RATTLESNAKE VENOM and THE POWER OF FORGIVENSS

I know this is quite long--but this is a chapter from my Grandfather's book and I have been wanting to post it forever!

There are treasures of truth and profound insight in here. I have read this many times and never get tired of the amazing stories and reminders. Whether for your own life or you become inspired to share with someone you love--the truths are profound.

Forgiveness is a freeing enabling agent. Shackles are crumbled, bondage broken, and where darkness once consumed, the light of peace delivers.

I LOVE this!!! Enjoy!

Dissolving Resentments and Achieving Forgiveness

(To Him That Believeth: Claiming Heaven’s Blessings. By: Frederick & June Babbel)

                Accumulated resentments are warping or destroying the lives of millions of people in this land and in other countries around the world. Resentments are insidious by nature. They generally create greater havoc with the one who harbors them than with the person or persons against whom such resentment is focused.

                As long as we cling to resentments, we short-circuit the glorious regenerating power of forgiveness in our own lives and delay its benign influence in the lives of those against whom resentment is focused.

The Key to Well-Being

                In considering this vital subject, let us remember that love is the fulfilling of all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:40.) To overcome resentments requires Christlike love. Out of love grow gratitude, thanksgiving, kindness, tenderness, humility, meekness, joy, and, above all else, forgiveness. These are all godly virtues through which we can be lifted up. We can have increased light until there is not darkness in us. “… and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.” (D&C 88:67.) What a glorious promise!

                On the other hand, doubt, worry, anxiety, fear, hate, bickering, strife, disputation, contention, fault-finding, and resentments come from the evil one. They are on his side of the Line! They have no association with faith. They have no relevance with trust. They are the antithesis of love. Recall how the Apostle Paul emphasized this fact to Timothy: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7.)

                We cannot serve God and mammon! We cannot nurture seeds of distrust, seeds of suspicion, seeds of jealousy, and others, all of which stem from doubt. If we do, we deny ourselves the power of God athat can operate in and through us. We cannot serve two masters.

                Have you ever wondered why you did not receive a blessing you desired?

                Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold … there were fears in your hearts, and … this is the reason that ye did not receive. (D&C 67:3.)

                We must rid our minds, our thoughts, our feelings and our actions of all negative qualities. By entertaining or cultivating such negativity in our lives, we are opening the door to the adversary and relinquishing our diving strength and power to be used by him for his avowed purpose—our misery and ultimate destruction. (2 Nephi 2:27.)

               

The Power of Forgiveness               

                One day at the Church offices, I was walking down the hall when President Levi Edgar Young motioned for me to come into his office. As I entered he invited me to be seated and said, “Brother Babbel, if you have a few minutes I would like to share with you a lovely experience I have just had.”

                As I sat down he said, “Did you happen to notice that elderly gentleman whom I just helped into the elevator?” I replied affirmatively.

                Then President Young related to me the following experience. That man, who appeared to be in his eighties, had approached him earlier that afternoon, and President Young had detected from the man’s broken English that he was of Germanic origin.

                “Are you President Young?” he queried. “Levi Edgar Young?” came his next question. President Young responded affirmatively to both inquiries. “

                “Were you ever a missionary for your Church?” President Young informed him that he had been engaged in several missions.

                “Were you ever a missionary in Germany?”

                “Yes, I served a mission in Germany,“ came the reply. “In fact, that was my first mission. I was about nineteen years old.”

                “Did you ever labor in a city of Leipzig?”

                “yes, that was my first field of labor.”

                Then this elderly man continued: “Do you remember a time when you were tracting on the third floor of an apartment building? As you attempted to give a man on of your tracts and a brief message, he became very angry. He struck you, threw you down the stairs, and continued to maul you until you reached the street, where he left you lying in the gutter bruised and bleeding. Do you remember that?”

                President Young said that he had to ponder this question for some time before he could remember it.

                With tears coursing down his aged cheeks, this man dropped to his knees and pleaded: “President Young. I am that man. I have waited over fifty years for this day that I might come here and ask your forgiveness for what I did to you at that time. I did accept your message later and became a member of the Church. Since then I have tried to do what is right. I have come here now to ask your forgiveness.”

                After gaining control of his own feelings, President young responded, “Of course, dear Brother. I forgave you. Don’t you remember that I turned and forgave you while I was lying in the gutter?”

                Then President Young continued: “Brother Babbel, because I honestly forgave that man as sincerely as Jesus Forgave those who maligned him while he hung on the cross, the memory of that even had been taken from me completely. Until this good Brother brought it to my attention, it had never crossed my mind.”

