Imperfections and Failures

“My imperfections and failures are as

much a blessing from God

as my successes and my talents, and

I lay them both at his feet.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Forgiveness is a Spiritual Gift From God

 Forgiveness is a spiritual gift from God. As with all spiritual gifts, we obtain the gift to forgive by asking for it “with a sincere heart, with real intent”[i] (that is, with the real intention to forgive). Our capacity to forgive is linked to our capacity to love; and our capacity to love is linked to our capacity to become like God. Perhaps more than any other virtue, forgiveness—our willingness to thoroughly and “frankly forgive,”[ii] demonstrates redeeming, reconciling, Christlike love.


Meridian Magazine - LDS, Mormon and Latter-day Saint News and Views

The Young Years of Norma Jean

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The Young Years of Norma Jean

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Fragrance Clings

A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses.
 

~Chinese Proverb

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Grandparents Sprinkle Stardust

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do.

Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust

over the lives of little children.
~Alex Haley

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Who, Being Loved, Is Poor

Who, being loved, is poor?
 

~Oscar Wilde

Chicken Soup for the Soul

The Atonement Heals Our Wounds

“The Atonement not only pays for our sins, it heals our wounds—the self-inflicted ones and those inflicted from sources beyond our control. . . It is the ultimate source of our forgiveness, our perfection, and our peace of mind.”

(Bruce C. Hafen, The Broken Heart, Deseret Book, 1989, p. 29.)

 

Elder Hafen’s words: “It is natural to assume that when we don't appear to be doing ‘excellently’ the perfection process is not working. But the exact opposite may be true. Our moments of greatest stress and difficulty are often the times when the refiner's fire is doing its most purifying work.”

(Broken Heart, 97)

A Proper Apology

“A proper apology has three elements:

an acknowledgment of the fault or offense,

regret for it,

and

responsibility for it—

and, if possible,

a way to fix the problem.”

Justifications or excuses

only weaken

a sincere apology.

                                          --Alina Tugend

Man Cannot Live Without Hope

"Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope" -Unknown

Meridian Magazine - Lesson 22, "Have Ye Received His Image in Your Countenances?" Alma 5-7 - Meridian Magazine - LDS, Mormon and Latter-day Saint News and Views

 

Meridian Magazine - Lesson 22, "Have Ye Received His Image in Your Countenances?" Alma 5-7

A Picture in a Prayer

A Picture in a Prayer

 Chicken Soup for the Soul

Meridian Magazine - What’s on Your Fridge?

  Bruce R. McConkie: “There is nothing as important as having the companionship of the Holy Ghost. There is no price too high, no labor too onerous, no struggle too severe, no sacrifice too great, if out of it all we receive and enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

And this one from Julie Beck: “The ability to qualify for, receive, and act upon personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life.”

 Neal A. Maxwell:  “If, indeed, the things allotted to each were divinely customized according to our ability and capacity, then for us to seek to wrench ourselves free of every schooling circumstance in mortality is to tear ourselves away from matched opportunities.”

 Mother Teresa , “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”

 President Monson , “Needed are...[souls] filled with compassion, that we might communicate not only eye to eye, or voice to ear, but in the majestic style of the Savior, even heart to heart."

 Yes, I still post the occasional light-hearted quote, such as “Fat People Are Harder to Kidnap,” and “I’m the Queen Because My Pantyhose Say So,”

 Meridian Magazine - What’s on Your Fridge? 

