Christ Centered

It's hard to believe Christmas is just a few days away. One thing I won't miss is the shopping. It really doesn't matter the time of year, I'm just not a big shopper.

What I LOVE about this time of year are the family traditions we've established: our Shepherd's Dinner, the photo books we design to capture the memories of the year, the new Christmas book we read every Christmas Eve, the family gatherings, the songs of our Savior, watching It's a Wonderful Life, and witnessing random Christlike acts of service among strangers and friends.

For our family scripture study, we just finished reading a chapter drenched with the testimony of Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 25). I think what Miriam shared in family study is perfect!

"I liked verse 24 where it says to look forward with a steadfastness unto Christ. No matter what comes, we’re going to keep believing in Jesus Christ." - Miriam

Merry Christmas!

"Every day, consciously or otherwise, we all choose 'whom [we] will serve.' We demonstrate our determination to serve the Lord by faithfully engaging in daily acts of devotion. The Lord promises to direct our paths, but for Him to do that, we have to walk, trusting that He knows the way because He is 'the way.'" - (Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It By Elder L. Whitney Clayton)

Life is Good!

I take my final tomorrow.  I'm crossing my fingers I can keep my grade in the "A" range.  I have absolutely loved my nutrition class.... I may even change my major.  :)     We'll see.

Yesterday, I sang a duet in Relief Society with a dear wonderful sister in my ward, Cher. She came to me several weeks ago asking if  she could sing this song and wanted me to harmonize with her on the alto part. Cher used to sing in a Christian rock band. I love it! Each night after we had a practice at her house, our visits would last a little longer as we shared our great love for God and how He's poured out amazing miracles in our lives. I love her!

Being in Relief Society is humbling every Sunday. Sometimes, I just want to blend in and sit in the very back where no one can see me. I hope none of these sisters think that certain callings make any one of us any greater than the other. I hope every sister recognizes how much she is needed no matter if she has a calling or not.... speaking of which... I'm excited about our new curriculum coming up with First Sunday Council Meetings!

I have court this Wednesday. I think they'll decide if our foster daughter is able to go back with her bio family. I'm very torn because I know she loves them... but I have fallen in love with this little girl (we all have). Who knows though, the attorneys may extend her stay with us in foster care and we won't really know where this case is going for another four or five months.  The social worker had a visit with me last week and says she has spoken with the attorneys for DCFS and our FD. They all want her to stay with our family.

Speaking of family, I get to see my niece, Alexa, this week. I love her so much! This has been a very rough year for her. My sister, Amy (Alexa's mom), has been injured in the face and neck twice due to domestic violence. The man my sister married last year is an alcoholic and it has been destroying my sister's life. :( Alexa is a strong young woman. Thankfully, she doesn't live in the same house and is not exposed to this nightmare firsthand. It's heartbreaking for her though because she loves her mother so much. I pray for my sister constantly.

Some good news in my family though is that my brother, Keith, is celebrating one year of sobriety this year. I'm very proud of him! And, I get to see my younger brother, Kenneth (from Texas), next week. He has two children now. They had only planned on having one child at first so I'm very glad Kenneth finally gets to experience raising siblings. It's so fun to see the diversity of personality with each child.

I can't imagine my life without each one of my children. I love their varying personalities. When I woke up this morning and came downstairs, I heard Chandler's night music playing softly in the background and saw the glow of Christmas lights strung around his room. I smiled and thought to myself, "He's still a kid. I hope he never looses that sense of wonder." In that moment, an overwhelming love and gratitude for each one of my children filled my heart. Nothing brings me more joy than my children! I thought of Kaylee and how wonderful she is at the piano. I thought of Micah and the amazing cardboard pistol he made last night, complete with cocking ability and a magazine that detaches. I thought of adorable Miriam and the hours she spends every day writing novels - She's an incredibly talented story-teller! I'm so pleased with how all of my children are turning out. I'm especially impressed with how they've embraced this little bonus child in our home.

Life is good!

Our Kid's Scripture Thoughts - First Month Since Stake Conference

About a month ago we felt we should do our family scripture study with a new approach instead of our traditional way. This new approach has helped our kids share more of their own thoughts about what they are reading. So far, we really like it better.


11-6-17  2Nephi 4:28-35

Miriam: I like verse 28. When Nephi writes you think he’s some perfect person and never gets tempted. But he says, “no longer droop in sin” and “give place no more for the enemy of my soul”

Kaylee: I like the same as Miriam’s.

Chandler: Verse 34 stood out to me. Trust in man is weakness.

Micah: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

11-7-17  2Nephi 5:1-12

Miriam: It’s a very toxic environment with Nephi’s brothers. I like what dad said about forgiving his brothers multiple times.

Kaylee: I really liked verse 5 how the Lord warned Nephi.

Chandler: I like verse 11. That the Lord will take care of people who look after himself.

Micah: If I were Nephi, in the night I would gather together my good family and brothers and those who didn’t hate me and leave.  (Joseph: “Micah, that’s exactly what they did.”) No they didn’t. (Joseph: “Yes they did, read verse 5) Oh!! Ha ha yeah! That’s what I would do.

11-8-17  2Nephi 5:13-24

Miriam: I like verse 18 where they ask Nephi if he would be their king and he said, “no”. He didn’t want to be above them but he did for them “what was in his power”.

Kaylee: I guess I like that verse where Nephi built a temple…. but how do their temples look? Does it look like sand? You know the classic sand castles, does it look like that? I want to see a marble temple.

Chandler: Those who ignore the word of God will be cut off from His presence.  You end up saying, “I love God but don’t want to do what He says.”

Micah: I liked how Nephi didn’t want to be king but he became a leader even though it wasn’t something he wanted.

11-9-17  2Nephi 5:25-34

Miriam: Journal keeping is important to Nephi. It’s important for us to keep journals as well as it might bless future generations.

Kaylee: They lived in happiness

Chandler: Nephi wrote the things that are pleasing to God. If you like the things that are pleasing to God, you will appreciate the Book of Mormon.

Micah: They lived in happiness

11-10-17  2Nephi 6:1-12

Miriam: I liked verse 11, that the house of Israel would be scattered and that when they come to know their redeemer they are gathered again.

Kaylee: I don’t know if this is what it was but I like the verse where it says the kings would be nursing fathers and the queens would be nursing mothers..

Chandler: I like verse 10 where to me it says the Lord won’t punish you if you struggle with your testimony. It’s only when we deliberately reject Him.

Micah: I like verse 3 where the whole verse Jacob is talking about the welfare of our souls.

11-13-17  2Nephi 6:1-18

Miriam: Verse 11 “wherefore after they are driven to and fro… they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; nevertheless the Lord will be merciful to them”.  Even though the people were hated by everyone else the Lord was still merciful unto them.

Kaylee: (Dad asked Kaylee what it means when it says, “the Lord will fulfill his covenant”.) Kaylee answered, “That the Lord is going to do what he’s covenanted, what He has promised.”

Chandler: Verse 17 - God will deliver even those in the worst situations. The Lord will remember them.

Micah: I like the way it says that if you don’t believe you will be destroyed by fire and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine.

11-14-17 2 Nephi 7:1-11

Miriam: I liked that too. That’s what I was going to say (see Mom’s comment :) ). He didn’t hide his face in shame, he just let it happen.

Chandler: Verse 11. Those who rely on their own wisdom or their own fire will end up regretting.

Micah: Verse 7. The Lord God will help me therefore I shall not be confounded. I know I will not be ashamed.

Kaylee: Jesus is given the gift of tongues.

11-15-17 2 Nephi 8: 1-12

Miriam: I like verse 3. “For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” I like how happy it sounds.

Chandler: I like verse 8. “For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. But my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.” He uses really really small things that will rip everything down that man tries to build. But nothing can tear down what God builds.

Micah: I like verse 9. I like that is says “dragon” because their cool. I like how it says “awake, awake” don’t groan!

Kaylee: I like what Miriam said... that “the Lord shall comfort Zion”.

11-16-17 2 Nephi 8: 13-25

Miriam: Verse 21 - Drunken and not with wine. What are they drunk with that is not wine? See verse 17.

