Of Fall and Sisters and Lost Teeth

I just love the Fall. In Arizona, if you are not paying attention, it can slip right past you because the HOT takes a long time to cool down. Then it's suddenly cold, but cold is certainly relative, when most of the winter you don't need more than a sweater and a little bit of heat at night. Regardless, nature knows it's Fall and starts rolling up the green carpets and letting go of the harvest and changing colors if only briefly. Here's what came out of my garden a few weeks ago. The green beans and carrots are hiding under all of the tomatoes.



So, I made some applesauce from our very own tree. I've made loads of salsa and today I am going to make some fresh tomato basil soup. Last night the kids helped me make apple pie filling. Film at 11.

Last weekend I did something I have wanted to do for YEARS. A sisters weekend! These are the wives of my hubby's brothers, so we are really s-i-l's. But to me, they are every bit sisters. But my silly sisters and I can never figure out a good time for all of us. Never is pretty much a good time for 5 women with 24 children between them. We thought we had it all worked out for everyone to be there, but sadly our one sister LaNae did not make it, so we really missed her. But here's what we did.

Susan and I did some shopping before we hooked up with Amanda and Christianne. We went out on Friday night to Applebee's. This was Susan's first time to Applebee's and her first time away from home except for girl's camp, so we agreed to be extra nice to her. We did the awesome $10 appetizer and entree deal they have. All of us.



After Applebee's we all went to a really neat presentation of Leslie Householder's, who is the author of the Jackrabbit Factor. I forgot to take a picture of us! :-/, but this is what Leslie looks like. I also met Leslie this Summer at the Hill Cumorah pageant in New York.

This is Leslie. We loved her talk and I got really in the groove and saw myself winning a drawing. I thought it was her new book, so I was really excited. But I was still excited when it was her set of audio CDs on spiritual principles of abundance. Woohoo! I love winning and green lights. Haha. I am going back on December 9th for a cool presentation she is hosting on Body Language and what it says about you and how you can read others. You can read about that here: Body Language Training



We rented the movie Just Wright and watched that before bed. We were up until 1am and then the wonderful Amanda got online and mapped out my 9 mile route for the morning for me and even left me an inspiring message so that when I got up to run, I would feel like I had someone supporting me. It was not a very great run, but I did it. But I missed out on three hours of fun with the sisters. Next time, no running. Since I missed out on the chatting and craft shopping, I decided to splurge and make up for it when we went to lunch at Sweet Cakes.

While I ran, they shopped for glass blocks so we could make some Halloween/Fall decorations for our homes. The sad story is we did not buy them pre-drilled and when they were drilled, they all broke. :-( So, no decorations, but it was fun shopping and maybe I can figure out something else to do with the ribbon. Word to the wise, buy glass blocks pre-drilled.

By then, it was lunch time. We had hoped LaNae could make it for lunch. She had been in the valley because our nephew Jimmy was in the Special Olympics that weekend and he won 1st place in both of his swimming events. Yeah Jimmy! LaNae was visiting our niece Audra and her husband Skyler, and getting some car work done and time just did not come together for all of us.

Amanda and Christianne introduced Susan and I to Sweet Cakes. Holy 5 layer brownies batman! Need I say more?



We got a little impatient waiting for our sandwiches, not that it was taking that long, but when 4 ladies are intent on finding a way to indulge in some form of chocolate, well, you get the idea. We decided to make it our appetizer. :-) We cut it in 4 perfectly even pieces and ENJOYED!



We each ordered a different sandwich and then decided to share a 1/4 with everyone. See how that high school math really does come in handy? I'm not too sure Susan was hip on cutting up her delicious sandwich and giving 3 pieces of it away, but I hope she enjoyed ours anyway. Let me see if I can remember. Susan had the club, Amanda had a BLT with Avocado, Christianne had turkey? and I had chicken salad. They were all yummy, even if three of them were on sour dough. I love sour dough. Apparently Christianne does not share my passion, but she was very nice about it.



And then there were the cookies! They had a special. Buy two humongous cookies, get one free. Here were our choices. I wanted to buy a cinnamon roll but it was not on special. I should have done it anyway. I bought four cookies and got two free.



