Quote

Re-oriented

A few years ago I went down to a Women’s Conference at Brigham Young University.  I brought back a photo with me that was a reminder of the things that I learned.  I can’t attach it here for copyright reasons, but you can go see it (and get a copy of your own if you love it as much as I do!) if you click on this link:

https://deseretbook.com/p/humility-3×4-print-simon-dewey-15276?ref=Grid%20%7C%20Simon%20Dewey%20%7C%20Taxon%3A%203301-81&variant_id=92818-3×4-print

I look back on that conference as having a personal theme for me (though it had very little to do with the speakers’ topics and everything about what I was learning through the Holy Ghost).  This was it: “Let Him help you.”  To me, that gorgeous photo represented that message.  I was trying to do too much on my own, and it was stressing me out.  I knew that they way to more peace was relying more on my Savior.

This weekend, I heard a quote at church that goes right along with that idea.  The speaker quoted this article, which you can read if you’d like the full story:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1984/10/i-have-a-question/can-you-help-me-see-the-significance-of-the-account-of-peter-walking-on-the-water?lang=eng

I’m just going to quote my favorite two paragraphs.  For those of you who are not familiar with the biblical story of Peter walking on the water toward Jesus Christ, here’s a link to the verses that tell that story: Matthew 14:22-33

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/14.32-33?lang=eng#31

“As we learn the gospel and develop our faith, we reach the point where we feel strong enough to leave the boat; we determine to stand free from worldly supports and voluntarily walk by faith through the tempest toward our Savior. Each step for us may be a trial. The waves around us are as real in their way as Peter’s waves were to him. And, like Peter, we may slip! We may feel the awful descent toward destruction and, in confused desperation, consider the safety of the ship.

But wait! Our efforts to meet the trials of our faith—our footsteps over life’s treacherous waters—have somehow re-oriented us, and we reach out for safety, not to the boat, as we would have done in earlier times, but to the outstretched hand of the Savior. Hand grasps hand, and we are pulled to the Master of wind and water. No more is he seen vaguely through the storm; no more is his voice indistinct in the roar of the gale. Now we are home; now the trial is over.

And Jesus calms the storm.”

What a neat idea that in earlier times, our instinct would be to reach for the boat- to go back to what we perceive as “safe territory” and definitely less risky- at least less risky for the moment.  And yet through our experiences of walking by faith, we begin to instinctively reach for the Savior, knowing in a new way that real, lasting safety from the storm is only found by reaching toward the Savior.  Have a wonderful day, friends!

Quote

Beautiful

Stephanie Nielson is a blogger who had a tragic accident several years ago.  Her ability to see the good and parent optomistically even in her very difficult resultant experiences is amazing to me.  Today I looked at her blog and I thought that what she shared was meaningful and I wanted to share it here.  Every morning when her daughter wakes up she tells her to
“Remember that your heart is the most beautiful thing about you and 
if your heart is beautiful, then everything else in your life will follow.”
Though this is relevant to boys and girls alike, I think little girls especially need many messages as they grow that help them anchor to the beauty within.  This strikes me as a really good place to start.
If you’re interested in hearing more from Stephanie Nielson, visit her website at http://www.nieniedialogues.com/
Have a great day!
Cause it makes me happy...

Little things…

It’s been a busy week here in the mountains!  The weather is turning colder but here inside it’s warm and cozy.

What are you listening to these days?  This morning we listened to a Sandra Boynton CD while the boys were getting ready for school.  “Dance It Out” started out our day on a peppy, happy tone.  I also have really enjoyed playing and singing through our Children’s Movie Songs sheet music book; songs like “Reflections” from Mulan and “Whistle a Happy Tune” have been fun for me to revisit.

I am trying to listen to music more often (maybe it’s having 3 boys that makes it so I highly value quiet and stillness!) but sometimes I have a hard time breaking out of what I usually listen to.  Do you have any ideas for me?  Pieces that you have an emotional reaction to?  Soundtracks you love?  Songs that make you want to dance?  Or sing?

Here’s a few ideas that you may not have thought of recently and that you might enjoy.  Have a great day!

From Ratatouille:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_hdmt4vpBo&index=56&t=0s&list=PLeGoFrREnkY5FZnIArwtMZv9aKl7Qnus6

From La La Land:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWnYIb2lqpo&index=56&list=PLeGoFrREnkY5FZnIArwtMZv9aKl7Qnus6

From the Piano Guys:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHV6BjuQOZQ&index=19&list=PLeGoFrREnkY5FZnIArwtMZv9aKl7Qnus6

 

Thought

Filled with Light

ws_Woman_Autumn_Forest_Sunlight_1024x768Today I came across this photo/painting (https://godoggocafe.com/2018/11/06/colors-of-you/) and I had to share.  Don’t you love the bright colors of autumn?  Watching the woman in motion moving toward the light?  She represents to me a woman who lives with her heart wide open and is full of love and life.

What also catches my attention is that at first glance, she is just so full of light, there must not be any darkness to be afraid of.  But that isn’t the case; there are plenty of areas that are dark- the tree trunks, the shadows, areas beyond the trees we can see…But her full focus is toward light, so those dark areas are overlooked.

Can we spend more time focusing on the light?  Filling ourselves with light?  Walking toward the light?  Will that light and focus help not just us?  Will others be able to embrace the light more fully with our modeling?  Yes!  The light we experience will permeate our home, and influence those we love who are close to us. Tomorrow on the Sabbath, I plan to soak in as much light as humanly possible from the source of light- our Savior, Jesus Christ! Happy Sabbath, friends!

Love,
Laura

 

Cause it makes me happy...

Wednesday Musings

Tonight was a unique experience.  Sometimes you plan and plan to share a song you have written with an audience, or perhaps write a song and wonder if it has an audience.  But sometimes before you even put the last touches on a song, an opportunity arises.  Suddenly there you are, excited to share and yet hoping that the message gets through even with a few fumbles.

I had the privilege of accompanying myself singing a song tonight that I am looking forward to sharing here soon, which is currently entitled “But if Not” (sometimes the title changes in the final editing stages).  I have been collaborating with a good friend, Shaille Claypool, on this project.  As we worked in our separate homes this morning, sharing ideas back and forth by email, I had the thought that I could share it with a small group of friends tonight if I was finished in time.  It seemed to fill a need for the gathering since we were hoping to encourage a friend who is in a lot of pain and wanting to know “Where is God when I need him most?”

I’ll give more details about the song when I post it, but the idea that it elaborates on is that sometimes God takes the thing away that is a struggle for us.  But we all have had times where He doesn’t.  In those challenging times, we can know that “My Father’s ways are higher than my ways, my Father can see a broader view.”  We can have the attitude that, “I would like this trial taken away, ‘but if not’ (if it is not solved in the way or time I think it should be solved) I will trust the Lord.”  Do you recognize the biblical reference of “But if Not”?  Those are tiny words in a big bible, but the message is powerful.  Look up Daniel 3 and read about those 3 amazing men that had faith in God- faith that was not dependent on deliverance, but was anchored in Jesus Christ.  TTFN!

~Laura