"Our Father in Heaven is not an umpire who is trying to count us out. He is not a competitor who is trying to outsmart us. He is not a prosecutor who is trying to convict us. he is a loving Father Who wants out happiness and eternal progress and everlasting opportunity and glorious accomplishment, and Who will help us all He can if we will but give Him, in our lives, the opportunity to do so with obedience and humility and faith and patience. (Richard L. Evans, October Gen Confer, 1956) "Please remember this one thing...if our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and His restored Gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and His teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right." (President Howard W. Hunter)

 "To believe in God is to know that all the rules are fair, and that there will be wonderful surprises." (Ugo Betti, as quoted by Elder Marion D. Hanks, Oct 1992 General Conference)

Pasta with Cilantro-Peanut Pesto | Our Best Bites

 

Pasta with Cilantro-Peanut Pesto | Our Best Bites

Chicken Soup for the Soul

 From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress

"Back" to Our Garden

 Our life was our garden; it was time we weeded out those aspects that were bringing him so much pain.

 Chicken Soup for the Soul

We just know; that's how we decide | Deseret News

"This is good doctrine," said the Prophet Joseph Smith in his famous 1844 "King Follett Sermon." "It tastes good. I can taste the principles of eternal life, and so can you. They are given to me by the revelations of Jesus Christ; and I know that when I tell you these words of eternal life as they are given to me, you taste them, and I know that you believe them. You say honey is sweet, and so do I. I can also taste the spirit of eternal life. I know that it is good; and when I tell you of these things which were given me by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you are bound to receive them as sweet, and rejoice more and more."

We just know; that's how we decide | Deseret News

Strength Beyond Our Own

“As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather then praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will be agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon…The enabling power of the Atonement strengthens us to do things we could never

do on our own.” -Elder David A. Bednar

Several Days Attack!

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.

Jamie Cooks It Up!: Easy Caramel Smore Bars

 

Jamie Cooks It Up!: Easy Caramel Smore Bars

Courage

"Courage – fear that has said its prayers." - Dorothy Bernard

 "Courage is fear holding on one minute longer." - George S. Patton

"The greatest test of courage is to bear defeat without losing heart."

Robert Green Ingersoll

"Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps."

 David Lloyd George

"Oh courage... oh yes! If only one had that... then life might be livable, in spite of everything." - Henrik Ibsen

 "If you're scared, just holler and you'll find it ain't so lonesome out there."

- Joe Sugden

Meridian Magazine - Understanding the Term “Power and Authority” in the Book of Mormon Saint News and Views

Meridian Magazine - Understanding the Term “Power and Authority” in the Book of Mormon

Meridian Magazine - Turning Hearts: Letters from Grandma - Meridian Magazine - LDS, Mormon and Latter-day Saint News and Views

 

Meridian Magazine- Turning Hearts: Letters from Grandma

Sorrows Become Delight

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.   ~Kahlil Gibran

Meridian Magazine - The Real Test in Life

 "Death is not the ultimate tragedy.
The ultimate tragedy is not doing what you were born to do."

When we are living hand in hand with our Savior and
Father in Heaven, doors will open so
we can accomplish what needs to be done.
Our greatest enemy will be self-doubt, which can
crumble faith faster than anything. 

Meridian Magazine - The Real Test in Life

The Virtue of Humility

  
 "The Virtue of Humility"

In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin tells of his strong desire to develop a worthy character. To do this, he made a list of the 12 virtues he most wanted to achieve and then came up with a systematic plan to practice each one. After learning of the plan, a friend suggested that he add one more virtue to his list, one that many felt he needed. He agreed and added—humility.1 Later on in life, Benjamin Franklin wrote that it was the virtue of humility that allowed him to have such great influence for good.

As St. Augustine said: “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”2

Humility is not the exclusive possession of any particular class or type of people. Anyone can be humble. We can start by carefully listening to what others have to say. A humble person knows that we all have a lot to learn and that we can learn something meaningful from almost anyone. A person with humility sets aside personal interests in favor of careful attention to the needs and wants of others. A humble person doesn’t care who gets the credit, as long as the right thing is done.

As Ben Franklin tried to be humble, he found that he was less inclined to judge others before hearing them out. He was less likely to argue that his opinion was the only one that could be right. He was more gentle in his efforts to persuade others and more open to new ideas.

It’s hard to know if you’re humble—it’s a lifelong quest, but if you truly look upon others as equals, if you try to think of those around you before yourself, and if the feelings of other people really matter to you, then you are likely well on your way to developing the virtue of humility.

1. See The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1895), 162–64.
2. In Everett L. Worthington Jr., Humility: The Quiet Virtue (2007), 48.

 

The Official Site of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

How to Get to Sleep

Rozanne Paxman

Awesome Advice from Our Readers – How to Get to Sleep

A couple of weeks ago, I told you guys about my sleep disorder and asked for advice about what I could do to get to sleep easier. Boy! Did you guys come through for me! I received so many superb suggestions that I thought it would be a shame to keep it to myself. After all, most people have trouble sleeping at some point in their life. Print out this list and save it. You'll be glad you did.

Thanks to everyone who took time to send me your suggestions. I'm excited to have so many neat things to try. I'm sorry that I couldn't send you all a personal email, but I want you to know that each email is so special to me. You're all awesome!

1. Exercise. (Lots of people advised me to exercise.)
2. Wear socks to bed.
3. No computers or television 1-2 hours before bed. This means no iPad either. The blue light the devices put out interferes with sleep. (Reading my iPad at night is a great weakness I have. I need to read a real book instead.)
4. No caffeine after noon.
5. Use a fan to create white noise. This helps block out noises that will wake you up.
6. Fill a long sock with rice, chill it in refrigerator, or freeze it and stick under neck or pillow.
7. Turn off the light on your alarm clock or turn it away from your face. It inhibits melatonin.
8. Find a calming word (a mantra), such as "peace, calm, nature...." At night, when you are laying in bed, repeat that same calming word over and over. "Nature, nature, nature." It helps quiet your mindand keeps your mind from wandering to other things.
9. Drink herbal tea. Lavendar, Sleepytime (by Celestial Seasonings), peppermint, and chamomile tea were recommended most often.
10. Spray your linens with lavender linen spray. (I've done this for years. I adore the scent of lavender! I also rub lavender lotion on my feet when I am feeling particularly stressed.)
11. Don't take a nap during the day, no matter how tempting it might seem.
12. Talk to your doctor about trying a new sleep medication. People get tolerant to the one they are using over time.
13. Try herbal sleep solutions (such as melatonin, valerian,L-Tryptophan, or HTP5), but before you do, check with your doctor to make sure that there won't be any drug interactions with the medications you take.
14. Yoga.
15. Meditation (A lot of people mentioned this one.  Twice a day for 20 minutes was recommended.)
16. Calm music. (Set your radio on a timer so that it automatically turns itself off after a period of time.)
17. Wine. (Since I don't drink, I can't try this one.)
18. Read something boring like computer manuals or technical books.
19. Curl up with a little dog. (A Pomeranian was strongly recommended.)
20. Have blood work done to see if you need supplements.
21. Lymph node massages.
22. Go gluten free.
23. Create a worry hour during the day and then forget them until the next day. If they pop into your head when you are trying to fall asleep, write them down so that you won't forget them. This will relax you.
24. Engage in a hobby during the day as a stress-reliever.
25. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) - which is sometimes known as tapping. There are a lot of good websites, YouTube videos, and eBooks that teach this technique. (I have used this a lot for other things, but it hadn't occurred to me to use it to fall asleep. I'll do that.)
26. Hypnosis.
27. Reiki, which is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.
28. DVDs or CDs that play music from nature (like ocean sounds). "Pillow Music" was recommended.
29. Tell yourself a story.
30. Breathing exercises like Dr. Andrew Weil teaches. You can get iPad apps that have them.
31. If you don't fall asleep after 15-20 minutes, get up and do something else for awhile.
32. Eat yogurt.
33. Put a square of plain chocolate in your mouth and concentrate on the taste as it melts. (Sounds fun!)
34. Jacobson Progressive Muscle Relaxation.
35. Do something relaxing for the two hours prior to bedtime. Do not work.
36. If you get five hours of sleep a night, you got your "core" sleep so don't worry if you can't get more than that.
