Because I'm worth it, Make Lemonade!

Forever it seems, I have withheld from myself the right to have a shower. Subconsciously I consider it something I have to earn, so usually don't because I have no energy or desire to do much of anything, ever. Today, I did the dishes, restarted the laundry that went stinky in the washer, put it in for its first round (it will need at least 2 rounds) of drying, figured out how to hang up my beautiful new pans that my wonderful husband bought for me (even though I didn't want or ask for them, I can appreciate the gesture) and then decided I had earned the shower. I took one, and promptly climbed back into bed with the towel haphazardly wrapped around my upper thirds. I know I should get dressed, and get back to all the work ahead of me but feel incapable somehow. I know my  "shower earning" thought process is negative self talk, and I need to work on this.

 

Last night at my ward Relief Society Birthday Party the theme was "Make Lemonade". I really took away some excellent messages and insight. My friend and neighbor who suddenly lost her almost 3 year old son a few years ago spoke about how to make lemonade.  It's mostly water, a lot of lemon juice and not very much sugar. As she considered the ingredients she could see the metaphor to our lives. The lemon juice is our trials: we will all have a lot and they will be different. But the Lord will send us little granules of sweetness all along the way so that we can bear it with his help. The water we need most, is the love of our Savior and the utilization of his atonement. With his help we can do more, be more, and not just allow ourselves to be victims of our trials and circumstance. They also gave us this little flyer 

 

I'm going to work on these things. They help me remember that I'm worth it, and I deserve to be happy, healthy and capable of all the things my Heavenly Father wants for me.

Another message from the meeting was "there's no place like home". I love "The Wizard of Oz" as most of you know. A lady in my ward talked about how when her life felt like it was falling apart she loved to go to the temple and be home, with her Heavenly Father in His House. I need to go. 

They also gave us a handout with the words to a Boye song "Make Lemonade", I'm going to see if I can find them for you because listening to it and following along with the words is really uplifting! https://youtu.be/xS0uS8Tfyt4 

Alex Boye - Lemonade lyrics | Musixmatch

I'm just so broke you won't believe

Can't get a dollar out of me 

And as far as I can see 

I'm losing control like a bad disease 

No I just can't get relief

I've been shot down by the life police

And everyday I try to rise 

But I can't succeed

When life gives you lemons

Instead of champagne 

Don't worry little children 

And don't complain (woh) 

Remember you're golden So find some sugar cane 

When life gives you lemons Make lemonade 

Can anybody find a cure for me?

You can be bitter, bitter, bitter Or you can be better, better, better 

When life gives you lemons Instead of champagne Don't worry little children

And don't complain (woh)

 Remember you're golden So find some sugar cane

When life gives you lemons Hama kama hama kama heyama kama 

Now everyday is like a brand new year

I throw my hands up in the air 

Like I just don't care I'm moon walking down the streets Feeling like oh yeah (oh yeah!) 

Like the bottom of the glass now I see clear 

So now I laugh just a little more (Yeehehee!) 

I stand much taller than I did before (Yahahaa!) 

I know I'm not where I need to be 

But I thank God that I'm not Where I used to be I used to be bitter, bitter bitter

And now I feel better, better, better

When life gives you lemons Instead of champagne 

Don't worry little children

And don't complain (woh) Remember you're golden So find some sugar cane

When life gives you lemons 

Make lemonade Hama kama hama 

I was saved for a reason 

That I can't explain

Got something new to believe in I'm awakened again (who woh) 

So many miracles are Happening each day 

If I can just get out of (Elelele) My own way When life gives you lemons

Instead of champagne Don't worry little children And don't complain (woh)

 Remember you're golden So find some sugar cane 

When life gives you lemons 

Make lemonade Le-le-le-le-Lemonade Lemony-lemony-le-lemonade Le-le-le-le-LemonadeLemo-lemo, Woo When life gives you lemons Instead of champagne Don't worry little children And don't complain (woh) Remember you're golden So find some sugar cane When life gives you lemons Make lemonade

Family Reunion Duck Creek, UT

My mother-in-law let me borrow her car to take the kids to my Shumway family reunion (for all my dad's brothers & sisters, nieces & nephews, and now grand nieces and nephews). My kids weren't super social but had a good time doing their own thing in our room most of the time we were there. It was fun to see my cousins and relatives that I feel so close to, and play some cards and have a lot of laughs. I feel so grateful to my Grandparents, and for the legacy they have left behind. I will try to post a big group picture once someone has put one up on our facebook page. Love to all. 

2 weeks

the last two weeks have been busy and full of goings-on. Usually I am home with my kids and do not have extra things that cause me to be away from them, but this year I was able to attend General Conference, both the Relief Society and Sunday Afternoon Sessions, which were both wonderful. My Sweet friend Jessica Richardson came with me to both and it was a wonderful experience. I also had the opportunity to go back to the temple last week and do my first session post going through for myself. the spirit was so strong and time and time again things happened to help affirm to me that I was where I should be. My gratitude is full for my Mother in Law and Husband who so kindly watched my kids when I was not home. On the way to conference on Sunday Afternoon I was able to be prompted to switch lanes just in time to avoid being a part of a 4 car accident. (I would have been smashed in between the first and second car. the Lord watches over and blesses me. I am certain of this. I am grateful for my life, for my two beautiful girls and a Husband who I love more than words could possibly express. I miss my Arizona family and friends, as I did recently miss the opportunity to go down and attend my 10 year HS reunion, but since I was home I was able to attend the Relief Society conference that was incredibly edifying, so I think I ended up being where I was meant to be.

I'm blonde these days, which is fun and different, you can check out my instagram pics on the sidebar if you haven't seen it. 

Love to all.

Molly 

Life, or something like it

to me it is an odd phenomena how each day is placed before us, and mountains, holes, tornados and earthquakes (usually metaphorically speaking) are thrown in our path, and all we can do is try our best to endure it well, lose ourselves, and help others to also weather the storms. What should we be learning from our trials? What experiences have we had that could help another who will cross a self same path in the future? How does seeing the suffering of others provide us such divine perspective in handling the tasks--which we CAN survive with God's help--in gratitude our neighbor's trial is not our own, as we help lift our neighbor, and carry them through it, as the Savior would?

We can't do any of these things alone. Man is not meant to ever be alone. Even when I am the only person around, I can choose to live worthily to have the Holy Ghost as my constant companion. When I have no more answers, I can drop to my knees and plead to the heavens for support, comfort, perspective, and strength. New ideas will immediately surface, not mine, but His. How great thou art. Count your many blessings. Endure it well.

Eternal Perspective

Well, I haven't been an excellent blogger of late, and I'm beginning to think more and more that the typewriter idea is a better one than online posting.. I guess as bad as it sounds, I fear the judgement of others and with age comes caution.

On the 5th of July I went through the temple for my own endowments. My parents, three brothers and sister came to be there with me, and it meant the world to me. A week before I went through I had a miscarraige of my baby at around 8 weeks. A very hard time for me, and I still don't quite feel like myself, in that fog I have made mistakes that I am now working through with my Bishop and I long for the day when I can go back inside the temple. It is a wonderful place, and the blessings there are unmatched by anything else I have ever experienced. I am grateful for a merciful God, and for his Son who died for my sins, and asks us only to come unto him, leave our burdens at his feet, and seek eternal life.