Fri: Finally Four Family Graduates

That's correct! We now have four college graduates in the family, with our son walking in commencement today at UVU. He's been hired as a fourth grade teacher at a new school. A blessing since many are cutting jobs with the economy still sluggish. It feels wonderful that they have studied, sacrificed and stuck it out to completion. Not an easy task, but definitely a worthy goal.

When I hear the Pomp & Circumstance music it makes me wish I'd set my sights higher than an Associate Degree & should go back. I berate myself for not taking the initiative, using the excuse that my kids are more important, too busy, no money and so on. Well, what are you waiting for. I've heard of many much older than I am accomplishing the goal. Ten excuses come to mind, so I had better just do it or quit complaining.

President Thomas S. Monson was the speaker encouraging the grads to:

Glance Backward at how far they've come, remember who helped them get to where they are now and think of the road they're leaving behind.
Reach Outward to help others in their quest, giving service to others and contribute to the community.
Press Forward as they fulfill their future dreams and increase in knowledge and wisdom.

One speaker said, If you want food for a year plant corn. If you want it for ten years plant a tree & and you want it for a life time educate the people.

Thur: The Theatre

The Curran Theater in San Francisco was my first glimse of real live acting, at Phantom of the Opera. On Broadway it was Mama Mia, then Wicked. The same week I paid $75 for the upper balcony, a friend spent $200 to see the wizardly play. It's not cheap, but real actors get paid.

There are numerous nonprofit & semi professional theaters in the metro area, where we saw Le Mis. We go whenever possible. Community, school & family theater is as much fun for a fraction of the cost. What a sacrifice the actors give, for the love of sharing the arts. Yours & my support keeps them going. Thank you and please don't ever stop or give up. I'm in awe of the talents people have and so willingly share.

I've always loved the theatre, imagining myself as the star since I was a child. Playing dress up and performing with cousins was a daily routine. At 18 I performed,
'Bette At the Baseball Game'. Fear gripped me, but the courage to perform a silly act for the audience pulled me through. I've loved the thrill of sharing this developing talent ever since.

"Over Jordan, a Place for Me" is performing this weekend. I'm Clarissa Beckstead & Mrs. Mabel Mabey. Wish me luck!

Wed.- Where, Oh Where Has My Life Gone

That's correct the wait is over as we count the hours until our "Over Jordan" play for the community begins. We've memorized our lines, sung until our voices are hoarse, danced until our feet hurt, passed out flyers, built the sets and tonight is the dress rehearsal. After dreaming that we all get the swine flu, our director/producer told us to wash our hands & stay away from sick people.

Last's nights practise was at the high school, where we'll perform. Up to now we've practised exclusively at the community center. How different everything is with a huge stage, back drop, sets to put up and take down not to mention the enormous auditorium of 1000+ seats. Of course, I missed a scene, someone stepped on my dress ripping it, the music stopped in the middle of a song and numerous other fiascos took place last night.

Tonight will be more move here, stand there, as we set our mic's, throw clothes on/off over/under and do our best to perform almost perfectly Thursday thru Saturday. So this is why I haven't been in a play for years. It takes over your life six days a week until the last bow is completed and the curtain closes.

Monday, Mother's Day Gifts

Mother's Day is just around the corner. When I think of my mom or grandmother, my mouth begins to water with memories of the delicious bread, cakes & cupcakes she used to make from scratch.

Order a Cupcake Recipe Book full of a dozen fun cupcake recipes w/color pictures and a card to match. Only $5 for booklet & card to give any mom you know.
Email me@skip50schmidt@yahoo.com for ordering. Please include your address.

Friday-Finding Fowl Flew the Coop

That’s exactly what a bunch of roosters and bantam hens have done with their coop, declared it inadequate. They now roost in the trees that overhang the road I take to work. Each morning like a cluster of grapes, they await the sunshine before beginning their day.

Noticing a ruckus in the branches one day, I was surprised to see a bunch of chickens hunkered down or up a tree, you might say. I stopped that week to take their picture. Who knows maybe they’re having a “Cuckoo’s nest’ meeting. When their tired of perching and ready to eat, I’ve seen them flutter to the ground in a ‘drop & roll’ fashion.

