WOOOHOOO...October is tomorrow!!!
Joyful month, already three trips planned to the Pumpkin Farm, the beginning of the Holiday Season!!!
So my message today is to take a few moments each day to RELAX, de-stress if necessary, breathe deep and count our MANY blessings. Serve somebody today!
Lovingly, Katie
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Do You Like Me?
The other day, M asked, "Do you like me?" I was taken aback by his question and had to rethink the past few moments to see if I could figure out why he would ask me that. I found it interesting that he did not ask me if I love him: he knows that. But in rethinking why he may have asked me if I like him, I decided that the tone of voice in which I was speaking to him had not been the kindest. I really thought about that a lot: do our families know that we like them? Sometimes to some people, love is more of an obligation, but when we truly like somebody, we also treat them kind and speak to them in loving ways. Have we felt compassion or obligation today?
This evening, M and I went on a grasshopper hunt: I do not usually join the boys on their hunts, but D was inside doing all of the extra schoolwork that he accumualted from yesterday. It was fun trying to catch up with the little hoppers: they are really quick, and it is actually quite a challenge.
Funnest part of the day: drawing on the concrete patio with chalk and making crazy designs, feeling any stress I had been harboring leave my body as I felt the chalk adhere to the concrete: the thick chalk was more smooth and almost felt like thick paint on construction paper. The thin chalk was deeper in color, with the exception of pink. It feels so good to create eventhough my creations are very elementary.
Lovingly, with compassion, Katie
This evening, M and I went on a grasshopper hunt: I do not usually join the boys on their hunts, but D was inside doing all of the extra schoolwork that he accumualted from yesterday. It was fun trying to catch up with the little hoppers: they are really quick, and it is actually quite a challenge.
Funnest part of the day: drawing on the concrete patio with chalk and making crazy designs, feeling any stress I had been harboring leave my body as I felt the chalk adhere to the concrete: the thick chalk was more smooth and almost felt like thick paint on construction paper. The thin chalk was deeper in color, with the exception of pink. It feels so good to create eventhough my creations are very elementary.
Lovingly, with compassion, Katie
Monday, September 13, 2010
Monday
Ya know the Bangels song "Manic Monday"? Sometimes I feel that way eventhough I love Monday. Like today, I did not get a shower until 9:00...GROSS. Yeah, I feel gross until I get my shower, even on days like today when I could justify sleeping really late because D was up half of the night throwing up, so of course he did not go to school today.
Anyhow, Sunday and Monday are the most pivotal days of my week: I LOVE THEM. But on Mondays like today when everything is in slow motion, except for the clock, I struggle. However, I am striving to be positive, and in this moment, I will celebrate the awesome swing that D and M and I made on Saturday.
And here is another super quote from www.myoneword.org :"The point of disciplines is to do something you can do in order to do something you can't do (YET). Disciplines must remain disciplines for a period of time. This consistency enables them to become habits and then reflexes. Eventually, they are dissolved into your character. The key to growth is to be relentless in your walk with God and pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom keeps us focused while integrity protects our path."
In wise integrity today, Katie
Anyhow, Sunday and Monday are the most pivotal days of my week: I LOVE THEM. But on Mondays like today when everything is in slow motion, except for the clock, I struggle. However, I am striving to be positive, and in this moment, I will celebrate the awesome swing that D and M and I made on Saturday.
And here is another super quote from www.myoneword.org :"The point of disciplines is to do something you can do in order to do something you can't do (YET). Disciplines must remain disciplines for a period of time. This consistency enables them to become habits and then reflexes. Eventually, they are dissolved into your character. The key to growth is to be relentless in your walk with God and pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom keeps us focused while integrity protects our path."
In wise integrity today, Katie
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The world in which we live
Wow!! What an amazing world full of technology in which we live!! I just spent some time listening to/watching Mormon Messages on www.lds.org: AMAZING!!! I have also strengthened my testimony by reading the testimonies of others on www.mormon.org.
This morning before church, I read an article from the Ensign titled "Dating and Virtue" by Elanine S Dalton and David L Beck. The following are quotes from that amazing article.
"If we could see each other for who we really are -- children of our Father in Heaven -- we would treat each other with the reverence, respect, and dignity theat our spiritual heritage demands. When we understand our divine destiny, it will define all of our relationships with each other." That is SOOO powerful and applies to adults as well as teenagers!!
"When we cross the line and engage in immoral behavior, we offend the Spirit, and when we lose that influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives, all those wonderful things that the Spirit provides to us are lost. Immoral behavior destroys faith...we must be pure in heart to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost. That means we need to live so that we are worthy to enter the temple -- now!"
"One of the most important things parents can do is set the example by the respect they show each other and the joy they have in their relationship -- seeing that it really is a wonderful thing. I don't know that we could overstate what a motivator that is. Parents should try to model what a marriage can and should be...Parents need to teach, but they also need to listen and invite their children to express their feelings about what is going on... we need to spend time with our children and do things with them that they like to do -- not just the things we want to do. This builds confidence and trust."
"We need to encourage them (our children) to do hard things and sometimes to take the path that stretches them. When each of us individuals confronts our fears, we discover who we are. We discover God in our lives and we develop confidence . Go forward in faith, knowing that the Lord will support you. His grace is sufficient to help us through challenging situations."
"They (our children) want to be validated for who they REALLY are. They come with such nobility inside. We need to provide opportunities that foster authentic relationships and help them develop the feeling and knowledge of their own identity."
What a blessing in these latter days, to have such inspiration: to know what to do. There are so many things we can do: but those are some of the things we should do. This week, Michelle was off of work, and we got to have some nice long conversations on the phone. I told her I am amazed at the quickness of email and texts. This week, I texted my brother in law and within 5 minutes, he texted me back!! Amazing!! And as Michelle and I talked on the phone, I was able to email her a photo she was helping me with for a missionary profile I was working on. Thanks, amazing woman!!
As incredible as our media is, I pray that I will never get too busy to do the things that are truly important: seeing my children smile, hugging each of my family members, playing a board game with my family, reading stories together...in a "story book" as GB would say!!
Love you all, Happy Sabbath, Katie
This morning before church, I read an article from the Ensign titled "Dating and Virtue" by Elanine S Dalton and David L Beck. The following are quotes from that amazing article.
"If we could see each other for who we really are -- children of our Father in Heaven -- we would treat each other with the reverence, respect, and dignity theat our spiritual heritage demands. When we understand our divine destiny, it will define all of our relationships with each other." That is SOOO powerful and applies to adults as well as teenagers!!
"When we cross the line and engage in immoral behavior, we offend the Spirit, and when we lose that influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives, all those wonderful things that the Spirit provides to us are lost. Immoral behavior destroys faith...we must be pure in heart to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost. That means we need to live so that we are worthy to enter the temple -- now!"
"One of the most important things parents can do is set the example by the respect they show each other and the joy they have in their relationship -- seeing that it really is a wonderful thing. I don't know that we could overstate what a motivator that is. Parents should try to model what a marriage can and should be...Parents need to teach, but they also need to listen and invite their children to express their feelings about what is going on... we need to spend time with our children and do things with them that they like to do -- not just the things we want to do. This builds confidence and trust."
"We need to encourage them (our children) to do hard things and sometimes to take the path that stretches them. When each of us individuals confronts our fears, we discover who we are. We discover God in our lives and we develop confidence . Go forward in faith, knowing that the Lord will support you. His grace is sufficient to help us through challenging situations."
"They (our children) want to be validated for who they REALLY are. They come with such nobility inside. We need to provide opportunities that foster authentic relationships and help them develop the feeling and knowledge of their own identity."
What a blessing in these latter days, to have such inspiration: to know what to do. There are so many things we can do: but those are some of the things we should do. This week, Michelle was off of work, and we got to have some nice long conversations on the phone. I told her I am amazed at the quickness of email and texts. This week, I texted my brother in law and within 5 minutes, he texted me back!! Amazing!! And as Michelle and I talked on the phone, I was able to email her a photo she was helping me with for a missionary profile I was working on. Thanks, amazing woman!!
As incredible as our media is, I pray that I will never get too busy to do the things that are truly important: seeing my children smile, hugging each of my family members, playing a board game with my family, reading stories together...in a "story book" as GB would say!!
Love you all, Happy Sabbath, Katie
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Beautiful Life
Yesterday, Don, M and I went the temple. While Don performed temple work, M and I went to the bookstore. Then we came back to the temple and walked around with Don looking at the beautiful flowers and feeling the Spirit so strong. We sat and talked and watched M's adorable face as he collected leaves and rose petals and talked with us. The only thing that could have made those moments more perfect would have been D's presence.
I am really striving to live TODAY. I have always had a way of living too much in the past and trying to figure out the future. A friend recently told me to live more in the moment. Sometimes that is hard for me becuause I do not want to forget the past and I want to plan for the future. I feel that setting and reaching goals, both short term and long term is really important. But somehow there is a fine line between setting goals for the future and living in the future. Living TODAY helps me to enjoy more today and to be grateful for each minute that makes TODAY special.
Totally off the subject, here is a quote from www.myoneword.org "Rather than a quick fix on outward appearance, He'll transform our heart and motives for (or from) the inside."
Bye for now, Katie
I am really striving to live TODAY. I have always had a way of living too much in the past and trying to figure out the future. A friend recently told me to live more in the moment. Sometimes that is hard for me becuause I do not want to forget the past and I want to plan for the future. I feel that setting and reaching goals, both short term and long term is really important. But somehow there is a fine line between setting goals for the future and living in the future. Living TODAY helps me to enjoy more today and to be grateful for each minute that makes TODAY special.
Totally off the subject, here is a quote from www.myoneword.org "Rather than a quick fix on outward appearance, He'll transform our heart and motives for (or from) the inside."
Bye for now, Katie
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Gratitude
So did anybody hear Music and the Spoken Word this morning? It was about change...I think I am being prepared for just that, change. Change I often fear.
In response to that, the following was on the homework assignment from My One Word this week, "How do we get to the point where thankfulness is the initial response for whatever life throws our way? (I would like to change that to "whatever Heavenly Father places in our path") We must rejoice at every opportunity we are given. This includes during a difficult time, in the midst of chaos or when our life completely falls apart. OUR RESPONSE IS GREATLY SHAPED BY OUR PERSPECTIVE!"
I am very grateful for the positive words and teachings that bless my life. I hope to share all the good that I can, thus the purpose of this blog.
Love to all, particularly on this day to our East Coast Family, I LOVE YOU
Katie
In response to that, the following was on the homework assignment from My One Word this week, "How do we get to the point where thankfulness is the initial response for whatever life throws our way? (I would like to change that to "whatever Heavenly Father places in our path") We must rejoice at every opportunity we are given. This includes during a difficult time, in the midst of chaos or when our life completely falls apart. OUR RESPONSE IS GREATLY SHAPED BY OUR PERSPECTIVE!"
I am very grateful for the positive words and teachings that bless my life. I hope to share all the good that I can, thus the purpose of this blog.
Love to all, particularly on this day to our East Coast Family, I LOVE YOU
Katie
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