{HS:MS} Goggle Eyed

Her Space: My Space prompt is Road.
A way of course on which to travel. have you got a road?

My road isn't so much outside made of tarmac with with lots of skid marks and pot holes, its about where i'm going in life, where i've been and how i'm travelling. I am adapting this prompt to keep in line with my blog theme, my family, beliefs and every day living...so this is what I am offering:

The article I have got this image from had a lovely comment underneath that sums up perfectly why this is my 'road' to take:

"The gospel and my testimony of Jesus Christ have helped me to be a better mother, wife, sister, and friend. Because of my testimony, I try to live as God intends for me to—with integrity, honesty, kindness, love, patience, and compassion, treating others as children of God and extending service when needed. By my trying to live a Christlike life, I hope that others will want to learn about Him". JoAnna M. Allen

I wasn't raised in this church neither was I aware of this doctrine for a very long time in my life but I was raised as a Church of England believer. My Mum, who was a life long Catholic then, would often take me to a range of churches because never felt that she had the right testimony. At the age of 8 I was in the school christmas concert in our local CofE church and after listening to the Vicar talking about the death and resurrection of Christ I remember sitting there with me fellow classmates crying, I didn't want Him to die or be hurt, I didn't want Him to suffer for all the things I got wrong. In my very innocent childlike thinking I was aware of Christ and that He was and still is a very special person, I just didn't know how He would change my heart that day. I was 30 when I met the missionaries and it took them almost a year to get me anywhere near baptism (yeah I really made them sing for their dinner!!) but by the time I heard the Plan of Salvation I just KNEW in my heart of hearts that no matter how much I didn't think I could 'live a religion' I just knew that I had to do all I could to live up to the expectations my Heavenly Father had for me because with the atoning love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ I was never going to be alone. (I must add here that it is not my intention to disrespect any other faiths, I do believe that we each have the free agency to choose. My children are taught about other faiths, in our home as well as in school/nursery, my natural inclination as a person and a mother is the gospel that I have come to know and believe in for myself)

I have proven this over and over in the last 8 years, many things have happened, i'm made some wrong choices, experienced things that were the effects of another person and still I know that no matter how many challenges I have I will alwas rely on the love, support and guidance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am not too proud to say that I cannot do my life without them, they are purely the most reliable and correct people and all I have to do is the best I can in as many things as I can. If I fail, thats ok, I just get up and start again!

My testimony is growing each day. I love the scriptures, that includes the King James version of the Bible, the Book of Mormon including Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. All of which I believe has all the answers to all of lifes challenges and questions.

So, back to HS:MS, my road is a road about life, about every day thinking, feeling, doing, speaking and putting them into action the best ways I know how to. A great anchor for me is The Plan of Salvation, it all makes sense when we know that! :)

That said, dont expect me to be perfect or have all the right answers, I dont! Why? Because I'm a work in progress and I reserve the right to be wrong, silly, imperfect and just lil ole me!! :) Lol

Back later to waffle about my boys...they crack me up sometimes!! I am so tired right now and busy with some work stuff that i'm shaking my head to stay awake! So for now I shall go lay on the sofa and leave Jay to entertain Charley though I think its really the other way round!! :)

Debsx

Spiritual Sunday

Is it just me or are Sundays truly reflective days? Each Friday evening I plan out my Saturdays that enable me to live the Sabbath the best way I can with my family, my Saturdays don't always need much work in the fairy chores dept but thats only a part of preparing for a Sabbath, you see, after doing my regular things for 6 days, be it with the kids, work, scrapbooking, writing letters etc by the weekend I need to free my mind of such things for just one day so I can focus on what my life is all about, God. If you are not interesting in religion then now's the time to click off this blog....:)

You see, as a Mormon I marvel at the inspiration, guidance and promptings that we each receive individually and collectively, this is often by personal and family prayer, scripture study and going to church meetings but we also have a vast variety of talks, videos, movies, books, stories and other things to give us a deeper understanding, motivation, inspiration and assurances of our lives and world around us. Our Prophet, President Thomas S Monson is yet another awesome person who has been called by God to lead the church and prophesy to the world...each time I hear him talk i'm either laughing or crying...he's funny, charming, sincere and very, very in tune with Heavenly Father and that just emenates from him.

So, Sundays is my one day where I limit certain things, stop others and do more of another...though I read my scriptures every day I make a point to study, ponder and pray regarding them on the Sabbath, the kids often use their Book of Mormon Stories (the kids version of the Book of Mormon) at the same time and we talk about what we are reading, how we can translate it into our lives and enhance our heartfelt desires, qualities and responsibilities. I also like to browse other blogs of my fellow Lds friends and learn more of them, laugh with them, cry with them and tease them....as you do! My Lds blog is one of total spiritual and uplifting motivation and inspiration, though private only to me as I use it as a study journal, it is great to have something fancy to just drop out those thoughts and feelings and make sense of them as you go along!

