Ponderize the Scriptures

I invite you to “ponderize” one verse of scripture each week. The word ponderize is not found in the dictionary, but it has found a place in my heart. So what does it mean to ponderize? I like to say it’s a combination of 80 percent extended pondering and 20 percent memorization.

There are two simple steps:

First, choose a verse of scripture each week and place it where you will see it every day.

Second, read or think of the verse several times each day and ponder the meaning of its words and key phrases throughout the week.

~Elder Devin G. Durrant; My Heart Pondereth Them Continually General Conference October 2015

Ever since I heard this talk I have been finding a scripture, hymn, or phrase that has struck me the past week.  Yes, I have missed a few weeks here and there.  I have only recently been putting them on my lock screen of my phone.  I've been using a couple of apps to make it pretty.  Here is a sampling:

 

Emotional Self-Care

Today we had a Relief Society Staycation.  The theme was "It is Better to Look Up". The whole day had activities and classes with super cute titles like Rise Up (Yoga Class), Clean Up (Simple Organizing Class), Dress Up (Dress Your Body Type), Craft Up (Blessing Boards), Eat Up (Lunch), etc.  Before lunch our main class, Look Up, was taught by our keynote speaker, Sister Christina Packard.  She is a private practice mental health counselor and spoke about emotional self-care.  The Spirit was very strong as she spoke about the importance of emotional self-care.  I will do my best to convey her message and give the highlights (want the full notes? just ask).  

In the beginning she asked us to list 5-6 stresses in your life (I could hear sisters chuckle cause we all have more than 5-6 stresses in our lives).  I know all of us have different stresses in our lives ranging in a variety of topics.  Some topics we discussed were: transitions, physical, relationships, financial.  We are all coping with the demands of mortality (reminded me of Mosiah 18-8-9).   Anxiety and depression is common among LDS women. What can we do? What is most needful for me to do today?

CONNECT with God and Jesus Christ everyday

and LOVE those within our circle of influence

We need to FIND Him.  When you feel like you can't continue with your trials or burdens at that moment He will be there with you and with Him you can!  She suggested some things to help us as we live our lives: enjoy the sunshine, eat healthy food, get adequate sleep, move your body, spirituality. (I thought of our Healthy Dibble Blog!)

I (insert your name here) open the door to the Savior in my life. 

Open the door with a sincere heart.  

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

I Stand at the Door and Knock; artwork: J. Kirk Richards (This is one of my favorites.  I got it framed earlier this year.)

She brought a framed photograph with her.  It was a photo of Kintsugi, a Japanese pottery that is made by repairing the broken pieces with resin and pure gold.  The work kintsugi means "repaired with gold". She shared this scripture:

 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:  On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. -  Job 23:8-10

She testified that we are here to be given trials to come to know Him and that Jesus Christ can and will heal us all. Her message was one that I have personally heard Elder Holland testify of : God wants broken things "broken heart" (MSA Fireside in AZ in April 2016).  I know that we are here on earth for a reason and one of those reasons is that we become like Him.  I know we accomplish this in a variety of ways like feasting on the words of Christ,  praying with all energies of our heart, and attending the temple.  I know that we are here as a family to help each other return to Him and I have one of the best! 

30+ Single Adult Fireside

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland had a special fireside for the 30+ Single Adults.  Here are some of my notes from the evening.

God loves broken things

     we need broken clouds to get rain

     we need broken earth to get grain

     we need broken grain to get bread

     we need broken bread to nourish us

“why me?” - will be all of us at some point in our lives

endure and save yourself for days of happiness ahead

this is the church of the happy endings

always happy in the end

I Believe in Christ…so come what may!

I was able to gain additional insight into Mark 4:35-41. Elder Holland mentions: Peter, James, and John - experienced fisherman were frightened by the storm;      Jesus said “why are ye so fearful? oh ye of little faith.”  JRH points out in the beginning of this story Jesus says “Let us pass over to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee]” that means they would not sink in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. He mentions to put our trust in Him.

 35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

Artwork by Walter Rane.
http://www.walterraneprints.com/prints/peace-be-still

 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

How many times I have read that passage of scripture and never noticed that part in verse 35.  I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the many opportunities I have to learn of Him through the scriptures and living prophets and apostles.

Morningside with Elder David A. Bednar

I had the great opportunity to hear Elder David A. Bednar speak today! It was early! It was awesome!  Instead of some prepared thoughts the whole time was him answering questions from different audience members.  Here are a couple of snapshots of my notes:

Create

I am grateful for the opportunities I have to create.  I have been thinking more of taking pictures and creating graphic design posters.  For Christmas I created a small poster for Adam and Elliot using their missionary scriptures.  I had so much fun!  I have been thinking of doing more scriptures and quotes. I’ll try to post more here when I get the chance.  

Here are some I really appreciate from Ryan.  Check out his work here!

