Equal Inspiration For One and All

I read in the book that everyone receives inspiration everyday. The difference is whether or not people choose to listen to and follow the inspiration they receive. Life just seems to work out for those that choose to listen. This quote has not left my mind. I'm learning that I receive many more subtle thoughts than I realized. Many of them are not earth-shaking bits of revelation. Some of them are just intuition that would be nice if I'd follow it.

Last night, I was thinking of my husband. It was late, and he still had 45 minutes before he was done at work, and I was missing him. I got up to leave them room to do something, and saw my cell phone sitting on the couch next to me. I thought to myself, I should take the phone with me. I brushed it off, because who in the world would call me at 9:17 pm? I was gone 30 seconds from the room and sure enough, my kids tell me that my husband just called to tell me that he got off early and was on his way home, and that his phone battery was dead so he'd just have to see me when he finally got home.

I just about died! A thousand thoughts ran through my head. What if got in a car accident on the way home and that was my last chance to talk to him? What if...? What if...? What if...? Why didn't I just take the lousy phone when I got the SGBD to take it? Fortunately, the powers that be had mercy on me and after two unsuccessful attempts to call him back, I finally got through. He came home safe and all was well. Lesson learned...I hope.

Right during my prayer this morning....

I'm waiting for the Provo City Council meeting to begin. The powers that be are late.

I took Dezra's council and made sure to ask about SGBD's in my prayers this morning. While praying I felt I better get my act in gear and go ahead and send an email to the sisters in my ward about this challenge.(I had the idea to do this Sunday after church but yet again talked myself into not doing it.) On Monday I saw that the gal who prepares the weekly newsletter  had sent it out and oh well, I had missed the opportunity. But not so! I went ahead and sent a message. I didn't really figure anyone would be interested but you never know and more so, I felt if someone was just reading the experiences of those blogging, it might just help.

Later today, a sister emailed and said she was really interested. I still wonder if a number of ladies in my neighborhood were trying this what might come to pass within our ward boundaries.

Lisa, I was uncomfortable with the two male writers but I don't remember why right now and will have to look in the book when I have it in my hands. I think it was really the story of her father that got me going on this adventure myself. 

Here comes the council...

Two promptings

Yesterday I was prompted to tell my son, Ivan, that he did a great job cleaning the bathroom sink. It looked really good! So, when I saw him a few minutes later, I said,"Thank you for doing such a good cleaning job on the bathroom sink!"

I also had an extra ticket to the Carl Bloch exhibit at the BYU Museum of Art for this morning. I thought several times yesterday that I should call a distant cousin to go with me and my family. I tried a couple of times and the line was busy. Later last night I thought I needed to call her again. I did and she said she would love to go. We met her at the museum and enjoyed the paintings and the spirit that was there. As we were saying our goodbye's she said that although she had already seen the exhibit several times, she was really wanting to go again. She was very glad I called her, as it was an answer to her prayer. Go figure!

Also, I'm almost done reading the book.... I have some mixed feelings about it, but mostly I like it. I am really enjoying this experiment.

Made With Love

I moved to my current home about a year and a half ago. My neighbors are a cantankerous older couple that go out of their way to be unkind to our children. (yelling over the fence when we BBQ, yelling out the window if the kids grab a stray ball out of their driveway, banging on our door WAY after bedtime to complain about something they think we were responsible for, etc.)

It's been the oddest experience I've ever had with neighbors. I'm not really sure why they've decided they dislike our family so much. I've tried to ask them, but they slammed the door in my face while I was standing on their front porch. (and I thought that experience would end when I got home from my mission)

I've really done my best to avoid contact with them, because we seem to unknowingly annoy them so badly. I found that by ignoring them while they are peeking out the window or yelling across the yard,  I was getting more bitter toward them. The thought came to me several months ago that I should bake them a loaf of bread and secretly leave it with a kind note on their front door mat. I thought I must be losing my mind. I was NOT planning on stirring up that hornets nest! They scare me.

