Jeff Decker Sculptor for Harley Davidson and Mormon

Hi! :D

I go to the same church this guy goes to... albeit in another town and state.

This guy owns and sculpts Harley Davidsons. ~ My dad used to have a whole pile of Harley Davidsons.
 :) I think he would have especially enjoyed this video when he had them...

Do You Have A Dream? - ReWrite

I have a dream which has been on the back burner. I wrote about it earlier today, then realized I was totally and completely - taking the wrong approach. So I'm re-writing this post. I'm keeping it simple. And I'm leaving out the details of my dream (especially since I realized I really don't know for sure what the details will be). So if you read it already.... just disregard it! Thanks!! :D

All I know for sure, is that I need to dream. And that I need to make my Father in Heaven my partner in making that dream come true. I need to do it for the right reasons. And I need to do it at the right time, so that it is a blessing to others. And I need to do it His way.

I was blessed to come upon a fabulous quote on my friend Patty Ann's blog (Pitterle Postings) which taught me some more about dreams, and of my Father in Heaven's desires for us concerning our dreams.
When I wrote the blog post "Do You Have A Dream" earlier today, I was so hung up on the idea that God is "anxiously waiting" to to fulfill my dreams, and that He expects me to "embrace and shape the future (and of the thought of making my future what I want it to be)... that I forgot to reflect on the fact that it is THROUGH HIM that my dreams will come true. It is through His power and will that we are blessed to make our futures what we want them to be. He gives us our talents, our possessions, our opportunities... He answers our prayers. He makes our dreams come true.

"God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future--to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities... God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe."

How then, can I take a dream that He gives to me, and use it for selfish purposes? How can I dream of anything without asking myself, "would this please Him?" And I don't just mean, would the dream please him? I also mean, would the purpose for the dream, and would the method of accomplishing the dream - please Him?

So, I decided to get off my arrogant high horse, and rethink my dream. I still plan to dream! And I still plan to get excited about accomplishing dreams... but, I am now seeking for more balance between self, and selfless... maybe I would like them to be more of "our" dreams, His and mind, instead of just "my" own. And maybe, I can make dreams out of helping my family to reach their dreams as well.

Wish me luck! Never mind... I won't need luck if He is my partner. :)

Instead, please pray for me to have the humility and faith I need... to make Him my partner! Then...  whatever I dream of, whatever I create, will be worthwhile, and will be a gift back to Him, as a way of thanking Him for the gift and blessing of helping me to create. I will pray this prayer for you too, my friends. :)

Corine :D

Struggles, Weaknesses, Trials, and Finding Joy Through the Refining Process...

I was talking to a friend recently who told me about some concerns the school has regarding one of her sons, and that he may have Asperger's Syndrome. She was totally relaxed about it - no stress at all over the prospect. - I silently contemplated this, and then she continued. She said she didn't know if he has it or not. And then she added,

"But if he does have it, it really doesn't matter. It won't change anything; and everyone has something they struggle with."

Later, I thought about her calm acceptance, and the words, "Everyone has something they struggle with." And I LIKED it!

I liked it because it is TRUE. I also liked it because part of the reason parts of my past were so hard for me was because I had a distorted view that the majority of the human population have "normal" lives free of major struggles such as these. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Because of the distorted view I used to see the world through, I was trying to get rid of the challenges (without even knowing what they were), thinking that my kids needed a "normal" life to be happy, and that "normal" meant that there wasn't anything "wrong" with them or their lives.

Again, I was SO WRONG! "Normal" is really something like this...

What MAJOR issue or challenge do you deal with? Is it one that everyone can see, or is it more of a personal one that no one can see? Do you wish others could see it? Do you wish they couldn't? If they can't see it, do you have to bear it alone? Which is worse... harder? Neither. ~ If we turn to God, He can make all things work for our good!

I have a friend who recently told me about going to his college counseling center for testing and found out  about some disabilities that he has. I could tell that it really bothered him; it seemed to be a great burden to him, to have these struggles which so many other people DON'T have to deal with. I wanted to comfort him, but at that moment... didn't know what to say. I think my friend may have known what to say. Remember that simple statement she made to me? IT IS HARD, to have struggles, weaknesses, trials, disAbilities; and Satan, who seeks to discourage us and bring our minds to sorrow and depression, would have us focus on our struggles or the "dis" in dis"Abilities."

"...but if he does have it, it really doesn't matter. It won't change anything; everyone has something they struggle with.

Satan would have us think the hand/deck of cards we have been dealt with is unfair, and that our lives are harder, have less value, and less happiness, than they would have had without the struggles.

But that is not so.

The truth is that EVERYONE has challenges and struggles which are GREAT, and which can be hard to bear. But these struggles are allowed, and sometimes even "given" to us... thoughtfully, carefully, and lovingly ~ by a Father in Heaven who knows just what each and everyone of us needs to experience in order to reach our true potentials and experience total joy. It is an essential part of the refiners fire we must go through to become the kind of person we will find great joy in becoming.

There is a scripture about this (emphasis mine)...

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Ether 12:27

Recently, I was having a really hard day dealing with weaknesses my kids were born with (Not that my weaknesses are any better! :o). I thought about the "flip side of the coin" analogy - where for every negative, there is a positive to go with it...  I wasn't in the most positive mental state, and was really struggling to endure happily, so I asked my husband, And then the spirit spoke through him; he said the same exact thing the Lord told me in my heart the day before...

"What is the flip side of the coin... the blessing that comes, in conjunction with that awful weaknesses our kids struggle with?

"The flip side, is that their weaknesses

will become their strengths."

Chills....

Goosebumps...

Tears of joy...

God loves us ALL ~ SO MUCH! :D

And the Lord reminds me... I need to experience raising kids with these struggles. Their struggles ARE BLESSINGS TO ME! This isn't just about what their challenges will do for them; it is also about how their challenges bless their family, friends, coworkers, local church goers etc...

We need to strive to see others the way Heavenly Father does, and the way they can and will be after their life experiences refine them like valuable silver in a refiners fire... AND TREAT THEM AS IF THEY ALREADY ARE - the person they will be, once those weaknesses are made strong.

Isn't that what we want others to do for us? Don't we feel encouraged to keep trying, when others focus on our successes, rather than on our failures? And don't they do this because they view us as inherently good, and capable of reaching our goals... rather than as the person tainted by struggle X?

I guess that's why I don't want struggles, challenges, or weaknesses to be my focus. Why should they be? Everyone has them... What we need to be able to overcome, is the habit of not allowing obstacles to discourage us or linger in our minds..., and staying focused on our goals.

We each have our own unique set of strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and skills; we have to find our own unique path to accomplishing our own goals.

One of my goals is to teach my kids to focus on their Abilities; to set goals, and work towards them, and to realize that if they have to go about achieving a goal an a different way than many other people do, or if it takes longer for them than it does for others... to not let that bother them and just go ahead and do it anyway. 

I want them to realize that the same people who don't have the struggles that they have, DO have struggles that they don't have. And that a loving Father in Heaven allows each of us to go through the specific struggles we need for our own growth, and so we will all have opportunities to serve one another. A year or so ago, I added to my email signature the motto given in Meet the Robinson's,  "Keep Moving Forward." This is my current phrase to live by. And each time I see it I am reminded...

"Corine... No matter what obstacles stand between you and your goals..., don't let them stop you. Hurdle over them, and just keep moving forward!"

I don't ever want to discount any one's struggles or obstacles that seem to stand in our way. They are real. They are hard. For each and every one of us, in our own personal way, Life really is a climb!

But if we will remember that we are never alone, and that God in his Love, blessed each of us to go through what we need to go through, but He will never allow us to go through anything we can't handle... we can feel blessed and thankful, and optimistic that He believes in us and in our ability to handle, conquer, and overcome/hurdle any and all obstacles that come our way. He believes in us! And he is only a prayer away from helping us with anything we ask for help with.

I really believe these things. I hope you do, too.

I know He loves us and He wants us to know these things. If we don't, we just kneel down and ask Him... ;)

Corine :D

PS. A couple of months ago I posted a FABULOUS story about how the Lord teaches and molds us through the refiners fire of life's trials. You can find it HERE if you want to! It is short, and beautiful; but be forewarned... you'll need a Kleenex to get through it. ;D

PPS I found a quote on Tracy's blog that I have to add to this... Thanks Tracy! :D

"My imperfections and failures
are as much a blessing from God
as my successes and my talents
and I lay them both at his feet.”

by Mahatma Ghandi

I LOVE IT! :D

Doesn't Ghandi rock? I love that man!!

 

Do You Ever Feel Inadequate?

Do you ever feel inadequate? Do you ever look at your responsibilities and feel overwhelmed by the impossibility of the task?

Are things expected of you, which are far greater than what you have to offer?

Sunday we had a great lesson in Sunday School about the small boy who gave Christ 5 loaves of barley bread and 2 small fishes, so Christ could use it to feed the multitude of over 5 thousand persons... until they were all full. I was touched. I took a few notes. And one of my notes said this on the side, "*Blog this."

