9.15.2008

Thought just for me!

"Too frequently, women underestimate their influence for good. Well could you follow the formula given by the Lord: 'Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God' (D&C 88:119)."In such a house will be found happy, smiling children who have been taught, by precept and example, the truth. In a Latter-day Saint home, children are not simply tolerated, but welcomed; not commanded, but encouraged; not driven, but guided; not neglected, but loved."
Thomas S. Monson

9.06.2008

SIMPLIFY LIFE

Since our move in the middle of August, I have been thinking hard about the word simplify, I realized this as I packed and tried to fit everything into
a smaller home. I found myself overwhelmed and stressed too the max, and something had to change...This stuff, that I had kept must go, I must dejunk, declutter and not look back....So bye bye to the "junk" in my life. The new Kim isn't going to be a pack-rat or worry about things she cannot control! SIMPLIFY!

Life isn't usually very simple but we can make it less-difficult, and find more peace by letting-go of excess baggage - both physical and emotional.

I read a neat article that reminded us that we only have control over a small circle of influence; our own. Our lives are large circles of influence over which we really have no control. As we realize that our sphere of control is only over ourselves and our immediate environment, then we can let go of the expectations (and weight) of controlling others', their environments, outward events, varied life experiences etc.

We live in a world where we are exposed to many things because of other people's choices. Some of the challenges and trials of life are because of the consequences of other people's choices over which we have NO control but which affect us. As we accept this fact we are able to worry less, and trust in God more. WE can't change other people, but we can change ourselves and the way we look at things and the Lord can help THEM to change.

The ability to simplify life comes from the recognition that we deal with our small circle of issues and not the whole large circle of everyone else's choices. We turn to the Lord for help in healing ourselves and our expectations and we trust that He knows us, loves us, cares for us, and will help us. We recognize, too, that he loves others and desires to help them as they turn to Him.