Dealing with Husbands, Lessons Learned from a Neurotic Budgie...

So the last few days have been interesting...

On Tuesday, we were out and the car started to overheat. We stopped in at a gas station and put in some water (which usually does the trick), but the gauge was still nearing the HIGH level. As we were in the area, we stopped in at an old Scout Master of Ben's, Gary Heffner who has a garage over on Center Road in Mesa (little plug there); after a nice catch-up-chat, we were given the dire news... The head gasket's are cracked which is causing carbon monoxide to enter into the radiator and whole lotta of other mumbo jumbo but basically, its not doing the job of cooling the car down.

Okay, so I am so not mechanical and the fact that I even remember "head gaskets" has me pretty super-impressed with myself.

So to fix it, it'll cost us over $2,000 and we've got a 1998 Ford Explorer SUV with near 200,000 miles on it... I am told that this is pretty good and that basically she has "given up the ghost", and the best thing for us is to trade her in for a newer model.

After a gallon and a half of water directly into the radiator, we're right to go... but with the dire warning to not take the freeways, but go for the slower side roads; no air-conditioning... OK so Arizona has not hit the heat yet, but c'mon! The sun shines here 300 days of the year and when sun hits the vehicle, I don't care HOW cold it gets, it gets darn hot inside!

So my brilliant husband decides that this problem is actually not something new and we can probably take it for another six months or so. Lets hope I'll not be flagging anyone down to help give us a ride if his "theory" is proven wrong! That'll sure be a blog and a half.

Well the stress of all that "excitement" had me falling asleep in the car; which really is so rare for me. By the time we arrived home and I wake up, I am in a full-blown fibromyalgia flare-up. The pain is so severe I can hardly walk to the house from the car.

Most people who I meet have no idea what Fibromyalgia is, so here is the "Google Health" definition to help you out:

"Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by long-term, body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression, and anxiety."

WOW! It's common! Gone are the days when it seemed to be this rare dis-ease that plagued women and was mostly mis-diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue. So, I guess I am not that "unique" after all... oh well, who wants to be unique when it comes to such illness of the body, right? Quite frankly, you can take the darn dis-ease and shove it up... Well, I am sure you get the idea.

So with the flare-up this week, which BTW has been one of the worst I have ever had, came on so suddenly and I've never had it flare-up like that before; I've not been able to do much of anything but sit and ponder life. (The last time I did that, it lent to Ben shaving off his beard after over ten years! A good thing? Who knows anymore... Side note: Be VERY careful what you wish for, ask for a new man and you might just get the shock of your life. Gone with the beard are a lot of little things which added up to a lotta big things, he really is a new man, and I'm still getting used to him... Topic for another blog somewhere down the line. Possibly.)

And one thing I have realised in my endless hours of pondering life... waiting for a budgie to lay an egg is like waiting for a Tsunami to hit Hawaii, only to be fraught with disappointment... or relief depending on how you look at it.

I have literally sat for hours watching this neurotic budgie hop from perch to perch, into her nesting box, throwing everything out of her nesting box, then knock on her food dish until it too becomes dislodged and lands on the cage floor. I have seen her take the grit perch covering, which is about twice as long as she is; and try to pop it into her nesting box... cos you know, when those babies hatch, they'll be just making a mad dash for the grit. I've watched her twist off a metal nut and bolt which is attaching her nesting box to the cage; and I've seen her bite off the ties which are holding the cage doors down, and sit there lifting the doors wide open, much to the delight and hope of the cats sat watching her. She has near destroyed the box which contains her nesting material, only to take the material and throw it about the cage, then attempt to push it out of the cage. Of course none of this stuff is making its way in to the nesting box.

And poor Peter, our male budgie, tries so desperately to help Lucy out, only to get shut down and shut out time and time again. You can literally see her having a mood swing and having "words" with him. And boy she can scream at him with the best of them. And poor Peter, he sits and takes it; one can visually see his head getting lower as she chastises him. Then, he hops off and tries to do something else to please her, and of course is met with further disdain on Lucy's part.

