Compassion

Today while on facebook I saw a good friend write about how her mother was headed into surgery... I did not think much of it. Later when I logged back on I saw that her mother had passed away. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. I started to cry and hurt because I could only imagine what it would be like to lose your mother.

Here I am hours later thinking and contemplating what pain she is experiencing and how radically different her life will be without her mother. I started to think about our Savior's love for us. If I hurt this bad for a friend of mine whom I have not seen in years how does He feel when we hurt? I know He loves us so much more than we are capable of loving each other. Today I am grateful for the plan of happiness. I am grateful for the sweet peace the gospel brings. It is in times like these that we truly see the blessing the gospel brings to us and the happiness we can find in it!

"Really, it's 2 AM could you please shut-up so I can sleep?"

Two nights ago I could not sleep. I know I am not the ONLY person that struggles with not sleeping. I hate it when I begin to drift off and one of my kids wakes me up! That happened twice and by 2:00 am I had chatty mind syndrome I also call CMS and was about to beat myself because "really its 2 am could you please shut-up so I can sleep?" I let my mind drift off and start to worry about all things I struggle with in life.
During testimony meeting this past week a girl got up and bore her testimony. Although I was struggling to keep my kids at bay I listened to her simple testimony about trials. She said that we are given trials that are unique to each of us, and those trials we are given are for us to overcome with the help of the Savior. Not for us to overcome by ourselves. We are given trials to help us draw nearer to Him.


So here is my problem: All my trials seem to pull me away

I know the Sunday school solution to this problem. I need the practical one!
Back to the story: So by 3 am I was pretty sure someone was breaking into my house to kill me (another problem I struggle with is I am ALWAYS sure someone wants to kill me, and every sound in the house at night is a burglar!) Too many episodes of Dateline, and Forensic files!
So in my sleep deprived state I came up with this... Someone is not going to kill me tonight. And I must be pretty special to my Heavenly Father. If my life was easier and I had fewer trials then I guess I think... I don't need to grow and develop into anything special because the Lord does not have much planned for me. But I know He does. I can feel it in my heart. I know I play an intricate role in this life, I know we all do!

If I write it down... there is more pressure to do it!

I usually want to scream when people write all their new year's resolutions.  I tend to think it is a private matter.  That being said I am going to list a few non-personal resolutions that I will work on.

1.  Get on a plane oh and fly somewhere!
2.  Run a 5K
3.  Enjoy a vacation without any panic attacks!!

So that's it.  No lose 15 lbs and other nonsense.  Just a few goals that will be difficult for me!

Back handed compliments still hurt!!

A 'dear' friend of mine and I were talking the other day. She commented on how many wonderful things my children had received for Christmas. I thought she was praising me for my bargain hunting abilities. Which I should mention are stellar!! And then she started talking about how her and her husband decided that there is too much materialism in the world and they were not going to be part of it. So they decided to have a Christmas centered on Christ and not go crazy like I had and buy too much. At first I was pissed off. I thought "really, didn’t you just get back from Disneyland, another trip to Utah and a $600 bike stroller?" and now you are trying to cut down on the materialism? Ironic.


I just thought for a second about how to respond... And then I thought well "too bad we can't all be as proud of being humble as you are!!" Before I ruined a friendship by saying that I thought... Saying you are having a Christ centered Christmas and then acting like a jerk means nothing. I made the decision to focus on the Savior and I ment it. I didn’t go around telling people (until now!) I wanted my actions to show it.
By no means do I think I am more righteous than her... but sometimes outwardly acting REALLY righteous does not make you so.
My new Christmas wish this year... Find friends that actually like me!

Do you have room for the Savior?

I was so touched by this video.  I wanted to share it!

The most wonderful time of the year!

Since this is after all, "the most wonderful time of the year!" I have been busy getting ready for Christmas! Oh, yeah also... we moved. Ahhhh I hate moving but I think pretty much everyone does!

Lately I have been feeling a little gypped because in all the moving commotion I haven't had much time to sit down and feel the Christmas spirit. Last night we went to the Mormon Tabernacle choir concert. As I listened to the carols (kid free yay!) I felt it. I sat there and knew that this was His season. I was so grateful for the gospel and for all that I have because of it! They sang the song "Oh, Little town of Bethlehem" and you could not help but feel the spirit. It was so strong. I sat there imagining that wondrous night when He was born. How must Mary have felt knowing she had just given birth to the Savior of the world. He truly is the light of the world. He is my Savior and friend!
I hope and pray that this holiday season His love will be with you, that you will feel it in your hearts and homes. I hope that it will fill you with power and strength as it does for me. I know that He lived, that He walked the shores of Galilee long ago, and was born in Bethlehem. I know He knows each one of us and is always mindful of us. I love this season and hope that you take some time to feel the spirit of this, His holiday season!
Merry Christmas!
Lyn

I love fall!

I have been busy! I got the swine flu finally recovered after a few weeks! It's nasty! You do not want it trust me!
We went up to the mountains and saw all of the fall colors! Hard to describe how beautiful fall can be, but it was breathtaking! I love fall it's such a wonderful time of year! I love the leaves changing and all of the fun like Halloween, pumpkin carving, and caramel apple cider!
I once saw a sign that said "Fall a season for change" Now every fall I always think about things I need to change. This year I want to focus on having more charity, not in the Sunday school answer way but really truly having charity. The other day I was talking to a friend and after getting off the phone I complained to my husband for 20 min about how annoying this particular friend can be. I was thinking about that today and how I always sit in church and judge people. If I notice someone gets something new I think "I need a new dress too" instead of being happy for them. I struggle to see the best in people because I guess it makes me feel smaller in some weird way. I want to be happy for others and see the best in them. How do I gain more charity? How do I feel more love for others? I am sure part of it is finding more love for myself. So this fall in honor of my favorite season and all the beauty it holds... I am going to find the beauty in others! Wish me luck!