Friends

Recently I was in a medical facility waiting room where a popular movie was playing on the TV screen to entertain me and the others who were waiting.   As I sat down to wait, a helicopter was being flown over a cityscape and somehow became stranded on the top of a very tall skyscraper.   A beautiful woman climbed out of the helicopter and ended up hanging on for dear life to the landing gear of the helicopter, dangling high above the city streets.  Of course who should appear, but Superman, who deftly rescued the beautiful maiden (Lois Lane, I assume) and the helicopter, delivering them both safely to a helicopter landing pad.

"But wait, who are you?" she asks as he starts to walk off into the night.

Superman turns and gives her is big signature smile, and answers,  "A friend."

Where would we be without friends?  We all need and crave friendship, whether we admit it or not. I'm not really a very social person.  I enjoy being around good people, but definitely don't feel the need to "go out and socialize"  every week. I don't often go out of my way to arrange social activities or to invite people to gather in my home, but I do appreciate my good friends and neighbors and co-workers and appreciate associating with them from time to time.  I enjoy and appreciate the times when a friend and I can just sit and talk, sharing our highs and our lows, our good times and blessings, our worries and our struggles.   Good friends have our back and know how to lift and help when we are down.

Earlier this week my DH and I had the privilege of going out to dinner with a group of old friends.  A former roommate of mine and her husband have come to the area for their youngest son's wedding this week, and since they rarely are able to visit from their current home in China, they invited a fairly large group of friends to meet together for a meal and visiting.   It has been many years since we have visited with these friends, and we didn't know everyone in the group, but it was good to renew old friendships and to get to meet  new friends.  I can honestly say that they are not only some of the "brightest minds" (as our host graciously pointed out) of our generation, but I would also add, some of the kindest and noblest hearts.   I feel privileged to know them, to have been included in the group last night, and to call them my friends.

Thinking of friends and friendships, I would have to say that my very closest friends are those who I have been blessed to have as my family.   My DH is my closest friend and confidant, my own Superman/Clark Kent.   My angel mother and my noble father are not only my greatest mentors, but they are also souls that I consider among my greatest friends.  My dear brothers and sisters were my closest friends growing up, and next to them were my cousins.  I love spending time with them all.

The children who have come to my family are now among my closest friends and confidants.  I love spending time with them, admire them immensely.  My two dear daughters-in-law are included in this bunch.   Even thought I have not known them nearly as long as I have known my own dear children, they are both wonderful women, and I could not have chosen better companions for my two dear sons. I recently saw an appropriate meme on facebook that does a pretty good job of expressing how important my friendships with my grown children are . . . but now I can't find it!  So this post will just have to exist without that colorful touch.

And who do I consider to be my very greatest friend?  My Savior, Jesus Christ.  My elder brother, the one who knows and understands me better than anyone else ever has or will. He knows my thoughts and the intents of my heart, and still loves me. He has suffered and endured every single thing that I have suffered or will ever have to face, or not face, if I will repent.   He truly knows me.   He is the one who is always there to hear my prayers, whether they are prayers of gratitude or pleadings for help and comfort.  I know he wants to be there for you too.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

John 15:13, 14

"I will call you friends, for you are my friends"

D&C 93:45

The Sun Will Always Rise

Last night was a long night.   Sometimes after a wonderful, spiritual high like I enjoyed yesterday during our General Conference, I find myself being hit by a huge wave or wall of sadness, doubt, regret, remorse, anxiety and discouragement.   Last night was probably the worst that I have ever experienced, at least for a very long time.  There are many things that are concerning to me right now.. There are many of my friends and family members that are struggling too.

I did try to go to bed early, after prayers and scriptures with the family.   Once in bed my mind would not shut off.  I could not concentrate on positive things.   I tried reading, praying again, eating, and even trying to find uplifting TV programs or movies in the middle of the night.   Usually any one of these activities will help me to relax my mind and my body and fall to sleep, but last night every single time that I finally managed to drift off, I almost immediately woke again to another difficult thought pervading my mind.

At one point I was finally able to feel the sweet, peaceful reasurrance from the spirit of the Holy Ghost that I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Father, that he knows and loves me, and that eventually everything will work out all right.   I still was not able to go back to sleep, at least not for very long.

Eventually morning came.  The sun's rays found their way over our beautiful eastern mountains.   I was able to get up and get ready for the day.   I was able to go to work and do my job, think clearly and converse with the staff and students who needed my help and attention.    Today was a good day, and I know that more good days will come.  I have faith that many far better days will come.

I'm so very grateful for the knowledge that the Sun will always rise.

Happiness and Joy

Am I happy?  

This is a question that I feel most of us ask ourselves almost constantly, even if we only do it subconsciously.  I know that I think about it every day, even if it is in a superficial way.  Am I physically comfortable?   Have I done something fun or enjoyable and entertaining lately?  Am I overworked or stressed about something?  Am I worried about anyone I love and care about?