And here we are after our barely 24 hours together. I vote next year we make it 2 or 3 days. I mean really, girls cannot get enough talking, eating, and shopping in one day.



I guess the teeth will have to wait till the next post. Suffice it to say the school "nurse" keeps pulling out my daughter's teeth. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't her two front teeth, the ones she won't be whistling Merry Christmas with. But, that's for later.

Since I love quotes, I thought I'd end with two pictures that make a quote.




I always eat a perfectly balanced diet. heehee

Do You Suffer From Perfection?

Please read the blog entry above. Click on the probably highly airbrushed unrealistic picture. It's powerful. Then after you read how I am real today, come back and post something real about YOU.

Since he encourages us to get real, I'll be real, just for today. Lately with all the time on my hands, I have felt lonely, unproductive, and worthless. I am trying really hard to accomplish some great things, and they don't seem to be going anywhere. That's about as real as I can stand for one day.

That is why perfectionism is dangerous. We are commanded to be perfect. But mortality is set up so that we can rely on the grace of our Savior and so that we realize that we do need Him. And that in Him our weaknesses and imperfections are made strong.

I know General Conference on Sunday will lift my spirits. and I know that Christ knows and loves us whether we are perfect or very real. That's a true comfort. We don't have to be perfect, because He is.

THOSE aren't footprints in the sand!

With all due respect to the original poem which I loved and adored as a sappy young adult, this is probably more the reality. Enjoy, and if you find it offensive, I apologize. You'll have to take it up with the Bish, because he's the one that shared it with me. :-)


Buttprints in the Sand

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.


But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord,"What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
"But Lord,they are too big for feet."

"My child," He said in somber tones,
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait."

"You disobeyed,you would not grow,
The walk of faith,you would not know,
So I got tired,I got fed up'
And there I dropped you on your butt."

"Because in life,there comes a time,
When one must fight,and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand."

--Author Unknown

Parenting talk

Responsibility and Privilege of Parents to Teach and Live the Gospel in the Home

Responsibility: Warnings, Privilege: (Blessings)

When we were first married I had this romantic idea of children and all of the wisdom that I would teach them. I had great theories and no children. Now I have children and no theories. :-) I could bring any of you up hear to tell your parenting experiences that make us wonder why we thought it would be a good idea to have them, like sleepless nights for days, weeks, months, and years, not sleeping alone as a couple regularly for decades, children who throw up in the most inconvenient places like Burger King, and over the sides of bunk beds. I once saw a little boy about 3 or 4 in front of the shopping cart door of the old Wal Mart, taking care of business. I wondered where his mother was and wondered if she would be HORRIFIED. But I thought it was hysterical, however I was very grateful it wasn’t mine, though it just as likely could have been. Ever lost kids? lost or left them in the house, out of the house, and on vacation. Childhood diseases, broken bones, rebellious teens, and well it would be fun if we could all have a parenting story fest. But, that’s not our purpose today.
In Psalms, we are told children are an heritage of the Lord, and Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. I am here to testify that happiness does come from having many children. There are plenty of other emotions that come with them, but happiness is right at the top. The scriptures are filled with admonitions about children and parenting.

For example, in D&C 68: 25, 27-28 it reads,

25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
• • •
27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.

28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.

Those verses lay the foundation for our responsibility as parents. I remember the first time I really understood the gravity of the years ahead of us. We were living in Utah. We had a 19 month old darling boy, and a brand new 2 month old baby boy. We were watching conference, and I have never forgotten the warning given in that talk.

Elder Faust was speaking and he said:

“A few years ago, Bishop Stanley Smoot was interviewed by President Spencer W. Kimball. President Kimball asked, “How often do you have family prayer?”

Bishop Smoot answered, “We try to have family prayer twice a day, but we average about once.”
President Kimball answered, “In the past, having family prayer once a day may have been all right. But in the future it will not be enough if we are going to save our families.”

(Elder Faust) I wonder if having casual and infrequent family home evening will be enough in the future to fortify our children with sufficient moral strength. In the future, infrequent family scripture study may be inadequate to arm our children with the virtue necessary to withstand the moral decay of the environment in which they will live. Where in the world will the children learn chastity, integrity, honesty, and basic human decency if not at home? These values will, of course, be reinforced at church, but parental teaching is more constant.” (Elder Faust, Oct 1990)

Brothers and sisters, I am obviously not a prophet, but as I have listened to the apostles and prophets in many different settings over the last 21 years, and the urgency with which they speak to us, I feel safe in saying we have reached that future time. It’s taken us years to become consistent in those habits, and we are still reaching for 100%. There is always room for improvement.

