Life is Hard and then you die.

Details and Questions you might not really want to know...

My daughter messaged me asking me what questions I might have wished I had answers for concerning the care for others in my home before I took in the Aunt, The Uncle, the Mother, so... I went to look for journals to see how and what I was feeling and ended up going thru "things" again!   I found the pictures of the youth National Guard in Denver in 1930 who's in this picture dad or uncle Otis; further investigation required!

I also found a couple pictures of my sister that I don't think I've ever seen before, she was nine.

Also, I ran across a baggie of letters my mom saved that were from my dad. He had written them before they were married and the first couple of years after they were married; new insight and also, much further investigation required.  

So, the purpose for this initial investigation was journals.  I tend to get distracted, and thanks for this day of digging into the past, daughter of mine!!!
While reviewing these things and thinking about this topic the last couple of days my thought goes to my first response to the question at hand - What do I wish I would have known before caring for the elderly in my home? My answer is - I think that it would be best to not know anything! wink wink! I think for me, it was best to have not known what was ahead of me, because I might not of done it, sad to say. 😷 These are the things that I learned that I didn't know I really needed to know and now know that I never really wanted to know!

1. It is possible your Extended family will hate you no matter what you do... you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.
2. Your immediate family that lives in your house loses time, involvement, connection with you and does without, because you're so consumed with caring for this person so much that your other daily "need to dos" are lost. Depending on the needs of the person you're caring for it's time consuming, it can be all consuming. Personalities and chemistries are involved and need to be taken into consideration, in this decision and yet personalities of the patient might change.  Someone who is kind and considerate their whole life can become mean and vindictive- vice versa.
3. You'll never love someone like you love them after you've cared for them while they are sick, from taking their temperature to administering pills to bathing them, to reading to them, crying and laughing with them, to making promises to them that you'll fulfill after they're gone. The gratitude and love they express brings joy, blessings and humility your way.
4. Tips on how to hire would have been good to know. The people that you hire to come fill the void's; pick up the slack when you can't do it anymore well they tend to be minimum wage people, not necessarily in it for really caring for this person that you love. I ended up with drug users, drug stealers, misc. thieves, well; a little bit of everything in my house.  I didn't know ahead of time that I was getting into this thats for sure. I guess I figured the company I used had vetted them, that they were bonded, but you know what they say about people who assume and that was me!
5. You might need a little education in law, power of attorney - choices that are going to be made by you for this person - guardianship that's required. How best to help this person with their money.  Note that it's possible your person might have the means to take care of themselves - you would think this is a good thing but it can avail the patient no Medicare and some places don't want to take care of said person if they have money, whereas if patient has no money everybody wants said person because the government helps the company, you know like school lunch!  I also found quality of care changed after the private pay money was all used and, not in a good way.
6. Emotions are high both for the person you're caring for and for the caregiver. The caregiver needs to be surrounded by people who will help the caregiver.  If that is not available this choice should not be made. In my opinion.
7. What to document, what not to document, what to make public what to keep private in this crazy media, social media world I think it's important to know what should be kept private and what should be documented at least in a journal somewhere.  
8. People who aren't even related will still judge you, will still throw you under the bus and spew out their opinion of what you're doing causing lots of conflict everywhere between friends and family.

It's a tough choice choosing to bring someone into your home and care for them or even just going to their home to care for them yes, even helping them when they're in a care facility it all can be hard on everybody.

In correlation to #MyHappinessProject January is my month of #Civility, subtitled *"hearken unto His words" brings me back to the original question - Things I wish I would've known? My answer I think still is I wish I wouldn't of known any of it because maybe I wouldn't of done it.  But, let me clarify the joy that it brought me and the satisfaction that I know I did my best is how I live with myself today.
I like what Wendall Philips said "How prudently most men creep into nameless graves, while now and then one or two forget themselves into immortality!"   Ohh that we could all forget ourselves and be helpers.  We want to live in a civil world we have to make our surroundings moral, virtuous and keep our principles high, if we don't do that how do we live with ourselves?  Gordon B. Hinckley sums it up when he states "Caring for others, seeing and reaching beyond our own wants comforts, cultivating kindness and gentility toward others from all of life's situations and circumstances -- these are of the essence of civility, a virtue to be admired, a virtue to be acquired."

