Beautiful Heartbreak(s)

Hi! :D

I cried when I watched this video (all three or four times!). I saw it on another blog (Savor this Moment), and am so thankful to Annie for sharing it; I have to do the same. :)

I think we all experience times when we go through challenges which are so big, we may find ourselves pleading for the Lord to take them away. Sometimes they feel bigger than the biggest mountains, and we just don't know if we can make it to the top...

I figure we have two options when mountainous challenges like this come our way.

1. We can look down in despair, drop, and roll down the hill. We can even turn around and run from the excruciating climb by giving up. Sadly, the pain of it all just never seems to end...

2. Or we can take faith, hold our heads high, and just keep moving forward up towards the top of the mountain - one step at a time - no matter how hard it is or how much it hurts - believing that the hurt and challenge will come to an end...

Every time I choose this second path, the most amazing thing happens... Eventually - I DO rest from my turmoil, and all that is left is beauty. Haven't you had that happen? When we take the difficult path with faith (when we refuse to give up no matter what), we are strengthened. We DO overcome - even the "impossible." And ultimately, we experience the joyful, spiritual, breath taking, awe filled view of becoming...  and experience such gratitude for the journey - that we would leave it all the same if given a chance to go back and do it all again...

I have reminisced over some of my challenges in life lately. And I can honestly say that though I once thought my struggles were too hard to bear, and at times I actually wanted to die - I am so thankful that I endured well and went through these huge challenges. I wrote about one of my greatest challenges - eating disorders. Perhaps at the end of this post I will copy and paste the parts where I wrote of how that challenge blessed me and my life. For now, I hope you enjoy the following video, and that you are blessed with faith to conquer whatever mountains you are called to climb.

The summits of the mountain tops ARE challenging to climb. But the climb might actually seem easy - if we knew how much GREATER the BLESSINGS at the top are in comparsion to the price of the climb...
Corine :D

UPDATE: PS. For those who did not see this writing before (in which I very briefly write about how going through eating disorders affected my life)... and would like to share a section of that post here today:

Many blessings have come as a result of overcoming this challenge:

Because of this experience, I have learned to lean on God and find strength in trusting Him; I KNOW He will never let me down.

Overcoming this challenge taught me to continue living a life of prayer and of following through with the answers that He gives me. I have had other big challenges in my life in addition to this one which I have been able to get through because of the faith that grew from this challenge. I have changed and continue to change. I like this new me, and the person I am becoming. :D

One good thing that has happened as a result of this challenge is that I see people differently now than I did before the challenge. There was a time when I thought everyone should be around the same weight etc… I learned that God loves variety. I now love variety. I learned that there is so much beauty that comes in so many different packages. I now see beauty in people that I never saw before. I am in awe by the magnitude of beauty I now see in others; I can even see and appreciate the beauty in myself that I was incapable of seeing before. I am so thankful for these new eyes; people look so incredibly beautiful through them now.

I can not tell you of even one bad result this experience has left me with. Through this experience, I learned that I can bear hard things… and that through Him, I can change my life.

Because of this, I will trust in Him always.
And I will keep moving forward,
...with faith in every footstep.

Humans Being Moore

Miles and I recently attended a Humans Being Moore conference with our family (minus the one kid not yet old enough to attend). This conference is put on by the Nikken company... which Miles and I are SO PROUD to now be a part of! YEAH!!! 

Nikken is all about helping people to live healthy lives… specifically in the areas of mind (which to me includes emotional and spiritual well being),  family, body, finances, and society. The Humans Being More Conference (which is held all over the US and is repeated regularly) is just one example of this. At this conference, participants are taught clear steps on how to accomplish goals and dreams in any aspects of life. Participating in this conference is an amazing mental, social, and emotional growth experience!

For part of the conference, participants were divided into partners of two, as well as in groups of 6. Miles and I were partners with four other people in our group (which, incidentally, turned out to be a totally awesome group!) Groups were chosen quite randomly and without much thought. So when I first sat down and looked at the group I was in, it immediately occurred to me that I was sorely out numbered as the only female in our group of six. Growing up with five brothers… I felt right at home.

After a couple minutes of chatting with my group, the conference speaker told us all to hold up one finger and quickly decide who we thought the group leader should be. On the count of three, we would all bring that finger down and point to the new leader; who ever got the most votes would be the leader.

On a count of three, only one finger was still pointing to the sky - mine. Why? Because, quit honestly, I wanted to be the leader, BUT... I didn't have the guts to let the rest of the group know it. :o Fortunately, the others were all unanimously pointing at me. :D So, I got to be the group leader after all, and was SO happy about it. (I know, I was born to lead! ;) By the way, I'm really laughing at myself right now because I didn't even know what the leader would do, but I knew I wanted to do it! Ha ha!).

During the conference, I came to realize that there have been many times when I wanted to do or be something that I was afraid to let others know about - in case they didn't agree that I should, or didn't think I could...

By the end of the conference, I no longer felt the need for others permission or approval; I NOW FEEL OK with NOT having the approval of others, as a precursor to giving myself permission to do or be something.

I believe we are ALL capable of great things and that the difference between people who do extraordinary things, and people who don't - has nothing to do with potential, and everything to do with intention, belief, and simply noticing and taking advantage of seemingly small opportunities.