For inspiration watch this video: 

untitled post

So I am not sure where to begin.  I haven't really kept up on my blog and part of me wonders if I should but I want to so here I go.  I recently participated in a 7 Days of Inspiration on Instagram and FB.  Here are my pictures of each day.  It was a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Mormon Tabernacle Choir in AZ

Last night I had the unique opportunity to be an escort to the VIP guests (community, political and religious leaders from around the state) attending the concert that evening.  They had extra tickets for those helping out on the side and I got to attend the concert.  Below is a link of one of the songs they performed.  It was so cool.  They sang songs from all over the world (Spain and Nigeria), classical songs, American songs, as well as spiritual songs.  Sandra Day O'Conner was a guest as a special conductor for part of the encore.  They also sang a song in honor of AZ's birthday called "I Love You Arizona!".  It was a great evening!

New Year Wish

President Thomas S. Monson sums up my New Year wish for 2012:

President Monson goes on to explain his ABC's of living an abundant life. 

Click here to find out more!

Sunday Insight

Patience

I didn't get a chance to share this in Relief Society today so I wanted to share it here on my blog.  I love this quote so much I wrote it in my scriptures.

An Invitation to Know the Savior

“What does it mean to seek the face of the Savior? Surely it means more than just recognizing His picture. Christ’s invitation to seek Him is an invitation to know who He is, what He has done for us, and what He has asked us to do. Coming to Christ, and eventually seeing His face, comes only as we draw close to Him through our faith and our actions. It comes through a lifetime of effort.”

Cheryl C. Lant, “That Our Children Might See the Face of the Savior,” Ensign, May 2010, 81

Artwork by Del Parson

good Better BEST

In choosing how we spend time as a family, we should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best. A friend took his young family on a series of summer vacation trips, including visits to memorable historic sites. At the end of the summer he asked his teenage son which of these good summer activities he enjoyed most. The father learned from the reply, and so did those he told of it. "The thing I liked best this summer," the boy replied, "was the night you and I laid on the lawn and looked at the stars and talked." Super family activities may be good for children, but they are not always better than one-on-one time with a loving parent.

The amount of children-and-parent time absorbed in the good activities of private lessons, team sports, and other school and club activities also needs to be carefully regulated. Otherwise, children will be overscheduled, and parents will be frazzled and frustrated. Parents should act to preserve time for family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, and the other precious togetherness and individual one-on-one time that binds a family together and fixes children's values on things of eternal worth.

~Dallin H. Oaks, Good Better Best, Ensign November 2007

We Must Make Our Own Happiness

“Mortality is a precious drop in the bucket of eternity. Why not make each minute pleasant and fulfilling? We must make our own happiness. As President Spencer W. Kimball once said, ‘Happiness does not depend upon what happens outside of you, but on what happens inside of you. It is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life.’ ”

James E. Faust, “A Vision of What We Can Be,” Ensign, Mar. 1996, 10

Thanksgiving Week

Day Two

I am thankful for my journals.
I've been writing since middle school and so far I have written in ten.  It's so interesting to see how much I've grown in all aspects of my life plus my handwriting.  This year I've done really well with writing in it pretty much everyday.  Check out the Henry B. Eyring's message below,"to find ways to recognize and remember God's kindness. You will be blessed as you remember what the Lord has done." 

Thanksgiving Week

Day One  Each day I am going to post something about gratitude.  Today check out the church's website about gratitude.

One thing I am grateful for is my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  
In my scriptures I have this quote by Robert L. Backman, 

"Everything I hold dear and precious in my heart, I can trace back to my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." 

Want to learn more visit here.

Sweet Moments

It was because she was attentive to the Spirit and had yielded her heart to God. If we are in tune with the Spirit, if we are seeking the Lord and His guidance, if our direction is to return to our Father in Heaven, the sweet moments will come. And we will treasure them, for we have become instruments in the hands of God.  See how much we learn and grow when we share with one another our witness that the Lord lives and loves us. As I’ve said before, if I could have one thing happen for each of you, it would be that you feel the love of the Lord in your life daily.

~Bonnie D. Parkin 
"Welcome" Del Parson (pictured above)

Mesa AZ Temple

Temple with Yellow Flowers

I dedicate this picture of the handcart company to my own pioneer trek experience. One of the many things I love this about this temple is that each corner represents a different group of saints in the gathering of Israel. Click here to learn more about the other carvings on the temple. Enjoy!

Happy Father's Day!

Family togetherness + amazing food + me and my camera = AWESOME TIME

Baby Lucy

I love you Dad!

(this is my Dad teaching my students my first year)

(this is my Dad and me on our church history trip)

Temple Bliss

I only took a couple of pictures but I LOVE this one! Plus the baptistry was packed, which is a very good thing. Thanks Lindsey it was great to go with you and it was really fun to see Lauren and Layton getting their pictures done by the very talented Rachael Earl (hint: for awesomeness click on the hyperlink). Lauren looked stunning by the way!