The Power of Words

Written by DeAnn Flynn - a "Time Out for Women" presenter

(This is a great message for all of us parents to remember, so I decided to share it)

Before I got married, no one ever sat me down and had "the talk." You know, the talk about...laundry. Remarkably, even without previous counsel, I've developed some pretty sweet laundry skills and learned a great deal over the years. Perhaps my greatest realization is how much I've come to respect bleach.
With seven active children, bleach has become my trusted companion – often saving a seemingly hopeless article of clothing. It has disinfected things I would only touch with rubber gloves and a gas mask. But my careless use of this powerful aid has also ruined many more things than I'd care to admit.

Once, in haste, some drops of bleach landed on my favorite laundry room rug. I noticed these drops right away and tried to rinse them out quickly, but the power of that bleach proved to be immediate and irreversible. The next day, I carefully colored the spots in with a mustard colored marker. (I challenge you to find one of those!) It helped, but I'm still reminded of that mistake every time I do my wash. Those bleach spots have taught me a priceless lesson.

You see, bleach is a lot like words.The words we choose can lift and mend, restore and renew. They can also permanently damage and deface. Words are quick and powerful. Once uttered, they cannot be retracted. Whether we use them with care and respect, or thoughtlessness and haste, words can (and do) change lives forever.

I'll never forget the time I overheard some friends joking about some of my weaknesses to one another in a mean-spirited way. When they realized I had heard them, they quickly came and asked to be forgiven. I did forgive, but the experience has been difficult to forget. Like bleach, the cruel stain was immediate and irreversible. Their repentance helped to fill in the painful spot (like my rare and wonderful mustard-colored marker), but the memory of those harsh words has been hard to completely erase.

The Apostle Paul delivered these wise words to the ancient Ephesians, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers....Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:29-32)

It's so easy to speak before we think. But most of us don't use intentionally hurtful words, we just get lazy and careless. We let our words fly like little drops of bleach here and there without measuring the effect they may have upon the hearer. The problem is, little children (and big adults) believe what we say to them. “Something's wrong with you," or "You just don't get it," or "If you could just see yourself."

I once called my daughter a "turtle" because she often moves like cold tar. One month later, while in a piano lesson, her teacher asked her to play more quickly. She replied, "I can't. I'm a turtle." My careless words had stained her self-perception. If only I could take those damaging words back...

Each day we have the opportunity to mend hearts and empower lives with our words. When we use them to build and inspire – people grow. We we degrade and criticize – people shrink. Our simple words of encouragement and praise can be life-changing.

As a matter of fact, they are.

General Conference makes me happy

"When we sin, we turn away from God. When we repent, we return toward God. We each need to feel the Saviors arms of mercy through the forgiveness of our sins. I testify that the Savior is eager and able to forgive our sins. Forgiveness is a divine gift of the gospel, removing guilt and pain from our hearts and replacing it with joy." Elder Neil Andersen

This is just a small sample of the inspiring words we were given this past weekend at General Conference. It is so fun to be able to go onto LDS.org and listen to these messages over and over again. I am thankful for the spiritual feast we are given every six months. Now, with modern technology, we can partake of that feast every day if we want. I always feel the desire to improve when I listen to the prophet and apostles, yet it is not in a guilt feeling of not doing well enough, but a motivated feeling of "Yes, I can do this, I can improve with the help of my Savior." Okay, time for me to go to bed. I just wanted to share a little something on here from Conference before too many days have passed. This has been a great week because it started off right. It is so true that our attitude is affected by what we put in our minds. I can't think of anything better than revelation from God.

Flat Stanley comes to town

I have to admit, I have never actually read the story of Flat Stanley...but it is time for me to check it out from the library since we have him staying in our house right now. He is a very quiet visitor, no trouble at all. He is very photogenic and seems to enjoy seeing the sights of Branson. We wanted to introduce him to Branson's many great restaurants, but he never seems to have much of an appetite. We are glad our nephew Clayton sent him to us. We have many fun plans for the next couple weeks. I was proud of the slide show I made on Photobucket.com from our trip to the Wax Museum tonight. That is my first time successfully making a slide show. Now that I know how there will be more to come in the future. But, for now I need to get to bed, Goodnight.

Summer Days coming to an end

We have had such a blast this summer acting like tourists here in Branson. My friends here keep correcting me when I say we are acting like tourists, because they assure me that it is okay to have this much fun even when we are all settled. There is so much to love about this place: the people, the scenery, the entertainment, and a great job for Garrett that brought us here. Thanks to the city of Branson for allowing us to get a fresh start on life. It has been a refreshing summer. We look forward to the change of seasons to see the Ozarks with new colors on in the Fall and covered in frost in the Winter. Time has been going by so quickly these past few months, I actually want it to slow down so we can have time soak it all in. My boys are learning and growing so much each day. We are enjoying the stages they are at in life. Solomon is always eager to teach Jeremiah new things. They are a great pair of boys who have so much fun together. Jerry and I will miss Solomon during the day when he goes to school. But, it will be a good thing too for them to have some time to themselves. I hope to get a Joy School co-op going for pre-school with Jerry to avoid having to pay lots of $$$ for preschool. I am only working two days per week, so I will have lots of time to enjoy my last year with Jerry at home. I better get back to bed to catch a few more ZZZs before my boys wake up. Bye for now.

99 Things

99 Things
Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post it.
(I like this one because it requires very little effort)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you are not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (not Niagra, but Victoria Falls)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold girl scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

NOT TOO BAD OF RESULTS FOR ONLY 33 YEARS OLD. I HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DO THE REST!

Ripley's Believe it or Not

This is just outside the museum at 10:30 pm when we completed our tour. In the background you can see a bunch of cars driving past. That gives you a little idea of how live our little town is. There is constant activity in the tourist areas from 7 am until late into the night. My favorite part of driving down the strip at night is passing 5 miniature golf courses that are all filled with families having fun together. Very different experience driving down the strip in Branson vs. driving down the strip in Vegas. I'll take the good wholesome family fun any day over sin city! This is such a great place to live. I hope we get to stay a long time.

Butterflies and boys

This butterfly exhibit was at the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum in Branson

FLICKER

This has got to be my all time favorite camp song!
I learned it in 1990 from Kelli Schofield who was
the SJ 16th ward Young Women's president at the time.
Not sure who wrote it, but Kelli gets the credit for
bringing this awesome song into my life.

(Verses one and three are intended to be sung
simultaneously after singing each verse on its own)


Verse 1 -The Flicker of the campfire, the wind in the pines, The stars in the heavens, the moon that shines. A place where people gather, make friends of all kinds. A place where all men’s troubles, are always left behind, so give me the light of the campfire, warm and bright. And give me some friends to sing with, I’ll be here all night. Love is for those who share it, I found mine right here, just you and me and the campfire, and the songs we love to hear.

Verse 2- I know a place where no one ever goes, There is peace and quite, beauty and repose. It's hidden in the valley, beside a mountain stream, And lying there beside the stream I find that I can dream. Only of things of beauty to the eye, Snow peaked mountains rising to the sky. Now I know that God has made this world for me.
Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da

Verse 3 - One can imagine himself as in a dream, climbing up a mountain or down a small revine. The beauty of this peace and quiet ever shall stay. To make this place a haven, each and every day. Oh how I wish, I never had to leave. All my life such beauty to receive. Now I know, that God has made this world for me.
Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da for me

Barges

Barges, I would like to go with you
I would like to sail the ocean blue
Barges, have you treasures in your hold
Do you fight with pirates brave and bold

v. 1- Out of my window looking in the night
I can see the barges flickering light.
v.2- Starboard shines green and port
is glowing red, I can see the barges up ahead.

Barges, I would like to go with you
I would like to sail the ocean blue
Barges, have you treasures in your hold
Do you fight with pirates brave and bold

v. 3- Silently flows the river to the sea
and the barges too go quietly.
v.4- Taking their cargo out into the sea,
how I wish that someday they’d take me

Barges, I would like to go with you
I would like to sail the ocean blue
Barges, have you treasures in your hold
do you fight with pirates brave and bold.

This can be sung all together or as a round.
The wording listed here has more verses than the
C.D. version, feel free to adapt it however you wish.

The Campfire Song

The camp fire lights anew,
The flame of friendship true.
The joy we've had in knowing you,
Will last our whole lives through.

But as the embers fade away,
we wish that we might ever stay.
But since we can not have our way,
We'll meet again some other day.

(This was a song my mom taught me
around the campfire as a little girl.
We shared it with others at girls' camp.
It is usually sung slower than I
sang it on the C.D.. Bill and I decided to
speed it up a bit since my throat was soar
that day and I wasn't able to hold
out the notes very well)