But then I forgot all about it. Until today, when I felt a nudge from within me telling me to go read from a particular blog. I immediately went there and jumped over to a post the author wrote last Sunday about the story of Christ feeding the multitude with one boys meager portion of food. So here I am to write that post. :D

The mentioned story is taken from the 6th chapter of the book of John. I took brief notes about the details, number of fish, loaves, people, etc. And then I wrote this note to myself:

"What are the small gifts that I possess which I can offer up to bless many?"

 Making a difference in the world isn't about how amazing we are. We don't have to be superior or amazing, really (no one is superior anyhow). Making a difference in the lives of many is about offering up to Christ, the small gifts and blessings that He has already blessed us with, so He can perform miracles and multiply our small gifts to share with others.

I know this sounds simplistic.

I hope it doesn't sound like a fantasy of an ignorant fool.

I believe it is truth...

I believe it is a simple principle of truth that was put into the scriptures so that we would realize the power we have to help many, if we will simply offer up our small abilities to the Lord.

He is the one who performs the miracles. He is the one who makes it possible for us to do the simple things we do, and for great things to come from them. It is in our limited state, and humble lacking, that Christ is able to make His power and love for all of us evident. It is in our limited and humble state that Christ is able to bless us to know how much we need Him; it blesses us to have the need to "Come unto Him" and develop the relationship we need to be eternally happy - a relationship WITH HIM.

Have you ever been asked to do something that really scared your sock off? Maybe you were asked to lead a group in your community, or to do a calling in church that you didn't think was possible for you to perform. How about being a mom? Or a Dad? A good supportive sister, or brother? Or maybe your position at work or school is a big one, and you don't feel quite up to the task. Do you ever feel inadequate?

This story is Christ's way of showing us that when we have tasks to fill which are far greater than what we can possibly possess to offer up... if we will offer up the small meager talents, abilities, possessions, whatever small gifts we have to offer... in His name, He will perform miracles to make our small offerings multiply until they are MORE THAN enough.

He will multiply our gifts to fill others, as well as ourselves.

One of my favorite quotes speaks of how all that we do affects others. We don't realize the extent that we effect others. Even just affecting one person affects many, as that one person goes on to affect others, and they in turn pass on the gift that was passed on to them.

"There's a ripple effect in all that we do. What you do touches me; what I do touches you."

I wrote another note at the bottom of my Church Journal at the end of this lesson. It reads,

"A willing, obedient servant is blessed. All things are possible with Christ."

ALL THINGS. The father who struggles to provide for his family' the mother who seeks patience and wisdom to raise happy, healthy children; the teacher who struggles to teach the child with acute disabilities, whatever it is he/she must know; the President, who has so many who depend upon him/her to fulfill needs and carry out responsibilities which seem impossible...

All of this can be accomplished if we will do our work with a prayer of faith, that Jesus Christ will multiply our efforts and make them enough.

I am encouraged to not worry about how little I might think I have to offer to others; I don't have to be a perfect wife, mother, daughter, teacher, friend, person, etc. to be a blessing to others.

I don't have to feel inferior to any task... I am not alone. I'm encouraged to simply share all that I can, and be rest assured that God will perform miracles with my small offerings, so that in the end my offerings will be more than enough. :)

PS  I LOVE blogging! :D I love the way the lord uses blogging to give us daily opportunities to bless and lift each other.... to nourish and strengthen one another.

My gratitude goes out to the boy with the bread man with the blog, who fed me with his post, and reminded me to write this one. :) He may never see this, but if he does... Thanks again! :D

Corine :D

Humbled ~ Again! :O

I am DEEPLY humbled. The plan was to read a few blog posts this morning. I wanted to leave a few comments here and there, hoping (as I sometimes do) that I might generate a few possibilities of bringing my blog to the attention of other readers.

Don't misunderstand, I DO frequently post comments just to make a bloggers day, since I'm silly enough to love it when people comment on my blog ~ I assume others will, too; so leaving comments is about what I can do for others. And of course I leave comments because I like the post and have something to say about it.

But honestly, sometimes I leave comments for selfish reasons, too... (in hopes that the blogger I discovered will also discover me.) You see, I often think it would be nice to have a few more readers on MY blog. And a few more comments, too. Though there are many other blogs like mine which have few followers and few comments... I tend to compare it with other blogs which have so many followers I doubt they can even READ all of their comments (let alone respond to them); and then think my blog is inferior to be so unread.

