Follow the Light!

A talk that Jeff and I heard on Sunday during General Conference that made us stop and think. In that talk we were challenged to pick out one verse of scripture each week and Ponderize on it. The speaker went on to say that Ponderize is not in the dictionary but his explanation of the word was it is more like a combination of 2 things.. the first is 80% should be pondering about this scripture and the other 20% was in memorizing the scripture. Then he went on to explain how to do that in 2 simple steps, here they are...

First, choose a verse of scripture each week and place it where you will see it every day.

Second, read or think of the verse several times each day and ponder the meaning of its words and key phrases throughout the week.

Imagine the uplifting results of doing this weekly for six months, a year, 10 years, or more.

As you make this effort, you will feel an increase in spirituality. You will also be able to teach and lift those you love in more meaningful ways.

If you choose to ponderize weekly, you may feel a bit like a person who has enjoyed snorkeling in the past but has now decided to try scuba diving. With that decision, a deeper understanding of gospel principles will be yours and new spiritual perspectives will bless your life.

As you reflect on your selected verse each week, words and phrases will be written on your heart.⁴ Words and phrases will also be written on your mind. In other words, memorization will take place easily and naturally. But the primary goal of ponderizing is to provide an uplifting place for your thoughts to go—a place that keeps you close to the Spirit of the Lord.

The Savior said, “Treasure up in your minds continuallythe words of life.”⁵ Ponderizing is a simple and edifying way to do just that.

I have to admit, there are so many negative things in the world that floods our minds on a daily basis, through, Television, Radio and Internet. It is easy for our thoughts to become worried and discouraged. Why not have a higher place for our thoughts to go? It was a brillant idea and Jeff and I wanted to try and incorperate that in our day. Here is the scripture I picked...
St.John chapter 12

 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. 

When I think of light, and people who have light in their lives, I am grateful to have them in my life. I am drawn to people who have that light, that hope, that happiness, that kindness that truly makes you want to be with them as much as you can. People who have that light, truly are the happiest people I know. I think that is exactly what type of people the Lord expects us to be at all times, not just on Sunday or when we know someone is watching us!
So this was one of the great spiritual message that I got this weekend.
I will let you know how it goes!
Good Night dear friends!

You can watch or read it yourself HERE:

Another great Sleep Over and the Stars!

I read this quote and remembered something that happened the other night.

Our two oldest granddaughters had sleep over, it was late but they were so excited to do a sleep over... that they were pretty hyper and just couldn't seem to get their giggles out. Desperate Lauren, Lee and I just went and laid outside on the deck and turned off all the lights. Then we all just looked up at the stars...it was incredible. I love this place that we live. How fun it was to show the girls where the Big Dipper was, what a planet looked like and even to guess every now and then if they saw a shooting star.
At one point we saw something go across the sky and it had flashing red and white lights.  Angie said..".on Christmas eve, I saw two lights" Then Lauren asked "what do you think they were?" Then Angie with her totally serious look and voice said, "Lauren it was Christmas eve, it had to be Jesus and Santa Claus!" Then Jenny leaned over and said " I think that is just a plane!"
Oh how I love my little grandchildren. I love how they see the world, how they love life, how they enjoy every little thing...yes, every day I thank my Heavenly Father for another day with my family. I can hardly wait till Kai and Audrey get old enough to come and do Sleep Overs at Nana and Poppa's house, and listen to all the wonderful things they will tell us too!
As I went outside tonight and saw the same star filled sky... I smiled and felt BLESSED!
Good night dear friend!

 

Finding Jesus

Oh my goodness what a great story, it reminded me how much Faith a child can have.

Some times life doesn't turn out like we think it should, but usually in the long run... it
turns out better!

It is important that we are patient in our suffering, and it is also important to ...Find Jesus!
Enjoy!

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..."

"You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.

The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, "to see how much damage has been done..."

"But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there." The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly.

"When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up and I'll plan what to do next."

"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."

The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."

"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there."

The surgeon left. After the surgery, the surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes: "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:" here he paused, "death within one year."

He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.

"Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"

The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."

The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months.

Why?"

The Lord answered, "The boy, my lamb, shall return to my flock, for he has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb."

The surgeon wept.

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"

"Yes," said the surgeon.

"What did you find?" asked the boy.

"I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.

Author unknown

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled.  For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers."    ~ Unknown

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."    ~Ambrose Redmoon

This time two years ago...

   I decided to use one of my posts from two years ago, why? Well, because I am still struggling some and it brought me peace to read it again, plus it was about a book that I was reading at the time.
   I have been hurting pretty bad for almost a month now. It seems harder to take, because I was doing so good. I am amazed at how easy it is to feel down and discouraged, when you hurt this bad. It's like your  whole perspective is changed instantly, and you aren't sure how much more you can handle. I know that this won't last forever, but even these last 3 days I have had a migraine (which is coming from something being pinched in my neck), and it is hard to enjoy anything. I am a little fearful tonight that I am not going to get much better than this, I pray that's not true. So I won't type any more. I will just share this older post with you. I needed it tonight, and maybe one of you needed it too?
Good night dear friends!

FEAR NOT!    December 2008

When the kids were little, every Christmas eve we would get together with their cousins and dress up and reenact the Christmas story found in the book of Luke. I have always loved the declaration that the angel made to the shepherds before the Savior was born.

Luke 2:10-11 THE ANGEL SAID UNTO THEM, FEAR NOT: FOR, BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE, FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOUR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD.  In a book that I am reading called JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE by Robert Millet and Lloyd D. Newell, they remind  the reader that the theme for Savior's life was to FEAR NOT, it began the night He was born and continued through His life. He promises to save us from fear if only we would put our trust in Him. But after two thousand years, do we still fear the cost of following Christ? His message cannot comfort  us if we allow his peace to be overshadowed by our anxiety and fear. His saving message if for everyone. When we "fear not" and trust in him, we find safely, direction and peace.

Here is it the most wonderful time of the year and I am really struggling to find direction, peace and the ability to feel safe. Once you have had cancer, safe, direction and peace is a hard place to find. Almost daily you have to work on being safe about your thoughts and feelings, if you don't, your mind and thoughts can get carried away from you and before you know it you have lost the ability to LIVE IN THE MOMENT because you are too worried about the future, how long or short it will be. Cancer tries to rob you of so many things,  it is a daily effort to stay focused and FEAR NOT!  Direction...that is truly something that I need right now. I need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, exactly what I need to do to keep this cancer from returning and be as healthy as I can.

I am grateful for this time of the year that really reminds me of this theme and for that little baby in a manger who has been such a guiding force in my life.

Thanks again for being my friends!

"Whatever else be lost among the years, Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing: Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, Let us hold close one day, remembering Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men. Let us get back our childlike faith again."  ~ Grace Noll Crowell

"We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear."  ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Little Drummer Boy

I read this neat this neat story from one of the Chicken Soup for the soul book,I began typing it and then right near the last couple of paragraphs, I pushed the wrong button... and it disappeared. Even my kids tried to help me get it back but...it didn't work. So, I am going to share with you another one of my favorite stories Little Drummer Boy. I think this story has been rewritten a  few times, but the jest of it is the same. The little drummer boy shared the talents he had with the little baby Jesus. Reminding us that we just need to give from our heart, to have the most perfect gifts for those around us.

 

Little Drummer Boy
David's mother cooked the food in the kitchen of the inn he grew up in. His father was the innkeeper. His mother cooked the food. David's older sisters cleaned the rooms, and his older brother swept the stable. David loved to sing. He would sing to his mother as she cooked the food. David made up songs and banged on pots and bowls as he sang to her. David's mother smiled at him. "Someday you will sing in the temple, my son," his mother said. David grinned at his mother. "Tem-ple," David said very carefully.
David's father came into the kitchen. "How is my big boy?" David's father asked as he swung David onto his shoulders. "Pum Pum Pum! Tem-ple come!" David sang as he drummed on his father's head with a wooden spoon. David's father smiled as his son kept on drumming. "We must find this boy a drum or my poor head will not survive!" said David's father, with a laugh.
A few years later David got a small drum for his birthday. Soon he was beating rhythms on his drum wherever he went. Pat-a-rum, pat-a-rum, pat-a-rum, David drummed to copy the donkeys on the road. Swish-click-click-tum, swish-click-click-tum, went David's drumming to copy his brother sweeping straw in the stable.
One day David's father said to his family, "We are going to be very busy. Caesar Augustus has ordered a count of all the families in all the towns." "Pum Pum. Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum. I counted six of us!" David sang. "Why does this make us busy?" "Because people will come to Bethlehem to be counted with their families," said David's father. "They will need a place to stay. They will stay with us, and we will be very busy."

David loved to beat his drum to the sound of donkeys strolling along the road.

David's mother cooked more food. David's sisters cleaned the rooms. David's brother swept out the stable and put new hay and pots of water in the stalls. David's father greeted the people as they came into town. Soon the inn was very full. David played his drum and sang his songs for the people.
Late one night there was a knock at the door. David peeked around his father at the young man and his wife, who was on a donkey. They had no room for these people! What could they do? David's father was a kind man. "You can stay in the stable," he said. "It is warm and dry there. I can send food out to you." The young man thanked David's father and walked the donkey to the stable.
David helped his mother carry bread and cheese out to the young couple. His mother told him the woman was going to have a baby soon. The next day there was a lot of excitement. "The young woman who stayed in the stable last night had her baby," David's mother told him. "The baby is the King of Kings, they say!" said David's father.

David gave the gift of song to Baby Jesus.

David could not see the baby because of the crowd around the stable. David stood at the back of the crowd and began to make up a song for the baby: "Come, they told me, our newborn king to see. Our finest gifts we bring to lay before the king. So to honor him when we come."

The crowd began to part when they heard David's beautiful singing: "Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy, too. I have no gift to bring that's fit to give a king. Shall I play for you on my drum?"

