Sunday, October 30, 2011
I Have Seen a Miracle
I have seen a miracle. A friend of mine's son died a week ago. Through modern medicine and the power of God he is alive today. After he died his heart was shocked back into working, but it was only working at 10%. His organ were shutting down and they had to cool down his body and then warm it up again. My friend was told first that they didn't expect him to make it. After they cooled his body down she was told that they didn't expect him to wake up. A friend of the boy, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, asked him if he would like a priesthood blessing. He said yes. I talked to my friend a couple hours before the blessing, she is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was so worried. Her son was awake, but was hooked up to tubes and monitors. She didn't know what was going to happen and she was so worried. The next day I got a quick note saying her son was talking and then the following day she told me he was going to be released the next day. I saw them on Saturday. He was walking, talking and acting like a normal 19 year-old boy. I wanted to cry happy tears. Me and my family were all praying for my friend and her son. I know there were many others praying as well. The doctors and nurses have never seen anything like it. His heart went from 10% to 100% in less than 5 days. He has suffered some memory loss, and they are still monitoring him, but his is alive and functioning. He can sit and visit with friends and family, he was playing with my daughter. It is a miracle, and I am humbled to see it.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday's Miracles
It's Monday again! I'm undecided on my feelings for Monday. I love that after a crazy weekend it's a chance to jump back into routines again, but it also means that I have to get back to doing laundry.
1. Shovels. Out here in the country they are especially useful
2. Straws. Did you know you can make a whistle out of a straw? My mom taught me that. I have not taught my children that yet, though.
3. Aunts and Uncles. My kids love theirs, and I am grateful for all they do for my kids.
4. Canning. I love that I can preserve my summer bounty to eat during the cold winter months. I also love that it tastes so much better than stuff I buy from a store.
5. Clear Vinyl. We put a map on our table and used some clear vinyl as a tablecloth. The kids love looking for countries and seeing the different flags of each country.
1. Shovels. Out here in the country they are especially useful
2. Straws. Did you know you can make a whistle out of a straw? My mom taught me that. I have not taught my children that yet, though.
3. Aunts and Uncles. My kids love theirs, and I am grateful for all they do for my kids.
4. Canning. I love that I can preserve my summer bounty to eat during the cold winter months. I also love that it tastes so much better than stuff I buy from a store.
5. Clear Vinyl. We put a map on our table and used some clear vinyl as a tablecloth. The kids love looking for countries and seeing the different flags of each country.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
My Right to Think and Believe
A friend posted a random question on Facebook that got me thinking. He asked if people believed free thinking would send them to Hell. A little off the wall question but the short discussion that followed got me thinking.
My basic answer to that question is no, I don't believe that thinking something through, or studying it will send you to Hell. I do believe that our brains were given to us for us to use. We should study things out and decide if they are good or bad. That being said, we are responsible for our thoughts. If we know something is bad and we continue to think about it that could have a negative impact on our salvation.
It was also asked why were some religious people taking it WAY too seriously? I don't have an answer to that. I know what I believe. I would consider myself a religious person. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, sometimes referred to as "Mormons". I go to church every Sunday. As a family we pray over meals and read scriptures together at night before kneeling as a family for prayer again. I attend our temples as often as I can and quite often participate in week day church activities. Yes, I would classify myself as religious. That being said, I realize that not all good people believe the same as I do. I know many people who would classify themselves as more spiritual than religious. These are good people. I believe in what our 11th Article of Faith says,
Of course I would be overjoyed if everyone in the whole world decided to join my church. I would love for the world to hold to the same virtues and standards and beliefs that I have, but that isn't the case. I will defend my beliefs and stand up for the things that I think are right and stand against the things I think are wrong. If someone tries to take away my freedoms I will defend that.
Case in point. A while ago there was a bill on a state's ballet that would legalize marijuana. Now, I am not a supporter of any addicting substances. I don't drink or smoke. For those reasons, I would have voted against the measure, but I can understand why people would vote for it. I don't believe that would have taken away any of my freedoms unless by passing it grocery stores that sell tobacco would also be required to also sell marijuana and I didn't want to do that. If it was telling me I would be punished for not agreeing to sell something I didn't believe in, that would be taking away my freedoms.
