Attitude of Gratitude

Today is #ThankfulThursday!!!!  Woot woot!! I know usually just jump into all the things I am thankful for!!!  But, lets change it up a  min.  I wanna share with you a little from the talk "Grateful in Any Circumstances" by: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency April 2014:

"But some might say, “What do I have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?”

Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. It is difficult to develop a spirit of gratitude if our thankfulness is only proportional to the number of blessings we can count. True, it is important to frequently “count our blessings”—and anyone who has tried this knows there are many—but I don’t believe the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease. In fact, most of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude for things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude.

It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach?

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be."

(continue reading this talk here)

I am Thankful for so much!! I really am!!!  You know, I really don't have a lot! Or people may look at me and wonder what I have to be thankful for.  I have a car, but that car has not ran in 2 years now.....lol.  So, I do a ton of walking!  But that's OK with me!!  It sucks, yes.....but, it is better for my health and I am actually saving money on insurance and gas!!  I don't have a HUGE house like I see all my classmates have.  You know, new everything!!  I am not envy, I am happy to see people succeeding!! Do I wish I had a nice, new, big house??  Well, of course!!  I am human!!  But I am thankful for my little, basic, four room house!!  It is a roof over my head!!  Do I get annoyed that I feel like I am cleaning up after a 2 year old 24/7......yes, but, I am thankful that my grandson is here.  Do I feel like I am ALAWAYS going through something???  And that I am stressed all the time!?  Yes!  But I am thankful for these hard times, because of them.....I have a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father!!!!

I am trying to approach things in life now with that attitude of gratitude, not just being thankful.  I wanna teach my kids and my grandson now to approach life like this as well!!  And this isn't just a "Mormon" thing y'all!!!

I was just reading an article from the Wall Street Journal online.  Its by Diana Kapp from December 2013.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Raising Children With an Attitude of Gratitude

Research Finds Real Benefits for Kids Who Say 'Thank You'

Continue reading the full artilcle here

In this article they did some research on kids in middle and in high school......

"The mere act of giving thanks has tangible benefits, research suggests. A 2008 study of 221 kids published in the Journal of School Psychology analyzed sixth- and seventh-graders assigned to list five things they were grateful for every day for two weeks. It found they had a better outlook on school and greater life satisfaction three weeks later, compared with kids assigned to list five hassles.

Another study examined 1,035 high-school students outside New York City. The study, published in 2010 in the Journal of Happiness Studies, found that those who showed high levels of gratitude, for instance thankfulness for the beauty of nature and strong appreciation of other people, reported having stronger GPAs, less depression and envy and a more positive outlook than less grateful teens."

Also in this article it states how we can do things to help teach our kids to be grateful.  I remember as a girl growing up. my step mom would have dinner on the table at 5pm......everyday.  And everyday we would be at the table, but we would not touch the food until my dad was at the table.  After we were done with dinner, each one of us kids(5) would thank my mom for dinner before getting up.  We were grateful that my mom made sure we had dinner every night. never missing a beat.  I really think things have become so convenient that we forget to be thankful. Or, not forget, but maybe not recognize it as much??  I mean, to buy anything now days all you have to do is click a button on our computers or smartphone and within a few days its at our door!!  Right??

I guess my point in this blog is to challenge you to have an attitude of gratitude.  We should practice this every single day!! Not just "thanksgiving" or #ThankfulThursday....  Lets raise our kids to be less stressed. less depressed, Happy adults!!  

Before I wrap this up, I wanna say........

"I am thankful for this life here on Earth!  I am thankful for my earthly family! I am thankful That I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and supplies me with the strength I need  to make it through hard times and I am thankful for our Church Leaders who Give these talks and are here to help Counsel us! I am thankful that I am a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father!  I am thankful for all my readers and I am thankful that I have a place were I can write about anything and express how I feel!!!  I am also thankful for my parents who have taught me to be thankful for everything!!

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ

Amen"

I hope y'all didn't mind me getting off of beauty for a min!!!  Now  I'm fixing to curl up on this rainy Sunday here in Ga!!  Have a great #sundayfunday and stay #blessed!

Muahs!!

maybe? just sometimes......