Yep, in this past week of trying to alleviate my pain in my arm chair, spending too many countless hours watching these budgies with the fascination of a child viewing life for the first time; I have come to realise something... That is this, no matter what species we are, women will always find a way to have a mood swing and put our men in their places; and no matter how hard they try to please us, we never seem to find that satisfaction in them, even if we think we do.

So, I publicly wish to apologise to my dear husband for all the fault I've found in him over this past week and want him to know that I really DO appreciate him, even if he doesn't move fast enough or have sonar hearing, or can read my mind and just do what I want him to do without having to ask. For all those "faults", I love him dearly and am so incredibly grateful that he is my husband and my "burden"; and I am so grateful that each time I overheat, he adds a little bit of water and takes me a little further together with him. I just hope that he won't be looking at trading me in for a "newer model" anytime soon.

Am I promising to not ill-treat him again, well yes... until my next mood swing. ;-)

Chinese New Year of the Tiger

For the past two weeks, we have been celebrating two things... Chinese New Year and... well, the Olympics.

Many people will be surprised to know that Chinese New Year is not just a one day celebration, as is the western New Year, but rather it lasts for 15 days and each day has a special meaning.

I don't ever remember celebrating each day for 15-days, but as my previous post will attest, we did celebrate at least the first four days.

When I think of celebrating each day for 15-days, well it does seem like a lot of fun. What we have been doing is eating for the past two weeks... a LOT!

There are days like the 7th day of the Lunar New Year that is considered everyone's birthday. It goes back to the belief that the God's were creating all the creatures of the world, and on the 7th day, they created human's. So on this day, we eat special cakes and wish each other a "Happy Birthday"; although for many westerners, the idea that it means turning another year older... well, it just does kind of repel us doesn't it?!

Then there is the 12th day which is called "Diarrhea Day" as we've been eating so many fried and heavy foods over the last 11-days that when we get to the 12th day, well, I guess it all just has to make its "exit".

Let's just say that I did all I could to avoid "celebrating" on that day. I guess it could be called "worshiping the porcelain God day"... Even if it meant taking quantities of immodium, I was bound and determined to NOT celebrate.

The 13th day and the day when businesses in Asia worship the God, Guan Yu. He was a warrior in the 3rd century and was a very good general, very successful businessman, and also very generous to those less fortunate. Eventually, he was killed by being beheaded but because of all the good works he did in his life, he was elevated to God-head status; and today businesses will worship him on this day in hopes that the coming year will bring much prosperity, loyalty, generosity, and success.

On the final day, it is called Lantern Festival. This is different from the mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, and most of the lanterns displayed on the 15th and final day of the Lunar New Year, are the red round ones.

Backing up to the first day of Chinese New Year, I made a nine-dish dinner feast. How I did all nine dishes on my own, I have no idea... It was really good even though I did not get too much of a chance to sit, eat and enjoy; but my guests and my husband enjoyed so that was what was important... at least for me who is a true cook at heart.

Over the next few days, I am going to post a few recipes for what I made that night for you to try and enjoy. If you do make any of these dishes, please do let me know how you enjoyed it.

These are a few recipes which I grew up with, and they come from my home, and my heart, with all the memories of my youth, to you. Enjoy!

My Memories of Chinese New Year

The typical greeting at Chinese New Year is "Kung Hei Fat Choi" (Kung pronounced "Gung") and often this is done with one hand made as a fist and the other hand clasping over it almost like you are going to punch the palm of the other hand, or you can also "fit" the fist into the other hand that is clasping over; this is the symbol and old time respect. Nowadays, just saying it will suffice.

As kids, we want to get lots of red packets (filled with money), also known as "Lai-cee"; so if we want to be naughty, or irreverent about it, we say "Kung hei fat choi, lai-see do lai", which means to give me lots and lots of lai-cee. It’s looked at as a joke, but the more old timers will get quite angry if you say this.

I remember that we always had a week off of school for the holiday, and it was at this time that Hong Kong was its most quiet as many people would go back to China to visit family there. For many, it was the only time of the year that they would be able to go back.

