December 24, 2013

Irregular Postings

I haven't been as good this year as I have in the past posting on my blog.  I'm sure some of this is due to time constraints as I have gone back to work to help support our daughter that is on an LDS Mission.  She is giving her time and talents to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others, so while she does that we support her so that she doesn't have to work and can spend all of her time sharing.  It is a great opportunity for both her and our family.

Another reason is that I just don't feel like I really have that much to say.  In the past this blog has been a place for me to vent or share feelings that I needed to get out.  However, I feel like I am almost past doing this.  Life is flying by and I just don't take the time much anymore to put it down on my blog.  I guess I also feel like there aren't many people that are really interested in what I do have to say.

So for now I will post when the feeling strikes, but it may be awhile in between posts.  I may even stop for awhile, who knows.

One thing I do want to post before I don't post anymore or at least for what may be a long time is my testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is real and he loves us.  I am so grateful for all he has done for me in my life.  He has blessed me in so many ways.  Has done for me and carried me when I didn't think life was worth living, during my darkest hours.   I have felt him close by during trying times.  He has given me peace and joy.  I have witnessed miracles that he has given me and my family.  I am grateful for the teachings in the scriptures that give us his words and teach us how he would have us live.  I love him and want to be more like he would have me be.  I want to be kinder and not so judgmental.  I want people to see his teachings in the way I live.  I am trying and I know he knows it.  He knows my heart and he knows yours too.  He loves us because we are his children.  He wants us to be happy.  For all of these things I am so grateful.

I love this time of year when we get to celebrate his birth and focus more on him and how he would have us live.  I hope that I can live each day as if it were more like Christmas.  Show more kindness, charity, forgiveness, tolerance, compassion and gentleness.

Merry Christmas to all my you be blessed!

December 08, 2013

Sunday

My youngest daughter, Hannah is serving a LDS mission in Tallahassee Florida.  I have to say that this experience has been much, much different than when our sons served their missions.  I was so ready for our son's to go and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those that were seeking for a change in their lives.  I thought I was ready for Hannah to leave and also teach.  However, this time it has been so much harder.  Maybe it's because she is the baby of the family.  Maybe it's because she's my daughter instead of a son.  Does that make a difference?  I don't know.   All I do know is that it has been so much harder having her gone.  Maybe it's because she and I used to do so much together.  She was always my sidekick.  She was 6 years younger than my other children, so when they moved out and went on their way, she was still here at home and doing things with me.

Even though it has been hard, I know she is where she needs to be at this time.  She is loving the experiences she is having.  I think she will come back so much stronger in her own convictions and I know that her testimony of her Savior will definitely be stronger.

Hannah is loving learning about new people and places.  She loves the food and has been shocked at the attitudes toward Mormons (The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints) that are out there in the world away from her sheltered home.

As you can tell, I am missing her today, as usual, Sunday's are worse than any other day of the week for me.  I think it's because I have time on my hands to contemplate what has happened during the week and I have time to really read over her letter.

I love my family and am so grateful for them.  They afford me so many opportunities to serve and to love them.  I'm grateful for the blessings that they are in my life!  I have been greatly blessed!