<div class="" id="p38">
“Dear
Eva, do you really think that my life is perfect?” Aunt Rose sat with
Eva on the overstuffed sofa. “There was a time when I was so discouraged
I didn’t want to go on.”</div>
<div class="" id="p39">
“You?” Eva asked.</div>
<div class="" id="p40">
Aunt
Rose nodded. “There were so many things I wished for in my life.” As
she spoke, a sadness entered her voice that Eva had never heard before.
“Most of them never happened. It was one heartbreak after another. One
day I realized that it would never be the way I had hoped for. That was a
depressing day. I was ready to give up and be miserable.”</div>
<div class="" id="p41">
“So what did you do?”</div>
<div class="" id="p42">
“Nothing
for a time. I was just angry. I was an absolute monster to be around.”
Then she laughed a little, but it was not her usual big, room-filling
laugh. “‘It’s not fair’ was the song I sang over and over in my head.
But eventually I discovered something that turned my whole life around.”</div>
<div class="" id="p43">
“What was it?”</div>
<div class="" id="p44">
“Faith,”
Aunt Rose smiled. “I discovered faith. And faith led to hope. And faith
and hope gave me confidence that one day everything would make sense,
that because of the Savior, all the wrongs would be made right. After
that, I saw that the path before me wasn’t as dreary and dusty as I had
thought. I began to notice the bright blues, the verdant greens, and the
fiery reds, and I decided I had a choice—I could hang my head and drag
my feet on the dusty road of self-pity, or I could have a little faith,
put on a bright dress, slip on my dancing shoes, and skip down the path
of life, singing as I went.” Now her voice was skipping along like the
girl in the painting.</div>
<div class="" id="p45">
Aunt
Rose reached over to the end table and pulled her well-worn scriptures
onto her lap. “I don’t think I was clinically depressed—I’m not sure you
can talk yourself out of that. But I sure had talked myself into being
miserable! Yes, I had some dark days, but all my brooding and worrying
wasn’t going to change that—it was only making things worse. Faith in
the Savior taught me that no matter what happened in the past, my story
could have a happy ending.”</div>
<div class="" id="p46">
“How do you know that?” Eva asked.</div>
<div class="" id="p47">
Aunt Rose turned a page in her <a class="no-link-style" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bible?lang=eng">Bible</a> and said, “It says it right here:</div>
<div class="" id="p48">
“‘God … will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.</div>
<div class="" id="p49">
“‘And
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away.’”<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#4-13768_000_14uchtdorf">4</a></sup></div>
<div class="" id="p50">
Great-Aunt
Rose looked at Eva. Her smile was wide as she whispered, with a slight
quiver in her voice, “Isn’t that the most beautiful thing you’ve ever
heard?”</div>
<div class="" id="p51">
It really did sound beautiful, Eva thought.</div>
<div class="" id="p52">
Aunt
Rose turned a few pages and pointed to a verse for Eva to read: “Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#5-13768_000_14uchtdorf">5</a></sup></div>
<div class="" id="p53">
“With
such a glorious future,” Aunt Rose said, “why get swallowed up in past
or present things that don’t go quite the way we planned?”</div>
<div class="" id="p54">
Eva
furrowed her brow. “But wait a minute,” she said. “Are you saying that
being happy means just looking forward to happiness in the future? Is
all our happiness in eternity? Can’t some of it happen now?”</div>
<div class="" id="p55">
“Oh, of course it can!” Aunt Rose exclaimed. “Dear child, now is <span class="emphasis">part</span> of eternity. It doesn’t only begin after we die! Faith and hope will open your eyes to the happiness that is placed before you.</div>
<div class="" id="p56">
“I know a poem that says, ‘Forever—is composed of Nows.’<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#6-13768_000_14uchtdorf">6</a></sup>
I didn’t want my forever to be composed of dark and fearful ‘Nows.’ And
I didn’t want to live in the gloom of a bunker, gritting my teeth,
closing my eyes, and resentfully enduring to the bitter end. Faith gave
me the hope I needed to live joyfully now!”</div>
<div class="" id="p57">
“So what did you do then?” Eva asked.</div>
<div class="" id="p58">
“I
exercised faith in God’s promises by filling my life with meaningful
things. I went to school. I got an education. That led me to a career
that I loved.”</div>
<div class="" id="p59">
Eva
thought about this for a moment and said, “But surely being busy isn’t
what made you happy. There are a lot of busy people who aren’t happy.”</div>
<div class="" id="p60">
“How
can you be so wise for someone so young?” Aunt Rose asked. “You’re
absolutely right. And most of those busy, unhappy people have forgotten
the one thing that matters most in all the world—the thing Jesus said is
the heart of His gospel.”</div>
<div class="" id="p61">
“And what is that?” Eva asked.</div>
<div class="" id="p62">