In April conference of this year, Elder Perry said:

“Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility.

Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home.”

Later in his talk, after quoting from the Proclamation on the family, which also contains warnings, he added:

“We see so many challenges today from distracting and destructive influences intended to mislead God’s children. We are seeing many young people who lack the deep spiritual roots necessary to remain standing in faith as storms of unbelief and despair swirl around them. Too many of our Father in Heaven’s children are being overcome by worldly desires. The onslaught of wickedness against our children is at once more subtle and more brazen than it has ever been.”

Last August, Sister Beck was part of a Seminary and Institute Satellite Broadcast training. She gave probably THE most powerful talk I’ve ever heard on the doctrine of the family. I wish at this point, I could just read her talk to you, but I was told by the bishop I couldn’t do that. So, I’ll do what I was assigned to do. You can do an internet search for Teaching the Doctrine of the Family and Julie Beck and you will find the PDF file. As I reread her talk, three things stood out like neon signs to me.

(You can find Sister Beck's talk here: http://lds.org/pa/rs/pdf/CES_2009_Beck_eng.pdf)

First one, in speaking about Korihor and his evil message, she said.

“Korihor was an anti-Christ. Anti-Christ is antifamily. Any doctrine or principle our youth hear from the world that is antifamily is also anti-Christ. It’s that clear. They need to know that if it’s antifamily, it’s anti-Christ. An anti-Christ is antifamily.”

Think of the repercussions of that statement, if we were to take it 100% seriously and apply it across the board to our lives and our families. What would our behavior look like in and about our family? What kinds of media would we allow our children to partake of and what kind would we partake of if we took that seriously? Something to think about.

Second, speaking of the youth of the church today, she said:

“This generation will be called upon to defend the doctrine of the family as never before in the history of the world. If they don’t know it, they can’t defend it. They need to understand temples and priesthood. If you don’t know that they are meant to be fathers and mothers, then they won’t know that they are meant to be fathers and mothers. Your effort will be wasted.”

Third, she actually quotes President Kimball, (in 1980) and I will only use part of it.

“Many of the social restraints which in the past have helped to reinforce and to shore up the family are dissolving and disappearing. The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us.”

That was said 30 years ago. We’re living in that time.

I could go on with the warnings we have been given about the seriousness of teaching and preparing our children for the day they already live in, the confusion and distortions surrounding women and their role and the world’s opinion about those roles, but there’s not enough time. In spite of it all, I am amazed at the great testimonies and faithfulness of the youth of our day. It is a beauty to behold. And I am grateful that my children are head and shoulders above and beyond what I was at their ages.

I’d like to focus on the Privilege and Blessing of teaching the gospel to our children:
Although this talk is not meant to cover every specific of what we teach, as I thought about some of those things, it came to me that especially in our day, there is no room for us to be hypocrites. We cannot set one standard for our children, and then explain away our own bad behavior by saying we are adults. If we are raising the bar for missionaries and expecting our teens to live up to the strength of youth, then perhaps we ought to consider raising the bar for ourselves and holding to the same standards WE expect of them. In teaching our children, the Savior admonished us repeatedly to become like them, because they are already like HIM.
In Conference in April, Sister Lant who was just released as the General Primary President, said,

“It is our sacred responsibility as parents and leaders of this rising generation of children to bring them to the Savior so that they might see His face and the face of our Father in Heaven as well. As we do so, we also bring ourselves.”

This seems to be implied in Moroni, chapter 8, vs 10:

Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.

Sister Lant encourages us to seek the face of the Savior so that we will receive his image in our countenance and our children will be able to see Him in our own faces. How do we do that? She gives us three steps.

1) Love the Lord with all our hearts, and our children.
2) Become worthy examples, realizing that both of these steps are a becoming, a process.
3) Teach our children the truths of the gospel through the scriptures and prophets and help them to feel and recognize the Spirit.