37. Don't go to bed if you're not feeling tired.
38. Take all of your worries and set them outside of your bedroom door. Then close the door.
39. Get regular massages.
40. Play Solitaire.
41. Watch the same movie every night. (My daughter used to do this during high school. Her favorite fall-to-sleep movie was the old Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.)
42. Have a sleep study to see if you have a medical condition. (I've actually had one before. That is how I was diagnosed with my sleep disorder. But I've started to wonder if I could have sleep apnea, too, so it's worth checking into.)
43. Decide not to dwell on negative situations.
44. Keep yourself on a schedule – going to bed at the same time each night and waking at the same time each morning.
45. Limit your sugar intake before bedtime.
46. Read the Bible.
47. Breathe in for four counts and then out for four counts to relax you. Do this four times.
48. Look for your "sweet spot" of time when it is easiest for you to go to sleep. Get into bed at that time each night.
49. Get into a night time routine that you use each night to signal your body that it is time to sleep.
50. Write in a journal. (I love this one and use it myself!)
51. Get your hormone levels checked to see if you are in menopause or peri-menopause. You may need hormone replacement. (I had a complete hysterectomy in 1993 and have been on hormone replacement since I get really sick without it so I'll always be doing this one. I mention it because it can be so important!)
52. If your mind is chattering away, tell yourself that there is nothing you can do about it at night so you'll forget it until the next day.
53. Think about something beautiful that you enjoy.
54. Cross-stitch using big stitches in rows so that your mind isn't taken up with patterns.
55. If your spouse likes to watch TV, get them some earplugs so that you don't have to hear the sound.
56. Self-hypnosis. I received a nice method of doing this which is as follows: First, tense all of the various muscle groups one by one, and then relax them.Do this 2-3 times.Then, beginning with your toes, wiggle them and then relax them. Tell yourself how heavy and tired your toes are. Then move up to the arch of the foot and then the ankle. Next, do the same with your calves and onward to your thighs. Once you reach your thighs, change your focus to your fingers and slowly and deliberately work your way up to your shoulders.
    Once you have told all of the muscles in your limbs to relax, be tired and feel heavy, you begin the final step which is mental visualization. Imagine your favorite water spot. I personally remember a visit to one of my mother's best friend's home in Pennsylvania which we took when I was in my early teens. I remember sitting under a weeping willow tree on the banks of the Susquehanna River and watching and hearing the movement of the water going downstream. I concentrate on those sounds and think about hearing the birds, the sound of one of the neighbors mowing the lawn, and children playing in the distance.
57. Listen to the program Autogenics on your mobile device. There are two parts to it: a part that you listen to during the day to reduce your stress and a part that you listen to as you fall asleep.
58. Physical therapy/personal trainer to teach you how to stretch your muscles.
59. Practice the awareness of God's presence. Give Him your worries.
60. Count your blessings.

Zesty Italian Crescent Casserole | The Girl Who Ate Everything

 

  

Zesty Italian Crescent Casserole

 The Girl Who Ate Everything

 1 lb. lean ground beef

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 cup spaghetti sauce

6 oz. (1 1/2 cups) shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

1 (8-oz.) can Pillsbury® Recipe Creations (or Crescent Dinner Rolls pressed together along the perforations)

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons butter, melted

Heat oven to 375°F. In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. *I added salt and pepper here and a 1/2 tsp. of Italian seasonings. Drain. Stir in pasta sauce; cook until thoroughly heated.Meanwhile, in medium bowl, combine mozzarella cheese and sour cream; mix well.Pour hot beef mixture into ungreased 9 1/2 or 10-inch glass deep-dish pie pan or 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon cheese mixture over beef mixture.Unroll dough over cheese mixture. In small bowl, mix Parmesan cheese and butter. Spread evenly over dough.Bake at 375°F. for 18 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown.