The Sacrament

Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash

I bow my head, and close my eyes.

I imagine Jesus here.

I think of all He's done for me.

I feel the Spirit near.

I partake of the bread today.

I feel my Savior's love.

I know the gift He gave to me.

I think of Him above.

I partake of the water and

I bow my head in peace.

I feel my burdens lift away.

I know His love won't cease.

I'll try this week to do my best.

I'll learn of Him each day.

I'll listen to the Holy Ghost

And He will light my way.

Then on the Sabbath I'll return.

I'll bow my head again.

I will repent of every sin

So I can live with Him.

Wonder Woman

 *Written for one of my friends -- who seemed like Wonder Woman to me!

Clearly Teddy is not Wonder Woman
But He is silly and so I thought
You'd get a kick out of him really wanting
whatever was in this cup!

If you're feeling like you're tired

But you don't have time to rest

If you wish your day was empty

But you know that you've been blessed

If you have a gripe to get out

If you have a laugh that's stuck

If you're wanting to take the scenic route

But you don't have time enough

If you wish for snow and it rains

If you want a chance to breathe

And your back is giving you pains

And you wish that you could leave

To ride your bike for miles

Or take your kids to ski

Or to visit all your best friends

And your awesome family

Then remember you're Wonder Woman

And you can do it all.

Just wear your modest costume

And give your wonder friends a call!

You Deserve A Chocolate

***I wrote this poem for a good friend who I  would try to help -- but who always ended up helping me more!

Brigham and what I think was
chocolate:-)

You deserve a chocolate

Because you left your bed

To help your children find their shoes

And to make sure all were fed.

You deserve a chocolate

For smiling through your pain

And patiently explaining something

Again, and again, and again.

You deserve a chocolate

Because you tried to clean

When you'd rather have some cake

And maybe some ice cream.

You deserve a chocolate

Because you have a gift

Of listening to others

And giving them a lift.

You deserve a chocolate

For being a faithful friend

Who loves and cares for others

And helps their hearts to mend.

You deserve a chocolate

Because you are a mom

And this is one of those jobs

That goes all day and all night long.

You deserve a chocolate

For being a faithful wife

Who works to make a marriage

That can last for more than life.

You deserve a chocolate

For just being you.

You are wonderful for the good you say

And the good things that you do.

The Princess of the Primary

Princess.  She used to visit Primary a lot (church class for children)
and when I got released as President I gifted Princess Puppets to my counselors
and secretary and gave them the poem below.  We liked to play
"Can Princess choose the right?"

 The Princess of The Primary

The kids are bouncing off the wall,

The bishop can hear them down the hall.

We must solve the problem quick!

And we know just the right trick.

From out of the heavy bag I carry

Comes the Princess of the Primary!

The children are backwards in their seats

Kicking each other with their feet.

How can we get them to turn around,

And put their feet gently on the ground?

We'll call in the royalty,

The Princess of the Primary.

The teachers are all half asleep.

The kids are wiggling in their seat.

Can we help them both have fun?

And learn something before the day is done?

They'll perk up whenever they see

The Princess of the Primary!

And when  the Primary day is done,

And everyone has had some fun,

The tales of the Princess rise like a tide

And the parents eyes get kind of wide

From reports that are not ordinary

Of the Princess of the Primary!

Invisible

 I used to struggle with feeling invisible.  Thankfully that does not happen much anymore.

Photo by Majestic Lukas on Unsplash

Invisible

Do you ever feel invisible

When there are people all around?

You can talk and say all that you want,

But no one hears a sound!

You could say the sky is falling down,

You must head off to see the king,

But those around you seem to have no ears,

Because they do not hear a thing?

Do you ever feel invisible,

Like nobody sees you there?

And you're half afraid they'll sit on you

Thinking that's an empty chair?

You wonder if you wore a hat

That was bright and tall and wide,

Would the people then clue in

That there is someone by their side?

Do you ever feel invisible?

Does it make you want to cry?

Do you wish bad things on all of those

Who seem to have no eyes?

Do you dream of giving them

A large piece of your mind?

