Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. I've been considering what it means to be successful. I have people ask me all the time if I am having success. What does that even mean? Are we successful if we make lots of money? Have lot's of friends? Have a house or camper or other toys? Or are we successful if we find ourselves living each day trying to love as the Savior loved? Serve as the Savior served? I hope that success is measured in terms of the latter.

Face each day with a new coat of paint!

I think nothing of changing my nail polish. In fact, if I had to take it off daily and reapply....I probably would. New color, smooth finish. There are lots of choices when it comes to colors and even finishes now days. Each application gives you a new and unique attribute. It's easy to show off your personality based on your nails via shape, color, decoration. Who knew nail polish or even lack there of could say so much? I've decided as of late that my nail polish speaks volumes about me. There are days like today where I don't have any on. It's back to basics. It's about functionality and getting things done. Then there are the days where a new coat goes on. Those days it's about preparing my best self to go out and face the world. The days in the middle where the color looks good and isn't chipped or coming off...those are the days where I am in the trenches. Out working hard and running around, those days I am often barely keeping my head above water and that is WITH my water wings on. Those days are also the days that perhaps I am taking the time to live. To live in the moment and to feel the sun on my face or watch my son play baseball. Those are the days that preparing the family meals is more important than the blog post or the jewelry order waiting to be put together. Then, when the going gets tough and the tough have been going non-stop and the polish begins to chip and crack, well, much like the atonement works in our lives, the polish remover comes out and the nails are wiped clean. Back to basics to begin again. Depending on where you are at in and what circumstances you are currently living through, it's o.k. not to repaint for a bit. Call upon the Angels of the Lord to surround you and protect you, ask Heavenly Father for direction and purpose, pray for your friends and neighbors that they will be watched over and protected. Then, when you are ready, put on your armor and grab your weapons and get back in there! DC 90:24 "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly."

Have I Done Any Good? featuring Alex Boye and Carmen Rasmusen Herbert - ...

Ordinary Inspiration

What inspires you? I have definitely been inspired by a beautiful, warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie. The bigger the cookie the more inspiring it is. You feel me? I have more than once had to shut up the skinny girl within with a cookie or two. Thin mints. THOSE are inspiring! So inspiring in fact that I can force myself to eat an entire sleeve in one sitting. Delicious. Aside from inspiring my inner food critic I find inspiration in so many places. Where does it come from for you? Do you believe that it is the Spirit speaking to your heart? Is it a moment of clarity and genius? Is it the result of just being an incredibly hard working? The thing about inspiration is that it is freely given to all. It isn't something only those with prestige receive. Ordinary people are often inspired to do extraordinary things. I think that one of the things that brings inspiration is ones ability to see within themselves something divine. Too many of us assume that a person is only great if they are publicly recognized for their efforts, creativity. In fact, sometimes the most inspiring people in the world will go completely unnoticed. What inspires are the people who do something to better humanity in their own small corner of the world. I find lots of inspiration through music, my faith, those I surround myself with. I am proud to associate with some of the most ordinary people who are capable of inspiring some of the most extraordinary things!

Mine Angels Round About You

My heart hurts tonight. I know that we can't expect that life will always bring us rainbows and chocolate pooping unicorns. I'm even fine to admit that there really isn't a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But sometimes it just sucks to think about the bad things happening to some of the great people I know. Through association I made a necklace for a mom who delivered her baby super early. He hasn't ever left the walls of the NICU. His mama didn't ever get the chance to snuggle in bed on the cool mornings those first months of his life. I work in the NICU upon occasion. I have no doubt that her baby was met every day and night with the greatest of nursing care, but I'm sad tonight for his mama and all of the missed milestones. Heavenly Father knows always when to send encouragement and also knows me all too well. I read this scripture just earlier today. "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up (D&C 84:88)." It's the same scripture that I used for the glass charm that I put on the necklace I originally made for his mom. I want you to know that I know Heavenly Father watches over all of us. He knows us each individually. He is aware of me and of you and of our potential. He loves us. If we talk to Him he will listen. There’s no problem too small to talk to Him about, and there’s no problem too big to talk to Him about. Most importantly in times such as the one for this young mom, if we ask him to send His ministering Angels to surround and protect us He will send them.

Success

Predictability

Where are my stinking keys? Some things in life a just plain predictable. I was thinking for instance the sunset. Don't worry, I couldn't help myself and I googled predictable things. As any good internet searcher I went to the first sight listed that didn't have any obscenities in the view-able lines. Reddit did not disappoint! What is as predictable as me losing my keys......the agony of pooping after eating jalapenos. What? TMI? Mkay. I digress.... I work in an environment that is often VERY predictable. As much as each patient is different there's so much about their stay and their care that is to be expected. I'm blessed beyond measure to work in a NICU and as you can imagine there are times that we (the parents, staff, the doctors) often call upon the Heavens on behalf of the babies. I was able to do my part as a daughter of God and communicate with my Heavenly Father on behalf of the tiny infant as well as his parents. I was given the opportunity to share in a sacred moment with them. When the noise of the hospital stopped, the Spirit was strong, and the humble father took a minute on behalf of his son to communicate with his Heavenly Father. To call upon the angels to surround his tiny baby and to comfort him. While it of course went back to business as usual here in the nursery, for one small moment it felt as though the Heavens had opened and the angels had descended. I hope that the parents felt what I felt. I draw comfort from the prophet Elisha when he said, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16) Angels attend to us during some of the most difficult moments of our lives. They surround us when we are discouraged, depressed and scared. I had an experience myself during a hospitalization that I will share at a later date, but it solidified my testimony of Angelic presences in our lives. I know we have both earthly angels as well as Heavenly. How predictable are the angelic presence in your life? Are you living in such a way to be in tune with those around you that have come out of love for you? Are you inspired by their love? After my experience where it is near impossible to deny their presence. That experience, those memories, and feelings. They inspire me to be a better person. To love more freely. To be the kind of person that uplifts others. Who's with me? What uplifts and inspires you? How can you uplift and inspire another? I read a great quote that said,"By uplifting others, you rise higher towards your own destiny."