A few scriptures that Elder Andrew Norton shared with me on parenting.

In 3 Nephi 18: 20-21
Pray, pray in our families unto the Father in the Savior’s name that wives/husbands and children will be blessed.
In 3 Nephi 22: 13
Teach our children of the Lord; and great shall be their peace.
Helaman 3: 21
Why or how did Nephi and Lehi “grow up unto the Lord.” Go back to D&C 68 that I began with. (doctrines of faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, praying, walking uprightly)

Please turn to Mosiah 4: vs 11-15.

This last scripture Andrew shared had a great insight I hadn’t noticed before that goes along with seeking the Savior and the blessings that come. He shared the insight too. You can actually go back to vs 9 where he gives us all of these things to believe in. Vs 10 repent and forsake your sins, humble yourself, ask for forgiveness, believe all these things and do them. These are commandments, vs 11 remember the greatness of God, humble yourself, call on the Lord daily, stand steadfastly. And here come the blessings.

Vs 12, if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, be filled with the love of God, retain a remission of sins; grow in the knowledge of the glory of God and the knowledge of that which is just and true. If we then look at vs 13-16 as a continuation of blessings rather than commandments, it changes the meaning slightly. Continuing with the previous thought, “if ye do this”…AND

*ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably,
*ye will not suffer your children to go hungry, or naked; neither suffer that they transgress the laws of God, fight and quarrel, serve the devil,
*BUT, ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.

It’s not saying DON’T when you read it in context, it’s saying, if you do all these things, you will become like Christ and then your nature will be such that you WON’T allow or do any of these other things, because they will be a natural extension of what King Benjamin calls in the next chapter, “no more disposition to do evil.” Well, I really enjoyed Andrew’s insight and hope you did too.

I realized as I was preparing this talk, that this (hold up scriptures) and this (hold up Conference Ensign) are all we need for parenting manuals. I wanted to leave you with just a few of the great parenting tips and advice given in the last conference. We have such great tools at lds.org to cross reference scripture with talks and search by topic. We have almost no excuse in this day and age to fail, when we have the best advice in the world at our fingertips in so many varieties. Hard copy, keyboard, ipod, and other personal handheld gadgets.

***Elder Ballard said:
The Mutual theme for 2010 applies to our youth as well as to all of us: “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9). This will lead them safely to the blessings of the house of the Lord.”

***Elder Scott, Sun morning, 2010
The vital importance of teaching truth in the home is fundamental. The Church is important, but it is in the home where parents provide the required understanding and direction for children. It is truly said that the most important callings in time and eternity are those of father and mother. In time we will be released from all other assignments we receive but not from that of father and mother.

As you ponder—not just read but ponder and meditate—on scriptural passages, the power of the Holy Ghost will distill truths in your mind and heart as a secure foundation in this uncertain time in which we live. As parents, prepare your children for the challenges they will encounter. Teach them truth, encourage them to live it, and they will be all right no matter how severely the world is shaken.

This Easter, resolve to make the Lord Jesus Christ the living center of your home. Be sure that every decision you make, whether it be of a spiritual or physical nature, be guided by the thought “What would the Lord Jesus Christ have me do?” When the Savior is the center of your home, it is filled with peace and serenity. There is a spirit of calm assurance that pervades the home that is felt by the children and adults alike.

Eldery Eyring, Sat morning
“The family has an advantage in the first eight years of a child’s life. In those protected years, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Satan’s use of the mists of darkness to hide the path to return home is blocked.”

Elder Perry, Mothers Teaching Children in the Home, Sat pm, 2010
“My mother understood the value of teaching her children about standards, values, and doctrine while they were young. The scope of Mother’s teaching included both secular and spiritual lessons. Part of our learning at home also involved memorizing scriptures, including the Articles of Faith, and the words of prophets, seers, and revelators.”

***Elder Bednar, Sat pm, 2010
“A spiritual early warning system that can help parents in Zion to be watchful and discerning concerning their children. Consisting of: (1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with your children, (2) bearing testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children, and (3) inviting children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon. Parents who do these things faithfully will be blessed to recognize early signals of spiritual growth in or challenges with their children and be better prepared to receive inspiration to strengthen and help those children.”

