I was a senior in high school the first time I heard John Bytheway speak. I was on the Seminary student council, and John came to give a morningside. I still remember that talk. He has an impact.
I was in Kansas City a couple of years ago when John flew in at the last minute to replace a high profile speaker at a Time Out for Women event. The women were so disappointed that the original speaker wasn’t there – until they heard that John had come to speak to them. And they were THRILLED. He had an impact that day too.
Two weeks ago in Idaho Falls, I was able to meet John again as we both presented on Friday night. I watched him prepare to speak to the women. I watched how kind and loving he was as he greeted all the women that came up to him. And the talk he gave that night really had an impact on everyone in that room. Especially me.
I’ve thought a lot about what John said in his talk that night. The other day, I was on the elliptical machine and found myself watching a television show I used to watch on a regular basis. It’s a completely mindless show that I’m not necessarily proud I’ve watched in the past. But I figured, since I was on the elliptical, I’d just watch it. As I reached the end of my program and my exercise time, I was disappointed in myself. What had I been marinating in? Watch this clip, and you’ll see what I mean…
I’m thinking a lot more about what I’m marinating in. I’m choosing more often to surround myself with great things, and I’m particularly excited to surround myself with greatness as I watch General Conference this weekend. What a fabulous thing to be marinating in.
Here’s how to win this week – you can enter up to TWO times by doing one of the following:
1 – Answer this question in the comments – What great things do you like to surround yourself with? (Or, marinate in, if you will. *grin*)
2 – Come back anytime this weekend and leave your favorite quote or idea from General Conference in the comments. I am so excited to hear what resonates with you.
I’ll be choosing the winner using Random.org, so if you want to have two separate entries in the giveaway, be sure to leave two separate comments.
Good luck! The winner will be announced on my Facebook page on Monday, April 2!
** If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t despair! It just means you are new here and I have to approve the comment. And if this is your first time here or first time commenting, thanks for stopping by and participating! I hope you’ll be back again!
Goodness, there are so many things that I “marinate” in! My favorite is Family and Friends, of course! In our home, I love inspiring quotes and pictures, with music. I love to spend time playing board games with my son and hubby. I love going to the gym to spend time getting myself healthy, while socializing with some wonderful women! I love getting lost in church or church related reading. Those are just a few….. I could continue on and on and on….
Kim Hardy -March 30, 2012 - 8:28 am
I love to surround myself with the gospel which includes everything important in my life!
Ihad to return to work this week after spending over 5 years as a mom or domestic godess as I like to call it. I work with some people who definately dont share my values. I realize now, more than ever, the NEED for me to surround myself with the things that are uplifting to my spirit. I always listen to the christian music station on the ride to and from work, read my scriptures more and find myself praying more too. Since I dont have as much time anymore I focus mt time on my family now and good media (however hard it is to find)
Jennifer Cox -March 30, 2012 - 10:25 am
I have always loved John Bytheway and now I have my teenage boys addicted to his talk tapes. I love to marinate in the mormon channell. I love all the programs they have and I can listen to it while I get my house work done.
Good, uplifting music really moves me. I cannot contain my emotion when I listen to it. I was not blessed with the gift of music, but I sincerely appreciate those who have been and are willing to share their talent.
My family. Truly. I do everything with my family because they really are my best friends.
And McDonald’s cokes. Eek, I know, that’s bad.
And running. I can’t afford therapy, it’s a cheaper release . Plus, my kids ride their bikes with me while I run and it’s acutally pretty fun to have them there. Most days.
And reading the scriptures. Man, the lessons and feelings that have come to me from those moments…
Stacie -March 30, 2012 - 2:58 pm
I love to surround myself with my family, good books, good music, and the gospel.
Marinade….well the things that are bringing life to my life are celebrating little daily victories, prayer, smooching on my kids and enjoying how fun and funny raising them is, and an occasional massage.
