I Loved you 2012

IAT = I am thankful

1. For saying goodbye.
2. For embracing the new and new hellos.
3. For every need supplied.
4. For new opportunities.
5. For being able to choose again.

 I am so grateful for a few things this year. Our dear eldest son, gave us a new daughter. As in he got married. And we love her. Many more days with my hubby, who I could be looking back and sadly missing him. For a very much missed son serving His Lord and Savior on a mission. Children whose cars were in accidents but they were not. Safe and sound and still mine. For the growth of the oldest one at home, living and working "on his own," and for another year with him. For new opportunities and friends in new places. For loving friends who will always be in our hearts and not far away. For new discoveries about myself, and seeing my dreams appear before my eyes. What a great year! Looking forward to 2013.

New Year's Resolutions?

I've decided no more for me. Since relationships are most important to me, I'm focusing my life on that. I want to focus my life on 3 areas. Developing a better relationship with my Lord and Savior. Developing a better relationship and spending better time with my husband and children, and family and friends when I can. And finally, spending my time serving others, professionally and every day opportunities with those in need.

Christmas 2012

IAT = I am thankful

Let's see where this goes. Every year is so busy. What's that song? I'm so dizzy my head is spinnin'. Haha. That sums up our year. I am sure most of you can relate. If you have kids and jobs and life events, you're busy too.

The biggest news in our family is that we have grown by one. You can see in the above picture, that we gained a new daughter. Elizabeth Richins of Animas, NM, married our oldest son (An)Drew on March 16th of this year. The next biggest news happened the very next week. We are very happy with Elizabeth as a part of our family. She's the only one strong enough to put up with Andrew's antics and she is a wonderful, happy balance.

If you look at the picture above closely, you will see that it was taken at the reception a week later. Joseph is not dressed like his brothers because he left midweek in between the wedding and the reception to the Missionary Training Center to be a missionary for our church. It's cardboard Joseph in the picture. He was surprisingly called to serve in the very same mission as his older brother Andrew. So, he has been in Ogden, Utah since March of this year. Actually he ended up spending 3 months at the MTC and call center because he broke his foot the second week there. He really enjoyed being an online missionary while he healed up. Joseph's MTC claim to fame was being in the MTC with David Archuletta. He ate lunch with Elder Archuletta often, but never took a picture with him because he felt Elder A deserved to be respected and treated like a normal missionary. So he ended up in Ogden in late June the day Andrew's mission president left and a new one came in. Joseph is loving using his musical talent singing at firesides and missionary trainings and conferences.

our Mother's Day chat, ain't he cute?

We decided to stay close to home for vacation this year and spent a few days at a resort in North Phoenix and enjoyed swimming and local sites. We want to see more of Arizona since we live here and all. :-)

Early this year, I took a serious look at our budget and discovered a HUGE gaping hole in our gas budget. We were spending a house payment on gas for Bret to commute 45 minutes each day to his work. And often 2 or 3 days a week I was also commuting to the same area. Since we have no control over the price of gas, it was with great reluctance that we agreed it was necessary to repair the hole and move our family. So, in the Fall of this year, we enrolled our children in the new schools, put our house on the market and crossed our fingers. We commuted, all of us for 3 months. It was a very long, exhausting three months. At the same time, I also changed real estate companies, and went back to Long Realty. In mid November we found renters that are hoping to buy within the year and we moved to Thatcher, Az.

We moved the day after Thanksgiving and its been chaotic every since. Now instead of all of us commuting here for work every day, Bret commutes on Sundays to our church in Duncan as he is still the bishop. He is finishing out the year so that he can wrap up the details of some of his responsibilities. We will finally attend church together however temporarily that might be, and actually sit on a bench together beginning 2013 for the first time in many, many years.We calculated that in almost 25 years of marriage, we've traveled in the same car to church only about 3 of those years, because of his various leadership positions that required his attending meetings before church. His duties as bishop will be over on Jan 6 and perhaps he will stop graying so fast.

But the chaos is winding down, and we can still claim tremendous blessings in our lives.

Drew, Chris, and Jefferson all spent the summer in Des Moines, Iowa selling DISH tv. Andrew earned a trip to Hawaii which he and his bride are enjoying as I write this. The boys are going to repeat the experience, this time with pest control in Denver, Colorado. When Jefferson returns from that, he will head out on a mission, the location we don't yet know. The age of missionary service for boys has been lowered to 18.

Andrew has been attending ASU, through a program at our local Jr College. He will be very close by (2 blocks) studying business for the next 2 years. Chris has been attending the local Jr College and playing basketball. (He is also very close by, next room over, same house, haha) He is serious with a beautiful young lady and we may have news on that next year. Jefferson is enjoying his senior year at Safford High School and participating in their show choir. He is thinking about trying track since he is not allowed to play the sports he wants to because of his transfer. He finished his Eagle Scout paperwork hours before the deadline. Emily and the other children are in Thatcher Schools. They are all happy with their new situations. And we are grateful for that. Emily played volleyball and is now playing basketball. Noah is playing trumpet in the band. Olivia will finally be taking art lessons soon. 

Bret continues as an Institute teacher which is college level religious classes. And as I said, being released as the bishop of our former ward. We have been warmly welcomed into our new ward and will enjoy getting to know new people and having new opportunities. Dawn continues studying self improvement, nutrition, EFT, and has added essential oils to her bag of tricks. She enjoys opportunities to help others heal from physical and emotional stress and has new opportunities opening up to her that she will be excited to share as well. She has found a Master's program in Functional Nutrition. She will also be taking a training to be a Wellness Educator for Metagenics and hopefully working with patients to help them heal on every level instead of just getting a prescriptions to cover symptoms. (Which means her real estate days will be coming to a close very soon).

Well, that is nowhere near a nutshell, but that is our year in summary. We have so much to be grateful for. A family, our faith, employment. We had November elections disappointment, but we know WHO is in charge. And we know we can be prepared for whatever comes by following the teachings of a loving Heavenly Father. We are grateful for the loving grace of His Son and His influence in our family.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope that you and yours are well. Love, The Nortons

I REALLY Don't Get It, Part 3

IAT = I am thankful

1. I allow myself to feel how I feel.
2. I am able to move on.
3. I'm still free to express myself. (today anyway)
4. to enjoy the Sabbath day.
5. for cooler weather.

So, the gist of my little crying fest, was the feeling that America just died.

Why do I feel that way? Because it ended up being so close. We now know that HALF of America is for receiving a handout. (NO it wasn't a "mandate to raise taxes." That's what it boils down to. HALF of America would rather be entertained and lied to than look at the facts and roll up their sleeves for very hard work. I don't mean to offend those few friends of mine who voted for Obama for what they felt were informed choices. I just think this election shows that HALF of America is completely uninformed.

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.  Benjamin Franklin

It is more evident than ever that if you get your information from CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, or the gosh awful MSNBC, that you aren't getting the truth. You aren't. When a so called journalist on MSNBC can go from getting a quiver up his leg four years ago, to becoming a screaming, angry,  anti-white, racist accusing maniac, and still have a job??? There's something wrong. When any reason at all for disagreement is labeled racist? How about I don't like his policies, plain and simple. Our media is now in control of the truth, and they are only telling us half of it. It's propaganda and it's Satanic.

