Being humble

 

“Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.”

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Sheltered from the winds and the cold

 

“It was so wonderful to be there, safe at home, sheltered from the winds and the cold.  Laura thought that this might be a little like Heaven, where the weary are at rest.”

-Laura Ingslls Wilder 

Let the love at Christmastime linger

 

“My brothers and sisters, may the spirit of love, which comes at Christmastime, fill our homes and our lives, and linger there long after the tree is down, and the lights are put away for another year.”  -Thomas S. Monson

Kindness is always right

 

“If you have to choose between being kind and being right, choose being kind and you will always be right.”  -Unknown

Him, the source of all light

 

“May the beautiful lights of every Christmas season remind us of Him who is the source of all light.” -David A. Bednar

The magic of books

 

“That’s the thing about books.  They let you travel without moving your feet.” -Jhumpa Lahiri

“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.”-J.K. Rowling 

Christmas greeting

 

sons of God

 

“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”  -CS Lewis

Put love into giving

 

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”  -Mother Theresa

Let God love others through you!

 

“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.”  - Mother Theresa

A Child

“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when it’s mighty Founder was a child Himself.”

-Charles Dickens

 

Once in a stable…

 

“Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.”

                                          -CS Lewis

Togethery at Christmas

 

We love sending out Christmas cards and like to include a quote when we do. This year, with the help of the kids, we chose this quote to share:

“Christmas is a togethery sort of holiday.  That’s my favorite kind.”   -Winnie the Pooh

Plea to control temper

 

“I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect.  If you will do this your lives will be without regret.” 

-President Gordon B Hinckley

My Dad is such a humble example of putting off the natural inclination to anger. Here he is playing “pretty pretty princess” with his granddaughters (he even won!)

He’s always been patient and kind, but I think the years have tempered him even more and has learned to be truly meek and Christlike. 

Freedom to give and freedom to earn

 

Someday Jesus Christ will rule and reign in love and righteousness respecting our agency and leading by example. We will keep testifying of the Prince of Peace and the High Priest of good things to come.

Disciple

 

President Russell M. Nelson pleads with us to treat each other as Jesus does. 

Books are gardens…

 “A book is like a garden carried in the pocket” 

-Chinese Proverb

Message of Hope

 

Boats in harbor

 

The eternal spirit

 

Correction or Criticism?

Once when I was asked what my pet peeve was I responded “when someone’s being unkind to someone else” 

But I’ve come to realize that I’ve become judgmental of other’s unkindness that I’m even more unkind in my “correction” of that behavior. We all need grace and we all need to look for the good and see that in others too.

 

Late bloomers

 

In late summer our hollyhocks were in full bloom. It was stunning to see a crowd of colorful hollyhocks showing off their beauty. I was a bit sad when it was time to trim them and scatter the left behind seeds.  However, this fall a few late blooming hollyhocks surprised us! They are a tender mercy before the coming cold winter months. 

(Here they are at peak blooming)

Cousin=Friend

 

“My cousin…is one of the only kids that didn’t look at me weird.  That’s because cousin = friend. It’s a rule”

I’ve been reading a book by Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard… called “Real”. It’s based on Peyton’s life and having autism and being non-verbal until she finally found a way to communicate. The first thing she “said” was “I am intelligent”. 

I love this quote about cousins.  My kids favorite people in the world are their cousins. They can be 100 percent free to be themselves and feel accepted and loved. 

Worth of Time

 

This quote is timely as I’ve just sent my youngest to school and for the first time in 13 years I’m home alone…I’ll strive to make each day useful and pleasant, for me, my family and others. 

Materialism’s pull…

 

When feeling inadequate…

 

Kindness

 

“Kindness begins where necessity ends” -Amor Towles

Our lack

 

Daily renewal

 

Making scripture study a priority first thing in the morning has been a spiritual lifeline for me. The word of God truly is an iron rod that can lead us through the mists of darkness that inevitably come. 

Yield to the enticings of the spirit of God

 

We were talking to the kids about how Satan only has power over us if we give him that power by heeding him instead of God. When when heed God and his spirit we are given the power to overcome the things of this world. When Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, Jesus said “Get thee hence Satan” He chose to serve God and only God 

Look for the good

 

every day, every day, every day