Good Things to Come...

One of my GREATEST strengths

is my ability to 

see the good in all the things around me.

No matter what my trials or circumstances may be...

I manage to smile,

laugh,

or find a way to learn from each experience I'm given.

I remember when I was little I told my mom I was depressed and her response was,

"You're too happy to be depressed!"

While that is NOT at all what I wanted to hear as a child who thought my world was coming to an end,

with just about every circumstance I faced as a teenager,

it is exactly what I needed to hear

and have been words that have blessed my life both then and now!
They are the words...

"YOUR TOO HAPPY TO BE DEPRESSED!"

As part of this Christmas season

 I decided that each night I would spend a few minutes with each one of my children

INDIVIDUALLY

and share a message of hope, love and faith.

I KNEW exactly the message I wanted to share when I read this quote tonight from a missionary friend who posted this on

FACEBOOK

from Gordon B. Hinckley.

"Don't be gloomy.  Do not dwell on unkind things.

Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.

Even if you are not happy,

put a smile on your face.

'Accentuate the positive.'

Look a little deeper for the good.

Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart.

Love life."

And lastly, I shared this video message with them.

I put my arms around ONE who was especially having a hard day and told him,

"Don't you quit!

You Keep Walking.

You keep trying.

There is help and happiness ahead.

Some blessings come soon, 

some come late, 

and some don't come until HEAVEN,

but for those who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ,

they come.

It will be alright in the end.

Trust God and believe in good things to come."

--Jeffrey R. Holland

 And with that message my ONE who was hesitant to let me share with him tonight...

softened,

he listened,

and we embraced.

The spirit of the Lord had touched his heart...

and will touch all our hearts

IF we believe

that Good things DO and WILL come.

I think I'm a little boring and a missionary story!

So I think I enjoy being a little bit

BORING!

Yesterday after church...

(and since we are done with church by 11 a.m.)

Rachel told me she doesn't like

Sunday's 

because there is nothing to do!

That is exactly why I like Sunday's!

I took a nap with my hubby before he went to work and I thought I was in heaven!

I ate whatever I wanted without fear of my weight or diet!

I watched Netflix for hours while folding the weekly laundry and didn't feel guilty for it...

not even one bit!

My neighbor Marcia came by for a "quick" visit...

and stayed for over an hour!

I got the kids all prepped for their week of AIMS testing...

thinking how grateful I was that we

would have a FULL WEEK of no homework to worry about!

I thought I would go for a walk since we have beautiful weather...

but instead I watered my flowers and

was content to sit outside and watch the birdies on my fence!

Yep

NOTHING TO DO

and enjoying every minute of it!

******************************

 Rachel is trying out for the

HIGH SCHOOL

cheer team this week...

with a cast on her hand!

She had to get teacher recommendations as part of her tryout package 
and all of her 

TEACHERS

love her and gave her the highest marks possible!

She also had to give them a headshot...

             We chose this one!

 Here's to wishing my sweet girl the BEST of LUCK!

**********************

Christopher will be OUT for the rest of the 

VOLLEYBALL

season and I'm super bummed.

He had come so far and had improved so much.

I'm really proud of all that he has accomplished this year!

I may not tell him enough...

    but I really love being his mom!

**************************

I am lucky enough to have four

STEPKIDS

that are amazing!

We've had some "rough" spots along the way...

but don't ALL families? 

Well one of those amazing kids is

BRANDON!

He just proposed to his girlfriend

RACHAL

and they are getting married

on December 20, 2013.

They will honor Brandon's mom by getting married on her birthday.

To make it even more special...

Brandon proposed with his mom's wedding ring!

    

In honor of Brandon and to let him know how much I love and admire him

I wanted to share how proud I am of him.

Last year, right before his 27th birthday...

Brandon

had been preparing to serve an LDS mission.

If he didn't turn his paperwork in by November 10th then he would have been too old and not eligible.

His dad flew up to ordain him as an Elder into the

Melchizedek priesthood
a requirement needed for him to go.

It was a very special experience for Ron.

Just days before submitting his paperwork
he spoke with his Stake President...

he was encouraging him not to go

because of financial situations.

However, Brandon had "qualified" himself to be worthy to go on a mission and to serve the Lord.

Just two weeks later he was able to baptize his sweetheart

Rachal Weis

has a member of 

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS!

It may not be an official mission...

but Brandon is one of the best missionaries I know!

I'm so proud of him and all that he has accomplished and look forward to spending

December 20, 2013

in the Montana Billings temple with him and Rachal!  
         

