Saturday quotes-ah, summer

"Ah, summer...what power you have to make us suffer and like it."  Russell Baker

Now that summer is winding down, I know I need to savor those warm bright days and try not to wish them away with longing for Fall and cooler temperatures.  Fall will come soon enough and never seems to last long.  Then winter is here suddenly and I long for summer again.  So I will spend some time soaking up what is left of it hopefully without getting sunburned.

Friday Favorites-Pretty Darn Funny parodies

These 2 parodies are so funny and cute and are my 2 favorites.

Thursday Tips & Tricks-designated places

Designated Places

Have a certain place where commonly misplaced items always are put.
Shoes-closet, mudroom or a basket by the front door.
Keys-hook, drawer or bowl on entry table
Mail-drawer, hanging cubby or hard file holder
Stuff from school-clean out backpack before snacks put flyers, papers to be signed or artwork on counter or in specific file. Put lunchboxes by the sink.
Backpacks-any certain place that isn't right by the door, hooks in the mudroom or front closet are ideal.

Try making a Family Message Board-here's a link for one made out of an oil-drip pan:
Oil drip pan into message board

Wacky Wednesday-what babies are saying...

Tuesday miTunes-Sunshine On My Shoulders

Ok, this song is maybe too corny for some people, but I have always liked it.  When he sings "if I had a day that I could give to you, I'd give to you a day just like today," I think about days that I can give to myself.  I can make a memory.  Imprint that day in my mind and draw from it later.  I used to think I had SAD (seasonal affective disorder) because I get sort of down and melancholy if the weather is gloomy.  And about the end of February and first of March, I am so done with winter and snow that I am watching and yearning for signs of spring.  But I have learned that I can reach into my memory and draw from the warm sunny summer days and it does help perk up my spirits.

Monday Messages-Charity

We know that Charity is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
The prophet Mormon tells us, “Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever” (Moroni 7:46–47; see also 1 Corinthians 13
The Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, of which I belong, has as their motto:  Charity Never Faileth.  So I asked myself how it is that it NEVER fails.  There are times when our love and kindness is not reciprocated or our kind deeds go unnoticed, or perhaps we go about doing things anonymously.  We may say our good deeds are always noticed by God, which is true.  But I realized that Charity is something WE possess, an attribute or a virtue, not those acts that we perform.  When we stand before God and Christ, we will either have charity in our heart or we won't.  It will not be about the number of kind deeds we have done or a list of monetary donations given.  It will be about the person we have become.  So charity never fails because if it is true charity, it will change us and make US more charitable.  So how do we develop true charity?  Moroni gives us the list of what charity is:  "And ^acharity suffereth long, and is ^bkind, and ^cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily ^dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

Moroni 7:45

Sunday Blessings-songs

I am grateful for songs that uplift me and that touch my spirit.  I love music in general, but something about the songs of the gospel really get me.  It's not uncommon for me to cry in church, but more often than not, it's the songs that affect me most.  Songs speak to me in a way that nothing else can.  The best songs are those sung by children.  They are the ones that always make me cry-and I don't even consider myself a "cryer."  I guess I'm getting sentimental.  The 2 songs that always seem to get to me are "We'll Bring the World His Truth" and "Holding Hands Around the World."  But if the right person sings any song from their heart, it can bring me to tears.  I am grateful to be able to hear and enjoy beautiful music.