This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins.  ditto

 

 And not only that, I am so disappointed in those who claim to be conservative in leadership. Already left and right, they are abandoning conservative principles because they think America wants more moderation. I couldn't disagree more. We need more conservative leaders and principles and most of the people I know in rural America agree. We've reached the tipping point folks. While American principles will always be true, America has been given possibly a fatal blow. It's apparent there was rampant voter fraud, that will likely continue. The winners are sore winners. What's up with that? An example.

This newsweek cover is the equivalent of na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, good bye. And notice the caption. You're old, you're white, you're history? It's that double standard again. Liberals get away with everything. If Mitt had won, and he was in that Napoean garb, and the headline said You're young, you're black, you're through, there would be no end to the outcry.

And by the way, I know a lot of old white men who are pretty darned decent, hard working, the backbone of this country. They worked hard jobs, fought for our nation, raised families, bailed out their bratty kids, and sometimes raised their grandkids. I know a guy in Washington. We were friends. We are no longer. Because of his highly smug holier than thou condescending attitude toward me and others who dared argue with his brainwashed liberal double standard thinking. Out of one side of his mouth he advocated Christ like behavior. And out of the other, he castigated stupid, racist, tea party conservatives. Who needs that kind of friend? Not me.

In my church, the old guys are in charge. The President of our church, his counselors, and the highest leadership...I don't think any of them are less than 60. See, a younger than 50 year old President, is likely to be worldly, concerned with how he is thought of, and hip, cool, popular. That is exactly what we got. Someone who'd rather party harty with Hollywood and rockstars, than show up to briefings and care whether people are being murdered in another country on his watch. An "old white" man, or even black or hispanic or what have you, has been around long enough to raise children, have a career or two or three, enjoy grandchildren, think about what's really important in life, and lived through enough Presidents to know cycles and to remember back to stories told decades before by his "old white" grandfather. It's called perspective.

Our President did nothing the first four years except get us deeper into trouble and then blamed all the back lash on someone else. I don't recall Ronald Reagan blaming one thing on Jimmy Carter. He simply stepped in and got to work. Our token "old white" Democrat, Harry Reid is pushing today to raise the debt ceiling ANOTHER 2 TRILLION DOLLARS! It is unsustainable. Let me ask those of you who are so into Obama being so kind and handing out goodies to everyone in trouble. If YOU were out of a job, didn't have enough money coming in, were behind on your mortgage payments, were almost out of food, and your neighbor knocked on your door, and said, I'm hungry, I don't have insurance and I have a hospital bill, I want a cell phone, I need my light bill paid, would you give me $10,000? What would your response be? Hold on a second, I'll go steal $10,000 from my neighbor's safe and you can have it? I'm thinking you'd likely apologize and tell him you don't have the money and you are sorry you can't help.
  

“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.” C.S Lewis

But that is not what our government is doing. And we are about to lose the house and every resource we have. We WILL go bankrupt. I don't know what that looks like, but America had better wake up and get prepared. Speaking of waking up, here's something sobering to listen to.

“Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them.” Voltaire

 My rant is over, but here is what I'll end with. Where are we in the collapse of our nation? I learned about Carle Zimmerman and his work when I was a student at BYU almost 30 years ago. When I heard it, I scoffed. AMERICA would never....Here are the 8 steps to the decline and collapse of a nation. We just missed our opportunity to hold it back a little longer.

1-Marriage lost its sacredness [and] is frequently broken by divorce
2-Traditional meaning of the marriage ceremony is lost
3-Feminist movements appeared, and women lost interest in child bearing and mothering, preferring to           pursue power and influence.
4-There is increased public disrespect for parents and authority in general.
5-An acceleration of juvenile delinquency, promiscuity and rebellion occur
6-There is refusal of people with traditional marriages to accept family responsibilities
7-A growing desire for, and acceptance of, adultery is evident
8-There is increasing interest in, and spread of, homosexuality, sexual perversions and sex-related crimes.

I Really don't get it, Part 1

I Really don't get it, Part 2

PS. I'm not proud to have this opinion, but based on all the intrusive federal departments that we have to tell us how to live our lives, I made up a saying a few years ago. "We are only as free as THEY want us to be, and when they don't want us to be that free anymore, we won't." (Buries her head and cries because it is sad but seems true) Fortunately, I can still prosper in any circumstance, I can live and love and choose happiness no matter what my circumstances are, and I can worship publicly and privately.

I REALLY don't get it. (Part 2) LONG

IAT = I am thankful

So, I sat there with hopeful expectancy, wondering which side was right, who would be ahead, whether it was really close, whether there would be a landslide either way, and watched the results coming in early. First one or two states to one, and a few to the other. And then the moment everyone was waiting for; Ohio. After it was called, I waited to see if Rove was right or not, and knowing the necessary combinations, kept watching. And then Colorado fell. And I was dazed. I waited long enough to hear Romney's concession speech. And then I went to bed.

The next morning I poured over the news sites I access, and then it just hit me. What hit me? Well, it hit me that the ugliest campaign in history had just been waged against a TRULY good man. Whatever the disagreements in his politics or his taxes or his business, he was a man of true integrity. (And on many more than one occasion, Romney simply took the high road) And no, I think Obama has very little if any integrity. Is this what politics has really come to? Character assassinations? Vilification of those who are focusing on policy and problem solving? BILLIONS of dollars on both sides were spent toward something that in a grander scheme is meaningless. I have a gift for ideas. And maybe they aren't the most brilliant. But if *I* can come up with better ideas than how we are doing it, then brighter people can as well.

I'd like to see an equal number of debates where each candidate gets to choose the moderators for "their" chosen debate/s. I'd like to see the networks have to sponsor for FREE (or paid by the campaigns) one or two channels where the candidates can choose the programming they want and once a week go on their channel and have a chat with the American people tuning in. If Mitt had an hour every week for him to discuss things, rather than being misrepresented by sound bytes? It would have been all over. And it occurs to me with the technology we have, they could have done that anyway. Why didn't they?

And I think I speak for millions of Americans when I say, there are some of us who believe that America died on November 6, 2012. The principles that made America great were on the table. We had someone espousing those principles. And it seems at least 50% of America said those principles don't matter. I know that is an oversimplification. But when an election comes down to birth control and health insurance, we are far beyond Constitutional principles.

Back to caring. I am in the healing arts. Yeah, I'm a realtor, but my greatest successes outside my home have been being a part of the healing of hearts, minds, and bodies. For 20 years I did it in my own home, and then I started reaching out to the hundreds around me I could help. I'd love to make a living at it, but most of the time I volunteer to help those who are suffering. Because I know I can help, and because they need it or have asked me to help. One of my greatest complaints I have in certain situations, is that some leaders, teachers, people seem simply not to care about those who are suffering. In effect they SEEM to be saying, "I don't care what your problem is, stick it in your ear."

So, I may be sounding like (along with the evil conservatives) I don't care if someone needs help with food, shelter, health insurance. But I'm not. I don't think most Americans have stopped to think whether it is the function of government to provide ANY of that. And I propose that it is not. You know what? I don't propose it, the CONSTITUTION does. People in our day don't get the importance of that divinely inspired document. You think the issues we have today have never existed before? Think again.

Some of the brightest minds in history got together over 200 years ago and they studied every form of government in history. And they said, "how can we take the best of what there was, and leave the worst behind?" And then they argued for months. They drafted legal documents and argued some more. They finally locked themselves in a room and determined not to come out until they all agreed. And they themselves proclaimed it to be a miracle when they did. That was the spark that made our nation great. What did they have? a REPUBLIC (if they could keep it). I bristle when I hear the leaders at the highest level calling it a democracy, something our founding fathers thought was evil. Do the research.

Guess what it says? It is summed up in the preamble.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The Constitution limits the power of the Federal government. And the Bill of Rights grants us the rights we are guaranteed. THE ONLY THING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT should be allowed to do, is:

1) Insure domestic tranquility.
2) Provide for the common defense.
3) PROMOTE the GENERAL welfare. (This does not mean PROVIDE).
4) Secure the blessings of liberty to them and to us who came later and to ours who come later.

THAT IS ALL. Anything else, the states get to do. If any law infringes on any of those purposes, it is simply un-Constitutional. So yes, I DON'T CARE about the suffering of others if it means our sacred documents and liberties are trampled upon, and if people expect the government to relieve that suffering. Here is how I DO CARE.

America is and has been, and God please bless that we will, continue to be a "shining light on a hill" as Reagan described. We take care of our own and we take care of others. We come to the rescue of those in need, not only in our own country, but in other nations. Where would Europe be today, if we had not intervened in WW2? I'll start locally. We had a tragedy a few months back in our little town. Tragic loss. And the TEENAGERS of our town pulled everyone together and made a HUGE difference. 

In our state. A few years ago, Arizona's largest wildfire (I think) ravaged Northern Arizona. One particular community was evacuated, and the neighboring community literally opened the doors to their own homes and invited that community in. Ranchers and farmers got all their trailers together and rescued all the livestock. It was an AMAZING act of neighborly kindness!!! Last year, that community had the chance to have the favor returned, when yet another MASSIVE fire ravaged Arizona. The tables were turned, and the other community did the same thing. And guess what, the federal government didn't have to do it. The hearts of a free people were moved to action. Neither does the federal government have to take care of individuals.

In our nation. 9/11. How many people dropped everything and stood in long lines to donate blood? Donated their time to go to NYC and other places like Louisiana and now the Northeast, to help clean up after terrorist and national disasters. Our uniformed servicemen and women are some of the best there is. We see over and over and over how GENEROUS Americans are. And that is right how it should be. Churches, families, neighbors, helping those around them and near them. If the trillions of dollars taken from Americans each year in taxes were returned to them to spend or share how they wished, we'd return to being unstoppable as a nation. And don't get me started on income tax. THAT was also originally UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Corrupt men changed it.

So, I guess I haven't really said why I think America died. But maybe that is best left for part 3.

I don't get it, part 1 

I REALLY don't GET it. (Controversial) Part 1

IAT = I am thankful

1. The election is over.
2. God is in heaven. (We're going to need Him).
3. It rained today.
4. We're moving and the awful commutes are over.
5. I have a roof over my head.

So, it's 3 days after the election. I've never been so disappointed in my life in an election. I mean, I was annoyed during the Clinton years. And I thought there couldn't possibly ever be a worse President (I'm speaking mostly here of his horrific morals). But I was wrong. Lest anyone reading think I've been HUGE fans of Republican presidents, you'd be wrong. The Bush's were only marginally better in my book. And it was GB2 that made me leave the party. Sure he handled 9/11 great, but the spending and the medicare, and the wars. When he left, we were in a mess, that can be argued was created by Clinton, but I'm not even going there.

I used to get these fund raising calls from the Rs. And I gave it to them straight. The trouble in this country is because most Rs abandoned true conservative principles. When Rs start acting like Rs again, I MIGHT consider a donation. Until then, TAKE ME OFF YOUR ROLLS! There wasn't a nickel's worth of difference between an R and a D. Until Obama.

Let's just start with his character. Yes, he has a beautiful family. So what? I get told a lot that lots of people voted for him because he cares. Really? Cares about what? Mitt Romney has a beautiful family and he cares. Well, he has a very quiet history that you have to search out to find out if he cares, because if you listen to the lame stream media, they say he's a liar, a cheat, and a murderer. A dirty venture capitalist who doesn't give a darn about employees. WHATEVER! And that came straight from Obama's campaign. So much for caring. Sounds like slander and dirty politics to me.

Compare their histories. A hard working, business man with a family, education, experience in business and government, who was a former missionary, pastor, and known for his kindness and generosity. So squeaky clean, that the only dirt that could be found was a story from his school days about bullying. The rest of it simply had to be manufactured.

And then there is Obama. An international civilian with friends who are truly frightening, a former drug user, fraternizer, and candidate so vicious that he won most of his elections by getting sealed information out of court documents and revealing them days before his elections, destroying the reputations of those he ran against. A man who voted to leave aborted babies who survived on a table to die. Who does that? Does that sound like someone who cares? Not to me. A man who says government should be the keeper of our brother, but whose own brother lives in a hut in practical squalor. Hmm.

Ok, well maybe his policies are better. I mean he got elected. Let's start with the economy. He had no business experience, practically no political experience (since he very rarely ever voted for anything), and he has a tendency to blame everything on others. Like the Republicans. It's really all their fault. Except his first two years, he had both branches of Congress controlled by Dems. What was the trouble then? He reaches across the aisle by basically saying, "Look this is the way it's going to be. PERIOD. If you don't like it tough! Pass the bill, then we'll talk." That's not reaching across the aisle, and it's not compromise. When you are the president and your budget is defeated 99-0 in the Senate which is controlled by the Democrats??? Doesn't it make you wonder? What was wrong with that budget that not one single Democrat would vote for it? FOR THREE YEARS!

But he CA-RES. He wants women to have their birth control and unlimited government funded abortions. And he wants every person in America to have insurance forced upon them whether they want it or not. And he wants every brown skinned person to get a free pass into America and all of her social programs so they can vote for him. And that Mitt Romney. He wants to go into every one's house and take away their birth control, and force them to keep babies when they are raped, and let people die without insurance and he hates brown people. OK? You really have to venture out of MSNBC people.

Any woman in the world can walk down to Wal Mart and get her $10 birth control prescription or buy a box of condoms. Why in the WORLD do my tax payer dollars or do insurance dollars need to go to cover that? Abortion. It's murder. There, I said it. And women who kill their babies in utero without a darn good reason are...I'll stop before I say something offensive. Yeah, I know. It's not very touchy-feely. I'm going to walk that back. Because I know there are some very difficult circumstances that women have to make. I am not unsympathetic to SOME of them.

