Grandchildren - Chapter 6



My third to the youngest granchild, Autumn Tyme Leavitt, had her 11th birthday on April 11, 2012.  Autumn is a delightful person to talk to.  From the time she was very young she has known how to carry on a conversation.  It has been fun to listen to the things she says and how she expresses herself. She has a very interesting way of looking at life.

She has always been very helpful too.  I remember when she was very little and I believe I was babysitting.  I was emptying the clothes dryer.  Autumn immediately came and cleaned out the lint screen. If I emptied the wastebasket she would quickly get another bag to put back in.She has set a pattern of helping ever since then.

We celebrated her birthday at her home yesterday.

Her delicious birthday cake.

Blowing out her candles.





Taking her youngest cousins, Laila and Chloe, for a ride.





Some of her birthday stash.

I appreciate and love Autumn for her wonderful spirit and loving attitude.  Happy birthday Autumn!

Stop It!!!

We just spent this last weekend in New Harmony and was able to relax and watch General Conference.  I loved all the talks but the the one that is really sticking with me right now is President Uchtdorf's about judging others.  What a wonderful talk!!

President Uchtdorf spoke about a mother whose desire was to have her two children become reconciled with each other. This mother felt that a general conference talk could heal her two children.

He said that stories of envy and hatred have been the most tragic stories in history. The spirit of contention, resentment and revenge is a destructive force. We all depend on the savior and none of us can be saved without him.   We must repent and we must be willing to forgive one another. We don’t like it when people judge us but when it comes to our own grievances we justify our feelings. We make exceptions when it comes to our own bitterness because we feel we have all the information that we need to hold someone else in contempt. The moment we judge someone else we condemn ourselves.  Refusing to forgive is a sin. It required by the Lord that we forgive all men.  That includes forgiving ourselves. Sometimes we are the one that is hardest to forgive. We must recognize that we are all imperfect.  We all need to be forgiven of the mistakes we have made and the sins we have committed.

President Uchtdorf said that regarding this topic of hating, judging others, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing or wanting to cause harm we should apply a two word sermon. Stop It!  It’s that simple.  Replace all these feelings with love.

I love it! Simply, Stop it.

He also mentioned a bumper sticker he once saw, “Don’t judge me because I sin differently that you.”

How can we expect to take advantage of the mercy of our Father in Heaven if we cannot forgive?

“When our hearts are filled with the love of God, something good and pure happens to us.”

Sounds simple huh?  My husband and I were driving from getting our favorite treat, Golden Spoon yogurt.  I found myself nit picking at some of the things a couple of drivers did.  Then we’d both say, “Stop It!” and laughed. 

This is my new motto when I choose to judge and criticize.

Stop It!!