Rocks, boulders and stones oh my...

Adapting to change is a very difficult thing sometimes.
I think it is easier if changes come slowly, but if things change too fast or too often it is easy to become weary, and to sometimes just throw in the towel and give up.
Terry and I sat on the floor in our bedroom and discussed the changes that are going in our lives. I think he adapts far better than I do...or maybe it is because I tend to whine when I have to change and Terry takes it all in stride...either way, times... they are a changin'.
The only thing consistent in life is change.
Terry asked me what I would do if he went up into the mountains and brought home a great big boulder and then put it right in the middle of our bathroom. He said that the boulder would be too heavy for me to move so I would have to 'adapt' to the new addition to our otherwise beautiful bathroom. I told him that knowing me I would first write a post in my blog about how irritated I was... I would probably kick it a time or two...just for good measure, and then the miracle of adapting would begin. I might even grow to love the boulder...and again; knowing me I would decorate it in some way so that it looked like it belonged in the bathroom...I might lay towels on it so they could dry...etc.
Eventually the boulder would become a part of our life...I might even miss it when it was finally gone.
We ended up with several analogies about rocks, boulders and stones.
The one I want to write about today is "the boulders in our lives". The things that we cannot change. They could be a new boss, or a new baby. Or an old habit or addiction that we just can't overcome on our own.
The only way to move that boulder is to focus on the things in life that we CAN change, not on the things that we can't.
For instance...two years ago the manager at my store resigned...she was replaced with someone who is very different from me. We do not hardly even speak the same language. All I wanted to do was quit...I didn't want Heavenly Father to help me learn to love her because I just wanted to HATE her. I was comfortable with the feelings I had for her.
As time went by I realized that it would be unwise for me to look for a new job and that is when I decided that I better adapt because SHE was not going to change...the change had to come from me.
I began to pray. I let Heavenly Father know how I felt about her and that I really didn't want to like her...but I had to learn to love her...as a person.
The transformation started, it took about a year. In October it will be 2 years since she came into my life and I can say...without any reservation that I do indeed love her. It was a miracle!
So the conclusion is that my energy had to go into the thing I could change...ME. With Heavenly Father's help I changed. The boulder is still in my life but I chose to focus on the ROCK, not the boulder. It is wonderful to know that if we take care of the little rocks...pebbles...stones, then the Savior; our Rock will take care of the rest.
Last week when Tiffany was going through her miscarriage I told her to have Chad go out and find the biggest, ugliest rock he could find and put it right in the middle of her counter so it would drive her crazy every time she saw it...then she could focus on the rock instead of what was happening to her body; that she could not control.
Life will always put boulders on our path to happiness, it is how we choose to deal with that boulder that makes us who we are.

I pray that this week you will fix the things you can and let Heavenly Father take care of the rest.
Make it a stepping stone week...
not a stumbling block one.
I love you all!!!

Sadness

This week's post will have to wait for next week because today I want to just be reverantly quiet as I think about the amazing blessings we recieve in life.
I was blessed with five wonderful children. Each possessing differant talents and abilities. Each bringing something unique to our family.
These last couple of days have reminded me of how Heavenly Father watches over each of us, we are all equally important to Him.
Tiffany, I am sorry you lost your baby. It really is amazing how you can develop such a relationship so quickly.
From all of us...
...butterfly kisses.
We love you!

Mudpuddles...

I love my home! I love the peace that I have here.
When I am at home I am not exposed to the ugly things of the world.
Some days I wish I could just curl up on my couch and hide.
I am able to have the experiences that I want to have, and to control the environment...even down to the temperature of the house.
Which, of course isn't always comfortable for the people that visit, not to mention poor Terry...
Today I was pondering...
as I often do...
about how much I would love to be the person that I should be.
When I am home and don't have to deal with people that are sometimes mean, or rude or just stupid drivers, I think I am a pretty awesome person...
Yep, me, myself, and I...my greatest fans. :)
AND THEN....
DUH....DUH....DUH....DUH...
I have to go somewhere.
I have to open my door and leave my house...
and what happens?
Mudpuddles happen...
Do you remember when you were little and you used to play, "Don't step on a crack or you'll break your momma's back!" ?
Do you remember how you would tip toe around all the obstacles hoping not even a toe touched the crack because you just KNEW you would get home and your Mother would be in bed...never to get up again because you took your eyes off the sidewalk for just ONE second?
I remember those days...I remember how fast that game got OLD!
It was hard, especially when there was a rough patch. So eventually you just quit because it is a stupid game anyway...and Mom...she's just fine.
So today for me it is mudpuddles.
I spend my morning building my character. Reading good books. Studying my scriptures. Praying. Meditating. Cleaning house. Doing laundry. Making beds. Reading my favorite blogs...just good, uplifting, STUFF.
I am ready to take on the world. I feel good. I'm happy. I've been reborn. I have made a promise NOT to hate the woman that walks into the store at five minutes to nine and wants me to help her find a new dress...
As I leave my house I wonder when I will encounter my first mudpuddle. The stupid driver that doesn't know how to use a turning signal...the runner who is running across the driveway that leads to the donut that I can't live without this morning...
the line at the bank...
ewww. and the list goes on...
How long do I stay unspotted from the world?
I left the house at 9:15am and it isn't even 10:00am YET???
How in the world am I going to make it through the day....
So yes...I have a problem with mudpuddles.
I am drawn to mudpuddles. Mudpuddles like me...they LOVE me.

I, on they other hand, LOVE my washing machine. It is my friend.

My dear family...life is full of mudpuddles, there is nothing you can do to change that. Avoid them, don't associate with people who love to play in them..

And always remember that you can be made clean.
The Atonement is real, it will heal you...
the first step is the desire to be clean.
My prayer this week is that you each look at your life and see if there is something that you need to change. A puddle that needs to be dried up.
I love you all!
Make it a mud free week!! :)

Life

Today as I contemplate life I go on somewhat of a journey.
So...welcome aboard...
A journey through Hollie's head, now that's excitement!!! :)

Yesterday was the Forth of July, as all of you know, because of last weeks blog, it was Tiffany's birthday. But this year for Tiffany's birthday she gave me a present. She found out Sunday that she is pregnant...YEAH!!!
Jessica's little 'Olivia'; that is her name right now...will be here in August and then about 7 months later we will have another little grand baby. I am so excited.
Our babies having babies...and life goes on.
So I pose the question...if you had a choice would you want to know when your time was running out? Would you change the way you spend your days?
That brings me to an experience I want to share today...
It happened almost four years ago.
I was at the Temple. On the way in when I was at the front desk one of the gentlemen saw my name on my temple recommend. He said, "Belt, are you any relation to Dwayne Belt?" I told him that I was and he asked me how Glenys was doing, because he had heard that Dwayne died. Dwayne, of course, had not died and I told the man that he was alive and well and just as spunky as ever.
About 3 weeks later Dwayne and Glenys came over on a Sunday afternoon. We laughed and visited for about an hour. I told Dwayne about the man in the temple. As I was relating the experience something intangible happened. I knew that Dwayne was going to die. When they got up to leave I was going to give Dwayne my 'half hug'; that he always seemed to prefer, when he grabbed me and hugged me tight, as if to say good-bye, a real good-bye. That is the last time I saw Dwayne conscious.
I never mentioned the experience to anyone until long after Dwayne was gone.
I believe it was a special gift from Heavenly Father. An opportunity to say goodbye. I often felt like Dwayne thought I wasn't good enough for Terry and I sometimes felt that he liked to remind me of that. During that very moment I knew that he approved of me. What a wonderful gift.
When the family had a meeting about when to terminate life support I voted that it should be done soon because I knew he was ready to go.
I can't even begin to imagine what Glenys and the kids were going through so I kept my distance and allowed them to have him to themselves.
I went down to see him one Sunday afternoon during Sunday school because I thought I would have him to myself for just 10 or 15 minutes to say a private goodbye, and to thank him for raising such a wonderful son. When I got there Glenys and Tyler; the oldest grandson, were there. I felt bad now because I had barged in on their time...but I decided to go ahead and do what I had gone to the hospital to do...say goodbye and thank you. I took Dwayne by the hand and looked into his face. I bore my testimony to him and promised him I would take care of his precious son, I told him that I loved him, thanked him for Terry, kissed him on the cheek and said goodbye.
I had closure.
So, again, the question...what would you do if you knew?
I went to see Debbie a couple of weeks ago. The experience with Dwayne kept coming into my mind...What if this were the last time I got to visit with Debbie in this life, what would we talk about? And then yesterday Suzie called me...and I thought, What if this were the last conversation I would ever have with Suzie in this life, what would we talk about?
Do we waste our words? Do we save our 'I love you' for another day? Do we spend our days doing things that are trivial?
Or do we live our life as if this may be our last day?
My challenge this week is to live a more fulfilling life! Say I love you. Embrace the people you love! Look into their eyes and 'observe' what is there. Really pay attention to what they are saying and also to what they are NOT saying.
Be Happy.
I love you all!