Everyday Life & some quotes

Today was a day filled with the mundane chores of life.  Dishes, loads of laundry, picking up yet another toy--I contemplated taking pictures to post so my kids would see that my life wasn't always swimming & Popsicle but then that just seemed like another thing to do so..I didn't. Plus I'm sure no one wants to see pictures of piles of laundry, dirty dishes and toys strewn about a house. Although if they weren't mine I think I'd kind of like to see that someone else let their house reach that level of chaos...

I had the opportunity this morning to go help a woman in my ward. Usually when I visit she just wants to sleep but she was having a good day so we chatted while I did her dishes and a load of laundry. While I was scrubbing her dishes I realized how happy I was to do them for her.  My memories surfacing of just over a year ago, laying on my couch, watching others do things for me when I wasn't able.  It was so humbling to have to be served by so many people. It was so nice to be on the other side this time and be able to serve someone else.  I was so happy to do her cleaning and joked with her that it was nice to do cleaning that wouldn't get undone in ten seconds like it does at home.

When I got done cleaning up I read to her from the Ensigns sitting by her bed.  The articles I read to her were ones I have read before but a lot stood out to me so I came home and looked up my favorite quotes from what I read her.


From President Monson, "quoting Charles Swindoll, 'Attitude, to me, is more important than...the past, ...than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, then what other people think or say or do.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day.'  We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails"

Ralph Waldo Emerson "Whatever yo do, you need courage.  Whatever course you decide on, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brace men and women to win them."

Elder Richard G. Scott, "Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously.  When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grove more (see Proverbs 3:11-12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit.  To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain...This life is an experience in profound trust--trust in Jesus Christ."

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on Why does Heavenly Father love us? "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 resume 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, not 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."