I have spent the weekend drinking in the counsel and advice from a group of people who I believe are the very most qualified of any on this planet to help people like me. and all people anywhere find true happiness, true peace, and true joy.

This morning, President Thomas S Monson,  the current living prophet of God and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,  reminded us again of the answers to the age old questions, Where did I come from?  Why am I here?  and Where am I going? The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us the answers to these questions and teaches us of God's plan of Salvation.   We lived with God, our Father before we were born.  We are here to gain a physical body, and to learn how to return to our Heavenly Father.  Essential to the plan is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Through his sacrifice and teachings we can return to live with him and with our families once again.  It is the one perfect plan to peace and happiness both here and in the world to come.

Many many more messages were shared throughout the weekend, a virtual feast of uplifting messages of hope and inspiration.  Watch or listen to LDS General Conference here.

I started this blog years ago in an effort to help me take the time to recognize and express my gratitude for the good and wonderful things in my life.  Tonight I am very grateful for living prophets and apostles.    Tonight I am also making a renewed commitment to recognize and record  the daily tender mercies that I am continually blessed with and more of the insights that have come to me while listening to inspired counsel.  Gratitude, Happiness, and Joy.

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. 
2 Nephi 2:25

For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Moses 1:39

Summertime

"Summertime"

Summertime, and the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high

Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good -lookin'

So hush little baby, Don't you cry

One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing

And you'll spread your wings and you'll take to the sky

But til that morning, there aint nothing' can harm you

With Daddy and Mammy standin by

Lyrics Source

"Summertime"  is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess.   The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based.  A month or so ago DH and I had the privilege of attending a local musical festival production of the opera Porgy and Bess, performed with a full orchestra as originally written by George Gershwin. The story is somewhat sad, dealing with problems of poverty, racial injustice, drug abuse, and such, but the the music was wonderful, and we had an enjoyable evening together enjoying the music and each other's company.

This past summer has been quite busy with work and a plethora of family weddings, including the wedding of DS1 and our beautiful new daughter in law.   All of our children were able to be home for the wedding, and the kids pretty much planned and carried out all of the festivities themselves, so it wasn't really stressful, but it was a very busy time with everyone coming and going.  . . . . And then before we knew it, they had all returned to their various homes and things are pretty quiet around here again. 

 There is always plenty to do, with work and taking care of the house and the yards and gardens, but I have been particularly enjoying these late summer evenings this year.  I'm trying to take at least an hour or two most evenings to just putter around the yard and the garden and enjoy the cooler weather, maybe even laying back on the grass and watching the sun set.  This time of year has usually been quite hectic with back to school activities right and left, but now with an empty nest and several more weeks of daylight savings time . . . I am truly happy to be able to take time to relish and enjoy the little things:

source

Marcy Speaks Up: Evan McMullin for President

Photo Source:  npr.org

I rarely speak out about politics.  I do try to sometimes publicly share my thoughts and beliefs on a variety of topics, but for the most part I try to avoid controversy.  That being said, I strongly believe that it is my responsibility as a citizen of the United States of America to take an active part in understanding the issues of the times and voting in any public elections where I am eligible to vote.  This year in particular there seems to be some widespread major dissatisfaction with both of the US Presidential Candidates from our two major political parties, if not dissatisfaction with both major parties themselves.  If you don't feel comfortable voting for either party's candidate, what do you do?  Vote for the lesser of the two evils (if you can decide what that is)?   Risk "wasting" your vote by voting for a third party candidate?  Most views of these candidates have not really meshed with mine either. Stick your head in the sand and not vote at all, hoping and praying that everything will turn out ok no matter who wins?

On August 10, 2016 former CIA Agent Evan McMullin announced his presidential candidacy as an independent candidate.  I had never heard of him before this announcement, but so far I like what I see.  If you are in any way dissatisfied with the current political state of affairs in this country, please take a look.   I'm not telling you how to vote come November, but please do a bit of reading and exploring, and if you like what you read about Evan McMullin, please spread the word.  Let's all be fully aware of what our options really are!!

Here's part of the introduction to a recent NPR broadcast about Evan McMullin:

"For voters dissatisfied with both major party candidates, there are a few other options.  There's Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, and a lesser known late arrival to the scene--Evan McMullin . . . 

"MucMullin has worked for the CIA, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Goldman Sachs, and as chief policy director of the House Republican Conference."

"In an interview with NPR's Scott Simon, McMullin argued he is the best candidate on national security.  He also spoke about his stance on the Affordable Care Act, trade, and Syrian refugees."

Source:  NPR Broadcast from Saturday, August 20, 2016

Please click on the above link to read more highlights from the NPR interview.  You may also want to explore these links:

Evan McMullin for President  website

Video of Interview with Mark Halperin   posted on www.bloomberg.com

How Well Do I Know Him?

