Just stay POSITIVE!!!

Today we are still in Utah and will be flying out tonight. It is always hard to leave family. It will be nice though to get home and get to see Amy, John and kids, plus our neighbors and friends! But no matter what, I am still a bit concerned about coming home to an empty house ( even worse a dirty empty house). I had great intentions on getting it cleaned before I left, but I was more worried about getting all our Christmas presents made for our family and friends here. So at least I will have something I need to do, as soon as I get there, that should help…I hope!

My niece and nephew asked me to speak today to their Sunday School Class ( of 15  year olds  ) about adversity and trying to have a positive attitude. I only had 10 minutes so I had to think of a way to make it to their level, and yet interesting. So these are the 7 things that I try to do, when I see that I am getting too discouraged or sad…

1. I first try to remember what type of people I like to be around. Obviously it is the Half full, happy, positive and kind people, verses Half Empty, sad, negative and discouraged people. So I try to see which type of  person I am being at the time.

2. Then I try to distinguish my thoughts and where they come from. It really is true that Satan is alive and well, and will definitely place bad and sad thoughts in  your mind. It is very important to control thoughts and remember that our thoughts control our actions.

3. Next I try to remember to do the Basics, I know it is the old Sunday School answers… but it is true for me. If I remember to say my prayers, read my scriptures and stay closer to my Heavenly Father, life really is better.

4.I try hard to listen to that still small voice inside. We all have it, but some times it is easy to ignore. That still small voice it is right every time. And the more I listen to it, the more I hear it. I believe that is truly how my Heavenly Father helps me and guides me.

5. Gratitude is next. When I stop… and count my blessings, I realize that I should be happy for all that I have been given. Gratitude really helps you feel more positive.

6. Service of course helps anyone, no matter how down they are. As you stop to look around at others, you realize that there are lots of people whose life is much worse or harder than yours. Service changes your heart for the better. Plus, as your help someone else…you are really helping yourself feel better.

7. Hold on to my faith! I love the quote that “ Faith has a short shelf life” you really have to work on it daily to strengthen your faith in God, and in His purpose for you .

So that is what I try to do to change my cup from Half Empty to Half Full.

Of course, I will have more bad days, and will have to go back and remind myself by reading this post again!

Well, need to head to the airport. Take care dear friends!

“The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness.  You have to catch it yourself.”     ~Author unknown, commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”  ~Winston Churchill

“If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. “   ~Mary Engelbreit

One day at a time.

It was a good choice that I didn't attend the Baby Shower Thursday ( at my own house ), because I was starting to come down with a cold. I felt better yesterday, still didn't leave the house until the evening. It was also Jeff's birthday yesterday and I felt bad that I couldn't do much. Lucky for me, Amy and the girls came over and made a cake, and decorated the house and wrapped packages. So by the time he got home, we had a nice dinner, cake and a real party waiting for him. Thank you again Amy, for pulling off one more party successfully!

We were going to go to a movie, but forgot to go early enough ( it is Memorial Day weekend ), so we ended up just going to the Book Store so I didn't have to walk much. Still by 9:00pm Jeff could tell that I was starting to ache again and the chills were coming back. I was completely worn out hardly without doing anything! Discouraging!
I came home and went right to bed, no blog writing, shoot ...I didn't even was my face ( now I know there will be aging ramifications from that ) but it was all I could do to crawl in bed. I was asleep before 10:00 pm and Lee woke me up at 10:30 this morning, to see if I was ok? (Obviously they don't ever see me sleep that long!) So I am up and still feeling a bit weak, just going to stay low AGAIN today, but if I can keep it from getting really sick, I need to do whatever it takes.

I hope Jeff had a wonderful Birthday, they seem to not be such a big deal as  you get older. But I did want him to remember how much we loved him and how grateful he is a part of our family! He is a great man, I am so glad that he is mine! 

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After reading this quote today, I realized I need to not be discouraged, but just try harder.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."  ~ Winston Churchill

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Our weakest spots

I was talking to a dear friend the other day who was struggling in her life. She was down and couldn't seem to see anything  positive or good in herself or her situation. I believe we all have been there in our life at one point or another. Still I was amazed, this is a woman of great faith, many talents, beauty, humor and love. I sat there as we spoke and realized for this moment, she has lost the ability to see all the good things that are in her life and that she has going for her. How does that happen? She hadn't committed any big sins, she had good things all around her, and yet she honestly felt lost, scared, sad, frustrated and I believe... a bit lonely. It is a tough place to be where you doubt and question everything, especially the things you know to be true.
But that is exactly how Satan works on us. He doesn't always have to wait till we commit some big sins, or become addicted to some terrible things, he can even attack us in our strongest areas. It is vital that we are careful about getting to comfortable in life. We can never stop trying, praying, working and believing. It takes a lot of effort, but is so important to do EVERY DAY! Those little things can make all the difference! We can never let down our guard, we need to remember who we are and our infinite worth, that is a powerful tool against the Satan.

I have mentioned this before but I repeat this quote every day, to remind myself of my worth and my purpose here on earth! It really does help!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  ~Marianne Williamson

"If I could give you one thing I would give  you the ability to see yourself as others see you. Then you would realize what a truly special person you are."

"We generally think of Satan attacking us at our weakest spot...But weakness is not our only vulnerability. Satan can also attack us where we think we are strong--in the very areas where we are proud of our strengths. He will approach us through the greatest talents and spiritual gifts we possess. If we are not wary, Satan can cause our spiritual downfall by corrupting us through our strengths as well as by exploiting our weaknesses."  ~ Dallin H. Oaks