First, I want to share a quote I read in a really great Christmas book that I read last night. The book is titled Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury. The quote "CHRISTMAS MIRACLES HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE." I needed that last night. I needed it today. I got a letter in the mail today informing me that I am unqualified for an employment opportunity I had applied for. I was already sad because of some other things. I was also sad because it looked like I was not going to be able to take an educational course I recently registered for due to lack of enrollment, and I truly felt that broadening my education would make it possible for us to be where we need to be to help others. THEN TODAY, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL INFORMING ME THAT THE CLASS WILL BE HELD AFTER ALL!!! THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR GIVING ME WHAT I NEED.
I also want to record my favorite scripture. It is a new favorite after many years of my favorite being Doctrine and Covenants 121:45-46. My new favorite is in the Book of Mormon. 1 Nephi 17:3
"AND NOW WE SEE THAT THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD MUST BE FULFILLED.
AND IF IT SO BE THAT THE CHILDREN OF MEN KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD HE DOTH NOURISH THEM, AND STRENGTHEN THEM, AND PROVIDE MEANS WHEREBY THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH THE THING WHICH HE HAS COMMANDED THEM."
In just now typing that, I realized how very profound it is, particularly considering today's experience.
I also wanted to post the link to ODE TO JOY, one of my very favorite songs in flashmob form. Beware, it is AMAZING: grab tissues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbJcQYVtZMo (be sure to watch for the little girl who climbs the light post).
Merry Christmas
Love,
Katie
ps. I have no idea how to undo the silly spaces in this post: they do not show in the draft.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Sure needed this yesterday
There are just some days when you need to see something GREAT.
Yesterday was one of those days.
Here is what I saw.
Yesterday was one of those days.
Here is what I saw.
Thanks Mom!!
Monday, September 19, 2016
God is so personal!!
Wow: it just took me 20 minutes to sign in: I guess that's the joy of not blogging very often!
I wanted to take a few moments to testify of the truth that God knows each of us personally and if we are watching, He will send us reminders of His love in very personal ways. I have two quotes illustrating this truth.
First, "Our souls should be so deeply rooted in Christ that we will be able to endure any challenge, triumph over any affliction, withstand any attack on our faith, and become like oak trees - firm, immovable, and steadfast. That kind of rootedness transcends time and outlasts every enemy, even the most subtle, invisible and insidious ones." (Elder Clayton Aug 2016 Ensign magazine) What a blessing to know that this is ABSOLUTELY true. As I battle depression, anger and negative self talk, I continue to TAKE ONE MORE STEP everyday. I continue to endure and triumph and withstand. God's goodness to me and my faith in Him truly "outlasts every enemy." That even means the enemy of our souls, he who would destroy us. Some days are much harder to withstand: a blogging day is not one of those days. YEA!! Some days, we do not know how we will take that one more step, but we must. The very next step may bring the light we are seeking: and if not that step, then one more and one more. We will not drown if we keep our head above water! If we can't do it beautifully right now, that is OK. But just do it.
Second, "If prayer had no other function than to help us concentrate on the deepest concerns of our life - even to reveal ourselves to ourselves - it would be worth doing." (Truman Madsen in the book titled Prayer p 73.) I would like to emphasize: "EVEN TO REVEAL OURSELVES TO OURSELVES". He is so selfless!!! He gives us prayer for US: it's not for Him. Though He does adore us and loves hearing us speak to Him through prayer, He receives no blessing from our prayers. WE DO!!!
May we take another step today IN PRAYER.
Love,
Katie
I wanted to take a few moments to testify of the truth that God knows each of us personally and if we are watching, He will send us reminders of His love in very personal ways. I have two quotes illustrating this truth.
First, "Our souls should be so deeply rooted in Christ that we will be able to endure any challenge, triumph over any affliction, withstand any attack on our faith, and become like oak trees - firm, immovable, and steadfast. That kind of rootedness transcends time and outlasts every enemy, even the most subtle, invisible and insidious ones." (Elder Clayton Aug 2016 Ensign magazine) What a blessing to know that this is ABSOLUTELY true. As I battle depression, anger and negative self talk, I continue to TAKE ONE MORE STEP everyday. I continue to endure and triumph and withstand. God's goodness to me and my faith in Him truly "outlasts every enemy." That even means the enemy of our souls, he who would destroy us. Some days are much harder to withstand: a blogging day is not one of those days. YEA!! Some days, we do not know how we will take that one more step, but we must. The very next step may bring the light we are seeking: and if not that step, then one more and one more. We will not drown if we keep our head above water! If we can't do it beautifully right now, that is OK. But just do it.
