my life right now..., read if you wish.

Currently, I'm trying to overcome some certain personality/natural man traits. I figure, life is difficult for all, we all face challenges and trials, it's HOW we deal with them, right?? I'm the WORST, I tell ya! I've been such a grumpy, mean, witchy hag lately, it's ridiculous. Here I am, living it up at my in-laws beautful home in WA, and all I can think about is getting a better job for Geof., making more money, having a place of our own...etc, etc. How ungrateful is THAT?? So, I'm getting those little voices (not the crazy, in your head kind of voices).., but the Spirit voices, telling me, "Darla, get over it. Deal with what you have. Be a mom, and NOTHING else." I'm really trying to just go with that. Relax, take care of my kids, love them, ENJOY them. They don't know we're poor. They don't care. And really, is there anything I'm going withOUT?? Not at all! How selfish I've been. Whenever I get like this, I have to force myself to think of the impoverished neighborhoods I walked through as a missionary in Argentina. I love those people. They're so happy and have so little. What DO we need, really? A roof over our heads, a bed to sleep in, some food in our bellies (not too much, mind you), and those we love. And I have that and MUCH more. Geof. and I read this article by Richard G. Scott, found in the 1996 Ensign. What a great, uplifting article. Please take the time to read it in it's entirety, if possible. Here's what I thought i'd emphasize...


"Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, “Men are, that they might have joy.” That is a conditional statement: “they might have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth.

You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you. The tempering effect of patience is required. Some blessings will be delivered here in this life; others will come beyond the veil. The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you.

Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you. That way He can lead you to become all that He intends you to be. That path leads to glorious joy and happiness."

Wow. Isn't that great? Truth IS great.