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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
So thankful for miles and miles of highway
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Merry Christmas 2011
If you read to the end, I'm giving you two gifts. Merry Christmas. :-)
It is hard to believe the year sailed by so quickly! It
seems like we were just welcoming a new year. But here we are and here are some
of the things we’ve celebrated and experienced this year. My memory being what it is, I've probably forgotten more than half of it.
Noah is now 11. He is in Blazer scouts. It's his last year in Primary. He's a pretty smart boy and makes good grades. He is such a good helper and has a tender heart. He didn't get to play basketball this last year, but he is back at it this year in our local PAL league. He loves to play games and read. He has been devouring the Harry Potter series and other books the last few months. Great big books I would not have dreamed of reading at his age. He has a great sense of humor and keeps us laughing.
Emily is 14 years old. I can hardly believe that. She is 1/2 inch shorter than her mother. She's more beautiful every day. She keeps busy with volleyball, basketball, dance, piano, singing, knowledge bowl, and keeping up with her studies. She is immensely helpful with her little sister and is a genuine happiness magnet. She does not let others throw her off and just smiles and laughs her way through life. You may notice she now has braces.
Jefferson is 17 now and a Junior. He played tennis earlier this year and is in the middle of basketball season. He is beginning to follow some of his brothers love for music. He likes to sing and play the piano. He is a great student and a professional pest. But he is also a great helper and can really be counted on when you need him. Some day, we hope he'll finish his Eagle.
Joseph blew out his knee again late last year, so his year started off with another knee surgery. He is now the proud owner of a cadaver tendon. He finished his first year of college at EAC. He started as a music major and really increased his music skills through his classes. He has always had a knack for picking out a song, but now he can chord almost any song after hearing it a few times. He was a contestant in our local Gila Valley Idol and did very well. He worked hard all Summer for a local school district putting in chain link fence and then at an ice cream joint. He is now finishing his papers for his mission, living at home and working on his dad's long list of things to do. We hope to have good news soon on where he will spend the next two years.
The biggest news for our family, well except something new, is that Chris came home from his mission. He finished up two years in Kentucky and we were thrilled for him to be home and to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas for the first time in 4 years all together. He will be back at EAC in January, is looking for a job, and has been invited back to practice with the basketball team so he will be ready to play in the Fall.
And finally, there is Drew. He finished up a second year of college and will go one more semester at EAC, after which he will stay at EAC but get a degree through ASU. We are fine with him being somewhat close by. Andrew worked 3 jobs most of the year and is turning out to be quite the good money manager. Our latest excitement is that he recently got engaged. Less than a week ago. He is marrying Elizabeth Richins in late March. We already know and love Liz since her family is in our stake and she and I were at Girls Camp together for a few years.So, he gets two pictures.
As for Bret and I. Mostly same old same old. He's still bishop. He's still commuting an hour each way. And the time and expense is starting to wear. He's still the rock foundation of our family and I love him for it. His dream came true this year when we figured out a way for him to get his Toyota Tundra. He'll be happy basically for the rest of his life on that one.I'm still teaching the 12-14 year old girls at church. I've had a much better year as a realtor. I am still trying to move out of real estate and into wellness and healing. I love EFT more than ever for the amazing results I get with people. (www.dailyabundance.net) I was chosen with 19 other people for an Arizona rural leadership development two year program. I have been enjoying the growth from monthly seminars. I look forward to our trip to Canada next May and DC next year. It's called Project Centrl.
In July, we decided to beat the heat and head on out to California for a cooler 4th of July with friends and family. One day after Chris got home, we headed up to Salt Lake City for our annual church conference. A few days after Christmas, we will head off to Kentucky to meet some of the wonderful people Chris spent his time with the last two years.
In July, we decided to beat the heat and head on out to California for a cooler 4th of July with friends and family. One day after Chris got home, we headed up to Salt Lake City for our annual church conference. A few days after Christmas, we will head off to Kentucky to meet some of the wonderful people Chris spent his time with the last two years.
Dawn is on a quest to be her very best and she went to a Body Language seminar in January. A Profitable Author seminar in May, and held her own all day EFT seminar teaching family, friends, and a doctor about EFT. She ended up the year with a trip to Georgia to reunion with church friends and had a great time.
We've had a very blessed year. We are all healthy, except me as I write this under a blanket on the couch, but nothing major to complain about. We love Christmas and focusing our time and attention to things that matter most. We hope from our home to yours, you find yourselves well and and happy.
Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!
with much love, The Nortons
PS, I read this story for the first time this year and recreated it as a PDF, which means you can probably figure out how to add it to your Nook or Kindle. Go here:
and
The author and my friend, Leslie Householder, is offering her first book for absolutely free. You have to give your email address, but what she offers is worth giving your address for and you can always unsubscribe.
enjoy one short story and one GREAT book!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
IAT for REAL HOPE and REAL Cures
IAT = I am thankful, realizing my perceptions may be very different and ok from yours. :-)
to see the links which were the purpose for this post and skip the long story, go straight to the end.
When I was somewhat of a young girl, there was a family in my church that I would stay with when my dad traveled. I loved them dearly. They were very different. Very faithful for one thing. And very healthy. The mom made whole wheat bread, everything from scratch, they didn't drink milk (just like us). She gave us (me included) enemas when we were sick, put green drinks on the table, had a garden, looked in my eyes to see what was wrong with me, and gave and grew herbs. I didn't have enough experience then to know they were really all that different. It was just some stuff WE didn't do. Milk was really the only thing I grew up without that was different than everyone else. Well, that and almost never going to a Dr unless you were on your death bed and once my dad was.
So, since the mother of this family named Beckenhauer was literally one of the sweetest women I've known, she became something of a mentor to me when I began having children. The first time I called her for advice was when I went into preterm labor at 30 weeks with my Christopher. I was in the hospital almost a week with some kind of infection they never could identify and would not let me go until my fever broke. I called her from the hospital in tears. "What should I do?" She told me as long as I was on drugs, there were no natural remedies. I needed to be off of those first. I believe she was the one who gave me the advice to drink red raspberry tea with all of my pregnancies, which I did. I believe RR is God's greatest herbal gift to women.
Sister B, or Valerie as I am now grown up enough to call her, gave me some advice I'll never forget. She said, "sweetheart (she always called me sweetheart), you have been a valiant young woman throughout your life, and you have every right to call upon your Heavenly Father for what you need. You get on your knees and you ask Heavenly Father to protect your baby, stop your labor, and get you out of there." I did. And He did. It was the first time I ever really felt I had a RIGHT to ask for what I needed.
So, that is the background. From then on, in our infrequent talks, she would recommend things, I would try them and they worked! For the last 20+ years I have studied natural health on an almost weekly basis. I have taken 95% of our family's care from my own knowledge. I have, when stumped, taken them to the Dr, ignored the prescription, and then gone home and treated what I know.
I AM NOT AFRAID OF FEVERS. They are a very GOOD thing. I rarely give anything for them. And we almost never take antibiotics. Homeopathics, herbs, tapping, colloidal silver, mild food, and lots of Vit C are the order of the day when there is sickness in our house. As I write, Emily is on the couch, asleep, and sick. My own Dr says about 90% of illness, takes care of itself when just plain old left alone. Our body heals. That is what it is designed to do. And when we feed and care for it properly, we enjoy an abundance of health. It is the mistreatment, that brings serious diseases with our hearts, immune systems; cancer, lupus, diabetes. These are not only preventable, but REVERSIBLE. EVEN Type 1 DIABETES.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/simply-raw-reversing-diabetes-in-30-days/
Some of the reversing is not easy. If you've never stepped out of the medical paradigm, some if it seems weird and RADICAL. But how radical really is it, that we cut, burn, poison for healing, when our bodies are already created to do that?
Guess what? I don't immunize my kids and we NEVER get a flu shot. Poison! (Ok, the missionaries have their choice to have them before they go, since it can limit where they are called, and all of them so far have opted for the shots) After years of intensive research I decided to take my chances against the diseases, since we eat fairly healthy, have a positive, faithful outlook, and the body is designed to heal. Wait. I already said that.
So, yes, a few years ago, almost my whole family came down with whooping cough--the immunized ones, and the unimmunized ones. Read that sentence again. So, did the immunized ones. I was the ONLY ONE who did not. Why? Because I had it (misdiagnosed as pneumonia) in second grade. My immunized husband had it worst, and so did his mother, and my best friend. All immunized. They had HORRIBLE cases. My 3 partially immunized kids had mild cases. My unimmunized kids had semi-scary cases. But the more I read and researched, the more I realized their's was a normal course of this childhood illness. They were scary because whooping cough, just plain sounds scary. During the day, you could never tell. At night, for 2 months, there was almost no sleep in our house. It took 4 months for everyone to stop coughing completely. They did not throw up or get malnourished. But guess what? They are immune for life. And my girls will pass on that immunity to their children if they breastfeed them.
