Sunday Thoughts: Patience {Lack of}

Yesterday I sat down with Dylan to help him learn to tie his shoes. Yes, he is almost 8 and still hadn't quite captured the skill. At first I was very calm and reassuring, and with in a matter of minutes I found myself getting so frustrated with him. I was saying things like:

• Dylan it is so easy
• Are you even paying attention
• Look, right here. RIGHT HERE!!!
• OH, come on.
• AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I'm pretty sure it was a very unpleasant experience for him. I made him do it over and over and over again.

It took him about 15 minutes and then he got it. Afterward, I found myself asking him, "Dylan, your mom has no patience. Am I mean?" He was so excited that he could tie his own shoes that he just kept saying, "Mom, I can tie my shoes, you aren't mean."

I find myself losing my temper a lot. I feel like I could  not love and adore my kids more than I do, but I still have such a hard time with not raising my voice and using a kind tone. I tend to boil over really silly and unimportant things.

I grew up with a Dad that never, ever in my whole life, EVER lost his temper with me. EVER. Did I mention EVER, EVER, EVER? I know. It is pretty rare. He is a very amazing man. A very patient man. And he was raised by a father that NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER lost his temper with him. 

I was so blessed to be raised by such a kind, loving, patient man.

So, I'm pretty sure that I need to figure this temper thing out. And quick. Being a Mother is a sure test of patience. If I can't learn it now, I never will.

I think that when I am really thinking about it, and really making an effort, it is so much easier to stay calm and rational. My kids are so wonderful. They are smart, healthy, kind, tender and sensitive. I love them so much. They are helpful, and capable and I expect a lot out of them.


I've been thinking a lot today about what I can do to not get to the point of losing control and acting like a kid myself.


Do you have any suggestions? I would love for you to share some of the things that work for you. This is me, humbly asking for your help.

What helps you to be patient with your kids?

What works in your home to help keep harmony?

Do you ever feel like you are mean?

Do you ever lose your temper?

Did you have a parent that never lost their temper, Ever, Never, Ever?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And here are a few pictures of the kids before our church party.

And one picture of a tired boy after.

Book Giveaway! A Return To Virtue by Elaine S. Dalton

Today's giveaway is a book that I am so pleased to share with you.

I have been somewhat distracted from my goal this month to finish The Book Of Mormon

because I kept finding myself reading this beautiful book.

This book recounts Elaine S. Dalton, 

Young Women General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,

experience training for a Marathon as her son was leaving for a mission. She decided to 

that she wanted to develop her self discipline the same way her missionary son would

be developing his. This book had me from the introduction.

Here is an Excerpt:

Strict Training

A Foundation for Virtue

When you are preparing to run a race, particularly a marathon, one of the first things to do is to work out a plan for training. You don’t just decide one day that you’ll go out and run twenty-six miles. You need a foundation of many smaller workouts, strength training, aerobic exercise, and practice runs.

When I think of foundations, I think of a photograph I once saw of three sheds, two of which were leaning on the third and smallest shed. The accompanying caption read: “You need to be strong when you are the last one to take a stand.” We too need to be strong. As we are faithful and righteous, others will look to us for support and strength.

“Taking a stand”

I strongly recommend  this book. Whether you are a runner or not, we are all in training. This book beautifully pulls two of my loves together. Running and The Gospel.


One of the cutest parts about the book is the little runner at the bottom of each page. As you turn each page the runner gets closer and closer to the finish line. Such a great touch.


You can purchase this book for yourself {Here}. It would also make a great Christmas Gift for a friend.

To Enter The Giveaway

1. Just Become a Follower of this blog. 

2. For an extra vote Follow on Facebook too.  

3. Make sure to leave a comment for each entry.

Good Luck!!!!

A Winner Will be Chosen Next Friday!!!

A Change Of Heart

Conversion By The Word Of God:
My Experience Reading The Book Of Mormon in 30 days 

About two months ago I had an impression. I felt very strongly that I needed to start blogging again. I wasn't really sure what I was suppose to blog about, only that I needed to start making an effort. It seemed like kind of a silly impression, but I decided to start keeping track of the changes that I was trying to make in my life.

Within a few weeks I stumbled across Jocelyn's idea to have a BOOK OF MORMON forum. I knew instantly that I wanted to participate. I quickly realized that while I loved The Book Of Mormon and knew that it was the Word Of God, I had one problem. How could I profess to testify and teach about a book that I had become so unfamiliar with? My scripture study had been minimal for years. My love for the Scriptures had died, and I was unfamiliar with the Voice Of The Lord.

How could I participate in a Forum about The Book Of Mormon when I hadn't even read it cover to cover since I was a missionary 13 years ago?

I felt a call to ACTION.

I felt a resolve to be BETTER.

I felt the need to CHANGE.

I knew that Jocelyn's purpose in starting The Book Of Mormon Forum was to share her testimony about the Gospel with others.

I realized that my participation was going to be sharing the gospel with Myself.

I love this quote by Elder Jeffery R. Holland:

"You can change anything you want to change, 

and you can do it very fast.

 That’s another satanic suckerpunch—

that it takes years and years and eons of eternity to repent.

 It takes exactly as long to repent as it takes you to say,

 “I’ll change”—and mean it. 

Of course there will be problems to work out and restitutions to make. 

You may well spend—indeed you had better spend—

the rest of your life proving your repentance by its permanence. 

But change, growth, renewal, and repentance can come for you 

as instantaneously as for Alma and the sons of Mosiah.

 Even if you have serious amends to make, 

it is not likely that you would qualify for the term,

 “the vilest of sinners,” 

which is the phrase Mormon uses in describing these young men. 

Yet as Alma recounts his own experience

 in the thirty-sixth chapter of the book that bears his name, 

his repentance appears to have been as instantaneous as it was stunning."

This quote is so beautiful and I believe it with all my heart. I am a different person than I was 28 days ago. I have been purified by the Word Of God. I feel Closer to My Savior. I feel determined to stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all places and in all things.

Elder Scott in his recent General Conference address reminded me that The Scriptures are like precious friendships. I have become reacquainted with them. I love them. I feel the POWER that they offer. 

I know that The Book Of Mormon bears testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Book Of Mormon is the Word Of God.

The teachings found in this book are True.

I can proudly tell you that I LOVE THIS BOOK.

I know that the Savior Lives, and Loves us.

I know that there is Peace & Safety in the Plan Of Salvation.

I know that the path to happiness is found in Righteousness.

I encourage anyone to read The Book Of Mormon.

Pray About it.

Seek after Christ.

Keep the commandments.

Be Baptized.

I found the Savior. 

And.

You. 

Can

Too.

Self Diagnosis

I have to write this down. 

Feel free to NOT read this post if it is just too much information.

Remember last year when I was at the emergency room and the ER doctor told me that my chances of having spinal meningitis were about as good as me winning the LOTTERY???
And remember when he told me not to have a spinal, but that it was up to me?
And remember how hard it was for me to decide to have a spinal but I just went with my deepest feelings which I feel to be right? (thank you Holy Ghost)
And remember when I did have Spinal Meningitis {What a way to win the lotto?} and ended up spending a week in the hospital?

Well I remember. It was so weird. But through prayer and the Holy Ghost I just sort of knew what was wrong with me.

And now I think that I have Menouria. If you knew how rare this is you would probably not pay much attention to me just like my Doctors.

Menouria is { Menstruation occurring through the urinary bladder as a result of vesicouterine fistula}

So far I'm the only one who thinks that I have this, but I REALLY think that I do.

Remember last month when I posted that horrible picture of my urine {Here}.

Well it started again today. Just out of the blue. Perfect urine...straight to Bleeding To Death Urine. So this has happened {THREE} consecutive months in a row.

Remember when my Doctor completely bisected my bladder during my C-section in February?
Remember how he then had to sew my bladder closed and I lost half of the size of my bladder?
Remember then how the nurse shoved the Foley of my catheter through my suture line and blew the Foley up inside of my Uterus.

Ya, well I think that there is still a hole there {fistula}. And I think that this is why I am so prone to infection, incontinence, and bleeding every month.

I know that people are going to think that I am nuts, but I'm going with it.

I have two doctor's appointments in American Fork next week and I am really {cross fingers} hoping that they will be able to figure out what is wrong with me.

I'm actually REALLY hoping that I am wrong. Because if I am right it will mean a major surgery to correct it.

So until I know more I am just going to keep saying my prayers, taking care of myself, working out, eating right, and trying to stay positive {which is kind of getting hard. Good thing I have the whole month of November to think about my blessings and be thankful}.

I have much to be thankful for. I really do.

Okay, I feel better.

Week 7 Report and Weigh-in

Week 7 Report and Weigh-in

Great week. I'm having a hard time saying NO to all the holiday treats that are coming my way, so today I am committing to no sugar unless it is my day off. I get one of those a week. So GOODBYE Halloween candy and SUGAR cookies!!!

Monday Oct. 17
Upper body weights Shoulders and Tri's & HITT

Tuesday Oct. 18
Ab Ripper at home

Wednesday Oct.19
Lower body Weights

Thursday Oct. 20
Off

Friday Oct. 21
Upper body Weights Back and Bi's

Saturday Oct. 22

Lower Body Weights and Plyo

Weigh-in Report 

Starting Weight: 168lbs

Last Week Weight: 159 lbs

Current Weight: 157.8 lbs

This Week's Weight Loss: -1.2 lbs

Changes I've noticed.   

Physical: My clothes are starting to fit a little looser. Nice Perk!!! Friday night during our crazy Halloween scavenger hunt I was running and my pants fell off. That was a little embarrassing. BUT the KEYWORD was I was RUNNING!!! I felt fast too.  I was sprinting as fast as I could and I felt so good and ALIVE. My piriformis was not liking me too much on Saturday. Poor sciatic nerve. But I feel better this morning so WAHOO!!!!!

Mental: I've been justifying my eating a little bit so it is time to focus on that again. My workouts are going SO GREAT, no I just need to get my eating back on track and I know the results will come quicker!

Spiritual: I'm falling behind on my Book Of Mormon reading and it is stressing me out. I am trying to catch back up. I had three really great experiences  on The Sabbath and I love that.

Sunday Thoughts: Stephens Vision, Acts 7

Today our primary lesson was on Acts chapter 7. I'm not really sure why the story of Stephen didn't ring a bell. I know that I have read it several times before, and yet I could not remember it. It was like reading it for the first time.

As Stephen is being stoned to death he looks up and being full of the Holy Ghost he sees Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God.

 55 But he, being full of the ^aHoly Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the ^bglory of ^cGod, and ^dJesus ^estanding on the^fright hand of God,

 56 And said, Behold, I ^asee the heavens ^bopened, and the ^cSon of man standing on the right ^dhand of ^eGod. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their ^aclothes at a ^byoung man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they ^astoned ^bStephen, ^ccalling upon ^dGod, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my ^espirit.

 60 And he kneeled down, and ^acried with a loud voice, ^bLord, lay not this sin to their ^ccharge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen sees God the Father and his son Jesus Christ standing next to each other.

 I know that many Christians have been taught their whole lives to believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are all the same, as in the Holy Trinity.

One major fundamental difference in the Doctrine taught by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that we believe that God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost are all separate personages; yet one in purpose.

I think that this chapter in the New Testament perfectly illustrates that they ARE separate beings.

Joseph Smith also had a vision. You can read about his vision {HERE}.

 I saw a pillar of ^clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the ^dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

When the light rested upon me I^bsaw two ^cPersonages, whose brightness and ^dglory defy all description, ^estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My^fBeloved ^gSon. Hear Him!

The prophet Joseph Smith also saw both God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Here I have shared two witnesses of God and Jesus standing side by side; Distinctly different beings.

The Prophet Joseph smith also brought forth and translated The Book Of Mormon which you can read {HERE}. 

I feel so blessed and grateful that I have this knowledge. I am so grateful for my testimony of  a loving Heavenly Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

I feel that by understanding their true nature, I am able to know them more fully and exercise faith in them more strongly.

~~~~~~~~~~

I also wanted to include a video of Scott {my super cute and awesome husband...oh, and talented too} playing his violin at a fireside last night. The camera was discretely sat on my lap so ignore the blurriness.


Scott Peterson on the Violin from Erin Peteson on Vimeo.

Hope you enjoyed it. I have a love for violin music. It cuts me to the core!!!

A-Team

Mr. T.


"I Pity da fool!"

I'm working on our Halloween costumes for our annual neighborhood party tonight.

Thought you guys might need a laugh!!!

Falling In Love With The Scriptures by Wendy Oswald

 (I asked my neighbor and new friend Wendy to write a post for me covering 

her lesson at our recent Super Saturday.

 She was nice enough to oblige me. You can fine her blog {Here}.)

I was asked to write my class down for a friend that has a blog. So after a partial clean up, I am at home to see if I can remember what I said twice today. :)

I have been thinking about this topic for two months. I decided to ask my husband about it, I like to get his opinion on things sometimes. He went in a totally different direction than I was thinking. And the more I thought about it, the more I knew he was right. So I will give a brief overview of what I was thinking to begin with and then share some of his thoughts with my new direction.

When we read scriptures, it is good to know:

    Who - is "talking" and who is being addressed
    Where -  they are
    What - is being said and what is going on.

Knowing these things is helpful to keep track of the story.

My husband got me thinking about the Why. And then I went to the General Relief Society Broadcast and listened to President Uchtdorf. One on his 5 'forget nots' was forget not the why. And I knew that was what I needed to focus on.

Why do we read the scriptures? (This a discussion part. Feel free to add items to the list.)

1. It is a commandment.
2. To learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus.
3. To invite the Holy Ghost into our day.
4. Our homes are more peaceful when we do read
5. To be an example to our children.
6. To find answers.
7. When we need comfort.

I loved Elder Scott's conference address from this past Conference (October 2011). He basically gave my assignment. Here are some of the "whys" he gave for reading the scriptures.

1. "They are readily available.
2. Inspired communication from the Holy Ghost - Pure Truth.
3. Foundation of truth.
4. Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation.
5. Calm an agitated soul.
6. Heal emotional challenges.
7. Accelerate physical healing -- I did not know this one.
8. Blessed with an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord.
9. Blessed with a greater resolve to obey.
10. Blessed with a stronger testimony.
11. Greater happiness, peace and attainment in this life."

Elder Scott also encouraged us to memorize scriptures. He shared some of his favorites.

It reminded me of my life. When I was a Merrie Miss in the Primary, we were encouraged to memorize the Articles of Faith. There was a scripture to memorize for each Article. The scripture that I remember from then is Amos 3:7 "For surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

When I was senior in high school, someone I loved and trusted tried to destroy my testimony. This person had wandered from the Church and has lost their testimony. I spent a long night afraid that what I had believed all my life might be wrong. I was too afraid to pray. But my whole being was focused on this question. I believe this can be a form of prayer. I don't think I slept that night. When the dawn broke the scripture I had memorized six years earlier rang through my soul, and I knew that prophets spoke directly with God. That experience and answer are the bed rock of my testimony. When I am in turmoil, I can "cast [my] mind upon the night that [I] cried unto [him] in [my] heart, that [I] might know concerning the truth. . ." And I testify that he "[spoke] peace to [my] mind concerning the matter." (see D&C 6:22 - 23).

That scripture was definitely my friend that night, and in all my troubles since. Knowing that, I am a bit ashamed that I have not continued in my efforts to memorize scriptures. Elder Scott has encouraged me to begin again.

We are blessed to have the scriptures in our homes. It has not always been so. Elder Christofferson related the story of William Tyndale in his address in April 2010. He determined to translate the Bible into English. He had to hide in Germany to work on his translation. He was eventually found and imprisoned for 18 months in a dark, damp cell. Then he was executed. The prophets who wrote the scriptures were at times killed for their testimonies. The brave Reformers often were killed for their efforts to bring the scriptures to the common man. Today we are the beneficiaries of these brave and true men. We often have multiple copies of the scriptures in our homes.

So now the question is How do we read them.

The first time I read the Old Testament, I had just received my mission call. I wondered how I could be a missionary if I had not read the scriptures. So, in an attempt to be obedient, I read the Old Testament. For many years, I considered it as checked off my to do list.

Then I decided to read it again. The second time, I read it with the Institute Manual. These manuals are prepared by the Church education department. They offer testimonies and stories of modern prophets, explanations of ancient culture and vocabulary and insights to ancient geography.

I have found the more I read the Old Testament, the more I love it. And that can be said of every standard work.

I picked one of my favorite verses from four of the standard works to share.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path."  Proverbs 3:5 - 6

Just before His arrest and death, Jesus told his apostles: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth , give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."   John 14:27

After Moroni had been alone for a long time. He had already written what he thought was his last words in the book that would bear his father's name. He included two of his fathers personal letters. The entire world that he knew had fallen into wickedness. Mormon described briefly the depravity of the Lamanites and the worse state of the Nephites. He said, ". . . I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me. But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved." In that evil time, a righteous father raised a righteous son. Moroni 9: 21 - 22

Our lives are filled with things to do. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed that we feel like we are running in circles. Jesus told Joseph Smith, ". . . Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee." We need to make time where we can be still and quiet so we can hear Him. D&C 5: 34

The scriptures are a gift - from a God that loves us.
They are an invitation - for us to follow Him.
They are a map - for us to know the way.
They are love notes - from our Father who wants us to return to Him.

Let us open them, and read them, and love them.