Thought from Elder Robert C. Oaks "The Power of Patience"
I too have had to pause and reflect and ponder on his words. Last week my husband was off work, and he will go back for a few more days before he has the rest of the year off (we have "use it or loose it" days he has to take) and I have noticed how impatient he is and how it rubs off on me. The slightest disruption he flies off the handle and likewise I go too (I'm exposing more warts than I want, but we HAVE to beat this beast). So here is my question to you as a group..
How do I get my husband to see this fault? Yes, I'm working on the mote and beam that are in my eye, but it is really hard in a complete partnership to stand by and see my husband loose it when the children are around. I asked him to read this and he literally shoved it back at me :-(
I have to really solve this problem for the sake of my family. I know it starts with me, but I feel like I'm trying to change the course of the battleship with a little paddle and all I'm doing is making waves that only the guppies are seeing.
(from another post)
[name deleted],
The point of this group isn't necessarily to share the insights we have (although those are what opens our eyes to see a view we hadn't ever thought about) but the point is for us to stop, reread, rehear and ponder on the words of our prophets and hence the words of our Heavenly Father. So, I would tell your husband that this is a group that is fulfilling its purpose (at least for me and for you because you are meeting the goals *I* set out ~smile~).
Thank you for sharing your views. This talk has really, really hit me hard! In Seattle we are snowed in (my driveway is literally a sheet of black ice and my hubby's car is at the bottom of a hill about half a mile away) so I have had time to do some work that I normally wouldn't get done. One is to reread the comments that I have saved from this group (I have a bad habit of not deleting messages). Anyway, I have had to stop on ponder on the selfish nature of my impatience. I'm very selfish! There is no way around it. And because of it, my children are very impatient and selfish too. I hate breaking cycles. it is soooooooo HARD, but I must. Now to get everyone on my side, especially hubby.
BTW [name deleted], you may not think your thoughts are deep, but to some of us they are thoughts that we haven't even gotten to, so yes, they are deep. Thank you for being brave and opening up. I'm glad that you are having success and I wish you tons more...hopefully some will rub off on me.
BTW2-I didn't explode at a child this morning even after he deliberately went contrary to my instructions. I was calm and I think that totally surprised him. One little success, at least I'm going down the right road :-) (hopefully it isn't full of black ice and I fall backwards).
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Faith, Service, Constancy
Thoughts from Elder Baxter "Faith, Service, Constancy"
I am in the midst of a few situations that I am walking through only by faith. I wish it wasn't so dark, but for some reason I know it will be "well" just I don't like it. And I too pretend I'm in charge; give that first born in me comfort.
(from another post)
Service does take our minds off our trials if only for a little bit. I know in the midst of some trials my kids and I went and weeded a dear friends yard while they were on vacation. It was while they were gone that they decided to move (bad choice) but when they came back home they didn't have as much work to do. We did it without them knowing until a neighbor told them that there was a big green van (no one else has what we have) and a TON of little kids working. We were found out. But she came to me and was weeping because they didn't know how they were going to get all the things done that was needed to sell the house. It was one less thing. For us it was a time to do service and enjoy each other and forget about our troubles if only for a minute or two.
Keep the faith and keep walking down that dark hall holding His hand and listening to His voice. I have yet to hear of Him steering someone in the wrong direction. ~smile~
I am in the midst of a few situations that I am walking through only by faith. I wish it wasn't so dark, but for some reason I know it will be "well" just I don't like it. And I too pretend I'm in charge; give that first born in me comfort.
(from another post)
Service does take our minds off our trials if only for a little bit. I know in the midst of some trials my kids and I went and weeded a dear friends yard while they were on vacation. It was while they were gone that they decided to move (bad choice) but when they came back home they didn't have as much work to do. We did it without them knowing until a neighbor told them that there was a big green van (no one else has what we have) and a TON of little kids working. We were found out. But she came to me and was weeping because they didn't know how they were going to get all the things done that was needed to sell the house. It was one less thing. For us it was a time to do service and enjoy each other and forget about our troubles if only for a minute or two.
Keep the faith and keep walking down that dark hall holding His hand and listening to His voice. I have yet to hear of Him steering someone in the wrong direction. ~smile~
Sunday, November 12, 2006
The First Generation
Thought from Elder Pieper "The First Generation"
[name deleted],
What a neat story and congratulation on such a rich history that you have started. I sure hope you have written this down somewhere so that the 3rd, 4th.10th generation know the trials and tribulations you went through to hold to the Iron Rod. I know that has made a difference in my life. I sometimes think that I can't handle another Sunday when all I did was put on a dress and referee a pew and then have no one sit by me in RS..why go? Well, the story of my mother driving 13 miles by horse and sleigh to play the organ and piano in meetings she wasn't even supposed to be at (priesthood and RS etc) come to mind. The story of my great-great-grandmother praying that missionaries would come by her humble home so she could have a priesthood blessing to cure a sore breast-we now know it was breast cancer that they healed-and having them appear the next day. (Her husband was off tending to business-cattle or doctoring--in another part of the county. She was healed immediately, and the missionaries even spent the day cutting and chopping wood because her oldest son (13 or 14) was down with "chills and a fever." I think of the story of them crossing the plains and walking most of the way in stocking feet.