Since abortion is legal in America and a President can't take that away from ANYONE, I think it ought to be between a woman and her doctor and her God. And a doctor shouldn't be forced to provide it. But government needs to get out of it. Why should I have to pay money for someone else to kill her baby because it's inconvenient in 93% of the cases!!! The other 7% truly have my sympathies because they are making heart breaking decisions. I get that. I'm a woman. Almost 1 million dollars a DAY goes to fund abortions at Planned Parenthood. That's almost 3500 lives snuffed out a day in just America, again FOR CONVENIENCE. Those numbers don't include rape and life or health of the mother. What happened to safe, legal, and RARE?

So, that seems like enough issues for one post. I'm not going to be "getting it" for several days. So, I'll just keep letting you know what other things I don't get. I've never cried after an election before. I did this time. And I'll tell you more about that in part 2.

I REALLY Don't get it. PART 2

For my UNdecided friends

IAT = I am thankful

1. the election is almost here.
2. that my talk is over.
3. that I heard from EN3 today.
4. that it's beautiful Fall weather.
5. that the next president is OBVIOUS. To me anyway.

So, a week ago, I was asked to give a talk at the Institute for devotional Tuesday. It was on citizenship, being involved in the community, and voting. Ugh! A hard talk to give without losing people. I found a great resource to help young and old alike in making a decision. I included these in my talk today. Here they are.

How do you know which candidate to vote for? We know the church does not support particular candidates even if one of the Presidential candidates is a member of our faith. The church is strictly non partisan on this point. Where the church will speak out is on moral issues of doctrinal importance. Whether you think members of the same gender should be able to marry, it is a moral issue the church has addressed, and they ask us to support that issue. In the end, we each have the choice to support it or go with our own opinion. The church has taken stands on other similar issues.

Here are some suggestions for weighing the differences with candidates.

1-Use REASON instead of emotion. Especially be aware of fear tactics to sway you.

2-Use KNOWLEDGE. Go to the candidates websites and read their plans, stands on issues, etc. Use several sources of news. Its very easy in our day to fact check. But I’ve found even with fact checking, the truth can be hard to identify.

3-Study the ISSUES. Are they real or contrived? Some may be running around screaming the sky is falling. Maybe it’s not. Maybe it is. But find out why they are making the claims they are and whether they have merit.

4-Look at the candidates IMAGE. Write a list of your most important character traits or characteristics. If honesty, ability, experience, patience, determination are important to you, look for evidence of those traits in your candidate.

 

5-Look at their STRENGTHS real and perceived, and their weaknesses. Is their any validity to claims by their opponent?

6-Pay attention to PROMISES.  A few presidents back, “read my lips, no new taxes,” came back to haunt that President. Ask what power the office that is being sought has, and whether the candidate will be able to carry through with promises being made.

7-STANDING on principle or POSTURING for ego? Can you trust this person to do what he/she says, or is it all for the bigger show?

8-ACCOUNTING vs ATTACKING. It’s expected that there will be an accounting of experience and the course each candidate claims they will take. If the majority of a campaign is spent attacking the other candidates, see if you can figure out why. Ask yourself: Is the charge a legitimate call for accounting or a personal attack? If personal deficiencies are claimed, would they in actuality hinder the execution of duties, or are they immaterial to the office sought?

9-ACTION or REACTION. Be independent in your thinking and choosing. Base it on what YOU have researched and found and believe. Ask those you respect their opinion. Use their information to draw your own conclusions on candidates and issues.

10-A or B. Make your choice and then find someone who feels opposite and ask them why. Have a good discussion NOT argument. Determine if you still feel the same or has your opinion changed.

 

These came from an article in my church magazine from 1972 and I thought some of them were excellent. Particularly 1, 5, 7, 8. I think those are critical. Pray, vote, trust.

Praise and Gratitude

IAT = I am thankful

1. Vehicles that work.
2. A home that is safe.
3. Friends who are there even if they don't realize it.
4. Surprises.
5. Work.

There's this little "B" movie that I love. It's called Facing the Giants. And it has several scenes that are thought provoking. I came to blog today with the words on my mind, "if we win, we praise Him, if we lose we praise Him." That's from the second clip I'm sharing. Then my mind immediately went to a song we sang when I was in choir in High School. "I will praise ye Oh Lord Among the People." It's now running in the back of my mind. I tried to find a clip of a choir singing it but can't, but that's what my heart is singing. I love the reminder from the movie, that praise and gratitude are in order no matter what. We can always find something to be grateful for. It's something I try to remind myself of daily. And then the Giants move in. You know the Giants? Fear, failure, doubt, and so forth. I love the idea of the Lord as a stronghold. A place that has been fortified with strength for protection. We can go to Him for that needed strength, defense, protection. I love this scene below.



And it reminds me of my favorite Psalm. My Granny taught me to love the Psalms. I love the 27th. When He is your light and strength, who really should you fear? In times of trouble he hides us in His pavilion and sets us on a rock. The whole chapter is filled with applicable wisdom for me in the last few years and right now. I just love it. Every time I read it.

And I'm a believer in faith being made manifest in action. When there are things I want to accomplish I try to remember to have faith but also not to just sit back and wait. Brigham Young said, (ok, I can't find it, I'll insert it later), but he basically said you can't pray for rain and not plant your fields or expect the Lord to plant the fields. And that idea is a part of this clip below. I love the idea of praying for rain and preparing fields. And open doors. And the Lord's timing.


Anyway, there's lots on my mind. But, in spite of my own "trials" I can think of ever so much I have to grateful for. 8 right off the top of my head. I love my family. I'm going to ignore the Giants.

On the Wings of Grace

IAT = I am thankful

1. A secure home with no rain damage.
2. Good health.
3. Happy children.
4. A devoted husband.
5. Technology.

I was talking on the phone with one of my closest friends today. Funny how our lives are so busy that even though we are in the same town, we don't take the opportunity as much to talk as we used to. Which has nothing to do with my thoughts other than, I was sharing my thoughts with her when something came out of my mouth I've never said before. In speaking of my gratitude to my Heavenly Father, I said, "he's lifted me (and the Bish) on the wings of grace." I can only believe that those words were inspired by the Spirit, because I've never said them before. Never even heard them before.

We have a chapter closing in our life, and a new one opening. The story is we are closer and closer to moving. We have lots of mixed emotions about this. Even though it is probably the best thing, it kind of feels like we are dragging ourselves. Maybe that is normal. We've lived here 18 years, so I don't remember what it is like to have that kind of security, because this is the only time I've had it. Part of the story is, that my dear husband has been The Bish the last five year. Ok, he's been the bishop of our local LDS congregation. For all intents and purposes, he's the pastor. And I'm the sister bishop, which really means nothing other than he has my complete and total support at all times. He will not hear when he comes home from 8 hours of church on Sunday, "where have YOU been???" He will not hear on a long night of interviews with members of our congregation, "Why did it take so long???" And he does not share why or who it took so long. So, I'm probably the most clueless person in the ward.