This morning, though... I didn't get around to blog hopping as I planned. Why? Because the FIRST blog I went to had a video about PRIDE on it... ( Diapers and Divinity )

I began to listen.

I realized recently that I was proud.

Listening to this talk confirmed it.

Uggg!

I have a lot of work to do!

Here are a few notes that I took from that talk...

    *At the core of pride, is the desire to be admired or envied. Hate to admit it, but when I admire others, I secretly hope to be that cool, too, and that others can admire me. :O)

A few signs of pride include...
    *self glorification (I probably would if I had done anything worthy of glorification). *self elevation (who wants to be seen as just average?), *obsessed with ones own status (I wonder how many people visit my baby blog?  Are the numbers increasing?), *inhaling compliments or basking in praise (so guilty!), *focus on own importance; power; reputation; public image; praise (I would love to be worthy of such things!)...

Elder Ucdorf reaffirmed a belief that I have had, that humility is not about putting ones self down or thinking one is less than others. It's not about having a low self image. I'm thankful for this because as my confidence in myself grows, I like myself and my life more, and I feel happier! But the focus of ones thoughts is not about ones self... their thoughts are directed to others.

Ucdorf said,

"Humility does not come from thinking less 'of' ourselves. We discover humility by thinking less 'about' ourselves."

Honestly, that is such a relief. :D I like trying to be a better person, and feeling good about it. I like not beating myself up for my mistakes as I used to. I like not thinking I am "less than" everyone else (I believe that none of us are any better or any worse than anyone else; we all have different talents, strengths, weaknesses etc. according to what Heavenly Father knows we need. But he did not create any of us to be superior or inferior to each other.

And yet, I still compare myself with others. Why? Perhaps I understand what pride and humility are... but have yet to acquire humility and overcome pride.

 So, I have decided that it is time for some goal setting.

1. Think LESS "about" myself. (not less "of" myself. I am a valuable child of god just like everyone else!)
2. Think of others MORE. Really strive to be SELFLESS.
3. Serve MORE. Lose myself in service. And in doing so, remember to serve my family more... right here at home. :)
4. Stop comparing.

I know I need to set other goals, too. But that is enough to leave with you now.

It is time for me to eat an apple with peanut butter, and get ready to go running with Valerie and Dee! :D I really hope we go around 6 miles today! :D I'm SO EXCITED!!! D

Good day!

Corine :D

PS In case you would like to listen to the video or read the talk...



http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/pride-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng

The Up Side of "Lost"

I am convinced, that there are two sides to every coin. Sometimes one side looks far better than the other. One may be more interesting... seem shinier... or it may simply be easier to understand and to relate to.

How often do we view one side of a coin, forgetting what is on the other? Or worse... How often do we get so wrapped up in one side, that we don't even have a clue of the beauty that the other side holds?

~

About a year ago, the kids and I went to Spokane with Miles to help him set up for the Fishing Show. We drove in separate cars since the fishing equipment/boats filled up the truck leaving room for only two people in it. Miles parked the truck right next to the building at parking reserved for unloading, while I parked the car down the street.

When it came time to go, I decided to go get the car and meet Miles and the kids in the parking lot where we would load the vehicles. I would follow him home from there (I followed him to the show – unfortunately not keeping track of how to get there so I would know how to get home). Miles asked me if I was sure I wanted to do that.

“You won’t get lost, will you?”

“Of course not!” I assured him, “the car is straight down the street.” :O  ("Honestly, what kind of air head does he think I am?" ~ I thought to myself...)

Getting to the car was as easy as I predicted. Getting back to the truck with a million one way streets in an area I was unfamiliar with, and knot knowing how far down the road was far enough etc…. was a whole other story!

I should have checked the name of the street before I left, but didn’t think of it until it was too late. I just kept going around the block, passing several streets, but never going up far enough to get to the street I needed to go on. It was a nightmare!

So I decided to finally go far enough down the road! Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that the road changed further up, and would not lead me to where I needed to go.

Long story short, I got lost. I had to get directions back to the show, and the woman who have me directions also told me I would have to park down the street and walk up to the center because of the one way street there.

I drove right back to where I had previously parked. Then I prayed to God, thanking Him that I was no longer lost; and while praying, I asked Him WHY He made me this way?

God has a sense of humor. The answer that entered my mind was simply one word.

HUMILITY

I assured Him that His tactics were working - THOROUGHLY!

I was not only humble; I was humiliated!!!

