Anyone who has children knows that there are few things that are more terrifying or tiring than having a sick child. A couple of weeks ago, my daughter came down with a 103-degree fever in the evening without any warning! (Why is it that these things always seem to happen at night when the doctor's office is closed and you have to wait for what seems like forever for the doctor on-call to return your call?)

Anyone who knows my baby knows that she is a firecracker. She is full of life and a love for everything and everyone. This is the first time I EVER saw her just lay on the couch with a lack of interest in anything at all. Needless to say, I was one worried and sleepless mamma until I was able to take her to the doctor the next morning.

The doctor determined that the cause of the problem was a sinus infection and prescribed an antibiotic. I gave her the first dose right when we got home that morning, and she went down for a long nap right after that. When she woke up, I was hoping that she would be feeling better but she was still lethargic and quiet. (Which is also unusual as she always has something to say.) As we were snuggling in my bed and reading books, I had the thought that I should have her say a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help her feel better.

She took to the idea quickly and knelt with me on the bed as I helped her say a simple prayer. "Heavenly Father, I am feeling really sick. Please help me feel better." We closed the prayer in Christ's name, and I was shocked by how quickly the answer came. It was not even two minutes after she said amen that she was laughing, jumping, and trying to blow on my arm to make funny noises (my husband's family calls these fatties, but my family always called them raspberries.)

It had only been three hours since her first dose of the antibiotic, which wasn't supposed to help until it had been in her system for 24-48 hours. There is no question that this was a direct answer to a little child's humble and sincere prayer. We talked about how Heavenly Father had answered her prayer, and seeing her eyes light up with excitement and her little testimony grow warmed my heart.

I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who is ever mindful of His children, young and old. This little miracle was an extra special tender mercy from the Lord and strengthened not only my daughter's faith, but my own faith. I know that Heavenly Father loves all of His children.

Unfortunately, not all prayers that we say are answered in the way that we would like or think is best. I would be a liar if I claimed that the Lord has always answered my prayers by giving me exactly what I asked for. But His answers always come. Sometimes all He can send is comfort and strength to make it through a difficulty, but certainly that is an answer too! I love my Heavenly Father and I am thankful for His many miracles and tender mercies.

"...The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence." -2 Samuel 22:2

Being the pregnant lady that I am, by the time my daughter's nap time rolls around the last thing I feel like doing is sitting down and writing something. Her nap time has become my nap time as of late, hence the recent lack in blog posts.

My daughter has taken a recent liking to finding cups of water that we leave on the table and dumping them out. Everywhere. I have been trying to teach her not to do this, while also becoming better myself at being mindful of where I leave my cups of water. In spite of this, we still seem to end up with at least two cups of water dumped everywhere during the course of the week.

A few days ago, I was making breakfast in the kitchen when I heard the familiar sound of water spilling all over the table and the floor. My daughter woke up early that morning, had been especially difficult because she was cranky, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. I got angry at her, raised my voice, and chewed her out for dumping out the water in that cup. As I felt myself get angry, I heard a tiny thought in the back of my head reminding me that this is really not a big deal and that I should not choose to get angry. But I was angry, and I was going to let her know that mom was not happy with her!

After I finished my short rant, I immediately realized the small thought that was stifled by my angry feelings was a prompting of the Spirit. And, to my dismay, I had ignored it. Had my anger improved anything? Certainly not. In fact, it just made the whole situation worse. If I had I chosen to respond in firm but loving correction rather than anger, that teaching moment could have turned out a lot better than it did. Recognizing my mistake, I quickly prayed for forgiveness, remedied the situation with my little girl, and the rest of our day went a whole lot better!

Later that night, after I had put my little sweetheart to bed, I sat down and pondered this experience and prayed once again for forgiveness. I felt bad on so many levels - bad for allowing my anger to get the best of me and bad for failing to listen to a prompting of the Spirit. As I pondered, the following thoughts came to my mind: It is always easier to get angry than to let your anger go. Getting angry doesn't require any self-control and does not build character in any way. In fact, few things can erode and destroy good character more quickly than anger. We see that lesson taught over and over in the Book of Mormon.

I am grateful for these promptings of the Spirit that have been very important reminders for me as I journey along my adventure in motherhood. The beautiful thing about promptings like this is that they come from a loving Heavenly Father who wants to help me reach my full potential as a wife and mother. I have never been left feeling like I was reprimanded or chastised after a prompting like this. Rather, I have been left feeling empowered and blessed with understanding that will lift me to higher levels and make me a better wife, mother, and woman.

Although it is slightly embarrassing to share this story and admit to my mistakes in parenting, I feel strongly that the lessons from this story are too precious to keep to myself. Needless to say, I am going to be working harder to develop my spiritual muscles of self-control. I am grateful for correction, the opportunity to repent, and a loving Heavenly Father who is guiding me through the process of becoming more like Him.

I have had too many happy distractions recently that have kept me from writing more frequently. Between visitors and travel, this summer has been really busy for us. I am delighted that I finally have the chance to sit down and write about some of the things that I've been thinking about recently.

Whether you turn on the news, open a newspaper, or glance at the magazines that line the checkout stands, it is pretty clear that our world is in a state of turmoil and unrest. There is so much violence and hatred in today's world that it is really easy to feel uneasy. Wrong is being displayed as right, and right is being torn down and advertised as wrong. The adversary is pulling out all stops to give us every reason imaginable to live in fear. I am grateful, however, for a small but very significant miracle: the fact that we can have internal peace in spite of external chaos.

The beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it lifts our sights heavenward and lengthens our perspective to extend beyond this life. We don't have to fear! In fact, we shouldn't fear!

We don't have to fear because life goes on after death! This life is just one step in an eternal process.

We don't have to fear because families can live together after this life! We can be with the people we love forever.

We don't have to fear because God can help us raise strong and righteous children! He has given us all the tools we need to raise righteous families.

