Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Back to School Boogies!!! Yuck!!!
It's 73 degrees in the house and I am freezing! Crap! I cannot be sick...but alas I think I am. Lethargy, blah, and now sore throat and fever. It's days like these, that you want to be ten again. What I wouldn't give to stay in bed and watch old movies and eat soup all day. Not gonna happen, I know, but a girl can dream...I haven't been sick in a long time. My children are back in school. That's probably where I got it from. Those evil little snot nosed kids sharing boogies in the hallway with my delightfully social children. Somebody shoot me! Stacey...bring me the Cherry coke stat!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I've Got a Gun...And I'm Gonna Use IT!
There is nothing funnier than a man dressed in business casual with a loaded 22 (and a sight), trying to shoot a woodpecker! Patrick cracks me up! Didn't Elmer Fudd or some other cartoon character chase a woodpecker around?
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Club
No one wants to be a member of the club that I belong to. It's exclusive. There aren't many that carry a membership card. In fact if you do have one, you'd rather give it away or burn it. Left in your pocket, you think about it all the time. Sometimes, it burns a hole through your pants. Other times, you just know it's there. People don't like to talk about this club very often. It's very painful and sad. Until someone you know gains membership. Then it screams like hell at you to pick it up and wave it around. Knowing that someone else has to be a member of this club can drop you to your knees in mere seconds. You begin to remember your own initiation into "The Club." My heart mourns with the Jensen family as they are about to lose a husband, father, brother, friend, and son to cancer. Hopefully my membership in this club will help this small family through the hurdles that they are about to face. My thoughts and prayers go out to this young family with 3 little kids who are about to lose their Dad. Friends, pray for this family tonight. Hug each other a little tighter and remember that this life is short and we will all be together again someday...
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Beatitudes...Emily's interpretation
I have had a couple of requests for my talk I gave a few weeks ago in church. I hope you enjoy...(sorry for all the punctuation mistakes...I am not the technical writer or editor in the family)
Blessed…are They...
I pondered this Talk for weeks. I am not a doctrinal speaker. In fact I was explaining to my husband that I am like a Thomas S Monson when it comes to talks…all about the story and the emotion and Patrick is more about the doctrine like Dalin Oaks, but both of us relish in the Big Picture. I tried for weeks to figure out how to narrow it down. I had 3 or 4 ideas that just couldn't come together. Until I stumbled upon the words…blessed are they…and what they really mean.
For me the Big Picture that I need to talk about is the fact that we really are blessed. The Greek translation of Blessed is more purely defined as a state of Divine Happiness. Who here would not love to be divinely happy? We are blessed…
…even if our outward appearances or our inward turmoil prove otherwise. How is it that these afflictions that the world may see can make us Blessed?
So let us explore those people that are not blessed:
What are you if you are not poor in Spirit and coming unto Christ? Are you filled with spiritual gifts and see no need to bring yourself to Christ? This screams of Pride. What happens to the Prideful? They fall. God will have a humble people. I see no blessing in Being Prideful. Humility on the other hand gives us the promised blessing of the Kingdom of Heaven. The world would give you no reward for humility. They exalt the confident and the independent and the “famous".
What are you if you are not Mourning? Never lost and grieved? The soul that has felt the pang of heartache and suffering becomes a little more like Christ everytime he sheds a tear. I am convinced that those who do not suffer loss never know the true value of the people around them. How can something be a treasure to you, if you do not know the value of it? One who has lost a child cherishes the little things children do. One who has lost a spouse, treasures companionship more. One who has mourned for sin committed, values the atonement a little bit more…it boils down to experience…no joy without sorrow, no light without darkness…we have nothing to judge our blessings against if we know no affliction. The world cannot heal your broken heart. It cannot justify the anguish or give a reward for a affliction well handled. We do not receive a check for our suffering or badge to wear. If anything, most people have a hard time consoling the mourning individual. But God rewards. He can comfort. He does comfort.
What are you if you are not Meek? Arrogant and Abrupt. Does force and anger really bring us any lasting happiness? Who can lead the multitude? Not the arrogant. Our Bishop in our last ward was the epitome of Meekness. He lead with love. He always looked into your eyes when he greeted you and really wanted to know how you were. He came over one night to our home. My brother, who is not currently active, was having a difficult time. He came over and spoke to my brother for 3 hours about how much “Father loved him” He was kind and gentle and because of this meek spirit, my brother went to church the very next Sunday. The direction of his life choices he is now making, I am convinced, were a direct result of him seeing the Lords love through our bishops eyes. The world does not reward the gentle. The ones that hide behind the sidelines, the gentle and meek are not filling are TV programs. God Rewards. The meek shall inherit the earth. Rulers over the earth. Leaders.
