Foreign Exchange student moved, spoke in church, taught Sunday school, attended a missionary farewell, drove to SLC for M&D Harr's birthday party, prepared for and pulled off VR District Awards banquet including food, awards (three blankets) and table decorations (27 new "Believe it Live it" Boards) planning for 320 people all in a weeks time! Wew! We did it!
B & I were asked to speak on Virtue in church last week. I'm not sure what I said, or that it made any sense, but I got through it.:) I didn't share my favorite quote on my mirror by Elaine Dalton:
"“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least [he] fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” (17)
Do not be just a spectator or a critic. You didn’t do that in the premortal realm. You weren’t neutral then. You stood firm. Do not allow the very voices who cry for tolerance to not tolerate you or your view. This is the arena where all that you defended and chose then is taking place now. Do not get tired or distracted or disqualified! Be willing to step out of your comfort zones and “press forward with . . . a perfect brightness of hope” (2 Nephi 31:20)." Elaine S. Dalton: Zion Is the Pure in Heart By Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women general president, Published: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009
I regret that I had printed, and carried around, but not read this talk by Douglas Callister:
"To be vulgar is to do that which is not the best of its kind. It is to do poor things in poor ways, and to be satisfied with that. . . . It is vulgar to wear dirty linen when one is not engaged in dirty work. It is vulgar to like poor music, to read weak books, to feed on sensational newspapers, . . . to find amusement in trashy novels, to enjoy vulgar theatres, to find pleasure in cheap jokes.27
I once heard a story about an imaginary king whose wife gave birth to a baby boy. The parents knew that the lad would someday inherit the kingdom. Desiring that their son be a wise king, fully familiar with the needs of the people over whom he would reign, the king and queen took the infant into the country to be raised as part of a peasant family. He was to be told nothing of his secret destiny until he became a man.
At the appropriate time the king and queen returned to the country to confer on their son the kingdom. They were greatly disappointed. Having been told nothing of his appointed destiny, he was exactly that which life had prepared him to be. He understood the proper care of animals and the gathering of crops, but he knew nothing of armies and palaces and courtyards and presiding. He had lost his vision.
It should not be difficult for you to glean the truth in this story. Another King, your Father in Heaven, has sent you away from His presence to have experiences you would not have had in your heavenly home—all in preparation for the conferral of a kingdom. He doesn’t want you to lose your vision. You are children of an exalted being. You are foreordained to preside as kings and queens. You will live in a home and environment of infinite refinement and beauty, as reflected in the language, literature, art, music, and order of heaven.
I close with the words of President Brigham Young: “Let us . . . show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on beauty and true excellence, so that we can become worthy to enjoy the society of angels.”28 Even more, that we may enjoy the refined society of heavenly parentage, for we are of the race of the gods, being children of the Most High."
This talk has kept me thinking this week. I am grateful for refinement in my home. I will seek to more fully invite the spirit into my home constantly! While living in Santa Clara, I posted on the door this quote: "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Exodus 3:5. I believed then, and have only increased in strength in this belief that my home is holy ground. I posted this in the garage so everyone would take off their shoes before entering, and one day a guest mentioned that it was so deep he didn't even get it. I realize that we are all on different levels of spiritual understanding. I am grateful that spiritual teachings are common in my home. I am grateful that peace has returned, after a few days of turmoil, I am so grateful to welcome peace, love, camaraderie, respect, accomplishment, success back! Grateful to have the spirit back here! It is holy ground and we don't want to do anything to interfere with heavenly characteristics!
Last night B & I took the opportunity to attend a fireside at the tabernacle by Margaret D. Nadauld titled “Our Influence on the Rising Generation.” She gave four main ideas of ways to help the rising generation.
1. Have a vision for you and your family, and don't be afraid to share it. Write down your goals, and share them with those included. (Parents, children, grandparents, extended family, etc.) She spoke of goals she and her husband had set while young married at Waldon Pond one Saturday afternoon. Written on an old envelope in the car, found many years later, they had all come true! What amazing things can be accomplished when goals are set, and worked towards. (I thought of the value of the Personal Progress program for our Young Women as I prepare for New Beginnings coming up!)
2. Encourage boys to become strong men! Men worthy to hold the priesthood, support families, face struggles. Don't rescue them from hard times, teach them to work hard to success.
