Happiness?

Lisa said to me the other day, "Why are you so stuck on that manner of happiness thingy?" I love thinking about "living after the manner of happiness"! It means that we live in the Lord's way--richly aware everyday of His many great blessings. It means we keep the commandments with intent so that we feel His love in our lives. Living after the manner of happiness will ensure that we are HAPPY. I want, more than anything, for my family to feel this eternal happiness which is so opposite of anything the world has to offer. It can only be found in the covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ--so I say to you, my dear family, LIVE AFTER THE MANNER OF HAPPINESS!

Happiness is temples....

Friday night after a hectic, hurried week, my husband and I met at the temple for a date. It started out rocky as I was in the bathroom when they took the others into the session and someone had to come and find me and tell me to hurry because I was holding everyone else up. Then when I sat down I was hit with one of the worst hot-flashes I have ever experienced and almost passed out. Through it all I kept thinking how happy I was to be sitting in such a peaceful place with my husband. The session passed in a blur, my mind was darting around thinking of so many things that I have to do for my son's wedding, and my family. Then suddenly, I was at the veil, talking to the "Lord" and stilling my mind to soak in those holy words given to me by way of covenant from my Heavenly Father who loves me. He spoke to me and he said, "Dear Lynne, you are troubled about many things but be not afraid, put your trust in me and all will be well. I love you....I appreciate you...I require nothing from you but to allow yourself to feel deeply my love and drink from living waters that will sustain you through all things." I felt his love in a deep place in my heart where only He can go. Thank you dear Father, for reminding me that all is well, all is well. Thank you for your miraculous gift of infinite love when I need it most! HE LOVES ME! This I KNOW......

Happiness.......

The Taylor family gave me the best Valentine's present--a digital picture frame with all of their Disneyland pictures. I put it in the family room, down where all the kids can see it. They LOVE looking at themselves!
It makes me smile everytime I look at it--thanks family for all the great memories........


All of us at the beach on our last day.........

Mags watching the Buzz Lightyear parade

Dave, Gavin, Mickey, Iliana and Tyler

Discovering pirate treasure on Tom Sawyer's Island

The Taylor family-Caleb, Jon, Cameron, Braden and Cathy

Lisa and Denis still looking and acting like newlyweds

Cousin crunches....

Jack and Braden with Brer Fox

Gavin couldn't get enough of the Winne the Pooh ride

What did you write in the margins?

For a year Mike has been telling me about his fabulous Institute teacher, Bro. Hunter, so I decided to attend Mike's class with him on Tuesday nights. We have been studying the parables of Jesus. Am I loving it? Is he an amazing teacher? Yes! It's not because Bro.Hunter is showy or loud or entertaining--it's because he lets the Holy Ghost teach us--and that is a rare quality in a teacher. He talks very quietly, so quietly that sometimes I strain to hear him. And he uses the prophets to teach us, he uses truth to teach, he uses the Holy Ghost to witness to us. Bro. Hunter speaks Greek and Hebrew which helps us to unlock words and meanings in the parables. He gives us piles of handouts every week which allows me to study for the entire week the one parable that we have talked about. He encourages us to listen for the whisperings and impressions of the Holy Ghost that come into our hearts and minds. He tells us to write our impressions in the margins or on whatever we can find because they can be fleeting as our mind moves on. At the end of the first class that I attended, he asked us to share what the Spirit had taught us. He asked, "What did you write in your margins?" Oh, the things that I had felt, that I had written, that were flooding into me, how strongly I felt the influence of the Holy Ghost. Every person that shared a feeling or thought had been taught something different that night.

That phrase has been running through my mind, over and over again, what will be written in my margins of my life? What marvelous teachings have been written on my heart? Holy thoughts, sacred impressions, that can come only from a loving and kind Heavenly Father who cares for His children in an unfathomable, compassionate way. Thank you Mike, for taking me to Institue with you! I am filled with gratitude for the teachings of that most precious, and often unrecognized member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost.