We lived after the manner of happiness . . .

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi listed several of the activities (2 Nephi 5) that he and his people were doing and summed up their lives with “...(we) lived after the manner of happiness.” (2 Nephi 5:27)

This is Nephi’s outlook even though he and his family were told to “...flee into the wilderness...” and start a new community to save their lives. They weren't popular or safe.

I love Nephi’s list. I agree with Nephi’s list. I want to share Nephi’s list. I think it's useful to anyone that wants to incorporate more happiness into their lives.

For the next few weeks, I'll post Nephi's insights along with a comment and picture about how that behavior has also brought me happiness.

Multiply

2 Nephi 5:13  And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.


Like you, our family means everything to Calvin and me.  Knowing that the family is central and so very important to our Heavenly Father brings to me a sense of solemnity and reverence about marriage and child bearing/rearing.

Our happiest memories come from family moments -- most often simple and routine events.

The newest member of our family is Inman Ray Follett.  He was born in August to Ray and Cali.

When Ray called to say Inman was born, I felt a feeling of celebration -- another baby had come to earth to experience the wonder of living far away from where we came.  Levin and Atlas, Inman's older brothers, felt it too.  They were riding their bikes on the family driveway when they heard the news.  I watched them cheer and holler, "Yay!  Yay!  Ya! It's a boy!  Let's celebrate!  We've got another brother!" for at least ten minutes.

Creating a family and being a wife, mother, and grandmother brings me lots and lots of happiness. Even amidst the sad and difficult times, knowing that I am a part of a family -- a bigger piece, a bigger plan -- gives me the desire to keep working to make things better, happier.

I love this familiar video.  Knowing that God loves being my Father, just like I love being a mother and grandmother, gives me a feeling of being wanted that soothes the deepest aching of my soul.

We lived after a manner of happiness . . .

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi listed several of the activities (2 Nephi 5) that he and his people were doing and summed up their lives with “...(we) lived after the manner of happiness.” (2 Nephi 5:27)

This is Nephi’s outlook even though he and his family were told to “...flee into the wilderness...” and start a new community to save their lives. They weren't popular or safe.

I love Nephi’s list. I agree with Nephi’s list. I want to share Nephi’s list. I think it's useful to anyone that wants to incorporate more happiness into their lives.

For the next few weeks, I'll post Nephi's insights along with a comment and picture about how that behavior has also brought me happiness.

(Unbeknownst to me, our grandson Levin took this picture [including the filter] a couple
of months ago.  It depicts repentance to me, for there isn't a day that goes by that my day
doesn't need some correcting done to it.

Repentance

2 Nephi 5:22 " . . . they shall be loathsome . . . save they shall repent of their iniquities."

Though he was referring to another group of people in this verse, the truth applies to all of us.  Repentance is the quickest way I know to drop 100 pounds.  The relief the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings when we repent is glorious.

I've shared this experience before, but it taught me so clearly about sin and repentance I'd like to post it again.

We had two service stations close to where we lived. Hollister, Idaho, population 87, supported Dude’s and Monte’s. Dude’s was on one side of the highway and Monte’s was on the other. Our family shopped at Dude’s. I don’t ever remember my parents stepping foot on Monte’s gravel. However, one summer when my grandmother and aunt came to visit I went with them to gas up Aunt Cleo’s car. They pulled into Monte’s because the gas was cheaper by one penny—I think it was 32 cents a gallon. I felt like a traitor being on the other side of the road and hoped Dude didn’t see us and tell my dad.  Just being at Monte's felt daring and a bit sinful.

I went to Monte’s one other time. Every Tuesday morning in the summer we went to Primary (a church program for children). Each child took a few pennies to Primary and put them in a box for the Primary Children’s Hospital in SLC, Utah. We had a Primary rule that you could not leave the church grounds, but the church didn’t have penny candy and pop, Dude’s and Monte’s did. However, they were down the road from the church and therefore off limits . . . and a sore temptation.

