Choice #10—Financial: I decided to pray about changing the words “live frugally.” When I prayed, “live abundantly,” were the words that immediately came into my mind. With further research, I learned that living abundantly also includes being frugal and making wise decisions when you spend your money.
Read MoreThe book, The Three Laws of Performance: Rewriting the Future of Your Organization and Your Life by Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan has been another life-changing book for me. Learn how dramatic growth can take place in your life all at once by utilizing the amazing power of your thoughts and words!
Read MoreI believe the following quote I recently read by C.S. Lewis regarding the role of mothers and homemakers is 100% true: “The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career.”
Read MoreEvery March, I write about addiction and recovery because my wonderful son Jonathan suffered from alcohol and drug addiction for many years before he took his life on March 5, 2010. Jonathan often attended AA meetings, and I attended with him a few times. Now, you can locate online the closest AA meeting place to you or join an AA group online. It’s never been easier to join friends and live a life of complete sobriety and freedom!
Read MoreA new hymn, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” recently caught my attention. I love to sing it when I am feeling a bit discouraged because it lifts my spirits. I also love to sing it when I’m already feeling happy because I’m so grateful to know that Jesus is “my constant friend.”
Read MoreWhile I don’t set specific goals each new year in January, I do reflect on goals I have set in the past. I was delighted when I came across an old notebook and looked inside to see what my goals were when I was young. I found I had only written down one goal: “Don’t yell!” Haha. Still working on that one!
Read MoreI now take joy in the baby steps of growth I make each day, and I also kindly acknowledge to myself my human weaknesses when I slip backward from time to time. I am resolved to keep going forward. l will always keep trying!
Read MoreJOY IN THE MORNING is a beautiful phrase, and it has profound meanings. What I have learned is that the choices I make today not only affect me today, but they also affect me tomorrow as well. If I want to wake up with joy in the morning, I need to do my part to make it happen each day. When tragedy and major disappointments strike and knock us down, we must immediately turn to the Lord and seek His guidance to get back up. He will heal our aching hearts, inspire our thoughts, and cause the right people to come into our lives who will help us get through our difficult times.
Read MoreI love the quote by Cindy Trimm that says, “Your yesterday does not define your tomorrow.” I know that God loves each one of us, and He wants us to become the best we can be. Nothing from our past—heartaches, disappointments, failures, depression, anxiety, addictions—can keep us chained to our past. As it says in the New Testament in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me".
Read MoreThe book, Good Inside by Becky Kennedy, erased many years of repeated self-criticism about my past mothering and grand mothering efforts. Not only do I now understand how “good inside” each of my children and grandchildren are, I also know how “good inside” I am! It’s a beautiful feeling—quite amazing really!
Read MoreI am grateful for the family relationships I have and for the love and fun times that bind us together. Being part of a family is a great blessing as we continually move forward to strengthen each other, forgive and forget past offenses, and remember to appreciate what we have learned from each other over the years. It’s a miracle when a family can all be happy together!
Read MoreDuring the Easter season this year, I was thinking about the many stresses I had in my life at the time. I then felt the Savior’s words come into my mind, “Have you dropped your burdens at my feet?” I immediately thought of the song, “How Gentle God’s Commands.” In the 4th verse it says, “Come drop your burdens at his feet and bear a song away.” I knew I needed to make a change and rely on my Savior more to help me!
Read MoreMarch 5, 2010, is the day our son Jonathan passed away. As a family, we like to honor him on March 5th by doing something nice for somebody else. Jonathan was always going out of his way to help others; he was very kind and had a heart of gold. “March Forward Today with Kindness” is now my motto to remember to be kind every day of the year as I reflect on my son Jonathan’s life.
Read MoreI believe anxiety can be reduced and/or eliminated by using these five “remedies” each day. The act of being proactive spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially every day can transform your life. Using one of these “remedies” is good. Using all five is best!
Read MoreI hope in 2024 that we will all make our physical health our number one priority. Of course, taking care of our spiritual health with prayer, scripture reading, and journal writing is a close second, but a healthy spirit inside an unhealthy body cannot do much. My new motto is:
“Take care of my body first. Take care of my spirit second. Take care of others third.”
Read MoreI now understand that we must love ourselves first if we want to feel God’s love for us. Our negative thoughts and feelings towards ourselves trap us in a dark cave where the sunlight of God’s love cannot penetrate. We must crawl out of the cave by loving ourselves and trusting that God’s love and sunlight will be there waiting for us. I promise it will be!
Read MoreI read the book, Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl, the first time about 30 years ago, and it was life-changing back then. I found it on Audible a few weeks ago, and it has been even more life-changing this time as I listened to the power and truth in each chapter! I didn’t understand it all when I first read it, but with my many years of growth experiences, I understand his philosophy much better! This year, I wished my family a “HAPPY NEW LIFE” because I believe reading this book and applying its true principles will change their lives as much as it has mine.
Read MoreChristmas is always a wonderful combination of joy, a bit of stress, putting up old, well-loved decorations, trying to plan meals and festivities ahead of time, rushing at the last minute over something forgotten, love and laughter with family and friends, and truly appreciating the real reason for Christmas—Jesus Christ. How I love our dear Savior!
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
— Isaiah 9:6
Read MoreI love our family tradition of baking pies for Thanksgiving. I took this picture of my husband David with our grandson and granddaughter (twins) proudly showing off the pumpkin pie they baked together here at our ranch this year! Traditions are what pulls at our heart strings and bonds us as one, kind of like being stuck together with “Crazy Glue,” with our family and friends. Yes, some of our traditions are kind of crazy! Some make us smile, some make us laugh, some make us a little teary-eyed.
Read MoreI like to dress up for Halloween! This year I was visiting at my daughter and son-in-law’s house, so I looked around to see what I could find to make myself a costume. I found a black satin sheet lying on a bed, which I knew would work for my main costume. After searching through my granddaughters’ dress up boxes, I found a fluffy little skirt and put it around my head. I thought I looked great! My grandchildren all laughed at me and asked, “What are you?”
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