just helen

Scripture Sunday Revisited

Today is the big day...my 2nd anniversary.  Being persistent with a blog wasn't something that I was sure I would be able to continue for a whole month, let alone 2 years.  It has been a fun, exciting, reflective ride.  I find it incredible that there can be someone looking at one of my pages in New Zealand and someone else on that same page in the UK or even languages written in a non-alphabet script that I am unable to decipher.  Writing about life and my experiences may or may not have any relevance to anyone but family or friends, but to those that visit my pages, I hope that it will entertain, inspire, enlighten or spark an idea somewhere and in some way make a difference, no matter how small.

When you write a blog, it can be quite challenging.  It is a time commitment that is not always easy to fulfill.  Then there's the debate about content.  I don't like to be controversial.  I am not a presidential candidate and I am not fond of debate.  I struggle with the idea that I should remind people to vote...heaven forbid my encouragement gets someone out to vote and they are on the opposing side!  It's one thing to put a creative project idea out there for all the world to see and quite another to write about  more personal moments.  Content can be a struggle.

Mormons are encouraged to keep a personal journal.  My Mom has been faithfully kept volumes of journals for decades now, but I don't like to keep a journal with pen and paper because I need to edit, so the computer and I are better suited to my needs.  For all intent and purposes, this blog is my journal, but with no lock and key to secure it in a hidden spot, far away from strangers.  But I really am okay with that idea because I think that life is a journey and one not meant to be traveled as a solitary pilgrim.  Of all the things that you cannot take with you when you die, I believe that the relationships we build with each other, whether life-long, temporary in nature or just a fleeting moment, can be a great benefit to each other along the way.  If I can brighten someones day or bring a cheery thought to someone that is sad, then my energies are worth the time I spend doing them.

It is General Conference weekend.  Time to rotate that water storage, check your emergency kits or make them.  But as well as being temporally prepared, we need to be spiritually prepared for the challenges we will face in life.  Last week was the Relief Society's conference.  All the talks were wonderful.  Here is a moment from President Dieter Uchtdorf address:

 

You can listen to or read the whole talk here:  http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/forget-me-not?lang=eng

Being recently widowed, I have found myself not wanting to be sad, unclear on the direction my life will lead me.  I tell myself I have no time to cry, that I need to be strong for everyone, especially my own family, that there is too much to do to waste time on tears.  After all, tears give me a headache.  I have somehow equated uncertainty with not having enough faith.  If nothing else, maybe Heavenly Father could direct the ants away from my house until next season when the time spent battling them will not add to the other frustrations in my life.  My head tells me that this is wrong...think of all the people that go to bed hungry each night, people that do not have shelter and little hope that tomorrow will be any different.  My ant problems are minuscule in comparison to the real drama in the world - the ants just represent the trials I am and will continue to face.  But when I listened to President Uctdorf's words, my heart was touched:

"...whatever the circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love."

My Heavenly Father has not forgotten me.  I must remind myself to keep all things in the perspective of eternity.  I must press on with faith, through the tears, reminding myself that God knows me and understands my life and circumstances.  For that, I am very grateful.

Happy Anniversary to me!  Here's to an even better next year of blogging!

This Easter Morning

I can't remember an Easter when I wasn't home, but this year I will be with some of my children and extended family members, but not at home.  My big kids all love tradition, although the dyeing of eggs has not been strictly observed in the past couple years, or at least not by all.  No decorations were brought down out of the attic in the garage.  It just seems sort of bare at the house.  I don't know if it's because Easter has come so late this year...maybe that is why it seems to have been forgotten...until a couple of days ago, when I watched this: 

It is amazing how such few words portray such a powerful message.  Let me add my testimony to that of President Monson's this Easter morning - that He lives, that He is risen and that He is my Savior; that He loves each of us enough to have sacrificed His life to do the Father's will; that his Atonement provides each of us the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy to return to our Heavenly Father.

I miss my family at home.  Have a wonderful Easter everyone! 

Is There A Good Addiction?

I have a lot on my "to do " list today and blogging isn't really one of them, but I found this message a few days ago and didn't find time yesterday to post it, and I know that the week will just get busier and away from me, so hopefully the inspiring words will give comfort to others as they did to me.

 I have used a word (or form of it) many times in my writing - addict, addicted, addiction, addicting.  I have used it in the phrase "baking addict"; as in "I am addicted to watching Hoarders"; referring to "my new addiction" of making paper flowers; the ever-present "everything 99cents only store" shopping trips; and even just blogging.  I love to write because I can edit my words, whereas when I speak, I cannot as easily replace those spoken thoughts with carefully considered ones once they have travelled from my brain to my lips.  So when I talk about my personal addictions, it is in a light, not serious manner.  I mean it to be something that I really like to do, like craft, bake, gather, create or contribute. 