This particular Tuesday morning, (I must have been about five years old) I decided to save my penny and not put it in the sick children’s box, but go to the store and buy a little black licorice candy instead. When our leaders dismissed us for classes, I sneaked out the door and headed for Monte’s. Even though our family always shopped at Dude’s, Dude’s was on the other side of the highway from the church and since I knew I wasn’t supposed to cross the road by myself, I took my penny to Monte’s. I panicked, however, when I got in his unfamiliar store because no one was inside. Monte must have been out back doing his chores so the store was silent, except for me helping myself to the jar on the counter. I waited with my candy, but no one came. I feared they would miss me at Primary if I didn’t hurry back, but still no one came to take my penny and I was not going to leave without my piece of candy—it had taken too much thought to get it. I waited a few more moments and then finally put my penny on the counter and started to leave. When I got to the door, I realized someone might take my penny then it would be like I stole the licorice baby, so I turned around and picked up the penny and got more frightened and confused on what I should do. Then, I had a great idea: I would put the coin in the bottom of the Reeses’ candy bar box. When the last Reeses was gone and Monte was ready to throw the box away, he’d find my penny. I dropped the coin in the box and covered it under a candy bar and hurried outside. The minute I hit the bright sunshine I wanted to melt and hide. I knew I’d done wrong.

I hurried through the crested-wheat borrow-pit back to the church and was met at the door by Elsie and Vera, two of our Primary leaders. They asked me if I’d been to the store and I said that I had. They asked me why, and I blurted, “I had to buy mustard for my mom.” They told me to run along and play baseball with the other children, but I didn’t feel like it. I felt so ashamed I went straight to the car, hid behind the seat and pulled my sweater over my head and waited till Primary was over. I didn’t play outside at home for the rest of the day, either.

That incident haunted me for years. Many times when we drove by the weigh station (which my brother told me had a holding cell in it for criminals and thieves) I worried they’d sense a thief in the car and chase us down so they could lock me up. I worried I’d get to heaven and Jesus would be ashamed of me and say He never knew me. Sometimes I could forget about the penny and candy, but then Susie, our Sunday school teacher would recite some dreadfully, scary poem like the “Jabberwocky” and I’d remember all over again and wonder what hell would feel like. I never told a soul about my stolen licorice candy.

Finally, when I was seventeen I went to Monte and, with a dime for inflation, told him what I'd done and apologized.  It was a huge relief to let the air out of that secret. Somehow when I was holding it by myself it kept expanding, the minute I repented and told Monte it went back down to a size I could carry.

A few years ago, Calvin and I stopped at an old fashioned candy store with barrels and barrels of obsolete candy.  I found the little licorice candies and bought some, wondering if they were as good as I had remembered.  No, they were not.  They were terrible.  However, I still keep those licorice candy in my drawer at work to remind me that sin, no matter how small, does not bring happiness.  Not one bit.

We lived after the manner of happiness . . .

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi listed several of the activities (2 Nephi 5) that he and his people were doing and summed up their lives with “...(we) lived after the manner of happiness.” (2 Nephi 5:27)

This is Nephi’s outlook even though he and his family were told to “...flee into the wilderness...” and start a new community to save their lives. They weren't popular or safe.

I love Nephi’s list. I agree with Nephi’s list. I want to share Nephi’s list. I think it's useful to anyone that wants to incorporate more happiness into their lives.

For the next few weeks, I'll post Nephi's insights along with a comment and picture about how that behavior has also brought me happiness.

Our grandson Henry gave a textbook-perfect response to this project.
I laid the quilt on the floor to finish it, and Henry climbed right on top of it.
He said, "Look!  There's a car!  Look!  There's a man swimming!  Look!  There's Pooh!"
He was excited with each discovery.  Then Henry measured his hands against
the stitched hand prints around the side trying to find his and guessing
which handprint went with which cousin.

Creativity

2 Nephi 5:16  " . . . the workmanship was exceedingly fine."

Cali was making an "I Spy" quilt for her children and asked if I wanted the leftover scraps to make a napping quilt for our grandkids.  Indeed I did.

I used her scraps and added a few more, then on a few snow-days last winter put them together using replica 1930 aunt grace fabric as the alternate blocks.  I asked each mother in the family to send me the hand print of their children and stitched those on the quilt border along with the child's name. 

The stitches are far from perfect, the binding even less so, but Henry responded without prompting to it just like I hoped.  He looked from square to square excitedly telling me the unique things he found.   President Deiter F. Uchtdorf said, "What you create doesn't have to be perfect" and Henry made that clear to me.

I had a fun time stitching the hand prints, shopping for the fabric, laying out the pattern, and creating something bright, fun, and cheerful for our home and grandchildren. 

I have learned that when Calvin is creating in his shop, be it bows, guns, bullets, or wood projects, and I'm creating in my fort (water-heater-closet-turned-into-a-craft-room) that we find a particular happiness and excitement with the long winter nights.  Much more so than watching TV.  Creating makes us happy.

"The desire to create is one of the deepest desires of the human soul." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

We lived after the manner of happiness . . .

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi listed several of the activities (2 Nephi 5) that he and his people were doing and summed up their lives with “...(we) lived after the manner of happiness.” (2 Nephi 5:27)

This is Nephi’s outlook even though he and his family were told to “...flee into the wilderness...” and start a new community to save their lives. They weren't popular or safe.

I love Nephi’s list. I agree with Nephi’s list. I want to share Nephi’s list.  I think it's useful to anyone that wants to incorporate more happiness into their lives.

For the next few weeks, I'll post Nephi's insights along with a comment and picture about how that behavior has also brought me happiness.

Keep the Commandments

2 Nephi 5:10  And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things . . . 

All commandments fall under the umbrella of the first and second great commandments to love God and our fellowman.  

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”  Matthew 22:37–40

I've yet to find a commandment that doesn't make me happier once I obey it. President Henry B. Eyring said, "a loving Heavenly Father has set the same path to happiness for all of His children. Whatever our personal characteristics or whatever will be our experiences, there is but one plan of happiness. That plan is to follow all the commandments of God."  Each commandment from God helps me to become more like Him, while each commandment I break keeps me a slave to my imperfect state.  Like Nephi, I know that freedom, and happiness, is found in obedience.  

We lived after the manner of happiness . . .

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi listed several of the activities (2 Nephi 5) that he and his people were doing and summed up their lives with “...(we) lived after the manner of happiness.” (2 Nephi 5:27)

This is Nephi’s outlook even though he and his family were told to “...flee into the wilderness...” and start a new community to save their lives. They weren't popular or safe.

I love Nephi’s list. I agree with Nephi’s list. I want to share Nephi’s list.  I think it's useful to anyone that wants to incorporate more happiness into their lives.

For the next few weeks, I'll post Nephi's insights along with a comment and picture about how that behavior has also brought me happiness.

Ray and Cali and family were here visiting when Inman was a newborn. 
He was slipping in weight and we needed an accurate ounce to ounce weighing.
We made the most of what we had -- a large bowl and a kitchen scale.
(Yes, you're right, he does look like an Anne Geddes fail.) 

Make the most of what I have.

2 Nephi 5:16  And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

When I make the most of what I have rather than mourning or coveting something that I don't have, I feel a satisfaction and happiness that goes to my core.  I know this is true not only with "things," but with talents.  When I give the Lord what I do have rather than worrying that what I have to give isn't enough or very good, I find He multiplies my offering like He did the loaves and fishes when He fed the multitudes (Matthew 14:19) and can do wonders with what I gave (Joshua 3:5) and make it better than I offered.

Over 17 Pictures for 17th of October 2017

Lots of pictures documenting our lives this month.

Joe:  This seems appropriate given the 18 kittens
that Calvin and Jane inherited this year.  

Ande:  I have a tendency to over-commit myself--especially when it comes to Young Women's.
In the middle of designing and crafting my way through an Egyptian themed escape room.

Story time. Zeph accidentally wore Ezra's pants...
which meant they were too short and the waist was too big.
Ezra had his underwear on backwards and had a crack
showing anytime he moved. It didn't stop either boy from dancing.
It might have stopped me from letting them dress themselves.

Scriptures and Doritos.

Winnie shaking a leg at story time.

Ty: At noon, I took 12ish packages inside.
When I came back to the PIT Pad around 5, I saw this.
One more package came an hour later. Also I bought SEVEN tvs! I felt ridiculous.

Michelle: Eliza took a super flattering picture of me at the store today

Afton: I found my shadow during my soccer game.