3. Believe in and strengthen the nobility of womanhood. In this world of feminist rights, return to the vision of women nurturing their families. "Educate a man you educate a man, educate a woman, you educate a family." I am grateful for education in my home!
4. Stand Strong and share your values! "You don't have to be politically correct in your home!" She challenged us to call the bad, bad, and the the good, good. To share our values, and not be shy about it! I am grateful for this message meant just for me as we have struggled with standing strong and courageous through the last few weeks!
I am grateful for heavenly refinement. I am grateful for hard work, and the young people I am blessed to associate with! I love them sooo much! This week together, we rolled plastic sliver and sealed with a BSA 2010 printed paper and hot glue 320 napkin/silverware sets. We peeled and chopped beautifully 15 gallons - 15 5lb bags of carrots! Lots! We scrubbed, seasoned, rolled and cooked 330 potatoes! Wow! What a fabulous crew I have been blessed with! The banquet was fabulous, and many, many said it was the "best food ever" for the VR banquet! I am grateful for CC and DF who showed up Thursday afternoon to help chop lettuce, and cucumbers, stock the food tables, prepare for the big event! They aren't even involved in scouting, but heard that I needed help, and showed up! True friends! How will I ever express my gratitude? I am so thankful, and hope to be that kind of friend! Thank you! xoxoxo
I am thankful today (Saturday) to finally put all the dishes away clean back into the cupboards! I still have a couple of coolers with food in them which won't fit into my refrigerators, but we are making great headway! Today B and the kids worked in the garage, and cleaned up all the projects from Christmas so we can get two cars in the garage again! That is huge! I am so grateful for amazing teams who can accomplish wonderful, huge projects! I am grateful for heavenly help, and acknowledge His hand in my life!
Meantime, J is doing great! Talked to him late last night. He has a game today in Washington DC, and will spend an hour at the DC temple before the game tonight. They are playing a team of Seventh Day Adventists. Interesting because Saturday is their holy day. He explains that the sabbath goes from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. He has been told that the refs go out and watch the sun drop below the horizon, walk into the gym, and blow the start whistle. Interesting. I hope they do well. This is a big team for them to win, currently ranked above SVU because they won SVU in the payoffs last year in a tight game. Praying for them to play strong together as a team!
B & I were asked to speak on Virtue in church last week. I'm not sure what I said, or that it made any sense, but I got through it.:) I didn't share my favorite quote on my mirror by Elaine Dalton:
"“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least [he] fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” (17)
Do not be just a spectator or a critic. You didn’t do that in the premortal realm. You weren’t neutral then. You stood firm. Do not allow the very voices who cry for tolerance to not tolerate you or your view. This is the arena where all that you defended and chose then is taking place now. Do not get tired or distracted or disqualified! Be willing to step out of your comfort zones and “press forward with . . . a perfect brightness of hope” (2 Nephi 31:20)." Elaine S. Dalton: Zion Is the Pure in Heart By Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women general president, Published: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009
I regret that I had printed, and carried around, but not read this talk by Douglas Callister:
"To be vulgar is to do that which is not the best of its kind. It is to do poor things in poor ways, and to be satisfied with that. . . . It is vulgar to wear dirty linen when one is not engaged in dirty work. It is vulgar to like poor music, to read weak books, to feed on sensational newspapers, . . . to find amusement in trashy novels, to enjoy vulgar theatres, to find pleasure in cheap jokes.27
I once heard a story about an imaginary king whose wife gave birth to a baby boy. The parents knew that the lad would someday inherit the kingdom. Desiring that their son be a wise king, fully familiar with the needs of the people over whom he would reign, the king and queen took the infant into the country to be raised as part of a peasant family. He was to be told nothing of his secret destiny until he became a man.
At the appropriate time the king and queen returned to the country to confer on their son the kingdom. They were greatly disappointed. Having been told nothing of his appointed destiny, he was exactly that which life had prepared him to be. He understood the proper care of animals and the gathering of crops, but he knew nothing of armies and palaces and courtyards and presiding. He had lost his vision.