We don't have to fear because we know that God is personally aware of us! Though He is not with us physically, He knows our needs better than any earthly parent knows their children's needs.

We don't have to fear because God speaks to a prophet today, just as He did in Biblical times! He can warn us and teach us through his prophets.

We don't have to fear because repentance and change is possible! Each day is an opportunity to wake up and become better than we were yesterday.

We don't have to fear because God lives and He loves us! He is not distant, but rather, ever present in our lives.

This list of just the tip of the iceberg. I am grateful for the blessing of peace amidst the storm. I am grateful that I have a reason to have faith instead of fear. God wants us to be happy - "...men are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25)  He cannot remove the storm that rages on around us because it is a means to an end. The Savior is preparing to come again, and things just have to get worse before they get better.

Although there are horrible things happening in the world, I am not convinced that we live in horrible times. In fact, I think that we live in beautiful times! Every dispensation has had wickedness and hardship, but the Lord has never forgotten His people. And He never will. He has given us all the tools that we need to have peace and joy while we live here on earth. We need not fear because we live in great times and there are brilliantly wonderful times to come. I am so grateful that I can feel peace amidst the turmoil; it truly is one of my most precious miracles.

One of the most delightful parts of springtime has been going on walks with my little one. I find that I appreciate everything around me so much more as I see how exciting the world is to her. I'm sure as many other mothers know, Dandelion bouquets are an an absolute must for little girls. In fact, we cannot go on a walk without collecting more Dandelions (or as she likes to call them, "din-dins") than my sweet baby can hold.

I am sure that when I was a little girl, I looked at Dandelions and saw beautiful flowers. I don't remember when my shift in thinking occurred, but at some point I began categorizing Dandelions as weeds instead of flowers. Seeing my daughter's love for Dandelions has prompted a little bit of self-reflection.

As I have pondered about Dandelions, I have realized that we can all be likened unto a Dandelion. All of us have parts of us that make us "weeds," so to speak. It is part of being human! We are imperfect and we make mistakes. We have varying trials and temptations, and often people looking from the outside-in cannot look past the weeds and see our flower. In fact, often WE cannot look past our own weeds and see that there are parts of us that are beautiful and good. Too frequently, the weeds within us overshadow the flowers.

There is one, however, who never fails to see our flowers. Just as a child sees a Dandelion as a flower rather than a weed, our loving Father in Heaven is able to look past our weeds and see our beautiful flowers! This is not to say that He overlooks our sins or imperfections, but rather, that they do not taint or blind His view of us. No matter how many mistakes we have made or how many imperfections we have, He still loves us and is able to see the good in us. What a magnificent and loving Father in Heaven we have!

I love the lessons that the Spirit teaches me through my experiences as a mom. They are my miracles, and I cling to them. They always come at a time when I need them most and they bless my life beyond what words can express. Sometimes, I have days where I feel like a lowly weed. But Heavenly Father always has a way of lifting me up and reminding me that someone, somewhere sees my flower; someone sees the good in me.

For a month now, I have had a consistent supply of Dandelions on my kitchen table in a jar. There is a little voice inside my head telling me that when my children are all grown and the magic of Dandelions has faded, I will miss those Dandelion bouquets. No matter how old I grow, however, I will never forget the significant lesson that my daughter and a little flower taught me.

If you are interested, here is a link to a short video about God's love that I found. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-06-2120-nothing-can-separate?lang=eng

I know I write about my experiences as a mom a lot, but it's what I do every day! It is the most important part of my life right now, and also the most significant source of lessons that I am learning daily. Being a parent in an of itself is a tender mercy of the Lord. The fact that I have this opportunity to do what He does, on a much smaller scale, is a miracle! I feel like it gives me small glimpses into what our Father in Heaven must feel, and that makes me want to be better.

In the scriptures we learn that when we serve others, we are serving God.

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.: ~Mosiah 2:17

I have always understood that it pleases our Father in Heaven when we are kind to one another, and is hurtful to Him when we are unkind to others. I feel, however, that being a parent has given me a whole new understanding of this scripture. This understanding has been a miracle in my life because it has changed how I interact with the people around me.

When someone else does something nice for my daughter, I feel as though they have done something nice for me as well. When someone does something to make her feel happy, it makes me happy too! It uplifts me to see others taking care of her and loving her. We haven't had any experiences yet where someone has been unkind to her, but I am sure that they will come. When they do come, I can only imagine that in these moments I will mourn with her as well. Because of the bond that comes from being a parent, my heart is tied to hers in ways that I simply cannot explain or describe. As a result of this, her emotions are mirrored in my own heart.

I am not claiming to know how God must feel, because He works on a much more grand scale than I do at this time. I do, however, I feel like my experience as a mother has given me a little window of insight into how He must feel. When I am kind to someone else, that warm feeling of the Spirit that follows is a confirmation to me that I have pleased my Father in Heaven. Our actions are not limited to the eyes or hearts of those around us, but they reach heavenward and touch our Heavenly Father.

Just as we love our own children, He loves us! I know that just as it makes me happy when someone is kind to my child, it reaches Him and brings Him happiness when we are kind to one of His children. Every day, everyone that surrounds us is one of His children! Not only that, but everyone who surrounds us is also someone's baby. I would hope that others will always be kind and helpful to my baby, and I pray that I can be the same blessing for others' babies as well.

I am grateful for this merciful insight because it has lifted my spirits and made me want to be a better person. I feel like the greatest service anyone can do for me is serving those that I love most - my family. I know that the greatest service that we can give to my Father in Heaven is serving His family members that are here on earth with us.

I really enjoy having what I like to call, "awesome mom moments." These are moments where I can see the influence that I have on my child and the ways that I am helping her grow and develop. Being a mom isn't like any other job in the world.

Most of the time, you can't see what you are "getting done" during the day. Sure, you can see when the dishes are done or when the house is clean, but I'm talking about something completely different. As a mom, my main job is nurturing my child and making sure that her physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental needs are met.