The thought has persisted for months now, but I brushed it off. I decided that putting their names on the temple prayer roll would be better. Maybe they are just angry about something else in life and choose to take it out on us or something. Week after week, I'd pray for them, add their names to the roll, try to ignore them and on it went, but over and over, "Just bake them some bread" kept coming back.

I finally gave in the other day. I got up early and gave myself a deadline of 10:30 am for delivery. I measured the ingredients so carefully. I kneaded and tucked the dough into the pans with the greatest care I've ever used. The loaves baked up to perfection! I chose the one that was the best looking and wrapped it in a beautiful tissue and added a note offering my assistant with anything they may need. (I noticed that the have an Oxygen In Use sign in their window now)

I delivered the package and waited and waited for the bundle to disappear. FINALLY they took it an hour later. I was ecstatic! My heart felt the most peaceful it had ever felt when I thought about these neighbors! I wondered what the consequences would be. Would they start warming up to us now? Would it soften their hearts? Had my prayers finally been answer? I learned the answer to those questions last night.

My children were playing with a volleyball in our yard, and it accidentally ended up in their driveway. The old man immediately opens his window and screams at my children to stay out of his yard! He then continued to yell profanities out the window until the kids finally just came inside.

Maybe he doesn't like whole wheat bread.

What I learned is that I didn't bake bread for my neighbors. I needed to bake that bread for me. I needed to serve someone who thoroughly dislikes me so that I could let my resentment go. It was a nasty feeling that had been growing inside me like a weed. I had asked the Lord to fix it. Instead of softening the heart of my enemy, He softened mine.

My Monday experiences...

We were up late with priming walls last night. So I'm late with my experience. I'm not sure if I can be completely honest...I'll try.

Sunday, I was thinking about my integrity towards myself over my lifetime. It was a feeling of disappointment to a certain extent.

Today,I felt I should tell my husband of a certain cosmetic procedure I've tried twice now (and like) but think I don't need it any longer. I guess this was a SGBD (like the abbreviation here) more a desire to just be honest in my integrity to me and to others. I suppose all my SGBD moments aren't going to be easy. It's the pride stuff. I would like to go forward from here and be able to look back at myself , ans my choices, and feel that I was honest not just with others but with myself.

For example, last night I saw a purple crayon on the floor. I thought I should pick it up. I almost walked past the object when I remembered my personal integrity. I stopped and picked it up.

Thank you ladies for your posts last night. I will pray this morning for SGBD opportunities. I don't think I specifically did that on Monday. I feel very grateful to read about your experiences. I wonder what our communities would be like if we were all consciously trying to follow our SGBD's?

Everything Old is New Again

In my prayer this morning I asked that I be allowed to hear some SGBDs. Within moments of the "amen," I was impressed to ask a less-active sister in our ward to join the playgroup we have every Wednesday morning. This was a prompting I got a few times several months ago and I talked myself out of it, but not today! An old prompting was given again and so I called her. I had to leave a message, but it was very detailed...time, place, my number, etc. I hope to hear from her, or better yet, see her on Wednesday.

Another old SGBD that I got several months ago was, "deep clean/declutter your house." I was pregnant with my fifth and very tired and while I appreciated this suggestion, it just didn't go anywhere. I should have followed through with it while I only had four small children to contend with, nevertheless, the prompting came again...this time via a book Nickie mentioned in one of her posts on As a Mother Thinketh.... Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston. This was a few weeks ago and I just knew I had to get that book. I cruised over to Thriftbooks.com and got it for less than five dollars and free shipping (woohoo!). It came and I have been so inspired. My house had gotten so uncomfortable for me. There wasn't a single surface that didn't have piles of misplaced stuff. I was miserable...there wasn't one room in the house I felt I could breathe in. It is really hard for me to hear the spirit or feel at peace when all I see is work that needs to be done (and feels impossible to tackle).

Now after two days of intensive decluttering, my living room is my favorite place again and my kitchen is a joy to be in. I still have to do a few more cupboards and the junk drawer, but my spirits have been significantly lifted. I have a reasonable schedule to work on the rest of my house and I have explained to my children (the three oldest) why we are doing this. They quickly came on board when I explained that they could sell their toys at a garage sale.

So, again...thanks to Nickie! Her blogging is changing my life, and the lives of my children.

Little Things

I forgot to add a photo yesterday. Here is my family! I am happily married and have five beautiful children.

Just a little thing I learned today...

I got this impression to fix dinner for a sister in my ward who has seriously ill children. I called to ask her about it but she declined. I realized that sometimes we may feel an impression to do something but that doesn't mean it will be received or even needed. Perhaps she just needed to know someone was thinking about her that day or maybe the offer will pave the way for future service. Only God knows...

Also I had a little thought to push the back button on the internet browser on my husband's computer after I used it to put it back where he had it. I didn't listen and just closed the window. Turns out that was part of his FHE lesson. I know it's only a little thing but it would have shown him that I respect his things and space, something I sometimes take for granted.

I'm just getting warmed up : ) I'm lovin' this ladies! SayGoBeDo!!

Apologize...

So, we had a rough night last night with our three year old. Our schedules were a bit off because Grandma is visiting for a few days. Avalon was super hyper and didn't want to go to bed. We finally put her in our bed and she cried and kicked, but finally fell asleep.

Two times in the middle of the night she woke up (I think with a bad dream.) She was yelling at me and kicking and "running" under the covers. I woke up with her both times and she was crying. I thought she might need to go to the bathroom, so I took her. She was mad and kept yelling "NO!". I was frustrated because Grandma needed her sleep. She was waking the whole house up. It was upsetting and I kept trying to reason with her and really was losing my temper. (Why do I bother trying to reason with a three year old?) She kept crying.

I finally just put her back to bed with us. She kept whimpering and wouldn't go back to sleep. The words came into my head of what I should say to her. "I love you, Avalon. I'm sorry I got angry." I didn't want to say the words--can we say prideful? Then, I recognized that it was a SGBD moment. So, I reached over, rubbed her back a minute and said just was the spirit told me to say. She whimpered one more time and went to sleep.

We both woke up happy and ready for a new day.

Completely forgot to add my picture!

           
                                                      Jennifer Ete

Confessions of a SGBD Addict

Name: My name is Jennifer Ete, and I'm addicted to SGBD

Family: A lovely husband with a cool New Zealand accent, six homeschooled children, one fat cat, a rabbit and a partridge in a pear tree.

I've been practicing the SGBD technique for several days now. My first experience was a learning experience. I told my children that we would go on a field trip. I got online to look up the address while the kids played on the driveway while waiting for me. I found the address and thought to myself that I really should get going instead of hanging about online. I decided to quickly check my email "just because," but had the thought again that I really should get going and check the email later. I didn't listen. A third time the thought came, and I still stood there finishing my email check. Moments later, my 8 year old comes up the stairs crying with blood pouring out of his head. Four staples and a concussion later, I decided that I need to pay attention the first time the impressions come along.

I can hear myself saying over and over to my own children, "You need to do what I ask you to do the first time I ask." Why exactly did I think the rules were different for me?? (so dumb)

Experience #2 - I was in the hospital over the weekend with one of my other children (this time it wasn't my fault...) and I felt that I should just go for a little walk around the halls instead of sitting in the room at that moment. My son's staples fresh in my mind, I hoped up and announced that I was going for a walk. My daughter asked where and why. I told her I didn't know, but I needed to go right now. While I was going, absolutely nothing of great consequence happened to me. I was confused, but stayed gone until I felt right about returning to the room. When I returned, my daughter told me that she'd just had her first visitor, and was feeling really good that someone had thought to stop by and bring her flowers. She and her friend had a nice visit and her spirits had been lifted. I figured that had I been in the room, the conversation would have been stifled a bit, because teen girls can't really "talk" when somebody's mom is sitting there, so I felt pretty good about myself for listening.

