I Think I Can

I Think I Can,

I have started a new blog as I have discovered the key to peace. The key is to believe with every part of your soul that there is a higher power( I call this My Heavenly Father) who is in control of all things and giving over all heart ache, worries, and burdens to Him. Trusting in Him completely is a big part of feeling peace even in the midst of the storm. I have been experiencing a raging storm for the past 3 months and yet since learning these principles I have felt a peace which is difficult to comprehend. Come over to my new blog and see what is happening in my life. Oh it is so grand. I feel such abundance and joy at discovering a mission that causes a sense of flow to be in my life. What is flow? (See a Noble Purpose by William Damon) Flow is when you are doing something so interesting so involving that time seems to stand still and all outside influences seem to disappear. So for now, I say goodbye and move on to the next pursuit.

Karina

Friends

I am up late and a bit worried, as I have two friends picking me up in less than six hours to go jogging. I tried to be asleep two hours ago but found that I was feeling too anxious to sleep. I am now feeling very calm and after I finish this post I will crawl into my cozy bed and get some needed shut eye.

Why do I feel calm now? I just finished reading the blogs of two of my very best friends. Their words rang true to my soul and helped me settle my mind and body.

I am finding out what true friends are. Amazing how wonderful it can be to have true friends. This is a fairly new experience for me and I am beginning to realize that on my journey to peace good friends are required companions. I would like to describe what I feel a true friend is.

A true friend knows your flaws and loves you anyway. They trust that you are the expert in your own home and of your own body and support you in your decisions in those areas. They encourage you when you are down, laugh with you, and try to understand your point of view even if they don't entirely agree with you. They support your goals of being a good mother and wife. They have similar values and help you see where you could improve on living these values just by the way they live their own life.

I have been blessed with so many true friends and I am very grateful to my Heavenly Father for them.

So note to self: True Friends = Peace.

Karina

Eva Brewster Exhibit

I read in the paper yesterday that the Galt Museum's exhibit of Eva Brewster would be over Sunday and so I thought I would take my older children and experience the newly renovated museum and learn more about this great woman. What a fantastic experience it was. We had not been to the museum since the renovations and I found it to be very well thought out and the local exhibit, which is permanent I believe, to be very interesting. My children loved it and spent a lot of time exploring and experiencing history for themselves. I spent most of my time in the Eva Brewster exhibit and had a variety of feelings while learning more about Eva.

My husband took care of Eva in the last days of her life. He really enjoyed getting to know her. She had an amazing life. The heart ache she has endured helps me to appreciate the life I lead. How grateful I am to live in a free country where I can believe what I want to believe and where I am not persecuted for those beliefs. How grateful I am that my husband and children can not be taken from me and gassed in a gas chamber. I am grateful that I live in a community where I can let my children play without fear. Where we watch out for each others children and care about there welfare.

As I read about the attrocities that were commited I felt sick to my stomach and I wondered how anyone could carry out those acts. What hate had been carefully tended. What thoughts had led to such horror. I wondered what kind of person I would have been. I believe that I would have been grateful for the easy way out. I'm not sure that I would have been strong enough to endure what Eva endured especially because of my beliefs about what is waiting for me in the next life. Perhaps if I had had children to live for, or a husband to see when I was freed I would have had the strength. But Eva lost both her young daughter and husband in the gas chambers. She did have her mother to live for and siblings that had escaped to neutral territory. I want to read her book and find out what gave her the strength she needed to endure the daily torture.
I have read Corrie Ten Boom's books and I know that for her, God was her strength. She had Jesus in her heart from the time she was five and from that time she had great faith in His plan and His ability to carry it out. The word of God also gave her strength and she risked her life smuggling it into camp because of how important she felt it was. She felt peace in the most horrendous of circumstances because of her faith.
What trials will I face in my life? How will I endure to the end with a happy and peaceful heart? I desire to have the faith of Corrie Ten Boom. I know that with faith like hers I will have peace in any circumstance.

karina

Peace is Attainable

The past week has been just exhilirating. I did something I had never done before and that was to sing a solo in a play and to play a supporting role in that play. It turned out so well. I was worried that I would forget my words but before I went on I had the most peaceful feeling and every word came out right. There were a few times I thought, "ahhh I can't remember the next line", and then the words would just come out of my mouth. My prayer to my Heavenly Father went something like this, " please bless my memory. I know that mine is not perfect but yours is and with thee all things are possible"
As we actively seek peace and ask for it, it seems to pour into our lives. At least, that is what I am finding out since I began this journey. One of the viewers of this blog gave me a quote that basically says that when we are in harmony with our highest priorities and doing what God would have us do that is when peace is felt in abundance. I know this to be true as I experienced it this week. Peace is Attainable. Now, how to keep in harmony with what God would have me be doing on a consistent basis. That will be the key.
Kari

Feeling Overwhelmed-The Story of My Life

I am feeling overwhelmed. Like a crazy person I said yes to yet another project that is causing me stress and anxiety. I am involved in a play for our Stake Relief Society Spring Social. My part is not huge but I do have to sing a whole song by myself and try to remember everything I have to say. The director said no papers for tomorrow. Does she have any idea how my brain works? I realize there is only a week until performance but that paper is my security blanket. How can I pull it off?
So, as I examine this dilemma with my goal of peace in mind what can I do to achieve the peace I so desperately seek? Pray!! Good answer. I know that with God's help I can do all things. The Stake Relief Society President said she felt inspired to call me and ask me to do this. So, I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded for I know he giveth no commandment save he will provide a way for me to do it. So I will press forward and rely on His memory which is perfect. Peace be still and know that I am God.

Pursuing Peace

My greatest goal, the one I work on daily and the one that seems to be just beyond my grasp, is to be in complete peace with myself and others at any given time, in any given circumstance. Don't get me wrong, I have fleeting moments. These moments feel few and far between but oh the taste, the smell, the sound, the touch, the sight of such moments pushes me on to the fulfillment of my goal. This blog will be a record of my journey to Peace. I am excited and hesitant but willing to put my thoughts to cyberspace if it will help speed the journey to this, what seems to be a fantasy place. Maybe some of you that read these postings will help me along the path. Feel free to offer advice or comments and please don't hesitate to just say hi.
May we all have more peace in our lives.

Karina