This past Sunday was awesome.

It was just about one of the best Sabbath's days that I have enjoyed in a long time.

Not only did I feel the Spirit overwhelmingly during sacrament, but the Spirit was VERY strong during Sunday School and during Relief Society.  I truly left my ward on Sunday feeling greatly inspired and humbly fortified by the love and teachings of Heavenly Father.

Jeffrey R. Holland, “‘A Teacher Come from God’,” Ensign, May 1998, 25
Most people don’t come to church looking merely for a few new gospel facts or to see old friends, though all of that is important. They come seeking a spiritual experience. They want peace. They want their faith fortified and their hope renewed. They want, in short, to be nourished by the good word of God, to be strengthened by the powers of heaven.

How profound are the words of Jeffrey R. Holland.  I can say with complete gratitude and appreciation that I had the very spiritual experience this past Sabbath that Elder Holland spoke of.  My faith was fortified and my hope was renewed.  I was nourished by the good word of God, and I was strengthened by the powers of Heaven.

It was wonderful, and my heart is full.

Tags: Holy Ghost Spirit Love Peace Joy Inspired

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Phew.

Summer semester is killer.  I am doing good though.  I have two A's and two B's.  One of those B's is about to turn into an A, because I am going to turn in three extra credit papers (worth 5 points each) next week.  I am striving for all A's.  I may not be able to get one in Astronomy, though.  It is WAY harder than I thought it would be when I signed up.  I currently have a B.  That is good.  I have a big test next week over THREE chapters.  That is going to be rough.  I will be studying VERY hard for that test.

Spiritually all is well.  I truly feel the Lord's hand in my life.  I am so grateful for the simple blessings that I have.  I am also truly grateful for the trials that He has given me in my life thus far.  How would I know the joy if it were not for the sorrow? How would I know good health, if I had not had pain and/or injury in my life? How would I know love, if I had not experienced rejection and/or hate?

I am so thankful for my life.  I am so thankful for the trials and adversities that I have had to endure.  I am thankful for the family and friends that I have.  I am thankful for this opportunity that I have to go to college.  I am thankful for my job. 

I can honestly say that my "thank you" list is MUCH MUCH longer than my "I want/need" list.

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Well, this was my first week of Summer semester at college.

Man, it was rough.  I have a full load and Summer semester is only 8 weeks long, so the course work is DOUBLE what it normally is during Spring/Fall.

But I can truly feel Heavenly Father beside me ever step of the way.  How else would I be able to do it?

I have Stellar and Galactic Astronomy, Math, Humanities, and Psychology.  I really like all my classes.  Okay, I don't like Math, but I have a REALLY good teacher who has truly inspired me and has helped me see algebra in a way that I never thought I could.  It is fun, exciting, and I actually understand it.

My humanities teacher reminds me of Mr. Bean.  I mean that in a kind way, as I LOVE the Mr. Bean shows.  Still, this teacher is a little off-beat and has the same peculiar physical mannerisms as Mr. Bean does.  But I like him.  I truly feel that he is a special spirit and I hope I do well in his class.  I am in love with the textbook.  It is FULL of all the stuff I love, pyramids, mummies, ancient civilizations, art, music, technology, culture, language, etc.  Very cool stuff.

Also, I LOVE Stellar and Galactic astronomy.  My dad used to take me up onto the roof of our home in Homestead, FL to look at the stars at night.  He would talk to me about the planets, stars, and constellations.  Since then, my passion for astronomy has been quite insatiable.  I have already bought MANY astronomy books from scholastic for my children.  They love hearing about the planets.  So, I know I am going to enjoy this class. 

Psychology is awesome.  I have the same teacher for 101 that I had for 2103.  She is cool.  I like her alot.  I love psychology, so that helps too.  I always thought that if I ever went back to school it would be for a degree in psychology.  I am going for a teaching degree, but I could always go for psychology later.  Maybe end up teaching psychology at a college.  Now THAT would be cool.  LOL LOL

I am truly thankful that Heavenly Father has given me this opportunity to go back to school.  Even if I die tomorrow, it will have been worth it.  My children are watching me very intently as I go through this college process.  I am hoping that what they see, they will then emulate.  I hope they will take their own schooling seriously and learn how to be studious and involved in becoming a better, well-rounded person.  Not to be learned for the sake of being learned, but to take the knowledge that is available to them and make something positive of themelves and the world around them.

