Look Up

I made this little art print for Whitney's baby's nursery. I love the idea of looking up. I love the idea that even when life has you down, looking up can change your perspective and fill you with hope!

I loved the ideas that were posted in the comments last week about what some of you do when skies are grey:

Listen to relaxing music.
Write it out.
Cry it out.
Flip through photos, scrapbooks, memories.
Sing hymns.
Seek God.
Take care of yourself.
Serve others.
Change your perspective.

I would also add, go to the temple, read scriptures, and pray. All of these suggestions are ways of looking up. Ways of choosing hope. Ways of seeking God's help in faith. It's better to look up...

With Hope,
L

Thank You...

Just a pretty picture and a sincere thank you to all of you dear friends and family for your words of encouragement and love. They truly uplift me and make me feel so loved. Still waiting. Still praying. Still hoping for some answers here.

With Hope,
L

Waiting for Answers

Many years ago during a difficult trial I found myself scribbling out my thoughts in a spiral notebook. The words came, "afraid of getting answers that I don't want to hear, so I stand still." My heart already knew the answer to my specific pleading was, "No. Not this time. Not yet." When I was finally ready to accept the answer, I recieved a gentle, "No, Lynley. Not yet." I look back on that answer with so much gratitude, though at the time it was a heartwrenching struggle.

While I would love to post a Daily December page and pretend that life is simply full of crafts and holiday cheer, I don't have the energy to do that today. I'm just not feeling too well. Despite my best efforts to do it all, my body just doesn't keep up. Waiting once again for more test results. Hoping that for once they will lead to answers. I feel like I am getting closer to an answer, but if not... I can accept that too.  I'm really trying to have faith and hope here. 

With Hope,
L

Hope Shines Through

 

Hope is never out of reach.

Hope shines through the darkness.

Hope shines through the tears.

Hope shines through the pain.

Hope shines through the fear.

Hope shines through, despite the odds.

Hope will see us through.

With Hope,

L

Rainy Day Blues

Perhaps it's the rain. Perhaps it's the cold. Today is just one of those dumb days. One of those days where you can't quite put your finger on it, but life just seems especially hard. Hoping the sun comes out soon.

With Hope,
L

With Hope

I can't believe I never posted these photos! I got some awesome sun flair shots at the San Diego Temple last year with Whitney. It is so stunning! I want to go back and visit again so much!

Today I had a new installment of Interior Inspirations ready to post... but that can wait till tomorrow. I just wanted to share a little reminder that there is always hope, no matter how hard things seem at the moment. During difficult times the Lord blesses me with little daily reminders of hope. He knows what I need and what speaks to me. Hope is a gift and I would be lost without it.

What to read a beautiful talk on hope? Go here. It will brighten your day.

With Hope,
L

A Perfect Brightness of Hope

Before taking down the Christmas tree I snapped one last shot of my favorite ornament. A sparkly reminder that there is hope smiling brightly before us. I loved the shot and thought it was a great reminder of my little motto for the year. It was very unfortunate what happened next. Of all the ornaments carefully laid just out of Dolly's reach, somehow she managed to grasp just this one. Before I could stop her, she chewed it right in half. Hope was lost. Hope was broken. Little bits of silver glitter and pieces of hope were scattered across the floor. I thought it quite significant and have pondered on it for several days.

Lately Young Women's seems to demand every ounce of strength and energy I have. Last night's activity was utterly disastrous. An attempt to learn a pioneer skill, butter-making, ended in whipping cream strewn about the room and all over the youth and leaders. Who knew the Young Men could shake a jar so vigorously it would break right in half? Some found it humorous, those covered in sour smelling cream, not so much. That was actually the least of the problems. Nothing seemed to go very well.

After dropping the girls off and returning home, I finally let myself acknowledge the severe pain I was in. Baking and handling glutenous biscuit dough was not a wise idea. I was extremely sick. The kind of sick you question if you need to rush to the emergency room or not. It wasn't good. As I lay awake most of the night, miserably trying to find relief, my mind thought upon broken hearts, broken shards of glass, and broken pieces of hope.

I questioned what I can possibly do to help things run smoother in my calling. I pondered on the heavy burdens and needs of the young women I have stewardship over. I questioned if I will ever be able to keep up with the demands of a busy life and calling. I questioned if I will ever be well enough to have children. You name it, I agonized about it. When you don't feel well, hope can seem more dim at times. It seemed as though my hope was shattered in a thousand pieces on the floor, just like the ornament and jar of cream.

I finally found rest and comfort. My body will need a few days to recover, but it's already feeling much better thankfully! As I stood washing dishes, the early morning sun filled the kitchen and my heart with radiant light. Through prayer and scripture study, the Savior stood with me, helping me pick up the pieces and restoring hope. The trials haven't changed, but hope stands brightly before me, letting me know that things will be okay.

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:18–20).

With Hope,
L