Gratitude and Blessings in November

Mon 30 *I'm glad to have Braxton eager to help me mop the floor today even if it was because he wanted to play in the water. I am also thankful for the fun family night we had shopping at Winco. Braxton was thrilled to push the button that moves the conveyor belt.
Sun 29 *I am thankful for a wonderful afternoon enjoying the day with my husband and son.
Sat 28 *I am thankful for the opportunity to go into my neighbors house and see his newborn son. It is great to see a man so proud to be a father. I love watching how having children changes people. Tiny babies really are miracles!
Fri 27 *I am thankful for great customer service from Sear who price matched to get us the best deal on a great vacuum. Who said appliances couldn't be a fun Christmas gift!
Thur 26 *I am thankful for an enjoyable dinner with the in-laws. I am thankful Braxton had so much fun at Grandma's house with the cousins. I am thankful for a wonderful husband and a great son who bring love and joy into my life. I am also thankful for great sister-in-laws who are always eager to walk off the extra food for five miles after dinner!
Wed 25 *I am thankful we were able to get out of here and to Fillmore in such good time. I am also thankful for a really fun night at Travis' house playing guitar hero and rock band with Keslers and Robisons!
Tue 24 *I am thankful for fun friends who make being at home with Braxton bearable when I need to get out of the house. I am also thankful I was able to get all those reminder calls done for the show tomorrow.
Mon 23 *I am thankful Kent was able to help me get some of the invitations for the show on Saturday in the mail. I am also thankful for our family night I find that it's my favorite night of the week. Also I am so thankful for the success I have been experiencing from bring other women into Discovery Toys.
Sun 22 *I'm thankful that I had scheduled my day in such a way that I was able to stay for choir practice today even though I didn't know it was happening.
Sat 21 *I am thankful for a nice visit with the owners of our old horse Ty. It is so nice to know that they are so willing to let us come and visit him. He truly is a great horse.
Fri 20 *My heart is full of gratitude for the personal revelations the Lord gives to Kent and I. I am also very grateful to know how quickly Kent acts upon those promptings. He's such a good man.
Thur 19 *I am thankful I was able to learn more about my grandparents through reading their patriarchal blessings.
Wed 18 *I am thankful the Lord protected Braxton and my life as well as many others on the freeway today. A car flipped around and could have easily hit someone or been hit by someone including me. No one was injured and I know God protected us all. I am also thankful to finally be learning the stories of my ancestors that I have been longing to hear for years now. I do have a rich heritage!
Tue 17 *I am thankful that I have been able to be so very productive these days with all I have to do. I know the Lord is sustaining me.
Mon 16 *I am thankful for the opportunity to teach my son the gospel. It's great to see him enjoy feeling the spirit.
Sun 15 *I am thankful for wonderful people who I can trust my son with.
Sat 14 *I am so thankful for Braxton's new snow boots, Kent and I new socks, and me new bras and a new coat. I almost feel like Christmas is over now. It's nice to have some of those things I have waited so long for.
Fri 13 *I am thankful the Lord reminded me what he can do when I pray. He can make a 3-year-old behave and actually cooperate for a whole hour and he can make a small boys tractor reappear out of no where. I am also thankful to finally have Braxton's speech tested and to know we will be getting some help.
Thur 12 *I am thankful for a clean house as well as some thoughts that came to mind on how I could make my Discovery Toys presentation better.
Wed 11 *I am thankful that I was able to finally get started with my Discovery Toys business. I'm so thankful the Lord directed me to do this and allowed it to be a blessing in my life.
Tue 10 *I am thankful I was able to attend Relief Society and remember what the true meaning of the upcoming holidays are.
Mon 9 *I am thankful for Family Home Evening and the joy that is brings to my family. We truly are blessed if we obey the Lord.
Sun 8 *No matter how many things go wrong the Lord always had a hand in making the primary program work out. I am thankful for his help with this today. We had such a great spirit I almost couldn't lead the music for the third verse of How Firm a Foundation.
Sat 7 *I am thankful the Lord blessed our lives with the ability to laugh. I am also thankful for great comedians who help us remember how to laugh. Thanks Dave.
Fri 6 *The Lord has blessed me to have a wonderful husband who I love so very much and who loves me back. I feel very blessed to enjoy my marriage to him.
Thur 5 *I am thankful for a nice day at wheeler farm with Emily, Heather, and the kids.
Wed 4 *I am thankful Emily called and asked if we wanted to go to the park. It was such a nice day to be outside. I am also thankful for a 5 mile run this morning.
Tue 3 *I am eternally grateful to my Father in Heaven who knew I would need a man like Kent who could help me to be calm when life gets frustrating and overwhelming. Kent really helped me in my frustration with too many babies tonight.
Mon 2 *I am thankful my wonderful husband was so willing to come home and go for a walk with me when my motivation to exercise was not there today.
Sun 1 *I am thankful that we have a pianist for our primary program and that the kids know the songs as well as they do. I have faith that the Lord will bless next weeks program to come together.

Lifting-Burdens

Lifting-Burdens

The Lost Batallion: Our Need to Rescue

Every now and then a message is given so strongly that you hear it over and over. On October 18th we were blessed to hear the messages of the leader of the church in a regional conference meeting at the conference center. I was quite amazed as President Monson spoke because I thought his talk was just a repeat of one he had given at conference but quickly I realized I had remembered it for another reason. It was a talk published in the church magazines way back in 1987 and I had just read it in the last few months. The even more interesting part is why I had read it.

Let me explain. Possibly sometime in August a visitor came to our sacrament meeting. Bishop Decker recognized him as the Salt Lake Mission President and came into the congregation to ask him if he would mind bearing his testimony at the end of the meeting. When the speakers finished he invited the president to come and address us. The president encouraged us to go to LDS.org and search the word rescue to find the talk by President Monson entitled The Lost Battalion and to read that talk. As I look at my notes I found reminding me who shared this talk with us it states, whatever your calling it all boils down to we are all shepherds for our Savior.

I don't remember any other words of wisdom he dispelled, but I do remember going home and finding that talk and reading it. In fact I was inspired when I read that talk that I needed to encourage my family to save my uncle as he was one of those lost. Sadly I sent out the email and no one ever replied back. Either way I was inspired to action and I will consider what I can do that may allow him to know of my love for him and how I might be able to guide him to the good shepherd.

It was a powerful feeling to sit in the regional conference and realize that I was learning of our need to rescue those around us for a second time in only a few months. I was amazed. I have reaffirmed to myself that I need to be looking for the ways I can rescue others. There was one person the spirit continued to guide my thoughts towards during that meeting. When I came home I asked Kent if the thoughts I had of how to rescue that person were correct. He reassured me they were and shared that those were the same thoughts he had as he listened to that talk. I am so thankful for the wonderful workings of the spirit and the knowledge that God does care about each and every one of His children. I am thankful that the Lord trusts me to help Him in guiding His children home. I pray that I may always see the opportunities in my life to help my brothers and sisters come home to our loving Father in Heaven.

The Lord Looketh on the Heart

The best lessons I learn are the ones that life teaches me. People have been on my mind lately. What do we know about them? How do we treat them? Do we take the time to get to know who they are, how they got there, and what their story is? More often than not I don't take the time. It's pretty sad. I have come to these thoughts by realizing how I would view some choice people from my past if I were to be meeting them for the first time today. It makes me wonder who I am looking at without spiritual eyes. Those eyes that look at others and see my beautiful brothers and sisters instead of strangers.

I would like to tell you a little about these people who have brought these thoughts to my mind. First let's start with the older sister of my childhood friend. As I look through photos on facebook it would be very easy to see her through eyes of judgment due to the lifestyle her pictures portray. While it may have been years since I have seen her I still see the same girl who I knew. A beautiful sister who loves her family and appreciates them for who they are. A fun and energetic woman who knows how to be a little wild and crazy and makes for a fun party. Someone who is going to make sure that you have a good time. She's a woman who has a heart to take on the world.

In my mom's family there are many who fit under this category. The one I would choose to focus on is my cousin who I just talked to on facebook. My cousin is in his mid 30's and just told me he has been married and divorced five times. None of which have lasted an entire year. If I didn't know what a great guy he is or the heart of gold he has then I might wonder what is wrong with him. While I do have an idea some of the struggles in his life I also know that he is still a person who is deserving of love and acceptance. I know much of his life story and I know there is a lot of pain and sadness in that story, but he's a good man none the less.

I have a fantastic friend who has driven me crazy at times with the choices she has made, but still I know the beautiful spirit that radiates from her. She in all sincerity is one of the most beautiful women I have ever known inside and out. Yet I know she has a lot of walls up and there are many people who don't get to know the deep and compelling person she is. I feel blessed to know a little of her soul and for that I love her. Through out my life I have been blessed with beautiful people who remind me that it is the inside not what is on the outside that counts.

In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says, "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." How often do we as people judge others because of their appearance? I know I myself do it far more often than I would like to admit. Perhaps if I knew the questions to ask and how to listen to their story I would be able to see them more clearly the way God sees them. I might be able to see their heart and soul.

One of the most compelling and beautiful women I have met is a GREAT example of looking on the heart. Each person she meets she seemed to be genuinely interested in learning their story. In fact I was so impressed by her that I have considered naming a daughter after her someday. This month I am going to work to see others the way God does. As I do I will share the hearts and souls of the beautiful people I meet. Look forward to meeting some amazing people yourself. Take the time and get to know their stories. Share with me what you learn about those around you. I think we'll all be a little better as we take on this education.