Good morning y'all!  I just wanted to let u know that I have a blog I am working on for #thankfulthursday, I am so sorry it hasn't been published yet, but, it's from the heart and I want to make sure it's completely done before I publish.  I don't do a ton of "spiritual" or "religious" post.....I know it is a touchy subject, but......sometimes, its what I need at the moment.  Ya know??  sometimes its just a good way for me to reflect and a good way for my relationship to grow between me and Heavenly Father.  BUT I also know the Spirit works through us in ways that it does help others while it's helping us!!  lol  Funny how everything has a purpose......wouldn't you say!!!??  It is a cold dreary day here in Ga and I am not sure if Ill have anything to do for a #subscriptionboxsaturday (unless my jamberrys come today, fingers crossed!) But, how about a #spiritualsaturday?

*disclaimer*  Anything I post religious, Please.......I don't claim I know everything, nor am I a scholar in any way.  I am not a preacher and I am not trying to convert u into my religion (unless u feel in ur heart that u want to learn more) wink wink.

I just wanna share some of the things I feel and go through as an individual, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend in my everyday life experiences and/or challenges.  Or to maybe look deeper into the mind of someone who deals with multiple mental illnesses on a daily basis?  Dont get me wrong!  This will NOT be my everyday posts!  Ill continue with my usual subscription boxes, beauty, deals, and my adorable grandson......but, once in awhile, maybe this??

Anyhoo, comment......let me know what y'all think!!  Are y'all even interested in it??  I love y'all!!  I'll have a finished post soon! Stay warm and stay blessed!!!!!

my cozy lil set up for my Saturday

Muahs!!!

I don't get it.........so much hatred????

*disclaimer* this is ,y personal opinion and thoughts! please, DO NOT judge others due to what I think!!!!!

I really just wanna blog my thoughts right now.....at this moment.  Sorry y'all, no beauty tips.....or unboxing right now. just me thinking and feeling like writing.

So, I wrote a blog earlier about going through hard times.....you know. how the adversary will mess with you and Heavenly Father will take care of you, you know......nothing to serious.  Well, I got a tweet from someone that was slightly rude.

I am Mormon(EEEEEKKKKKKK!!!  OH NO), I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints.  I am very proud of that!  I am proud of my religion and my beliefs! It really breaks my heart just how rude some people can be!!!!  I guess my thing is this, if you don't like what we believe, or don't believe what we believe, that's just fine and dandy!!!That is your right!! We have a thing called freedom of religion!!   So, you don't have to be ugly or rude about it.  I have plenty of friends that are baptist, Pentecostal, non believers, even Jehovah witnesses as friends!! And you know what we do????  We talk to each other!! I always share my beliefs..but...I would never try and make someone believe what I do.....Just share what I know. And pray for each of my friends.  I would NEVER tell someone they are going to hell for what they believe!!  (not my place)

Some people who are "Christians"  say some really hateful things.  I honestly don't believe that is how my savior acted while he was here on earth!!!  And I don't think it is any of our places to tell anyone they are going to hell!!! That is Heavenly Father's decision to make.  We do NOT know someones personal relationship with God!!  AND......people do sin, we ALL sin!!!! no one is perfect!  thankfully through the atonement I can be forgiven and so can u!!!

it is impossible to put into words the full meaning of the Atonement, which is the most important and most transcendent event in the history of the world. Through His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, the Savior atoned for our sins. This is the good news for all people!
 to read more, go here


Don't most religions believe that Christ was sent here to die for our sins so we can be saved and have everlasting life!! (john 3:16) So, If I believe that as well as the baptist that lives across the street, what makes me bad?  Also, So many people bring up JS and polygamy......really y'all!!??  That was way back when!!  I don't have sister wives!!  Heck, I'm not even married!!  I also read last night that JS was a pedophile because he married 14 yr old girls!!  Come on y'all!!!  My grandparents were married that young!!  That's how things were back then!!  Just like my grandparents legit were married until death do they part!!  Not many people can say that now.  Divorce rate is at the highest!! Heck, people don't even take marriage so seriously anymore.  Times change......people change.  That doesn't mean every Mormon has multiple wives, we don't dance with snakes. I really think instead of all the hate and judgement, why not us all work together and reach out to people who have no idea who Christ or our Heavenly Father are! People who don't know the plan of salvation.....lets work together to bring people closer to Christ and our Heavenly Father!!  Not push people or scare people away!!  This world needs more love and humility, not hate and judgement!!  None of us are perfect and I know I will NEVER be!! BUT, I will strive to be the best person I can be!  And that includes loving everyone no matter their background, race, sexuality, or religion!!!

Religion and faith are things that people have to find, research, study, pray about on their own.  Its never forced on any of us.  Your gonna believe what you feel in your heart is right.

