My husband and I have worked hard to spend quality time together throughout our married lives despite his time-consuming business career and raising our large, wonderful family of eleven children. We are proof it can be done! But it isn’t easy. We learned long ago to slow down a bit, cherish the simple things of life, and continually thank God for each other.
Read MoreMy hope and prayer for each of us in 2020 is that we will all get back up whenever we fall down—literally or figuratively. If your New Year didn’t start out being very happy (as mine didn’t), don’t give up hope. As I always say to my family, “There are good things up ahead!”
Keep having faith. Keep trying. Keep doing the best you can for that particular day. Try something new or return to something old that worked well for you in the past. And always remember to be “gentle” with yourself.
Read MoreIf you have not kept your commitments to marriage in the past, you can change. Through sincere prayer, humble repentance, and marriage counselling when necessary, you can learn to be a person of integrity. All commitments, big and small, need to be honored. Being where you say you will be, doing what you say you will do, and acting as you say you will act, are all part of keeping commitments. Complete faithfulness to your spouse in body, mind, and spirit, will bring an exultant joy in your lives.
Read MoreRead good books. Learn from history. Follow exemplary role models.
Be strong. Be courageous. Be cheerful.
And “Never, never, never give up!”
Read MoreOur family is our most important treasure. Teach your children the religious doctrines and moral principles you believe in so they will have a clear vision of how to live their own lives, which they can pass on to their own children someday.
Read MoreWhen I go around the country and visit my grandchildren, I always offer to sing songs and give backrubs before bedtime. The most requested song is one that I wrote when my own children were small called, “The Love of Children.” I’m so grateful that I’ve passed on the “love of children” to my children and that they love and cherish their children as much as I always loved and cherished them.
Read MoreIn 1989, I wrote a song that I titled, “Because We Are a Family.” While it was originally written as a serious song to inspire my son Jonathan, it became a theme song for our whole family. Although it was totally a surprise to me, I was delighted when two of my teenage grandchildren got together during spring break on March 24, 2019 and made a hilarious video production of “Because We Are a Family” and put it on YouTube!
Read MoreI have a memory of my grandmother, Lillie Dalton Gillespie, always whistling while she cooked and cleaned in the kitchen. I formed the habit years ago of turning on music when I cleaned my own kitchen. Whenever I feel negative emotions in my home, I begin humming or singing a song with a positive, happy message. I also hum or sing when I feel happy!
Read MoreI now have a new favorite book that I think everyone should read! It’s called, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, PhD. Although it is quite technical and full of research studies, I found it fascinating. I learned once again about the importance of getting a full eight hours of sleep each night in order to function at your peak performance each day.
Read MoreWhile you can’t change unfortunate circumstances, you can change your attitude. The old saying, “Laughter is the best medicine” is so true.
Read MoreWhen you choose to obey God’s commandments, even though you might not understand why you should, you receive many spiritual and physical blessings. Confidence in yourself increases in direct proportion to your faith and trust in God.
Read MoreBe proactive. Say the magical words, “I love you” several times a day and show that you are sincere by expressing your love through your actions. Christ-like love is real and can transform relationships.
Read MoreAs you teach your children to know and love the Lord, there will be peace in your home and your family will feel united. Your happiness and self-esteem will grow as you make personal sacrifices to build a strong, loving family.
Read MoreThere is a new Christmas video, starring Kevin Sorbo, which exemplifies how sorrowing hearts can be healed and families reunited through the “silent night” of Christ-like love and forgiveness. May the Spirit guide us to do only that which is essential this year as we strive to bring Christ’s love into Christmas.
Read MoreFor some people, Christmas is a joyous time. However, for many other people, they just pretend to be happy while counting the days till the holiday is finally over. Most sadly, are those who already struggle with chronic depression, and the holidays only make it worse. Hopefully, by trying to make Christmas more Christ-centered, and being realistic about our time, energy-level, and finances, we will eliminate stress and feel real joy.
Read MoreI hope this Christmas season, and throughout this coming year, that we will find one person we can help each day. It might be a family member, it might be a friend, it might be a stranger on the street. We each must find someone in need and do a little something to help.
One, by one, by one.
Read MoreFor centuries of time, there have been people on earth who have looked toward heaven to find meaning in life. We need spirituality as individuals and as married couples. We cannot form an enduring relationship with our spouse without a spiritual foundation.
Read MoreI remember my mother always saying to me as I walked out the door to go to any activity, “Have fun!” While she was confined to her bed a lot throughout her life because of a serious back injury, she knew the importance of encouraging her eight children to have a good time. This was a noble act of kindness for a mother to do. While she couldn’t do fun, recreational activities herself, she pointed us in the right direction from her bedside. I now cherish those words, “Have fun!”
Read MoreThere is no perfect marriage partner. Give each other a break! You’re all doing okay. Just keep repenting, apologizing, and picking up the pieces that fall by the wayside when you hurt each other’s feelings. Give the broken pieces to the Savior, and He will put them—and you—back together again. That is His divine calling. That is what the Atonement is all about. Let Christ be the One you turn to with your grief, pain, and sorrow.
Read MoreWhile we all have different missions in life, it would be a blessing for all women to nurture even one child with tender, unconditional love. Whether we give birth, adopt, or simply “mother” any precious child of God within our circle of influence, we will be passing on the gift of love to untold generations.
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