As I walked toward the show, I saw my better half, Miles, walking towards me. He had a huge smile on his face as he asked me,

“You got lost, didn’t you?”

“Yes!” I told him. “It was horrible!” And then I assured him, “I am LOST without you - LITERALLY!”

Miles laughed, enjoying it entirely! He quietly slipped his hand in mine and held it tight as we walked. I could feel the love and joy within him, flowing from his hand into mine.

Miles later told me in relation to this; “You are SO SMART! And yet, you still need me.”

The answer to his response reverberated in my heart and mind: We are such opposites. Two sides of the same coin. One of us a right hand, and the other a left. A peaceful feeling of gratitude for all my many blessings flooded over me. After a moment of reflection which seemed to go on much longer, I answered him,

"More than you could ever know, Miles! Oh SO much more!"

I suppose God knows what he is doing, after all...

Finding Joy in the Journey...

I read my friend Patty Ann's blog. She posted a quote from a talk given by our dear prophet, Thomas S. Monson, titled... Finding Joy in the Journey. Of course, I had to read it, immediately. :)

I heard the talk at the time it was given and am sure it sat in the back of my mind and influenced the title of my blog. I was thankful to hear/read it again... thankful for President Monson's beautiful reminders. Here is a link, if you decide you are interested in reading it. :)

 Finding Joy in the Journey

This talk reminded me that life is brief. That it is filled with many small opportunities to do things that really matter. And that it is easy to spend our thoughts, energies and time thinking about a future that never comes, and missing out on living a life of joy today. And yet, what we do today determines tomorrow:

I was reminded to stop fretting about the future (I am naturally focused on the future... living in the now seems to be an ongoing challenge for me), and instead, focus on making choices today, which will create memories for tomorrow. I was reminded that doing the little every day things that matter most, TODAY, is what creates a tomorrow worth looking forward to.

"My brothers and sisters, there is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today."

I was reminded that kids grow up fast, and memories and photographs last (I must get my camera fixed!). And I don't have to have all the answers, I just need to keep moving forward with faith in the future, and make the most of today. I need to be thankful for today and fill my TODAY with things that matter most (much of which includes simple small acts of kindness and random acts of love).

I am reminded that I don't have to fix everything, or solve all of my family's problems. I don't have to worry or spend hours coming up with a grand solution for every problem in my home and life. I just need to make good choices TODAY and count my blessings (some of this I was reminded of while reading... not from the words read, but from the spirit of truth).

I have been really stressed (off and on lately) over some challenges that I currently face. A recent personal incident in my family shook me up a little bit. I have spent countless hours trying to figure everything out... and plan better, so I can prevent other events from arising. I was so thankful to read this again...

"Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

"Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”4"

As I read these things, I thought of the time I have spent trying to figure things out... how to teach better, so my kids won't make mistakes they will regret. But they are human, and they will make mistakes. And though teaching is important and must be done, more than anything else, what really matters, is that I spend time with them and develop lasting relationships of love.

What makes my kids feel loved? What are each of their love languages? I need to know this, and love them in a way that they feel loved. I need to spend good quality, quantity time with them.

President Monson shares so many wonderful stories. Here is one that he shared in this talk on the topic of spending time with kids and serving them...

Many years ago, Arthur Gordon wrote in a national magazine, and I quote:

"When I was around thirteen and my brother ten, Father had promised to take us to the circus. But at lunchtime there was a phone call; some urgent business required his attention downtown. We braced ourselves for disappointment. Then we heard him say [into the phone],

‘No, I won’t be down. It’ll have to wait.’

“When he came back to the table, Mother smiled. ‘The circus keeps coming back, you know,’ [she said.]

“‘I know,’ said Father. ‘But childhood doesn’t.’”2

God will have eternity to teach and mold my children as much as they choose to let him... but I only have a few short years to live with them, and have such ample opportunity to develop lasting relationships with them, and to show them that they are absolutely fabulous in my eyes... and more important to me than all the riches that the world has to offer!

Here us another great short story that Monson gives in this talk which really caused me to meditate and ask myself what I might look back on at the end of this journey called life, and be thankful that I did; I don't want to find myself saying, "I wish I had"...

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: Monson goes on to say in his talk...

“These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”5

"Let us relish life as we live it,
find joy in the journey, 
and

share our love with friends and family.

~
One day each of us will run out of tomorrows."

I have needed these reminders desperately, and really appreciated them. I was also deeply touched by the reminder Thomas S Monson gave of our Savior's life and example to us all. Another quote which I love from this talk is this...

"Love isn't love until you give it away."

Today my son Dausen began to pick up a meat patty, then put it down and picked up another, and then went back to the first (with a clean spatula). I had started to cook the meat for tacos, then decided to make burgers, so some of the meat didn't hold together well. I thought my son was taking the best patty so I teasingly asked him, "What are you doing?" His response was one of humility and kindness, "I saved the best burger for you. This one (pointing to his own meat patty) is all in little pieces."

I was warmed. I felt loved. Such a small act of kindness, but it made me feel loved. I immediately thought, "you really do love me, don't you? THAT was an act of love."  :D

President Monson said a few other things about our Savior Jesus Christ which I would like to quote here: As I think of the Savior and all that He did to lift and love others... as I think of the need we all have to be lifted and loved, both in our homes, and outside of our homes, I desire to forget about myself and lose myself in the service of others more. I desire to reach out to others more and take away as much of the loneliness in others that I possibly can... To forget myself completely, and reach out to others more than ever before... both in and out of my home, but especially within.

"He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved."

I hope to live a little less selfishly each day. That I will forget about myself, and fill my days with the things that matter most... small acts of kindness, love, and service to the people around me.

I pray that I will truly cherish my loved ones, not just as a noun/feeling in my heart, but also as a verb... so well that when I leave this life, I will know that the love I had for them reached into their lives and made a difference... and be sure that they could feel my love for them.

This is my hope, and the goal inspired within me today from our dear prophet, President Monson. Thanks for your reminder, Patty Ann! :D

Selfless Acts of Love...

I stumbled upon a beautiful video which I think clearly defines what love is, and how to find joy in family life.

I especially love the words of Elder Eyring... about joy coming from putting others welfare above our own, ending with the statement, "that is love."

Love is an act of selflessness.

It is doing what is best for others...

and it usually requires sacrifice.

Showing love for others isn't always easy to accomplish; but in the end those selfless acts of love DO BRING JOY. These small but consistent acts of putting others before ourselves make it possible for us to be families forever. :D And I think they contribute to helping the people we love to find joy, too.

I hope you enjoy the video. :) But more important... I hope you enjoy the joys that can and will come to you, as you perform small acts of selflessness for your family, friends, and even strangers.



Corine :)

Life is Amazing! :D

Life has been amazing! :D

*I started running for the first time ever. I ran twice in Jan, and about 6 times now this month. Today, I ran with two friends, Dee and Valarie. We ran over 5 miles and averaged 10 miles per hour. I know that isn't much to some of you runners... but I'm just getting started, and to me it's a big deal! :D My friends and I are training for a triathlon. Valarie has done it (and won) so she is our trainer/mentor (yeah for Valarie! :D)

*Parenting my youth is going great! I'm very excited about it. :D I think I am finally figuring this out (Hopefully I'll have it down before they move out ~ or at least before my future grand kids grow up! :O  LOL) I do look forward to writing another blog about what I have learned when I can squeeze the time in. :)

*The kids doing so well in school (homeschooling ;). I absolutely LOVE and APPRECIATE the way they are so self motivated and self disciplined to study daily! Their responsible behavior is really greatly blessing our home. :D

*After the sad news about the earthquake and tsunami, our minds are gladdened by the happy news of many wonderful miracles. Here are just a few...








Here are a couple more which I only have links to.. (sorry, no videos for these. But trust me, they are very touching stories worth the time of day. :)

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/japanese-exchange-student-finds-family-alive-on-youtube/

This next one is probably my favorite. (I love babies. :)
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/15/miracles-in-japan-four-month-old-baby-70-year-old-woman-found-alive/

*And, another fun little tidbit. I was given another blogging award "encouragement" from a blogging friend. I am so glad that there are a few people who stumble across my blog and enjoy it... and even stick around to call me a "FRIEND." :) This really is very encouraging. :)

 Thank you, Jules over at Trying to Get Over the Rainbow, for leaving this for me a few days ago....

Yeah, I'm encouraged. Even though my time is crunched... and I don't read or comment nearly as much as I would like to. Thank you Jules, for appreciating my blog,  :) *sniffle, sniffle... and my friendship... and me. :D I appreciate you, too. :) (PS Jules... I will be passing this on soon.)

And I really do appreciate each of you. :)

Thanks to you all for reading here,

for your friendships in the real world,

(and in the "real" blogging world, ;) 

I hope that at the end of our lives here on earth, we will reunite in the heavens and be blessed to say that we have been, and always will be...

Friends for the Journey

To each and every one of you

who has ever been here...

