Changing Hearts

"We discover he is more than the babe in Bethlehem, more than the carpenter’s son, more than the greatest teacher ever to live. We come to know him as the Son of God. He never fashioned a statue, painted a picture, wrote a poem, or led an army. He never wore a crown or held a scepter or threw around his shoulder a purple robe. His forgiveness was unbounded, his patience inexhaustible, his courage without limit. Jesus changed men. He changed their habits, their opinions, their ambitions. He changed their tempers, their dispositions, their natures. He changed men’s hearts."~Thomas S. Monson

I'm such a slacker -- no posts in such a long time! I guess I feel like I don't live a terribly exciting life although I do love the life I am living, for the most part.

I also love the above quote and it spoke so clearly to me today. Our Savior Jesus Christ always focused on what really matters: what happens in our hearts. He is the only way a heart can change.

I continue to strive to be more like Him: more forgiving, more patient, more kind, more courageous and more loving.

And I need those changes.

picture by Greg Olsen

We are the Easter People

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people, and hallelujah is our song."~Pope John Paul II

I can't begin to say how much I love this quote. We are the Easter people! We really are, and hallelujah really is our song.

It's Easter week {finally - -seems like it's very late this year!} and I have had my Easter thoughts bubbling up for the past few weeks. I had a sort of epiphany recently as I was saying my morning prayers, expressing my gratitude for all that I have. But it hit me that I need to be grateful more for what I know, rather than what I have. I have many blessings, and I am grateful for all that I do have, but more, I am grateful for what I know.

I am so thankful at this time of year that I know that the story we read in the scriptures is more than just a story. The fact is that Jesus was born on earth {in a miraculous way}, He was raised by a mortal mother and father, He taught, served and loved the people on the earth at that time, and eventually, as His mission neared the end, He was taken by unbelievers and crucified.

But the glorious fact {here comes the hallelujah part!} is that after 3 days in the tomb, He rose again. And because He did, we will too. And not only that, before he was put to death, he atoned for our sins. Every one of us. Every one of our sins.

I am one of the Easter people and hallelujah really is my song. I am SO grateful.

At this beautiful time of year and always, I hope everyone will take a minute to reflect and be grateful for a truly magnificent gift. Happy Easter week to all!

The Love of a Good Book

"I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." ~Anna Quindlen

I love reading. I love books. I love the library. And now, I love seeing our grandkiddoes all curled up with their noses buried in good books or chuckling over something that tickled them or hearing their excitement over a book they love. There really isn't much that makes me happier than that. I love reading to them, I love reading with them, and I love hearing them read to me.

Books opened a whole new world to me when I was a child, and they still do. And it makes me so happy to see the children I love loving books like I do.

A New Career -- Clowns! (?!)

This past Friday, the Cottam kids and their neighbors threw an awesome carnival for charity. The kids came up with the idea and with the (awesome) help of several mamas, they ran with it. It was amazing. Booths with games, fortune-telling, food, fun -- and (wait for it!): a fabulous clown show.

Yes, we were the carnival clowns. Maya came to us the week before the carnival and requested that we put together a 'clown show'. We looked at each other dubiously and then agreed because seriously, when a 7 year old and her cohorts think you can be funny, you suck it up and do your best.

I was a bit nervous -- I have been sick for the past couple of weeks and while I was feeling better, I wasn't sure I was going to be very energetic or very funny. But we pulled out the old Raggedy Ann and Andy costumes, found some jokes, got a helium tank for regular balloons, got Mark trained to make a few balloon animals with the skinny balloons (yay for the internet!), and figured if we danced the chicken dance and threw out some necklaces, all would be well.

But the chicken dance wouldn't play on the CD I burned and when we tried to do the helium balloons, that didn't work either. Sigh. But the (very corny) jokes were pretty well received, the necklaces were popular, and Grandpa was a hit with his twisty balloon animals. (actually, only wiener dogs -- he's going to up his skills for the next time around.)

Because you can be sure there will be a next time. And if we get asked, we will try harder to be funny. As it was, I heard from a neighborhood mom that 'the clowns were our favorite part of the carnival, mom!'

I love seeing kids put their minds to something and really do it.

Wrinkles

Life gets busy -- there is always something going on, that's for sure. We've had some beautiful weather here lately, almost too hot for March (complaining already?!) but it's cooled off a bit the past few days. That makes it perfect for this time of year. I've had a round of sickness -- cold that turned into pneumonia and bronchitis so I'm on antibiotics and steroids for that. (maybe I'l lbulk up! ha!) Starting to feel like I can see the light at the end of that tunnel, thank goodness. It is certainly true that you need to lose your good health for a bit to be grateful for it - I will be so happy to feel good again.

Natalie took this picture of me with Lucy and I love her little face -- but I hate my wrinkly eyes. ("Grandma said the 'h' word!" Sorry kiddoes!) I know I've earned every wrinkle I have -- lots of smiles and laughing as well as too much sun and too little sun protection. The things we learn, right?!

Anyhow, it took me to this little cartoon which put a happy spin on it -- I can wear wrinkly clothes too because I coordinate!!

Have a happy week - I plan to, cold, wrinkles and all.

Love and Compassion

"Whatever the intellectual quality of the education given our children, it is vital that it include elements of love and compassion, for nothing guarantees that knowledge alone will be truly useful to human beings. Among the major troublemakers society has known, many were well-educated and had great knowledge, but they lacked a moral education in qualities such as compassion, wisdom and clarity of vision." ~Dalai Lama

I read this quote this morning and it has been food for thought. I have always hated hearing people say that we live in a terrible world because truly, I believe we live in a wonderful world in many ways. My grandkiddoes would never believe the world I grew up in -- no computers, no cell phones, even cordless phones arrived after I got married, I think. {And I know I am old, but I'm not that old!} Just the difference in the two time periods I was a college student was amazing. On Round 2, it was so easy to do research and write papers because of the computer and the internet. But I do agree that we live in a complicated, difficult world as well. Which means it's ever more important that the children in our lives are taught well, raised well and loved well.

The concept of the moral education is something that I love, and I love to see it happening in the lives of my grandkiddoes and their friends. When you can see 7 year olds, 5 year olds and even 2 year olds with more compassion, insight and love than many adults, you know their parents are doing something right.

And us grandparents? We watch, we hug them and we cheer them on.

On My To-Do List: Floor Mopping

Yup. That's me.

The Gift of Loving

"There is an instinct in a woman to love most her own child -- and an instinct to make any child who needs her love, her own."~Robert Brault

I have lots of 'children'. We've lived in many places, and I have had countless opportunities to be a part of so many different lives: at this point in my life, I count that as one of my sweetest blessings. Loving all the Primary children, seminary students, elementary school students, Young Women (and the list goes on) that have passed through life and been in my care has become something very precious to me. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had to love all of them and pray that there will be just as many (or more) in my future.

Just the other day I was referred to as "the singing lady who sings Head Shoulders Knees and Toes BACKWARDS'' and got a big hug as an extra bonus, and later, was the recipient of a sweet visit from a former Primary (now moved on into YW) child, and also was handed the nicest note and cookies too (!) to go along with the visit.

I will always take the chance on loving. It is an opportunity to open my heart, my life, and my arms and it is gratifying to see those I love blossom under my care.

picture via Robert Duncan Studios

God is Awake

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." ~ Victor Hugo

A lovely thought, no? It takes courage to get through those great sorrows (and we all have them - if we haven't, we know that we will) and it takes patience to endure the small ones. And when we have slogged our way through the day, sorrowing and worrying and praying, we can go to sleep in peace because we know that God is awake.

He is involved in each of our lives. He knows us, He loves us, and He is in control. I need to remember this, especially when I am feeling most stressed, least peaceful and entirely out of control.

He is awake.

You Never Know

I looked at this little cartoon today and laughed because it's so true. You truly have no idea what your influence is going to be on anyone, especially children.

That's something I have totally enjoyed about Facebook: getting back in touch with people I knew and loved at some point in my life, but (sadly) may never ever see in person again. They may be old friends, former students or even family members who are now spread out across the world.

It's such a gift to hear that maybe, something you did some time ago made a difference to someone. It lifts up my heart and helps me to move on in the day-to-day grind to know that something I did may have made a difference. Reminded me of a little poem I read long ago:

You Never Know
Author Unknown

You never know when someone
May catch a dream from you.
You never know when a little word,
Or something you may do
May open up a window
Of the mind that seeks the light
The way you live may not matter at all...
But you never know - it might.

And just in case it could be
That another's life through you.
Might possibly change for the better
With a broader brighter view.
It seems it might be worth a try
At pointing the way to the right.
Of course, it may not matter at all,
But then again it might.

Which in turn inspires me to be more vocal and verbal about the gratitude I feel for those who have been and continue to be life-changers for me. There are many and I am so grateful.