This was not where I was intending this to go. Anywho. I have some amazing resources if you are at rope's end with any condition. Real hope...when a Dr who thinks he's God and is only operating from his own experience says, "you have _______ to live. You have an INCURABLE (who says?) disease." See some awesome, mind expanding links below. Now I know most doctors mean well and think they are telling you the truth, but medical school does not teach them about cheap treatments that the drug companies don't make any money off of, so they tell you what they know. Even doctors do not know a lot of stuff.
My absolute favorite website in the world for health.
www.doctoryourself.com (Did you know high Vitamin C cures tons of stuff?)
www.mercola.com (I give this one reservedly because he has turned shamelessly commercial and I am not even sure you can read his site unless you subscribe and then you will get MASSIVE amounts of email).
www.greensmoothiegirl.com (is fast becoming my second favorite) Love, love love, cannot put enough loves. Read her blog.
http://www.youtube.com/user/GreenSmoothieGirl?feature=watch
I have to comment on the youtube channel. She is on a quest to find and share natural cures for cancer which DO exist, but most have been forced out of the US by powerful interests in the FDA, AMA, and drug companies. I know you won't believe me, just do some research. (For you LDS people think D&C 89: 4) Here you will find videos, that not only talk about how to reverse cancer, but lupus, TYPE ***1*** DIABETES, and other immune and body dysfunctions. Fascinating.
http://www.anoasisofhealing.com/ (An awesome cancer healing center right here in Arizona).
and finally.....
www.dailyabundance.net (That's me of course. I am convinced that any serious disease should not be treated without also treating the mental, physical, and emotional aspects of that disease. EFT covers that. So much disease is caused by the contributing factors of trauma, grief, and other emotional wounds. EFT helps reverse the damage from those wounds, and then I often see miraculous physical healings because of it. But you have to CHOOSE any of these things. You have to take a step into the unknown. You have to try, prove, have faith, experience, believe.
One of my favorite scriptures is, "For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." There is a lot of fear in modern medicine. If you can participate in it without fear, you are much better off. Because the placebo and nocebo effects are very powerful. But you'll have to research those yourself. The MIND must be present and believing in healing. That's all. I could write about this FOR-EV-ER.
to see the links which were the purpose for this post and skip the long story, go straight to the end.
When I was somewhat of a young girl, there was a family in my church that I would stay with when my dad traveled. I loved them dearly. They were very different. Very faithful for one thing. And very healthy. The mom made whole wheat bread, everything from scratch, they didn't drink milk (just like us). She gave us (me included) enemas when we were sick, put green drinks on the table, had a garden, looked in my eyes to see what was wrong with me, and gave and grew herbs. I didn't have enough experience then to know they were really all that different. It was just some stuff WE didn't do. Milk was really the only thing I grew up without that was different than everyone else. Well, that and almost never going to a Dr unless you were on your death bed and once my dad was.
So, since the mother of this family named Beckenhauer was literally one of the sweetest women I've known, she became something of a mentor to me when I began having children. The first time I called her for advice was when I went into preterm labor at 30 weeks with my Christopher. I was in the hospital almost a week with some kind of infection they never could identify and would not let me go until my fever broke. I called her from the hospital in tears. "What should I do?" She told me as long as I was on drugs, there were no natural remedies. I needed to be off of those first. I believe she was the one who gave me the advice to drink red raspberry tea with all of my pregnancies, which I did. I believe RR is God's greatest herbal gift to women.
Sister B, or Valerie as I am now grown up enough to call her, gave me some advice I'll never forget. She said, "sweetheart (she always called me sweetheart), you have been a valiant young woman throughout your life, and you have every right to call upon your Heavenly Father for what you need. You get on your knees and you ask Heavenly Father to protect your baby, stop your labor, and get you out of there." I did. And He did. It was the first time I ever really felt I had a RIGHT to ask for what I needed.
So, that is the background. From then on, in our infrequent talks, she would recommend things, I would try them and they worked! For the last 20+ years I have studied natural health on an almost weekly basis. I have taken 95% of our family's care from my own knowledge. I have, when stumped, taken them to the Dr, ignored the prescription, and then gone home and treated what I know.
I AM NOT AFRAID OF FEVERS. They are a very GOOD thing. I rarely give anything for them. And we almost never take antibiotics. Homeopathics, herbs, tapping, colloidal silver, mild food, and lots of Vit C are the order of the day when there is sickness in our house. As I write, Emily is on the couch, asleep, and sick. My own Dr says about 90% of illness, takes care of itself when just plain old left alone. Our body heals. That is what it is designed to do. And when we feed and care for it properly, we enjoy an abundance of health. It is the mistreatment, that brings serious diseases with our hearts, immune systems; cancer, lupus, diabetes. These are not only preventable, but REVERSIBLE. EVEN Type 1 DIABETES.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/simply-raw-reversing-diabetes-in-30-days/
Some of the reversing is not easy. If you've never stepped out of the medical paradigm, some if it seems weird and RADICAL. But how radical really is it, that we cut, burn, poison for healing, when our bodies are already created to do that?
Guess what? I don't immunize my kids and we NEVER get a flu shot. Poison! (Ok, the missionaries have their choice to have them before they go, since it can limit where they are called, and all of them so far have opted for the shots) After years of intensive research I decided to take my chances against the diseases, since we eat fairly healthy, have a positive, faithful outlook, and the body is designed to heal. Wait. I already said that.
So, yes, a few years ago, almost my whole family came down with whooping cough--the immunized ones, and the unimmunized ones. Read that sentence again. So, did the immunized ones. I was the ONLY ONE who did not. Why? Because I had it (misdiagnosed as pneumonia) in second grade. My immunized husband had it worst, and so did his mother, and my best friend. All immunized. They had HORRIBLE cases. My 3 partially immunized kids had mild cases. My unimmunized kids had semi-scary cases. But the more I read and researched, the more I realized their's was a normal course of this childhood illness. They were scary because whooping cough, just plain sounds scary. During the day, you could never tell. At night, for 2 months, there was almost no sleep in our house. It took 4 months for everyone to stop coughing completely. They did not throw up or get malnourished. But guess what? They are immune for life. And my girls will pass on that immunity to their children if they breastfeed them.
This was not where I was intending this to go. Anywho. I have some amazing resources if you are at rope's end with any condition. Real hope...when a Dr who thinks he's God and is only operating from his own experience says, "you have _______ to live. You have an INCURABLE (who says?) disease." See some awesome, mind expanding links below. Now I know most doctors mean well and think they are telling you the truth, but medical school does not teach them about cheap treatments that the drug companies don't make any money off of, so they tell you what they know. Even doctors do not know a lot of stuff.
My absolute favorite website in the world for health.
www.doctoryourself.com (Did you know high Vitamin C cures tons of stuff?)
www.mercola.com (I give this one reservedly because he has turned shamelessly commercial and I am not even sure you can read his site unless you subscribe and then you will get MASSIVE amounts of email).
www.greensmoothiegirl.com (is fast becoming my second favorite) Love, love love, cannot put enough loves. Read her blog.
http://www.youtube.com/user/GreenSmoothieGirl?feature=watch
I have to comment on the youtube channel. She is on a quest to find and share natural cures for cancer which DO exist, but most have been forced out of the US by powerful interests in the FDA, AMA, and drug companies. I know you won't believe me, just do some research. (For you LDS people think D&C 89: 4) Here you will find videos, that not only talk about how to reverse cancer, but lupus, TYPE ***1*** DIABETES, and other immune and body dysfunctions. Fascinating.
http://www.anoasisofhealing.com/ (An awesome cancer healing center right here in Arizona).
and finally.....
www.dailyabundance.net (That's me of course. I am convinced that any serious disease should not be treated without also treating the mental, physical, and emotional aspects of that disease. EFT covers that. So much disease is caused by the contributing factors of trauma, grief, and other emotional wounds. EFT helps reverse the damage from those wounds, and then I often see miraculous physical healings because of it. But you have to CHOOSE any of these things. You have to take a step into the unknown. You have to try, prove, have faith, experience, believe.
One of my favorite scriptures is, "For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." There is a lot of fear in modern medicine. If you can participate in it without fear, you are much better off. Because the placebo and nocebo effects are very powerful. But you'll have to research those yourself. The MIND must be present and believing in healing. That's all. I could write about this FOR-EV-ER.
Monday, December 5, 2011
I'm Christian. Really? Maybe not.