I'm really sorry y'all.  I guess I am a big hearted person who thinks all the hate should stop!! If you don't like our religion(or if you're prejudice to anything) .......then don't search up #Mormon.  I feel like that is what some people sit around and do!!  If your one of those people, I am sorry.  I may be Mormon, but, I am also a good hearted mom, daughter, and grandma who loves music, makeup, fashion, my family, my american bulldog. sometimes a cup of coffee( I am human), puts one heel on at a time, southern bell preachers daughter!!!!

so.......

Because in the end, what it all boils down to is respect!!!! If u want others to respect you you have to first give respect!!  Just something to think about!!!

Good Night!!!
Muahs!

Friday 13th; Valentines;life

Good morning beautifuls!!! How are y'all today!??  Guess what day it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol!  Today is Friday!! yay!!!! Oh......wait.......its Friday 13th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH NO!!!  But guess what? that's fine by me cause it is honestly to cold to get out and about today!!!  Let me check my weather app real fast.....so, here in Ga right now it is 31 but real feel is 26!! Yeah, I'm beyond good! lol  I am pretty superstitious though.  I don't like Friday the 13th.  I am the type that something bad will happen.....

Its also Valentines Day Eve!!!  who is ready for that???  (not me)  I was hoping it would be special this year, but, don't look like it.  Everyone is on Facebook already posting there pics of flowers, surprises, you know.....all that good crap....lol  I guess you can say "love is in the air"

So, too all of y'all celebrating Vday..........

and to those of you not celebrating............

So, how was y'all's week??  Mine was busy,  I had to go get my daughters birth certificate so we could replace her lost license.  DMV is always fun to deal with.  BUT, when we went.....NO ONE was even there!!!  What????  Yay.

You know.  I wanna talk a little about something that has been on my heart and my best friend said something to me that just has stuck.  Have you ever been at a point in your life where it seems nothing was going the way it should,  Or that bad things seem to always happen to you???  I know I have!!  I go through this a ton in my everyday life.  I get down on myself from time to time.   Like, I think......what am I doing wrong??  Am I bad person cause it seems bad things always happen to me??  you know the question everyone asks! "why do bad things happen to good people?"

When your going through a rough patch, or if it seems that nothing is going right, we need to be humble......we have to remember someone is going through something way worse!!!  My best friend has been going through a time right now.  Her mom was living with her and up and left her high and dry!!  My friend thought Monday that she was not gonna have a place to live or anything.  Also, now that her mom is gone she doesn't have a reliable way back and forth to work.  Y'all, this is my best friend and her son going through this and I was with her the whole time.  Trying to help and offer the support she needed.  Me?? With my bipolar and everything would have just lost it!!!  She did so good and stayed so strong regardless of the situation.  Anyhow, we got to talking and I was telling here how sorry I was that she was going through such a hard time and i didn't understand how a single mom, who works her butt off was going through this and we couldn't find her a place and everything else. what she said to me really hit home and made so much since.......and I cant believe I never thought of it this way.......she said, "the devil is working against me" that's why!!  you know, if I'm late for Church.....or don't go for a reason, I always recognize that the devil is really trying to keep me from church, or I always know that when its a spiritual matter.  u know???

But, my friend was right!  I mean, think about it........ Doesn't it always seem the dirty, sneaky, no good people always have the best, or find ways to get things.  wanna know why?? Cause!!! They are living that life that the adversary loves!!!!! lying, stealing, cheating, ect!  Those of us who try and lead a spiritual life.....hard working......big hearts.....always putting others before ourselves, ect......the adversary does all he can to bring us down!!  He doesn't want us to succeed and do well for ourselves.

I guess what I am trying to say is this.......

If you are reading this and going through something........anything that may be trying to bring you down.........remember........fix your crown sweetheart, your a daughter of royalty.......know your worth, pray, keep your head up, keep your faith, and most importantly.....endure until the end!!  You are all sons and daughters to our Heavenly Father.  I know through prayer and faith our Heavenly Father will supply all your needs(Phill 4:19) And you will be rewarded in the end.  It isn't always the easy path for us Christians, but, we do become stronger with every little thing we go through and we are even more thankful when we are blessed.
(another thing I believe the more we go through, the stronger we are.  Heavenly Father would not......NOT.....but more on you then you can handle......so, if your going through a ton of stuff, take it as a compliment!!! Heavenly Father knows you can handle it!)

I really hope my blog today has touched someone and maybe even helped!!  My friend???  well, it worked out for the moment.  She has a roof over her head, Heavenly Father really looked out for her(not without testing her faith though) and he has provided for her.

I love y'all and I pray for all of my readers every single day.

Stay blessed and continue to endure until the end!!!!

muahs!

Back at it

Good morning y'all!! So sorry i haven't been keeping up with my schedule!! I promise Ya things will be back on track hopefully this week!! I got a few post planned to come up soon. I gotta tell y'all about the best Christmas ever, new years resolutions, I'm turning 37, and many more!! I'm so thankful y'all have been patient with me!!

Today i wanna share my grandson with my s.o.'s cousins horses Christmas day. He was in love!! And i have to say that Mr mudd was pretty fond of Karsyn too!

Then, he even got to go down to the barn and watch the horses get fed and he got to ride!

So, did y'all do anything new and exciting during the holidays?? Wanna see a video of our Christmas eve and Christmas day????  Our very merry Christmas 2014: here 

Muahs!

Melissa aka maduke

Santa Claus is coming to town

So.....we were cleaning house(it's slowly getting in order with my daughter and grandson settling in) When i was in the other room my daughter starts hollering "santa! Santa!" So, of course i had to see what was going on....lol as i got into the living room, my daughter was all in the window....my grandson was looking out the front door and i was hearing sleigh bells!! Looked outside and saw this!! Karsyn(My grandson) was dumbfounded!! I love this age....he is starting to get excited whenever he sees a fat man in a red suit lol anyhow.....santa came around the block a second and third time. Finally i decided to throw some shoes on Karsyn and take him out by the road to see him closer!! The fourth time, while we were by the rd....they invited us to come take a ride with santa! So, we did!! It was so much fun!! I got a few videos I'm gonna try and add to this post too!

My son riding up front with santa

This was really fun

Did y'all do anything fun this weekend?? Anything magical like this?? Lol

Muahs!

Melissa aka maduke

Fill the world with Christ's love

I just love to sit down at night before bed and reading the ensign.

December issues are my favorite though. I enjoy reading all the stories about helping others. It's such a change from watching cnn and stuff. That's so depressing.....

So, i just wanted to share something uplifting.

Muahs!

Melissa aka maduke

Happy birthday bubs

Man.....i swear!! The older i get, the faster it seems that time goes by.

12 years ago today, i was blessed with one of the best kids ever! He is gonna go far in life!!
Don't believe me...just watch
He is so smart and excels in all that he does!!
I'm so thankful that my heavenly father blessed me with Dakota
Everyday
Muahs!

Melissa aka maduke

Temple square

Have you ever been to the SLC temple??? In 2007, i lived in Orem Utah and got to visit temple square a couple of times.  My favorite trip there was the night they lit the Christmas lights. It was so beautiful. Magical....to say the least. And on top of that, the spirit was so strong. You can just feel it as you step onto the grounds.

If you live within driving distance.....GO! I don't care if your lds or not.....if you wanna get into the Christmas spirit, trust me...this will work😉

Sometimes i feel like some church members that live in Utah really take this for granted....but please! Don't!! Y'all are so lucky to be so close to something so great! I'd give anything to be able to go whenever i wanted, but that is impossible on my income and of course the fact that i live in  Georgia doesn't help! Lol just to be able to take my kids at least once during this time....would be perfect!

I may not be able to go as much as i like, but I'm very thankful that i can say I've been! And even my son got to go! I do have it on my bucket list to visit again at least one more time and to take my grandson.

In conclusion.....go! Mormon or not! I promise you will not regret it!! The lights will be lit until December 31.

*Fun fact about my genealogy*
My great great great great (you get the point) gpa worked beneath Brigham Young to hand carve the stars above the doors on the west side of the temple.  If i remember correctly(i need to go re read it) he even got paid with cheese.

Muahs!

share the gift/he is the gift

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has put this billboard up in times square!

how cool is this?? i am so thankful that as a church we are trying to get people to remember that Jesus truly is "the reason for the season"

these days it really does seem that people have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas! it is all about the "sales" or "deals". i mean..... families are even rushing through Thanksgiving dinner with their family or even going shopping instead of being thankful, and being with their families at all. it's really sad how commercialized all our holidays are becoming.

I'd love for you to check out the video the church has put out for Christmas. please, share this with your friends and family. lets try and bring back the true meaning of Christmas and the greatest gift of all, our Savior! (John 3:16)

mormonnetwork on instagram posted this^......i thought it explained it well and wanted to share it with y'all.
remember, HE is the gift!
muahs!
http://www.mormon.org/christmas