Gospel Topic Tuesday: Priesthood Blessings

Sunday night while saying my prayers the thought came to me that I needed to ask Jared for a blessing. After I was done with my prayers and Jared was too I asked him for a blessing. After he gave me the blessing I felt so much better. I was starting work the next day and was unsure how I was going to balance everything. Through the blessing I was given some personal direction and reassurance that I am doing the right thing and that everything will be okay. I am incredibly grateful that my husband is a worthy priesthood holder and that I can turn to him and be blessed.

I love receiving priesthood blessings even when Heavenly Father is chastening me for something. The reason why is because Heavenly Father loves me enough to tell me where I need to do better, where I need to be stronger. He has the bigger picture in view and if I trust in him and follow the guidance he gives than I know he will bless me. In a talk by Julie B. Beck she says, "Each of us is equally entitled to a priesthood blessing when we are sick or need added support from the Lord in our lives." (Julie B. Beck, “An Outpouring of Blessings,”). The Lord is there for us and willing to help and guide us if we have faith in him and ask for a blessing.

I've had many experiences in my life where someone shares that they are having a hard time in their life with me, or that they are sick and don't know what to do. My first response is asking, "Have you asked for a priesthood blessing?" So many times the answer is no, which saddens me because I know that they will receive the guidance and healing needed if they just ask.

I know the power of the priesthood is real. I've read and heard stories where the spirit testified to me that they are true. I've had many experiences in my life that have strengthened my testimony in the power of the priesthood. I will share a few experiences that stand out.

One of the first ones comes from when I was 12 or 13. I was going to have surgery to remove my tonsils and adenoids. I was really nervous. I was afraid that something bad would happen and that perhaps I would die. I've always been terrified of Dr's and hospitals. My mom suggested that I get a priesthood blessing before having the surgery. We asked the missionaries who were serving at that time if they would administer a blessing to me. They of course said yes and gave me a blessing. I was told everything would be fine and that I would be comforted. The morning of the surgery I woke up and started to panic and ask "What if...?" Every time the "what if's" came to mind a voice spoke to me and told me I would be alright. I was calmed down and able to go in for surgery and everything was fine.

Another experience was more recent a little over a year ago. I was preparing to travel to Germany to visit my brother Eddy and his beautiful family. Just before leaving I put my back out and was barely able to move. I couldn't hardly walk or get out of bed. My ticket was already purchased and I desperately wanted to go. I turned to my husband and asked for a blessing. We called on our home teachers to help administer. I was told that I would be okay and told that I would be healed. As the words came my body felt different. The pain was evaporating away. Part of me was stunned but the rest of me was grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing me with a husband that is a worthy priesthood holder and that He saw it fit to heal me at that time.

Most recently was my experience with being pregnant and bringing Benjamin into the world. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant I asked for a blessing. I was told that my pregnancy would be fine but that I would experience pain in my labor. This made me nervous to some degree. I knew there would be pain but I wondered how much. I prayed to Heavenly Father and he comforted me and a scripture came to mind about how the Lord does not give us more than we can handle. When I went into labor and had been laboring for about 24 hours already I asked Jared for another priesthood blessing. I was told several things...one thing in particular that there would be some complications but that I would be healthy and so would our son. This was a hard thing to hear for Jared and I but we were able to prepare ourselves and trust in the Lord that everything would be alright.

Priesthood blessings are an amazing blessing in our lives. There priesthood holders all around us worthy and willing to bless us if we but ask them. I love to hear what Heavenly Father has to share with me and then write it down so I don't forget it and so I can look back and see what I was told.

Benjamin Laughing

I love being a mom! It is just the best thing ever! Today I started tickling Benjamin and he just started laughing. I did it a few different times and he laughed every time. This is the 4th time I've gotten him to actually laugh. Or should I say the beginning of laughter. It's so cute!!