You could say, ‘In the Leafy Treetops the Chickens are Roosting.’ Would 'Up in the Air Junior Birdman' be more like it?

Thurs.-Thwarting a Lion of Dandy Proportions

It's full blown dandelion season. Daily I'm spying a plant hiding out in my lawn and racing over to yank off the potential seed balls. Fields, roadways and unattended yards are full of the yellow buttons preparing to bubble up like a giant bottle of bubbles.

One year a neighbor down the street had a lawn full of them. We'd just sprayed & purged ours. I imagined my lawn covered in a white blanket from her neglected tops. I loaded up my mower, drove to her house and offered to mow them all down before it was too late. She let me, unaware of my ulterior motive.


If we had a dandelion tool, my hubby said he'd top them all. "Go buy one," I told him. He hates shopping. Spray is out, because we don't have that many. We're running out of time to beat the cursed plant.

As a child do you remember making dandelion necklaces, rings & bracelets or taking a bouquet in your grubby hand to grandmothers? Picking a white sheer ball of seeds & blowing them away was so much fun. Why can't we be that way now instead of worrying about manufacturing more little pests & just eat them. It's definitely green!!

Life is thwarting my desire to beat this dandy little weed.

Wed- Who's RecyColleen?

I'm such a nut about conservation and trying to recycle, reuse and renew that I can't let this Earth Day go by without saying something.

1. Pick up trash. When you're walking or jogging outside pick up trash that's been tossed along the road. The best times are when it's trash day where you're walking, so it can be quickly tossed into someone's bin.
2. Turn lights, TV, computer, appliances etc off, when you leave a room.
3. If you have recycling in your area, take advantage of paper, cardboard, plastic.
4. Go outside & enjoy the beauty. Listen to the birds & breath the fresh air.
5. Give those things to Good Will that others can use, instead of trashing them.
6. Walk or bike instead of driving when you can.
7. Remember to use your green bags when you go shopping. What to do with all the plastic bags? Use them to line your waste baskets.

Tues: Tried/True-Trimming & Thinning Theory

Measure your waistline. Take your blood pressure and begin. There’s more to it than this but, I need to watch the rest of the video & give you the second half another day.
According to a Dr Somebody, 80% of American’s diet or try to lose weight each year. We have an omentum inside our torsos (a thin fabric shield) that grows larger with fat or stays fairly thin depending on our lifestyle. It causes our cravings & controls when we eat & what we eat. The goal is to take charge of our lives and get off the ‘gotta have this’ band wagon.

We must do four things to keep ahead of the weight game.
1. Walk 30 minutes a day. Walk 30 minutes everyday! 30 minutes daily!!
2. Stop eating the whites (white flour, sugar, milk (boohoo) & so on). The good whites are fish, cauliflower, olive oil & egg whites.
3. Toss out all the bad stuff: Goodies, breads, sugar & all things bad for you. (Ouch, this is hard. Can I do this?)
4. Plan ahead with a set of things to eat: chopped veggies, fruits, grains, nuts ready to grab!

I was totally ready to get started, until I realized I love candy. How will I survive? Whoa, wait a minute, my hubby loves breads. He’s not buying into this great plan of being more appealing with a trimmer waist, replaced with muscle and me chasing him around the house. Does he know about these fringe benefits? Besides we only have nine weeks until Jory’s (our son) wedding.

That’s incentive enough, to get moving out the door right now, for the 30 minute walk! I’ll worry about the rest tomorrow.

Monday: Mind Full of Music

I'm going stir crazy because of a musical I'm in for my town, South Jordan's, 150th birthday celebration. Ten days until we perform as I cram to learn my part, the songs and dances. "Oh ho! oh ho! Across the deep we go to America, upon the bounding main!" Practises are almost every night and getting more intense with threats of expulsion if we miss any. "Oh ho! oh ho! A lucky wind will blow, and life will never be the same again."

Evey waking moment when I'm not engaged with work or conversation, one of the song phrases flashes through my mind as I try to cement them. "Over Jordan & under the hill, flowin' water, rich land to till."

"We're starting over and this fits the bill," wakes me in the middle of the night. Music starts cranking out of my sleepy mind, like a water wheel dumping the words into my face splashing me to be alert.

