Loneliness

I have something to say about loneliness.  I think that we all face some kind of loneliness in our lives at some point.  No matter how out-going or shy we are, we all need people around us and meaningful relationships to fill our lives with happiness and purpose.  For some reasons quite obvious and others less so, I have found my life to be particularly quiet and lonely this year.  I'm okay being by myself, and even prefer it sometimes - I am an I(S/N)FJ, after all.

But there is something about the holidays that particularly invites and almost demands closeness with family, friends, and other social gatherings.  This can be a wonderful time, but it can also be a time of even more loneliness.  I think sometimes even when surrounded by family and friends it's possible to feel even more alone.  I've been in this situation before.  It's really hard and I have reacted poorly in some situations when I've felt this way.

A few scriptures and thoughts on this subject have touched me lately:

• Moroni was completely alone (see Mormon 8:1-5).  He was left to write the sad tale of the complete destruction of his people.  Even though he was alone, he remained faithful to his responsibility to teach the truth and share his witness and testimony of Jesus Christ.  He didn't give up in discouragement.  He believed.  He continued and worked and shared and taught US.  He saw us in our day.  He knew our trials and wrote faithfully of his experiences and important principles of the gospel to help us believe in Christ and succeed even through our trials.
• Moroni knew who he was and knew that it would be important for us to understand who we are in order to remain faithful in making good choices (see Mormon 7:2).
• Heavenly Father knew and loved Mary.  He had a plan for her....even when she didn't know a man (see Luke 1:30-34)!  :)
• Mary and Elisabeth are blessed with friendship in a time of stress and uncertainty (see Luke 1:39-46).
• If the Way Be Full of Trial, Weary Not
• Christmas Angel (I'm kind of into Hallmark Christmas movies this year) :)

I know that regardless of our circumstances we choose our life and how we act.  We can make our life as full and wonderful or as lonely as we want.  It comes back to President Hinckley's father's advice to him on his mission, "Forget yourself and go to work."  :)  As we fill our lives serving others we will be happy regardless of our personal circumstances.  I want to be better.

Grateful

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!  Life is all about gratitude and love and family and sharing....and that's what Thanksgiving represents.  There are so many blessings that surround us.  I think that recognizing them and enjoying them and sharing them is what brings happiness!  

After being away from family for many holidays the last couple of years it was wonderful to be together for Thanksgiving!  I'm GRATEFUL for family!  :)  I'm grateful for their love and examples.  I'm grateful for my parents and love that we get to celebrate both of their birthdays as a part of the Thanksgiving festivities.  I'm grateful for my siblings, their spouses and my niece and nephews.  I'm grateful for what I learn from them.....and chances to talk and play and relax.

Winter Wonderland! #magical

It was a magical weekend!  I've never been so excited to stay inside and read a book and watch it SNOW! ....and then sneak outside to explore the magic and get a few pictures.  It was the most beautiful snow (and lots of it) that I've seen in years!  I love it when the world is white!  It's like a fresh start and remarkably brings people together and out of their routine.  Even in the cold and slush I saw more people smiling, talking to each other, enjoying and marveling at the beauty around them and spontaneously helping to move tree limbs and push cars.  Another highlight was singing "Scatter Sunshine" together in Relief Society while we watched the snow steadily pile up, adding to the foot of snow already on the ground.  :)

Scatter Sunshine

In a world where sorrow

Ever will be known,

Where are found the needy,

And the sad and lone;

How much joy and comfort

You can all bestow,

If you scatter sunshine

Everywhere you go.

Scatter sunshine all along your way;

Cheer and bless and brighten

Every passing day;

Scatter (the smiles and) sunshine all along your way;

Cheer and bless and brighten

Every passing day.

Slightest actions often

Meet the sorest needs,

For the world wants daily

Little kindly deeds;

Oh, what care and sorrow

You may help remove,

With your songs and courage,

Sympathy and love.

When the days are gloomy,

Sing some happy song;

Meet the world’s repining

With a courage strong;

Go with faith undaunted

Thro’ the ills of life;

Scatter smiles and sunshine

O’er its toil and strife.

Happy Veteran's Day!

I love America!  I'm grateful for freedom.  I am grateful to those who protect our freedoms and proclaim liberty and peace at home and abroad.  Some of my favorite places in DC were the war memorials - World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Arlington Cemetery.  There is a special spirit there honoring the lives of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  I think it is also important to remember and thank those who are still here - they have given much.

I have always appreciated veterans and Veteran's Day, but for some reason it has a new meaning and personal importance to me this year.  I'm grateful for both of my grandfathers' service and examples.  Recently I've been reading a few books about military leaders and wars in our history.  I've seen more clearly their sacrifice and dedication.  I watched a cute movie last night that helped me think again of the lives of soldiers and their families and even strangers that serve to uplift and strengthen them.  I have the unique opportunity to work directly with a very accomplished veteran and I'm inspired by his selfless service, as well as many others around me.  I have the chance to work a little bit with the military relations department, and I'm surrounded by a ward full of sweet, faithful, service-oriented examples....many of which are veterans or whose spouses are.  Thank you!

