Inspirational Thought- Looking Forward to Summers In Brooklyn!

Childhood is the world of miracle or of magic.

It is as if creation rose luminously out of the night,

all new and fresh and astonishing.

Childhood is over the moment

things are no longer astonishing.

-Eugene Ionesc

Spiritual Thought.

Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ not only share the gospel online or in person. They also make time to physically serve others and in these days it’s sooooo needed. Serving others in these days has helped me cope throughout the pandemic. Not only is it therapeutic, but I find that when I serve others I tend to focus on them instead of myself. It is so true that when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God. And one can truly find joy when they serve and help others.

**Pictured is my cute daughter and her companion Hermana Cook who are currently serving in The Arizona Tempe mission.

Happy April World!

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope." 

-Lady Bird Johnson

Inspirational Thought.

No gall, no glory;

No cross, no crown;

No thorns, no throne. 

~William Penn 

May we always remember that our trials are meant for our growth. Going to the temple with faith, and a handful of hope will help us overcome them quicker, and with appreciation in helping us become stronger in our faith in God! 

Inspirational Thought.

Rushing and a tight time table do not equal happy moms or happy babies or happy toddlers. 
Settle in. 

Settle in at home with your role as a mother, 

embrace it fully and trust that the time you give these years-if you give your children your attention, 
and structure and find ways to enjoy your days at home, 

it will all pay off. 

-unknown

Embracing The Garden State!

If the grass looks greener on the other side

Stop staring. 

Stop comparing. 

Stop complaining. 

Start watering the grass you are standing on. 

Inspirational Thought For The Week...

"For beautiful eyes look for the good in others, for beautiful lips speak only words of kindness, and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." 

-Audrey Hepburn

Inspirational Thought.

Every birth begins as a mystery, an enterprise whose outcome cannot be foretold. We think, "may all be well." And all is well...almost always. But joy is only the beginning of the journey. And we must move forward, fueled by faith.

Simplicity.

"To live content with small means;

To seek elegance rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not respecatable; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; 

in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up thorugh the common, this is to be my symphony." 

~William ellery Channing

Inspirational Thought.

"I used to feel guilty about idle moments. Time spent played out in the lawn chair, staring at the sky, was time "wasted." A walk in the woods with a friend and her dog meant that I wouldn't get my aerobic workout for the day. When Henry, at three, wanted to hear the same story every day for a month and have the same conversation about it every time, I could not help thinking about the stack of unread library books that was gathering dust in the meantime. 

But I have come to believe that all of these activities are essential. They are what is meant by "nurturing." Our children do not need any more possessions to be happy; they need only to feel sure that they possess our hearts, our attention, our acceptance of who they are."

-Katrina Kenison

Mitten Strings For God

Inspirational Thought.

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. 

Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. 

That is influence; that is power." 

Julie B. Beck
(Draper Temple, Utah)

In The End, It'll All Be Worth It.

The Teenage years are often years of insecurity, 

of feeling as though you don't measure up, 

of trying to find your place with your peers, 

and of trying to fit in. 

You may be tempted to lower your standards, 

and to follow the crowd in order to be accepted

 by those you desire to have as friends. 

PLEASE BE STRONG. 

And be alert to anything that would rob 

you of the blessings of eternity. 

the choice you make here and 

now are forever important. 

~Thomas S. Monson

Lexie has had a copy of this quote on her cork board for like the past three years, and I never noticed it until now. I've always seen her cork board full of photos, sticky notes, and quotes but really never paid attention in reading them. Now that she is getting ready for graduation, and already preparing for college this cork board will be passed on down to Chelsea, and the only thing she left on there for her sister was a photo of them, and a copy of this quote. 

An Inspirational Thought For Every Parent.

"Now, fathers and mothers, appreciate your children. Don't turn them over to somebody else to train and educate in regard to matters of eternal life. That is your privilege, and it is a privilege. Teach them to pray and walk uprightly before the Lord, and then in time of need they can go to Him and He will answer their prayers. It will be astonishing to you the great happiness that will come into your home that you theretofore have not enjoyed, if you will follow this counsel." 

-George Albert Smith

An Inspirational Thought To Strengthen Our Children.

"There is a spirit working among the Saints to educate their own offspring. 

If our children will be all we will have for a foundation of glory in eternity, how needful that they be properly trained.

There are wolves among us in sheep's clothing ready to lead astray our little ones.

Wolves do not devour old sheep when there are any young ones. 

I have herded sheep long enough to know that. 

Look after your children."

-John Taylor 

Inspirational Thought - Childhood.

"Somehow, in our hurry to steer our children toward accomplishment and independence 
we seem to have forgotten what childhood is all about. 

