Conference Contest!!

Every 6 months, the LDS church holds a worldwide conference. Instead of attending our regular church services on this weekend, we're invited to listen to the living prophet and the apostles of the church give direction via satellite broadcast.

It's always uplifting, and never fails to inspire me to do better. I also find that when I listen to these people speak with my heart open it's as if they are talking just to me. I hear answers to my problems, and find comfort in their stories and examples.

In short, it's several hours of time that really rest my soul, and then strengthen it.

Anyway, I'm always looking for The Quote. If you're a regular listener, you know what I mean. Usually there are one or two particular gems that are meaningful enough to speak to your heart, and concise enough that you could print it up in vinyl lettering and put it in a little niche of a wall somewhere that you will see it often.


So ...the contest is to help me find The Quote.

Just come back Saturday or Sunday - or both, and tell me what your favorite quotes are so far.

The first person to enter the winning quote will get a lovely gift box full of


Not just regular prizes, either. We're talking FABULOUS. (Which I would do all glittery again, but I don't think I can.)

Sessions can be internet streamed here:

Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5, 2008
10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. MDT both days, and each lasts about 2 hours. Hopefully you can catch at least an hour here or there.


Previous winning quotes:

"You reach the greatest heights while on your knees."

“There is no one perfect way to be a good mother.”

"No success can compensate for failure in the home."

and my personal favorite:

"No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse."

What have been some of your other past favorites?

This Guy Rocks

I went to the LDS General Relief Society meeting last night, and I have to tell you, if you're looking for inspiration, here's the place to go. President Uchtdorf's talk was incredible, and all about finding happiness. (And that German accent is killer.)


If you missed it, go here. Just turn it on and listen while you do your dishes or something. It's completely worth the time.

PS - They don't have it broken down yet talk by talk, so this is the link for the whole meeting - which was great, but if you're looking for president Uchtdorf's talk, it starts at 55 minutes, and is about 23 minutes long. I promise, it's worth it.

Dear Lauren and Ted,

One of my imaginary and very wonderful blogging friends, Lauren, got married today in the Mesa Arizona temple. So I've been sending her wishes for all the happiness and joy in the world!! I had a chance to contribute my advice to a little wedding present for her, and I thought I'd share the post I wrote, in honor of her special day. Congratulations, Lauren!! ( well, and Ted, too, of course!)

Dear Lauren and Ted,

How is it possible to be so excited for and interested in the lives of people I've never met? Why the magical world of blogging, of course!

Reading Lauren's blog for the past year has been like a Stephanie Meyer novel I can't put down, even between chapters, because I know something exciting is around the corner. And now here we are at the wedding chapter. How did that happen so fast?


I think my best tip for keeping perspective in your marriage is to find a picture of each of you when you were in grade school, and frame them, and put them in your bedroom somewhere.

Sometimes when I'm really angry about something The Brain has done, I go to my room, and I almost always see his picture there from when he was in 3rd grade. It gives me a chance to think about that little boy, with some definite mischief in his eyes, but certainly no malice... and it helps me remember who he really is. He doesn't try to hurt me, or go out of his way to be unthoughtful. Sometimes, he just doesn't think the way I do (thank heaven for that!).

And sometimes when I look at a picture of he and I together, I can still see the little boy inside there - who Heavenly Father loves so much, and would like me to try to be patient with, and try to work things out.

The pictures just make it easier for me to remember that we're both still growing. We're doing the best we can, and it's a good idea to cut each other some slack.

It's no small feat to be worthy to marry in the temple. It's a huge accomplishment that requires goals and focus. The next phase of your life will be the same way. Set goals, focus, and remember not just who you are, but who you both are. You can do anything!

JustUs 1980something

Congratulations from the bottom of my heart!
Love,
Randi

I Don't Know If I Could

Want an eye opening read?

Daily Bread

by Emily Milner

Segullah Fall 2007

I have no idea why this article made such a huge impression on me, or why it stays with me. I've never been to Equador. Nor have I ever been on a mission myself. And yet I go back and read it every now and then because it speaks so eloquently about things I take for granted every day.

This post just draws me in and makes me want to gag and cry and laugh at the same time. Not necessarily the description of your optimal spiritual experience. But there you go.

Come back and tell me what you think.

My Multiple Personalities

I have multiple personalities. Well, they're not so much my personalities, as personalities I "borrow" from other people.
I should say I have access to multiple personalities. That's probably more accurate.

I don't remember when I actually started borrowing personalities, but I've been doing it for some time now. See, I get into a situation that calls for a trait I don't possess, or at least I don't believe I'm good at, and my mind wanders off a bit - thinking about who I know that would do really well in that situation. And then? I channel that person.

It's actually kind of amazing, the stuff I can do with other people's personalities.

See, I'm a total introvert. Really, if I had the choice, most nights I would sit at home and read or do something that doesn't make me interact with people. But since I work with the young women at church, there are lots of nights where not only do I have to go somewhere, but I have to go and interact. Be uplifting. Be interested in people's lives. Listen. Ask questions.

And because sometimes I don't want to do that, I tend to think of the most charming, gregarious woman I know, and I sort of borrow her charm, and pretty soon I'm over at the church laughing with the girls. Most of the time I don't really notice when her personality leaves, and mine kicks in. Which I guess means that I actually do have outgoingness in me somewhere, it's just hard to access.

