Lighten Up!

I am saddened by the news of the passing of Sister Chieko Okazaki today. Sister Okazaki made a tremendous impact on my life during the time I transitioned from young women to Relief Society. I remember looking forward to her talks and feeling her optimism.

I am one of many who purchased and read her book Lighten Up! In fact, it still sits on my bookshelf, dust jacket in near perfect condition, despite my use of her book in a number of talks and thoughts. I am sure I have read it two or three times, but I think maybe it is time to read it again. Here is one of my favorite quotes from her book:

"Let's remember that charity begins at home. Let's focus on loving our children for who they are right now and eliminating the feeling for them that they have to compete and struggle and achieve to be good enough. Let's focus on loving ourselves for who we are right now. We don't need to compete with an image of impossible perfection. Let's focus on letting love flow to our sisters and brothers. Let's accept and rejoice in their diversity. Let's offer the gift of understanding and acceptance. We don't need to judge. We don't need to compare. There's room for all of us. Let's allow our love for Jesus take the form of simple kindness and courtesy whenever we see a need."

Just a few weeks back a friend brought me three boxes of books she was getting rid of, and there among many others was Lighten Up! I remember thinking, "Oh, how could anyone get rid of such a great book?" But, she did.

So I have an extra copy of Lighten Up! In honor of Chieko Okazaki's memory I thought I would pass it on to any of my readers who might be interested. Leave me a comment telling me your thoughts and memories of Sister Okazaki if you would like this free copy. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Scripture of the Day: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

What? A new blog post by who?

Yeah, I know it has been a while. Let's just call it a summer vacation.

Truthfully, what really happened was burn out. Last month I finally turned in a manuscript--after pushing quite hard to wrap it up. I decided to take a break for a few days, but it ended up stretching into several weeks. I was just worn out, sick of writing. So it was totally unintentional that my little vacay would last so long. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, though!

But I think I am ready to get back into my writing. I have been working on my fiction manuscript, debating what to do as my next big project, and even wrote an article (which has been accepted-yay!-but not posted yet) for Mormon Times. And now I am back to my blog.

It's good to be back.

Scripture of the Day: 3 Nephi 11:15

Have you seen this yet?

Too, too funny!

Scripture of the Day: Moses 1:39

Remembering Joseph Smith

The very first prophet of the latter days was Joseph Smith. Born December 23, 1805 to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph was an outgoing and athletic boy. He worked hard on his father’s farm growing up, but always enjoyed having fun. As a young man Joseph Smith was called as a prophet and directed to restore the true gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. He did so, establishing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830. In addition to restoring the Church, Joseph’s greatest accomplishments include the restoration of the priesthood authority and power to the earth, translation and publication of scripture (the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Bible), and the restitution of temple covenants. During his lifetime Joseph saw the Church grow from a small handful to over 26,000 members. Today is the sad anniversary of the death of Joseph Smith. He died at the hands of a mob in Carthage Jail in 1844. 

Here are a few ways you can remember Joseph Smith in your FHE this evening:

1. Sing or listen to "Praise to the Man" (Hymns #27).

2. Read D&C 135, which recounts Joseph Smith's deaths and major accomplishments.

3. Review the Study Topic about Joseph Smith on lds.org.

4. Look at some of the historic photographs from Joseph Smith's life on JosephSmith.net.

5. Take a virtual tour of the Carthage Jail room where Joseph Smith died (also on JosephSmith.net).

Scripture of the Day: Hebrews 12:9

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Raelena of Through The Haze book reviews blog! She is the winner of the $10 Amazon.com gift card, which I will be e-mailing shortly.

Thanks for all those who participated in the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop this past week. I enjoyed reading all of your comments. Have a great weekend!

Scripture of the Day: 3 Nephi 25:6

The Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop! A big thank you to Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for hosting this hop!

The winner of the giveaway on my site will receive a $10 gift card to Amazon! Use it to buy one of my two books (Adventures with the Word of God or Family Home Evening Adventures), or anything else you like.

To enter:

1. Follow this blog
2. Like my author page on Facebook (here)
3. And leave me a comment about one of the chapter topics in either of my books that interests you most:

Adventures with the Word of God 

or  

Family Home Evening Adventures

Good luck!

Scripture of the Day: D&C 68:25-28

Book Signing

Come and see me this Friday at the grand re-opening celebration of Latter Day Cottage in Tucson, AZ (7012 E. Broadway). All week long there has been an extravaganza of authors at signing events there to help celebrate. With me there on Friday will be Margaret Turley (Save the Child), Anna Arnett (Lolly's Yarn & Baby Boomerang), David Arnett (The Baltimore Principles), and Roger Stark (The Waterfall Concept). See you there!

Scripture of the Day: Proverbs 10:1