Will I survive? Could this be harder than the pioneers I'm portraying? No, not even and I am proud to represent them. How thankful I am for their sacrifices, to leave their homeland coming to America with the promise of freedom.

"We've come over Jordan to follow our dreams and this is the place where we want to be!" Absolutely! Twenty plus years ago when we were searching for the perfect home for our growing family, South Jordan was the place that promised peace, safety & the place for me. I've never regretted one day of that decision.

Just like the saying, "Bloom where you're planted", may you be a part of making your town the best in the world.

Sites, Sounds of Sat: Sing a Song of Sixpence

The birds are busy with their maiden calls, nest building and fancy flying trying to impress and attract a mate. After a long winter of quiet during my early morning walks, they entertained me by calling out to potential takers, last week. I whistled back but couldn't fool these fowl. Their songs could be heard from tree to tree, as they tried to one up their neighbor.

My 6 x 12 windows at work look out at brick one story building 200 feet away. Fifty plus birds lined up on the edge of that roof a few weeks ago waiting for their turn to impress the gals. I imagined each one judging who would best suit her needs for a mate and father, then flitting off for a speed date before making the big decision. Do they have featheredfriendsingles.com or fastflyinglovers.net for birds?

I spied magpies carrying branches flying to their prepare new homes. At least someone has a job in the building industry. Ducks paired up by the dozens looking their very smartest in black, white or brown. No wonder the guys are better looking, they have to get the gals to notice them. Otherwise, these fickle women would be off shopping, at the 'What a Woman Wants' show or singing a song of woe is me six pence.

It seems the love bug has caught the young single men as well. My son just got engaged & many of his friends, too. Best of luck to you gents this year.

Friday: Feast Your Eyes on Flowering Fauna

Spring is the worst time to be blind to the beauties of the flowering trees. Every street you take is another blossoming wonderland. Pinks, yellow, fushias, white take your pick as you float through the dreamy landscape almost forgetting reality and the red light you just about ran.

If you can, snip off a branch, slip it into a vase a water & enjoy it indoors, too.
Get permission, first. I would love to see the Cherry Blossom show in D.C. along the Potomac. Someday, I'll put that on my bucket list. For now take every advantage to be in the middle of what's in your part of the world and LOVE IT!

My sympathies go out to those poor souls that have allergies and are filled with stuffy noses via sinus misery. Take your medicine and forget your troubles. The trees will wear their prom dresses for a only few weeks. I blame the Cottonwoods, willows & so on that are the worst, so let's cut them down. Thanks, Granddad, for not passing this curse on to me.


I hope to see you at the prom with your best duds on.

Thur:Thoroughly Modern Mania

A few months ago a scrapbooking customer invited me to join Facebook and be her friend. I didn't know what to do, because it was my first invitation. Within a week four other friends did the same. I thought Facebook was for the college crowd & here I was faced with the dilema of joining. I didn't, but saved their offer.

Now another rash of invites & I had time on my hands so decided to jump on the band wagon. With a list of potential friends I decided to be conservative contacting my children only. It didn't take long for a whole rash of people inviting me from age 13 all the way up to 45. Now everyone is contacting me. Whoa! Wait a minute.

On the news they reported the highest age group joining are 50ish Morman women. And to think I am right in the middle of it all. This is true & a thoroughly modern mania. Am I ready for it? Blogging seems so much simpler.

Wed-Who's Out?

Lately we've heard about CEO's that have been out for themselves and run companies (large & small) into the ground. Walking away with huge bonuses, stock options and such, is their just due. Not the case where I work, but it didn't matter because:

My CEO was just let go.
We all said, "It can't be so!"
Was he forwarned? The answers, "No!"
Who's next? We want to know.
Is it my boss, the CFO?

We were bought out & told to grow.
By some international guy named Joe.
With all these changes, it's quite a blow.
They say got to have more cash to flow.
Will we lose our 24/7 CIO?

At a farewell event, he told us two great things to remember. You will always have to work, so do it with integrity and honesty. You will make friends along the way, so make real friends that you can trust & trust you. He was all of this and so much more. Thanks, Ken, for being the best example in a boss I've ever known.

