Time-Outs

Every time my kids are fighting or not behaving as I have tried to teach them to behave, I know it's time for them to go to time out. And sometimes, I've realized, I need a time out too. Not only because I might not be behaving as I should, but also because it is too easy to forget what my real purpose here on Earth is and where I'm headed. When I remind myself of that important perspective, I'm also able to re-evaluate my life and where I can improve; what I need to take out of my life, and what I need to add to my life.
That is why this weekend was so perfect. It was such a blessing to be able to attend Time Out for Women and to be there with my sister-in-law and my nieces. I wasn't originally planning on going. It is hard to sneak away from the house all weekend with such young children and a busy, studying husband, but since I had family going my great husband was willing to make it work so I could also go, and I'm so grateful for him and his sacrifice for me this weekend!
Friday night we heard the amazing violinist Jenny Oaks Baker. She is so talented and her music was beautiful! And then we heard talks from John Bytheway (a child hood favorite of mine) and Laurel Christensen. And today we heard from Mary Ellen Edmunds, Sandra Turley, D. Kelly Ogden, Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt, and Emily Freeman. We also listened to great music from Jericho Road. It was all so uplifting! Here are some of my notes:

• In life, suffering is mandatory. Misery is optional
• The book of Job is not about suffering, it is about loyalty. Choose to love God and be loyal to him no matter what circumstance you are in.
• Don't look at God and tell him how big your problems are, look at your problems and tell them how big your God is.
• 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
• Fight your fears-don't let them hold you back. Identify your fear so you can fight it!
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
• When you stop praying for what your heart really wants, your heart stops wanting what you weren't willing to pray for.
• God will not waste a miracle on a doubter.
• Always, ALWAYS, pray for your children when you send them out into the world, as faithfully as you would put their coat on before you sent them out into the cold. The Lord's angels will protect them. They were His children before they were yours.
• Make time to pause and think. We can't become what we aren't thinking about.
• D&C 6:16 "Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of they heart."
• Spend more time reading, thinking, and being still. You will miss incredible help if you don't take time to ponder.
• "Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear to be totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved." Marvin J. Ashton
• When our behavior is congruent with our beliefs then we are truly happy
• Give ordinary things a deeper meaning. Prepare, participate, remember.
• Sometimes the experiences we have in life are like a parable. Ponder them and look for the deeper meaning.
• Reading a [general conference] talk a day keeps Satan away.
• Leave behind what could hold you back from a better relationship with the Lord.