Look for the good

Recently, after a flight home, a tablet was inadvertently left behind on the airplane.
This was not realized until the next morning. Panic ensued and my husband and I quickly sought for answers on how to best track it down.
We were prompted to visit the airlines web page and found a lost and found claim form. We filled it out, adding every detail about the tablet that we could think of. We sent a signal to the tablet, and forced it to lock and set a password to keep personal data safe. And then we waited… each of us expecting different outcomes. A couple of weeks passed and then an unexpected email was received.
The tablet was located! Faith in mankind was restored!

I couldn’t help but wonder, what caused us to expect such contradicting outcomes.
Was it a male/female thing?
Do each of us view the world (and people) differently because of external influences? (Work, media, etc.)
Have our past experiences impacted our way of thinking?

Abraham Lincoln once said…

“If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.”

While that may be true, it stands to reason that the opposite is also true.
If you look for the good in people, expecting to find it, you surely will!

change

Today, we were released from the Bishopric of the Young Single Adult Ward
where we have served with our heart and soul for three years.
It is customary, for the departing bishopric and their wives to share a few words
and bear a testimony to the members of the ward.

This is what I shared today….

Often, a returned missionary will recite these words when reflecting on their mission….
”they were the best two years of my life!”
Today, I get it.
The last three years were the best three years of my life.

Because of the members of the Crescent View Young Single Adult Ward
I have more hope in the future.
I have increased faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ.
I have a greater desire to serve others.
I have a deeper love for the temple.
I have an enthusiasm for family history work.
I have a stronger testimony of the Gospel.

What makes today so difficult for me is this…
I don’t get to express my love to each member of the ward and then go sit down.
I have to leave.

What makes today so easy for me is knowing that three men and their wives
were called through inspiration to love and serve the ward in ways
that we could not.

What makes today so special for me is that I get to share my testimony to the people I love.
I know that the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
is the complete restoration of Christ’s original church.
I know that we have true and living prophets today that teach us and guide us.
I know that though simple obedience to God’s commandments, and through the atonement, we can
return to live with our Heavenly Father.
I know that the Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ.
I know that the Book of Mormon  is full of messages, relevant to the problems we face today.
I know that as we study the scriptures, we will receive answers.
I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ loves each one of us... personally.
He knows us. He is with us. We are never alone.

A British philosopher once said

The only way to make sense out of change is to
plunge into it,
move with it,
and join the dance.
(Alan W. Watts)

So… Let’s go dance!

straightway

Last week, I was riding Trax from home to downtown where I was going to meet my husband for dinner. Along the way, at one of the stops, two individuals boarded the train. One was clearly helping or tutoring the other. She coached him as he stepped onto the car and reassured him along the way. They were both blind. At that same moment, a man that was already on the train, jumped up to help. He spoke to them, told them were handles and seats were, he took them by the arm and guided them. He made sure they were both OK. He did so, WITHOUT HESITATION. His act of kindness and service was immediate.

The most interesting moment of this incident was not the act, but what I learned about this kind stranger as I heard him talk to a woman (also a stranger to him) on the train as we continued the trip north. She was having a hard time holding a job and finding places to live. Again, without hesitation, he tried to help. He encouraged her. He tried to give her hope. He explained to her that he was just released from prison. He was in a halfway house and trying to get his life back in order and that he understood her difficulties.

I couldn’t help but ask myself…. why did I hesitate when two blind children of God stepped onto the train. Why was I not the one to come to their aid and to be the one to ensure their safety and well being? How many other times did I hesitate. How many times did I not act immediately on promptings? How many opportunities have I missed because I put them off?

I was ashamed to admit that there was any.

Matthew 4: 18-22

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him

temptation

We have been in our home for eighteen years now.
It’s hard to imagine that that much time has passed.
We are very fond of our home, and especially fond of our neighbors.

Eighteen years ago, when we were putting our yard in,
we laid perfectly green sod and selected the right trees and bushes.
We found the perfect spot to plant each of them.
We watered and cared for it and it flourished.

Over the years, through our own neglect, and even the neglect of others,
an entire lawn was killed off, wild trees and plants took root,
the wrong, evasive plant was placed into the ground,
and weeds crept in from every direction.
Our yard now lacked the beauty that we once imagined.

Ignorance and neglect caused so much damage. The yard was out of control.
It seemed that every time we pulled or plucked, two more invaders returned.

The same can be true for temptation and sin.

If we neglect the commandments, if we ignore our Heavenly Father and forget to pray and study,
we will not be equipped with the tools and the power that we will need
to stand strong and fight against the unwanted invasions (temptations) of the adversary.
Temptation is a weed that will creep in
We must nurture our minds and bodies with the power of Christ
so that we will be deeply rooted in our testimony of His gospel.

Your weakest point will be the point at which Satan tries to tempt you, and will try to win you, and if you have made it weak yourself before you have undertaken to serve the Lord, he will add to that  weakness. Resist him and you will gain in strength. He will tempt you in another point. Resist him and he becomes weaker and you become stronger, until you can say, no matter what your surroundings may be, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve’ (Luke 4:8)”   ~David O McKay

temptation

Not to long ago, we made a startling discovery at work….
WE HAVE MICE!
This is not the first time, mind you.
We thought we had it under control,
we let our guard down and they moved back.
But that is not the worse of it…
they had set up camp in the cupboard under the sink.

If you did not already know this:
Mice are not clean creatures.
They leave evidence of their existence everywhere.
Being the least squeamish person there
I volunteered for clean up duty.
Besides… I would never impose that task upon anyone
if I was not willing to take it upon myself.

