TENDER MERCIES

I have been so blessed lately, well, always, but more particularly lately.  The week between Christmas and New Year's, I did a lot of soul searching.  I was blessed with a good attitude as I thought over the short comings I found and found . . . .  and found, nice change I must admit.  I came to a simple conclusion, I need to just DO IT!   Don't you just love our prophets?  Each and everyone taught us eternal principles  that have and will always be true!  So I decided to take President Kimball's counsel and just DO IT . . . . . . NOW!  Such a wise great little man!

• I have started to do things, like I am not a procrastinator.  You know, decide what needs to be done and do it already!  Pretending can lead to good things.  It is working and getting things done
• I have given up cola drinks of all kinds.  I caved one morning and drank a Dr. Pepper while at a store.  I didn't get angry with myself, I recommitted to my goal.  Not one drop has crossed my lips since that day last week.  I did buy some caffeine tablets in case the headaches started.  That is what gets me started on the colas in the first place and then appetite kicks in and you know the rest of the story.  I have been so blessed.  I had a headache start one morning and took 1/2 tablet and a Tylenol.  I have been OK since then.  That never happens.  I know that a kind and loving God is blessing me, no other explanation.
• Two nights ago, I slept wrong and threw my neck and upper back out.  This happened a few months ago and I went through so much pain for weeks.  My shoulder was so painful, it hurt to lift a gallon of milk and I had to avoid to driving at it's worse since I couldn't turn my neck.  Pressing seams when I was making the "Cars" quilts was agonizing. This the second day since it happened this time and I am almost back to normal again.  
• It seems every lesson in Relief Society has been just for me. . . . ( and my parents said the world would not revolve around me when I grew up).  I know the lessons were planned a really looooooong time ago, but my eyes, mind and heart have been opened to see what in particular I need to learn from them.
• One day I looked at all that I "needed" to do.  Instead, I called Jon and told him to stay up in the valley, I was coming up the next morning with his Sunday clothes and meet him to go to the temple.  What a wonderful day it was!  I was alert the whole time, learned, thought of a good way to continue learning about those the principles after I came home and never gave all that I "needed" to be doing a single thought, even as I drove home.
• As I walked in  the door, I did not get down in the dumps when I faced all that needed to be done, still.  I was recharged and ready to get to business.  I have been blessed to be able to make more decisions and make better progress in my home organization goal.

Now I am trying to figure out how to get up to the valley without my car so that I can ride home with Jon, with the cell phones off and nothing to interrupt or side track us.  Doesn't that sound so lovely?  I think so!

Thank you President Kimball, I loved having you as my prophet and will always cherish the sweet memories as you taught and led us on this crazy old earth.  You helped me recognize some of the tender mercies that I am enjoying in my every day life, even so long after you passed on from this earth.  Your counsel reminded me how to accomplish  . . . DO IT!