"How you make others feel about themselves, says a lot about you."

Broken Self

Lots of thoughts on this one.

The key is to keep taking those little steps.

"In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."

~Dieter F. Ucthdorf

"The best way out is always through."

I've gone "through" things in my life. Things I wish I could have jumped right over or magically made disappear and when I read this quote, I loved it. It's definitely not the easiest way but it is the best way. I look back on trials (some I still face) and even though sometimes I don't want to admit it (because I don't want to give the trial any credit) it is amazing to see what I've learned. I am grateful for that.

I have had a rough couple of years. I feel like I have gone downhill the last two years and I am at a low as far as who I am.

But.....I have seen the miracle of LITTLE THINGS. Little moments of growth, feeling the closeness of a higher power (many times), little tiny steps in the right direction. Too many steps in the wrong direction but the tiny steps forward are giant and I am so very thankful for that.

So to HELL with trials. And thank HEAVEN for trials.

And thank Heaven for recognizing the good in trials. And especially knowing of a loving Heavenly Father who knows EXACTLY what I need and really won't give me more than I can handle WITH HIS HELP. Some things, if they had gone one step further, would have ruined me and I KNOW that Heavenly Father knew that and put a halt on some things before I drowned.

So 'the best way out is always through'.

Next time, I'll try harder to go through with DIGNITY and a GOOD ATTITUDE.

It will make a difference on my success and growth.

"Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing."
– George Sheehan

"We have a choice. We can seek for the bad in others. Or we can make peace and work to extend to others the understanding, fairness, and forgiveness we so desperately desire for ourselves. It is our choice; for whatever we seek, that we will certainly find."

--President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Looking for the Good", March 2011 Ensign

Think

John and I discuss this with our children often and sadly I need it more than anyone. It was posted on Sugardoodle today and I'll be printing it and posting it where I can see it.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty".

~Winston Churchill

LOVE this!

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow what a ride!"

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Thanks again Mindy.

courage

"Courage: to bear unflinchingly what heaven sends.”
Euripides

Found here

On Housework:

"The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship."

I don't like to clean the house. But I like the idea of it being clean for my family.

And when we work together, we feel like a family.

”Realizing something of the spiritual value of homemaking has made me more aware of the need to more fully involve my family in these tasks. My husband and I no longer simply delegate chores to our children each day. We wash dishes and make beds alongside them. By doing so, we have been blessed with opportunities to teach our children and be taught ourselves with a frequency and a depth we previously never imagined. A year ago, I spent most of my dishwashing time muttering under my breath and trying to jam too many dishes into the limited dishwasher space. Now, every time I invite a child to thrust their hands into the warm, soapy water with mine, I learn something new about their spirit and their life.”
Kristine Manwaring

"Don't argue. Sing!"

“Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.”
Rick Warren

TAKEN FROM HERE

"I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with your husband. You had better be sure you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring.

Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important. Encourage him. Be kind. It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive. Be cheerful. Don't be a whiner."

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley (Small and Simple Things)

Thanks Mindy!

"Motherhood is the one thing in all the world which most truly exemplifies the God-given virtues of creating and sacrificing. The mother who, in compliance with eternal law, brings into the world an immortal spirit occupies first rank in the realm of creation."

--David O Mckay, "Respect for Mothers and Their Divine Role",

"The older I get, I realize that things around here...well, life in general, is like going up and down a hill again and again. Some hills are steep, they make you cry or swear or lose confidence, and others are little bumps in the road. You just have to keep climbing when it gets hard, try to enjoy the scenery when your muscles ache, or find out how to make things easier so you can get up and over quicker. And then on the glide down...enjoy it! You know it won't last forever. That next hill, you take what you know from the last time, or you learn something new altogether about life in general. And down you go again, everything is easy."

Found here on Clover Lane

"If you see a man on a mountain, you can be sure that he didn't fall there!"

This quote is on my nephew's facebook page and I love it! Thanks Richard!

Learn to Like....

Learn to like what doesn't cost much.

Learn to like reading, conversation, music.

Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.

Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.

Learn to like people,

Even though some of them may be different...

Different from you.

Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job as well as it can be done.

Learn to like the song of birds, the companionship of old dogs.

Learn to like gardening, puttering around

the house and fixing things.

Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of the rain

on the roof and windows,

and the gentle fall of snow on a winter's day.

Learn to keep your wants simple and

refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.

Lowell Bennion

Found on one of my favorites: www.memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com

And because it is my goal this year, I will add:

Learn to like cleaning!!!

"Don't let the things you can't do keep you from doing the things you can do."

-advice given to our nephew Bruce as he left the MTC.

My job......find out what I CAN do.

Home Beauty

"Homes that have a spirit of refinement and beauty will bless the lives of your children forever."

-Ezra Taft Benson

More than 10 years ago, this quote was handed out on a cute little scrapbooked paper at a Relief Society something. I still have it and was on my fridge for many years. The thought has stuck with me all these years. Funny for someone who just can't figure it out and stay on top of cleaning....and doesn't enjoy cleaning.

But I'm determined and one day I hope my home will have that spirit of refinement and beauty and my children will be blessed because of it.

It came from this talk

and I highly recommend taking the time to read it.

"It's not those who never make mistakes in this life who get ahead; it's those who do fail, accept it, and move on. In fact, son, the most successful are those who fail faster, accept it quicker, then get on with the next step sooner."

-Chad Hymus' Father