Sunday Quote

Do you think our heavenly parents wander through the heavens in morose agony over their straying children?  I don’t think so.  I know they feel pain, but I honestly can’t picture them living in eternal misery.  Ask yourself why they do not do so, and it will make a difference in your life.

Perspective.  PERSPECTIVE.  That is the answer.  God deals with pain through and by virtue of his infinite and perfect perspective.  He not only knows what we have done and what we are doing, but He also knows what we will do in the future.  If, as the prophets have taught, many who are heirs to the blessings of the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will either in time or in eternity be reconciled to the covenant family, then all we need to do for the time being is to seek through fasting and prayer for a portion of our God’s perspective – His omni-loving patience, His long-suffering, His ever-open arms, and a glimpse of the big picture.  Such a perspective will not only serve us well here, in the midst of our sufferings, but it will empower our souls and fashion us into the image of our Master, who is the personification and embodiment of charity, or the pure love of Christ.

Robert L. Millet

Sunday Quote

It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future.

Gordon B. Hinckley

What does a teacher make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." To emphasize his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? She paused for a second, then began...

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an iPod, Game Cube, or movie rental.
"You want to know what I make?" She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God-given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America .

I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."

Bonnie paused one last time, then continued, "Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

What do you make Mr. CEO? "

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

Sunday Quote

Say yes to hope, no to mope.

Losing Weight is Expensive!

I cannot believe how much it costs to lose weight. 

First, I am paying nearly $43 a month for Weight Watchers.  But I absolutely love Weight Watchers.  It teaches you how to eat , how to make the right food choices, and how to budget your points throughout the day.  They have an app for the smart phone, which makes keeping track of my points so much easier.  I love them.

And it is working.  As of last week, I have lost 26 pounds! 

But then we get back to the money.  Because I am shrinking out of my clothes!  I had a bunch of capri’s in my closet that I pulled out yesterday to wear, and none of them fit.  They were all too big!  So now I have nothing to wear for summer.  All my t-shirts are ginormous.  I have started wearing The Teenager’s t-shirts, which kind of annoys him.  Even my pajama pants are too big!

And let’s talk about bras.  I have shrunk out of those as well.  Or I should say out of it.  Because I only had one that semi-fit me to start with – it was too small.  But now it’s too big.  Fortunately, as I was looking for a smaller pair of pajama pants, which I found tucked in a back drawer under my bed, I found 8 bras from skinnier days!  All of them were the good Victoria’s Secret bras!  3 of them were too big (I skipped a whole size!) and 3 of them were still brand-new in the plastic!  I was thrilled!  And so is my checkbook.

Anyway, I am looking at having to buy a whole new wardrobe for summer, and I still have over 30 pounds to go!  But I will not complain.  I love being skinny-er.  I am not skinny yet, but I am getting there.  The Doctor took me shopping last week for an Easter outfit, and it was so much fun to try on clothes!  They fit well, and I didn’t feel like an elephant!  I used to dread shopping for clothes, but not anymore. 

Now, if someone wanted to just give me a couple hundred dollars to pay for them!

Anyone?