BE IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT

Romans: 12:2 (King James Version)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are taught to be in the world but not of it. To me, this is a very difficult thing to do. When we arrived home from the spiritual environment which we were in and came back to jobs, which we had been able to put aside for a few days, it became very difficult for me to not want to bury my head in the sand. It had felt so could being clothed in the spirit that I wanted to continue that.

So, today, I stayed at home and relished a bit more in the spirit before exposing myself to the world once again. I read some Ensign talks and watched some stories of interest on the BYU channel. Tonight, I read from Abraham 3, and I prayed. DH went back to work—back to the normal grind.

I now have additional goals to add to my list, as I NEED my Heavenly Father to help me in my feeble attempts at this crazy thing we call life. I have prayed; I have studied; I now go forward in faith.

I pray that you may find some inspiration for yourselves to also go forward, even in hard times, having faith that our Heavenly Father will guide you through.

Have a blessed and organized Tuesday, All!

JOB 1

The story of Job is well known and a testament to all. Nonetheless, as I was reading in it, I was absolutely awed by his duty to God. How I could ever be like unto him, I know not. This man revered God more than any other.

Job was greatly blessed with many children and much substance.

“And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.”

“His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”





Within the space of, I’m thinking, an hour or less, this is what happened to Job.

A band “fell upon them (the oxen) and took them away…and slayed the servants, and said the messenger…” And the servant said, “…and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

“While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said…”

Fire fell from heaven and “burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them…” And the servant said, “…and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

“While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said…”

Three bands stole the camels and slayed the servants…“ And the servant said, “…and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

“While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said…”

That while his “…sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house…” a wind came and blew down the house upon the young men, and they all died…” And the servant said, “…and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”



Now this is the part that absolutely amazes me.

“Then Job arose, and “rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped…”

“And said, ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” !!!

Job 1: 2-22

I cannot even imagine if I lost my children on top of all my small amount of substance in such a short time period, how I could praise the Lord. I have a long ways to go! What an example he is to all of us in his diligence to the Lord.



BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK

FOR TODAY...FEBRUARY 24, 2009

Outside my window...Dark, peaceful, and a bit chilly.

I am thinking...Negative thoughts today—it’s just one of those days :/

I am thankful for...A president that is really trying to do well.

From the learning rooms...Too much. I am thankful for all that is available to learn!

I am wearing...my work scrubs—heading in for a grave shift soon

I am reading...A booklet on preparing to enter the Temple. My son will be going to the Temple soon and just finished a class using this booklet.

I am hoping...to rid myself of major depression, which is genetically and hormonally charged. I don’t see a cure, but hopefully there can something to abate it somewhat. It has gone on for WAY too many years! ;)

I am hearing...President Obama give his address to the nation.

Around the house...I am slowly chipping away at disorganization.

One of my favorite things...a deep peaceful sleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week:Work. I REALLY wanted to go out of state for my baby brother’s 40th birthday tomorrow. I just couldn’t make it happen. :/

Here is picture thought I am sharing...I have many blessings in my life. There is always a candle of hope burning.




You may join us at The Simple Woman's Daybook

GOOD AND EVIL

I am so thankful to belong to this blog community. I have found so many wonderful spirits here and such a feeling of togetherness…like we really AREN’T alone in trying to live good lives. The media would have us think very differently. Tonight, my dear boy and I relistened to a story that we had heard before but one that is very eye-opening. As I don’t do well with details, I will paraphrase the gist of the account. Forgive any inconsistencies, miss-spellings, etc.

Elder Boyd K. Packer had told the account of Elder Cook’s chance meeting on an airplane. This story was told, I believe, in 1989. Elder Cook boarded the plane and, as was his custom, introduced himself to the man sitting next to him and asked his name in return. The man stated his name and upon finding that Elder Cook didn’t seem to know who he was, dug out a magazine and showed his picture. It was a magazine with scantily clad women and scary faces, Elder Cook reported. The man sitting next to him was, it turned out, Mick Jaeger. Once finding this out, Elder Cook related to him that in his travels, he met many young people. He said that some of them told him that his (Jagger’s) kind of music didn’t have any effect upon them. Others, he said, were honest in the fact that they felt an evilness while listening to the music. What, he asked Mick Jagger, were his thoughts on how the music affected the youth. His exact words, to the best of my memory were, “Our music is calculated to drive kids to sex.”

The discussion went on for some time. Mick jagger said that now that the availability of music videos was there, these were able to get their message across even better and that he was making even more money because of it. He didn’t care what the kids were doing.

The first time I heard this story, I was astonished, though I should not have been, because I know the influence of bad music. What struck me was that here sat a servant of the Lord next to a servant of the devil. Elder Cook bore his testimony with force to Jagger and told him that if he did not change his ways, he would be held accountable.