I'm somewhat of a loner.  I don't enjoy being the center of attention, and I relish my privacy and time alone.  But I am human.  I'm a wife and mother, a daughter and a sister.  I do have friends and neighbors and co-workers.  I love my family and enjoy spending time with friends and neighbors and co-workers.   I enjoy most casual social interactions, and I, like most people, crave and need to be understood.   We are taught that one of the most vital of human needs is the need to be loved, and I believe, understood.

As babies and young children, most of us were given huge amounts of love and care from our parents and other care givers.   Along with this love and care we received huge amounts of empathy.   As parents, older siblings, grandparents and other adults, we understand what it means to be tired, hungry, too hot or too cold.  We understand what it feels like to be uncomfortable and what it is like to be in pain.   We do all that we can to make sure that our sweet children and babies are taken care of, loved, and happy.  We can have true empathy for them in most situations that they encounter.

As we grow older, we encounter many varied situations and challenges.   At some point we each face problems and situations that our parents may not have faced.  Even if they have had similar problems, the circumstances are different, and the way we react to the same situations and challenges will be different from those who are close to us.   The same holds true in our relationships with siblings, friends, roommates, and even BFF's and spouses or significant others.   They may not have experienced a failing grade, the accidental death of a good friend, losing a parent, abuse from a loved one, divorce, cancer and it's treatments, diabetes, anxiety attacks, depression, loss of a job, serious sin, having very limited money/financial resources.   They may have had similar experiences, and time has numbed their memory and pain.   They may be the very ones who have inflicted the pain and have no real realization of what they have done.

I don't know about you, but I find it even harder to face a particular challenge or situation when my loved ones don't quite understand what I am going through.  Yes, they are usually sympathetic and empathetic to the degree that they are capable, but I often feel that they just don't quite understand.  You know the old teenage refrain . . . "but you just don't understand!!"   Yes, it's true.   At some point in our lives we each reach a place where none of our closest friends or loved ones quite understands what we are going through or where we are coming from.   So why do I always expect my loved ones to totally understand???

So where do we turn?   As Christians, we have been taught that we can turn to Christ.  WAIT. STAY WITH ME HERE.   I know this, but still I would rather have my loved ones understand.  They are usually who I turn to first.  My dear husband.  My daughters.  My sons.  My sisters.  My co-workers.   To their credit, they do their best to sympathize, understand, empathize and comfort me.  But why do I always turn to them first for comfort rather than turning to the Savior, the one who knows me better than anyone else?   Do I not believe that he will understand?  I have been taught, and I believe, and I think that I know that he understands better than anyone else.   That's what the whole atonement is about, that he has suffered and understood every single sin and pain and sorrow that I have or will ever suffer, and has ALREADY suffered these things for me.

So what is the problem?  It is me.  Where do I spend my efforts?   Who do I spend the most time with?   Who do I live, work, and play with?  Who am I most comfortable with?  Who do I know the best?    Am I spending enough time with my Savior, and am I close enough to him that he is the one I instinctively turn to?  Instead of my spouse?  Instead of my children?  Instead of my co-workers?  He has already offered to comfort all of my sorrows and my woes.  He has already suffered for all of my pains and sins.  Am I comfortable with Him?  I need to learn more of Him.  I need to turn to Him more often in thought and prayer and study.  He is there.  How well do I know Him?

Five Minute Friday: HAPPY

I haven't been too actively blogging this busy summer season, but the first post on my blog feed this afternoon was a Five Minute Friday Challenge posted at Sand Castles and Snow Forts.

Are you interested?   Take five minutes and write your own blogging thoughts about HAPPY, and join in by posting a link to your blog on Kate's linky at this link:  Five Minute Friday Challenge: HAPPY


Here's my five minute offering on HAPPY

Am I Happy??   This was perfect timing for me.  If you had asked me to spout about Happy last night, I may have given you 30 minutes about UNHAPPY!   No, nothing is terribly wrong in my life, but I am adjusting from a season of planning for and looking forward to the wedding of DS1 to DDIL1, and all of the busyness and excitement of having all of the family gather together from both sides of the continent for the wedding day, to the present time when all have returned home..   I do love my six wonderful childrens and their spouses and my Dear Hubby, but do wish we had just a wee bit more time all together.

I am happy for green grass, and sprinklers to water it in the hot summer time, for cars that allow me to travel many places in our beautiful state and elsewhere.  I am happy for gainful employement and wonderful, pleasant and faithful co-workers.  I am happy to live in a super neighborhood with wonderful, caring friends and neighbors.  I am happy to have born into a super duper wonderful family with super duper wonderful parents.

My five minutes are over, and I've just touched the tip of the iceberg of wonderful blessings that make me happy!