Here I am!

Well, I just got the book in the mail yesterday and so I haven't read much. But, my eleven year old son couldn't put it down, so I'm sure it is good.

My name is Lisa. I am a friend to Nickie, 3rd or 4th cousin to Gove, and Dina is another cousin's wife. We spoke today about the SayGoBeDo challenge at a baby blessing. Glad to have you on board, Dina!

I am a mother of 4+ children. Calvin (11--almost 12!!), Ivan (9), Reed (6) and Avalon (3). I am due in August with #5. I live in Utah. I get to home school my children. I am overwhelmed and trying to simplify my life. I am hoping to follow the spirit (SayGoBeDos) to know what is most important in my life.

Looking forward to this challenge.

An Introduction

As per Nickie's request I will take a moment to introduce myself to the rest of the group. My name is Dezra Helgeson. I live in Minneapolis, MN with my husband and our five children (the picture is two years old, so my youngest is not pictured). My oldest is eight years old, my youngest just turned four months. This moment I am taking to blog is literally the first time all day I have had to myself where I didn't have a baby in my arms or I wasn't feeding someone else or cleaning up. Oh, wait, I did get to eat dinner, or at least I started to. The Relief Society president dropped by, as promised, with some cards for me to sign for some sisters in our ward. But by the time I was done with that, my almost-two year-old had gotten out of her seat, had come over to mine and eaten off my plate. She didn't eat that much, and fortunately, what she didn't like, she spit back onto the plate for me, so I was able to enjoy dinner, after all.

I am living my dream-come-true. I am happily married to man who loves me very much, I get to stay home with my babies and I home school them as well. Life can be pretty crazy with 5 little ones so close in age, but we do okay most of the time. I know there is more I can be doing, though. I remember being at a TJED conference and Rachel DeMille reiterated the fact that, as my children's parent, I am entitled to received personal revelation relating to raising them and what is best for them. I agree with that completely. Now I need to focus on asking for, recognizing and acting on that revelation. You can see an earlier post that goes into detail about why I accepted this challenge.

I just finished the last few pages of the book. I like what Tiffany said about saygobedos be recognized by the fact that they are the thoughts to do good that you try to rationalize yourself out of doing--too far away, not enough time, wouldn't make that much of a difference, etc. That description helped me to crystallize an understanding of what saygobedos are and then made me realize how often I have talked myself out of them.

I am looking forward to this fresh start. Thanks again, Nickie, for having the courage to act on the saygobedo that got you to start this group. Incidentally, Nickie is married to my older brother.

Third Time's the Charm

Hi. My name is Dina Wells and I accept the SayGoBeDo Challenge! I have tried this twice before on my own but both times I allowed my enthusiasm to wane. I think what I lacked was support and accountability. I'm hoping the third time really is the charm : )

Two experiences recently reminded me of why practicing this ability is so important. First, my mother-in-law arranged a class on emergency preparedness for her family and the gentleman teaching said the most important way we can be prepared is to be able to hear and respond to the Holy Ghost. Often preparing for emergencies can seem daunting because of the sheer number of things that could go wrong. It is easy to get overwhelmed and want to take a second mortgage out on the house just to buy all the stuff we think we need. How comforting to know if we have fine-tuned the ability to receive revelation, we can know what our priority should be right now to prepare our families.

The second experience I have had recently is periodically feeling self-doubt. The older I get the more I feel like a teenager! Maybe I realize I really don't know as much I thought I did...whatever it is, my insecurities seem to be glaring and at times crippling. I recognize this pattern is born out of a fearful, self-centered way of thinking. What a perfect antidote to fear and selfishness! Say, go, be and do what the Lord wants me to do regardless of comfort, ease or convenience.

Best wishes and blessings as we focus on following our SayGoBeDos!

pssst...don't stop....come along....it's going to be worth the time, effort, and extra whatever...you can do this...I know WE Can Do This...Together!

It's May 1st! 