“It is love—the pure love of Christ,” Rose said. “You see, everything else in the gospel—all the <span class="emphasis">shoulds</span> and the <span class="emphasis">musts</span> and the <span class="emphasis">thou shalts</span>
—lead to love. When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be
like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our
own problems and help others to solve theirs.”<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#7-13768_000_14uchtdorf">7</a></sup></div>
<div class="" id="p63">
“And that is what makes us happy?” Eva asked.</div>
<div class="" id="p64">
Great-Aunt Rose nodded and smiled, her eyes filling with tears. “Yes, my dear. <span class="emphasis">That</span> is what makes us happy.”</div>
</div>
<div class="topic">
<h2>
Never the Same</h2>
<div class="" id="p66">
The
next day Eva hugged her great-aunt Rose and thanked her for everything
she had done. She returned home to her family and her friends and her
house and her neighborhood.</div>
<div class="" id="p67">
But she was never quite the same.</div>
<div class="" id="p68">
As
Eva grew older, she often thought of the words of her great-aunt Rose.
Eva eventually married, raised children, and lived a long and wonderful
life.</div>
<div class="" id="p69">
And
one day, as she was standing in her own home, admiring a painting of a
girl in pioneer dress skipping down a bright blue path, she realized
that somehow she had reached the same age her great-aunt Rose was during
that remarkable summer.</div>
<img alt="" src="https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/general-conference/2015/10/pioneer-girl-skipping_1572947_inl.jpg" />
<div class="" id="p70">
When
she realized this, she felt a special prayer swell within her heart.
And Eva felt grateful for her life, for her family, for the restored
gospel of <a class="no-link-style" href="http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ">Jesus Christ</a>, and for that summer so long ago when Great-Aunt Rose<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#8-13768_000_14uchtdorf">8</a></sup> taught her about faith, hope, and love.<sup class="noteMarker"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng#9-13768_000_14uchtdorf">9</a></sup></div>
</div>
<div class="topic">
<h2>
A Blessing</h2>
<div class="" id="p72">
My
beloved sisters, my dear friends in Christ, I hope and pray that
something in this story has touched your heart and inspired your soul. I
know that God lives and that He loves each and every one of you.</div>
<div class="" id="p73">
As
you walk along your own bright path of discipleship, I pray that faith
will fortify every footstep along your way; that hope will open your
eyes to the glories Heavenly Father has in store for you; and that love
for God and all His children will fill your hearts. As an Apostle of the
Lord, I leave this as my testimony and blessing in the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.</div>
<div class="" id="p73">
<br /></div>
<div class="" id="p73">
<br /></div>
<div class="" id="p73">
<br /></div>
<div class="" id="p73">
I loved this talk.... We can be happy by "...love—the pure love of Christ,” Rose said. “You see, everything else in the gospel—all the <span class="emphasis">shoulds</span> and the <span class="emphasis">musts</span> and the <span class="emphasis">thou shalts</span>
—lead to love. When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be
like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our
own problems and help others to solve theirs.”</div>
</div>
Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-66913542699010379292015-12-13T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-13T06:00:01.964-08:00December 13, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
One day when I was feeling very sorry for myself... I happen to watch this little video...<br />
<br />I am guessing after watching it yourself you probably could guess how I felt.... I decided I needed to forget about myself and remember -the who knows how many- other people who are probably more grateful than I was being and have so much less. I felt how important it was to think of others.Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-52535651467435966062015-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-12T06:00:05.880-08:00December 12, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This top video is very powerful....<br />
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(If you have the time to listen) Elder Eyring's talk that went with the other video has helped me through so many things. especially with my postpartum stuff. His words are incredible and completely true. Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-20512444464113283932015-12-11T06:00:00.000-08:002015-12-11T09:22:17.438-08:00December 11, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