Chandler: Verse 22 - The Lord will plead for your cause.

Micah: "Moan!"

Kaylee:  I like what Miriam said. Is God the God of love?

11-17-17 2 Nephi 9:1-9

Miriam: I liked verse 6, “for as death that passed upon all men, to …. There must be a power of ressurection.”  It says that death is part of the plan.  It doesn’t have to be miserable. Death is a good thing. So, when you're dead we should have a party like, “He dead! Celebrate!”

Chandler: I think it was verse 5 - I like, “Without God you would be nothing but dust.”

Micah: I liked how he was connecting different things together that have happened in the scriptures. So, in verse 6 it says, “For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.” see how it’s connected.

Kaylee: I liked verse 8 that the devil will rise no more. (Dad corrected her. Oh, that’s actually saying that WE

11-20-17 2 Nephi 9:10-16

Chandler: Verse 14. The wicked shall have a perfect knowledge of their sins and the righteous will have a perfect to knowledge of their joy. Sin will haunt you for the rest of your life. The righteous will be able to live their lives happily.

Miriam: Verse 10. Prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of death and hell.

Micah: Verse 11. I like how it specifies a temporal death. Death is not the end. After death you are reborn in your spirit.

Kaylee: Verse 10. The Lord has prepared a way for our escape.

11-21-17 2 Nephi 9:17-24

Chandler: I like verse 22. It says that all men will be resurrected. All men will be judged.

Miriam: I like verse 20. You can’t really keep secrets from God. He knows.

Micah: I liked 17 through 20 because nearly each one started out with praising God.

Kaylee: I liked how in verse 18 it says that the saints believed in Christ.

11-22-17 2 Nephi 9:25-38

Micah: I like verse 25 where it says ...for there’s no punishment then there’s no condemnation, and if there’s no atonement there’s no mercy and stuff. It’s talking about because of the atonement, everyone can be saved.

Kaylee: I was going to share what Miriam said. Those people that will not hear and will not see will perish… what does perish mean?

Chandler: I like 26. The Lord won’t punish you for something you had no clue was wrong.

Miriam: I liked verses 31 and 32 “wo unto the deaf that WILL NOT hear” and “wo unto the blind that WILL NOT see”. It doesn’t say that they can not it says that they will not…. It’s totally their own choice.

11-27-17 2 Nephi 9:39-44

Micah: I like 42. God despises the rich and powerful.

Kaylee: I like the verse that says they should consider themselves foolish before God.

Chandler: I like verse 43. The wise in their own eyes and the proud will be brought to nothing.

Miriam: I like the end of verse 39. Remember to be carnallly minded is death and to be spiritually minded is life eternal. The way you’re thinking can affect you. The mind is powerful!

11-29-17 2 Nephi 9:45-54

Micah: I liked 48. “Ye look upon me as a teacher” Jacob’s saying that even if you aren’t righteous he’s willing to help you learn.

Kaylee: I liked 45. God is the rock of our Salvation. When hard things come into your life He will help you.

Chandler: I like verse 50. It said if you’re thirsty come get some drink or if you’re hungry come get some food. God doesn’t turn you away if you’re lacking something.

Miriam: I like verse 49. Sin is completely repulsive to Jacob and he rejoices in righteousness.

11-30-2017 2 Nephi 10:1-9

Chandler: Nothing will stand against the Lord and Zion

Miriam: Nothing stood out. I like the discussion of the battleship and the lighthouse and how it relates to being smug about things that are of no value. (Something like that).

Micah: Verse 5. I just read through the verses and I just liked verse 5.

Kaylee: Verse 7. The whole verse. I like the idea of being restored.

Mom: Verse 5. The movie Risen illustrates priestcrafts well, using the Sandhedrin as example. Religious people can be the very ones that are the greatest antagonists. We must avoid the pursuit of personal gain which causes the people to become angry toward spiritual things.

Dad: I like the promise of gathering, both generally and individually. While we may feel scattered at times in our lives, the Lord has promised a gathering. How can we position ourselves so that we can be gathered with the saints of God?

12-1-17 2 Nephi 10:10-19

Chandler: I liked 17. The Lord will always keep His promises. He’s bound to us. It means when He makes a promise, He won’t break it. The only way it can be broken is if WE break it.

Miriam: I liked verse 11. I like how it says there was no king in the land.  Sounds like how  America should be... King Trump isn’t working out very well.

Micah: I also liked verse 17. I like what Chandler said about it. I liked how it says that because the Lord keeps His promises, it means He is very, very trustworthy! He’s the most trustworthy person we could ever trust.

Kaylee: I liked verse 18 that God would soften the Gentiles hearts.

12-4-17 2 Nephi 10:20-25

Micah: I like 25. “By the power of the atonement that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God.” It’s saying you can have eternal life!

Kaylee: I like 24. How it says that it is only in and through the grace of God that we are saved. It says that you will be saved with God.

Chandler: I like 23. The fact that we can choose for ourselves should bring us joy.

Miriam: I like 23. “ye are free to act for yourselves” - The choice you make is completely up to you. God doesn’t force you to do anything.

12-5-17 2 Nephi 11

Micah: Verse 3. And He proveth all His words. He never lies and always tells the truth. You can always trust Him. I like how he is glad to be prophesying unto his people.

Kaylee: Verse 2. They had seen their Redeemer. I like this because they had seen Him. Would you like to see Him? Yeah.

Chandler: Verse 6. Without Christ you are not saved. Your works can do nothing. Your works will do nothing to save you. It is all through Christ.

Miriam: Verse 4-6. My soul delighteth.

12-6-17 2 Nephi 12:1-12

Micah: I also liked 11. People will end up recognizing that there’s a Savior and stuff.

Kaylee:  (Sick this morning.)

Chandler:  I like verse 11. Everyone who flaunts themselves will get what they have coming to him.

Miriam: I like verse 18. God will utterly abolish their idols.

12-7-2017 2 Nephi 12:13-22

Chandler: Verse 20. It’ll be men’s choice to rid themselves of their idols.

Miriam: Verse 20. Our idols will be useless and won’t be worth anything to them anymore.

Micah: Verse 19-20. In the last days all the wicked will be destroyed and their idols will be given up.

Kaylee: Verse 22. I like how it says they will breathe.

12-8-2017 2 Nephi 13:1-10

Chandler: I like verses 10 and 11. You basically really can do whatever you want but just beware. You will receive your reward.

Miriam: I like how it’s talking about the last days and that Isaiah was able to predict all this. There are some things I read from Isaiah and I think, “That sounds familiar!”

Micah: Verse 9. The things that they trusted in before, in the last days will turn against them.

Kaylee: Verse 10 “they shall eat the fruit of their doings” If you choose certain things in life you get blessings.

God Keeps His Promises!

Somewhere around six-and-a-half years ago, I remember having a huge faith building experience: My life felt very hectic and I was being pulled in every direction: I was serving as the Primary President of our Ward,  I was an apartment manager (juggling plumbing and appliance repairs for our complex), I was homeschooling four young children, and I was doing it all as a "single parent" (Joseph was absent for two straight months on his internship in Maryland.  And when he wasn't on his internship, he was at school six days a week until 11pm every night). Needless to say, I was extremely busy and felt like I couldn't take on any more responsibilities.  

One day, a woman from New York named Laura found my Etsy shop and contacted me.  Laura requested that I sketch a portrait of Christ holding her newborn son who passed away at birth. The picture she emailed me of her son was difficult to draw because of the swelling and discoloration on his face and she didn't have the money it took to pay for a custom drawing. Honestly, I didn't feel like I had the time to do the sketch anyway with my insanely busy life.

I remember going to the temple, fasting and praying about my Etsy shop, wanting it to be a great tool for me to share the Gospel. It had only been open a couple months when Laura contacted me. I just wasn't sure if this particular drawing for her was necessary for me to do.  I remember thinking that if I chose to do the sketch, the only thing that would make it worth it would be if the Lord could use it to touch and heal Laura's heart.... But not just her heart only....  I desired that the Lord would somehow multiply this one drawing to bless the lives of many other mothers who had lost their babies at birth. I didn't know how or what that would look like.... but I just prayed that the Lord would use this particular drawing to spread hope of our Savior and that it would be a great tool for missionary work.

