keeping me inspired

I've been reading a lot of talks on marriage and family, here and there, and mostly on my phone.  When something jumps out, I've been copying it down and referring back to it every now and then.  Here are a few bits that have been keeping me inspired (talk references not included).

Elder Packer...

Marriage is not without trials of many kinds. These tests forge virtue and strength. The tempering that comes in marriage and family life produces men and women who will someday be exalted ... The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home and that the family can continue through eternity. 

Elder Perry...

I know “that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”  I know that the earth was created and that the Lord’s Church was restored so that families could be sealed and exalted as eternal entities.  And I know that one of Satan’s cunning methods of undermining the work of the Lord is to attack the sacred institutions of marriage and the family...

Elder Nelson...

Marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship. Yet some married couples fall short of their full potential. They let their romance become rusty, take each other for granted, allow other interests or clouds of neglect to obscure the vision of what their marriage really could be. Marriages would be happier if nurtured more carefully. 

Elder Bednar...
The Lord Jesus Christ is the focal point in a covenant marriage relationship. Please notice how the Savior is positioned at the apex of this triangle, with a woman at the base of one corner and a man at the base of the other corner. Now consider what happens in the relationship between the man and the woman as they individually and steadily “come unto Christ” and strive to be “perfected in Him” (Moro. 10:32). Because of and through the Redeemer, the man and the woman come closer together.

Elder Bednar...
As young women and men perceive mutual respect, affection, trust, and love between a husband and a wife, then they will strive to cultivate the same characteristics in their lives. Our children and the youth of the Church will learn the most from what we do and what we are—even if they remember relatively little of what we say.

President Ezra Taft Bensen...
“These promises—increased love and harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, increased spirituality and righteousness—are not idle promises, but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon will help us draw nearer to God” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 6; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 7).

President Ezra Taft Bensen...
“We have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. Our homes are not as strong unless we are using it to bring our children to Christ” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1975, 96; or Ensign, May 1975, 65).

President Marion G. Romney...
“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1980, 88, 90; or Ensign, May 1980, 66–67).

President N. Eldon Tanner...
“I can think of nothing sweeter than a home where a man is living his religion, magnifying his priesthood, with his wife supporting him in every way, where love and harmony exists, and where together they are trying to raise a family of righteous sons and daughters whom they can take back into the presence of their Heavenly Father. This may sound like an impossible dream, but I can assure you that there are thousands of such families within the Church, and it is something that can be a reality for every one of us as we accept and live the teachings of Jesus Christ. How fortunate a child is to live in such a home, and how great will be the joy of the parents in their posterity!” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 127; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, 10).

Elder Perry...
“At the time I was a new parent, President David O. McKay presided over the Church. His counsel was clear and direct regarding our responsibilities to our children. He taught us the most precious gift a man and woman can receive is a child of God, and that the raising of a child is basically, fundamentally, and most exclusively a spiritual process.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin...

“The ideal way to transform your home into a house of learning is to hold family home evening faithfully. The Church has reserved Monday evening for that purpose. In 1915 the First Presidency instructed local leaders and parents to inaugurate a home evening, a time when parents should teach their families the principles of the gospel. The Presidency wrote: ‘If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them.’

Elder Packer...

The great plan of happiness (see Alma 42:8, 16) revealed to prophets is the plan for a happy family. It is the love story between husband and wife, parents and children, that renews itself through the ages” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 8–9; or Ensign, May 1995, 9).

babies don't keep

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing and butter the bread, 

Sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby, loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby.  Babies don't keep.

-Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

my friend juilana posted this on instagram and it immediately spoke to me.  during this beautiful chaotic chapter of my life, i feel like i am always dancing between loving on my little ones and keeping the ship afloat.  sometimes when the stars align, liam wants to be involved and we work side by side, but most of the time he wants me to be sir topham hart, or mommy monster, or chocolate milk magician.  he wants me to play with him every moment of every day, and when i tell him i'm taking a moment to work on something he hangs his head and sighs and sulks away to play by himself.  oh the guilt!  i could drown in it!  there are always cheeks to kiss and trains to chuff and dishes to load and laundry to fold.  in the midst of picking up toys and cooking dinner and keeping house from swallowing us up, i get so caught up in it that i forget who it's all for.  liam and gwyn will remember our time together more than the state of our house.  they will never be as little as they are today.  i will always be learning the steps to this motherhood dance, finding the balance.  this was a gentle reminder to constantly keep in mind what my priorities should be ... to take a little extra time to rock my babies, because babies don't keep.    

seeds

for a seed to achieve

it's greatest expression, it must come

completely undone. the shell cracks, it's

insides come out and everything changes. to

someone who doesn't understand growth,

it would look like complete destruction.

-cynthia occelli

i've been doing a lot of soul searching.  some of it painful.  some of it empowering.  all of it good and desperately needed.  in the deepest parts, the far to reach nooks and crannies, i'm discovering my own stumbling blocks that keep real growth at bay.  i cling to them because they're comfortable and keep the illusion of control fixed in place, like a shell wrapped around a little seed.  growth is arduous, messy, and painful at times.  to really grow, i have to let go of control.  i have to come undone.  i have to trust God with my whole heart.  He can make more of me than i could ever make of myself.  He is the gardener. 

the good, the beautiful, the divine

"In the enriching of marriage, the big things are the little things.  There must be constant appreciation for each other and thoughtful demonstrations of gratitude.  A couple must encourage and help each other grow.  Marriage is a joint quest for the good, the beautiful, and the divine." 
 -James E. Faust, Enriching Your Marriage

this beautiful quote made butterflies swirl around in my stomach.  the 156 bazillionth reason i adore my sean is because he loves me ... even though my short arms are constantly cutting his head off in pictures.

do you meditate?

lovely amy meditates.  intriguing right?  she's inspired me to try my hand at it.  she also makes me want to eat more vegetables and say more prayers.  i used to think you needed a lot of things to meditate. time. crazy amounts of self control. a mat. incense would be good. and the ability to sit with your legs crossed inside out.  you know what i'm talking about.  but i've been giving this some thought, and decided that it can be quite simple. prayer. reflection. stillness. happy thoughts. it can be different for every single person.  then i tried it.  it's harder than it looks, meditation.  i have a wandering mind.  weak. scattered. which is why i want to make more time to be still.  even if it's just for a few moments.  i want to make more room in my head and heart for the things that matter most.  amy sweetly sent me these verses of scripture to think over.  it took me three times through to get there.  over here it looked a lot like this: once over, huh? twice over, hmm.. third time, whoa.

be of good cheer

be believing

"God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has.  But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream.  In short, He can't if you don't believe."  - Jeffery R. Holland

jeremiah 1:5

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we have unlimited potential because we are children of God.  we are unique, and interesting, and worthwhile, and beautiful, because He made us that way.

stephanie nielson

Sean, Liam, and I drove to Oakland yesterday.  Sean went into the temple with the youth.  Liam and I spent hours in the sunshine, walking around sacred ground, and reuniting with some of our dearest friends.  As we waited for the Andersons, Liam and I meandered around the visitor's center.  While looking at pictures of the Savior, two missionaries introduced themselves and chatted with us for a moment.  After parting, they ran back and invited me to watch a video they felt inspired to share with me.  That's where I met Stephanie Nielson.  In just eight minutes she made all of my struggles seem completely insignificant.  She inspired me to cherish each breath, to be present, to look for reasons to smile, and remember how beautiful it is to be alive and in love.  She made me want to write, to bask in the beauty of motherhood, to glory in the details, to grow through my adversity, and find my purpose.  She reminded me that mortality is a time of refinement, a time to grow and stretch, to practice and persevere, to endure and overcome, to thrive and blossom, to have God written in our hearts and shine in our countenances.





"When suffering, we may in fact be nearer to God than we’ve ever been in our entire lives. That knowledge can turn every such situation into a would-be temple.
Regarding our earthly journey, the Lord has promised:

I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. [D&C 84:88]

That is an everlasting declaration of God’s love and care for us, including—and perhaps especially—in times of trouble."   - Elder Jeffery R. Holland, Lessons from Liberty Jail

create something today

image

"The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."  - Elder Deiter F. Uchtdorf, Happiness Your Heritage

beautiful and inspiring

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prophets and apostles

President Thomas S. Monson / image via google

i know that God is our Father and we are His children.  i know that He knows you and He knows me, because He made us.  i know that He loves us.  as i rock my baby boy to sleep, memorize his perfect face, i know that now more than ever.  i feel that love when i listen to His prophets and apostles speak on His behalf.  i'm so thankful that God still speaks to His children.  during every season of our lives together, sean and i have received countless answers to prayers, moments of comfort and confirmation, and gifts of enlightenment and direction as we have listened to and heeded the words of His prophets.  i know God is involved in the details of our lives.  sometimes we just don't hear things until we are listening for them.

when sean and i were deciding wether we should forsake all rationality and move to washington d.c. for a georgetown degree, we were blessed with validation from Elder Richard G. Scott.
Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer

when i was seeking direction and inspiration during dark days, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke directly to me.
Happiness, Your Heritage
Prayer and the Blue Horizon

when we so desperately wanted our dreams to come true, but ended up with eleven PhD dismissals instead, Elder Brown put everything into perspective.
God is the Gardener by Hugh B. Brown

when we are left wondering how we'll make ends meet, or our future seems fuzzy, or hope feels hard to find, we have been blessed with comfort and peace.
An High Priest of Good Things to Come by Jeffery R. Holland
Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence by Jeffery R. Holland

always inspirational
Of Things That Matter Most by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"If Thou Art Faithful" by President Gordon B. Hinckley

More Diligent and Concerned at Home by Elder David A. Bednar
Teaching the Old Testament by President Henry B. Eyring
Quick to Observe by Elder David A. Bednar

feeling inspired

am inspired by liam's dimples.  his conversational skills make me grin and seem to unearth every goofy face in my repertoire.

am inspired to by these sweet settings.  i want to fill our lives with light and color.  i want to think outside of the box and make the most of what we have.  i want to feel uplifted, inspired, peaceful, invigorated, and stirred by our surroundings.  

these lovely images are from design to inspire, house of turquoise, ohdeedoh, lalole blog, centsational girl, pinterest, and spool.

am now ready to get moving again.  am hoping that yoga and walking will turn into something that resembles weights and running.  i delivered a baby for crying out loud!  anything is possible:)

am feeling inspired to connect with people.  to make the most out of small talk.  to make eye contact.  to love and lift.  to be loved and lifted.

am inspired by the sunshine today.  it's perfect weather for open windows and dinner at the beach.

am so in love with these whimsical hair styles from hair romance.  all you need are bobby pins and nimble ninja fingers.  raise your hand if you're growing your hair out!!

liam inspires

liam inspires me to eat broccoli.  brown rice.  apples and oranges.  he inspires me to drink more water, to walk on, run fast, and build muscle.  the very thought of him makes me want to pray, to read the scriptures, to love and uplift others.  liam encourages me to slow down.  he makes me want to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  liam moves me to want family traditions, to make our home a haven, to make every day count.  liam inspires me to remember long division, the proper use of semi colons, and the eras of artwork and architecture.  he makes me want to learn the scientific names of trees and flowers.  liam inspires me to have passion, to dream big, to be my own person.  he makes me want to live with purpose, to live out loud, to love my life.  liam inspires me to sweep the floor, vacuum the carpet, and wash the tub regularly.  he moves me to make sure there is a good spirit in our home.  liam encourages me to let go.  to lighten up.  to laugh at myself.  when i see liam, i want to be faithful, courageous, adventurous, compassionate, open, thoughtful, and honest, so that he will know what faith, courage, adventure, compassion, kindness, and honesty look like.  liam makes me dream of growing gardens, blowing bubbles, coloring sidewalks, flying kites, and climbing trees.  liam inspires me to be pure in heart.  he stirs me to see the world with brand new, wide open eyes.   

believe

I believe in pink.  I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner.  I believe in kissing, kissing a lot.  I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.  I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.  I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. — Audrey Hepburn

chickens

when i was little, i thought that once you grew up you were stuck a certain way.  forever frozen in your ways and interests and ideas.  never newness, always the same.  i'd never really thought of it in those specific terms, but it's how i perceived big people.  until i became a little bigger than little, but not quite big enough to be real big, it hit me that being grown up is kind of impossible if you're continually growing.  i wondered how many grown ups feel like grown ups.  as i thought about how i was nowhere near becoming the person i'd like to be forever, it hit me that most adults probably feel that way too.  my dad is an amazing example of this.  he is forever growing and progressing, trying new things, and pursuing new interests.  this is where the chickens come in.  my dad has chickens.  do we live on a farm?   you better believe we don't.  did that stop my dad?  you better believe it didn't.      

my brothers just adore these chickens.  feeding them is their favorite part of the day.  i was able to capture just how ardently they love those chickens.  it was fun to be outside, to stomp around in the mud, to watch feathers ruffle, and tease the bubbas while they refreshed the pecker's water.  i might feel differently if i took care of them rain or shine, but when i think about those chicken's i'm filled with a desire to follow in my dad's footsteps, to learn new things, discover what makes me happy and helps me grow, to never grown up, but keep growing on and on and on.

festivity

before i get on with my ramblings, i just want to say thank you.  thank you so much.  you really know how to make a girl feel so special, big belly and all.  and the fact that you're so excited, and i'm so excited, and we're so excited, makes me feel a togetherness that just sweetens everything beyond what i could have ever imagined.  so thank you for your comments, for celebrating with us, and for gushing over my rocking new belly.  i really do feel new and improved :)  

for some reason i rejoice in simpler things during autumn and winter.  and when i say rejoice, i mean i think about, dream about, plan and swoon and smile about these things all the time.  like a bowl full of apples on my table in october or the smell of pine or cinnamon at christmas is enough to send me completely over the edge.  it's like my life is transformed over little things.  i need to figure out how to transfer some of that simple goodness to spring and summer, which i love, but don't hold the same peculiar magic for me.  and that's one of the only ways i can describe these seasons which seem to bewitch me with even the littlest of their treasures.  magic.  pumpkin seeds roasting in my oven is worthy of a celebratory dance in my kitchen.  little witches and goblins, cobwebs and pumpkins, make me feel giddy.  silver bells and paper snowflakes will have me smiling for hours, even if i'm being honked at, or spit up on, or freezing my bum off!  it doesn't matter, because magic trumps the mundane, and suddenly everything feels worth celebrating.

these little beauties come from the talented people who work for martha stewart.

these make me happy

happy creations from adam record at fall down tree

i love it when people do what they love.  can you imagine a world in which these five little birds didn't exist?  what if they'd never been teased around in the tangle of adam's ideas?  what if life had gotten in the way and these birds never got to see the light of day?  we should do more of what we love.  even if we think we're not good at it, or that it's not worth the effort, or the time, or the energy.  even if we think it won't matter.  it so matters.  our hiakus, our spinach gruyere frittatas, our pirouettes, our e chords,  our triathlons, our small acts of kindness, our ideas of what little birds perched on a tree should look like, matter.  today i'm that yellow fluffy one, by the way.  

i am so very smitten

all of this lovelyness is from karyn denten at den-10 studio

new beginnings

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you will begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."   

--Ralph Waldo Emerson