I think this is more a part of my life that I've previously thought.  I'm reminded of the wonderful examples of soldiers in Korea who opened the way for missionary work soon thereafter.  I think there is a correlation between the blessing of freedom and the blessing of the gospel and truth.  As I have been thinking about my gratitude for our servicemen and women today I was touched by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's tribute and other music - Who are the Brave?, Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy, Battle Hymn of the Republic

I'm grateful for the reminders this week of a cause bigger than any one person and I'm grateful for so many wonderful examples of service and sacrifice for freedom, peace, righteousness.  God bless America!  May we ever be grateful and express that gratitude often and then work ourselves in any and all ways that we can to protect and lift those around us and protect peace and freedom.

My heart hurts....

....it has ever since about 9:00 Tuesday night.

For almost six years now I've hoped that Tuesday night would have been different. I saw so much hope for the country and the future in a President Romney. I am grateful for his example and efforts and service and am excited for him that he doesn't have to put up with the political garbage as much anymore, although I have to say I'm very disappointed in anyone still bashing him and finger-pointing and blaming him for mistakes. I didn't read any of these articles, but saw a few headlines. We all make mistakes. Why blame? Why can't we assume that others are doing the very best they can? I admire Mitt Romney and his family and those that have worked so hard to serve and help make our country better. I'm grateful for their sacrifice and efforts and graciousness. One of the last things I saw before going to bed was a picture Mitt Romney shared on Facebook waving to the crowd with a big "Thank you." What an example!

My heart hurts for our country. We can and need to do better….working together and working hard. We need to protect family, freedom, faith. I went to bed sad and woke up sad. It was hard to get out of bed, but here are a few things I'm grateful for today that have helped me remember that life is bigger even than a presidential election at a critical time in history:

Today I'm grateful that I'm in Utah. I know that there is NO way I could have gotten out of bed and gone to work in DC today - it definitely would have been an emotional sick day.

I'm grateful for my job working at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - a lasting and eternally important cause. I'm happy I have the chance to help build the kingdom of God in a small way each day. I'm grateful for the eternal perspective it reminds me of, which was particularly important to me today.

I'm grateful for a reinforced confirmation about personal decisions I've made about where to be and what to be doing this year. I'm grateful for a reminder of the importance of a balanced life and focus on most important priorities. In some ways maybe this was a wake-up call that I may have been distracted and too invested in things that were less important.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to vote and to vote in such a beautiful place and day.

I'm grateful for my family. As I was reminded by someone on Facebook today, President James E. Faust said, "Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House, but what happens inside your house."

I'm grateful for a sweet six-year-old niece who was excited about our election night party and knew exactly what we were hoping to hear. When she learned that Mitt Romney didn't win she turned so humbly to my sister and said, "I'm sorry, mom" and gave her a hug. It was so sweet and poignant, I thought. I was reminded of the importance of future generations in the decisions we make today. How can we make life better for these sweet children? …even for the three-year-old who was running around trying to rile us up a bit and have fun with the name, chanting "Obarack Obama winded." :)

I'm grateful for Christmas decorations going up all around me on Temple Square.

I'm grateful for another BEAUTIFUL fall day and lovely lunch time walk.

I'm grateful for a meaningful project at work that helped me focus on the joy and miracle of missionary work....and the importance of the restored gospel and any sacrifice to accept it fully and share it with others.

I'm grateful for the temple. I think that's where I want to live now. :)

I'm grateful for other inspirational thoughts and reminders:

·         Scripture study – the doctrine of Christ – 3 Nephi 27

·         President Thomas S. Monson: "My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith. I declare that God lives and that He hears and answers our prayers."

·         President Thomas S. Monson: "May we ever watch over one another, assisting in times of need. Let us not be critical and judgmental but let us be tolerant, ever emulating the Savior’s example of loving-kindness. In that vein, may we willingly serve one another. May we pray for the inspiration to know of the needs of those around us, and then may we go forward and provide assistance. Let us be of good cheer as we go about our lives. Although we live in increasingly perilous times, the Lord loves us and is mindful of us. He is always on our side as we do what is right. He will help us in time of need. Difficulties come into our lives, problems we do not anticipate and which we would never choose. None of us is immune. The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be. Our lives can also be filled with joy as we follow the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord admonished, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” What great happiness this knowledge should bring to us. He lived for us and He died for us. He paid the price for our sins. May we emulate His example. May we show our great gratitude to Him by accepting His sacrifice and living lives that will qualify us to return and one day live with Him.

·         Abraham Lincoln: "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. They mystic chords of memory swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

·         Charles Nibley in 1922: "My brethren and sisters, I hope that we will go home from this conference determined as a great body of people, to stand for law, order, righteousness, justice and peace on earth and good will among all men. I believe as the Prophet Joseph has written, that the day would come when there would be so much of disorder, of secret combinations taking the law into their own hands, tramping upon Constitutional rights and the liberties of the people, that the Constitution would hang as by a thread. Yes, but it will still hang, and there will be enough of good people, many who may not belong to our Church at all, people who have respect for law and for order, and for Constitutional rights, who will rally around with us and save the Constitution. I have never read that that thread would be cut. It will hang; the Constitution will abide and this civilization, that the Lord has caused to be built up, will stand fortified through the power of God, by putting from our hearts all that is evil, or that is wrong in the sight of God, by our living as we should live, acceptable to him."

·         The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States. After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people. We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process, which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service. We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors."

A few other fun things I saw today that helped me almost smile:

·         "My newsfeed has never provided me with as much entertainment as it has tonight. Just a reminder from the Mayans: the end of the world isn't until December 21st."

·         "I love pottery. Just thought I'd give your news feed a break from all the election stuff :)"

·         "Can't we all just hug and then balance the budget?"

·         Mitt Romney's future plans, according to The Onion

·         Elder Holland's talk, Israel, Israel God is Calling

·         America the Beautiful

·         This Land is Your Land 

I don't think the world is going to end tomorrow, although I wondered Tuesday night and hoped it was all a dream when I woke up Wednesday. I admit that with the heavy heart I wasn't feeling very humble or willing to help. I was filling rejected and frustrated with those that won't listen or think or work or believe the best in others. I was done with politics, public administration and my desire to help and serve my country and fellowmen shrunk quickly. I realize that's not the correct response – regardless of the outcome and circumstances in life we must respond in love and humility.

I want to try to assume the best of others, especially those I don't agree with. I want to have the desire to pray for them and then be willing to work for their success and our success as we work together for good. I know that ultimate hope comes through Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for Him and His plan and I know that working together is the best way. I just need a day or week or two to mourn for what could have been with 50% of the country and 75% of the state. :)

Beautiful Zion

I don't remember a more beautiful fall day ever!  I've always loved the hike to Observation Point in Zion's National Park, but on a perfect fall day I can't think of anything more breathtaking!  :)  Come to Zion....  :)

Power of Information...and why I'm voting for Mitt Romney!

Where do you get your information?  Who do you listen to?  Who do you trust?  What do you believe?  Who do you let influence you?  I think these are VERY important questions to consider for so many reasons and on so many subjects, especially today.  Information is powerful and the world is full of more than enough information coming at us from every direction these days.  It's easy to get distracted and trapped into believing everything someone else says.  Are we listening to the right people?  How do we know?  Do we listen to both sides and try to judge for yourself?  Do we step back and carefully consider what we're hearing before moving forward?  :)  With the ease of information sharing these days I fear that we don't think carefully enough anymore.

I also fear that some information is too biased (especially news media and particularly in politics).  Why can't we be more honest, open and humble in our information sharing?  We'd all be better off if we worked together and trusted each other and didn't have to second guess ourselves and the information we receive.  I like to learn through experience and so I can be kind of skeptical sometimes.  On the other hand, I have a lot of faith and a believing heart.  I try to balance these to make the best decisions I can with the information I have.

I don't listen to the news much since I don't have a TV, but I read the news regularly from several different sources and like to think before I decide what I believe - I don't like to just take someone's word for it.  I also like to talk to people I trust about their perspectives to better understand the information I hear.  With all that being said.....and all the information out there I want to share a few important thoughts I've had lately....

Why I'm Voting for MITT ROMNEY!
- I believe in America!  I love our country!  I believe that we can work together.
- Romney's experience in business, creating jobs, managing budgets, and working with people to get things done is EXACTLY what we need to fix some of our biggest problems right now.
- He is a hard worker.  He will work hard and encourage hard work in the country.
- He cares about people and humbly looks for ways to give and serve.
- He's a leader.  He will be honest about hard things and bring people together to solve problems and get things done.
- He has a vision and plan for the future.
- He is a man of faith, integrity and service.
- He will defend freedom, family and faith.
- He will take responsibility for his actions and expect that of others.
- I trust him.  I think he will do what he says he's going to do the best that he can.
- I think his desire to lead has less to do about him and more to do with helping others.
- He's smart and has valuable experience that can help many people.
- He will encourage innovation, ideas, choice, and opportunities to create our own destiny.
- I believe we can do better.....and we're each responsible to work to help to make a difference for good.

I'm grateful for the freedom we enjoy and the opportunity we have to vote.  I understand that we each have a different perspective and opinions, but I hope we will each take the responsibility seriously to study out the information we have and make good choices.