The Ring Of New Year Bells~ Celebrate Being Older and Wiser

It's almost time to ring out the old year 2012 and ring in the New Year of 2013. Before you take the time to re-evaluate your life and make those wonderful New Year's resolutions; take a moment to read the wisdom of a 90 year old. I have pondered upon  these thoughts and I am looking at my life with new found enlightenment. 

Celebrate Growing Old~ by Regina Brett, 90 years old

 The Plain Dealer Newspaper, Cleveland, Ohio.

  1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
  2. When in doubt, just take the next small step..
  3. Life is too short - enjoy it..
  4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
family will.
  5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
  6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
  7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
  8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
  9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to be happy. But it's all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive but don't forget.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38.. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift." 

I am just like this; I have the same list every year with just a different year~

Wishing All Of My Friends and Family - Merry Christmas With Love and Hugs!

       Christmas Eve night I had a long moment to think about the real meaning of Christmas. Every Year we have a tradition of a Christmas Eve dinner. In the late afternoon I didn't feel well at all. My sweet husband started to do the dinner and when it was ready I sat down to eat and took just a couple of bites and I told him I just couldn't eat. I was running a temperature, chills and a cough. I was crushed. My beloved husband had given me a priesthood blessing. I felt the power of that blessing and I wanted to have a wonderful Christmas celebration with him. I prayed that I could be healed; and then I prayed that if there was purpose in this I could accept that. 
      My prayer was answered and Christmas Morn brought a wonderful day of celebration of the Savior's birth with my eternal companion. He has always been there to assist me, to serve me, and to love me. It had snowed on Christmas Eve and the morning was so lovely with clear blue skies. I felt so blessed to feel better. We had a quiet sweet day celebrating our love through gifts given. 
      The Savior came as a babe, He grew as a Man and taught us how to live, He fulfilled the Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane and He died on Calvary for us, He was resurrected for us and our Savior Jesus Christ will return again. We celebrate this wondrous Christmas event. I look forward to His return.
May you feel the power of His life. May you reach for Him and walk with the Him. He is there; he hears and answers even your smallest prayers. He heard my Christmas Eve prayer. 

Take a moment to watch this precious video; you will be glad you did.

My prayer is that you all have a wonderful Christmas week.. I pray that you will all have a wondrous New Year. I have enjoyed your friendships through blogging. A few of you I have personally met. Your blog posts have inspired me, lifted me on days of struggles, and blessed my life in so many ways. I look forward to reading more of your marvelous thoughts during 2013.. I have learned so much from all of you.. 
Love and hugs!

"Is There Room To Let Him In~

I have been caught in the frantic busyness of the Christmas Season. I have found myself running to and fro trying to complete Christmas Cards, buying of gifts and the many hours of wrapping. The only sweet moments have been while wrapping I have watch the lovely Hallmark Christmas Stories. I find that these stories have lacked the real reason we celebrate Christmas. The movies all seem to focus on Santa. I am one that loves that little old man in the sleigh with all of of his reindeer. However, again that is not the reason for the season. 
How did I manage to let this happen? We are suppose to be celebrating the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. We should be giving Him precious gifts from our heart. 
Do we hurry and leave a small gift on our Neighbors porch and then don't take time to visit with them. On the other hand; they are probably running to and fro just like me and don't have time to chat. 
Are we leaving the Savior out in the cold or are we inviting Him in for His Birthday celebration? Are we singing songs about that sacred night?   I always love Christmas music and can hardly get enough of it. Music does calm my soul. Certain songs seem to bring the Spirit of Christmas into my heart and so I will share with you my favorite:

"Do You Have Room" by Shawna Edwards~

May you all make room for our Savior at this Christmas Time. May you feel His sweet spirit in your celebration. May you have many precious moments of time loving, serving and caring for others. May the light of Christ permeate your homes. 
Love and Merry Christmas To You All~

"Mary Had Only One Song ~

    Through the years I have had various opportunities to study, ponder, appreciate, and relate feelings and insights into this special young woman, Mary, the chosen earthly Mother of Jesus, the Christ. As there is only one Christ, there is only one Mary, of all the pre-mortal hosts, no woman is greater than she.

    Mary, anticipating the birth of Jesus, Christ, the literal Son of God, both in spirit and flesh. What feelings did Mary experience when the Angel Gabriel appeared unto her and spoke. " Blessed art thou among women." Behold, thou shalt conceive and bring forth a son. He shall be called Jesus, the Son of the Highest." Mary responded to this thrilling message with the words which reflect the depth of her spirituality and the beauty of her character: "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word."

    What did Mary feel as the months past and she prepared for the coming of the babe Jesus? She may have dreamed of a more glorious place to give birth to the Son of God than a hillside cave shared with the beasts of the field. Nevertheless, as Mary held the small babe in her arms for the first time; what were her thoughts?Thoughts and feelings of Joy, thrilling moments of anticipation, and a surge of love for this newly arrived little one.

    What were your feelings and thoughts, as you held your own little ones for the first time? You too experienced unforgettable emotions of joy, gratitude and relief. Mary filled with this joy, and in a state of unbelievable awe, brought forth the literal son of God, took the child, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.

ONLY ONE SONG

For this brief moment

He was her child...

Newborn, soft and warm

Against her breast.

Outside, the world could wait

to claim this infant King;

but for this brief time

He was Mary's child.

Let the Star falter in the sky!

Let the Wise Men pause in their Journey!

Let the Heavenly Angels hush their singing

"All Hail, the Newborn King!"

For in Mary's heart

there was only one song..

as silent lullaby

that only mothers sing.

By Alda Brown - published in 1965 Relief Society Magazine

Jesus Christ, A Light Unto All - The Christmas Gift~

When I was in eighth grade I was asked to be the narrator of the Jr. High's Christmas Program. I was honored to have that opportunity; but very scared to do something like that. I was to memorize Luke 2 from the Old Testament. This wasn't an easy task for me; but with much practise I soon mastered the memorization. On the night of the performance; I was so nervous. As I went to the microphone the lights on the stage made it so I was unable to see the whole audience so that helped with some of my stage fright. As I recited the beautiful verses from Luke 2; I was filled with a deep love for my Savior. The music played by the Jr. High Orchestra  and the singing by the choir was so heartfelt. This was such a wonderful experience in my life. Even this day I can quote portions of Luke 2.
Throughout the world we have missionaries both young men ages 18 and older and young woman 19 and older that serve 18 months to 2 year missions for our church.These missionaries are in a companionship and they work hard to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They serve throughout the world. This season they will not be going home for Christmas and they do get homesick. However, most of them will tell you that being on a mission during Christmas time was one of their favorite moments on their missions. This Christmas season they will be sharing their thoughts on Christ; his birth and life. I hope you will take a moment to listen to a few of their thoughts on the Birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ found in the New Testament: Luke 2.

"Fear Not - Be Of Good Cheer"~

Last Friday night we attended a lovely Christmas program for our Inner City Mission. There were a multitude of couple missionaries and the room was filled with a sweet spirit. A comment was made by two of the speakers that the room was filled with not only earthly angels but perhaps even heavenly ones.
One of the speakers talked about how there are earthly angels such as friends, visiting teachers, home teachers, or family members who come and give love and encouragement during difficult times. There are also ministering angels sometimes sent from God to warn, give messages of hope and to  give comfort when in need. Some of these angels are seen or unseen visitors. This speaker shared the thought that  Inner City Missionaries are earthly angels caring for the poor and the needy.
She then shared a difficult experience that she had had in her own life when a child was born early and was in critical condition. One of the Apostles was visiting in the the hospital and they asked if he might give this new little one a blessing. Before he did so; he asked the mother if she had faith for this baby to be healed and she answered in the affirmative. Then he asked if she had fear.She paused for a moment and then answered, yes. He told her that she needed to think deeply about that answer. She immediately went for a stroll in the halls and after sometime came back and told him that she now had no fear. A miracle did occur that night. A priesthood blessings was given and her sweet little one lived. Both her and her husband's testimony was strengthened. Indeed, an earthly angel came to rescue them that day.  
This experience brought back vivid memories of our little granddaughter, Averi. She was hospitalized at the age of 9 months. She was in the hospital for 5 months and her condition was critical for most of that time. She was one of the sickest babies that the PICU had ever taken care of. She was on a respirator for lung failure. She was on Kidney dialysis for kidney failure. She had other major health issues.
I remember one night kneeling on a bathroom floor pleading for her to be healed and then feeling that sweet comfort of the spirit warming my heart with the knowledge that she would live. Even though there was many touch and go moments; I keep that feeling in my heart. I just knew she would live. I felt at times that angels surrounded her to bare her up and also our family. She is now 10 years old and although blind she is a treasured granddaughter and brings much joy into our lives.
In thinking about this time in my life and then also some of the thoughts from this message the other night. I related to the thought; do you have faith or do you have fear? I have read a few times that where there is fear; there is doubt. Fear is the opposite of faith. Cultivating faith and trust in our lives is basic for a growing and thriving testimony of the Savior.
I realized that often times when angels have come to give a message to a chosen person such as Mary, the mother of our Savior. The Angel's words are as follows:
 Luke 1:30; "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God.

 

 Again, Angels visited the Sheppard's in the fields and said unto them as found in
Luke 2: 9-10; "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

I love this month of celebrating the Birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. I believe with all my heart that He lives, He is our brother, He is our Savior, He is our Redeemer and He is the King of Kings. Our Savior, Jesus will come again for His Millennial reign. I look forward to that day.
I would love to be there when my sweet granddaughter goes forward to meet him and He will heal her. She will see again and be made whole. I have faith in Him; I trust in Him.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the glad tidings spoken of by the angels. We should not fear; but have faith in his promises.  Even Christ has told us many times; "Be of good cheer".
D&C 61:36; "And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you".
D&C 68: 6; "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the Living God, and I was, that I am, and that I am to come."