I Love You Because (Mother Edition)

Do you love your Mother? Do you tell your Mother how much you love her every time that you talk to her?

This post focuses on reasons why I love my Mum. This post should take no more than three minutes to read from start to finish. You can't imagine how I felt while I was typing up this post. I got emotional and realize of how much my Mum has done. 

I love my Mum very much for many reasons and let me share with you briefly some of those reasons why I love her. I love you Mum because you’ve given birth to me via emergency cesarean (c-section). I’m your first child. I love you Mum because you’ve shown me countless times that you care about me even when I was little and I don’t always remember those times. 

Top Left - My Mum and me as a baby.
Top Right - My Mum and me on my Wedding Day,
Bottom Left - My Mum and Me on my 27th Birthday,
Bottom Right - My Mum and Me on the evening that
Jacob and I've picked her and her parents up from the 
Airport.

I love you Mum because you’ve been there for me at times when I needed you. You’ve attended my sealing (private ceremony in LDS Temple), and my wedding reception on my Wedding Day. I love you Mum because you’ve shown love to me by letting me know that you love me, and hugging me. 

I love you Mum because you’ve shown service to people around you. I love you Mum because you’ve shown support in many ways. I love you Mum because you answer some of my phone calls. I do notice whenever you don’t answer my phone calls, you do call me back ... eventually (just whenever you can). 

I love you Mum because I’ve seen some of your happiest days. I love you Mum because I like when you had a strong passion into studying. I love how you’ve accomplish the courses that you’ve started. 

I love you Mum because I’ve seen you recover after giving birth via cesareans (c-sections) to my siblings even though I didn’t fully understand what’s going on with you during those days and weeks. I love you Mum because the efforts of taking me to High School at times when I miss the school bus, and when I didn’t walk to school. 

Stay Tuned. 

I Love You Because (Children Edition)

This post should take no more than three minutes to read from start to finish. I love all of my children equally and I know they’re all currently too young to understand why I say “I love you” to them. Sometimes they say to me “I love you” randomly and I feel loved. 

This post focuses on me sharing briefly with you a small handful of reasons why I love my children. 

I love you E for many reasons and let me share with you and explain one day some of the reasons why I love you. 

I love you E because I was pregnant with you for 32 weeks despite of me experiencing some complications towards the end of my pregnancy with you. I love you E because I’ve given birth to you via emergency cesarean (c-section) to save both of our lives.

 

I love you E because I’ve cared so much for you as a baby, I’ve cared so much for you as a little child growing up, and I’ll always continue to care about you for life. I even visited you often while you were in NICU. 

I love you E because I’ve mostly always been there for you. I’ve seen you walk for the first time, I’ve heard your first word, and so forth. I love you E because you’ve always given me hugs and cuddles. I love you E because you’ve allowed me to witness many first milestones while raising you as my first child. 

I love you E because you make me happy whenever I see you smiling and being happy. I love you E because you make me laugh whenever I see you laughing. 

"Keep your children wild - don't make
them grow up too fast." - Brooke Hampton.

I love you L for many reasons and let me share with you and explain one day some of the reasons why I love you. 

I love you L because I was pregnant with you for 37 weeks despite of you always have measured one week behind during all ultrasound appointments. I love you L because I’ve given birth to you via cesarean (c-section). 

I love you L because I’ve cared so much for you as a baby, I’ve cared so much for you as a little child growing up, and I’ll always continue to care about you for life. I love you L because I’ve mostly always been there for you. I’ve seen you walk for the first time, I’ve heard your first word, and so forth. 

I love you L because you’ve always given me hugs and cuddles. I love you L because you’ve allowed me to witness certain milestones that I didn’t get to have after E was born but I was able to be there for many milestones while raising you as my second child. 

I love you L because you make me happy whenever I see you smiling and being happy. I love you L because you make me laugh whenever I see you laughing. 

I love you R for many reasons and let me share with you and explain one day some of the reasons why I love you. 

I love you R because I was pregnant with you for 37 weeks despite of me experiencing high blood pressure levels during the last nine weeks of my pregnancy with you. I love you R because I’ve given birth to you via cesarean (c-section). 

I love you R because I’ve cared so much for you as a baby, I’ve cared so much for you as a little child growing up, and I’ll always continue to care about you for life. I love you R because I’ve mostly always been there for you. I’ve seen you walk for the first time, I’ve heard your first word, and so forth. 

I love you R because you’ve always given me hugs and cuddles. I love you R because you’ve allowed me to witness many milestones while raising you as my third child. I love you R because you make me happy whenever I see you smiling and being happy. I love you R because you make me laugh whenever I see you laughing. 

Stay Tuned.

Developing Our Talent for Spirituality

This post should take five minutes to read from start to finish. This post focuses on highlights from a past General Conference talk in April 2001 and it's called "Developing Our Talent for Spirituality" by Sister Carol B. Thomas. 

Sister Thomas has mentioned the following; 

"How many of you have ever wanted to develop a new talent? … I want to talk to you about developing a talent —not just any talent, but one very special talent I bet you have never even thought about. I would like to talk to you about developing your talent for spirituality. 

Did you know that spirituality is a talent? Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said, “Above all talents … , chief among all endowments —stands the talent for spirituality” (⁠The Millennial Messiah [1982], 234). Spirituality is learning how to listen to the Spirit and then letting it govern our lives.

So how do we learn to listen to the Spirit? Well, first of all, we need to understand what the Spirit is. Second, we’ll look at young women who have learned how to recognize the Spirit. As members of the Church, we are given two spiritual gifts: the Light of Christ given to all men at birth and the special gift of the Holy Ghost given after our baptism. It allows us “to live by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the power of revelation, and … testimony” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrines of the Restoration: Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie, ed. Mark L. McConkie [1989], 93).

 

"Spirituality is learning how to listen to the
Spirit and then letting it govern our lives."

Once we know what the Spirit is, how do we recognize it when we feel it? That’s the hardest part. The Spirit doesn’t always give us warm, fuzzy feelings. Most of the time, the voice of inspiration is a quiet voice, a still, small voice. 

… It’s OK if we’re weak, as long as we don’t stay weak, as long as we do something about it. … One of the main functions of the Holy Ghost is to testify of truth. Talents are meant to be shared. As you learn to play the piano, you can bless others with your music. As you develop your talent for spirituality, you can use this gift to bless your family. Did you know you have some responsibility for the happiness in your family? It isn’t just your mom’s or dad’s job to keep the family happy. 

You can help too. … There are lots of ways you can bless your family. The Savior invites us to bear testimony. He has said, “Go ye into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature” (⁠D&C 68:8⁠). Many of you love bearing testimony at camp. Well, you don’t have to wait for camp. You can bear your testimony to your family often in simple ways.

We bear testimony every single day by our example. … Another way we show our love for Jesus is through prayer. President Hinckley has said, “Let every family in this Church have prayer together” (⁠Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 216). “Your daily conversations with [H]im will bring peace into your hearts and a joy into your lives that can come from no other source” (⁠Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 216).

You can help your family remember to pray. Prayer is like an umbrella in the storms of life. When I was a busy mom with seven children at home, I was so grateful when one of my children would say, “We forgot to have family prayer.” Sometimes we would stand by the back door and pray as the children ran off to school. It always strengthened the spirituality in our home.

And you can pray for your family. If there is contention, pray for a spirit of peace. No matter what, Heavenly Father will bless you with peace in your heart. Prayer is a miracle; it can help develop the spirituality in your home. … With the power of the Spirit, you too can speak great and marvelous things in your own family. … The prophets are right. It is a true principle that the Lord operates through families.”

Here's the link to the General Conference talk. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2001/04/developing-our-talent-for-spirituality

Stay Tuned. 

I Believe I Can, I Knew I Could - Part Two

After a month of posting; I've decided to no longer share "Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening" at the beginning of each blog post. 

This post focuses on highlights from a past General Conference in October 2002 and it's called "I Believe I Can, I Knew I Could" by President James E. Faust. This post is part one. This post should take three minutes to read from start to finish. 

President Faust has mentioned the following; 

"… To stay on the right track, we must honor and sustain those who hold the presiding priesthood keys. We are reminded that many are “called, but few are chosen.” When are we chosen? We are chosen by the Lord only when we have done our best to move this holy work forward through our consecrated efforts and talents. 

Our efforts must always be guided by the righteous principles set forth by the Lord in the 121st section of the Doctrine and Covenants: “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

“By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile.” The priesthood is given to bless the lives of others. President David O. McKay said: “The very essence of Priesthood is eternal. As it finds expression in life it manifests power. 

… Such power becomes dynamic and productive of good only when the liberated force becomes active in valleys, fields, gardens and happy homes; so the principle of power is manifested only as it becomes active in the lives of men, turning their hearts and desires toward God, and prompting service to their fellow men.” 

"While we are not all equal in experience, aptitute, 
strength, ... we will all be able accountable for the
use of the gifts and opportunities given to us."

If we aren’t serving others, then the priesthood really doesn’t benefit us because it is not a passive power. Brethren, be generous with the power of blessing which comes through the priesthood, especially to members of your own family. Remember that the Lord has said, “Whomsoever you bless I will bless.”

In preparing for the time when we will account to the Lord for our own personal priesthood stewardship, where will we be? Remember that “the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there.”

… Some of the most rewarding times of our lives are those “extra mile” hours given in service when the body says it wants to relax, but our better self emerges and says, “Here am I; send me.” … do we say we are too tired —or too old? I remind you that President Hinckley is 92 and still going strong!

Each of us must climb mountains that we have never climbed before. Brethren, great is our work, and heavy are our priesthood responsibilities. …”

Here's a link to the General Conference talk.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2002/10/i-believe-i-can-i-knew-i-could

Stay Tuned.

Some Things to Consider When Making Goals

This post should have been shared last month but it didn't. I think it would go really well with making goals. This post take three minutes to five minutes from start to finish. I’ve thought about some things to consider when making goals and I thought it would make a great post to share my thoughts based on some things to consider when making goals. 

Questions to ask yourself:

Are my short-term goals realistic? 

Are my long-term goals realistic? 

How long does it take for me to accomplish those goals? Are they short-term goals? Are the long-term goals?

How can I stay on track and focus on accomplishing my goals? What are the things do I need to help me accomplishing my short-term goals? What are the things do I need to help me accomplishing my long-term goals? 

If I lose track of accomplishing a short-term goal/s, how can I get myself back on track and focus on accomplishing the goals/s again. 

If I lose track of accomplishing a long-term goal/s, how can I get myself back on track and focus on accomplishing the goals/s again. 

"A goal without a plan is just a
wish."

Is there anything distracting me from accomplishing my short-term goals? Is there anything distracting me from accomplishing my long-term goals? 

Do I share my short-term goals with a relative?

Do I share my long-term goals with a relative? 

Do I share my short-term goals with my partner (if I have a partner)? Do I share my long-term goals with my partner (if I have a partner)? 

Do I have any support from any of my relatives to motivate me to accomplish my short-term goals? 

Do I have any support from any of my friends to motivate me to accomplish my long-term goals? 

Do I have any support from my partner (if I have a partner) to motivate me to accomplish my short-term goals? Do I have any support from my partner (if I have a partner) to motivate me to accomplish my long-term goals? 

What am I doing today that may help me towards my short-term goals? What am I doing today that may help me towards my long-term goals? 

Stay Tuned.