Perhaps I am an anomaly, but I feel like the outward evidence of the work that I am doing is rare but priceless. When I have those "awesome mom moments," I reach out and cling to them because they remind me that I am doing a good job after all. Luckily, I had one of these moments this last week, and it was a little tender mercy to me straight from the Lord.

Daniel and I took our daughter to a new park last weekend for some fun play time and a picnic. At one point, our daughter was trying to climb up onto the playground using a stair that looked much too tall for her to get onto. We, however, wanted to see if she could do it by herself. She tried but gave up quickly and turned to run away and play with something else.

Instead of letting her run away, I said to her, "Come on! You can do it!" To my surprise and delight, she turned right back around and tried again. Once again, to my surprise, she pulled herself right up onto that tall step! This may sound like a small accomplishment, but it was quite an accomplishment of strength and determination for such a little girl.

This experience was a little miracle for me because it reminded me of the power that I have, as a mother, to uplift and encourage my children. We have been given enormous power to help our children accomplish great things through our support and encouragement.  I couldn't help but think of my Father in Heaven when I had this experience.

I believe that our Father stands by watching, and just when we think we can't do something and turn to run away, He reaches out and reminds us that we can do it! For truly, there is nothing that we cannot do without His help. I am grateful for the sweet reminder that He gave me of the things that I am accomplishing, even if I can't physically see them happening most of the time.

With Easter weekend approaching, my thoughts have been turned more toward my Savior - His unmatched life, His sacrificial death, and His glorious resurrection.  I am so grateful to know that my Savior still lives, and that because of His atonement, I will also live again after I die. My thoughts, however, have been particularly drawn toward a different kind of new life that comes through the Savior.

Part of our experience here on earth consists of  trials, sin, and sorrow. There are times throughout our lives when we may feel like we've died inside. Just as the resurrection offers new life and hope to those who have physically died, the atonement offers new life to us as we experience spiritual death. I am in awe of the beauty and tenderness of this miracle! Isn't it a miracle that, if we take advantage of it, the Savior's atonement offers us a clean slate at the beginning of each day? The potential that we have been given is limitless - we can become perfect like our Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. In Matthew 5:48, the Savior says,

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

I've heard some speak of how daunting this scripture seems. I think it is best understood when paired with Moroni 10:32:

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

This makes me think that the Savior's admonition in Matthew is more like a plea to us, asking us to use the atonement that He has so freely given to us. He is not just telling us to be perfect. It is impossible for us to become perfect on our own, but if we will utilize the atonement to repent and change every day, we will see a miracle: we will move closer and closer to perfection. This does not only apply to sin, but it applies to those times in life where we feel like sorrow or trials have brought on an emotional death inside of us.

In these cases, we may not need to repent of anything at all. In fact, it is likely just a matter of having faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ - believing that it can make up the difference and make things perfect for us in the end. It is a matter of accepting the Savior's sacrifice and understanding that things may not feel perfect or fair now, but that His sacrifice is enough and we don't need to demand anymore pain and suffering than was already given. I LOVE this quote by Ezra Taft Benson:

“Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. …

“… For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said ‘were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not’ (3 Ne. 9:20)

It is a miracle to me that we have each been called to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ, in spite of our imperfections. I would not count myself worthy to stand on equal ground with the Savior; I have so far to go. And yet, He asks that we stand beside Him and testify of Him. As we do this, we become more like Him and move further along the road to perfection.

"People should be able to see in us something of Jesus Christ. The way we act, speak, look, and even think should reflect Him and His ways...It is within the capacity of each of us to become His witness." (D. Todd Chirstofferson)

As we stand of witnesses of Jesus Christ, miracles can happen in our lives. We can become reflections of Him, and this can be the greatest tool for bringing others unto Him. I am grateful for Jesus Christ and add my testimony to the many others that have been given of Him. I know He lives and I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Him this weekend.

I've been debating for a while as to whether or not I want to write about what I'm going to say today. Those who know me well know that I avoid confrontation like the plague. So, it is with caution and great care that I address the subject of a group of women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are protesting to receive the priesthood. With headlines and news reports popping up about the "inequality" among men and women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I feel like I have a duty to speak up! As a female member of the Church, I must stand up and say that I've been a member my entire life and I have never felt belittled or undervalued because I, as a woman, could not receive the priesthood.

If we take things back to the very beginning of this earth, we can see the critical and pivotal role that women have always played in the Lord's plan. When God created Adam, He knew that Adam needed a "help meet," as He puts it in the scriptures. And so, He created Eve. The role that Eve played in God's plan is magnificent, and in my opinion, often under-appreciated.

Eve knew that unless they partook of the forbidden fruit, there was no way that they could keep the commandment that God had given them to multiply and replenish the earth. Eve had the courage to partake of the fruit, in spite of God's command not to do so, for the sake of the greater good. This courageous act was only one part of the marvelous role that Eve played in the Lord's plan of salvation. Heavenly Father's spirit children finally had a gateway into this life so that they could receive a body and learn what they needed to so they could return to God's presence and become like Him.

Thus, Eve started out on another grand task that Heavenly Father had given her: to provide physical bodies for His children and then to nurture and teach them. According to the accounts we have in the Bible, Adam received the priesthood and Eve did not. But do you think that Eve felt upset or undervalued? This is just my personal opinion, but I cannot imagine that she would! For she had her own great responsibilities and roles before her, and that was the focus of her time and effort.

The definition of equality has been morphed, making people feel like everything has to be exactly the same for every single person in order for equality to exist. I'll be blunt - I think this is completely wrong. I am a firm believer that there is such a thing as separate yet equal responsibilities. As women, we may not hold the priesthood, but the brethren have made it clear that we are on equal footing with our husbands as leaders in our homes.