He Lives, the Cortina 3 Young Women

One of the greatest messages of all times

and one that

is being shared this time of year during Easter season is that

OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST

LIVES!

During my study for my young women's lesson  this last Sunday...

I was able to listen

again and again

to my favorite General Conference talk ever given

in April 2009

by Jeffrey R. Holland.  

Listen to it here.  
He shares the message of Easter in a way that touches my heart. 

While I don't usually discuss my testimony of Christ on my blog,

I can't help but feel impressed to share this:

He Lives.

He Loves me unconditionally.

He suffered for ALL mankind 

but He would have suffered just for me.

He has NEVER left me alone.

He will NEVER leave me alone.

He wants me to return Home.

Our Cortina 3rd ward Young Women had the opportunity

tonight to go watch the annual

Mesa Temple Easter Pageant.
I pray that these sweet girls were able to receive this Easter message...
that Christ lives and loves them! 

I think I have mentioned that we have the best group of young women and leaders...

but I will mention it again

because it is true!

 My sweet Rachel with friends Izzy and Aubree.

 Cutie Katie with her friends Baylee and Briley.

 

Sure do love these silly girls!

   We arrived early to reserve a seat for ourselves.

Did you know they expect around 100,000 visitors to watch the pageant over the next 9 days?

It has been going for over 60 years and is the largest

outdoor Easter pageant in the world!

Pretty impressive...

but most impressive is the message...

Christ lives!

   

  

A miracle DEFINED....

Yesterday during testimony meeting

inspiration came my way!

Ohhhh....

how I love that feeling knowing that the Lord is always there to teach me!

I hope I'm always willing to listen...

I still am a work in progress.

We have several families in our ward who are going through really, really hard times.

Like the kind of times you hope to never have to go through.

While listening to them bare

testimony...

the thought came to me,

"The REAL miracles happen not in if a family member or loved one is healed or made whole again,

because some may not receive that miracle.

If that is the case,

then why are some more deserving of a miracle than someone else?

Are we not all deserving?

So then the real miracle is having

FAITH

that we can accept God's will...

no matter what,

and that as we do accept His will that we can endure to the end."

I learned this from my amazing husband.

He is teaching me that he is the MIRACLE...

because he is having the

FAITH

that he will become who God wants him to be

and that through trials and loss...

he is having the faith to endure to the end.

Miracle clearly defined!

Lesson learned.

Rock Bottom

When my LIFE hit rock bottom...

4 years ago,

God provided me with a RESCUE party.

When the LDS pioneers were crossing the plains to ZION...

they hit winter storms early

and were literally on the plains dying.

When Brigham Young heard of their dire situation...

he sent a rescue party.

Despite the fact that the rescue party could be in danger themselves,

they went and listened to the Lord's prophet.

The Lord sent me a rescue party...

when I felt all hope was lost.

My rescue party had to enter my STORM...

and it wasn't easy.

But I feel they answered God's call...

and provided me with safety

and

HOPE!

I was reunited with them tonight...here is my rescue party!

 

 

Cracks...in our foundation!

Ever since I left the kids' father...My children hear from old friends who ask,

"Is your MOM happy?"

Funny how these "old friends" don't seem to know the answer,

and have to ask my children.

On the surface, my life is HAPPY!

But their are cracks that threaten our very foundation.

Leaving was not an EASY decison...and one I did not take lightly.

This was a decision I made after prayer, study and lots of meditation.

I had NO IDEA that so many people would invest so much EMOTION and JUDGEMENT on a decision that would affect them so little.

So when you ask my children if their mom is happy,

you put a crack in our very foundation.

My children are SMART and they know what you are asking!

I was GIVEN a promise when I left.

It was about my children.

BUT it required me to do my part...which I'm trying SO hard to do.

And I believe that if I do my part,

God will do his part.

I also believe HIS love can fill those cracks...

and rebuild the foundation.

And in so doing,

our family can have ALL the happiness that God has promised all his righteous people.

And hopefully,

no more questions about my happiness...and only your own.

MY CHILDREN OF GOD

Yesterday my children have never made me more proud than when they sang as a family, "I AM A CHILD OF GOD" for our ward sacrament program!
We have been practicing at home for over a month - and have even "performed" in front of Ron and anyone who was willing to listen. One day we performed for Nana (Ron's mom) and her two sisters who are not members of the church. Isn't it amazing that a song accompanied with the spirit can bear testimony to others? Later they told me what wholesome, pure, happy, healthy children I had. I knew it had everything to do with there knowledge that they truly are CHILDREN OF GOD!