Writing in the Stillness.

For those of you who don't know yet, I have started writing on a new blog...writinginthestillness.com

I have been feeling impressed to start this for some time, and a few weeks ago I finally mustered the courage to take the leap. I would love for you to visit and subscribe to my posts. It's my small effort to do as Elder Bednar counseled and share a little bit of goodness with the world...offer hope and encouragement in this ever-darkening world.

I'd love for you to join me and share your experiences as well. :)

Love,
Jamie

www.writinginthestillness.com

Lagoon!

We met at Natalie and Jon's in the morning to eat lunch and have a family home evening lesson. Papa taught us about spiritual gifts and encouraged us to help our children know what spiritual gifts they have as well as nudge them gently in the direction of the spiritual gifts we perceive they could develop. It was a simple but profound lesson and it's been on my mind ever since. I felt very inspired during his lesson, that this is one of the primary objectives of a mother's nurturing. And I felt called to pursue this mission actively while my children are little and all throughout their growing up years. I have far to go as I begin this process, but the journey excites me. It's always been my deepest, most poignant desire to help my children discover who they are, love who they are and those around them, grow their talents and gifts, point them to the temple, and return home to Heavenly Father. And this charge to recognize and encourage the development of spiritual gifts fits right in with what I feel my motherhood purpose is. Thank you Dad.

*****

Easton and Natalie and Nana rode most of the rides together--Easton's favorite was the Tidal Wave, the Swings,  and Bombora. (I think they went on the Swings 5 or 6 times in a row). Tate joined me and Patrick for most of the day--riding all the new rides he's grown into now that he's barely 46". He loved the Wild Mouse, the Turn of the Century, and most of all the Bumper Cars and Wicked. When we watched his face during Wicked the first time, both Patrick and I were scared. He looked like he was going to be sick or pass out. But as soon as the ride stopped, he got the biggest grin on his face and said, "Let's do it again!!!" And we did--4 more times that day. Easton decided very diplomatically that he didn't want to do Wicked this year (even though he'd been talking about how it was his favorite ride all year.) But that's okay. Maybe next year all 4 of us can go on it together. Maylie loved the Bumper Cars too and the Merry-go-Round and the boats. She didn't love the LadyBug Drop--she was so scared. So we didn't go on that one again. It was so much fun to go on rides with my children. It always is. I don't know why, but it always strikes a sense of wonder in me to see the childlike wonder of my children. They are mesmerized by everything and their enthusiasm bubbles over into my heart as well. It's so fun to take them on all the rides I loved growing up. It's always so magical.

As it turned out, rain was forecasted for our Lagoon trip too this year. But our sweet boys prayed in faith again and fully knew the Lord would bless the skies. And he did. Again. The weather was perfect for almost the entire day. And then around 8:00 pm the downpour began. We were drenched and huddling under shelter while Easton ran around with Jason (who had a jacket) and went on as many rides as he could. Easton wanted to stay and ride more until Lagoon closed, but the rest of us decided it was a good time to end our evening and barely made it to the car in-between downpours.

What a special day we had! I only wish that it wouldn't have been raining there at the end so we could have bought bounce back passes! Maybe next year.... :)

Earthly Father, Heavenly Father

How is it that every Mormon Message that is produced is my new favorite?  They just keep getting better!!  But truly, this video and its accompanying message (and music) is awe-inspiring.

I ponder on the words of this film and think, "Yes. This must be how Heavenly Father feels. So close and yet physically far--working, always working to provide for our every need, as well as our immortality and eternal life. And the life He has provided us, just like the home we provide for our children, is our world. And though we don't understand "how it all came to be" we trust Him and we love Him.

And I think with each passing day of parenthood, I understand my Heavenly Father, and His perfect paternal role just a little bit more...

What are your thoughts?

Conference Questions

Tomorrow begins the weekend I have been looking forward to for 6 months--General Conference weekend!  I am thrilled and at peace knowing the Lord will have some special instruction for me through the mouths of His chosen servants.

What are my questions I wish to be answered during these sessions?

1.  How can I endure through the 7 months in which we will be living with family?
2.  What can I do to ease my stress about packing and moving in a few weeks?
3.  How can I develop a more loving and friendly, charitable nature?
4.  When will she come and how will we know all the specifics of making everything turn out right?

I have complete and total trust that the Lord will answer my questions during these 4 sessions of General Conference.

Until Sunday or Monday when I report...

Today I'm feeling purple.

Royal purple.  Life is glorious and full of beauty.  I feel like I am part of something grander than myself...motherhood and the growing and nurturing of my soul, and theirs.

And this duty is Divine.  I have been commissioned from on High for the grandest, holiest, most sacred calling a daughter of God can ever have, that of mother.  How can I ever be enough to give my sweet little ones all that they need, deserve in this life?

But the realization then drapes over me like a velvet cloak of purple assuring me of the royalty that runs through my veins, and thoughts of I can do this and He will be with me rest on my careworn shoulders, bolstering them up to the stature of a princess.  Once again, I am reminded that God is my Father and I am His daughter, which makes me the daughter of the Creator of the whole wide universe, the Divine King of all heaven and earth.  And I am His daughter?  I smile knowing, feeling the reality of this truth.

And I can do this mothering journey because He is my Father, which means He will be there to show me the way.  He will be a lamp unto my feet, a lighthouse glowing to steer me aright.  And I will be the mother He intended because Eucharisteo is always enough.  His grace is always sufficient, and if our grace is coupled with His, it will always be enough.

And this is why I am feeling purple. Deep, majestic, royal, and ready to conquer the world...or just my home, where I am the queen.

Today I'm feeling...

...like I'm this field of dandelions.  I'll tell you why.

Today I turned over a new leaf...

...it's name was

Simplify.

It all began with Nephi you see.

About 3 weeks ago I was reading about Nephi praying in earnest that he might burst the bands which held him bound (1 Nephi 7:17).  The Lord answered his prayer and the cords were loosed.

I was pondering on the question:  "What am I bound with?"

And it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I am bound by my overcomplicated life that spreads me so thin and pushes me to the outer limits of my anxiety.

So I wrote in the margin of my scriptures:

"Pray to the Lord in great faith that you can break your bands by simplifying your life and ask Him to give you the capacity to succeed in the simple matters."

So I did.  And He answered me too by loosing my bands.

I made a list of the most important things that I want to accomplish in my "simple" life.  They were: 

1-Nourishing my own spirituality and testimony

2-Teaching my family

3-Making family memories

4-Preserving those memories

That's all it took for me to realize what I needed to cut out in my life and what needed to stay in.

I then rearranged my schedule to include and focus on the "important things."

Well, that was the easy part.

You see, I've always been such a good planner and such a poor carrier-outer.

I can't count the good intentions I've made that have slipped through the cracks in one way or another.

Well, this is one plan I didn't want failing.

So now I'm in the praying phase...praying for the desire to carry out my simplified life.

And guess what?

It's working.

It always does. when He's involved.

And so today when Patrick went back to school, I began my simplified schedule.

And it worked perfectly. {Or at least nearly so}.

And this is why I feel like a field full of dandelions.

You still don't see the analogy?

Let me explain.

I'm not a field of roses because the things I've chosen to implement in my life are not expensive, costly, or looked upon by the world as desirable.  In fact, my simple homemaker lifestyle that consists of feasting on the words of Christ for a small time each day, cooking simple meals, cleaning a little at a time, planning small dates for me and my husband, preparing my sunbeam lessons, teaching my boys from the scriptures daily, educating my boys in a secular way, and reading millions of picture books is not glamorous, noteworthy, or even intelligent.  To the world I am just a field full of weeds.

But that's because the world's lens is dark and reverse magnified.

To them all I do is sow seeds of dandelions with my simple acts.

And I'm all right with that. Because I choose to look through heaven's lens.

For Heavenly Father sees perhaps a field of pure white lilies.

And I know that His opinion is all that really matters.

So, in sum, I've consigned myself willingly to a life perceived as a field of dandelions.

But just between you and me, we know better.

Dandelions=Lilies in heaven.

Easter Testimony

Sitting at the feet of the prophets and basking in the word of God.  It's one of the tenderest mercies that our Father gives us.  I have much to change.  Much to improve.  But I also felt the Lord's approval with  my efforts.  I know He accepts my motherly efforts because I am trying to do all that He wants me to do.  I also know I am not perfect.  But the Savior is helping me with that.


I know that He is risen!  I know He lives.  I know He is.  He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our very advocate with the Father.  Oh how I love my dearest, truest friend.