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Judge Not

I am constantly working on something in my life. Judging! I feel like I am always judging people and then making assumptions about them. I've been praying for help for sometime now to not be so quick to judge people. I pray even harder when I realize I've been judging unfairly as I did not understand the whole situation.

I found a great article while researching the topic of judging and how we are told we should not judge. The article is from 1972 by N. Eldon Tanner. It may be old but it is amazing! It's titled "Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged". If you have time go and read it.

One of the reasons why I feel bad about when I judge is the scripture comes to mind of how we will be judged using the same judgement we dealt out. Now knowing that I am human and I judge unfairly I certainly don't want to be judged that way. The scripture is found in Matthew chapter 7 versus 1 through 5. "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” This scripture is a great reminder that when we are dealing out unfair judgements we probably have bigger faults in our own lives that we should be dealing with. And if we were taking care of our own problems then perhaps we could be there when someone else needs us to help them with theirs.

"It seems common practice for people to talk about their friends and neighbors and to criticize their seeming peculiarities and weaknesses. In fact, it is so general that one would think that gossiping about and judging others was the thing to do. How often have we heard of young men who were criticized, judged, and ridiculed because of their peculiarities and yet who eventually became leaders in their different fields of endeavor." (N. Eldon Tanner, “‘Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged’,”) How many times do we catch ourselves judging people or gossiping about them? It really is easy to do. I know that the adversary knows it is a weakness of mine and is constantly bombarding me with situations or feelings for me to fall prey to. There's been several Sundays where I will leave my home after praying for strength not to judge and then 15 minutes into the service I am judging someone. I then feel awful and have the "Doh!" moment and ask Heavenly Father to forgive me and try again.

"When we try to judge people, which we should not do, we have a great tendency to look for and take pride in finding weaknesses and faults, such as vanity, dishonesty, immorality, and intrigue. As a result, we see only the worst side of those being judged."(N. Eldon Tanner, “‘Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged’,”) It is so easy to see the worst in people. For some reason the worst is easiest to latch onto and not the good. For instance I work with the young women in my ward and there is a girl who I constantly judge. I have a very hard time finding anything good about her. I feel awful that I have these feelings about her but it makes sense now after reading this article. I let myself dwell for so long on the negative aspects of what I see in her that I can't find the good. I need to let go of those thoughts and start seeing the good she has.

In the scriptures in the book of John we find the story about a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. She was brought before the Savior for judgement and he simply said "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Then, after stooping and writing in the sand, he looked up and said, “… where are those thine accusers?” (John 8:7, 10, N. Eldon Tanner, “‘Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged’,”) The Savior made it very clear that we are not to judge. Only Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us inside and out and understand our hearts and intentions. They have the whole story and will judge righteously.

We need to do our best to not judge and when we find ourselves judging or gossiping we need to repent quickly and ask for strength to not do it again.

Not My Luckiest Streak

Jared just commented how this week hasn't really been my week. Wednesday we went to a YW activity and when we got to the church I took Benjamin out of his car seat. While doing this I put my phone and keys on top of the car. Apparently not a good spot for them. Jared was driving so he put Benjamin away and off we went. We heard them fly off on Hwy 2 on the far side of Gold Bar. They hung on for awhile. We turned around and found my keys which had been run over. Luckily the most expensive part of my VW key was still in tact and working. As well as my house key and key for the Jetta. We searched for awhile but weren't able to find my phone.

I also realized early this week that my ring was missing. Jared is searching for it right now. I don't remember the last time I wore it and it's not to be found around the dresser where our rings are kept.

Jared is pretty amazing because he is very nonchalant about these things because as he keeps stating "they are just material items.". But I feel like and idiot for the phone and keys and awful that I can't find my ring.

But my luck is starting to change. I got a new phone only took 2 days. I had a back up phone while I was waiting for my new phone. Jared luckily had a lot of my contacts so I've got those mostly set up. Today while cleaning and looking for my sewing items (scissors, rolling blade, pins) I found them (I only realized I was missing them this week when I started quilting again). And I found my personal progress books that had been missing for well over a couple months now. I jumped for joy because I am so close to earning my medallion.

So hopefully now we can get my key fixed and find my wedding ring.

Almost Offical

It's almost official! I am getting a portion of my old job back or what my old job would have been if I hadn't had Benjamin. I am really lucky as I get to work from home and it's a part time job. Jared and I were talking about it and if we look back over everything since I started working at Microsoft 5 years ago we feel that it was all leading up to this. It put me in a position to be needed and have the skills necessary to be blessed with a part time job from home. I really love it when I step back and look at things and realize just how much the Lord blesses our lives and how intricately he is apart of things. Something that started 5 years ago is now blessing our family. I had no idea where the path was going that I was on but I know Heavenly Father did.

So we shall see how I balance things. I will be working 4 hours a day 5 days a week. I'm going to figure out a time frame to be working during. I will have Benjamin at home with me. So I will still be full time mommy, housekeeper, Young Women's leader, woman, daughter, wife...etc. I am going to go re-read this book I read about time and time management titled "All the Time You Need" by Mary Ellen Edmunds. My mom got it for me for my birthday and one read through was not enough. A ton of great stuff in there.

Random Benjamin Shots

Learning is Fun

Benjamin loves to play with materials now, like burp clothes, dish towels, blankets, sheets basically anything he can get his hands on. He will hold them and then put them in his mouth. Watching him learn is really exciting. In some of the photos he was looking down and I realized why. He has monkeys on his feet and when he kicked he was watching it and following the monkey.

A Peaceful Nap

Here is my precious boy sleeping on our bed. I started him taking naps in his own crib on Sunday. He hasn't slept long in it yet but I will keep working on it.

Bath Time is So Much Fun

After giving Benjamin a bath last week I was letting him play with his towel and I couldn't pass up the photo opportunity. He loves his baths too. He will splash a little but just hang out. He is a little unsure at first and then warms right up to it.

He is growing so fast and learning so quickly. He's going to be 12 weeks this Saturday and 3 months on the 29th. Crazy! Time flies but I try to capture moments with the camera and I hold him as much as I can. Every once in awhile I will be cuddling thinking about my long to do list and then I realize I need to enjoy the moment. I won't always be able to hold him like this, so I am enjoying it while I can.

Gospel Topic Tuesday: Families

While sitting in Young Women's listening to the lesson it was talking about things we promised to do when we came down to earth.

1. Live a righteous life
2. Get married in the temple
3. Have a family and raise them in righteousness

These are all things I am trying to do and have done. The later is the newest one on my list of accomplishments and on my to do list. While looking at blogs yesterday I found a craft around the "The Family Proclamation". So I was trying to decide what to write on today it hit me...the Family.

Families are the central part of Heavenly Father's plan. In the book of Genesis in chapter 1 verse 28 the Lord commands Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth. It is a commandment from the very beginning to have families. We all come from a Heavenly family, we were (and are) brothers and sisters in the pre-existence. We came down to the earth and were born into families. I know and believe that if we are sealed in the temple that our families are sealed together for time and all eternity. If we live worthy and obey God's commandments we can live together again with God and Jesus Christ.

A family consists of a mother and a father who have the "solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Jun 1996). Of course marriage is not easy but if you read the Proclamation closely it tells you how to have a happy and successful marriage and family. "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." Basically all the principles of the gospel. Now if you do these things it does not mean that your marriage and family will be trial free. We are here after all to gain experiences and be tried to see if we will follow the Lord. I find it interesting how work is close to the end of the list. Work is good and necessary but it should not be all consuming. We need to balance our lives with family at the head.

I am grateful for the Proclamation on families and the principles it outlines. I am grateful for the family I was raised in and the bonds built there. I am grateful for my budding family and look forward with faith for the Lord to help me raise it in righteousness that we might all be worthy to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.