Tues-True & Tried: A Taste of Downsizing

I'm ticked about how everything is getting smaller. Our groceries, such as: bags of candy, ice cream, toilet paper, chips and various container sizes are downsizing before our very eyes. They try to trick us by using the moniker, "New & Improved" I know that just means "this really isn't as big or sufficient as it was", so that's what's NEW. The "IMPROVED means it's now to 'THEIR' advantage. That's telling the truth. Right!! Not!

We can see the writing on the wall, when the toilet paper rolls that used to have 400 sheets now have 180 maybe. The old size is now a double roll according the the "new" standard and 2X bonus for them? Bags of candy and chips that were 14 ounce are now 9, a 36% decrease. Ice cream was 2 quarts is 48 ounces (25% smaller) and so on. We're supposed to think the prices haven't gone up. No, not too much, but the sizes have gone down significantly. Soon bite size will be the new family size, with each person allotted one bite.

The upside is that we'll be forced to eat less or none at all, if you're boycotting the whole idea. They won't ever go back to the way it was, so we better get used to it. Consequently, we've had alot less goodies for holidays. Chips are now a luxury as well as ice cream for special occassions. I've started drinking tap water when a craving comes on. I'm pretty hydrated, but it's the only thing that hasn't increased in price like all the other utilities. Don't get me started on them.

Maybe we'll see the subtle downsizing of our waistlines because of this. I'm all for that.

Easter Sunday: Day 14 w/Christ All Things are Possible

Read John 13:15, 34 or if you have time the entire Easter story.

"Follow thou me." As we walk the pathway Jesus walked, let's listen for the sound of his feet, reach out for His hand and come to know Him. He commands, and to those who obey Him, they shall learn in their own experience who he is. He is the Son of God. Jesus changed men's hearts. Thomas S. Monson, Ensign 5/86

Challenge: When you feel the penny: "Live...so that those who know you and don't know him, will want to know him because they know you!"

I walked today where Jesus walked, in days of long ago.
I wandered down each path He knew, with reverent step and slow.
Those little lanes, they have not changed, a sweet peace fills the air.
I walked today where Jesus walked, and felt Him close to me. (See Day 1 for author)

Journaling: What is the pure love of Christ? How has walking with Him affected my life? Will I commit each day to live as he would? 2 Nephi 31:20-21 & Moroni 7:40-48.

I've enjoyed sharing these past few weeks with you. I hope and pray that it's been as helpful in your life as it has in mine. I noticed as I visited many people, I was able to feel more love and share my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ without reservations. I remembered their problems, when I said my prayers and included them. May we all reach out to our fellow man with love and kindness.

Saturday: Walk w/Christ-Day 13:Acknowledge Our Divine Nature

Read: 2 Peter 1:3-7, 1 Nephi 11:22-24 & D&C 76:24

Challenge: Do you really know who you are and that you have divine potential? Remember as you feel the penny in your shoe, that you are a daughter of God!

"Your Father in Heaven loves you. He knows you, He knows what you've been through, he knows what you have done & He loves you. He wants you to repent & come back to Him. Do you hear what I am saying? Heavenly Father loves you." This was a talk given by Brother Christensen,as a young person in the audience felt he was speaking specifically to her. These words caught her by surprise, as she seriously contemplated them for the rest of his speech.

The subject of the talk was how the Savior's atonement was a personal, sacred act. It was done for each of us individually, one at a time. We shouldn't fear going through the repentance process, because the Savior has already atoned for us. His mercy will give us strength, comfort and courage.

The speaker noted in a following class, that he felt his previous talk was a personal message from our Heavenly Father and he had even prayed afterward to make sense of it. This additional instruction was to be given by him to the listener: Believe what you have heard, believe what you have felt and that Heavenly Father loves you beyond mortal comprehension. He said the message was for that person alone and no one else heard it. She was deeply impacted knowing she was loved and watched over.

You too, are loved and known by our Heavenly Father as are all of His children. Give your sins, sorrows, frustrations & all that hold you down to Him. He will set you free! I know because I, Colleen, have tried it.

Journal: Can you think of a time you felt the Lord's love? How did you feel about yourself today?

Fri-Day 12 Walk w/Christ: The Savior at My Side

Read: 3 Nephi 14:12, 17: 5-7; Mark 8: 34-35, John 14: 6-7

Challenge of the day: Live today concentrating on having the Savior at your side. Remember He is watching over you and try to live with Him at your side.

