Homecoming Energy

Chokecherry Apple Jelly

So over the last couple of weeks I haven't seen much of my husband - he has been sooooo busy with work that he hasn't been home hardly at all and I've missed him a whole lot! Anyway, today he's coming home!!! Need I say more? Yup that is pretty joyful news!

I've kept busy, but my motivation has been waning a little. So when it was confirmed that he was coming home I discovered I had so much energy that I sent some of it outside (got the yard watered one last time), sent some of it to the kitchen (preserves pictured) and I even had some time left over to work on my website, Clearly Rubber Stamping! What a wonderful day. It feels so good to get things done and out of the way, making room in the schedule for other important things like feeding my family, cutting Charity's hair and all the rest that comes with it.

Raspberry Rhubarb Jam

Rhubarb Jam

So my day has been full of purpose and JOY! These are things are usually a part of my day, but this was stands out a little above the rest.

A Focus on the Good

It is interesting how quickly persectives can change when we change our focus. This afternoon I had some pretty grouchy faces at my house. It seemed that nobody could make allowances for one another - I'm not sure what caused it, you'd almost think they were all suffering from a bad bug... I wonder if they all caught it from the same source.....

Anyway, with so much discord I decided it was time to do something to bring things into focus. We dropped everything that we were all doing and gathered in the family room. I got out the timer and a paper and pen, then we chose one person to focus on and everybody else had to rattle off the things that they really appreciated about him or her before the timer beeped. If the timer beeped and it was your turn you got a point - the idea was to not have any points. Well, we focused on each individual several times around and pretty soon grumpy faces were beginning to smile and laughter was heard as we each reveled in the good qualities and things we enjoyed about one another.

Once the game was over and the winner was declared, we were all able to go back to the things that needed doing with less criticism and a better, happier focus. My joy today is in my children. They are amazing and even though we have to deal with grumpy times, it is so wonderful to see them pull out of it and act in love and kindness once again. Supper was a little bit late due to our spontaneous game, but each child expressed gratitude for the meal, and I had several willing helpers that assisted in the preparation of it. I am reminded of a scripture in 3 John 1:4

Autumn Warmth and Blackberries

Blackberries are something we don't get every year. They come on late in the season and a frost early in September guarantees that we won't have to pick anything.... BUT, this year, it has been so warm and so beautiful that every few days we go out and delight to find a few more blackberries, nice and plump and juicy. So far we have taken a cumulative 1/2 gallon from our 3 small plants and if the weather holds, there will be many more. With blackberries I can make pies or jam, not to mention just eating them fresh.

So why am I telling you about our blackberries? To me they have become a sign of gratitude. If I can harvest blackberries I know that the season has been prolonged and that brings me great joy - the harvest has been plentiful and I am so grateful that we are able to reap the fruits of our labors. It doesn't hurt any that the fruit is good fruit.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

That was the question that one of my children asked me this morning? It is a good question, it would seem that if God is all powerful that he should be able to stop bad things from happening so why doesn't he?

Painting by Greg Olsen

I am so grateful for the answer! It doesn't matter if you are good or bad, God will NOT take your agency, your freedom to choose, away from you. If he did he would cease to be God. With each hardship, whether a reflection of the poor choices of another or whether rooted in another source, each trial brings with it an opportunity to stretch and grow. Richard G Scott said trials "are an evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more" (Proverbs 3:11-12) It is impossible to understand unless you have experienced it yourself, the resultant JOY that comes as a result of overcoming a challenge and receiving the growth that accompanies it.

 “Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful... For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process” (Ensign, May 1979, 54). --- James E Faust

 I am so grateful for the JOY that the principle of agency brings into my life. What a wonderful gift to be given the freedom to choose as WE WILL - no force or power exerted over us.

Forget-me-Not's & Simple Joys

Last night I attended the General Relief Society Broadcast in attendance with 6 other sisters - all joined together to receive the hope and encouragement that comes from attending these meetings. The messages were clear, easy to understand and uplifting. Each message was so encouraging that as the final song was sung and the closing prayer pronounced I could feel the joy and peace of the Spirit singing in my heart. I could feel my Spirit smiling, and when it smiles, I smile and I feel such a great peace and gratitude for my Savior and my knowledge of the gospel. President Uchtdorf gave a wonderful message - one of the most powerful points he made to me is that to the Lord "You are NOT forgotten" He said:

"Sisters, wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love."

