Goal Accomplished!!

I completed my goal of reading the Book of Mormon before the year was up! I finished on Sunday December 29, 2013. What a great feeling and I am so glad I stuck to it! I lost track how many times I've read this book. I remember at one time I had kept count of reading the Book of Mormon 11 times. I am amazed at how tailored to my life and the things that I learn each time I've read it. The biggest thing that stands out with this experience of reading the Book of Mormon was the added measure of the Spirit (the Holy Ghost). I love feeling the Spirit. It is a comfort and peaceful feeling. I also have a greater understanding of the reality of Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I hope that everyone who as access to a copy of the Book of Mormon would read it at least once and see for them self if it will in fact make a difference in their life.

Book of Mormon challenge....

Earlier this year I challenged girls I teach in the Young Women program to read the Book of Mormon by the end of this year. I have been aggressively trying to complete my own challenge. I procrastinated... however I'm getting it together and I'm getting close to finishing! I lost track of how many times I've read the Book of Mormon. Each time it's the same and yet not the same. It maybe be material of journals kept by prophets(spiritual leaders)from a very long time ago, however it keeps up with this ever changing world and is the antidote to challenging times in life. Life changes and we find our self in different circumstances. The Book of Mormon has an amazing way of teaching you, comforting you, and giving you a reason to keep on keeping in a personalized/tailored way each time no matter what circumstance you might be in. Don't believe me? That's alright, it does sound out there. So go ahead and prove me to be crazy on this. All I can go off of is my own experiences (which are many) and those whom I trust their words too. The power of the Holy Ghost (Spirit of God, Spirit, Comforter, inner conscience, member of the God head) will in fact enlighten your mind and you will experience similar experiences of what I'm talking about. Back in August of 2005, President Gordon B. Hinkley challenged all to read the Book of Mormon by the end of that year. This is what he said... “Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.” -President Gordon B. Hinkley

Life's greatest blessings come through your kids...

Today is Brenan's 14th birthday! Morgan turned 16 on November 7th, and today Madison received her patriarchal blessing by Patriarch Jim McDonald. If I could go back to when these three were itty bitty I would. I miss my daily mom routine with them. They brought me so much purpose and I didn't recognize it at the time. I love them with my whole heart and would do anything that would benefit them for good. The thought of one day my own babies will have families of their own and to think of their beautiful children they will one day have tears me up. Being a mom is definitely one of Father in Heaven's tender mercies. When I see them do good things, accomplish hard goals, excel at what they are actively involved in, make good decisions, and give their self their best in school I can't even put to words the comfort and love that over comes me. It would sound real great if I said, "well they obliviously had one amazing mom." ;) But instead they had a very human mom packed with inexperience and they are who they are because before they were ever mine they were busy becoming strong, talented individuals of Our Heavenly Father. I find strength from them and know they are the tender mercies from a loving Father in Heaven who knew I needed them, and hopefully they need me too.

Today went great I think. I finished putting up the Christmas tree, decorations, and lights. Can't wait to surprise Morgan and Brenan tomorrow night. I have never put lights on the house for one reason or another. It was bothering me that I hadn't done this for my kids and I decided last Sunday somehow I would figure a way to put lights up this year. Richard surprised me with being willing to help me out on this crazy Christmas wish I wanted to do. I am sharing a quote that was sent to me via Latter-Day Light DAILY DEVOTION. It is really easy to start feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, and it's nice to be reminded that we are not only not forgotten, but very loved by a loving Heavenly Father who recognizes our efforts big or small. Enjoy.... "We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope" ("A Mighty Change of Heart," Ensign, October 1989). -President Ezra Taft Benson

November 30, 2013 hi...

bal*ly*hoo: talk or writing that is designed to get people excited or interested in something... This is my new revised blog that I will share insights and good things as they come. I'm a mom, a wife, a librarian, (dancer that is about to dance the last dance), neighbor, friend, sister, daughter, and I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints... otherwise known as a MORMON.