Why Molly is Good

I grew up with a certain negative connotation to the phrase "Molly Mormon". I, admittedly, thought that to be a Molly Mormon was to be some relapse into the 1950's and without a brain of your own. Fast forward through my teens and twenties and you find me here in the glorious 30's loving all things Molly. For those who don't know, being a "Molly Mormon" is a female in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who applies as many of the Church teachings in her life...not just on Sundays, but in everyday life. People confuse the true devotion to Jesus Christ with being mindless and never thinking for herself. She is tightly wound around these ideals and wants to make sure she fits the stereotype. She would never be caught wearing something outside the fashion of the 1950's, or even perhaps like a prairie girl. ATTENTION WORLD! This is not the true classification of a Molly Mormon. In my view and in my experience, a Molly Mormon is someone who has come to know her Savior, Jesus Christ, in such a way that she would not stray from HIM, not from some worldly definition. She is someone who has struggled through persecution in various forms and decided that the praise of man is beneath the approval of God the Father. She seeks to be the woman she was divinely appointed to become and not the one the world would have her settle to be "satisfied" with. I can see how I am classified as a Molly Mormon. What people don't understand are all the things that are hidden behind the exterior that have influenced me to be who I am. I haven't had a perfect life, although it has been easier than some. Strangely enough, those who have really gone through serious trials are never the ones to nay-say this approach to life. It is always those who have had similar trials to mine. I think this happens because we tend to compare ourselves to one another: a way that we have been taught to view and understand the world. Guess what, world? We don't have to compare ourselves with anyone else! The greatest thing is to work on ourselves UNRELATED to how others view us. We should only be concerned with how God views us. Gaining that self-confidence is the key indicator for self-satisfaction and enjoyment of life. How do you gain that self-confidence? Well, it surely does not come easily. There will be tests and trials, in God's words, we will be "proven herewith" to see what we will choose. It is each moment that carries us either closer to God or further from Him. Those who denounce others for their dedication to the most important being will find heartache and never be completely fulfilled. I proudly wear the title of being Molly Mormon. I strive to improve myself and to put myself in line with the teachings, all of the teachings, of Jesus Christ. The further instruction given through His Prophet today enables me to be better fortified from the adversary. I will "be still and know" God because I'm practicing it daily. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying to improve. The road to perfecting is much more important to this life than being, so I try not to convey the false idea that I think I am perfect, because I am not. However, I will repent and keep trying to be better because I have had the experience of joy and the removal of pain in my life through the process of repentance and utilizing the Lord's Atonement in my behalf. It is okay. No, it is good to choose a side and be safely found therein. In fact, John records in Revelations, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." This scripture clearly states that we HAVE to choose a side. We can't walk in the middle. As the great Mr. Miyagi said, "Walk right side, safe. Walk left side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later [makes squish gesture] get squish just like grape." If a karate master can explain it so simply, why can't we get it. There is no gray in the gospel. There is the pathway to Christ which will have us falling and scraping our knees, but as long as we are trying, we are not in the gray area. We only fool ourselves when we think we can be of the world and of God. You cannot serve two masters. You must choose. Only one tries to suggest that you can do both and he is NOT the one you should believe. He is the great deceiver and will leave you alone in the end. Follow Christ. Choose Him alone and you will have more joy and happiness and an eternity of such.

Count Your Blessings

"Count your many blessings name them one by one...and it will surprise you what the Lord has done..." I had to write this tonight because I have been blessed with amazing friends and new "non-blood" family that I just kind of get overwhelmed with love...a LOT! We love getting to spend time with friends and love sharing meals, but it has been even more meaningful as we renovate this house. Any time we could possibly, maybe even a little bit need something, someone is inviting us over or helping us fix some "little" thing that has huge benefits. So, last Saturday one of these sweet families invited us over for breakfast and we ended up invading them all day...including 3 hours of basketball (heaven!) and a special trip for Emily to go big-girl shopping (I'll have to post about that separately). Other dinners and invites have helped us get through these cold days (we don't have central heating...it's a room by room situation currently). Then, the cold got the best of us. Our pipes froze. Another one of these family-friends to the rescue! I figured we might be without water for a few days but no biggie...people have to endure more than that. Not even 30 minutes after I mentioned offhandedly our situation and we had an offer for help. He got the pipes thawed out and good to go in less than four hours! AMAZING! And then, there are these amazing youth I get to associate with and we get to teach and play basketball (one of my former loves). I just can't believe how much the Lord gives me in ways that are perhaps seen as "small" or "insignificant" or even not the most important thing, but the Lord knows I love it or we would benefit and He shares through these kind people. I just can't even keep up on all the many blessings the Lord gives us, but I am counting my many blessings yet again, tonight. Thank you all who have always been by my side in all the various ways. We love you!!

Southern Snow

We were the recipients of some snow this week. We were all excited and happy to see it falling, but even more excited that we got enough to actually play in!! Of course, this also revealed that my children have not had the experience frequently enough to remember what to do in it. As you can see from the pictures, the idea was there but the execution was a bit off. hahahah. We laughed and had a good time. Snow is much more fun with children around.

