Meaningful prayers...

I loved this poster of Enos.  It makes me think of the article written by Elder D. Todd Christofferson  in the October edition of the New Era.  His message was how to make daily prayer more meaningful. His message went straight to my heart.  In Alma 37:36-37 it states: "Cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord;yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever."

I read this scripture captured in the article and pondered about my own personal prayers.  Do I follow this counsel?  Sadly, my prayers are lacking this direction.  Then I went on to read the next verse, " Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. 

I know my prayers have become more like wish lists rather than an actual accounting to the Lord.  Elder Bednar gave a talk on prayer and suggested that in our morning prayers we should talk to the Lord and give a preview of our day.  This is a great time to folllow the words of Alma and ask the Lord to be with us and allow our actions and words to be those our Father in Heaven would wish us to do and say.  Elder Bednar then went on to suggest that our evening personal prayers should be a report to the Lord on what happened throughout our day.  We may need to thank Him for the blessings that occurred, we may need to repents of a few things and to discuss the concerns and issues that cause our hearts to burn. 

In Moroni 10:4 we are encouraged to pray with a sincere heart and with real intent.  Elder Christofferson stated that means we want to know the Lord's will and we will do it, that we are committed to His will.

It brings a whole new perspective to my private conversations with the Lord.  I feel that when I present my 'wish list' to the Lord I am trying to give the Lord counsel instead of recieving His counsel for me. 

I am so grateful that our leaders write with inspiration.  I truly needed this article at this particular time in my life.  I feel, in so many ways, that I am just now beginning to understand the concept of faith and all that it entails.  Faith has been an important part of my life since mother's illness.  I had no choice but to lean on the Lord and allow His will to be done.  It was a very difficult thing to do.  I  thought I knew what faith was and had plenty of it in  reserve to be used during trials that would come during various points in my life.  What I found was that I hadn't barely scratched the surface.  

My prayers and my relationship with the Lord go hand in hand.  I need to learn the true order of prayer.  I need to place faith in my Father in Heaven and allow Him to teach me what it is that He would have me do.

This is my time to prove to Him of my love and committment to Him and his gospel.

I love Him with all of my heart and soul.

Strong women...

This is a copy of a poster available to purchase showcasing heroes.

The women in this picture depicts the women who crossed the wilderness who left all the creature comforts of their homes because they listened to the Lord and obeyed his directions.  These women waded " though much affliction in the wildreness; and ...did bear children in the wilderness.

And so great were the blessings of the Lord...that while (they) did live upon raw meat in the wilderness,... (they) did give suck for their children and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their jouneyings without murmurings."

I loved this picture and can now visually see the scriptures quoting their trials.

In 1Nephi 17:3 it states: "...and if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them..."

I take comfort in their strength and the faith  they had to see through their trials experienced along their journey.  I hope and pray that as I go through my trials that I can remember to rely on the Lord and have faith in him...that he will allow my weaknesses to make me strong.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they might be humbe; and my grace is sufficient for all men ( and women) that humble themselves before me. ; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become srong unto them." Ether 12:27

Grandmother...

My grandmother passed away this week.  It didn't come as a surprise, but rather a blessing.  She had been suffering with Alzheimer's for the past few years.  This debilitating disease robbed us of an incredible woman who was had a heart the size of Texas. 

She had so much love to give.  Her world and the view she was given might seem small to outsiders.  But inside her world, she found a way to shine and to contribute as much as she could.  She was a strong and resilient woman who suffered much in her years on this earth.  She never complained but continued to forge ahead making the best she could out of each and every situation.  She often found a way to broaden her view of the world through television soap operas and through romance books.  Deep inside she craved to be loved completely and thoroughly. She wanted her very own love story.

 She loved the Lord.  She spoke of him and taught His ways to all her family.  She found a way to connect the teachings from the scriptures and apply it to everyday life.  She didn't come across as a zealous bible thumper, but in her own quiet way, she was able to reach out to many and touch their lives with good.

Grandmother was the quintessential nurturer.  She loved everyone and became their mother whether by blood or relationship.  She was thoughtful of other's feelings and desires.  She attempted to please everyone and desired peace and harmony above all else.  You could not be in her presence without her calm, quiet manner effecting your own heart.  She loved.  That's all that can be said.  She simply loved.  She loved the old, the young, the sinner and the saint. 

We will all miss her.  She contributed to each of our lives in a different way.  What I will choose to remember is the woman who refused to wear short sleeves because of scars she received from skin grafts taken  in order to help out someone who needed it.  I will choose to remember a woman who was willing to overcome her fears of a large city and the bustling traffic in order to visit and stay with her daughter and grandchildren.  I will remember a woman who was thoughtful and would bake a mincemeat pie or raisen pie for my mother each visit we made to the little house off the red dirt road.  I will remember a woman who saw in me more than a large,chubby child., She  recognized my desire to belong.  She knew that I was of value before I did.  She knew that I needed love more than critisim.  She found a way to reach out to me through books.  She shared with me her passion for romance.  She gave me one of her books and opened a whole new world to me.  She made a difference in my life.  I am a better person because she cared about me.

