A Teaching Moment to Recall

A thought came up about family and serving each other at breakfast yesterday. I remember a story poem that President Kimball used in a conference talk about children helping and doing their chores. A teaching moment was there and I was unable to share what I remembered of the poem, only the idea. I found the poem, and just Googled it!

I like the comments made from someone named,Maggie, from her blog...here it is and the poem posted below. Enjoy.

When I was a child my mother used to recite a poem which began, "I love you mother, said little Nell, I love you more than words can tell..." It goes on to say how each of her children declared their love then raced off to play ... all but one, and that child stayed behind and helped with all the day's work. It ended by saying, "Then at night when she laid to rest, which of her children love her best?" I can't find it anywhere and would really like to have it since it was one of my mother's last memories before her death. Can anyone help?


WHICH LOVED BEST? by Joy Allison (1917)

"I love you, Mother, said little John;
Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on.
And he was off to the garden swing,
Leaving his mother the wood to bring.

"I love you, Mother, said rosy Nell,
"I love you better than tongue can tell."
Then she teased and pouted full half the day.
Till her mother was glad when she went to play.

I love you, Mother," said little Fan,
"To-day I'll help you all that I can;
How glad I am that school doesn't keep!"
So she rocked the babe till he fell asleep.

Then stepping softly, she took the broom,
And swept the floor, and dusted the room.
Busy and happy all day was she;
Helpful and happy as a child could be.

"I love you, Mother," again they said,
Three little children going to bed.
How do you think that mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best?

Great Lesson To Be Learned

I was looking for a picture of a rose and the scriptures but was unable to find. This photo will have to do!!!


Alma 7:23 "And now I would that ye should be ahumble, and be bsubmissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."

I was feeling a bit discouraged and I came across this scripture. It gives me hope that in my impatience I needed to be reminded of what really matters and have faith that all my hopes and dreams will be fulfilled. . . someday.

Love, Grandma Mattie

The Greatest Joys of My Life

I hope my readership (3) can bear with me as I share these thoughts today. My apology if sometimes my posts are mostly "scriptural." My days come and go and I begin them with looking to what the Lord has to say initially. It makes my day. I ponder those things as I read and like today share the one or ones that stand out in my mind and heart. So, for all intents in purposes, if it is boring, I offer my regrets in your behalf. I have none here.

Mosiah 5:15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

My other greatest joy, besides the Lord is my children. They and their children especially. As I go about my day I pray for them and desire that their lives be filled with the Spirit of the Lord. My service is ofttimes in service to others.

I went visiting teaching to one of the sisters I assigned myself which I go see alone. We have amazing conversation centered on the message. I am most grateful for the opportunity I have to visit with her and make sure she is doing well. She is an outstanding person who serves in the Primary and loves her calling and works very diligently in it. I do have a regular district and companion to visit teach three other sisters monthly. It keeps me busy. But I love it.

I also visited another ward member and gave them some of my Soft gingerbread cookies. They were pleased and delighted and had a nice short visit.

Later in the evening I went to have dinner with son, Hank, Lori and their children. It was two of their birthdays K7, K9 who celebrated together for the sake of convenience with doubling their birthday celebrations. Having that time with them also is one of my joys as well.

However, there was another birthday grandson, Adam, who also had his birthday so I went late to his house to wish him well. He was so excited his dad had given him a new fishing rod for his tenth birthday. He had already been out on Saturday with his dad to catch a foot and a half (maybe) inch long fish. His smile was big in the photo his dad took of his special catch.

So, there I have it. My day spent in church and feasted upon the Spirit and fed very well. Sunday is the high light of my week, and blesses me not only spiritually but temporally and mentally. I take time to read in between getting ready to go to bed and go to sleep.

God's Never Ending Message of Love

Mosiah 2:41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

I believe this with all my heart, and fiber of my being.

Stay Tuned. . . Atuned

A dash in the life of Anita Recio, seated in the foreground

I was reading scriptures in the Book of Mormon this morning. I love to read them first thing in the morning, so I have my "homepage" http://www.classic.ldsscriptures.org~

Today I read in the book of Omni and how those who were given the charge to keep the records. There were several statements made in as little as one verse each. It is almost as if they had no record to write and just made a token entry. Are our lives going to be like some of those leaders? I was particularly drawn to the scripture below. It was written lastly by Amaleki. I quote it below:


Omni: 26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

It made me realize how important it IS to write regularly about our comings and goings. To record those spiritual experiences along with the every day ones.

It reminds me of the story about the dash. The one where someones life begins in a year and separated by a (-) i.e. 1900-1988. That is my grandmother's birth year and death year. It began in 1900, at the turn of the century. She lived until 1988. Her whole life was in between, representing the dash. Our lives will be recorded in the book of life. What do we contribute in the (dash) between years? It is up to US, ourselves. No one can do if for us.

We are more than just a dash (-) if you think about it.

Words to Listen and Heed

Jarom 1:6

And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.