Thinkin' On Lovely Things

I don't think it's any coincidence that, in this age of Justin Bieber-mania and (insert your favorite sports icon)-worship, the Mutual Theme for our youth for 2011 is the Thirteenth Article of Faith:

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul -- We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." (Joseph Smith)

The footnote to this Article of Faith references Philippians 4:8, which has been my FAVORITE SCRIPTURE for years and years. You will see how similar they are, but pay special attention to the word "any" (used twice) toward the end of the following verse:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

I love this perspective on how to view life. It is so easy to feel frustrated, even sickened, with all of the filth and crudeness that assault us on every front. But we don't have to wallow in all that -- the Lord has asked that we stand on a higher plane, that we not only "think on" but "seek after" that which is virtuous and lovely. Even when it is darn hard to find, if there is ANYTHING PRAISEWORTHY in ANY SITUATION we find ourselves in, we are to hold fast to that.

And guess what? Seeing the good in things, and seeking out the lovely, can be an acquired habit. I know because I'm testing it out. It seems that the more I look for wonderful things that are of good report, the more there are that show themselves. When I choose to focus my virtue-lenses, I see good stuff nearly everywhere!

Examples of what I mean? Well, here's a list from my desk that I've been adding to for the past few days ... as Maria would say, "these are a few of my favorite things" right now, that are making my life a little more beautiful:


1. The photo above is of a fabulous poster on my 13 year-old daughter's bedroom wall. She may have initially preferred a poster of Justin with his new haircut or Taylor with her guitar and amazing eye make-up, but her mother prevailed.

In the back of a recent LDS Living magazine, I found a link to a website that sells posters created by artist Steve Nethercott. The poster you see above depicts this year's Mutual Theme, and I love it because not only does it present the words so beautifully, but the young woman is modest, happy, and her body looks like that of a real girl. The subliminal message to me (and I hope my daughter) is: real joy comes in living a virtuous life and in seeking after the best of things.

On the website, there is also an extensive series of "Who is Your Hero?" posters, with Nethercott's rendition of heroes from American History, the scriptures, and Church history. They are terrific and might be a welcome addition to any child's bedroom wall. (www.realheroposters.com) Check it out! Bonus: Nethercott's products are hugely affordable.

2. Let's be honest, what is our main criteria when we are choosing a shampoo?? Isn't it all about the SMELL?? I am loving my new Organix shampoo and conditioner in "Moroccan Argan Oil" formula. I have absolutely no idea what that means, or why this oil from the "southwest region of Morocco" is so special. And, I can't even testify that it does, in fact, create hair that is "soft, seductive, and of silky perfection". But it does smell so divine that I want to bathe in it. Purchased at Walgreen's for $7 each (light blue bottles with gold caps). Mmmm!!!

3. My husband and I have a new favorite ice cream: Haagen Dazs Five. The "five" refers to its short-list ingredients: milk, cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. What, no guar gum or dextrose-anything?? No, ma'am, it's ice cream straight up, just like it was intended to be.

However, the "pint" isn't even a true pint, but rather just 14 ounces at the same price as the other HD pints, and that really fries me! We try to really just eat a "serving" each (1/2 cup) and it lasts for a couple of evenings between the two of us.

My husband loves macerated strawberries (smooshed with the back of a small glass with a tad of sugar) on his ice cream, and I have been eating the opposite: ice cream on my strawberries: lots of strawberries with just a half-scoop (really!) of ice cream. This way I get the delicious taste of the five yummy ingredients melting down into the strawberry goodness, but I'm not eating the entire pint myself (in one sitting) like I did in the "good (?) ol' days"!

4. I have rediscovered my shelf of nineteen books by my favorite-author-of-all-time, Alexandra Stoddard. I've realized that I am who I am today because of three main influences: the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my mother, and Alexandra. She is a lifestyle expert / author / speaker, and her perspectives and insights would be just about perfect if she had the influence of the Gospel weaving through her brilliant writings on living beautifully. But despite that, she is still so incredibly inspiring! I have absorbed many of her philosophies over my years of studying her books.

If you're interested in checking out a book by Alexandra, I would especially recommend two: one I just finished last night in bed, "Choosing Happiness", and then her first book from the 1980s called "Living a Beautiful Life", which literally changed my life. If you hunger after things of beauty, and strive to make your home and life a reflection of this, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Alexandra has a way of putting into words what my spirit longs for and seeks after.

5. Oh! Before I go any further, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER OF THE DRAWING from two blog posts ago: (drumroll...) Amber from Maple Valley!!! Amber dear, I know where you live, and I will be sending you your very own Jonathan Adler "Inspire" journal with one of my favorite writing pens. Thank you for your wonderful comments on how you create productive mornings for yourself. I especially love that you completely shower and dress before your children leave for school so that you can hit the ground running right when you kiss them good-bye.

Thank you to the other fabulous women who posted comments both on the blog and in my facebook inbox. You inspire me! I am going to offer some sort of giveaway on a regular basis here on the blog, so keep coming back!

6. If you love to cook OR love to create, have I got the magazines for you!! I was just perusing the QFC racks, minding my own business, when the cover of "Where Women Cook -- The Heart & Soul of Cooking" jumped out at me. I grabbed it, started leafing through, and felt my heart start to race. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! YES, YES, YES!! Inside were gorgeous photos of women food bloggers' real kitchens, a favorite recipe or two from each, lush photos of women's restaurants, packaging ideas for sharing homemade food with friends, an article about food fresh from the farm, and text written blog-style by these women themselves. And a Blackberry Coffee Cake recipe that my older daughter has already made and served to her friends. There were so many ideas packed into that magazine that it will take me months to process it all. Serious goldmine.

Also, there was a sister magazine perched right there beside it called "Where Women Create", which is the same idea only portraying the crafting areas of highly-creative women bloggers. I'm not much of a craftser, but if you are, you might really love this one.

Drawback: the magazines are $15 apiece, but the quality is top-notch and I will not be tossing it in the recycle bin anytime soon.

7. I'm really trying to purchase fresh, seasonal, and local produce these days. My greatest find today at Tracy's stand: Yakima cherries, which are half yellow / half red, and absolutely delicious. Far and away better than standard red cherries, I think. I lined a rustic bowl with ice cubes and put the cherries on top (to keep them cool), put a tiny bowl next to it for discarded pits, and set it on the kitchen counter ... my daughter and I keep finding ourselves there reaching for another couple of sweet jewels. (The other bounties I came home from Tracy's with: local asparagus, Romaine lettuce, and a half-flat of ruby-red-to-the-center strawberries)

8. My family loves to watch movies, and it is always a challenge to find good ones to rent that are appropriate for us all. I noticed recently on the covers of two terrific videos ("Invictis" and "Flipped") that they had both been awarded something called the Heartland Truly Moving Picture Award. I Googled that and found a site that recognizes especially inspiring movies with positive values. My kind of movies!!

If you visit their site, click on "Find a Film" and there are pages of movies (in order of release year) that have received the HTMP "inspiring" recognition. Many of my favorites are there, along with lots and lots of others I haven't seen ... a great reference when ordering Netflix or when searching for a "good movie" at the local rental store.

