Saturday, September 25, 2010

Sisters

I have been blessed with several sisters.  We are rather spread out, a couple of us living on one side of the country and a couple here in the middle, one even farther south, on the west coast.  Even though we are spread far, I think of them each day.  I wonder how they are doing, what challenges they are having, and what specific thing I should pray for them on any particular day.  I do pray for each of them each day. 

As I sat in the chapel tonight with two of my daughters, I began thinking.  It came to me that at that very moment, my sisters, my other daughter and I were united in what we were doing at that very moment.  We were preparing to listen to the women's conference and hear our Prophet speak.  Some were in Stake Centers like I was, some watched from home on the television and some watched on the Internet, but at that moment we were doing the same thing. 

Then the music began and we all sang "Count Your Many Blessings".  As I sang, I felt surrounded by many voices, all singing the same song.  At that moment it came to me that I had other sisters, who were all around the world, that were at that moment singing with me.  Many languages, all singing praises to our Heavenly Father with one voice.  I was staggered at the thought.  My sisters, all of us from around the world were uplifted by the music and speakers.  I laughed with President Monson, when he told of the woman who complained each week that her neighbor didn't know how to properly wash the laundry, only to find out that it was her own windows that were dirty.  I cried as we were admonished not to judge others, with President Monson quoting  "Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” I ask: Can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa—“No; we cannot.” I rejoiced to hear Sister Beck, Sister Allred and Sister Thompson recounted some of our rich history as a Relief Society organization while at the same time reminding us of responsibilities that we all share.

I know that I am a daughter of God.  Knowing that has helped me in my role as a wife and mother to truly value myself, knowing that as I stayed home to care for my children, I was doing something noble, something that was of great importance to my children's future.  I feel greatly blessed that I have had the privilege to stay home and raise my children.  Heavenly Father has greatly blessed me with really amazing children, each one unique not only in talents, but disposition, and personality.  I have learned much from all of them.  I am blessed to have two brothers and four sisters, some of whom don't even know each other as they come to me from both of my parents separately.  They are all important to me and have blessed my life.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and that if we trust in that plan, He will guide and bless our lives.  For this and so many other things I am grateful for, I know my life is truly blessed. 

So as I think of all of these things, I just wanted to share how I felt. 

Monday, September 6, 2010

The New 'Do

Due to my weird medical condition and the meds that go with it, my hair has been falling out by the handfuls.  So this past Friday I got it all cut off--well at least 14 inches of it cut off.
This tiny, thin pony tail is all there was left to cut off.  It itsn't much, but I will donate it to Locks of Love.  It is funny, I got 14 inches cut off and only 2 people at church noticed it was short.  Weird!!  So I am pretty content with the new 'do.  At least I have been blessed to still have a little bit of hair left.  That and the talent of a great hairdresser who was born with thin hair, I don't have to look bald even though I feel bald.  So here is the current me.  Shocking!!
Mandy told me to make a face, so I did.  Since I really didn't want any type of a bob hair cut, we are calling it the Roy hair cut.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Youth

A few weeks ago a friend Gabe Murphy spoke in church.  Gabe and his wife Cora are amazing with youth.  They inspire me.  Anyway he read this poem as part of his talk.  It really made me think about role as a parent and I wanted to share it with all of you.


‘Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away
In the parable Jesus told,
A grown-up sheep that had gone astray
From the ninety and nine in the fold.



And out in the meadows, and out in the cold,
‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought.
And back to the flock and safe into the fold,
‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.



Why, for the sheep, should we earnestly long
And so earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger, if they go wrong,
They will lead the young lambs astray.



For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever the sheep may stray;
If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long
‘Til the lambs are as wrong as they.



So, with the sheep we earnestly plead
For the sake of the lambs today,
If sheep are lost, what a terrible cost
Some lambs will have to pay!


Thursday, September 2, 2010

Operation Keep Cheryl Healthy


As I have spent the past few days going through Kleenex as such a speed as to fill my very own landfill to overflowing, it has occured to me that I didn't think some things through about school.  I have a compromised immune system.  I pretty much catch everything that I come in contact with.  So I am related to and am friends with many medical personnel as well as many vitamin and herbal people.  I am thinking that perhaps you may have ideas on how I can keep from catching every pesky virus that comes along.  My answer in the past (stay home and don't interact with anybody who may or may not be carrying some dreaded virus)just won't work.  I don't think it will help my grades to stay home.  Besides, I am enjoying the lectures and don't want to stay home.  So I'm asking--any ideas on how to keep me healthy?