After the second day of Chinese New Year, we would get lots and lots of visitors, from people who worked for my Dad at OOCL as well as the staff from our family business. It was a sign of respect to come and visit, to give me (and my brother and sister) Lai-cee, and bring gifts. This was a time when there was no business discussed and it was when the employees would tell about their latest, joyous, news; babies being born, marriage proposals, etc. Often, we’d be quite surprised to learn of this “news” as it seemed their colleagues already did; but such is the distinction in Hong Kong between the employee and employer.

Weeks prior to Chinese New Year, we would have a day which was for the "Kitchen God". I remember we took everything out of the cabinets, we dusted and cleaned (mainly our Ah-mah "maid" did) and lit incense and laid out special sweets and oranges. This was the day he would make his annual report to the Gods about how we were doing and we wanted to make sure he was appeased. The sweet was for him to say sweet things, the oranges were like offerings of gold (money) so that we will get more in the coming year, and the incense was to help him find his way there and back.

Also, at this time of year, in Hong Kong, all the markets have pots and pots of little orange trees (kumquat). Every home would have these trees, and many people would give these as gifts. The more oranges the tree had (and the more trees one had) the more prosperous the year would be. So many people would buy the trees with many little blossoms on them and the trees were treated SO carefully to allow for the blossoms to remain and turn into oranges.

I remember being fascinated with the oranges and each year I would pick an orange to "try", but each year was spitting it out because they are SO sour and can even be bitter. My family laughed each year because I SO wanted to eat them, so enticing they are; and the smell of citrus is wonderful.

One year after Chinese New Year, I was with my Mum outside of my primary school (which was just down the hill from my house), and she was talking with a friend when suddenly this orange hit me very hard on the back. I looked up and saw a head duck back. Of course, my Mum was furious because of how dangerous it could be from such a height to hit me on the head could have killed me. But it was a little orange from the trees. For many, many years I wondered who would have thrown that orange at me, why, and who was that girl with the dark hair (the hair was long enough to know it was a girl).

Then, a couple of years ago, I “met” her… On Facebook. It turned out she was the daughter of my school principal at the time who was living in the flats (apartments) at the top of the school. She wanted to wish me lots of money, and so she threw it at me… and it was supposed to signify a money bag. We are very good friends now, but a little orange thrown so many years ago connected us.

Also at this time of year, it is tradition to have blossoms in the house. This too signifies money, and people would even buy the fake blossom plants to use year after year and ensure that the blossoms don't die.

In our home, Mum would buy flowers weekly from the flower man, almost all year long; but at Chinese New Year, our flowers she would buy would include long branches of blossoms, and catkins, ginger flowers, and these beautiful yellow flowers which were like orchids, but were not. From the long stems of catkins, Mum would hang lai-cee envelopes to signify more money for the year.

Red and orange really is a significant colour during this festival, and NO white or blues are really allowed to be displayed. White and blue, in Chinese are traditional death and funeral colours.

Prior to Chinese New Year, people would do some mega “house cleaning”, where they would throw out furniture and things which they had used that previous year to make way for new things, and with those new things, hopes for better Feng Shui in the New Year. We had a place where all the garbage was collected from the entire neighbourhood and then picked up by the garbage men, and at Chinese New Year time, it was really difficult not to pick up a thing or two.

I remember one year, I found a lovely rocking chair and brought it home. My Dad and sister went crazy when they saw it because I had brought someone else’s bad joss (luck) into our home. I had to get rid of it immediately, and then the Feng Shui man was called to help restore balance to the home.

In Hong Kong, prior to Chinese New Year, you can find the most beautiful items thrown onto the garbage heap, and most of these items are brand new and hardly used; but no one with any good sense would pick it up and take it home. You see, the people who have thrown these items out have generally had a very bad year, either financially, or health, or otherwise and so they throw these items out to get rid of this bad joss. Then they will buy all new things to restore better joss for the coming year.

Call it superstition or manifestation, but generally it always did work.

