Gratitude MONTH!!!

I love having this blog! I think about my marriage more than I would without it! (should I have admitted that? :))

One thing I have decided is that gratitude can solve A. LOT. of our problems!

From President Monson:

"How can we cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude? President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, provided an answer. Said he: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.” He continued: “Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”

A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

How will you express your gratitude this month?

Here are some ideas.

*Start a gratitude journal. Write in it EVERYDAY! Focus on things about your spouse that you are grateful for or things they have done. -give it to them at the end of the month or at the end of every week. OR send it with them to work or leave it on their pillow the next day.

*Show your gratitude by taking care of what you have. (in my case I can work harder at home to have a clean organized house to show Zach I am grateful for his hard work in providing for our family. I just polished my wedding ring. :)))

I have some books to give away....but this time I am going to give them to those who comment often! Happy Gratitude month!! It's time to get grateful!

a pleading...

The other day I was reading President Monson's talk in the April conference Ensign. This line seriously struck me....

"I plead with you to teach your children of the temple's importance."

One line all by itself and the Prophet is pleading!

And then he continues.

"The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified."

There are many blessings that can come to our lives by attending the Temple that we are seriously not aware of. If we are going to teach our children of the importance of the Temple then we had best show them! Telling ourselves we need to go to the Temple more won't do us any good. We need to decide a day and a time and make the arrangements to go and then don't be deterred.

That is the apple. Let's do it!

the miracle.

Miracles happen all around us. Today while feeling very inadequate to meet my challenges. The member of the Bishopric who was conducting sacrament meeting mentioned a quote he had on his wall. It reminded me of this one by President Monson from THIS talk:

"My dear sisters, do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle."

When we pray, we can pray for miracles. Right now I feel like meeting my challenges and struggles would be nothing short. of. a. miracle.

Let us always remember that the Lord keeps His promises. "Ask and ye shall receive."

some questions are worth answering...

What matters most? You might remember THIS video.

We know what President Monson believes matters most. Have we decided? Take some time to think about it. What is most important to you?

In THIS talk by President Uchtdorf he talks about slowing down and focusing on what is most important....especially if we are experiencing "turbulence" in our lives.

What is turbulence to you? a new baby, a new job, taxes, lost job, lost baby, financial difficulties, family troubles?

If you are...(and we all do at times, it is part of being mortal), then...

"Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions."

“We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”

The holy scriptures and the spoken word of the living prophets give emphasis to the fundamental principles and doctrines of the gospel.

As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships: with our God, with our families, with our fellowman, and with ourselves. As we evaluate our own lives with a willing mind, we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way. The eyes of our understanding will be opened, and we will recognize what needs to be done to purify our heart and refocus our life.

Brothers and sisters, indeed we have great reason to rejoice. If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most.

Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most."

It is Sunday...maybe you are reading this on Wednesday. There is no better time to refocus than now. We can all use a good refocusing...:) I have never forgotten when Sister Beck referred to "one of those private meetings between her and the Lord". That statement changed my perspective on the relationship I had and the relationship I could have with the Lord. We are His children and He would love to counsel us on the choices we are making in our lives.

Have a good week! :)

What Matters Most

I don't need to say anything else.

Never.

I didn't make it to the Relief Society meeting this time and I was seriously bummed. It was my lack of planning that didn't get me there too. That was the real bummer.

Tonight I read THIS talk, Charity Never Faileth by President Monson and it made me cry. I love that man! The talk isn't long but here are a few quotes from it.

"I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.

True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.

Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out."

I have been thinking about charity lately and that is probably why this talk hit my like it did. If I can have charity as a mother and a wife, then I won't fail! I don't want to let my family down. More than anything I don't want to let my Heavenly Father down. I want to do all I can. I guess that's why Moroni says "pray with all the energy of your heart that you may be filled with this love".

These quotes I have copied are WONDERFUL marriage advice! I hope we will all do better at loving and not judging in our marriages! I am so grateful for a Prophet!

survival

There are SO MANY talks to choose from for a Sunday post! My goodness! I love it!

With all the hype that has been spurred by President Packer's talk I have done a lot of thinking about where I stand. Without a doubt, I stand with the Prophets!!! I don't care who disagrees and what their arguments are, I will always follow the Prophet. Two talks were given that mentioned THIS TALK by President Benson, titled "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet"

These quotes are from THIS TALK by Elder Duncan, who also mentioned the 14 Fundamentals.

"This world is full of so many self-help books, so many self-proclaimed experts, so many theorists, educators, and philosophers who have advice and counsel to give on any and all subjects. With technology today, information on a myriad of subjects is available with the click of a keystroke. It is easy to get caught in the trap of looking to the “arm of flesh”⁵ for advice on everything from how to raise children to how to find happiness. While some information has merit, as members of the Church we have access to the source of pure truth, even God Himself. We would do well to search out answers to our problems and questions by investigating what the Lord has revealed through His prophets. With that same technology today, we have at our fingertips access to the words of the prophets on nearly any subject. What has God taught us about marriage and the family through His prophets? What has He taught us about education and provident living through His prophets? What has He taught us about personal happiness and fulfillment through His prophets?...."

"May we have the wisdom to trust in and follow the counsel of the living prophets and apostles. I am a witness of their goodness. I testify that they are called of God. I also testify that there is no safer way to approach life, find answers to our problems, gain peace and happiness in this world, and protect our very salvation than by obeying their words..."

What does following the Prophet have to do with marriage? In my opinion, everything. It is invaluable to me that Zach and I share the same beliefs. I am so grateful that we are both dedicated to living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is so important that we talk about where we stand on issues. As a couple, as families, we are under the obligation to defend and represent what we know. We can make a huge difference if we understand the issues and the doctrine.

I bring this up because NOW is the time to decide. NOW is the time to ask ourselves where we stand and work to strengthen our faith so when we are asked who we stand with, we will know. :)