That is my hope for them anyway.  I know it was my mother's hope for me as well.  I am sorry that she had to wait so long to see it, but better late than never...HUH?  LOL LOL

I think I am a MUCH better student now, and that I am truly enjoying the whole process and experience more than I would have at 18.  Maybe, hopefully my kids will see how much I enjoy college and that will remain with them until it is their own turn to go.

I am thankful for so much in my life.  Were it not for the Spirit, however, I would not be a member of this Church.  Were it not for the Spirit, I would not have chosen Michael for my husband.  Were it not for the Spirit, I would not have the two children that I now have.  Were it not for the Spirit, many of the things that I am grateful for, that I enjoy, and that I have experienced would have not been possible.

There were times that I did not hearken or even listen, but there have been so many more times that I have listened, and the rewards and blessings have been great.

I know that this life is but a blink of an eye...but what a great blink it has been so far!

Tags: College Faith Gratitude Knowledge

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Today has been a low day.  Despite medication, I occasionally go through low spells.  I have noticed that these low spells are often triggered by something painful or disappointing.

Not just any old disappointing thing, but something truly personal and/or hurtful.

So, I was hurt by a friend...and though I am working on getting over it...it has already triggered a low spell for me.  I had to force myself to eat dinner.  I just want to shut-down when things like this happen.

I am okay.  I have my children and my husband who keep me mindful of my blessings despite the lowness of my spirit sometimes.

I don't usually have the time to stay on the internet so long...but usually when I am at my most low point, is when I seek out friendship and communication.  I do what I know I need to do in order to try and lift myself out of my low spot.  On good days, I am too busy out in the yard, or cleaning the house, or working, or going to college, or being with my kids/husband to spend so much time on the internet.

Still, I know that Heavenly Father loves me.  I know that He is watching out for me and has sent me so many wonderful people in my life to help me through this disease that I have.

In fact, I made a new friend this past week.  A woman named Donna.  She was a substitute parapro in 1st grade for the past two months.  She is going to be hired this upcoming school year as a teacher.  She has just gotten her degree.  She is really nice and funny.  She seems real sweet and quiet...until you get to know her.  She has a wicked sense of humor, and she is very smart.  I like her.  She bought me a gift the other day...she gave me a pack of Big League Chew...it is bubble gum.  It used to be my favorite as a kid.  I have not eaten it since I was young.  I thought that was an awesome gift!!!! LOL LOL 

Our dryer broke.  Michael has had it for quite awhile.  In fact, it used to be his mother's.  He thinks that the dryer is around 15 years old.  So, we were wondering what we were going to do...as we are tight on funds right now.  Michael works at a hardware retail store.  Well, a customer changed their mind about a dryer after briefly using it.  Once it is used and is returned...it has to be clearanced.  So, Michael called me from work to tell me that it was reduced to a ridiculously low price.  I told him to buy it and bring it home.  We were truly blessed!

So, even in my low spots...I KNOW that Heavenly Father is watching out for me.  My prayers are full of constant praise and gratitude for all that He does for me and my little family.  I know that I am truly blessed.  How in the world would I be able to get through this disease were it not for the gospel?

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We had our annual Ward Conference today.  It was great.  The Spirit was so strong.  I can't believe how fast the meetings went by today.  We had alot of members from the stake present.  It was great having the Stake Presidency there.  I just love our Stake President.  I loved the last one too.  Either we have just been lucky to have two great Stake Presidents in a row, or it is the Spirit of the Lord changing these ordinary men into great speakers and leaders!

The talks were so uplifting.  The talks in sacrament were based upon covenants.  It is interesting to think of covenants as contracts that Heavenly Father writes the terms to, and we either agree upon the terms and sign our name or we choose not to accept the terms offered.  But we all have the choice. 

Heavenly Father clearly states what is expected of us.  What is awesome about the contract the we enter into with our Heavenly Father, is that He then helps us to fulfill the very covenants that we have made with Him.  That is so awesome.  At no point does He ask us to do more than we are able, and at no point does He turn His back on us or deny us His love.  He even sent His only begotten Son to atone for our sins.  Not just to atone, but to set the example.  Just in case we can't fully understand the terms by just reading the contract (the scriptures), then we can look to the life of Jesus Christ.  Though being perfect, the Savior followed and obeyed all that was asked of him by God.  Showing us, that though one being perfect had to obey, then how important does that make it for us to obey?