What are you if you are not Hungry and Thirsty? Satisfied. Never be satisfied. You can have too much chocolate…it’s hard but it can be done. You can have too much steak…it is possible, but when you have had your fill of righteousness then you better get down on your knees and repent. I know of no one that is truly righteous enough that can say there is not something they could do better. If our ultimate goal is to gain perfection even as our Father in Heaven is Perfect then we always have something to work on. Brothers and Sisters, sometimes we go on diets. We limit how much righteousness we really can handle. We are satisfied with 1200 calories and watch ourselves turn into spiritual waifs. We must be spiritual giants. If Micheal Phelps ate 1200 calories a day, he would not have won 8 gold medals. I think they said he ate something like 10000 calories a day. What are you doing to hunger and thirst after righteousness? Are you barely maintaining or are you building spiritual muscle. You must stuff yourself to gain that muscle. Then exercise that righteousness. Get deeper, do more, go farther, push your limit. Start somewhere . The world doesn’t make you a millionaire or give you a medal for reading your scriptures or saying family prayer or keeping the Sabbath day holy. God Rewards. You will be filled with the Holy Ghost. The comforter. The Truth will flow through you.
What are you if you are not Merciful? Just. I am a rule keeper. My husband will attest. I am one to keep all laws, obey signs, it is my very nature. But even I mess up. We all mess up. We all offend, sin, make stupid mistakes. Do we not deserve mercy? If we cannot give it to those who have wronged us, then how do we expect to deserve it ourselves? Are we better than anyone else? The world says we are a fool. Get justice. I am reminded of the Amish community who rallied around the widow of the man who killed this community's children. Instead of harboring hate they gave him mercy. The world wants justice and punishment. God rewards. He gives us mercy in return. He overlooks our messes and sees the child full of remorse.
What are you if you are not Pure in Heart? Always having an agenda. Do you do good to get brownie points. Are you hankering to be Bishop? Do you do a good deed with the intent that they will owe you? The joy gets sucked out along with all the blessings if you do something for the wrong reason. The world rewards those who have a what’s in it for me mentality. They go farther in the world's eyes. They make the grade, get the job, amass the fortune. But those that do it for the right reason, aren’t given the windowed office. But God rewards. The pure in Heart shall see God!
What are you if you are not Peacemakers? Always stirring up the pot. Enjoying your gain at the loss of others. The ability to compromise can save almost any relationship. I do not profess to be a peacemaker myself. They're are many people in my life that I want to take a large stick to….but I have also learned that there is always another way to look at it. We must remember that we do not walk in anyone shoes but our own. If Christ can bless those that spit upon him and plead for forgiveness for them, am I any better than he? Peacemakers are seen as weak in this world. Always turning the other cheek. God rewards. Peacemakers shall be the children of God and with that…heirs to his Kingdom.
What are you if you are not Persecuted for my names sake and Reviled? Judas comes to mind. Can you not stand up for what you believe? Do you hold your head in shame for the company you keep? Do you hide behind a bushel? I have never been in prison for being a Mormon or been shot at or stoned but I have had people who persecute my beliefs in my own family. I have had to let my voice be heard. I have felt the anger swell within me when someone makes fun of something I treasure. I remember last Christmas when my fathers good friend made some dumb remark about how I didn’t have to populate the earth on my own or something to that effect. Man, no one messes with my kids. Momma bear came out! I gave him a piece of my mind. Was it the right thing to do…no but I would take it everyday if I had to because I understand God and his will for me. I later would learn that this very man has never had children and instead of feeling angry at his insensitivity, I felt very sorry for his loss. He would never know the joy that comes from having children underfoot. I have a little more mercy for him now. The world does little for those who are persecuted. They are laughed at and mocked, the butt of jokes, teased. God rewards. The persecuted receive the Kingdom of Heaven. You will be in company with the prophets and apostles and saints and even Christ himself.
To Be Blessed…to be divinely happy requires something more than what the world can offer as a reward. We must look like a sorry lot to them. We struggle up this mountain filled with cracks and pitfalls and heartache with no earthly reward. But God will reward our worldly sacrifices. I have been blessed to experience many of these afflictions and characteristics myself. But I testify to you that I have received great rewards and blessings for my afflictions. My sacrifices have not been in vain. Not only will I attain the promised blessings God will give me in the world to come, but blessings in the here and now. I am richly blessed now.
I testify to you that God lives. He loves us individually. He watches over us and has a plan for each one of us to return to his presence and receive our reward. I love him and his guiding hand in my life. He has lifted me up when my strength waned and given me more than I could have ever even dreamed of having. Of this I am truly in debt to him.
In order for us to be blessed…we must, We must, sacrifice the worlds rewards for the higher law…the spiritual rewards that God has promised us. May we all seek to be divinely happy it is my prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Blessed…are They...
