Training for Eternal Exaltation

Today has been a hard day.

I just read this and it put things into perspective.

I think that the hardest trials in our lives are the ones that are long-term...

the ones that test our limits of patience and long-suffering.

"Some might ask when faced with such suffering, how could Almighty God let this happen? And then that seemingly inevitable question, why did this happen to me? Why must we experience disease and events that disable or call precious family members home early or extend their years in pain? Why the heartaches? At these moments we can turn to the great plan of happiness authored by our Heavenly Father. That plan, when presented in the pre-earth life, prompted us all to shout for joy. Put simply, this life is training for eternal exaltation, and that process means tests and trials. It has always been so, and no one is spared."

—Elder Ronald A. Rasband, "Special Lessons", General Conference, Apr. 2012

The Sacrament and a Mighty Change of Heart

This past conference, Elder Robert D. Hales said,

"I testify that the sacrament gives us an opportunity to come to ourselves and experience ‘a mighty change’ of heart—to remember who we are and what we most desire. As we renew the covenant to keep the commandments, we obtain the companionship of the Holy Ghost to lead us back into our Heavenly Father’s presence. No wonder we are commanded to ‘meet together oft to partake of [the] bread and [water]’ and to partake of the sacrament to our souls."

—Elder Robert D. Hales, "Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple, and Sacrifice in Service", General Conference, Apr. 2012

I've been praying for a "mighty change of heart" and for a strong desire to take better care of myself starting with getting enough rest. I had an "Ah-ha" moment when I read this. I never thought of connecting the sacrament with receiving a change of heart. It's only through the help of my Heavenly Father that I can obtain this blessing. Next Sunday while I take the sacrament I will remember the desire and change of heart I am praying for.

I think that I will need this weekly reminder and in the words of Elder Hales,

"No wonder we are commanded to

‘meet together oft to partake of [the] bread and [water]’

and to partake of

the sacrament to our souls."

Don't wait to be asked

"Call me if you need anything."

How many times have we heard that or said it ourselves?

How many people actually take us up on our offer and call us? I know I have said it but I am trying harder to notice needs of others and do something without waiting to be asked.

I read a really good article the other day about someone who called her sick and bedridden friend and asked simply, "I’ve had you on my mind. I need to spend a few minutes with you to see if I can cheer you up a little. Do you think you could sit up and tolerate company for about 45 minutes?”

What she ended up doing was giving her a manicure and visiting with her.

I like the last paragraph,

"If my friend had called and asked me if there was 'anything she could do' for me, I would have told her no. If she had asked if she could come and give me a manicure, I surely would have refused, thinking it was the last thing I needed or wanted. She said only that she cared and wanted to cheer me up—and she fulfilled that promise by physically touching my hands and spiritually touching my heart."

To read the whole article:

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/04/more-than-a-manicure?lang=eng&query=manicure

But I don't want to...

I have had a crappy week and haven't felt like blogging.

I want this blog to be a source of encouragementand I don't feel like I have much to

give when I am in a depressive slump.

Someone told me that when I start feeling depressed I need to do something to

combat it instead of trying to hide from it. The longer I wait the harder it is to crawl out of the "slumps."

Yesterday I took my kids on a mommy daughter date to the Pizza Factory and we went shopping afterwards for some clothes for them. I look forward to the future when they beg me to go shopping for a new outfit. I was very surprised that they both seemed to enjoy picking different things out. What I wanted to do was crawl in bed and hide from the world. But today I organized my house even though I really, really didn't want to. And instead of hiding I read to my youngest and gladly accepted a request to help someone with a project. Service helps me forget completely and totally for a few moments about my struggles with this disease.

Lifestyle Changes

I was at my doctor's office

a few years ago

and he told me to stay away from



SUGAR.

"Pfph!!!"

and

"Ya Right!!!"

is what I said to him.

He told me that sugar is really

bad for those who are depressed.

I asked him, "Why then do I crave

Sugar

when I am depressed?"

It seems my body has this defense mechanism

when I feel depressed

where I crave foods such as

candy

or carbs

that gives me a mood "boost."
But I am also really, really irritable.

And THEN...

I crash,

and feel depressed all over again.

So I tried to completely go off sugar

and succeeded for about three weeks.

It's amazing when you try this and

find out that you don't crave those

things anymore.

But...

that approach isn't really practical

is it?

So over the past six months I have learned to replace those refined, over processed and unhealthy sugars with ingredients like:

honey, dark agave, 100% pure maple syrup, sucanat & coconut sugar.

A really good place to read more about why refined sugars are so unhealthy can be found on a blog http://www.simplehealthytasty.com/2008/04/ingredients-what-to-look-for-when.html

So I haven't given up treats, I just buy or make ones that are "healthified."

In order to get well, I have needed to make lifestyle changes which has included my diet. I will write more about this later in a following post. All I have to say is that my mood is so much better. I have more energy and I get depressed less often.

**As a side note: 

(Coconut sugar has a low glycemic index like that of an apple. I buy it from the grocery section on Amazon.com for a decent price and the sucanat I have bought from http://www.azurestandard.com/ I buy the agave and maple syrup from Costco or Sam's Club. I buy my honey from beekeepers in my hometown.)

Limitations and Accepting Them

I have had a bunch of

things on my

To DO List

for the past month.

My husband's parents

and siblings,

and my parents 

and my friends,

have been a huge blessing

as they have helped with various things.

My mother-in-law

called me the other day

and asked if I needed help

with the remaining things

on my To Do List.

She had already spent quite a few days

helping me and it was sweet of her to offer to help again.

I told her,

"Actually, I'm done. Even though there are a few things on the list,

I decided that I need to take care of myself

 and so I might do one or two more things

that are necessary

but other than that

I'm not doing anymore."

It felt so good to say that!!

Just to realize that

I can't continue to push

myself at the pace

I was keeping up

over the past couple of weeks

or I would probably trigger a depressive cycle.

I realize that I get stressed out easily

so anything that I can do

to not put unnecessary burdens

or responsibilities on myself is

KEY

to being emotionally,

                                      mentally,

                                                         spiritually,

                                                                            & physically

healthy.

Not MIA

So I have not been MIA,

let's just say that I have had

an overwhelming increase

in what I call

"Mommy Chores."

 I would start to get really stressed out,

but then I would call one of my friends for help with something

and the stress would

leave.

I am so grateful!!!!

My therapist told me that

she didn't think that my current circumstances

and the fact that I had recently told

some close friends of my illness

 were a coincidence.

She told me to ask for help

and I did even though it was hard for me.

I love helping other people

but when it comes to asking for help

I feel like I'm being a bother.

Through my experiences of the past few weeks

I have come to accept and recognize my limitations

which I'll be blogging about tomorrow!