30 ¶And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (New Testament, Mark, Chapter 4)

 

Jonathan's amazing digital art. He's like a borg or something. :)

There's too much darkness in this world. We should bring as much light into it as possible. That doesn't mean ignoring the fact that there is darkness. It means recognizing that light is ALWAYS stronger than darkness. :)

(Painting: Wattle by Clifton Pugh)

Ken Jennings quote from Parade

Robert W.: You latest book idea sounds cool; you should collaborate with the MythBusters! My question: Geeks are far cooler now than they used to be. What do you think was the biggest factor in that change? 

Ken Jennings: Robert: I think two things led to geeks winning the terrible jocks-vs-nerds conflicts of the 1980s. One was the computer revolution: today's big tycoons and power players aren't broad-muscles he-men with big muttonchop sideburns like Rockefellers and Vanderbilts. They're pale, spindly creatures with acne scars and possibly some kind of autism-spectrum disorder: your Zuckerbergs and Gateses and Jobses. Second, the first kids raised on geek culture grew up and started running media companies, so now hobbits and wizards and superheroes aren't niche properties anymore, they're the subjects of summer tentpole movies.

Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you.
God does not look on the outward appearance.  I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.
He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.
What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us.

 (2009 October General Conference, The Love of God, Sat. Morning Session - Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have ^apeace. In the ^bworld ye shall have ^ctribulation: but be of good ^dcheer; I have ^eovercome the world."  John 16:33

Advice my cousin heard her 3 yr old giving her 2 yr old. "So the moral of the story is don't put a whole roll of toilet paper in the toilet and don't put your hand under the couch." Wish I heard the rest of that story! ;)

Brian's Story

There was a squirrel on a plane to Utah. His plane was shot down by another squirrel, an army squirrel. So the squirrel jumped out. Then he got kidnapped by squirrel thieves. They took him to their hideout. Then they tied him to a chair, until the squirrel smashed into a wall. (At this point Tyler and Brian debated how the squirrel got free. Tyler suggested just untying himself. ;)) Then the squirrel went to a airport and went on a plane to Utah.

THE END! ;)

I wandered out into the rain tonight. I didn't plan to stay. But the drops were touching my skin, and the sky was dark and warm. So I had to stand out for a while And let the rain wash away all of the tired and sad And all of the "I shoulds". And for a while it was just okay to be me. Better than okay. For I while I was greatly loved exactly the way I am. :)

When I was alone, would you have been there?
When I was terrified, would you have held me?
When my world was falling apart, would you have helped hold me together?
When I needed someone, would you have been there?

When I couldn't find anything to love about myself, would you have loved me?
When I was in pain, would you have held me?
When I could barely remember my own name, would you have reminded me?
When I could hardly function, would you have helped me?

When I would smile during the day and cry every night, would you have held me?
When all I wanted to do was hide, would you have loved me?
When I looked haggard, old, and tired, would you have loved me?
When I was numb, would you have held me til I could feel again?

When I was sinking into myself, would you have helped me?
When I felt like a terrible person, would you have loved me?

Master the Tempest is Raging

Love this song! But couldn't find a good version on youtube. Love this talk also. The words of the song are the best part anyway. :) Feel like I've posted this before. Can't find it though. So maybe I just thought about posting it. Who knows! ;)

Went to the temple tonight with the boys. So nice! Needed it so bad! Was like getting to rest in heaven for a while. Felt like a vacation. Feel so much better! Worth all the effort to get there. Going to go again soon! :)

Love this song! The words always help me so much! So here they are.

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior, Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health, In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth, At home or abroad, on the land or the sea— As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand, As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow, For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume, Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

E’en down to old age, all my people shall prove My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love; And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn, Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they still, Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

Text: Attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835. Music: Attr. to J. Ellis, ca. 1889 Isaiah 41:10; 43:2–5 (Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 85. How Firm a Foundation)

Wowee Zowee! (Or however you spell that. ;)) Played therapist 90% of today. Let's see. I had 6 patients today. I need to get an office & start charging. LOL!! Good thing I'm doing good & haven't minded. I did want to be a therapist after all. It's just my lifestyle, not my career. ;)

Been doing very, very good. Happened to stumble on this while looking for something else. And since it's one of my all-time favorite hymns and an absolutely gorgeous arrangement, I wanted to share. :)
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/music?lang=eng

Today's been a much better day. Mainly because I went for a long walk with Cookie & it made me feel so much better. So going to focus on being sure I walk or run every day. I feel soo much better when I do. :)

Mustn't give in to depression now. Absolutely the worst thing I could possibly do right. Have to fight hard with everything I have. I will NOT give in!

Just want to chat somehow. Whatever works.

Okay, for starters, I'm going to get rid of most of the junk in this house. It's been a huge problem for me ever since we moved here. We've accumulated too much junk and it just makes my life harder. So everything but the most important things are going. Next, what's next. I'm not sure. :) But this is step one. All but the best stuff is going. I'll get the boys to help. No more junk! :) So that's the goal for this week. :) Okay, I feel better now! Now to finish the darn laundry. Blech! ;)

Need to figure out who I'm going to be now. :) Time to be me. So time to find out who that is. :)