I couldn’t help but notice how easily
this invasion occurred while we were not paying attention
or taking the necessary preventative measures.
[keeping food items put away, cleaning up, etc]
We assumed that the previous extermination was successful
and that there would no longer be trouble.

How true is this in our our lives.
If we let our guard down,
if we don’t  pay attention to the simple things
[daily prayer, scripture study, etc]
how easy would it be for tiny temptations
to creep in and invade us.

Train your mind to obey gospel principles and covenants. Stay on the highway of daily personal and family prayer, the avenue of studying the scriptures and the teachings of the prophets, the road of serving in the Church, and be willing to get off the wrong road daily and on the right road leading to eternal life. Your greatest protection against temptation is an active and vibrant testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which binds us to our Heavenly Father. Our greatest example of overcoming temptation is the Savior: “He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them” (D&C 20:22).
~RULON G. CRAVEN (April 1996 General Conference)

Healing

Today, on the anniversary of 9-11, Taylor and I continued our tradition of visiting Healing Field in Sandy, Utah.
I will never forget where I was the day this event happened.
I will never forget calling my parents in Canada while they were serving their mission.
I will never forget gasping out loud as the first tower fell
…and again with the second collapse.
I will never forget the power of a Nation, that raised above this tragedy
and came together in such a remarkable way. With pride. With faith. With God.

It is a shame, that while we will never forget what happened our our land
we easily and often forget our God.
May we turn our thoughts to Him daily and enable Him and our Savior
to heal us and make us stronger.
Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually.

It is constancy that God would have from us. Tragedies are not merely opportunities to give Him a fleeting thought, or for momentary insight to His plan for our happiness. Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were. We can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior. We may not only find faith in God in our sorrow. We may also become faithful to Him in times of calm.   ~Thomas S. Monson

becoming the best

It has been said by most that their mom is the best ever.
Those words are no exception to my daughters.
I accept their statements in great humility
not because I am the best, but because I have been influenced by the best.

My mother is the first influence I ever had.
She is the most selfless woman I know.
Always looking outward.

My two daughters… so very different from each other
but equally as important to me.
They have taught me more than I ever would have learned on my own.

Denise became my fist sister when I married her brother.
She was the first Aunt to my daughters
and is full of energy and love.

Tamra, married my brother
and was the first to make me an Aunt.
She has a passion for learning and is one of the smartest people I know.

Emily, my third sister by marriage.
She has taken on the role of motherhood and has not looked back.
She is courageous and nurturing.

Many friends and neighbors… the mothers and the childless.
All of them honoring womanhood with their actions,
caring for their families and for each other.

I have no doubt that all of these women will also claim
that their greatness comes from influences as well.
But, isn’t that something we as women do so very well…
helping others become their best.

I need to smell the roses.

As you can tell by the number of recent (or lack thereof) posts,
I have not been a very active blogger.

I attribute this to my mundane life!
I have seen nothing worth blogging about.
Each day I get up early, go to work, come home,
think about (and sometimes fix) dinner,
clean up and go to bed, wake up and start over.

I have recently come to realize that there is SO MUCH more
to my daily routines that I have failed to take notice of.
I have failed to smell the beautiful roses.

I have a job that I love. I work for and with people who appreciate
me. I admire and respect those I work with.

I have an awesome husband who gives me something to
laugh about each and every day. I love laughing with him.
I love making him laugh.

I have two daughters that teach me something each and every day.
They are strong and faithful women. They endure emotional and
physical pain. They trust in the Lord. They rely on the Priesthood.

I have family nearby. We enjoy each others company as often as
possible. Dinners, family events, the Theater, hikes, sporting events.

I have family members further away. We are able to take advantage
of modern technology and send a quick hello with a phone text,
chat over the internet, see each other via Skype.

Winter was white and beautiful. Spring is blooming and fragrant
and the warmth of summer will soon follow. The four seasons of Utah
are glorious.

There are so many other wonderful things around me that I
must take the time each day and simply notice. I know this
is the only way to take the mundane out of my life.

And it is as simple as smelling the roses.

Taking a chance

Taking a chance is so easy to think about.
The application of this, is something quite different.
So many situations put us in a position were we should apply this ideal.
Many times, for me, hiding behind my fears and insecurities is so much easier.

Missionary work, for example.
In my faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
we believe that every member is a missionary,
that we all have a responsibility to open our mouths and share what we believe.
Me, my worries of saying the wrong thing, stop me from sharing my thoughts and beliefs.
It is one of my greatest weaknesses, but this weakness has been made stronger
as I have taken a chance in other aspects of my life.

I wonder where I would be today
if I had not taken a chance and gone out with a young man
that seemed so much my opposite.
If I had not taken a chance and seen him again.
After all doesn’t everyone deserve a 2nd date?
Firsts seem to be so wrapped up in insecurities and first, and likely wrong, impressions
If I hadn’t taken a chance and married that man.
By taking that chance, 25 years later, I find that we are the best of friends and
we have so much more in common than I ever believed…we grew that way.
He has made me stronger and braver.
He secures me and anchors me.

I can’t even imagine how empty my life would be
if I had not taken a chance when we had our first child.
If I had not taken a chance and had another.
I have gained so much by taking those chances.
I have learned to love unconditionally, and most of all
I have learned that I am loved unconditionally by my Savior
as He has blessed me and sustained me as a mother.
My weaknesses have been  tested and strengthened,
my talents have been nourished.
My life became full.

I have learned, that when we take a chance
and do what our Heavenly Father has asked us to do,
(sometimes that is the most difficult and seemingly wrong thing
to do, simply because it may not be what WE want to do)
we are blessed beyond our greatest dreams.

We simply must have FAITH…. and take the chance.