Excuses

EXCUSES:  Oft times we use excuses not to do something we know we should. This causes a lack of self-esteem which equals stress and unhappiness.

EXAMPLE: Going to church is an individual thing. We are all here to work out our individual PERSONAL salvation. When we go to church for our own spiritual uplift we will be filled.  

Here are some excuses one might use not to go to church...

But if we used it in a different context of not going to the movies we realize how silly these excuses are since we all go to the movies for our own PERSONAL entertainment:

1.      I don’t go to the movies because the manager of the theatre has never talked to  me and I don’t think he likes me.

2.      I did go to the movies once but no one spoke to me and so I think that the people in that theatre are not very friendly.

3.      Not all the people who go to the movies live up to the high standards of the film.

4.      I went to the movies so much as a child that I don’t think I really ever need to go again.

5.      The movies are on the weekend and it’s the only time I have to be with my family and friends.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXCUSES FOR NOT DOING WHAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD?

Family History

The three fold mission of the church is to perfect the saints, do missionary work and to redeem the dead…I’d like to talk about redeeming the dead.

When I was 16 years old, I had a series of dreams that disturbed me so much that I would wake up crying.  On the third night after this same dream, I knelt down to pray and ask Heavenly Father what the dream meant. Here is the dream and the interpretation:

In the dream I would wake up in the middle of the night and walk down our hallway. There I would come to a door with many chains and locks on it. I searched to find a large set of many keys on an enormous key ring in my dresser drawer. I would try one key after another to find the right key to the right lock. Finally I had unlocked them all until the chains came off.  When the door opened I found a set of stairs. There at the bottom of the stairs, I found many animals crammed into a tiny room crying to get out. As I walked down I discovered that I knew these animals, they were my beloved pets that I had cared for as a small child. There was my rabbit Jungle Bunny and his family, Toby our Great Dane, Mike our Cocker Spaniel and many others with their families. They were so malnourished that you could see their ribs.  I hurried up the stairs to find them some food. In the kitchen were mounds and mounds of pet food. I ran back to let my beloved pets free to partake of all the food in the kitchen. Before I could reach them, I would wake up over come with guilt that I hadn’t helped them sooner to relieve their suffering.

Upon asking the Lord what the dream meant, I received the following interpretation:

The dresser in the Library represented doing Family Research where I had to find the right keys to unlock the door to my beloved ancestors that I knew and loved in the Pre-
Existence before this life.  We were close and cared for each other. We made promises to help each other here on Earth.  They would lay a firm foundation of faith and freedom and since I was coming in the latter days I could unlock their keys of bondage by doing family research and performing their eternal life saving ordinances. The mounds of food were the blessings of exaltation of which they are spiritually starving for right now.

I believe that we need to search out our family members who have gone before us and help them to further their light and knowledge and make sacred covenants to the Lord.

I was able to do the Family History work for my Uncle who was the only member of the church in his family.

It took several years of submitting the family names to the temple, printing cards and asking friends and family to help me complete the work. One year I  gave the completed book with all his family lines,  as far as I could go, to my Uncle Dad Darel for Christmas. He was overcome cried with such a tender joy. He died two months later and I know he went back as a hero for his family.

One of my Genealogy Stories is in the book "True Miracles With Genealogy" compiled by Anne Bradshaw...You can buy her books on Amazon.

Judging

Judging

There is good judging, which is the built in mechanism each of us has in order to choose right or wrong. With this type of judging we notice what is good and what is bad to clarify our decisions…

Then there is the bad judging or condemnation of another in our hearts. This is where we take it upon ourselves to think someone is a lost cause. This is an inaccurate or false way of looking at people because of the Atonement. Everyone has their agency to choose to change and become forgiven of something they have done that is wrong. Even throughout the Millenium there will be chances to repent (It might be much more difficult than in this life…but nonetheless, a chance) It is never too late for people until the Lord says it is…it is the Lord’s place to condemn or forgive. We cannot take HIS job away from him and try to do it ourselves…this is where we can have bad or false  judgments against someone else. And that type of judging is what this blog is about.