Tiffanie Emerson -March 30, 2012 - 4:28 pm
I first John Bytheway him in college and laughed til I cried at his funny antics of growing up and living the gospel. Now I laugh and feel lifted as he teaches my teenagers. Laughter and love are my best marinade…..the more the merrier. It softens the heart of the cranky, lifts the load of the weary, strengthens the resolve of the downtrodden and opens the eyes of the weeping. Life is too complicated to take it seriously all the time…
When I was 17 I was nearly killed in a car accident. At the scene twisted and broken the paramedics rushed to get me out of the mangled car. In pain I warned them if they touched my damaged arm I would bite their legs. Of course they had to touch my arm to get me out so guess in pain I bit one of them. Instead of crying we all giggled and for a moment it was easier. That has been my resolve since that day to smile when my heart is hurting, to see a lighter perspective when I feel despair and to buoy up those around me every step of the way.
is it greedy for me to try again after just winning a couple of weeks ago? because i reeeeeallllly want this!!! i adore john bytheway.
i have started listening to conference talks while running sometimes, and also when i’m at my computer doing “busy work”. i’m not always 100% tuned in, but it’s surprising the things that will jump out at me while i’m multi-tasking.
I like to marinade myself in uplifting things .. music, books or talks, and laughter.
Brandy S -April 1, 2012 - 6:25 pm
I completely and utterly enjoyed Conference this session! So many uplifting messages from wise men and women!
I loved, of course, President Uchtdorf’s bumber sticker relation but also found wisdom in Larry Y. Wilson’s talk about parenting.
“Wise parents prepare thier children to get along without them.”
I know that they time will come when I must allow my son to make his own choices. I hope that I can prepare him for the day where he will make choices, hopefully good ones, without me or my husband!
About ten years ago (and I can’t believe it’s been that long), I had the opportunity to perform in Savior of the World at the LDS Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake. I had just moved back to Utah, and was starting out in a new place with a new job and trying to figure out how to start my life again. I spent a lot of time on Temple Square, writing in my journal and reading my scriptures and just trying to rebuild myself as I was coming off the rollercoaster ride of my mom’s sudden death and my recent divorce. I call it my reconstruction period. *grin*
During that time, one of the experiences I was most grateful for was a devotional that taught me the importance of General Conference.
About two weeks before the April session of General Conference, our director David Warner gave the devotional. He talked about the preparation we had been putting into getting the show ready to perform, and then he talked about his office in the Church Administration Building. That for the last month, things were very quiet and reverent as our church leaders were preparing to speak to us at General Conference. That it was always this way the weeks leading up to Conference. And then he spoke of the temple grounds themselves. That if we looked around, we would see that flowers were being planted, things were being fixed and cleaned and prepared so that the buildings and grounds were as prepared as they could possibly be for General Conference. And then he looked at us and said, “What are you doing to prepare to hear the messages that have been so carefully prepared for you?”
Never had a question cut me to the core so quickly as that one did. Growing up in Utah, General Conference was an important part of our family’s life, but because it was on the radio and on TV, it wasn’t something we stopped our lives for on Saturday to really pay attention to. It certainly wasn’t something I would say I prepared for. But that day, everything changed. I prayed beforehand about specific questions I needed to have answered. I cleared my schedule to make sure I was able to watch every session of Conference live on television. And it was an amazing spiritual experience for me.
Now that we have two small kids, I have to say that Conference isn’t always the spiritual experience I’m craving. But, when I prepare and I have an open mind and heart, the messages cut through the crying and the toddler chatter. And I’m so grateful. And I was so inspired by Shannon’s post about ideas for Conference traditions. We’re going to try some new things with G-Man, and see what works. I want G-Man and L to look forward to Conference as a fun family tradition. Do you have any General Conference traditions? I’d love to hear more about them in the comments!
But mostly, I want to be prepared and ready for what the Lord’s living prophets have to say to me.
If you’ve never heard of our General Conference and would like to watch or learn more about it, please watch the video below and feel free to come to one of our meetinghouses or watch online at lds.org.
I was truly blown away by the number of you that visited and commented for a chance to winShawni’s book. And I was so grateful for the insights you shared as you answered the questions that Shawni answered, and for those of you that chose to spread the word about the Vision Walk that Shawni and her family are participating in this weekend.
If you’d like to share the link on Facebook or Twitter again (or multiple times) and come leave a comment, you’ll get another entry. To get a one more entry, go to Shawni’s fundraising page and make a donation. Buy some virtual lemonade from those cute girls. Then come back here and let me know that you donated. You don’t have to say how much, just that you did it. (and if you donate, you should go ahead and skip over to Saren’s blog and enter her giveaway too)
I’m going to choose two winners this Friday. The winners will receive a copy of A Mother’s Book of Secrets, and a copy of Shawni’s mom and dad’s newest book The Entitlement Trap. Both of them are fabulous books and would make awesome mother’s day gifts or would just be wonderful to keep and read again and again.
What are you still doing here? Go share and donate and comment! *grin*
** If you leave a comment and it doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry – it just means you are new here and I need to approve your comment. It will show up. And thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll be back again!
Thank you so much for sharing…I stumbled upon Shawni’s blog several months ago and absolutely LOVE reading it. She is amazing! I have added the link to my facebook page and I so hope a cure is in the horizon for sweetie pie Lucy.
It’s been a while since I’ve been here and I love what you’ve done with the place!! Great organization and fun colors!! Fabulous!
Brigette -March 28, 2012 - 8:40 am
Just donated!
Kelsie Davis -March 28, 2012 - 9:18 am
I am SO excited that I’ve recently found your blog! I was at TOFW in Logan, UT last yeat and LOVED the messages you shared both through music and word. I shared the link about Lucy on my facebook wall. I have been following Shawni’s blog for a while now. I am a new mother (had my first baby (girl) a few days before TOFW actually) and both of you help inspire me to be the mother I want to be.
Tiffany George -March 28, 2012 - 11:48 am
Your blog is so great! I’m glad Shawni shared a link here as I look forward to keeping up on your blog as well. I just made a donation to Shawni’s team. I just love reading blogs of inspirational women like you two who help me realize that even though sometimes it’s hard to be a Mother, I CAN do hard things! Thank you.
Andrea Rasband -March 28, 2012 - 3:11 pm
I was so happy to donate on behalf of Lucy. Thank you!
Andrea Rasband -March 28, 2012 - 3:12 pm
I also shared a link to Shawni’s page on Facebook. Does that count?
I shared the link on FB, again! Through Shawni, I gain so many insights that I think make me a better daughter, sister, and friend… and hopefully someday a great wife and mother!
I shared the link on fb
I keep entering giveaways for shawni’s book but I never win. One of these times it’s going to be me, I just know it! ha ha.
s -March 31, 2012 - 9:48 am
I cannot imagine facing a sightless future for myself or any of my children. My donation is a small drop in the bucket but I do believe the smallest gesture can have large ripples – here’s hoping!
How does one get a talkative child to stop talking and actually eat?
G-Man, on a day when he was actually eating the meal placed before him
And assuming you can get them to eat, how do you get them to try and love different foods? (though that’s probably a question I need answered another day)
Mealtime is becoming the absolute bain of my existence, and I’m finding that I’m letting G-Man get away with eating the same rotation of foods just to ensure that he will EAT SOMETHING.
Tonight nearly did me in.
The kids and I went on a walk to see the bluebonnets in a park near our house and collect some rocks. When we got finished, we went to Target to replace toothbrushes now that everyone is on antibiotics and on the mend. Since we were at Target, and it’s a mutual night, we met Diggity for dinner at Potbelly. Diggity and I love their salads, but G-Man is not a fan of their sandwiches. But he asked for a sandwich and then once he had it, proceeded not to eat it.
In the past, I’ve let him eat a couple bites and fill up on other things, but the child is almost 5 and needs to learn to eat, so tonight, I dug my heels in. And he dug right back. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a child that needs to chew his food so thoroughly. Threats, ignoring, cajoling…pretty much everything but straight up bribery (which I’ve also done in the past). Diggity finally had to leave for mutual, and we stayed another 40 minutes until that child finished half of his sandwich, bringing our total time in the restaurant to 70 minutes or so. For one half of a sandwich.
