Christmas shopping

We had a wonderful experience going down to Santa Rosa to do some Christmas shopping with two ladies from Middletown.  We went to two malls and Costco all in one day.  While we were at the second mall, we were in JcPenny and I was getting a little bit tired.  We were conveniently in the bedding section, and their was a spot that you could test the memory foam pads.  I laid down for a little and rested there.  I was super tired.  But when all was done, we had had such a fun time that we didn't feel bad about going and really appreciated the trip and the experiences that we had there.

Some days we may feel like this life is too much or too hard for us to handle.  But it is not.  The person we are about to celebrate the birth of, Jesus Christ, has already taken upon him all the unfairness and the discomforts in this life so that he will know how to succor us, or to support us.
I like to think of Mary when I think of 'enduring to the end'.  She was a very strong lady and had to suffer much to bring the Savior into this world.  She saw an angel that told her that she was going to conceive a Child.  Then she had to tell the man she was engaged to.  Then she had to travel great distances before she actually had the baby.  Gave birth in the humble circumstances of a manger stall.  Now I don't know about you, but this seems like a trial to go through and she is extremely humble through the whole experience. 
In Luke 1:48-49 Mary is describing her feelings after having heard the news that she is going to give birth to the Son of God.  She says, 
"For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name."  

We each face trials, but Christ has already overcome them.  He is there for us and wants us to feel of His love all the time.  Christmas is important because we get a chance to celebrate and reflect on the MIRACLE of Christ's birth, as well as the promises of His sacrifice to overcome the world.  In the end its going to be worth it.  We will look back and be glad we stayed strong and faithful in our life.  Christ and God are real.  They LOVE us very much.  They want us to be successful in this life, and not to get weighed down or discouraged in the different experiences we face in life.  Let us be happy and rejoice as we celebrate this CHRISTmas season.  

               

Every effort counts!

We were driving in the back areas of Cobb the other day and came upon a tree.  There were two trees here, and to the best of our understanding the tree had two regular visitors: the woodpecker and the squirrel.  Now, I don't think these two get together often and plan these things out, but it seemed that they were helping each other but didn't really know or understand how.  From what is appeared to us, that the woodpeckers were making holes in the trees and then the squirrels came by later and used those holes to store their acorns.  We did not realize what was on the tree until we walked up to it but it was a ton of holes with acorns shoved in them.  


No I don't know about you, but I would think that it would take FOREVER to fill that whole tree up with nuts to be stored, but little by little, the squirrels were able to fill up both trees from bottom to top!  I think through life, and we don't think that we could make a difference with one thing versus another and that even if we tried a little, it wouldn't make a difference.  We have to remember though, its not man that counts the kind acts, its God.  And God is all knowing and does see every small step we take to better following Him.  In 3 Nephi 18:32 Christ is teaching about being loving and excepting of everyone.


"Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and YE shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them."


  I love this scripture to me, because it states that every effort that we do for ourselves and our fellowman is worth it.  That we do not know, and cannot judge whether someone will be touched by our actions.  The woodpeckers didn't know that they would help the squirrels, and they probably don't see the use they were to the squirrels, but the squirrels see it and utilized it and above all, God sees it.  




If God hasn't lost hope on us, then why should we?

Christmas = LOVE

When I think of Christmas, I think of excitement and adventure.  Present opening and family traditions. Decorations and hanging up lights.  This year, being on a mission, my mind has been thinking a lot more on what Christmas should mean to me and what my thoughts for Christmas should be.  There never was a Christmas that went by that we didn't talk about the Saviors birth or that we didn't read the story from the Bible at one point or another, but I have never had a Christmas where I was constantly thinking, everyday about the birth of the Savior during the holidays.  So as I have been studying the scriptures, here are some of the things that have stood out during the holiday season.

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child." Luke 2:16-17

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  1 Timothy 1:7 

"O be wise; what can I say more?" Jacob 6:12

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  1 John 4:10

"Is any thing too hard for the Lord?"  Genesis 18:14

"12. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."  1 John 4:12

These are all wonderful qualities and gifts that God has given us.  Lets do our best this holiday season to share these truths we know with others around us.
   

A little out of wack!

I saw this tree the other day and thought that it looked a little lop-sided.  As you can see, the tree started to grow very close to the house.  They continue to let it grow away from the house but now the poor tree is lop-sided.  This won't work forever.  Because as the tree continues to grow away from the house, the roots are going to be pulled on.  It is becoming a very unstable tree. 

This can be like our lives.  It is wonderful to be good in one area, but then the other areas won't be given a chance to grow.  If we focus only on our spiritual minds, or physical minds will decay, and visa versa.  We can't be strong in one area without the other areas suffering.  This is an important lesson that we learn here in this life.  God instructs us many times through the scriptures to "Organize yourselves."  (D&C 88:119)  An apostle of the Lord spoke of 4 simple things that we can do to organize ourselves.

Elder M. Russell Ballard said

"First, think about your life and set your priorities. Find some quiet time regularly to think deeply about where you are going and what you will need to do to get there. Jesus, our exemplar, often “withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:16). We need to do the same thing occasionally to rejuvenate ourselves spiritually as the Savior did. Write down the tasks you would like to accomplish each day. Keep foremost in mind the sacred covenants you have made with the Lord as you write down your daily schedules.

Second, set short-term goals that you can reach. Set goals that are well balanced—not too many nor too few, and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals and work on them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting.

Third, everyone faces financial challenges in life. Through wise budgeting, control your real needs and measure them carefully against your many wants in life. Far too many individuals and families have incurred too much debt. Be careful of the many attractive offers to borrow money. It is much easier to borrow money than it is to pay it back. There are no shortcuts to financial security. There are no get-rich-quick schemes that work. Perhaps none need the principle of balance in their lives more than those who are driven toward accumulating “things” in this world.

Fourth, stay close to your spouse, children, relatives, and friends. They will help you keep a balance in your life. In a recent study by the Church, adults in the United States were asked to identify a time when they were very happy and to describe the experience. They were also asked to describe a time when they were very unhappy. For most people, one thing that had made them the most happy or the most sad was their personal relationships with others. Much less important were their personal health, employment, money, and other material things. Build relationships with your family and friends through open and honest communication."

I Know and can promise you that if you are feeling out of balance and are looking for something that will help, these 4 steps will help you overcome and you will be able to stand tall and will be balanced once again.  

SPRINKLES!

   
So, I don't know why, but I love sprinkles.  They are so good to me.  But the other day I sat there pondering about why I like sprinkles so much and I still don't have an answer.  But there are two types of sprinkles in the world: those that are alright, and those that are the best.    

 The alright ones are the little dot ones.

They are good, and they are fun, but they don't 

have the full flavor the other type does.

                                               

The stick kind, or the shaped ones are the best.  

 They have the whole taste! 

 They have the full effect of the joy that should 

come from eating sprinkles.

                                                      

This is like the gospel.  Before the Gospel was restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the people on the earth had the dot sprinkles.  They had a piece of the joy, a piece of the happiness.  But the full happiness was not known on the earth yet.  Well, I have some good news!!  We don't have to settle for the dot sprinkles anymore.  The "stick sprinkles," or Gospel, has been restored and brought back to the earth.  We don't have to only enjoy a bit of the joy and happiness we are suppose to experience in this life; we get to enjoy the entire package of joy for this life through living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ and was able to restore the truth to the earth once again.  I am so grateful for this knowledge.  You too can enjoy the happiness that can come from eating the best "sprinkles"!!