Another Perspective

As soon as someone says the word 'Judging" it is assumed they mean the rich looking down on the poor...or the righteous looking down on the un-righteous....However...it goes both ways...what about the poor person looking at the rich and judging them that they do not serve enough or give enough or assuming they are judging them??? That is also unrighteous judgement. Perhaps that rich person is dealing with cancer and all their money is going for the treatment of a loved one...and they are so overcome with their own problems that they do not see someone who is poor and do not help them. It is not fair for the poor person to judge that seemingly rich person...maybe they are not rich but someone gave them an expensive pair of shoes...hence the judgement of them being rich??? We should not condemn that which we do not know.

I believe that in the end of life...our brains are more powerful than a computer and everything we have seen, heard and done will be recorded in them and we will be eventually be judging our own selves. So whatever system of judgement you have set up for or against others...will be the exact system you will be measuring your own self with. I believe everything we do or systems we develop within ourselves, will be ours to use or deal with in the next realm.


I notice that we usually judge that which we are aware of in our own lives. Example. I used to bite my nails and judged and was aware of anyone else that bit their nails. I would say to myself "I'm not as bad as they are"  one day I quit biting my nails, I then looked at other people who bit their nails and would think "They will eventually quit...I did"  Eventually I never noticed nail biters.
Think about this: If you just bought a new white car...don't you notice all other white cars on the street.
If you just got engaged ...don't you notice all other people wearing engagement or wedding rings?
Etc... People notice what they are doing...thus we notice and are annoyed by what others do wrong that are similar to our own faults. (thus in the scriptures when it said you notice the mote (small problem) in another's eye when there in fact is a beam (larger problem)  in your own eye) 
Also said, "When you point a finger at someone else, notice there are 3 of your fingers pointing back at you."
Neal A. Maxwell said, "If I am not Happy with Me, other people suffer." 


Let's start by talking about JUDGING AND OUR POINT OF VIEW: :

·         If someone else takes a long time they are SLOW; if we take a long time…we are THROUGH.

·         If someone else doesn't get something done they are LAZY, if we didn't get it done…we were BUSY.

·         If someone else has success that was LUCK… if we have success… it was HARD WORK.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “While one portion of the human race isjudging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; … He holds the reins of judgment in His hands; He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, … ‘not according to what they have not, but according to what they have,’ those who have lived without law, will be judged without law, and those who have a law, will be judged by that law” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 218

We all make judgments in choosing our friends, in choosing how we will spend our time and our money, and, of course, in choosing an eternal companion. Some of these intermediate judgments are surely among those the Savior referenced when He taught that “the weightier matters of the law” include judgment (Matt. 23:23).

Church leaders are specifically commanded to judge. Thus, the Lord said to Alma: “Whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also. … “… And whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people” (Mosiah 26:29, 32).

Also remember that Church Leaders are Human and they may have faults and not know how to do their calling the best Christ Like way possible....they are all trying but also need to learn how to Lead and Serve. So do not judge them if in fact one does not handle your situation the way you think they should have. Thus, do not condemn a Church Leader for handling a situation poorly in your opinion.

REMEMBER all Leaders should judge OUT OF  LOVE  Heavenly Father and Jesus loves us so much that we can commit the worst sins possible and because he loves us we only need to be truly sorry, humble, make amends and come to him with our broken heart and an anxious desire to change and a commitment never to do it again and the Atonement pays for the sin, Wipes it away and we are Completely Clean and Brand New. Yes, maybe it might take excommunication for a year or so to make sure we are really serious. But sincerely for a length of time working repenting and working towards being one of the fold and All can be forgiven and Welcomed back into the Fold. THE SACRAMENT is the weekly upkeep for repenting of the smaller daily sins we all commit

(such as judging others- ha ha)

Someone has said that you cannot slice cheese so fine that it doesn’t have two sides:
There are always TWO or more sides to every situation.

Two experiences illustrate the importance of caution in judging. A Relief Society worker visiting a sister in her ward asked whether the woman’s married children ever visited her. Because of a short-term memory loss, this elderly sister innocently answered no. So informed, her visitor and others spoke criticisms of her children for neglecting their mother. In fact, one of her children visited her at least daily, and all of them helped her in many ways. They were innocent of neglect and should not have been judged on the basis of an inadequate knowledge of the facts.

Another such circumstance was described in an Ensign article by BYU professor Arthur R. Bassett. He stated that while teaching an institute class, “I was troubled when one person whispered to another all through the class. I kept glaring at them, hoping that they would take the hint, but they didn’t seem to notice. Several times during the hour, I was tempted to ask them to take their conversation outside if they felt it was so urgent—but fortunately something kept me from giving vent to my feelings.“After the class, one of them came to me and apologized that she hadn’t explained to me before class that her friend was deaf. The friend could read lips, but since I was discussing—as I often do—with my back to the class, writing at the chalkboard and talking over my shoulder, my student had been ‘translating’ for her friend, telling her what I was saying. To this day I am thankful that both of us were spared the embarrassment that might have occurred had I given vent to a judgment made without knowing the facts” (“Floods, Winds, and the Gates of Hell,” Ensign, June 1991, 8).

The scriptures give a specific caution against judging where we cannot know all the facts.

King Benjamin taught:“Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—“But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. … “And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance” (Mosiah 4:17-18, 22).

There is one qualification to this principle that we should not judge people without an adequate knowledge of the facts. Sometimes urgent circumstances require us to make preliminary judgments before we can get all of the facts we desire for our decision making.

Only God knows all the facts. 

Even in our country we should almost ignore some publicly reported conduct because“in this country you are supposed to be presumed innocent until you are proven guilty.” .

Some personal decisions must be made before we have access to all of the facts. Two hypotheticals illustrate this principle: (1) If a particular person has been arrested for child sexual abuse and is free on bail awaiting trial on his guilt or innocence, would you trust him to tend your children while you take a weekend trip? (2) If a person you have trusted with your property has been indicted for embezzlement, would you continue to leave him in charge of your life savings?

In such circumstances we do the best we can, relying ultimately on the teaching in modern scripture that we should put our “trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously” (D&C 11:12). BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM)

Another principle of a righteous intermediate judgment is that whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations. Judge the action, not the Person.

Even the Savior, during His mortal ministry, refrained from making final judgments.

We see this in the account of the woman taken in adultery. After the crowd who intended to stone her had departed, Jesus asked her about her accusers. “Hath no man condemned thee?” (John 8:10). When she answered no, Jesus declared, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). In this context the word condemn apparently refers to the final judgment (see John 3:17).The Lord obviously did not justify the woman’s sin. He simply told her that He did not condemn her—that is, He would not pass final judgment on her at that time. This interpretation is confirmed by what He then said to the Pharisees: “Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man” (John 8:15). The woman taken in adultery was granted time to repent, time that would have been denied by those who wanted to stone her.The Savior gave this same teaching on another occasion: “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47).

MY GRANDMOTHER MARY ELLA GAGON WROTE THIS POEM TO HER CHILDREN

Called

“If We Only Understood”

Could we but draw back the curtains

That surround each others lives

See the naked heart and spirit

Know what action underlies

Often we should find it better

Purer than we judged we should

We could love each other better

If we only understood.

Could we judge all deeds by motives

See the good and bad within

Often we should love the sinner

All the while we loathe the sin

Could we know the powers working

To o’er throw integrity

We should judge each other’s errors

With more patient charity

If we knew the cares and trials

And the efforts all in vain

And the bitter disappointments

Understood the loss and gain

Oh we judge each other harshly

Knowing not life's' hidden force

Knowing not the fount of action

And how turbulent the source

Seeing not amid the evil

And the golden grains of good

Oh we’d love each other better

If we only understood.

Goethe said, "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being."  
Along with that we should all try to see the other persons point of view and potential and LOVE them...not JUDGE them. Perhaps that will help us to also be kinder judges of ourselves.

Scripture Reading

Just 7 pages a day and you can read all the entire Standard Works in one year.

In reading the Book of Mormon every morning for breakfast for over 20 years we read the same stories over and over again…some days it seemed like the check list to check off…and many others it was magical and it would apply directly to and change your life.

One busy morning I was overwhelmed with all I had to do in my planner. I had fixed breakfast and with the captive audience I was reading the part when Christ had come to America after his crucifixion. He had taught the people the beatitudes and so many aspects of the gospel that he told the people to ponder the words in their hearts and he would return. After all, we all know He had a lot to do. He had already told Mary, “Touch me not, I have not yet ascended to my Father” and He had said, “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold…” to attend to.  Then he was returning to his disciples. But he looked into their eyes of love and longing for Him to stay and He wept…                Then He asked them for their children and He blest them. It taught me right then at that moment that no matter how busy I was I must always take time for my children.

The Book of Mormon is an amazing book. One morning we were reading about Mormon and Moroni. They were losing the battle with the Lamanites. All their families and friends were dead or wounded. The stench was so bad with all the dead bodies. The Lamanites were coming back through the masses and finishing off all of the wounded. Mormon, the father, had been wounded. The scene was opened up so real to us that morning. Mormon was a big man but so was his son Moroni.    I could just hear him, “Dad let me carry you to safety in that cave.” And Mormon, “Son, the plates are heavy, you can’t carry me and the plates, save them. Save all the people that they will affect. Hurry, there isn’t time.” And then, Moroni carried the plates into the cave and watched as they finished off his father.”   Many people lost their lives to bring us the Book of Mormon, I pray that at all costs, we will read it.

In 2010 I decided to read the Entire Standard Works in a year. I did the math which came out to 7 pages per day. I started with the Pearl of Great Price then the Old Testament. I read ‘The First Thousand Years’ by Cleon Skousin for some additional insight. I read 2 additional books along side the book of ‘Isaiah’ for additional insight. For the New Testament, I read another book for additional insight into ‘Revelations.’ The Doctrine and Covenants and Book of Mormon were for fall and winter. I realize that each year of your life you go through different things and have more insight into life and people in general, and thus you read it again with an entirely different perspective than last time. We should read the scriptures on a regular basis for that fact alone. Reading the ‘bad news’ in the paper each day seems so depressing but reading the ‘good news’(that’s what the word ‘gospel’ means) each day gives such a positive outlook on the world. It is through the eyes of the Godhead, our creators, and gives me peace that all things will turn out right under his love and direction. Here are just a few of the insights:

Adam and Eve were grandparents and possibly great grandparents before learning why they were offering sacrifices, they were so excited to call a big family conference to tell their children about the Plan of Salvation that the Angel had taught them. My heart ached for them as all their children left them, moved away and did not believe. Then they were excited to finally have Cain and Abel whom they could teach the Plan of Salvation to from birth. Then how sad they were when one died physically and one died spiritually. Finally they had Seth who looked just like Adam except for age you could tell them apart. (Moses 5)

The first recorded  missionary was Enoch. His word was so powerful that his voice alone could move mountains etc….   (Moses 7:13)

Enoch was able to see into other dimensions not visible to the natural eye and was called a ‘seer’ by some and a wild preacher man by others. All the believers moved to the ‘City of Enoch’ and when warriors came to battle against them, Enoch was able to move mountains and rivers and all people were afraid of them. Enoch and his city will return to the ‘New Jerusalem’ in the last days. (Moses 7:62-63)

Noah was ten years old when he received the Priesthood. He was 500 years old before he received his mission call to build the Ark. (Genesis 5:32)  It took him 100 years to build it. (Genesis 7:5) He built it on a high mountain and it rained many days before the flood waters reached them. My heart ached for the Noah and his Wife as their wayward daughters, spouses and children were probably outside the Ark knocking to get in and the Lord would not let them. The Lord prepared a ‘Spirit Prison’ for those outside the Ark (Moses 7:38) They were in the Ark one year and 2 days. They took 2 of every animal and 7 of every sacrificial animal – the smell must have been really bad and their daily chores must have been to get rid of the waste from the animals. Ewww!