How can I let that faith and strength be for naught? How can I let all the hard work I had done go for naught? If they thought so much about the gospel to go through the trials and tribulations they did, then surely I can hang on one more sacrament meeting, one more Family Fight-I mean Home Evening. I can endure because my trials are nothing like theirs. And likewise my trials will be some that my kids will be able to look back on when their faith waivers and say, "but if mom could do it.." At least that is my hope.
I think this is where the promise of hearts turning come into play. This is where my heart is soften towards them, I start to love them and therefore would do nothing to hurt them and I know because I have a testimony that turning away from the truth and the light would hurt them so much. I also just plain have a testimony of the gospel, but it helps to also have that other tangent holding my testimony strong.
(from another post)
In Sunday School today we read about Jeremiah and how he was foreordained to do what he was doing (even though few listened to him). I think many of us are foreordained to do something we just might not know it. I also think that many who were foreordained fell short of the mark and didn't do it. How sad. I have yet to have it backed up by gospel doctrine and it doesn't need to be because it is the "gospel according to Doreen" but I know in my Patriarchal Blessing I've been given the chance to prove myself worth of blessing "foreordained" in the pre-existence.
Sunday, November 5, 2006
The Temple is about Families
Thoughts from Elder Winkel "The Temple is about Families"
I grew up where the nearest temple was 12 hours away so temple attendance wasn't something my parents talk about much. I just remember that when they took a kid to school (BYU) or the MTC they added an extra day so they could get in a couple of sessions. I remember my older brothers being gone for a week every other summer doing baptism for the dead in Utah (closest temple). But I do remember my mom saying that she was never without her temple recommend even if it was never seen by a temple worker to admit her to the temple. Now my mom has a temple literally in her back yard and she has a standing appointment and sneaks in when she can. (How would it be to sit up in your bed and framed inside your bedroom window is Angel Moroni. What a lucky woman she is!!!!)
Fast forward to now. I have a temple 18 miles away (40 minutes by car on a regular day-thank you Seattle traffic), but it has been so hard to get to it. I hate going by myself, I hate going sleepy (see previous posts) and working full time (ie. Homeschooling my children) it is hard to find a chunk of time to get there during the day. It really has been very hard to get there. Just as thing were getting so I could go, I was in the auto accident and it prevented me from sitting that many minutes, not to mention the fact that I was out of the house 2 hours every other day doing therapy. Now things are changing and I'm not going to therapy as often and so you would think I could get there. NOPE! Got teens now and they are sooo much work! I can't wait until my 14 year old can drive! No wonder my mother paid for our car insurance (but we had to earn the good student discount as well as be at her beck and call).
BUT....as long as I'm worthy I will have a current recommend and be worthy to enter His house.
I think being worthy to enter has a blessing attached even if you don't go. Example: I have a special love for family history. In fact my patriarchal blessing says that genealogy work and family history will be very important to me. Well, I don't have any work to do. My side of the family is done (pioneer blood on both sides so it was done a LONG time ago and we have a family historian on both mom's and dad's side that keeps us abreast of all the updates). So what was I supposed to do.
Guess what my answer was---I was to write MY history. So I have spent the past years writing what we call the Blanding Bugle. Once a month I put fingers to keyboard and write a detailed entry into our family newspaper of the wonderful things we are doing or the not so wonderful things we are doing. When I get discouraged and don't think I have anything to write, I look back on the past 17 years worth of editions and realize what a FANTASTIC family journal I have. I often find my kids going through the paper copy and laughing and saying, "Oh, I remember that." It truly has turned our heart to our children. I also send a copy of it to the grandparents (and many others) so they know the going on's at the Blanding Family. I'm sure it doesn't mean as much to them as it does to us, but …
It truly is a treasure of great worth.
(from another post)
Those who are faithful in keeping them (even if you put one entry in a year) are blessed for their efforts. My personal journal is over 5000 pages on the computer (and yes, I have backed it up :-)). Many times all I do is copy and paste emails I have written. They are a great source of what is going on in my life and my thoughts and opinions. The world of blogging is another way to keep a journal.