The foods we ate were also very important and each was also significant. We would eat long, unbroken noodles to signify long life and unbroken luck for the coming year. We would have whole fish (usually steamed) as “Yu” (fish in Chinese) is similar sounding to the word for money. Shrimp in tomato sauce, a vegetarian dish with specific items and number of items in it, chicken, sharks fin soup, abalone, meat dumpling called sui jao or gwo tia (either cooked in soup water, or fried) which signified the Yuan Bao (old gold nuggets which was currency), special desserts, many items that one would not ordinarily eat during the year, including many items which were more expensive than normal but the idea is that when you eat these expensive items, you will ingest that which will bring more money, prosperity to the person that year, also good health, good luck, and happiness.

During Chinese New Year, it is tradition to not cry, for to cry means that the year will be filled with tears and sorrow.

One also does not cut their hair and the first few days, to not even wash the hair for fear that the good joss will be cut or washed out. So before Chinese New Year starts, all the salons and barber shops in Hong Kong will be booked and packed with people (especially ladies) beautifying themselves.

Anything to do with cutting is not advisable at this time, so no cutting of toe nails or finger nails either, and also no shaving.

Of course, many of these traditions has died away with the new generations, but for those of us who grew up in the old customs, there is still a part of us that holds on… just in case.

This time of year was very important, and being a Eurasian child, with a full Chinese sister who still held all the traditions, it was even more important for me to know, learn, and live. As a woman with my own household, I still maintain many of the traditions I grew up with and plan to pass these on to my own children when they come.

As I am now living in Arizona, many are harder to come by… Things that I miss most are my family, and having all of us gathered around the family dinner table; my sister having cooked up a mega storm. These days, that task has fallen on my shoulders, and I still will cook up a mega Chinese storm at New Years.

I miss the visitors coming and telling us about their latest joys and just the company of having them over. It was never an imposition because we knew they would come. Even though they only stayed a short time, most of the day was taken with one wave after another of people visiting their “Lao Ban” (Big Boss).

I miss the little orange trees, the blossoms, the smells, the energy of excitement that filters through the air. The little traditions in offerings, and incense, and observing which is more tradition than anything. I miss seeing the open trucks driving past filled with orange trees for delivery, and the big fireworks over the harbour with the crowd’s collective “WAAA’s”.

While I miss home most of the year, at this time I miss it just a little more. The pull to go back gets stronger and stronger the longer I have been away, and each year as I sit at my fully laden table of traditional delights, I think quietly to myself the old Jewish saying reserved for Passover, with words rewritten; “Next year, in Hong Kong”.

Introducing Ainey Hur

Two weeks to the day that we had to make the very difficult decision to put Ash down, we were given a five and a half week old kitten whom we have named Ainey (pronounced "Eye-knee") which is Chinese for "Love You".

Ainey is settling in very nicely, and her big sister Sayge is warming up to her more. The first day and a half, Sayge was setting her boundaries and did a whole heck of a lot of hissing and hitting. But yesterday afternoon, she decided that Mummy and Daddy brought her home a real live toy. However, I think she is still trying to figure it all out, and figuring out how to be a "big sister" (Jeh-Jeh) rather than the baby sister.

Its all fun and games at the Hur household as we're learning to walk shuffling our feet, not stepping on the little ball of fluff chasing after them, and just loving the spunky little character that Ainey already has.

Enjoy our slide show of the first couple of days of Ainey being home...

Resolutions and the New Year

(Talk given on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at Scottsdale Coronado Ward, Scottsdale Arizona. Ben Hur)



When Leyla and I were asked to speak about resolutions and goals, I was like…

“Darn, so much for flying under the radar!”


Setting goals and coming up with plans for the future are something I like doing, and on most days, I think I am pretty good at it.

However, follow through is not one of my strongest suits. When I get started, I take off like a rocket. Maintaining momentum is the part I tend to struggle with.

“Now, why am I saying all of this…?”


Because of my struggles with ‘achieving’ my goals, I have sought out solutions of one kind or another to help me get closer to where I want to be.

Through prayer and my own personal efforts, not to mention the help of my lovely wife, I have found ‘ONE’ common theme to solve my dilemma.

“Just Do It!”


Taking action and continuing to take action is the only way to get any task done.

Of course, it helps to ‘WANT’ what you are questing after, but ultimately… you have to act in order for a thought to become reality.