The responsibility to give birth to, raise, love, teach, and nurture children is no small task. Women do not hold the priesthood, but they are still carrying out the grand part of God's plan that started with Eve and has continued with every generation of women who have lived on this earth.

Additionally, as women, we are given just as many opportunities to serve in the Church as the men are. We cannot serve in the offices that require us to hold the priesthood keys, such as Bishop or Stake President. But men cannot serve in the Relief Society, or in Primary or Young Women's presidencies. Is this another instance of inequality? No. Rather, it is an appropriate division and delegation of responsibility.

I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a world where respect for a woman and her roles is on a slippery slope, I feel proud to be a part of an organization that praises and appreciates the importance of womanhood and motherhood. I know that God's plan values all of His children equally - men and women alike. As we work together and fulfill our separate but equal responsibilities, we can help bring to pass God's plan: "...to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)

For those interested, this is a link to a talk given by Dallin H. Oaks in the April General Conference. I thought it addressed the issue perfectly. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-keys-and-authority-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng#watch=video

It's been a while since I've been able to write a new post for my blog! It feels like a breath of fresh air to just sit down and write about the thoughts that are in my heart. My daughter and I have been enjoying the refreshing spring weather, and we've been celebrating by going on two or three walks every day. This winter felt so long and harsh, it was almost as if I'd forgotten what a pleasant sound it is to hear the birds chirping and see them hopping around as they search for worms.

This sudden spring has been so refreshing and such a blatant reminder to me of God's love for us. Do we ever forget that the very earth upon which we walk is a miracle? It truly was created by the hands of our God! Remembering this helps me feel of His love at every turn.

I've often thought that God didn't have to make this world so beautiful. He didn't have to take so much time working to create beautiful things. So why did He? It is my personal opinion that He did this because He loves us, and He wants us to have reminders of His love and His magnificence surrounding us! There's something so sweet and beautiful about the world around us. The sound of a small brook flowing, the great crash of a majestic waterfall, the sight of a small rosebud, the sweet fragrance of a fully bloomed rose, the magic of a star-lit sky, and the way a sky painted with a pink, purple and red sunset can leave you breathless - I could go on and on.

Watching my daughter discover the beauty of this world has been an important reminder to me of how awe-inspiring this earth is. Each new thing she sees is beautiful and exciting - even things like worms and ants. My first inclination is not to call a worm or an ant beautiful, but what is the definition of beauty anyway? Depending on our earthly eyes to detect beauty is a flawed system. Everything that comes from God is beautiful and good. Even the worms and ants are beautiful because they come from His hand and they work together with everything else in nature to make our world what it is. There truly is beauty all around us!

I find peace in the beauty of the world around me because it reminds me that Heavenly Father loves me. He knew that we would appreciate beauty, and so, He took the time to make this world lovely for us. He knew that we would each have times in our lives that are hard and downright ugly, but He gave us a home where we could always find beauty. I see His magnificence in things as large as the mountains and in things as small as the song of a bird. I love the lyrics for this primary song:

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

"Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heav'nly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear

The magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:

I thank him reverently

For all his creations, of which I'm a part.

Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me."

 

 Remembering these little (yet not little) miracles brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. I am grateful for this earth that we have been blessed to live on - it truly is a miracle. I know that as we appreciate and search for beauty, we can be filled with greater peace and a sense of God's unending  love for each of us. The evidences of His love surround us and are just waiting to envelope us and fill our souls!

For those who don't know me well, I'm a pretty easy going person. I'm not usually quick to feel angry or frustrated. When I am tired or sleep-deprived, however, I find myself weaker and much more susceptible to getting worked up. I am embarrassed but willing to admit that last night was one of those nights.

Our little one woke up at about one in the morning screaming. By 2:30, we felt like we'd tried everything we could possibly think of, and still, she would would not surrender to her utter exhaustion. Finally, I'd laid her down in her crib and gone back to bed. She was peaceful for a few minutes before she started crying once again.

At this point, I was at a complete loss as to what I should do for her. I began feeling angry and frustrated because:

1) I was not sound asleep in my bed like I wanted to be, and
2) No matter what I did, I could not figure out what my little one needed.

I went into her room and brought her out to the family room to sit on the couch with me for a bit. As we sat there, I noticed that I was tense with frustration and my thoughts reflected the anger that I was feeling. Then, a distinct thought came into my mind, "You have a choice. You can choose to be filled with anger and frustration, or you can choose to be filled with tenderness."

My heart softened immediately as I decided to choose tenderness over anger. I felt Him helping me let go of the unChristlike feelings I'd been having before, and they were replaced with love and peace. And then, something beautiful happened; what had been a burdensome and upsetting task just a minute before turned into a sweet and tender moment. I sat on the couch and gently rocked my sweet baby to sleep as I asked the Lord to forgive me and make me better. I felt of His love and took in that sweet moment, almost not wanting it to end.

I am grateful for the promptings of the Spirit, and the miracles that they can produce within us. If we listen closely, the Lord is always standing by, longing to take our weaknesses and change them into strengths.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that 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 become strong unto them." ~Ether 12:27

I believe that the Lord gave us weaknesses so that we could draw closer to Him and see ourselves grow with His help. He will help us recognize our weaknesses out of His love for us, and then He will lift us above ourselves and we will become better than we were before. Weaknesses are miracles waiting to happen within each of us! I am grateful for this small but significant miracle that I witnessed in myself, and I hope that the Spirit will continue to help me recognize places where I am weak but have the potential to be strong.

I try really hard to fill our home with lots of uplifting, religious art. One of my favorite artists is Greg Olsen. In our family room, we have one of his paintings of the Savior hanging on our wall. At the Savior's feet kneels a woman who has sinned, and they are praying together. She is clothed in a red dress and the Savior is completely clothed in white. I love that she kneels at his feet and that He is praying with her. Truly He is our advocate with the Father and pleads for our cause.

When I feel like I need to repent of something, I try to keep this imagery in mind. Sometimes I think we shy away from repentance because we associate it with pain or embarrassment, but this is completely wrong. That is what Satan wants us to think. Rather, it is a process that we go through, with our Savior, so that we can become like Him. I love the scripture in 3 Nephi 9:13:

"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?"

Aren't those words so incredibly beautiful? I find such peace and comfort in those words that the Savior spoke. This scripture teaches us exactly what repentance is: it is returning to Jesus Christ and allowing Him to heal us. Jesus Christ performed many miracles of healing while He lived on the earth, but His power extends far beyond the wounded, disabled, or diseased. Those miracles that He performed are literal representations of the spiritual healing that He offers to each of us. We don't own the second picture, but there is another picture that goes with first one and, together, they create a finished story.

The second picture depicts the two happily sitting together; however, their clothing has changed. The woman who was once burdened by sin now wears all white, and the Savior is wearing a red sash and holding the red dress that she once wore.The symbolism in these pictures lifts me up and touches my heart every time I think about it. It is the most beautiful and literal depiction of the atonement of Jesus Christ that I have ever seen. There is no doubt that Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins. Whether we take advantage of that gift or not, the debt has been paid for us. He now stands waiting for each of us to seize that gift and use it as often as we possibly can. Whether it is a grievous sin or a seemingly small sin, His promise is the same:

"Come now, and let us reason together saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." -Isaiah 1:18

I see the miracle of repentance and forgiveness in my life often, but not as often as I should. If someone handed you the key to perfection tomorrow, would you not excitedly utilize that key without delay? The Savior has given us the key to perfection, and that is His atoning sacrifice. No matter how many times we have to use that key, it will never wear out. In fact, it was made to be used because He knew that, as human beings, we would need it a lot.

My desire is to make repentance and my usage of my Savior's atonement a more prominent and regular part of my everyday life. Each time we are cleansed from the stain of sin, it is, without a doubt, a miracle. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the sacrifices that He made so that we can become perfect. His admonishment for us to be perfect is not an impossible goal, but rather is an expression of the potential that lies within each of us. I know that we can become perfect with the help of our Savior. He lives! And He stands nearby, waiting for each of us to reach out and ask for His help.

I had the chance to go visiting teaching today! Sometimes it is difficult to get it all set up, but when I actually go it is always like a breath of fresh air for me. The sister that I visited today is so incredible; I feel like the Lord inspired the Relief Society presidency to make me her visiting teacher so that I could catch a glimpse of the kind of woman I should strive to be. She has many gifts, but one that has been blatantly clear and quite personal to me is her uplifting nature.

I cannot leave this sister's presence without feeling uplifted, loved, and more happy than I was before our interaction. I don't know how she does it, but she truly does have a gift. And I want to have that gift too! As I left her house today, I started pondering about the power to uplift. This is the conclusion that I've come to: I believe that this gift or power is something that is available to all of us.

Just as it is with other gifts, it is something that comes more easily to some people and not as easily or naturally to others. Thank goodness we are not left to our own devices as we strive to develop divine attributes and become like our Father in Heaven! Who better to teach us how to develop this gift than our Father in Heaven? He is truly the source of all joy and can teach us how to uplift one another if we will ask Him and then listen for His answer.

I have found, through personal experience, that more often than not prayers like this are answered with an opportunity to exercise the trait that you are seeking to develop. In other words, God probably won't all of a sudden just bless you with this awesome gift that you are asking for. Rather, He will give you an experience to develop it yourself. Certainly He will not leave you helpless, but He will also require you to do your part. I find the unfaltering faith that He has in His children and His high expectations in them to be the crowing pinnacle of His beautiful parenting style.

Heavenly Father has given us an all too often untapped power - the power to develop divine traits and become more like Him. He has truly given us the power to become who we want to be, and given us this unfailing promise:

"Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened." ~3 Nephi 27:29

 He will open doors for us and give us opportunities to develop any trait that we desire to have, all we have to do is ask for His help. He will help us to become as good as we want to be. That means that we have so many miracles that are just waiting to happen within us! I love the scripture in Luke 6:45:

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

 It is a miracle that we can have the power to uplift one another, and I hope for more opportunities to develop this gift within myself. In fact, I hope to have a whole collection of good treasures in my heart by the time I bite the dust! I know that we can have any treasures that we want if we will just ask the Lord, "for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:31)

Between the rigors of being a mom and the winter weather, my exercise habits have fallen into a little bit of a slump over the last few months. I have been trying, however, to get back into a good routine of exercise and overall activity. As I have been getting back into this habit, I've been struck by an interesting principle that can be applied to our lives.

Whenever you are performing any kind of exercise that requires balance, one of the best ways to stabilize yourself is to focus your eyes on one spot in front of you. I have tested it multiple times, and it really does work. If you are trying to balance but you are not focused on one particular spot, it is a lot more difficult to balance than it would be with that focus. And so it is in each of our lives.

Heavenly Father has given us a specific focus: our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we focus on Jesus Christ - what He has done for us, how to become like Him, and returning to Him again - we find that our lives feel a lot more balanced than if we try to divide our attention. Obviously, we are human and have many different things that demand our attention and our focus. We, however, are capable of making something our main focus and allowing other things to follow after that. As we do this, that main focus infiltrates every other area of attention and is able to influence that as well.

I see miracles in my own life as I set my sights on the Savior and make my relationship with Him and Heavenly Father my first priority. As I do this, I find that I become better in the other areas that require my attention. I am a more patient and gentle wife and mother. I fulfill my callings with more willingness and happiness. My friendship is more genuine and full of love. As I focus on my Savior, I see myself being blessed with the ability to be more like Him. Because I am a normal human being, sometimes I falter and get off balance. Sometimes I look up and realize that my priorities have shifted and that is why I am feeling off-balance, so to speak. Luckily, my Heavenly Father loves me and He is always there to remind me where my priorities should lie, and then rescue me and bring me back to where I need to be.

Just as a sailor out at sea searches for and focuses on the light that shines forth from the lighthouse on the shore, we must focus on the light that shines forth from our Savior. If we will do this, we will be able to remain balanced and safe amidst the storm that rages around us. This doesn't mean that hard and heavy waves won't be sent our way, but it does mean that we will be able to make it back in spite of the storm. I know that as we focus on Jesus Christ, we will see miracles in many areas of our lives.

I love what the Bible Dictionary says about miracles:

"Miracles should not be regarded as deviations from the ordinary course of nature so much as manifestations of divine or spiritual power ... they are simply works, or the natural results of the Messiah’s presence among men ..."

As we focus on Jesus Christ, we let Him into our lives. Those miracles that we see in ourselves are evidences of His presence among us. I look forward to seeing many more miracles in myself over the course of my life as I continually learn how to focus on Him, and in effect, balance my life.

This video is an entire talk by Howard W. Hunter called "The Beacon in the Harbor of Peace". If you just want to watch a short clip from it, go to http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-10-1100-peter-walking-on-water?lang=eng

The responsibilities that accompany being a mother are daunting and, at times, overwhelming. Before I even held my sweet baby in my arms, thinking of the task ahead of me was overwhelming. Now, as I watch this little person growing and learning so quickly, I realize more all the time the magnitude of the responsibility that my Father in Heaven has entrusted to me. I am raising one of His children! He has entrusted His little one to me, to teach her what she needs to know so that she can live a life worthy of returning to Him again one day.

When I think of the task that lies ahead, I have found that I need to be careful in the way that I allow myself think. If I'm not careful, I find myself feeling fearful and inadequate. The adversary is a sneaky opportunist. Only he can take something wonderful and tempt us to twist it and find the negative in it. Certainly the Lord would not have us be fearful or feel inadequate. In fact, I am sure that He would have us view the magnitude of our responsibility and feel empowered by the faith that He has in us! One miracle in this is that He has not left us to our own devices.

The daunting task of being a mother has humbled me and helped me stay close to the Lord. I am constantly reminded of the fact that I need my Heavenly Father's help as I raise His little one. As I have sought His help, I've seen yet another miracle in my life: He truly has been by my side, helping me. At first, most of the help I received was physical. I needed support to make it through the sleepless nights and the lonely days, and I felt His hands lifting me on multiple occasions.

My daughter's physical needs aren't nearly as great now as they were during the first year of her life. As I've watched her grow and learn at a rapid rate, I've been turning to my Heavenly Father in prayer and asked Him to help me teach her. The answers I've received have been tender mercies to me, and they have helped me become a better mother.

These answers usually come as quiet promptings that help me recognize things that I should be teaching her now. For instance, when she was 10 months old, I had a thought that I should start making a special effort to teach my daughter how to pray. At first, I shrugged the thought off thinking she was too little for such things. The thought persisted, however, and I realized that this was a prompting from the Lord in answer to my prayers. And so, I began teaching my 10 month old baby to fold her arms and close her eyes when we pray. To my surprise and utter delight, my little sweetheart started folding her arms whenever we prayed after just two weeks.

Now granted, she is still a baby. Sometimes she babbles while we are praying. She doesn't always keep her arms folded the whole time that we pray. Sometimes she pries her way out of my arms and runs around the room. But I know that I have planted a tiny seed inside of her; I have started to teach her about the importance of the way that we communicate with our Father in Heaven through prayer.

About six months ago, my thoughts were turned to a pertinent question: How do I teach my children to build their foundations in Jesus Christ? I took this question to the Lord, and through promptings and answers that came during my scripture study, I received an answer. The answer the Lord gave me was this: You teach them to cling to their covenants. A few weeks after I received this answer, I listened to the Relief Society broadcast. To my surprise, almost every talk spoke of the importance of covenants and how teaching our children to keep their covenants will help them build a strong foundation in Jesus Christ! What a blessing and miracle this was for me! It was like the Lord was smiling down on me and reminding me that I was on the right track because I had sought His help.

I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who gives us grand responsibilities and then stands behind us and teaches us everything that we need to know so that we can succeed! Isn't it beautiful that as parents, we also have a parent to go to and seek help from? And He isn't just any father, but the Father of everyone who has lived, does live, and ever will live upon this earth! We have access to help from the ultimate parenting expert! The beauty and mercy of this concept warms my heart.

The miracle in all of this is that He is teaching us to become like Him. This earthly experience as a parent is an opportunity for Him to tutor us and teach us about what He does! He certainly will not leave us helpless, but He will remain by our side and teach us if we will just ask Him for help.

Interestingly enough, this post is actually completely different from what I thought I was going to write about today. I just sat down and the words came, and when I was halfway done writing I realized that I was writing about something completely different than I had set out to address. That must mean that someone needed it, and maybe that someone was me.

With the harsh winter that we've been experiencing in West Virginia, my mind has been turned toward the hope of spring and the warmth and bright colors that accompany that time of the year. While I can't say that I enjoy everything about all four seasons, I can say that I find beauty in each one. From the magic that lies in the sparkle of untouched snow to the majesty of the changing trees in the fall, every season brings with it the beauty of God's creating hand.

As I've thought about this, I've also pondered the fact that seasons can be likened unto our lives. In many ways, our lives follow the same patterns that the seasons follow. Life naturally brings with it ups and downs. Sometimes the winter storms of our lives feel as though they will never end. In spite of the storms, however, there is something tremendously beautiful about the hope of spring. That hope is what can help us get through the stormy weather.

When spring finally rolls around, trees and plants that appeared to be dead through  the winter experience new life! Green leaves spring forth and flowers bloom as the freeze that prevented their growth dissipates. Sometimes, we may feel a sort of death inside of us. Whether it is from trials, sorrow, sin, or separation from God, the darkness and misery that can accompany such things can strangle us. At such times, happiness can beome dormant, I suppose, but we must remember that happiness never dies because it lies in someone who lives. We must never forget that we can find hope through Jesus Christ.