***Elder Hales, Sun afternoon, 2010

“The greatest missionary work we will ever do will be in our homes.

The greatest family history work that we will do will be within our own homes.

The greatest rescue, the greatest activation will be in our homes.

The greatest faith we have will be within our homes as we remain strong in the trials and tribulations of parenthood.

The greatest love and the greatest teachings should be in our homes.”


Those are only a few, and I invite you to do a keyword search of our last Conference of parents, children, etc.

I’d like to close with my testimony. In much of what I studied, we are encouraged to teach our children about faith and repentance. I want to remind you that if they don’t know they are cherished and loved, repentance becomes a very scary thing. I might ask you to ask yourself whether you really believe that Heavenly Father loves you no matter what. Do you? When you think of your children and grandchildren and the love you have for them, can you imagine anything that would cause you to NOT love them anymore? I can’t. There was a point when my nature began to change so that when rules were broken or cherished belongings were shattered, that instead of getting angry, I saw the devastation that my children naturally felt when they did something wrong, and instead of lashing out, I drew them to me in love. I think our Heavenly Father is like that. If you don’t know that, I would invite you to seek after that knowledge. And please, please let your children know first and foremost that God loves them no matter what. I love the verses in Romans that say:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And I would add nor sin nor imperfection.

Sin separates us spiritually, but He still loves us. If and when we repent, he is standing with open arms ready to draw us to Him. If we know He loves us, repentance becomes doable and bearable.

Family is divine. Our roles as men and women and parents are divine. Our children succeeding or getting distracted temporarily are not measures of our worth as parents. Whether they do or they don’t, most of the time, we cannot take the credit. When we set up the environment, we hope for the best, and combined with the proper use of their agency, they will be successful. I am grateful that we have a loving Heavenly Father and Savior to turn to in times of difficulty, to be a “present help” to us as parents. I consider my role as a mother as the most precious and sacred role of my earthly experience, and I have found that I am not so wise as I thought, but that as I have stumbled and fumbled to lead my children to Christ, I have found, it was they who led me. And I’m so grateful for it.

Victory!

I've done something dumb. I guess it's not dumb, but it has me wondering. As long as I can remember, I've wanted to run a marathon. But, as a mom, when do I have that kind of time for training? I just don't. Well, my Dr mentioned a few weeks ago that he is in a 100 mile bike race. I mentioned my desire to run a marathon and my reason why not. A few months ago, I'd had the thought, maybe I could do a half. He also mentioned, that there would be a half marathon. Hmmm.

The next week I had looked up a training schedule and started training. Last week I ran 16 miles total. This week it will be 21. Let me define ran. Covering a certain distance over the ground with my two feet. Sometimes it looks like walking, fast walking, jogging, or dragging. I lovingly refer to it as wogging.

The first day I got up in the 5am hour, my brain said, "there is NO way you can do this." (I think anything before 6am should be illegal, and even 6 is pushing it.) The next day, it said, "what are you thinking, you are over 40!!!" After a few days, it was quiet when I woke up. Of course, I was tapping on those limiting beliefs. It quit yelling at me when I woke up and moved to strategy two. Yell at her while she's running. So, I get about half way into my distance for the day, and my mind and heart go at it. Heart: "you can do this? keep going, just a little farther." Head: "Shut up and get back in the closet. You can't do it. It's too hard!"

I tap while I run, on hip pain, knee pain, my thoughts, and the pain and hysteria recedes.

Two runs ago, I thought about my missionaries. Every day, day in, day out, they are doing something hard. Doors slammed in faces, rudeness, people yelling at them, all for the chance that someone, will listen, and accept the invitation to find out. And all the while, I am sure, fighting the negative thoughts. That empowered me. I hoped my heart would be a little stronger. Surely, if my missionaries can do hard things for two years, I can run 3, 4, 6, 10, 13.1 miles. Surely, I can train for eleven weeks. So, I keep dragging and wogging.



This morning, I am so happy. Because today, my heart won out. Almost completely. I did not drag or walk slowly the whole three miles. I ran more than I have run in any previous run. My heart said, "how far can you run today?" My brain feebly said, "are you kidding?" My brain has taken a back seat to my heart. And I hope it stays there.