For me, one of the biggest secrets to making it through this process has been facing my fears and obstacles.

No matter what we want to achieve in life, the road will often be sprinkled with mistakes and stumbling blocks.

Being prepared for this fact of life, and knowing that it cannot be avoided, has helped me realize that these bumps in the road are out of my control in most cases, and are only lessons of how ‘NOT’ to do something.

Using this knowledge as it pertains to the gospel and one of my personal passions, I would like to challenge everyone to create for themselves a spiritual goal relating to fellowship.

Having been ‘less active’ and ‘inactive’ for a little over a decade, I am coming from a place of experience when I suggest we reach out to our less active brothers and sisters.

From time to time we’ll hear someone quote David O. McKay’s saying,

“Every Member A Missionary”

How often we actually heed this calling… is only something we can answer for ourselves.

Many of us, including myself, find ourselves wrapped up in our own lives and all that it pertains.

Day-to-day life in today’s world tends to steer us towards more worldly tendencies where the spirit often gets drowned out and keeps us from hearing its promptings.

Whatever the reasons may be for their inactivity, it’s safe to say that many of our fellow members have, at one point or another, been touched by the spirit.

“What can we do as individuals, if not on the whole, to let these brothers and sisters know we care?”

For me, the simplest thing that really meant a lot to me… was knowing that somebody cared.

Even better, that more than one person realized I wasn’t around, and ‘truly’ cared enough about me to let me know.

Now just take a moment to reflect…

“Would you want to “Fellowship” with people who didn’t speak with you?”

“What if no one noticed you weren’t at church and ‘NEVER’ expressed to you personally ‘in’ or ‘outside’ of church that your presence was missed?”

Let us all try to find our own personal way to reach out over this coming New Year.

Maybe we can mail a post card or a calendar of Ward events. Or, we can reach out with a phone call, or even a personal visit, and not just to our Home or Visiting Teaching families.

If we all took only a few extra minutes a week to reach out to a handful of people, seeds could be planted.

Recently, it was brought to my attention that one of our ‘active’ members has taken it upon themselves to find out the birth dates of other members of varied activity and send them a card for their birthday.

“Can you imagine what it might feel like to receive more than a handful of birthday cards from a list of strangers?

No pressure to come back to church, or to perform in some other manner.

Just acknowledging that an individual is remembered, thought about, and loved.”

Something that touched Leyla’s and my heart and contributed to our coming back this last time, was a care package the sisters put together as a relief society project.

Certain life events had us teetering on the edge of whether or not we felt wanted enough to return. It really meant a lot to us and was a contributing factor in our coming back.

One thing we cannot do is give up and not even try.

We can’t worry about whether we will offend or turn people off of the gospel.

For many, the porch light isn’t even on.

If you think about it…

“Would you be offended if someone expressed care and concern for you?”

I know I wouldn’t be.

Growing up, I was my father’s home teaching companion. With some words of wisdom from my mother, she encouraged my father to take along a little note or treat to our inactive families.

One family in particular opened up over time and eventually allowed us in the door. Ultimately, they came back in due time and received several calling as time moved on. One of which, was scoutmaster, where the brother turned out to be a great source of inspiration to me even until today.

This lesson that I learned at such an impressionable age has stuck with me. A lesson which lends to why I try each month to have a flyer or treat for my Home Teaching families even now.

It’s the little things that mean a lot. Even if your budget doesn’t allow, do the best you can to reach out.

Start out with those who you are called to serve monthly, and then expand that list a little each time. And don’t do it just once. Follow up occasionally and let those members know it wasn’t a one-time thing.

Many of us here can relate to one another in more ways than just the spiritual kind.

Being family… maybe we can spend time outside of church with more than our usual cliques.

Many families I know, even if not all are members of the church, tend to come together often enough to share a meal or even have some fun. And some even gather more than once a month amidst busy schedules and all.

Even Uncle Jim or Aunt Suzy who are infirmed and bed-ridden are included and never forgotten.

We are all here on the same journey. We ARE family; brothers and sisters striving to return home to our heavenly family.

Any way we want to paint the picture, we can’t fool our father in heaven.

It is my hope that by next Christmas we will need the chapel overflow in order to fit our family.



[Bear testimony…]

New Year and Goal Setting

(Talk given Sunday December 2009 at Scottsdale Coronado Ward, Scottsdale Arizona. Leyla Hur)


Good afternoon brothers and sisters.

Just to give you a little hint about the difference between my dear husband and I, and for those of you who may not know me or what my passions are; when Brother McComas called and asked us to speak today, my poor husband’s face dropped as he said “Darn, so much for flying under the radar”; while I was nearly jumping for joy at the chance to get up here and speak to you all. You should have seen the look I received from my husband at my excitement.

You see, we have been members of this ward for over five years now, and while we have been active and inactive over that time frame, we have never once been asked to give a talk.

And the phone call also came just a few days after my husband shaved off his beard after over 10 years of not seeing his face. Many have wondered at this sudden change, and even some wondered if there was going to be another major change in callings.

So here is the deal, I tend to get rather philosophical around 2AM; call it lack of sleep which give off the effects of deluded “visions”, or whatever; but generally, my husband never listens to me… except this one night… So maybe we were “sharing” in the 2AM deluded “visions”, or possibly I actually had something pertinent to say?!

As I was sitting there, getting into one of my “philosophical” moments, I shared a thought with my husband; I told him that very often we hide behind things and this prevents us from moving forward in our lives. The things we hide behind could be physical in nature, or a false perceived image which we create… also known as a FEAR or (False Evidence Appearing Real).

When we remove the obstacle, or idea, that is preventing us from reaching our full potential, and we stand completely unhindered, amazing things start to happen.

Then I looked at my husband… and all I saw was “the beard”. As a side note I said to him; “Your obstacle that you hide behind is your beard. You want to attain so much, you move forward at rapid speed, but then stop way short of your goal, and I think that the FEAR overwhelms you and your beard is something that you can hide behind” Then I said these words, “You should shave it off.”

The next thing I know, my husband is getting up and off the sofa and heading to the bathroom… razor in hand.

And yes, I do have the entire process documented on video, and will be coming to a You Tube channel near you.

For most of you, you know who I am and what my passion in life is; for those of you who don’t, my name is Leyla Hur and my passion is empowering people and helping them identify, and overcome the obstacles which hold them back in life, helping them realize and live a life of success.

Now many people misunderstand the meaning of success, and attribute the word to finances; and surely it is represented in that manner, but success comes in all avenues in life.

For us, as Latter-day Saints, we look towards living a purpose-driven life and one which will afford us to reach the Celestial Kingdom and dwell with our Father in Heaven, and our families for all eternity.

Often times, people will become deluded with the belief that for us to attain the Highest Degree of Glory, we must be perfect. What we forget, or overlook is the fact that this life is a journey and that each step we take, is a lesson that we must learn. Each step affords us the opportunity for choice and consequence. Every choice we make comes with a consequence, and those consequences are either going to be positive or negative in nature depending on our choices. But nevertheless, each consequence also brings with it a beautiful opportunity to learn.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said it best when he said “Come what may, and love it.”

In other words, whatever life brings you, whatever choices you have made which have caused a consequence, don’t disparage at it, but rather embrace it and look at it as a life lessoned learned.

We are at the end of a year and a brand new year is on the horizon. I have been quite amused to hear many of my friends and acquaintances say “I can’t wait for this year to be over and the New Year to begin; things have simply GOT to get better in 2010.”

What deems the end of a year and the beginning of a New Year? Nothing more than a clock striking midnight and the signifying of a new day. How is this different from any other day of the year? Nothing really, except that on January first, we have the opportunity to start a new calendar.

In actuality, each day that we wake up and arise to is an opportunity to create something new and wonderful. Most of us are doing this automatically without even thinking about it.

For many, the end of a year signifies endings and new beginnings, but what if we were to turn our attention to this on a daily basis? What if, at the end of each day, we turned our thoughts to reflecting on the day which has just passed, and we looked for the wonderful lessons and learning opportunities we encountered that day?