I say that in this day and age we have got to look out for each other practice civility and yes I believe the ripples will last through to other generations.

* Matthew 25:40 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/25?lang=eng) and I also love Alma 34( https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/34?lang=eng) this chapter lists so many things we can do and pray for and about BUT if we don't help people out we pretty much suck! see verse 28!  Maybe we could take that into our daily lives in how we treat each other at home, online, at work, in public and in private! We don't have to look to far or go to much out of our way to find someone that needs a good word or a kind deed.

Don't waste time being offended

A deep thought for those I love in a world of taking offense and darkness... One time when AZ (he's my youngest son) was a few months old my brother, my oldest brother Tim shook him unnecessarily screaming in his face and then laughed.  Lets be clear he did this just for the hell of it! He'd been drinking as usual. I took my baby away from him, I yelled at him and we all sat back down to visit.  Later Timmy apologized picked up AZ and did it again! That night my other brother, Tom (I call my little brother he's seven years older than me) slept on the floor by my daughter AA  who was sleeping on the couch, he did so with a gun in his hand --  I'm only assuming that it was because he was afraid of what might happen. My point here is I was offended I was so offended that I didn't speak to my brother Tim for 10 years.  My brother Timmy never shook me or struck me, I admired him and looked up to him so much. He was fun, funny, loving, he told the best stories, he had the best laugh, he could be kind generous and hilarious. He was a great worker. A soldier to be proud of.  He loved carpentery work and brick work.  When he came home from Panama I didn't think there was anything in the world better or cooler than Tim Michael McCoy my brother a green beret!  Don't get me wrong he could scare the crap out of me he had serious PTSD when he came home from Vietnam and he drank way too much! But I regress, Back to my point I was offended And because of that wasted 10 years of not talking to him. While social media allows us to all get to know each other and be closer we can also be offended. While friends, family, neighbors think other friends family and neighbors don't live life right or are not doing whatever they think they should be doing one can be offended. I just want to take this opportunity to encourage us not to be offended.  To let ya'll in on a little secret I don't use or appreciate the Fword, I don't like porn, I don't like some politics, I dont care for some of the memes that get posted!!!  But if I'm friends with you on social media its for a reason maybe I admire you, or I really am interested in your outlook on life, maybe I love you, I love your kids and I love being able to see you through the marvelous invention of technology. I don't know why I didn't get to know some of you better than others of you but another little secret - I'm not deleting you. I'm not walking away offended!   Everyday and every night I pray for good things to happen in your lives and for you to like yourselves and be your best selves to and for those you have in your family here and now.  Start now to Not be on the defense always being offending, putting up walls, blocking interaction, connections we all need! Choose instead to Be Positive, no regrets of 10 years that you will never ever get back being offended. I do what I can when I can to support you and know you with what is available to me. This world teaches us to be offended let's choose to not be. I should have told Timmy "you're an idiot" and moved on versus my choice of being prideful and holding a grudge only making Me jaded and dark.   I love my brother and I miss him.  #spreadthelove #standtall #volunteerPTSD #findjoy #LightTheWorld #dontBeOffended #beforgiving #usewisejudment #lovetheoneyourwith #dontJudge #familiesareforever #peaceout

Am I talking to You or to Me?

