What Legacy Will We Leave Behind

I am currently in Mosiah 10 in my reading of the Book of Mormon and my commentary book. This morning I was grateful that the commentary book could provoke a deeper thought processes on a verse I am sure I would have just read over and not given it much more thought. Because I felt touched by its teachings I wanted to share it with you.

This chapter for me recaps the happening of Nephi and his family coming to the promise land across the sea. Vs. 13 tells how Laman, Lemuel and their posterity felt they were wronged.

Yes, Nephi was always favored of the Lord. The commentary reminds me that Lamen and Lemuel murmured against Lehi and Nephi because they new not the dealings of God, nor would they know him because they would not inquire of the Lord. "If no seed has been planted, one can hardly expect a rich and abundant harvest."

Verse 17. And thus they have taught their children that they should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi.

The commentary stated, "Have taught ....hate] Heaven's truths stand in the light of day: they teach love, patience, long-suffering, and forgiveness. False traditions feed on hatred and bitterness, which among many peoples have been passed from generation to generation. Hatred is a bitter seed that can produce nothing but bitter fruits."

The people of Zeniff had a pure intent. After the actions of war; they returned to tending their flocks, tilling the ground, and raising their families.

I personally feel that I am always falling short when it comes to teaching my children by example how to have patience, speak kindly, and having compassion for others when they are hurt (because I warned them to stop doing something they shouldn't be doing.).

So as I read this commentary, I questioned what kind of Legacy will I leave them that will be passed down from generation to generation. In know in my heart that I desire to plant seeds of love, happiness, tenderness, kindness etc. So that good seeds can sprout and grow. All to often the fruits that I see being produced in my children's actions are not in line with my desires. It is always a hard to realize they are acting that way because I have modeled it in some form.

Reading this help me realize that I have to give my actions a swift kick and do better for the sake of my children and their children. I must learn to relax about the non-important things and focus more on what had eternal consequences. Easier said then done for me. I pray that regardless of what type of mother I truly am, that in the long run my children will turn out alright because they have the light of Christ, know right from wrong, and can choose to the better path.

I share this to provoke thoughts for all of us about what type of legacy we will leave for our children. It is my prayer that it will be the Legacy of our Hearts, Minds, and Soul! Love You ALL!

"A Missionary Heart!"

Dear Family seeing that some are having a hard time opening the files I have decided to post it here in hopes that all will get it.....

“The Missionary Heart”

D&C 4:2-You have served with all your heart, might, mind, and strength!

(Wake times and Bed times following a missionary schedule)

Parrish Family Homecoming Retreat

What to Bring:

I would like to invite each of you to start now and prepare your HEART for our weekend together. Mark August 21-23 on your calendars; you won’t want to miss it! (see the attached Schedule of activities)

As we prepare to welcome home our family missionaries, whom have served the Lord with all their Heart, Might, Mind and Strength. Our arms are open and welcoming. our hearts are full of gratitude for their examples, service, and impact on our lives.

I want to ask each of us to prepare for this special weekend! Please take time to BE PRAYERFUL, OPEN YOUR SCRIPTURES, READ YOUR GENERAL CONFERENCE ENSIGN, HOLD FAMILY PRAYER AND FAMILY HOME EVENINGS, AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TEMPLE RECOMMEND IS CURRENT (see schedule) DO ALL YOU CAN DO TO “FILL YOUR HEARTS” SO YOU CAN COME PREPARED TO SHARE, LEARN, and BE EDIFIED BY THE SPIRIT that will Unify our hearts in love.

Expenses and Meals:

For Friday Night the Meat and Buns will be provided. Each Family has been given an assignment to bring a Side dish or a dessert to serve 15 people.

For the remainder of the meals It is asked that each family contribute funds to help with the cost. We are trying to do low-budget meals that everyone enjoys. If you can contribute $25 a family. I will go to Costco and get the supplies. If there are fund left over they will be equally divided and redistributed.

My hope for doing this is that it will give everyone one less worry and avoid last minute trips to the store so we can spend the time together.