And each of you

who have ever called me "friend,"

Thank you! :D

Your friend,
Corine :D

Meet The Parents

...Self proclaimed, as the "world's best parents!" I absolutely love this video! :D 

I hope you enjoy it, too. :)

Joy

My blog is titled after my life's journey...

"Joy in the Journey"

My son, reaching down to help me up the steep rocky hill... :)

 Joy is always there.

Among the dirty dishes.

Among the chaos.

And especially among the challenges.

I LOVE life!

I love life because I. love. people...,

...and challenges! :D Really.

I love that life isn't

cookie... cutter... perfect...

It is hard.

It is interesting.

It is filled with STRUGGLES,

And life is...

Filled. with. Joy. 

Joy found in the anticipation, hope,

and work involved in overcoming.

Joy is found because of the struggles.

Joy is found in

ACCOMPLISHING,

and in

OVERCOMING,
against all odds... 

And, you know what else,

shhh... :)

 It is all.most. constant.

As soon as you get one thing down...

you discover another... :O

...There is always something to work on!  :D

And improvement of anything,

takes work.

Making something of yourself...

 and you life...

is an UPhill climb!

Me, climbing up to where the son is...

It isn't easy.

But I'm glad. :)

If life were easy... 
how could it hold such value? :) 

Enjoy the climb! ;D
Corine :D

Teasing is How Brothers Say, "I Love You."

Today at church I was asked to substitute in the nursery for the 3rd hour. While there, I got to visit with a friend, Juanita, who had just gone snow-boarding for the first time. Man I want to do that! Can you believe I have never been snowboarding? That's right... time for an official confession;

"Hi. My name is Corine Moore. I live in North Idaho... and I have never been snowboarding!!!"  :O

There... I feel better already! ;) OK... now that I got that off my chest, I can move on with this post and continue on with my story. ;)

So, I was "confessing" this to Juanita, who informed me that I really should try it because since I am "so good at balancing" that I will probably be really good at it. I just had to chuckle. :) Me... good at balancing? And you know what, the really shocking part is - she's right! Interesting how things change - when you start rollerblading - backwards. :D (Actually, I don't know how good my balance is... but I'm no longer a klutz. I think rollerblading may have helped. But I think my balance improved long ago - along with my confidence. :)

When I was a kid my brothers called me - all kinds of things! The most common of nick names were, "Cori," "Corny Cori," and " "Klutzy Cori." Being a kid, I took it personally. I don't know if I will ever forget the time I was at my best friends' house, and someone in the family jokingly called me "Klutzy Cori" All the moments of breaking things, and of being teased by my brothers came crashing in on me all at once. I was embarrassed, and couldn't stand being a klutz. My own reaction mortified me at the time, but I have to admit that I totally and completely "lost it!" I don't remember my exact words, but I recall feeling hurt, humiliated, embarrassed because it was true, and yelling at them to "never call me that again!" I probably went into another room and cried, too.  :O

My poor friends. I know they didn't mean to hurt my feelings. I should have been honest about how it bothered me instead of letting it build up like that.

Which reminds me of another experience I had when I was just a kid. In this instance, a friend tried to pay a compliment, and I took it as an insult (but honestly, he had a BIG crush on me... :) OK - It's true... I had a big crush on him, too. :D). Anyhow, he showed me a photo of myself and said to me...

"You are SO cute!"

He was quite exuberant... (which, of course... I loved! :D) and continued;

"I showed this photo to all my friends at school and asked them, "isn't she cute?' and they just looked at me like, 'whatever,'"

I don't recall what he said after that. I just remember thinking,

"Oh great! I'm not really cute after all! He is the only one who thinks I'm cute! Hph!"

I know... the tragedy of not being "cute!"  LOL :)  Honestly... I think he intended for me to feel flattered that he thought I was so cute... not to focus on the fact that the rest of the world didn't seem to agree with him.

Thankfully, I grew up! :D (LOL ~ If you can call it that! LOL :) I have since then, actually learned to understand the male mind to a small degree; I can recognize a compliment (after a quick pep talk from myself) and I'm not at all oversensitive any more (though my brothers, husband, and sons probably still disagree with me! LOL) And, I even have fun making fun of myself, :D (thus the blond jokes!). Here is a simple but important truth about brothers:

"Teasing" is how brothers say, "I love you?"

If you haven't internalized this yet - you just have to get there!

It is SO NICE to be able to

enjoy it

...when your brothers pick on you. :) 

When did I finally figure that out, and why did it take me so long for it to happen? I really couldn't say. But - I'm thankful the day finally came. Because I have a half dozen brothers... and they still tease! :)

Recently I got to see just three of my several brothers for a short family get-together when one of my brothers' baby was blessed. My niece, Ashtyn, was there who wanted to have fun taking photos, and told us all how to "pose." She tried to get her mom to let the boys pick her up... but when she refused I gladly took her place! :D (I really adore attention! Especially from my brothers!  :D) Of course... Ashtyn didn't tell my brothers what to do after they picked me up for the silly photo; they each ad-libbed, as brothers do, and "teased" me in their own way. :) The result...

Oh... Come on!  Give me a break; those are NEW shoes... they don't stink!



I know I gained a few pounds this winter 
(Can you blame a girl when suddenly she can no longer Rollerblade 6 days a week? ;D),
but, don't you think your exaggerating... just a little?
I mean, come on! Collapsing to the ground... but still holding on! LOL ;D



Ashtyn... Did you take a photo yet? I think these boys have had enough... :)


Yeah... There is no doubt about it. I think they really do secretly love me! ;D And I can't wait to have a family reunion with them all!!!! :D

Corine :D

PS Mom, dad, and Heavenly parents...

Thanks for giving me so many wonderful brothers and sisters!

I love you!!! :D

I just had to come back to this post and add a few photos taken at our small family gathering.
Dad, one sister and three brothers were there as well as myself. 
We had only a few minutes for taking photos... so for those of you who haven't met us -

I promise, we aren't as crazy as we seem!

(Well, not quite as crazy.  But we are a fairly outgoing bunch . :)



LOL! Man... what crazy poses!



~ My Legacy to Be...

I have a new goal, as part of what I want to do to leave a legacy! But first... a little about the old goals that are still in place.

I have already told you in previous posts about some of my passions (Circle Journal Sneak Peek ~ Passion, and More of My Favorite Passions). My greatest goal and passion, (which many people take for granted, but I simply can not... ) is and always has been, to raise a family who love and serve the Lord and follow His teachings. I want this more than anything! And of course, I hope that our family will actually have family reunions, often, and that we will always love each other and be close.

In addition to raising a righteous family, I have also had athe goal, which I may not have told you about, to write my own personal history, and my family history.
This has been a great desire and goal of mine for some time now, but I am still waiting for the right season to do this (which I hope to be very soon). I have kept many journals over the years which will help me to start this when the time comes....If my camera hadn't broke... I would have taken a photo of all my many treasures of journals I have written over the years, but since it broke, ...imagine, (if you want to...:) - a shelf, lined with notebooks, three ring binders of various colors shapes and sizes... some very old and not so lovely in appearance, but others having beautiful cloth covers made over them, or simply new and bright in color). This is one of my treasures. :)

Another goal I have had for many years has been to research and compile my family's genealogy. A little over a year ago, I finally got started. I had absolutely NO idea how to go about doing genealogy, and never could remember what to do next each time I sat down to try to do genealogy. I wanted to learn, and I wanted to work at it consistently, but couldn't seem to get myself to the local genealogy center consistently so I could learn how to go about it. You can read about what I did to get myself going in genealogy HERE if you want to. But the point I am making now is that this goal has grown, to become something that I desire to leave as a legacy for my children, ancestors, and posterity...

(Please open the link bellow IN A NEW TAB, and you can glance at a fabulous blog post of the author's grandparents legacy)

Genealogy ~ Our Legacy

When I saw this blog post - I realized that this is part of my own personal life mission... this is one of my great passions... this will be a big part of the legacy I hope to one day leave for my posterity! :D I'M SO EXCITED ~ I JUST HAD TO POST IT HERE AS A WAY OF CELEBRATING MY DISCOVERY AND GOALS! :D

I also have to celebrate that after over a year of working weekly at the Family History Center... I am actually finally GETTING IT!!! :D (seriously, I was SO CLUELESS ). And, none of my family members who had done genealogy could get to their work, so I had to research EVERYTHING. It has been really exciting to research in ancestry.com and other sites, and to link my work to the new.familysearch.org site and see the names of relatives as various contributors to work which matches the work I have done (a promising sign :). I am still a beginner; never-the-less, I am thankful for the research and record keeping skills I am developing. I am also anxious to begin uncovering stories to go with the names I am finding! :D
 
I will write again soon, to follow up on my current obsession... passion (he he! :) of FIGURING OUT HOW TO PARENT MY TEENS Youth! :)

Until then... enjoy your own passions, goals, and legacy in the making! ;D

Corine :D