Teaching the Youth

Because I am one of the Young Women leaders at church, I had the privilege to attend New Beginnings. If you are unfamiliar with what that is, it is a time when the young women (ages 12 to 18) get together to welcome the girls that will be entering into the program this next year.

We had a really nice evening. The girl that was in charge of putting the program together is a very responsible 13 year old. She had everything put together from programs, decorations, speakers, refreshments, etc. After our opening hymn and prayer, we were presented with a nice little story, and then it was on to the Young Women Values. Each of the eight values was presented by a different girl. Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity, and the newest value as of this month Virtue are the values that we are taught to live and be an example of. What a great opportunity for these girls, to be taught these values, and what they should mean in their lives. If each of us, young or old were to live these values, what a better world we would be in! Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer lived each of these values, and we are to pattern our lives after His.

1. Faith-- "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." Alma 32:21. Faith is much more than just a passive belief...

2. Divine Nature--Be partakers of divine nature...Giving all diligence, and add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2 Peter 1:4-7

3. Individual Worth-Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. D&C 18:10
We need to remember this, "I am of infinite worth with my own divine mission, which I will strive to fulfill." (LDS Young Women Personal Progress)

4. Knowledge--We need to "continually seek opportunities for learning and growth." In D&C 88:118 it says, "Seek learning, even by study and also by faith." When we leave this life the only thing we take with us is knowledge, I guess that is why it is so important to learn, and keep learning. Something else that has come to my understanding is that the more we keep our minds alert and exercised, the less likely we will suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's.

5. Choice and Accountability--"I will choose good over evil and will accept responsibility for my decisions." (Young Women Personal Progress). It is so often that when we choose wrong we try to blame it on the other guy. We need to accept responsibility, and consequences of our choices, whether good or bad. In Joshua 24:15 it says, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve;...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." That is a good scripture to live by. I would much rather live with the consequences by choosing to live right.

6. Good Works--3 Nephi 12:16 "Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." We should continually serve others. Everyone wins in the end. The person that has been helped wins because he has gotten the help, the one who gives wins, because he has learned, grown, and feels good. What better world we would be in if everyone helped others rather than see each others faults and critize them for it. We do not know the circumstances of others, and til we have walked in their shoes, we must not judge them. I have found this to be true too many times, and after I have critized someone for something I feel is inappropriate, many times, I find that if I were to be in their shoes, I might have done the same thing. Sometimes people do things that WE think are not appropriate, but if we knew the whole story behind it, then we would understand why...

7. Integrity--what a word! Integrity is much more than just being honest. In the Young Women's Personal Progress manual there is a statement which says, "I will have the moral courage to make my actions consistent with my knowledge of right and wrong." This pretty much sums it up.

8. The newest value is Virtue. It was just presented to the Young Women's program just a few weeks ago. Everyone has really been excited about it. Virtue is huge! In the dictionary it says that virtue is "moral excellence." In the scriptures it says, "Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies." (Proverbs 31:10) "Large rubies of high quality are the rarest and most highly prized of all gemstones in the world. Above all other gemstones, including diamonds, rubies command the greatest per carat prices." (http://www.solitaire.com.sg/magazine/feb_mar/story3.html).

I grew up with "goodly parents!" I would never trade my family for anything, but one thing I do wish that we would have had growing up, was the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. I remember searching for the right teachings, and did come across many good teachings. The only thing was, I felt there was more. I found more when I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when I was 19. I did not grow up in Primary or with the Youth programs of the church, but as a parent, have been very happy to have raised my children, and having guildlines such as the ones found in the Young Women's Program. What a privilage these young women have to learn of their importance, and their potential. Don't know if it would have made a difference in my life, but I like to think it might have, to know that I have a loving Father in Heaven, that is always there for me; and that because He loves each and everyone of us, he has given Prophets, other leaders, and the Scriptures for us to learn how we should be living. He has given us the knowledge of what His Son did for each and everyone of us. Christ attoned for our sins. If we repent, and live worthily, we have the opportunity to live with Him someday.

Growing up, I was shy, and had a very low self esteem (I was never in trouble, just extreemly shy and quiet). I see so many youth with the same type problems. Some of them aren't shy, but are in trouble because they do not know who they are. It is our responsiblity to share the Gospel with everyone. That does not mean that we have to go up to everyone and start preaching. This does mean, that we need to live our lives so that others will notice, and wonder, and eventually we can share with them why we are the way we are. It is because of Jesus Christ.

A Fine Southern Bell

My husband and I attended a funeral this morning for a very lovely Southern Bell. I met her not long ago, and was very impressed with her. She definitely had the Light of Christ within her. As I sat and listened to the stories that were told about this fine lady, I thought to myself, I would like to be like her.

Many years ago, she was a second grade teacher; one that all the kids loved. She was also very active in her church callings. Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since 1969, she had many opportunities to serve. She served with young and old, alike. She knew her scriptures well, and was very close to the Savior. I enjoyed seeing her each and every Sunday, walk to the front of the chapel so that she would not miss a word.

Our first Sunday in Monroe, we headed for church (not knowing anyone, it is always scary to attend the first time). One of the first to greet us was this fine lady. Just before Sunday School, she approached me and asked if she could sit with me. I scooted over and said, "Sure!" After a few minutes, she asked me to come with her closer...so, I did. A few minutes later she asked if we could move to the front. Very hesitantly, I followed; you see, I am a back row person--I am very uncomfortable in the front. She wanted to sit with me, but could not hear very well, and this is why she wanted to sit up front--to hear every word of the lesson.

Her son offered the eulogy, and he told how she died. You see, I don't think she was ill. She did live a long life, though. He told of that morning, how she laid out her burial clothing along with a scripture reference and her funeral requests. She then sat in her favorite recliner, and went to sleep. It was then she left this world. What a special lady.

She would have been 87 this August, and will be greatly missed by friends and family.

Finishing What I Once Started

In August of 2007, our family moved to Louisiana. Our furniture came to our new house and the next day school started. Boy, was it ever hectic! We moved from an almost 3200 square foot house; plus we had a whole attic full of storage area, a 2 1/2 car garage (we put our cars in it plus my husband had all his workbench, tools etc in it). The garage also had a storage room with cabinets in the back for extra paint, etc, and we also had a big storage building out back for our yard and garden tools. It was quite the shocker to move our family of six from this to a 2300 square foot house with absolutely NO storage.

The reason I tell you this, is because after about 1 1/2 years, we are still unpacking. Just before Thanksgiving, I found a box of yarn and several half done crochet blankets. One was a baby blanket. I finished that one off and gave it to one of my walking buddies granddaughter. It actually turned out quite nice (wished I'd taken a picture of that one). Then I took out the next blanket and promptly started on it. When I ran out of yarn, it still was not big enough even for a lap blanket, so I went to buy more yarn, and found I could not find the blue or variegated yarn I had started out with so many years ago. I had to settle for the pinkish color...not what I wanted. I had to make up the pattern as I went and the above picture is what it turned out to look like. I'm not as pleased with it as the baby blanket I had done. My stitching is not consistent, and it has more pink in it than I wanted. I think, though that my grandma might like it. You see, she is about to turn 90, and her sight it going. Because it is so bright, I think she may be able to see it, so in the mail it will go...off to Colorado for her 90th birthday party. Wish I could be there. My thoughts will be with her.

Missing My Kids...

The 3rd of my four children has been gone for the last couple of days on a Beta Club trip. It has been so strange with just one child here--very empty. None of our children are very loud or boisterous, but when one is missing you can feel it. Almost two years ago, our oldest left home after graduating from high school. We were in the middle of moving to another state, and he decided to move in with his grandparents and work and go to school. It was so hard to see him drive out of the driveway, and know he was not coming back.

When the next one left, for school this past fall, again, I felt an emptiness (I guess this is one reason it is called the empty nest syndrome). I am so grateful for modern technology. I was never one for text messaging, but since the kids have left, I have become an avid texter. It's almost like they are here (almost...). I can communicate with them anytime I want, even if it's just a "hey! it's 70 degrees today!!! (that is for my daughter in Utah where it's been 20's and snowy everyday).

Letting my son go with the Beta Club was not easy. You see, I homeschooled for ten years, and seeing one of my babies go with a group of school kids I don't know as well as I would like, some 5 hours away is not a easy thing for me. He has been taught well, and, hopefully, he will have fun and make good choices while he is gone. I miss his smiling face, his hugs, and his caring thoughts, and am anxious to go pick him up this evening and hear about his adventures!

Yikes, The Dentist....

Had a dentist appointment today--not exactly my favorite thing in the world to do, but it is a necessity. I have always been one to REALLY take good care of my teeth, but have never reaped the rewards...bad genes when it comes to my teeth. Anywho...I got a really good bill of health today. Kind of a strange thing, since nothing much changed with my oral hygiene habits. I brush my teeth at least 3 times a day, and I floss every night, and pretty much always have.

A year ago, I changed dentist (because we moved to a new state). I was told that my gum's were in bad, bad shape. No new news to me. I got my normal scolding, and went home to my business. After six months, went back to the dentist and the bad spaces improved, but the good places got much worse. Again, I got another scolding. This is one reason I HATE, HATE the dentist, because I always get a scolding. Don't know what more I can do, maybe floss three times a day, too? Don't think that would really help much. I just have bad teeth and gums.

Well, today, I had a H U G E!!!!! improvement. I was told by my hygienist that she could not believe how much they had improved. Well, I have a hunch. She did not agree with me, but this is the only thing that changed. Within the last 3 months, I started going to a hormone doctor. They did all kinds of lab work, and found that my adrenals were way out of wack, and that my progesterone level was extremely low. I have always know about my progesterone level, because I have had several miscarriages, and it was due to low progesterone. These past few months, I was put on progestrone cream, and told to take fish oil, and was put on severl types of adrenal builders. I also received a series of three B12 shots. I have read in several places that oral health can be affected by other systems in your body. It will be interesting to see what the hormone doctor says about my oral health improving...

By the way a really good book to read is the most recent by Suzanne Somers "Breakthrough, Eight Steps to Wellness". I read it just before going to the hormone doctor, and my dad read it too. He is really into these type books, including the Dr. OZ books, etc, and told me that every woman and doctor needs to read this book. There are some things in the book that I think are a little questionable, but for the most part, it is very good information that everyone needs to know about.

Sox

This is Sox, our dog, when she was just a wee pup. Back in July of 2006, my eldest son's girlfriend asked if she could give him a puppy for his up and coming birthday. Our family had been discussing the possibility of getting a dog, and so I told her maybe. My son knew about this, as he used to go to the dog shelter with his girlfriend (Anna). Anna's aunt had a no kill shelter, and one of the dogs brought in had just had puppies, and my son, Miles, fell in love with one of them. After investigating the mixture of the puppy (Beagle, Basset, Spaniel, Australian Shepherd), we told them that they could bring it over for the weekend and we would make a decision. The second they came in with this cute little puppy, everyone fell in love, there was NO turning back, and she has been a part of our family ever since.