At the end of the year, many give thanks and gratitude that the year has ended and a new one beginning, but what if we changed that which we were grateful for? If we were to take 10 or 15 minutes each evening before we retired, and prior to our nightly prayers to truly reflect on the day, and kept abreast of those things which we had to be grateful for, our prayers would be filled with greater richness, and the blessings returned in favour, would be abundant.

Sister Marjorie Hinckley has said; “It’s a valuable exercise to close your eyes every once in a while and think “what is the most wonderful moment I have lived through during the past year?”.” Imagine if we were to do this on a daily basis, how more fulfilled and richer we would live our lives.

In the March 1971 Ensign, Sister Geraldine P. Anderson said: ‘People who take time to truly pour out their hearts in gratitude, who frequently count their blessings before [the Lord] verbally and praise him for his goodness, are the ones who talk to him in an easy and personal manner. Isn’t this the way all great prophets have approached their Maker?”

I am a firm believer in living in an attitude of gratitude. Each moment of each day, our brains create thousands of thoughts, and unfortunately, many of these thoughts are negative. Oft-times we are bombarded with these thoughts from images we view, words we hear, and energies in situations we are involved in. How can we stop these thoughts from occurring so that we can remove the negativity from our lives and in so doing, allow the Spirit to enter in? When these thoughts begin to arise, immediately stop them in their tracks, and that sometimes means we also have to stop in our tracks, and start counting our blessings and start practicing gratitude for each.

As the wonderful hymn goes; “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by

When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold. Count your many blessings; money cannot buy, Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged; God is over all. Count your many blessings; angels will attend, Help and comfort given you to your journeys end.”

The Chinese Taoist Philosopher Lao Tzu said; “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” When we look at the Book of Mormon, and the very first prophets we are introduced to, Lehi and Nephi; theirs was a huge journey, but they too had to take the first step. So where am I going with this?

All thoughts such as “I want to…” or “I’ll try to…” are nothing more than half-hearted attempts to sway us into a delusion of non-action and non-committal to ourselves. Each step can only be taken by the ACTION of taking that step.

ACTION being the key-word here. It takes 21-days to form a new habit, and while most people make New Year’s resolutions, most also give up the task of what they have resolved to change after a week or more. To create positive change in your life, and in the life of those around you, you have to be consistent, maintain your momentum.

I often view the brand New Year as a marathon… for the adept athlete, they start off the marathon pacing themselves, this pacing helps them keep the momentum going, and as they come to the final leg, they pick up the pace and as the finishing line comes into view, often will sprint the last distance to the end.

For the novice, they may often look at those around them and start off at a sprint, and may even for a time, be leading the pack; however, as their burst of energy wears off, they have no more reserves to carry them through to the finish line, often leaving the race without completion.

Each year, many of us resolve to cut back on calories, pick up on exercising, read so many chapters of scriptures each day, and more; and we start off the year in a “Gung-ho” manner, only to reach a point where we realize that we set our sights too high, and that reading 10 chapters a day of our scriptures, in a determined effort to read the entire quad in a single year, may have been just a little unrealistic. Or that on January 2nd (because we ALL give ourselves January 1st “off”), we’re going to hit the gym and do a full hour of high-impact aerobics, only we are huffing and puffing climbing the stairs to the changing rooms, worn out before we hit the class.

Have you fallen into this New Year’s resolution “trap” before? I know I sure have.

As we end this year, my hope, and challenge to you is to pace yourself. Realise that January 1st is just another day, no real difference to February 1st, or even December 28th. If you have determined to make a positive change in your life, you can do it right now.

The boy-prophet, Joseph Smith did not wait until January 1st to enter into the woods that bright spring morning to seek the answers to the question burning in his heart; and neither should you.

Seek for positive change in your life, and seek it today. Take a few moments to understand what it is that you desire in your life, identify what may be the issues holding you back, and when you can identify them; go to your Father in Heaven in prayer and ask Him to help you to remove these blocks. When you find yourself faced with a fear, illumination of that fear will remove the “scare” factor when you can see clearly what it is.

Like the child who is convinced a monster lives under their bed; upon the light being shined under the bed with a loving parent to illuminate that there really is nothing there to fear, the child can then find solace in deep slumber.

