Well, it is that time of year again. I love celebrating the births of my children! I love seeing their eyes light up with each gift they open, as they blow out the candles of their cakes, and just enjoy the moment of celebration.
However, when it comes to my own birthday I hate celebrating it. Pondering this today I was trying to decide why I hate it. I really do. I can't get my husband to understand this. I don't enjoy the spot light, or any of the attention. My children come up with wonderful gifts, the eldest boy at home this time in my life made me a great shoulder bag. I received a movie, chocolates, and the printer I asked my husband for. I enjoy hearing from my parents and siblings. So why do I hate it so?
This is the most dreaded day for me. I really don't like it. I don't mind being a year older. It feels like just any other day to me. I just hate this day. Sorry.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Trials and Tribulatiuons
As of late I have a dear friend who is going through a very tough time.
In going through life we set goals for ourselves. As Latter Day Saints some of our goals are of an eternal nature. Women desire to become wives and then mothers, hoping they can keep their families for eternity. It is easy to work towards this goal to a certain degree. When we are single we only have to worry about our own actions. People can act towards us, they can violate our ability to choose, but over all we choose how to react to what life throws our way.
When we marry we bring another individual into the picture. We are trusting with our whole heart that their desires are enough like ours that we can obtain the greatest goal. Eternal life...exaltation. In our society it is beginning to seem that the trust we place in one another can be nieve(I can't think of a better word.) It is very difficult to see a companion make choises that break the covenants we have made together.
It seems that my friend mentioned earlier is going through a horrible trial in this season of her life. In an e-mail she was told her husband no longer had feelings for her. Since this e-mail she is doing all in her power to come closer to the Lord. Prayer has become as esential as breathing. She is having a war with in her self; "has he lied this whole time?" She is questioning why she was told to go ahead with her marrage when she didn't want or desire to end up single in any way other than death (I am imagining she was hoping that would be much further down the road.)
This couple have beautiful children that are being affected by the whole thing. They have observed that their father doesn't act lovingly towards their mother. They are feeling the stress that their mother is trying to hide.
Today she stopped by and was expressing some of her fears, some of her pain, anguish, personal regrets. In seeing her pain and sorrow, I wish I could tell her this too will pass...yet the clouds seem so black at this time that is hard to see it passing easily.
I think of the scriptures. Peter trying to walk on water, then turning to the Savior. Our Savior in Gethsemeny realizing the weight of the burden he offered to bare and His Father sending him angels to sustain Him through his agony. Lehi died in his agony. Of these each of these men suffered, each turned to God and each found the comfort they seeked. However the comfort they found came on the time table of the Lord.
We have been told that we are never given a burden that the Lord doesn't think we can bare. There are times I have felt I was being crushed. I think He gives us burdens so we can turn to him with humble hearts and ask for His assistance. So He can show us how aware He is of us and how He loves us with all of the love a tender parent can offer His children.
I hope and pray that my friends shoulders will be strengthened to bare this burden she carries. I pray that she will have the strength to see the blessings the Lord has in store for her. I believe God plays favorites with his little girls. I pray she will feel of his love, and find comfort in this time of tribulation.
In going through life we set goals for ourselves. As Latter Day Saints some of our goals are of an eternal nature. Women desire to become wives and then mothers, hoping they can keep their families for eternity. It is easy to work towards this goal to a certain degree. When we are single we only have to worry about our own actions. People can act towards us, they can violate our ability to choose, but over all we choose how to react to what life throws our way.
When we marry we bring another individual into the picture. We are trusting with our whole heart that their desires are enough like ours that we can obtain the greatest goal. Eternal life...exaltation. In our society it is beginning to seem that the trust we place in one another can be nieve(I can't think of a better word.) It is very difficult to see a companion make choises that break the covenants we have made together.
It seems that my friend mentioned earlier is going through a horrible trial in this season of her life. In an e-mail she was told her husband no longer had feelings for her. Since this e-mail she is doing all in her power to come closer to the Lord. Prayer has become as esential as breathing. She is having a war with in her self; "has he lied this whole time?" She is questioning why she was told to go ahead with her marrage when she didn't want or desire to end up single in any way other than death (I am imagining she was hoping that would be much further down the road.)
This couple have beautiful children that are being affected by the whole thing. They have observed that their father doesn't act lovingly towards their mother. They are feeling the stress that their mother is trying to hide.
Today she stopped by and was expressing some of her fears, some of her pain, anguish, personal regrets. In seeing her pain and sorrow, I wish I could tell her this too will pass...yet the clouds seem so black at this time that is hard to see it passing easily.
I think of the scriptures. Peter trying to walk on water, then turning to the Savior. Our Savior in Gethsemeny realizing the weight of the burden he offered to bare and His Father sending him angels to sustain Him through his agony. Lehi died in his agony. Of these each of these men suffered, each turned to God and each found the comfort they seeked. However the comfort they found came on the time table of the Lord.
We have been told that we are never given a burden that the Lord doesn't think we can bare. There are times I have felt I was being crushed. I think He gives us burdens so we can turn to him with humble hearts and ask for His assistance. So He can show us how aware He is of us and how He loves us with all of the love a tender parent can offer His children.
I hope and pray that my friends shoulders will be strengthened to bare this burden she carries. I pray that she will have the strength to see the blessings the Lord has in store for her. I believe God plays favorites with his little girls. I pray she will feel of his love, and find comfort in this time of tribulation.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Do I Look Dumb...to you?
Today I had a smart looking young man come by. It turns out he is a sales man for "The Living Scriptures". Right off I let him know I was not interested. I want the scriptures to be real for my children. Not fictional. He asked me to listen to his spill so he could at least get credit for it.
The sales pitch used was something about how my children would know and understand the scriptures even better than myself...I would be able to use these videos for my family home evening lessons and discussions... if I signed up today I would get some real great bonuses!!! The bonuses all sounded great, but I would be locked into this monthly purchase for at least 4 years...no biggie, if my husband and I ever encountered problems financially they would let us have a 3-4 month window before the payments came again.
If I wasn't interested in that offer, he could sign me up for a college one where for the exact same price, minus the bonuses I could get the same contract but instead of every month for 4 years I would only be obligated to every-other month for 8 years! What a deal! Sign me up! NOT!!!
I asked the young man, if this was so much in my interest why they don't go down in price and put these in a store where I can purchase them at my leisure, my convenience. Instead of $30.00 each why not at least compete with Disney for $20 dollars each, and $15 for new releases?
Does he not realize there are so many blogs out there where you can get ideas for FHE free? Gosh, the church has a great little ditty they have added for the "Friend". At this web site they have pictures and games you can print off for FREE! Not only do they provide activities for the children, but they go along with what the children are learning in Primary. (*sigh*)With the Internet there are so many things at our disposal, and most of it free.
To say the least I was not sold. Afterwords he asked me if I would give him some names of other people he could harass. Nope. I'm not that kind of friend.
The sales pitch used was something about how my children would know and understand the scriptures even better than myself...I would be able to use these videos for my family home evening lessons and discussions... if I signed up today I would get some real great bonuses!!! The bonuses all sounded great, but I would be locked into this monthly purchase for at least 4 years...no biggie, if my husband and I ever encountered problems financially they would let us have a 3-4 month window before the payments came again.
If I wasn't interested in that offer, he could sign me up for a college one where for the exact same price, minus the bonuses I could get the same contract but instead of every month for 4 years I would only be obligated to every-other month for 8 years! What a deal! Sign me up! NOT!!!
I asked the young man, if this was so much in my interest why they don't go down in price and put these in a store where I can purchase them at my leisure, my convenience. Instead of $30.00 each why not at least compete with Disney for $20 dollars each, and $15 for new releases?
Does he not realize there are so many blogs out there where you can get ideas for FHE free? Gosh, the church has a great little ditty they have added for the "Friend". At this web site they have pictures and games you can print off for FREE! Not only do they provide activities for the children, but they go along with what the children are learning in Primary. (*sigh*)With the Internet there are so many things at our disposal, and most of it free.
To say the least I was not sold. Afterwords he asked me if I would give him some names of other people he could harass. Nope. I'm not that kind of friend.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Technology can be frustrating...
After leaving a conversation with friends I had a feeling I had offended one of them. While talking to my husband about it trying to decide how to approach it and how I may have done it I decided to check my email. In my in-box was a letter from this friend. Sure enough I had offended her only for an entirely different reason than what I had thought.
When I finished reading my email I was also upset. First of all, why hadn't she called me? Last year I had a major miscommunication due to emails...ugh! For some reason when reading an email you don't know the tone of voice. Along with not knowing the tone of voice there are no facial expressions, body language or anything to read but the words alone.With that comes personal interpretation of what has been written, and then what is being read.In her letter I felt like she was ripping me a newone. So I called her up, not to be confrontational, but because I wanted her to hear what I was saying.
Seriously. I wish I had been born in the 1800's.
When I finished reading my email I was also upset. First of all, why hadn't she called me? Last year I had a major miscommunication due to emails...ugh! For some reason when reading an email you don't know the tone of voice. Along with not knowing the tone of voice there are no facial expressions, body language or anything to read but the words alone.With that comes personal interpretation of what has been written, and then what is being read.In her letter I felt like she was ripping me a newone. So I called her up, not to be confrontational, but because I wanted her to hear what I was saying.
Seriously. I wish I had been born in the 1800's.
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