I know the two books I have of my mother's life and that of her father are a treasure to me. It isn't well written; at leas in the academic sense, but it is a work of love and I LOVE it. My grandfather died many years before I was born so I never got to know him, but I am also positive that when I get up to heaven I will be able to recognize him because of the words I have read. The same goes for his parents as we have a book of remembrance on them as well. If my house were to catch fire, I would grab those books, my hard drive, and my scriptures-that is after my kids are OUT OF THE HOUSE! I would be sad if they were lost. They truly are priceless. In the same manner I hope that my children see our Bugle as prices as well, at least eventually.
I'm sorry for the pending departure of your aunt. I too am waiting for the dreaded phone call from my sister's husband as brain cancer is going to take her life any day now. I do hope that she has a journal to pass on to her nine children. She has lived a life worthy of a journal as she has been blessed beyond measure. She has lived a life of exemplar faith, love, devotion and perseverance. I hope there is wonderful peace in your home in the coming weeks.
I grew up where the nearest temple was 12 hours away so temple attendance wasn't something my parents talk about much. I just remember that when they took a kid to school (BYU) or the MTC they added an extra day so they could get in a couple of sessions. I remember my older brothers being gone for a week every other summer doing baptism for the dead in Utah (closest temple). But I do remember my mom saying that she was never without her temple recommend even if it was never seen by a temple worker to admit her to the temple. Now my mom has a temple literally in her back yard and she has a standing appointment and sneaks in when she can. (How would it be to sit up in your bed and framed inside your bedroom window is Angel Moroni. What a lucky woman she is!!!!)
Fast forward to now. I have a temple 18 miles away (40 minutes by car on a regular day-thank you Seattle traffic), but it has been so hard to get to it. I hate going by myself, I hate going sleepy (see previous posts) and working full time (ie. Homeschooling my children) it is hard to find a chunk of time to get there during the day. It really has been very hard to get there. Just as thing were getting so I could go, I was in the auto accident and it prevented me from sitting that many minutes, not to mention the fact that I was out of the house 2 hours every other day doing therapy. Now things are changing and I'm not going to therapy as often and so you would think I could get there. NOPE! Got teens now and they are sooo much work! I can't wait until my 14 year old can drive! No wonder my mother paid for our car insurance (but we had to earn the good student discount as well as be at her beck and call).
BUT....as long as I'm worthy I will have a current recommend and be worthy to enter His house.
I think being worthy to enter has a blessing attached even if you don't go. Example: I have a special love for family history. In fact my patriarchal blessing says that genealogy work and family history will be very important to me. Well, I don't have any work to do. My side of the family is done (pioneer blood on both sides so it was done a LONG time ago and we have a family historian on both mom's and dad's side that keeps us abreast of all the updates). So what was I supposed to do.
Guess what my answer was---I was to write MY history. So I have spent the past years writing what we call the Blanding Bugle. Once a month I put fingers to keyboard and write a detailed entry into our family newspaper of the wonderful things we are doing or the not so wonderful things we are doing. When I get discouraged and don't think I have anything to write, I look back on the past 17 years worth of editions and realize what a FANTASTIC family journal I have. I often find my kids going through the paper copy and laughing and saying, "Oh, I remember that." It truly has turned our heart to our children. I also send a copy of it to the grandparents (and many others) so they know the going on's at the Blanding Family. I'm sure it doesn't mean as much to them as it does to us, but …
It truly is a treasure of great worth.
(from another post)
Those who are faithful in keeping them (even if you put one entry in a year) are blessed for their efforts. My personal journal is over 5000 pages on the computer (and yes, I have backed it up :-)). Many times all I do is copy and paste emails I have written. They are a great source of what is going on in my life and my thoughts and opinions. The world of blogging is another way to keep a journal.
I know the two books I have of my mother's life and that of her father are a treasure to me. It isn't well written; at leas in the academic sense, but it is a work of love and I LOVE it. My grandfather died many years before I was born so I never got to know him, but I am also positive that when I get up to heaven I will be able to recognize him because of the words I have read. The same goes for his parents as we have a book of remembrance on them as well. If my house were to catch fire, I would grab those books, my hard drive, and my scriptures-that is after my kids are OUT OF THE HOUSE! I would be sad if they were lost. They truly are priceless. In the same manner I hope that my children see our Bugle as prices as well, at least eventually.
I'm sorry for the pending departure of your aunt. I too am waiting for the dreaded phone call from my sister's husband as brain cancer is going to take her life any day now. I do hope that she has a journal to pass on to her nine children. She has lived a life worthy of a journal as she has been blessed beyond measure. She has lived a life of exemplar faith, love, devotion and perseverance. I hope there is wonderful peace in your home in the coming weeks.
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