9. Here's a cute idea that I swiped from the latest Martha Stewart Living magazine. I had been asked to bring a salad to a potluck dinner recently, and wanted to do something different and healthy.

In clear, plastic, disposable cups (not tumblers, but a little taller with a more narrow base) spoon in 1" of your favorite healthy dip. Peel and cut a variety of colored vegetables into 6" spears: carrots, celery, cucumber, red/yellow/orange peppers. Into each cup's puddle of dip, press one spear of each different veggie. Toss in half a large radish for good measure. Finely chop fresh parsley and put a little sprinkle into each cup. Add a twist of freshly-ground pepper and a scant pinch of Kosher salt. Serve cups gathered together on a large basket tray.

Bonus: no worries of "double dipping" as each person has her own dip-in-a-cup! These were a hit at last week's BBQ. Thanks, Martha.

10. I was driving home from my mom's today and was looking in my console for something inspirational to listen to. I found a lone Disc 3 from an Audio Book called "The Broken Heart -- Applying the Atonement to Life's Experiences" by Bruce C. Hafen. Even though it had chocolate sauce stuck to it, and crumbs stuck to that, I cleaned it off and popped it into the CD player. Oh my goodness! Have you read / listened to this book?? I felt like this chapter, read by Elder Hafen himself, just SPOKE TO ME ... you know how that happens sometimes?

I would highly recommend "The Broken Heart", particularly Chapter Ten, ("Hope") where Elder Hafen discussed what he calls "The Gap", or the distance between the Real (what is) and the Ideal (what ought to be). It is for everyone who, like me, is trying to better line up those two things in their own lives. Good stuff!! Can't wait to give it another listen.

11. (Excuse me while I go grab a few more cherries...okay I'm back) Have you ever used a counter top cleaner spray in your kitchen? I have been lately, and I'm hooked. My favorite is the Cucina brand, in the Coriander and Olive Tree fragrance. I love using this as a last step in cleaning up the kitchen after each meal. Just a little "ta-da" as I finish up that not-very-fun task.

12. Do you have Chipotle Grill "fast-food" restaurants in your area? If so, you are lucky! This is our hands-down favorite place to stop as a family when we're out and about ... Chipotle has won the award repeatedly for freshest, healthiest fast food, and all of their tortillas, beans, etc. are made on-site daily. My favorite thing to order right now is the steak salad, which is a bed of chopped Romaine, black beans, pico de gallo, grilled chopped steak, a sprinkle of Jack cheese, and if I'm feeling a little wild and crazy, a scoop of their INCREDIBLE fresh guacamole. Then, they give you a little container of chili-lime dressing that is practically drinkable. My mouth is salivating just thinking about the dressing.

13. The last "lovely" thing for today: through a favorite blog, I discovered some yummy summer lotion and ordered tubes for myself and for my older daughter. We both love it! It is the energizing body butter by Illume, and the fragrance is a peppermint/grapefruit combination called "Yuzu Mint". It goes on smelling citrus-y, then morphs into a cool mint. Don't know how it does that, but it is fresh and clean and, as promised, energizing. Google Illume if you're interested in learning more.


I hope something in this list made you say "Oooohhh, I want to try that!" Don't you love it when things come highly-recommended from a friend? Many of my favorite lovely things life have been found this way.

What things are you adoring right now? Have you made any terrific discoveries lately? What things add beauty to your life? Share, share, share!!!

I hope you are enjoying your summer week ... stay busy with fun things as well as responsibilities, and don't forget to make time to soak up a few precious moments of sunshine with a glass of fresh lemonade in hand. I'll be back VERY soon with some thoughts on creating a home that is a refuge by focusing on the six (yes, six) senses.

And an update on my Excellent Experiment.

And if you're not an official follower of this blog, but check in regularly, would you leave me a comment here or on facebook and tell me what keeps you coming back? I'd love to know who's reading and why.

As always, loads of love to you.

Macy

Know This Woman #2: Julie

I am thrilled to be able to introduce you to another phenomenal person, who I am blessed to call my friend. This lovely woman is also probably the most credentialed gal I know: she attended the University of Washington before joining the LDS Church at age 20 (she grew up RLDS), then transferred to BYU where she earned her undergraduate and law degrees. Julie was a practicing attorney for years, and just recently took down her shingle to focus her complete efforts on her husband, four lovely daughters, and her home. She is a published author of both articles and books, has been our ward Gospel Doctrine teacher extraordinaire, and is now our Primary president. She is the PTA president at her girls' elementary school, and in all her spare time, (whew!) she's an accomplished artist and athlete. Julie has a phenomenal mind, which I lovingly call her "steel trap" ... nothing gets by this girl, and she remembers everything.

But we're not going to focus on any of that. The thing that I love the very most about Julie is her talent in being a devoted friend. Some of the most uplifting, Spirit-charged conversations I've ever had have been with her. We say that we are kindred spirits because we share such similar love for all things spiritual. Many a Sunday evening you will find us on the phone together, talking over the events from Church that day. Julie is one of those rare people who easily sees the good in all people and situations. We give each other synopses of the lessons we heard / taught that day, and marvel over the way the Gospel is working in our, and our ward family members', lives.

For years Julie has gently nudged me toward a more healthy lifestyle. She hooked me up with my first pedometer years ago and has been my walking buddy, usually with one or more of her daughters in tow. Rarely do I leave her home where she isn't coaxing me to try some new dish that she has created, or plucking a home grown veggie of some sort from her garden for me to sample. In my eyes, Julie is a Word of Wisdom EXPERT (and a self-described "foodie"), who is on a constant quest to create foods for her family that are both healthy and delicious.

I thought it would be fun to do a real "interview" with her, so that you might glean from her insights and passion, too. Following are five questions that I emailed to her, and in italics are her responses. I have taken the liberty of bolding key points that particularly struck me.

If you aren't familiar with the Word of Wisdom, it is a revelation received by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1833, in response to his inquiring of the Lord about the use of tobacco by the brethren in early Church meetings. This Word of Wisdom is found in the Doctrine & Covenants, Section 89. There are 21 verses, and you can go HERE to read it in its entirety.

Following the interview, stick around at the bottom of the blog post for a list of ten yummy things that Julie has shared with me.


1. (Macy) YOU GREW UP IN A HOME WHERE GOOD NUTRITION AND EATING FRESH, WHOLE FOODS WAS THE NORM. AFTER YOU JOINED THE CHURCH AT AGE 20, HOW DID THE WORD OF WISDOM AFFECT YOUR ALREADY HEALTHY EATING HABITS?

(Julie) For me, the critical question was one we all have to ask ourselves when we move away from home and start trying out our own wings: "What is this going to look like in my life?" At some point after leaving the nest, we all have to make those critical decisions about how we are going to live our individual lives.

Tossed into a system where sleepless nights, high stress levels, and nutritional apathy were the norm, it took me a little while to figure out what choices I was going to make on the eating spectrum. I had decided early in my life that most of the "abstinence" list (contained in the Word of Wisdom) were things I had no desire to touch. I found the biggest transition involved learning to put 'what I was going to eat' on the radar far enough in advance to ensure that there were Word of Wisdom-friendly foods in my apartment. This made it possible for me, in the time crunch, hectic, grab-and-go collegiate life, to grab things friendly to my body. When I didn't do this (which happened more frequently than I'd like to admit), I could feel a difference in my energy levels.

2. (Macy) WHAT BLESSINGS HAVE YOU SEEN IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAVE COME FROM STUDYING, AND TRYING TO LIVE, THE WORD OF WISDOM?

(Julie) The blessings for me that come from living the Word of Wisdom mirror blessings I have experienced from following any principle or law Heavenly Father gives us. I came from a family where I saw early-on the devastating effects that addiction can wage on individuals and families. I had a relative who struggled unsuccessfully to battle an alcohol addiction his entire life. Though our contacts with him were infrequent, they were enough to vividly impress the freedom that comes from avoiding the addictive substances outlined in the Word of Wisdom. As I have grown, every experience I have had has reinforced that truth to me. We are blessed with freedom to choose. Following the Word of Wisdom helps us to retain that freedom.

As an adult, as I read, ponder, and try to implement the Word of Wisdom, I find that many of the blessings promised in the revelation have come to me as a result of those efforts. I will read a section, and find specific thoughts and promptings come to me through the week, as I try to follow what I have read. The "wisdom" and "treasures of knowledge" have come frequently. I also find that when I am closely trying to follow ALL of the Word of Wisdom, my energy levels, attitude, and ability to accomplish my busy schedule are all significantly helped.

3. (Macy) WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT BECAUSE WE AS LATTER-DAY SAINTS HAVE SPECIFIC, MODERN REVELATION GIVEN TO US ON MATTERS OF HEALTH, WE SHOULD BE AMONG THE HEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. WHY DO YOU THINK WE, FOR THE MOST PART, ARE DILIGENT IN ADHERING TO THE PART OF SECTION 89 THAT TELLS US WHAT TO AVOID (TOBACCO, STRONG DRINK, ETC.), BUT DON'T GIVE AS MUCH ATTENTION TO DIET AS RECOMMENDED?

(Julie) Unlike the agrarian generations in the past, where the Word of Wisdom diet (lots of grains, seasonal fruits and vegetables, supplemented by a bit of available meat) mirrored the available resources, following the Word of Wisdom today requires effort. We live in a "non-friendly" Word of Wisdom culture. The scope of available food offerings and plethora of prepared and fast foods makes following the Word of Wisdom diet impossible without effort. We have to read labels just to figure out what we are eating. (Is this product that looks like a grain-based product actually grain, or is it mostly additives??)

Couple the effort required with the fast-paced life we live, where the whole concept of preparing dinner is becoming antiquated, and it becomes another item on the "to do list". I think many Latter-day Saint women are struggling just to get the 'check list' of things we must do each day done. It becomes easy to fall into the "comparative righteousness state": "At least I'm preparing dinner ... which is better than what she's doing."

I think that sometimes LDS women also feel like in their hectic lives, it's hard enough even to get the scriptures open. If given a choice, many aren't going to delve into the Word of Wisdom with that precious spiritual time. The interesting thing, however, is it is one of the principles in the scriptures that has the greatest promised return for one's effort! The blessings promised for obeying the Word of Wisdom are huge and miraculous: the Passover blessing (preservation of life) given to the Jews of ancient Egypt are promised, spiritual blessings are promised, and physical blessings are promised. These blessings are promised to ALL who follow the Word of Wisdom. As LDS women, if we establish a household which serves Word of Wisdom-compliant meals, those blessings apply not only to us individually, but to our spouses, our children, our grandchildren, and any who eat at our table. It is not hard, and the blessings are immense.

4. (Macy) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE WORD OF WISOM RIGHT NOW?

(Julie) I'm really focusing on the part about eating meat sparingly right now. Many of our modern meals are planned around "meat as the main dish". Part of that is tied to our economic prosperity. Interestingly enough, in a lot of other cultures, meat is used as more of a condiment or flavoring, augmenting the grain and vegetables which is the main offering. I am enjoying exploring some of the recipes of other cultures to see how well I can implement some of their dishes.

I think men, especially, sometimes wonder if a meal where meat is not the center star can be "satisfying". I am enjoying experimenting to create dishes that are "great" and not just "a great dish without a lot of meat".

5. (Macy) HOW CAN SOMEONE BEGIN TO REALLY APPLY THE TEACHINGS OF SECTION 89 IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES?

(Julie) I think it has to start with a careful, prayerful reading of Section 89. Like any other rightous desire, if we want to follow the Lord's commandments, He will help us. The initial read might prompt a small change, followed by progressive changes.

We cannot apply the Word of Wisdom without knowing what we are eating. Label reading is a must! I also think thoughtful grocery shopping is crucial. Having fresh (or freshly frozen) fruits and vegetables on-hand is important. Having whole grains available in your pantry is also critical. When we need a last-minute supper (which, for many of us, is all we have time for), we will use what we have on hand.

Hooking up with friends for great, quick recipes (or even surveying your own recipes for Word of Wisdom-friendly choices) will increase the chance you will use them when you need a quick "go-to" meal, and will decrease the likelihood of an all-out rebellion in your home if this is a big departure from what you have been serving.


Thank you, Julie!! Isn't she terrific?? This is one woman who truly practices what she preaches. Below are a few of the many food combinations or preparations that Julie has taught me about:

1. Roasted vegetables, in nearly any combination (in the oven or on the grill);
2. Couscous with fresh veggies, feta, toasted almonds, lemon juice and olive oil;
3. Using a little orange juice as a sweetener, or flavor enhancer in savory dishes;
4. Buffalo burgers (very low-fat, had my first one at their cabin on the lake);
5. Home-grilled fish tacos with the appropriate garnishes (chopped cabbages, tomato salsa, and homemade yogurt white sauce), brought to our family last month after my husband's emergency appendectomy;
6. Whole wheat pita pockets spread with soft herbed cheese, filled with greens tossed with balsamic vinaigrette;
7. Angel food cake spread with a thin layer of lemon curd, topped with fresh berries;
8. Slow-cooked oatmeal with nuts/seeds/dried fruit bits (also at the lake);
9. Pureed sweet potato added to homemade chicken noodle soup to thicken and add richness;
10. Shaved Parmesano-Reggiano as a secret ingredient to salad of field greens and balsamic vinaigrette.

Finally, at Julie's recommendation, I have been following AND LOVING Skip Hellewell's fabulous blog called "Word of Wisdom Living". Check it out!

Reclaiming the Morning - Week #17

Welcome friends! Come on in and visit ... I've been waiting for you!

Without too much fanfare, (Oh, now, what is that I hear?? BELLS? WHISTLES?? MARCHING BAND??? CHEERLEADERS????) I must say at the get-go that I have finally lost 30 pounds!!! I have been working hard to get here, and it has taken nearly four months. It feels tee-rrific.

What's the best part, you ask? I'd have to say that I no longer openly cringe every time I catch my reflection in a mirror. I'm pretty much down to one respectable chin now, but I've added some new calf and thigh muscles, so quid pro quo, ya know? What was the hardest part? Trying to eliminate snacking after dinner. Which I haven't yet completely conquered. How has my life changed? I am medicine-free, joint pain-free, sleeping well, running 12 miles per week, and plain old feel a whole bunch closer to what I'm supposed to feel like. Most fun change? I catch my husband smiling at me at random times, and his eyes light up as he tells me I look great. Not gonna lie, it's pretty amazing.

It's true, I've "miles to go before I sleep", but today I'm celebrating. Thank you SO MUCH for the encouragement, support, and love you've given me throughout the first part of my Excellent Experiment. The greatest compliment you can pay me is that what I share here has made some kind of difference in your life, too. It is wonderful knowing that we're in this together.

One overhaul that I'm making in my life, that goes hand-in-hand with my "get healthy" journey, is capitalizing on my morning hours. I began to see that if I didn't have somewhere to be first thing, I'd drag around the house in my jammies, talk on the phone, sit at the computer, watch a DVRd TV show ... before I knew it, it was 11:00am and the lovely morning hours were gone and my day was off to a schlumpy start. As I have set out to RECLAIM THE MORNING, everything in my life has improved.

Og Mandino sums it up perfectly:

"Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail."

By now you know that I'm a list-maker. The idea of my List of Dailies has seemed to resonate with some of you, so I offer up my Ideal Morning Plan in the hopes that you'll find something else that will inspire you to improve in some way. Or, if you've got this "down", I'd love to hear what YOU do to make the most of the first part of the day.

The following Plan is based on the assumption that I have nothing going on on this particular morning. I am home until after lunch time. If this is the case, then what you see below is what I am using as my routine, or morning ritual. On the frequent days that other duties call, though, I do what I can -- it is extremely helpful for me to have a concrete list of what I know works for me in the morning, and I use whatever time I have to do what I can to start the day off right.


MACY'S IDEAL MORNING PLAN

Awaken ... good morning! Take a moment to mentally embrace the day ahead and to let myself be EXCITED for the possibilities it holds. Smile a big cheesey smile ...force it, if necessary ... it's amazing what this can do to jump start my attitude. Do a couple of easy stretches before my feet hit the floor.

Throw open the bedroom drapes and the window, regardless of the weather. Let the sun shine in!! Take a deep breath of fresh, morning air. Hello, day!! What sounds do I hear outside?

Most likely my handsome husband is already up and out for a morning surgery or a run, or he is pounding out emails in his office down the hall. Cheerfully wake up my beautiful 13 year-old daughter if she's not yet up.

Wash face with invigorating cleanser, brush teeth, brush hair ... take a deep breath, exhale, and hop on that scale to see where I'm starting today. No matter what it says, remember how far I've come and commit to staying strong today. Wipe off bathroom counters. (in honor of Eileen)

Tidy room, put away folded, clean clothes on dresser, make bed. Look around and feel good about how the bedroom and bathroom look. Dress in clean exercise clothes.

Turn on swing-arm lamp over bedside table. Sit down on Chinese stool at bedside and think about how the light symbolizes the Heavenly Light that is available for me this day if I allow myself to access it. Say morning prayers, remembering to ask for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Open Inspiration Journal and make a quick plan for the day ahead. Briefly organize meals, exercise, housekeeping To Dos, places to be, people to remember, errands to run. Leave mental room for ditching everything if the Spirit prompts me in a different direction at any point during the day.

Go downstairs. Put on a cute apron. Be happy about the job I've chosen to sign up for. I am a wife/mother/homemaker!! Take it seriously!

Open windows, put load of laundry in the washing machine, sweep front and back porches, water flowers on porch. Turn on News Radio so that I'm abreast of what is going on in the world today. Remember what I've planned for dinner ... does meat need to be taken from freezer? Do I have all ingredients? Is it a crockpot day??

Make breakfast for family. Choose placemats, pretty glasses, flowers for table! No matter how simple the meal, little details make it special and lovely. Say blessing together. Talk about who's going where and when. Make a mental note to be at the day's crossroads for my family.

Take daughter to school. Make an effort to have a real connection about what is ahead in her day. Laugh together. Tell her I love her. Tell her how nice she looks. Give her a hug. Remind her that I'll be in the usual place at 2:35pm. Watch her walk in to school and be in awe of how terrific a young lady she is.

Back at home: Touch bases with handsome husband if he's still home, or via text/email if he's off and running, about what he needs me to do today for him. Errands? Phone calls? Change in his calendar? Dry cleaning? Make sure his items are near the top of my list today.

Yoga time! (without the apron, of course) Unroll purple mat in family room, light candles (because it just seems yoga-ish), and turn on wonderful AM/PM Yoga DVD. Be aware of sun streaming in window, or rain pounding on patio, or breeze blowing the curtains. Center here, and recommit to the things I prayed about earlier. Remember the sacredness of my physical body ... it is a temple ... ease into stretches and concentrate on breathing. Feel inner health improve. Acknowledge peace.

Feed Harry Doodle, and have a cup of warm herbal tea. Study the scriptures for 20-30minutes, if possible. Seek inspiration relating to what is on my mind.

Apron back on. Spend one hour on the day's housekeeping. I am on a mission to prove that it is possible to keep a house quite nicely with just one hour of work per day. Not including laundry and dishes. More on this later.

Head out for a run if it's M, W, F, or Sa. If not, shower, dress, and tackle the rest of the day. Think about all I've accomplished this morning ... let it make me really, really happy. Know that my stage is set for success today.


If you are like me, having an Ideal Plan to refer to might bring you peace and help you feel more accomplished. If you are not like me, you may think all of this is utter nonsense! And that's okay! I know that for me, if many of the above things are in order in the morning, I am able to concentrate on living my life for the remaining hours of the day. If I'm struggling to play catch-up until dinner time, I feel frazzled, frustrated, and unaccomplished. And I really, really don't like that feeling.

Now. As a little treat because you actually read this far down my blog post, I am going to offer a little give-away. I have an extra copy of the beautiful little inspiration journal that I have been using to plan with. If you will answer the question below by posting a comment before June 19, I will put your name in a lil' drawing and you'll have a chance to win my extra journal. Sounds like a win-win situation for us both! You inspire me with a few of your words of wisdom, and I just may send you a prize. Here's the question:

WHAT ARE THREE "morning things" THAT YOU TRY TO DO THAT HELP YOUR DAY RUN MORE SMOOTHLY??

Hope to hear from you! See you back here really soon. xoxoMacy

Poet Enough - Week #16

Hello, friends! I am into Week #16 of my Excellent Experiment and have set up what feels like permanent camp on this darn plateau. I have not been able, for the life of me, to lose another pound since my birthday weekend. I am holding strong at negative 29. Can you believe it??!

Glass half full: I haven't gained an ounce! Wo-hoo! Glass half empty: Sheesh. (imagine head shakes) Major frustration. A dose of discouragement.

BUT!! The cool thing is this: despite the "situation", I have not lost hope. Well, I momentarily did yesterday, but my amazing husband talked me down from the proverbial ledge. I have reevaluated, reprayed, and recommitted to myself to win on this battlefield. I WILL NOT GIVE UP!!! Nope, not gonna.

Yesterday my mind kept running through this quote from Rainer Maria Rilke:

"If your every day life seems poor, don't blame it; blame yourself; admit to yourself that you are not a poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the creator, there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place."

I decided to ditch the grumpiness and access my inner poet, to create for myself a little slice of loveliness and gratitude right smack in the middle of a too-busy afternoon. You can see in the photo above what I did: opting to let the sunshine affect my mood, I took with me out to the patio a basket containing the following things:

1. Thank-you note cards and envelopes, cute stamps, and my favorite Pilot G2 .07 writing pen;
2. An old book that I had just pulled off the living room shelf called "Choosing Happiness" by my favorite author of all time, Alexandra Stoddard;
3. A cup of Fuji apple slices and a goblet of iced lemon water.

I was behind on thank-you notes and loved the idea of focusing outside myself, and on the kindnesses of my friends ... to set my mental stage, I read Alexandra and found some wonderful quotes from wonderful minds on how to be happy. I liked a few so much that I wrote one on the back of each colored envelope! An hour and a half later, notes were written, apple slices were eaten, disgusting tennis ball had been repeatedly thrown for my faithful Doodle, and evidence of the long-elusive sunshine now showed on my arms and legs. I felt great!

I have always loved to write and receive letters. I have bundles of ribbon-tied, special notes tucked away here and there. You know the feeling you get when you pull the mail out of the mailbox and you catch a glimpse of the corner of a colored envelope with someone's REAL HANDWRITING on it?? So exciting, especially amidst all of the junk mail and bills.

My first penpal was my father's mother, Grandmother Dorothy, who lived in Florida, 3,000 miles from my home in southern California. When I was eight, she and I began writing back and forth ... she was delightfully interested in my little-girl life, and would always follow-up with questions based on my last letter. Her lilac-scented letters in her quirky cursive writing were always written on floral stationary. Each was filled with sentences accentuated heavily with exclamation points, smiley faces, and little doodles in the margins. Every one was a gift, and despite our age difference, we became real pals.

Grandmother and I both loved to write about the "mysteries" (books) we were reading (me: Nancy Drew, her: Agatha Christie), and one time she surprised me by sending a box full of her favorite old, dusty paperbacks. This is especially tender to me now, as I never got to meet Grandmother Dorothy in this life. But I still have a little stack of her notes and a few of her mysteries. Both are precious to me.

One more personal experience with a letter received:

In fifth grade, I was chosen to be the narrator for our 5th/6th grade chorus' patriotic program. We performed right in the middle of our town's local mall, and I remember stepping down from the risers in my blue gingham long dress, my hair back in a bun, and nervously approaching the microphone. As the chorus behind me softly sang the first verse of "This is My Country", I delivered my first lines: "What difference if I hail from North or South, or from the East or West? My heart is filled with love for all of these..."

A week after the performance, I received a beautiful little light blue envelope (with a bird sticker on the back) in the mail. The mother of a girl I didn't really know had seen our show, and she took the time to write TO ME to tell me what a nice job I did on my part. AND she told me that I looked lovely in my dress and that she was sure that my parents must be very proud of me. I unfolded, re-read, and folded that letter over and over during my tenth year. Someone I didn't even know had taken a bit of their time to communicate kindness to me. I was in love with this idea of sharing through the handwritten word.

In today's world of fast-fast-fast emails, texts, IMing and the like, we are sacrificing the art of letter-writing. I want to hang on to this practice, to drop a note to someone when I feel impressed to. I want to be able to feel the little rush of excitement when I open MY mailbox and see something personal, just for me. Writing a note is on my list of "Dailies", and I try to send at least one per week. Dropping those stamped envelopes in the local mailbox almost guarantees a smile on the receiving end, as well as a happier heart for me, the sender.

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." (Marcel Proust)

What are your earliest memories of letter-writing?? Do you make time to send notes through the mail?? If so, how do you keep this art alive in your life??

A Cottage or a Palace? - Part Three

Thanks for coming back for Part Three of our Stake Women's Conference class! I just had my husband snap this photo of me, so that you can see what your "teacher" looks like, if you don't already know me personally. Let's jump back in to our discussion on creating balance in our lives ... we've covered the spiritual and physical components in the previous two posts, and now we'll finish with "emotional stability" and "temporal responsibilities".

EMOTIONAL STABILITY

**Being emotionally stable enables us to focus on both improving ourselves and serving others. It is important that we remember to fortify the "soil" of our daily testimonies with what it takes for us to feel happy and peaceful.

**I am not qualified to speak to the very real subject of clinical depression. What we will discuss instead are the occasional "down days" that we all have (that are a normal part of regular, busy, challenging lives), and a few ideas on how to put them behind us.

1. When my husband and I were "young marrieds", we lived in beautiful San Francisco where my husband attended podiatry school. We had a baby daughter, and we managed the 40-unit apartment building that we lived in. Though this was overall a rich, wonderful time of our lives, within a few months' time in 1989 I experienced two traumatic experiences there.

Perhaps you have put it together already: San Francisco, 1989?? Yes, we were there in our position of apartment responsibility when the big earthquake hit. As a 24 year-old young woman with little experience with crises, I was instantly called upon to assess damage to our building and the apartments therein, locate tenants, and our family's apartment became a stopping point for a couple of weeks for those who were dealing with large amounts of stress following the earthquake. My husband was there, too, but because he was in school during the days, most of the responsibility fell to me. This was a difficult and stressful time.

Not long after we recovered from the earthquake, my husband left for a month-long medical externship, leaving me "in charge" of our building. A series of events led me to find a tenant who had committed suicide in his apartment. It immediately became my job to work with authorities, notify his family, oversee his things being packed and moved out, and finally refurbishing his apartment so that it could be rented again.

The cumulative effect of these two events found me feeling like I had fallen into a black pit that I could not get myself out of. My parents were several hours away, and though I had a good support system of friends in the area, I felt very alone. Despair and a degree of depression set in, and I found it hard to make it through the day.

My sweet, elderly home teachers came by to check up on me one evening, and after I poured out my heart to them, they asked if they could give me a priesthood blessing. In that blessing, I was promised that if I engaged in hard, physical work, I would be able to come out of the funk that I felt buried in. The next morning, I scrubbed our apartment, mopped the lobby floor, vacuumed the halls, washed windows, and, in a few days' time, literally WORKED out of my black hole. The counsel from the Lord through his representatives proved to be the answer for me. I began to feel like I was making a difference for good again in my surroundings, and my whole attitude returned to normal. HARD WORK shifted my thoughts from myself to what I could do for others around me.

2. When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis two summers ago, I hobbled around for a full three months before my medication really kicked in. My days felt like they moved in slow motion, every joint hurt, I was tired, and didn't feel like doing the things that normally brought me joy.

One night, as I lay in bed, I forced myself to think of the good things that had happened that day. I had to think really hard to pinpoint a couple. My mind was used to being in the "poor me" mode, and took it real effort to think of even one blessing. It may sound kind of cliche, you know "Count Your Many Blessings" and all, but I soon started to look forward to those moments in the dark where I would review my day and happily remember all of the good things that had happened that day. I even began to recognize blessings again as they were happening during the days. I could clearly see that Heavenly Father was with me through this trial, but I just hadn't made the effort to look to Him.

**Sometimes when we go through hard times - which ALL of us do - it is easy to become self-absorbed. I once heard a little phrase that has stuck with me for years: "Turn your mirrors into windows". Think for a moment about what that might mean. Especially when times are tough, we need to LOOK FOR and PRAY FOR opportunities to serve others. When we stop looking in our "mirrors" so much, and desire instead to view life through "windows", we become happier women.

QUOTE #10: "I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to Scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on a shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived." (Marjorie Pay Hinckley)

**My mother used to tell me when I was young to surround myself with the best of friends; to look for those who were strong and brought out the best in me, and to pursue friendships with them. I still think of this wonderful advice today as a 46 year-old woman. I am so blessed to be surrounded by truly magnificent women, who are some of the very best people I have ever met. These friends have done much to strengthen, support, and love me through the difficulties I have faced.

**Do we see our precious friends for the great women that they are? Do we look for their strengths, try to build and support them, and "champion their causes"? Someone once said that we should never supress a generous thought, and I think this is a great way to be a friend to others ... when we notice something or hear something good about our friend, TELL HER! It just may make her day.


TEMPORAL RESPONSIBILITIES

ASK?? Would we all agree that it is hard to have lasting success in any area of our lives if our homes are a mess? (a resounding "yes"!!!)

**It is vital that the "soil" of our daily testimony includes a good plan for keeping the temporal things in our lives (our homes, our finances, our meals, our laundry) running smoothly. For me it is nearly impossible to be spiritually and physically on-target if my house is out of control.

**Confession: this is one of my hard things! My mother is the most excellent housekeeper that I know, as was her mother. I did not get the natural "clean gene"! I have to work really hard at it, then things fall apart, then I work really hard at it again. I hold on to that scripture that I quoted earlier (Ether 12:27) that tells us our weak things can become our strengths if we trust in the Lord ... someday I will conquer this!

**Stephen R. Covey ("7 Habits of Highly Effective People") talks about moving from "crisis living" to "preventive, joyful living", or "doing TODAY what you could put off 'til TOMORROW".

**Have you experienced either of these scenarios?: "Quick, family, ____________ (fill in the blank) will be here in ten minutes!!! Everyone take a room and get let's get this house picked up!" OR "Aaahhh! It's 5:00 already?! What am I making for dinner??" Well we have, more often than I'd like to admit.

**I have created a list for myself which I call my DAILIES. I have listed a bunch of things that, if accomplished, make it a "good day". Things like: clean up kitchen after each meal, put away clean laundry, have a good conversation with a friend, listen to some classical music a little on the loud side, study the scriptures, exercise, eat a green salad and a serving of berries, spend quality time with both husband and daughter, read from an uplifting book, spend some time in the sunshine, write a note to someone ... you get the idea. I have a list of about 20 DAILIES, and if I am able to accomplish most of them on most days, it makes for a pretty great week. I encourage you to give this a try! Make your own list of DAILIES and see if referring to it regularly doesn't help you stay focused on things that are important to you.

QUOTE #11: "Home is where women have the most influence; therefore Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world." (Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society president, "Mothers Who Know", Ensign, Nov. 2007)

**It is important to remember that there is a difference between HOUSEKEEPERS and HOMEMAKERS. ASK?? What is a housekeeper? (one who cleans the house, does the laundry, keeps things orderly) ASK?? What is a homemaker? (one who strives to bring the Spirit into her family's home, one who makes home a refuge from the world, one who is concerned with beautification as well as cleanliness, one who focuses on the needs of her family within the walls of her home, one who encourages traditions/celebrations in home)

**We have been counselled to "stand in holy places". These places include the temple, our church buildings, OUR HOMES, and within ourselves. Truman S. Madsen has written about our homes having the potential to be like "mini temples". This is wonderful to contemplate!

QUOTE #12: "In the latter days there will be a people so pure in Mount Zion, with a house established upon the tops of the mountains, that God will manifest Himself, not only in their temple ... but when they retire to their homes, behold each home will be lighted up by the glory of God, a pillar of flaming fire by night." (Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses)


**Conclusion:

A fertile, rich, living daily testimony depends on a near-constant infusion of prayer, the following of spiritual promptings, studying of the scriptures, and using the power of the Atonement to improve. If we are careful and deliberate about adding these things to our days, our lives will grow, blossom, and bear fruit.

Likewise, as we stay balanced spiritually, physically, emotionally, and temporally, our lives will naturally become more "palatial" than "cottage-like", and our influence for good in the world around us will be immeasurable.

QUOTE #13: "Dare the encounter with God. It is up to each of us. We must choose. God does indeed stand with His arms outstretched, waiting, and a voice within us demands that we ascend. Such an encounter has its risks and its costs because, once we know, we become responsible. But, once we know, all His options are open to us. That is one of the unique teachings of the Restoration. His course is not easy, even now. He weeps or rejoices over us just as we do over our children. Our constant questioning, "Where art Thou, Lord?" is mirrored in His final question to us, just as He called for this earth's first children in the garden: "Adam, Eve, where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9) The day will come when I myself, the me whose heart he can read, will be the only answer that will be given." (Ann N. Madsen, "A Voice Demands That We Ascend", BYU Women's Conference)

A Cottage or a Palace? - Part Two

Welcome to Part Two of the blog edition of the class I taught at last weekend's Stake Women's Conference! Let's continue with a couple more points under the topic of "Spritual Health"...

SPIRITUAL HEALTH, continued

4. When we have said our morning prayers and have invited the Holy Ghost to be with us, perhaps it is time to do a little "spiritual creating" of the day ahead. To me, this is a beautiful, heavenly principle that we learn a bit about in the temple, and also in the scriptures:

Quote #5: "For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth...And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them;..." (Moses 3:5)

**Learning to create our lives spiritually (before we carry them out physically) can be a powerful practice. Ideas for doing this: set the stage with prayer and scripture study, have a special little notebook (a lovely one, because after all, we want our lives to be lovely, right?) set aside just for spiritual planning, and when under the influence of the Spirit, contemplate the day ahead:

What is important for me today? Is there someone I can help? What healthy meals will I prepare for my family? When will I exercise, and how? What tasks, if accomplished, would keep me ahead of the game? When will I spend time with my husband? With my daughter? Can I carve out a little special time for myself today? What uplifting book or music do I want to make time for? How will I FEEL at the end of the day if I was truly able to "put first things first" and "get out of the thick of thin things?" What time will I go to bed?

As you contemplate the possibilities and necessities of the day ahead, visualize yourself having success in the things that you write down on your To Do list. See yourself having patience with your children, feel what it will be like to complete that long walk, imagine how delicious dinner will be when you use those fresh tomatoes and onions for homemade salsa. Come up with a plan, making sure to leave room to shift gears if/when the Spirit prompts. Carry out your plan, and have joy in knowing you are accomplishing a great and important work, even if "cleaning out the garage" is the order of business for the day. Then, before bed, report back to Heavenly Father and review your day with Him.

Our roles as wives, mothers, and homemakers are SACRED. We should feel accomplished when put our hearts and souls into our busy days. I have found that when I partner with Heavenly Father, I feel a greater measure of success in my accomplishments, and more joy all around. On the days when I'm trying to power through on my own, life feels flat and uninspired.

5. Learn more about the Savior's Atonement and how it is available to us on a daily basis as we make poor choices and goof up. Because we are human, we are imperfect. When mistakes are made, turn to Him rather than succumbing to guilt. Remember that being tested is one of the primary reasons for being here in mortality, and failing now and then is normal. Take the time to repent! Ask for the power of the Savior's Atonement to make up for your shortcomings and to change your heart. Make restitution for any damage caused, turn your eyes toward God, and move forward. Feel - really feel - the peace that comes from appealing for forgiveness, and then having it granted. Repent daily, even hourly if necessary. Consciously make the Atonement a part of our everyday lives. Know that we are preparing ourselves to be worthy to be in God's presence.

Quote 6: "...nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God;..." (Alma 12:24)


PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

**Good health is not usually a condition that some are granted, and some are not. Much of our physical well-being can be traced to the kinds/amounts of foods and substances we put into our bodies, how active we allow ourselves to be, the amount of sleep we get, the time we spend outdoors in the sunshine, and our mental attitudes.

**Would you indulge me while I primarily share from personal experience in this section? Your physical struggles will be different from mine, but try to look for PRINCIPLES that you could apply to what you are dealing with.

**Two years ago, on a June morning, I woke up with painful, stiff joints from head to toe. I could hardly move, let alone get out of bed. Panic!!! I got to the doctor right away, and blood work was done. After two weeks, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Really?? This was not at all what I had in mind for myself. Not only did I have a disease, but I was severely overweight and oh-so-tired all the time. It was a very discouraging, dark time.

I had always planned to get healthy and start exercising again, and now with RA, I feared I had lost my window of opportunity. Thanks to good medication, I finally started feeling a little better by September, but was still so frustrated with my weight. For a year, I watched people around me get fit and healthy, using a variety of diets and methods. I kept getting the prompting that those ways were not for me. The Spirit continued to quietly teach: "Yours is a spiritual path. Let me lead you. You will not find lasting change until you turn to Me."

**On February 21 of this year, I was suddenly ready. The "stars aligned", my heart was focused, and I made up my mind to make the huge lifeshift to get healthy and fit. On that day, I let the Spirit guide me to create a weight-loss/get healthy plan, tailored just for me.

Some of the items I listed in my notebook on that day: eliminate refined sugar from diet for now, drink 64 oz. water daily, eat whole and unprocessed foods in half the portion that I had been eating, start to walk, plan menus daily and track foods eaten...I jumped into the darkness in faith that day, and haven't looked back for three months.

And guess what?! I have lost the weight I had set out to lose by this point, I am running 12 miles per week, and I feel ten years younger. And! Almost all my symptoms of RA disappeared the very week I changed my habits. I am holding my breath. Is it a miracle? It just may be. I think that ridding my diet of refined sugar and processed foods, plus adding exercise and spiritual strength, have overhauled my physical health.

**The Word of Wisdom (Doctrine & Covenants 89) trumps ALL worldly diets. Start here when changing eating habits. ASK?? What are some of the "DO" components of the WofW? (eat meat sparingly, fruits and vegetables in season, grain for the use of man, all foods used with thanksgiving) To me, this steers us away from the high-protein or low/no-carb or other extreme diets that are so popular today.

**Through the wise insight of a friend, I began to see the need for repentance for the years I abused my body. ASK?? What spiritual laws had I been violating? (neglecting to see my body as a temple, misusing my gift of agency, not living the Word of Wisdom)

Quote #8: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)

**My testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ has been strengthened as I have turned to Him to change my body, and also my heart. He wants us to be our very best selves so that we can serve Him and HAVE JOY in this life. The Atonement can compensate for every one of our personal shortcomings, but we must allow it to heal us. As we do, our righteous desires will be reached, and many other beautiful blessings will be showered upon us. The Atonement is for each of us, every day of our lives.


Well, friends, I'm going to take another short break before I post the remainder of our class. Writing and editing is exausting! What to look for tomorrow in the final Part Three: ideas for staying emotionally balanced AND a few thoughts on temporal well-being. Hope to have you back!

A Cottage or a Palace? - Part One

Welcome to a blog edition of the class I taught on Saturday morning at our Stake Women's Conference! This is especially for Michelle and Karen, but I hope that any others (you!) who visit might find something of worth here. Today I will post Part One of the class, and tomorrow I will post Part Two.

I have recreated my table setting from Saturday (above) so that you can get the full "Relief Society feel" ... after all, what's a class without something beautiful or interesting to look at while you're listening?? In the photo, you can see a copy of the handout, which contains fourteen fabulous quotes. You'll find each of these quotes within the outline below, noted by "Quote #". If you'd like to print out my hand-out as was given in class, message me your email address and I will send it to you via attachment.

I taught this class twice on Saturday, and though my outline was of course the same, the class itself turned out quite differently each hour. This was because of the fabulous comments and questions that were shared, which led us down paths that we were supposed to go that particular hour with those particular women. I have included many of these comments in my outline, noted in italics within parentheses.

Let's get started!

**Introduction:

In our ward Young Women organization, we recently kicked-off a two-part Challenge called "I Can Do Hard Things". We have challenged our young women to 1) Complete Pres. Thomas S. Monson's new biography "To the Rescue" by the end of August, and 2) Train for and participate in our 22-mile "walk to the Seattle Temple", also at the end of the summer.

ASK?? - What do you think our purposes behind such challenges might be? What do we hope to have happen?

(The physical journey to the temple is symbolic of the ultimate destination we hope for for our YW. Experience for themselves that "in the strength of the Lord they can do all things". Encourage developing an interest in reading and/or fitness. Providing girls with opportunities to complete "hard things" early in life will strengthen their beliefs that they can accomplish difficult things later in life)

**As Latter-day Saint women, we are continually bombarded with "hard things" in our lives that we must deal with and overcome. Today we will share ideas on how constant guidance from the Holy Ghost and accessing the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ can help us heal our lives and move us toward becoming balanced women, "filling the measure(s) of our creation".

**Imagine: you are scooping up big handfuls of fertile soil - what does it feel/smell like? What words describe this fertile soil? (rich, moist, fragrant, living, possibilities, earthy) Now imagine: you pick up several chunks of dry, parched soil in your hands - what are its characteristics? (barren, dead, hard) Let's compare these two types of soil to our DAILY TESTIMONIES ... not the burning testimony you feel while listening to General Conference or during Fast and Testimony Meeting, but the daily testimony you carry with you in your heart, day in/day out, as you go about your busy lives. Would you say your daily testimony is more like rich, fertile, living soil, or more like a chunk of hard dirt has not been tended to lately?

**Let's take a real look at the health of four areas in our lives: our personal spirituality, our physical well-being, our emotional state, and our temporal responsibilities. As we consider each of these four areas, what are the "hard things" that we, as women, struggle with or are concerned about?

SPIRITUAL: (not enough time to do what I know I should be doing, "hit and miss" personal prayer and scripture study, striving to hear the Spirit in the midst of a world of distractions, attending the temple regularly)

PHYSICAL: (my weight, not enough time to exercise, health concerns, disease, comparing myself to others, worldly diets and health advice, concern with providing healthy food for family, trying to live Word of Wisdom)

EMOTIONAL: (how to combat stress, depression, making time for real friendships, having enough time to connect with my husband, remembering who I really am and that Heavenly Father loves me)

TEMPORAL: (how to keep my home orderly and clean, how to organize my time with all of the commitments of family members, financial security, food storage/preparedness, planting a garden, keeping up with the laundry, repairs and projects)

**Quote 1: "Imagine yourself a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps you understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing, so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of; throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage, but He is building a palace." (C.S. Lewis)

**I love this quote, but it has always bothered me a bit, too, for I have fancied myself a definite "cottage girl"! I love the cozy feeling of a snug little, shingled home tucked off the path in the trees. I have never sought after a palace! If we use the cottage and the palace, though, as metaphors for a life, what are the qualities of each?
COTTAGE: (small, in control, comfortable, capable of hosting a couple of friends, reliable, predictable, easily managed, no risks taken...)
PALACE: (grand, sweeping, open-armed, influential, example to many, view, holds many people, a gathering place, limitless, must rely on God to help direct and manage...)

Two terrific comments from class members at this point:

(1. Analogy of "how to train an elephant". When a baby, a heavy chain is attached to one foot, allowing it to go eighteen feet in any direction, but no further. As the elephant grows larger, the chain is replaced with heavy rope, then a thin rope, then finally nothing at all. The adult elephant, though not tethered in any way, never ventures beyond that eighteen-foot circle that he was conditioned to stay within as a youngster. Liken this to "cottage life": comfortable in a small space, never branching out or taking risks or experiencing what we're capable of becoming.)

(2. Example of Pres. and Sister Pugh of the Seattle Temple presidency. The Pughs loved serving in the Church early in their marriage, and had dreams of a full but predictable life. Called to serve as mission president in PA with children still at home. Looked forward to retirement years, visiting grandchildren, traveling. Called to serve as temple president and matron. Despite their lives not going "as planned", they have loved every minute of serving in such capacities and have been able to touch countless lives because of their willingness to go where the Lord wanted them. Liken this to "palace living": being used far and wide as influences for good, spreading the gospel on a large scale, making friends all over country/world, finding more joy in living than ever expected.)

**Quote 2: "There are two important days in a woman's life: the day she was born, and the day she finds out why." (Elaine Cannon)

**When I ask you, "What were you born to do?" or "What is your life's mission?", what feelings come to the surface? (excitement, nervousness, guilt, hope, empowerment, feeling of being overwhelmed, uncertainty, motivated...)

**We discover what we were born to do by working to discover our talents, developing them, using them to lift others. This is when we become true partners with the Lord, when He can use us at our full potential to build up His kingdom within our spheres of influence.

**Two examples of women in our stake who (to me) are using their talents to do this:
Jennifer: ability to bring together a motley group of young women/Primary children/adults/whomever into a choir, work patiently with them, teach them about music, and lead them to produce a truly heavenly musical result EVERY TIME.
Mary: gift for gathering people. As a Relief Society president, she has gone out to the outer boundaries of her ward to visit and invite less-active sisters to participate in a weekly group of women who study the gospel together, led by the full-time missionaries. Through this inspired idea, women have returned to activity, and they now have a solid group of friends within their ward. All are preparing to attend the temple. (My mother is one of these fellowshipped women. It has changed her life, and it has changed mine.)


SPIRITUAL HEALTH: we must be consciously adding nutrients to our "soil" (daily testimony) to build a healthy, thriving foundation from which our lives will be able to grow and blossom. A couple of ideas for doing this:

1. Designate / create a small, quiet space in your home or yard for daily personal prayer, meditation, scripture study, planning, listening to the Holy Ghost.
ASK?? Why do the scriptures refer us to our "closets" as places to pray? What is it about "closets" that make them desirable for this habit? (they are small contained spaces, free from distractions, they allow us to focus internally more easily, they are private, they are set-aside for holy pursuits, they are closed off from the world)

In my "closet", or prayer space, I have a small stool that I sit on when I pray. I turn on the lamp on my bedside table in the morning, which reminds me of the heavenly Light that is available to me that day if I take the time to seek after it. I leave the lamp on all day long, and sometimes when I'm bustling in and out of my room later in the day, I will let the physical light draw me back to my space, to offer a quick prayer. Or, I will see the light and just remember what I am to be about that day.
On the wall next to this space, I have a large ribbon-board which holds things that are inspiring to me: photos, letters/cards, a great talk to study, momentos, handwritten notes to self to remind me of my goals. Seeing things visually, especially when my mind is focused on spiritual things, is another way to keep me moving toward what I am trying to accomplish at that time in my life.

When we take the time to establish a habit of personal, daily prayer, we begin to work hand-in-hand with the Lord to transform our lives. We are better able to start becoming the women we were meant to be. Even our weaknesses can be identified, sacrificed, and offered up, with the Lord's promise of creating strengths from them:

**Quote 3: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness tht they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things beome strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)

2. In our morning prayers, we must INVITE the Holy Ghost to be our constant companion that day, to guide and direct us in the ways of the Lord. As baptized members of His Church, we have been given this precious gift to use to our benefit as we are worthy of it and as we ask for it:

**Quote 4: "The Spirit is a divine entity. It therefore gives the ultimate example of politeness. It will not intrude into our lives. It will not force itself into our lives except under circumstances in which we may endanger our salvation...The Holy Ghost has been given to us as a gift, but it can only become an active part of our lives when we become aware of its dormant state and develop in our souls a desire to awaken the Spirit to life." (F. Enzio Busche of the Seventy)

3. Example of my mother. After years of investigating the Church, she was finally baptized twelve years ago. However, at this time she was also caring for my father who had had a debilitating stroke, and this took all of her energies. When she could no longer care for him (he now lives in a wonderful adult family home), she began to feel that it was time for her to return to Church. This happened last year, and following a personal, inspired visit from her Relief Society president, (see "Mary" above) for the first time is an active member of her ward. She has served on the Activities Committee, and is a committed visiting teacher who has learned to enjoy giving the monthly message. My mother is such an example of it never being "too late" to make a significant change in one's personal spiritual habits.

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW...