JOY

In church last week we were talking about how we shouted for JOY when we knew we would have the opportunity to come to earth and get a body. Someone suggested that we should remember this and try to have JOY in every day. Another person said that JOY is a spiritual gift and you can have JOY no matter what your circumstances. I've thought a lot about JOY this week.

Sunday was a JOYful day. When we had our Valentine's dinner, Jill suggested that we have a St. Patrick's day dinner. So on Sunday we had our green dinner. All our food was green, (except the meatballs which were so yummy). And I made chocolate chip cookies. Nothing like fresh, hot, cookies from the oven. All total there were 14 of us that day (Kyle didn't make the picture). Blake and Kindra brought their newborn baby. She is so CUTE! I love having them over for dinner. It is a JOYful part of my life.




Jill and new baby Ms. E.

Yesterday I was watching an exhibition MLB baseball game between the Phillies and the Braves. Though I don't have a favorite team, I do like the Braves, since I went to a couple of games when I lived in ATL. I also like the Red Sox since Ms. L and I were able to go to game in Boston last summer. So yesterday I was imagining in my mind that I was in Florida, basking in the sunshine, watching the Phillies and the Braves baseball game. A JOYful moment. Today I smelled someone cooking hot dogs on an outdoor grill. It reminded me of baseball games again. I hope to be able to go to at least one MLB game this summer. More details to come.


So life is good. I am trying to find JOY in every day, even if it is the little things.

Seeking Input for WC Talk

I'm working on my talk for Women's Conference and need input. Here is my topic. What would you want to hear if you came? Or what do you think I should include in my talk?

Women are especially prone to comparing and competing with each other. How can we accept ourselves as unique and recognize our individual worth? What can help us to recognize our own strengths and rejoice in the strengths of others without becoming envious or discouraged? In what ways can we raise young women to be confident in who they are?

Life Is Good!

Random Thoughts

Nothing exciting in my life to blog about, so here are some random thoughts.

1- I finished reading "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton. I loved this book. It is going on my list of all-time favorites. It is about a young girl who gets put on a ship by herself and ends up in Australia. The dock master takes her in and raises her as his own. At age 21 he tells her the truth. The story goes between the early 1900, 1975 and 2005 as the main character tries to discover her family history (another reason I liked it-- the family history link).

2- Had lunch with my sister this week. It was a much needed break. We ate bison burgers. I thought they were really tasty, and much leaner than a hamburger. I can count on one hand the number of times I have ordered a hamburger at a restaurant in the last 15 years (Burger King in England; Five Guys Burgers and Fries with Ms. C & Ms. L; Rainbow Gardens with mom). I would definitely order this again-- though it was a lot of meat and could have split one burger between the two of us.

3- I got to hold a baby during Relief Society today. The mother was teaching our lesson. Lucky me. I have a new appreciation for mothers. I thought my arm would fall off before the meeting was over. Whew. How do mothers do this? I needed an arm rest. Granted, I dared not move or shift for fear that she would wake up and see her mother teaching the lesson and that would be the end. It was a fun experience-- reminded me of the Michael McClain song about "Mary let me hold her baby...though I'd never been a mother, I felt like one."

4- Will spring ever come? I know the crocus are poking their heads through the ground, but we had snow this morning. Ugh. March 14th? Really? Fortunately it all melted by this afternoon. The weather is still too cool. I am waiting for that perfect hooky weather day.

Dreaming of Spring

I woke up to a major snow storm this morning. Ugh.... I am dreaming of Spring.... and flowers.....and warmer weather....

Women of Influence

I attended a lunch meeting today with an author who writes about LDS women of influence, or in other words women who have made a difference. She said that it was easy to find stories about early, pioneer women. For instance there are stories about women who started ZCMI, the first department store, or the first doctors, or those who started the Relief Society. The author went on to say that as she looked for modern examples of LDS women who are making a difference, they were harder to find. She said that she had to call, ask, and probe to find their stories.

It got me to thinking about women of influence. What does it mean to "make a difference" in the world? Are only the high profile women that you might see on the news or read in a book, the women who make a difference? What about the millions of women all over the world who are quietly and effectively serving in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities, but never receive recognition or accolades. Is it okay that they are making a difference and nobody hears about it? Do we need to be "tooting our own horn" more often? Is there a need for more female role models in the world?

I can relate to the desire to make a difference. But I don't have aspirations to change the world or receive the Pulitzer prize for something I've written. The reality is, when I die, nobody will remember most of what appears on my vitae. But hopefully people will remember how I treated them and made them feel (and hopefully that is positive). And I hope that Ms. C, Ms. L, Ms. K, and Ms. E will think I'm the best aunt in the world and that I made a difference in their lives. And if I never receive public recognition for that influence, I am okay, because I've made a difference in my corner of the world and that is what matters.

Life is Good.