I pondered this Talk for weeks. I am not a doctrinal speaker. In fact I was explaining to my husband that I am like a Thomas S Monson when it comes to talks…all about the story and the emotion and Patrick is more about the doctrine like Dalin Oaks, but both of us relish in the Big Picture. I tried for weeks to figure out how to narrow it down. I had 3 or 4 ideas that just couldn't come together. Until I stumbled upon the words…blessed are they…and what they really mean.
For me the Big Picture that I need to talk about is the fact that we really are blessed. The Greek translation of Blessed is more purely defined as a state of Divine Happiness. Who here would not love to be divinely happy? We are blessed…
…even if our outward appearances or our inward turmoil prove otherwise. How is it that these afflictions that the world may see can make us Blessed?
So let us explore those people that are not blessed:
What are you if you are not poor in Spirit and coming unto Christ? Are you filled with spiritual gifts and see no need to bring yourself to Christ? This screams of Pride. What happens to the Prideful? They fall. God will have a humble people. I see no blessing in Being Prideful. Humility on the other hand gives us the promised blessing of the Kingdom of Heaven. The world would give you no reward for humility. They exalt the confident and the independent and the “famous".
What are you if you are not Mourning? Never lost and grieved? The soul that has felt the pang of heartache and suffering becomes a little more like Christ everytime he sheds a tear. I am convinced that those who do not suffer loss never know the true value of the people around them. How can something be a treasure to you, if you do not know the value of it? One who has lost a child cherishes the little things children do. One who has lost a spouse, treasures companionship more. One who has mourned for sin committed, values the atonement a little bit more…it boils down to experience…no joy without sorrow, no light without darkness…we have nothing to judge our blessings against if we know no affliction. The world cannot heal your broken heart. It cannot justify the anguish or give a reward for a affliction well handled. We do not receive a check for our suffering or badge to wear. If anything, most people have a hard time consoling the mourning individual. But God rewards. He can comfort. He does comfort.
What are you if you are not Meek? Arrogant and Abrupt. Does force and anger really bring us any lasting happiness? Who can lead the multitude? Not the arrogant. Our Bishop in our last ward was the epitome of Meekness. He lead with love. He always looked into your eyes when he greeted you and really wanted to know how you were. He came over one night to our home. My brother, who is not currently active, was having a difficult time. He came over and spoke to my brother for 3 hours about how much “Father loved him” He was kind and gentle and because of this meek spirit, my brother went to church the very next Sunday. The direction of his life choices he is now making, I am convinced, were a direct result of him seeing the Lords love through our bishops eyes. The world does not reward the gentle. The ones that hide behind the sidelines, the gentle and meek are not filling are TV programs. God Rewards. The meek shall inherit the earth. Rulers over the earth. Leaders.
What are you if you are not Hungry and Thirsty? Satisfied. Never be satisfied. You can have too much chocolate…it’s hard but it can be done. You can have too much steak…it is possible, but when you have had your fill of righteousness then you better get down on your knees and repent. I know of no one that is truly righteous enough that can say there is not something they could do better. If our ultimate goal is to gain perfection even as our Father in Heaven is Perfect then we always have something to work on. Brothers and Sisters, sometimes we go on diets. We limit how much righteousness we really can handle. We are satisfied with 1200 calories and watch ourselves turn into spiritual waifs. We must be spiritual giants. If Micheal Phelps ate 1200 calories a day, he would not have won 8 gold medals. I think they said he ate something like 10000 calories a day. What are you doing to hunger and thirst after righteousness? Are you barely maintaining or are you building spiritual muscle. You must stuff yourself to gain that muscle. Then exercise that righteousness. Get deeper, do more, go farther, push your limit. Start somewhere . The world doesn’t make you a millionaire or give you a medal for reading your scriptures or saying family prayer or keeping the Sabbath day holy. God Rewards. You will be filled with the Holy Ghost. The comforter. The Truth will flow through you.
What are you if you are not Merciful? Just. I am a rule keeper. My husband will attest. I am one to keep all laws, obey signs, it is my very nature. But even I mess up. We all mess up. We all offend, sin, make stupid mistakes. Do we not deserve mercy? If we cannot give it to those who have wronged us, then how do we expect to deserve it ourselves? Are we better than anyone else? The world says we are a fool. Get justice. I am reminded of the Amish community who rallied around the widow of the man who killed this community's children. Instead of harboring hate they gave him mercy. The world wants justice and punishment. God rewards. He gives us mercy in return. He overlooks our messes and sees the child full of remorse.
What are you if you are not Pure in Heart? Always having an agenda. Do you do good to get brownie points. Are you hankering to be Bishop? Do you do a good deed with the intent that they will owe you? The joy gets sucked out along with all the blessings if you do something for the wrong reason. The world rewards those who have a what’s in it for me mentality. They go farther in the world's eyes. They make the grade, get the job, amass the fortune. But those that do it for the right reason, aren’t given the windowed office. But God rewards. The pure in Heart shall see God!
What are you if you are not Peacemakers? Always stirring up the pot. Enjoying your gain at the loss of others. The ability to compromise can save almost any relationship. I do not profess to be a peacemaker myself. They're are many people in my life that I want to take a large stick to….but I have also learned that there is always another way to look at it. We must remember that we do not walk in anyone shoes but our own. If Christ can bless those that spit upon him and plead for forgiveness for them, am I any better than he? Peacemakers are seen as weak in this world. Always turning the other cheek. God rewards. Peacemakers shall be the children of God and with that…heirs to his Kingdom.
What are you if you are not Persecuted for my names sake and Reviled? Judas comes to mind. Can you not stand up for what you believe? Do you hold your head in shame for the company you keep? Do you hide behind a bushel? I have never been in prison for being a Mormon or been shot at or stoned but I have had people who persecute my beliefs in my own family. I have had to let my voice be heard. I have felt the anger swell within me when someone makes fun of something I treasure. I remember last Christmas when my fathers good friend made some dumb remark about how I didn’t have to populate the earth on my own or something to that effect. Man, no one messes with my kids. Momma bear came out! I gave him a piece of my mind. Was it the right thing to do…no but I would take it everyday if I had to because I understand God and his will for me. I later would learn that this very man has never had children and instead of feeling angry at his insensitivity, I felt very sorry for his loss. He would never know the joy that comes from having children underfoot. I have a little more mercy for him now. The world does little for those who are persecuted. They are laughed at and mocked, the butt of jokes, teased. God rewards. The persecuted receive the Kingdom of Heaven. You will be in company with the prophets and apostles and saints and even Christ himself.
To Be Blessed…to be divinely happy requires something more than what the world can offer as a reward. We must look like a sorry lot to them. We struggle up this mountain filled with cracks and pitfalls and heartache with no earthly reward. But God will reward our worldly sacrifices. I have been blessed to experience many of these afflictions and characteristics myself. But I testify to you that I have received great rewards and blessings for my afflictions. My sacrifices have not been in vain. Not only will I attain the promised blessings God will give me in the world to come, but blessings in the here and now. I am richly blessed now.
I testify to you that God lives. He loves us individually. He watches over us and has a plan for each one of us to return to his presence and receive our reward. I love him and his guiding hand in my life. He has lifted me up when my strength waned and given me more than I could have ever even dreamed of having. Of this I am truly in debt to him.
In order for us to be blessed…we must, We must, sacrifice the worlds rewards for the higher law…the spiritual rewards that God has promised us. May we all seek to be divinely happy it is my prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Calling all closet novelists
So November is national novel writing month...Afton has probably done this before, but there is a site where you are supposed to write a novel in a month. It has to be 50,000 words(175 pages). It's designed to get the creativity going. nanowrimo.org is the website that explains all the rules and regulations. My kids are doing this at school too...anybody want to jump on the bandwagon with me? I've got a few great ideas and I am sure you do to...come on, everyone, who's with me on this one?
Monday, September 22, 2008
More Blogs
Patrick has jumped on the bandwagon and created his own blog...check it out on the side...I also have created one with dinner ideas that I am loving. Thanks for being such great friends and family!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Not of the World
As I sat in Young Women's in Church today, I realized just how different we really are from the world in General. We have an exchange student from Russia who attends regularly. She is 16 and very worldly. As we were discussing the lesson of Marriage Standards and Dating Decisions, she so eloquently asked"What if we don't want to get married or have kids? I am happy just the way I am and plan on staying that way." Luckily, I wasn't teaching the lesson. In my own little world I sometimes forget that we really are different. Marriage and family are not the ultimate goal for many people. Here are these young women facing the world head on and a large majority of their peers, think they are crazy. Crazy for their values, morals, goals that they choose to attain and maintain. Then we talked about guys and how society sometimes views women as objects instead of people. Well, that is another blog in itself. It's up to us ladies to show these girls that Motherhood and Marriage are good things and that Society would crumble without strong capable women to nurture and maintain society as we know it. No offense to Men, but most men I know would be nothing if not for the woman at their side. I for one, have two daughters to raise. I want them to be respected and cherished for the confident women they will become. I want them to know that Motherhood, meaning the nurturing of any child, is hard and challenging, but rewarding and fulfilling. May we all take the time to love our daughters, nieces, friends, mothers, aunts, and ourselves just a little bit more. We are so precious.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)