Sunday Post - 16 hours early!

"Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds.  It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves."--James E. Faust, "The Healing Power of Forgiveness," May 2007 Ensign

Judging from recent Sunday posts, as well as miscellaneous thought cards stashed here and there, Alice Haddow has concluded she finds great wisdom in the words of James Faust. This is quite surprising, given her understanding that he was a life-long Democrat while Alice Haddow remains faithful to the other side of politics.  Alice Haddow's father and grandfather, however, were also life-long Democrats, and she loved them, too. Many parts of our existence obviously transcend politics.  

Alice Haddow is thinking it would be great if ALL parts of our existence transcended politics. Unfortunately, thoughts like these are the stuff dreams are made of.

A New Me

I stumbled onto a fantastic blog tonight.  I thought it would serve as a nice companion to the "Biggest Loser" contest going on among my friends.  

Don't worry.  I would have joined the contest if my work schedule would allow it.  Instead, I am going to enjoy this great find and the links that go with it.  If this lady can lose 100 pounds (and it looks as though she's already lost 42), I can certainly lose four--definitely, maybe.

Just wanted to share.    Here is the link:  http://anewmeitsuptome.blogspot.com 

Oh, and sorry about the recent dearth of pictures on my blog.  I need my hubby to teach me how to insert them again. :)

42 hours late, but still an FHE thought

"Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don't give up even when others say it can't be done."--James E. Faust, "Perseverance," Ensign, May 2005, 51

The thought expressed in the quotation above is dedicated to my remarkable husband, whose strength of spirit seems nearly unmatched among those whom I've had the pleasure of meeting in this world. No matter how difficult the circumstances might be, he remains willing at all times to work through problems and to persevere.

The nit-picky details of the quotation above are left to Alice Haddow, ever the editor, who couldn't help but notice the typist of the original quotation had inserted unnecessary commas and, adding insult to injury, placed the sentence period outside the quotation marks when everyone knows that's against the rules.

The appearance of the word "persevere" also strikes Alice Haddow as extremely odd and causes her to wish to pronounce the word incorrectly. Decades ago, Alice Haddow's college friends referred to her as their "computer speller," but age has now deprived her of that once appropriate moniker.

No doubt our computer savvy friends are saying, "Just look it up online, already!" However, no one has ever, for good reason, referred to Alice Haddow as computer savvy. Obviously, she will have to break down, get out her dictionary, and report her findings, for which she is certain you simply cannot wait.

Eleven Minutes Late but Still a Sunday Thought

Closely related to our own obligation to repent is the generosity of letting others do the same. . . . We don't want God to remember our sins, so there is something fundamentally wrong in our relentlessly trying to remember others' sins. . . . It is one of those ironies of godhood that in order to find peace, the offended as well as the offender must engage the principle of forgiveness."--Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom," Ensign, Nov. 1996, 82.

Alice admires her friend's creativity

Alice Haddow has found more of Leighoda's lovely centerpieces to display. Leighoda artfully took care of most of the tables at the ward Christmas breakfast, providing many reminders (with thanks to John Keats) that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever."

Leighoda's Centerpiece(s)

I had promised the sons and daughter-in-law of my friend Leighoda that I would publish pictures of her beautiful Christmas centerpieces on my blog. After a week of trying to figure out to which computer they had been downloaded, I finally found at least some of them.

Here is the first of hopefully multiple pictures displaying the wonderful artistry of an amazingly giving lady. All of the greenery she cut from her own yard to create dozens of centerpieces for the ward breakfast. Without her efforts, the room would not have been nearly so gorgeous.

Thank you, Leighoda!

More Words to Live By

I have stumbled across many eloquent statements today, not the least of which includes the following from Marion D. Hanks. He asks, "What is our response when we are offended, misunderstood, unfairly or unkindly treated, or sinned against, made an offender for a word, falsely accused, passed over, hurt by those we love, our offerings rejected? Do we resent, become bitter, hold a grudge? Or do we resolve the problem if we can, forgive, and rid ourselves of the burden? The nature of our response to such situations may well determine the nature and quality of our lives, here and eternally. A courageous friend, her faith refined by many afflictions, said to me only hours ago, 'Humiliation must come before exaltation.' It is required of us to forgive. Our salvation depends upon it."

These are more than words of wisdom. They are Sunday-forever thoughts designed as balm to soothe the souls of all humankind, with emphasis on the "kind."