On occasion, not knowing he was about the Lord's business, I might ask, "where have you been or what took so long coming home?" And as soon as I hear, "I visited someone in the hospital, I stopped to see someone in jail, I had to check on someone," I don't need to hear anymore.  He has been my bishop, our bishop, our congregation's bishop for five years now. And curiously, I am feelng ambivalent about his impending release from that position. At the beginning, I would have thought I'd be very relieved. And I would guess he would be too. But we are both feeling this mixture of emotions. I think. Are you dear?

I feel a reluctance because of those beautiful wings of grace. I know in my heart they are available to all. And that, they will continue to be available to me. But it seems, that we have somehow been blessed with an extra portion. Have I miraculously become perfect? Uh, that would be an emphatic NO! But, I feel my patience has increased, as well as my emotional endurance. My natural abilities seem better able to meet the challenges that come from less time together, less family time.

There have been several major trials in the lives of our friends lately. Challenges with life and death, with home security, job security, and for whatever reason, we are being allowed a season of blessing. My gratitude knows no bounds. Once again, not everything is perfect, and we have our day to day challenges, but oh those wings! What a great blessing they are to me. And it's also a blessing to know that if our circumstances change, we can still rely on that amazing grace to lift us. There are no words that can express how I feel about that.

Happy Birthday DEAR CHRIS-topher

IAT = I am thankful

1. Birthdays to remember and celebrate.
2. My beautiful second son.
3. The blessing of children.
4. New goals.
5. A sold house.

Today is my wonderful son Chris' birthday. I think I should write about all of my kids on their birthdays. So, I am.

 Only two months old

His best friend. I never regretted having them 15 months apart.

 Sweet cheeks

 Doing his favorite thing

Still best friends

 So grateful he loves me

 Always good to his siblings

Such a handsome man

One of the funny things I remember when I was expecting this wonderful child, was that we had one baby boy. And he was still a baby. And it was amazing to me how much love I had for that little baby boy. And I wondered if it was possible to love another one that much. I shouldn't have worried. In real life, all things being equal, love multiplies. Where 1+1 should =2, it doesn't. 1+1 feels like 10. So imagine how 7 feels.

I wanted to name him Christian, but as was the case several times with my children SOMEONE, (the bish) didn't like the name. So I insisted on Christopher, which means Christ Bearer. He is an example of the believers and some of the attributes he shares with his Savior are, humility, charity, love, obedience, faith, endurance.

He was a very energetic little guy as a boy. Some days he truly wore me out, but his enthusiasm and energy always came out in a happy way. We have lots of pictures of him with a big smile pasted on his face. He still smiles warmly and broadly and it lights up my world.

The RM, as he is currently called, is still so much fun to be around. He's loved by his friends and siblings. He has always had a heart for the plight of others. He has dreams and he's pursuing them. He has taken to success principles and I know because of it, he will be a great success. He has a forgiving heart.

 One of my very favorite things about this beautiful boy is how unashamedly he loves his family. I remember when he was in high school, and there would be a need for me to come to the school, if he saw me, rather than ducking behind the building or going back inside so he didn't have to be seen with me, he'd come RUNNING across campus, calling out to me, give me a big hug and often planting a kiss on my cheek. I have always wondered at that. He's never been embarrassed to show his affection to me, and still does.

He always felt bad for the underdog. His heart is so tender for others in trouble. I LOVE that about him.

He wants to know what he is doing with his life so he can go for it. When he got off his mission, he said words to the affect, "I don't want to waste time trying to figure out what I'm doing, get my schooling done, make money, and THEN find a wife. I want to find her and get married!" I was surprised by that, but he has been in pursuit of that goal, and when a young woman seemed to be hesitant to that idea, it was simply..."NEXT!" We think maybe that pursuit is almost over. :-)

I could go on for a very long time, but will finish with one more. He's always had an athletic ability, but for whatever reason was overlooked in sports. I don't know how or why that happens. He's only had one coach in his whole life, who saw him as a senior, saw his ability, and knew he could do something with it. He became one of the star players on his team in basketball his senior year, when previously he had mostly sat the bench. The following year, we were all surprised when taking a basketball class at the college, the coaches asked him to try out. And he made the team. I doubt basketball will be a permanent part of his future, but I've never seen someone so in the spiritual moment of basketball through his teens. What I mean by that is he seemed to be playing basketball in every moment. When he wasn't actively engaged in something else, he had a real or imaginary ball in his hand and he was scoring. I think the coach was only the vehicle for what he had already created in his mind.

And all success is like that. We create it spiritually in our minds and hearts, and then it moves into our physical space. Most of my teen years I dreamed of a happy marriage and family. And now that is a reality in my life. As long as I stay in the spiritual reality, I believe it will continue to be a physical reality.

Well, I'm off track. Christopher, and you will always be Christopher to me, I love you so dearly. Thank you for coming into our lives. And happy 22nd birthday. I love you!

Why the LDS Church is one of the FEW still Growing

IAT = I am thankful

1. My hot blooded well guarded temper that reminds me I am alive and care deeply about things.
2. Just enough of the mom worry gene to be concerned enough to love my children, but not so concerned that I interfere too horribly with their lives.
3. New opportunities.
4. New friends.
5. Old friends.

So, I read this article recently Mormons beating Evangelicals

The article gave six reasons why the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is growing, when other faiths are declining.

 Current Church membership

 Projected LDS growth

I'll summarize the article for you and add a few reasons more I think we hang on to our membership and continue to grow.

Six Reasons Evangelicals Leave:

1. The church is overprotective.
2. Their experience of Christianity is shallow.
3. Churches seem antagonistic to science.
4. The church's approach to sexuality is judgmental and simplistic.
5. They wrestle with the exclusivity of Christianity.
6. The church feels unfriendly to those who doubt.

 Reasons the "Mormon" church is growing. (Read the referenced article for explanations)

1. Mormons have bigger families.

2. Mormons have lower divorce rates.

3. Mormons share their faith.

4. Mormons are "orthodox."

5. Mormon leaders ask a lot of their members.

6. Mormons are less selfish.

Here are my personal thoughts on additional actions or benefits offered by my LDS faith that help keep us faithful.

***Missions for young men and young women. It was mentioned in the article the conversion of those who serve missions. Even though only 1/3 of young males serve missions for the church, the experience is invaluable for them in converting and retaining a testimony. They spend 2 years denying themselves of their own selfish pursuits to think of others, serve others, and teach them Christly principles. Many of the 2/3 that do not go, however remain active. And more and more young women are also giving themselves to 18 month missions. As members, we get to feed the missionaries and enjoy a message and respond to the invitation of who we can invite to fellowship with us.

***Seminary and Institute. I'm not sure anyone would argue that when children hit their teens and beyond that college, the influences of the world begin to take hold and it can be difficult to maintain the faith their parents have so painstakingly tried to instill. For most other faiths, if you aren't doing something to actively offset that influence, good luck maintaining their faith!