My husbands best room mate from college who he is very close with called him just called the other night and told Oliver that he is gay. Oliver was totally fine and we all talked for a long time... The whole night we couldn't stop thinking about it. He was sad because our friend has been on a mission and loves church. He never accepted anyone not going! Now he is questioning whether or not he should be actively gay and leave the church or try to live with how he feels and try his best to stay with his faith. This friend expressed how he has tried so long to overcome being gay. He told us how he can't understand why he was given something so unfair. It was heart breaking for us.... especially for my husband. He loves his friend a lot! He also knows what Heavenly Father has said.<br />
<br />
The next day for family home evening we watched this video.... Then after he prayed and wrote his friend a letter. This is what he wrote<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="im"></span><br />
<div>
Hey--------,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hope that
you are doing ok today. I first wanted to thank you for calling Mamie
and me the other day, I'm really glad that you did. I had a few thoughts
bouncing around in my head, and I felt like maybe some of them would be
good to share with you. I'm not really the preachy type so I hope this
doesn't come out too weird hahaha ;-). Yesterday for Family Home Evening
we showed the kids the Bible video of Christ suffering in Gethsemane (<a href="https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-015-the-savior-suffers-in-gethsemane?category=bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ&&lang=eng" target="_blank">https://www.lds.org/media-<wbr></wbr>library/video/2011-10-015-the-<wbr></wbr>savior-suffers-in-gethsemane?<wbr></wbr>category=bible-videos-the-<wbr></wbr>life-of-jesus-christ&&lang=eng</a><wbr></wbr>)
and for some reason it really hit me at that time how He suffered for
ALL of the pains and trials that we go through in this life, just like
it says in Alma 7:12, including (and maybe even especially) what you
are/have been going through. I've always known that, but for some reason
it really struck me that he can help us because He knows exactly what
we are going through, even when no one else in the world does. There is
no limit to the power of the Atonement.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
It
also hit me at the same time that even though He will comfort and
strengthen us, He still doesn't take our burdens away. When I watched
the part where Christ was asking His Father in Heaven to take the cup
from Him if possible, I realized a little be better <em>why</em> God
didn't take it away. He sent an angel to comfort and help, but Christ
had to suffer that pain, even though it was unbearable, because God
could not take that pain away without destroying the whole Plan of
Salvation. I realized that if we are to become like our Savior, we need
to experience what He did, at least in a very small part, and if He took
all of our pain away, it might ruin our part in that great Plan. I
thought about what Elder Holland has said: "<em>We are The Church of
Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How
could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy
for Him? It seems to me that [we] have to spend at least a few moments
in Gethsemane. [we] have to take at least a step or two toward the
summit of Calvary. Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking
about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be
presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that [for us], to come to
the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that
has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price. For that
reason I don’t believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that
conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness
is. I believe it is supposed to require some effort, something from the
depths of our soul. If He could come forward in the night, kneel down,
fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa),
if this cup can pass, let it pass,” then little wonder that salvation is
not an easy thing for us." </em>I think I am now able to understand a little better why we have to suffer the things that we do.</div>
<span class="im"><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've
also been thinking a lot about how unfair it is that you have to go
through something so hard that most of us will never experience. And
it's true, I honestly can't say that I know the pain and the heartache
that this has caused you, and it's not because of anything that you have
done wrong. It isn't fair. But the more I've thought about it, the more
I've realized that you are in good company. It wasn't fair for the
Savior to suffer for things that He didn't do. It wasn't his fault,
but He did suffer for it, and because of it He was glorified beyond all
description, and we can be too if we just endure. It made me remember
what Elder Wirthlin taught when he said: "<em>The Lord compensates the
faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love
the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come
at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will
eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and </em><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><em>gratitude</em></span><em>.
