LOVE.

"Love wasn't put in your heart to stay. Love isn't love until you give it away."-Michael W. Smith

Hearts.

So I am currently watching the LATEST episode of Project Runway...my latest addiction, and this episode is a challenge to make dresses for real women that have a heart defect. And it has just brought me to tears. I know this little boy....he is very close to MY heart and the hearts of SO many people. His name is Nick. He is my nephew. He says the DARNDEST things, is SUPER cheeky, full of energy, super smart, and the cutest brother to 2 other DARN cute boys. When Nick was born, he was born with a heart defect. His heart has a tumor inside, which cannot be removed. Since he was born 5 years ago, he has had many surgeries, had a defibrillator inserted inside to take care of his heart when it forgets to do it's job. He is such a tough little boy, and he just keeps chuggin' along in life, doing the best he can. His mom and daddy are amazing and work so hard to be happy and make life so fun for their little boys. We are so blessed to have the health that we do. We are so blessed to have the experiences we have. We should be so thankful for everything we have and always remember to keep others in our prayers. Faith is such a wonderful blessing...God is real.....

Hug o' war

"I will not play tug o' war. I'd rather play hug o' war. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins."-Shel Silverstein

Have I Done Any Good?

"Often we live side by side but do not communicate heart to heart. How many times has your heart been touched as you have witnessed the need of another? How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that “oh, surely someone will take care of that need.”

We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes.

That service to which all of us have been called is the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As He enlists us to His cause, He invites us to draw close to Him. He speaks to you and to me:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

-Thomas S. Monson, “What Have I Done for Someone Today?,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 84–87

Kids.

So, kids say the DARNDEST things...and I just HAD to steal this one from my sister.....Her kids are SO fun!
'Tonight while I was making dinner, Nick approached me and announced that he had a secret. I leaned in with interest and said, "Okay... What is it?" He tilted his head up and said in his "duh mom" voice: "I can't TELL you... It's a secret!...... But maybe if I just say it soft so no one hears me..."
I say "OK." And then he says so sweetly to me "Ok. My secret is-- why do you cook food SO GOOD?!"
I laugh and smile down at him and say "'Cause I'm AWESOME!"
Nick looks up at me, tilts his head, kind of squints his eyes and says "Um.... I think cause of Grandma."'
It's true...our mom is the BEST cook!

Love.

The great test of life is obedience to God

The great task of life is to learn the will of the Lord and then do it.

The great commandment of life is to love the Lord.

-Ezra Taft Benson, “The Great Commandment—Love the Lord,” Ensign, May 1988, 4

I have been thinking.....

How blessed are WE to be able to come to earth, given such wonderful bodies, have SO many wonderful experiences and memories, and to be surrounded by such wonderful people. We all have the opportunity to find a wonderful eternal companion and raise wonderful families. How blessed we ARE! Heavenly Father made this ALL possible. He loves us SO much and wants happiness for us. We owe SO much to Him, and all He asks in return is to show love to those around us and follow His commandments. If we do, He will feel OUR love for Him.