During the end of the temple session I began to be overwhelmed with discouragement and think to myself, "That's nonsense to make a request like that. Why and how would the Lord use my artwork for missionary work? My art is so inexperienced. God has plenty of other artists in this Church who can draw a million times better than me. My art is amateur!" The word "weak" began to swirl in my head like an ominous black cloud. Fear and doubt were taking over my thoughts. I began to think my desire to use this one drawing as a tool to bless the lives of many other mothers was crazy thinking. "Who am I to ask for a miracle like this?"

Despite my weaknesses, despite my fear, the Lord heard the prayer of my heart. (I've included the miraculous way my answer came in my journal entry below. ) I have witnessed miracle upon miracle with this sketch far exceeding anything I could have ever done.  I know that God hears our prayers!! I know this!!

Journal Entry: 7-9-2011

....After the endowment session, I entered the Celestial Room.  Resting on the table next to me, was a set of scriptures.  After I finished praying, I opened the scriptures up and found myself reading in D&C 35.  My eyes fell upon the last line of verse three, “I have looked upon thy works.  I have heard thy prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work.  Thou art blessed for thou shalt do great things.”

I thought to myself ,"maybe it was coincidence I found that particular verse." So, I turned the page and started reading in a different spot… and my eyes fell directly upon these words in vrs. eight, “I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs , and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name.”  I felt the Spirit pouring out upon me and my eyes began to well up with tears.  Could this really be more than a chance that I had found these scriptures at this moment?  I hadn’t been really familiar with this section at all.  I skipped ahead a few verses, and here's the kicker... It said, “I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thrash the nations by the power of my Spirit.”  By this time, the tears were streaming down my face.  So strong was the feeling that my prayer was answered very specifically and that I would receive the blessing I had been praying for.  I stared at the pages and just cried.  

Then, as I was leaving the temple, I had just walked out the door and was standing near the entrance way, when I got a text from Joseph.  He said, “Good luck with your sketch, I know the Lord will bless you with it.”  The timing was perfect!

Well.... fast forward six-and-a-half years.... I'm thrilled to share the following that proves how incredibly faithful our Father in Heaven is in keeping His word and hearing our sincere prayers:

It is no coincidence to me that after I petitioned the Lord regarding this sketch, it is the number one requested on my shop and has been sold to every state in the United States. With each shipment, I send my customers the web address to two of the Church's Bible videos: Because of Him and Because He Lives.

For non-profit, I have had the Archdiocese of Kansas City,  Altoona-Johnstown Diocese in Pennsylvania, and the Archdiocese of Omaha request the sketch for prayer cards and care packages. There's also a Christian group in Texas called ABC Ministries who the sketch has been donated to. They have it printed on the cover of a CD they give to grieving families. And this sketch has been part of several fundraisers across the states: Primary Children's (SLC, UT), Toast to Life (Richmond, VA), Christian Academy Silent Auction (Raleigh, NC), Kansans for Life (Wichita, KS), and Brittany's Babies Auction (Winchester, KY).

Just about two weeks ago, one of my customers messaged me to tell me that the sketch she had ordered for her niece was featured on a local Tennessee news station. Sure enough about half-way through the story, there's a brief view of the sketch (1:18 or 1:20 into the video). But more than seeing my sketch in their home, It strengthened me to hear the faith this mother expressed, the hope she has found through Christ!! Very rarely do I ever get to see the full story of these children and their families. This was very meaningful to me, to realize there are so many other touching and inspiring stories like Owen’s.

In all of these experiences I think of the conversation Ammon had with his brothers and feel the very same as I apply it to me. (Alma 26:10-12)

And it came to pass that when [Alicia] had said these words, [the people] rebuked [her], saying: [Alicia], I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting.

But [Alicia] said unto [them]: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own [artwork]; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength [and my talents] I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which [I] will praise his name forever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6cBkj8worM