Sewing Bug

I have several items I already need to make, and I drooled over new items I want to make today.
I need to sew a couple of new dresses for my LongLegged Girl.  She just grows so quickly.  And then, I thought I really need another bookshelf for the girls and I discovered these:Book Slings.  Great idea and wonderful use of space.
I also swapped Eric his old camelbak which I was using as a temple bag, for the excuse to make a super cute one that I will love.  I came across a couple of ideas that I can't decide on, but found this and thought it was too cute!!  I'm pretty sure my kids are going to need these.  =)
 I also really want to learn to embroider because I think it is quaint and cute.  And, let's face it, I'm kind of obsessed with the days of yesteryear and all they did by hand or by themselves.

Service

I have been hesitant how to post this as I really don't want it to appear as if I am bragging.  Know that the only reason I share this is because the decision to choose to seek opportunities for service has impacted my life and the life of my family in an enormous way.
I have always been willing to serve and help others but it has never been an every day kind of thing.  Opportunities would drift in on occasion and after we would  pass out of times to serve.  I made a conscious decision to try to serve after overhearing a friend of mine talk about how she had a need for people to come help in her classroom for an activity she was planning.  Having a child still at home has often prohibited me from serving more fully in the schools as many times I don't have another place for Gianna to be.  This friend said I could bring her and she sat quietly playing the iPad and not disturbing anyone.  I can honestly say this was THE moment my life pattern changed.
Due to this volunteering opportunity and my weekly tutoring at another school, I started to think that our "seasons" for things are not because circumstances are "just so" but because our willingness to do something more allows us to do more with the same amount of time.  I spoke about this with another service guru who I just think is amazing and she gave me good council that your heart has to be there to make the service worthy.
I continually had the prompting to make it my effort every day to seek an opportunity for service.  I became so excited about this that I invited my family to join me.  Now, as part of our scripture study, we not only journal our blessings together, but we talk about the service we were able to do that day.  We celebrate the way Christ blesses our lives daily and also how we have been able to be the way others can feel Christ's influence in their lives. What was once hard to find one act of service a day has grown to be multiple acts of service per day.  It has brought me more joy to an already joyful life.
Just so you know it isn't simply a change in mindset, I took a short sabbatical from serving outside my home and I became a bit dejected.  It was an awful feeling those few days and I am happy to report I have returned to service and it has continued to increase the joy in my life.
I know this is setting a pattern for my children because they are so excited to share with me how they helped someone.  My little boisterous Gianna was thrilled to come share with me that she helped a little boy go up the ladder and down the slide.  After she came to report, I watched as she continued to serve this younger child and take him by the hand and guide him to safely play on the playground. She feels the joy as well.
We are dedicating this year to service and pray you will join us on this journey.  It can be as simple or elaborate as your opportunity for service may be:  write someone a letter, help someone return a grocery cart, be a listening ear to an elderly person.  It won't matter what the service is; it will matter that you did something for someone else for whom you are not responsible and you will have added joy and peace in your own life.

Christmas Joys

It's the little things that make Christmas a magical time of year.
A friend, whom I highly respect and admire, dropped by last night to give me a gift:  a gift of her delicious homemade bread and these beautiful pot holders.  Seriously, I may never use them because they are beautiful.  In fact, I may just decorate that space above my sink with them because they completely match my kitchen!!

 Then we had an impromptu kid's Christmas party today.  I baked some gingerbread men and let them decorate them.  We played a couple of games and watched a movie.  Simple.  Sweet.  Fun.

 Want some?

We have also gone caroling and visiting others.  We've taken pictures, made gifts,  and finally got the Christmas tree up and decorated.
How do you make your holidays "bright"?

The Grinch Brings Tears

I know what you are thinking..."wow, she's extremely emotional to squeeze tears out over The Grinch!"  Well, you may be partially correct, but that's because the Christmas season always gets me.
However, today was a very special day.  A sweet friend gave us tickets to go see the local production of The Grinch.  She didn't, however, forewarn me of the emotional punch I was about to receive.
One of the local dance studios puts on their rendition of The Grinch every year.  They modify it and keep it au courant so there were special little tidbits in there that kept us laughing, like references to ObamaCare or What Does the Fox Say.  The dancers and performers did wonderfully and I was quite impressed by some of the singing.  One singer, particularly.
Before the event started, an individual's mother was singled out in the crowd and it was announced that her son would be reporting as a new marine recruit the next morning.  I was so glad to be let in on that information because near the end of the production, this young man had a solo and hugged his mother during it.  It was so incredibly touching and a moment I will not soon forget.  I sucked back tears and gave myself a headache from trying to rein in that emotion.  I didn't know these people.  I barely even was let in on the information of his soon departure.  And yet, I, along with many in the audience, felt the love, sorrow, and gratitude of and for this young man.
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" tugs at my heartstrings when they insert the Christmas wishes from active duty members from around the world.  I am so grateful for those who serve our country and sacrifice their lives and time with family, especially during special events such as holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.
To this young man and his mother, I wish the best for you.  We love our men and women, and their families, who serve in the armed forces.  Thank you and may you have a merry and safe Christmas.