Second, "If prayer had no other function than to help us concentrate on the deepest concerns of our life - even to reveal ourselves to ourselves - it would be worth doing." (Truman Madsen in the book titled Prayer p 73.) I would like to emphasize: "EVEN TO REVEAL OURSELVES TO OURSELVES". He is so selfless!!! He gives us prayer for US: it's not for Him. Though He does adore us and loves hearing us speak to Him through prayer, He receives no blessing from our prayers. WE DO!!!
May we take another step today IN PRAYER.
Love,
Katie
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Somehow I lost access to this blog for quite awhile and started another one but now can't remember what I titled it: silly: surely a sign of old age!!!
I was reading back through a few old blogs of mine and remembered how much I enjoyed writing about dogs and children and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I just had an experience on Friday which helped strengthen my testimony of the power of the Holy Ghost. I was able to defend the gospel peacefully, and with intent: particularly the Book of Mormon. I even got to share a General Conference talk. I know that the testimony shared by Sister Oscarson will forever be in the hearts of those I shared it with.
I miss getting my feelings out in this very constructive way and knowing it can be read by somebody searching for something more meaningful in their lives: something they always knew was missing. But to find it: what a treasure indeed: at an appointed moment for such a time as this.
Katie
I was reading back through a few old blogs of mine and remembered how much I enjoyed writing about dogs and children and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I just had an experience on Friday which helped strengthen my testimony of the power of the Holy Ghost. I was able to defend the gospel peacefully, and with intent: particularly the Book of Mormon. I even got to share a General Conference talk. I know that the testimony shared by Sister Oscarson will forever be in the hearts of those I shared it with.
I miss getting my feelings out in this very constructive way and knowing it can be read by somebody searching for something more meaningful in their lives: something they always knew was missing. But to find it: what a treasure indeed: at an appointed moment for such a time as this.
Katie
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Rosie
Rosie, the tiniest dog I have ever had
On Thanksgiving day, a new little dog entered our lives. She came with the name Molly, but that was not working out for me, so we renamed her Rosie. She needed a new home because she had recently lost her person to old age. I told her family that we would have her on a trial basis for a week and then would let them know if she was going to work out for our family. I can usually decide about a big dog in a couple of hours, but a small dog, I was not so sure. Well, after she worked through some poopy issues, I knew that I could not let this sweet little dog go anywhere else. She is about the same age as Shawnie, approximately 9 years old: a silly little mix of a chihuahua and some sort of terrier. Some people say she looks like a tootsie roll: she does.
Rosie, like Shawnie, has a healing power of her own, though I would have never expected such a big heart in a little dog: she is smaller even than the chihuahua boston terrier mix we had when we were first married. Rosie loves to cuddle: when I lay on the floor in the sunshine, she will stand on my back within a few moments and shortly thereafter will lay down on my back. She loves our little boy and since she has recently re-remembered how to play, she often asks him to play with her: it is sooo adorable. She sleeps in her crate at night, lets us know when somebody is at the door and tries to play with the cat from time to time.
It is true that God places pets (angels) in our lives when we need them, even if we do not know that we need them and even if we are not sure at first that we will love them: at first, she looked pretty ugly to me, but now she is what Ann Voskamp calls "ugly beautiful!" (Oh yeah, to anyone reading, I totally recommend the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp: a new favorite!!!). If you are seeking a dog, I encourage you to not pass up ones that seem not to be what you would normally choose: look carefully into the eyes each dog that you consider, and you will know. Yea for the small dog with a heart full of love!!!
Best of love to all of you this week, Katie
On Thanksgiving day, a new little dog entered our lives. She came with the name Molly, but that was not working out for me, so we renamed her Rosie. She needed a new home because she had recently lost her person to old age. I told her family that we would have her on a trial basis for a week and then would let them know if she was going to work out for our family. I can usually decide about a big dog in a couple of hours, but a small dog, I was not so sure. Well, after she worked through some poopy issues, I knew that I could not let this sweet little dog go anywhere else. She is about the same age as Shawnie, approximately 9 years old: a silly little mix of a chihuahua and some sort of terrier. Some people say she looks like a tootsie roll: she does.
Rosie, like Shawnie, has a healing power of her own, though I would have never expected such a big heart in a little dog: she is smaller even than the chihuahua boston terrier mix we had when we were first married. Rosie loves to cuddle: when I lay on the floor in the sunshine, she will stand on my back within a few moments and shortly thereafter will lay down on my back. She loves our little boy and since she has recently re-remembered how to play, she often asks him to play with her: it is sooo adorable. She sleeps in her crate at night, lets us know when somebody is at the door and tries to play with the cat from time to time.
It is true that God places pets (angels) in our lives when we need them, even if we do not know that we need them and even if we are not sure at first that we will love them: at first, she looked pretty ugly to me, but now she is what Ann Voskamp calls "ugly beautiful!" (Oh yeah, to anyone reading, I totally recommend the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp: a new favorite!!!). If you are seeking a dog, I encourage you to not pass up ones that seem not to be what you would normally choose: look carefully into the eyes each dog that you consider, and you will know. Yea for the small dog with a heart full of love!!!
