This Weekend...

Jared is in CA, holding his beautiful, new baby niece, Brielle. He took his last board exams at Life West on Friday and Saturday. This trip came right after his board reviews in Atlanta. We miss him a lot and can't wait for him to be home tomorrow night!

My amazing sister, brother-in-law and nephew Josh came to visit us on Thursday and stayed until early this afternoon. They got to see Hannah's soccer game and a lot of sorting, fixing, cleaning, packing and getting the house/property ready for the sale and our move was accomplished. We are so grateful for the talents and skills that the Smiths have and use in the service of others so willingly and with so much love and kindness.

The kids and I attended a wonderful Stake Conference today. Elder Oaks was visiting and spoke. It was an awesome experience for me. He and the visiting Seventy that spoke before him spoke directly to 4 or 5 different things that have been in my heart and on my mind lately. I have a testimony of the Holy Ghost and am thankful that Heavenly Father helped me prepare for Stake Conference. The kids were amazing and even without Daddy, stayed quiet, content and engaged in activities in the middle of a long row for the whole two hours. I was so proud and thankful. I even got to jot down a couple of notes. 

 

I thought I'd share a quote I came across while sorting through a pile of papers this weekend. I think this one is worth memorizing. 

"People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; 

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; 

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends, and some true enemies; 

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; 

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; 

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you have anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway."

-Mother Teresa

(This is one version of the poem credited to Mother Teresa. It seems that she rewrote "The Paradoxical Commandments" by Kent M. Keith. I'm glad she did.)