Or buying them some hearing aids,

The biggest you can find?

Invisible does have some perks,

I'll tell you just a few;

You could do a very big faux pas

And no one would see you!

You could forget to comb your hair

And wear unmatching clothes.

And you could do outrageous things

Right under their nose!

So if you ever feel invisible

There are things that you could do.

But I think you need to keep in mind,

They really can see you.

You are not invisible

People do see you there.

So be careful what you choose to say

And the clothes you choose to wear!

Yaz-Mazoo's Birthday

 Yaz-Mazoo's Birthday

There is a creature called Yaz-Mazoo

Who has his birthday on the same day as you!

He likes to get up super early because

That's what a happy Yaz-Mazoo does.

He then eats some breakfast of carrots and limes

And reads his favorite book of silly rhymes.

Because it's his birthday he sits by the phone

So all of his Yaz friends can call him at home.

He stands and does stretches for fun now and then,

And looks in the mirror to practice his grin.

He picks out a hat that is festive and bright.

Somehow on his birthday, this hat just feels right.

Then he heads outside to walk in the sun.

All the Yaz shout "Good Wishes".  Wow this is fun!

Then Yaz-Mazoo, as he waves and he smiles

Takes one turn round the garden, which is just 3 miles.

Then, with his hat angled perfectly right,

Yaz-Mazoo, with a smile, heads home for the night,

Where his family is gathered with Crumpets and juice,

And he opens his present - a lovely stuffed moose!

And then, with his smile, which he's practiced all day,

He goes to his bed, and to sleep right away.

His birthday was great.  It was happy and bright.

I hope that your birthday also turns out just right.

Tame The Beast

Written as a song -- but never given a tune!

Photo by Yash Raut on Unsplash

I lay my head down on the pillow

And close my eyes and then,
Instead of going right to sleep
My head begins to spin.

Chorus:

Round and round my mind goes

Dizzy as can be

Looking at the one thing

I don't want it to see.

I ask it to be quiet

To let me rest in peace

But no matter how hard I try to sleep

I cannot tame the beast.

I say to myself "don't think of that!"

I say it with command,

But when I want to think of home

It wanders in a foreign land.

I try hard to distract myself

By thinking other things,

But my mind pops back to what I do not want

Running circles in a ring.

The beast is coming at me now

It's menacing and mean

And if I don't get to sleep soon

I'm sure I'm going to scream!

He's There

Fall picture by Connor

He's There

 In the stillness of the morning

In the warmth of noonday sun

In the shadows of the evening

In the starlight when the day is done

Evidence of God surrounds you

Evidence of His love and care

Proof that He is in His heavens

Just be still, and know He's there

In the mist of stormy mornings

In the wind of noonday storms

In the crash of booming thunders

In bending trees and fearful forms

God is still up in the heavens

Reaching out with helping hands

Caring for His children lost

And roaming in the storm filled lands

When the storms are all around you

Ranging widely across the land

Reach up to our Lord in Heaven

He will reach down with His hand

In the stillness of the morning

In the warmth of noonday sun

In the shadows of the evening

In the starlight when the day is done

Evidence of God surrounds you

Evidence of His love and care

Proof that He is in His heavens

Just be still, and know He's there

There is Hope Every Day

A blast from the past.  My family in 2009 while visiting Nauvoo, Illinois.

(This is a song I wrote for my children)

There is Hope Every Day

Children of mine, here's a song just for you

A song from your mother, I love you, I do.

These are the things that I want you to know

At all times and all of the places you go.

You have a Father in heaven divine.

You were His child, before you were mine.

He knows your name and all you can be,

And loves you a lot, even better than me.

Father sent you here to become just like Him

He knows us all well, and He knew we would sin.

It takes lots of practice to get things just right,

We'd need to be perfect to get back to His light.

We need a perfect body and to not do things wrong.

The way would seem hard, and the journey seem long.

It would be hopeless but we have a brother,

Who loves you more surely than even your mother.

He came and He suffered for every mistake

That all of His brothers and sisters would make.

He did it so we could get better each day.