He also encouraged us to make the little Forget-me-Not flower a symbol of Joy in our lives. Of course you already know that all flowers bring me joy, but that one, because of its name and his teachings holds a special significance to me now. What a wonderful message!


To top off the evening, we received our new books entitled Daughters in the Kingdom which is a history of Relief Society. I am so excited to be able to read and learn of the traditions and heritage those righteous women left me.

In a nutshell, I find joy in the counsel of the prophets and the servants of the Lord. The peace their words bring into my heart bring a happiness that cannot be put into words accompanied by a deep gratitude for my many blessings.

PS. I just found a picture that sums up President Uchtdorfs message:

Plump Pies and Juicy Apples

I had a good friend give me some of her bounty this year in the form of apples. They smelled delicious (despite my congested sinuses I could actually smell them!) But with all the other duties and responsibilities that come with the day to day, I was unable to get to them as quickly as I had hoped. I planned and prepared, buying lard, flour and spices to make pies. Today, I finally got things in order enough to get to my apples, only they weren't as fresh and easy to work with as they would have been earlier. My own procrastination made the job harder, but I was determined to have apple pie!!!

Well, several hours later, I finally produced 6 lovely pies for my freezer that we can enjoy later on in the months to come. I still have many apples to use, but, despite the work ahead, it feels great to have the first 6 done. One day at a time, one step at a time. Little accomplishments truly bring great joy into my days. It feels so good to help and assist in providing nice things for my family. I am so grateful for a friend who thought to share with us this week of her own bounty and blessings. It is such a joy to know and associate with such good people.

Stinky Socks and Laundry Soap

This past week I've had a bit of a cold. Not really anything that made me feel sick, but it certainly limited my sense of smell for a while. On Monday, a couple of my children began complaining that their room was stinky, but when I went in I couldn't tell. I encouraged them to clean the room but was unable to give specific instruction as to what to do about the odor that I could not smell. As the week progressed I would get a glimpse of the odor but never enough to define its source or give specific instructions on how to find it. Finally, last night I went into their room and it literally smelled like something had died. I told them to first make sure the garbage was empty (which it was as they had been trying somewhat halfheartedly to get rid of the problem) and then to start going through laundry, smelling everything as they went until they found the source of the smell. I had to go to the city, so I left them with that assignment.This morning, the first thing they told me was that they found the smell and had taken care of it.


 And so we have the miracle of a little laundry soap and water. The smell is gone and as bad as it was, the socks are clean and can be worn again. I loved the joy in the voices of my children as they told me of their victory and triumph over the seemingly elusive and severe problem at hand. Life is kind of like that sometimes it seems like it is full of dirty socks, but all it takes is a little laundry soap for the dirt and a quick rinse and things start to look and smell fresh and clean again bringing with it joy and peace abundantly.

From Bud to Bloom

One of my favorite things about the summer and fall is the multitude of colors that are seemingly everywhere! Of course, anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE flowers and as such have pretty much done my best to fill my yard with them. I love to walk among the flowers and watch the tiny little sprouts turn into thriving vines which soon have tiny little buds forming on them. I have anxiously and eagerly awaited the arrival of the morning glories. The have grown volumes and now, nearing the end of the growing season they are covered with wonderful blue and white flowers. I can't help but marvel every day how these delicate flowers resolutely reappear every morning bringing with them the joys of the season.

I delight in the flowers of the summer and find great joy in watching them grow and develop and mature. Growing flowers isn't much different than raising kids, it takes a lot of hard work, time, dedication, patience, and love, BUT, they never fail to disappoint me with some kind word, important discovery or just a simple gesture. My joy is great in growing flowers, but the joy my children bring into my life is incomparable. 

Sharing the Best Things

In an effort to be more grateful, and to enjoy life to the fullest, I have decided to begin a blog where I can share my joyful moments and express my gratitude for those who have place in my life. As I express my joys, and maybe even sometimes my sorrows (since you can't have one without the other), the blessings cascading through the pages of this blog will grow and become as it were a mighty waterfall. May the mists and sprays there created reach you in joy as well.

Joy Created is Joy Shared...