Emotional Healing

" Somewhere along the line, we assume - erroneously so - that what happens to us causes our happiness or unhappiness. This is not true. It is how we perceive what has happened to us and how we act upon that perception that results in the emotional reaction we feel. We cannot always control what happens to us, but we can most certainly control the way we react to what has happened." Kathleen Rawlings Buntin.
For all those who have wounds to heal and are searching for that peace to come, all I can say is that come it will when we earnestly seek for that healing from the only true source by which it is given. We are healed as we yoke ourselves to the Saviour, by following him and by doing our very best each day. As we do this we find that we are being upheld in the very hollow of his hand when times are too difficult to face alone. We are healed as we draw nearer to him and when our self esteem is based upon what our creator thinks of us then we will not personalize the behaviours of others as our paths cross and their heavy loads press upon us for a time. We will be able to withstand these buffetings and look above the smog and still know that we are good enough. As we develop this divinely given self esteem we will find strenghth enough to be the extension of His arms and lift another's weary head, reassure a troubled heart and love a wounded soul so that they can know to whom they should look for their inspiration, guidance and self esteem. As we walk uprightly and with certainty about our divine identity, we allow others to do the same.
"True joy can be born of painful experience. The atonement of Jesus Christ makes this joy possible."Catherine Christensen.
Thank you to all who have shone so brightly in my life that I now know how and to whom I should look for my source of inspiration, revelation and confidence. Today I am still the same girl I was at that beautiful age of eight in my desire to be good but have learned so much of what is required by way of sacrifice to stay on that path of goodness.

A Pleasure To Meet You

I have been waiting in anticipation for a little while now to finally meet the man that would determine whether we would qualify to register as a home school. The phone call came and the appointment was set, 3.30pm Tuesday 9th November. The reality all of a sudden hit me, I had to show that I would be a great teacher for Jared ! I needed to show a plan for the year, our goals, our curriculum, now I was feeling nervous.
Geoff arrived and within a few minutes I felt a lot more relaxed, he explained that he had been working for NSW education board for 40 years, 20 years of which were spent as a teacher and Principal. This was going to be interesting I thought. Geoff explained how he had learnt so much from the many home school families he had met over the years. That he now could say a few things for sure having observed these families. Firstly that there are many different ways to educate children and that homeschooling was definitely a great way to go. That these students were able to transition into University and deal with all those changes and pressures with great success and that all the stigma attached to home schooled children and how they are not able to deal with social settings etc simply were not true, in fact in his experience he found the complete opposite to be true. Well after that introduction you can imagine that I was now feeling far less overwhelmed. We discussed all my ideas and Geoff gave such a lot of good advice. He chatted with Jared and looked at the school room, and of course loved our little garden with the chickens happily foraging in the grass. He finally declared that he thought that Jared had a wonderful opportunity ahead of him and that all that we had discussed sounded wonderful. That was it ! I couldn't believe it, we were now a registered school, I felt so much happier having met the lovely Geoff. He gave me confidence and with all this new advice I felt that I had a clearer picture of how we were going to start this adventure and where we wanted to go.
Thank you Geoff It was a pleasure to meet you .......

One year older.....

I keep saying it year after year, but time really does seem to go faster! I have just celebrated another birthday and am happy to report I still feel as though I am eight years old except with so much more experience and knowledge but with all the passion and love that I had back then. I loved to hold my friends hands and just spin round in a circle really fast, laughing and looking up at the sun. Rolling down hills, walking to Primary through the park with my mum. I loved the creation then and that feeling of contentment that comes from being out in nature. I still feel that way now, a walk in the sun, looking at beautiful trees, watching animals, I feel so grateful for my life. I feel so grateful for the parents that I have, they have both taught me so much in different ways. I could not have learnt from my mother what I have learnt from my father and I could not have learnt from my Father what I have learnt from my mother, both examples are so important to a child and have been integral to the my own journey as a woman. I know that I have an accounting to make to my Heavenly Father one day regarding my stewardship and how well I managed it. I know I cannot pass onto someone else that responsibility to take care of my family no matter how hard it gets or how exhausted I feel ultimately I will be the one to make that accounting along with my husband who will make his own accounting. We have a family business and no other success will compensate if our family business fails. Our family business is to be an eternal family to make sure that no one gets left behind, no matter what it takes. To have the courage to make choices we know are right even when those around us weigh and measure our choices and declare them foolish or unwise. I would like to quote Julie B.Beck " with personal revelation she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently. The ability to qualify for, receive and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life."  Life is so busy and noisy that it can be hard to hear the still small voice that will ever guide us home. All I can say is that I'm slowing down and eliminating as much distraction as possible so that I can feel that guiding influence in my life. I have asked myself often how much of the world I am willing to sacrifice in order to ensure the success of our family business? I find that as each day comes and I have that prayer in my heart, I am willing to sacrifice more and more.....