This year Father's Day and Mother's Day have meant more to me than ever before. I'm not a mom quite yet, but will be soon and I am so excited for it. I'm so grateful for my own dad, grandpa, and other wonderful examples of fathers in my life. I am most excited for my husband to be a dad though. I think it will be wonderful to see him grow into that role. I'm so glad I got to marry someone that I would be so happy to see my children turn out to be like. I love this little clip about the influence of a father.
One thing I have thought about throughout my life is how the love a parent has for their child is a reflection of a fraction of love our Heavenly Father has for us. I have felt so much love and trust in my Heavenly Father throughout my life. I know my parents have helped me to feel that way from their own examples. I'm looking forward to the gift of having that type of love for my own children. Parenthood is truly divine and teaches us so much of the Divine!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Epic Pioneer Woman
I love the pioneers! This is an incredible story Elder Holland told Fall of 2010 in a regional conference. For the entire story, you can read this talk given by Elder G. Homer Durham in "The Future History of the Church."
Two hundred and fifty LDS pioneer were called in 1879 to settle San Juan. The shortest route they found was through Glen Canyon, with a river running 2,000 feet below the red cliffs. A path was made for the wagons to descend down the "hole" to get down to the river where a raft was built to carry the wagons across the river. Twenty men and boys with ropes attached to the back of each wagon with chains on the wheels for brakes were required for each wagon to make the descent.
Arabella Smith and her husband Stanford were traveling west with a wagon company and when they had this experience (in the words of Elder Durham)...
Joseph and Arabella Smith's wagon was the last to descend for the day. Joseph had been helping preceding wagons all that day and had himself been evidently forgotten by the others. After making the 2,000 foot climb to the top of the cliff, he found Arabella sitting on a quilt, holding the baby, patiently waiting. His outfit and their two other children in the wagon were hidden behind a huge, mountainous rock.
He said, “I am afraid we can’t make it.”
The wife replied, “we must make it.”
He said, “If we only had a few men to hold the wagon back we might make it, Belle.”
Replied his wife, “I’ll do the holding back.”
A quilt was laid on the ground. There she placed the baby between the legs of three-year-old Roy. “Hold little brother til papa comes for you,” she said. Ada, the older girl, was placed in front of them. Behind the wagon Belle Smith grasped the reins of the horse hitched to the rear. Stanford started the team down the “Hole.” The wagon lurched downward. The rear horse and Belle were thrown from their feet. Recovering, she hung back, pulling on the lines with all her strength and courage. A jagged rock cut a cruel gash in her leg from heel to hip. The horse behind the wagon fell to his haunches. The half-dead animal was dragged down most of the way. The gallant woman, clothes torn, with a grievous wound, later said, “I crow-hopped right along!”
On reaching the bottom, Stanford and Arabella heard a faint call from the children. Joseph Stanford Smith climbed to the top to get them. They were safely in place. Carrying the baby, the other children clinging to him and to each other, he led them down the rocky crack. As they approached the river’s edge, they saw five men carrying chains and ropes in the distance. The Smiths had been missed. The men were coming to help. Stanford called out, “Forget it, fellows. … My wife here is all the help a fellow needs.”
I love this story because it depicts the legacy of courage the pioneer women began and reminds me that we need to have that same courage as women in these latter days. We need to and can be a powerful force for good.
Two hundred and fifty LDS pioneer were called in 1879 to settle San Juan. The shortest route they found was through Glen Canyon, with a river running 2,000 feet below the red cliffs. A path was made for the wagons to descend down the "hole" to get down to the river where a raft was built to carry the wagons across the river. Twenty men and boys with ropes attached to the back of each wagon with chains on the wheels for brakes were required for each wagon to make the descent.
Arabella Smith and her husband Stanford were traveling west with a wagon company and when they had this experience (in the words of Elder Durham)...
Joseph and Arabella Smith's wagon was the last to descend for the day. Joseph had been helping preceding wagons all that day and had himself been evidently forgotten by the others. After making the 2,000 foot climb to the top of the cliff, he found Arabella sitting on a quilt, holding the baby, patiently waiting. His outfit and their two other children in the wagon were hidden behind a huge, mountainous rock.
Stanford Smith got his load and moved it to the edge. A third horse was hitched to the rear axle. Stanford and Arabella looked down the “Hole.”
He said, “I am afraid we can’t make it.”
The wife replied, “we must make it.”
He said, “If we only had a few men to hold the wagon back we might make it, Belle.”
Replied his wife, “I’ll do the holding back.”
A quilt was laid on the ground. There she placed the baby between the legs of three-year-old Roy. “Hold little brother til papa comes for you,” she said. Ada, the older girl, was placed in front of them. Behind the wagon Belle Smith grasped the reins of the horse hitched to the rear. Stanford started the team down the “Hole.” The wagon lurched downward. The rear horse and Belle were thrown from their feet. Recovering, she hung back, pulling on the lines with all her strength and courage. A jagged rock cut a cruel gash in her leg from heel to hip. The horse behind the wagon fell to his haunches. The half-dead animal was dragged down most of the way. The gallant woman, clothes torn, with a grievous wound, later said, “I crow-hopped right along!”
On reaching the bottom, Stanford and Arabella heard a faint call from the children. Joseph Stanford Smith climbed to the top to get them. They were safely in place. Carrying the baby, the other children clinging to him and to each other, he led them down the rocky crack. As they approached the river’s edge, they saw five men carrying chains and ropes in the distance. The Smiths had been missed. The men were coming to help. Stanford called out, “Forget it, fellows. … My wife here is all the help a fellow needs.”
I love this story because it depicts the legacy of courage the pioneer women began and reminds me that we need to have that same courage as women in these latter days. We need to and can be a powerful force for good.
chocolate milk
I have a precious boy at my work that I am basically just supposed to be buds with when he goes out to recess. We've formed a special little friendship playing made-up basketball games everyday. So today, during the school's lunch time I realized I was quite hungry. I just wanted a little snack and I forgot to bring one. I was kind of thinking/talking to Heavenly Father about how I really just wanted a snack and I wished somehow I could get one. THEN, my little recess buddy came up to me and handed me some chocolate milk and just told me he wanted to give it to me because he already had 3 other cartons :) It made me SO happy because 1) what a nice little answer to my silly prayer and 2) I LOVE chocolate milk.
That was one of my happy moments today. I hope I can recognize those chocolate milk moments more throughout my day.
That was one of my happy moments today. I hope I can recognize those chocolate milk moments more throughout my day.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Marriage is great!
I have been thinking lately (well basically since I got married) what a blessing it is to be able to be married in the Lord's house and by God's power. Todd and I have known each other now for about four years and have been married almost 4 months and it's amazing to me how our relationship has changed after being sealed by the power of God with Jesus Christ literally placed in the center of our marriage. I feel the power of Christ's atonement working in our marriage daily, helping us to become one, easily overlook little things that could possibly cause stress or frustration, and love each other more. I know it's only been a few months so I'm excited for years down the road, and even eternity!
With all the negative statistics on the survival of marriages in the world today, I was naturally nervous before getting married. But in addition to feeling that the power of the Savior could make anything not only survive, but flourish when He is the center of it, during our sealing, as I looked around the room and felt the power of God's love so strong, I knew we had a great support system of friends, family, and even angels to help us have a successful marriage.
I know that marriage between a man and a woman is instituted of God and that all things that the Savior's love touches will survive. I am so grateful for a merciful God who allows us to be married in His house for time and all eternity!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Am I my brother's keeper?
I loved this quote from a talk Elder Rasband gave in the
April 2012 General Conference.
“God bless all who endeavor to be their brother’s keeper,
who give to ameliorate suffering, who strive with all that is good within them
to make a better world. Have you noticed that such individuals have a brighter
smile? Their footsteps are more certain. They have an aura about them of
contentment and satisfaction … for one cannot participate in helping others
without experiencing a rich blessing himself.” (President Thomas S. Monson)
There really is such a power that comes into our lives from
serving. Elder Rasband tells about a
family trial they've been experiencing with their grandson having a rare
chromosomal deletion which has been life-changing for their family in the time,
money, energy, etc. required in rearing this sweet child. They've had so many "angels" around
them to bear them up that have given countless hours of selfless service, much
of which has been given without being asked.
I love the special lesson learned from this trial:
"If you come upon a person who is drowning, would you
ask if they need help—or would it be better to just jump in and save them from
the deepening waters? The offer, while well meaning and often given, 'Let me know
if I can help' is really no help at all.
We continue to learn the important value of being aware of and
interested in the lives of those around us, learning not only the importance of
giving help but also the overwhelming joy that comes from helping others."
"Special Lessons", Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Monday, April 30, 2012
Turn On the Light of Faith and Move Ahead
Here is a great quote my dear friend Ashley sent me awhile back I just visited again tonight and wanted to share. It's about moving forward with faith! Something so hard to do sometimes.
"So often we are tentative and don‘t move forward with conviction. We feel along our way as if we were afraid in the dark. It is so much better to turn on the light of faith and move ahead with energy and commitment. If our course is wrong, we will quickly recognize it and make the necessary adjustments. But if we pursue a course tentatively and indecisively, it is difficult to know whether it is right or wrong in time to correct it and make a difference. The Lord said, 'I would thou wert cold or hot' (Revelation 3:15). I hope we choose being active and being hot. We should decide now to make our decisions prayerfully and then move forward with faith, energy, and determination. As one novelist said, 'If you‘re going to have steam in the kettle, you‘ve got to have a fire in the stove' (Louis L‘Amour)."
(Living Life by Axioms by Robert D. Hales; 14 August 2003)
"So often we are tentative and don‘t move forward with conviction. We feel along our way as if we were afraid in the dark. It is so much better to turn on the light of faith and move ahead with energy and commitment. If our course is wrong, we will quickly recognize it and make the necessary adjustments. But if we pursue a course tentatively and indecisively, it is difficult to know whether it is right or wrong in time to correct it and make a difference. The Lord said, 'I would thou wert cold or hot' (Revelation 3:15). I hope we choose being active and being hot. We should decide now to make our decisions prayerfully and then move forward with faith, energy, and determination. As one novelist said, 'If you‘re going to have steam in the kettle, you‘ve got to have a fire in the stove' (Louis L‘Amour)."
(Living Life by Axioms by Robert D. Hales; 14 August 2003)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Life and Death
I had a wonderful experience this past week. I made friends with a young man sitting next to my mom and I on our plane ride to Florida. He told us about some of the hard times he's been through in his life this past year, including the death of 6 people dear to him. I was so grateful for the conversation that we had about the hope that believing in God brings and that He does have a plan for us. I am grateful for the joy that the gospel gives us knowing that because our Savior Jesus Christ gave His life for us, death is not the end, but a "part of the process by which we are transformed from mortality to immortality" (PMG 52). I love this Mormon message that explains so perfectly what we believe about the purpose of death as a part of our life on this earth.
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