Trifle not with sacred things

2014 Larry Kacher

• accept by faith those things you can not understand
• your Choices do not only affect you
• riptides can take many in the current of life
• establish patterns in your home
• develop righteous currents

Dang Discipline

Jan 2014!!!
Too Walk or not to Walk?
to eat or not to eat?
to run or not to run?
to watch Tv or not to watch TV?
to Watch naughty or not to watch?
to read it or not to read it?
to clean the house or not to clean the house?
to wash the windows not or later?
to sweep, or dust or vacuum?
to do the dishes before the meal or after!
to make the kids go to bed at sundown or midnight?
to have sex or not to have sex?
to listen to Rock, rap, alternative, hymns or Country?
To count calories, carbs or fat grams?
To write or not to write?
To dance or not to Dance?
To go to church, watch football, or sleep?
To Drink or not to Drink?
To hit or let be hit?

I found that as a draft in my blog today!  I feel exactly like this today! Jan 2016!!!
I am circling the two year drain in my indecisive, what do I do with my life nature of the now, the -- today! Thinking...what the heck?! 

I think it's something about the new year.
I desire to...
I want to...
I long to...
and so many days later 
if nobody else 
desires too...
wants too...
or longs too...
(Am I the only one who thinks like this?) I find myself asking... 
"What the Heck does it matter then?"

this train of thought though, I'm sure is why Donald Ressler had sex with Samar and why, well, why people give up and why people make choices that aren't good for them. 
I want to make good choices!
I can make good choices!
I will make good choices for me!

FIND a Direction, A Focus, A Positive reference!  writing snaps me out of it usually, like now!  I'm grateful for my own weird little quirks they make me who I am and I'm grateful to be me!

I "POaST" about my life ... 1971 - 1972 9th Grade

POWELL JUNIOR HIGH

At the beginning of the 9th grade I was the bomb! I thought being the top of the grade chain was the best.  I was in Swing Choir, I loved school, my teachers, and even the dreaded SEMINARY!  Since our school was brand new we didn't have a seminary building yet so we walked to the Alma School Rd. Church Building. But it was all good.  I loved going there, this was a way for our whole stake of youth to actually merge together find common ground.  And then it happened.  I got Mono.  I don't know how, when where or why.  All I know is we were sitting at the Whataburger and I mentioned that my throat hurt and my glands were swollen. Next thing I know I am in the doctors office and he is telling me I have mono and asking who I've been kissing lately!  I was horrified.  It was like Marcus Welby MD and any moment I was going to have to hand over a list of people I'd been kissing, (if indeed I had been kissing anyone)!!! The Doctor prescribed... Bed rest for 2 weeks and penicillin.  At the end of the week I tried to go back to school afterall I was at the top of my game - I needed to get back there.  The penicillin has made me break out in GIANT RED BLOTCHES all over my pasty white skin, I was so embarrassed, teased and laughed at as I went around to my classes getting homework assignments and to my locker to get my books, because of that I was horrified and retreated quickly back home to my roll away couch!  I got sicker instead of better.  I ended up with bad case of mono and too, a deep hard to breathe case of pleurisy! I was out of school for 3 months.  Urlene brought me home my assignments.  I laid on our roll out coach, home alone, weak, and puny for months.  I did school from home. In late nov when I returned we still had to walk to the church, I couldn't do it, I was still too weak.  My mom happened to work right up the street so she would come and drive me to the  church and everyone would jump on the car and tag along, it was the only thing that made this terribly depressing turn of events livable.  The fact that others thought it was fun to get a ride to seminary.

Nancee

me

Friends shift again Dale Childers, Sherman Davis, Charlie, Kevin, Jane, Debbie and Sheila of course no Sandy or Nancee they are back at Mesa Jr... This year Nancee and her family were in a car wreck and her little sister Lauree died it was really really hard on her.  She got a concussion and now has a metal plate in her head.  She could have died too. It was a hard dark time for her.  
Urlene is coming and going her mom ... it's all very hard on us. Our moms are sick alot!  
The teachers are very cool this year. The Drama teacher I really liked her, Mrs. Carlson. I really like drama the lights especially. I got to work the technical side of the plays this year.  I love Mrs. Garrett - Choir!  I note in my diary that Mr. Thompson (the shop teacher) is out-a-sight!  
I'm always busy with Mutual. But a bit rebellious. For instance it is a given that you don't wear pants, and at times I do!  Also For ward dances I like to do the music. If I play songs that are not appropriate when it's coming to that part I DJ with "SNOWBALL" and start the song again! I think I'm so much smarter than the adults about these things like I think I'm getting away with something.