After attending this conference, I can say that I love myself a little more, and believe in myself a little more. I think it is because I am progressively letting go of the fear of being more, as well as of the fear of not being as much as I hope to be...

One of the first realizations I had at the conference was that there was a part of myself that didn't know I deserve certain blessings. And there was another part of me who wanted to dream big and be more, but which worried that if anyone knew my dreams, they might think, "You? but you're just a 'nobody.'"

I read a book called The Dream Giver some time ago about a "nobody," and as I sat in that conference, everything I learned from that book suddenly had emotion attached to it. Suddenly, it wasn't "Nobody" the book was talking about... it was me. I was the one of the "nobodies" who was meant to be a "somebody" and was "destined to do great things" despite the fact that other people may not have known it.

If you haven't read this fabulous little book, The Dream Giver, or been to the life changing Humans Being More Conference, you probably don't know what I'm talking about. But no matter who you are or what your dreams are, I just want to encourage you to both.. READ the book... and GO to the conference. The book and conference never gave reference to each other. No one said one has to read this book before going to the conference. It just so happens that I did (I read it a long time ago). And the conference awakened and cemented truths I learned from this book.

I have been blessed with a key to unlock my own true self... I feel more capable of admitting to others the secret dreams that I desire to be and do - and that gives me power and self permission to actually be, do, and live these dreams! It is so empowering!!! I’M REALLY EXCITED about life! I hope you’re excited, too!

This experience was so great that it almost seemed like a “once in a lifetime” experience. But so many people who were at the conference have been coming back to it year after year, for years… I suppose “once in a life time” experiences come around as often as one takes advantage of the opportunities to experience them! ;D

PS. If you would like to learn more about the company that puts on these conferences, please let me know! And if you would like to be a part of the company… who knows, maybe we can be on the same team!

PPS. I have a dream to be an instrument in God's hands as a leader in vitality.  It is time to once again expand my comfort zone, and start running with it!

What is one of your dreams?

Wishing you a lifetime of Happy Healthy Living!!!

Corine  :D

"Humans Being Moore"

Miles and I recently attended a Humans Being Moore conference with our family (minus the one kid not yet old enough to attend). This conference is put on by the Nikken company... which Miles and I are SO PROUD to now be a part of! YEAH!!! 

Nikken is all about helping people to live healthy lives… specifically in the areas of mind (which to me includes emotional and spiritual well being),  family, body, finances, and society. The Humans Being More Conference (which is held all over the US and is repeated regularly) is just one example of this. At this conference, participants are taught clear steps on how to accomplish goals and dreams in any aspects of life. Participating in this conference is an amazing mental, social, and emotional growth experience!

For part of the conference, participants were divided into partners of two, as well as in groups of 6. Miles and I were partners with four other people in our group (which, incidentally, turned out to be a totally awesome group!) Groups were chosen quite randomly and without much thought. So when I first sat down and looked at the group I was in, it immediately occurred to me that I was sorely out numbered as the only female in our group of six. Growing up with five brothers… I felt right at home.

After a couple minutes of chatting with my group, the conference speaker told us all to hold up one finger and quickly decide who we thought the group leader should be. On the count of three, we would all bring that finger down and point to the new leader; who ever got the most votes would be the leader.

On a count of three, only one finger was still pointing to the sky - mine. Why? Because, quit honestly, I wanted to be the leader, BUT... I didn't have the guts to let the rest of the group know it. :o Fortunately, the others were all unanimously pointing at me. :D So, I got to be the group leader after all, and was SO happy about it. (I know, I was born to lead! ;) By the way, I'm really laughing at myself right now because I didn't even know what the leader would do, but I knew I wanted to do it! Ha ha!).

During the conference, I came to realize that there have been many times when I wanted to do or be something that I was afraid to let others know about - in case they didn't agree that I should, or didn't think I could...

By the end of the conference, I no longer felt the need for others permission or approval; I NOW FEEL OK with NOT having the approval of others, as a precursor to giving myself permission to do or be something.

I believe we are ALL capable of great things and that the difference between people who do extraordinary things, and people who don't - has nothing to do with potential, and everything to do with intention, belief, and simply noticing and taking advantage of seemingly small opportunities.

After attending this conference, I can say that I love myself a little more, and believe in myself a little more. I think it is because I am progressively letting go of the fear of being more, as well as of the fear of not being as much as I hope to be...

One of the first realizations I had at the conference was that there was a part of myself that didn't know I deserve certain blessings. And there was another part of me who wanted to dream big and be more, but which worried that if anyone knew my dreams, they might think, "You? but you're just a 'nobody.'"

I read a book called The Dream Giver some time ago about a "nobody," and as I sat in that conference, everything I learned from that book suddenly had emotion attached to it. Suddenly, it wasn't "Nobody" the book was talking about... it was me. I was the one of the "nobodies" who was meant to be a "somebody" and was "destined to do great things" despite the fact that other people may not have known it.

If you haven't read this fabulous little book, The Dream Giver, or been to the life changing Humans Being More Conference, you probably don't know what I'm talking about. But no matter who you are or what your dreams are, I just want to encourage you to both.. READ the book... and GO to the conference. The book and conference never gave reference to each other. No one said one has to read this book before going to the conference. It just so happens that I did (I read it a long time ago). And the conference awakened and cemented truths I learned from this book.

