The Little Pink Spot

I took a break during a very long day (12 hours) in a training session at work.  As I looked in the mirror in the bathroom, I noticed a pink jam stain on my cream colored sweater.  It was easy to hide under my vest, but it sure made me smile.   I am sure this little spill happened while helping Morning Glory pack her lunch for school.What a wonderful reminder of the fun morning I had with the girls.

The stress I was feeling in trying to learn everything in the training session started melting away as soon as I noticed that little pink spot.  I used the rest of my break thinking of  other Truly Tender Moments with my family and jotting them down in my notebook.  Although most of them never get written down, I am so thankful for each one engraved onto my heart.

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Musical Motivation: Volunteer for Perfect Pitch Study

Volunteer for a new study on how genetics affects perfect pitch: University of California Genetics of Absolute Pitch Study  "It is easy to participate in our study by filling in a brief survey and taking our pitch-naming test online"

See also a wonderful article form The New York Times on new studies about how musical study can affect the brain for years after the lessons are discontinued.  I especially love how this study determined that there is a difference in the brain activity when talking about the benefits to the brain for passive listeners (Mozart Effect) vs. those who actually participate by studying and performing music.  See

Early Music Lessons Have Longtime Benefits

By PERRI KLASS, M.D.

 

Be Inspired,

 

Janelle Joy

Spiritually Saving: 607 Words Are Changing the World

  

Dr. Dollahite quotes President Hinckley in his introduction to the book ("Strengthening the Family: An In-Depth Look at the Proclamation on the Family") as he describes the importance of the Proclamation:

          'Why do we have this proclamation on the family now? Because the family is under attack.     All across the world families are falling apart.  The place to begin to improve society is in the home.  Children do, for the most part, what they are taught.  We are trying to make the world better by making the family stronger.'  (Sheri L. Dew (1997), Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book), 209)

Later in his introduction, Dr. Dollahite gives several reasons why applying scholarly applications to the principles of the Proclamation are beneficial:

"The Proclamation can serve Latter-day Saint families as a modern-day Liahona (1 Ne. 17:2-3) to guide them in the challenges of contemporary family life.  The Proclamation sets out a divinely inspired pattern for ideal marriage and family living.  any person, couple, or family who prayerfully seeks to strengthen their understanding and testimony of the principles in the Proclamation and who moves forward with faith in applying those principles will be blessed and strengthened as family members.  Since the volume is filled with sound scholarship supporting the Proclamation, a person who makes a careful study of this book will also be able to articulate and defend fundamental principles of strong families with confidence in a variety of settings." (page 4)

"Some who read the Proclamation may wonder how a volume of hundreds of pages could be generated in response to that 607 word, straight-forward statement of doctrine and principle. The Proclamation, like other inspired documents such as the Articles of Faith or the U. S. Constitution, packs a great amount of truth with a large number of implications into a few inspired words."
(Pages 3-4)

I invite you, even if you are a family of one, to strengthen your family by studying the Proclamation.  I know it is an inspired document.  It truly does have "a large number of implications [in] a few inspired words."  Give those 607 inspired words a chance to be applied to your own life by asking God to teach you how each principle applies to you and then go forth and live what you learn.  If you do this one simple thing, you truly will be strengthening the entire world by focusing on family. 

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy
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For more information on my experience helping in the Editing Process of Dr. Dollahite's book see Mom MTC

Musical Motivation: I Completed Kindermusik Licensing.

I completed Kindermusik Licensing today!  I am so excited!!
For more information about Kindermusik and how to try a free class near you, see my music blog.

Be Musically Inspired,
Janelle Joy

Spiritually Saving: I Will Go and Do (1 Nephi 3:7)

This is one of the first scriptures I memorized when I was three years old.  My Dad would take me to seminary with him and ask me to recite it for his students in order to motivate them in their memorization assignments:)  Thanks, Dad for the fun memory!! Thanks, Mom for teaching this scripture to me!!  I am so thankful my parents taught me this scripture because it has come into my mind again and again whenever I am beginning to feel afraid I am incapable of doing something I know I have been asked to do and should do.

