Wise Words: "Thoughtful Planning"

"My message, then, is this. We must carefully and conscientiously provide solid spiritual training for the eternal growth of our children. Thoughtful planning will be required because providing spiritual development for them is not quite as simple as meeting their physical needs." 
(See "Spiritual Development" by M. Russell Ballard, General Conference October 1978)


Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Wise Words: Develop A Strong Pioneer Spirit

"I have noticed that the spirit of man is not like the body as it grows older, but rather is just the opposite. If the spirit of man is properly cared for, rather than becoming slower to move and less capable, as the body does, the spirit becomes more confident and waxes strong in the presence of God. (See D&C 121:45.) Through the eyes of the strong in spirit we can feel their power and strength. Those of us who are blessed to know the First Presidency and the members of the Council of the Twelve can witness that the age of their physical bodies has no relationship to the capacity of their spirits. I testify that when you clasp the hand of one of these brethren you feel the power and the strength of the spirit that is within them, and you realize that through years of obedient living of the gospel they have developed their spirits to such a degree that they now can strengthen the entire Church. I know that thousands of our Saints have learned that spiritual growth is the most important part of life. How blessed are children who are raised by parents that understand and teach this to them." ("Spiritual Development" by M. Russell Ballard, General Conference October 1978)

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Truly Tender: Percy Jackson Rivals Harry Potter

Morning Glory has loved Harry Potter books for the longest time.  Actually she has been pretty obsessed with them.  She not only read the whole series but re-read them and listened to the audio books over and over again.     She also continued her love for the Living Scriptures Dramatized Book of Mormon and New Testament stories, and the "Forgotten Carols" by Michael Mcclean which she still listened to quite often, but in the last couple of years not much else seemed worth a second time through, let alone several times through. 

A new reading obsession has officially been born.  Her teacher gave an assignment to prepare for next school year by reading the Percy Jackson series during the summer.  That teacher had no idea what she had started . . .

I love being a Mom :)  !!!

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Supermoms know "The Bar has been Raised"

“We have raised the bar,” says Elder Ballard. “But that doesn’t raise it just for the youth. That raises it for the parents, who have the primary responsibility for teaching their children principles. That raises it for the leaders. That raises it for the teachers. We’ve all got to take a step up in a world that is unraveling as fast as this one is. “We see that they love the Lord,” he continues. “Remember that He loves them. Inside the little body of that young man or young woman you’re teaching is an eternal spirit. These young people belong to our Heavenly Father, and He has great interest in the lives of all His children. We need to keep the fire of that testimony burning in them.” ("Tending the Flock: Teaching Leadership Skills to Youth," From an interview with President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Liahona June 2008)

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Wise Words: "Revelations Not Received"

I learned so much from listening to this BYU Devotional entitled "Revelation" by Dallin H Oaks. ( It was originally given on September 29, 1981).  He described several ways that the Holy Ghost guides us in our lives.  Then he concluded with a section "Revelations not received" which I find particularly comforting and insightful:

"What about those times when we seek revelation and do not receive it? We do not always receive inspiration or revelation when we request it. Sometimes we are delayed in the receipt of revelation, and sometimes we are left to our own judgment. We cannot force spiritual things. It must be so. Our life’s purpose to obtain experience and to develop faith would be frustrated if our Heavenly Father directed us in every act, even in every important act. We must make decisions and experience the consequences in order to develop self-reliance and faith.

"Even in decisions we think very important, we sometimes receive no answers to our prayers. This does not mean that our prayers have not been heard. It only means that we have prayed about a decision which, for one reason or another, we should make without guidance by revelation. Perhaps we have asked for guidance in choosing between alternatives that are equally acceptable or equally unacceptable.

 "I suggest that there is not a right and wrong to every question. To many questions, there are only two wrong answers or two right answers. Thus, a person who seeks guidance on which of two different ways he should pursue to get even with a person who has wronged him is not likely to receive a revelation. Neither is a person who seeks guidance on a choice he will never have to make because some future event will intervene, such as a third alternative that is clearly preferable. On one occasion, my wife and I prayed earnestly for guidance on a decision that seemed very important. No answer came. We were left to proceed on our own best judgment. We could not imagine why the Lord had not aided us with a confirming or restraining impression. But it was not long before we learned that we did not have to make a decision on that question because something else happened that made a decision unnecessary. The Lord would not guide us in a selection that made no difference." ( See "Revelation" by Dallin H Oaks)

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Truly Tender: "That's What Little Kids Do . . ."

Several times lately I have heard that very grown up phrase come from little Lady Slipper's mouth. 
This time we were playing with plastic storage bowls and lids.  We were stacking them up to make a pretend sand castle and then having the "waves" come and knock them down.  Then we would laugh and build them up again and knock them down again.  Suddenly she paused in the fun and said it again: "That's what little kids do . . ." then we stacked a few more and she added a new part, "and mommy's too."  I am so glad I chose to stop and play sand castles for a few minutes so I could be a little kid too :)


Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Musical Motivation: I Got to Sing With Janice Kapp Perry and Marvin Goldstein!

This is an experience I drafted clear back in August 2012, and I loved reading it so much I decided to publish it.  This is a good memory:

The miracle held out and the pain from my sixth miscarriage didn't come back with much intensity until Saturday Morning after the Education week classes ended.  One of the highlights of the week was when I attended a music class in the Harris Fine Arts Center with Janice Kapp Perry and Marvin Goldstein.

The class began with hearing experiences of each of those powerful musicians: composer and pianist.
Then Janice Kapp Perry announced that even though she is 74 years old now and usually has guests come to sing her songs for her, in this one class (she taught several during the week) she had decided to sing her own songs.  Then she sang herself, and led us, as we accompanied her in singing through 6 of her most loved songs, which also happen to be some of my own personal favorites, including "A Child's Prayer."

What an amazing dream come true

Truly Tender: Stripes and Polka Dots

A few days ago I came home from work and was greeted very enthusiastically by a cute Lady Slipper of a color combination I would never have imagined.  Her petals (shirt) were stripes of magenta, teal and black  and her stem (pants) was covered in Christmas colored polka dots with a black background.  I had to laugh!!!  Sadly I did not snap a picture.  But my mind and heart have treasured up this happy memory.  

Yesterday Daddy brought her to meet me at work for her very own Kindermusik class time.  She was arrayed in yet another wonderful combination of her own choosing.  This time it was a pastel polka dotted dress with lime green flowered leggings.

I love finding out what you like to array your petals with each day Lady Slipper!!  I love being your mom!

What tender memories do you have from your day today?

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Kindermusik's "America the Musical"

Kindermusik offers a cute musical album (2 volumes) that has several well known American folk songs and uses them to teach some history--both of our Country and also the history of the songs themselves and some funny facts about them and some of the vocabulary used within them.
It was recommended to me by a friend and I think it is a perfect 4th of July activity. 

click here to hear some samples of the music or to purchase and download them as Mp3 files.

Also BYUTV is having  a wonderful classic on tonight "A More Perfect Union."  That movie was a tradition in my family when I was growing up and really helped me appreciate and better understand the process of the writing of the Constitution.

Happy Independence Day!!!

Be Inspired,

Janelle Joy