I have been blessed with a key to unlock my own true self... I feel more capable of admitting to others the secret dreams that I desire to be and do - and that gives me power and self permission to actually be, do, and live these dreams! It is so empowering!!! I’M REALLY EXCITED about life! I hope you’re excited, too!

This experience was so great that it almost seemed like a “once in a lifetime” experience. But so many people who were at the conference have been coming back to it year after year, for years… I suppose “once in a life time” experiences come around as often as one takes advantage of the opportunities to experience them! ;D

PS. If you would like to learn more about the company that puts on these conferences, please let me know! And if you would like to be a part of the company… who knows, maybe we can be on the same team!

PPS. I have a dream to be an instrument in God's hands as a leader in vitality.  It is time to once again expand my comfort zone, and start running with it!

What is one of your dreams?

Wishing you a lifetime of Happy Healthy Living!!!

Corine  :D

Overcoming Eating Disorders - Follow Up

What is it about October, and remembering about my previous struggles with loving and taking care of myself? I wrote a post a couple of days ago (thinking I was so "courageous" to write about it). Overcoming My Greatest Challenge - Eating Disorders... Then today, I realized that I already wrote about it - a year ago - last October... ??? How could I forget?

I noticed few comments on these blogs. I hope reading them doesn't make others as uncomfortable as writing them does me. Honestly, I feel almost like I'm stripping down in my underwear and posting a photo of myself (and I just DON'T do that!). But here I am, doing it again.

For those readers who are new here and haven't read my last October 2010 posts and are actually interested in this subject... I'm including in this post links to the old posts. I sincerely hope they are of use to someone. And if any of you reading this struggle with this issue, I just want you to know you can overcome it! I encourage you to seek help from a Dietitian who understands Eating Disorders and can teach you how to take care of yourself so you can be healthy physically and psychologically. I was in the Dietetics Program at the University of Idaho (one of the best Dietetics Programs in the nation I heard); I still had 12 credits to go, and an internship to finish my degree when my husband finished school, and we moved (I hope to go back and finish when my kids are done with school. They come first. It is their time now). But despite only being a student in the program and not even finishing, I took the information I was learning and basically counseled myself back to health. I can only imagine how great it would have been to have had a counselor to coach me through. But I was my own best friend, and I coached myself; no, that is not true... I did have a coach. My Father in Heaven coached me; and He did great! It all worked out, and I am SO HAPPY TO BE HAPPY IN MY SKIN!!!

I feel incredibly blessed, and I would love for every woman in the world to feel so blessed in this way. Therefore, for all of you women (as well as for any men who also struggle with this!), I bear my soul again... LOL ;) And to those of you who struggle with having a healthy body image or with eating disorders in any way... I pray these brief posts give you the little nudge you need to place yourself on the road to healthy living (both physically and psychologically). I KNOW you can do this! I'm living proof that it can be done! ;D

OK. Here are the links to last years posts:

Healthy Living (Posted Oct 23, 2010)

Healthy Living ~ Part 2 (Posted October 24, 2010) *This post tells how I lost weight and learned to keep it off in a very healthy way...

UPDATE - OCT. 24TH, 2011 - I rewrote and comboined a couple of my own writings about eating disorders for my new blog... (you can find it here if interested.)

PS. I would like to give a very big thank you to every person who has ever told me that I am beautiful, to love myself, and to take care of myself. I love you, friends and family! :D  

Corine :D

PPS. Today my AWESOME twins turned 17! They are SO incredibly cute (in a very "manly" way, of course ;) and AWESOME! :D This brief post was quick enough to write while they were out getting a b-day treat with dad, but what I really wanted to write was a tribute to them. So... more to come soon. :) Good day! :D

I am making an effort to start taking photos of my YOUTH again.
It is so easy to remember to do when they are little, which they aren't!
But hey... I just need to remember that they are still so cut! LOL  :)

The Power of Words - Media Monday, on Tuesday... LOL ;0

Hi! :D I found this video at Mormon Moms Who Blog... It made me cry! :o It is a MUST SEE which may really leave you wanting to choose your words carefully! Words are amazingly powerful! :D It sort of reminds me of the amazing experience I had with Bob. I still think about him sometimes and wonder how many people he is touching through the simple power of words. :)

I hope you have a beautiful day!
Corine :D

Overcoming Eating Disorders...

While I was involved in a circle journal, a journal came to me with the theme of "overcoming." In it, I was asked specific questions about the greatest challenge I have ever had to overcome. As I wrote in that journal, the most personal words I had ever written about myself for anyone to read spilled out. I had been in the habit of scanning most of the pages I wrote in circle journals and posting them on my blog; but after posting this one, I quickly took it down. I felt too exposed, naked almost...

Though I overcame the challenge years ago, I still haven't felt "comfortable" posting it. And yet, a part of me knows that it is the worry of what others might think that keeps me from sharing my experience. This is something I strive never to do. I also know there may be someone who will read my story and find the path to overcoming and healing in his/her own life. And so I take my dear friend, Ginger's advice to,

...to not care about what others think, and instead care about how I can be of service to those who God may desire to lead to my story.

So today, I leave you with that journal entry (with a few changes, hopefully leaving it better than it once was). I pray that only good will come of it...