It should not be difficult for you to glean the truth in this story. Another King, your Father in Heaven, has sent you away from His presence to have experiences you would not have had in your heavenly home—all in preparation for the conferral of a kingdom. He doesn’t want you to lose your vision. You are children of an exalted being. You are foreordained to preside as kings and queens. You will live in a home and environment of infinite refinement and beauty, as reflected in the language, literature, art, music, and order of heaven.
I close with the words of President Brigham Young: “Let us . . . show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on beauty and true excellence, so that we can become worthy to enjoy the society of angels.”28 Even more, that we may enjoy the refined society of heavenly parentage, for we are of the race of the gods, being children of the Most High."
This talk has kept me thinking this week. I am grateful for refinement in my home. I will seek to more fully invite the spirit into my home constantly! While living in Santa Clara, I posted on the door this quote: "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Exodus 3:5. I believed then, and have only increased in strength in this belief that my home is holy ground. I posted this in the garage so everyone would take off their shoes before entering, and one day a guest mentioned that it was so deep he didn't even get it. I realize that we are all on different levels of spiritual understanding. I am grateful that spiritual teachings are common in my home. I am grateful that peace has returned, after a few days of turmoil, I am so grateful to welcome peace, love, camaraderie, respect, accomplishment, success back! Grateful to have the spirit back here! It is holy ground and we don't want to do anything to interfere with heavenly characteristics!
Last night B & I took the opportunity to attend a fireside at the tabernacle by Margaret D. Nadauld titled “Our Influence on the Rising Generation.” She gave four main ideas of ways to help the rising generation.
1. Have a vision for you and your family, and don't be afraid to share it. Write down your goals, and share them with those included. (Parents, children, grandparents, extended family, etc.) She spoke of goals she and her husband had set while young married at Waldon Pond one Saturday afternoon. Written on an old envelope in the car, found many years later, they had all come true! What amazing things can be accomplished when goals are set, and worked towards. (I thought of the value of the Personal Progress program for our Young Women as I prepare for New Beginnings coming up!)
2. Encourage boys to become strong men! Men worthy to hold the priesthood, support families, face struggles. Don't rescue them from hard times, teach them to work hard to success.
3. Believe in and strengthen the nobility of womanhood. In this world of feminist rights, return to the vision of women nurturing their families. "Educate a man you educate a man, educate a woman, you educate a family." I am grateful for education in my home!
4. Stand Strong and share your values! "You don't have to be politically correct in your home!" She challenged us to call the bad, bad, and the the good, good. To share our values, and not be shy about it! I am grateful for this message meant just for me as we have struggled with standing strong and courageous through the last few weeks!
I am grateful for heavenly refinement. I am grateful for hard work, and the young people I am blessed to associate with! I love them sooo much! This week together, we rolled plastic sliver and sealed with a BSA 2010 printed paper and hot glue 320 napkin/silverware sets. We peeled and chopped beautifully 15 gallons - 15 5lb bags of carrots! Lots! We scrubbed, seasoned, rolled and cooked 330 potatoes! Wow! What a fabulous crew I have been blessed with! The banquet was fabulous, and many, many said it was the "best food ever" for the VR banquet! I am grateful for CC and DF who showed up Thursday afternoon to help chop lettuce, and cucumbers, stock the food tables, prepare for the big event! They aren't even involved in scouting, but heard that I needed help, and showed up! True friends! How will I ever express my gratitude? I am so thankful, and hope to be that kind of friend! Thank you! xoxoxo
I am thankful today (Saturday) to finally put all the dishes away clean back into the cupboards! I still have a couple of coolers with food in them which won't fit into my refrigerators, but we are making great headway! Today B and the kids worked in the garage, and cleaned up all the projects from Christmas so we can get two cars in the garage again! That is huge! I am so grateful for amazing teams who can accomplish wonderful, huge projects! I am grateful for heavenly help, and acknowledge His hand in my life!
Meantime, J is doing great! Talked to him late last night. He has a game today in Washington DC, and will spend an hour at the DC temple before the game tonight. They are playing a team of Seventh Day Adventists. Interesting because Saturday is their holy day. He explains that the sabbath goes from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. He has been told that the refs go out and watch the sun drop below the horizon, walk into the gym, and blow the start whistle. Interesting. I hope they do well. This is a big team for them to win, currently ranked above SVU because they won SVU in the payoffs last year in a tight game. Praying for them to play strong together as a team!