Category Archives: Lessons

Busyness, Etc.

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EmAndAnthWedding (1)

Where do I start? 

I have been a slacker…..Only in my blogging!

Life is so wonderful, and hard, and awesome! Our family had a wonderful blessing on Saturday, January 30, 2016. Our daughter Emily, my Bonus Baby was married for time and all eternity to her sweetheart in the Jordan River Temple.

It was wonderful!

It was a blizzard.

It’s was very overwhelming and fun!

I have had my two son’s get married, but this is my first wedding for a daughter. Let me just say there is a big difference in what you do to get ready for a son to marry, as opposed to what you do to get ready for a daughter to marry. I have been sewing, and hot glueing and organizing for weeks and weeks for this blessed event.

It all turned out great!

Now that we have had our day with Em, I’ll share some of our preparations with you.

I have learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t in preparing. I’ll share some of the things I’ve learned. I will share pictures and fun ideas.

Watch for my next post!

Expectations!

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FourCorners

Expectations!

Is it good to have expectations?

I don’t know…except to say I have had and continue to have expectations about my life. Has it beneficial? I would say no. Things don’t always turn out the way we expect them to, I would say they rarely turn out the way we expect them to.

When Kelsey, my “Dream Come True” was in high school, she would say that when she graduated she wanted to go visit New Zealand! As her time in high school continued, she changed her plans…knowing that the chances of making it to New Zealand were slim to none.

Her next plan was to go to the “Four Corners!” 

Definitely more realistic.

Guess what? She didn’t do either one! She went to New York City for a week and stayed with her aunt and uncle who live there (She let me and Emily come too).

It was a blast! We love NYC!!!

Did reality match her expectations? Was it still ok? You bet!

I think we all need to relax, and enjoy life! (I’m saying this for me:))

I am still working on this, but it seems so many times that what I expected, or wanted to happen in my life doesn’t happen, and what happens instead is wonderful!

Tender Mercies…Everyday.

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Tender Mercies!photoLast week when I came home from work for lunch I decided to eat a Cutie orange. I began to peel it and I noticed that the stem had this beautiful star shape.

The first thought that crossed my mind was how sweet of my loving Father in Heaven to bless me with this little reminder, and assurance that He is there. That there is a purpose. That there are no accidents, and us living here on this earth is so important, that even the tiniest stem is of significance to Him. That it needed to be perfectly shaped so that I would notice it and think of Him, and of His Son, who created this beautiful world…for me…and you. I thought of all times we see the star shape in this world. It must be a favorite of Heavenly Father’s. During the Christmas season when we think of the star and how it lead the shepherds to the baby Jesus, it is wonderful to have this little reminder. I am so grateful for this little tender mercy. I will look for them, and find them everyday.

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“I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of his tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them….The Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ….Faithfulness, obedience and humility invite tender mercies into our lives, and it is often the Lord’s timing that enables us to recognize and treasure these important blessings….I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us….Each of us can have eyes to see clearly and ears to hear distinctly the tender mercies of the Lord as they strengthen and assist us in these latter days.”-David A. Bednar

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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Feeling so much gratitude for, and in no specific order:

Family*God*Country*Friends*Savior*Grandbabies*Life*Challenges*Food*Work*Play*Body*

Health*Doctors*Nurses*Teachers*Home*Jobs*Cars*Phones*Emails*Children*Parents*Love

*Opposition*Sunsets*Stars*Service*myBed*Communication*Scriptures*Music*Water*Soap

*IndoorPlumbing*Hotshowers*Time*Holidays*Turkey*MashedPotatoes*Gravy*Cheesecake

*Prophets*Trees*Wisdom*Faith*Prayer*Ancestors*Posterity*Flowers*CalicoPrints*IPad*Air*

Hearts*Mail*Heirlooms*Stories*Cousins*Sweethearts*Computers*Gardens*Dancing*Quilts*

America*ThisBeautifulWorld*Movies*Popcorn*Games*Picnics*Camping*Dentist*Ice*Money

(Definitely, Not a complete list!)

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

“It’s Glorious!”

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I have had a certain song on my mind….for days, possibly weeks. Here is the song:

It’s

Glorious!!!

It is the theme song from the movie: Meet the Mormons.

I have so many emotions tied up in this music.

First, I am a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

the “Mormons”.

I love belonging to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was raised in the church. It makes my heart so happy when there is so much negative going on, to know there are so many wonderful people in the world.

As long as I can remember, I have known I have a Father in Heaven. I Know this life is part of a bigger plan He has for us. He loves us and wants us to have all the experiences that will help us become what we are meant to become.  We are here together to support and help each other as we go through our life. That’s why we have families! and friends!

Second, The message of this song

is that even though we sometimes don’t know which way to turn. We don’t know what is next for us in life, if we are listening with our hearts to what God is trying to tell us, we can receive help. He will guide us, sometimes through other people. We all “play a piece.” Sometimes others help us, and sometimes we’re the ones helping. We will figure out our “part.”

Third, Others are watching us and we can be their example.

If we believe in God, that life has a purpose, that Our Savior Jesus Christ lived and died for us, that He was resurrected and lives today. That we have a responsibility to love and serve God and others in our lives, and that we must love others, because we love God. That example can help someone who is not sure about why we are here. Our confidence and faith in God can help others know it’s okay.

“There are melodies in each one of us!”

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This last week our cousin lost his 14 year old daughter. She was beautiful, talented and a wonderful girl. At her funeral her sister sang this song. It was so beautiful. The message continued to be felt in my heart. Let us all use our life to find our piece, our melody, and share that melody with all that we meet.

President Thomas S. Monson said: “Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save.”

It’s Glorious! 

On Pioneers and Pilgrims!

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On this beautiful Pioneer Day I would like to share a post written by my Dad.

Here you go!

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On Pioneers and Pilgrims

“Of logs we built our houses, of shakes we made the doors, of sod we
made the chimneys, dirt we had for floors.” Joel William White wrote
that in his journal. He was my wife’s 2nd great grandfather and one of
the early pioneers. Another one stated that; “We swept our dirt floors
with a sage brush and when we were done we threw it in the fireplace
to heat our home.”

On the 24th of July, we will again be celebrating ‘Pioneer Days’ with
a parade, rodeo and fireworks; it is primarily a Utah holiday and
rightly so. That is the day, in 1847, that our first Utah pioneer
forefathers drove their covered wagons down into the Salt Lake Valley
after a thousand mile trek across the dusty plains. They had been
driven out of their homes in Illinois because of religious
persecution. They came here looking for peace and safety from the
intolerance of the, so-called, civilized areas of our then young
nation. A nation that had recently instituted a constitution that
guaranteed religious freedom.

Each year on this celebration day, do our minds ever leave the
parade, the rodeo and the fireworks long enough to contemplate what
those early pioneers went through to get here? Do we try to
understand, on that day, the 24th, the many things they had to do in
August, September and October in order to survive their first year.
They had to plant crops late in the summer so they would have food to
eat through the coming winter or they would actually starve to death?
For them, it wasn’t a matter of, well, if the corn doesn’t mature
we’ll have to run down to Albertsons and buy some. Theirs was a matter
of, if the corn doesn’t mature we won’t have any. It was a very
difficult life for them; unlike us, they had very few choices in terms
of what they could do. And when you don’t have choices, what you have
to do must be done with energy, hope and a prayer in your heart that
it will be a successful effort. One interesting way of trying to put
ourselves back then was stated by an unknown author this way; “If we
were put back in that time we would not be ourselves.” We would be put
into an entirely different dimension, a dimension not unlike the
popular TV series of several years ago, called the ‘Twilight zone’.

Some of the first settlers made a pilgrimage to this country from
Europe where they were persecuted for their religious beliefs. They,
too, struggled to prepare for their first Winter and many did not make
it. They were referred to as Pilgrims. The early Latter Day
Saints,also made a pilgrimage to the Salt Lake Valley and for the same
reason, religious persecution. They, too, arrived at an awkward time
of year and they, too, could be referred to as pilgrims.

When I was a young person, I read, “Pilgrim’s Progress”, a story about
Christian, a young man who supposedly was representing all Christians.
While venturing through life he ran into one moral obstacle after
another, each having to be overcome, before he could move on toward
his goal of eternal life. From that perspective we are all pilgrims
with the same challenges.

Those of us who have embarked on a search for our ancestral families,
are also pilgrims. We are often required to seek information from
distant lands. Like a quest, seeking old records, from  places, and
languages that we may have had no previous experience with. Searching
here and there for clues that will lead us to a name, a place, a time,
with the hopes that to find one ancestor we will be lead to another.
Do we not wander through time and to new places, even cyberspace. We
are truly pilgrims. We, too, are on a sacred quest with a prayer in
our hearts that we might weather the storms of failure until we find
success. -Emil

Tender Mercies!

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BeautifulBirdWhen we were getting ready for Riley and Janet’s wedding, we spent many hours creating decorations. We were having lots of fun preparing! One of the things we were working on was some tree slices for the tables for centerpieces. We used some of the wood we had from a tree my darlin cut down. After he cut the first slices they started to split, and the bark was coming off. We realized we would have to do something different, or find some different wood and start over.

One other thing I need to mention is that two days after the wedding we planned on dropping Emily off at the MTC (Missionary Training Center). So we had a wedding on Monday and dropped our baby off on Wednesday. We would not see Emily for 18 months. Needless to say it was a very busy, exciting, and emotional time.

So, back to the tree slices. We called and checked around for possible replacements. My darlin had chopped down a neighbors tree a while before, so we called them to see if we could come see if any of the wood would work for our project. As I sat on the patio waiting to go to the neighbors, I started to cry. I said a little prayer, “Heavenly Father, please help things to work out.” Right after I said that, I looked near the bird feeder and there was a little puddle of water on the ground. In the puddle was a tiny little bird washing itself. It would flap it’s wings and move around. It was precious. The first thought that crossed my mind was, “Everything is going to OK!” I can’t explain why, but that little bird helped me to feel peace at that moment. I said a prayer of thanks, and we went up to the neighbors. We looked at the all the wood piled at the neighbors house, and there wasn’t anything really that we felt like would work. So we left and on the way back down the hill we noticed a long, perfectly straight log sitting underneath a tree in another neighbors yard. We passed by and both of us looked at each other and said, “Did you see that?” We turned around and my darlin went to the door and asked the neighbor if they were going to use the log. She said that she was just waiting for someone to come and take it away. Wow! We asked if we could have it. She was happy to be rid of it! That log made the most beautiful tree slices you’ve ever seen!! I felt so blessed, and loved to think that Father in Heaven had helped our situation to “be OK!”  In fact it was wonderful!

I love to watch for tender mercies in my life. I know Father is aware of me. He watches out for all of us, and blesses us. Our job is to notice the little things and give thanks!!

It All Worked Out!

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I rode the train to the restaurant where we were eating lunch. It was a nice lunch with my co-workers. I had to leave early. It was the day my “Bonus Baby” was going through the temple for the first time. It is a big deal to members of the LDS church.

I had recently been given an assignment in my ward to be the Primary President. I was feeling quite overwhelmed, like always, and I had been trying extra hard to stay close to Heavenly Father. I felt like I needed inspiration in many areas of my life.

In my rush to get back to my car and head home to meet Emily to go to the temple, I got on the wrong train. It didn’t take long for me to realize I was going the wrong direction. I panicked and started to think. “What can I do? What should I do? Should I ride until it comes back? No time for that.”

I knew right away I needed to get off.

If I got off the train, I would have to walk for many blocks to get where I needed to be, but at least I would be going the right direction.

I got off the train and started walking. I immediately started having thoughts come to my mind. As I walked, there were a few times I felt concerned for my safety, but only for a minute. I prayed the whole time asking Father to help me make good time, be safe and get to where I needed to be. The life lesson was clear:

1-If you are headed in the wrong direction, stop heading in the wrong direction. Do whatever it takes to change directions. You can always stop going the wrong direction.

2-It may take a while to get back to where you were, but it is worth it. It may take you through difficult places, but you can do it. It will take more effort than you would have had to put in if you weren’t going the wrong direction, but it’s still the thing to do.

3-You “can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth” you! (Phil 4:13). Focus on the light. Focus on the goal. Keep moving.

My goal was to get to the temple with my baby. To be close to God and have the spirit with me. I made it, and it was a wonderful experience.

I heard a quote that is so powerful to me:

“But if we’re facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking. If it takes a year, or sixty years, or five lifetimes, as long as we’re heading towards light, that’s all that matters.”-Joseph Goldstein

Another favorite:

2 Nephi 31:19-21

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

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.

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

What direction are you facing?

Sunday Best: General Conference!

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My favorite weekends are General Conference weekends.

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This weekend it has been General Conference.