I don't know of any contracts drawn up in the world in which divine help will be available, a sacrifice provided, and a promise of eternal life given. 

How amazing this life is.  Yet, it is a blink of an eye compared to the time we have already lived in the pre-mortal world and the time that we will yet live after this life.  Will we look back at this brief mortal sojourn as a testing ground in which we proved ourselves valiant, or will we look back with regret at all that we could have done during this brief, blink-of-an-eye moment on earth?

Today was a great sabbath.  It was a day of great reflection for me.  I have much to talk with Heavenly Father about in my prayers tonight...and I especially have much that I want to thank Him for.

My dreams will be peaceful and beautiful tonight.  

Tags: Ward Conference Gospel Talks

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We stayed up past 2 a.m. last night.

My husband and son are on the PS2 again.  They are having fun.

I let both of them sleep in this morning, but I was up rather early. 

My daughter spent the weekend with my mother.  I miss her when she is away.

Well, we solved the problem of not having a lawnmower.  We could not afford a new riding mower.  We could not even afford a new mower deck for our current mower.  But life has a way of opening paths that you don't expect. 

We headed to the big city today.  We had some aluminum cans that we needed to turn in.  We turned in over 1,000 cans (um, we have sort of procrastinated in getting the cans to the drop-off site...LOL) and we got $11.00.  Cool, huh?

Anyway, back to the mower.  After turning our cans in, we headed over to Lowe's.  We bought a push-mower.  I haven't used one of those in years! It was all that we could afford.  At least it has a key-start, instead of those impossible pull-start cords. 

I actually used it today.  Guess what? I realized that my life has been blessed yet again!

See, I am 34...and my metabolism just keeps slowing down.  In other words, I needed to start exercising.  The thing is, between marriage, children, work, college, and everything else in my life...I don't have the time, energy, or true desire to exercise and/or work-out.  Yuck!

But I DO have a passion for being out in my yard.  SOOOO, while I was pushing that mower around, I realized that I was actually exercising!!!!! WOO HOO!!!! So, if I push-mow the accessible parts of my 4 acre property (the cleared part probably only comes to 2 acres, give or take) every week, then I might actually lose some weight!

Here is the weird part...I am actually excited about this! My arms are a little sore right now, but I had fun doing it.  I was actually able to get in closer to my flower beds and around my trees.  It even has a mulching bag.  We have this one mud-hole in our driveway that WILL NOT go away, so I was able to fill it with three loads of grass clippings today.  That is cool.  Maybe filling it with grass-clippings every week will finally bring an end to that mud-hole.

Again, perspective is everything.  I was so worried about what we were going to do about not having a lawnmower.  Then the spirit just directed us in a different direction (a blessedly CHEAPER direction) and now I can get my satisfaction from having a manicured lawn, while getting myself into shape!!!!!

Well, I am tired and tomorrow is Sunday.  I love Sunday.  It means getting to go to Church.  I hope tomorrow will be a great Sunday with good talks, uplifting lessons, and a Spirit of love coming from everybody.

Have a good night...and an even better Sunday! 

Tags: Love Home Yard Work Family Exercise

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Perspective is very interesting and complex.

On one hand, I had an awful day.  Actually, my whole week has been terrible.  Politics and ugliness at work have just clouded my mind and hurt my heart.

On the other hand, my day was good and my week has been blessed.

How can it be both?

Is it a contradiction?

No, not really.  If my life began and ended with work, then I would be correct in saying that my day/week was awful.

But I have a blessed miracle in my life.  My life DEFINITELY does NOT begin and end with work.

Nope.  My day begins at home.  Even though that awful alarm clock always goes off before I feel that I am ready, I am always pleased to wake up in the safety and comfort of my home.  Now, let me clarify something from the start: I am not rich in money.  I live in rural southern Georgia.  I only make 10 thousand a year as an elementary paraprofessional (which is why I am busting it trying to get a degree).  Our home is a modest double-wide.  But there is a difference between a home and a house.  A house is a structure.  An empty shell that can be dressed to suit the fancy.  But a home is built with love, and it is dressed with time, effort, and the scars of a life lived full...especially if children ever lived there to color on the walls, spill juice on the carpet, and leave finger-prints all over.

