Wednesday, October 8, 2014

What I Believe - Why We Share



This past weekend I enjoyed watching The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's October General Conference. All of the talks were wonderful, in my opinion. But this one, delivered by Elder David A. Bednar, was given with non-members in mind.

Elder Bednar's talk will answer at least some of your questions about us and why we Latter-day Saints (Mormons) love to tell everyone about our faith in Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel.

This is what I Believe.








Friday, October 3, 2014

Friday Faves - CountryGirlPrims


Halloween is almost upon us and I thought it would be a good idea to find a shop with some fun items for Halloween. Countrygirlprims, which has primitive folk art styled items, has a lot of fun patterns to make such cute things as primitive cats, or kats, and witch's boots for Halloween gifts or for decorating your home or office. But there are also cute primitive snowmen, so you can get ready for the holidays coming up in December.

I hope you enjoy browsing CountryGirlPrims .

Be sure to stop over at my Cherish blog on Monday for a new feature called Amusing Monday when I will be sharing jokes, humor, personal funny anecdotes, cartoons, even animation. Who couldn't use a good laugh on Monday? Then back here at No Stranger Here for What I Believe Wednesday. My Friday Faves will be undergoing some changes because I will start featuring some of my other favorites, such as books, authors, shops from Etsy as well as other sites and, of course, music.

Until then, have a great weekend everyone and take care out there!


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

What I Believe - Eve

Image Source
This past Saturday I had the great pleasure of watching the September 2014 General Women's Meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The music, the speakers, the whole presentation was absolutely lovely! Then Sunday I decided to re-watch the March 2014 General Women's Meeting and one thing really stood out to me and I knew right then and there what I would like to write about for today's What I Believe blog post. It was when President Henry B. Eyring spoke. He quoted Elder Russell M. Nelson: "We and all mankind are forever blessed because of Eve's great courage and wisdom. By partaking of the fruit first, she did what needed to be done. Adam was wise enough to do likewise."

President Henry B. Eyring went on to quote from The Book of Abraham 5:14: "And the Gods said: Let us make an help meet for the man, for it is not good that the man should be alone, therefore we will form an help meet for him."

President Howard W. Hunter said of the words help meet  in his talk from the October 1994 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, entitled Being a Righteous Husband and Father : "The Lord intended that the wife be a help meet for man (meet means equal)—that is, a companion equal and necessary in full partnership."

That Eve is so revered in our faith is one of the many reasons I was so drawn to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is not what other faiths taught to me as I was growing up and still searching for the truth. It is not what I heard from popular culture in music, television, and books. All manner of terrible things were told to me about Mother Eve and her daughters. And all along I quietly disagreed with the things that I was being taught and hearing about Eve and my own gender. I didn't feel that I was like any of the things that these people said. None of it made any sense to me. But I wasn't sure where to look to find the things that were in my heart about Eve, the Mother of All Living, until I came to this church.

I would like to invite you to partake of a wholesome and uplifting point of view about Mother Eve and to find answers to other spiritual questions that you may have by taking the time to Meet With The Missionaries. If you click on that link it will take you to a site where you can chat with or set up an appointment to meet with the Missionaries in your area. The site also explains what will happen at such a meeting, so you can be at ease when you meet with them.

Eve was courageous and wise in her choice. She understood that something was missing in her life with Adam, though beautiful and amazing it must have been to be in the Garden of Eden. Her choice was what made it possible for all of us to be here and I am forever grateful.

This is what I believe.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Friday Faves - Aga Farrell Photography



This week I'm sharing a photographer that I ran across in an Etsy search and I was just so impressed with the beautiful photos and artistry of Aga. I think you will be too.

Aga Farrell Photography

Be sure to stop over at my Cherish blog for Music Monday when I will be featuring the music of John Cougar Mellencamp. Then back here at No Stranger Here for What I Believe Wednesday. Then, for the next few weeks, I will feature one favorite shop per Friday Faves.

Until then, have a great weekend everyone and take care out there!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

What I Believe - Mom and Dad


I really don't want to wait for Mother's Day and Father's Day, two separate days, to write about why I'm grateful I had a mom and a dad. Is there a Parents' Day? I think that would be nice if there is.

While I did not grow up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am grateful to my parents for permitting the Mormon Elders, the Missionaries, to come into our home when I was very young. I know their interaction, brief though it was, had a good influence on me and my future.

In my own personal experience I did not have as much influence from my mother as I did from my father because by the time I came along my mother became very ill. When my mother became ill and could no longer tend to the needs of our family, our family literally fell apart. But during the few times she was well enough she was the glue that held us all together. She was a stay-at-home mom even before she became ill and I am grateful that she was. She did make and sell various things for some extra money from time to time, but for the most part my dad was the provider. He ran his own business and she helped him at times.

Both of my parents were firm disciplinarians but they were also very loving. We all often gathered on their laps in their favorite chairs, sitting on the arms of the chair, their laps, cuddled up and smothering our parents with our love. It was wonderful! And how I loved it when I was little to be able to sit on my mother's lap and listen to her talk about life on the farm she grew up on, her spiritual beliefs, even advice on the type of man I should marry someday. She liked to draw, so she would draw little doodles for me as well. I would not trade those times with my mother for anything!

One of the things my mother did for all of us kids at one time or another was to act as a buffer between us and our dad. When we did something wrong, she could soften or cushion dad's reaction. It was good for all concerned.

Our mother kept a very neat house. I don't know how she managed it with five children, cousins and friends coming and going, pets, and two children from a previous marriage who would also visit from time to time -- but she did. It was a great source of comfort and joy for all of us, but especially our father who really loved coming home to a clean house and clean kids. He used to say that if he happened to be thinking about steak for supper that's exactly what she would have on the table for him when he got home from a hard day's work. This was long before cellular phones. He felt their connection went beyond the physical plane. He was so heartsick when she became ill.

My dad did all that he knew how to do to try to keep everything together when her illness set in, but it just wasn't enough. There was no way that he knew to keep up with all of us, work, and tend to her.

I enjoyed all of the time that I got to share with my dad, but how wonderful it would have been if both my parents had been able to be there for me as I grew up. The advice and guidance I could have received from my mother surely would have been beyond price.

I'm thankful for the time I had with both of my parents, though, and I cannot imagine
a more ideal way of life.

This is what I believe.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Friday Faves - Contemori



I love the whimsical attitude that goes into the creations at Contemori. Bold colors and patterns bring joy to the beholder. Soft toys and other creations, even wallets. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Bottega Creativa Contemori

Be sure to stop over at my Cherish blog for Music Monday when I will be featuring the Bassnectar. Then back here at No Stranger Here for What I Believe Wednesday. Then, for the next few weeks, I will feature one favorite shop per Friday Faves.

Until then, have a great weekend everyone and take care out there!


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

What I Believe - Thomas S. Monson



This is a nice biographical video about the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson.

I'm always so happy to listen to what the president of our church has to say. He is so kind and wise, and I love his sense of humor.

President Thomas S. Monson helps and guides all members of the church who listen to and follow his counsel. Through his talks he has been a great help to me in so many aspects of my own life, even the simple, every day matters as well as the greater matters that sometimes come into my life.

As we follow his counsel we will find that we will be better able to handle the tough situations we all face throughout our lives.

This is what I believe.