Listen To Your Mom

Faith and Blessings

2011-03-10T09:21:00.001-08:00

Wow, it's been way too long since I've posted something on this blog. This is all because our life has been turned around a little and we've had some big changes in our family- all good changes for the most part, but still- changes.

I gave a talk in church a couple of months ago and it pretty much summarizes things, so I'll repost it here (leaving out some things for privacy). Also, I'm not going to check it for spelling and things like that. :)

We moved to Albuquerque about 7 years ago where K went to school to become a Physician Assistant and I worked the night shift as a nurse. After school was done, we ended up staying there. We really enjoyed it in New Mexico. We bought our first home and had friends that were like family. Dad and I both felt needed in our ward and we were just very comfortable. Well a few months ago, we were just browsing job opportunities, like we’ve done casually for a couple of years and one popped up that we both felt like he should apply for. If it worked out, then we could always say no.

Well, a few days later, they wanted to phone interview him. Then two days later he was in [new City] doing a real interview. Then about a week later, we had accepted the job with plans of uprooting our family from something that was all our young family had ever known. It was quite a scary decision really and still kind of is.

It's always hard to leave what's comfortable and make a change that may or may not be better. But through fasting and praying I knew that this is what our family was suppose to do. Sometimes you just take that leap of faith and that's what we've done.
We still have a lot of concerns/challenges/worries. But so far everything that is really important has worked out.

So this is my own recent little story about faith, which is actually what we were asked to talk on today. Well, I find that I learn so much from other people’s experiences, so I asked a few of my family members about how they’ve gotten through some tough times using their faith.

One person I asked is my sister. Her husband left her a short while ago, after 2 years of marriage and under some heartbreaking circumstances.

She said, "I guess I've never had a trial that has made me lean on the lord so much. When I get really frustrated with things I am grateful that I can go to my knees. I've learned that faith is to believe that life will happen how its supposed to. Good and bad, we will learn and grow in ways that are best to benefit us. I just need to have faith to be able to look at what has happened, not freak out, and breathe and know that my Heavenly Father will guide me and teach me what i need to know."

I also asked my mom who went through seeing her own mother become sick and frail from old age. My mom only had one other sibling and he lived in Las Vegas, so it was up to my mom to take care of her and watch her suffer. It was really demanding and she had to basically put her own life on hold so that she could take care of her.

She said, "I knew the Lord had a set time for my mom to leave this earth but I just didn't know how much more I could handle. I got down on my knees often, knowing that everything was in "His" time frame and knew that He knew best. He would not ask me to do anything that He knew I couldn't handle. Thru faith I knew this! But it was still hard. I prayed to him to help me to endure this time of my life. And then, when I am sure Heavenly Father knew that it was time to change things, My Mom asked to go stay with my brother. I knew this was a much needed answer to my prayers, but I also knew the Lord had been teaching me things. With true faith, we need to trust in the Lord in all things."

The last person I asked was my sister-in-law who has had some trouble with infertility. She said, "I had to learn great patience and have faith not just in Heavenly Father and Jesus, but in their timeline for me. I would get really upset when i would see or hear of girls who were pregnant and it was a "Mistake" or they didn't even want the kid. I had to pray a lot and each time i would be reminded that it isn't up to me when i would be blessed with a baby. It would be up to our Heavenly Father and he definitely knew better than I did."

And we just got the exciting news that she and her husband are expecting their first baby, due in May!

She also said this, "Without faith in Heavenly Father's timeline i don't know how i could have made it through this trial. There were many times i just wanted to give up or stop doing things to better help our chances. But Mike and I tried to stay positive and rely on our Heavenly Father to answer our prayers.

Look what happend! He answered our prayers!"

I’m very grateful to be surrounded by such faithful and wonderful family members!

And in light of the Christmas season that we are still in, I wanted to tell one of my favorite stories about faith. There is actually an article about it in this month’s New Era.

Samuel was a Lamanite who was commanded by an angel to go to the land of Zarahemla to call the Nephites to repentance. Besides preaching repentance, Samuel was directed by an angel to teach the people about the signs of the birth of Jesus Christ. Samuel proclaimed that in five years there would be a “sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day” (Helaman 14:3)
Well about 5 years after Samuel’s prophecies, the faithful were mocked by their enemies.

How many of us have been mocked by people for our beliefs? I know, in New Mexico, we weren’t necessarily mocked, but we were definitely teased by non-member friends about how many kids we had (hello, just 3) or about going to church on Sunday instead of playing on the company softball team and for 3 hours!!! And for Kyle, sometimes 8 hours or more, and he didn’t get paid!
Most of what we went through was honestly just friendly teasing, so I can’t imagine being truly mocked!

And the unbelievers even decided to murder the believers if the signs did not appear by a certain date. As the 5 year mark neared, the faithful began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass” (3 Nephi 1:7).

I’m pretty sure that this would have been a huge trial of their faith! Would the Savior really come or would they be killed?
Well, they continued to “watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain” (3 Nephi 1:8)
The day that had been set aside to put the believers to death grew near. The worries of his people so grieved the prophet Nephi that he petitioned heavenly Father “in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith. And he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day. “ (3Nephi1:11-12)
Well, most of us know what happened. Nephi’s pleas were heard and the Lord spoke to him, He said, “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I in to the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my Holy prophets” (3 Nephi1:13)
That night at the going down of the sun, there was no darkness, just as Samuel had foretold. Everything Samuel had prophesied came to pass. Imagine the rejoicing! The believers were safe.

I’m sure that this whole experience was really scarey for the believers. It would have been for me. But then again, maybe some of them had so much faith, that they weren’t scared.

Elder Richard C Edgley, in the last general conference said this, “Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism.”

So, how do we show our faith to Heavenly Father today? Will we have to make life or death decisions like the Nephites did, because of our faith? Maybe, but probably not. Will we have to show strength when someone disagrees with our beliefs? Absolutely. Will we show our Heavenly Father that we have faith in Him and his son by just living the gospel? Again, Absolutely.
One of my favorite talks from the last General Conference was by Elder Holland in a talk titled, “Because of Your Faith”.
I really liked it because he basically said that one way we can show our faith, is by just living the gospel.

He said, "We all know that there are special keys, covenants, and responsibilities given to the presiding officers of the Church, but we also know that the Church draws incomparable strength, a truly unique vitality, from the faith and devotion of every member of this church, whoever you may be. In whatever country you live, however young or inadequate you feel, or however aged or limited you see yourself being, I testify you are individually loved of God, you are central to the meaning of his work, and you are cherished and prayed for by the presiding officers of His church. The personal value, the sacred splendor of every one of you, is the very reason there is a plan for salvation and exaltation.”

“I am trying to be voice for the very angels of heaven in thanking you for every good thing you have ever done, for every kind word you have said, for every sacrifice you have made in extending to someone – to anyone- the beauty and blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

In the last month, since we’ve been here, I have seen many examples of people who are living the gospel with faith by just doing what they are asked to do by our Heavenly Father. Thank you so much for making my own life better by being who you are!

The Church Is True

2010-08-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

Trust me, if I didn't know the Church was true, I would not wrestle 3 kids for over an hour by myself every Sunday. I would not have a husband gone all day on Sunday (and many nights of the week) for church meetings. I would not wake up EARLY on Sunday mornings, just so I could get myself ready before embarking on the adventure of getting 3 small kids ready for church. I would not explain to my kids every Sunday why they can't watch T.V or play video games. It just wouldn't be worth all of the hassle and frustrations.

It is HARD, sometimes, to go to church. With a husband gone almost all day on Sunday and being a "single" parent at church, sometimes I wonder why I go through this every week.... but then I remember. The Church is true. That is really the only reason. I wouldn't go just to socialize or any other reason. But the church is true. It really IS worth all of the hassle and frustrations.

If church started at 2 am and I still had to do it all by myself, I still would. Because it's true.

Some Good Quotes

2010-02-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. No real excuses- just life.

So, I have kept a journal since 2004 specifically devoted to church meetings. Whether it's auxillary training meetings, stake conference, or General conference, I find that it helps me get more out of the meeting. Now, I usually don't do it for sacrament meetings, mostly because I'm sitting with you 3 kids by myself, and it would just be impossible. I usually write down impressions I get or what the main points of the talk are or random quotes. Well, I wanted to share some of these quotes.

So, here they are:

*"Always remember that you can go much further on respect than popularity" -President N. Eldon Tanner

*It's better to be admired for who you are, than desired for what you wear."

*Immodest girls may turn heads, but modest girls turn hearts."

*"What you are shouts so loudly in my ears, I cannot hear what you say." -Emerson

*"Violence is not strength, and compassion is not weakness" -Camelot, the musical

"I'm Embarrassed"

2009-12-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

(Operaman at Temple Square Visitors Center)

Last night I was helping Operaman with his homework. He is suppose to be writing poems for art and poetry night at his school. Here's a conversation that we had about using similes in his poem.