Hi. :D I’m Corine Moore, a married Mormon woman nearing 40 with 4 wonderful kids (a daughter, twin boys, and another boy as the caboose. ;) Because of my faith, I have an eternal perspective that helps me immensely in life. When struggles come my way I face them knowing that it isn't just this life that I have… I have eternity to progress. My perspective helps me to have patience with myself, my husband, our children, and with everything about life that falls short of my vision of what life can and should be. I know that this life is actually meant to be difficult... so we can learn and grow and make something of ourselves. Life isn't about fixing my family or the world; it is about improving myself through learning and growing..., with God as my partner.

My faith in Jesus Christ is my greatest strength. So much of life is not as I would have it. Were there a magic wand to make my life a fairy tale, things would certainly be different. But I’m glad I don’t have a magic wand because I know if I did, then nothing I have would be of any value; I would take it all for granted and appreciate none of it…

I have heard it said (and I agree) anything easy to get, is of no loss if we lose it - therefore that which is easy to obtain is of no great value.

God knows how to place a value on His goods. He created this world of struggles to help us to have to work hard for the blessings we will want to hold onto for eternity… namely our families, and what we make of ourselves. Put another way... The harder we have to work to obtain something, the greater we value and cherish it.

This is why God lets us struggle; so we can have the joy of rejoicing in the end and find immense joy in the journey. Every struggle that ends in success is a victory! Every hard earned win is celebrated! Life that is filled with challenges and difficulties to overcome is a life filled with the hope for accomplishment and, and the joys of success. Where there is no option of failure, there is no option of success. And the only true failure is the failure that comes from giving up.

And so, I believe my greatest strength may be my faith. When things get really hard in my life, I try to focus on my goals and simply hurdle over every obstacle that comes my way. My motto… (As of this year) is

“Keep Moving Forward… with Faith in Every Footstep.”

My greatest weakness (ironically… the opposite of my greatest strength) seems to be doubting myself, my perceptions - doubting the decisions I make are the best decisions, or wondering if I really did receive that answer I think I got from the Lord etc. When this happens I find myself looking back. And since we move in the direction in which we are headed; this means regressing and falling back rather than moving forward. I am thankful that this weakness of mine is becoming a strength rather than staying a weakness. This is happening because I can see that my doubts have hindered my progress and joys in life, and I can see that when I pray for help and trust in the Lord and in the decisions He helps me to make – no matter how many difficulties and obstacles I may face… I am always glad that I followed through in the end. I am amazed each time I have faith in something that seems impossible… and then the way is made possible and things end better than ever dream. Sometimes it takes a long time for this to happen… but when I don’t let doubts get in the way, it always happens. I hope to have more faith than doubt… so much more that all doubt fades out of my life.

One of the greatest challenges I faced in my life was overcoming the eating disorder of anorexia bulimia. At the time, I did not want anyone to know that I had it, so told no one (I still don't like to talk about it; most of my friends don't even know). I was in my first semester of college to get a nutrition degree and, along with other classes, was guided by the Lord to take three specific classes that semester: psychology, nutrition, and an eating disorders class.

It was while in these classes that I could not deny to myself, that I had an eating disorder (you may have one, too; statistically, only 3% of the US female population doesn't have one; even if it simply an issue of over eating). It was also in those classes that I began to learn what to say to counsel others with eating disorders… I gave that counsel to myself, knowing in my heart that by prompting me to take these classes, the Lord was counseling me.

But at the time, I didn't know in my head if the counsel was right. I only knew that I was living a life that felt like hell. I was severely obsessed with trying to be lean… and, not understanding the way a human body is made, I was obsessed with trying to be something that my body would never be. I compared myself with every other woman I saw and was never happy with myself. I can not even begin to relate to you the mental agony that it involved. It was the worst time in my life! The obsession completely preoccupied my mind; never, could I truly, fully experience the joys of the moment because the horrible lies of inferiority which were always right there clouding and overshadowing everything else in my life. It was literally an obsessive mental addiction to thoughts which haunted the back (if not the forefront) of my mind every minute of every day… no matter what was happening or what else I needed to be thinking about. It was the unwanted guest that it seemed would never leave my mind.

In order to overcome this challenge, I had to have faith that the things I was learning in college about how to be lean and healthy were true. I needed to adopt these ideas as a new way of life in exchange for the habits and lifestyle I would have to leave behind. It meant no more doing all the extreme things that I thought necessary to be lean... Together these classes provided me with a new map... a new set of behaviors and attitudes to live by.

I had to hope and trust all of this advice,

...enough to give it to myself and get myself to take it.


I had to have faith that when I stopped binging and purging and starving myself… and started eating right and exercising – that my body would still - at first - gain weight to save for the "next" starvation… and that I needed to let it happen… and that when my body learned to trust that I would feed it consistently without starving it – it would realize that I was done starving it - and that it was safe to let go of the extra weight it was holding onto. I had to keep eating when the weight came on, trusting that the weight would come back off once my body was sure I was done starving it.

I had to stick with the plan even when things seemed to be getting worse instead of better.

How did I overcome it? I choose to have faith that this plan which I prayed about and felt good about would work. I chose to follow through with the plan to heal and overcome no matter how impossible it might seem and no matter what obstacles came my way. I chose to keep moving forward with the plan no matter how hard it was and to believe that if I stuck with the plan I would live to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And I did. It didn't’ happen overnight. It took years with many steps forward mixed with many steps back. But no matter how many times I thought I failed… I kept trying. I continued to go forward with faith. It was the hardest thing I had ever done; but overcoming made conquering future challenges easier and possible.

Now that it has been many years since I was unhealthy, it astounds me that I was ever in that situation. I am totally healed. It is over. I am happy. :D And I learned so much because of it! I feel good about myself because of the huge challenge that I overcame. I feel like I am amazing… (but not too amazing... after all, it was God who guided and strengthened me ;).

Many blessings have come as a result of overcoming this challenge:

One good thing that has happened as a result of this challenge is that I see people differently now than I did before the challenge. There was a time when I thought everyone should be around the same weight etc… I learned that God loves variety. I learned that there is so much beauty that comes in so many different packages. I now see beauty in people that I never saw before. I am in awe by the magnitude of beauty I now see in others; I can even see and appreciate the beauty in myself that I was incapable of seeing before. I am so thankful for these new eyes; people look so incredibly beautiful through them now.

I can not tell you of even one bad result this experience has left me with. Through this experience, I learned that I can bear hard things… and that through Him, I can change my life.

Because of this, I will trust in Him always.
And I will keep moving forward,
...with faith in every footstep.

Because of this challenging experience, I have learned to lean on God and find strength in trusting Him; I KNOW He will never let me down.

Overcoming this challenge taught me to continue living a life of prayer and of following through with the answers that He gives me. I have had other big challenges in my life in addition to this one which I have been able to get through because of the faith that grew from this challenge. I have changed and continue to change. I like this new me, and the person I am becoming. :D

I'm sure some of you understand these struggles and others of a similar nature. I hope you will come to know that there isn't anything which can't be overcome and that you will have the courage to resolve to do so.  Have faith. Get help. Pray, asking for direction on how to heal, and then take that advice immediately. No matter what your  struggles, the lord can inspire you and send people into your life who will help you to know what to do to overcome and heal.

Happy Healthy Living
Corine :D

This post is linked up with http://livingabigstory.blogspot.com/search/label/Meditation%20Mondays

Add on, October 21, 2011:

Hi. I just remembered that I scanned the pages of the journal I wrote. I decided to add the copies of the pages here just for the heck of it. Much of the writing, I changed for this blog. Since I rewrote it above, I am showing these in the condensed, small version; though you don't need to read it, I thought it might be fun just to see what the pages looked like in the circle journal that I did...

Answers to Prayers ~ FAITH

The most wonderful thing happened to me yesterday...

Recently I studied the advice given in James 1:5 and the following verses. These verses have been on my mind since. I have thought of them over and over again.

Yesterday I prayed more effectively as a result of what I learned in these few verses. I experienced a simple but very powerful exchange of communication with the lord. In answer to questions I asked the Lord, one sentence telling me to read from a particular scripture book clearly entered into my heart and mind. I knew the Lord was answering me. I ran to my scriptures to obey the counsel given, and opened the book; everything I prayed to know - was right there! I couldn't help crying; emotions flooded over me as the spirit  testified to me that the Lord was answering my prayer through these scriptures.

He hears and answers prayers! :D

He is so real!

And He really loves me... :)

I wonder how often He stands at the door as each of us struggle with questions - just waiting to answer, if only we would knock...


October 26, 2011 - UPDATE: I desire to remember this lesson which I learned that day, so write it here for safe keeping... :)

I realized that I needed to pray with total and complete faith; and not only that, when doing something and praying for the lord to bless that activity, I need to pray with total faith that he will bless it. I need to DO that activity with total strength, with NO HESITANCE (which comes from fear or lack of faith that it may not be worth the time); the lord will give us what we ask and work for only when we do it in faith. It isn't harsh. This is one of the lessons we came to earth to learn... to live by faith. Faith is the first principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because He loves us, God steps back when we lack faith in order to let us learn this principle. This is the way the power of faith works. He wants us to know this so we will ask and work in faith, and be blessed. :)

I came upon another blog (Scriptorium Blogorium) which talks about a scripture about prayer; it is awesome! Here is the link:http://scriptoriumblogorium.blogspot.com/2011/10/and-not-faint.html

I'm going to quote part of (it's just too good; I'm copying and pasting ALL of it) her post here for me to remember... :) Her blog is in grey...

"'But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint… (2 Nephi 32:9)'

"Recently I was struck by that part “and not faint” in Nephi’s words about how we should pray. It made me wonder if he meant “pray always and don’t lose consciousness” as we so often read it to mean. Yet who really faints while praying? It seemed too silly (unless he knew about all of us who tend to drift off to sleep while we’re praying…). But if he meant those of us who fall asleep while praying, he would have said "pray always and not sleep." So I suspected maybe Nephi meant “pray always and not faintly. That made a lot more sense. I decided to look up in the dictionary what “faint” meant besides "losing consciousness." Here’s what I found:

• Deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity, brightness or loudness
• Lacking clarity or distinctness
• Lacking strength or vigor
• Indistinctly understood, felt, or perceived
• Lacking conviction, boldness, or courage

It seems that Nephi is telling us to pray distinctly, clearly, vigorously, with understanding and feeling, and with conviction, boldness, and courage. No limp-wristed, namby-pamby prayers for us.

I don’t know about you, but this scripture really helped me. I think I had gotten in a habit of faintly praying, and this was a jolt back in the right direction. I’ve noticed that when I pray with more distinctness and clarity, I perceive better how the Lord answers my prayers. Have you seen this?"

I am so excited to have found this!!! Thank you

Oneness in Mariage - Deseret News Reading...

Good morning! :D

I was scanning my emails quite early this morning when I came upon a link to Deseret News, and spied the title to an article that jumped out and intrigued me...  "Spiritual Derivatives of Oneness in Marriage." Oneness is something that I often think about. Through the scriptures, we are commanded to be one with our spouse, and I aim to keep all of God's commandments, but I've never been sure that I actually know exactly what it means to be one... This has been a seemingly elusive goal that I strive to obtain... Seeking clarity, I read the article!

The article started right out talking about the "deeply spiritual thought" of the yin and the yang, and of how men and women in their differences, compliment and complete each other just as the yin and yang do.

Photo taken from Deseret News
Article spoken of...

This I already knew. So far, all was familiar, and I could confidently say that in my marriage with my husband we are both entirely aware of how "different" we are, and that the years have taught us to be "thankful" for our differences. We both agree whole heatedly that our differences compliment each other and complete us. Because of our differences, and the fact that we each have what the other lacks... we need each other. We are also both so much more together than we could ever hope to be apart!

But I was searching for something new to learn. Something that I could not so readily agree with, and thus, something that I could take home and incorporate into my marriage to help me to be "more one" with my husband. I continued to read...

So far, I had been feeling pretty good. So far, we were "not alone" in some inferior way... Then I read this:

Elder LeGrand Richards, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, used to go to the same neighborhood church that we did. He was in his 90s, and one day someone asked him the secret to his longevity. "Well," he said, "way back, 65 years ago when my wife and I got married, we made a solemn vow that we would never fight or argue within the walls of our own home."

My heart sank... I could absolutely, POSITIVELY NOT say that. Sigh... Would/could my husband and I ever be one, despite this gross discrepancy???
I continued to read, discovering that while I was wallowing, the author was "impressed,"

I was impressed, but thought he must have missed the question and gone off on another topic. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he went on, "That's why we've lived so long — we've spent so much time in the out-of-doors!"

LOL!    :D   sigh...

Whew! Maybe there is some hope for us after all! ;) (You know, I've heard this before, but had forgotten; and I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed reading this today!)

I continued to read, and found that the authors were about to quote the findings of three types of marriages in which there was absolutely NO CONFLICT. I was intrigued! I would love to have that, I wondered what I have to do to get it. I read on...

"The first type of conflict-free marriage," he said, "is where one spouse is totally dominant and the other is a total doormat."

I knew that would never do. I learned a long time ago NOT to be a doormat, and really am not in to dominance either. But that's OK, there were still two more options to go! :D So I continued reading.

"The second is where the two live such separate lives and have such separate interests that there is no overlap and thus no need for disagreement."

That sounded WAY too lonely! Besides, we had worked hard at learning to like some of the things each other greatly enjoys doing, and we have found great joy from enjoying together the interests which we already had in common.

Obviously, these first two options were the lemons to prepare the readers for the Grand Finale! I could hardly wait to read what it was! :D

"The third is where one or the other is dead."

What? Did I read that right? DEAD!  ~ LOL Again! 
Where is the "applause button?" I want to push it!!!!

I did continue reading, and I did finally find something that I DO actually need to work on (which others have achieved). But after everything else I read, it wasn't so monumental... And it was already something that I knew I needed to change, and was already working on. That was encouraging.

I thought about giving you another little summary of the rest of the article, but honestly, you may just want to read it for yourself, so here is a link to the article: Spiritual Derivatives of Oneness in Marriage.

After devouring this article, I went online and looked up another article on oneness to further enlighten my mind. Here is a quote found in one of the articles, which I think is encouraging to those single persons who may struggle with finding the "right one," as well as to any married couple who may wonder after marriage if the partner they chose is actually the most compatible person for them:

"While every young man and young woman will seek with all diligence and prayerfulness to find a mate with whom life can be most compatible and beautiful, yet it is certain that almost any good man and any good woman can have happiness and a successful marriage if both are willing to pay the price." Spencer W Kimball

In the above article, Kimball goes on to provide a formula - which unselfish, righteous, determined individuals may use - to create a successful marriage (see the link above if you would like to read the formula). There are many wonderful gems here, and one which is new to me; I am still learning, and am very excited about what I am learning! It amazes me that no matter how much I learn on a subject, there always seems to be more to learn! I love it! :D

Reading these articles caused me to wonder a few things... Maybe, the two of us can be one after all... Maybe, we are already well on our way in this great process of merging. ??? I think we are...

I hope you enjoy these readings. But more especially, I hope you find joy in enjoying the differences between you and your spouse!

Have a great day!
Corine :D

ADDITION:  I just found a blog titled, "Cleaving Together" What are the odds??? You may want to check it out! :D

ORDINARY - 5 Minute Friday with Gypsy Mama! :D

The Gypsy Mama just coined the theme this morning for 5 Minute Friday: Ordinary...

I love it! :D I love this theme because it is a reminder to revel in and enjoy the every day... the challenges we all face which seem to constantly be in the way of making time for what ever it is we seek to make time for... forgetting that while we are making time for "something more" we are already doing what it is we came here on Earth TO DO...

That's right... The ordinary every day, sometimes referred to as "mundane" are the very things we were put here on earth to experience.

Life is a school of sorts; and our loving Father in Heaven placed us in this earth school so that we can learn and grow... experience, and prove to ourselves that we can be true and faithful to Him, even when we can not see him.

It is in the ordinary everyday moments that these opportunities come....

When a small child spills milk all over the table and carpet below - just after you told him to let you pour it, but he didn't...

Me, as a very young mom, with two of my 3
children at the time (later to have 4).
Motherhood is a very good occupation.
Next to being a wife, the role of motherhood
 provides limitless opportunities to become
everything a woman could ever hope to become...

When your spouse comes home late for dinner - just after hours after you created a meal for a king - to share with him by candle light (only to find that he took a double shift and didn't bother calling :o).

How will we handle these things?

And what about the other "ordinary" moments?

...The blue sky filled with white fluffy clouds; do we see the interesting and the beautiful pictures in them? Do we look up and enjoy the beauty of the sky and thank the Lord for it's wonder? Do we notice the little smiles under the dirty faces of little children? Or the colors of a rainbow at the end of a storm?

There are so many little things in life that are ordinary. So many things to learn from, be thankful for, and to enJoy...

*I thank thee, dear Father in Heaven, for giving me an "ordinary" life; I love it! And I love thee for blessing me with it!

Yours forever and always,

Corine :D

PS. I just posted another post last night, not knowing I would post this morning as well (I forgot about 5 Minute Friday; can you believe that??) Be sure to check it out too! :D

TTFN!

Today ~ I Am Thankful For...

I just have to sit down and revel in a few things which I am incredibly thankful for right now:

I am thankful that my sons, Dausen (nearing 17) and Levi (pushing 13.5), have done some amazing bonding over the past few weeks. :D I'm so happy! They are actually really good friends now! :D (Can't you just hear me giggle?) LOL ;D

I'm thankful that I am finally a.l.m.o.s.t. done staining and finishing my doors (it is embarrassing how long they waited to be finished!). They look beautiful (despite the fact that I am a total beginner at this, not to mention they were off the hing, moved around for 3 years and got a bit banged up over time; oh well! Qeu Sara Sara! :o).

I'm thankful that fall is finally on it's way in, and summer is on it's way out (After waiting forever to get it, it is almost shocking to realize I am actually ready for it to be OVER!)...

I'm thankful that even though we started school INCREDIBLY LATE, I'm just sure it's going to be an AWESOME year of learning anyhow! :)

I am thankful that I am actually enjoying harvest time, from the fruits of my own labors! :D (I'm so happy with myself for finally gardening, planting fruit trees, canning, freezing, dehydrating etc. :) With such young trees and a small garden, I only have a little of each thing which I tucked away; but together it adds up to a bit of variety with which to bless our family this winter. :) sigh...

I'm thankful that my husband is suddenly really committed to spending one on one time with each of our boys... He has recently taken each one of them, one at a time, on all day or overnight kayaking trips.

Levi with his little buddy/adopted brother
(at heart). I tolk this photo while we were
camping this summer...

I'm thankful for my absolutly amazing son, Levi. Levi is quite a gem... He came into this world looking a little like me, which I will admit I got really excited about (even though he is a boy... :o Quite honestly, I looked like a boy myself when I was a toddler! True story! ;))

I'm thankful that when Levi headed out the door recently to go on a trip with his dad, he reached down on a shelf (in the darkness), pulled out "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," put it back and said, "That's not what I'm looking for." And with determination and a desire to read from an enlightening/educational book, he asked, "Do you know where 'Does you bag have holes' is?" (Can I just say I'm really pleased with his smart and good desires and decisions???)

(By  the way, this boy is only 13 and was incredibly excited when the author gave him this book at a youth conference for participation. And, yes... I will definitely be reading the book soon myself!)

I'm also thankful that Levi will turn on the music, and grove with me (when his older brothers aren't looking... he has a reputation to uphold! lol)

I'm thankful for my son Dausen... that he is SO PEACEFUL, quiet, calm, easy going, honest, not at all easily offended... he is a breath of fresh air!!! :D I'm also thankful for his incredible sense of humor, and the way he gets our family laughing. He gets our family laughing SO HARD! :D

I love the way Dausen is so NOT adventurous... the way he can find joy and pleasure in such simple daily thing... the way he is so content, and enjoys the simple little every day pleasures so thoroughly...

I think I shall never forget when Dausen was 4 years old. His twin brother decided to learn how to ride a two wheeler, and was out getting on his bike, and crashing, and getting up again - over and over again. Dausen pedaled around on his trike, slowly, peacefully, as his eyes wondered around seeming to take in the clouds, the sky, the sun, the grass, trees, and birds in the air. He was - totally and completely content, and with an expression on his face that said something like,

"Ahhh.... this is the life! Nothing in the world could bring me greater joy than doing what I am doing RIGHT NOW."

This little story depicts Dausen's personality. He does what he wants to do, and he finds joy in it. He is not at all pressured by what others are doing... Peer pressure is not a part of his life.

I LOVE Dausen's soothing and calming personality.

The only reason Mr.Modest (and he is modest in every sense of the word)
 doesn't have a shirt on here is because he just got out of the water...

By the way, Dausen is an amazing swimmer. Last summer or the summer before (somewhere around age 15??) we went camping as a family with some friends. We were at lake Elsie, and Dausen decided to swim across the lake and back. There was a kayak close by in case he needed it; he didn't. He swam with total ease. I'm betting the distance was perhaps 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile each way. He rested a bit and jumped off rocks into the water before returning back... I was quite impressed! I think it's only a matter of time before I talk him into doing triathlons with me... :o I hope. :) Though he seems to have no desire (perhaps due to his very relaxed and uncompetitive nature), I know he would do great! I would LOVE to witness it! :D

I'm thankful for Devry and his adventurous ways! He does many of the same kind of adventurous things that I love to do... slide down zip lines, jump rocks, camp, hike, fish, swim, (anything outdoors); I'm really pretty sure that it is only a matter of time before he is doing marathons and triathlons right along with me... :)

I love the way Devry learns things (some of which is accomplished ~ on YouTube), and does crazy little experimental projects - like building his own potato guns, and getting the family to sit around the room and toss fire to each other! lol (true story, I kid u NOT).

Devry has had a computer attached to him since he was 4 years old and wanted to have a laptop like his dad (he came out of the womb imitating his father - though, when it comes to the great outdoors etc. he reminds me a great deal of ME as well... :). Since it wasn't in our budget to get another lap top (he he) we got him a little plastic flip top that taught ABC's and such; he kept it for years! lol (sentiment). Now he walks around with an I-Pod and/or an I-Pad. He is always looking up things on the Internet, answering questions that he has and telling the rest of us interesting facts.

I'm thankful that Devry runs with me sometimes, and takes care of himself physically and spiritually. I love the way he strives to be polite to others and the way he is giving. I love that he has become such an interesting and fun social being, and the way he just keeps getting better!

 

What is it with me and swim photos today?

Now that I'm done pulling my hair out over the fact that my beautiful daughter Mindy missed the deadline for application to college (again)... I'm thankful that she wasn't home when she told me (so I could scream etc. without her hearing it! JK - kind of... I didn't really scream; I just imagined myself screaming... :). Anyhow, rather than stay upset about it, I'm happy to say that I am now REALLY GLAD that I will have more time with this absolutely wonderful, and amazing young woman! I'm thankful that I didn't have my way, and that she didn't leave the nest the day after high school ended (like I did). I'm SO THANKFUL that we have had this extra time together. And not only that, her path is not the same as mine. I think the wait is actually the way it is meant to be for her. I am SO INCREDIBLY THANKFUL that I DON'T have control over everything - or we would have missed out on a lot. One day she will leave our home, and never come back to live with us again. I'm glad that day hasn't come yet...

By the way, I'm thankful that Miles and I named our daughter Mindy; it was the only girl name we could agree upon. :o And I LOVE it! :D Mindy means "love," and it is beautiful and cute all rolled up in one... :) I'm thankful that she likes it, too. :D By the way, we called Mindy "baby girl" for three days. But hey, I was (what did they call me???) for a week before my dad left work early to tell my mom he had a name for me!

I have to share just a couple more btw's about my daughter: Mindy is an amazing friend to me; I'm really thankful for that. She is also a beautiful person, inside and out, and watching her grow up has been an absolute dream come true!

 

I considered using a sophisticated photo of Miles,
but I figured this one shows of his crazy fun personality.
:D lol ~ And his relaxed attire after church.

I'm thankful for a husband who is always learning, always growing, always becoming more... He inspires me! I love the way he serves others, and not just the kind of service that is quick and easy, but the kind that takes real love and lasting dedication... And I love the way he is so completely non-judgmental and forgiving, of everyone... I am beginning to realize how truly blessed I am to have him. He would do anything for me. He has done so much for me, and continues to do more for me... I am astounded at the things he accomplishes - for me.

I would love to highlight some of the things Miles does right now, but this blog post is getting too long, and I'm late for a chick flick with some friends, so I'll get back to you on this soon (or maybe on his birthday! :)

I'm thankful for my fruit trees and garden. I'm thankful that I was blessed with a strong mind and body to be able to build, plant and cultivate these blessings. I'm thankful that they are growing... I'm thankful for the assurance that each year will continue to get better, and for the patience and wisdom to endure all things, and endure them well... :) I LOVE LIFE! :D

I'm thankful for LIFE.

And I'm thankful for LIVING! :D

I'm thankful for family... 

A few years ago... The 3 oldest kids were experiencing camera shyness,
Levi was sick. :o
But  I Miles and I were having fun! :D

December 2009

About Feb. 2011

This one is SO CLASSIC (for our family). The girls are full of life;
and the boys... lol -  could really stand to have a little more enthusiasm about having their photo taken!

Quick Tripod snapshot a few minutes before we
headed into the IMAX at River Front Park this
summer... What a treat! :D

 And I'm thankful for friends... :)

(sorry, no photos here today... too many to count! -

Plus, I wouldn't want to leave anyone out, and it would be a headache to gather all the photos... :o)

TTFN!

Corine :D