There has been a lot of discussion on Proposition 8 from California. As with the stance of my faith, I don't believe homosexuality is right. I grant that those feelings and urges are real for a number of people, but I still don't agree with it. I may believe that a relationship is wrong without believe that the people in the relationship are bad people. Going along with the above quote, I believe that people may think and choose according to the dictates of their own conscience, but please don't punish me for disagreeing with you. I don't care who you have a relationship with. I do care that you want me to have to accept it as okay and normal. If the state wants to accept such unions as valid, fine, but please don't make my church perform the union if we don't believe in it.
In summary to the discussion, we should all use our minds and intellect to think about and ponder issues. We should study it out in our minds and then act according to our conscience. We should also realize that others may come to a different conclusions, they come from a different background and may have different information. Above all, we should realize that all people should be treated with love and respect.
A quote a friend once told me in college really stuck with me. It was something like this "Please don't judge me because I choose to sin differently than you do". It's true. We are all sinners.
My basic answer to that question is no, I don't believe that thinking something through, or studying it will send you to Hell. I do believe that our brains were given to us for us to use. We should study things out and decide if they are good or bad. That being said, we are responsible for our thoughts. If we know something is bad and we continue to think about it that could have a negative impact on our salvation.
It was also asked why were some religious people taking it WAY too seriously? I don't have an answer to that. I know what I believe. I would consider myself a religious person. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, sometimes referred to as "Mormons". I go to church every Sunday. As a family we pray over meals and read scriptures together at night before kneeling as a family for prayer again. I attend our temples as often as I can and quite often participate in week day church activities. Yes, I would classify myself as religious. That being said, I realize that not all good people believe the same as I do. I know many people who would classify themselves as more spiritual than religious. These are good people. I believe in what our 11th Article of Faith says,
"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
Of course I would be overjoyed if everyone in the whole world decided to join my church. I would love for the world to hold to the same virtues and standards and beliefs that I have, but that isn't the case. I will defend my beliefs and stand up for the things that I think are right and stand against the things I think are wrong. If someone tries to take away my freedoms I will defend that.
Case in point. A while ago there was a bill on a state's ballet that would legalize marijuana. Now, I am not a supporter of any addicting substances. I don't drink or smoke. For those reasons, I would have voted against the measure, but I can understand why people would vote for it. I don't believe that would have taken away any of my freedoms unless by passing it grocery stores that sell tobacco would also be required to also sell marijuana and I didn't want to do that. If it was telling me I would be punished for not agreeing to sell something I didn't believe in, that would be taking away my freedoms.
There has been a lot of discussion on Proposition 8 from California. As with the stance of my faith, I don't believe homosexuality is right. I grant that those feelings and urges are real for a number of people, but I still don't agree with it. I may believe that a relationship is wrong without believe that the people in the relationship are bad people. Going along with the above quote, I believe that people may think and choose according to the dictates of their own conscience, but please don't punish me for disagreeing with you. I don't care who you have a relationship with. I do care that you want me to have to accept it as okay and normal. If the state wants to accept such unions as valid, fine, but please don't make my church perform the union if we don't believe in it.
In summary to the discussion, we should all use our minds and intellect to think about and ponder issues. We should study it out in our minds and then act according to our conscience. We should also realize that others may come to a different conclusions, they come from a different background and may have different information. Above all, we should realize that all people should be treated with love and respect.
A quote a friend once told me in college really stuck with me. It was something like this "Please don't judge me because I choose to sin differently than you do". It's true. We are all sinners.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Monday's Miracles
1. Babies. They are so cute and sweet and innocent. A good reminder of how precious life is.
2. A living prophet to guide us, encourage us, and teach us.
3. Heaters. I'm so glad I don't have to rely solely on fire to keep me warm.
4. Electric lights. Seriously something I take for granted way too often.
5. My vacuum. I seriously love that I have one that works. Since my husband and kids love all this carpet it's good to have a vacuum, especially when you have inside pets.
