Thoughts to Remember

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our family is a circle of strength and love.
With every birth and every union,
the circle grows.
Every joy shared adds more love.
Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger.

If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill,
Be a shrub in the valley, but be
The best little shrub by the side of the hill
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

We can't all be captains, so, we've got to be crew,
There's something for all of us here,
There's big work to do and there's lesser to do,
And the task we must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can't be the sun, be a star,
It isn't by size that you win or fail,
Be the best of whatever you are.
****Douglas Malloch

I believe God knew what
He was doing
When he made me your sister.
He Gave me someone to look up to,
to eminate.
He knew I'd need a lot of love
and attention,
so, He brought me to you.
I admire you for your strength
and compassion,
that you always
lift me up,
help me feel like a better person.
Not many may know true
sisterly love.
I think God knew
I couldn't make it far without you,
so, he allowed me to be
your sister.
**Debbie Robison

I have a recipe for life,
The best one that I know;
I guarantee the end result...
Twas taught me long ago!

You start by mixing just a dash
Of humor with the day,
And then you add a cheery smile
As you go on your way.

Love's never out of season
So you add a large amount,
And I never measure sympathy;
You don't with things that count.

Toss in a bit of effort
And a lot of nerve and grit,
And hope makes all the difference,
For a thing improves with it.

You stir a bit of kindness in,
Along with patience, too,
And flavor it with gentleness
Whatever you may do.

And when the sun is setting,
You'll look back in joy to see
A worthwhile product of your toil
....Within my recipe!

***Grace E Easley

No man achieves his supernal, exalting status or worthy fatherhood except as a gift from his wife.

***President Boyd K. Packer
(Ensign May 1998)

The word "HELLO" means:

H=How are you?
E=Everything all right?
L=Like to hear from you
L=Love to see you soon
O=Oh, and don't forget to write....

There are small ships and big ships but the best ships are friendships.

A girl asked a guy if he thought she was pretty,
He said...no.

She asked him if he would want to be with her forever...
and he said no.

She then asked him if she were to leave would he cry,
and once again he replied with a no.

She had heard enough. As she walked away, tears streaming down her face, the boy grabbed her arm and said....

You're not pretty....
you're beautiful

I don't want to be with you forever....
I NEED to be with you forever.

And I wouldn't cry if you were to leave.....
I'd die....

If you are ever plagued with doubt,
And question whether God's about,

Try thinking on some simple things;
You'll be surprised the peace it brings--

A sleeping child; A summer's day;
A puppy, awkward in its play;

The clean, washed air that follows rain;
A diamond-frosted window pane;

An apple tree all pink and white;
The stillness of a starlit night;

A fire crackling on the hearth;
The smell of freshly spaded earth;

A trail you knew once long ago;
A picket fence high-capped with snow;

A song your mother used to sing--
Why, you can pick most anything

And you will find your answer there--
It's still God's World -- He's everywhere.

"So frequently we mistakenly believe that our children need more things, when in reality their silent pleadings are simply for more of our time."

**President Thomas S. Monson
(Ensign May 1994)

A chocolate kiss to remind you how much you are loved.
A match to light your fire when you feel burned out.
A Tootsie Roll to remind you not to bite off more than you can chew.
Smarties to help you feel smart on days when you don't.
A Starburst to give you a burst of energy when yours is gone.
A Snickers to remind you to take time to laugh.
A candle to remind you to brighten someone else's day and,
A bag to keep it all together!

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKINGTHROUGH THE DESERT.
DURING SOME POINT OF THE
JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT;
AND ONE FRIEND
SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE
IN THE FACE.

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED
WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT
SAYING ANYTHING,
WROTE IN THE SAND:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

THEY KEPT ON WALKING,
UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,
WHERE THEY DECIDED
TO TAKE A BATH

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN
SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE
MIRE ! AND STARTED DROWNING,
BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING,
HE WROTE ON A STONE:

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SAVED MY LIFE '.
THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED
AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND
ASKED HIM,

'AFTER I HURT YOU,
YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,
YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED
'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN
IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF
FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES
SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,
WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE
WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT.'

LEARN TO WRITE
YOUR HURTS IN
THE SAND AND TO
CARVE YOUR
BENEFITS IN STONE.

THEY SAY IT TAKES A
MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL
PERSON, AN HOUR TO
APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY
TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN
AN ENTIRE LIFE
TO FORGET THEM.

Why doens't the media focus on the "good news"???
>
Higher power? You bet!!!! IN GOD WE TRUST!
>
I am sure that all of you heard about the sandstorm in the beginning of the Iraq war, (the worst in 100 years some say) and the drenching rain that followed the next day. Our troops were bogged down and couldn't move effectively. The media was already wondering if the troops were in a "quagmire" and dire predictions of gloom and doom came from the left wind media.
>
What they didn't report was that after the weather had cleared, the marine group that was mired the worst looked out at the plain they were just about to cross. What did they see? Hundreds if not thousands of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines had been uncovered by the wind and then washed off by the rain. If they had proceeded as planned, many lives would have undoubtedly been lost. As it was, they simply drove around them and let the demolition teams destroy them.
>
Someone once asked George Washington if he thought God was on his side. His reply is reported to be, "It is not that God should be on our side, but that we be on His."

1. Wake Up!!
Decide to have a good day.
"This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up!!
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!
...for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up!!
....to the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up!!
...for something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up!!
...your prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

Mom,
I leave my sticky fingerprints
on every single wall.
I am noisy and makes messes racing up and down the hall.
But all to soon I'll leave this house when I grow big and tall,
so here's one last precious handprint to remind you always...
of the days...
when I was small.