This was brought home to me a couple of years ago with my then senior son. I asked him, other than LDS, were there any other teens in his high school, who were faithful, and everyone knew they stood for something. That for example, because they were Catholic, or Baptist, or ________ people knew that they would have certain standards. According to his perception, the answer was a clear no. He was fair to admit that there were LDS youth also not living their standards. But he said the ONLY youth that others knew there were standards for, were the LDS teens. I was so deeply saddened to think that either, those teens were not living their faith in a public way, or the influence of faith has simply disappeared in this little corner of the world. (Having said that, I believe I live in a deeply religious small town, and I don't make these comments to disparage any faith, it is simply to explain my point of why there is a difference).

Every day beginning in 9th grade, LDS children in my and many other communities across the world, can either walk across the street from school during the day, or go to a local church early before school starts to enjoy and hour of religious instruction and discussion. Every day. For one hour. Every day. They join with their like minded friends, invite others to join them as well, to immunize themselves if you will, against the influence of the world that runs contrary to our faith. I am so thankful for that influence! And I sincerely wish other faiths had a similar program for their youth. It continues in college. Most college campuses in the US have an "Institute" program, to continue where the seminary program left off.

When a student attends a non LDS (think BYU campus) college and are exposed to ideas and philosophies they may not have ever pondered, Institute can be a very grounding place. Instead of being swayed by established "intelligent" professors, those ideas can be balanced with their own principles of faith. And it really helps! I have the added benefit of being married to a seminary and institute professional teacher.

***Visiting and Home Teaching. This falls under service mentioned in the article, but I consider this so HUGE as to mention it on its own. Every family in every ward, active or potentially active, is offered home teachers (2 men for the family) and visiting teachers (2 women for the women only) to watch over, provide help in need, to teach, inspire, and befriend. I have loved being a visiting teacher and having my own. Some are better than others, but I have met and come to know so many wonderful men and women through these programs.

As a young mother, on bed rest multiple times, I had faithful sisters visit me, bring meals, help clean my home, and care for my children when I could not do so. When I had the flu and another time a miscarriage I was able to ask a home teacher to assist my husband in giving me a blessing of strength. You can't imagine the comfort it brings to know you can call on someone in a time of difficulty need or sadness to be a help.

Conversely, I have been able to offer help, tears, friendship, and comfort to those who I have visited. And I have made friends I never would have. Particularly older women who were so fascinating and wonderful. It brings a richness to my life that would not be there without this awesome program.

***Relief Society. Relief Society is the world's largest women's organizations, if I am not mistaken. An organization who's motto is Charity Never Faileth. The visiting teaching program is run through Relief Society. There are ample opportunities for leadership through RS as well as other organizations in the church. The women in the LDS church are greatly cherished and upheld. Sometimes it's a little embarrassing how much we are fussed over. Because I feel like I could be doing a lot better. And yet I know that when I am in a leadership position, my opinion is respected and valued, I have always been treated with respect, and I have never felt talked down to, or belittled by anyone who has any leadership authority over me. In addition, I know that I can go to any LDS church in the world, and there will be a roomful of "sisters" who immediately want to know who I am, if I'm moving in :-), and how I can be made comfortable. Some places are better than others at this, which is to be expected.

And finally, ***covenant making. I know this exists at some level in other faiths, but this is something that is at least a weekly occurrence in our services and rituals. The first covenant made is at baptism. Every time we make a covenant, we are promised blessings. After baptism and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can partake of the sacrament (the emblems of the body and blood of Christ) each week and renew the covenants we made at baptism. So every week, it can be as if we are clean again, if we partake, repent, and allow the grace of Jesus Christ to bless us. After baptism, young men make priesthood covenants. And at marriage men and women both make temple covenants of obedience, virtue, and cleanliness all with an eye single to the glory of God, which can be renewed by returning to the temple as often as desired.

I'm very grateful for the way my faith helps me to be stronger spiritually, closer to my family, more faithful to my God, and more aware of those around me. It's a great blessing.

On Family Unity

IAT = I am thankful

1. When life is slow.
2. My boy is coming home after being gone all summer.
3. I'm in an awesome place in my life.
4. Rain!!!
5. Brownies. :-) I didn't taste! Hahaha

It's been almost a month that I wanted to post this. I've probably forgotten a lot of it. But these are thoughts from a talk the Bish gave in church last month. He spoke about unity.

I appreciated that he began by saying we had a lot of things in our community that were not unifying, and he was not going to speak to any of those. He also wanted everyone to know that he was not speaking to anyone in particular, but everyone. And he didn't want anyone else thinking, oh, so and so should be here because they need to hear this. :-) And hopefully the Spirit would touch those who needed the message. The purpose of his talk was to speak to family unity.

He started by quoting from Elder Eyring's talk on Hearts Knit as One. "We see increased conflict between peoples in the world around us. Those divisions and differences could infect us. That is why my message of hope today is that a great day of unity is coming. The Lord Jehovah will return to live with those who have become His people and will find them united, of one heart, unified with Him and with our Heavenly Father." He quoted Mosiah 18: 21

And he commanded them that there should be no ^acontention one with another, but that they should look forward with ^bone eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts ^cknit together in unity and in love one towards another.

 and Moroni 7: 48:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

He said he believed our "eternal welfare rests on being able to get along."

He quoted Elder Eyring, "The joy of unity He wants so much to give us is not solitary. We must seek it and qualify for it with others. It is not surprising then that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us. He wants us to gather into families. He has established classes, wards, and branches and commanded us to meet together often. In those gatherings, which God has designed for us, lies our great opportunity. We can pray and work for the unity that will bring us joy and multiply our power to serve."

He spoke about an institute teacher he used to have that often said, "I may not say everything I think, but I think everything I say." He encouraged us to pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to help us think before we say things. And that just because something was true, did NOT mean we need to say it. He encouraged us to see others in God's perspective. To take off the glasses we wear that we see others through.

 One of his favorite scriptures is:

• Jacob 4:13

  13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.

Truth is things as they REALLY are. (Not how we may think they are). We see others differently than the truth. The self sufficient tend to be critical of those who are not. Examples: how the bishop uses fast offerings, a spouse who does things differently than a parent. (Dawn's note: I know my husband's biggest struggle as a bishop is the proper use of fast offerings and that he would much rather err on the side of generosity than caution. He is very aware of his accountability on this point. Would you like to bear that burden?)

He said we need to pray for the gift of discernment. Here is a quote he used to define discernment. Very enlightening.

 Stephen L Richards: “First, I mention the gift of discernment, embodying the power to discriminate … between right and wrong. I believe that this gift when highly developed arises largely out of an acute sensitivity to impressions—spiritual impressions, if you will—to read under the surface as it were, to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them."

(I was impressed that discerning included uncovering the better natures of others. I LOVE that.)
He encouraged us to see the good, not the evil, and see as God sees. He quoted D&C 18: 10. Remember the ^aworth of ^bsouls is great in the sight of God; and encouraged us to come to a point where the worth of souls is great in OUR sight.

The Bishop said we have more in common that we have differences and we need to pray for humility. He referred to Ether and his telling us that we have weaknesses that we will be humble. He said we need to focus more on ourselves than on others. We need to change our own selves and focus on our own issues. (This is a theme I come back to again and again. When I am upset with someone or circumstances, I remind myself that the only person I can control is me, and what should I do to change me?)