David stepped closer to Mary, Joseph, and their son. Baby Jesus smiled at David, reached out, and patted his drum. http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/inspirational-christmas-stories13.htm

 

"The only gift is a portion of thyself."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"What we are is God's gift to us.  What we become is our gift to God."  ~Eleanor Powell

Out of the mouth of Babes!

The story that I would like to share with you tonight is actually on www.youtube.com and it is called REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS  BY mdun999. 

  It is about 4 minutes long, and it is told from a child. If you ever want to get life into perspective, ask a child what is important and what you should do. I really hope you will take the time out to listen and watch it! It will definitely put you in the mood for Christmas!  It is the best Christmas story ever!
Good night!

"Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good-will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."   ~ Calvin Coolidge

"Christmas is time to sing, "happy birthday" to someone in form of Christmas carols"   ~ Carmen Rutlen

Hard day!

For some reason, even after sleeping so well last night...I was exhausted today. I couldn't quite make myself do very much. That worries me a bit but, I have to remember what a tough week this has been... so maybe I am still trying to recoup from that? Also when Lee came home today from school, he said he was going to take a quick nap before his basketball game. I asked him to set his alarm and he said he would. I was going to stay up to make sure he didn't over sleep, but then I feel asleep myself. When he woke me up, he was so upset...for every minute they are late the coach makes them run a mile. He said "Mom, I am going to have to run 10 miles now before the game". Oh, I felt so bad, not that it was my fault but... most Moms would have been up and cooking dinner at that time instead of sleeping. Lee kept telling me it wasn't my fault, but somehow I felt like it was. Why can't I be healthy and have energy like other Moms? Why does everything I do, effect my body so hard? I really feel like my kids have Mothered me more these past 2 years, than I have Mothered them. That is sad. Ok, I am not going to talk about this anymore. I just need to chalk this up, as one of my BIGGER THAN ME DAYS and start fresh again tomorrow!
  Anyway, I will share tonight, just a sweet short Christmas story that I read today. Simple but profound. I hope you enjoy it and remember the true meaning of this wonderful time of the year. 

"At home in a hidden-away corner, I have a small black walking stick with an imitation silver handle. It once belonged to a distant relative. Why do I keep it for a period now spanning more than 70 years? There is a special reason. As a small boy I participated in a Christmas pageant in our ward. I was privileged to be one of the three Wise Men. With a bandana about my head, Mother's piano bench cover draped over my shoulder, and the black cane in my hand. I spoke my assigned lines. "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him" ( Matthew 2:2) I vividly remember the feeling of my heart as the three of us "Wise Men" looked upward and saw a star journeyed across the stage, found Mary with the young child Jesus, then fell down and worshipped Him and opened our treasures and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
I especially liked the fact that we did not return to the evil Herod to betray the baby Jesus but obeyed God and departed another way.
The years have flown by, but the Christmas cane continues to occupy a special place in my home; and in my heart is a commitment to Christ.  ~ Thomas S. Monson

"Wise men still seek Him"

"Let us keep Christmas beautiful without a thought of greed. That it might live forevermore to fill our every need. That it shall not be just a day, but last a lifetime through. The miracle of Christmastime, that brings God close to you."  ~ Ann Schultz

 

Where is the line to see Jesus?

My sister in law sent this next story to me. It has now became a song and a video, below is the information to see it. Bring out the tissues, and be grateful ...for the children in our lives, whose hearts are so pure and their words that are so profound!
This is a perfect way to start off the season, and to can keep things in perspective!  Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=pPViKJRHyZo&vq=medium

Here’s the story behind the song:

About the Song:

While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus"? My sister mentioned this to my dad, who immediately became inspired and jotted words down to a song in just a few minutes. After putting music to the words, and doing a quick recording at home, he received a great response from friends. He sent the song off to Nashville without much response, except for a Christian song writer who suggested adding a bridge at the end of the first chorus. My dad then asked if I wanted to record the song to see what we could do with it. I listened to the song, made a few changes to the words to make it flow better, and we headed to Shock City Studios. It was at the studio where Chris, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus... with goosebumps and emotions high, we were all hopeful and felt like we had something special. The demo was recorded in just under 2 hours and sent off again to Nashville ... still no response. Then 2 weeks before Christmas last year, my cousins Greg and Robbie decided to do a video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day we had 3000 hits and it soared from there. We received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over asking for the music, CD's, iTunes, anything... we had nothin'. After a couple of meetings with Chris following the amazing response, we got serious. We headed back into the studio this past spring... this time with guitars, drums, bass, pianos, choirs... the real deal..... and here we are today. Getting iTunes set up, a website put together, and loving that thousands upon thousands of Christians have come together.... remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults can not understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation will cause people all over to reflect on the love of Jesus, and that one day we will all stand in line to see Him. We are most thankful to our Heavenly Father to have this chance to share our music with you. Merry Christmas everyone.  ~ Sandra B. Mantz, M.S., MFT   Marriage & Family Therapy

 

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."  ~W.T. Ellis

"Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts."  ~Janice Maeditere

"For the spirit of Christmas fulfils the greatest hunger of mankind."  ~Loring A. Schuler