Look Up

"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend" (Mosiah 4:9).

Why is it sometimes hard for us to look up and remember the One upon whom we rely most? Occasionally I get so busy coping in the moment that I neglect to call upon the divine assistance I need. I guess you could say I fail to see the Light. The following true story, taken from my own life, is one example:

Many years ago, I got into an elevator at my daughter's orthodontist. As the door closed, I realized there was no light. We would be making the ride in pitch blackness. (gulp) I was immediately uncomfortable, anxious, and a little bit claustrophobic. It was the slowest ride I've ever taken...and it happened to be in one of those old, creaky, groaning models that take forever and basically make you fear for your life. Believe me, I would have been open to anyone or anything that could have changed or improved my situation. Of course, the funniest (and most telling) part of the story is that when we got to our floor, and after I had finished complaining to my daughter about how much I didn't like the experience, she simply reached over my head, turned on the elevator's light switch, and said in a patient but long-suffering voice, "All you have to do is flip it on, Mom."

It had never even occurred to me that there was such an obvious solution! Like the followers of Moses who were beset by serpents, I had only to look up, but I did not. It was too easy, too simple an answer to a problem that appeared insurmountable (see 1 Nephi 17:41, Alma 37:46). The Psalmist tells us, "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light" (Psalms 36:9). And we will see light, but we do need to look for its source––and sometimes, to exercise patience. Neal A. Maxwell said patience is "a willingness, in a sense, to watch the unfolding purposes of God with a sense of wonder and awe, rather than pacing up and down in the cell of our circumstances." I certainly paced up and down in the cell of my elevator, and I want you to know it wasn't a bit helpful!

"Wonder and awe" is an appropriate response to life, because we are never alone in our trials, not ever. The Lord is always there to lead, guide and walk beside us, if we will let Him.

And all we have to do is look up.

"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4).

Carl B. Cook has more to say on the subject, and he says it well.

Manna in the Wilderness

Like many of my Christian friends, reading the Bible brings me joy.

As a member of the LDS Church, I also love to read the Book of Mormon.

I frequently mark favorite passages and write down bits of inspiration.

And, sometimes, I like to write a poem about what I'm feeling.

Manna in the Wilderness

©1999 by Susan Noyes Anderson,

Awaken Your Spiritual Power, Karisma Press

Leather, binding

onion skin

paper, fragile,

wafer~thin.

Word of God,

the Spirit’s feast.

Bread of Life

unto the least

of these. A gift

to save and bless

like manna

in the wilderness.

Sometimes the world seems like a vast wilderness to me. When I am running on empty, I am happy to know where I can go to find the refreshment and comfort I need to be filled.

click below for more happiness

Telling It Like It Is...

My husband is home from work today, so I need to be quick about this, but I do have something on my mind that I thought might be worth a paragraph or two.

I am troubled when people in the media or political activists refer to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (of which I am a member) as a cult. Of course, I realize that, in the broadest definition, every religion can be considered a cult...but I also know that detractors of Mormons and our faith selectively choose to employ that term because of certain negative connotations attached to it. Extreme groups such as the Branch Davidians or Manson Family, for instance, have been assigned the label of cult, and the word itself has acquired overtones of mind control, isolation, psychological manipulation, and not uncommonly, evil.

With over 14 million members throughout the world, one of the most active welfare and humanitarian relief programs in existence, and families who are integrally involved in serving their communities, the LDS Church is hardly cultish...either in its action or in its intent. I sincerely hope and believe that responsible people will recognize this kind of agenda-driven labeling of the fourth-largest religion in our country for what it is: an attempt to demonize a religious group for personal, social, or political reasons that, while unknown to me, cannot possibly excuse the disrespect and dishonestly entailed in that effort.

Just my humble opinion, of course, and today I needed to put it out there. (Maybe I should stop watching these cable news channels altogether!)

;)

The Cure

Finally, a Saturday morning with nothin' to do but sit down and craft my Saturday Centus for Jenny Matlock. For reasons unknown, however, I still allowed myself to go the easy route. Guess I just couldn't resist having some fun with the prompt, and I hope it gives Ms. Jenny a little chuckle, too. (I've purposely avoided offering her a great big guffaw so her pleurisy won't hurt even worse!)...I know; I am nothing if not thoughtful. ;) Get well soon, Jenny friend.

∞§∞

The Cure

©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

When chamomile tea she slurped,

Leigh stayed awake but soundly burped.

The melatonin was okay,

but left her groggy the next day.

Lunesta was discarded soon;

it had her barking at the moon.

Hops didn’t live up to its name;

Leigh's lack of sleep remained the same.

The Ambien she had to change

because it made her act so strange.

Sheets sprayed with lavender smelled sweet

but could not wakefulness defeat.

Warm milk went over like a brick;

sans chocolate, it just made her sick.

And yet a fix she finally found.

At last her sleep was deep and sound.

The best and only cure of all?

You guessed it! Friday night football.

∞§∞

Does X Factor Have the X Factor? Yes!

My desperately needed hair appointment is looming (gotta leave in just over an hour), but I did want to say a few words about X Factor this morning because I'm liking that show almost as much as my reigning favorite, So You Think You Can Dance. To tell the truth, I am not a big TV viewer. In fact, I never watch in real time (fast forwarding through the commercials is a must), but I do DVR my five favorite shows every week to enjoy at my leisure. And X Factor is the only one I can't wait to see.

Of course, its kissing cousin is American Idol, but the relationship is mostly superficial. With L.A. Reid of Epic Records on board and Simon more candid that corrosive, the judging is considerably better. And the talent is so good that they had to send people home who would have won Idol rather handily. I'm not sure where X Factor is getting all these amazing singers, but there are definitely some hard-hitters in the line-up...and no lightweights at all. This makes for some pretty exciting auditions, made even more so by the fact that they are performed in front of a large, live audience.