I've experienced many different winters throught the story of my life, some worse than others. Just as the patterns of the seasons never fail, my Savior, Jesus Christ, has never failed me. There is always a spring that follows the storm. And just as there is new life around us after the passing of winter, I see new life and growth within myself following each storm that life throws my way.

I am grateful for my Savior and the new life that He offers us, not just after we die ourselves, but also throughout our journey here on earth. He can renew us and make us better in spite of the difficulties. When we feel like life is pressing down on us and we have lost all strength, He is there with arms outstretched, ready to lift us up. He can truly make miracles in our lives if we will reach out to Him and wait on Him. His spring is everlasting and His happiness eternal, and that is truly a miracle.

I am finding more and more that some of the greatest miracles that I see in my life come through my daily scripture study. I believe with all my heart that the Lord asks us to read our scriptures each day because His words can lift us higher. As we read His words, it invites the presence of the Spirit, and He is able to inspire us with thoughts from on high. When I find myself pondering different passages, I recognize the Lord's influence on my thoughts. The natural man would not think such thoughts on his own, but the scriptures let the Spirit in and allow the Lord's thoughts to become our thoughts.

There is nothing else in the world that I would rather be doing right now than staying at home with my daughter. I love her and I love being her mother! While this is the most fulfilling role that I have ever played in my life, I am still human and I have a need to feel fulfillment in other ways too. I've been praying recently that the Lord would help me enrich my life and find enjoyment and happiness through many different avenues. You won't be surprised to hear that my answer came through my scripture study this last week.

Isn't it funny that you can read a passage of scripture 100 times, and then simply because of changed circumstances, focus, or needs, it can mean something completely different and new to you? This happened to me a few days ago when  I read the story about the Widow's mite. Mind you, I've always enjoyed this story and found it inspiring that this woman gave everything that she had. But with my recent plea in mind, I saw this story in a whole new light and it touched my heart beyond what words can express. In Mark, the story reads:

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." ~ Mark 12:41-44

I don't know why, but when I'd read this story in the past I'd always associated it with tithing in my mind. This time, however, I realized that this story can represent something completely different that applies to each of us. We learn from the account that this woman literally gave everything that she had, which wasn't much. I read about the mite in the Bible Dictionary, and I learned that the mite was the smallest bronze coin that the Jews used.

As the other men were standing by casting in more money than she had probably ever seen, it would have been easy for her to feel embarrassed and silly contributing such a small amount. She could have easily justified not giving the small amount, thinking that it would not make any difference. Her two mites would not be noticed among the abundance that others cast in, but surely she would notice the absence of her living. Why, then, did this woman do what she did?

We don't know her reasons as they are not recorded. But I like to think that one possible reason is that she understood something profound; she must have understood that making such a sacrifice would strengthen her and bless her beyond what the money could have done for her. She knew of the power that lies in the Lord, and she knew that when we sacrifice everything for Him and His cause, He will bless us and make us better.

As I pondered this, I was filled with love for and was in complete awe of this magnificent woman. I saw myself in the widow, not because I am without a husband or money, but because I am capable of giving everything to the Lord too. I tend to think that what I have to offer is so small in comparison to what other people have to offer (and I know I'm not the only one who thinks like this). Sometimes I am selfish and have a hard time wanting to give up my most precious commodity - my time. Sometimes I think that I can't really make a difference. But this is so wrong!

The widow teaches us that no matter how small our offering, we must give everything. I realized that the way for me to feel true fulfillment and happiness would be through sacrificing everything for the Lord and making His will, my will. Sacrifice of time, talents, habits, or anything else is never convenient. But if it was convenient or easy, it would not be capable of producing such strength.

This realization was a miracle for me because it came right before multiple opportunities to cast in my mite, so to speak. I was more ready to accept these opportunities because they Lord had prepared me for them and helped me see the value in them.

The beauty in this miracle is that it changes us more than it does the world around us. It gives the Lord power to shape us into the people that we need to become so that we can be like Him one day. Remembering this has given me the courage to strive to sacrifice everything for the Lord, and that is the kind of legacy and the kind of miracle that I want to give my family.

Soon after we moved, I was asked to serve as the Sunday school teacher for the youth ages 12-13 in our ward. To say that I was delighted would be an extreme understatement of my feelings about the calling. I was excited beyond all measure. I was honored and humbled that the Lord wanted me to work with the youth - the future leaders of His church. I grew to love the youth in my class quickly and I looked forward to our class each Sunday.

I'd only been a Sunday school teacher for about two months when I was asked to serve in the Young Women's presidency in our ward. I was shocked that a different calling had come to me so quickly. Being the ridiculous person that I am, I was a little worried at first that maybe I had done something wrong as a teacher and the Lord needed to put me somewhere else. It was my first time teaching, and perhaps I had messed up and I didn't even realize it! I quickly realized, however, that this thought was absurd. The more I thought about it, the more I realized the Lord's influence in the unfolding of these events.

I didn't wean Kate until she was 12 months old, which made Sundays hard because she usually wanted to eat in the middle of church. So, I had to leave my class or meeting to go feed her. This made church difficult, and it would have been even more difficult for me to be able to fulfill my responsibilities as a Young Women's leader. For those who don't know, part of being a Young Women's leader is planning and attending activities every Wednesday night. Kate still had a small feeding right before bed, and she goes to bed right when I would need to be gone for these activities.

It was only a week after I began weaning Kate that I was asked to serve in the Young Women's presidency. Coincidence? I think not. The Lord knew what I could handle, and He waited until I was in a position to magnify my calling. The calling will still stretch me and push me, but I feel more capable now than I would have felt three or four months ago. The Lord has a work for me to do, but He also has my individual circumstances and my capabilities in mind. I am so grateful for His kindness and His tenderness to me.

In addition, I know that the fact that I still get to work with the youth is a tender mercy from the Lord. I discovered in the short two months that I taught Sunday school that I LOVE the youth. As I've looked back on my leaders and how much they influenced my life and how much I love them, I can only hope that I can be that kind of a leader to the youth around me. And although I don't feel old enough to be a leader, I have faith that who the Lord calls, He qualifies.

I love my Heavenly Father. I know that He always has His children's best interest in mind.  I know that if we will just trust in His will and His timing, everything will turn out for the best and all will be well in the end (as well as on the journey that takes us there). As we look back on our journey, we will be able to look back and see without a doubt that He had us in mind the whole time.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Transitioning from being around a lot of family back to being isolated from loved ones by distance is difficult for me. I enjoyed and appreciated the company of my in-laws so much over Christmas break; it was difficult to leave. I am embarrassed to admit that I fell into a little bit of a slump after we got home. I felt lonely, sad, and grumpy for a few days. I allowed negative thoughts to creep into my mind, and I quickly realized that I was the one perpetuating my sorry state.

Recognizing that I was stuck in a little bit of a rut, and knowing that I needed help getting out, I turned to my Heavenly Father in prayer for help. I've experienced times where my prayers are answered right away as well as times when the answer does not come immediately. This time, however, the answer was almost immediate. As soon as I closed my prayer, I felt like a burden had been lifted off of my shoulders. I felt more lighthearted and happy, though this is not to say that the temptation to wallow in pity was removed. As I realized that I still had a battle to fight, the Lord helped me by inspiring me with what I needed to ask for in my prayers that night.

As I knelt down to close my day with the Lord, I prayed that I would know what I needed to do in order to be happy and stay happy, no matter what my circumstances are. The next evening, Daniel and I listened to a conference talk by President Monson from the last general conference. In this talk, President Monson shares a story about a man who asked him for a blessing. This man was old and dying. He could no longer see or hear. The following is Presiden't Monson's description of the man's reaction to the blessing:

Although he had not heard the blessing we had given him, the Spirit was strong, and I believe he was inspired to know we had provided the blessing which he needed. This sweet man could no longer see. He could no longer hear. He was confined night and day to a small room in a care center. And yet the smile on his face and the words he spoke touched my heart. “Thank you,” he said. “My Heavenly Father has been so good to me.”

 This part of the talk resonated with me and touched my heart. I knew immediately that this was part of God's answer to my prayer: I needed to remember His goodness to me. Over the last few days, I have started a new habit: if there is ever a negative or sorrowful thought that enters my mind, I immediately think, "Heavenly Father has been so good to me." The power that lies in these words never fails. Remembering God's goodness to me softens my heart and lifts my Spirits. His love and kindness to me is greater than any sorrow or trouble.

This principle was confirmed to me, yet again, the following day when I was doing my scripture study. In Mark 5, Jesus casts a legion of devils out of a man. Following this experience, the people in the city ask the man who was once afflicted with the devils to leave. The man follows Jesus and asks if he can stay with him. The Savior, however, responds:

...Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (Mark 5:19)

 There is power for ourselves and for others in celebrating the good things that God has done for us. I have seen in my own life that remembering His goodness has given me the power to overcome weakness and feel joy. I know, also, that as I strive to share with others the good things that He has done for me, I will be able to lift others and be lifted myself.

So, let it be known to all - I have hard days. I struggle with weaknesses. My life isn't perfect. But God has been so good to me! His mercy is unending and His love unconditional. Because of Him, I know that I can find happiness in the good times and the bad if I will simply remember His goodness and acknowledge His mercy in all that I do. The Lord helped me lift my spirits and my sights this week, and it was a miracle for me.

Between holiday travel and illness, it's been a while since I've been able to write. I've seen many tender mercies in the last few weeks. Between excellent weather for traveling, a car that didn't die on us, and a toddler that didn't scream the entire way to Oklahoma, things have been pretty great around here. I could go on an on about the little miracles that our family has seen, but my heart is drawn to something completely different today. This tender mercy is one that graces my life every day, and will continue to do so forever.

Daniel is one of the most magnificent tender mercies that my Heavenly Father has ever sent me. When I married Daniel, I didn't realize that it was possible to love someone so much and I had a hard time imagining how that love could have any room to grow. As I'm sure you already guessed, it has grown.....and grown, and grown! My love for him grows deeper and stronger as our time together moves forward.

When we got married, I knew a lot about Daniel. We were best friends and we shared everything with each other. One of my favorite parts about being married is continually getting to know each other better and becoming closer friends. As I learn more about Daniel, I see more and more that the Lord knew exactly what I needed in an eternal companion. I see more of Daniel's virtues and strengths all the time, and as I do, I realize that the Lord knew exactly what I needed.

Ironically, I didn't even realize that these were qualities that I needed in a companion when we got married. It's amazing, though, how marriage forces you to get to know yourself better than you probably ever wanted to know yourself. You become painfully aware of your own weaknesses and you become acutely aware of the effect that those weaknesses can have on those around you. As I've become aware of my weaknesses and little quirks, I've also become aware of Daniel's strengths. Wouldn't you know, he is strong where I am weak.

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father helped me find someone who inspires me to overcome my weaknesses and become a better woman. I want to be better because he is just so good. I did not know everything there was to know about Daniel or about myself when we got married. But Heavenly Father knew everything about each of us, and He knew that we would complement each other and find great joy and happiness together. I am grateful for Heavenly Father's mercy in blessing me with such a sweet companion. This miracle is one that continues to unfold with time, and I know that it will continue to bless me and my family forever.

I am grateful for the temple covenants that bind us together. The power and peace that they bring into my life are miracles in and of themselves. Knowing that I can be with my sweetheart and my family forever is one of life's sweetest blessings. Who knows what tomorrow will hold, but I am grateful that I can live happily today, knowing that my family will be a permanent part of my future.