I had to speak in church today, not fair, but I guess when you move and leave friends and family behind, fair goes out the window. Of course the topic was mothers and my kids did an awesome job singing my praises - I didn't even pay them, but I changed up the topic a little because we all think our mom's are the best and no other can compare. So I spoke to the mothers and why we can do anything. I was blessed enough to have my parents and sister there and per my sister's request - here is my talk:
(please forgive the poor spelling, grammer and typo's - I am to lazy and ready to get on a plane)
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson.
We as Latter Day saint women are powerful beyond measure. We are armed with the knowledge that we are children of our beloved Father in Heaven. In Primary we sing songs that teach us that we are children of God and that our lives are precious gifts from him and that he has a divine plan for us. As YW we repeat weekly, the motto that states: “ We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us and we love him”. This knowledge that is instilled in us, provides ongoing comfort as we face the challenges of our roles as wives and mothers. We gain confidence knowing that we are about His work as we tend to fussy babies, messy houses, hours of homework help and priceless talks with teenagers. While not viewed as important or self-satisfying by the world, it is the knowledge of our divine nature that provides us with peace knowing that we are fulfilling a role in the lives of our families that is irreplaceable and the a satisfaction that cannot be obtained by any other means.
The power that we as latter day women have, provides us with the strength to do all that is necessary to be leaders of righteousness, defenders of good and examples to all around us. Sister Julie Beck, Relief Society General President, has said Mothers are the lioness at the gate of the home. We need to guard our homes just like a lioness would guard her cubs.
We can do this! We have power beyond measure to protect that which is most sacred to us. Sister Beck has gone on to encourage us to set priorities because if it matters to the mother, it will happen in the home. We must first take care of those things that are essential (essential to eternal life and exaltation): Prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, FHE, fulfilling church callings and service. Next comes the necessities (necessary to sustain home and family life): Cooking, cleaning, laundry, homemaking and homework. Then comes Nice to Do: hobbies, crafts, recreation, girls night out. Her promise to us is that if we make the Essentials our first priority, we will always have time for the Necessary and even for some of the Nice to do.
As a runner, I hate running into the wind. Often times I will find myself taking the easy path in the beginning – running with the wind. It is easy, it is warm and I seem to be running faster with less effort that normal. Unfortunately, I always must return back to where I started. This means that I must run into the wind and it is difficult, often cold and sometimes just down right miserable. However, I always make it back. It might not be the effortless looking running we see by those whom we view as “elite runners” but I make it back and always with the satisfaction that I did something hard.
How much easier and more enjoyable would it be if I would get the hard stuff – running into the wind done during the first half of a run and then been able to enjoy the latter half and finished with not only the satisfaction of running hard, but that it was much more enjoyable journey.
How often do we do this in our life? Seem to take the easy path to success only to find out that it is much more difficult by the time we reach the end. In our roles as mothers there is no easy way, no short cut. We often feel like we are constantly “running into the wind” …. And sometimes we are. But if we are taking care of our Essential things we are never running alone. We are always running with the aid of our Father in Heaven and his aid provides us power beyond measure.
We as mothers are examples to all that we come in contact with, whether it is a small child who watches what we do through out the day and the plays house with their toys or a young man or young women whom we think doesn’t care. They do care, and all in our home are watching us. They accept us for whom we are and love us despite our shortcomings but the see what we chose to do, how we set priorities and what we value. In Matthew 5:16 we read:
Let your alight so shine before men, that they may see your good bworks, and cglorify your Father which is in heaven.
Let those who are most precious to us, see us as an example to follow, that we value our role as their mother above all else. We CAN be the example we desire to be, the example our Father in Heaven KNOWS we can be, because, sisters…We are powerful beyond measure.
Last night as we spent time with my family, and they gave us a folk art picture of the city of St. George, where Jay and I grew up along with the message to never forget where came from. How it touched my heart, because those roots and family are most dear to me. We sisters can never forget were we come from. From a loving Father in Heaven who sees our full potential and he KNOWS that we can reach it. He has faith in us and our unique and individual abilities to be the very best mother we can, to be the very best example to those around us that we can. He has provided us with all the tools necessary and opportunities to become who he, who knows us best, knows we can become. It is our faith in him and his plan that allows us to be powerful beyond measure, it is up to us to forego that which society tells us to be and listen only to that voice that matters. We can do this! We can be what our father in wants us to be.
President Uchtdorf has said:
“You are a choice daughter of our Heavenly Father, and through the things you create and by your compassionate service, you are a great power for good. You will make the world a better place. Lift up your chin; walk tall. God loves you. We love and admire you”
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
This was a great hit - line drive over the left fielders head, almost to the fence
Nothing like a little Scrabble to pass the time.
THANK YOU Grandma Jake for the Seek and Find book!
Cam and her rally cap. She really didn't know that is what it meant, she was wearing this way as a fashion statement. She takes after her Uncle Garrett.
Saturday we drove to IKEA. I had been planning this trip for weeks prior to the big move. I knew that I would need draw organizers, rugs, towels and any handy thing I can find to make life better. Jay had been forwarned and well prepped for an entire day spent at IKEA. Unfortunately for us (fortunately for Jay) IKEA is about as far away from us as you can get and still stay in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. So after an hour-plus drive, we finally arrived. Jay was a great sport, he wandered the entire store, making suggestions and being extremely patient with his indecisive wife and 4 completely crazy, cranky kids. After three hours we left with:
