Tender Mercies

2 Nephi 31:20

2009-03-12T15:26:00.001-07:00

Promises of Family Home Evening

2009-03-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Promises of Family Home Evening

Amazing that it all started clear back in 1915, isn't it! SMILE
Remember, like all good things - there will be opposition
I have found that the amount of opposition that occurs when attempting to do something Father wants us to do
is a pretty good gauge as to just how important it really is for us to do it!
So don't be surprised OR get discouraged when (you notice I say when - not if) your attempts at good works
(i.e. church attendance, temple attendance, FHE, a harmonious marriage and family, etc)
are met with opposition (sometimes from the most surprising sources)
because EVERYONE is human and has their own personal challenges they are dealing with
Don't let it stop you!
Be loving and patient
and by all means...
Persevere!!!

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

"The ideal way to transform your home into
a house
of learning is to hold family home evening faithfully.
The
Church has reserved Monday evening for that
purpose. In 1915 the First
Presidency instructed
local leaders and parents to inaugurate a home
evening, a time when parents should teach their
families the principles
of the gospel. The Presidency
wrote: 'If the Saints obey this counsel, we
promise
that great blessings will result. Love at home and
obedience to
parents will increase. Faith will be
developed in the hearts of the youth of
Israel, and
they will gain power to combat the evil influence
and
temptations which beset them.'

"President David O. McKay gave the same
promise
in 1965 and added that the youth will gain power
'to choose
righteousness and peace, and be assured
an eternal place in the family
circle of our Father.'
In 1976 the Presidency reaffirmed that 'regular
participation in family home evening will develop
increased personal
worth, family unity, love for our
fellowmen, and trust in our Father in
heaven.'" (in
Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 86-87; or Ensign,
May 1993,
70-71).

Hubby Tag (from Megan)

2009-02-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hubby Tag (Tagged by Megan)

and she thinks this would be better labeled as "Couple Tag"...

what's your husbands name? Carl W, Dad, Grandpa, Bishop Hall, Pres. Hall, Honey, Dear , the Patriarch - smile

how long have you been married? Will be 42 years on July 8

how long did you date? dated 3mos - got engaged - and married 3 mos later

how old is he? He looks a whole lot younger than the 69 he is going to be this year!

who eats more sweets? going to have to think about that one - used to be me - but...

who is a better singer? He is! For sure!!! Wonderful voice!

who is smarter? I don't think he realizes how very smart he is!!! SUPER Smart! (the proverbial Rocket Scientist!)

who does the laundry? He's very good about doing his own!

who pays the bills? I wrote the checks for the bills the first 25 years - his turn since then - smile

who sleeps on the right side of the bed? There's a wrong side to the bed???

who mows the lawn? We haven't had a lawn to mow since we moved onto this property in 1981

who cooks dinner? He is a wonderful cook! bless his heart!

who drives? He almost always drives anymore

who is the first to say they are wrong? I think he has always been very good about that

who kissed who first? hmmm...

who asked who out first? LOL! LONG story there! Me - definitely!!!

who wears the pants? LOL

First Pregnancy (tag from Megan)

2009-02-23T07:41:00.000-08:00

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Absolutely! (I had people ask me if I believed in 'Planned Parenthood' - I'd tell them - absolutely! - I PLANNED on being a Parent! Oh! Yes! LOL)

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Can you have babies without being married??? (SMILE)

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
I'm sure glad it's not just the flu! LOL

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
20

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I went to the doctor because I was not feeling very good!

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
The Patriarch (DH giggle) - of course!

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
that was not an option in 1967

9. DUE DATE?
March 30, 1968

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
"Morning"? sickness - you mean - morning noon and night!
Poor DH thought I'd taken up worshipping strange idols - I spent so much time kneeling in front of the 'porcelain throne' in the bathroom! LOL

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
SWEETS!

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
The male chauvinist pig who dared to tell DH that morning sickness was all in my head and I could stop it anytime I wanted to! (what I wanted was to throw up all over him!!!!!! GRRRR!)
Can you tell that irritated me just a tad???!!! LOL
whew!

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Girl

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
No.

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
Who knows - I just wanted to have a healthy baby

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
Yes - I was very blessed

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
I think I knew

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
Not with the first one - thank goodness!

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Ridgecrest (for all ten)

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
5 1/2

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
DH

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Husbands were not allowed in delivery at that time - so just the doctor and nurses

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural.

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
They did use pitocin and I sure wish there would have been something more than just a demoral shot (which hurt so much it was like adding insult to injury!)

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
8 lbs - 7 1/2 oz.

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN?
March 30, 1968

26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Alice Marie

27. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
41!

Don't lose YOUR 116 pages of the manuscript... *

2009-02-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

(*Doctrine and Covenants: Section 3)

Heavenly Father encourages us to seek after good things.
We are also admonished to use wisdom in all things.
and
to not run faster than we are able.

Sometimes in our desire to seek after the good things - we ignore the other admonitions.

That said...

This is about TRUE faith - in our Heavenly Father.

We know he is Omnipotent (all powerful) - He has the ability to give us anything we want.
but
We also need to remember (and acknowledge) that He is also Omniscient (all knowing).
and
those go together just like justice and mercy - you must have both.

When we ask for gifts/help from our Heavenly Father - we must always bow to His wisdom
and always include "if it be thy will".

Not only must we include this - but we must have to faith to believe it!

We humbly ask our Father for help and blessings - we do not tell Him how/where/when.

If/when we forget or try to by pass this step
our desires (no matter how righteous) go from being a request
to a demand (in essence saying we are smarter than Father)
and
our request becomes covetous
meaning - we are so caught up in pursuing something - that we are no longer adequately thankfully
appreciative and acknowledging of the many great and wonderful blessings that we already have!

For example...
The desire to welcome another sweet little spirit into our home/family
is indeed a righteous request
We have petitioned Father and we have received spiritual acknowledgement that this is indeed a good thing.
and
We know He has the power to bring it to pass.
Now
comes the 'All Knowing' and 'if(when) it be Thy will' part....
Our faith must accept that He truly IS ALL knowing!!!
He is truly aware of not only our righteous desires
but He know what we truly NEED
and
WHEN we need it.

Remember - we are no longer just individuals with personal needs and desires
we are now a family unit
and
Heavenly Father must take into consideration what is best and timely for ALL the members of our family.

KNOW that He has heard our prayers and the righteous desires of our heart!
BELIEVE that He will bless us when the time is truly right.

APPRECIATE and concentrate on the blessings we have right now.

Do NOT lose your 116 pages of your manuscript by trying to press your will on to God.

Isaiah 6:1

2009-02-23T07:17:00.001-08:00

Elegant Word Art by Bethany

a beginning - january 2009

2009-02-20T00:54:00.000-08:00

a beginning - january 2009

Being a very privite person - keeping a journal is very difficult. Unlike the blog, which I was suprised to find comes relatively easy.

But I will try.

I hope to fill this with the positive and uplifting experiences that bless our lives. Truly God does bless us with many tender mercies.

I have been blessed to know - ALWAYS - that the gospel and the church are true! That Jesus is the Christ and that our Heavenly Father truly knows and loves us.