Sisters here on Earth, just living in different homes.

Oh my, my heart is so full, bursting with joy, filled with the spirit that God has given me.
 

As I was walking out the door to attend this conference. I realized how focused I was on me, and my talent, that I discovered I never took the time to ask anyone to come along with me. An overwhelming thought came over me that I was going to be alone and how selfish I am.

After I was done setting up my board and the table in front of it. I caught a familiar face in the corner of my eye. It was a DEAR friend, from my days as a worker.  I had not spoken to her in two years. I have thought of her many times and have tried to find her. {I lost all the contacts that were in my old phone because I didn't save them to my SIM card and she is not on any social media, darn!}. Well, Mister D and I were talking about my good ol' Friends and colleagues this week as I was struggling with the fact that for so many years my talent was in the work place and couldn't figure out what my talent was now.

Well, of course I immediately hugged her and told her how happy I was to see her! I just couldn't believe it was her standing there. There wasn't  anyone else I would've rather seen, than her. She makes me smile. She gets me. We have along history. We just hugged and hugged and hugged. 

And then, she told me she was on the way to the Oakland temple, where she goes every Saturday and something told her to go to the Stockton Stake Center.  She lives about 20 minutes away and Stockton is to the north of her home town and Oakland is to the west. You have to make the decision pretty close to home, in which direction you are heading. I am so glad she followed her prompting and I was able to have a very friendly face greet me. :) I also feel blessed that, if I can go so far to say, that Heavenly Father gave me a little angle to calm my nerves.



I would like to share some notes and thoughts from the days program.

Often we, as women, beat ourselves up with thoughts like; I'm not good enough, or why can't I, or she's better than me. We compare ourselves to others, and judge ourselves harshly. We even "pick up sticks" and beat ourselves up with them. This conference was about reaching for the stars instead of sticks.

Here are some quotes I wrote that were thought provoking.....

"Don't compare your beginning to someone Else's middle."

What they have gone through is their journey. What you are going through is yours. I believe the sooner we recognize this, we will not only have more compassion for others, but we will have more compassion for ourselves.

"A global thinker, thinks like this... They think if  they fail in one small area of their life,  it makes them a failure in all the other areas of their life...please don't be a global thinker."

This is so true. I used to not want to go anywhere or do anything because of my bad skin. I felt that my bad skin defined me. I felt flawed and missed out on many things in my youth and early adulthood and motherhood.  I felt ugly and worthless. I took medication, used all sorts of products, went to the dermatologist, and even cried on my hands and knees to take this "affliction" away form me. {!} Then I felt unworthy of such miracle because I was not living a perfect life, how could I ask for so much.

My vanity was a weakness, a good way for the adversary to creep in.  There is no fear, self centered-ness, unhappiness, or frustration in God. I changed the way I felt about myself, really knowing that I am a child of God and that I have other qualities other than good skin and I need to concentrate on those things not the "bad things". 

I don't think I am beautiful, but I think, I can see a glimpse of what God sees in me, bad skin and all.  My skin doesn't define me anymore. I still care about it and try my best to cover it up, and put my best face forward.  After many years of struggling with this, I can  look in the mirror, even when I see the blotchy mess, and feel the throbbing pain underneath my skin and thank Heavenly Father for what I do have and not for what I don't.  I try to see what God sees in me first. I look in the mirror and smile now.

{This picture looks way better, less red then what the mirror shows me.
...maybe this is how you see me?}

"Comparison is the thief of joy."

You have great talents, if you don't know what they are, they are probably the things that bring you the most joy. They don't have to be physical and tangible, they can be personality traits.  Being a good listener, a  great friend,  having compassion and doing for others, sharing a generous heart, and being loving towards others are all talents...God given ones. I know you have one, maybe you can share it with me.

I have found that my talent is trying to be the best Mom I can be. I try to think of what my Savior would want for my Littles and everyday try a little harder to be a little better. At times I fail, I get frustrated, or impatient. I recognize these as something that I don't want to continue and pray for strength to do better the next. I find if I become complacent and don't recognize my faults, I will ignore them and they will become apart of me that will grow bigger. For this I am thankful for the Atonement and process of repentance, as it is not just the big things that we carry that way us down, but the small things too.

"We are all different and unique, but we are all the same in one very big and special way...We are all daughters of God."

We should acknowledge the beauty in all that we see and be grateful and encourage the gifts of others. I think of my  Littles and who they will become someday...I think what am I doing to help them discover their hidden talents. What I am I doing to help them see talents in others, as gifts, and not be jealous or envious of them.  This is something we must learn from somewhere.....comparison starts young and I hope that I am teaching them well.

"If there is no faith, there are no miracles." "Faith has infinite power." 

"Have faith in Him." "He wants you to feel lifted and elated."

Each day as I read my scriptures, sometimes in the bathroom when getting ready,  but each day that I do, a new message is given to me. I feel the joy and blessing of my Savior and I don't want to put the book down.  Through Him is much joy and strength. I feel lifted and elated and this I carry with me throughout my day. 

"Satan feeds us, should  have, would've, could have, why...why... didn't I do more."
 {our doubts take over us}
"OUR Heavenly Father says you are unique, you are enough, you can do it!"
{doubt your doubts and have faith}

That is right!! The unhappy, confused, depressed {not clinical}, frustrated YOU is what Satan wants you to be. 

The Lord want you to have happiness, calmness, clear mindedness and joy!!

"It's a matter of faith to have children."

This wonderful story was shared.... I thought I would share it with you....

unborn twins having a conversation about delivery {click on the underlined to take you there. }


Mothers are the creators God sent to Earth...I just said that. {:)} hm mm. yes, it's true. I believe that.

I was able to see the talents of so many wonderful women and I met a few new people who were so amazing. They all, we all have our own stories to share and tell, we are so busy doing what we do, it is often hard to reach out to ask and to share.
I realized that just as I was struggling to figure out what my talent was...others who practiced and trained for many years of their lives', were struggling to share their talents too. They lacked the time to practice and share with others in their everyday lives, but as they were challenged, just like me, to share, they started to rediscover the inner joy they have in the art of creating...whether, singing, dancing, painting or sewing...they too found so much joy and realized how much they were missing the creative process in their lives.  

Oh, this brings me back to President Uchtdorf's talk,

Happiness, your heritage.  

 I ran into another women that I knew and hadn't seen in along time. We shared some of our struggles and triumphs. I also met some knew friends and they were so sweet and kind. I feel like all these women are my sisters here on Earth, we just live in different homes.

from me to you w love, M

 

{I decided I was going to break up this post into sections and share as individual blog posts, and add some more thoughts to them, but this is where all the thoughts originated.}