" And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." ( The Book of Mormon:Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 1 Nephi 3:7)

Thankful Thinking: A Rainy Day and a Hot Meal

I have been super busy with training and certification in another music teaching program for young children.  I stopped my rushed efforts to complete an assignment, and went to pick up my older daughter from school (about a 30 minute drive each way).  Just as I pulled out, it started to rain and I felt the inspiration to breathe it in and enjoy it.  I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for the rain.  It always makes me smile.

Then my day was made even brighter when my little Lady Slipper needed to stop for the bathroom on the way home and so we stopped at the nearest park. I was able to enjoy standing out in the rain for just a few moments with my girls.

Finally, as I walked into the house I was greeted with a wonderful sight: My incredible husband was making dinner for us.  He had all four burners going at the same time and everything smelled so good! Thank you, Sweetheart!! 

Be Inspired,
Janelle Joy

President Hinckley's Special Blessing for Supermom's

“May the Lord bless you, my beloved sisters. … May you be strengthened for the challenges of the day. May you be endowed with wisdom beyond your own in dealing with the problems you constantly face. May your prayers and your pleadings be answered with blessings upon your heads and upon the heads of your loved ones. We leave with you our love and our blessing, that your lives may be filled with peace and gladness. It can be so. Many of you can testify that it has been so. The Lord bless you now and through the years to come, I humbly pray.”(Daughters in my Kingdom, quoted at the end of chapter 9).

Family Friendly: General Conference Popcorn

We are so excited for General Conference tomorrow and Sunday!!!

My Family loves this recipe for Conference Popcorn (Friend, October 2010--scroll to the bottom of the web page for the recipe) and has used it  during conference before.  The idea is that it cools and hardens for two hours--the time of one conference session. 

Here is another fun activity from the  current month's issue of the Friend Magazine:  Conference Messages

What do you love to do with your family during General Conference weekend?  I hope it is a special time. If you have never listened to or watched it before,  I invite you to start a family tradition--even if it is for a family of one: yourself.

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Wise Women Use Good Judgement

"We live in a world in which many situations require us to make judgments that are often difficult. Yet the Savior gave the commandment to “judge not” our fellowman.¹ How can we do this and still exercise good judgment in a world full of deception and corruption?

We may often find ourselves making quick judgments about people, which can change or redefine our relationships with them. Often incorrect judgments are made because of limited information or because we do not see beyond that which is immediately in front of us

Good judgment is needed not only in understanding people but also in facing decisions that often lead us to or away from our Heavenly Father." (Gregory Schweitzer, "Developing Good Judgement and Not Judging Others," April 2010 General Conference)


Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Musical Motivation: D & C 42:29 Song

Morning Glory composed a new song and simple actions to teach Lady Slipper the September scripture verse for Primary.  We have enjoyed doing it together in the mornings before school.


I posted the song in solfege format (using Do, Re, Mi, . . etc instead of particular notes on the treble clef in order to alow for simplicity and flexibility). 

I also composed a version in the key of C on Classics for Kids.

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

October Mini-Mission: Listen to Truth

Hearing is something most of us are born with, but Listening is a skill that must be practiced and grows as we use it. My goal this month is to exercise and improve my listening skills each day this month.  My Heavenly Father and The Holy Ghost and their prophets are the most important to listen to daily.  I can do that through prayer and scripture study.  This month I can also do that through listening to each session of General Conference.  My family members and friends and even myself deserve to be listened to as well.

I know that true listening requires taking action to obey what I know is right for me to do.  It also means careful discernment regarding which things I hear that I must get away from quickly and which ones require my full attention.  I must only obey and pay attention to truth.


You are invited and all you need to bring are listening ears attuned to the truth: 
Invitation from the Prophet of God

Be Inspired,
Janelle Joy