He did it so we would all know the way.

When you fall down He won't give up on you.

We'll get back to Father through all He did do.

He was resurrected, so you will be too

With a perfect body, a free gift to you.

So when life feels heavy, or you're feeling sad.

When you're feeling broken, or think you are bbad.

When you've lost a loved one, and your heart seems sore.

When you think that you cannot take anymore.

When friends don't seem friendly, and you feel alone,

When you want to just laugh, but it comes out a moan.

Here are the things that I want you to know,

Every time and in all of the places you go.

Chorus:

There is hope every day.

There's a light for your way.

There is love that won't end.

There is a perfect friend.

There is help when you fall.

Father hears when you call.

Jesus came just for you,

And I love you too.

Angels

Just a few of my earthly angels!

 Angels

There are angels all around us,

Walking in the shoes of men;

Helping us when sorrow's found us,

Giving us the strength to stand.

There are angels all around us,

Lifting us when we are weak,

Bringing light into our darkness,

Helping us when life seems bleak.

There are angels all around us

Following the One who calls

Go and help my wandering lost one,

Lest he stumbles and he falls.

Lift the hands that now are weary.

Lift the failing, feeble knees.

Listen to the cries of others

And their silent, prayer filled pleas.

Be an angel for another

And there will be one for you.

In your greatest hour of darkness,

One will come to see you through.

Everything is About Family

 

Photograph by Connor
My family

Our story begins with love.

It fills us so full of joy that we feel like we're flying;

Soaring around in the heavens above.

Yes, our story begins with love.

We were touched by this love in a home full of light

Before earth was created, and days turned to nights.

We were loved by our parents and we plainly could see

That the love was all about family.

When oceans meet shores

And water meets sand

When mountains reach sky

And peace fills the land

If you stop for a moment

You'll be able to see

That everything is about family.

When rain pours on plains

And the trees reach up tall

When the lands produce grains

And the clear waters fall

If you stop for a moment

You'll be able to see

That everything is about family.

When we look at the earth

Majesty everywhere

When we witness a birth

It is wondrous and fair

For our God made it all

He's our Father, you see.

He made it all for His family.

We could hear His words

And see His face

And we all lived together

In that wondrous place.

Atoning One

Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

 Atoning One

With joy and happiness we sing

Our praise to Christ the King.

He gives us life.  He gives us love.

We sing our thanks to heav'n above

For the Atoning One.

He came to Earth, a tiny son

Of The Most Holy One.

He learned like we do, grace by grace

And soon He knew His special  place

As the Atoning One.

The time was near when He must die

"Remove this cup" He cried.

But knowing that we needed Him

He took our punishment for sin.

He's our Atoning One.

So from His sorrow we are saved

The pathway home He paved.

And if we will repent we'll find

An inner joy, and peace of mind

From the Atoning One.

And with this new peace we will sing

Our praise to Christ the King.

He gives us all He has to give.

If we will follow Him we'll live

With the Atoning One.

It's Spring

Photo by Joel Holland on Unsplash

 It's Spring

Take Spring with you wherever you go

The sun will be shining

There'll be melting of snow

The birds will be singing

The grass will be green

It's Spring!

Take Spring with you wherever you go

The air smells like blossoms

A warm wind will blow

Children are laughing

You'll be wanting to sing

It's Spring!

It's Spring, oh yes it is Spring!

It's Spring, oh yes it is Spring!

The sunshine is beaming right out of your face

Your eyes have a twinkle

Your smile is in place

Kindness is given

Love and joy you will bring

It's Spring!

Wherever you go there is a bounce to your walk

Your feet feel like dancing

Your mouth wants to talk

Your ears want to listen

To the sound of good things

It's Spring!

It's Spring, oh yes it is Spring!

It's Spring, oh yes it is Spring!

So take Spring with you wherever you go

You'll spread lots of joy

To the people you know

Springtime is catching

Take it with you each day

I say!  It's Spring!

It's Spring!  Take it with you each day!

It's Spring!  Give some Springtime away!

It's Spring!

It's Spring!