"Memories are molecules that make up eternity"

I so needed this little kick in the rear on keeping the eternal perspective in life! Far too often I am running around cleaning messes, doing laundry, cooking, doing dishes, changing diapers, cooking AGAIN, doing dishes AGAIN, and all the other mundane tasks of a housewife that I forget the most important thing: to be there in the moment with my family.

Messes will always be there but little Bicho will not always be little. She will not always be tugging at my pants, asking me to take her around the condo to touch all of the light switches she can't reach. She will realize I am not so funny when I make a silly face or do a funny dance. And it wont be long until she grows out of letting me hold her hand and sing to her as she falls asleep in her crib. Instead of letting these moments frustrate me, I will embrace them and be in the moment with her. Instead of working on my "to-do" list, I will focus more on my "to-be" list. I will BE in the moment!

"Its not so much the major events as the small day-to-day decisions that map the course of our living"

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

 I love this talk from Oct 2010 conference. I loved it when I first heard it and I love it even more now!

Belated Easter Thought

Christus Consolator

by Carl Heinrich Bloch

He was born in an obscure village

The child of a peasant woman

He grew up in another obscure village

Where he worked in a carpenter shop

Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book

He never held an office

He never went to college

He never visited a big city

He never travelled more than two hundred miles

From the place where he was born

He did none of the things

Usually associated with greatness

He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away

One of them denied him

He was turned over to his enemies

And went through the mockery of a trial

He was nailed to a cross between two thieves

While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing

The only property he had on earth

When he was dead

He was laid in a borrowed grave

Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone

And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race

And the leader of mankind's progress

All the armies that have ever marched

All the navies that have ever sailed

All the parliaments that have ever sat

All the kings that ever reigned put together

Have not affected the life of mankind on earth

As powerfully as that one solitary life

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

A Sigh of Relief

(source unknown - if you know, please tell me so I can give them credit. Thanks!)

Today my dear friend from Concepcion, Chile was able to communicate with me via Facebook. Ever since I heard about the earthquake and the destruction in Chile, I have been praying for her and her family's well-being, as well as for all those who were suffering from the earthquake. From the pictures I saw, I knew Concepcion had been hit hard and on top of the devastating earthquake, a tsunami hit their city shortly after. I was afraid for my sweet Hna. Albornoz, who loved and cared for me so much as a missionary in Argentina. I would lay awake at night in my cozy bed wondering if they were living in the streets. When I tucked Bicho into bed at night, I cried wondering if my friend was laying her sweet daughter to sleep on the cold concrete.

So I breathed a sigh of relief today as she told me that her home was still intact, with minimal damage and they had enough food and water to last them until help comes. Then my beloved Albornoz began to recount how someone must remain at home to protect it at all times because of looters. She said the streets were full of violence, which frightened her. Tears streamed down my cheeks as she recounted how the school she worked at was destroyed by the earthquake and her husband's work place was swept to sea . She said "More hard times will come. Soon we all will be living deep in poverty and feel the quiet desperation that comes from not being able to find work or food in our destroyed city."

And that, my friends, has been laying heavy on my heart ever since. You see, I live in a land of bountiful opportunity. Opportunity that I mumble and grumble and complain about. I complain about living on an extremely tight budget while my husband starts out a new business, when my sweet friend wonders how she will make any money for food and shelter. I complain about having "nothing to eat", when my dear friend has no place to shop or grow food. Nevermind that there is a Wal-Mart down the street full of fresh food. Nevermind that I can sleep peacefully at night without the threat of looters or violence outside of my door.

So I counted my blessings. I asked the Lord to forgive my lack of faith and for being so ungrateful for the many blessings I have. I thanked Him for sending me a beautiful friend who is living on pure faith despite being surround by a world in chaos. You are being prayed for my dear, sweet Albornoz.

Personal Preparedness

Recently I have been feeling an urgency to get my rear in gear to get our 72 hour kits and food storage together. Not that I think anything bad is going to happen soon or that I will actually use it in the near future (although you never know!). I do believe it is my priviledge/responsibility as a wife/mother to ensure my family is prepared in case of a disaster - financial, health, medical or even a local (aka no water in the middle of the summer). Not being prepared (or even on the road to preparing) makes me anxious. And as the Lord has promised us..."If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

If you are anything like me, the thought of organizing food, water and 72 hour kits (oh and car kits!) is so overwhelming that you have no idea where to begin. Thank heavens for people who actually have it all together who have already done their food storeage/72 hour kit/car kits and are willing to share how they did it. Here are the blogs that have helped me out a bunch and I hope you can utilize them too!

http://www.iwillprepare.com/

(this website has EVERYTHING, including how to make pandemic kits in case of...well a pandemic. I love this site - which is actually written by a brother in our ward.)

http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/

(this blog gives you the basics in rotating food storage, preparing 72 hour kits and car kits. And there is a recipe index for how to actually USE your food storage. Genius!)

http://www.preparingwisely.com/blog/

(this blog demonstrates how to use things you are to have in your 72 hour kits/car kits and reviews products, such as food storage supplies and solar ovens)

What ideas do you have about being personally prepared? Feel free to share!

Dear Elliot

I found this on my friend's blog and was touched by the story. Life truly is beautiful.

Happiness

There is no better title for this post!! Did you hear the awesome news?! The church has purchased land in Cordoba, Argentina to build a temple! And as if the news couldn't get any better, our beloved prophet also announced a temple to be built in Rome, Italy - the country of my father's family. As I listened to the prophet, I couldn't contain my tears of gladness and joy for the members of these countries who are so faithful and deserving of these blessings! I stand in awe at all the incredible blessings our Heavenly Father continues to give us freely as His children.

The Love that Binds Us Forever...

This weekend we took a trip to Twin Falls to do some genealogy work. In our religion, we have beautiful, large white buildings we call temples. Inside of them, we perform work to link our families together forever. Terrence was able to help his family with this and it was an amazing experience. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity we have on earth to bind our families together forever. I feel so much love for my ancestors who have gone before me and created a legacy for me to be proud of. Although death in this life (at some point) is certain, I know that if I remain faithful to what I have promised my Heavenly Father, I can live with Him and my family again.

What more could anyone ask for?