Here’s how L felt about it:
I concur, sister.
Though I’ve been assured many times that this situation will change, and I know that when he’s a teenager and I can’t keep food in the house I may look back with fondness at this time, I can’t help but wonder…what can I do? What have you done?
Sooo, I find when I fight, I lose. Because no one wins when you waste so much time. Sometimes when I force meals on nights when I am feeling stubborn it ends in gagging and barf and tears and yelling. Honest truth, my sheer numbers mean that I don’t fight for more than five or ten minutes anymore. Mommy don’t play this crap. Unless you truly fear for his health and weight gain. Do you have time to make sure he keeps chewing and ingesting every single meal? No. My advice to you and me is when dinner is over it’s over. Set a timer, help him know that there won’t be an option to eat later and mentally let it go. My brother ate yogurt and pretzels, no meat, almost no vegetables, minimal fruit until he was 14. Literally he ate about five things. But He eats many things now and is far more adventurous. It almost killed my mom but she chose not to fight it too much because he was 6 of 6 and she didn’t have the mental energy to force things. She didn’t want to. And you can lead a horse to a Potbelly sandwich, but most of the time, you can’t make him it eat. Good luck!! This is SO hard!
Tarryn -March 27, 2012 - 11:50 pm
I am happy with one good meal in their bellies a day. It is usually lunch. Good luck, because my kids aren’t very good dinner eaters either. I give them tiny portions, and even then they tend to balk. It works ok for us, but I do worry when we eat at other people’s homes – I want them to be grateful eaters with good manners. So far they eat much better for other people than for me (doesn’t say much for my cooking). If we are eating out, I figure it probably isn’t all that healthy anyway ( : I feel silly saying “now eat that deep fried piece of highly processed chicken!” A sandwich is a lot better for you though. My sister requires a certain number of “thank you bites.” Emphasizes that it isn’t just about what you like, but being grateful. Again, good luck!
Stacy Erickson -March 29, 2012 - 6:27 am
My eldest is the same way!!! We just let him talk…however when neccesary we ask him to hold that thought until later when we can talk and listen better! Let me tell you …it is hard some days!!!!!! XO Stacy
PS. LOVE your blog and your photography!!! You are so inspiring!!!
I sure appreciated all the comments on the Giveaway Friday post from last week. I loved the answers you gave for the TableTopics questions I asked Shawni, and as I was dealing with two sick kids and being sick myself this weekend, I found a lot of your suggestions so very helpful.
• When I’m feeling low I try to do something for someone else. OR I bake myself happy
• My mom taught me to have an eternal perspective. There are some things that really matter and some things that don’t. Spend your time worrying about the things that matter.
• When I feel down I try to work out, or put on movie or something that makes me laugh hard, also a good work out!
• Service. Give, give and give. The more you give, the better you feel. It could be to your own family members or to those not in your family. A clean house never makes me feel as good as service makes me feel.
• I love to run to get my mind off of things. It gets rid of everything!
• When I’m feeling low, I bake- and then eat- usually chocolate chip cookies is the best- or i get down and play with my girls (2 and 8 months).
• I talk to my husband or if he’s not right there, my sisters or my good friends. I always feel better after sharing what’s going on in my head/heart. Nothing lifts me up like connecting with those I love.
Next time I’m not feeling great, I’m going to bake cookies, eat some, and then run them over to someone who needs some service! That should work, right? *grin*
I wasn’t able to bake or run this weekend, and hubby could tell we were getting a little stir crazy this morning. G-Man was feeling so much better, but still a bit too sick to go to preschool. And after being cooped up all weekend, the kids were done watching TV, so we decided to get ourselves outside and get the kids in the fresh air. We headed for the Wildflower Center near our house. It’s been a pretty glorious spring for wildflowers so far.
Nothing like a blue sky and some gorgeous flowers to perk you up…
Luckily, this one only has a cold and in spite of the coughing she’s still doing, she’s in much better spirits today.