Welcome to the first of many new beginnings that can occur in your/my life as we listen to the promptings to say, to go, to be, and to do for someone else that God specifically wants us to be a part of for just a moment of our earthly time.

Hi, I'm Nickie and I live in Provo. I'm taking the Say Go Be Do challenge because while attending the TJED Family Forum in SLC this past March, I felt as I looked at a few people that they had something to tell me but I was too scared to go, to say, to find out, to be and to do.

Like that just made sense to you? Oh boy. I'm excited and I'll tell you why. The past couple of days I've thought, "maybe I shouldn't do this", and "maybe I'm wrong to ask people to the challenge", and this one, "will anyone even care?"

Someone will care, I will care. And more importantly I'll be lost of the experiences if I don't follow through with the idea that was presented to me as personal inspiration.

So on with the challenge!!!

I taught the Relief Society lesson today. I made a change and was nervous but I felt it was what I needed to do. I know it was a prompting because of the many sisters who came up afterward to express their thanks.   Imagine if I hadn't followed...well frankly, I don't know what would have been different with the lesson but that isn't the point. I felt the goodness of others because I did listen. Good feelings were there.

"Simplifying our temporal enviroment leads to discovery in the spiritual enviroment."

What do you think? Would we recognize more ideas as promptings of the Lord if we slowed down our temporal duties?

A sudden thought to say something...

I was leaving piano lessons this evening with Bethany, and was almost to the door when I thought I should tell Juliann, our piano mentor, about kifer and lacto-fermentation. I looked at her and said, "I feel I should tell you this so I'm just going to say it". I went on to tell her and then two other ladies told me they have kifer grains they can give me. I will make some kifer milk and bring some veggies I'm fermenting right now to Juliann next week.

Why did I say that? I'm not sure but I do know that Juliann is going through radiation therapy to fight a type of nerve cancer that was/is in her face. She will be expecting to get sores in her throat very soon. That is all I can say for the idea. Maybe it's to make her a bone broth and some soup? There are a lot of maybes in my mind. I just don't know.

I heard the thought and I acted. What will come I'm not sure. Maybe this will get the other ladies to do something since I had no idea they know about Nourishing Traditions.

Here is something that came to me yesterday:

I have decided to starts a girls club. I needed two co-advisers to help me. (I've thought about doing this in the past but did not take the idea seriously.) I called two gals who said they wanted to help. The first is Jessica, and it turns out we know each other from a George Wythe class we took. She is cute, perky and happy. She reminds me of Tonks from Harry Potter. The second mom called me this morning and said she knows my husband. Carolyn grew up in Ramona and is actually a friend of a younger sister, Elary.

Point? True it's a small world but not my point. My point is that I acted; and look who God sent me. Two women who have connections with me.

This Say Go Be Do so reminds me of the movie Field of Dreams.  "If you build it, they will come."

-Nickie

Ordered it!

I ordered the book today. Not sure how diligent I will be with posting. But, here's to trying!

Lisa

Humble pie...

I have held a grudge against a Provo city employee for almost two years. But not any longer. This all started with the Farmers' Market and feeling accused of not paying our rental fee. I didn't appreciated the accusations which where not true and I was able to verify the payment. But being me, I just decided to not like this woman for two years! Gove helped me to see that maybe I should consider how hard things were for her as she was new to running the market. I tried to think along these lines and I came to see that I have been wrong and I would need to go and apologize to her.
As I came up to the council meeting room, there she was waiting at the door. I went right up to her and asked to speak with her. I said this was going to sound funny but I had held a grudge against her and I was wrong and want to ask her forgiveness. She was quick to forgive and apologized herself to me. She was very nice and explained how she was on blood pressure medication and her body wasn't responding. True I wasn't the only person unhappy with her. But really, for me to dislike her for 2 years has been pitiful and prideful.
We parted happily and on good terms. Once I was sitting and the council meeting was running, she came and gave me a peace offering of 6 Hersey candies. She actually seems quite nice. It's so hard to know when you first judge a person. Of which I am almost queen of.