Best of love to all of you this week, Katie
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Floyd
On Thursday, the most beautiful day of last week, my friend, PM and I went for a drive, and we were going to also go for a hike, but the snow levels were lower than normal, so our hike was postponed.
Before we came to the lookout point where we ate our lunch, we drove through a darling town that I am definately going to revisit soon. It was healing being among the big trees, similar to the elevation I grew up in. We continued along our drive, enjoying the snow on the rocks in the river and the manmade waterfall.
Soon, we arrived at our lunch spot with a spectacular view of an amazing mountain I have never ever seen in my life: I could hardly believe it was so beautiful!!! We were just getting ready to eat our lunch when a lady pulled up to photograph the beautiful snow covered mountain.
I felt drawn to talk to her; and then I realized that she had a dog with her. Will you believe it?!! Another Pit, though this one was half Gordon Setter as well, with the name of Floyd. Who names a dog Floyd?, I wondered, but did not have to wait long to find out, as if his owner heard my unspoken question. She likes the band Pink Floyd, and since her dog has pinkish brown freckles on his ears, she named him Floyd.
She adopted him at an animal shelter as a baby: that was six years ago. Since that time, she has been through a lot. The hardest thing being the sudden death of her husband due to unexplained health problems two years ago. Speaking of Floyd, she said that "he has really stepped up to the plate and that he has been there every step of the way." I really admired this woman who was not originally from the area we were visiting but bought a "fixer upper" in the area with her husband before he passed away with the intent that they would live out their retired lives in relative peace, far away from the busy city. So now she lives with her dog, (as her two grown daughters continue to live in the city), driving around in search of fall foliage and beautiful scenery. How I desired to offer her the gospel in all of its fullness, yet hoped that the brief conversation we had would somehow plant a seed.
I came to admire the lady we met as we talked about her life and her dog, who reminded me so much of my Malden who passed away two and a half years ago. Also a silly mix with his very own pesonality, and wise beyond my comprehension, he would look at me and listen to conversations with the same intensity as Floyd did with our new friend.
Also on this trip, I came to realize how much my friend PM and I have in common: loving to visit new places, hike, be in nature (rivers and lakes, big trees) and how we don't have to wait for anyone: we can just go. Just like our new friend and Floyd.
May you all be blessed this week with joy, clarity and truth. Meet a new dog this week!
With sincere gratitude for the dogs that touch our lives,
Katie
Before we came to the lookout point where we ate our lunch, we drove through a darling town that I am definately going to revisit soon. It was healing being among the big trees, similar to the elevation I grew up in. We continued along our drive, enjoying the snow on the rocks in the river and the manmade waterfall.
Soon, we arrived at our lunch spot with a spectacular view of an amazing mountain I have never ever seen in my life: I could hardly believe it was so beautiful!!! We were just getting ready to eat our lunch when a lady pulled up to photograph the beautiful snow covered mountain.
I felt drawn to talk to her; and then I realized that she had a dog with her. Will you believe it?!! Another Pit, though this one was half Gordon Setter as well, with the name of Floyd. Who names a dog Floyd?, I wondered, but did not have to wait long to find out, as if his owner heard my unspoken question. She likes the band Pink Floyd, and since her dog has pinkish brown freckles on his ears, she named him Floyd.
She adopted him at an animal shelter as a baby: that was six years ago. Since that time, she has been through a lot. The hardest thing being the sudden death of her husband due to unexplained health problems two years ago. Speaking of Floyd, she said that "he has really stepped up to the plate and that he has been there every step of the way." I really admired this woman who was not originally from the area we were visiting but bought a "fixer upper" in the area with her husband before he passed away with the intent that they would live out their retired lives in relative peace, far away from the busy city. So now she lives with her dog, (as her two grown daughters continue to live in the city), driving around in search of fall foliage and beautiful scenery. How I desired to offer her the gospel in all of its fullness, yet hoped that the brief conversation we had would somehow plant a seed.
I came to admire the lady we met as we talked about her life and her dog, who reminded me so much of my Malden who passed away two and a half years ago. Also a silly mix with his very own pesonality, and wise beyond my comprehension, he would look at me and listen to conversations with the same intensity as Floyd did with our new friend.
Also on this trip, I came to realize how much my friend PM and I have in common: loving to visit new places, hike, be in nature (rivers and lakes, big trees) and how we don't have to wait for anyone: we can just go. Just like our new friend and Floyd.
May you all be blessed this week with joy, clarity and truth. Meet a new dog this week!
With sincere gratitude for the dogs that touch our lives,
Katie
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