Author Archives: S.D. Sorensen

GCBC Week 20: All Things Work Together for Good

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General Conference Book Club, Week 20:

“All Things Work Together for Good” by Elder James B. Martino of the Seventy

When we are in the midst of challenges, it is difficult to see the purpose in our struggles.  We sometimes fear that the trial is bigger than our ability to bear it.  Even Joseph Smith, in a dark time during his imprisonment, cried out to the Lord, “O God, where art thou?” (D&C 121:1), to which he received this reassurance:  “… Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.”

In this conference talk, Elder Martino testifies:

“Our trials come in many forms, but each will allow us to become more like the Savior as we learn to recognize the good that comes from each experience. As we understand this doctrine, we gain greater assurance of our Father’s love. We may never know in this life why we face what we do, but we can feel confident that we can grow from the experience.”

What insights do you gain about facing trials as you study this talk?

Go here to find the media versions of the talk (audio, video, mp3, etc.).  If this is your first visit to the General Conference Book Club,  click here to learn more about it.

Stuff that matters, starring you.

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First of all, thank you to all of you who made such kind comments on my recent post.  You said some great things that made me think, and you definitely made me feel loved and appreciated.  You made me feel better. Thank you.

I wanted to make sure that you knew about this little month-long festival going on over at Chocolate on my Cranium (click on the button):

This month marks the 15th anniversary of “The Family:  A Proclamation to the World,” which is even more powerful now than the day it was announced.  It’s a benchmark of truth and doctrine.

“Why do we have this proclamation on the family now? Because the family is under attack. All across the world families are falling apart. The place to begin to improve society is in the home. Children do, for the most part, what they are taught. We are trying to make the world better by making the family stronger” ~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

Anyway, there are bucketloads of posts going on over there about different points of the proclamation, as well as blog hops and giveaways galore.  You’ll definitely want to spend some time there this month.  (And if you’re still on the fence about it, okay, I’ll tell you.  I’m guest posting there next week.  At least show up that day.)

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And in case you’re looking for more good stuff to read, I also wanted to honor some of my favorite posts in the last little while (and by little while, I really mean all summer.  It’s been a little busy around here. Give me a break.)  Let’s hand out a few Post-It Awards, shall we?

Winners –or anyone else who cares– click on the award for more info.

Posts that somehow inspired me, listed by post first, then the name of the blog:

For This Child I Prayed from I’m (Not) Crazy Mommy

Passing the Bridge of Sighs from Blog Segullah by Annie

Presence in Mothering from Mormon Mommy Blogs by InkMom (ooh, that’s two!)

learning every day from Hughes News

What I learned about being a mother by watching my husband be father. from You’re Pretty too.

Blessings from Write Stuff

whirring and spinning from a*may*zing

parenting from Confessions of a cookie addict

What (I Think) Women Want: To Husbands from Mormon Mommy Blogs by Braden Bell

Outside perspective from Mommy Snark

Lasts from Overstuffed

BLIND BY CHOICE from Becoming LDS

Go visit them and leave a little comment there; I bet it would make them smile today.  I’m sure there were many more great posts, so don’t feel bad if you had a masterpiece you think I left off the list.  In fact, feel free to paste your favorite post from this summer in the comments.  I’d love to read it.  Really.  This list here is just simply a case of the days I was not too lazy to actually click the little star button in Google Reader.

You people rock.  Yes you do.  (I did not say that in an annoying voice.  Trust me.)

The faith and fear theory: I beg to differ.

Posted in Diapers, Divinity by

We moved two weeks ago.  Two weeks seems like nothing and forever at the same time.  Matt is at his new job; he likes it.  My boys will be home from school soon.  Natalie is watching Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (it’s a preschool cartoon), and I’ve been hanging out at the computer desk for longer than I should have today.  The last 12 days or so have been a frenzy of unpacking boxes and putting every thing in its new place.  Somehow during this same time, the boys convinced Matt that they needed to buy some guinea pigs since they had to leave their beloved fish, Colors, behind in Minnesota.  Don’t ask me how I feel about the new pets.

My bedroom is the last room to unpack, except for some “storage” boxes in the basement.  I can’t bring myself to do it; I’ve been avoiding those last dozen boxes or so for about 3 days.  At first I thought it was because I was just feeling tired and a little bit lazy, and who likes to organize a closet anyway? (I know some of you might actually like that kind of thing, and all I can say about that is:  How much do you charge?)  However, after a little bit of gloom today and a little bit of reflection, it dawned on me:

I don’t want to finish unpacking because then I live here.  Really live here.

And then I realized that the thought terrifies me a little bit.  That seems ridiculous because, hello, I’m already here, but everything happened so fast.  I’m not sure I ever really got a chance to process it all.  I think I might be afraid. Continue reading →

GCBC Week 19: Mother Told Me, Things Pertaining to Righteousness

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I’m back-dating this to Sunday.  (I’m a little slow lately.  Moving bites. Thanks for being patient.)  We’re going to study two talks this week:

“Mother Told Me” by Elder Bradley D. Foster of the Seventy

“Things Pertaining to Righteousness” by Elder Francisco J. Vinas of the Seventy

Only 4 more weeks and 4 more talks (after this) until a new General Conference and new messages from heaven.  Both of these talks give great insights into motherhood and parenthood.  The first honors the role of motherhood and the second reminds us of our great responsibility to teach our children the things that matter most.

As you study these talks, please share in the comments any insights you have about the role of mothers.

Go here to find the media versions of the talks (audio, video, mp3, etc.).  If this is your first visit to the General Conference Book Club,  click here to learn more about it.

Girl humor

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Today Natalie (age 3) referred to this movie:

as “Lady and the Cramp.”  Does anyone else find this as funny as I do?

I’m thinking it would be a great rewrite/parody.  Remember the song the hootchie girl dog sings in the dog pound prison?  Maybe she could sing it like this:  “It’s a Cramp, and I hate it …”  And after Lady gets out of the clink, can you imagine the PMS-induced wrath that Mr. Street Dog would get?  I don’t think it would be a spaghetti kiss, put it that way.

What would you write into the story if  you were the screenwriter for Lady and the Cramp?