How much weight are you carrying?

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. 

As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down! -author unknown

As I sit in awe....

Tragedies occur daily, and I know everything happens for a reason, but come on! What is going on??? Maybe it's the holidays, maybe people are off their meds, maybe I am overly sensitive because things are closer to home than usual.

Tuesday, a 22-year old openly fired at mall shoppers in Portland Oregon, killing two and injuring one before turning the gun on himself.

Today, Friday, while reading the news online earlier this morning, I noticed that there was a small breaking news link stating there had been a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. At this time, there were no known injuries or deaths, but as most of the country learned while being glued to televisions, radios, and/or computers the fate of that community dramatically changed.

While I type this updates continue to come in. The shooter, deceased, was 24 years old. His mother, also confirmed deceased was a teacher at the school where he opened fire. Currently it is reported that 9 adults and 18 children are deceased, with the majority of the children being students of his mother's.

On this same day, 22 elementary students in China were stabbed. Thankfully all of these children survived.

I finally have to turn off the television, too much conflicting information is being presented, and the same information is being repeated over and over again, and lets be honest, there is nothing I can do.

Like everyone I know, with or without kids, my heart aches, I want my kids and family near, I contemplate on how easy it is to walk in and out of public places, including schools, and I also vow that I will not live in fear.

This afternoon, with a quick text to both kids in Utah and a short sweet text exchange between Bre's teacher, I carry on with my day. Laundry is done (again), dinner is planned, cooked, ate and cleaned up, and as sad as today's events, and even this weeks events, have been our life appears to have returned to normal at our house. Which is easy because overall we haven't been affected, just made aware.

Everyone has faced tragedy in some form or another, and I can honestly say (from some aspect of experience) life goes on. One will never forget, some will never get over it fully, but all in all life goes on. Memories will be relived, the events of the day will repeat in ones mind, but life goes on.

Many friends and acquaintances are screaming (okay not literally) for gun control, others are talking about how to better protect our schools, some are just still in awe and posting their thoughts of today's events, and most are sharing their thoughts and feelings about their spouses, families, and most importantly their children. Like so many things, there is no right, nor no wrong on what to say, think, or do about any of these tragedies.

May time comfort those in pain, and may these awful tragedies unite not only families, communities, and our nation. Our thoughts are with those affected by this weeks tragedies.

Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others. ~ Albert Einstein

Forget Me Not ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

My aunt gave my sister, her sister, my mother, and I a copy of a message by Dieter F. Uchtdorf and a package of Forget Me Not Flowers a few weeks ago and I thought I'd share a few things from what I read.

"There is a German legend that just as God had finished naming all the plants, one was left unnamed. A tiny voice spoke out, 'Forget me not, O Lord!' And God replied that this would be its name.

Each of these little flowers had five petals and Uchtdorf shared "five things we would be wise never to forget."

1. Forget not to be patient with yourself.
• God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.
• God is fully aware that the people you think are perfect, are not.
• Comparing ourselves to others, drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet.
• Everyone has strengths and everyone has weaknesses.
• God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows it is a long-term goal.
• Be THANKFUL for all the SMALL successes, in your home, your family relationships, your education, your Church participation, and personal improvement.
• "Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him.
2. Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.
•  Every person and situation is different. A good sacrifice in one instance, migh be  afoolish sacrifice in another.
• Ask yourself: 'Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?'
• God is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater. Sometimes, that means nurturing small but beautiful forget-me-not flowers instead of a large garden of exotic blooms.
3. Forget not to be happy now.
•  Don't focus on the things that you feel 'holds the key to you happiness', by doing so you fail to notice all the blessings you have and that surround you.
• If you spend your days waiting for the fabulous roses, you could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around you.
• Do not abandon hope or temper your goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all the righteous desires of yoru heart.
• The happiest people are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives.
4. Forget not the 'why' of the gospel.
• In the routine of our everyday lives, sometimes we unintentionally overlook a vital aspect of the gospel.
• We sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long to-do list, focusing on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but sometimes forget why.
• We need to "seek out the majesty, the beauty, and the exhilarating joy of the "why"; the "what' and the "how" of obedience mark the way and keep us on the right path, and the "why" of obedience sanctifies our actions.
5. Forget not that the Lord loves you.
• "God loves you because you are His child."
•  He knows, loves, and cherishes you.