Prepared?

This is an embarrassing story, but I think it needs to be told. Today was our Stake Conference. We knew it was the conference, and we were prepared to attend. We were excited, set the alarm, and thought we were ready. However, as we woke up and we started getting ready, we realized that we did not know which church building (the building, address, or even Stake name) we were supposed to attend! Could we call someone? No, the few numbers that we have were for members who would most likely be in meetings. Could we look online? We could if we knew how to use that particular feature on the LDS.org site. Could we just drive around and magically find it? This is not Utah, so our chances of randomly running into the correct building on time would be low... So much for being "prepared" for the conference!

This got me thinking and it made me wonder all of the things that we could have done differently. Our wonderful Bishop was here on Tuesday, and I had my amazing Visiting Teacher here on Wednesday. Couldn't I have asked one of them? We have two sets of neighbors who are also in our Ward, couldn't we have talked to them? Why did we wait for the last minute to get our information? We had falsely allowed ourselves to believe we were prepared when we were not prepared at all. What other things do we incorrectly believe we are prepared for?

The whole situation made me think of the parable of the virgins, in Matthew 25:


 ¹ “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
⁶ “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming;^[a] go out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 
¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 
¹³ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour^[b] in which the Son of Man is coming.


Would I be a virgin who had thought ahead and brought her oil? Would I be a virgin who remembered her lamp at all? Would I be a virgin who would be ready the moment I was called? I would love to answer yes, and before today I think I may have been able to unknowingly lie to myself and believe I would be a prepared woman, but now I see the truth: I have a lot of work to do.

As soon as we bring home our babies, we mothers have to be prepared. We have baby Tylenol, diapers, wipes, and a change of clothing (or two!) everywhere we go. As our children get older we still keep snacks in our purses and Kleenex in the car. And none of us (hopefully!) would dream of starting a long road trip without fueling the vehicles first! But as nice as these preparations are, they are purely temporal.

Each of us has things we need to plan and prepare for. I am very thankful that my hats are as a student, wife, mother, homemaker, and homeschooler- each of these roles requires preparation and forethought. For many women there are additional preparations that need to be made: family gatherings, community service, food storage and emergency preparedness, carpools, vacations, school events, church callings, employment, budgets and payments, holidays, etc. And those are just the things I can name without taking time and brainstorming! We are all very busy!!!

I have found that daily scripture study, personal prayer, and family prayer all help keep the spirituality on my list of top priorities. However, there are so many Earthly things that we have to plan and prepare for, it is often easy to allow spiritual preparation to fall on the back-burner. Like the foolish virgins, who allowed their  temporal needs to come first (they slept instead of getting their oil), it is easy to find ourselves out of time when we are put to the test. So, I hope that as I learn from today's experience, I will remember that I need to fill my lamp before it is too late- and next time I will get to where I need to be on time. Knowing that "you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming," should be a very large wake up call- we need to be prepared today, right now!

How can we prepare ourselves and increase our spirituality? Make it a habit!

Start with:

• Family Prayer
• Personal Prayer
• Daily Scripture Study
• Church Attendance
• Regular Family Home Evening

I have had years of struggle with making daily scripture study a habit, and I found that joining a scripture study group really helped me (I am a Good Morning Girl, a nondenominational scripture study group). I also bought a large set of "family" scriptures that have photographs, illustrations, and definitions, and we read the family scriptures with the children. These were steps that I had to take in order to improve my performance in a very weak area of my spiritual progress. And as I have progressed in one area, I can move to another. 

This is all a journey, but if we press on joyfully, and put God first, our journey will have deeper meaning and eternal purpose. I am thankful I was able to share one of my many rough areas with you, and if you have any suggestions, ideas, or comments please feel free to share!

What a week!

This week was crazy. So crazy that I neglected to post my scriptures, or worse- some days I neglected to read at all! No wonder I feel drained and edgy. Didn't I remember the wise words telling me to put God first? Well, the week is over, and I will do better next week. Next week Kurt will be home and we will be a bit more used to having both boys home full time. We made some big decisions this week. We saw a few big milestones this week. We are ready for change =)

Here were the uplifting scriptures for this week:

Inner Peace

What a comforting message. Not only is there a light at the end of the tunnel, but we can have peace in our lives now! In our lives we are faced with trials, and if we stand back and give ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to carry us- be our light- and give us the peace we long for, our trials would be so much easier.

Carter has had a really horrible headache for days. Today he was in so much pain that he wouldn't even attempt to play. I gave him pain medication, lots of hugs, played Angry Birds with him, and fed him- but the worry I have for him is great. What if something serious is wrong? What if he gets worse? What should I do? What is wrong?

Carter's pain was not the only thing on my mind. Our roof started leaking last week. I woke up to raindrops touching my face- what a horrible spot for a leak! We contacted our landlord, who assured us that he was looking at bids for new roofing, but due to all of the rainfall it started to leak again.

Today Kurt flew to California for a week long business trip, so I don't have help with any of this.

None of these things, or even all of these things combined, were more than I could handle. However I did feel stressed, worried, and upset.

What a perfect scripture for today. As I take a deep breath and remember, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me," I feel a tremendous amount of peace and comfort. How often have I neglected to think of these comforting words, and instead sought comfort in venting frustrations, food, watching TV, or killing some creature in a video game. I do not need to find my comfort and rest in any source other than my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I love my boys so much. I am so thankful for them. I had a very nice time today, snuggling with Carter and listening to his thoughts. He is such a shy little guy, he rarely cares to chat, but today he was very happy to lay in my bed and tell me about the dream he had last night, to tell Harrison why Santa cant bring him a puppy for Christmas (Harrison had expressed desire for a white puppy named "Best Friend" or "Bone" and Carter explained, "No, 'Arrison! Santa doesn't bring puppies! He brings boxes, and you cant put puppies in boxes!"), and even to ask me politely for help with Angry Birds or putting on a television program. I love my family so much, I am so lucky to have them, and I will keep this comforting scripture close to my heart as I ride out the storms that will pass overhead.

The Goodness of God

It is not enough to just be good. We sin, and we need redemption from our sins. Jesus Christ offers it through the power of the atonement. My New Testament Study Guide explains, "Paul taught the Jewish Christians that having the outward signs of righteousness (such as circumcision) meant nothing if a spirit of faith and obedience did not dwell in them. The same is true today. Outward signs of righteousness (such as Church attendance) are not enough. A spirit of faith, love, and obedience must also dwell in our hearts."



We may live in momentary happiness, but only true joy can come from the freedom of repentance.

The Ministry of Motherhood

I am seriously adoring this summer book club from Good Morning Girls! I love that our daily scripture directly relates to the wonderful and uplifting book that we are reading! This scripture is perfection all by itself, but when paired with inspirational words about mothering and kindness, it really does warm the soul!

The book we are reading is called The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of our Children. The author beautifully discusses parenting in a unique and spiritual way. I am enjoying this book so much! As I read along with the Good Morning Girls I am feeling so blessed that this book has come into my home! Parts of this book have brought sweet tears to my eyes and have caused me to look at the scriptures more deeply. There are times when the author brings a scripture to life- adding details that may have been present, and painting a story for one to behold.

This book is not written by an LDS author, the author uses examples of Christ found in The Holy Bible. This book is beautiful and wonderful, and is non-denominational in its wordings. This is the PERFECT gift for any Christian mother! I love reading inspirational books- they strengthen my testimony about all scriptures, including The Book of Mormon. So many times I will read a beautiful scripture that is discussed in an inspirational Christian book, and I will recall a perfect companion scripture in The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, or Pearl of Great Price! So many times have I felt warmed by a wonderful passage from The Holy Bible, and upon further research felt enlightened by the fulfillment of the Gospel found in these other holy texts. I feel so blessed to have my scriptures!

Catching Fish

Yes, it is a bit hammy to post pictures like these, but I am a big Lego fan (and so are my boys!) so I thought using them as a visual aid was appropriate.

The scripture John 21, is a very good read. When looking at the things Jesus was trying to teach, we see that there are many messages inside this chapter. Breaking down just a small portion of these we see a multitude of comforting blessings that can come from following Christ.

In the scripture, Jesus was standing on the shore while his disciples were fishing on the water. The disciples did not recognize The Savior. Jesus asked the disciples if they had caught fish. When the disciples answered no, Jesus suggested casting the net to the right side of the boat. Upon doing so, the disciples found a vast amount of fish. As the disciples pulled the net full of fish to shore, it was found, surprisingly, that the net that held the multitude of fish had not broken.

When Jesus gives us a task, he provides the way for us to complete it. Jesus understood the difficulty in finding food and resources, and he helped provide means. The Savior did not hand them fish, but simply suggested a different path in which to find the fish. In our lives, The Savior does not force us to walk His path, he simply and lovingly provided us an example to follow. His examples, and The Church that he put on this earth, are meant to help lead us safely back home. His atonement provides us forgiveness for our sins through the beautiful process of repentance and growth. Our Savior loves us- he wants us to eat and walk with Him =)

Charity and Love

One of the things I love most about scriptures are the different translations of each of them. In the King James version of The Holy Bible, the word "charity" is exchanged for the word, "love." I was interested to learn more and found that Charity means, "means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others" (Wikipedia Charity). One thing I found most interesting was the cautionary note that charity, in scripture, does not only refer to donations and giving. No, no, charity is much bigger than that!

In The Book of Mormon, Moroni explains charity is the "love of Christ" and something that all of us must strive to keep in our hearts. Moroni explains charity clearly:

44If so, his ^afaith and hope is vain, for none is ^bacceptable before God, save the ^cmeek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and ^dconfesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

45And ^acharity suffereth long, and is ^bkind, and ^cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily ^dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray 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 ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

What wonderful things for us to strive for, and wonderful promises about the blessings that will come from giving such Christ-like love and kindness!

Proverbs 31

I would love to be a woman whose worth is greater than rubies. I would LOVE to be a Proverbs 31 woman! A few pieces of Proverbs 31 were in the Good Morning Girls reading today, and I am thrilled to share them!!!



What a wonderful thing that would be! To utter kind and thoughtful words! I would love to do this all the time! No idle gossip, petty comparisons, or snide comments- just kindness. I always feel better when I say kind things, or decide to wisely take the high road in situations. I love this part of Proverbs 31 because it really does matter! So much of who I really am is shown in my words- and I aim to keep them kind! (Do I often fall? ABSOLUTLY- but thankfully this scripture is here to remind me of who I want to be!)

This one is a scripture that I have to be very mindful of.

As a perfectionist, I often find myself overdoing things. I push myself to go further and be better than is really necessary. I often catch myself overworking in my household chores. Simple tasks that should take only minutes end up taking hours due to my irrational need for something to be "perfect." As I have left school and am home full time once more, I have found that I lost my balance (if I ever had it) for all of the work that is to be done within a home (not to mention the things that are NOT on a "to do" list- like hugs, cuddles, and tussle break-ups).

Being prone to overdoing a job that composed of recurring tasks is a prime setup for feelings of failure and burnout. I can push myself to exhaustion by making sure every last dish is spotless and in its assigned place. I can drive my energy to nonexistance by putting away the last peice of laundry and starching that one last shirt. and I can certainly labor for hours making a dinner that is organic, healthy, and delicious... But tomorrow there will be more dishes to do... more shirts to fold... and more dinners to make... Perfection is not a healthy way to run a home.

My perfectionist side comes with a very high price. Yes, I may generally look somewhat put together, have amazing grades, and a beautifully kept house- but it can come at the cost of my sanity. I unnecessarily work too hard and become highly irritable- snap at my children, nag at my husband, and go into crying fits. NONE of these things are the traits of a good mother. Perfectionsim in housekeeping is not God's way.

The worst part of perfectionism is what happens when I get burned out... which, if I focus on "perfect," is way more often than I would EVER care to admit. I end up in a sobbing heap on the couch, with my children running wild, and my husband attempting to console me. I end up in bed for days on end in a semi-depression, where I lack motivation to do anything because NOTHING I do is good enough. ICK! Is THIS what God would have me do? NOOOOOOO.

The scripture above asks that we not eat the bread of idleness. It does not say work until your hands bleed (yeah, I have done it...) or scrub until you pass out (yup, done this too). Taking a necessary and healthy rest, or break, is NOT idleness (For an AMAZING thought on breaks, read here). No! This scripture speaks to my heart, because it reminds me that the days when I burn out (for totally unnecessary reasons brought upon myself) IS idleness- and is not what God wants from me.

Now HERE is what God wants from me! Not a spotless livingroom, or perfectly arranged bookcase- He wants me to be the kind of woman whose children call her BLESSED, and whose husband sings praises! I gain such hope and joy with the thought! Instead of fussing over tasks that could be done quickly (or not at all), I could be doing something special and kind for my family. Imagine if my husband came home to a happy wife who may not keep a perfect house, but has the energy to give abundant love to her children and himself. Imagine my childrens' joy if their mother took the time to sit down and play with them, instead of simply supervising while she did other tasks (I am so guilty of this... the location the children play often is dictated by whatever zone of the home I am cleaning).

