I know I need a LOT of work on this topic. I never understood completely what "charity" was, until people would suggest I pray for charity for others...or be more charitable. So then I did some research...and realized it was about loving others...accepting them for who they are...and on and on. I still SUCK at it...but I'm trying...I'm working on it...and eventually it'll get better!!!
This last Saturday at the Relief Society meeting...Sister Allred talked about charity...and a lot of it really hit home. I re-read some of the quotes and messages this morning...and this is a quote that really got me thinking...it says...
...“Don’t be limited in your views with regard to your neighbor’s virtues. You must enlarge your souls toward others if you [would] do like Jesus. As you increase in innocence and virtue, as you increase in goodness, let your hearts expand—let them be enlarged towards others—you must be longsuffering and bear with the faults and errors of mankind. How precious are the souls of men!” ...
All of us have faults, struggles, and problems...I'll be the first to admit all of mine. But at times I don't remember or realize that other do as well. And instead of wanting to help them or wondering why they may be doing what they're doing...I'm just too quick to judge and be rude. So here's to working on this and trying to have MORE charity!!!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
FABULOUS thought...
Got this from a friends blog and I had to copy it...(hope she doesn't mind???)...but last night at the General Relief Society Broadcast, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2nd counselor in the 1st presidency of the church) gave an AMAZING talk. And I know it really touched me and made me realize how much I have and how many things I CAN be grateful for...and that I just need to accept and love myself. So SO SO glad I went to the meeting last night!!!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Just another thought...
I woke up this morning and went to the Rec center again...however...when I got home I didn't have the "ME" time I wanted...I got in the shower...and Ryan was up, thinking it was 7:30 instead of 7...then Klous & Aysha were up...and there goes the time. :( It was hard...I was frustrated...Klous had woken up and had a bad dream during the night, so was in our bed...which means when he woke up and was PEED SOAKEN...it was MY bed he peed in :( I was SO annoyed...SO frustrated...SO bugged...and it was only 7:30 in the morning...I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, I'm so sick of doing laundry every single morning. UGH....
Anyways...I knew I needed to just keep going with my plans and desires to improve...so I couldn't just let those feelings consume me and upset me. So I looked online for a talk to read this morning and found THIS talk...it was what I needed...especially this paragraph and quote out of it!!! Hope you enjoy it as well!!!
"...So it is with kindness. Nothing will bring the Spirit of the Lord into your meetings, your homes, and your personal associations more quickly than showing kindness. “Charity … is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4). Kindness should be right at the top of everyone’s list of things to do. Write it down every day: “Be kind.” Kindness comes in many different packages. Be thoughtful to your neighbors. Be patient in a crowd. Be considerate of your children and your husband. Be honest with your sisters. Trust them and they will trust you. Go out and bring them into this grand circle of sisters we call Relief Society. As we increase our kindness, we add charity to our storehouse and we are strengthened...."
So after reading that...especially the sentence I put in BOLD and italics...I guess it would do me some good to change my attitude and find some consideration...some love...and some kindness for my little man Klous...he didn't mean to...and only I can choose how to react. So here goes...starting off better then a half hour ago!!!
P.S...anyone have pointers of how to get kids to NOT still pee at night!?!?! We still have to do pull-ups because of this problem...but I don't want it to continue??? Hmmmm???
Anyways...I knew I needed to just keep going with my plans and desires to improve...so I couldn't just let those feelings consume me and upset me. So I looked online for a talk to read this morning and found THIS talk...it was what I needed...especially this paragraph and quote out of it!!! Hope you enjoy it as well!!!
"...So it is with kindness. Nothing will bring the Spirit of the Lord into your meetings, your homes, and your personal associations more quickly than showing kindness. “Charity … is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4). Kindness should be right at the top of everyone’s list of things to do. Write it down every day: “Be kind.” Kindness comes in many different packages. Be thoughtful to your neighbors. Be patient in a crowd. Be considerate of your children and your husband. Be honest with your sisters. Trust them and they will trust you. Go out and bring them into this grand circle of sisters we call Relief Society. As we increase our kindness, we add charity to our storehouse and we are strengthened...."