Eliza: Kathryn and I helped Mom look for marshmallows
at the store today so she could satisfy a s’more craving.

Kathryn: Mom tried to help me wake up from my nap by opening the curtains and blinds.
When she came back to check on me a minute later, she learned I’m smarter than she thought.
And then she let me sleep for another hour.

Abe - playing LEGOs with the kids.

Abe - playing LEGOs with the kids.

Grace- had fun making faces with Henry today.

Henry:  Builds legos all day, every day.

Hazel- bath time with Henry!

Ray: Levin's winning battleship configuration . . . This will remain one
of life's great mysteries how his boats evaded being hit.

Ray:  If you think they're tough now just wait till they're 17.

Cali:  A newborn no more. I keep reminding myself that it only gets better,
because it really does, but I'm sure sad to leave this phase.
My favorite thing to do with Inman is hold him throughout the evening.

Levin:  He begs to hold Inman all times of the day,
and sings him the two lullabies he knows.

Atlas:  Helpfully spreading my newly swept pile. 
I'm told it's really important
to have kids help even when it isn't very helpful . . . 

Folletts:  Why we moved . . . wide open space and room to run . . . .
and a paved driveway.

Calvin:  Helped Ty buy and install things for the new "pitpad." 
The pit pad is a rental home for Air Force pilots in training.

Jane: Work. (Yes, you're right. One of these is not like the others. Br Toone is 7' tall.)
Several men from the LDS Seminaries & Institutes Northwest Area
are in town for training purposes. They are genuine men who
work hard to teach and help youth and young adults
learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I learn a lot from them.

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." — Dr. Seuss

Recently a colleague said his son builds bridges for a living.  Knowing his son has a baby, I said, “Would you like a children’s book recommendation for your grandchild?"

He said, "Yes!  I'm always looking for good books."

I replied, "Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty.  Rosie Revere, Engineer, by the same author is a great one, too.”

I love children's books and nothing makes me happier than seeing our children read to their children and our grandchildren read to each other.  

Ezra (2) reading
The Big Hungry Bear and the Red, Ripe Strawberry 
to Winnie (1)

Cali reading Diary of the Worm to Atlas, Henry, and Levin

Abe reading to Hazel

Grandpa Calvin and Grandma Jane reading to Afton, Eliza, and Kathryn at the Page's home.

I often share this couplet because I really do believe it:  Richer than I you can never be, for I had a mother/father who read to me.  (Strickland Gillilan)

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be a reader.  Reading levels the playing field.

If you have any good books you like, do tell!

Life-Hack #162

Even back when they were just called "tips" I loved life-hacks. In fact, "Housekeeping Tips" is the book I chose to take to the hospital to read while I was in labor.  In between contractions, I read new ideas for removing stains from counter tops and organizing kitchen cupboards.

A life-hack I recently learned is how to chill a drink (say a fruit smoothie).  Wrap the cup in a wet paper towel and place it in the freezer for ten-fifteen minutes.  The drink chills quickly.

But, the best life-hack I've ever learned is found in 1 Nephi 16:2 ". . . the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center."  

When I was in high school (and the oldest girl at home), my mother quit functioning.  Day after day she lay in bed, reading novels or sleeping.  It was down-right depressing.  There were still four or five of us kids at home and much of the homekeeping, cooking, and care of my younger brother and sisters became my responsibility.  I was active in school, church, athletics, and service opportunities and the load felt heavy.  Very heavy.  While I learned a lot of valuable skills during these years, I was frustrated and easily peeved.

One day an older sister who was temporarily home said, "Do you know what your problem is?  You're selfish.  That's what the problem is."

I saw red.  I was so angry.  I mentally ticked off every thing I was doing to take care of hearth and home.  I was certain if she helped more she'd see it wasn't me that was the problem.  I rationalized no selfish person would do what I was doing.

And then this phrase " . . . the guilty taketh the truth to be hard . . ." played in my heart and head.  I argued with its logic, but I knew that my anger signaled my guilt.  It took me time, but I came to realize that while I may have been doing a whole lot of things, I wasn't doing them for the right reason or with a good attitude.  I felt sorry for myself and resentful of others and the situation.  The circumstances never did change, but I like to think I did. That day I learned an important life-hack that I will need my whole life.