I 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 MoreOn March 15, 2019, my husband David will turn 70 years old. SEVENTY! That is unbelievable! He seems so young and acts so young! On March 30, 2019, we will celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary. Perhaps being happily married, raising eleven children, and now enjoying twenty-six delightful grandchildren has helped him stay young.
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 MoreI’ve always liked Valentine’s Day. I think it’s a fun time to let our family and friends know how much we love and appreciate them. When our children were still at home, we would decorate lunch sacks and put homemade valentines or “love notes” in each other’s sacks, which we would read on Valentine’s Day. Now that our children all live away from our home, my husband David and I will sometimes make each other homemade valentine cards—just for old time’s sake!
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 MoreI’ve been working on my self-esteem program since 1989. That’s thirty years—a VERY long time! Will I ever be finished with perfecting this program? I don’t know. Maybe, but maybe not. I want to get it completed so I can share it with the world, but even if I don’t, at least it’s helped me! Do I do it perfectly every day? No. But as my husband David always says, “At least we have a program—we know what we need to do!”
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 MoreI’ve had many “spiritual awakenings” in my life. Sometimes they come after much prayer, meditation, and soul-searching. Sometimes they come unexpectedly when I’m taking a shower or doing the dishes. Sometimes they come after months or years of patient pondering. The unseen, spiritual side of life is just as real as the tangible, physical side of life.
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 MoreWhile I’m in the “habit” of praying every morning and night, I don’t always take the time to really meditate and ponder about the issues that are on my mind. What I have learned is that meditation, pondering, and prayer take less time than lying awake all night worrying over a myriad of problems. I don’t believe God wants us to feel alone and helpless. He wants us to let Him into our lives.
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.
Read MoreWhat do you do when an unexpected “storm” hits you in your life? This could be a serious accident, the death of a loved one, loss of employment, or any other type of trial or tragedy that knocks you down unexpectedly. You do what I did while driving in that early October snow storm—keep going, even in slow motion, because it will be worse if you completely stop.
Read MoreI want to be a nice person. When I blow it and say something unkind, I try to apologize. I’m still striving to “be nice” at all times, but I’m not there yet. However, I know I can look to my Savior as my example.
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