No matter how awful my day at work is, I always come right back home to where my morning started.  My dog, Molly, is always the first to greet me outside.  She is a big, black Labrador.  She knows I give her a treat when I leave in the morning, and when I get home in the afternoon.   I like to think that she is happy to see us, and not just because she knows she will get a bone.  Then, when I walk in the door, my two cats, Miss Muffett and Missy, are usually waiting for me.  They look so happy to have people back at home.  Almost like they are trying to ask me where I have been all day.  I also have an odd little bunny, Jellybean.  She likes to pretend that she does not care whether we are here or not, but she really does like to be petted.  Even the two fish seem to perk up when we come home.

Now, if I am still upset from the toil and grime of the day, even after having gone through the gauntlet of my pets, then there are so many other things to chisel the crust of the dirty world off of me.  The sound of my kids laughing, yelling, playing, fighting, and just being young.  Seeing my husband walk in the door after work.  Reading e-mails from dear family and friends.  Looking out the windows to see my lovely garden.  Watching the birds flit back and forth between my many bird feeders.  Knowing the joy of my two children as I crack open a treasured book to read them a new or old story.  Feeling the Spirit as we say our nightly prayer. 

Full circle.  What a blessing the home is.  Not the structure.  The spirit of love...the spirit of Christ that makes the structure become something sacred...a home.  The angles are keeping detailed record of all that transpires in our home.  How many kisses were given? How many hugs shared? How many bruises or scrapes doctored? How many prayers said? How many times did we speak of Christ? How many times did we share our testimony? How many Family Home evenings did we have? How much scripture have we read? How many times have we said I love you?

That is why all the things of the world can so easily be chipped away from ourselves as we enter our homes.  Because the world cannot compensate for what we receive from the sacredness of our home.  At the final day, will we be pleased to hear the angels reading from the book of all that transpired in our homes? Or will we tremble to know that we placed other things, things that crumble to dust, before the things that truly mattered?

I know that I am not perfect, but I do know that I am blessed.  I know this, because the worst of days can truly be healed with the love and joy in my home.  I may never know what it will be like to live in a mansion while on earth, but maybe if my little family can maintain the spirit of love in our humble home...then maybe one day we will have a mansion in the eternities.

~TG

Tags: Home Peace Love Spirit Joy Safety

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Yesterday (Tuesday) my daughter had her Honors Day.  She received a trophy for having perfect attendance in 1st grade.  She will also get a medallion for having 100+ A.R. points.  I think she has 148 points right now.  She has really worked hard to build her reading skills.  I am so pleased with her progress in reading!

My son had his Honors Day for pre-k today.  He also received an award for perfect attendance.  Those little pre-k kids are so cute.  They sang the cutest songs for the parents during the assembly.  Bubba was so proud of his little trophy.  Bubba is my son's nickname.

I'm sick.  I came down with a cold yesterday at school.  By the time I got home I was feeling so awful.  I crawled into bed when I got home and went to bed.  This morning when I woke up, I felt so bad.  I really didn't want to go to work (the elementary school).  But Bubba's Honors Day was today, and there was no way that I was not going to get up and get him ready and take him.  So, I took my package of Dayquil to work with me.  I suffered through the day, then came home and went straight to bed.  I read a book to the kids first, then they curled up with me and took a nap with me.  I love it when they nap with me.  When they are asleep they look so young and so sweet.  It just breaks my heart to see how precious and fragile they are in their sleep.  Then they wake up.    LOL LOL

We only have 7 more days of school.  Then I start summer semester at college on June 3.  So, I won't get very many days free of both work and college before I have to go back again.  Oh well.  I am looking forward to summer semester, though. 

Oh, I found out that I have a 4.0 average so far.  WOO HOO!!!!  