I love the quote by Heber J Grant that says: “ ‘That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do is increased.’ ” The 3, 6, 10 or however many miles I run, will never change. On day one, it seemed impossible. On day 19, it has become doable...maybe. But, I believe if I persist, on day 77, it might even be, shall I dare think? Easy?

I do know, that if I persist in running, running any distance can and will become easy. Not because the miles or running changed, but because the doing of it, created a change in me. And maybe that is why I've always wanted to run a marathon. So, there could be a change in me, and so that I can prove to myself that as the scriptures say, and as I often remind my lovely missionaries, "with God, all things are possible."

Divine Math

For most of our married life, we knew we would have missionaries going somewhere to teach the good news of Jesus Christ. Before we even had our first child, we were advised that we should save $50 a month for that child to go into the mission field. At the time, we were making $1400 a month. $50 was a lot! If I knew now what I know then, instead of doubting that we could, I'd look for ways that we could. But, when you multiply by 5 boys and add 2 more for the possibility of girls going, $250-$350 a month seemed pretty impossible most of our financial life.

On occasion my dad would ring in and remind me, how are you going to pay for those missions Dawnie? Blind faith Dad. I'm going on faith. 5 years ago, it was really beginning to become a reality. Church missions currently cost $400 a month. EACH! I felt that to ask for help, I needed to do all that I could do and so I began pondering what to do to contribute. It finally came as an answer quite strongly one day, one that still makes me wonder. I became a realtor. I enjoyed a year of learning before we had the whole "market crash." I can say it hasn't been as lucrative as I dreamed it would be and there's certainly way more work than one EVER gets paid for. But, back to the equation.

The reality is, looking at our budget, that 1+1=2. One budget, plus one family =2. Hmmmm. What happens when a new obligation is thrown in, like a missionary? Suddenly 1+1 really needs to equal 3. And when you throw in Mish2, 1+1 needs to be >3. Nope, no matter how we added, it did not equal. But fortunately, my boys worked as much as they could and saved for a portion. Fortunately, for one whole year, they had enough to cover. Unfortunately, they both ran out at the same time.

I made a conscious decision. Blind faith. OK, it's not really blind. I have plenty of evidence to have faith. But, I told Heavenly Father, that I was not going to worry. These boys as much as I like to claim them, are really His, and so I knew He would be watching out for them and would provide the way. We'd try to do our part and then try to let the Lord work his miracles.

In spite of this horrible real estate night mare last year, I doubled my business. (Wish that were the case this year). So, at particularly needful times, a house would close, and we would pay several months in advance for one or both. We've had grandparents, an occasional friend, and generous other circumstances come through to help us to where we are. Our gratitude has been to overflowing. Only one time in 21 months, have I held my breath and paid out of our normal budget that only equals 1+1=2.

I've become less aware of our finances than ever before. What I mean is, I don't add up what's coming in and I don't add up what's going out. It's probably foolish of me, but maybe it's a survival technique. I've stressed over our finances our whole married life, and it didn't change anything. I did not want to worry. So, hands over eyes has kept the worry away. Haha. That, and knowing the Lord is aware of our every need.

Fast forward to August. Missionary payments x 2 due. The last few months I have particularly desired that we would be able to pay the remaining payments for Andrew and then we could breathe a little easier. No worry. Just desire. Lots of prayer. August 1 came due. 1+1=2. Hmmm. Well, I don't know what we are going to do. There was no way for it to =3 or more. No worry. Just desire. Lots of prayer. On the first Tuesday of the month after the payment was due, I checked the mail.

What do you think was there? An unexpected check. One I forgot about. An old investment being returned. At the very hour it was absolutely needed. It was enough to finish off The Mish payments, pay Mish2 through the end of the year, and provide for some other needs we have. Did I say our gratitude was overflowing? Let me say it again. Our gratitude is overflowing.