He referred to the fact that the word busybody is in the New Testament. And that it often seems easier for us to fix others problems. But we need to be humble and fix ourselves. He counseled to resist the urge to gossip. That we should be "repositories of information." In other words. When someone shares something with us, we need to hold on to it. We need to not share it with others. It will not create unity and it separates and divides. If we must share something, he said to call someone far away who doesn't know the participants. Aunt Edna in Connecticut for example.

He encouraged us to develop charity. 1 Corinthians 13. Charity is the more excellent way. We should act, speak, and feel and the Savior would. Moroni--pray with the energy of the heart that we may be filled with this love. And then he made a promise. "I promise that if we do, we will come to feel about our families and ward members differently." He said to love our enemies, pray for those that spitefully use us. We can do that. We can get to a point where we can honesty say I love you to our enemies and bless them. (Easy peasy, uh-huh. Dawn)

When charity becomes real for us, we want to extend it to others. He encouraged us to do as scripture says and take up our cross. Once we have, we can forgive others. We ought to learn to get along (families) not just for eternity, but for joy in the now.  As we follow how we are prompted, he promised we would be able to change.

Much needed words of wisdom from my bishop.

Unnatural Disasters and other AWESOME blessings

IAT = I am thankful

1. Patient piano teachers.
2. Pianos.
3. Fresh fruit slushees.
4. Summertime.
5. Happy endings.

This weekend the Bish and I and maybe some other players are headed to pick up/purchase a new van. "New" is relative of course. I don't believe in paying for a vehicle that costs more than our first house. So, we set a budget and we search until we find the perfect one. I guess I love taking trips. No, it's true, I do. So this is actually the 3rd vehicle in a row, that one or both of us has traveled to get. Dallas, Denver, Orem, Utah.

But there's a long story of blessings behind this purchase. See the cast of characters on the right side of the blog.

Because of our lovely commute, I have fuel efficiency on the brain and this isn't very fuel efficient.

 Yes, only a few short years ago, we had 9 passengers in this 12 passenger van. But for the Summer, we are down to 5, and will only have 6 for less than a year. So, out of the blue...really? We'll see. Out of the blue, I decided it was time to sell the van, and I realized in the process, that we could pay off our sweet little Mazda that RM2 was going to purchase from us, and replace the van with a more fuel efficient mini-van. 2 of our adult boys thought a mini-van was far less than cool. Really? I can't wait until they are parents and have budgets and other concerns. I will stand back and smile and bite my tongue and NOT say I told you so. Haha. And encourage them to dream.

But I am off track. This Mazda.

 BEST BLESSING OF ALL--NO ONE HURT

Oh! Oops. Saturday we got a call, that another salesman was driving the RM's car and someone wrecked into them. Thank goodness they had insurance and we had full coverage as backup. I was not upset. And within only a few hours actually found myself hoping it was totaled, except for I was a little worried about the RMs situation. But it would drastically help ours. More on that later.

And then we got a call Sunday from the Married Student. He wanted to tell us about this.

ONCE AGAIN, NO ONE HURT--SO GRATEFUL!

This is his DW's car. And it's paid for. Or was paid for. Another salesman borrowed the car and unfortunately was temporarily distracted and veered off the road. Totaled. Sigh. Well, I can't say I was happy or seeing the blessing, but I certainly felt more perplexed than anything. I wasn't upset, just truly perplexed. Two totaled cars in two days? Well, there has to be blessings in it. Unfortunately, there was only liability insurance on this one and it's a total loss. The driver also had no insurance. Well, hmm, we can't really help TWO children with wrecked cars, so I felt bad telling the MS that he was on his own. Fortunately, there has been some help offered by others and we are grateful. I choose to believe that a loving Heavenly Father will make this up to this wonderful young couple by blessing their bottom line now or some other time in the future.

So, before I got all of this news, we had sold our van and it's gone. The blessing to us is, the insurance will now pay off the Mazda, and our funds can go toward our new purchase. And we are giving some of the insurance to RM2 so he can eventually purchase another vehicle.

There is an AMAZINGLY HUGE blessing that I cannot even write about (until later, hee hee) that is going on. I am so excited about how our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers, how seeming trials, can turn into glorious blessings, and how if we don't throw ourselves off track by crying, whining, and complaining, He reveals His wondrous plan by answering our prayers in ways we never thought the answers could come. He weaves a wondrous tapestry out of our trials and leaves us in awe of the gifts given. But we must be grateful in the moment, and still, and looking for the beauty, to see it all. I promise, in a few weeks, I'll tell the missing part of the story.

But, I digress.

I drove two vehicles I really liked this week, and made an offer on one of them that was turned down. I know from experience now that I don't have to get hung up on the one I think I want in front of me. There is ALWAYS a better deal. So, I just kept looking. I knew I wanted a Honda Odyssey and was discouraged a few times at how far away some of the deals were. And so in frustration a few nights ago, I did what I did to get the exact van we've been driving the last 7 years. I made a list.

A goal is just a wish unless it is written down. I truly thing that writing down what we want, begins the process of bringing it into physical creation. I wrote a list like this when we got the big van, and because I wasn't finding what I wanted, I made this list. And while I wrote this list, I just said a simple prayer that we would be able to find it. This, or something better.

The Bish really wanted an '05, but in the ups and downs of the week with the insurance, I wasn't sure we could go newer than an '04. When I make lists like these, I always realize that I may get everything I want, and I may not. But, it will be the best possible and for us in all cases. Less than 24 hours later, I found it.

An '05 Honda Odyssey. Power everything, 7 passenger (not 8), Sage brush pearl grey, (that's a greenish grey), 92,000 miles, multi CD, DVD, leather seats. Woohoo! Price, after hearing the insurance payoff, is right where we want it to be. Woohoo! It's not in Arizona, but the next best place it possibly could be. Orem, Utah. Where we first lived when we were first married. And Utah feels like my second home. When I saw this van, I felt extremely happy, and that it was perfect for our family. I know stuff doesn't create happiness. But solving a problem does. It's exactly what I want for our needs, and that does make me happy.

But it gets better. Because the car is in Utah, the Bish felt like his mom might want to go visit her sisters. So, the plan was, we'd all drive up together and she'd visit her sisters and we'd drive the van back. Well, we can't convince grandma to go along but she may loan us her car, and we'll take the kids, and we'll both have passengers back, so I don't have to go alone, and maybe wreck our new car due to my African sleeping sickness disease. It's a joke. Kind of.

And the icing on the cake? Because the boys were going to be gone for the Summer not driving any of our vehicles, I took the 2 not driving our vehicles off the insurance. We also took the van off because it has sold. We took the Mazda off because sadly, it is dead. And I got an estimate for the new vehicle and combined with our other cars, our insurance bill has dropped MORE THAN HALF. Which means, most of that savings will make the payment, and we are way better off having gone through all of this. I have no idea why the Lord felt to bless us in such an ENTIRELY HUGE way, except to show me that other decisions I am making in my life, WILL BE MADE up. Simply because He can and He chooses to. I won't question it. I will simply PRAISE Him and THANK Him. And do my best to bless the lives of others.

