Friday, November 7, 2008

Its been FOUR years!

With all the excitement of PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA! I completely forgot to post one of my favorite anniversaries....four years ago (November 5th 2004) I met Elder McDonald and Elder Owens...and started my very exciting journey as a Latter-day saint! Elder Owen's soon transferred after I met him, and Elder Bird took his place. Both McDonald and Bird were THE BEST missionaries EVER and taught me so much. I love them both and their families so much and I am so indebted to them. They will ALWAYS be in my thoughts and prayers!
When I first met them, I had a lot of battles and obstacles to overcome. Tom always gets a little squeemish when I mention to others of my addictions to drugs and alcohol, but I think its sometimes important to mention, so that others who may be in the position I was can know there is a better, happier lifestyle out there--and I am living proof!
Anyway, four years ago I started a little notebook that I carried around with me with several quotations, scriptures, stories and excerpts from LDS and other Christian literature--that helped me get through each day, remembering to be a little bit better. I actually have one of my favorites on the refrigerator...but with the hustle and bustle of every day, a lot of times I forget its there. Today it stuck out to me, and had me feeling a lot better.
Lately, my patience has been worn VERY VERY thin. I find myself having to BITE my tongue too often, and my frustration with people and things has been mounting. This is just NOT a good way to live. The love in my heart that used to help me forgive and forget seemed to have diminish as of late. Anyway, I just thought I'd share these great words of advice from Mother Teresa:




Words to Live By:

People are often unreasonable & self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It never was between You and Them anyway.

2 comments:

Jocelyn

I for one am so glad to know you! You are always doing the cutest things I love it. My mom recently came across your Homemaking Haven blog {and has added it to her blog links} she loves it. I told her a little bit about you being a convert, and she said she would have never guessed. I love the notebook thing you mentioned. I am always writing down little quotes and scriptures. It really does help. I chose patience as my quote topic for this month. it's so weird cause quite a few of my friends have emailed me saying how their patience has been running thin. {great minds do think/ act alike I guess!}

Brianne

Congratulations on 4 years! I'm glad the missionaries found you...you are an amazing woman! I really like that quote from Mother Teresa too. I might have to steal it to put on my blog so I can see it often.