9th grade

A high light of this year would be going to Teen-Elect! No one from Mesa Jr. attended? Weird because it's me stake.  It was so great. We learned manners at the table and how to dance proper! I enjoyed it so much and loved seeing everyone and dancing.  Of course you know me any time I can dance life is groovy throw in some boys and food - I'm happy as can be!!  I really love going to mutual, to church even. I pay my tithing from working at WIllis Linen and Babysitting and I participate in all the extra circulars. I love girls camp, Dance Festival, Speech Festivals, firesides, you name it I love how I feel when I am there.

speaking of seminary... Brother Randall was our 9th grade teacher. Poor Brother Randall. I'm sorry. I have to say first, WOW!   Debbie and I gave that man a run for his first year of teaching. I think maybe he even quit after the first year I'm sure we were to blame. Again I'm sorry.  

• One time he called Debbies mom - I'm sure to tell her that we were acting out. The next day Debbie shook hands with him and told him she was gonna tell her Dad that he was calling her mom and acting so alarmed that he would "come on" to her mother. HE was horrified, his face turned white I'll never forget the look on his face or the laugh of Debbie Harper.  WOW!  
• Another time we went into class - he always met us and shook hands with us.  I then went behind the door he called roll I said here. But the whole time I was behind the door.  I was eating an orange and throwing the peelings out into the class. I could hear the kids laughing but Brother Randall just kept on teaching. Afterward Deb told me he just kept looking around to see where I was and never did figure it out. I shook hands with him on the way out he looked so confused. (all of this of course is My perspective I wonder what he was really doing or thinking of me).
• When we got into our new building the building had the coolest sliding chalkboards. I went in before class and wrote bad words on the hidden part of the chalk board and when he slide it over to write on it ... BAM! the class roared.

From Moms Notes; It has been an eventful year-- with heartaches a plenty at Mothers Death and that of several very dear friends and the seperation of Timmy and his family.  Timmy finished a course in Motel Management and will begin doing so after the holidays. Until then he is working with Tim at the stable. Tom is making money shoing horses. He works nights at the butter factory and rodeos on the weekends. Judyann awarded a CPS certification -- we are proud of her. She is secretary for Comptroller of ASU she spends her weekends in Rocky Point. 

I'm sure that their are more stories but you get the drift, I was awful and must have needed attention, but I did like to make my friends laugh.

Grandma Gladys and Grandpa Lyman

Aunt Sarah Mom Aunt Audruff and Uncle Otis  they came to visit and to shop for Birds!

Judyann and I in our Maxi dresses!

Daddy bought a new horse trailer and moved his Riding Stable business

This year we bought another new Riding Stable, now we've gone from 48th street and McDowell in Phoenix to Hardy Dr between Broadway and University and now 618 W. 1st Street in Tempe.  I spend alot more time at the stables now I seem to be the cleaning help and the clean the stalls girl.  I really like being over there I just want to feel like I belong somewhere.  Sometimes Timmy is over helping Daddy, he lives in the little silver trailer now I don't know why? I'm kinda afraid of him yet at the same time he is hilarious and really fun to be around. A few times he took me to school and would let me drive down 8th ave! 

MEDIA:

THE WORLD:  these are The years of;  Go Ask Alice, Billy Jack, Godfather and Dirty Harry!

The Sonny and Cher Show was a regular I loved watching them.