One of the blessings of the gospel is the knowledge that when the
curtain of death signals the end of our mortal lives, life will continue
on the other side of the veil. There we will be given new
opportunities. Not even death can take from us the eternal blessings
promised by a loving Heavenly Father. Because Heavenly Father is
merciful, a principle of compensation prevails.</em>" This has also been
of great comfort to me because we have had a crazy year too. While I
still don't understand everything, this has really given me great peace,
and I know that all of the injustices of this world, large and small,
will be more than compensated for by a merciful and loving Father in
Heaven.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</span><div>
The other impression that I have
had as I have been thinking about this (man, that's a lot of thinking
for me...I'm not use to that, hopefully my brain can handle it ;-)) is
that 2 Nephi 2:25 (the "men are that they might have joy" scripture)
applies just as much to you as it does to any one of us-not only in the
eternities but also in this life. Like I said before, the Atonement is
infinite, and if it has the power to save us it also has the power to
help us overcome our darkest days and help us find so much joy and
happiness as we experience this roller coaster of a ride known as
mortality.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I really hope that you can reconcile
your testimony with your same sex attraction (is that even the right
term to use? I'm new at this stuff hahaha) and remain an active
Latter-day Saint. Obviously, you know much better then me that it will
require a lot of sacrifices that most of us don't have to make, but I
believe that this Gospel is true, I feel it in the deepest parts of my
soul. And I believe that it is only in the Gospel that God's priesthood
authority lies, the ordinances of Salvation can be performed, and that
ultimately, for all of us, no matter what our circumstances are or
challenges that we have to face, it is within the Gospel that we will
experience our greatest happiness. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I also really do hope that you know that no matter what choice you make,
I will always be here for you. I won't judge you and you will always be
welcome in my home. And I promise that I will always be just as bad at
keeping in contact with you as I always have been, nothing will change
that ;-). Once again, I am really glad that you felt comfortable enough
to tell me, and I hope that you have been having a great day. Let me
know if you ever need anything and know that I am always here for you</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Monkey </div>
<br />
<br />Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3198668468497464907.post-90584820766686228052015-12-10T18:23:00.002-08:002015-12-10T18:23:34.779-08:00December 10, 2015Dear Bestest Friend for Life,<br />
I decided one day as I was sitting there of how much I love that we are still best friends! Also, how no matter where our lives have taken us we are still there for each other - like time has never past. I love how we have shared our thoughts and I want to continue that in a different way! So here is to you my beautiful friend.... This blog will be full of things that inspire me or have helped me through my dark times- times where I have felt like why?? Why does bad stuff happen?? Why?? Or times where I felt like giving up... Christ has always been there... no matter how low I get. So I wanted to share with you things that have touched my very soul! I love you!<br />
<br />
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<br />
This song is called Redeemer. It was by my most favorite artist of all times Paul Cardall. I got to go to his concert and her this live. One day we need to go together...<br />
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When Paige was in the hospital last year for pneumonia and I was very fearful that I may loose her.... I listened to this song. I felt immense peace. I felt as though Christ were there holding my hand. I didn't know if it was going to be ok or even if Paige was going to make it. But the peace I felt- honestly surpassed my understanding. I know that my Redeemer lives. Mamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14482461941962374702noreply@blogger.com1