Gratitude

Yesterday was a perfectly delightful day. It was one of those days when I feel compelled to get on my knees and thank Heavenly Father for being in the details of my life. Somehow He made everything work to bring a smile to my face all day long.

A beautiful lady once said to me, "Heavenly Father always has something up His sleeve ... and it's a pretty big sleeve!" She also said, "He treats us all like we're an only child." How true that is.

I like the way the Lord said it through Isaiah:

"For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee" (Isaiah 54:10).

Tribute

Here's to Mom who always took the blame for the hurt she didn't cause, and deserves all the credit for loving me through it all.

"Heavenly Promises Are Always Kept"

"Every experience can be a redemptive experience."

September 2008 CES fireside

Please watch and enjoy.

A Gift

I love getting gifts. I love even more giving gifts. And what I love most of all is getting gifts I can give away.

This sometimes gets me into trouble because some people are offended if I give away a gift they gave me. It's not as if I didn't appreciate or even love whatever they gave me. This is not a matter of convenient "re-gifting." Truly, the more I love something, the more I want to share it. If you compliment my favorite outfit, I'm tempted to offer it to you because that's just how I am. When I have something wonderful, I want the whole world to partake. That just makes me happy.

The greatest example of a gift I have been given that I can give away is my testimony. I suppose that is why my blog is as it is. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much! When I think of my faith and indeed my knowledge of Him and His plan for me, I am filled with awe and appreciation. My natural reaction is therefore to give it again to all the world. The wonderful thing about a testimony (like love) is that the more you give it, the more you have. So please, enjoy my words as a gift to you from me that was a gift from Heavenly Father to me. Enjoy it, and pass it on.

I know God lives. I know He is my Father. I know I am His daughter, and that I have an eternal soul with divine characteristics inherited from Him. I know Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of the Father. He is my Savior and Redeemer, and not mine only, but for the whole world. I know that through His grace I am saved. I know that the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith. I know he was truly called of God and given the authority to act in God's name in establishing the Church of Jesus Christ, the only church on the earth which contains the fullness of the authority of God and knowledge of His plan. I know President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord's chosen prophet today. I know the Bible is the Word of God, and I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I know the temple ordinances and covenants are from the Father and when lived give me power. I know God hears and answers my prayers. I know He loves me. I know He lives.