love “beareth all things

Sometimes, we come to know what something is by understanding what it is not. We learn of integrity, for example, by confronting dishonesty. We learn of courage as we encounter fear. And we can learn of love as we consider its counterfeits. Love is not overbearing or controlling; love is not jealous or unkind; love is not neglectful, impatient, or fickle. 

As Shakespeare observed, "Love which alters when it alteration finds" is not love at all.

True love, selfless love, does not wither as beauty fades or life becomes difficult. If anything, its roots grow deeper and its branches spread farther with each shared experience. An elderly gentleman described how his love for his wife grew through their 55 years of marriage. He said, "I sat at dinner across the table from my wife the other evening. We have walked together through much of storm as well as sunshine. . . . As I looked at her across the table, I noted a few wrinkles in her face and hands. But are they less beautiful than before? No, in fact, they are more so. Those wrinkles have a beauty of their own, and inherent in their very presence is something that speaks reassuringly of strength and integrity and a love that runs more deeply and quietly than ever before."

This kind of love is the most enduring, the most influential, and the most needed power in the universe. Perhaps the only thing deeper than the need to receive such love is the need to give it. 

Of course, like anything of great value, love does not blossom overnight. While we sometimes talk of "love at first sight," love grows to its full flower gradually. It will take time, but love is undaunted, because, as the Apostle Paul taught, love "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." When all is said and done, those who have patiently nurtured their love will enjoy the sweet fruits of their efforts, here and hereafter, and they will discover that love truly "never faileth."

Lloyd D. Newell 

Let grief do her sacred, invisible work

A Prayer for Those Who Are Grieving 

Emily P. Freeman

We recognize there are many among us who have only just crossed the invisible boundary marking their own before and after, who are looking at calendars today saying This time last week, things were still normal.

For those who have witnessed the kind of scenes that could haunt for a lifetime, we pray for a sanctified memory and a holy imagination. Release them from the haunting, we pray.

For those who begin to shake when the low light of evening sends shadows long across the yard, we pray for comfort.

For those whose sadness feels sharp like fear, soothe the jagged edges and bring relief.

For those who wait in the darkness groping for answers and finding only more questions, we pray for peace.

For those who have experienced loss but carry an odd-placed sense of responsibility, who can't shake the unexplained guilt that lingers in the air around them, we pray You might calm the chaos and awaken their heart to Your love.

One day in the future, some may begin to feel like they should be over it by now; they may grow tired of going through the whole thing again, or feel pressure to heal already; for these we pray for the courage to let grief do her sacred, invisible work.

We recognize the many layers of sadness present among us, both the kind that settles like a cloud over a nation after terrible loss and the kind that bursts unwelcome into our homes.

May Your presence fill up and overflow the gaping holes that 

are left in the wake of tragedy.

Live out Your Name among us, Emmanuel. Remind us you haven't left us alone.

I will not leave you comfortless: 

I will come to you. 

something extraordinary and meaningful

"take advantage of our incredible lives today and take time to make wonderful memories, I want to be rich with experiences and strong relationships....do what you love and love what you do" Jordan

click for video Pro-gression Camp 2014

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"I enjoy being creative. Whether that is through my music, videos, art, or sports. I get a lot of satisfaction from making something significant out of something ordinary. The greatest feeling of fulfillment for me is when I can produce something that evokes emotion in others. With whatever I end up doing, my ultimate goal is to inspire others to get out and do something extraordinary and meaningful."  Jordan Niedrich

You will be so missed God be with you till we meet again

When you are born, you cry and the world rejoices.
When you die, you rejoice and the world cries.

The most painful tears are not the ones that fall from your eyes and cover your face. 
Its the ones that fall from your Heart and cover your soul.

Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved.
Where there is deep grief, there is Great Love.

"Mourning is one of the deepest expressions of pure love. It is a natural response in complete accord with divine commandment: "Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die."
Moreover, we can't fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations now.
The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life."

"When trials come we can get past them more quickly if we remember happiness in the past as readily as we count on the promise of happiness ahead." 

Jeffrey R. Holland 

"Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death . . . Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through and not around the doors of death. We were born to die, and we die to live. As seedlings of God, we barely blossom on earth; 

we fully flower in heaven." 

Russell M. Nelson

In Loving Memory 

Jordan Niedrich April 16th, 2016

Expect the exceptional

Let it blossom

Become a miracle

aPriL floWerS

Brown Sugar Pound Cake

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups light brown sugar, packed

1 cup granulated sugar

5 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk

1 – 8 ounce bag of toffee bits

1 cup pecans, chopped

1 recipe CARAMEL DRIZZLE

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Spray a 12 CUP Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray with flour. Set aside.

Beat the butter until creamy. Add sugars, beating until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture in thirds, alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat until just combined. Stir in toffee bits and pecans.

Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake until a wood pick inserted near the center of cake comes out clean, 75 to 85 minutes.

Cover top of cake with foil to prevent excess browning if necessary.

Let cake cool in pan for 30 minutes.

Remove from pan, and let cool completely on a wire rack. NOTE: Don't freak out if some of the cake sticks. Mine did too. It's because this cake is so moist. GOOD NEWS! We get to cover all the imperfections with yummy caramel!

Spoon Caramel Drizzle over cooled cake.

CARAMEL DRIZZLE

Ingredients

1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine condensed milk and brown sugar; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly.

Reduce heat, and SIMMER for 5 minutes, whisking constantly.

Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla.

NOTE: Make sure you drizzle the caramel while it's still HOT. When cooled the caramel does somewhat harden.

A step into the dark

Remember to KISS: Keep It Simple Sweetheart

Always

Consider it done

French Onion Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe

Six Sisters Stuff

Serves: 8

Ingredients

4 cups cooked chicken, diced

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 (16 ounce) jar french onion dip

1 (10 ounce) can Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Chiles, drained (optional)

1 cup cheddar cheese

1 (12 ounce) package egg noodles

1 ½ cups French fried onions, crushed

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook egg noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken, soup, dip, Rotel and cheese.

Gently fold in cooked egg noodles and pour into prepared pan.

Top with crushed french fried onions and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through.

With passion

Have fun

It should be

Listen

What would you do

You can

Be not afraid

life takes you to unexpected places, love brings you home

Look for the beauty in everyone

Life passes in a blink of an eye relish it

live life every day to your fullest

my wish

its going to be okay

dear hope

j

dear hurt

dear quiet

love your heart out

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

just think of the possibilities

everything

dear you

you do

you can

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.

be you beautiful you

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.

Anything can be

you can

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

make them happen

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!

Gratitude and Joy

life is good

I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.

Begging for peace

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