NYC Marathon: A Story of Finishing and New Beginnings
First weekend in November is a big deal for Marathoners from all over the world. It’s the ING New York City Marathon. After living in the city for a couple of years, becoming a runner, undertaking a marathon elsewhere and loving it, I decided I wanted to be a part of one of the biggest [...]
Forget Not
Like many of you, I attended the Saturday night Relief Society broadcast at my stake center and came away feeling spiritually rejuvenated and replenished. I listened with interest to Sister Beck’s talk about the history, purpose, and vision of Relief Society (can’t wait to read the new book!), Sister Allred’s thoughts on charity (note to [...]
Justice, Mercy, and Other Mysteries (Also, It’s Time to Send Your Submission to Our Journal)
Last fall I talked briefly about how, in 1999, we discovered that my husband’s trusted business partner had been embezzling large sums of money and engaging in some other dishonest business practices that put my husband’s company in jeopardy and almost drove us to bankruptcy. This man had stood in the priesthood circle just months [...]
Waiting on the Lord
Teasing, my husband called it graffiti from a religious fanatic. But I loved the scripture painted over my kitchen table: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 How [...]
Abundance
When the economy crashed in 2008 I had no idea that my husband and I would still be struggling financially nearly three years later. My husband is an entrepreneur/real estate developer, so we’ve been especially hard hit by the recession. While my husband tolerates financial risk and uncertainty quite well—he’s an entrepreneur, after all—I crave [...]
Give Thanks? For This?
I was asked to teach the lesson in Relief Society this Sunday based on President Thomas S. Monson’s talk in the most recent General Conference entitled, “The Divine Gift of Gratitude.” I read and re-read this wonderful talk, highlighting appropriate quotes about gratitude: “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it [...]
Mourning the Plan
When the doorbell rang at 7:30 in the morning, I wasn’t sure I should answer it. Who would be coming over so early in the morning? I peeked out the window and saw it was a FedEx delivery man. Did I order something online? I was briefly excited for the morning surprise. As I grabbed [...]
Slow Down
In the summer of 1999 my husband discovered that his business partner had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars of company money and, worse, had double collateralized on a significant business loan and line of credit in my husband’s name. As the whole sordid mess came to light and the bank demanded immediate repayment of [...]
Multiple Choice
I flipped through my journal last night, reading entries from this summer, looking for something to inspire this post. The only writing I’ve done since last spring has been in my journal. I let got of editing duties here and only blogged once in the last few months because I wanted to go easy on [...]
When Faith Makes it Harder
I believe in God– oh I do!– every mountain and flower and newborn babe shouts His name to me. But I’m struggling now to know if He is good– if His plan is truly one of happiness. Usually, I turn to God in times of distress, but right now it is His doctrines– especially the [...]
Refiner’s Fire
Today’s post is by Catherine Kemeny Gambrell. This piece on motherhood adds to a popular UP CLOSE segment for May. Catherine is an anything-but-stay-at-home mom to the world’s two most beautiful, entertaining, and sleepless children! She currently lives in northern Utah with her seminary teacher husband of 8 years. Together they enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, cycling, and [...]
On Turning Eight
This month’s Up Close topic is “The Complexities of Motherhood.” This week’s post is written by Andrea Rediske as she reflects on being the mother of a disabled child turning eight. I am eight years old. My little brother has just been born and there is chaos and confusion at home – relatives coming and [...]
Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd
Today’s Up Close guest post is by Sunny Smart. She is a stay at home mom with four wonderful, hilarious kiddos and one hard-working, good-natured husband. She has battled depression at various times in her life and to varying degrees. She wanted to share her story so that others who suffer silently and alone might [...]
Rock the Boat (don’t tip the boat over…)
You know how you can pinpoint the exact place and time you were when you learned about the events on September 11th? Certain days become frozen in time; indelible impressions that mark a change. On 9-11 I was leaving to shop for a washing machine. My in-laws were visiting. My mother-in-law was upstairs ironing. There [...]
It’s a Miracle…
Miracle Max: Have fun storming the castle! Valerie: Do you think it will work? Miracle Max: It would take a miracle… As a scientist, I’m automatically skeptical of anything with the word “miracle” in it: miracle cure, miracle weight loss, miracle hair restoration, etc. Usually if something claims to be a “miracle” there is some [...]
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