I Am Glad For Many Things

I am glad for so very many things today and everyday.  I am so grateful for the quiet whisperings of the Holy Ghost and for the fire that I feel in my heart when He testifies the truth of something to my heart.  I just had such an experience while studying the words of scriptures and living prophets.
I just re-read the section on Visiting Teaching in the book, "Daughters in My Kingdom" and I just love it!  I am so grateful for this inspired program.  What a blessing it is to be able to learn how to love eachother like the Savior loves us.  I was recently assigned a new visiting teaching route.  Upon learning a bit about one of my new ladies, I was frightened and overwhelmed and wondered how I could help her.  After studying more about what Visiting Teaching really is, I am no longer frightened, but so grateful that Heavenly Father would teach me through this wonderful program and give me opportunities to serve and to stretch myself out of my comfort zone.  He is so wise. 
I am grateful to remember the words that President Uchtdorf spoke to us last month: (and it applies so beautifully to visiting teaching)
"My dear sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come.  The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us. 
While understanding the "what" and the "how" of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the "why".  When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight.  It is precious and sweet....
The "what" and "how" of obedience mark the way and keep us on the right path.  The "why" of obedience sanctifies our actions, tranforming the mundane into the majestic.  it magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration."
I am so so grateful for the gospel.  Truly it is the source of all my happiness.  Everything I have comes from my kind and loving Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful to have a forever family.  I am so grateful for the peace that comes from only from Him.  I wish I was better at expressing in words what I feel in my heart, but my heart is indeed filled with gratitude for a loving, merciful, involved, patient and attentive Father in Heaven.

This Is Interesting

Sister Scriptorians

"I stress the deep need each woman has to study the scriptures.  We want out homes to be blessed with sister scriptorians-whether you are single or married, young or old, widowed or living in a family.  Regardless of your particular circumstances, as you become more and more familiar with the truths of the scriptures, you will be more and more effective in keeping the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself.  Become scholars of the scriptures-not to put others down, but to lift them up!  After all, who has any greater need to 'treasure up' the truths of the gospel (on which they may call in their moments of need) than do women and mothers who do so much nurturing and teaching?"

Spencer W. Kimball

Daughters in My Kingdom....aka My New Love

I am seriously IN LOVE with this book.  It has increased my understanding about what Relief Society actually is.  It has increased my love of Relief Society immensely.  It is full of the truth about who we are as women and why we are here and it is also full of examples of women throughout our history who have understood who they are and why they are here and how they accomplished hard and wonderful things.  I am so incredibly grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful that He organized this society of women so that we can remember who we are and so that we can strengthen eachother in fulfilling our purposes.  What a joyous thing it is to be a woman!  I am so grateful that they put this book together now.  In this upside down world, we so need a reminder about what it really means to be a woman....and what a beautiful reminder this book is!  Do you have a copy?  If you don't you can get one from your Relief Society presidency or from the church distribution center.  It is delicious food!!

A Moment

I just had a moment...one of those that I don't want to forget.  So I am writing it down.
I went in to comfort my baby girl who woke from her sleep, and as I was holding her close to me, she immediately calmed down and fell right back to sleep.  I just held her and soaked in the feeling of her breath, of her head right under my chin, of her soft and warm body snuggled up against mine...and as I did, I said a prayer of thanks to my Heavenly Father for letting me experience this.  And then I could almost see myself talking with my Heavenly Father before I came to earth and being so excited to experience having a family and all that being a mother would entail.  I was filled with gratitude that my Eternal Father loves me so much that He created this earth for me and provided a Savior for me so that I could come down here and experience it all, so that I could learn how to be happy forever by my own experience.  I want to go home and be in a family forever...in His family forever...with my family forever.