Abraham’s dad believed in idol Gods and the Priest of the idol God Elkenah tried to sacrifice Abraham to Elkenah (see the picture found with the schroll and Abraham 1:7)) Also the priest of the day would sacrifice righteous children and virgins who didn’t believe in idol Gods. Abraham ran away from that and received the true gospel and knowledge of the Pre-Existence, the Creation, the Universe, how time works, and the Plan of Salvation through the Redeemer with the Urim and Thummim from the Lord – how hard it must have been for Abraham when the Lord asked him to sacrifice his only miracle son that he was able to have when his wife was 90 years old. My heart ached for him in that realization and yet obedience to the truth and relief when a lamb was furnished. How obedient the son was to trust his Father and allow such a sacrifice – however he surely cried and asked his dad to find another animal instead, how hard for Abraham to deny and obey God.

Solomon found favor with the Lord and when the Lord asked him what he wanted he said ‘wisdom.’ Since he asked that, the Lord also gave him riches and power. In 2010 Solomon would have spent one billion 575 million dollars just for the cedar to build the temple.  Solomon paid for it with a city but the guy didn’t like the city he was giving him so he paid him cash.  He had each city that specialized in something be in charge of that thing. One city was known for ship building, one of horse training, one for war, one for chariots, one for navy etc… Solomon’s yearly income was $8,741,250,000. Queen of Sheba was amazed at the wealth of Solomon. She said that it exceeded the rumors she had heard. A chariot would have been $5000 and a horse would have been $1200 in 2010 since one shekel is ½ ounce of gold. 1 bath = 9 gallons of liquid so a twenty thousand baths of wine is a lot. An LDS temple font holds 10,000 gallons of water but the font in (2 Chronicles 4) holds 16,000 gallons of water and had 12 oxen just like ours, with 3 facing north, south, east and west.

Isaiah said that In the Last Days the Lord’s house will be established in the ‘tops of the mountains’ – in Indian language ‘Utah’ literally means ‘tops of the mountains’ where our LDS church headquarters is.   I love how Isaiah describes our day and times. (chapter 2) ‘neither is there any end of their chariots=cars (chapter 16) women make a tinkling with their feet = heels (chap 3) changeable suits of apparel= back in their day they had one outfit to sleep in, work in, dress up in…they didn’t change their clothes that often (chap 5) rise up early in the morning to follow strong drink=alcoholism (chap 5) call evil good and good evil = false advertising and also movies bad guys as good guys (chap 5) horses hooks like flint and wheels like a whirlwind = trains (chap 5) roaring like young lions that lay hold of prey=planes. It was also said that 'Men's sins would be shouted from the rooftops = (they did not know how to explain an antennae on top of a roof to bring you the nightly news)

The point is that those prophets saw our day and many died to bring us these scriptures that they knew would bring us back to reality of our Eternal purpose on Earth. They knew there would be so many distractions and decisions and choices. They didn’t know the business of the whole world back in that day…it can become overwhelming to know that much.

Heavenly Father wants us to return to Him.

We live on Earth with a veil on our eyes which is a limited paradigm. Even with all our sci-fi movies our paradigms cannot stretch that far..only through reading the scriptures, meditation and prayer can we get our paradigms in shape for His coming. I could imagine Him looking at us saying…’do you like that shiny new car??? Well make the Celestial Kingdom and I’ll show you a mode of transportation you could never imagine.’ All that I have is yours to inherit – just stay focused on me instead of listening to all the distractions Satan will try to put in front of you and you’ll get there. Even if you mess up, My son Jesus Christ, died to pay for those sins. Then just stay focused on me. Read my scriptures. Pray. Listen to the Holy Ghost. You’ll know what to do.

 At the End of the Scripture Reading 2010

My Scripture goal this year was to read 7 pages a day and complete the Standard Works –  by Dec 21^st I had finished that goal and decided to take 2 weeks off of Scripture reading. Dec 23^rd I woke up starving, not for food, but for the Sweet but Powerful Spirit that comes from reading the Lords words. So I opened the ‘Ensign’ Conference Talks from the Lord’s Prophet and Apostles on the Earth today... And…relief… I am full.

I am also full of joy because I KNOW JESUS CHRIST more personally and understand that there is no need to fear anything in the world

for HE has overcome the world...

THE KNOWN UNIVERSE - AMAZING VIDEO

Okay this is one of the most amazing videos I've seen. All space that we know of is only 3% of what we could discover with our current equipment...and this 3% is illustrated in this video...wow...mind boggling!!! No wonder Moses said he felt like such a spec and less than the dust of the Earth...and Heavenly Father probably shared more with him than we know in this video. Plus he was shown past, present and future....And yet Heavenly Father doesn't have time limits like we do...He said he is aware of every hair on our head....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwi5L8jcXpg

Music Video "Let There Be Peace On Earth

Music Video "Let There Be Peace On Earth

We should make peace with ourselves, each other, our family, friends and the world. We are all connected as a whole so whatever one does affects the whole. May we each project peace, love, kindness and a positive faith in the future so thus a positive future will start the process of coming into existence by our powerful faith in peace. Here is my music video "Let There Be Peace on Earth"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMBAJuaTTE&feature=youtu.be



Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent, conflict behaviors and the freedom from fear of violence. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all. In international relations, peacetime is not only the absence of war or violent conflict, but also the presence of positive and respectful cultural and economic relationships.

Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.
John Lennon 

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
Mahatma Gandhi 

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Teresa

Raising Teens

I am not perfect at this…but I do believe we should Listen to our children especially when they are teens. Make sure you practice putting everything down when they walk into the room so you have time for them and look them in the eye. I wasn’t perfect at this as I would sometimes be on the phone and they would burst in the room and need to tell me something. I should have asked my friend to hold or call them back and listen. Sometimes I did and other times I forgot who was most important. 

I also still need to work on not interrupting them when they talk, such as trying to finish their sentences by assuming…or asking them a question before they have finished or completed their thought. This makes it hard for them to have continuous thought. I truly believe in this but have a hard time doing it. I get too impatient and think quickly to fill in the blanks and move right along to the end and beyond before they’ve voiced it.

Another thing I have learned is not to act or react startled when they confess or tell you something they or their friends are doing that might disturb you. You wouldn’t want a Bishop to yell out “You did What?!?!”  Neither should we.

If there needs to be discipline I like to have them help come up with the proper punishment. I found that they would obey better if they helped to create the rules. Example: If they were 10 minutes late on curfew, their curfew was 10 minutes earlier next time. If they called ahead of time and communicated why they would be late and it made sense to me then that was waived.

I have discovered that the most important words to practice saying when you listen to them are: “How do you feel about that?” and  “What are you going to do about that?”

This validates their feelings and empowers them by showing you trust them to make right choices. Remember Christ said to weep with those who weep, he didn’t say cheer them up…so validate their feelings.

Great Book recommendation

“I Don’t Have to Make Everything All Better”

by the Lundbergs.

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Have-Make-Everything-Better/dp/0140286438

Raising Children

Explain what you are doing and be specific – people usually just take for granted that kids should just  understand our reason for telling them to do something… these new spirits coming down are very valiant in the cause for free agency and they want choices. Here are some Examples of things we did that seemed to work well for our children. It might not work into your schedule...but hopefully you can get some ideas:

• Listen to them when they come home...: rather than asking- How was your day at school? They will then answer with one syllable like ‘fine.' Instead ASK:  Did you have fun at recess? Did you have a test? How was your report?  Then listen intently. I like to type the cute things they say in my journal for them on my computer. Get used to them talking and don't tune them out...they are so fun to listen to.
•   I always made dinner at 3:00 when they first got home and was hungry. That 10 minute dinner table became the object of many fun and important conversations.
•  I also got up early and made breakfast and read scriptures in the morning while they were eating,        I had a captive audience for 10 minutes. (It doesn’t take long to eat so I never wanted to miss it)    It seemed to set such a good tone in the home. We read the Book of Mormon every school year for 20 years. I would start in August with  "I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..." and end with Moroni telling us to get our own testimony in May.   We would take a break in Summer as everyone slept in differently...but I really noticed a difference in how well we got along as a family when we were reading scriptures...it was much much better.
• MINER FAMILY HOME EVENINGS. (This article is in the book "Famous Family Nights" compiled by Anne Bradshaw - the book can be purchased on Amazon)
  
  
  When the children were younger we had regular Family Home Evenings. As a former school teacher I had a lot of visual aids and puppets that we could use to teach the concepts.  All the kids remember and still laugh about the puppet shows because we had this stage made out of cardboard and the children had helped to make the puppets.  
  They would change their voices and use music for the background.
  
  
  At first we as parents taught most all the lessons then, as the children got older they got excited to teach the lessons to the younger children. And now as my younger children are older they can teach the lessons to our grandchildren.
  
  
  Before we had the professional book that the church puts out with FHE guidelines, we would use the “Gospel Principles” book used by the missionaries as a lesson manual for the guide line and then make it fun with treats, songs, games and activities.
  
  
  One year we tried each to share and teach our talents to one another. Dad and the Boys could teach just about any sport and the Girls would teach dancing and Mom could teach singing. We had fun but also grew to appreciate how difficult each talent was.
  
  
  Another year the focus was Emergency Preparedness and Learning Life Skills.
  One lesson was First Aid – We laugh when we see the photos of the children wrapping each other up almost like mummies with bandages. However, two of my children each at different times and later in life actually won awards for life saving skills taught that day.
  
  
  One lesson was on starting our scrapbooks which we have continued to update twice a year as a Conference tradition. I recently called my daughter on a Conference Saturday and she and her daughters were doing their scrapbooks. I hung up the phone with a tear in my eye with memories of my children and seeing that tradition continued.
  
  
  Family Home Evenings have evolved from having a regular time on Monday Night when the children were young…to Sunday Evenings, when children had sports or lessons on Monday. At one point as a busy mother and professional woman with busy children who all pursued their talents we had irregular Family Home Evenings on different nights.
  We would discuss our schedules at Sunday Dinner to see when everyone could get together.
  
  
  As the children grew up to have their own families we would have dinner every Sunday afternoon. One great Home Evening was when each took turns sharing about their Missions. They brought scrapbooks, videos, and told many amazing faith promoting stories.
  
  
  As families moved away and got bigger families, we now try to schedule something once a month with the ones close by; such as Field Trips to the Zoo, Amusement Park, or Camping.
  
  
  I believe you have to enjoy each season of your life and do your best to incorporate the teachings of the Church and follow the Spirit for your family and your situation. The bottom line is they grow up knowing that you have a Testimony and Love the Lord.
  
  

Communicating with Babies

I believe babies are very intelligent. They were just an adult spirit just a few moments ago and might have been very excited, and waited a long time to come to Earth and get a body. The day finally arrives and they didn’t realize that it would be so frustrating that they don’t know how to work this new body when they are in fact so intelligent.

I believe they understand most words especially with the emotions that go with them.

Of course babies cry if they are hungry, wet and uncomfortable and need a new diaper, and/or have a tummy ache or gas.  These are new experiences and might also frighten them because they haven’t had these symptoms that have become common place to those of us who have lived on Earth longer.

I talk to them as if they are an adult and can totally understand me.

I like to explain to them that we all had to come to Earth and get a body and we were all frustrated at one time. I then tell them how wonderful life is and how quickly they will learn and one day they will do something very important. Most babies quit crying and listen intently and seem to totally understand.

When someone new comes over to hold them, I introduce them to the baby…this baby doesn’t know or trust them like you do…how would you feel getting passed over to someone you don’t know. I’d cry too. Example: I am a grandmother and if I see my grandbaby for the first time that they actually focus on me, I tell them, “I am your mommy’s mommy. When your mommy was a baby I took care of her just like she is taking care of you.”  Later if my best friend just picked them up for the first time and is talking baby talk to them, I look at the baby and say, “This is Grandma’s best friend Cindy”   If they were starting to fuss they will usually stop.

During parties or gatherings of any kind, I treat the baby as if they are an adult from a foreign country who doesn’t understand the customs yet. I explain the details to them. They always listen and seem much more comfortable.

Cold and Allergy and Flu Remedies

COLD & ALLERGY MED:
There is a really great cold/allergy med that was the grandfather of all the meds. It was invented by the scientist trying to find a cure for the common cold.

(His son dated one of my friends – thus I know this story)

He realized that this cold/allergy discovery was important to help the body to stop congestion from forming and getting infected… he donated it to all the medical organizations in the world for free as long as they would offer it to the public at cost.

A long time ago it was donated to the American Medical Association with the stipulation that it be sold to the public for cost ($1 to $2 for 100 pills) so you can ask any pharmacist at any grocery store for it. The AMA took it and added a bunch of sleepy stuff and other weird things and that became other meds that we know the brand names of today for a lot more money.

It is Chlorpheniramine Maleate . Take it when you first feel itchy or have cold symptoms. It works quickly and you can take one every 3-5 hours if you need to. I only need one a day on my bad allergy days.

This same scientist (Linus Pauling) later went on to win the Nobel Prize for the chelation of vitamins. (vitamins need to work together for optimum effect)

CONGESTION: You can take the allergy med Chlorpheniramine Maleate  to stop congestion from forming and Guaifenesin to get rid of the congestion you already have. They work well together and the generic liquid form  of Guifed is good and inexpensive.

CLEANLINESS
Also during and after you've been sick don't forget to change out your toothbrush, towels, pillowcase/bedding, and disinfect areas where you touch so others don't get sick: door handles, fridge and cabinet handles and kitchen surfaces, light switches

DAILY INEXPENSIVE THINGS TO DO OR TAKE:
( Cheap and the most effective. )

Have a Hot water drink first thing when you feel it coming on:

·         2 Tablespoons Vinegar

·         2 Tablespoons of Lemon (or 2 drops of essential oil lemon)

·         2 Tablespoons Honey

·         Dash of Cinnamon

 

Take 1 or 2 Echinacea Goldenseal from the local grocery store pharmacy helps singers 

 

Take a Q-tip and dip it in Hydrogen Peroxide to clean out your ears 

Sniff the Nasal Saline once a day (or Vaseline also works if you don't have this)

IMMUNE SYSTEM

AIRBORNE helps to build the immune system. It was invented by a school teacher who didn't want to catch all the colds and flu's her children would bring to school. It dissolves in water like an Alka Seltzer and has 1000 mg of vitamin C, Zinc and several other herbs that build your immune system. If I wake up with a little sore throat I take an Airborne and go back to bed for another 5 minutes until I feel my immune system is up again. Also, it is good if you've been in public around someone coughing and you feel vulnerable to their cold to come home and take it....it should help you feel better.

COUGHING:
When you have a cough at night...rub 'Vicks Vaporub' or 'Mentholatum' on your feet then cover them with socks. the coughing should stop in 5 minutes and it is also soothing and comforting. You or your child should sleep soundly.

You may also boil water to get moisture in the air or put on a humidifier if you live in a dry climate.

FLU VIRUS:
Take Tylonal (Acetaminophen) or Advil (Ibuprofen) for your fever.

Also the flu virus can be absorbed by onions- it turns out that flu virus is attracted to onions the way fruit flies are attracted to fruit. In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different, the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

See it pays to do your genealogy.....You might learn something. Ha ha