Say go be do...I'll just keep working at it.

P.S. It's now Wednesday morning and I was writing in my journal...I realized that last nights opportunity was not a coincidence. I feel that my Heavenly Father gave me this opportunity, or rather made it for me to take a hold of because I have been trying to obey the prompting of the Holy Ghost even in things I would not have thought as spiritual promptings. I see this as a gift to repent and have made amends. I'm thankful.
What we give comes back in return in the way that we need it.

I Could Get Used to This

The book arrived yesterday, but I didn't have time to start reading it as I was preparing to go to Relief Society. I got home late and started reading. My husband was on the couch next to me and I paused from my reading to talk to him about Say Go Be Do. He is really good about acting on them.

(In fact, when I got home from the church I noticed our house smelled funny. To me it smelled like Bondo, but Joel said it was gasoline. Before I had a chance to ask him why the house smelled like gasoline a flurry of small children came running from their rooms-to say good night, but also to find out if I had brought them anything from the Exchange Table. Yes, I had, a big bag of books, but no you can't look at them 'til tomorrow-now go to bed you aren't supposed to be up this late-hug-hug-hug, good night, good night-love you, too-get away from that bag or you won't see them tomorrow-go to bed now! Whew. With all the kids back in bed I could finally say to my husband, "why does the house smell like gasoline?" He said he had a prompting to work on the chainsaw and make sure that it was working. It wasn't-so he was trying to figure out why the engine would cut out as he gave it gas and had brought some parts into the house to work on. The smell of the gasoline came in with the parts. He hasn't used the chainsaw in years and I can't imagine why we'll need it ready, but there it is. It was a Say Go Be Do and he acted on it. He does that stuff all the time.)

I didn't get to read the whole book last night because I followed a Say Go Be Do to go to sleep. But I read enough to get the idea of what I should be listening for. So this morning, I turned my "ears" up. I got a prompting to tell my oldest how much I love and appreciate her. She does a lot for me and the other kids. I come to expect too much from her. She's only eight years old, but sometimes I treat her as if she is 16 and should "know better" in many situations.

I saw her sitting alone in the front room, her head was down and she looked a little sad. So with just the two of us in the room, I sat on the couch and drew her close to me in a big hug and told her that I love her, and I appreciate what she does as my daughter and what a big helps she is to me. I told her what a great big sister she is to her four younger siblings and that she is a good example to them. I told her she was an important part of our family and I know that I don't tell her enough how much I love and appreciate her, but that I will change and let her know more often. Then I gave her another big squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. She took a step back and had just the biggest smile on her face-she was beaming. I was too. It was a sweet moment for the two of us. I am really grateful I acted on that prompting. I almost put it off. Had I done that I may have never gotten around to it, and what a shame it would have been to miss that.

I Had To Share This...

I had a Say Go Be Do that I didn't follow through on while leaving the temple Monday morning. I felt I should have spoken directly to a sister from church who was there with a group of ladies from my neighborhood. As I said hi in general I thought that was good enough. BUT no, just as I'm leaving, I felt I should have touched and spoken directly with Betty. But I said no to myself because it would have been odd to return and do just that.
I realized I talked myself out of a Say Go Be Do moment. As I drove home I decided I would go see her and explain.
Later was just after 8pm when I told Gove about it. He told me to get down there and tell her. I went like a diligent wife. I was somewhat shy but I just said what I was doing with this challenge, explained how I didn't listen to an idea that came to me and I was now at her home to wish her a good week.
It turned out we had a nice conversation that would not have occurred at the temple. Did I miss at the moment when the idea came? I thought I did. But now I don't think so. I had the idea, I didn't follow at the moment but I did make a plan to go, I did go later, and I and she had a nice experience.
My conclusion is that it's not that you have to act at the moment with every Say Go Be Do (some you really must act right then) but you do need to write it down and make a plan for how you will accomplish the prompting and follow up with writing what the outcome was.

-Nickie