My Goal of Health

White crane spreads its wings!

This year I am choosing to study any aspect of health that I am interested in.  I have, in these first few weeks, found this more interesting than I expected.  So far I have made menus, which has allowed me to shop for groceries with actual meals in mind.  I am thankful not to have to come up with meal ideas every day.  We still have days when we eat "whatever we can find in the fridge", but at least there are actual meals to find sometimes!

Derek had the idea of me trying Tai Chi.  So far I have learned that I like the names they have for each move like, "Part The Wild Horse's Mane" and "White Crane Spreads its Wings".  It takes a bit of patience to learn every move properly.  There is a proper order for things; heal down, toes down, shift weight, etc.  The idea is to learn every movement so well that you can do it automatically, and correctly.  It's kind of like doing a super slow motion dance.  I think it is fun, and I will like it better when I know more than 3 of the forms.

There are some aspects of health that I don't struggle with but someone in my family does. I have a husband and some children who have trouble getting to sleep, and staying asleep.  I found Jake on his bedroom floor huddled in a ball this morning upset that he hadn't slept all night.  Thursday night it was Dan who couldn't sleep all night and the poor boy had bags under his eyes by afternoon!  Hopefully I can study out a way to help them sleep better.

I will like to study play because it sounds fun to find new things I like to do, and  I will enjoy studying forms of meditation to help me stay calm in challenging times!  Health is ending up to be a far more interesting goal than I believed it would be at first.  There is always something to learn!

*image from whitecraneproducts.com

Dan Says. . .

"Aren't you glad I'm not Calvin?"

I was thinking, "Calvin?  Who's Calvin?"  Then I realized that Dan has been loving reading Calvin and Hobbes comic books.  He went on to explain how naughty Calvin is when his babysitter comes.  I have read Calvin and Hobbes and enjoyed them thoroughly.  Calvin is one imaginative child!  Still, I am thankful that Dan is not Calvin.  Dan is imaginative too, and I love him just the way he is.

This particular cartoon describes how I felt this evening -- only it was my Oscar the Grouch shirt.  Even the Grouch can't help Jake and I be happy that he has piles of math to make up because he's been sick all week.  I need to help him since Derek has other duties tonight.  Somehow we both feel inadequate.  Maybe Jake and I need full fledged super suits.

*Calvin and Hobbes comics are by Bill Watterson

Dan Says ....

(As reported by Derek)

Dad, I don't want to go on a mission when I grow up.  I want to go to college.  Nobody in our family goes on a mission, they go to college.  I want to go to the Payson College.

(Derek explains that there is no Payson College)

Well, maybe they will make one before I grow up.

(Derek suggests that Dan will probably want to go on a mission when he grows up, and then to college -- Goodnight!)

I think that perhaps, after Dan's brothers go on missions, Dan will know that we do go on missions in our family.  His Dad did!  His Grandparents did!  He has 2 cousins on missions, and one leaving soon!  I also think, sadly, that once he's grown he won't be so excited to go to Payson College, but will want to be independently farther away from home.  Sigh.  I'm glad to have him be little for while longer.

Making Everything All Better

One morning not too terribly long ago, I woke up feeling sorry for myself.  I was sitting out by the fireplace having a pity party.  Why?  I had been thinking about all of the people I know who have really hard problems and challenges.  Naturally, I want to make everything all better, and naturally, I can't.  I know people who have custody battles, addictions, marriage troubles, and health problems.  I know people who are lonely, and angry, and bitter.  As I sat on the fireplace, I thought that maybe, since I can't make everything all better, it would be nice if I was blissfully unaware of anyone's struggles.

Just as quickly as I thought, "It might be nice to be blissfully unaware", the thought came, "Don't you want to be like Jesus?"  Well, I do.  I do want to be like Jesus.  If He had come, and been "blissfully unaware" of the challenges of people around Him, and of the challenges I would have, He would not have been able to help any of us.  While it is true that I cannot make everything all better, I might be able to make something a little better.  Heavenly Father and Jesus can make things better for sure, so, if I know about someone's challenges, I can at least pray for them.  Prayer does work.  It will help.  If I know about someone's challenges, maybe I can love them better, and love helps too.

Thinking about Jesus gave me perspective, and perspective cured the pity party.

*Picture by David Bowman

Comparison is the Fast Track to Misery

During Sister Pearce's talk at "Time Out for Women" a few years ago, she said that "comparison is the fast track to misery".  This has stuck with me, and pops into my head regularly.