                Then he shared with me this sterling counsel: “This is one of the great lessons we have to learn in life. The Lord has said, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.’ (D&C 64:10.) It is pleasing to him if we forgive the moment that such an incident occurs.

                “When this is done,” he concluded, “the load is lifted from you and the healing influence can go from you to make the matter right. On the other hand, if that person who was guilty of the offense does not seek forgiveness, he will carry the burden that will weigh him down and become more distressing with each passing year. What compassion I feel for this elderly brother who has lived with his tormented conscience for over fifty years!”

The Curse of Resentments

                Later when I was living in the Portland, Oregon, area, an urgent call came from a valued friend who had been bedfast for nearly a year. Now his condition was critical.

                When I reached his home, I found him resting on his front room couch. His wife was in the adjoining dining room, ironing his burial clothes.

                He told me that his family doctor had informed him earlier that afternoon that his life was nearing its end and that it was now only a matter of a day or two, or perhaps a week at the most, until he would expire. Then he remarked: “The strange thing about this whole matter is that the doctors still do not know what is wrong with me. They just know that I am dying. Tonight I just felt that I wanted to visit with you before I prepare to meet my Maker.”

                While continuing our conversation, I received a divine insight as to what his real problem was. “Brother,” I responded, “I believe I know what is wrong.”

                He seemed started, but genuinely interested, as he urged, “Please tell me.”

                “You’ve had a number of very serious hurts and disappointments in your life,” I said, “that have filled you with bitter resentment. Many of these have never been resolved.”

                He seemed incredulous and somewhat apprehensive as he inquired, “What do you know about them?”

                “Not a thing,” I replied, “unless you tell me about them. I only perceive that you have been deeply hurt many times. Yet you have never forgiven those who were responsible for these offenses.”

                “Well, I must admit,” he countered, “that I have had some pretty bitter experiences. But since I accepted the gospel, I believe that I could forgive those who were responsible if they asked for my forgiveness.”

                “But that is not how the principle of forgiveness works,” I said. “When any serious grievance takes place, the Lord requires us to forgive the guilty party the moment the infraction occurs, if possible.”

                I related to my friend the experience that President Levi Edgar Young had shared with me earlier. I could tell that he was beginning to get the message. I inquired whether or not he had ever visited the rattlesnake farm near Salem, Oregon, where they extract venom and process small cans of rattlesnake meat for venturesome gourmets. He said that he had heard of the farm but had not been there.

                “Recently I heard of an experience that was conducted there,” I said. “One of the caretakers took one of his large rattlesnakes and put a forked stick behind its head so it could not coil to strike. Then he began to tantalize it with small chicks and other food. The snake kept trying to coil unsuccessfully, and venom dripped quite freely form its fangs. Within minutes the snake stiffened and died.

                “The caretaker then commented that a rattlesnake can stand just about anything except its own venom. When it cannot discharge the venom as fast as it is produced, it dies of its own accumulated poison.”

                Then I suggested to my friend that his own condition somewhat paralleled that of the snake: “When you have any resentment, hurt, bitterness, or hatred in your heart, regardless of the cause, if you do not get rid of it at once through the spirit of forgiveness, the hatred will continue to fester and grow and increase, since that is the basic Law of the Harvest. Unless contained, these negative feelings will finally consume and destroy the person who harbors them. This is what has been troubling you and what, even now, has brought you to the point of death.”

                My friend began to sob unashamedly. In the process he removed his nightshirt and showed me his bare back. I had never seen a back like this, not even in the concentration camps in Europe. Across his back were large criss-crossed scars that were scabbed over with ugly flesh. Some of them were so deep a person could almost lay his arm in them.

                Then he related to me how his father used to come home occasionally in a mean, drunken stupor. His temper would flare up and he would take a heavy whip from the wall and flog whatever was  within reach. This whip, a “cat o’ nine tails,” was leather with several strands. At the end of each strand was fastened a large brass ball with metal spikes that could tear the hide off an animal.

                On one occasion my friend was the victim. Just fourteen years old at the time, he was whipped into unconsciousness. How long he lay on the floor he did not know, but as he regained consciousness, he found himself lying in a pool of his own blood, with his back fairly torn to shreds. He managed somehow to crawl from his house, and he vowed he would never return.

                At this point I interrupted, “You’ve kept that promise, haven’t you?”

                “Yes,” he replied.

                “You’ve never forgiven your father for that flogging, have you?” I next inquired.

                “No, I guess not,” was his reply. “But if dad were to ask for my forgiveness, I think I could forgive him now.”

                “I’m concerned,” I said, “that you still don’t understand the underlying principle. You have had the divine responsibility of forgiving your father from the moment that you regained consciousness, so that the healing power of forgiveness could come into your own life and relieve you of this terrible burden. In doing so, you might also have started the process of healing for your father as well. But because you have continued to nurture this resentment, it has festered and grown until it is literally consuming you. In addition, I feel you still have a number of other resentments against others that likewise have never been resolved. These are adding to your burden and hastening your untimely death.”

                My friend then recalled numerous other cases throughout Canada, Montana, and the Pacific Northwest, none of which had been resolved.

                “Where does your father live?” I asked next.

                “The last I knew, he was living in North Dakota,” my friend responded. “I haven’t see him or been in touch with him for over forty years.”

                When we finished talking I invited him to sit upon a chair so I could give him a special blessing and outline for him what must be done. In the blessing he was instructed to get out of bed the following morning, take his wife, and drive to his father’s home in North Dakota, with the assurance that his father was still alive. He was also to drive to the homes of all the other people against whom he had resentments, no matter where they lived.”       

                In each case he was to ask for their forgiveness for having harbored resentments against them. “Don’t go there and try to persuade them to beg for your forgiveness,” I admonished. “Rather, your assignment is to ask their forgiveness for your having failed to make a reconciliation these many years.” The blessing outlined how he was to ask for such forgiveness. In addition, I blessed him with the necessary strength to accomplish this task successfully.

                About four or five weeks later my friend stopped his car in our driveway. As he stepped out of his car, I greeted him with, “Brother, you’re a well man now, aren’t you?”

                “Yes,” he responded, “I haven’t felt this good in many years.”

                He then began to relate to me his experiences. He told me about meeting his aged father, who was now in his eighties and nearly blind. When his father came to the door, he inquired in his usual gruff manner, “Who are you?”

                My friend informed him that he was his son. Still rather brusquely, his father responded, “Well, what do you want now?”

                My friend answered: “Dad, I have come home to ask for your forgiveness. For years I have held a bitter resentment against you for what you did to me when I was a young man. I had no right to feel resentment toward you. Can you forgive me for holding a grudge all these years?”

                He said that his father looked stunned for a moment. Then he broke down and cried, threw his arms around his son, and sobbed, “Son, I’m the one who should have asked for your forgiveness, but I didn’t have the courage. Can you forgive me?”

                Then my friend added: “You know, we made a complete reconciliation. The spirit of peace and forgiveness flooded both of our lives. I had a similar experience in every home I visited, as you directed me to do in my blessing. Today I am a happy, healthy man. I am at peace with myself and with my Lord.”

                Within six months my friend was the third-highest sales producer for the large life insurance company he represented. Just before Christmas he and his wife were called to go on a special mission to New Zealand. More than thirty years later, as far as I am aware, he is still very much alive, enjoying life and serving his fellowmen—this man who was doomed to die in 1951!

Challenges and Benefits      

                These events have had a profound influence in my own life and in the lives of many others. This principle of forgiveness is so vital that we should be overjoyed to put it into daily use.

                When we really understand and practice the principle of forgiveness as the Lord outlined it, we will be doubly blessed. First, we will be freed from the burden of accumulated resentments that continually multiply and fester when harbored in our hearts. Second, we will activate the principle of forgiveness in our own lives. Unless and until we forgive others, the divine law specifies that there is no forgiveness for us, for we must be measured by the precedent we have established in our forgiveness of others or in our own lack of forgiveness. Third, we will hasten the principle’s purifying influence in the lives oft those against whom our resentment is focused.

                This, then, is the standard by which we shall be measured:

                … ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother has trespassed standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the great sin.

                I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. (D&C 64:9-109.)

                As in most matters in life, we set the standard for our own forgiveness. Since we all need forgiveness in abundance, we should welcome the opportunity to lavish it upon every living soul with whom we come in contact, including our bitterest enemies!

                No one can have a happier life unless this principle is practiced daily to open the doors for our own forgiveness and to bring about the healing needed in those who have been guilty of the offense in the first place. Unless and until we do, the greater sin remains with us since we are deliberately shortchanging both parties involved.

                In a very real sense, harboring resentments can contribute to our own untimely death as well as the misery of those against whom such resentments are focused.

                …

(Mr. Dashing took this shot. I quite love it!)

 All because of Him...! God has a plan.

 Happiness is the heart that forgives.

Grateful for a God that prepares a way.

WHEELCHAIR--OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE!

Sent for the one.

Brother Travis Storey got up and bore a beautiful testimony Sunday. Truly God is mindful of each of us—of “the one.”

Travis is a busy father of seven. On top of his Dad duties, his amazing wife Kiji has been fighting for her life against cancer. Her battle in and of itself is a miracle. She and her devotion to God even in the midst of the storm is a great inspiration to all who know her.

Travis is finishing his dental program and working with clients up in Salt Lake. All that is on the Storey family’s plate makes his morning routine all the more admirable. 

Travis has the habit going to the gym. Before the gym (which he goes to in the early morning hours) he finds a church parking lot where he parks and spends some time reading the scriptures and in prayer.

Recently during in his morning routine, Travis had an impression to go to a specific location before going to the gym. He followed that impression and found himself driving near the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon, which is nowhere near the gym. As he drove, he passed what he thought was a wheelchair. The road he was on did not have any sidewalks, and it was dark, cold and windy outside. Travis wondered what a wheelchair was doing out in the middle of nowhere. 

Feeling that perhaps someone needed help, he turned his car around and started searching for the wheelchair he had seen. Sure enough, there was a person in the wheelchair. Travis could tell the person was in need, so he pulled his car over and asked what he could do for him. The story that unfolded is amazing.

Apparently this guy, I will call him Joe, had come with some friends into Provo to celebrate a friend’s birthday. They had a great time. But when the evening ended and the cars were loaded up, somehow Joe was left out of the head count. He had no way to contact his friends to say, “Hello, I am still here!”  Joe didn’t know anyone locally he could contact. He just knew he needed to get to Mount Pleasant to make his class the next day and he had no vehicle to get him there. 

So what did Joe do? The only thing he could do—he started to wheel himself in the direction of Mount Pleasant. (Note: Mount Pleasant is an hour away from Provo and up through a dangerous canyon.)

He had started his trek in Provo at 9 the previous night and had been wheeling towards his destination until Travis found him around 4:45 a.m. the next morning! Travis said Joe was only about three feet tall and due to a spinal condition wasn’t able to stand upright to straighten his back. He was not dressed properly for the cold and was found shivering. Having shorter arms, Joe moved himself by walking his feet along. With no sidewalks along the road, whenever a car came by, Joe would move his wheelchair off the road so as to not get hit by the passing vehicle. Joe had been praying for someone, anyone, to help him. 

Travis later found out that Joe is from California—which “just happens” (I write that in quotes, because nothing ever JUST happens!) to be the same state where Travis served his mission, and from Pleasanton, Travis’s favorite city of his mission. 

Joe served a mission at the MTC Call Center for two years, taking calls and working with referrals.  He described his experience there to be difficult, spending hour after hour, day after day in front of a computer screen taking phone calls for what seemed like a fruitless task.  When he found that out, Travis felt the need to testify to Joe that he (Travis) had had several referrals come through while on his mission from people who had contacted the Church through the MTC Call Center.  He felt that Joe needed to hear that the work he had done during those difficult 2 years planted seeds that missionaries from all over were able to harvest and that Travis had personally been able to baptize investigators in Pleasanton, CA, the very city where Joe was from.  Travis thanked Joe for all he had done on his mission. As his morning workout was traded for a trek up to Mount Pleasant, Travis continued talking with Joe as they made the ride together toward Mount Pleasant.

Travis relayed how we are all just like Joe.  We do not physically have a way of getting ourselves back “home.” We needed a Savior to provide the way, to provide the “vehicle” (namely repentance, forgiveness through a perfect Atonement and a resurrection which overcomes the sting of death) to help us make the trek back to Heavenly Father. Travis’s car was the “literal” vehicle for the determined and courageous Joe.

So it can be with all of us, with me! Who on the journey of life needs a “lift”?

On Sunday, Travis bore testimony that that he always studies the Book of Mormon and scriptures before he goes to the gym each morning because it is his “sacred time with … Heavenly Father,” when his mind is the sharpest and he can feel His presence the strongest. Travis said he has had many spiritual experiences and insights during that dedicated time, his spiritual exercise before his physical exercise.

Travis's experience with Joe made me think of a clip I watched where Elder David A. Bednar made a profound statement that has not left me since I heard it. This clip is excellent about an extraordinary thing that took place on the BYUI campus, but what he states at frame 4:02 has left me with a deep profound, lasting insight. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8hMhVE36M0

Did you catch that?!!! Elder Bednar was sent to England for the “one.” The conference and all the other large meetings were great add-ons, but God sent him--for the one!

Brother Storey was sent for the one!

God is mindful of each one. What a blessing and great opportunity is ours to go out daily seeking the ones whom God would have us find, the ones God would have us give a “lift” to with the means He has provided to bring that one just another step closer to their/our eternal destination. 

Seek the one.


HOW CAN I INCREASE MY SPIRITUAL EXERCISE?
Brother Storey was kind enough to share with me some things he has at the front of his study journal. The promises are clear for those who will take the Book of Mormon into their daily study. It has changed my life forever, and continues to bring me closer to Christ. I LOVE Brother's Storey's list and add my testimony to the truth of what he testified 100%! (Thank you Brother Storey for following through and sharing your story!)

President Ezra Taft Benson  It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance. (Ensign, Nov 1986, 4)

President Joseph Smith (Jr)  Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

1 Nephi 15:24  Nephi interpreting the vision of the tree of life to his brethren speaking of the iron rod.  “…it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.”

D&C 21:5-6  Revelation given to the prophet Joseph Smith, “for his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth”, “For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his names glory”

2 Nephi 32:3  Nephi’s words “feast upon the words of Christ: for behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”

I’ve noticed three things that occur when reading the book of Mormon prayerfully.  Number one on the list always occurs. The second and third don't always occur but do very often.
     1.    The presence of the spirit is abundant through all facets of my life that day.
     2.    I find principles come alive from off the page that I need to learn and which I can directly apply to an area of my life. [And I, Bryndi, would add that often the principles that have just come alive for me, God often places others on my path that are in need of and blessed by the exact same principles.]
     3.    Flashes of insight, ideas and bits of inspiration occur in my mind while reading that may have nothing to do with the story but non-the less have a purpose in my life in that moment. I have come to know through time that these aren’t random ideas and thoughts but are Gods words unto me that are precious and must be recorded.

I am grateful for wonderful friends who have the gift of reviewing and reworking words! Cindy, thank you!

Happiness is a date night with Mr. Dashing to Temple Square!

"I am now paying better attention to what I am singing"

I could not post this back on 8.13.13, but this was a sweet thought from my friend Hill--and today, I feel it needs to be posted.

"...my little guy has been super sick the last few days- teething led to an eat[ing] infection which led to throwing up and diarrhea - poor kid. The only way I have gotten him to calm down is by singing to him. Whether rocking him or laying in my bed as long as I sing he stops. That's not the crazy part, it can't just be any song, it has to be hymns. It has been a really cool experience because I have to open the hymns app on my phone, which doesn't have the notes, just the words. To read/sing the hymns has had a huge impact on me because I have really paid attention to the words of the songs and what I am singing. Many times the words to songs I have sung in church all the time have brought me to tears because I am now paying better attention to what I am singing."

 I couldn't help but think after reading Hill's awesome experience... was the baby sick so mom would sing to soothe, or was the baby sick so mom could have closer moments with God--the venue being words in the hymns?! :)

 Reminds me of what Elder Bednar just said this past conference:

"...blessing that comes to us [this was in reference to paying tithing, but I think blessings that come from a mother who seeks to be good, kind, serve and bless her little ones the way God would have her do]... may be greater capacity to change our own circumstances [singing hymns to soothe a baby boy] rather than expecting our circumstances [always perfect, never sick child] to be changed by someone or something else."

What things am I feeling frustrated with or tired from--that are really just opportunities to have closer moments with my Heavenly Father?! Am I willing to invest/take such moments? I sure hope so! All things shall work together for our good...

Thanks Hill for sharing your moment!

Brightly beams our Father's mercy!

Happiness is a quote like this:

"The joyful news for anyone who desires to be rid of the consequences of past poor choices is that the Lord sees weaknesses differently than He does rebellion. Whereas the Lord warns that unrepented rebellion will bring punishment, when the Lord speaks of weaknesses, it is always with mercy." --Richard G. Scott

 Happiness is a brother and a sister who took the time to share their awesome 

insights from General Conference... they both inspired me to want to not only go back 

and dive in deeper, but caused my heart to rejoice with what personal revelation

they received! Thanks Muss and Chick! LOVED your insights!

I am grateful for His mercy and mothers who sing!

THE WORD'S OF A MOTHER with three little ones...

Bryn & Nyk and  our awesome "hearts"! I am about to show you 24+ years later.. of what is in the little girl in yellow's heart!

     "YES" !!! it has been a LONG time since I blogged. And I have so much I want to blog about, but it will have to wait--because this is just TOO good to wait!!
      Nykelle (whom I call "Chick"--long story of full nickname) sent me an email of an experience she had this week. It is the story of a Mother of three young ones--and what she discovered in a moment of deep frustration and exhaustion. It is a story of a mother who turned to God and found that God's hand was ready to supply her with the inspiration/impressions she needed.
     As I read her email and was filled with so much emotion. I don't even have kids yet but I felt I could relate... I saw myself in this story. Where I DID NOT see myself, and I wish I could say I would have done what she did, was what she did with her agency and thoughts after she heard her husband's prayer. Truly an inspiration! I loved what she did when she discovered where she was. LOVE the revelation and impressions she received....
   To any mom or (non-mom) that has normal frustrating life moment's but is still seeking to have God and charity about her, this is a MUST READ! Plus not to mention the impressions she has with the scriptures-- are profound!!
   I love you Chicky! Thank you for sharing this with me. (And yes, I have Nykelle's permission to post on here--because she is just so cool like that!)