Proverbs 31 is a really amazing scripture, and I aim to be like the Proverbs 31 woman =)

House and Home

Today's Good Morning Girls scripture really spoke to me. Although I have never actually gone outside my home and started tearing pieces off the house, I have found myself tearing down my home in other ways.

Kurt and I had a very shaky marriage for a very long time. Separation did us a lot of good, but our hearts still have a lot of healing to do. As much as I would love to point the finger at my husband, I admit my own fault in MOST of our current home stress. I built my house- created a loving home by choosing my eternal companion, and bringing children to this earth. I built my home with love and good choices. I took my house and made it a home full of appropriate media content, safe and comfortable furnishings, and surrounded by loving friends. I picked my house- I picked the actual location in which we reside, and I picked the people that live within these walls. I built my house.

However... in heated anger, annoyance, or just plain irritation I catch myself making remarks that hurt my husband and children- and therefore tear down parts of my home. By not giving my marriage everything that I possibly can, I tear down my home. By not giving my children everything I can, I tear down my home. By not allowing myself to be an instrument in the hands of God- and do His will, His way, I tear down my home.

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." — C.S. Lewis

As I carry this scripture in my heart, I hope to remember that I need to BUILD my home, and never foolishly tear it down. And if I work hard, and endure to the end, I will be able to enjoy the palace that awaits me and my family =)

The Master

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
-Luke 6:40

Every day I learn and grow. I remember once thinking that children were the only ones who learned lessons, and than when I became an adult I would somehow know everything I ever needed to know. I believed that people could learn new hobbies or crafts, but life lessons as an adult? Psh, never! Boy was I wrong! I learn just as much now as I ever did as a child, but I need to constantly remind myself to be open to the lessons that God is wanting to teach. Heavenly Father is not going to stand in front of me with a whiteboard and attempt to get me to pay attention. God's lessons come from life experiences, and are most effective when paired with Christian teachings. If I am open to it, I learn many new things each day. If I want to make the most of these teachings, I can search my scriptures for answers to my questions, and for examples on how I should live my life. My master is Christ, and although I would never proclaim to be above him in any way whatsoever, my heart's hope is that each day I will grow more like Him as I learn from His teachings and example.

I am so fortunate to have so many amazing positive influences to help me on my spiritual journey. Just last week a great friend felt impressed to lend me a copy of I am a Mother on CD. I own the book, and read it years ago, but I smiled and took the CDs and agreed to give them a listen. I remember it being a pretty good book, and I was happy to have something to listen to while I drive my son to school (my commute is almost 2 hours each day! I will be SO happy when school is over!). As I read I was impressed by the wonderful outlook that the author had about motherhood. I laughed at some of the funny stories, and I cried at many of the sections of the book that strongly declared the importance of Christ-centered mothering. This book, at THIS time, was exactly what I needed, and I am so thankful to have a friend who thought of lifting my spirit!

Today, I am making a list of all the many people that inspire me to be a better mother, and daughter of God. I appreciate the time they give to me, and their efforts. Above all, I am thankful for Christ, for giving all of us such a perfect example of selfless love and dedication. He is my master =)

**Art at the top of this post is by Greg Olsen

Sharing Faith

I am a private person. My faith has been so personal, and I don't ever want to step on any one's toes, or offend. Today's scripture is one that we hear often at Church.

Years ago our Church came out with Pass Along Cards. These wonderful little cards fit in pockets or purses, and are meant to be shared. Kurt and I are the only ones in either of our families that are members of our faith. So often we want to share our beliefs, but we were never sure of how to do it- especially when most of our family members live so far away. Last Christmas, we took a big step (for us) and we included some beautiful Pass Along Cards in our Christmas cards. It was our first step in sharing.

Last General Conference we heard a wonderful talk from President Uchtdorf, where he told listeners, "With so many social media resources and a multitude of more or less useful gadgets at our disposal, sharing the good news of the gospel is easier and the effects more far-reaching than ever before... My dear young friends, perhaps the Lord’s encouragement to “open [your] mouths” might today include “use your hands” to blog and text message the gospel to all the world! But please remember, all at the right time and at the right place. Brothers and sisters, with the blessings of modern technology, we can express gratitude and joy about God’s great plan for His children in a way that can be heard not only around our workplace but around the world. Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity." (Waiting on the Road to Damascus, LDS General Conference April 2011)

Since President Uchtdorf's talk I have looked for ways to share my faith, at the appropriate time and place. I have found that my blog is a wonderful way to share my faith, especially as it will likely be shared with my grandchildren some day! I have used Facebook as a way to share faith as well, sending encouraging LDS messages or videos to friends that need uplifting, or quoting scriptures or leaders.

All of these are nice, I know, but the most important thing I can do is prepare my sons for their missions. By encouraging them in their hopes and plans for missions, I am really able to apply this scripture to my life. The best missionaries are the most faithful young men, and as I continue to grow spiritually, so will they.

I am so thankful for missionary work. My husband and I love our Church, and adore our leaders. We are thankful for the sacrifice that all missionaries make, and the little seeds of faith that they plant everywhere they go. We are so excited for the day that we will welcome home our sons from serving their own honorable missions, and celebrate their dedicated service!

Children

This scripture needs no extra thought. =)

Our Impact

Sometimes the daily grind gets to me. Well... actually it gets to me kinda often. I forget that what I am doing can make a difference, and often feel like I am overwhelmed and nothing I do really matters. Don't get me wrong, I don't need praise or reward, but it would be nice to know that I am making a difference. Friday's scripture reminded me of just that: (Proverbs 6:20-22)

What a perfect reminder for me! What I do DOES matter, I am teaching my children! I am helping them develop their talents and grow into fine men. I am working to mold them into righteous Saints! There is nothing more important I can do!

This scripture reminded me of one of the songs from Veggie Tales. In the episode, the group of veggies were faced with a lot of pressure to conform and do things that they knew their parents would not have agreed with. However, they were grown-ups, and their parents weren't there, so they were tempted to just go along with what everyone else was doing. However, once Junior Asparagus started to sing this song, and they remembered the teachings of their parents, they found the courage to face their opposition. (I love Veggie Tales, so cute!!!) Here are the lyrics, as sung to Junior by his mother:

Think of me everyday.
Hold tight to what I say,
And I'll be close to you,
Even from far away.
Know that wherever you are,
it is never too far.
If you think of me,
I'll be with you.

Know that wherever you are,
It is never too far.
If you think of me, I'll be with you.
Think of me everyday,
Hold tight to what I say,
And I'll be close to you,
Even from far away.

Know that wherever you are,
it is never too far,
If you think of me, I'll be with you.

Carter and Harrison, know that wherever you are, I will never be far- I will always be with you =) I love you very much, and I dedicate my life to helping you hold to the rod!

Faithful Mothers

Today's scripture was so beautiful, and spoke very clearly about the importance of faithful mothers.

2 Timothy 1:5

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

How wonderful is that? To take the time to illustrate the importance of the faith of Timothy's mother, and grandmother! Obviously the faith of mothers is vital in the work of the Lord! This scripture really spoke to me, as it reminded me that I am responsible for planting the seed of faith in my children's hearts! Church attendance, daily family scripture study and family prayer, weekly Family Home Evening, and daily personal prayers are all necessary for helping my children develop their own relationships with their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I reluctantly admit that this is something I struggle with. I am the first to jump up and proclaim my love for the Restored Gospel and the Plan of Salvation, but I am often the last one to rush into Sacrament Meeting, or the last one to suggest family prayer before we all retire. I need to work harder to be like the mother and grandmother of Timothy! How wonderful would it be to be called a credit to my children's faith!!!

Totally appropriate...

Yesterday was a very busy day! Carter to school, brunch with the ladies from my last ward, then a fun afternoon of cooking with a friend of mine. The morning started in such a chaotic blur, I was happy to get Carter to his classroom. The brunch was perfect- wonderful friends, food, and fellowship. Abi went with me, it was very nice to have her there! After the brunch I went to my friend Arlene's house, where she taught me how to cook a perfect roasted chicken. Wearing aprons and discussing ways on imrpoving the family put me in a light and happy mood. I picked up Carter and Sean from school (Sean's usual sitter was in the hospital- oh no!!) and we went back to Arlene's and had a delicious dinner. Before I knew it the day was over, and I was so tired! I had a great time, and everyone in my family was happy (and tired!), so we all passed out before I had managed to read my scripture for the day. Darn. How does that happen???