Today I have read a blog by a fellow Lds mum and scrapbooker and got so much from her that I have decided that I want to 'pay it forward' and share some luvin from here too...so whatever you believe, whatever your religion, culture, colour or race....I want you to know that just by being in this world, doing what you do, God is always watching, loving, guiding and protecting you...even on bad days and terrible times...they are our growing and strengthening trials which we much try to endure and learn from the best we can...I hope whoever has got to this far now will feel the urge, desire, need....use whatever word that you like...will go forward and tell someone just how much they are loved and respected.
In particular I would like to mention a few people who are a blessing to me in my life:

* Jaymie, Scott, Kirsten & Charley - my kids are my life, even on bad days! :)
* My Mum & Dad - for being the best they can be and never giving up on me
* My brothers & sister - because we come from the same family we still offer so many differences :)
* The Prophet, President Monson, his counsellors and other other leaders of the Lds church - for all their dedication, inspiration and the way they love, live and know the word of God and live to share it with the world
* My friends - Elaine, Sonia L, Sonia P, Kirsty, Sharron, Sara, Kim & Mikey, Bexx, Claire, Chris, Jd, Colin, Lois, Karen, Julie and Tina - a different kind of friendship with each different person that I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world (well maybe if I have another big gas bill!!)
* For my kids and my health - just over a year ago I had a major operation that truly changed my life, now i'm top of the pots and happy as tappy can be :)
* My life challenges - although being homeless almost broke me mentally, emotionally and spiritually I am thankful for the experience I had (as well as the support and friendships) because like any other trial, challenge or whatever terminology you prefer to use, I grow from them, I mature, I learn and I understand, I know the depths of despair on many levels, and BECAUSE of it I also know the highs of laughter, loving, friendship, secrets, feelings, peace and just being.

I have crossed paths with a whole lot of what this world offers, good and bad. Heartbreak, assault, divorce, abuse, childbirth (the ouch side!!), road accidents, operations, breathing machines, psychologists and a whole lot more...I've also crossed paths with holding my newborn for the first time, walking down the isle knowing I was doing it all for the right reasons, seeing my child survive a serious road accident, see another child come back from the brink of death when a Priest blessed him. I have experienced the consuming love for my mum when she is ill, sad or just struggling with life, my dad makes me laugh, reminds me to never give up and kicks my butt if I dare to be beat, my friends let me moan, laugh, cry, scream and just shear break down when my world feels like its falling apart...
...but most of all...each of these people dont only come into my life...they allow me, invite me, keep me in their lives as well.

Today I am renewing my gratitude for what I DO have in my life, however small, however insignificant...the fact of the matter is, they are in MY life and if I wasn't here...where would they be? My life has a purpose, has an importance and has significance...whether I miss that sometimes or not...I am proud to know, feel and be important to a variety of people around me...in real life and in my virtual online life.

So....how speshal are YOU?

Debsxx

The ultimate load of waffle! :)

Well, I want to waffle....not sure what about yet...all I know is I want to waffle! :)

So here goes:

Err...err......ah I know...blogs. My favourite subject :D (I really, really want to be able to do proper smilies on here!!!) Blogs, yeah, I have just added my team mates blogs way to the right there....because I think they are worth looking at, they are a very talented bunch and i'm grateful they let me into their team (on uk scrappers) cos you see, I am the crappest person in the world for keeping things up to date...and the only reason this blog is up to date (of sorts) is because if I don't keep an account of certain things I forget what i've told my family and what I haven't, plus it stops me having to repeat myself...unless is Elaine (**waves**) of course, who will read this blog then call me to talk about it! Gotta luv her though, she's so cool!! :D I browse so many blogs that I literally have a list of them in a notebook, to date there are over 300 of them so forgive me for being totally scatty and not keeping up with them, I wish I could though, I LOVE BLOGS!!

What else can I waffle about? I love this waffle, just goes to show that since I decided to take some day off from working my brain goes to mush :) No comments please! :P Did you know that people who waffle are considered more intelligent? NO I DID NOT JUST MAKE THAT UP!!! Lmao Apparently waffle (though the article I read referred to it as 'Idle chit chat' but i'm not that well etiquetted {see!!}) is a gateway to a persons inner thoughts and emotional stability. Slam and blast is what I say, listen to the waffle and you get the total IQ rating in 10 seconds flat...THAT's why I am Billy No Mates eh?!! :D :D :D Well it was a good article, but I do think it was written by some guy who was new at reporting and hadn't a clue what women were all about, much less his job in the first place which then poses the question of what is he doing working there in the first place?!! :D Doh

We had a great (but short) Family Home Evening, I found a good talk about the creation of the world from the Primary section of the Lds site, some great ways to explain to kids about how the world started then my two nephews throw me sideways and ask: 'Aunty Deb, why did all the dinosaurs die?' I was kinda just gutted! I do not know the answer!! I have never known the answer, and I probably never will cos I never remember to ask it or research it!! So I thought I was pretty clever when I said: 'well, maybe they just ran out of dinosaurs to fight with and got bored to death?'. Ok it wasn't the smartest thing to say, especially when a 6 year old pipes up 'you can't really die of being bored cos I would already be dead now'. Yep I cracked at that statement, said with such honesty and conviction! Incidentally, I am also hacking my brain to see if he meant he was bored here too!! Go figure!! Charley decided today that he didn't want to have a wash after eating my Cola Cubes which Chris (**waves**) had sent me (or i'm assuming they were for me, they were in the box of goodies he sent for Kirsten and as there was 3 bags of sweets....well go figure!!) his hands were sticky and I wanted to do a run to Tesco, he immediately put on the face tears, scrunched up his face and declare that he doesn't like a wash. I looked at him, and tried ever so gently to explain that he will have everything stick to him if we dont clean him up. At which point the dog came walking into the room, strutting his stuff as he does, and began licking Charley's hand clean. I sat there watching him thinking 'right definitely no compromises here, he really has to get washed up. Before I could lead him to the bathroom he piped up ' Done it mum! Jakes cleaned me!' I chuckled, as you do but still fought on with a face cloth and a bottle of Kandoo face wash.......!!!

The kids done some more baking today whilst I played domestic goddess...they trashed the kitchen while I cleaned beds, floors and windows...such a good balance going on there!! :) The chocolate cake was the deciding factor of the length of their repentance...one bite and they were redeemed of all wrong doing! :) Cheap? Heck yeah! :) When we were out shopping I bought more stuff, cos tomorrow they will do it again, and I will forgive them all for a slice of chocoalte cake!! Luvin kids that cook! :)

Charley had a 'grown up' garden collection today. In Tesco they have a gorgeous range of fun gardening pots, trowels etc so I got a bit of all sorts for the lil dude. Sitting at the table later on I chucked as he wore his gardening hat, apron and gloves to eat his pizza! He said he was ready to 'get going'! I don't think so son, not at 9pm!! :) Yeah we ate late, we had too much going on and the boys (Ty and Kian) wanted to go 'late night shopping' but as I wasn't prepared to go at 2am I convinced them that 8pm (their normal bedtime) is just as good!! :) If it works use it right? :D They go home tomorrow, Mum and Angie are coming up at some point and will swing by and visit me (which i'm wondering if they'd do if I didn't have her kids?! Go figure!!) so i'm looking forward to seeing them both. :)

I am being scripture challenged...have been working through the book of Alma in The Book of Mormon with JD, sharing scriptures is one of the best ways I learn them and find ways to incorporate them in my life, well, so long as one of us dont get off track and end up in fits of giggles! Did I SAY it was me!!!!! :D So tomorrow I am challenged to read the whole of the 5th chapter, which is extremely inspiring and to the point. If anyone wants to read it click here, its a very good read and whether you are a Mormon, Christian, other faith or none at all it will inspire you and definitely give you some good understanding of how to improve things in our daily lives.

I had a lady who recently decide to challenge me, as an athiest she felt she had all the answers for everyone (I feel everyone has the free choice to look for answers if they want to or no look if they dont) anyway, after about 30 minutes of hearing all the scientific reasons why the Mormon church is not true (and many internal feelings I can tell you!) I was suddenly inspired to simply reply back 'I'm sorry you feel that God is punishing you, I hope one day you will look at how he loves you instead'. She went quiet and I stood there, not quite sure what to say next cos I really didn't want to offend her (or get my head swiped off!) after a few seconds she stood up straight and said 'Do you think i'm negative?'. I was very reluctant to answer this because its pretty much a judgement on her personality which I didn't want to do, so I asked 'what do you think?' she looked at me, at Charley then said 'I dont know, maybe I am'. I still didn't know what to say, I was feeling frustrated that I didnt feel the spirit to guide me so I done what I knew best, I hugged her and just said, 'the best person to ask about who and what you are is your Father in Heaven'. I don't know how she felt at that moment, or afterwards even but I know I felt like I could have said more, but somehow I also felt it wasn't the right time. I have since heard that this lady has been investigating all the faiths out there in search of one answer 'Am I negative'. To the most of us that is a pretty straight forward question, but this lady is looking for a deeper meaning, a deeper understanding inside herself. I can relate to that because I am a deep person, I have to analyse my thoughts and feelings, opinions and actions which can all too often leave me feeling like i'm negative because I dont recognise my strengths or talents. When I do though, I then run the risk of it being slammed because the world apparently doesn't like hearing someone talk of their good points. In my humble opinion, if we talked MORE of our own good points and less of someone elses so called bad, each and every one of us could make a difference.

Wow! It's been a long time since I got that deep on a blog!! I felt inspired to write it though, so whoever reads this, I hope you take something from it, cos when all is said and done, we all share the basics...a body, a heart, a mind and a soul...as well as free agency. Put the lot together we are what we want to be...not a template for the next person to follow us from. Go figure.

Right time for my bed, its silly o'clock again and Kirsten has another GP appointment in the morning. Update on the bullying will follow soon as the school have concluded their investigation. I've had a few msn/yahoo IM's regarding that so I know there are some out there who are interested.

Happy Friday :D
Debsx