WELCOME! ~ A LITTLE ABOUT THIS BLOG...

For many years, I have collected and continue to collect quotes, thoughts, & stories. It gives me the opportunity to ponder, to meditate, and be inspired to greater heights. I have a passion for life, for my religion, for the goodness of life. Through all this, it has uplifted my soul, & made me stronger emotionally & spiritually.

I thought I would share with you, as well as my own random thoughts, testimony builders, a few funnies and so forth to also give you the same opportunity.

I do hope that you enjoy this blog... and feel free to comment ~ preferably positive thoughts, as this is what this blog is all about.

30 April 2009

Gifts to Help Us Navigate Our Life

Love this quote that I rec'd today from LDS Nuggets:

"In our life's journey to return to and become more like our Father, we are not left alone. God has given us the necessary gifts to help us in our mortal experience...These gifts help us navigate our lives toward eternal goals. What a comfort it is to know that there is a plan providing us with a Savior, Jesus Christ. His sacrifice makes it possible for all people who comply with His gospel teachings to be forgiven through repentance. What a comfort it is to know that help is available for us to succeed in our endeavors to return to live with our Father in Heaven. What a comfort it is to know that we are not alone sailing uncharted waters as we go through life's experiences."

--Elder José A. Teixeira, "Gifts to Help Us Navigate Our Life", April 2009 General Conference
Psalm 48:14


Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, Hymn #104

I love it because trials face us every day, some longer than others, some harder than others - but the good news is, is that they are there for us to grow - if we choose to. They are there for us to seek out our Father in Heaven, He is waiting, He is always there, He never leaves us. We just have to take the steps, to be proactive in using these gifts that He has given to us. It truly makes all the difference!

27 April 2009

Peace & Happiness

"True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a secure ascent in the journey of life. That takes effort. While there is no guarantee of overnight results, there is the assurance that, in the Lord's time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and happiness will be yours."

(Richard G. Scott, "The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 41)

23 April 2009

He Loves Us

I am not perfect. I have weaknesses. I try and make my weaknesses become strong. I have made mistakes, some the same more than once. And it has been at those times that I have felt [even though, I know that my Heavenly Father has forgiven me], that perhaps my quota has been up on saying "I'm sorry." I know that the atonement doesn't work that way. I know that I am harder on myself than others are, and sometimes it is harder to forgive yourself than it is for our Father in Heaven to forgive us of our shortcomings.

I also think about the comparison of as a parent we know what is best for our children, and sometimes our children don't understand why they need to go to bed at a certain hour. They may resist, they may do everything they can under the sun to delay because for them, they are just not ready to go to sleep. As a parent, we love our children and we know they need sleep to be at their best emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Sometimes, our children don't know understand why we do what we do, but it is for the good. God or Heavenly Father does the same for us, His children ~ sometimes we may not understand the trials we face, but we do because He knows us better and He loves us and He knows what we need to become our best.

This quote came to me from LDS Nuggets.com today ~ to me, it relates to the above thoughts.

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming."

--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Great Commandment", October 2007 General Conference

1 John 4:7–8

God is Love, Hymn #87

21 April 2009

Random Thought by Me

I had this thought the end of last month actually, but I thought I would go ahead and share it here.

--- for some time, I have always said that there is just never enough time in the day. But a thought struck me. God gave us the days that we have, and they are as long as they should be. If they were longer, perhaps we wouldn't learn about where our priorities need to be and cherish the wonderful moments that we do have in our lives. Moments of which sometimes get unnoticed, or just pass by without much thought to them. I think the time in our day is God's gift to us. So we should use it or learn to use it wisely, productively, give our all to our spouses, to our kids, to our families to our friends etc. I think God gave us the opportunity (hence the reason why kids grow up too fast) to use our time wisely and to embrace our children.

20 April 2009

The Atonement and the Value of One Soul

"The Savior's Resurrection assures all of us that someday we, too, will follow Him and experience our own resurrection. What peace, what comfort this great gift is which comes through the loving grace of Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind."

(M. Russell Ballard, "The Atonement and the Value of One Soul," Ensign, May 2004, 84)

17 April 2009

Parents Must Set a Worthy Example

In many of the thoughts that are shared on a group I started for women of all denominations (On Wings of Faith), this one was posted by a member:

Parents Must Set a Worthy Example

"The Apostle Paul's statement to his beloved Timothy could well apply: `Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity' (1 Timothy 4:12)."Parents, live your lives in such a way that your children will find you an example worthy of emulation."

Thomas S. Monson, "Constant Truths for Changing Times," Liahona, May 2005, 21

There is a a quote by someone else, along the lines of the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Our example is so important in the lives of others, especially our children. The home is the best place to learn about life. I often think about the many children who don't have the loving home that they should. I think about those children, and how it must affect their whole outlook on not only their life, but the world around them. And then I am grateful for the parents who do create the atmosphere in their home that embrace the opportunity to be that great example and to establish a foundation of love, of success, of positive spiritual & emotional guidance. What a difference it makes in our lives, the world around us, and our child's future.

Post Easter

I came upon this while I was reading my daily email subscription [I'm just behind at the moment] to Meridian Magazine... I thought, even though Easter has come and gone - the meaning behind Easter should be in our very hearts every day. So please, have a seat and enjoy this 4 min 25 sec segment: