Families Are Forever

I believe that families are forever and that we knew those we call family before we came to earth, and can be with them again after this life. I believe this is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ and is covered by His Atonement and in His Mercy and Love for His us, His children.

My  goals for 2018 are to be more regular in my church attendance and to be able to obtain a temple recommend. This will allow me to work on the saving ordinances that allows my family members that have passed over the veil to enter into the spirit world as united family members for all time and eternity. 

I have a chronic illness and disability which went undiagnosed until 2015 and which caused me to hide away. My church attendance and behaviour was effected greatly by this. With the love of the Saviour and fellow members I was restored to my former love of the gospel. I had to move in 2017 and am on permanent disability and a new ward but seek to make new connections and return to the Temple. Both my parents have passed. I am the only member in my family being a convert from the UK. I had the work done for my father but my mother passed during the years I was inactive and I am eager to have her work done and the sealing of my parents to each other. They loved each other with a love that is rarely seen in today's marriages and I am very fortunate to have such parents. I wish to be reunited with them in the eternities. I wish to have my family forever.

Peace I Leave With You.

Life is a never-ending series of challenges but I am so blessed to have the gospel and the Lord to turn to. 

My challenges, or should I saw adventures, in the life of a person no longer able to care for oneself, continues. It has opened my eyes to the lives of many. What do these others do if they don't have the Lord in their life? I try to be pleasant and kind to all I meet at these places and hope in some way I can help them to not be overwhelmed with despair. My son has seen what I have seen and is very aware now of the 'system' and how it is failing far too many. People sleeping and living on the streets without hope. I pray the Lord that this time will bless him and help him to help others when he is in a position to do so. 

We live one month at a time and trust that things will work out so that we can meet our basic needs.

The Lord has promised us peace and I believe in Him.

Hidden Blessings

One of the things that helps me to stay sane with a chronic illness is to see it as a blessing and not a curse. Yes, I would run as far away from it as possible if I could, but I do believe in God and I do believe all things are for a reason. I believe that we are here to learn and to become something, and not just here to have a good time.

I was reading a book about a woman's experience working in hospice. In it, a Jewish woman who was dying of cancer said that we didn't receive all the blessings that were being poured out on us every day because we simply didn't see them. And that made me stop and think...could this illness be a blessing?

I was given a blessing many years ago at the church I go to in which I was told 'many hidden blessings would be poured out on my head.' I have pondered that for many years and came to understand that they were hidden because initially, I would not see them as blessings but as curses. I would not think God loved me but the opposite; that somehow I was so bad He was punishing me.

How can constant pain and exhaustion, and the loss of just about everything that we consider good in life, be a blessing? It is a blessing because it has changed me for the good in so many ways. We can be made bitter by our experiences and stay there, or we can finally let go and trust God and that He does love us, and be made more compassionate and giving towards others.

Are you alone and in fear?

What are your thoughts today, my dear friends?

If you are struggling with fear I would like to share my thoughts on this.

In the midst of my trials I came to a point when no matter how hard I tried, I knew I would never be rid of this illness and never again would I live anything like a normal life. And worse still for me, that I could no longer work to support myself.

Finally, I let go and took each day as it comes, knowing my life and security was and is daily in God's hands. And in this, I have found a peace. What is most important has become clearer to me and what is unimportant claims less and less of my time. I don't claim to know all that I need to know before I finally return home, but I do know God lives and is with us always. In our greatest need, He ministers personally to us. There are many things we fear in life but fear is not of God, it comes from the adversary. When I have been in the most pain or anxiety I have literally reached out my hand and asked the Lord to take it. And I know He has been there.

It is my prayer that others know that they can access Him anywhere and so no matter where you are, you never need be alone. And just knowing He is there has got me through so many times. So if you are in fear or pain or other need right now, just close your eyes and reach out your hand claim your right to His help. He suffered and died for you to have this right. He wants to hold your hand and minister unto you. This has happened so many times for me I know what I say is true.

Know you are loved and watched over and need never face your fears alone again.

Where there is a will

My daughter and I are 300km apart, a 6 hour round trip. With my fibro and money issues visiting each other rarely happens. I saw her mid-August and I will hopefully see her at Christmas. What to do in the meantime. Long time not seeing my beautiful darling daughter. Enter modern technology. We Skype at least 4 times a week.

After our evening meal, we both retire to our bedrooms, me with my laptop and her with her tablet, snuggle down in our beds and have mummy-daughter time. I catch up with what is happening, give her motherly advice, monitor how she is doing, assess her well being, even the cat gets a look in when he hears her voice sees her face and chirrups to her. Then we go to a favourite routine established a long time ago, bedtime reading. Michaela gets comfy and I get out our latest book and read to her the next chapter. I choose books that have good illustrations as Michaela is very artistic and imaginative. I try to choose something that will speak to her soul, her sense of fun, give her comfort or strength or encourage her to share.

They say where there is a will there is a way. We have just finished one of my all-time favourites which we have read several times before. 5 stars out of 5 from both of us.

My Golden Rules to Live By.

My Golden Rules to Living Well.
1. We are responsible for our own well being and no matter what happens to us, if we can accept this and live accordingly, we will move towards better health and happiness.

2. We are mind, body, and spirit and all three are connected. What is good for one area is good for the other two. What diminishes the health of an area will likewise diminish health in the others.

3. Our thoughts, actions, and reactions are very powerful for good or ill in our wellbeing.

4. We are either moving forward or going backward, but life never stands still. It is in our hands to make better choices in life so as to slow down the backward movement and to eventually start to move forward.

5. Small improvements in any area over time will build to big changes and will lead to the desire to make more improvements.

6. It is never too late to make wiser choices. Start today making a small change that will improve your emotional and mental, physical and spiritual well being. Stick at it and every week add one more change.

What fibromyalgia cannot take from you

While fibromyalgia can take away so many things- good health, your social life, your ability to work, your marriage relationship, and more, it can't take away from you your greatest asset; your will to thrive.

You decide to keep going, to keep living, to keep fighting, to do what it takes to get better, be proactive, be healthier.

Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia by Dr. Rodger H Murphree.