I often catch myself comparing me to those around me.  My neighbor up the street sings and plays the piano better than I do.  My brother is more skilled at the guitar.  I know people who are better at making others laugh, or feel comfortable.  There are people who are great at exercising regularly, and who actually have the ability to play basketball without it really hurting their shoulders.  I compare my talents, my health, my house, etc.  Granted, I often find a different person for each thing, but there is always somebody out there being better than me, or having some thing or situation that I don't -- and wish I did!   I start to feel ungrateful, and unhappy, because my talents are not as big as someone else's, my things not as nice, or my health not as good.

If comparison is the fast track to misery, then I am pretty sure that gratitude is the key to joy.   Just because someone else is more skilled at something than I am, does not mean that what I do is of no value. Focusing on what I can do, and what I do have, is helpful.  It is also good to remember that Heavenly Father loves me because I am His child, and He does not want any of His children to be miserable.  He loves me whether I can do or say things better than other people, or not.  He loves me whether I have a lot of things, or none.  He loves me for who I am.

Comparison is the fast track to misery, but gratitude is the key to joy.  Today, I choose to be grateful.

Happy New Year!

I don't think I've ever felt like Calvin, but I wouldn't
want anyone telling me what my goals should be either!

Monday we (my family) filled out our new year's forms.  On these we write down lots of things about ourselves including our favorite movies, and books, and what we accomplished this past year.  We make predictions for a couple of years ahead, and we write down our goals of the year.  When I got to the part about my goals I hesitated.  I had thought, and thought, and finally even decided on a goal, but I was feeling too tired to write it down, so I wrote that my goal was to have enough energy to actually want to accomplish a goal.  I've felt tired lately -- maybe mostly tired of being responsible!  I've had such long to do lists that I am getting tired of to do lists.  A little unstructured vacation time where everyone is healthy, happy, and takes care of themselves, sounds like heaven.  But, I do have a goal or two.

I like to come up with one word goals for the year -- and this year I chose "health".  I wasn't very excited about this idea, but decided that I would like it if I chose different thing related to health to study and work on each month.  Lots of things affect our health, and I am quite excited to learn about some of those things.  This month I made myself do menus and snack ideas because I figured I'd be healthier if we had less "whatever you can find in the fridge" dinners, and less quick junk food snacks.  Now comes the part where I actually have to use the menus -- or it won't make any difference at all.  Wish me luck!

I also have an idea, or goal, for my blog.  I decided that, besides random posts about my family and our activities, I would post stories, or quotes, or ideas that could be talked about at dinner.  I want to be better at talking about important, and interesting ideas at dinner -- but I usually draw a blank and everyone is done eating and gone before I come up with anything.  Maybe I can do better at using the things I write about here to talk about when dinnertime rolls around.  And, if things go really well, we'll be eating delicious, semi-healthy food from my menus, having important conversations, and all smiling like the picture above.  Dream big!

*Calvin and Hobbes Cartoon is from Google docs but was created by Bill Watterson
*The smiling family dinner is from www.thekitchenskinny.com

Hope, Possibilities, and Miracles

Dear Family and Friends,

Throughout the year I have tried to tell my stories in the hopes that someone could learn something from the experiences that I have had.  Always I have thought ahead to what I wanted to say at the end of the year, and the end of my project.  Though I have more stories to tell, and more stories to experience in the years ahead, these are the things I most want you to know.

There is always hope!  Because of Jesus Christ and the atonement there is hope for comfort, peace, happiness, and help.  There is hope for improvement, and forgiveness.  There is hope that weaknesses can be overcome, that problems can be solved, and that added strength can be given to carry a heavy load.  When we look to our Savior, there is always hope for that glimmer of light to guide us through our dark times.  Through Christ we have hope to love better, and to love forever.  We also have that hope of seeing all of our loved ones again.  There will be a resurrection!  There is always hope.

Jesus is our Savior, and because of Him there are endless good possibilities.  Even when we feel surrounded by darkness, or evil, or hopelessness, and what seem like impossible problems, there are solutions.  If we are patient, and persistent, and look to Christ, we will find them. 

Finally, I know that there are miracles.  I have experienced them in my life.  There have been miracles of healing, of the ability to endure, and of perspective.  I have been blessed to recognize seemingly small miracles, and rather dramatic miracles, and all of those miracles came because I have a loving Father in Heaven.  He has never forgotten me, or you, and He never will.  He loves us.

May God bless all of you that you will have hope, that you will be able to see happy possibilities in your life, and that you will recognize the miracles that are sent just for you from our loving Father.

Love from,
Mom / Sherie

Live Long and Prosper: Christmas Eve 2013

Meeting Susan

I promised months ago that I would eventually tell the story of meeting my friend Susan.  Susan was in my ward at church, but I do not remember meeting her until I was assigned to be her visiting teacher.  She had just had a hip replacement (she's slowly turning into the bionic woman) and us visiting teachers were called to take a meal to the family.  I remember walking in and seeing Susan lying on the couch as my companion and I walked through to the kitchen.

For whatever reason, as I saw Susan there, I thought "we won't have anything in common".  I am starting to recognize that whenever this thought enters my head it is a sign that this person will be important to me!  Why I even had that thought is beyond me.  Susan and I are both women, wives, mothers, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We love chatting, and laughing, and working together to get things done.  Without even trying hard it is easy to see that we have quite a bit in common.

As months went by, and I continued to go and visit Susan, I quickly discovered that Susan is an excellent listener who has a gift for being grateful.  I often don't see her for long stretches of time, but she has become more like a sister, who loves me no matter what, and no matter how often I get to visit her.  I believe that my assignment to visit teach Susan was inspired, because Heavenly Father knew that I needed Susan.  She is one of my very own earthly angels who reminds me by her example to be grateful, and who reminds me often that I am loved.

Tiny One

Picture by Nathan Green

 

A tiny baby in a giant world.

A God, recognized by few.

Creator of the very world

He then came and was born into.

 

The heavens knew, a star was born.

Angels rejoiced and sang their joy.

Shepherds, awakened before the morn,

Left right away to find the boy.

 

What hope came with this tiny one!

False hopes to those who didn't know

He would atone for the wrongs they'd done,

Not save them from a Roman's blow.

 

He grew, one man in a giant world;

Creator, brother, Savior too,

As many went throughout their days

Not knowing the great work He would do.

 

He saves from sin, and death, and pain

From sorrow, and despair, and pride.

He leads us all back home again,

If we choose to stay by His side.

by Sher

2013



Christmas

Picture from Google Images

 

Christmas lights, Christmas trees,

falling snow, a fire's glow,

cheerful music, tasty treats,

yummy smells, and food to eat.

Kindness in what people do.

Hope, and peace, and comfort too.

Thoughtful acts, forgiving ways,

Love woven in throughout each day.

A frantic pace, still moments too,

to think what Christ has done for you.

Golden times you wish to keep,

amidst the common lack of sleep.

All the family gathered near

with anticipation and good cheer.

When hope and kindness are around;

When peace and joy and love abound;

This is how Christmas should be.

At least, that's what it seems to me.

by Sher

2013

Rejoice!

(This is the Christmas song I wrote last year -- but I think I'll leave off the video of me singing this time.)

Picture by Simon Dewey

Rejoice! The time is near

When we honor the birth of One most dear.

Rejoice!  He came to be

The Savior of all, even you and me.

 

Rejoice!  Hold up your head!

The Son of God came to a manger bed.

Rejoice!  For He is true!

He atoned for the sins of me and you.

 

Rejoice!  For He still lives!

Forgiveness and help are the things He gives.

Rejoice!  His love is sure.

With His love in our hearts we can endure.

 

(CHORUS)

He takes despair and gives us peace,

From sins tight chains He gives release,

When sorrow binds, He comfort brings

He gives us every joyful thing.

Rejoice! Rejoice! He is our King!

Light Came Shining

(Here is a link to me singing the song.  I hope you have a really merry Christmas)

 

When people went to bed that night

A new star shone its heav'nly light

Upon the quiet town

The light came shining down.

 

And in a humble cattle stall

Was born the one who'd save us all

The mighty king, a babe

Into the manger laid.

 

And shepherds in a field nearby

Saw a glorious angel fly!

He'd come to share the joy

Of this precious baby boy.

 

And heav'nly hosts joined in and sang.

The fields with joyful music rang.

The shepherds ran to see,

And bowed upon their knee.

 

And then they told all who would hear

This news of happiness and cheer,

The Savior had been born!

There would be an Easter morn!

 

Because of Him we'd live again.

We'd overcome the pull of sin.

He would lead us home,

To Father and His throne.

 

Oh, it was a joyous day!

So with the shepherds we will say,

The Savior has been born!

There will be an Easter morn!

 

The Savior has been born,

And there has been an Easter morn!