Once illuminated, it can cease to exist and your stride towards your end-goal can be reached.

Sheri L. Dew has said; “The antidote to the distractions of the adversary is Jesus Christ. Light is stronger than darkness. Jesus Christ illuminates our vision of who we are and why we are here and gives us courage to move forward in the journey toward our heavenly home.”

Brothers and sisters, this past year has been a year especially difficult for many throughout the world, and indeed in this very ward. The drop in the economy has caused many to lose their jobs, their homes, and more. While all around us, we are seemingly surrounded in darkness, and for many, that darkness may have seeped into our own homes, and our own lives.

One of the greatest blessings we have, is the knowledge that we have been given the gift of agency; and in this gift, we have the ability to make choices. While around us there may be many who are “tempest tossed”, and while it may indeed be infiltrating our own lives, we can choose to get pulled into the storm of chaotic depression, despair, panic, and ill-ease; or we can turn our hearts, our minds, and our KNOWLEDGE to our faith, and follow Him, and allow Him to ease our minds.

When we turn our hearts and minds to our Father in Heaven, and to our Eldest Brother, who is Jesus Christ; we can truly be healed of our earthly woes. And even though we may be facing our darkest hours, Their Light can illuminate that which is truth and that which is fiction which we have created within our own minds, and panic-state.

We have all heard of the many blessings, even miraculous blessings showered upon those with faith and who give up of their controlling every aspect of their lives, and letting Father step in and take the bitter cup from us. And herein I believe lies the secret… and that is to give up control and give it up to God.

We have heard that we are never given more than we can carry, and for some of us, we may wonder what on earth Heavenly Father is thinking, and has he forgotten this fact. But when we get through the storm, and we look back, we can see that our father truly DOES KNOW us, and KNOWS exactly what strengths we possess.

When I look back over the past 10 years of my life, I have seen the times when I have been tempest tossed. 10 years ago, my first husband committed suicide, leaving me homeless, and on a path of utter destruction. I was mis-diagnosed and then over-dosed. On my 29th birthday I suffered a massive seizure, my heart stopped, and once resuscitated, I was inturbated and on life support in a coma. Upon coming out of this state and released from hospital, I was diagnosed with having residual brain damage and no chance for cure. The result of the seizure and coma acted upon my brain as if I had had a massive stroke; I could not talk, walk, read, or write. I was told to go home, get a good hobby, and live out my life the best I could. There was NO hope.

But I did not accept this. I KNEW that my Father had more in store for me. I made my determination and my decision; then placed complete and utter faith in my Father and allowed Him to help me as I lended the action steps I needed to take to become whole. My faith did not waiver, and without any occupational, or medical assistance; and with sheer determination and indelible faith, in 45 days, I was walking, talking, reading, writing, typing, and re-learning how to use the internet.

Heavenly Father KNOWS us, he KNOWS what we can and cannot handle, he KNOWS our worth “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10)

As we allow Him to truly enter into our lives, we will see the miracles as they flow. The darkness will be illuminated and the way will be made clear.

This life is a journey, and each step brings us closer to our end goal. As you go home today, and before you say your prayers tonight, think back on this day, reflect on the wonderful gifts you have been given in opportunity to learn. Focus on what your end goal truly is; remember tomorrow is a brand new day, and we need not wait until midnight on December 31st to create the changes we wish to change in our lives; as Sister Michaelene P. Grassli has said; “Every day – every minute – is a new, blank page of life. Regardless of our past, we can have a fresh start at any moment and write on that page what we choose. We are empowered in that by the Savior, in whom all becomes new.”

(Testimony)

Missionaries Performing at the Mesa Arizona Temple

Last night, December 31st 2009, we went over to the Mesa Arizona Temple and watched the missionaries from the Mesa Arizona Mission sing. It was a wonderful evening and the Spirit felt was very strong. These young men and women were true angels performing for us.

I have posted these videos here for you to enjoy. If you are family members of those who were performing, please enjoy and feel very proud of your young man or young lady who dedicated their time to bring this performance to the community.