Well, today I read the scripture for yesterday, as well as today. Yesterday's scripture was perfect- and completely applied to my situation. It was totally appropriate, and hit me as effectively as a lightning bolt!

As wonderful, productive, and uplifting as yesterday was- the day was not run as it should have been. I should have started my busy day with my scriptures. Yes, I have excuses- I didn't plan on going to Arlene's, I fell asleep so fast and didn't mean to, I made it up today, etc etc. But in the end, I honestly did not put God before myself yesterday, and I did not seek out His kingdom. This is so important! I have to make the effort- I have to make the change. I normally have a routine, and my scripture time is set at a quiet time of the day that I know I can be alone. However, as the summer comes and my routine changes, I know I need to change the way I do my schedule, and Seeking the Kingdom of God needs to be FIRST! I am so glad this was the scripture for yesterday, because it applied to me perfectly. (Funny how that works, right? It is both unbelievable and totally believable at the same time!)

Branches and Vines

Today's reading came from John 15:4,5. I enjoy scriptures so much because they say so many different things at different points in our lives. Perhaps that is why doing reading groups is so much fun- it is really enjoyable to hear the vastly different take-aways everyone else got from reading the same passages.

The scripture today likens humans to branches, and The Savior to the vine. Branches, by themselves, are strong. They can hold weight, and can stay strong though most storms. They are produced in groups, but they themselves, are individual. I think it was amazing to describe humans this way, as branches. Sure, without having a relationship to The Savior, we can all float through life. We can get up, breathe air, eat food, get married, have kids, and die. We are strong, and we are capable of holding weight. But without the vine... branches are simply branches.

The Savior, however, is like the vine. The vine is what bears fruit, the vine needs the branch in order to be able to create the fruit, and the fruit is what we all long for. The vine needs the branch, and the branch needs the vine. Without the vine, given to us through whisperings of a still small voice, or Comforter of our hearts, we are unable to bear the fruit we long for- meaning, purpose, salvation. Yes, we can get through our mortal lives without the vine, but we will never be able to taste the sweet fruits of exaltation.

What beautiful thoughts! I love this scripture! This applies to me as a mother, because there is nothing more important I will do in this life than try and bring my children back Home. I hope that my boys know how much I love them, and I hope that they know how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them too. I want my children to know they they, too, are strong branches, and I would love for them to cultivate their own vines and bring forth the precious fruits that God would love to give them. =)

Women Living Well, and Good Morning Girls!

While I chuckle at this picture, I have to say, I don't believe it is completely false. Faith, family, and friendship are things that I hold as my top priorities. That said, there is something to be said about the peaceful calmness that can come from always having a clean home. But I have said it before- being home is hard! In American culture today, housewives and stay at home mothers are seen as a thing of the past. I can remember feeling pretty depressed after my first few months returning home, and knowing I needed some Christian inspiration. While searching for uplifting pro-homemaking words of wisdom, I came across Women Living Well. This was such a breath of fresh air! Here was a woman who knew EXACTLY what I was going through, and who was being exactly the kind of woman I wanted to be! I started following right away, and every time that I need a boost I head to her site and soak up the Heavenly inspiration.

The Women Living Well site is run by a lady who is part of a group called Good Morning Girls. I have seen a few of their sessions come and go, always too shy or nervous to read along and participate with them. Well, that is a thing of the past! I printed out my materials, linked my blog to their site, and I am ready to read! I welcome anyone else who wants to read with me =)

Today our first scripture was taken from Psalm 127:1, and it reads

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Today I wrote this scripture in my journal, wrote some observations I had about it, thought of applications to my life, and prayed about it. Already there is a difference in my heart! When I looked at my job- as a homemaker- and the labor I do in my home, I stopped and realized that nothing I do matters if I am not doing it with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in mind, and without Their help, I labor in vain. Knowing that the Lord's teachings built the home that I keep, made my labors much more important. I don't just iron shirts, I am working hard to help my husband look his best, so that he can focus on providing for us- just as the Lord would have him do. I don't just wipe noses- I am creating a nurturing and loving environment that enables our children to thrive and blossom into the amazing men they are to become. Our safety, and our salvation, come from Him and following His plan!

What a great scripture! I would love to hear any thoughts that anyone else would have about it =)