Crafty Creature

Our sweet second grader is very creative!   Just see what she has made. An iPad and iPhone for Mom and a pop-up card for her you get brother. 

In My Brother's (or Sister's) Shoes

Liam's really into shoes-- at least those that are not his own!  Especially "boots."  These are sister Susie's (and smelly).   The shoes are Jonathan's and made him very happy. "I'm a big kid now!"

A Happy New Year 2015?

10 Happiness Tips From Gordon B. Hinckley

December 3, 2014

by Samantha Shelley

Gordon B. Hinckley had a lot of great things to say, particularly regarding how we can be happy in life. So here’s a compilation of tips from him! 

1. The purpose of life is to be happy!

Life is to be enjoyed, not endured.

Adam fell so that we might have joy! Don’t forget that when life gets busy or stressful or overwhelming. If you aren’t happy, you probably need to make some changes so you will be!

2. Happiness cannot be achieved if we are selfish or constantly complaining!

Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others…By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves.

Complaining can be fun, I know. But it can also be really detrimental to our happiness. I’ve definitely experienced what it’s like to create bigger problems that I originally had simply by complaining too much. So be careful! Stay selfless, and turn outward as often as possible. 

3. God is in charge when we’re righteous, so always stay positive!

It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.

In “The Surprising Science of Happiness” (a TED talk I HIGHLY recommend to everyone), Dan Gilbert explains that humans have a tendency to overestimate how bad the outcome of a certain event will be. A study showed that most of the time, if something happened more than three months ago, it has no effect on our happiness. They used the example of people winning the lottery and people become paraplegic. Three months after both events occurring, both groups of people reported similar happiness levels.

We would do well to remember the counsel of Mormon 5:23: “Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?” 

4. We should set realistic goals for ourselves – not impossible ones that will make us feel like failures.

Aim high, but do not aim so high that you totally miss the target.

President Hinckley said this with regards to finding a husband, but it’s definitely applicable in life generally. Know what truly matters and what doesn’t – you’ll be a lot happier and more fulfilled. Also, make sure you don’t beat yourself up for not meeting an expectation you had for yourself. God typically uses positive motivation, while Satan tries to make us feel “not good enough” and discouraged.

5. Never underestimate the value of laughing.

In all of living, have much fun and laughter.

It may not be for everyone, but I personally love to make jokes about my trials. Making fun of myself makes things that are hard to bear seem a little lighter. I can think of few things as great in life as laughing. So do it a lot. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh, and be someone who sees the humor in different situations.

If you want to laugh until you cry right now, read this (“Snuggie Texts”). It’s hilarious.

Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great purpose in heart.

6. Pray. K?

Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.

For most of us, prayer is not the first thing we do when faced with something challenging, or when seeking more happiness. But it probably should be. Pray when you don’t want to pray. Find ways to remember to pray. And work on improving your prayers constantly.

7. Improve your attitude. Specifically, be less negative and more positive.

Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.

Complaining might feel good sometimes, but as Elder Holland taught, there is no problem so bad that whining about it won’t make it worse! According to various studies, around 70% of our thoughts are negative. I would hope that figure is far less for members of the Church, but either way – it highlights what a great need there is for more positivity! Positive people are always the best to be around.

8. Happiness requires work.

The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.

Most days I wake up and think, “Man, I wish I didn’t have to work 8-5 today. I would much rather stay in bed and watch Gossip Girl.” But I go to work, and I feel good at the end of the day. On days where I give in to my desires and take the day off for no good reason, I usually feel kind of crappy, or at least, not as happy as I thought I’d be after a day watching Chase Crawford on screen.

You can’t plow a field simply by turning it over in your mind.

There have been times in life where I’m so fixated on being happy that I allow it to stress me out when I think I’m not “happy enough”. Elder Holland, in a BYUI devotional, said that we don’t find happiness by charging straight toward it, but by doing things consistently that lead to contentment. So basically, don’t constantly wonder if you’re happy enough – just constantly do things that will help you achieve increased happiness! And that involves a lot of helping others.

9. Study things that matter.

You can be smart and happy or stupid and miserable. . . it’s your choice

The glory of God is intelligence, and God has eternal happiness. So if we want to be like Him, we need to make the effort to gain intelligence.

10. Read more.

It is both relaxing and invigorating to occasionally set aside the worries of life, seek the company of a friendly book…from the reading of ‘good books’ there comes a richness of life that can be obtained in no other way.

I’m not much of a reader, unless it’s a brief online article, but President Hinckley talked a lot about the value of good books! So I guess we should try and read more. Seriously, there are like 10 different quotes where he talks about it. Let us know if you think reading helps your be happier!

Rebekah's Happy Plan

Golden Anniversary 50 Years Together!

Cobgratulations to my amazing parents, Connie and Keith Clayton, on their Golden Wedding Anniversary--fifty years together!

We celebrated dining together at Tucanos Brazilian Grill together. 

Thanksgiving Thought on Gratitude

"May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

—Thomas S. Monson, "Finding Joy in the Journey"

Our Purpose

The purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to help all of the children of God understand their potential and achieve their highest destiny. This church exists to provide the sons and daughters of God with the means of entrance into and exaltation in the celestial kingdom. This is a family-centered church in doctrine and practices. Our understanding of the nature and purpose of God the Eternal Father explains our destiny and our relationship in his eternal family. Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them. Under the merciful plan of the Father, all of this is possible through the atonement of the Only Begotten of the Father, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As earthly parents we participate in the gospel plan by providing mortal bodies for the spirit children of God. The fulness of eternal salvation is a family matter.

It is the reality of these glorious possibilities that causes us to proclaim our message of restored Christianity to all people, even to good practicing Christians with other beliefs. This is why we build temples. This is the faith that gives us strength and joy to confront the challenges of mortal life. We offer these truths and opportunities to all people and testify to their truthfulness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, April 1995 "Apostasy and Restoration"

First Snow Fall!

I am NOT ready for Winter but cannot complain about this Fall's weather.  Snow flurries began this morning and stuck to the ground and so the children decided it was time for some snow fun and later hot coca with marshmallows!

For Whom the Bell Tolls

John Donne: Poems

For Whom the Bell Tolls  (No man is an island) by John Donne
		No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thine own Or of thine friend's were. Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee.

UPDATE: Missing Provo teen found, later dies

Kurt Hanson Daily Herald

Jenna Ivins. Photo courtesy of Instagram.

44 minutes ago  •  Kurt Hanson Daily Herald

PROVO — A 14-year-old girl who was missing for 24 hours before being found Tuesday morning has now died.
Jenna Ivins went missing at about 8:30 a.m. Monday morning in the neighborhood behind the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Provo and was found in a canal near her home Tuesday.
Ivins never made it back from school, according to Detective Chris Chambers.  A post on Instagram says she also has Asperger’s. Chambers said the police believed she was a runaway child.
But she was found at about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday morning. Police reports state she was very cold when found. A member of the family reported she died shortly after.
More information will come as it is made available.

Kurt Hanson is the Breaking News and Courts reporter for the Daily Herald. He can be reached at (801) 344-2560 or khanson@heraldextra.com. Follow him on Twitter: @kthehanson.

Hannah called around noon.  "Mom, have you been listening to the news?"  I hadn't as preschool was just over and I was sitting down to lunch with Liam and Eva.
"Did you hear about the Provo High Student?  The one that went missing.  She's dead."  "I have seen her."  "I have treated her in the Sport's Room.  I never knew her name."  "She looked sad."

Isn't it interesting how little we think we impact other's lives, until we die? 
Maybe this will be a point of change for us.
We can look out for, smile, and get to know other's names and perhaps share some of another person's pain while traveling through this life journey together.

Later this evening while talking to Hannah who had had a long day she said, "I just want to forget it! (Jenna's death?)"  While we may feel that way when someone else dies and in the beginning we are shocked and then mourn and then want to move on with "our life" to do so, to do nothing, means that the person who died means nothing and that the grieving loved ones mean "nothing" to.

I was talking to a neighbor, Anne, about a lesson she learned after my brother Michael passed away two years ago.  She said, "I learned something visiting your parents with Clark and Colleen.  They were there to support Keith and Connie...to listen if they felt like talking or to be still if they did not,  to give a hug, and simply BE THERE for them."  How sweet!  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could simply BE THERE for another in his/her grief!?  DO something.  Anything!  
I wonder often what is the right thing to do or say in a given circumstance?

A strong impression came to me today that if we act on Spiritual promptings to do something to share someone else' pain, we are uplifted and share in Christ' suffering and compassion.  in contrast, if we choose to do nothing, we are somewhat diminished because we did not act on the light and knowledge that came and now we are less likely to respond to a promt should it come again.  We do not share in mankind's burden.

How I wish in my life I would have know the comfort of someone just being there  for me.  Through late miscarriages, child accidents, brother/sister passings, cancer of a loved one, etc. the fact that someone was "praying" for me, or sent a card, or gave me a hug, or brought me flowers would have made a huge difference in helping me feel the love that Heavenly Father has for me/us but is difficult to find when a loved one dies.  Life goes on.  That can be one of the hardest things to deal with.  Life goes on (without ______).

We pray for the Ivins family and also to know what might bring any comfort at this tragic time.  We did not know them personally but our heart breaks for their pain.

Sink Baths

Sink baths have changed with this little one. Now HE decides when ( and it is usually a surprise for mama when she is the most busy), how (fully clothed with shoes?) and where!  This is the Preschool Bathroom and it was all fun and games until Liam had to waddle around wet for a little while and decided that was No Fun!