There have been a lot of times that I have thought, or been prompted to do something for someone. Usually it's something simple, like offer to bring dinner over, or help someone clean up their house, or maybe just take a plate of cookies over to someone.
Well, usually I don't do it. I want to, but I feel dumb about it. Or I have the intention, but just don't follow through because I'm busy or I forget.
Today, I decided to take some cookies to a member of my ward who had mentioned to me that she was wanting cookies, but that she didn't really like baking. I don't know her well, so I was hesitant. But, I did it anyway.
Her cute little girls were so excited, and kept asking if they could have a cookie now. It made my day. I was glad to see her for a few seconds.
Later, I got a message saying thanks and that it made her day.
Who knew that something so small could cause so much joy... For me and for her.
I am going to strive to follow those promptings to do little things, so that when it's really important, I can receive the promptings to do bigger things, and I will have the courage and faith to follow them.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Small Acts of Service
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Being an Example
I had another post almost ready to post, when I got a phone call from my hubby this morning telling me about an experience he had with our 8-year-old son last night.
They were on their way home from scouts last night and they had the radio on a country station and the song "Boys 'Round Here" by Blake Shelton was playing. P says to Dad, "Dad, why do you listen to this, when it talks about stuff that you don't do?" (If you are unfamiliar with the song, it talks about drinking beer and spitting tobacco, etc.) Hubby asked him what he was talking about to see what things he had heard in the song. P told him about the drinking beer and spitting. Much to my surprise he actually DOES listen. :) Daddy told him that he really just likes the music and the beat. Which, in all honesty, is true, but also an excuse.
How often do I make excuses about the music I listen to, or the movies or TV I watch, saying to myself that "it's not like I'm going to DO any of those things." Aren't we taught that we should avoid these types of entertainment? In the For the Strength of Youth book it says "Choose wisely when using media because whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Select only media that uplifts you." Also, from the 13th Article of Faith "if there's anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Somehow I doubt that a song about going to the bar and drinking beer, and chewing up tobacco and spitting falls into that category. But, how many other things that aren't virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy do I do??
Too many.
I'm so grateful for the example of my son. He reminds me of the great responsibility I have to teach my children and for me to be examples to them. Although I'm grateful that he was an example to my husband and to me, it should be the other way around!
I have just started an Institute of Religion class on the Book of Mormon and have already started to see a change in myself and my family because I am studying the Book of Mormon, and I am striving more fully to keep the commandments. In fact, the past week or so, I was already thinking about how my choice of media might not be what it should be. On the weekend, hubby asked me to change the song that we were listening to, and another time I asked him to turn the TV off. It's a start. And that's all Heavenly Father expects me to do. Start. And keep trying. And repent when I slip up. So, thanks to little P, I'm striving even harder to do that.
Because I should be their example!
They were on their way home from scouts last night and they had the radio on a country station and the song "Boys 'Round Here" by Blake Shelton was playing. P says to Dad, "Dad, why do you listen to this, when it talks about stuff that you don't do?" (If you are unfamiliar with the song, it talks about drinking beer and spitting tobacco, etc.) Hubby asked him what he was talking about to see what things he had heard in the song. P told him about the drinking beer and spitting. Much to my surprise he actually DOES listen. :) Daddy told him that he really just likes the music and the beat. Which, in all honesty, is true, but also an excuse.
How often do I make excuses about the music I listen to, or the movies or TV I watch, saying to myself that "it's not like I'm going to DO any of those things." Aren't we taught that we should avoid these types of entertainment? In the For the Strength of Youth book it says "Choose wisely when using media because whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Select only media that uplifts you." Also, from the 13th Article of Faith "if there's anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Somehow I doubt that a song about going to the bar and drinking beer, and chewing up tobacco and spitting falls into that category. But, how many other things that aren't virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy do I do??
Too many.
I'm so grateful for the example of my son. He reminds me of the great responsibility I have to teach my children and for me to be examples to them. Although I'm grateful that he was an example to my husband and to me, it should be the other way around!
I have just started an Institute of Religion class on the Book of Mormon and have already started to see a change in myself and my family because I am studying the Book of Mormon, and I am striving more fully to keep the commandments. In fact, the past week or so, I was already thinking about how my choice of media might not be what it should be. On the weekend, hubby asked me to change the song that we were listening to, and another time I asked him to turn the TV off. It's a start. And that's all Heavenly Father expects me to do. Start. And keep trying. And repent when I slip up. So, thanks to little P, I'm striving even harder to do that.
Because I should be their example!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Inspired
Hi!
I have been thinking for a long time that I should blog about this or blog about that, but never do it. A month or so ago, a friend told me I should write a book. I told her that was too ambitious, but maybe I would do a blog. I have thought about it ever since. Every time I would think about something inspiring or there was a special occasion, or I had an "Aha!" moment, all I could think about is "I really need to write this all down." Tonight I was just doing dishes and it was kind of like someone was yelling at me "YOU NEED TO START A BLOG!" So, here I am. I don't know exactly what I'm going to write about, but I feel like if even one person reads this and gets inspired or touched by something I write, then it will be worth it.
So, next time I think of something that I really want to blog about, it will be here.
The reason for the title "Just a Simple Mormon Mom" is because I feel very ordinary and inadequate. Yet, I've felt impressed to share my insecurities about motherhood, along with my triumphs. I've also been prompted to share faith-promoting experiences in my life. In the past, I've been shy about sharing my testimony of the Gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I hate making others uncomfortable, and religion can be a touchy subject, so I generally avoid it. But, no more! (At least, in this setting :P)
Now you know the basic reasons behind why I'm writing this blog. Here are some basics about me:
My name is Karen. I grew up in Syracuse, Utah. I lived in the same house until I got married to Jared Griffiths in 2004. I was 18. Yep, only 18. :) Since then, we have had 4 children, ages 8, 6, almost 3, and almost 1 (both birthdays are in October). My husband joined the US Army at the end of 2007, when our second child was 8 months old. We've moved 9 times since we got married, several of the moves I did without my husband there to help! Thankfully, I have an awesome family (parents, 4 brothers, and 2 sisters, and their spouses and children, and my in-laws) who looks after me and helps me out all the time. Really, we've only lived 3 places: Utah, Colorado, and Korea. We've lived in two different apartments in Ogden, Utah, two different houses in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and lived in my parents basement/with them 3 different times (two of them were just me and the kids while Daddy was deployed). In April of 2009 we moved to Korea to be with Jared, who was there on assignment. He had been there 11 months, and we all stayed 13 months more.
Let's see....what else??? Oh, I love to play the piano and sing. I am in the Institute Choir here in the Springs, and have just recently started playing my piano more and remembering how much I loved it as a teenager.
My two oldest just started soccer for the season, and I just started going back to college through the BYU-Idaho Pathway program. My husband is also taking classes through the University of Phoenix. I also just started babysitting for a friend, so we are pretty busy.
The experiences we've had as a family, and I've had personally since being an Army wife were the main inspiration for this blog. I don't claim to have more experience, or more difficult trials, or a harder life than anyone else, but the trials and experiences I have had have strengthened me and my family immensely. I hope by writing them down, I can remember the things that I've learned, and hopefully help others along the way.
So, that's all for now!
I have been thinking for a long time that I should blog about this or blog about that, but never do it. A month or so ago, a friend told me I should write a book. I told her that was too ambitious, but maybe I would do a blog. I have thought about it ever since. Every time I would think about something inspiring or there was a special occasion, or I had an "Aha!" moment, all I could think about is "I really need to write this all down." Tonight I was just doing dishes and it was kind of like someone was yelling at me "YOU NEED TO START A BLOG!" So, here I am. I don't know exactly what I'm going to write about, but I feel like if even one person reads this and gets inspired or touched by something I write, then it will be worth it.
So, next time I think of something that I really want to blog about, it will be here.
The reason for the title "Just a Simple Mormon Mom" is because I feel very ordinary and inadequate. Yet, I've felt impressed to share my insecurities about motherhood, along with my triumphs. I've also been prompted to share faith-promoting experiences in my life. In the past, I've been shy about sharing my testimony of the Gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I hate making others uncomfortable, and religion can be a touchy subject, so I generally avoid it. But, no more! (At least, in this setting :P)
Now you know the basic reasons behind why I'm writing this blog. Here are some basics about me:
My name is Karen. I grew up in Syracuse, Utah. I lived in the same house until I got married to Jared Griffiths in 2004. I was 18. Yep, only 18. :) Since then, we have had 4 children, ages 8, 6, almost 3, and almost 1 (both birthdays are in October). My husband joined the US Army at the end of 2007, when our second child was 8 months old. We've moved 9 times since we got married, several of the moves I did without my husband there to help! Thankfully, I have an awesome family (parents, 4 brothers, and 2 sisters, and their spouses and children, and my in-laws) who looks after me and helps me out all the time. Really, we've only lived 3 places: Utah, Colorado, and Korea. We've lived in two different apartments in Ogden, Utah, two different houses in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and lived in my parents basement/with them 3 different times (two of them were just me and the kids while Daddy was deployed). In April of 2009 we moved to Korea to be with Jared, who was there on assignment. He had been there 11 months, and we all stayed 13 months more.
Let's see....what else??? Oh, I love to play the piano and sing. I am in the Institute Choir here in the Springs, and have just recently started playing my piano more and remembering how much I loved it as a teenager.
My two oldest just started soccer for the season, and I just started going back to college through the BYU-Idaho Pathway program. My husband is also taking classes through the University of Phoenix. I also just started babysitting for a friend, so we are pretty busy.
The experiences we've had as a family, and I've had personally since being an Army wife were the main inspiration for this blog. I don't claim to have more experience, or more difficult trials, or a harder life than anyone else, but the trials and experiences I have had have strengthened me and my family immensely. I hope by writing them down, I can remember the things that I've learned, and hopefully help others along the way.
So, that's all for now!
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