If the Savior Stood Beside Me,
by Sally DeFord

If the Savior stood beside me, would it do the things I do?
Would I think of his commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow his example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if he were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me, though I do not see him there
And because he loves me dearly, I am in his watchful care
So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

If I wake up during the night from a deep sleep often my mind will begin to review the day’s events or contemplate tomorrow’s goals. Hours of precious time is wasted with monotonous thoughts and no button to switch it off. There is only one way to put a stop to the world taking over my peaceful rest. It is to visualize the Savior ministering to the people, praying for me or in a piece of artwork. Just thinking of Him brings sleep to this weary mind.

Journaling: Did I act differently today as Jesus was at my side. Was there improvement in some area?

Thur: Day 11-Faith in Every Footstep

Read: Heb 11, Alma 44:3-4, Moroni 7:25-26, D&C 8:10-11

Challenge for today: Ask yourself when my foot rubs the penny, "Do I feel the Savior at my side and have faith in every footstep today?"

A heroic pioneer woman, Amanda Smith, learned faith during a tragedy at Haun's Mill when her seven year old son, Alma's hipbone was shot away in an attack that killed her husband and eldest son. She cried, "Oh, Heavenly Father, what shall I do? Thou seest my poor wounded boy & knowes tmy inexperience. Direct me what to do!"

She wrote, 'A voice spoke to her saying, to take ashes from a smoldering fire making a lye with it. She Put a cloth saturated with lye into the wound over and over as directed until the flesh was white.'

She prayed again to the Lord, and was instructed as if a doctor was speaking to her to make a poultice from a nearby slippery-elm tree putting it into the injury then to dress it. She rememered of a bottle of balsam in her trunk pouring it into the wound, which brought relief to her son's pain.

Telling her son to lay on his tummy, that the Lord would make a new hip for him because she had been shown in a vision what to do. Alma believed his mother. After five weeks laying on his face, a flexible gristle had grown in place of the missing one. Because of a mother's faith and inspiration, the young boy was completely healed.

It takes alot of courage to obey completely when such unusual thoughts come to our mind. If we are in tune with the Lord, we will recognize them. By trusting Him and doing His will, we will be blessed.

Journaling: Write of a time when you faced a situation beyond your control and followed the promptings knowing they came from God. How did having faith with each step you took today make an impact in what you did or decided to do?

Wed-Walk w/Christ Day 10:Unconditional Acceptance

Read: Matt 5:44, Eph 4:20-32 (especially 31-32), Alama 41:14

Christ knows every single one of us! There is not anyone He doesn't love completely.

Challenge for day: In all you do & say try to share Christ-like love and acceptance. Do your best to be kind to everyone! It's easy to judge, much harder to love.

I was in a grocery store parking lot late one Saturday night walking to my car. A woman approached me carrying a bag of groceries that appeared to have used empty cereal boxes in it. She claimed she'd had all kinds of trouble and needed some money to get home, no one would help her. Normally I try to avoid getting into a compromised situation, but felt inclined to show love instead. I'd gotten $10 at the store to give to my college daughter, before she went back to school the next day.

Not knowing if the woman was telling the truth or not,I offered to take her home and gave her the money. She wouldn't allow me to take her directly to her home & instead walked between the trailers of the court I dropped her off at. What she needed the money for, doesn't matter. Deciding to help when I could have turned away, gave me an opportunity to serve unconditionally.

Journal: Never forget that we are loved unconditionally and in turn we must love our fellow man with the same love no matter who they are or what we think.

Tues: Walk w/Christ Day 9: Forgive, forgive, forgive!

Read: 3 Nephi 14:1, Matt 18:21, Ether 12:27 & Luke 6:35-38

Although we try our best, sometimes we feel it isn't good enough. It is easy to see the flaws of others who are doing their best, also. Jesus will make our best effort perfect. Accept each person for who they are and look for the good in them.

Challenge: Every time you feel the penny in your shoe, think of one person you have an issue with and work to let go of it during the day. We constantly look to Christ for forgiveness, so today see whom you can forgive.

There's a story of two pots in India that carried water from the river to the master's house daily on the end of poles across the back of a servant. One pot had a crack in it, thus not fulfulling its potential because of half its water leaking from it. The other pot was whole and proud of its accomplishments.
One day the pot tells the servant it's ashamed to deliver only part of a load because of his crack. These flaws cause the man more work. 'Watch for the beautiful flowers on the path, as we return from the river,' says the servant.
I realized your flaw and planted seeds on your side to take advantage of it, by letting you water them. There are no flowers on the other side of the pathway.
I picked the flowers for my master to enjoy. You are needed just the way you are and many have benefited by it without your knowledge.

Moral: Take each person for what they are, looking for the good in them. Appreciate the differences of all people taking care not to compare yourself with them. Know that we all make life interesting..we are all cracked pots.

Challenge: What will forgieness do for me? Strive to forgive 7x70 in turning over my pains & offended heart to the Lord by sincerely forgiving others.

Monday: My Walk Day 8-Feel the Atonement

Read: Isaiah 53: 3-6, John 3: 16-17, Hel 5:9, Alma 7: 11-12

To walk with the Savior we need to understand and appreciate all He has done for us. Taking advantage of the Atonement requires us to accept it and effort to realize it’s potential in our lives.

Challenge: Every time you feel the penny, pause for one moment to ponder and realize how inclusive it’s power is in your life.

There is a story about a Seminary class whose teacher asked a new student with little interest in the lessons, how many push-ups he could do. He did 200 every night & thought he could increase to 300 if done in sets of 10, for an object lesson the teacher had. The day arrived to perform, with the teacher bringing a delicious donut for each student.

He asked the first pupil if she would like a donut. The answer was, yes! Before receiving the treat, the young man had to do ten push-ups for her. Each person was asked the same question with the push-ups required, to get the donut. Some boys said they could do their own push-ups. They were told only the chosen person was allowed to do them in order to receive the goodies.

Some didn’t want a donut. It was given to them regardless and left uneaten. The push-ups had to be performed for all present with this response, “Do the push-ups so she can have a donut, that she doesn’t want.” The young man was struggling to perform the exercise and the students were concerned he wouldn’t be able to do all of it. As the class became more concerned about the maximized efforts of the boy, another student wanted to enter the classroom. Many told him to stay out, but it was okay with the push-up performer, who began doing 10 extra for the newcomer.

Nearing the end of over 350 push-ups the student was having a very hard time, the classroom was asking how they could help, but told they were not allowed. Falling to the floor as he finished the task, the teacher told the attendees, ‘So it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, pleaded to the Father, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” It was understood that He had done everything required of him, he collapsed on the cross and died. Like some of those in the class, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.’

Journaling: He paid the ultimate penalty for us willingly for you & me, so that we may all enjoy the cleansing of repentance through faith in Jesus Christ.

Sunday: #7 Walk w/Christ-Study Him in the Scriptures

Read: (1 Ne 11:25; compare Ether 8:26), Mosiah 1:5, D&C 26:1, John 5:39, Alma 17:2, 2 Ne 32:3

Challenge today: Feast on His words! Grow closer to the Father & Son by drinking of the water. If it is Sunday increase your scripture study, meditate & enjoy the Spirit.

In a talk by Elder David Bednar 2007, he asks, what is the most valuable commodity in the world? It is water. Our bodies are two-thirds water and we would die without it for more than three or four days. Water sustains life & could not exist without clean water.

As Jesus was passing through Samaria he stopped at Jacob’s Well, speaking to a woman about the ‘living waters’. He asked her for a drink saying, ‘Give me to drink’. She was surprised he, a Jew, would speak to her, a Samaritan.

Jesus answered, “ If thou newest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

She responded that he had nothing to draw the water with. His answer was, ‘Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:7-11, 13-14

This water represents the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel sustaining life in spiritual ways to help us grow and develop. The scriptures are a reservoir of water we can utilize daily drinking deeply and long.

Journaling: Who do I get my strength from? Am I too busy to seek the word of God and quench my thirst?

Saturday: Walk w/Christ-Day 6: Day of Gratitude

Read- Psalms 50:14, Mosiah 24: 21-22 & 3 Nephi 10:10

Challenge today: When I feel the penny today, I will think of something new to be grateful for. What are my top 10 or can I think of 100?

