Of January, A Birthday, and Surviving

Of January, A Birthday, and Surviving

JANUARY. Am I right? January and I have had a hard time getting along for about as far back as I can remember.  Like all relationships, ours has evolved over the years, but it has typically been troubled. We’ve had seasons as flat out foes, bordering on fistfights. There have been times of tense truce. And, because I hate conflict, repeated attempts at peacemaking, with fair-to-middling results. These days, I’m just trying to let January be whatever it wants to…

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“Seek Ye Out of the Best Books”: A Legacy of Study and Faith

“Seek Ye Out of the Best Books”: A Legacy of Study and Faith

I believe I came to earth with a love for the written word lodged inside my heart, waiting to be unlocked like a treasure in a box.  My mom was key in unlocking that box.  She did what many mothers do.  She read us stories–lots of them.  Even when we could read to ourselves.  In fact, my fondest memories may be from her reading us James Herriot books in my adolescent years.  My mom took full advantage of the public…

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Learning How to Listen: Lessons From My Dad

Learning How to Listen: Lessons From My Dad

My dad has always been more of a listener than a talker.  He doesn’t want any extra attention.  He never speaks just for the sake of being heard.   He considers things thoughtfully.  When he does speak, or when he takes time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), he tends to have insightful questions or points to consider.  As such, when he speaks, I tend to listen.  I’ve watched my dad listen to my children, even as babies,…

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When All I Can Bring is a Rock…

When All I Can Bring is a Rock…

There is a memorable scene from It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, where the Peanuts gang are out trick-or-treating, and after each house the kids proclaim with joy what great treats they got.  Charlie Brown is the only exception, and after each house he remarks glumly, “I got a rock.”   It’s such a sad, funny little scene that we quote it on the regular around here when something disappointing or underwhelming happens.  Lately I’ve been rereading a scripture story about…

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“I am filled with comfort.”

“I am filled with comfort.”

(2 Corinthians 7:4) Fluffy blankets. A cuddly kitty on my lap. Cozy pajamas. Family movie night by the fire. A friend’s example of spreading service and positivity. Words of hope from a living prophet. My feed full of gratitude posts. And prayer.  Feelings that lodge in my heart all day.  Words that fall from my mouth.  Expressions that somehow transcend normal barriers.  A hope and an assurance that a loving God is listening, helping. Bringing peace.   Such blessings. “For…

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Gospel Study Schedule (Oct 2020 – April 2021)

Gospel Study Schedule (Oct 2020 – April 2021)

Life is busy and I have been a slowpoke about getting my new gospel study schedule planned out for the next six months (well, five months now) between General Conferences.   It’s a bit of a time-consuming project, after all, to review all the General Conference talks from October and all the Come, Follow Me scripture study lessons slated for the next six months in order to try to pair them up.  But I have finished at last! In the meantime,…

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“One Nation Under God”

“One Nation Under God”

One particular evening when I was a teenager, I sat on a barstool up at the kitchen counter, with at least one of of my siblings beside me. The daily newspaper was on the counter, featuring a large picture of the President of the United States on the front. My opinion of this individual was considerably less than scintillating. I knew my parents were not proponents of his, and I was just aware enough of current events to hold a…

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Love Notes from God

Love Notes from God

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matt. 7:11 When my children were little, I used to sing songs to them every night at bedtime.  One of my very favorites was always a simple song that I grew up hearing my mom sing to me, “My Heavenly Father Loves Me.”  It speaks of appreciating the…

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An Extraordinary Woman

An Extraordinary Woman

Yesterday would have been my grandma’s 100th birthday.   If you could have asked her, she never would have suggested that she was particularly extraordinary, which is a shame.  About a gazillion people showed up at her funeral, demonstrating otherwise.   They were there because of the way she loved them.  My grandma was always loving, serving, taking interest in, and taking time for a conversation with people. Family.   Friends. Neighbors.   Store clerks.  Restaurant staff. The masked intruder who broke…

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Gospel Study Schedule

Gospel Study Schedule

General Conference weekends (when we hear messages of faith from leaders in our church centered on Jesus Christ)  are usually two of my favorite weekends in the year. I typically come away from them uplifted and with a desire to revisit and study the messages that were given.  However, implementing my good intentions is sometimes easier said than done.  Over the last few years, I have experimented with different ways to incorporate studying the most recent Conference talks into my…

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