We have so much working against us dear women—against our children, against our husbands, against our families. In fact, one of the things that the rock star said was that he wanted the disintegration of the family. May we continue to pray hardily, read our scriptures, and teach our families DAILY of our dear Heavenly Father and the path he wants us on.

NEW YEAR'S MUSINGS

I feel quite like an outsider as I read the wonderful blogs that I follow. I am the minority, as it seems, in blog land. I am in the transitional phase between mommy and empty nester. I confess that I hate the term and the very soon occurrence of the same. How I yearn, as I read these blogs, for my own now grown little people. How I desire those times past when I was able to stay at home and be a homeschooling mommy, a homemaker, a wife. Meals were made with love, and the house was cleaned and organized often. There are more remorses that I have that, due to causing undo hurt on others, I may not mention here. But, they are real, and they are very hurtful. They lend to the sadness I carry.

I very much dislike this passageway I find myself in and for the moment at least feel as though it leads only to much loneliness. After this comes old age and aloneness. An empty house is not ok with me. I want my children around. I want my family. I want activity and love. I very much do not want the empty shell that is soon to arrive. Never did I look forward to the day when my children would all be gone. Sure, I dreamed of not being so tied down and did indeed look forward to the days of “freedom”. I do enjoy certain aspects that come with not being a steward of little people. I do enjoy not having all of the tie downs that kids’ activities bring, that teenagers engage in, and others. But, all in all, I am very saddened by it all. By May 1st, my daughter and friend will have moved out. They are adults and need to move on with their lives, but couldn’t it be different? Couldn’t they just stay? Couldn’t we be as those souls in other countries who live together as family…forever…taking care of one another? My boy, too, will leave this Spring. He’ll be gone for two years and then back for a little season. He then will be on with his own life.

There is just something so final about it all. For all of these years, I was someone’s mommy, someone’s caregiver. Now, it will be just my husband and me. He, of course, is quite looking forward to the day. I am quite dreading it. Did I sign up for this when I married and started my family? I suppose I did, but I was so very involved in having those precious babies and caring for their every need that this day was eons away.

As I read these blogs that talk of having new little ones, homeschooling, and mothering, I am touched with a bitter finger on my heart. I do not desire to be here. I do not desire to be at the threshold of old age. While that is yet quite a ways down the road, it too will be here in the blinking of an eye, and I do not want to be the old woman who is but swept to the corner of life, only now to observe what she used to partake of—that of the motherhood she so enjoyed. Yet…I AM here, and I must make the very best of it. I must forge ahead into that cloudy abyss that I wish to shrink from. It is a time of transition, a time to allow this struggle to strengthen me. And so I shall.

I KNOW WON'T; I THINK MIGHT

I came across a blog (sorry, I don't remember who you were) and liked an entry that she posted. So, here's mine.

What I know will NOT happen this year! :

-I will no longer have children at home :( Wow, am I truly at that
stage of life?
-I will not win the lottery (I don’t play)
-I will not jump out of a plane, hang glide, or go on a roller coaster
-I will not get a dog :(
-I will not be driving a Viper—darn!

Things I think MIGHT happen this year:

-Get another year older (unless the Lord calls me home)
-Publish my planner
-Accomplish something worthwhile
-Get sewing done
-Lots of crafting
-Have an organic garden
-Make a difference in someone's life
-Pay off a bill? Hmmm…
-Become more Christ-like

NOVEMBER 29, 2008

My Saturday...

I had a wonderful and productive day. I cleaned house, did laundry, and got some meat out to thaw for tomorrow’s dinner. Chanielle and boys stopped by for a visit, which is always nice.

Christmas Shopping: I visited a couple of second-hand stores and bought a stocking stuffer and some Christmas candles. I also stopped by our local Bible book store and picked up some half-priced Christmas cards and a box of candy canes and bookmarks.

Because we are cutting down this holiday season both for frugality reasons and also to get back to the true spirit of Christmas, I have some plans. For our Christmas Eve, I will be reading a couple of newspaper articles about “Christmas” today and then talk of how Christ’s birth should really be celebrated. I will tell the story of the candy cane and hand out the peppermint sticks along with a bookmark that shows a candy cane and has a saying which includes the word “Jesus” on it. We’ll then tell the story of Christ’s birth using one of the nativity sets that I have. Our treat will be hot cocoa adorned with our mint candy canes. I think that my little grandchildren will be able to understand the meaning by the use of these visuals. We have agreed on plain brown paper wrapping for our gifts. I may hand decorate mine—something I used to do years ago.



I ordered several Christmas gifts from Lehman’s this evening. Many of the products that they offer are from days gone by. I even picked up a couple of little things for myself, my much-searched-for Fels Naptha soap and a sock darner ball! I’m so excited to get these things! Since we are only spending a very small amount on each other, the price will be quite minimal over all compared to what we usually spend. It’s a nice feeling, and the stress factor is greatly reduced!







Shopping: I spent hours going through the material and craft isle at our local Mission second-hand store. What bargains I found! I am starting a collection of Barbie’s to go with the one I got as a girl. I thought that I would have a hard time finding them, and that they may be expensive. However, I found three of them at the bottom of a cake decorating box today! They were .99 a piece; I couldn’t believe it!



Someone must have unloaded their entire attic full of crafts, as there were all sorts of items from, I am assuming, the 1960’s. How fun it was to look through all of these things. I never did find the crochet hook that I was searching for but had lots of fun just perusing the treasures. I even found a dress for $3.99. I’ll wear it to Church tomorrow.

Struggles: I had the very rough decision these past weeks of whether or not I could continue school. At long last, I decided that I just couldn’t work enough hours to pay the bills and pay for school and carry my class load too. It was very difficult to come to this conclusion, as I have tried two other times to get my degree. This time, my straight-A GPA will also be ruined. It’s an ego buster, I guess, and it stays on my record for ever. I suppose that I just didn’t push myself enough. There is always good that comes out of bad though, and my good is that I will be able to spend more time in my home and domestic endeavors. Elliott has wanted me to crochet him an afghan to take on his mission, and I would like to do some sewing also.

THE NESTING INSTINCT

What a beautiful entry placed by Peggy Hostetler on The Simple Woman, November 13, 2008. She writes in part, “I believe it is a gift from God we receive when we praise him for the nest we have, not only the nest itself, but for the nesting spirit.” http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

How I yearn to exercise this very nesting spirit which is in me! I have had it since I was but a small girl. It is so very hard having to work outside of the home and to worry about the bills that never end and the schedule that it entails. Due to my absence, my poor humble abode suffers for lack of love and care. How I yearn to stay at home full time and care for and clean and cook and perform the other domesticities of which I am so fond. But, alas, I must make the best of the circumstances in which I abide. I have many blessings and must use my time more efficiently to better satisfy this homemaker’s spirit.

SCHOOL

I love to learn. Right now, however, it is doing me in. It feels pretty near impossible to continue in the aloted time for this semester. I don't know which decision is right. Due to money (ever the all-mighty dollar), time, and/or family issues, I have had to start three times with at least two years in between restarts. I am getting impatient. Nonetheless, I don't quite know how to do it all.

Women used to be housewives. We then had to work out of the home while still keeping our duties as women of the home. We now are expected to better ourselves through learning and degrees while working outside the home and still being keepers of our home and all that that entails.

No, we don't HAVE to go to school, but if you want to earn more, in this day and age, you pretty much need to go. I guess that it's good that I enjoy learning. I don't want this to be yet another time that I must postpone or quit. But, I can't seem to make enough money for bills AND pay for school and then have the time for homework on top of it all. I just don't know how to do it all!

I am praying about it and pray that Heavenly Father shows me what I need to do.

WOMEN

• 
  I face the worldly struggles of many women, namely trying to keep a house, pay the never-ending bills, work outside of the home, and in my case, go to school. I feel extremely overwhelmed.
  
  When my children were little, I stayed at home, homeschooled, gardened, canned, and other such domestic duties. There was such a pureness in this. I loved the feeling of jars of canned goods on in the pantry, homemade muffins, and all of the pleasures that came with this frugal way of living.
  
  Along the way, about 10 years ago, it was apparently necessary for me to quit homeschooling and staying home and to go to work. Since then, there has been a void within me. I no longer do the things I did before. A home cooked meal is now a rarity, and MUCH guilt attends it all. I must say that I do enjoy bettering myself through skills that I gain at work, and I love to learn through my college classes. Nonetheless, I am greatly overwhelmed and yearn for a simpler life. I long for my little children; I long for the wholesomeness that I feel we once had. One can never turn back time, and I don't know that we should. I still love my now-grown children with all my heart, and I love my beautiful grandbabies. I just feel caught up in this ugly world of speed and greed, I have lost lots of hair over the ensuing years, and I feel as though I live in a whirlwind for which there is no escape.
  
  All is well, however. Things can be learned from all of our experiences, and I am glad for a healthy family and for the love of the Lord.
  

FRIDAY,NOVEMBER 14, 2008

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN

PROVERBS 31:10-31

10. Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her

maidens.

16. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to

the needy.

21. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are
clothed with scarlet.

22. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the lands.

24. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be

praised.

31. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Taken from the King James Bible