Here's a couple more pictures from January 28, 2009

 

Blessings

 
 

I am truly thankful for all of my blessings. Five blessings that I am thankful for are my beautiful children. This picture was taken at Salt Lake International Airport on January 28, 2009. The day that Abram returned home from serving an LDS Mission to the Chile, Osorno Mission. Abram is 21, Joshua is 17, Lyssa is 16, Nathan is 14 and Anna is 12. All of them are doing great in school and are growing strong testimonies of the gospel. They enjoy football, soccer, volleyball, singing, shopping, fishing and camping. We sure have fun together and I am thankful that Abram took the opportunity to serve a full time mission. Both Abram and Josh are Eagle Scouts. Nate is currently a Life Scout. Lyssa and Anna are working on their Young Womanhood Recognition Awards. I have so many blessings to be grateful for. Kelly is another special blessing in my life. We will celebrate our 25th Anniversary this November!! What an amazing adventure our family has had so far!

The Butterfly Effect

I recently read an excerpt from the book "The Butterfly Effect" by Andy Andrews.
In it he describes the theory of the Butterfly Effect discovered by Edward Lorenz. In 1963, he made a presentation to the New York Academy of Sciences and was literally laughed out of the room. His theory called the butterfly effect, stated that a butterfly could flap its wings and set air molecules in motion that in turn would move other air molecules - which would then move additional air molecules - eventually becoming able to influence weather patterns on the other side of the planet. For years this theory remained an interesting myth. In the mid 1990s, however, the butterfly effect was proved to be accurate and was given the status of "law" in the scientific community.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if everything that we do--every minute of every day-- made a positive difference in our lives and the lives of those around us as does the effect of the flapping of butterfly wings? I am reminded of a song sung by the children called "My Heavenly Father Loves Me".

Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav’nly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him rev’rently
For all his creations, of which I’m a part.
Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.

Words and music: Clara W. McMaster, 1904

May we all remember that every little thing we do effects someone or something for good or bad. We have the ability to make a difference in our own unique way. What difference will you make? How will you be an influence for good?

LOVE

LOVE is an amazing thing. It cannot be purchased or sold. It can be cherished and shared with one or many. The more it is shared the more it touches the heart. Only when we give it away do we truly understand the full measure of it in our lives. Love is a feeling that penetrates to our very soul when nurtured.

Change

Have you ever asked yourself why things have to change? I know that I have many times. I am one of those that really like things to stay the same. It gives me a sense of security and safety. The hard part of the scenario is that when you stay the same, when things around you stay the same there is no opportunity for you to be better, to break out of the status quo, to make a difference in the world around you. We tell ourselves that "I can't do that" or "No way, that is too hard."

When we think a little more like the Little Engine that Could--"I Think I Can, I Think I Can"....it will soon turn into "I Thought I Could! I Thought I Could!" When we look at the changes that come our way (either by our choosing or by the choices of those around us) with faith and determination to make something good come of them we empower ourselves to be better, to break out of the status quo and to make a difference in the world around us. By doing a little here and a little there we can climb to the top of that mountain, and on the way into the valley say with humility and newly gained confidence, "I Thought I Could! I Thought I Could!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLKV-qqxIck&feature=related

Consider the Lillies

I heard a talk recently that really made me think how important each one of us are. There are times in each of our lives that we have a low self esteem and feel that we are inadequate or not worth much. The speaker lovingly quoted the following verses from the New Testament in Matthew 6: 25-34



25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
(New Testament Matthew 6:25 - 34)


God loves each of us and He will take care of us. If the fowls of the air and the lillies of the field have needs and are taken care of, God will take care of us also. He knows all of our needs as well (vs. 32). All He asks of us is to seek His kingdom first and His righteousness and "all these things shall be added unto you."