Tuesday is a battle

I take an Institute class on Tuesdays at the local university.
I absolutely *LOVE* my class, and I'm very happy that I go each week. Tuesdays have been hard on me lately. I'm always stressed beyond my normal daily levels, and I can really feel the push and strain of a negative force trying to drown me. It's been hard to overcome, I've been pushed to tears, anger, and frustration every Tuesday since class started. But, my husband is amazing and makes me go, even when it would be easier for me to just crawl into bed.

The first Tuesday of the semester, I was registered for a different class, one of the core classes that I need to graduate. I showed up with my 2 boys, and was told that we couldn't go into the actual classroom because it's a full class and there isn't room for 2 kids. I stated that I registered for the class months prior to the beginning of the semester. The instructor told me the class is aimed at 18-30yo who were attending the college. I tried my best to not erupt on him, and said that I was 29, and registered as a student, and met all qualifications to be in the class. Well, I tried to corral 2 wild boys in the hallway just outside the door, and failed horribly at keeping them under control. I was given plenty of side eyes, and dirty looks, like having my kids there would contaminate those single adults with offspring. The class was The Eternal Family, I brought mine and I felt like a leper. I left in tears.

We've been having some crazy difficult discussions around the house lately, futures are uncertain, it was an emotionally stressful day, and again, last week it all just seemed to hit the fan. Husband got home just in time for the world to fall apart, and the shouting match "Mom vs Boys" started just moments before he stepped thru the door. I left in a rush, and got rained on.

This is week 3... An emotionally and physically exhausting day of wrestling young children into submission, I ended up crashing on the couch for a bit, only to wake up and head to my FIL's. But upon loading the boys in the Durango, I noticed the alarm lights flashing... and they had been flashing for the past 4 hours. Luckily the Durango started right up, but not before the tears fell down my face and I slammed the front door in anger. My key fob was broken. I called my mom to vent, and she laughed at me. Needless to say, that was NOT the reaction I wanted or needed. The battery is now disconnected, and we'll see if it's reset in the morning. A "joyful" trip to the dealership may be in our schedule tomorrow.

Anyways, what this complaining, venting post is saying is : Satan knows how to ruin your day, and he's pulling out all the stops to make your day miserable. Especially if you're doing something that will lift you, something that will bring you closer to the Savior. Going to the Temple? How about a flat tire... Or maybe you leave the gas station WITH the pump still in your car... Church on time? No way, he'll make your kids sleep in and lose their socks. Trying to plan Visiting Teaching? Nope, your 2yo now have the flu. Going to Institute? Think again, he'll tell you that they hate you, and you're not welcome to attend.

I know that Lucifer is a real being, maybe not a physical one, but man, he sure can throw a wrench in your plan.he has absolutely perfected how to ruin a good day. He knows the perfect thought to slip in to make you doubt yourself. He knows where you are weakest, he knows how to get you to shrink away from Christ's reaching hand. Don't give him that power! We must choose to act, not be acted upon!

Choose Joy! Choose the better part. He hates to see us take one step closer to Christ. Make the jerk squirm! Don't let Satan have power of over you. Turn to Christ, follow Him, His plan is a plan of happiness and joy. He is reaching for you, always. There are so many of His servants, and angels, that attend to us, and want to teach us of His love. 💚💙

8.11.16

So I've decided I don't have *enough* going on right now, so why not start something new? I actually started my Book of Mormon Study Guide.
📖Book of Mormon Introduction.
THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF  BY THE GIFT OF GOD.
*Wow. You know how each time we read a verse it can mean something different? Maybe it depends on which GIFT God is teaching you.... 💖
PS: I think this is going to take a LONG time to read, cuz I am savoring every single word.

7.24.16

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Also Luke 11:9, 3 Nephi 14:7)
** Asking, seeking, and knocking are active components of prayerful inquiry and denote initiating, engaging anxiously, pressing forward steadfastly, and acting. These 3 interrelated and overlapping elements of inquiring are vital elements in the pattern the Lord has employed when giving direction, instructions, and revelation.
📖 Increase In Learning by David A Bednar
*When we ask, seek and knock, we are inquiring of the Lord in the Lord's own way.