So after reading that...especially the sentence I put in BOLD and italics...I guess it would do me some good to change my attitude and find some consideration...some love...and some kindness for my little man Klous...he didn't mean to...and only I can choose how to react. So here goes...starting off better then a half hour ago!!!
P.S...anyone have pointers of how to get kids to NOT still pee at night!?!?! We still have to do pull-ups because of this problem...but I don't want it to continue??? Hmmmm???
Monday, September 19, 2011
Thought for the day...
Found THIS talk this morning as I was looking for something uplifting to read...and thought it was a GREAT talk!!! I love and miss Pres. Hinckley a LOT...and his words mean a lot to me. Not that I don't love Pres. Monson...but this is a quote from the talk Pres. Hinckley gave back in 2003...
..."To you young women with small children, yours is a tremendous challenge. So often there is not enough money. You must scrimp and save. You must be wise and careful in your expenditures. You must be strong and bold and brave and march forward with gladness in your eye and love in your heart. How blessed you are, my dear young mothers. You have children who will be yours forever. I hope that you have been sealed in the house of the Lord and that your family will be an everlasting family in the kingdom of our Father.
..."To you young women with small children, yours is a tremendous challenge. So often there is not enough money. You must scrimp and save. You must be wise and careful in your expenditures. You must be strong and bold and brave and march forward with gladness in your eye and love in your heart. How blessed you are, my dear young mothers. You have children who will be yours forever. I hope that you have been sealed in the house of the Lord and that your family will be an everlasting family in the kingdom of our Father.
May you be given strength to carry your heavy load, to meet every obligation, to walk side by side with a good and faithful and caring man, and together with him rear and nurture and bring up your children in righteousness and truth. Nothing else you will ever own, no worldly thing you will ever acquire will be worth so much as the love of your children. God bless you, my dear, dear young mothers."...
I hope it'll help or touch someone else today as it has lifted me!!! Happy Monday all!!!
Monday, September 12, 2011
10 years ago...
I know everyone has been thinking about the things that happened 10 years ago...September 11, 2001 was a HORRIBLE day...but as I reflected the last couple days...I couldn't help but just cry...it was a lot that just hit me I guess??? I don't know???
For me 10 years ago was me preparing for a wedding...with my future hubby being 1300 miles away :( It wasn't easy...but in that summer...I made 2 trips to Utah, and Ryan made 2 trips to Minnesota. You know...that was BEFORE the disaster, when flying wasn't such a big deal...security wasn't so big or such a headache...your family/friends could actually GO to the gate with you and wait for your flight to board...and tickets were CHEAP!!!
Here is our engagement picture that was taken on August 13, 2001...when Ryan had flown to Minnesota to propose...
And after his trip to propose...I had to go out to Utah one more time to make final plans, do the bridal shower, and of course SEE my fiance sometime before October 20, 2001. :) :) :)
So my sister and her family had planned a trip out to visit their family over Labor Day weekend...so the beginning of September...this was me as we were landing in Utah...anxious to see Ryan!!! (sorry it's a picture of a picture in my scrapbook)
I was out for a little over a week...and had to say good-bye on Sept. 9, 2001...where we waited together at the gate for the plane to board...and check out how "happy" we were...not really happy to be leaving each other, but happy knowing the next time we saw each other it would be for our WEDDING!!!