Another interesting feature is the inclusion of singers aged 12 and up. Groups are also allowed to compete, adding a new flavor to the mix. But the artists I am most drawn to come from the over-30 category. Their voices pack a world of experience, and they definitely know what to do with it.

If you haven't checked out X Factor, I suggest you give it a go. They are down to the final 32 contestants (8 girls, 8 boys, 8 over-30s, and 8 groups), but only 16 of these acts will make it to the show. Each of the four judges has been assigned to mentor one of the groups, and it will be up to that judge to send half of his or her proteges home in the next week or so. (I was surprised to see that all the coaching and final selecting will take place in the judge's own residences.) Paula Abdul, who is in charge of the groups, will have a ton of people staying at her house! L. A. Reid will host the boys, Simon Cowell the girls, and Nicole Scherzinger the over-30s. Should be fascinating.

So far, the show has evoked strong emotions in me. There's something about seeing talented people pursue their dreams that pulls this old dreamer in, and these singers are really putting themselves out there. A number of them are likable, too, which doesn't hurt.

I have a feeling X Factor is going to come up a big winner this year.

=)

Y is for Yelp

Help, Yelp!

©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

I need Yelp!

I surely do.

For shopping help,

Yelp sees me through...

friends steering friends

by word of mouth!

Who's bucking trends?

Who's going south?

What eateries

outshine them all?

Which doc for me?

Whom should I call?

She cuts with flair.

He styles with ease.

Can you compare

these for me, please?

It's all on Yelp

in black and white.

When you need help,

Yelp steers you right.

So lets be minions.

Spread the news!

Ya need opinions?

Yelp reviews!

(and then you choose)

=)

In response to several questions, yes it IS real. Yelp.com.

Click here for more Y posts

Finding Brillig

Finding Brillig

aka Rocking the Jabberwock

©2003 Susan Noyes Anderson

We all step through the looking glass,

but each one takes a different ride.

Some fall head-first like Alice did,

while others choose a measured stride.

Who trusts enough to nibble life

will grow or shrink accordingly.

Who waits and watches from afar,

will likely find herself at sea.

Beware the Jabberwock, indeed,

but neither yield nor disappear.

Just glance back through the looking glass

and wave and whisper, "I'm still here!"

∞§∞

"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop."

–The King, Alice In Wonderland.

This poem included in His Children

with different artwork, namely photos by Anita Schiller.

Oh Happy Day (and Night)!

My grandkids and their good buddies by day.

Brycie is about ready to drop off...

(literally and figuratively!)

But I guess he rallied by sunset for some swordplay on the sand!

photos by tendershootz

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Good Stuff

You may find this an odd list, with all things secular, spiritual, and superficial intermingled, but I just wanted to share what my favorite things are today...things that are making me happy this morning.

1. A crisp feel of fall in the air.

2. Conference this past weekend, especially talks from Elder Hales, President Monson, and Sister Elaine Dalton. I also liked what Elder Packer said to the young people.

3. Lavender chamomile and lavender vanilla wallflowers from Bath and Body Works in my bedroom. Ahhhhh.

4. Having the scriptures on my Kindle and iPhone. (Who knew? Okay, probably everyone. And the iPhone app, which is totally free, also gives me conference talks, the hymnal, Ensign, etc...all at my fingertips!)

5. The Soundhound app that only requires me to put my iPhone up to the radio or CD player to have the song and artist identified. Just singing or humming a tune into the iPhone works, too! (How cool is that?)

6. My green smoothies, which are indeed lowering my blood pressure and causing slow but steady weight loss. Also, the Vita Mix I use to blend them! (Pricey, but that thing grinds peanuts into butter in seconds. Probably grinds rocks to dust, too!)

7. Johnson's baby powder and baby lotion. (I've gone back to my teen years, and it's nostalgic for me!)

8. Coconut milk and water.

9. Simon Cowell's new show, the X Factor. (They get way better singers than American Idol does.)

10. Frozen, organic mango chunks! (Imagine candy popsicles.)

11. Some of the members of this year's cast on Dancing with the Stars. (Is it just me, or is there a better crop this time, with only a few clunkers?)

12. One square daily of those 73% chocolate bars I used to hate. The ones that are actually good for you and not hard to exercise self discipline with because they are kinda bitter. (I am thinking of buying them in bulk!)

13. My new and not nearly as ugly crocs.

14. The line-up for this year's Bridge School Benefit Concert.

15. My new down-alternative comforter. (I can't stand the smell of the goose feathers.)

=)

Phoenix Rising

I'm definitely running late for this week's Saturday Centus, but I think I have time to pound out a "Sunday Centus" quickly before conference starts. Jenny gave us 100 words plus the prompt today, and my busy schedule is thankful that she handed us a bit of a break for this go-round. As always, the prompt is in red.

∞§∞

Phoenix Rising

©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

360-396-1221. After countless months waiting and wanting, wondering and worrying, up flashed the very numbers she had finally stopped hoping to see.

Michael.

Early on, she'd disconnected caller ID altogether. Why allow more than one of her senses to be violated by his repeated failure to call? The cancellation was a bust, though. Being greeted by the wrong voice felt every bit as devastating without the visual.

Eventually, she’d moved on. Phoenix rising and all that. But right now those ten digits looked like ashes, and Michael’s fire had burned her to the bone.

The phone sizzled in her hand. “The number you have reached is no longer in service,” she intoned.

Click.

∞§∞