And we thought this one was on the mend – he had a lot of fun being outdoors today – and then I found him curled up on the couch asleep this afternoon. Hope he’s better tomorrow.
Love this. If looking at this picture doesn’t make my day better, not much can.
Oakland California LDS Temple
Oakland, California
March 2012
A little different style for me, but I saw the sunset over the spot on the roof where Diggity proposed, and I’m liking the way it turned out.
* On Sundays, I feature photographs I have taken of places and structures that are sacred to me. If you are interested in seeing more photos like these, click here.
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15 comments
Goodness, there are so many things that I “marinate” in! My favorite is Family and Friends, of course! In our home, I love inspiring quotes and pictures, with music. I love to spend time playing board games with my son and hubby. I love going to the gym to spend time getting myself healthy, while socializing with some wonderful women! I love getting lost in church or church related reading. Those are just a few….. I could continue on and on and on….
I love to surround myself with the gospel which includes everything important in my life!
I love to marinate in uplifting music.
Ihad to return to work this week after spending over 5 years as a mom or domestic godess as I like to call it. I work with some people who definately dont share my values. I realize now, more than ever, the NEED for me to surround myself with the things that are uplifting to my spirit. I always listen to the christian music station on the ride to and from work, read my scriptures more and find myself praying more too. Since I dont have as much time anymore I focus mt time on my family now and good media (however hard it is to find)
I have always loved John Bytheway and now I have my teenage boys addicted to his talk tapes. I love to marinate in the mormon channell. I love all the programs they have and I can listen to it while I get my house work done.
I love being around solid, honest, nice people.
Good, uplifting music really moves me. I cannot contain my emotion when I listen to it. I was not blessed with the gift of music, but I sincerely appreciate those who have been and are willing to share their talent.
My family. Truly. I do everything with my family because they really are my best friends.
. Plus, my kids ride their bikes with me while I run and it’s acutally pretty fun to have them there. Most days.
And McDonald’s cokes. Eek, I know, that’s bad.
And running. I can’t afford therapy, it’s a cheaper release
And reading the scriptures. Man, the lessons and feelings that have come to me from those moments…
I love to surround myself with my family, good books, good music, and the gospel.
Marinade….well the things that are bringing life to my life are celebrating little daily victories, prayer, smooching on my kids and enjoying how fun and funny raising them is, and an occasional massage.
I first John Bytheway him in college and laughed til I cried at his funny antics of growing up and living the gospel. Now I laugh and feel lifted as he teaches my teenagers. Laughter and love are my best marinade…..the more the merrier. It softens the heart of the cranky, lifts the load of the weary, strengthens the resolve of the downtrodden and opens the eyes of the weeping. Life is too complicated to take it seriously all the time…
When I was 17 I was nearly killed in a car accident. At the scene twisted and broken the paramedics rushed to get me out of the mangled car. In pain I warned them if they touched my damaged arm I would bite their legs. Of course they had to touch my arm to get me out so guess in pain I bit one of them. Instead of crying we all giggled and for a moment it was easier. That has been my resolve since that day to smile when my heart is hurting, to see a lighter perspective when I feel despair and to buoy up those around me every step of the way.
is it greedy for me to try again after just winning a couple of weeks ago? because i reeeeeallllly want this!!!
i adore john bytheway.
i have started listening to conference talks while running sometimes, and also when i’m at my computer doing “busy work”. i’m not always 100% tuned in, but it’s surprising the things that will jump out at me while i’m multi-tasking.
I love to surround myself with good friends who uplift and inspire me!
I like to marinade myself in uplifting things .. music, books or talks, and laughter.
I completely and utterly enjoyed Conference this session! So many uplifting messages from wise men and women!
I loved, of course, President Uchtdorf’s bumber sticker relation but also found wisdom in Larry Y. Wilson’s talk about parenting.
“Wise parents prepare thier children to get along without them.”
I know that they time will come when I must allow my son to make his own choices. I hope that I can prepare him for the day where he will make choices, hopefully good ones, without me or my husband!