So here goes the next thoughts and events that come to mind. I got home to Minnesota late on Sept. 9th...went to work the next day (Monday)...everything normal and good. Then again to work on Tuesday morning (Sept. 11, 2001)...I was driving to deliver something at the "branch" of the bank I worked at...when I heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into a tower in New York...I didn't think much of it...until a little while later I hear that another plane hit the other tower...I was a little nervous...but again didn't think much because it was in New York...and I was in Minnesota!!! Well I got back to the department I worked at...and the radio was on...people were looking online...and that's when we heard about the Pentagon...Flight 93 into the field...and more info on the World Trade Center towers. I was beginning to get a little more freaked out...and just went home right after work...where my parents were in the living room with the t.v. on. EVERY channel had shots of what happened...picture after picture...video after video of all the events and planes flying into the buildings. It was now about 5-6 p.m in Minnesota...and there was BIG talk about "...What is happening?...What is going to happen?...WHY are there planes crashing??...Who is behind this??...What will the do to the country in weeks/months to come??..." and so on. Then I heard talk about gas/oil prices...they mentioned gas prices going as high as $12 a gallon I remembered. Well when I heard that I just cried...and cried and cried...HOW were Ryan and his family supposed to be able to afford driving from Utah to Minnesota for the wedding??? What else would happen between Sept. 11 and Oct. 20, when we were supposed to be sealed for time and all eternity. What if something worse happened and that never happened?? It was a LOT of thoughts and what-if's going through my head...it was scary. But mostly it was all thoughts about ME ME ME...and not much about the people in the actual tragedy in New York.
Well...obviously nothing more happened...Ryan and his family were able to drive to Minnesota...and we were married as planned!!!!
But over the last 10 years it's given me time each anniversary of Sept. 11th to think about all those people. The suffering, the tears, the heartaches, the trials...I just couldn't imagine.
Yesterday...(well really all weekend)...I watched some of the shows and news programs that were on remembering the events of that day. And then hearing the stories or interviews with people who survived...or the family members who are still alive WITHOUT their loved ones. And my heart hurt for them. I couldn't imagine what they've been through...and with those thoughts I began to realize what I have...and what I need to be thankful for.
First of all...my AMAZING husband...who even through all my tears and thoughts 10 years ago, calmed me down...made me realize it would be ok...and to just take things a day at a time. Well not much has changed...he still does all those things...but our love for each other has grown SO much. I could NOT do this without Ryan...I would be NOTHING without him. So even though I don't show him as much as I should...and don't tell him enough how much he means to me...I really do love him more then anything...and I thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me with such an amazing man who loves me and our kids more then we can explain!!! I love you Ryan...
And then I realize how truly blessed I am for having these 3 BEAUTIFUL children. None of them were around 10 years ago for those tragic events. But seeing their thoughts, feelings, and hearing their questions when the shows were on. I realize how important it is for Ryan & I to explain it to them. Talk it out with them, so they will know. But I think of all those kids who are without parents...or those parents who lost children...and I am SO grateful that I have 3 healthy, happy kids who keep me going...even when it is NOT easy. I wouldn't trade it for the world...and I hope they all know how truly grateful I am for them!! I love my Klous, Aysha May, and Kyson!!! My babies!!!
Anyways...this is long...and it's been a LONG time since I've blogged on here...but I've had so many thoughts the last few days...I had to put them somewhere. I am so blessed and lucky to be alive...to have the husband/kids and family that I have. The knowledge to know that we're all safe...and even when we pass on from this life...that we WILL be able to be together again. And that this life is NOT the end. Such great blessings!!!
For me 10 years ago was me preparing for a wedding...with my future hubby being 1300 miles away :( It wasn't easy...but in that summer...I made 2 trips to Utah, and Ryan made 2 trips to Minnesota. You know...that was BEFORE the disaster, when flying wasn't such a big deal...security wasn't so big or such a headache...your family/friends could actually GO to the gate with you and wait for your flight to board...and tickets were CHEAP!!!
Here is our engagement picture that was taken on August 13, 2001...when Ryan had flown to Minnesota to propose...
And after his trip to propose...I had to go out to Utah one more time to make final plans, do the bridal shower, and of course SEE my fiance sometime before October 20, 2001. :) :) :)So my sister and her family had planned a trip out to visit their family over Labor Day weekend...so the beginning of September...this was me as we were landing in Utah...anxious to see Ryan!!! (sorry it's a picture of a picture in my scrapbook)
I was out for a little over a week...and had to say good-bye on Sept. 9, 2001...where we waited together at the gate for the plane to board...and check out how "happy" we were...not really happy to be leaving each other, but happy knowing the next time we saw each other it would be for our WEDDING!!!
So here goes the next thoughts and events that come to mind. I got home to Minnesota late on Sept. 9th...went to work the next day (Monday)...everything normal and good. Then again to work on Tuesday morning (Sept. 11, 2001)...I was driving to deliver something at the "branch" of the bank I worked at...when I heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into a tower in New York...I didn't think much of it...until a little while later I hear that another plane hit the other tower...I was a little nervous...but again didn't think much because it was in New York...and I was in Minnesota!!! Well I got back to the department I worked at...and the radio was on...people were looking online...and that's when we heard about the Pentagon...Flight 93 into the field...and more info on the World Trade Center towers. I was beginning to get a little more freaked out...and just went home right after work...where my parents were in the living room with the t.v. on. EVERY channel had shots of what happened...picture after picture...video after video of all the events and planes flying into the buildings. It was now about 5-6 p.m in Minnesota...and there was BIG talk about "...What is happening?...What is going to happen?...WHY are there planes crashing??...Who is behind this??...What will the do to the country in weeks/months to come??..." and so on. Then I heard talk about gas/oil prices...they mentioned gas prices going as high as $12 a gallon I remembered. Well when I heard that I just cried...and cried and cried...HOW were Ryan and his family supposed to be able to afford driving from Utah to Minnesota for the wedding??? What else would happen between Sept. 11 and Oct. 20, when we were supposed to be sealed for time and all eternity. What if something worse happened and that never happened?? It was a LOT of thoughts and what-if's going through my head...it was scary. But mostly it was all thoughts about ME ME ME...and not much about the people in the actual tragedy in New York.Well...obviously nothing more happened...Ryan and his family were able to drive to Minnesota...and we were married as planned!!!!
But over the last 10 years it's given me time each anniversary of Sept. 11th to think about all those people. The suffering, the tears, the heartaches, the trials...I just couldn't imagine.
Yesterday...(well really all weekend)...I watched some of the shows and news programs that were on remembering the events of that day. And then hearing the stories or interviews with people who survived...or the family members who are still alive WITHOUT their loved ones. And my heart hurt for them. I couldn't imagine what they've been through...and with those thoughts I began to realize what I have...and what I need to be thankful for.
First of all...my AMAZING husband...who even through all my tears and thoughts 10 years ago, calmed me down...made me realize it would be ok...and to just take things a day at a time. Well not much has changed...he still does all those things...but our love for each other has grown SO much. I could NOT do this without Ryan...I would be NOTHING without him. So even though I don't show him as much as I should...and don't tell him enough how much he means to me...I really do love him more then anything...and I thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me with such an amazing man who loves me and our kids more then we can explain!!! I love you Ryan...
And then I realize how truly blessed I am for having these 3 BEAUTIFUL children. None of them were around 10 years ago for those tragic events. But seeing their thoughts, feelings, and hearing their questions when the shows were on. I realize how important it is for Ryan & I to explain it to them. Talk it out with them, so they will know. But I think of all those kids who are without parents...or those parents who lost children...and I am SO grateful that I have 3 healthy, happy kids who keep me going...even when it is NOT easy. I wouldn't trade it for the world...and I hope they all know how truly grateful I am for them!! I love my Klous, Aysha May, and Kyson!!! My babies!!!
Anyways...this is long...and it's been a LONG time since I've blogged on here...but I've had so many thoughts the last few days...I had to put them somewhere. I am so blessed and lucky to be alive...to have the husband/kids and family that I have. The knowledge to know that we're all safe...and even when we pass on from this life...that we WILL be able to be together again. And that this life is NOT the end. Such great blessings!!!