It is a very important time for all the world. The Prophet Thomas S. Monson, and other church leaders for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints give talks at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. This meeting happens twice a year. Every six months. It is a much anticipated and favorite time of year.

Here are some of my favorite quotes for Conference:

“Defend your beliefs with courtesy and kindness, but defend them.” -Jeffery R. Holland

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“I must testify of the blessings of daily scripture study and prayer and weekly Family Home Evening. These are the very practices that take away stress, give balance to our lives, and protection to our homes. Then if pornography or other challenges strike our families we can petition the Lord for help and expect great guidance from the Spirit knowing that we have done what our Father in Heaven expects us to do.”-Linda S. Reeves

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“Each of us carries a load. Our individual load is comprised of individual demands and opportunities, obligations and privileges, afflictions and blessings, and options and constraints. Two guiding questions can be helpful as we periodically, and prayerfully access our load. #1-Is the load I am carrying producing the spiritual traction that will enable me to press forward with faith in Christ on the strait and narrow path, and avoid getting stuck. #2-Is the load I am carrying creating sufficient spiritual traction so I ultimately  can return home to Heavenly Father. Sometimes we mistakenly believe that happiness is the abscess of a load, but baring a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness. Because our individual load needs to generate spiritual traction we should be careful to not haul around in our lives so many nice but unnecessary things that we are distracted and diverted from the things that truly matter most.”-David A. Bednar

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“Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our exemplar. His life was a legacy of love. The sick He healed. The down trodden He lifted. The sinner He saved. At the end the angry mob took His life. And yet there rings from Galgotha’s Hill the words, ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do.’ The crowning expression in mortality of compassion and love. There are many manifestations of love such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding and forgiveness.With all of our associations these and other such attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts. Usually our love will be shown in our day to day interactions one with another. All important be our ability to recognize someones need and then to respond.”-Thomas S. Monson

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I love the gospel of Jesus Christ!

You can watch General Conference HERE!

Hope your Sunday is the Best! Love, Joy

13 Things I’ve Learned From Posting 1000 Posts!!!!!!!!!

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I have reached a milestone!!! Today I’m posting my

1000th post!

Here are 13 things I’ve learned from posting 1000 posts!!!!!

1-It’s ok to be yourself. 

I have learned that even though I’m not perfect, I am lovable.

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2-It’s a great way to tell your story. 

I love to read over my stories and relive my experiences.

3-I love to talk about my family, and their history.

I have wonderful children! My grand baby is adorable! My ancestors are the bomb! We are all basically pretty great people!!!

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4-It’s actually very fun to have a blog.

It’s a happy, fun, exciting place to share my life!

5-I have lots of heroes, friends, and memories.

My heroes are the good examples in my life. I try to emulate their lives. My friends are golden and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Well, my memory may go, but I’ll still have my blog.

6-Funny things happen in life.

Laughter really is the best medicine. I wrote a post once about laughing at inappropriate times, and yes I have been known to do that. I just innocently try to live my life and funny stuff just happens. I start to giggle and it’s all over. Next thing you know I have a stomach cramp, and tears are streaming down my face. I am thankful that I laugh easily. Life is too short to not laugh hysterically when the opportunity presents it’s self.

7-There are some wonderful movies and TV shows out there.

Dory: “Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming….what do we do we swim, swim!”

I need that reminder a lot.

8-Sometimes I don’t Have anything to say, believe it or not. And that’s ok.

I have been amazed at the lack of things to say, or when I can’t think of anything to post. I never thought I’d see the day. I am very social, I can talk to anyone, but I do like to be by myself and just sit still and read or relax sometimes.

9-Life is busy!

Life is busier than ever before. We’re all busy. It makes living adventurous! Sometimes finding time to do a blog post is very difficult, but I’m always glad when I do.

10-I really love Sunday’s the Best!

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Peaceful, inspirational, and spiritual! Spending the day thinking about God and His precious gifts, and looking for ways to bless others lives!

11-The world is full of Beautiful Places!

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Always focus on the beauty in this world. We are so blessed by Father above to live in such a beautiful place. Look for the beauty!

12-I have learned lot’s of lesson’s. 

I’m so glad I’ve written them down. I love to learn and I’m glad that challenges are not wasted by having to repeat difficult times. I so appreciate the lessons!

13-It takes a long time to write 1000 posts. 

Who knew it would take almost 5 years of blogging to reach 1000 posts, but I did it!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!