And that is the very long story of how two totaled cars, made us way better off. As a final note, the darling couple has found a very nice vehicle and I just know it will all work out with them and they'll be able to pay that car off in NO TIME. Be believing. You just can't go wrong.

12 Simple Steps to Happiness

IAT = I am thankful

If I remember, :-) I'll start each post with 5 things I'm thankful for, because the book I'm reviewing says people who express gratitude for at least 10 weeks experience significantly more happiness. I've been doing it for years, but here we go.

1. Air conditioning!
2. Paved roads.
3. Philosopher's Notes.
4. Craigslist.
5. Unwrecked cars.

photo by Andrea Zampatti

OK, so I am not really going to review a book. I'm going to refer you to one through a program I LOVE with all that I am. It's called Philosopher's Notes. 100s of books at your fingertips summarized in six pages, with all the highlights of the Big Ideas. Love, love, love. So, I have them in pdf and mp3s and cds. It's a long story how Brian, graced me with a lot of it. But I'm grateful he did.

So, I was listening to the note for The How of Happiness, by SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY. Sounds like a great book from the note. But I'm not going to summarize all of the big ideas from the book; just one. Well 12 I guess. It's been scientifically proven that certain activities increase our happiness. Side note: Only 10% of our happiness comes from life circumstances, so if you spend most of your time and energy trying to increase your wealth, attractiveness and other nonsense, it only has a negligible and a temporary impact on your well-being.

But here are 12 things you can do, that over time will significantly contribute to happiness. And don't forget writing 5 things you are grateful for every day.

1. Expressing Gratitude
2. Cultivating Optimism
3. Avoiding Overthinking and Social Comparison
4. Practicing Acts of Kindness
5. Nurturing Social Relationships
6. Developing Strategies for Coping
7. Learning to Forgive
8. Increasing Flow Experiences
9. Savoring Life’s Joys
10. Committing to Your Goals
11. Practicing Religion and Spirituality
12. Taking Care of Your Body: Meditation + Physical Activity + Acting Like a Happy Person

Some of those are just plain easy, so get started today. If you want the details, then I suggest you subscribe to Philosopher's Notes, or get the book, The How of Happiness. Try a few of the 12 steps and see if you are happier.

Warning HS*E*P...Me

IAT = I am thankful for my gifts and talents

So, in the last few years I have discovered some things about myself. A) My friends in the healing profession have labeled me an empath. That's the *E* part in the title. I feel like some people's definition of empathic is not as definitive as it could be. It's not just being able to relate to how someone feels in a given circumstance, because of your own experiences. For some, for me, it's actually feeling the emotions of the other person. This comes in handy when I am helping someone overcome those emotions with EFT. It also can be quite distressing when the emotions are high.

http://healing.about.com/cs/empathic/a/uc_empathtraits.htm

B) I have also come to believe I may be a highly sensitive person or HSP. I haven't spent a lot of time reading about it, but surface information confirms, and a little test I took on one website seemed to agree. Grand. Highly Sensitive, Emotional, Feeling. I now understand why the last two years I have gone into full blown retreat. Stay home, keep to myself unless helping someone, and just lay low. It FEELS better. And I can get along in life better. One article I read said HSPs should carry a warning label. Haha. And to be just a little different. I am an extroverted HSP. So, imagine how it feels to be extroverted naturally, but driven to keep to yourself for the sake of your inner world. Probably why I throw myself into new experiences.

http://healing.about.com/od/empathic/a/HSP_hallowes.htm

I like the mention of gifts of the HSP in this article.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/03/28/5-gifts-of-being-highly-sensitive/

So, there is a little snapshot inside of my world. The girl with no skin. :-) (It's in one of the articles)

The POWER of I AM--I WILL be

IAT = I am thankful

A few years ago, I was introduced to a simple idea. I think it was through Carol Tuttle's book, Remembering Wholeness. She pointed out that any time we use the words "I am", that we should choose carefully the words that follow, because the words that come next, are what we believe about ourselves, and what ultimately becomes our reality. So, if we often claim, "I am stupid," stupidity will become our reality. Yikes! The power of words is more than we can probably even realize. I wrote a little about that here.

And so, the words I want to focus on today, are the words, "I am." What do they really mean? The phrase "I Am that I Am," comes to mind. So, I thought I'd try to find out what that really means. When Moses asked God whom he should say sent him to the children of Israel, God replied, "I AM THAT I AM. Say I AM sent me." See Exodus 3: 14. What exactly does that mean? I am who I say I am? That's partly what I have thought the last few years. We can apply that to ourselves by saying, "when I say I am ________, I am _________." For example. When I say I am stupid, I am stupid.

Wiki says the literal interpretation is, I will be who I will be. Because asher, a hebrew word in the phrase, can mean that, who, which, or where, other meanings could include:

I will be that I will be
I will be who I will be
I will be which I will be
I will be where I will be

I don't know why that leaves me reeling. But to me it is God's testimony that we can count on Him in every situation. He will be THAT, WHO, WHICH, and WHERE He says. Wow! There is no one else we can really trust this way. In John, He tells us many of the things "I am." I AM the bread of Life. (John 6:35) I AM the light of the world. (John 8:12) I AM the door. (John 10:9) I AM the Good shepherd. (John 10:11) I AM the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25) I AM the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6) I AM the vine. (John 15:5) And because He is who He will be, He simply is all of that.

If we are children of the Most High, surely He wants us to strive to be like Him, so we can know Him. And He has set the example for us. Do we follow Him by being that, who, which, and where we say we will? If not, why not? We don't have to be perfect today. But we can try.

We use those words "I am" so loosely. Do we mean what we say behind it? I think those words are very creative and when we say them, they have the power to create what we speak into being. Especially if we say them repeatedly. James Allen says in relation to thought (which I believe is revealed in our words),

"Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot err."

In Numbers 14: 28, we are told:

Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

Please read that again! Let me paraphrase, "what YOU say, is what *I* will do to you. Wow! Makes me want to watch those words a little more closely. Especially the identifying, creative words, "I AM." So, I have been watching these very words very carefully the last few years, and changing my negative "I am" affirmations, to positive ones. Long ago, I drafted what I call, a Personal Proclamation. You can read about it here.  I've also added declarations recently. These are just a few chosen "I am" statements of things I hope to create in my life by focusing on them. I have a card with them stashed in my purse, pinned on my bathroom wall, in my vehicle, so I can say them when I have nothing else to do.

The inspiration for this post, was a friend, who used some pretty sad words about herself. I just couldn't let it pass. I encouraged her. I searched for something that would convey the power of "I am," and I found this Joel Olsteen sermon. And I loved it. I think it describes it really well. Check it out when you have 30 minutes. It's well worth it. Click below the picture.

The Power of I AM

A final thought, I read this amazing talk by now Elder Holland, then dean of religion at BYU. It occurs to me that if we are truly to be what we will be, we must rely on the TRUE I AM. By patterning our lives after His, we can become all he means us to be. And we will be what He would have us be.