There’s a story about a floral shop owner that makes arrangements containing only the thorny rose stems, but not the flower, for customers that've had debilitating trials. These displays remind them to think of how they've grown, survived and become stronger through their challenges in life.

Often we focus on the positive blessings & don’t consider our trials part of them. Looking at the prickly floral bouquet or any reminder of past troubles, helps us all to appreciate the good and hard times.

A poem by George Matheson reads:
My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn!
I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses,
But never once for my thorn.
Teach me the glory of the cross I bear, teach me the value of my thorns.
Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain.
Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.

Journal: What is my personal Gethsemane? Am I grateful for the obvious blessings & forget those that help me grow the most? Work at having gratitude in my heart for trials and thank the Lord for his help and love.

Friday- Day 5: Take One Another’s Burdens

Read these: Gal 6:2, Heb 13:1, Psalms 54:22 & Mosiah 18:8-9, 21

As we strive to be more like Him, we need to be more aware of those around us. Some people only need a smile, others a kind word. Listen to the Spirit tell you who needs your love/ear/help today.

Challenge: When you feel the penny, try to soften your heart & open up to those around you, as Christ does everyday for us.

President Gordon B. Hinkley told a story of a remote school in Virginia’s mountains full of unruly boys. An inexperienced teacher applied knowing it would be a hard job. He let the boys set the class rules and penalty for breaking them. Soon the lunch of big Tom was stolen and the small culprit was found. He was to receive a beating without his coat on, but plead to be able to keep it on. Rules were rules. The young man had no shirt when the coat was removed, so Tom volunteered to take the licking. All agreed that a substitute could do it. Before the job was completed, little Jim had reached his arms around Tom saying, “I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was really hungry. Tom I will love you till I die, for taking my licking for me! Yes, forever!

“Surely, he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…”

Journaling: Are there some in my life I can help or take a few minutes to let someone in?

Thurs Day 4: Strive for Increased Obedience

Jer 7:23, Matt 7:21, Luke 22:43-44, 1 Ne 4:18, D&C 64: 34

Many times we make mistakes in our lives, but it’s important that we repent, move on & try to be a little better, stronger and more like Him. As we walk in Jesus’ footsteps we must try to be obedient.

Challenge: Only you know what you need to work on. Choose one area today exercising your trust in God to conquer your problems. Each time you feel the penny, remember this is a great time to change & you can.

The Card Files is a story about a wall of card files that contain all of a person’s life experiences, his thoughts, joys, mistakes, challenges and so on. He doesn’t want anyone to see or know what he has and hasn’t done, thus desires to lock it all away. He cries out in shame when imagining Jesus opening and reading every single card telling of his deeds. Jesus then signs His name to each card as the poor soul cries, No! The man looks at the signature which is written in red. It is Jesus blood on every card. He puts hands on this man's shoulders saying, “It is finished.”

There is no lock on our door and Jesus is waiting for us to say to Him, ‘Please come in, help me. I need you.’

Journaling: Is there one thing I could do better just for today? Do I really KNOW that I will receive His help to do his will?

Wed-Day 3, Walk w/Christ: Day of Service

Read Joshua 22:5, 24:15; Galatians 5:13-14 & Mosiah 2:17, 18:10

Jesus was of service all of His life. Everything He did & said was serving us. He brought strength to the cripple, sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, life to the dead and accepted all sinners. He encouraged all of us to improve ourselves and strive for perfection.

Every time you feel the penny, strive to look for the chance to be His Hands! Offer to help someone, write a note of love, give 10 compliments, smile to a grumpy person or help a senior citizen—-Look for the chance to serve.

There’s a story of a village that was nearly destroyed during World War II. All the villagers joined together to rebuild it from the bottom up. Numerous pieces of white marble were found from the remains of a statue that stood in the town square. A sculptor was hired to rebuild it. To commemorate the completion of restoring the town, a celebration was held including the unveiling of the statue. It was a figure of Christ by Thorvaldsen with hands outstretched to all, except the statue had no hands. They had been destroyed by a bomb. The inscription instead of reading as it once did, “Come unto Christ,” now read, "I have no hands but yours.”

Journaling: What would I do if Jesus were at my side? Am I a true disciple of Christ? What would He have ME do?