With Heartfelt Love and Excitement ~ Jill

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday AUGUST 21, 2009

6:00pm BBQ/Hot Dog Roast Family Gathering time!

Fire, BBQ Grill, Meats, Buns, and paper goods will be provided.

Bring a Side to Share to serve 15 Odd

(Odd # Kids: Lori, Kelly, Stan, Jill)

7:30pm Songs of the Heart: Sing songs to invite the Spirit

All Siblings of Sister Kimberlee Parrish and others who know the song “Pass It On!” to sing!

7:45pm “Treasures of the Missionary Heart” by Sister Kimberlee Parrish

8:30pm “Feelings of the Heart”

Open time for anyone to share their testimonies as prompted by the spirit.

9:00 pm MILK and COOKIES -- Dessert to serve 15

(You can make our Homecoming staples Fudge Nut Bars, Kiss cookies, etc. or share something new)

(Even # Kids: Sherri, Scott, Chad, Tyler)

10:00pm Family Prayer

10:30pm Retire to beds

SATURDAY AUGUST 22, 2009

6:00AM Care for your Heart! Workout time (optional)

6:30AM Scripture Study Time (Everyone esp. youth encouraged to do at least

5 minutes, have personal prayers, and smile like the general board leaders have asked them to do daily.)

8:30AM BREAKFAST Pancakes/Waffles and Cream (Family Tradition!)

Served with seasonal fruit and milk (Or Maybe a Southern breakfast!??)

9:00AM Desire of a Missionary’s Heart

With Faithful Hearts: The Mountain of the Lord

(Temple session)

Fulfill Sister K.Parrish request have the family to go to the temple with her.

11:30AM Return home and change clothes/load cars and kids for Dell experience

12:00Noon Family Picnic at Mutual Dell

1:00PM Mutual Dell Low-Ropes Challenge Course

3:00PM SNACK TIME

4:00PM Back to Grandma &Grandpa Parrish’s

4:30PM Temple Blessings UNITE Families

Kortnie--White Chain lesson--P.P. (5-10 min)

Small Devotional and Temple Craft--

5:30PM Dinner: Taco Salad and a Hard roll

7:00PM M&M Time--Memories of Our Mother Missionaries Heart

A Mother Who Knows --Sister Joyce Parrish

7:30PM “Pass It On! Every Member a Missionary” Elder Lafe Parrish

8:30PM MILK and COOKIES-- Desserts

9:00PM Dismiss to prepare for the Sabbath

Sunday AUGUST 23, 2009

ATTEND TEMPLE DEDICATION Time TBA

KEEP the MEALS SIMPLE--Yogurt and granola,

Oatmeal and Germade with toast

Dinner Time: Crock-pot Lasagana with French Bread and Salads

Or Bake Potato or Pasta Bar “Raise the Bar.” ;-) Dinner

There is no set schedule for Sunday because we don’t know what time the temple dedication will be that we will be assigned to at this point. We also want to make sure we have the family fun wrapped up so that those that have a day of travel ahead of them to get kids home for school can leave when it works best for them.

Going on a BUG HUNT? Do you LOVE BUGS too?

Do you love bugs at your house as much as we do? Do you save empty Peanut Butter Jars to act as "cages" or "houses" for the creatures of the day?

Well last night I discovered the best recycled bug jar yet! We buy the large Kraft Parmesan Cheese containers at Costco. We empty one last night and I thought to myself--"You can't throw this away! It's the perfect bug jar. It already has two flaps that can be opened one for putting the captured into the jar and one to give our prisoners air." We are so excited about this new find that we can't wait to go out and hunt bugs.

Go GREEN and Capture Bugs! Enjoy your day!

How Do You Weed Your Garden? With A Pastry Blender!

I thought I would share an idea that I had; it is working out great for me. Do you all remember the little hand weeder that Brother John Pulley used? For the last two years of gardening/flower gardening too I have wanted to make my own. This year I have come up with a new use of a cheap pastry blender (I got mine at the dollar store). I tried a cheap cheese cutter to and it works okay but I can get much further down to the root of the weeds if I use the pastry blender. I use this pastry blender as my little hand weeder when my large hoe styled weeder is to big to fit between my plants and it has worked great. The only thing I really think would improve this would be to add a small pad around the handle so that it doesn't give me blisters when I have to weed for a long period.

After I got the garden weeded to my satisfaction I added PREEN (I bought a large box at Costco last year and fell in love with it!) a weed preventer for vegetable and flower gardens down which does an amazing job then I have simple weeding to do for the next 9-12 weeks.

I am all over the idea of using PREEN and a Pastry Blender. Give it a try and see how they work for you. I have spent far less time weeding the garden in the this year. Lov'n it!

Stinky Feet?!

Hey Girls I thought I would share a stinky feet tip with you that I recently learned. If you or your kids (or yourself for that matter ;-) )that have stinky use an anti-perspirant on your feet (doesn't matter if it is the spray, roll on etc.). I thought it was far out there so I asked Jack if he had ever heard of this and he said that he learned about it in his primary care rotation.

I don't have a problem with stinky feet very often, but come on people why are you holding out on this good advise! I thought that you too might find this enlightening and helpful.

Lori say's she is not going to vacuum until they make a vacuum that she can ride on.

Fable of the Farmer and the Mule

This is a great little fable I read about in a book titled, "Letters to Emily" by Camron Wright (p.144-45). It is a book where a grandfather writes to his granddaughter the wisdom he gained in living his life.  I absolutely love this FABLE and think it has many applications to our daily lives. I hope you enjoy it too, I hope it might give you a little pick me up if you are facing challenging times in your life at the moment.  The last paragraph is something I can see our Savior saying to me to remind me of his love.

Once upon a time there was a farmer who owned a mule. The mule was old and was losing his sight. One day the mule stumbled into a abandoned well that lay on the farm.  He was shaken by the fall but not hurt, and as he attempted to get out of the well he began to bray. The old mule made so much noise that the farmer rushed to the well to find out what the commotion was about. The well was deep and the mule was old. The farmer figured the mule was injured and decided that the most prudent action would be to bury the old mule right then and there. The farmer retrieved a shovel from the barn and began shoveling the old well full of dirt. The mule was confused and concerned about what was happening as dirt began to land on his head and back. It appeared, that it was the end of him, until an amazing thing happened. Each time  a shovel full of dirt fell onto his back, he shook it off and stomped it into the ground beneath him. The more dirt that fell, the more he shook and stomped.  By the end of the day, he'd shaken and stomped long enough that even though the well did fill up, he stayed on top. With the well sufficiently full, he stepped out and walked, exhausted, to his stall in the barn.

In life there will be people who will throw dirt on you. If you shake it off and don't let it build up, like the old mule, you'll be able to rise above those dark situations that will occur in your life.

Life is often difficult. But know also that you will never be alone. When you feel a warm breeze on a cool summer evening and you suddenly remember me, I'll be there. When you've climbed as high as you possibly can climb and your body will go no farther, I'll be behind you to push you up one more step. When you fall, I'll be behind you to soften the pain. You will not see me, but I will always be there.

A Simple Poem-With a great message!

I recently heard this poem quoted and it touched me and made me want to stop and remember what is really important to me...my family. I hope that my children feel of my deep and abiding love for them. I am trying to refocus my efforts to focus on the things that last! Because I don't want to miss it for the world or the things of this world. I know that everyday matters and we as mothers and sisters have a lasting impact on our family, friends, and neighbors. Thank you for mattering to me and being a part of my life! Enjoy the simpleness that life has to offer and be happy! With Love Jill

WHAT LAST?

Ice cream melts,


Flowers wilt,


The leaves of autumn fall.


Sunsets fade,


Seasons change,


And children don’t stay small.


Balloons pop,


Snowfalls stop—


Do summers last? 

Never!


Weekends fly,


Today will die,


But … 


FAMILIES ARE
FOREVER!

Rachelle F. A. Dow, “What Lasts?,” Friend, Oct 2000, 24

Aunt Beths Funeral

Aunt Revo's Wedding