Comparison & Joy

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Tuesday Tell All - The Affects of Kindness

“We may think there is little of interest or importance in what we personally say or do – but it is remarkable how many of our families, as we pass on down the line, are interested in all that we do and all that we say” 

~ Spencer W. Kimball

I've been running another blog for over two years, it's called Tuesday Tell All, and I've decided to incorporate it into this one, so I can be more organized.... hopefully. This was the reason for it:

In the last few years both of my parents have passed away, with my father being the most recent in, Feb 2009. There have been key events, like getting married and having babies, that have happened since my mum passed away six years ago, and there were so many questions that I had for her especially during my pregnancy, that I never thought to ask. This blog was created to give suggestions for topics that could be included as part of my personal or family history, and hopefully yours. I will post a new topic every week. Feel free to leave comments with your thoughts about the subject on this blog, but more importantly, simply record or share your answers in any way you wish. You can see the original 'Tuesday Tell All' blog that this blog is inspired by, by clicking here.

So, without further ado, here is this week's topic:

Share a moment that you will never forget when someone has shown kindness to you, or that you have done something for someone else that has affected you.

Leave Time For Love

‎"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

~Mother Teresa~

Enjoy the Little Things

I heard this quote in RS today, and I LOVE LOVE LOVED it!

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you make look back and realize they were the big things.” 

~Robert Brault

How Do You Read The Scriptures?

“Do you read the scriptures, my brethren and sisters as though you were writing them a thousand, two thousand, or five thousand years ago? Do you read them as though you stood in the place of the man who wrote them? If you do not feel thus, it is your privilege to do so, that you may be as familiar with the Spirit and meaning of the written word of God as you are with your daily walk and conversation.” 
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 7:333)

Freebie Friday - 'I Prefer to Laugh' 5x7 Printable

I saw this on another blog and thought, 'hey, this is a great quote, and a great idea', so my plan is every Friday to post a freebie for you, it will usually be a quote or picture of some sort. I thought this one would make an inexpensive gift for someone, especially when put in a frame from the dollar store!

Click HERE for the download. Thank you Bloggin' with Bobbi!

Family Happiness

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses."

~Joyce Brothers

There is No Such Thing as Done

“We need to thoughtfully allocate our resources of time, income, and energy. I would like to let you in on a little secret. Some of you have already learned it. If you haven’t, it’s time you knew. No matter what your family needs are or your responsibilities in the Church, there is no such thing as “done.” There will always be more we can do. There is always another family matter that needs attention, another lesson to prepare, another interview to conduct, another meeting to attend. We just need to be wise in protecting our health and in following the counsel that President Hinckley has given often to just do the best that we can.


“The key, it seems to me, is to know and understand your own capabilities and limitations and then to pace yourself, allocating and prioritizing your time, your attention, and your resources to wisely help others, including your family, in their quest for eternal life.”

M. Russell Ballard, “O Be Wise,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 17–20

Don't Fritter Away Your Lives

"It is necessary to prepare, to plan, so that we don't fritter away our lives. Without a goal, there can be no real success. The best definition of success I have ever found goes something like this: Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. Someone has said the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never crossing the goal line."

Thomas S. Monson, "Three Gates Only You Can Open," New Era, Aug. 2008, 2, 4

I Love These Eyes!

This is just a thought I want to write down. Recently I have played a little game with my 3-year old son, basically, I'll touch his eyes and say "I love these eyes", then touch his nose and say "I love this nose", then his cheeks, and say "I love these cheeks", and I carry on until I've covered all of him. He always has a big smile on his face when I do it to him. Anyway, after a couple of days on playing our little game, I caught him in the chair stroking his arms saying "I love these arms", then onto his tummy saying "I love this tummy", you can probably guess how happy that made me as a parent to see my little man loving the skin he's in. The last quote I posted on here was about instilling a strong identity in your children and I really believe that is so important, because if children know they're loved, it's so much easier for them to love themselves, and then it makes it a whole lot easier for them to love others, and the cycle continues.

Today would be a great day to show and express love to those you do, too often (speaking for me) I assume that love is known, but why leave doubt when you can leave your sure witness:).

Strong Identity

 

"Create meaningful family bonds that give your children an identity stronger than what they can find with their peer group or at school or anyplace else. This can be done through family traditions for birthdays, for holidays, for dinnertime, and for Sundays."
('What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest', M. Russell Ballard)

Where Did The Years Go?

Thomas S. Monson:
"Near the end of his life, one father looked back on how he had spent his time on earth. An acclaimed, respected author of numerous scholarly works, he said, ‘I wish I had written one less book and taken my children fishing more often.’ Time passes quickly. Many parents say that it seems like yesterday that their children were born. Now those children are grown, perhaps with children of their own. ‘Where did the years go?’ they ask. We cannot call back time that is past, we cannot stop time that now is, and we cannot experience the future in our present state. Time is a gift, a treasure not to be put aside for the future but to be used wisely in the present.”

Expressions of Love

Incase you haven't seen it:)

Parable of the Pencil

My friend shared this on her Facebook page yesterday, and I loved it, so here it is:

Parable of the Pencil

1. You will be able to do great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held by someone higher than you.
2. It is ok to experience a painful sharpening from time to time.
3. The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside. Be men and women of honor, relying on your inner core values and morals.
4. You will make mistakes. Everyone does. That is why pencils have an eraser.
5. Make your mark. Make a difference wherever you go.

A Beautiful Landscape

‎"Be willing to look at others without judging, projecting, or telling yourself a story about them. Be neutral, as if you were looking at a beautiful landscape. Simply observe and learn."

~Sonia Choquette

Peace Comes Through Hope

"Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope."

--James E. Faust, "Hope, an Anchor of the Soul", Ensign, Nov 1999, 59

Weakness Into Strength

"We should not be discouraged or depressed by our shortcomings. No one is without weakness. As part of the divine plan, we are tested to see whether we master weakness or let weakness master us. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: "Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong" (Ether 12:37). But wishing for strength won't make us strong. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity."
--Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, Aug. 1995, 19

That's Not What Ships Are For

A ship is safe in harbor - but that's not what ships are for.

-John A. Shedd

You Are Here Meaningfully

"Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny--he has something to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidentally--you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you."

-Osho

Your Happily Ever After

"In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwsie".

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

August Visiting Teaching Message

Another genius idea from MishMashMom for Visiting Teaching this month. 30 days to go!
August's message is titled:

A Society of Holy Women

Sister Silvia A. Allred, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency said, "Relief Society helps us increase our faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families, and seek out and help those in need.

The work of Relief Society is holy, and doing holy work creates holiness in us."

I used an 11x5x2 white pillow box, wrapped a 12x2 inch piece of my favorite fabric around it and then some twine, small sticks, and a note that says "If we stick together, we can do great things!" and inside included the message, a yummy ice cream recipe, a glue stick, and some sticks of gum.

If you don't have a pillow box, you could just print the message and tie any variety of sticks to the front with some twine or ribbon...here are some ideas for "sticky" things to tie to the front:

• Actual sticks
• Glue sticks
• Sticks of gum
• Pixie Sticks
• A roll of tape
• Candy sticks {you know like candy canes but different flavors...}
• Stickers
• Chapstick {Thanks, Jenn!}
• Post-it notes
• etc.

Happy Visiting Teaching!

 

I feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful, beautiful sisterhood, and am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to be a visiting teacher.