I was raised on Jim Reeves, Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins people like that and then things started to change with the war. The Doors, Iron Butterfly, CCR, TheBand, Black Sabbath, and Edwin Starr actually singing WAR! My music world has turned upside down.

Three dog Night, Rolling Stones, Temptations, James Taylor, Carol King, Donnie and Marie

In 1972 Deep Purple, and Neil Young.

1971 New Years Eve Dance  (not very flattering but I thought I was Far Out I'm sure)!!

a poem from school about Girls camp summer before the 9th grade

Camp in the Summer of '71

Good ole camp LO-MIA! Enchantment arose when May ended and I could return to the many moods of this great place, including love, madness, learning and talk of THE boy!

WHAT A JOY!

Friday night brought excitement to our adie when beans were Served and sickness occurred. Debbie need aid - "Help, Help!" she cried! Sandy Turned to see and fell off the top bunk.

WHAT A THUNK!

Sunday is always a beautiful day at camp, with worship in the morning in our out side grove. The logs on which we sit are not always so comfy, but the spirit is jus great!

WHAT A TRAIT!

Fireside on Sunday Evening when we all gather together to share our love of the gospel and each other, is where comradeship is shown and we shed many a tear.

WHAT A YEAR!

We always go on hikes - this time we chose to go to the bathtubs. Taking the path up we followed the creek back getting wet and having fun.  Some don't like to get soaked -- Like our Jane!

WHAT A PAIN!

Coming home is so sad! We gather to sing and say goodbyes. As we board the bus for the long ride, I see friends both old and new and think "Oh, I'm glad I'm alive!"

WHAT A DRIVE!

Teacher comment; Good job! Cleaverly done thanks for sharing your experience   B+

For the results of the influence you exert you are held accountable

Exert yourself reflect as Jesus Christ did the Love of God.

Oh that I could always love like this:  Romans 8:37-39http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/rom/8?lang=eng

Because of this love we find our strength to His love of God and us.

(If you don't have time to read at least watch the video at the end...)   

Definitions:

Reflection; n. Act of casting back an image, as with a mirror, or a blueprint.

In computer science it is the process which a computer program will observe and modify its own structure and behavior.

In geometry the reflected image is always the same size, it just faces the other way. As in a pattern for sewing.

Reflecting; v. the act of being reflected. An image; representation or counterpart. resemble.  Synonyms with an echo.

Reflecting is a technique well worth learning

Quotes:

It’s been said that

“A man knows when he is growing old because he begins to look like his father.”

From Lorenzo Snow we learn

“You exert a certain degree of influence, and be it ever so small, it affects some person or persons, and for the results of the influence you exert you are held accountable. You, therefore, whether you acknowledge it or not, have assumed an importance before God and man that cannot be overlooked. ”

M. Russell Ballard put it this way….

“what I say applies equally to grandmothers, aunts, sisters, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, leaders, and other mentors who sometimes fill the gaps for these significant mother-daughter relationships.

”If the mothers are modest so are the girls. If the mothers wear flip-flops and other casual clothing to sacrament meeting, so do their daughters. ..Throughout history of the world, women have always been teachers of moral values...show them how to make good choices. As mothers in Israel, you are your daughters’ first line of defense against the wiles of the world.”… “When you are willing to listen and learn, some of life’s most meaningful teachings come from those who have gone before you. . . . How much better your life will be if you will follow the noble example of the faithful followers of Christ 

                     and to not leave out the men he added:   Last October I spoke to fathers and sons in priesthood meeting, and today I have spoken mostly to mothers and daughters. In each case my message has been different but similar. I hope you are listening and see a pattern and hear a steady, consistent message that in these last days it is essential—even critical—that parents and children listen to and learn from one another. These are not just ethereal (or light) concepts about which I have been speaking. They are the essence, the center, of God’s plan for our eternal happiness and peace."

In searching this week for where we go to find our pattern, blueprint, image, technique there are so many scripture stories and of course the portrait of Jesus Christ to follow, it's His behavior, His Love of God that motivates Him, that we are striving to reflect in ourselves as in Alma chapter 5, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/5?lang=eng  where there are about 50 questions for us to evaluate how well we are doing at exerting ourselves to reflect His image in our countenance.

President Harold B. Lee said the sermon on the mount is “The constitution for a perfect life”.  President Joseph Fielding Smith called the Matthew chapter 5-7 ‘the greatest sermon that was ever preached” President Hinckley created and issued 9 B’s for us to follow in our lives I'm relating them to the beatitudes here.  They being given to us by the Savior in both the New Testament and third Nephi in the Book of Mormon.  One of the points of interest I found  in my studies this week was that in the Matthew version He tells us to “Be perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”  (Knowing, that every thing He did He did out of the Love that He has for both His Father and us).  The difference in 3 nephi being “be perfect even as I or your Father in Heaven is perfect.

So what things did Jesus do that perfected Him that we can be choosing to do also?

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/5?lang=eng

AND seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Be Grateful 1. BLESSED ARE the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Vs 3
Be Involved 2. BLESSED ARE they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.              Vs4
Be Humble  3. BLESSED ARE the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.                    Vs5
Be Smart    4. BLESSED ARE they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:   vs6
Be Positive  5. BLESSED ARE the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Vs7
Be Clean     6. BLESSED ARE the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Vs8
Be Still        7. BLESSED ARE the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of god. Vs9
Be Smart     8. BLESSED ARE they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: vs 10and 11

Be Prayerful 9. Chapter 6 or 3 nephi 13 cease not to pray but pray in an order pleasing to God.

If we've done or are DOING these things, have these charater traits, which are a reflection of Jesus Christ  then we are; as it states in Matthew chapter Matthew Chapter 5:

14: the ^alight of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 15 Neither do men light a ^acandle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 16 Let your ^alight so shine before men, that they may see your good ^bworks, and ^cglorify your Father which is in heaven.

The sermon continues: He teaches them the 10 commandements and the new law of Christ which is Not only Thou shalt not kill but now Just don’t be angry! 

BEATITUDE #9!!!  Be prayerful...

Then in vs  44-48 But I say unto you, ^aLove your ^benemies, ^cbless them that^dcurse you, do ^egood to them that ^fhate you, and ^gpray for them which despitefully use you, and ^hpersecute you;

 45 That ye ^amay be the ^bchildren of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth ^crain on the just and on the unjust.

 46 For if ye ^alove them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 48 ^aBe ye therefore ^bperfect, even as your ^cFather which is in heaven is ^dperfect.

Again he teaches us to pray and how to pray

Not to be a hypocrite in prayer or action

The importance of fasting – do it often!

And not to put material things or extracurricular activitites  as a priority

Vs 24 “no man can serve two master: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and depise the other. Ye, cannot serve God and mammon”.

He concludes with teaching us not to judge. Again reminding us not be hypocrites.  Reminding us to stay on the strait and narrow  - and I always like the comparison between us and trees, branches roots and fruit.  Where for by their fruits ye shall know them vs 20.

He reminds us that floaters don’t get into the celestial kingdom …

vs 21-23 Not every one that ^asaith unto me, ^bLord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that ^cdoeth the ^dwill of my Father which is in ^eheaven.

I am going to come back to this.

And concludes with the image of the house in the sand or the rock that the man or woman, teenager or child that builds his house upon a foundation of rock which is Jesus Christ will not wash away in the storms of life.  And is says “He taught this as one having authority…”

I like this childhood Primary song:

.    Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here;
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

I’d like to just share a couple of ideas, inspirations if you will that I felt that I learned from the study of The Sermon on the mount or my new “program for exerting myself to reflect the love of God as Jesus Christ did.”  I like to add to it there that he didn’t ask us to DO anything He didn’t do.  I personally think that’s the best teacher.  Really there are so many points, patterns, images it’s overwhelming thus my huge stack of talks and scripture references … so just will focus on a few. Maybe one with the time!!!!

1.    to reflect God’s love we can’t be a hypocrite.

A talk given by Quentin Cook “Don’t wear Masks” http://www.lds.org/liahona/2013/03/dont-wear-masks?lang=eng&query=masks  a really, really good talk. In it he reminds us of the anonymous ways we can wear masks to do things we wouldn’t do otherwise do.  When Prayer is mentioned in the scriptures it is often metnioned with no being a hypocrite.  Matthew 6:5 and Alma 31 just to name 2. http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/31?lang=eng

2.    To reflect God’s love we pray and fast often.

The Savior fasted.  One way He had the spirit with him to be able to discern when satan was tempting him.  In the garden the Savior prayed "Thy Will be done", he prayed for those that persecuted him, he knew what was happening, he was suffering life wasn’t good right then but He said "Thy will be done".http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/26.42?lang=eng#41

3.    To reflect God’s love we do our callings over the things of the world.

Heavenly Father knows our hearts better than we do.  My mom taught me; "Actions speak louder than words".  What are our roots? The service that we give is the oil in our lamps. Alma chapter 5 (mentioned earlier) has like 50 questions to review asking the question "is His image in our Countenance?" What are our priorities, our treasures, Jesus Christ picks simple, peculiar people to do His work because He was simple and peculiar He loved doing His calling. Many Many people in the scriptures pattern, shadow, reflect the Savior and help us to understand Magnigying our callings.  Today in Sunday School in Section 20 I was reminded that our callings sancitify us - how cool is that! http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/1?lang=eng (Jacob 1 and 2 great examples of this vs 19 in Chapter 1 - short version!)

4.     To reflect God’s love sometimes we shut the door.  Satan has character traits that can be magnified also, they too can be found in the scriptures a great example is 2 Nephi 28:21-23 http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/28?lang=eng (hate, pacify, lull, carnal, cheater,liar, deceiver,procrastinator,bondage) choose to shut the door on these character traits and darkness - Open the door to the Light...this thought brought me back to about 2006 -I taught a jr/Snr seminary class of 24 teenagers. I’ll never forget the morning I showed the video that goes with Matthew 25 the parable of the 10 virgins.  When Ethan ask? He wouldn’t really shut the door like that would he? I saw his face, heard his voice as I do to this day. The answer unfortunately is Yes he will shut the door, He has warned and forewarned us, as a parent He has given us commandements to choose follow or NOT!  Sometimes we make ourselves sick with guilt thinking we are being Christ Like when we are only be abused, abandoned, in someway hurting our own self esteem which in turns messes with our salvation.  Sometimes, we can shut the door and reflect God's love.

Coming back to the Beatitudes...

If we use as President Benson states “The ten commandments and the sermon on the Mount are the foundation principles upon which all civilized government and our present civilization`1 are built . To disregard them will lead to inevitable personal character loss and ruin.  To disregard them as a nation inevitably will lead that nation to destruction.”

It’s my prayer that we choose daily to reflect the Love we have for God in our image as did the Savior.  The we can exert ourselves to live the 9 B’s. and that we are so prayerful that we can discern even to know when as Jesus will do we can shut the door on friends, family, habits, when They bring us down.  A fine line between being a peacemaker that gets used and abused and knowing this is harmful to my salvation so I am not even reflecting the light any more.  We can’t control other peoples free agency.

Use ALma Chapter 5 to evaluate and reevaluate our lives so that the door will be open and as in Alma 5:14-16http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/5.16?lang=eng#15 we can answer the Lord with;  "I'm Coming" because I am a reflection of thee and you know me" I am prepared and have my oil in my lamp.

The video:
https://www.google.com/search?q=parable+10+virgins+lds+video&aq=f&oq=parable&aqs=chrome.3.0l2j57j59j61j60&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8