2. A living prophet to guide us, encourage us, and teach us.
3. Heaters. I'm so glad I don't have to rely solely on fire to keep me warm.
4. Electric lights. Seriously something I take for granted way too often.
5. My vacuum. I seriously love that I have one that works. Since my husband and kids love all this carpet it's good to have a vacuum, especially when you have inside pets.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Motivation
I have lost my motivation. Is that something you lose, or something you make? Either way, I have very little right now. For a few weeks I was getting up early, letting the dogs out, coming in, reading scriptures, some light exercising, and then doing my computer stuff, all before the kids woke up. Now, I'm lucky to be up before the kids. My alarm goes off, and I go back to sleep, or to at least laying in bed longer. The worst part is when I can't go back to sleep, I know I won't go back to sleep, and yet I still don't get up. This bout of laziness is just horrible!
I know the best thing to do would be to just push through it. When my alarm goes off, get up and get moving. Make myself DO something productive, anything productive. Where is my willpower? It's a vicious cycle. The more I don't do anything, the less motivation I have to start, but once I do start, I know it will be easier to do it again. With the days getting shorter, though, I'm missing the sun as my cue to awaken. I'm sure there has to be some kind of scientific study that states it's harder for people to wake up early when the sun is coming up later and later. Maybe I can find that study and see if they have any advice for me.
I know the best thing to do would be to just push through it. When my alarm goes off, get up and get moving. Make myself DO something productive, anything productive. Where is my willpower? It's a vicious cycle. The more I don't do anything, the less motivation I have to start, but once I do start, I know it will be easier to do it again. With the days getting shorter, though, I'm missing the sun as my cue to awaken. I'm sure there has to be some kind of scientific study that states it's harder for people to wake up early when the sun is coming up later and later. Maybe I can find that study and see if they have any advice for me.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Just tell me and I'll do it
As a Mom, don't you just love it when you step into the bathroom and all of a sudden all of your kids have questions that need answered RIGHT NOW! I know I can't be the only one this has happened to. This happened, again, to me the other day. My son was trying to ask me a question. Well, normally I am pretty good at understand 4 year old speak, and my 4 year old does speak fairly clearly, but through a door when I have something else on my mind, I wasn't hearing him very well. I was trying to tell him to just wait a few minutes, I would be out soon and then I could answer his question. Then, I heard very clearly through the door "Mom, just tell me and I'll do it!" I did finally understand what he was asking me, and I gave him an answer, but his response really stuck with me. It impressed itself so firmly in my mind that I had to take a dry-erase marker that was near by and write it on my mirror so I wouldn't forget. (Hey, having dry-erase markers in the bathroom really is not that strange, is it?) It's now been there for over a week and I keep looking at it.
The thing is, I know I could have told my son just about anything and he would have done it. He was asking me where to put the shells when he peeled his hard-boiled egg. I could have told him to peel it outside and he would have done it. I could have told him to put the shells into a bowl, peel it over the trash, or put them all into a plastic bag to scatter in the rocks of the driveway and he would have done it. It wouldn't have mattered how silly they may have sounded to him, he would have done what I told him. How often are we as willing to listen?
How often do we pray or ask for advice, but we are only willing to do what we are told if it fits in with what we want to do? We pray for guidance and assistance, but then when we get our answers we decide maybe we didn't really need help, that couldn't be what we need to do. My son may not have understood the reason for pealing his egg outside (so the shells didn't make a mess inside), but he would have trusted me and done it. Do we have enough trust to just go forward and do it? I'm not sure I do, but when Jesus told us to be as little children, I think may have been part of what he meant. I know that thanks to my son's innocent remark I will be thinking more about my willingness to do and maybe quit trying to guess the reasons why and just trust.
The thing is, I know I could have told my son just about anything and he would have done it. He was asking me where to put the shells when he peeled his hard-boiled egg. I could have told him to peel it outside and he would have done it. I could have told him to put the shells into a bowl, peel it over the trash, or put them all into a plastic bag to scatter in the rocks of the driveway and he would have done it. It wouldn't have mattered how silly they may have sounded to him, he would have done what I told him. How often are we as willing to listen?
How often do we pray or ask for advice, but we are only willing to do what we are told if it fits in with what we want to do? We pray for guidance and assistance, but then when we get our answers we decide maybe we didn't really need help, that couldn't be what we need to do. My son may not have understood the reason for pealing his egg outside (so the shells didn't make a mess inside), but he would have trusted me and done it. Do we have enough trust to just go forward and do it? I'm not sure I do, but when Jesus told us to be as little children, I think may have been part of what he meant. I know that thanks to my son's innocent remark I will be thinking more about my willingness to do and maybe quit trying to guess the reasons why and just trust.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Anxiety Attacks
I don't know how many people deal with anxiety issues, but I know I am among them. I would imagine it's a lot higher than most people realize. There are probably many people who are like me that know there is something going on with them, but don't have a name for what it is. At one point in time I was worried that I had depression, which is common in my family, and I went in to see a doctor. They actually diagnosed me with anxiety. So, now I have a name to define what I'm feeling.
I've dealt with anxiety for a long time. I remember in college that there was a co-worker who made my life at work kinda miserable. I would shake and cry before going into work if I knew she was working with me. At another time in life I had a friend who was emotionally draining and I would have anxiety attacks after an evening of spending time with this friend. I'm not on any medication for my anxiety (the one time they put me on some I had side affects that I really didn't like so I quit taking it). I've learned a few coping strategies that work for me, though, and usually my anxiety is fairly mild. If it ever got worse I would seek medical help, but for now I'm mostly okay.
I have learned something about my anxiety attacks. Most of them occur around moments of confrontation, either real or imagined. Some happen after the fact, like the time I got yelled at for not letting someone pick something up because they couldn't give me their receipt saying they bought it. Some happen when I imagine a confrontation, like my former job. There have been a few exceptions, like a change I wasn't expecting. But overall, most of my anxiety attacks are a result of confrontation. While I'm in the midst of it I'm usually okay, it's always either before or after the fact that I start shaking, my heart starts racing and I feel like I'm going to be sick or cry, or both.
So, unless I closet myself away (which isn't healthy for me or my family) there is no way that I can avoid confrontation. The question I have, then, is how do I handle those confrontations without having an anxiety attack? Case in point. I have a cousin who was baptized. I told my aunt a few weeks before that we would probably be coming. I realized just a few days before that I hadn't told her for sure, and I didn't know if she would have room for us. I didn't want to assume that I could just show up at her house and have her put me and my kids up for the night, when I knew that there were already going to be quite a few people staying at her house. The idea of calling up my aunt to ask if we could stay at her house made me sick to my stomach and almost made me want to quit the idea of going altogether. That does not seem rational to me, especially because when I did call her she was planning on me coming and was making arrangements for my family. This was just a small thing, all I had to do was make a quick phone call, but it made me sick to my stomach, and this was a family member, who I know loves me. It can be even worse if I have to call a stranger.
I know stress is also another trigger. I don't have nearly as many attacks when my stress level is low as I do when it is high. Yet, I don't know how to get rid of the stress either. I just want a Utopian world where life runs smoothly, people are nice to each other and doing your best is all that anyone asks of you. I know that this isn't going to happen anytime soon and that we can't grow stronger without meeting some kind of resistance. I just wish I had a text book with answers for my own personalized life that said, when A happens understand that B is the reason, and do C. Since I don't ever see that book being published I will just have to hone my coping skills and hope I make the right choices.
What I have realized I need to do when these times come is to take a step back, first. I look at what is going on. Have I blown things out of proportion? Is there another solution to my dilemma? Depending on the situation and how physically sick I am, I often will call someone I know who has a calmer head than me. In college it was my mom and she could talk me through it. Now it is usually my husband, but if he isn't available, my mom is usually there, and if no one else can help me my Heavenly Father is always there. Often though, he sends me help in the form of my husband and mom. After taking that step back I can usually figure out if I have real reasons for not wanting to do something, or if they are imagined. Then, if it is all in my mind, I take that scary first step. Once I start then my survival instincts kick in and I'm good. I have noticed that very few times once I am in the middle of something do I have problems. Or, if it is after the fact, I try to let it go and just move on with my life, what's done is done.
I can also do some things to make it so that my mind isn't so easily beset by these plaguing thoughts. For me I am much calmer if I get enough sleep. This means, in my case, not staying up really late, and getting up early. I need quiet meditation time and about the best time for me is in the morning before my children wake up. I take this time to watch the sunrise and relax in the glory of this wonderful world. I read my scriptures and find strength and peace in them. I pray. Another thing that really helps me is to have a clean house. When my surroundings are neat and peaceful, it's like an extension of my mind, calm and peaceful. This isn't always easy to do with 4 kids, but I can usually find at least 1 room of my house that I can retire to when I am feeling a little frazzled and I can regroup.
This is what I have found to work for me. How about you? Do you suffer from anxiety? How do you deal with it?
I've dealt with anxiety for a long time. I remember in college that there was a co-worker who made my life at work kinda miserable. I would shake and cry before going into work if I knew she was working with me. At another time in life I had a friend who was emotionally draining and I would have anxiety attacks after an evening of spending time with this friend. I'm not on any medication for my anxiety (the one time they put me on some I had side affects that I really didn't like so I quit taking it). I've learned a few coping strategies that work for me, though, and usually my anxiety is fairly mild. If it ever got worse I would seek medical help, but for now I'm mostly okay.
I have learned something about my anxiety attacks. Most of them occur around moments of confrontation, either real or imagined. Some happen after the fact, like the time I got yelled at for not letting someone pick something up because they couldn't give me their receipt saying they bought it. Some happen when I imagine a confrontation, like my former job. There have been a few exceptions, like a change I wasn't expecting. But overall, most of my anxiety attacks are a result of confrontation. While I'm in the midst of it I'm usually okay, it's always either before or after the fact that I start shaking, my heart starts racing and I feel like I'm going to be sick or cry, or both.
So, unless I closet myself away (which isn't healthy for me or my family) there is no way that I can avoid confrontation. The question I have, then, is how do I handle those confrontations without having an anxiety attack? Case in point. I have a cousin who was baptized. I told my aunt a few weeks before that we would probably be coming. I realized just a few days before that I hadn't told her for sure, and I didn't know if she would have room for us. I didn't want to assume that I could just show up at her house and have her put me and my kids up for the night, when I knew that there were already going to be quite a few people staying at her house. The idea of calling up my aunt to ask if we could stay at her house made me sick to my stomach and almost made me want to quit the idea of going altogether. That does not seem rational to me, especially because when I did call her she was planning on me coming and was making arrangements for my family. This was just a small thing, all I had to do was make a quick phone call, but it made me sick to my stomach, and this was a family member, who I know loves me. It can be even worse if I have to call a stranger.
I know stress is also another trigger. I don't have nearly as many attacks when my stress level is low as I do when it is high. Yet, I don't know how to get rid of the stress either. I just want a Utopian world where life runs smoothly, people are nice to each other and doing your best is all that anyone asks of you. I know that this isn't going to happen anytime soon and that we can't grow stronger without meeting some kind of resistance. I just wish I had a text book with answers for my own personalized life that said, when A happens understand that B is the reason, and do C. Since I don't ever see that book being published I will just have to hone my coping skills and hope I make the right choices.
What I have realized I need to do when these times come is to take a step back, first. I look at what is going on. Have I blown things out of proportion? Is there another solution to my dilemma? Depending on the situation and how physically sick I am, I often will call someone I know who has a calmer head than me. In college it was my mom and she could talk me through it. Now it is usually my husband, but if he isn't available, my mom is usually there, and if no one else can help me my Heavenly Father is always there. Often though, he sends me help in the form of my husband and mom. After taking that step back I can usually figure out if I have real reasons for not wanting to do something, or if they are imagined. Then, if it is all in my mind, I take that scary first step. Once I start then my survival instincts kick in and I'm good. I have noticed that very few times once I am in the middle of something do I have problems. Or, if it is after the fact, I try to let it go and just move on with my life, what's done is done.
I can also do some things to make it so that my mind isn't so easily beset by these plaguing thoughts. For me I am much calmer if I get enough sleep. This means, in my case, not staying up really late, and getting up early. I need quiet meditation time and about the best time for me is in the morning before my children wake up. I take this time to watch the sunrise and relax in the glory of this wonderful world. I read my scriptures and find strength and peace in them. I pray. Another thing that really helps me is to have a clean house. When my surroundings are neat and peaceful, it's like an extension of my mind, calm and peaceful. This isn't always easy to do with 4 kids, but I can usually find at least 1 room of my house that I can retire to when I am feeling a little frazzled and I can regroup.
This is what I have found to work for me. How about you? Do you suffer from anxiety? How do you deal with it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