Isn't this a great idea?

A beautiful fall wreath.  This is how it was composed.

It started with a simple wreath.

Cleaned and dried falled magnolia leaves

Glue the magnolia leaves directly to the original wreath.

Add a ribbon and it's done.  Isn't this a wonderful fall statement for your home?

 

More wonderful ideas...

I have found some really wonderful ideas from various blogs over the last few weeks and I haven't had time to place them in my blog for 'your viewing pleasure'....hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

I loved this idea.  How easy would it be to take an old frame and create an instant message board or place it on a table with a seasonal message?  This idea was found on the blog: wisefamily1.blogspot.
Take any frame and remove the glass.
2. Paint the glass with chalkboard paint.


3. Love this finished product.  For my home, I think I might place the chalkboard frame by the phone.  I will most likely place a small shelf under the picture frame so it can hold my chalk and eraser.

This is a nice blog.  The owner of the blog has some wonderful ideas that she puts to great use!

Creative Ideas found on various blogs!

I found this creative idea on one of the various blogs I look at and think...I can do that!!!  Unfortunately, I don't have any small girls to make this for and I think they would put me in a home if a woman my age wore this...but I think I could make it for some birthdays or baby shower gifts.  Cute, huh?

These are the steps: 

1.  Pick the flowers you wish to use.

2. Cut a small rectangle of felt

3.  Glue felt to headband

4.  Start to glue the flowers onto the rectangel.

5.  Place the arrangements to cover the entire piece of felt.



7. Voila!!!!!

This idea was placed on the blog: Shanty2Chic!

I have decided to devote my blogs all week to things I found on various blogs.   I love this idea.  This is a bench made from an old headboard.  Isn't it lovely?  I would love to make this myself.  I think I might need to scout out the local Goodwill's or Craigslist.

My Best Friend

I never had no one that I could count on

I've been that down so many times

I was tired of hurtin' so tired of searchin'

Til you walked into my life

It was a feelin' I'd never known

And for the first time I didn't feel alone

Your more than a lover

There could never be another

To make me feel the way you do

Oh, we just get closer

I fall in love all over

Everytime I look at you

I don't know where I'd be

Without you here with me

Life with you makes perfect sense

You're my best friend

You're my best friend

You stand beside me you believe in me

Like nobody ever has

When my world goes crazy

You're right there to save me

You make me see how much I have

And I still tremble when we touch

And, oh, the look in your eyes

When we make love

You're more than a lover

There could never be another

To make me feel the way you do

Oh, we just get closer

I fall in love all over

Everytime I look at you

And I don't know where I'd be

Without you here with me

Life with you makes perfect sense

You're my best friend

You're my best friend....

Grow old along with me

The best is yet to be

When our time has come

We will be as one

God bless our love

God bless our love

Grow old along with me

Two branches of one tree

Face the settng sun

When the day is done

God bless our love

God bless our love

Spending our lives together

Man and wife together

World without end

World without end

Grow old along with me

Whatever fate decrees

We will see it through

For our love is true

God bless our love

God bless our love

By: John Lennon

Isn't this picture romantic?  I think the couple is so enamored of each other that they are totally oblivious to everything around them.  My desire is for all of us to experience this in our lives.  Some of us are lucky enough to have it everyday.  Others are lucky to have had brief moments.  But they are there to remind us that the power of love supercedes everything else.

Isn't this a wonderfully romantic picture?  I just love it.  I am not sure where I found it online...but I quickly saved it to my personal favorites.  I want to spend some time in a park with my honey and just neck a while.  Sounds like so much fun.  When was the last time you just 'made out' with your significant other?!?!?!  I think I need to be more than just nostalgic.  I need to rekindle all of those first buds of new love.  Ooooh...that sounds incredibly good to me.  Tony- "I love you soooooo hard"!

(Quote from the 'Good Guys' on Fox)

I saw this picture in a photo contest on a website for Pioneer Woman.  I fell in love with it instantly.  You look at the picture and wonder how many years have they been together?  Has it been so long that one personality blends into the other?  Do they know what each other is thinking without having to ask?  Are they so in sync that they know just what the other person needs before that person even has a chance to realize it?  I love everything about romantic love.  The sweet embrace that brings joy and comfort in good times and in bad.  I know that this emotion is a gift sent to us from our Father in Heaven.  We came from a home filled with love and happiness.  Our spirits continually long for these feelings.  When we are touched, caressed or held tenderly it gives us just the touch of Heaven our spirits need.

 

Just curious....why do you hear the saying "stop and smell the daisies" when daisies don't really smell??!?!?!?