7.20.16

3 Nephi 14:12 Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.
*I bought a new FHE style book called "52 Weeks to Fortify your Family" by Nicole Carpenter. It has 5 minute mini-lessons for each day, on 1 topic each week. We've been reading it before bed, but after Captain Underpants. This week is about Kindness. My 2yo hasn't sit still long enough, but my 4yo has a pretty good understanding, I think. I love sharing this gospel, and my testimony with my family.

7.19.16

1 Nephi 15:8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
*INQUIRE is an action word that denotes asking, requesting, petitioning, soliciting, investigating, and exploring.
📖Increase In Learning by David A Bednar
**When we inquire of Him, there is so much more we have to do than just ask Him. Prepare and search for the answers you seek.

7.18.16

2 Nephi 28:30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little...
📖 Increase In Learning by David A Bednar
*We will not attain a state of perfection in this life, but we can and should press forward with faith in Christ along the strait and narrow path and make steady progress toward our eternal destiny. Small, steady, incremental spiritual improvements are the steps the Lord would have us take.
**We are never expected to know it all at once, and we are never expected to be perfect all at once. This life is about BECOMING!

7.17.16

Doc & Cov 88:68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.
*You and I are admonished to turn toward and learn from Christ and to come unto Him through the covenants and ordinances of His restored gospel. As we do so, we will eventually and ultimately come to know Him in His own time, and in his own way,  and according to His own will.
📖Increase In Learning by David A Bednar
**HIS timing, not ours.

7.4.16

Alma 46:12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
*I am so very grateful to live in this country. I absolutely love it. I've had friends and family serve this country and her people. Not a day goes by that I don't think of our armed forces, those who chose to defend this blessed land with everything in their power. Thank you.

6.27.16

The Lord has commanded you to take good care of your body. To do this, observe the Word of Wisdom, found in Doctrine and Covenants 89. Eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. When you do all these things, you... gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost...- L. Tom Perry
*I've had a few dreams that have rattled me lately. My biggest fear is for my heart to give out and I leave my family before I'm ready, not that I'll ever be ready. I've felt a desperate need to get healthy and in shape. I'm pushing myself to be healthy. I need to be here for a long time. I need to see my boys grow up. My heart transplant is coming, I just want to put it off for as long as I'm physically able to. ❤💓💝💗

6.26.16

1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died. 
2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify. 
[Chorus] Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me! Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
*I absolutely love this song. It was on the program for Ward Conference today. It's been stuck in my head all day. It has been an amazing day.

6.23.16

Mosiah 5:2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
*MIGHTY! Not tiny, not minor, but a mighty change! We must become pickles, we must change so much that we become 'new creatures'! Prepare, cleanse, immerse, saturate, and seal. In the energy of my soul!

6.22.16

Doc & Cov 101:78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.
*ACT IN DOCTRINE! We might ordinarily think of doctrine as something we study, something we learn, and something we strive to remember. However, the Lord indicates in this revelation that doctrine is something you and I should ACT IN.
📖Increase In Learning by David A Bednar

6.21.16

Doc & Cov 88:118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
*I love this. We are teaching one another, as we search the scriptures and share our findings with the world. Seek learning, by study AND faith. He will bless you if you ask in faith in EVERYTHING you learn and study. Yes, even math.

6.20.16

Doc & Cov 68:25 ...teach them...to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands...
*We must do more than teach them, we must teach our children TO UNDERSTAND. Parents have important and vital roles to play as they
-create an appropriate spiritual environment and atmosphere the home
-invite the Spirit
-facilitate and assist in spiritual learning of children.
📖 Increase In Learning by David A Bednar

6.19.16

Doc & Cov 42:22 Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.
*My husband designed my ring with many scripture references, including this one. Today is our 8 year anniversary. We've been thru so much (heart surgeries, layoffs, moving, death of family, high risk pregnancies, buying a house, babies, school, and surviving in-laws) and I am so glad my best friend is there holding my hand thru it all. I love him more today than I did yesterday,  and I'll love him more tomorrow. Eternity looks pretty dang good.