We have a loving Heavenly Father who probably knew when I made that investment, that it was for our missionaries. I didn't. I love learning how He delights to bless us. And I love learning that 1 (one family) + 1(omnipotent God) = ∞(infinity). I've always loved Math! :-)

My testimony

Olivia Norton, age 6 (At the time)

I have challenges to my faith on a regular basis that I will not share the details. But, as I have prayerfully pondered the proper way to face each challenge and whether words or action should be taken, some things came to me. I have two boys that I like to call sons of thunder. They are serving missions for our church. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They teach principles. And then they ask each person they are teaching, to find out for themselves whether those principles are true. They invite them to ask God who gives wisdom to the earnest seeker of truth. No strong arming, brain washing, or tying people up under a light bulb. They just teach them to pray. Teach them our basic story. Give them a Book of Mormon. Ask them to read. Pray for themselves. Invite them to be baptized. Some say yes. Some say no.

On a regular basis, they testify to us of the truths that they teach. And they have realized as I have, that no amount of arguing, proving, wresting the scriptures will convert anyone. The fact of the matter is, a boy named Joseph Smith made a pretty big claim. He wanted to know what church to join. He went into the woods to pray. He saw things he never expected to, but his prayer was answered. Either it happened as he said. Or it didn't, and he is a liar or deluded. There is only one way to know for sure. Read his testimony and put it to the test. If it's true, then God asked him to set this church up based on principles that HE taught him.

There was a little girl, who was very sad, because her parents divorced and she couldn't have her family any more. She moved very far away and never saw her mother anymore. Her parents fought before, and that was not happy, but it made her very sad to never see her mother anymore. But, she still had other loving family members, and for the most part she was happy. She remembered when she was almost four years old, attending the baptisms of her mother and father and older brother. It didn't really mean much. And not long after, there was the horrible fighting and divorce.

When the girl was 6, she moved with her dad and brother to Georgia. And sometimes they went to church. Lots of times, they didn't. But one particular day, when they went to church, the people were having a "fast and testimony" meeting. On those days, members of the LDS church go without two meals and give the equivalent of those meals to the poor. And on those days (the first Sunday of each month), the members get up in the sacrament meeting as moved upon by the spirit to testify of things that they know are true.

As the little girl sat and listened, yes she listened, she had the funniest feeling. She knew. And she wanted to tell that she knew too. It was the first time that she had ever felt such an overabundance of joy and happiness and tears, and she stood and bore her testimony that she knew it was true. She didn't really know what, she just knew that it was.

That little girl was me of course. And I can't say that I've always known it was true, because a testimony is like a garden. If it is not nourished, it will eventually wither and die. The next time I remember knowing, was when I was 12 and somehow I got sent to girl's camp. At girl's camp, there was a testimony meeting around the fire. We still went to church sometimes and not others. Sitting around that fire, listening to the girls bear testimony, the fire lit within me again and I knew it was true and I stood and testified. How can you know something is true before you even know what it is that is true? I cannot explain it. I only know that hundreds and hundreds of times since them, I have felt it. Over and over.

Every time I attended girl's camp. Every youth conference I attended. Almost every testimony meeting I've ever sat through. Multiple times reading the scriptures including the Bible and the Book of Mormon. When I became a teen, I began being challenged. By Christian friends who told me I was going to hell. By family members. But, when I was awake enough at seminary, there was that sweet witness of the spirit. In countless Sunday School and Young Women classes, and I could go on and on.

My first really big challenge came when I was in college and I won't go into details, but it inspired me to read the Book of Mormon as quickly as I could. I finished in under a month and then I took the challenge.

Moroni 10:4, "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."

I can't say I really heard a giggle, but as it has filtered through the years, the impression was something of a laugh and a question. Something like, "you're kidding right? You *KNOW.*" And I did know. I know the Book of Mormon is also God's word.

The next and hopefully final challenge almost threw me completely off course. I kept it all to myself and again I won't share the details, but there was great wrestling within me and a point of being brought desperately to my knees. It involved anti-Mormon literature. Begging and pleading. "Please. I really must know. It's more important than it has ever been. And I will do anything, leave it all behind, take whatever course I am directed. Even leave my family if that is what it takes." Yep, I was desperately lost.

I went to the woods. I did not receive an immediate answer. I was on a camping trip. I went back to camp and ate dinner. I went to the campfire and opened my scriptures. But, I paused before I opened them. A little prayer went up. "Show me." I still marvel. I still don't quite believe that the only words that could have helped me, were the exact words that I opened to.

Romans 16:
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Do ya hear that anti's? No, of course not. Well, if you do, you are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ. The only way to reach out to someone who is lost (in your opinion) is to lovingly friendship and teach. Not scream and yell into a loudspeaker and intimidate people at places that are special to them. But, I digress.

I wanted to weep tears of gratitude. There were a few other verses that also really amazed me that I won't list here. The verses in Romans were the heart stoppers. I was letting deceit and words of division nearly alter the course of my future. From that day on, I was resolved. Nothing would ever influence me like that again. I will be honest that I was weakened. It took several years to re-nourish and grow what I had nearly lost. You must nourish a testimony. Since that time, I have spent many hours studying. Confirming again and again the testimony which is in me.

I have favorite websites that I go to when a question comes to me that I want to be more sure about doctrinally. But, for the most part, I go back to the witness that I was given as a little girl; I believe by the Holy Spirit.

I know God lives. I know He sent His only Son, to atone for my sins. I know that Jesus Christ is the only way back to the Father. I know He suffered in the garden and on the cross for me and for you. I know there is a Father, His Son, and the Holy Ghost. I do not believe they are one in person, as the Bible does not teach that. That "teaching" came in the 4th century after a bunch of philosophers decided to come up with a "proper" definition to appease those who did not like what the early Christian church believed about His nature. For more of LDS doctrine on the Godhead, you can read this excellent witness by an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Am I really a Christian? I know I get accused of not being one, sometimes directly, sometimes by default. This talk answers that to my satisfaction.

I know it is only through the mercy and merits, goodness and grace of Christ that I am "saved." What I mean by that is saved from death and hell and able to return to my heavenly home where I will enjoy the blessings of eternity with my family. I know I must be baptized to receive a remission of sins by one in authority to do so. Christ established his church with apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and so on. Where are His apostles today? Where are His prophets? In only one place I know of.

I know there was a falling away as prophesied in the Bible in Thessalonians 2:3 and Isaiah 60:2, and other scriptures. I know that God has restored his precious gospel, the good news of Christ and the plan of salvation and other lost truths, through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know there is another testament that testifies of Christ's divinity called the Book of Mormon. I've read it over a dozen times, and the simple truths are beautiful and delicious to the soul. I love the Bible and it's teachings and read it regularly and am so grateful for it's light. It is the Word of God.

I know God hears and answers prayers. He is personal in our lives. He loves each of us, His children. He wants us to call out to Him, rely on Him, make Him a part of our lives. He stands ever ready to bless us and He delights to do so. He has given us the power to choose and create. Not just procreate, but create lives of purpose and meaning with our talents and strengths. When we fall, He loves us anyway. And He is ready to help us up and be there every step of the way. He allows us to fall and He allows evil in the world, so that we might be accountable for our choices and He can judge perfectly.

I am so grateful for His goodness, His mercy, His love (how does God love if he is a God with no body, parts, or passions anyway?). I am grateful for my wonderful Christian friends who do sincerely want to have discussions and dialogue and do it in a loving way. We all benefit from that. And I believe our Savior is happy when it is done that way.

It amazes me that otherwise intelligent people that I love, will hear things from people they undoubtedly trust, and believe it completely. One side of the story. And then not ask, but tell me what I believe. People who would normally look at both sides of most issues, just accept as fact anything someone else says about my faith. It boils down to this. Jesus said, "by their fruits, ye shall know them." The fruits of Joseph Smith's efforts is the Book of Mormon. Most people will not read it. They've been warned there's a different Jesus in there. Maybe some are afraid that if they read it, they'll never be able to go back to their life before. It changes lives, just like the Bible does when people read it. One of the American prophets in the book said this,

“And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, ... and they teach all men that they should do good.” 2 Nephi 33:10

I invite you to sincerely read it and ponder whether it is good fruit. Consider whether it lifts and edifies and teaches. Recognize whether the book testifies of Christ as it's subtitle claims. And then ask God. Just ask. He says when we ask, He will answer. And the sincere prayer is always answered.

A testimony of the Book of Mormon only confirms whether Joseph was a prophet, whether there continues to be prophets on the earth, and whether he really did see what he claimed he did. From a six year old girl to today, I've received a witness that it is true, and so can you. And I witness it in His holy name, even Jesus Christ. Amen.