Yeah, but I have only gone to college for one semester.  Still, I NEVER had a 4.0 in high school.  I was an awful student in elementary, middle, and high school.  So, I feel really good about my 4.0, even if it is only for one semester so far!!!!!! LOL LOL

I have said so many prayers over the past few months.  Prayers asking Heavenly Father to bless me while I attend college.  Prayers thanking Him for all that He has done for me so far.  I KNOW that I would not be able to do what I am doing without Him.  I work full-time, have a husband and two children, run the household finances, do the household chores, mow the lawn, perform my callings to the best of my ability, and now go to college with a full-load.  There is NO way that I could shoulder all of that without Heavenly Father's love and assistance.   

My daughter is upset.  Ry (that is her nickname) has lost her Wonder Woman Pez dispenser.  She is walking around the house with the saddest doe eyes that I have ever seen.  I keep telling her that it is not lost, it is just misplaced somewhere in this house, and that she will find it.  It is hard to have very much sympathy, considering how messy her room is right now.  She could misplace an elephant in there!!!!

Well, I need to take some more medicine and get myself to bed.

Tags: Graduation Love Family Home School

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Today was a good day.

It was thundering this morning when I woke up.  Dark clouds covered the sky outside, and the wind was blowing strongly.  I thought for sure that it would rain on us as we tried to get into the car to head to church.  But it didn't.  I don't think it ever did storm like it looked like it would.

During sacrament meeting today, Sister Paige gave a wonderful talk for Mother's Day.  She read three stories.  They were all very poignant, but the final story brought tears to my eyes.  It was written by a member.  Her husband, David, had heard the story and gotten a  copy when he was on his mission in Ohio.  It was titled, "Did You Know".  It reminded me of the song written by Mark Lowry in 1984, "Mary Did You Know".  It went into more detail and it truly made me think about all the things Mary could not have known would happen to her son as she held him that first night in the manger.  I asked Paige if she could give me a copy.  It is a story that I would love to read to my children every Christmas.

I gave my mother a beautiful planter of plants/flowers.  I gave her a card, and each of my two children gave their Grammy a card.  They each wrote/drew their own message to her.  I also gave a card to my mother's sister, Aunt DeAnne.  All the family call her Nana, just as all the family call my mother Grammy.  We have a large family.  Aunt DeAnne has five children.  My mother only has me and Jordan.  But with all the cousins and the children of the cousins...it was easier if everybody had ONE name.  My mom is Grammy to everybody, whether she is their Grammy or not.  It makes life easier.  Anyway, I bought Nana a beautiful bouquet of cut flowers.  Then I bought a glass vase.  I painted the vase with hearts and with all of our names (my husband and I and our two kids) and "Happy Mother's Day Nana".  It looked really nice.

My husband surprised me with a Mother's Day gift this morning.  He is not a gift-giver.  During the eight years that we have been married, he has only bought me gifts that I have told him to buy me! LOL LOL  But this morning he truly surprised me.  He bought me TWO gifts.  Both of them were jewelry.  Nothing expensive, just cheap trinkets...but he knows that cheap trinkets are my favorite!!!! I love cheap bling! LOL LOL

So, that was a pleasant surprise.

Family dinner was at my mother's house today.  They take turns rotating Sunday dinner at all the houses in the family on Sundays.  She made bean dip.  That is always an easy favorite.

I enjoyed the lesson in Relief Society today.  The lesson always goes so much better with participation and shared testimony.  We had alot of that today.

There will be an opening in Relief Society for a teacher.  Also, our adult Sunday School teacher was called to High Council.  So, there will be an opening in that as well.  I have never been a teacher in Relief Society, nor have I ever been called as a teacher for the adult Sunday School.  I have been a teacher in Primary and for the Youth Sunday School.  I was also Teacher Improvement Coordinator 3 or 4 years ago in another ward.  I am currently the Ward Librarian.  I enjoy this calling, but I love teaching.  I am a talker.  So that helps! LOL But I also find that I learn more when I have to prepare a lesson or talk.  It gives me a chance to grow and to strengthen my testimony.  But I know that we rarely get called to the callings that we actually want!!!!!  LOL

Well, I really should be getting ready for bed.  My alarm goes off at 5 a.m.  I feel like I did when I was a teenager...I hate going to bed early, but I also hate being tired when I wake up so early in the morning! LOL LOL

~TG   

Tags: Sunday Mother's Day Talks Jesus Christ Savior Gifts Marriage Relief Society

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