Operaman: Mom, I want to write that giving gifts at Christmas is like when the wisemen gave Jesus presents when he was born.

Me: I think that's a really good idea for a poem.

He started writing it down and then stopped abruptly.

OM: I don't think I want to write about this.

Me: Why?

OM: I'm embarrassed to write it.

Me: Why does it make you embarrassed?

OM: Well, what if they laugh at it?

Me: Why are you worried about them laughing about it?

OM: (With tears in his eyes) Well, because it's about Jesus and he's the Savior. I don't want them to laugh at Him and think that He's not real.

We had a talk about how people might laugh. But then they might feel in their hearts how much we do love Jesus and it might show them that He is indeed real and we talked about how it was a great way to be a missionary.

We had a great discussion and in the end, Operaman still decided not to write about it and I was proud of him for making that decision. Because for him, it wasn't necessarily about him being embarrassed or ashamed of what he believes, it was about treating special things as sacred things.

I hope that he will always have those special feelings for things that are sacred.

A Great Army

2009-11-25T08:32:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to read the latest General Conference addresses and came across one that was given in the Priesthood Session that I wanted to share.

It was given by Elder Yoon Hwan Choi of the Seventy and it's titled "I Love Loud Boys".

That totally caught my attention, because I definitely have a couple of those in my house.

I just wanted to quote part of it here. This part is basically a letter to young men and boys:

"Dear young men, let us obey the leaders of the Church and be like Adam, who didn't always have to know the reason why but was just happy to be obedient. And please faithfully attend your Church meetings. If you do this, you will learn how to prepare for your future, and you will be successful...

You are the army of the Lord. You will become wonderful missionaries and righteous fathers to your families. Heavenly Father will bless you to have a happy family. You have a bright future in the gospel, and like the sons of Helaman, you will bring eternal joy to all of us."

For my children, especially my boys, I hope that I will be able to teach you that you are like the "modern sons of Helaman" and that Heavenly Father is counting on you to stand up and fight for the things that are right.

I hope that you all know how much I love you and want what is best for you. I want you to live happy, successful lives and the only way to achieve full happiness is in living the commandments of God.

The Skew of the View

2009-10-14T08:22:00.001-07:00

So as I was surfing through channels the other day I noticed a movie playing that was originally Rated R, but since it was on T.V., it meant it was the edited version. Sweet! I'd heard that this particular movie was a really funny one and so I tivo'd it to watch later.

Well, last night I couldn't sleep, so I went out into the living room and saw it and so I decided to watch it... I am embarrassed to say that I watched more of this movie than I should have. I justified watching this stupid movie because it was "the edited" version. It was still pretty filthy. I DID turn it off, but I should have turned it off earlier. When I finally did turn it off, I just felt icky inside. There is no other word to describe it.

I watched my first Rated R movie when I was like 13 or 14. I was at a friends house for a sleepover and her older sister (who obviously wasn't a very good example) brought in two movies for us that she had just rented. Both of which were Rated R. I knew it was wrong, but I didn't dare say no. And honestly, part of me was kind of excited because I thought it would show how mature I was that I watched a R movie. (Shows how immature I really was). So we watched both of them that night. One of the movies was so stupid and I felt even stupider for watching it. I had lowered my standards for something that was seriously such a waste of time anyway. I vowed then, to never watch another Rated R movie. And I haven't.

Are there movies that look really good, but are Rated R, that I would like to see? Of course. Am I missing out on something vital to my life by missing them. Of course not.

I am really glad that I have stuck to my guns on the no-rated-R-movies-for-me thing, but what about movies like the one I watched part of last night? I'll be honest- just by the title, I knew it probably wasn't going to be the most clean movie, but I justified it because it was the "edited" version. I'm still working on it, but I know that "Whatever you look at has an effect on you" (From the FTSOY pamphlet). I just know that I like the way I feel more when I'm watching something that is clean and uplifting. And the opposite is true as well.

I'll just end with a quote by President Henry B. Eyring (he said this in August of 2001) that the LDS people can't just "go with the flow" anymore and expect to remain righteous. He then prophesied of what is to come in the future: "The flow has become a flood and soon will be a torrent. It will become a torrent of sounds and sights and sensations that invite temptation and offend the Spirit of God."

Really, no movie or t.v. show is worth that!

This is for your own good...

2009-09-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

So, we just got back from the doctors office. CCB (CrazyCuriousBoy) has been having some issues with his health. We're hoping it's nothing serious, but hoping that they find something to help him too. It's funny, but nobody really knows that he is having some issues because when he's around other people, he is the most happy, fun, smiling kiddo you've ever seen. But when he's alone with us, most of the time he seems miserable.

Poor CCB had to get some blood drawn for some labs. It was torture for him AND me. (I think more for me.) I was holding him, he was getting poked and poked and poked- they were unsuccessful in getting any blood. I was getting frustrated. He was crying. I was on the verge of crying.

So here's my thought for today- As much as I HATED seeing him get poked and being in pain; as much as he really wanted me to make them stop, I didn't. Why? Well, because I knew that if they did get the blood, that this would help us figure out what is going on with him. Hopefully we'll get some answers so that we can help him feel better. So for this short time, I let him suffer, all because in the long run, it will help him.

I think this is, in a very small way, the way Heavenly Father feels about us. He lets us suffer with trials and pain, even when we are begging Him to make it stop. He sees the eternities and knows that if we can just make it through this tough part, that we will be better because of it. He loves us enough to say no sometimes.

I just want my children to know that I KNOW Heavenly Father loves us all that much! He wants us to be "better". And also, sometimes as parents, we have to say no because we know that it is for YOUR own good. We love you that much too.

Be yourself!

2009-08-21T11:29:00.001-07:00

I am sitting here watching all 3 of you dance around in the living room while listening to your favorite music - Disney songs; specifically Ducktales, Hakuna Matata, and Peter Pan. Watching you dance and laugh because you are so happy has really made me think about how I hope you will always be so happy and carefree. I hope you will always dance to your own tune - not worrying about what anyone else thinks or what they are doing. It reminds me of a great quote from a movie:

Don't try so hard to fit in, you were born to STAND OUT!

Going to church

2009-08-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

I am writing this while Operaman and Chuckles are doing Sunday Stations and CCB is taking a much needed nap, so I only have a minute.

So, here is what I've learned about going to church. When I was little, my parents weren't super active. I remember not going to sacrament meeting most of the time. We WOULD go to primary. Then later, when I was probably around 10 or 11, we started attending sacrament meeting too. I don't know how my parents managed to get us there when we were so use to not going, it must have been quite a feat!

But after we got "more active" I remember always liking to go to church. What a blessing that has been for me! That 3 hours is like a renewal for me. It makes me feel lighter and happier. It puts everything in perspective. Even in middle school and high school, I remember feeling so good about going. Even if the teacher is super boring or I feel like I am not getting anything out of it, the just going and being obedient gives us so many blessings.

So, let's get our real on. Church is not always exciting. Church is sometimes, dare I say, boring. (Gasp!) But Heavenly Father blesses us for going and having a good attitude and TRYING to get something from the lessons.

There have been many times when I have thought the lesson was boring, or not for me and yet, someone else thought it was SO great and felt the Spirit. Hmmmm.... maybe it was just the difference in OUR attitudes that made the difference.

I know that going to church and participating in the lessons is important. I know that we are blessed when we go. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ expect us to go and learn more about them. They also expect us to go and help others learn.

When my family started attending ALL of our meetings, there was a definite difference in the way our home felt and the way our family was. I remember feeling the difference, even at a younger age.

So, please, always go to church and try to have the right attitude. It will make all the difference.

Please take my advice!

2009-07-31T08:23:00.000-07:00

For the most part, my life has been truly blessed. Sure there are things I wish I'd have done differently, especially when I was younger, but I have always been a pretty obedient person. I have given my parents grief, more than I should have in those highschool years especially, but overall, I think I have been a pretty good kid. Comparitively.

That being said, I have definitely made mistakes. But there are some things in life that just need to be learned the hard way which kind of sucks. So this blog is going to be a sort of way for me to tell my children some "advice" so that hopefully they don't have to learn things the hard way.

Right now I have 3 children. Operaman who is 6, Chuckles who is 3, and CrazyCuriousBoy (we'll call him CCB for short) who just turned 1 this week. I know that this advice doesn't matter and isn't needed now, but I am hoping that when they are tweens, teens, or young adults, that they will take this advice to heart MORE since I am writing it now. Plus if something ever happens to me (is this a little morbid?) they will have some advice from their mom who loves them more than they will ever know.

Kids, if you really ARE reading this, please be wise and learn from OTHER people's mistakes or hard times. Always listen to our church leaders. Always say your prayers and talk to our Heavenly Father. Always read your scriptures! I love you so much and don't want to see you make some of these mistakes and struggle unnecessarily. Now, go tell your mom that she's the best mom EVER and that you love her and maybe go make your bed without her asking you to!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnOx2qxVpPY