SLOW DOWN

I LOVE Sundays!

We slow down and remember,

what's important!

SMART COOKIE

In his late 20s, Benjamin Franklin listed THIRTEEN VIRTUES that he felt were important guides for living.

Pretty smart cookie for 20 something!

I have been thinking a lot about this. I sometimes get side tracked in the world - of things! I am a little obsessive when I Love something (like painting furniture). So to keep a balance I am trying to spend as much time on good things ( not that painting furniture isn't good) or should I say the important things.

I have made my own list of 13 virtues (added to or stole Ben's ideas, they are good)

Here are his:

PERSONAL

TEMPERANCE: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
ORDER: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
RESOLUTION: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
FRUGALITY: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
MODERATION: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
INDUSTRY: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
CLEANLINESS: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
TRANQUILITY: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

SOCIAL

SILENCE: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
SINCERITY: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
JUSTICE: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
CHASTITY: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
HUMILITY: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Immunize!

Michael T. Ringwood of the First Quorum of the Seventy, made a surprise visit to University 1st Stake on Sunday! He attended another wards Sacrament, then came to the our ward for Sunday School and Relief Society & Priesthood!

For 2 hours he had a captivated audience as he taught a packed Relief Society room of college singles. He answered their questions and addressed their concerns!

I was spiritually fed!

There were so MANY things I felt, but am only going to post about one thing I felt strongly about!

I have 4 children , 2 son-in-laws and 2 1/2 grandchildren! They are the most important things to me! I am so grateful what good kids they are!

I am not to worried about this crazy world we live in, because it is a wonderful time to be alive!

After saying that, I want my kids and grand kids to have a Happy, Productive life! Now, life happens, and bad things happen to good people, just by living!

Elder Ringwood talked about how we can immunize or innoculate our families against the wiles of the world by simple things! Prayer, scriptures and Family Home Evening!

We are so concerned about their physical well being, and make sure they are fed, clothed and immunized against disease.

So to immunize them against the things that can make them so unhappy, addictions, in what ever form it may be! Make sure they are fed, clothed and immunized by these simple spiritual things!

(At any age we can physical & Spiritually ail - so this is for all ages!)

This is how we babysit! He is watching a movie! How innocent and sweet - He needs his immunizations!

He also talked about how unfairly we judge each other! I won't judge you if you don't judge me!

3 doors!

(This picture was taken from my back porch)

A challenge given in a great talk!

Before you speak, run what your going to say through these 3 doors:

1. Is it NECESSARY?

2. Is it TRUE?

3. Is it KIND?

I have a feeling, it would be a much quieter world if we did this!

I am going to take the challenge!

Love, Live & Serve

Every problem carries the seeds of opportunity to learn, to love, to grow, to simply be happy to be alive. When we attach to an object, to a person, or a safe zone, it is just as we are stuck in the zoom mode, and all we can see is the smallest part of life. Zoom the lens out then your problems are a smaller part of your universe. That they really don't require much of our attention at all.

I love Sundays! I go to church and it never fails, I get answers to a question I am having!

What Happy People Know!

Before I start my rant - I had to show you Spencer eating a popsicle, wearing an apron Jake made for me when he was in 7th grade! Derek, Erin, Cooper and Spencer have been living with us for two weeks! I woke up this morning to a quiet house, oh how I miss them. (They are only 15 minutes away) This picture makes me HAPPY!!!

The quarter -second was first discovered by neurosurgeon Benjamin Libet. Dr. Libet became interested in the lag time between when people get the urge to take action and when they actually take it. Therefore, he conducted a fascinating neurological experiment on patients undergoing certain brain surgeries, who were awake and alert. he asked them to move one of their fingers, while he electronically monitored their brain activity. That's when he found it- the life-changing quarter-second! There was a quarter second delay, he discovered, between the urge to move the finger, and its actual movement.

The significance of this is extraordinary.

One-quarter of a second may not sound like much time, but in the arena of thought, it's virtual eternity. It's more than enough time for you to choose to interpret perceptions differently.

This quarter-second is your ultimate power over perception. Most people don't use this power.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT EXISTS.

This means a quarter-second is enough time to realize a loud noise is not a bomb. that a stick in the grass isn't a snake, that a sarcastic remark wasn't intended to hurt you, or that slipping on a banana peel is funny instead of irritating.

In every moment of life, we have the option of being automatically reactive, or using the life-changing quarter-second to engage in choice!

HOLD ON THERE IS MORE - I am almost done!

A sterling example of this kind of Power came from the great Victor Frankl, the psychiatrist who survived a Nazi death camp. In the camp, Frankl found that he had absolutely no control-except for control over one aspect of his life that mattered most: his own perceptions. He became exquisitely capable of seeing past ANGER, DESPAIR, HATE, and FEAR, focusing instead on the life-affirming feelings that lie beneath the surface of EVERY situation.

When others saw only humiliation, Frankl saw the humility that made the humiliation bearable. When others saw only the horror of victims struggling to survive, Frankl saw the courage of victims struggling to survive.

Once, in the ugliness of the camp, Frankl found a flower growing in mud, and saw only the flower, and not the filth that nourished it.

Victor Frankle emerged from this living hell, as a better man, And a happier man.

I read the Hiding Place, and Corrie ten Boom was my Hero! I wanted to understand why she could be a survivor instead of a victim.

Then I read this book - What Happy People Know, written by Dan Baker Ph.D and Cameron Stauth, and I knew!

The quarter-second is our AGENCY to choose!

Grateful to know that I have this power!

HAVE A GOOD DAY!!!!! You can choose this!!

No Doubt!

If your ever doubting about our Heavenly Fathers Love - Step outside!
I did. No doubt, I am loved!