Where are we going?

It's been almost 3 yrs. since my husband decided to go back to school to get his Bachelor's Degree. He has one more year and he will be done.... at least with that anyway... he's talked about getting a Master's Degree too. This summer he accepted an internship with NASA at Johns Hopkins University APL. It's exciting for me to see him getting this far because he never believed he could.... but I believed. I'm proud of my husband! This is going to be such a great opportunity for him this summer. Where will it lead us? I have no clue. I just know that we have been prayerful and the Lord has guided us throughout our life. I pray He will continue to guide our future and I will trust in Him.

During Turbulence

I was praying this morning for the Lord to help me know what I needed to do to improve my home environment, to reduce the stress level with my family and enjoy the relationships that matter most to me. During the prayer I recalled this last conference a message, "slow down during turbulence." I got up from my prayer and pulled up the talk on my computer. This is exactly what I needed to hear. "Of the Things That Matter Most"

I love the part where he talks about the 4 fundamental relationships. I needed these "reminders".

One thing I know for certain is that I make alot more mistakes or do a lot more regrettable things when I try to speed up during turbulent times. I get impatient and want problems solved immediately and therefore respond without being prayerful or sensitive to the spirit.

Sometimes the turbulence I face is completely avoidable... it comes from overcomplicating my life, when I try to solve simple problems in a web of distractions I have spun for myself.

So I think the message for me today is when I start to get overwhelmed or discouraged I need to slow down, evaluate the situation, be prayerful and clear away the distractions so I can more readily feel the Spirit and see things as "they really are and as they really will be".

Good Things to Come

I had been feeling a little depressed these last few days. I was in a real slump. My sweet husband came home from school yesterday to a tired and emotional wife. Poor guy. He was very patient with me though and was quick to offer help.

I tried so hard to pull myself up and attend to the needs of our little family but I was on the verge of tears with every effort. There wasn't really one particular thing that was distressing me, it was a bunch of little things all piled on top of each other. It was the fruit of self doubt, thoughts of inadequacy, comparing my weaknesses to all the strengths of the women around me and the typical fears of a mom for the future of her kids.

My children could feel and see the emotion in my face yesterday and seemed to mirror the anxiety and tension toward each other. Shouting matches could be heard throughout the house, which only created a perpetual problem of contention. I felt guilty with each heated exchange they had with each other, feeling as if I started the whole dilemma.

"If this is what I'm teaching my children, what good is it for me to be home with them?" I began to ask myself. "It seems they hardly ever listen to me and when they do all they hear is negative."

My husband encouraged to go to bed early and suggested I'd feel better after a good night's rest. He was right. I needed to step away for a moment because I wasn't seeing clearly at all.

This morning I woke up to find a new video on Mormon Messages called "Good Things to Come". I cried all the way through it. It was everything I needed to hear. It was so refreshing and I felt a renewed hope in my future.

God doesn't expect me to be a perfect mom. I know that. And He doesn't expect me to be happy and sweet all the time either. He knows I'll have hard days. But he doesn't want me to give up, He expects me to keep trying and to trust in Him! Being a stay-at-home mom isn't easy and it's hard to see what good is really being done but I know that my family needs me and God will help me in all that is required of me for good.

"Everyone of us has times when we need to know things will get better. My declaration is that that is precisely what the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need." ..... This is how the video starts out and then Elder Holland shares a personal story when he was discouraged in his own life and how the Lord helped him through. Watch the video here, so inspiring it's a must see!!!

Tender Mercies

This past week, answers to prayers have been pouring down on me like refreshing rain. One of the miracles is something I've been praying for a very long time.

I feel like shouting hallelujah!!

In a recent post, I shared a story about a neighbor of mine that had been treating me very rudely for well over a year. Just last week I decided to do a neighborhood BBQ and I made a special invitation to her. I sincerely wanted her to come but didn't expect her to show up because she hadn't shown up to any previous invitations. But to my surprise she came.... not only did she come but we had a friendly conversation too! I felt so relieved. I don't know what exactly softened her heart towards me and I still don't know why she was so rude to me in the first place. I'm just so thankful that things are better now! I am so thankful for the healing that is taking place between us.

"I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us."- Elder David A. Bednar Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Prayer

I just love this video about the power of prayer. It happened in 2007. It's about a woman in New York who tells a beautiful story of how the Lord answered her prayer. This also includes the testimony of a living Prophet of God. This video is truly inspiring, and will brighten your day no matter what faith or religious backround you come from.

The truth is there is great power in prayer as we humbly and gratefully seek to know the will of the Lord and then do His will. I have a testimony that God is our Father, He is most merciful, most loving, most powerful and is anxious to communicate with His children.... and we are all His children.

I pray for blessings to be with all who might stumble upon this blog. I hope it gives you encouragement, strengthens your faith in God and inspires you to lift the lives of those around you.

Alicia

New Years... and Fears?

I think with a new year it's easy to have new fears. Maybe fear because of the unknown, fear of future burdens, war, economic struggles, sickness, or losing a friend or loved one. We may have anxiety for a new year because we doubt our abilities or we are afraid we will make the same mistakes all over again.



But faith is to hope for that which is not seen but are true, to trust that God is in the details of our lives and will guide us as we seek His guidance. He will strengthen us to do right as we seek His strength.



The Lord led the children of Israel out of bondage through the plagues, the famines, the sea and wilderness... surely then He can and will lead us through our trials and provide us with our needs!

Painting by, Arnold Friberg

So many times I have witnessed this in my life! I know God lives and He hears our prayers. He will provide & He will guide as we seek His will. The right things will fall into place and that which is not essential will drop out. It's through the Refiner's fire that gold is made and dross consumed. He loves us, we are His children. This I know, I shall not fear!



The following quote is from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and is part of the January Message from the Ensign.



"Individual and collective trials may sometimes seem overwhelming. That is when we need, more than ever, to draw near unto the Lord. As we do, we will come to know what it means to have the Lord draw near unto us. As we seek Him ever more diligently, we will surely find Him. We will see clearly that the Lord does not abandon His Church or His faithful Saints. Our eyes will be opened, and we will see Him open the windows of heaven and shower us with more of His light. We will find the spiritual strength to survive even during the darkest night.



It may be hard to see that at times, but hold on a little longer, for “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” and wait for Him (1 Corinthians 2:9; see also D&C 76:10; 133:45)."

Psalms 31:24

One of my ultimate favorite scriptures is found in Psalms 31:24 "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."

I remember when I was in High School I saw a beautiful video about the life, love and sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ. This scripture from Psalms flashed across the screen and I felt the truthfulness of this speak to my heart with such force. The spirit bore such a powerful witness to me then. I still feel the wonderful truth of this verse when I read it today.

I know that as I seek the Lord through diligent prayer, sincere and humble heartfelt prayer... He is faithful in answering. Sometimes it's not always the answer that I want but His ways are not my ways. He is aware of my needs, fears, insecurities, trials, my failings, my triumphs, my efforts, my desires and so on. He delights to bless each of us, He is anxious to answer our prayers, to direct our paths.... He wants us to call on Him, to knock, to ask, to pray, to hear, to receive....

One more scripture I love is found in the Book of Mormon...

2 Nephi 25:23&26
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

I am forever thankful for the hope and strength that comes from my Father in Heaven through His precious Son, Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the peace and hope I find in His word and His Spirit. He gives me strength beyond my own and comforts my heart.

God Bless you!
Alicia