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Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Pebbles of kindness
In so many societies around the world, everything seems to be disposable. As soon as something starts to break down or wear out—or even when we simply grow tired of it—we throw it out and replace it with an upgrade, something newer or shinier.
We do this with cell phones, clothes, cars and, tragically, even with relationships.
While there may be value in decluttering our lives of material things we no longer need, when it comes to things of eternal importance—our marriages, our families, and our values—a mind-set of replacing the original in favor of the modern can bring profound remorse...
Somehow, as the days multiply and the color of romantic love changes, there are some who slowly stop thinking of each other's happiness and start noticing the little faults. In such an environment, some are enticed by the tragic conclusion that their spouse isn't smart enough, fun enough, or young enough. And somehow they get the idea that this gives them justification to start looking elsewhere.
Brethren, if this comes close to describing you at all, I warn you that you are on a road that leads to broken marriages, broken homes, and broken hearts. I plead with you to stop now, turn around, and come back to the safe path of integrity and loyalty to covenants. And, of course, the same principles apply for our dear sisters......
those who save their marriages understand that this pursuit takes time, patience, and, above all, the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It requires you to be kind, envy not, seek not your own, not be easily provoked, think no evil, and rejoice in the truth. In other words, it requires charity, the pure love of Christ.1
All this won't just happen in an instant. Great marriages are built brick by brick, day after day, over a lifetime.....
And that is good news.
Because no matter how flat your relationship may be at the present, if you keep adding pebbles of kindness, compassion, listening, sacrifice, understanding, and selflessness, eventually a mighty pyramid will begin to grow.
And that is good news.
Because no matter how flat your relationship may be at the present, if you keep adding pebbles of kindness, compassion, listening, sacrifice, understanding, and selflessness, eventually a mighty pyramid will begin to grow.
It may be a gradual work, but it doesn't have to be a cheerless one. In fact, at the risk of stating the obvious, divorce rarely happens when the husband and wife are happy.
So be happy!
Those who save their marriages choose happiness. While it's true that some types of chronic depression require specialized treatment, I am fond of this bit of wisdom by Abraham Lincoln: "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." It fits nicely with its scriptural companion: "Seek, and ye shall find."
If we look for imperfections in our spouse or irritations in our marriage, we will certainly find them, because everyone has some. On the other hand, if we look for the good, we will surely find it, because everyone has many good qualities too.
Those who save marriages pull out the weeds and water the flowers. They celebrate the small acts of grace that spark tender feelings of charity. Those who save marriages save future generations.
... remember why you fell in love.
Work each day to make your marriage stronger and happier.
...let us do our very best to be numbered among those hallowed and happy souls who save their marriages.
Life is short ..... Regrets can last a long time some will have repercussions that echo through eternity.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
be present
her favorite moments were those when
she let go of all expectations and worries
and just simply celebrated the
very moment she was living.
Fwd: Confidence
Confidence is not "they will like me". Confidence is "I'll be fine if they don't" .
If you find yourself constantly trying to prove your worth to someone, you have already forgotten your value.
Monday, April 4, 2016
morning breaks shadows flee
Why is it that the most significant, beautiful moments in life so often come just after periods of darkness and sorrow? The birth of a new child is always preceded by a mother's pain and travail. The joyful colors of spring are most inspiring because they come on the heels of a dreary winter. And glorious sunrises would be meaningless if they didn't follow the darkness of night.
Perhaps there's a message for us in such patterns: Nothing is ever hopeless. When things seem the bleakest, when all seems dark and despairing, it may be that a great light of hope is just about to shine forth. After all, such new light cannot come if life is always sunny.
In many ways, the story of Handel's Messiah exemplifies the light of hope. While the music and lyrics abound with hopeful messages, Messiah was written during a dark and dismal time in Handel's life. He was in debt and out of favor as a composer; public taste for his work was dwindling, and he struggled with crippling self-doubt as a result.
But then a friend, Charles Jennens, gave him a text he had prepared, with hopes that Handel would set it to music. Taken from scripture, it included lines like these:
"Lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid."
"Arise, shine, for thy light is come."
And "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
upon them hath the light shined."
The result was one of the most popular and enduring pieces of music ever created. Combining his talent with hard work and divine inspiration, Handel composed his masterwork in just 23 days. Heaven clearly smiled upon his effort, and the person and the moment came together in a powerful way. The work itself and its miraculous creation remind us that the "great light" of hope shines for all, but in particular for those who "walked in darkness" (Isaiah 9:2). Even when everything seems bleak and hopeless, new life will come; light will always chase away darkness. That is the abiding truth and message of the Messiah.
Lloyd D. Newell
you create your own calm
"It's all about finding the calm in the chaos."
Don't measure success by where you think you should be. Sometimes it's all about the progress you have made.
Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.
calm is a powerful thing!
Friday, April 1, 2016
Thursday, March 31, 2016
dear you
Dear you,
may you give yourself permission
trust your voice,
step into your power
and know that what you're
doing matters.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
It's really just the fear of falling we need to overcome
Until you spread your wings,
you have no idea how far you'll fly.
Cheesecake Cupcakes {With Strawberry or Salted Caramel Topping}
Cheesecake Cupcakes
Yield: 24 cupcakes
Ingredients
2 cups finely crushed graham crackers (from 15 sheets)
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
7 Tbsp salted butter, melted
4 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salted Caramel Sauce or Strawberry Sauce, recipes follow
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together crushed graham crackers with 3 Tbsp granulated sugar. Pour in melted butter and stir mixture until evenly coated. Divide graham cracker mixture among 24 paper lined muffin cups, adding a well heaped Tbsp to each (so nearly 2 Tbsp). Press mixture into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool while preparing filling.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar with 3 Tbsp flour until well blended. Add softened cream cheese to a separate mixing bowl and pour sugar mixture over top. Blend mixture on low speed until smooth. Mix in eggs one at a time and blend on low speed, while scrapping sides and bottom of bowl and mixing just until combined after each addition. Add vanilla, sour cream and heavy cream and mix just until combined. Tap mixing bowl against counter top about 30 times to release some of the air bubbles. Divide mixture among muffin cups filling each cup nearly full. Bake in preheated oven 18 - 23 minutes, centers should still jiggle slightly, don't overbake (if they begin to crack they are starting to become overbaked). Remove from oven and allow to cool 1 hour. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and transfer to refrigerator and chill 2 hours. Serve chilled with a spoonful of Salted Caramel Sauce or Strawberry Sauce (note: for best results spoon topping on just before serving). Store in an airtight container in refrigerator or freeze.
Strawberry Sauce
Ingredients
1 lb fresh strawberries, rinsed and dried
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
2 tsp fresh lime or lemon juice
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well chopped and mixture is beginning to break down and liquefy (I liked it with some small pieces not completely pureed). Transfer to an airtight container and chill 30 minutes or until ready to serve.
Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
1 1 /2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp water
6 Tbsp salted butter
3/4 cup heavy cream
Maldon or coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
Directions
Gather all of your ingredients and have them nearby ready to add to the mixture as needed. In a heavy-bottomed 3 quart saucepan, heat sugar and water over moderately high heat whisking constantly to dissolve sugar. Once mixture reaches a boil, stop whisking and allow mixture to boil until it reaches a dark amber color, carefully swirling pan occasionally. Once mixture reaches a dark amber color, immediately add butter and whisk until butter has melted then immediately remove from heat. Wait 3 seconds then carefully pour in cream and immediately whisk to combine (it will bubble vigorously). Whisk until mixture is smooth. Allow caramel to cool several minutes then pour into a glass jar to cool. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt after spooning caramel over cheesecakes.
Recipe Source: Cooking Classy
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Happy Easter from Claire! Gethsemane - Claire Ryann at 3 Years Old
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