If Life Were Easy, It Wouldn't Be Hard

You've probably heard of or read the book, "If life were easy, it wouldn't be hard". It is an all time favorite of mine. I always learn something new in it. I totally recommend it (If anyone reads this). Okay so I work in a salon and what do you do there? We all love to gossip. Thats what you do with your clients and associates. Well, lets face it, thats what women are good at! I love reading all the "People" and "US Weekly" magazines. Oftentimes I find myself comparing myself to celebrities. Sometimes I really wish I had the kind of money they have so I could be pampered like that! But as much as I love reading those magazines, I also hate them. Not only is there a bunch of trash in there, but the comparisons we make are never fair. The truth is, when you really stop and think about it, they don't have anything because they don't have the gospel. It all comes down to that. Case #2: This morning I had zero time to get ready for work. I hurried and blowdried my hair and threw it in a pony. I walked into the salon and everyone had their hair done perfectly. Normally I would think to myself, "Man, I look like crap compared to these gorgeous girls!" How often do we find ourselves comparing our worst to someone else's best? That's not fair. But more importantly, why do we compare in the first place? It's stupid. We're all different; we're all SUPPOSED to be different. Let's just get rid of comparing altogether! "Satan tries to get us to judge, gossip, envy, resent, and punish those we could otherwise be nurturing. He is particularly fond of what could be called the Three C's: competing, comparing, and categorizing. Why do we compete with each other? If we all had the capacity to work at our peak every day to build the kingdom, which none of us have, there would still be more to do, more to accomplish, more to get done, more people to influence. Why do we not therefore cheer for each other's gifts, contributions, and sincere efforts to make a difference in the world? Why do we make comparisons that are never fair? Why do we have an insatiable urge to label and categorize everyone when no one can be defined by a one-dimensional category? We're not supposed to be alike." I'll leave it at that. This was kind of a weird post.

Families

Matt and I haven't been doing too well with Family Home Evening lately because I work on Monday nights. We're trying to do better and decided that each week we'll take a piece of the Family Proclamation and talk about it and find ways to apply it to our home. So if anyone else needs any ideas on what to do for FHE try this!

Family Proclamation:
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

Women at the Well

Tonight my mom invited me to come to a production of "Women at the Well" put on by women in her stake. My mom made all the costumes so of course I wanted to go see! Different women from the stake sang solos and there was a narration about all of the different women in Christ's life. Back when Christ was on the earth, it was customary in their society that Jewish men did not talk or communiate with women at all. There was a woman who was drawing water from the well and saw this "jew" approach the well. She did not dare look at him. He spoke to her to draw him some water. She wondered why he was talking to her, a samaritan. He pronounced that He was the Christ. He was the beloved Savior who had finally come! This woman is the first woman (we know of in scripture) to receive the news that He was the Christ. There were so many women (and men) who were touched by His love and received miracles because of their faith. There was the woman who had suffered with a bleeding hemorage for 12 years and had spent all of her money on doctors and medicines and nothing had healed her. She saw Jesus from afar off and knew if she could only touch Him, she would be healed. She just had to get to Him. Even without any strength left, she somehow managed her way through the crowd and touched His cloke. She was close enough to drink of His living water.

One of my favorite parts was this woman sang and she had her little boy come out and sang to him like she was telling him a story. I'm going to post the lyrics.

Come close my precious child, Listen to the words I'll say

Many years ago, before you were born Jesus came, and He changed my life forever

It was dark for many days, The storms had taken all we owned

I'd been driven to my knees,Longing for the warmth of my home, When a light appeared above me

He had come, King of all Kings, Ruler of Worlds, For His other sheep

I felt His hands, I touched His feet, and I'll forever rejoice! He came for me

It was like there'd been a drought, And every word He spoke was rain

Bringing hope into our lives, And life to the promise of prophets Passed down through the ages

Then He called the children close, He loved them just as I love you

He let thme touch the marks, He let them kiss His cheek

And they knew. We all knew!

He had come, King of all Kings, Ruler of Worlds, For His other sheep

I felt His hands, I touched His fet, and I'll forever rejoice He came for me.

I know He came for me, and He came for all of us. The day He died was a day of tears of sorrow, and then three days later, they finally understood and those tears turned into tears of joy. I'm so glad that I was able to go with my mom and dad and feel the wonderful spirit! I always feel so much better when I go to things like that. I see the world differently. There is so much good in the world and so many good people. Earlier today I was going for a walk with Addi and I came home complaining that we live in the ghetto area and going off about it. But truly, I am so grateful for everything. Thats one of the great things about the gospel. I can come home to a small little house, with not a whole lot of worldy things, and I feel extremely happy an at peace with where we are at as a family. Life is great! I need to have that attitude all the time!! Where there is no water, there is no life. It is that way with Christ. He is our living water who has promised that we will never thirst.

"He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

First Post

So lately I have been feeling the stress of being a good parent. Especially when I'm rocking Addison to sleep I get all teary-eyed because I look at this precious, pure child who is so close to God, and I have to do everything I can to keep her that way in this unpure world. I feel major stress and fear. I have been more aware of what kinds of tv shows and movies I watch. I always thought 'PG' movies were good movies for kids to see, and now I'm starting to rethink it. yesterday my sister and I saw 'Bride Wars' and I liked the movie and everything, but I definately wouldn't take a kid to see it. It just kind of scares me what they're starting to put in movies now and how easily kids can see them. Does anyone else get nervous about it? It's funny how differently you view things when you have a child. Today in church a guy talked about the scripture that no man can serve two masters and that you can't have one foot in Zion and one foot in Babylon. Boy I am sooo like that! I always find myself compromising commandments to fit my life. I'm so grateful for forgiveness! No matter how many times I make the same mistake, it doesn't matter because the gospel is all about second chances and change. Luv it!