Yesterday, in a difficult situation at church, I caught myself thinking,

"How can I talk my way through this? I wish DeeDee were here. She is so good at being articulate and firm."

And then I took a deep breath, and I channeled DeeDee. I just sort of let her take over, and I did exactly what I thought she would do. And you know what? DeeDee did a fantastic job talking to the right people about a sticky little problem I've got going on with my calling.

I have a friend who is extremely compassionate, and non judgmental. Often when I'm feeling frustrated with someone, I try to access that friend's personality in my mind, and let it take over. It's amazing, the kinds of caring and nice things I can say when I'm using her personality. And it doesn't take long before I really do feel more compassion for the person in need.

I also have people I channel who are ultra-organized, forceful and stubborn, and even one who knows how to NOT BURN THE GARLIC BREAD AGAIN. (Let's just say that HER appearances are few and far between.)

I realize, of course, that there is One person that I should truly try to emulate. But sometimes the idea of a perfect example is a little overwhelming to me.

And so I feel pretty lucky to know so many wonderful, talented women, who let me learn from an example that's a little closer to perfection than I am. Their examples point the way for me to get that much closer to my Savior.

Thanks to all the wonderful women in my life, for letting me ride your coattails for a little while.


And if you find your personality is missing, I'll get it back to you as soon as I can, I promise!

(you did write your name on it, didn't you?)

Gone Home

I thought I would be sad, and it would hit me really hard.
But all I can think about is this:




And this:



And the celebration that's going on somewhere else.

President Hinckley, I'll miss you more than words can say, but I know without a doubt, that you are where you belong.

Thank-you for everything. I'll see you "soon"!

The Power of Words

Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are.
~Author Unknown

Sunday I got to teach my 16-18 year old Laurels at church. And even though I LOVE them and I love teaching them, the topic I had chosen was a little tricky.

I taught about the power of words and kindness (or unkindness) and the effects we may not even know we have on others. Some of the things I'd witnessed happening over the last couple of months needed to change.
All the little jabs that end with "just kidding" may make people laugh at the time, but they have a really effect on people's lives. And sometimes that effect is very long lasting.

I really tried to emphasize the fact that we have no idea what is really going on in people's lives. Even those who look to us like everything is perfect - or at least fine - have heartbreaks and fears and disappointments, and we need to spend our time building each other up.

I think as followers of Christ, one of our biggest responsibilities is to help others feel His love, and the way we do that is by sharing what we know of it. Kinda hard to do if people don't want to be around you because they feel put down or gossiped about or unimportant.

It's just something that made me think a little bit more about the way I treat others. Especially when I feel impatient, or tired. I've made a new commitment to take a deep breath and try really hard to think before I talk.

Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves
something and has lost something.
~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Sabbath Activities

When I talked to Puff last Sunday, she mentioned that she had gone to church. (yea!) I was so proud of her for getting in there and figuring things out in a new place.

She did mention, though, that she was struggling a little bit with the REST of the sabbath day.

Now in our house, we have worked to make Sunday a day to grow closer to the Savior, and to our families. We try to rest our spirits from our regular worldly cares, so that we can concentrate on improving those relationships.

With that in mind, we've eliminated the birthday parties, sports, yardwork, and even recreation that some people choose to fill their Sundays, in favor of making the day a more restful day. We go to church, and then we try to find things to do together. We sleep, we watch uplifting movies (pretty much anything rated G is OK), we bake, we play the piano, we eat dinner outside - we study our scriptures and prepare our Sunday School lessons, etc for the upcoming week. No loud music, no crazy running around.

...Well, no crazy running around until about 7pm, when it sort of hits us that tomorrow is Monday, and, well, we have to actually be ready for the week.

(Yeah, gotta get better at that Sunday Night thing....)

Anyway -
It's been my experience that when we really try to make our Sundays a day to recharge our spirits, the rest of the whole week is more productive, and more positive. I don't know exactly what that's about, but I REALLY, REALLY know it's been true for us.

So, back to Puff - sitting in a dorm of loud music, people swearing, throwing footballs, blaring MTV, (insert cheesy movie dorm scene here)...whatever college kids do on their "off" day. I'm so pleased that she's already recognized the problem, and would LOVE to give her some ideas. I've been trying to think of things that she can do there in the dorm, that would be appropriate for Sunday, and yet not really single her out as a weirdo.

** Hey, in my dorm we listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, stayed in our church clothes, and either read scriptures and lessons, or sat around telling faith promoting experiences we've had in our lives. -- I'm guessing that in any other dorms, besides BYU, that would have made us freakishly close to weirdos!

I do WANT her to be different than everyone else, but does she have to be labeled a "religious freak" to be different? Moderation is good in just about everything...

SO Here's what I've come up with SO FAR:

Update her blog (personal history)
Journal
Write letters
* grandparents
* family and friends
* missionaries
* thank-yous for any packages she might receive
Study her Institute or Sunday school or Relief Society lesson
Work on her calling (when she gets one)
Watch uplifting movies - Current and Classic
Do something nice for someone else.
Invite someone who needs a friend to eat lunch in the cafeteria.
Paint, draw, creative writing...

Any other suggestions or uplifting stories about keeping the Sabbath Day holy would be more than welcome at this point.