Preoccupied with managing their lives, and our own, it is so easy to lose sight of our children-their tenderness and innocence, their joyousness, their capacity of wonder, their hunger of enchantment. 

A touch of magic can reawaken the childlike spirit in all of us allowing us to revisit, for a time, the secret realm of childhood." 
-Katrina Kenison, 
Mitten Strings for God

Educating Our Children In The Gospel.

"It is a duty we owe our children to see that they get an education; 

but the education of the heart,

education in the Gospel, 

a testimony of the plan of salvation,

is the foundation that we should lay in the breast of every child." 

-Heber J. Grant

Inspirational Thought.

"Like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures. 

These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. 

They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children, by siblings. 

They are little signs of tenderness, affection and compassion. 

Like the warm supper we look forward to at night, the early lunch awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work. 

Homely gestures. 

Like a blessing before we go to bed, or a hug after we return from a hard day’s work. "

-Pope Francis-

Inspirational thought

"The wise stand in 

              wind and pray

not so much 

for the danger to

                        PASS

but for the 

FEAR TO FLEE."

~from the book, One Thousand Gifts

Inspirational thought

love this boy!

Motherhood is 

not a hobby, 

it is a calling. 

You do not collect children 

because you find them

cuter than stamps.

It is not something to do

if you can squeeze the time in. 

It is what God 

gave you

time for.

~Rachel Jankovic

Keep your standards high.

Washington D.C. temple

"Stand ye in holy places, 

and be not moved, 

until the day of the Lord come; 

for behold, it cometh quickly,

 saith the Lord."

Doctrine and Covenants 87:8

Last night was our annual "Standards Night" event for our church, and it was very well prepared  by the young men. 

Living the life of a Mormon shouldn't be hard. If we understand the laws and commandments of the Lord, read our sciptures, and strive to do what is right there is no need to get overwhelmed. Sure our lives get busy, and when we are at our lowest, that's when we feel like giving up. There are many times when I have felt that way, but then I am reminded of the reasons I entered an unfamiliar church, and became a member. I know that the Lord has kept me on His side in helping me to understand the blessings it comes with by obeying the work of the Lord. In the end I know it will all have been for my own good. Plus I am in love with all of the teachings that it teaches our children. 

The youth continue to live in a harsh world, and knowing that they hold the keys to happiness with the knowledge they have which is "For the strength of youth", puts me at ease in hopes that they will all strive their best to keep their standards high.  

Standards such as these were discussed last night by using props. We were all asked to bring a prop, and find a way to use those props in acting out a meaning of each standard. It was kind of like that show, 'Whose line is it anyway", and it was a lot of fun! I was even in one of the skits. (Sorry I have no video this time.)

And so I end this post with words of advice for our children:

When it comes to listening to music y'all have chosen the right kind (even if it is clean beat box!) Please make sure that it is always conducive to the spirit. If there are curse words in the lyrics I advise you to stop, and turn it off. If you are at a school dance, and you hear that kind of music try not to listen to it, or simply leave. I don't care if it has a good beat to it. Believe me I know. I grew up listening to alternative music that had bad language. If I knew then what y'all know now...I would have never listened to it. Bad language leans towards drinking, which can lead to sexual acts if you're not careful (so no Violent Femmes, and no grinding train!)

I know y'all cringe when people curse...especially at school. Whether it's the D word, or the other word they use for poop, or the worst word of all which starts with the letter F. Always use clean language. I have used that language in my time, and never thought how awful it sounded until I myself heard someone cursing. I'm not perfect, and I know that I've slipped from time to time, but please do not mock me. Try your very best to not be my inner voice. I know that I have come along way with my anger, and I am proud that none of y'all have uttered such words. Keep it up, and so will I. 

There is a special someone out there waiting to sweep your feet away. Take your time in searching for your prince who will one day take you to the temple. Make sure he holds the same standards as you. Never lower them for anyone...anyone. Be selective, and when it comes to boys & dating, think with your head, and not your heart. Always go on group dates, and have fun with that! The teen years are precious, and those are the times when you are finding your identity. You'll know when your time has come to develop those feelings. You shouldn't have to be exclusive with anyone! Trust me...boyfriends in high school were no fun! 

Serving is something that I  love to do especially when I am at my ultimate lowest. When my days are bleak with worry, and stress I will find a way to serve someone. Whether it's writing a letter, reading my scriptures, or picking up the phone to call someone, or even serving you. I see that attribute in every one of you already, and I am pleased. Keep it up, and always find ways to serve (even when you're happy!)

I love you all very much, and pray for you daily. Be the example, keep the commandments, keep your standards high, and always stand in holy places. 

XO-

Mom