But addiction is really not a light matter at all.  There are those that are suffering from serious addictions that can affect their lives and the lives of those that love them, in hurtful and damaging ways.  It is a way that the "adversary" manages to control them and their ability to make wise, healthy choices.  I recently watched this "Mormon Message" from Elder M. Russell Ballard that tells it so beautifully:

You can read or listen to the entire message here.  

Yesterday in Relief Society, we studied from Gospel Principles, Chapter 29, The Lord's Law of Health, or the Word of Wisdom.  There was a statement in the lesson from Boyd K. Packer that really struck home to me.  He said, "Our physical body is the instrument of our spirit. In that marvelous revelation the Word of Wisdom, we are told how to keep our bodies free from impurities which might dull, even destroy, those delicate physical senses which have to do with spiritual communication. The Word of Wisdom is a key to individual revelation.”

There are many other forms of addiction that are not drug, alcohol, and/or tobacco related.  I am not formally trained, so I am not an authority on the subject, but anything that is hard to resist can become dangerous to our personal well-being.  Too much shopping, over-spending, gossiping, trouble-making, laziness, not being charitable or forgiving...all these types of behavior can be destructive and lead to having less power over breaking bad habits.  Even finding good deals on food can be a bad thing if I am not prudent.  When the Israelites were wandering in the desert with Moses, remember what happened when they didn't follow his instructions about the manna?  A good deal on food isn't a good deal if it goes to waste.

What a blessing it is for me to have guidance in my life and to understand why not following that guidance can hamper my spiritual growth.  It's not so much about it restricting what I "can't" do so much as what I "can" do if I follow inspired principles.

Have a great day, everyone!

What Shall We Give?

I realized today that it is almost time to get out the Twisted Peppermint hand soap and lotion and that means one thing...Christmas is on it's way!  Such an odd association, but since I first discovered it a couple of years ago, I have let that become one of the first things that I put out, even before the tree and decorations...mostly because it resides in the hall closet and the decorations are in the garage attic!  I have resisted the tempation to decorate before Thanksgiving up until now, but the boys are going to be out of town on various and sundry activities and I'm afraid that when the boys leave town, Megan and I can't seem to find anything to do but WORK!  The immediate days after Thanksgiving are already booked, so unless we want to leave it until mid-December, we will have to get busy!

Busy...that about sums up the season ahead of me.  Its not that its any less busy at any other time of year -there never seems to be enough time and/or energy to get everything done.  It is hard to choose where to put one's efforts.  So maybe the answer isn't the quantity of projects, but where my efforts will be best spent and how I will best serve.

What is the best gift I can give?  Something that in times of plenty or in times of need doesn't cost a penny - my time, my love, my hope and my heart.  What can I give?  At the very top of that Christmas gift list, I can share my knowledge of my Heavenly Father's gift to all the world...the gift of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, born as a babe in a manger so very long ago.  As He said:

"...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  Matthew 25:40

Be Still, My Soul

I have had a busy, but wonderful day today.  Our church block doesn't start until 1pm, but that is certainly not when the day begins.  We had a ward council meeting at 9am, then back home to work on refreshments to serve after a wonderful gentleman's baptism this afternoon.  Scott and Mike were going out of town for a few days, so I not only had to work on the refreshments, but dinner for them so they could eat before they left.  Our services go from 1 - 4pm, baptism at 4:30pm...boys leaving at 4:30pm...life certainly has it's moments!  I didn't get home until after 6:30...to face the kitchen that I hadn't had time to clean before I left for church: KitchenAid (from frosting...yummy cream cheese frosting!!!); big pots (from casserole making); cutting boards and serving platters to put away PLUS the few leftover (not much) that had to go into the refrigerator...but I only got about half way through the clean-up before it was time to leave again.  After a long day on your feet, going to one more meeting may not be what you want to do...however, the spirit was willing and the dishes will wait - the Mission President's Fireside won't.  Plus Brother Byron was speaking and I wanted to support him...secretly I just love hearing his voice - quite melodic!  Anyway, I'm glad I did!

There is nothing like a room half full with missionaries and the rest occupied by investigators (people taking the missionary lessons), new members and those that are supporting the missionary efforts...and those (me included) that want to bask in the light that comes from those filled with the Spirit of our Heavenly Father.  Recent converts told of their stories and bore testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There were singing missionaries - a full choir, a quartet that was accompanied by one of the Elders playing some sort of instrument that looked like it came from a Polynesian island (cool) and then a group sang "Be Still My Soul" A capella, one of my all time favorites...which was even more poignant after watching this:

Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;

With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as he has the past,

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my sould: When change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

(Text: Katharina vo Schlegel, b. 1697; trans. by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897)

You know what?  I still have some of those dishes to do.  I took care of the ones that might cause an ant attack, but the rest can wait until morning.  When I add up how blessed I feel after this very busy day, I am grateful that I listened to that still, small voice that helped me to pick up my keys and head out the door.  Sometimes the very best things come when you are weary to the core and you make the effort to press on.  There's nothing like a spiritual feast at the end of a Sabbath day.