Contentment

Right now, in this moment, in this time of my life, I am content.

I have been surrounded by people I love during the most wonderful, loving, happy, giving,  joyful time of year. I feel gratitude for the people I am blessed to have in my life and for the experiences I am given.  I feel loved by my family, friends, and my Heavenly Father. I feel the love of Christ, and I know I am supposed to help others feel that love He has to offer them. Contentment. Peace and rest to my soul.

Christmas Eve with the Summers family

Jack watch, Matt boots

Meg got a boxer blankie

My sweet gandmother

The traditional watching of A Muppet Christmas Carol

My mom and dad

Stockings on Christmas morning



Stitch

In all my contentment I understand that things will change. Life comes at you fast. Problems arise, health fades, opportunities differ. So I am clinging to the contented moments and putting them away to remember in the harder ones. And giving myself a little advice to soften and clarify the times when I'm not quite so content. In no specific order, this is what comes to mind.

It is critical to my spirit to search for Light-in everyone, in everything. It may be buried, it may be weak, but it's there if you look for it. It can change everything.

Understanding the difference between true judgments and personal opinions, values and insights can save more hurt feelings than just about anything else. So many times we assume we are being judged when someone voices something different from what we are thinking/doing/believing. We are usually judging ourselves harder than any one else could.

Love is the answer, really and truly. It strengthens, it heals, it brings understanding and peace. It gives continually without taking anything away. It grows when shared. It saves.

Someone else's achievements do not diminish my own. Everyone deserves the chance to grow, gain strength, and be blessed.

A beautiful outside cannot make your inside beautiful. Inner beauty radiates outward. Inner beauty can make anyone beautiful. I think everyone wants to be beautiful. The good news is, everyone really can.

Every day is a new beginning. Every moment is a chance to change. There's always a silver lining. There's always a way to see light.

Happy New Year!



Pieces of Peace

I am not a physically strong person. I try, but am not. This has been a very physically trying week. When I have one of those weeks I am really good at beating myself up over it. Last year at girls camp my heart went crazy during the "big hike". I was terrified I would be on the news being airlifted out of Snow Canyon. Blessedly, Chad was there with me and through much patience got me out of there. I have never gotten over the embarrassment of almost-but not quite (less than 1/2 a mile from our destination!) making it. I know people that have energy from the moment they get up until they go to bed. I'm jealous. I have never been that way. I have family members who train for marathons while I know that is physically impossible for me. I'm lucky if I get a mile done on my treadmill a few times a week. Don't get me wrong...I have absolutely no desire to run marathons,  but the fact that I can't do it frustrates me. And granted, a decent bedtime might help my situation a little. The fact of the matter is that I had a lot of expectations on me this week and I fell short of a lot of them. For each day that I got through, the next one was more wearying. I didn't sleep well, I had nightmares when I did, and I had nausea that wouldn't go away. So I worried about the things I was not getting done. Which made me more weary. See the cycle?

I depend on inspiration quite often to keep me focused. I am blessed that during this week of self-doubt I was also blessed with plenty of inspiration. When I listened, I was able to be calm. I knew who to talk to, and who to listen to. I had to remember that sometimes we have to wait for answers and results. I knew there were people who were just fine without me and that I had to rely on the fact that I had taken care of some of these responsibilities months ago-and l had to be at peace about it. Above all, I had to look for peaceful, calming moments and trust that God was giving those gifts to me. Here are some of the pieces of peace that got me through my week.

Watching Santino Fontana sing with the  Mormon Tabernacle Choir
last week ~and remembering the exhilaration and inspiration this week

Being on Temple Square with Meghan and Emma and her family got my spirit
ready for the week ahead.

Enjoying the beauty that God has placed on the earth

Loving happy moments-even someone else's

Spending time with my parents

Sitting in my piece of paradise right outside my back door