From an email entitled: What I learned this morning...
                                   Date: 10.3.13
                                   From: Nykelle Pollastro

"Cade woke up at 8:30 pm screaming in pain... he just had his 6th poopy diaper for the day. It was official. He had some sort of diarrhea bug going on. I wasn't too surprised, considering 2 days ago he had picked up the broom in our kitchen and put the sweeping end in his mouth repeatedly by the time I got to him. It seems he is always putting the most germ-infested substances right in his mouth. He is also drinks bath water regularly... so having this many poopy diapers wasn't too alarming, although his screaming did happen to wake up Abri, so she started to cry as well. Carson was gone at YM, so I was on my own to get the 2 kids under control.

"Abri woke for a feeding about 1:30 pm, and then I was awakened again at 5:25 am, but not by her, it was by Cade and Mia. Cade had climbed up on top of the dresser and was flipping the light on and off, and Mia was hiding in her closet with no panties on... she had just peed the bed... sleep deprived and frustrated, I went in there and told her to get her panties on, be quiet, and get back in bed, and if she made so much as a peep, she would go to the garage. I put Cade in bed and told him it was the middle of the night and he needed to go back to bed. I wasn't too kind on either approach, and was quite edgy in my tone of voice, since I couldn't "yell" with the baby asleep, I was still pretty loud and about as mean as I could get with my words. 

"I went back to bed, but couldn't sleep, considering the 2 never went back to sleep either. It was in and out trying to put them back in bed and tell them to be quiet. I was clearly annoyed and frustrated. Carson was leaving for work, and we had our typical morning prayer. In his kind and gentle way, he taught me a great lesson. In his prayer, he asked that we could have the Spirit in our home and that Mia, Cade, and Abri could be taught how important it is to have the Spirit here, and then he prayed that they could feel it in our home. That's all he said and left. Of course the prayer went right to my heart and I knew that prayer was for ME-- every word was for me to learn and change my heart. I could tell the Spirit wasn't there, because frankly I was too frustrated to feel it. I was tired and cranky from the newborn and 2 others not listening, and I let that emotion come out in a negative way. I pondered a few minutes in my bed, repented in my heart, and asked the Lord in my mind how was it done? How do I raise little kids calmly and keep the Spirit here when I'm so tired and so frustrated?! 

"Right after that Abri started crying, so I went and fed her and decided I needed to read scriptures while I nursed her. I told Cade and Mia to go ahead and color in their room since they wouldn't be going back to sleep. As I read, I just happened to be on the chapter of Lehi's dream, but this time I learned some new lessons. The first learning glimpse was when Lehi was following the "man in a white robe" and as he was, he beheld himself in a dark and dreary waste. The next verse then says that he had traveled for "many hours" and then he began to pray. I thought to myself, why did he wait so long to pray? He should have prayed right away, and he would have been given light sooner! Then it dawned on me that this is what I have been doing, I will allow myself to "travel in darkness" or in frustration, irritation, or anger with how the kids are acting for several hours before I pray to the Lord... Lesson #1 LEARNED.

"The next lesson was what happened right after the prayer. Lehi prayed, and then he saw a tree whose fruit was "desirable to make one happy." We know from Nephi's interpretation that the fruit represents God's love. This dawned on me that if we can train ourselves to pray right away in times of darkness, the Lord will respond by showing us how to feel Godly love! Isn't it amazing that out of all the things the Lord could have done, he chose to show him the fruit. This taught me a great lesson on the power of God's love and how it is just a prayer away, and I now realize that most of our prayers are answered in some form of "fruit," meaning that the Lord is trying to show us how to have Godly love, because that solves most, if not all our problems! Lesson #2 LEARNED. 

"The last lesson from reading this morning was that Lehi saw his family at the beginning of the path, and they saw him at the end result; the tree of life. They SAW their father in the place where they wanted be. This means that Lehi had set the example for them! He didn't stand by the river, or in the Great and Spacious building, or off in the fields and yell to them, "Hey! Look over there at that tree! That's where you want to go!" Instead, he was THERE at the base of the tree with the fruit, setting the perfect example of where to go, and showing the end result because he personally had partook of the fruit and made it to the tree. This teaches me that I have to SET THE EXAMPLE for my children. They will do as I do. They need to see mommy keeping the Spirit in the home. I can't teach them to feel it and have it's presence, if I am getting out of control in raising my voice at them, or disciplining in a way that makes me lose the Spirit..... Lesson #3 LEARNED. 

"This was such a powerful and humbling lesson for me, I wanted to share it with you. I'm grateful for this inspiration this morning! I hope you have a great day! LOVE YOU!!!"

AMAZING hu?! And I get to be the sister who received that type of email! Don't be jealous or hating! ;) There is enough of my Chick to share! :D
    

Still a blond and still a brunette -- More sister love than can be imagined!

I am grateful for Mother's who know & act on what they know!

Inspired sisters make the world better!

P.S. My FIRST General Conference as a married woman! Two GREATS that I am in love with! Best time of year! In just two hours we will be listening to a living Prophet of God--right in the comfort of our home! You can join us if you would like! What to know what God wants us to be doing with the days like they are? Watch conference! What to know why we are here and what is the purpose of life? Watch conference! Lost and confused, feel little or no worth, YOU are not alone! Watch conference!  

>>>WATCH HERE<<<

(It is going to be incredible!!! You just wait and see! Answers to prayers, revelation, direction for life. Test the Lord! He won't fail you. There is a purpose to this life. You lived before you were born. And we ALL will live again after this life! You are important. God has a plan for you! Don't believe me, that is okay. You can ask God for yourself. I promise in His way and timing, He will answer your every sincere prayer!)

Summiting A New Mountain

 So many beautiful things at such a crazy time of life...

About 4 month's after receiving direct revelation to move to the family ward... I received a call from a man in the Singles Stake asking if it was alright to interview me. I went to the interview not knowing a thing and puzzled as I was being interviewed by a Stake I was no longer a member of.

The interview was one of the most sacred and amazing interviews I have ever experienced in my life. Brother Jensen (the one interviewing) could not tell me what it was about but said he would get back in touch with me.

A week or so later, several impressions, and a mistaken phone call I found out I was possibly being called to be an institute teacher...  turns out my wonderful Singles Ward Bishop--Bishop Stu, had been asked by the Stake for names for institute teachers. He wrote the email responding that with the situtation in his own ward, he did not have any names that he felt that he could offer as the leadership that he had in the ward was very needed and he could not spare anyone.... but then the impression came to submit my name. I was no longer in his ward let alone the singles Stake. I had been gone for over four months. But this dear sweet Bishop followed his impression and told the Stake that I was out of "jurisdiction" but that they should look into interviewing me. Through the whole process l had other Missionary couples and the head of institute teachers in the valley--praying for my name to be considered too.

Because a sweet prompting to leave the singles ward and hit a family ward...
Because a sweet Bishop followed an impression to submit a name not even in the Stake boundaries...
Because sweet couples and a wonderful Brother Gebert prayed for me...
Because a current Bishop allowed me to serve in multiple areas...
 ...five months of Mission Prep... An amazing co-teacher... over 130+ amazing students-- with 50+ with calls...
I attended one in-service training meeting...
And there he was..!

We met for only a few moments during a brief training in May. After MUCH research and great inside work from the wonderful Trudi, a phone number was found! [FINALLY!] A phone call, message, and a returned phone call. A few texts here and there and a hope that at least I would get to see him in the next inservice training in the summer. The more I facebook stocked him, the more I put him in the file of "unattainable".

That was that.

The only training (time to see him again for the summer)--I ended up missing as I was babysitting in IL. [Sad cry and a sigh].

But wait... (nearly two months later) a text the night I missed the training asking me if I was okay and that I was missed! Afew phone calls, some promptings followed, a date set up... And Whalha!

This is a taste of my last four weeks... swept literally off my feet. 

Ballroom dancing...

Drives up the canyon...

Ping-Pong sessions with Dany and Tim!

Star gazing and glow in the dark dodging...

Family reunioning...


Mountain strolling...

Temple attending...

 Dancing with Myrna...

Lot's of journaling...

Sore cheeks from smiling...

And so much more...!

It's been a busy four weeks. And I can't wait for the next four!

 Captured! 

Or more correctly stated: 

RECEIVED! 

One good man,

whom I love. 

Who would have thought?! Me!! With such a wonderful catch. :)

God is a God of miracles. Oh how I love Him...!

Happiness is the hand that fits so well in mine.

I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

To be continued..? :) We shall see!

Lessons in Parenting: 101 Mom Class in IL--three day course (baptism by immersion, or in this case maybe more appropriately, baptism by fire)! :D

 So Nykki is awesome and worked hard to earn a trip to New York to see wicked... I tell you what. If I were to covet/want something (but I won't because that is breaking a commandment) it would be Chick's ability to set goals. She is so driven. When she puts her mind to something, there is no stopping her. She is truly an inspiration.

 Well her trip was a way for me to be a full time mom for a few days in IL. I learned some good lessons...

 

•  Yellow Popsicles "taste like brownies and the orange ones taste like juice" according to one very happy little Mia.

• It is possible to drive a swirly little go machine around a slightly hilly block with one hand while the other hand is helping consume an apple. (And people think Utah are crazy drivers! They haven't met Cade yet! ;))
• Nykki told the truth when she said it is better to take a morning walk at 6:30 a.m. because even at 7 a.m.--one can look like they had a GREAT work out when in reality they just walked outside. 
• Sweat-does/can GLISTEN! ;) 

• When there is so much fun to be had outside... after using the potty, underwear pulled up quickly is more conducive to getting one back out to playing!

• Humidity can effect the camera on your phone. 
• Laughter--(child laughter) really does the body good! 
• There IS a time to be silly.

•  Discovering a lady bug can quite any moment! 
• Having the courage to pick it up is pretty cool too! 

•  When in a hurry at the library (before the children claw each others eyes out over the toy trains) you shouldn't just assume that because there is a section of books awarded the Newbery Medal--they would be good and appropriate reads for four year-olds... or even enjoyed by this 30 year old! From "stupid" every other word and "fool of the world"... I kept making up words to replace the words I wasn't ready to teach little ears!
• Of course Mia's favorite book was the stinky cheese man. She is the product of her father! (Love you Carson :D) When we came to this page in the book, she quickly made a comment that the fox had a "good" side and a "scary/sneaky" side. One observant 4 year old! The power/influence of marketing! 

As I was serving dinner, I walked passed the kitchen garbage can and apparently decided it would be fun to stub my toe. I let out a little grunt and then stood there trying to put pressure on what I had just done. Mia asked what had happened. I told her and her reply was:
"You should pray and ask Heavenly Father to make your toe better. I know that if you pray to him, it will feel better." This was the second time something had come up and she suggested that I pray. (*Oh the workings of a mother in the home! Way to go Chick!)
Later that evening as she said the family prayer she remembered two hours prior of my stubbed toe and asked for Heavenly Father to heal my toe. After the prayer I thanked Mia for being so considerate and thanked her for praying over my toe. The cute defiant Mia responded, "Silly, I didn't pray for you. I was just showing you how you can pray and ask Heavenly Father to bless your toe."

--Out of the mouth of a babe!!

Thoughts from a short week of being a full-time mother of two?
*My little sister is even more cool than I ever expected!
*I have a testimony of the quote shared at conference, "A Child Who Sings Is a Happy Child"
*I want the walls in my home to be as inviting and as intentional as Nyk's are.
*I really do love waking and being up early. All effort to do so before there are distractions--worth every effort. (Now to just remind myself this when I don't want to leave my pillow!)
*When a child is screaming and arching their back in your arms, and another one is running away and the whole store is looking at you like you are a child abuser--I can totally relate to you! Any mom who takes their children grocery shopping--hands down--IS A SUPER HERO! :)
*If I ever have a friend at the park who is struggling with crying and very vocal kiddos who do not want to leave... I will run and try and help by distracting the child with karate chops to every object on the way to their car! (THANK YOU MACK and HOLLIE! I would have never made my plane on time without you!)
*God sure exercises an amazing amount in confidence and trust in our ability to learn, grow and become better as we try to raise children as a joint effort. *He knows how in the world all of our mistakes/errors/short comings can be made right through His son Jesus Christ's atonement! I am grateful He has perfect knowledge in this--for I can put full confidence and trust in His knowledge and perfect understanding.
*Parenting--Kuddos to those who don't shrink from their responsibilities and keep giving, serving, receiving day in and day out! Your task is awesome. Don't give up! You are remarkable!!!

Happiness is John Buck's (met on the plane ride) answer to the question what top advice he would give to someone seeking a companion/getting married. The very first thing he shared was that you need to find someone who loves God more than they love you. I beamed with his advice, because that has always been #1 on my requirements too! ... but to hear it from this good Christian, 26 years (I think it was that long) past upper minister, I could not help but smile. He also shared that if someone loves and serves God--they won't need help books/courses on how to be a loving spouse because they will do the things which they learn from the Savior's life in how to treat those around them. Definitely the ideal! Loved his answer! He is a loving grandfather full of great faith, and it was an honor to meet him.Thanks John for the advice!

I am thankful for personal revelation and the ability to commune with God.

And all prophets who wrote down revelations in the scriptures, so I could have them to study... One day I hope to all thank you all in person on the other side!