A couple of weeks ago I read a post that gave me and many of other people a lot to think about. It was called I'm Christian Unless You're Gay.
Do I support the ACTIONS of that lifestyle? No. Do I think *I* am responsible for condemning it and ostracizing anyone who chooses it? Again, no. If Jesus did not come to condemn, (See John 3:17), then who am I to condemn? Will I teach my children right choices, commandments, etc? Yes. I am not saying you should not take whatever civic action you feel is your duty. I am simply speaking of the relationships we have with others. But if you fill in the blank with any sin or condition, you will see it does not hold up.
I'm Christian Unless You're Mormon. See my Mormon rant.
I'm Christian Unless You're an alcoholic.
I'm Christian Unless You're black.
I'm Christian Unless You have piercings and tattoos.
I'm Christian Unless You're atheist.
I'm Christian Unless You're low income.
I'm Christian Unless You're a drug addict.
I'm Christian Unless You're homeless.
I'm Christian unless you are fat.
See? Just doesn't make sense. We are to love our neighbors and every one of those categories, IS our neighbor if they are in our circle of influence. I am not saying it won't be sticky or messy or difficult, but why would any of those people mentioned above want to change or be the person YOU THINK they should be, if you hate them? Not very motivating. Love is one of the few things that can empower people to change. Or at least listen to your point. Besides, it is the challenges in life that give us opportunities to learn. Not to mention the fact, that judging gets you judged. So, if you are the king or queen of judging, you get exactly what you are condemning. Too bad for you.
Who knows if that person in your life is having that experience to learn something. Perhaps your treatment of them will lead to very different outcomes depending on whether it is dealt with love or hate.
Is it any wonder the rest of the world can't stand a lot of Christians?
This is Dan's most recent video post with responses from his I'm Christian post. I liked it.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
IAT for Inspiration and Direction
IAT = I am thankful
I have a creative brain. I get lots of flashes of insight and inspiration. I wish I wrote most of it down. But, I don't. I've known for some time I had a book writing itself in me. I've tried on more than on occasion to begin writing the ones I thought I should, but they never really went anywhere.
This week, the inspiration came hard and fast. And I am really excited to begin the book that is within me. And to begin a new direction. Hooray! I hope it changes lots of lives!
Monday, November 28, 2011
My "Mormon" rant
IAT = I am thankful
All right, so I tried my best to keep calm, cool, and collected about the whole Mormons running for President thing. I've read and posted some articles on facebook, but let me tell you how I really feel. I hope you don't regret it. :-) And since I believe in being all positive, it's going to be really hard not to say things like I am sick and tired, so that is the only one you will see. Feel free to insert it before each and every point I address. Haha.
So, I suppose I've been a "Mormon" most of my life. Properly put, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So, why is there a mormon.org? Well there's this little book we believe in called the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and people took to calling us Mormons. Mormon is one of the books in the Book of Mormon, named after the author, who we consider an ancient American prophet. So, although the official website of the church is www.lds.org, they realized many people would search for us by our nick name and we have my.mormon.org that discusses many of our beliefs. That particular one is my personal profile which gives a brief summary about my membership. (There is not really a my.mormon.org)
I met my first opposition to my faith in high school. A girl in my choir, who said she cared about me, told me I was going to hell because I was a Mormon. Huh? Wow. I vaguely remember discussing some of my beliefs with her. I was no more convinced I was going to hell than she was convinced I was, so on I went. My faith was very tender at that point, but I knew the fire I felt that told me it was true, even though I was not a typical LDS girl at that point in time.
The next opposition came from members of my own family, who I will leave anonymous for their protection. But, a change in their faith, and then their attendance of anti-mormon meetings and preachings, brought great concern from them for me. I have since over the years learned that nearly every member of my family has anti-mormon sentiments. Joy!
I'd say I was a sophomore when those accusations began that typically went like this. Family member: "So, you believe God had sex with Mary." Me: (horrified, incredulous, shocked, and completely caught off balance) "No, I don't! And I've never heard that before." Family member: "Well, your church believes it."
Me:
Family member: "You believe in a different Jesus than we do." Me: "I do? I thought there was only one Jesus, the one in the Bible." Family member: "Nope, you believe in a completely different Jesus." Me: "How is he different?" Family member: "Well, he is not exactly like the one we believe in, so he is different, so you are not a Christian."
Me:
Family member: "You believe Satan is Jesus' brother." Me (noting to self): "Why do they keep TELLING me what I believe." (To family) "ummm, not exactly, that's kind of an oversimplification." Family member: "AHA!!!! See, you are not a Christian."
Me:
You get the idea. I could go down a list a mile long of things I have been accused of believing but rarely asked if I believe, and even if I am asked, since they already have decided the true answer, my answer doesn't really matter. My missionary sons have likewise been accused, railed, yelled at, and attemptedly (is that a word?) entrapped. They learned there was no point in arguing and typically wished those kinds of people well and went on their way.
You may have heard some pretty wacky things about members of my faith. They are typically hacked up quotations taken out of context and dragged out of old histories that are not official sources of "doctrine." I would encourage you if you have concerns about that to find someone who is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and simply ask them. Or you can ask me. *OR* all those young men going around in pairs wearing white shirts and ties, LOVE to answer questions. Are Mormons Christians, as we have so Un-Christianly been accused? Maybe the better question is Are Anti-Mormons Christian? (Yep, that's clickable) Here are some articles you can read from our perspective. Then you decide.
http://en.fairmormon.org/Latter-day_Saints_aren%27t_Christians (wiki type article)
http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/LDSChristian.pdf (Michael Hickenbotham)
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Latter-Day-Saints/2000/11/Hey-Who-Are-You-Calling-A-Cult.aspx (Orson Scott Card)
And if you really want a whole slew of other articles that will help you decide if you could possibly vote for a Mormon or be a friend of one, then you can go here:
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai052.html
If you want my very long story and TESTIMONY. Then click the word TESTIMONY.
And if you made it to the end. Wow! That should all keep you busy. You must really care about the answers. THANK YOU!
All right, so I tried my best to keep calm, cool, and collected about the whole Mormons running for President thing. I've read and posted some articles on facebook, but let me tell you how I really feel. I hope you don't regret it. :-) And since I believe in being all positive, it's going to be really hard not to say things like I am sick and tired, so that is the only one you will see. Feel free to insert it before each and every point I address. Haha.
So, I suppose I've been a "Mormon" most of my life. Properly put, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So, why is there a mormon.org? Well there's this little book we believe in called the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and people took to calling us Mormons. Mormon is one of the books in the Book of Mormon, named after the author, who we consider an ancient American prophet. So, although the official website of the church is www.lds.org, they realized many people would search for us by our nick name and we have my.mormon.org that discusses many of our beliefs. That particular one is my personal profile which gives a brief summary about my membership. (There is not really a my.mormon.org)
I met my first opposition to my faith in high school. A girl in my choir, who said she cared about me, told me I was going to hell because I was a Mormon. Huh? Wow. I vaguely remember discussing some of my beliefs with her. I was no more convinced I was going to hell than she was convinced I was, so on I went. My faith was very tender at that point, but I knew the fire I felt that told me it was true, even though I was not a typical LDS girl at that point in time.
The next opposition came from members of my own family, who I will leave anonymous for their protection. But, a change in their faith, and then their attendance of anti-mormon meetings and preachings, brought great concern from them for me. I have since over the years learned that nearly every member of my family has anti-mormon sentiments. Joy!
I'd say I was a sophomore when those accusations began that typically went like this. Family member: "So, you believe God had sex with Mary." Me: (horrified, incredulous, shocked, and completely caught off balance) "No, I don't! And I've never heard that before." Family member: "Well, your church believes it."
Me:
Family member: "You believe in a different Jesus than we do." Me: "I do? I thought there was only one Jesus, the one in the Bible." Family member: "Nope, you believe in a completely different Jesus." Me: "How is he different?" Family member: "Well, he is not exactly like the one we believe in, so he is different, so you are not a Christian."
Me:
Family member: "You believe Satan is Jesus' brother." Me (noting to self): "Why do they keep TELLING me what I believe." (To family) "ummm, not exactly, that's kind of an oversimplification." Family member: "AHA!!!! See, you are not a Christian."
Me:
You get the idea. I could go down a list a mile long of things I have been accused of believing but rarely asked if I believe, and even if I am asked, since they already have decided the true answer, my answer doesn't really matter. My missionary sons have likewise been accused, railed, yelled at, and attemptedly (is that a word?) entrapped. They learned there was no point in arguing and typically wished those kinds of people well and went on their way.
You may have heard some pretty wacky things about members of my faith. They are typically hacked up quotations taken out of context and dragged out of old histories that are not official sources of "doctrine." I would encourage you if you have concerns about that to find someone who is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and simply ask them. Or you can ask me. *OR* all those young men going around in pairs wearing white shirts and ties, LOVE to answer questions. Are Mormons Christians, as we have so Un-Christianly been accused? Maybe the better question is Are Anti-Mormons Christian? (Yep, that's clickable) Here are some articles you can read from our perspective. Then you decide.
http://en.fairmormon.org/Latter-day_Saints_aren%27t_Christians (wiki type article)
http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/LDSChristian.pdf (Michael Hickenbotham)
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Latter-Day-Saints/2000/11/Hey-Who-Are-You-Calling-A-Cult.aspx (Orson Scott Card)
And if you really want a whole slew of other articles that will help you decide if you could possibly vote for a Mormon or be a friend of one, then you can go here:
http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai052.html
If you want my very long story and TESTIMONY. Then click the word TESTIMONY.
And if you made it to the end. Wow! That should all keep you busy. You must really care about the answers. THANK YOU!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and again, and again
IAT = I am thankful for EFT
Maybe some will think I am beating a dead horse. I'm actually tapping him. Haha. That won't be funny to anyone but those who've attended my EFT classes or been tapped by me. I wish I could look every person in the eye, that I know. And have them meet my gaze. Then sincerely explain to them how different their life could be with this phenomenal technique. Then have them believe me, and really apply it, and find for themselves that it is true.
No, it's not the first thing I always go to. But when I have a BIG, scary, I don't know what to do with problem, I approach it one of two ways. I pray and then I tap. Or I tap and then I pray. It's that simple. (Ok, sometimes my hubby gets all the details first).
I recently had an offer to help someone thrown rather rudely back in my face. To be fair, they thought a comment I made was much more judgmental than it was. And I shook my head in disbelief. I offered with my heart, and was pretty rudely denied. And that is ok. I learn from every experience. And I really do need to learn more just to share and not be offended. Or to give it to those who are truly seeking it.
But my trouble is, I think they don't know they are seeking it. So, I keep offering free classes. See, I heard that you should choose to do a think you love so much, that you'd do it for free. THIS IS IT!!! Until something better comes along. I've heard there are better things, but for me, it's what really resonates with me, fascinates me, and brings me so much joy in seeing others give up their burdens.
I do have private consultations and get paid for it. At least half of the time, it's done by phone or skype. How cool is it that I can tap with anyone in the world? I do have an EFT friend/client in Australia. Some day I want to go to Australia for sure.
Anyway, I had my free class tonight. Less Stress, More Living. Fewer people came than I hoped. But those of us who were there, laughed, and tapped, and unstressed. And like I told everyone. I brought chocolate. I gave it out. I did my thing. They didn't eat it. I took the whole bag home. I'm saving it for the next class. There will only be the few pieces missing that I used tonight. We brought our stress. We went home light hearted and left the stress behind.
I LOVE EFT!!!!! I'm so thankful for the additional peace it has helped me come to.
Maybe some will think I am beating a dead horse. I'm actually tapping him. Haha. That won't be funny to anyone but those who've attended my EFT classes or been tapped by me. I wish I could look every person in the eye, that I know. And have them meet my gaze. Then sincerely explain to them how different their life could be with this phenomenal technique. Then have them believe me, and really apply it, and find for themselves that it is true.
No, it's not the first thing I always go to. But when I have a BIG, scary, I don't know what to do with problem, I approach it one of two ways. I pray and then I tap. Or I tap and then I pray. It's that simple. (Ok, sometimes my hubby gets all the details first).
I recently had an offer to help someone thrown rather rudely back in my face. To be fair, they thought a comment I made was much more judgmental than it was. And I shook my head in disbelief. I offered with my heart, and was pretty rudely denied. And that is ok. I learn from every experience. And I really do need to learn more just to share and not be offended. Or to give it to those who are truly seeking it.
But my trouble is, I think they don't know they are seeking it. So, I keep offering free classes. See, I heard that you should choose to do a think you love so much, that you'd do it for free. THIS IS IT!!! Until something better comes along. I've heard there are better things, but for me, it's what really resonates with me, fascinates me, and brings me so much joy in seeing others give up their burdens.
I do have private consultations and get paid for it. At least half of the time, it's done by phone or skype. How cool is it that I can tap with anyone in the world? I do have an EFT friend/client in Australia. Some day I want to go to Australia for sure.
Anyway, I had my free class tonight. Less Stress, More Living. Fewer people came than I hoped. But those of us who were there, laughed, and tapped, and unstressed. And like I told everyone. I brought chocolate. I gave it out. I did my thing. They didn't eat it. I took the whole bag home. I'm saving it for the next class. There will only be the few pieces missing that I used tonight. We brought our stress. We went home light hearted and left the stress behind.
I LOVE EFT!!!!! I'm so thankful for the additional peace it has helped me come to.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
I am SO thankful for this time of year
IAT = I am thankful
October 1 to January 1 is my favorite time of year. The most wonderful time of the year. At the beginning of October (1st weekend) we have our semi-annual conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Lots of great wisdom to apply to my life for the next 6 months, and answers to prayers for current problems in my life. I love listening for the Spirit and it's instructions to me through prophets, seers, and revelators! This year, it was so fun to take a trip and attend in person with 3 of our 4 oldest sons. One of them being our newly returned missionary.
November is gratitude month. How I love Thanksgiving and the near inability to commercialize it. It is simply a time to be grateful. To be with family. To slow down. To remember blessings. To transition into the happiest time of the year for me.
December. My birthday doesn't even phase me anymore, but it's in December and I LOVE that I share it with the celebration of our Savior's birth. I love almost EVERYTHING about Christmas. The crispness in the air, even in Arizona. The MUSIC. I overdose on Christmas music. Family. Shopping. Light. Secrets. Stories. Traditions. Gifts. Surprises. Santa. The baby Jesus. Nativities. Food. Goodies. Trees. Ornaments. Decorations. Parties. And on and on. I could live without the overcommercialism. Other than that, PERFECT.
And finally. New Years. A time at the end of a year and beginning of a new one, to contemplate. How did I do? Where can I improve? What do I want to accomplish?
And then I leave it all behind and start looking toward Spring.
October 1 to January 1 is my favorite time of year. The most wonderful time of the year. At the beginning of October (1st weekend) we have our semi-annual conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Lots of great wisdom to apply to my life for the next 6 months, and answers to prayers for current problems in my life. I love listening for the Spirit and it's instructions to me through prophets, seers, and revelators! This year, it was so fun to take a trip and attend in person with 3 of our 4 oldest sons. One of them being our newly returned missionary.
November is gratitude month. How I love Thanksgiving and the near inability to commercialize it. It is simply a time to be grateful. To be with family. To slow down. To remember blessings. To transition into the happiest time of the year for me.
December. My birthday doesn't even phase me anymore, but it's in December and I LOVE that I share it with the celebration of our Savior's birth. I love almost EVERYTHING about Christmas. The crispness in the air, even in Arizona. The MUSIC. I overdose on Christmas music. Family. Shopping. Light. Secrets. Stories. Traditions. Gifts. Surprises. Santa. The baby Jesus. Nativities. Food. Goodies. Trees. Ornaments. Decorations. Parties. And on and on. I could live without the overcommercialism. Other than that, PERFECT.
And finally. New Years. A time at the end of a year and beginning of a new one, to contemplate. How did I do? Where can I improve? What do I want to accomplish?
And then I leave it all behind and start looking toward Spring.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
I'm so Thankful I'm Me
This weekend, we bought the DVD Tangled. What a fabulous telling Disney created with Rapunzel. The theme of the movie is about dreaming. Dreaming for something wonderful.
True stories, but how I used to Daydream!. I remember getting my work done early at school, propping my chin on my hand, and letting my imagination go. I don't remember most of them, but I do remember sometimes dreaming I would have my mother back. Not *A* mother...*MY* mother. Even though I knew things had not been right when my parents were together, I still dreamed of that happy family unit.
Eventually, I gave up that dream. I knew it would never be. My dad moved on. My mom moved on. And my brother and I adjusted and survived. There were many disappointments in my childhood without a mother of my mother own. But, I kept daydreaming.
Another dream that began to blossom, was a family of my own. I don't think I thought much of the whole family deal, but I sure dreamed of my prince charming. There were times I prayed for that future someone. I even sometimes thought I felt the presence of that someone through space and time. I knew I wanted to be his special someone and I made promises that would keep only for him.
The point of this post is dreams, not the whole story. So, we fast forward 30 years to where I am now. Through years of trial and struggle and beginning to really know myself. All of it, with someone wonderful at my side. First, one wonderful person, then another, and another, and another, until just me, became us, and turned into a family. And far many more laughs and joy and success, than trial and struggle.
There are still trials and major disappointments, but not in ways I continue to see others dear to me struggle. I watched Tangled tonight and saw that my rocky beginning has magically changed into something of a dreamland...a fairy tale. And I have learned that I am a big part of the creation of that story. I hope I continue to create dreams.
No, I don't sing and dance and twirl through each day. Some days are bland and boring. But I don't have to worry about food in my children's mouths. I don't worry where we will lay our heads. I know that my marriage is secure. I delight in the children that surround me near and far. And I am ever so grateful that a divine Someone led me by the hand, step by step, into my nearly fairytale life.
Every Disney movie has villains and heroes, as well as trials and triumphs. And my life has those too. But, I loved the lyrics in the song I See the Light. I felt like they described my life to some degree. And I felt happy and thankful. I don't have hair like Rapunzel, but The Bish sure has hair like Flynn, well, plus a lot of grey. Here is my favorite scene and song (that I identify with) from Tangled.
If you like this post, please share or comment.
I'm so Thankful I'm Me
This weekend, we bought the DVD Tangled. What a fabulous telling Disney created with Rapunzel. The theme of the movie is about dreaming. Dreaming for something wonderful.
True stories, but how I used to Daydream!. I remember getting my work done early at school, propping my chin on my hand, and letting my imagination go. I don't remember most of them, but I do remember sometimes dreaming I would have my mother back. Not *A* mother...*MY* mother. Even though I knew things had not been right when my parents were together, I still dreamed of that happy family unit.
Eventually, I gave up that dream. I knew it would never be. My dad moved on. My mom moved on. And my brother and I adjusted and survived. There were many disappointments in my childhood without a mother of my mother own. But, I kept daydreaming.
Another dream that began to blossom, was a family of my own. I don't think I thought much of the whole family deal, but I sure dreamed of my prince charming. There were times I prayed for that future someone. I even sometimes thought I felt the presence of that someone through space and time. I knew I wanted to be his special someone and I made promises that would keep only for him.
The point of this post is dreams, not the whole story. So, we fast forward 30 years to where I am now. Through years of trial and struggle and beginning to really know myself. All of it, with someone wonderful at my side. First, one wonderful person, then another, and another, and another, until just me, became us, and turned into a family. And far many more laughs and joy and success, than trial and struggle.
There are still trials and major disappointments, but not in ways I continue to see others dear to me struggle. I watched Tangled tonight and saw that my rocky beginning has magically changed into something of a dreamland...a fairy tale. And I have learned that I am a big part of the creation of that story. I hope I continue to create dreams.
No, I don't sing and dance and twirl through each day. Some days are bland and boring. But I don't have to worry about food in my children's mouths. I don't worry where we will lay our heads. I know that my marriage is secure. I delight in the children that surround me near and far. And I am ever so grateful that a divine Someone led me by the hand, step by step, into my nearly fairytale life.
Every Disney movie has villains and heroes, as well as trials and triumphs. And my life has those too. But, I loved the lyrics in the song I See the Light. I felt like they described my life to some degree. And I felt happy and thankful. I don't have hair like Rapunzel, but The Bish sure has hair like Flynn, well, plus a lot of grey. Here is my favorite scene and song (that I identify with) from Tangled.
If you like this post, please share or comment.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Why I am Smarter than the President and Congress Put Together
IAT = I am thankful (It's Veteran's Day and I am so grateful for those who have given so much)
;-) How one idea solves the economy, unemployment, and health care. With one broom and mop tied behind my back.
After I wrote this post, I found this article, from just a few days ago, which gives some weight to my idea but doesn't go far enough. I am also smarter than Huffington Post. (I am joking, SERIOUSLY!)
So, this is partially tongue in cheek, because I don't have a think tank, or economists, or lawyers in the White House like my friend Thad, but I will say, that I am an idea girl. I cannot help it. They come rolling into my brain uninvited but welcomed. It can get me in trouble, because I naturally see the ways to solve problems (and you may not agree at all), and some people don't like it when you have suggestions, or questions, or things they didn't think of it themselves, or they are just plain fine with things as they are. But, I digress.
Would anyone disagree that our nation at least on some levels is in crisis? I know there are amazing things that continue to happen, but it seems we are falling apart at the seams. I truly believe this election is the most important in history and I am not digging my choices at the moment for election next year.
I'm just going to warn you right now, this might be long. We'll see where my head takes me. I also have to mention my friend Christy who thinks I should be governor of Arizona. Hahaha. I think I better find a public office to run for soon, if THAT is ever going to happen in her wildest dreams. I love you Christy.
Anyway, I love AMERICA!!! Not the US of A, because to me that seems like some made up, distant, governmental entity. AMERICA!!! That is something totally different to me. Hey, I have never denied being weird. Her spirit, her history, her scenery, her people, her personality. Love, love, love. Is there anything left of it? Oh how my soul yearns that there is.
One of the reasons I love her so, is my dad. My dad crisscrossed this country as a single dad with kids in tow. He took us to almost every historical site in the country. I've been to the Alamo, Custer's Last Stand, Mt Rushmore, the Liberty Bell, the Smithsonian and everything else in DC, Gettysburgh, Elvis' home and birthplace, Presidential libraries, the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and I could go on for days. I got my history lessons where they happened.
All along the way, he spoke of history, our founding, law, government, economics, and more. And one thing he taught me that has come back to me often as I read the news, see what's happening in our precious country, and so forth, is that any nation will remain strong as long as they have 3 things. Now, I never fact checked this, I just believed it. I have no idea if it is REALLY true, but it sure SEEMS true as we watch the economic collapse of our country, if the course is not corrected.
He told me a nation would remain great as long as it had strong agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Think about that for a minute. (I assume mining includes forestry and oil, coal, and gas). What do we have left of those industries? Extreme environmentalism has crushed forestry (with the resulting massive wildfires that we saw like in the state of Arizona this year), and the oil and gas industry. I am not against common sense management of our natural resources. We have TONS and TONS and TONS of oil and natural gas available to us, and yet we are being held hostage by other nations and are at their mercy for our energy. Why? I have no idea. I am only touching barely on these three things.
Agriculture. We import a huge amount of our food now. And I am not sure of all of the story behind it, but I know California that produces an enormous amount of our food is having serious problems with the government and water and farming. Hello! Is anyone paying attention? If our food situation becomes like our oil and gas situation, we will become dependent on other nations for our FOOD!!!!! Hello! We could be brought to our knees in weeks if a group of countries simply decides to stop supplying us. Only the self-reliant would survive. And don't get me started on CORPORATE America and what it has done to farming. That is a rant I've had written for a couple of weeks in my head that will be for later. :-)
Manufacturing. This is where I really start squirting blood out of my eyes. In case you don't know, horned toads, which most people call horny toads, squirt blood out of there eyes when they are stressed. Google images if you don't believe me. I live in Arizona, so there you go. Manufacturing in America? Does it even exist anymore? Detroit is in ruins. Millions of jobs have been exported to other countries all because of a pretty little treaty called NAFTA. I am sure there is more to it than that. My think tank is goldfish sized. But, the fact is, our GDP has decreased by more than half. I think. Fact check me. I'm not going to. Our strength as a nation is in people working and creating stuff for us to consume. When we export that major part of our economy, our economy eventually collapses, due to the fact that PEOPLE with jobs, no longer have them and are competing with everyone else for a smaller supply of them. Couple that with all of those people on unemployment and welfare. Combine that with smaller spending and a reliance on government to solve the problem. Well they should solve the problem, THEY created it!!!!
My answer is coming. I promise. And here it is. Even though I dinged CORPORATE America earlier, they are the solution to the problem. But they cannot be the solution because we have a government that is hostile to them. We already have the fleeing of corporate America to other countries. One of the reasons that is, is because America has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Well you don't have to be a rocket surgeon (yes, I did that on purpose) or PRESIDENT or CONGRESSMAN, to figure out that if the tax rate is substantially better in another part of the world, that is where the corporations are going. And therein lies the solution.
You set the CORPORATE tax rate in America to ZERO. That's right. ZERO. I can already hear the screams of the libs who don't read my blog. ZERO taxes? First of all, zero taxes, brings CORPORATE America back, and the creation of jobs in the goods department. Secondly, in return for ZERO taxes, the only requirement is that they run the business environmentally friendly (who can even define that anymore?) and they provide health care to all of their employees. Ta da! I just created millions of jobs, and all of those "tax payers" are now paying taxes and getting off government welfare. In addition, the government has saved billions of dollars because they don't have to provide healthcare (neither should they, but that is for another post). We are importing less, keeping our dollars home, the "tax payers" are spending their money because they have it, which saves the economy. Consumer confidence rises. Massive social spending can be cut.....it all makes sense, don't you think?
Now if we can just do something about all the overspending and the coming collapse of the dollar. But that is for another day. I can't flush all the Gadianton Robbers out in one post. If you've never read the Book of Mormon or heard of that Wild Bunch, you'll have to click it. I'd say more, but I think only two people are reading at this point. :-)
;-) How one idea solves the economy, unemployment, and health care. With one broom and mop tied behind my back.
After I wrote this post, I found this article, from just a few days ago, which gives some weight to my idea but doesn't go far enough. I am also smarter than Huffington Post. (I am joking, SERIOUSLY!)
So, this is partially tongue in cheek, because I don't have a think tank, or economists, or lawyers in the White House like my friend Thad, but I will say, that I am an idea girl. I cannot help it. They come rolling into my brain uninvited but welcomed. It can get me in trouble, because I naturally see the ways to solve problems (and you may not agree at all), and some people don't like it when you have suggestions, or questions, or things they didn't think of it themselves, or they are just plain fine with things as they are. But, I digress.
Would anyone disagree that our nation at least on some levels is in crisis? I know there are amazing things that continue to happen, but it seems we are falling apart at the seams. I truly believe this election is the most important in history and I am not digging my choices at the moment for election next year.
I'm just going to warn you right now, this might be long. We'll see where my head takes me. I also have to mention my friend Christy who thinks I should be governor of Arizona. Hahaha. I think I better find a public office to run for soon, if THAT is ever going to happen in her wildest dreams. I love you Christy.
Anyway, I love AMERICA!!! Not the US of A, because to me that seems like some made up, distant, governmental entity. AMERICA!!! That is something totally different to me. Hey, I have never denied being weird. Her spirit, her history, her scenery, her people, her personality. Love, love, love. Is there anything left of it? Oh how my soul yearns that there is.
One of the reasons I love her so, is my dad. My dad crisscrossed this country as a single dad with kids in tow. He took us to almost every historical site in the country. I've been to the Alamo, Custer's Last Stand, Mt Rushmore, the Liberty Bell, the Smithsonian and everything else in DC, Gettysburgh, Elvis' home and birthplace, Presidential libraries, the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and I could go on for days. I got my history lessons where they happened.
my dear old dad
All along the way, he spoke of history, our founding, law, government, economics, and more. And one thing he taught me that has come back to me often as I read the news, see what's happening in our precious country, and so forth, is that any nation will remain strong as long as they have 3 things. Now, I never fact checked this, I just believed it. I have no idea if it is REALLY true, but it sure SEEMS true as we watch the economic collapse of our country, if the course is not corrected.
He told me a nation would remain great as long as it had strong agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Think about that for a minute. (I assume mining includes forestry and oil, coal, and gas). What do we have left of those industries? Extreme environmentalism has crushed forestry (with the resulting massive wildfires that we saw like in the state of Arizona this year), and the oil and gas industry. I am not against common sense management of our natural resources. We have TONS and TONS and TONS of oil and natural gas available to us, and yet we are being held hostage by other nations and are at their mercy for our energy. Why? I have no idea. I am only touching barely on these three things.
Agriculture. We import a huge amount of our food now. And I am not sure of all of the story behind it, but I know California that produces an enormous amount of our food is having serious problems with the government and water and farming. Hello! Is anyone paying attention? If our food situation becomes like our oil and gas situation, we will become dependent on other nations for our FOOD!!!!! Hello! We could be brought to our knees in weeks if a group of countries simply decides to stop supplying us. Only the self-reliant would survive. And don't get me started on CORPORATE America and what it has done to farming. That is a rant I've had written for a couple of weeks in my head that will be for later. :-)
Manufacturing. This is where I really start squirting blood out of my eyes. In case you don't know, horned toads, which most people call horny toads, squirt blood out of there eyes when they are stressed. Google images if you don't believe me. I live in Arizona, so there you go. Manufacturing in America? Does it even exist anymore? Detroit is in ruins. Millions of jobs have been exported to other countries all because of a pretty little treaty called NAFTA. I am sure there is more to it than that. My think tank is goldfish sized. But, the fact is, our GDP has decreased by more than half. I think. Fact check me. I'm not going to. Our strength as a nation is in people working and creating stuff for us to consume. When we export that major part of our economy, our economy eventually collapses, due to the fact that PEOPLE with jobs, no longer have them and are competing with everyone else for a smaller supply of them. Couple that with all of those people on unemployment and welfare. Combine that with smaller spending and a reliance on government to solve the problem. Well they should solve the problem, THEY created it!!!!
My answer is coming. I promise. And here it is. Even though I dinged CORPORATE America earlier, they are the solution to the problem. But they cannot be the solution because we have a government that is hostile to them. We already have the fleeing of corporate America to other countries. One of the reasons that is, is because America has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Well you don't have to be a rocket surgeon (yes, I did that on purpose) or PRESIDENT or CONGRESSMAN, to figure out that if the tax rate is substantially better in another part of the world, that is where the corporations are going. And therein lies the solution.
You set the CORPORATE tax rate in America to ZERO. That's right. ZERO. I can already hear the screams of the libs who don't read my blog. ZERO taxes? First of all, zero taxes, brings CORPORATE America back, and the creation of jobs in the goods department. Secondly, in return for ZERO taxes, the only requirement is that they run the business environmentally friendly (who can even define that anymore?) and they provide health care to all of their employees. Ta da! I just created millions of jobs, and all of those "tax payers" are now paying taxes and getting off government welfare. In addition, the government has saved billions of dollars because they don't have to provide healthcare (neither should they, but that is for another post). We are importing less, keeping our dollars home, the "tax payers" are spending their money because they have it, which saves the economy. Consumer confidence rises. Massive social spending can be cut.....it all makes sense, don't you think?
Now if we can just do something about all the overspending and the coming collapse of the dollar. But that is for another day. I can't flush all the Gadianton Robbers out in one post. If you've never read the Book of Mormon or heard of that Wild Bunch, you'll have to click it. I'd say more, but I think only two people are reading at this point. :-)
Monday, October 31, 2011
IAT for this beautiful face!
IAT = I am thankful
This is my friend Sherry. She moved into our area a few years back with her dear hubby named Teddy. She is a very vibrant, happy person. She's also short. So, every time she sees me she declares a hug a tall person day, and I declare a hug a Relief Society President day. In case you do not know. A Relief Society President is the president over the local area women's group in the LDS church. So, she is very busy tending to the special needs of hundreds of women.
She doesn't get paid. There was no special training. Baptism by fire if you will. But, she usually has that wonderful smile on her face. Sadly, she is also recently a widow. Her husband nearly finished the home they built together and planned retirement in, and then he left suddenly. I know it is very hard for her to face each day without her dear Teddy, but she does it. She's a great example to me, of putting on your boots and going to work no matter what may be holding you back.
Thanks Sherry for leading the sisters in our ward!
This is my friend Sherry. She moved into our area a few years back with her dear hubby named Teddy. She is a very vibrant, happy person. She's also short. So, every time she sees me she declares a hug a tall person day, and I declare a hug a Relief Society President day. In case you do not know. A Relief Society President is the president over the local area women's group in the LDS church. So, she is very busy tending to the special needs of hundreds of women.
She doesn't get paid. There was no special training. Baptism by fire if you will. But, she usually has that wonderful smile on her face. Sadly, she is also recently a widow. Her husband nearly finished the home they built together and planned retirement in, and then he left suddenly. I know it is very hard for her to face each day without her dear Teddy, but she does it. She's a great example to me, of putting on your boots and going to work no matter what may be holding you back.
Thanks Sherry for leading the sisters in our ward!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
I HATE...fill in the blank
James 3: 8-10
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
It has probably been at least 6 years since I began a quest of sorts of self-improvement. I didn't really do it on purpose. I read a simple little book oft mentioned in my blog. As a Man Thinketh. As soon as I got over how beautiful it was, I understood the simple truth that man is the creator of his thoughts, and I wanted to learn to create wonderful thoughts. Over the few months following reading it, I began trying to weed out my overgrown garden that is my mind. I began correcting false and harmful thoughts; reversing them.
Over time, my spirits lifted. I thought better of my self and others. And I do see changes in my thoughts, words, actions, and temperament because of it. A simple success formula. Watch your thoughts, control your words. Easier said than done. It takes LOTS of practice. And I believe it will never end.
The reading of that lovely little book, took me down a road that I believe is less traveled. A road to systematically eliminate my many negative traits and become what God has fashioned me to be. I don't have the clear vision He does, of what that is, but I continue to strive for it, and as I do, He reveals little pieces of it to me. I have not yet achieved perfection I am sorry to say, but I do feel I am a better person, still with a long way to go.
Why is the tongue so poisonous? Why is it compared to fire? Poison and fire sicken and destroy. And our words do that every day. How can we bless God and curse Him with the same part of our body? How can we praise Him and curse our friends? These things ought not to be.
Brigham Young said,
I have but recently told you that some people think they are capable of judging everybody but themselves. Let us judge ourselves. And if any are disposed to let that unruly member, the tongue, do that which will wound the heart, darken the spirit, and bring us into subjection to an evil practice, resist such a disposition—throw it from you. If you will do that, you will find that the wicked will forsake their wickedness, and those who are inclined to think evil will cease doing so, and those who are inclined to utter evil words about their neighbors will cease that habit, and it will not be long before the people have perfect control over themselves. If you first gain power to check your words, you will then begin to have power to check your judgment, and at length actually gain power to check your thoughts and reflections.
So, I keep trying. A teacher/mentor whose seminar I attended caught me in mid sentence with my destructive words. It was a minor, simple thing. I said, "I hate early mornings." He looked at me fiercely and asked me, "What did you say?" When I began to repeat it, he stopped me after the second word. Hate. "I hate." He encouraged me to watch that expression. I hate? I don't hate. I don't WANT to hate. But our words can reveal that we do indeed hate.
I did not take action on that right away. Just a month or so ago, I decided it was time to try to eliminate that word. I have been pretty good at replacing it with, I don't love, I am not a fan of, I don't care for. An even better suggestion is to focus my words on what I do love, am a fan of, do care for. I was doing so well.
Then the other day I did not even catch myself say, "I hate candy." I don't really hate candy. I was speaking of Halloween and how it is not my favorite holiday. Pretty sure I probably also said I hate Halloween. I don't care for the excessive amounts of candy or sugar, or for that matter costumes, decorations, blah, blah, blah. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas though. :-)
Anywho. She repeated that back to me tonight at the Halloween carnival I took the Arteest and the Butterfly to. Oh the irony! I was horrified it had slipped past me and determined to give myself the write 100 times assignment. I will NOT say hate. But, I will use my own advice and phrase it properly. So, since the next 100 sentences will all be exactly the same, you can stop reading here. Haha.
I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with
Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love.I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with
Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with
Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with
Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I
will replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will
replace hate with Love. I will replace hate with Love. I will replace
hate with Love.
It really is 100 times.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Let the RANTS begin
WARNING! This post contains graphic images. They may upset those with
a weak stomach. I hope they will shock both the sensitivities and
sensibilities of decent people. You can skip to the video at the end to
skip the pictures.
I had a post I was going to write yesterday that I will get to. But today, something bumped it. I have pared down the political issues I really care about. The ones I REALLY care about are ones that government has no business in, in the first place. And definitely the federal government has no business in because, the Constitution says that the rights not given to the federal government specifically (and that is most everything they have taken over), belong exclusively to the states. I am sure it is more complicated than that. I don't read law in my spare time.
I've been meaning to watch a video clip for the last week. It meant setting aside 30 minutes to do it. And when I did; how I was moved. But I have to go back a few years to explain. At least 10 years ago, I went to a convention on the family in Mesa, Az. Various leaders and speakers expounded on family issues and the growing threat to the family. I still remember some of the things I learned that day. Outside the convention were booths representing groups and organizations that were pro-family. There was a pro-life booth. I actually think perhaps the pro-life movement should call themselves the anti-murder movement, but I am about being positive, so going with pro-life is probably much better.
There were two young college girls manning (or girling ) the booth and we struck up a conversation. I told them that I thought abortion in our day was like the holocaust. And I told them of a picture I had in my head with a slogan. I described it to them according to the picture I just created below. If you don't want to see aborted babies, it may be too late to stop reading.
Please
consider that I have been kind in my selection of a black and white
photo with fully formed babies, if that can possibly kind. It completely
offends everything within me. But the alternatives are gruesome. I am a
mother of 7. I have experienced pregnancy 8 times and birth 7 times. I
can honestly say, that the births of my children were some of the
moments closest to heaven I have every experienced. Not having
experienced heaven of course, but only imagining it.
So, when I saw the ad for the video below, I was happy that someone else, I am sure many others, saw abortion as I do. A modern day holocaust. I finally took the time today to watch it. Even if you are a pro-life (anti-murder) supporter, it is worth watching. The prevailing PC of our day is gone and logic is used to explain the similarities between the two, along with morality, heaven and hell, justice and mercy. Well done. So well done. I hope you will take 30 minutes to watch it when you can and then share it with others. It's called 180 because several of the young people in the video (some of whom had never heard of ADOLPH HITLER!!), made a 180 change in their opinion about life and death in the womb. Very COOL!
I had a post I was going to write yesterday that I will get to. But today, something bumped it. I have pared down the political issues I really care about. The ones I REALLY care about are ones that government has no business in, in the first place. And definitely the federal government has no business in because, the Constitution says that the rights not given to the federal government specifically (and that is most everything they have taken over), belong exclusively to the states. I am sure it is more complicated than that. I don't read law in my spare time.
I've been meaning to watch a video clip for the last week. It meant setting aside 30 minutes to do it. And when I did; how I was moved. But I have to go back a few years to explain. At least 10 years ago, I went to a convention on the family in Mesa, Az. Various leaders and speakers expounded on family issues and the growing threat to the family. I still remember some of the things I learned that day. Outside the convention were booths representing groups and organizations that were pro-family. There was a pro-life booth. I actually think perhaps the pro-life movement should call themselves the anti-murder movement, but I am about being positive, so going with pro-life is probably much better.
There were two young college girls manning (or girling ) the booth and we struck up a conversation. I told them that I thought abortion in our day was like the holocaust. And I told them of a picture I had in my head with a slogan. I described it to them according to the picture I just created below. If you don't want to see aborted babies, it may be too late to stop reading.
So, when I saw the ad for the video below, I was happy that someone else, I am sure many others, saw abortion as I do. A modern day holocaust. I finally took the time today to watch it. Even if you are a pro-life (anti-murder) supporter, it is worth watching. The prevailing PC of our day is gone and logic is used to explain the similarities between the two, along with morality, heaven and hell, justice and mercy. Well done. So well done. I hope you will take 30 minutes to watch it when you can and then share it with others. It's called 180 because several of the young people in the video (some of whom had never heard of ADOLPH HITLER!!), made a 180 change in their opinion about life and death in the womb. Very COOL!
Monday, October 24, 2011
IAT for new OPPORTUNITIES
IAT = I am thankful
PROJECT CENTRL
So, this is my brand new opportunity. I spent way too much time last year saying I was bored and lonely. Life seems to have taken care of that anyway. But because I did not have too much to do at the time, and a friend of mine recommended me for this program, I decided to apply for it. It is a rural leadership program, training well, leaders in rural Arizona to do a better job of leading. We will study personal skills, Arizona issues, political considerations, legislation, agriculture, and I am sure a whole lot more that I don't even know yet.
For the next year, I will attend 6 monthly meetings, and then in May, we will go to Canada for a 5 day trip to study and learn and experience their issues. We includes only 21 people in the entire state chosen for the group. I feel pretty honored to be a part of it. We are class XXI. THe second year, we will have 6 more monthly classes (we get summers off), and then culminate with an 8 day trip to our nation's capitol. How great is that? What an opportunity for me.
Our first meeting was 2 weeks ago. I met and spent 2 1/2 days with the other 20 people in my class. We had a lot of fun and spent a lot of time learning about different personalities and how to get along with them. This will be pretty critical over the next two years as we tackle issues that can be very divisive. I appreciate, particularly with problems I have had in the past, that it was emphasized that because issues are divisive, it does not mean we cannot be respectful.
In addition, I will be expected to come up with a project that is of benefit to my community. I have some ideas and hope I will be able to create one that will have a lasting impact. So, that is going to be a major part of my extra curricular life the next two years. I am so excited to meet and understand and become friends with so many new people. For the fun and networking it will inevitably brings. And who knows? It may shape my life in ways I never imagined.
And here is where I have to say thank you to the most supportive and encouraging husband and children on the planet. I could do nothing without them. They mean the world to me and I am so grateful they are willing to let me experience this opportunity.
PROJECT CENTRL
So, this is my brand new opportunity. I spent way too much time last year saying I was bored and lonely. Life seems to have taken care of that anyway. But because I did not have too much to do at the time, and a friend of mine recommended me for this program, I decided to apply for it. It is a rural leadership program, training well, leaders in rural Arizona to do a better job of leading. We will study personal skills, Arizona issues, political considerations, legislation, agriculture, and I am sure a whole lot more that I don't even know yet.
For the next year, I will attend 6 monthly meetings, and then in May, we will go to Canada for a 5 day trip to study and learn and experience their issues. We includes only 21 people in the entire state chosen for the group. I feel pretty honored to be a part of it. We are class XXI. THe second year, we will have 6 more monthly classes (we get summers off), and then culminate with an 8 day trip to our nation's capitol. How great is that? What an opportunity for me.
Our first meeting was 2 weeks ago. I met and spent 2 1/2 days with the other 20 people in my class. We had a lot of fun and spent a lot of time learning about different personalities and how to get along with them. This will be pretty critical over the next two years as we tackle issues that can be very divisive. I appreciate, particularly with problems I have had in the past, that it was emphasized that because issues are divisive, it does not mean we cannot be respectful.
In addition, I will be expected to come up with a project that is of benefit to my community. I have some ideas and hope I will be able to create one that will have a lasting impact. So, that is going to be a major part of my extra curricular life the next two years. I am so excited to meet and understand and become friends with so many new people. For the fun and networking it will inevitably brings. And who knows? It may shape my life in ways I never imagined.
And here is where I have to say thank you to the most supportive and encouraging husband and children on the planet. I could do nothing without them. They mean the world to me and I am so grateful they are willing to let me experience this opportunity.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
IAT for Joyful Occasions
IAT = I am thankful
I don't know about you, but when I think about the happiest days of my life, it almost always involves family. Even if you have a family that you wonder about, there are still great experiences you have with at least some of them. Sometimes, if you are twice blessed, it also involves or instead of family, friends. The last few weeks have been full of joyous family and friend celebrating and I am so very thankful.
A little over 2 years ago, we sent this beautiful boy of ours to the great state of Kentucky to serve a mission.
I now confess that I dropped him off with his older brother who was serving in Utah as a missionary so they could spend a short 36 hours together before EN2 went for training and 2 years on his own with almost no contact. I was literally there long enough to hug EN1 and take this picture, then I had to leave.
He went to this beautiful green state.
Met and blessed the lives of many good people.
Including lots of soldiers.
He had great experiences with lots of other young men his age.
And then a little over two weeks ago, he came home!
Very happy momma.
Happy brothers.
Happy poppa.
Happy little sisters.
Then there is this sweet little thing. Our Arteest. She turned 8 in August. And normally, an 8th birthday is when our children are baptized. But she wanted her missionary brother to be home. So, she waited until the end of September and then waited some more. It took us until this weekend to find a free weekend for both of them. It was a very happy day, with lots of friends.
The day after, The Mish 2 reported his mission. There were lots of friends and family on hand and lots of fun. We feel so blessed to be able to celebrate these milestones and to look ahead to many more happy days. Life is so good!
I don't know about you, but when I think about the happiest days of my life, it almost always involves family. Even if you have a family that you wonder about, there are still great experiences you have with at least some of them. Sometimes, if you are twice blessed, it also involves or instead of family, friends. The last few weeks have been full of joyous family and friend celebrating and I am so very thankful.
A little over 2 years ago, we sent this beautiful boy of ours to the great state of Kentucky to serve a mission.
I now confess that I dropped him off with his older brother who was serving in Utah as a missionary so they could spend a short 36 hours together before EN2 went for training and 2 years on his own with almost no contact. I was literally there long enough to hug EN1 and take this picture, then I had to leave.
He went to this beautiful green state.
Met and blessed the lives of many good people.
Including lots of soldiers.
He had great experiences with lots of other young men his age.
And then a little over two weeks ago, he came home!
Very happy momma.
Happy brothers.
Happy poppa.
The day after, The Mish 2 reported his mission. There were lots of friends and family on hand and lots of fun. We feel so blessed to be able to celebrate these milestones and to look ahead to many more happy days. Life is so good!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
I THINK IAT
IAT = I am thankful
I've changed my entire layout. I really like it. But I am feeling a little lost and there are some things I don't like so much. Like all my little gadgets...they can't be on the side bar anymore. And I can't put my pages in the order I want. That really bugs me, so we will see if this lasts, or if I have the patience to figure out some of those things. I really like the look, but the stuff I am used to? It kind of feels like facebook played with my blog. Any of you on facebook know exactly what I mean.
And oh yeah, this is not really a real post. The Bish called me this morning and asked me if I was still blogging. He said he misses my posts. I didn't know if anyone would notice. Besides my counter that I watch and the feedjit gadget, I would not know anyone even reads, because no one comments. Soooo. We've had a completely exciting and wonderful almost two weeks. I'd better post about that before I go out of town again and it's several more days. But for now, I've wasted too much time today. So, I'll be thankful later. Haha.
I've changed my entire layout. I really like it. But I am feeling a little lost and there are some things I don't like so much. Like all my little gadgets...they can't be on the side bar anymore. And I can't put my pages in the order I want. That really bugs me, so we will see if this lasts, or if I have the patience to figure out some of those things. I really like the look, but the stuff I am used to? It kind of feels like facebook played with my blog. Any of you on facebook know exactly what I mean.
And oh yeah, this is not really a real post. The Bish called me this morning and asked me if I was still blogging. He said he misses my posts. I didn't know if anyone would notice. Besides my counter that I watch and the feedjit gadget, I would not know anyone even reads, because no one comments. Soooo. We've had a completely exciting and wonderful almost two weeks. I'd better post about that before I go out of town again and it's several more days. But for now, I've wasted too much time today. So, I'll be thankful later. Haha.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Oh how IAT for America!
IAT = I am thankful
From the time my parents split up, my dad became a traveler. He was a business man that had business all over. I think he was a manufacturer's rep for awhile. Then we got into motocross, then Nascar. We went everywhere.
Here are only some of the places I remember going with my dad off the top of my head. You can skip down to the rest of my post if you don't care where I went.
New York City, Washington DC, every state but Alaska and Hawaii, many historical sites like: (Once my daddy took me to Maine for lunch because we were so close and I wanted to be able to say I'd been to Maine).
Gettysburg, the Cyclorama in Atlanta, Kennesaw Battlefield, the Alamo, Custer's Last Stand--Little Bighorn, Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Capital Building, the White House, the Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, Congress, Supreme Court Building, Mt Vernon, the Pony Express, the birthplaces of famous people like Elvis, Joel Chandler Harris, the St Louis arch. Many, many race tracks, Taladega, Darlington, Charlottesville, Atlanta International Racetrack, Daytona multiple times.
He took me to Mexico, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, the Black Sea, and I could go on and on.
Here is something I remember more than once.
I remember driving across the great plains at night and seeing amazing lightning storms in the clouds. I loved how the lightning went, not only down to the ground, but also how it traveled across the sky from cloud to cloud.
From the time my parents split up, my dad became a traveler. He was a business man that had business all over. I think he was a manufacturer's rep for awhile. Then we got into motocross, then Nascar. We went everywhere.
Here are only some of the places I remember going with my dad off the top of my head. You can skip down to the rest of my post if you don't care where I went.
New York City, Washington DC, every state but Alaska and Hawaii, many historical sites like: (Once my daddy took me to Maine for lunch because we were so close and I wanted to be able to say I'd been to Maine).
Gettysburg, the Cyclorama in Atlanta, Kennesaw Battlefield, the Alamo, Custer's Last Stand--Little Bighorn, Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Capital Building, the White House, the Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, Congress, Supreme Court Building, Mt Vernon, the Pony Express, the birthplaces of famous people like Elvis, Joel Chandler Harris, the St Louis arch. Many, many race tracks, Taladega, Darlington, Charlottesville, Atlanta International Racetrack, Daytona multiple times.
He took me to Mexico, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, the Black Sea, and I could go on and on.
Here is something I remember more than once.
Scenes like the Tetons were a regular part of our travels. One of my favorite trips was one of my first cross country drives by myself. I was in college, and I cranked up the country tunes all the way. I remember driving across a valley while listening to I'm Proud to be an American, by Lee Greenwood. I remember truly feeling blessed. Some day I would like to see other countries like Europe. I really want to do an African safari. But, my dear husband wants to see our land, and I will love seeing it again with him. Because as a child, I'm sure I have forgotten most of the grandeur. Even though I do remember things like being in the Passion play at the foothills of Mt Rushmore.
So, I really loved driving home from Denver this week in my hubby's new truck, listening to tunes with one of my favorite people in all the world, as we watched the mountains, rainbows, rollings hills, and desert come into view. How I love America and her beauty. And tomorrow, I get to drive across Arizona and get ready to welcome home my missionary son. :-)
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