Truly Tender: Fish Tank Fun

This morning Daddy got up early with us and was excited to help the girls clean and re-do their fish tanks.  Morning Glory gave her little tiny tank to Lady Slipper and is going to use our medium tank as her tank instead so she can start to learn about salt water.

 It was so cute to see Lady Slipper's excitement when the first thing she was told when she got up was, "you have your own tiny fish tank!"  She didn't need her usual slow wake-up time. . . she became "un-groggy" almost instantly and decided to name her little tetra Starfruit.  Then she wanted to get right to work helping Dad clean out the medium tank.

Morning Glory had lots of ideas about the fun things she would like to do in her tank and was happy to use her hard-earned spending money.  She is definitely converted to the family fish hobby.  She often asks to go to the fish store on the way home from school :)

What a fun, fishy morning.

What special moments have you had today?

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

My Own Moroni Man: Flying a Kite

I came home from work and asked Lady Slipper our traditional question that she always looks forward to answering as soon as I get home: "What did you do today while I was gone at work?" (If I ever forget to ask that question, she promptly comes and lets me know that she didn't tell me what she did today). This time I got an extremely enthusiastic answer about flying a kite. Later, Morning Glory talked about it too. They were both so excited about the simple act of flying a kite with Dad. I know there are a lot of other things my sweet hubby could have chosen to do. I am so glad he chose to create a lasting memory by flying that kite with his girls.

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Wise Words: Wait Patiently

" Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted." (D & C 98:2)

I loved this quote I read in the Doctrine and Covenants Teachers Manual lesson 6:

Elder Boyd K. Packer counseled: “Sometimes you may struggle with a problem and not get an answer. What could be wrong? It may be that you are not doing anything wrong. It may be that you have not done the right things long enough. Remember, you cannot force spiritual things. Sometimes we are confused simply because we won’t take no for an answer. …

“Put difficult questions in the back of your minds and go about your lives. Ponder and pray quietly and persistently about them.

“The answer may not come as a lightning bolt. It may come as a little inspiration here and a little there, ‘line upon line, precept upon precept’ (D&C 98:12).

“Some answers will come from reading the scriptures, some from hearing speakers. And, occasionally, when it is important, some will come by very direct and powerful inspiration. The promptings will be clear and unmistakable” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 29–30; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 21).


Be Inspired
Janelle Joy

Truly Tender: "Mummy Man" and a Purple Platypus

As my sweet hubby read us some scripture verses at the beginning of our family home evening last night, I could barely keep from laughing. He had a stuffed purple platypus balanced on the top of his head as he rocked back and forth in the rocking chair and said a few words of scripture at a time so that Lady Slipper could repeat the words after him. As he came to the final few words, I was no longer able to keep the laughter in as I watched Lady Slipper remove the platypus from his head and try to balance it on the top of her own head while still trying to repeat the words of the scripture. As her daddy said "of all men" she repeated in a very serious voice: "mummy man."

The joy I felt as I laughed together with my family inspired me to think of other special and tender moments of the day.  I was inspired to change my planned Family Home Evening lesson and simply share how I felt Heavenly Father's love for me during that funny moment of a mummy man and a purple platypus.   Then I asked the others to share some of special moments they had that day.  Lady Slipper was given a picture of Elder Bednar to hold as I explained that he had taught us to notice the tender mercies of the Lord--the special moments when we feel Heavenly Father's love (See "The Tender Mercies of the Lord" by Elder Bednar, April 2005). As we shared together, we truly experienced our own tender mercy last night.

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Moroni Men and Wise Women Know How to Receive and Act on Personal Revelation.

I loved reading this counsel about personal revelation from the Doctrine and CovenantsGospel Doctrine Teachers Manual Lesson 6:

What should we do when personal revelation does not come when we desire it? (Answers could include those listed below.)

a. Be patient and continue to wait faithfully on the Lord (D&C 98:2). He will answer in His time. Exercising patience helps us grow spiritually and develop attributes of godliness. You may want to read the second paragraph of the letter that is quoted in Official Declaration 2 (pages 293–94 in the Doctrine and Covenants), pointing out that even prophets must exercise patience as they seek divine guidance.

b. Increase our efforts to be in tune spiritually so we can receive and recognize the whisperings of the Spirit.

c. Increase our efforts to study and pray, recognizing that we may not have done this as long, as faithfully, or as honestly as we should.

d. Be more faithful in obeying the commandments (Isaiah 59:2).

e. Set the matter aside for a while. Flashes of inspiration often come when we least expect them, while our minds are no longer consumed by the matter.

f. Recognize that we may be seeking counsel on matters that we should determine for ourselves, using our best judgment based on study and reason. In these cases the Lord may leave us to decide on our own (for examples, see D&C 58:25–28; 60:5; 61:22; 62:5). The Lord often allows us to make our own decisions in righteousness.

g. Evaluate whether we may have received an answer already but have not accepted it because it was not what we hoped for or expected. If we insist on what we want, we may close off the Spirit’s communication with us.

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Family Friendly: "A Child Who Sings is a Happy Child"

That is such a true and simple statement.  I love the sunshine smiles on the faces of my girls as we sing together. (See The Home: The School of Life by Enrique R. Falabella).

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Thankful Thinking: Morning Quiet Time

I am so thankful for early morning hours of quiet when it is easier to think and be still.

What are you thankful for today?

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

April 2013 Mini Mission: Find Daily Quiet Moments

I need multiple moments of stillness to pray and ponder each day or I quickly feel lost in busy-ness and lose the feeling that I am connected to my Heavenly Father through His Spirit. I want so much to do His will in each moment and I know that is impossible without pondering, asking and listening. I love the First presidency Message from last month "Peace be Still" by President Thomas S. Monson.


Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Truly Tender: "The Girl like me Singing"

Lady Slipper loved watching this video that I came across on You Tube one day. We played it on my kindle fire while she was eating breakfast and she just loved the little girl who was singing at the very start. She wanted to watch it over and over.

The next morning during breakfast she said, "The girl like me singing" over and over again until I figured out that she was talking about the video from the day before. We have watched it on several occasions since then because she continues to request it. I am so thankful that she remembered and I hope she will always remember that special message that she is truly a Child of God.

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

My Own Moroni Man: Making General Conference Special

This may have been the best General Conference ever--because of how hard my wonderful hubby worked to make it that way.  Here are a few of the things he did:

-Babysat last week during the General Young Women Session
saying "take as long as you need with Morning Glory--this is important" so I could take Morning Glory on a special date to the temple grounds and to eat chili at Wendy's after the session.

-Helped me with blowing bubbles every time the girls heard the words love or Jesus Christ mentioned during a Conference talk--It was really rewarding to have tiny 3-year-old Lady Slipper come up to us and let us know that she had heard one of those words and see her excitement as Daddy put the bubble wand in front of a fan to make the bubbles go all over the room.  I pictured those bubbles as representing the love I hope we all feel from our Heavenly Father and share with each other--floating all through out the room.

-Made cookies, pizza and "conference popcorn" (carmel popcorn) to use for the Conference Concession Stand Morning Glory wanted to do between sessions (an idea she got from the Friend Magazine last month).  He also passed out coins during the sessions and helped keep the girls supplied with conference packets and activities to do to earn the coins during the sessions.

-Invited some of Morning Glory's friends to join us for two of the sessions--that made it really especially fun and memorable for her.

-Invited friends to go with him to the Priesthood Session.

-Pointed out simple things that he felt our family should pay especial attention to during the conference talks.

Thanks my Sweet Moroni Man!  I love you!

What has a Moroni Man in your life done for you today?

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy