LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED, Personal Reflections

Today, I commend my reading buddy, Anatolin,  who also finished reading President Dallin H. Oaks' book, LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED, Personal Reflections. President Oaks gets personal sharing his experiences that helped shape his life, from being raised by a widowed mother, losing his wife to cancer, to making the transition to full-time Church service as a General Authority. Anatolin shared learning more deeply the purpose of adversity, the importance of respecting those with whom we disagree personally or politically, the merits and limitations of law, the blessings of tithing, the seeming conflict between science and religion, the Lord's use of imperfect people to further His work, and the power of the Atonement to recover those who have fallen behind. President Oaks'  powerful testimony of the Savior and His mission were woven throughout the book.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Choices, Not Circumstances: Take Charge of Your Life

Have you ever stared at your to-do list at 10 PM, wondering how you ended up juggling so much—like your boss’s last-minute requests, family expectations, and even a string of little setbacks that just keep piling up? Maybe you’ve felt like life is steering you, not the other way around—like your job, relationships, or even plain old bad timing are calling all the shots, and you can’t do much to change course. We’ve all been there. But here’s what no one tells you: you hold more power over your life than you realize. The secret isn’t controlling what happens to you—it’s taking ownership of how you choose to respond, and letting go of the idea that you’re at the mercy of your circumstances..   Big or Small—Every Choice Shapes Your Life   We all recognize that major decisions alter our path. Starting a new job, moving to a different city, or choosing to marry or divorce—these moments clearly shift how we live. But what we often overlook is that small, everyday choices have just ...
Read more

Stop "Getting By" – Start Living the Life You Actually Love

Image
As 2025 drew to a close, I knew I wanted more than just another year of "getting by." When I joined Gemma Stone's THRIVE program days before the new year, I was ready to make a change – and what I discovered was the path to building a life I genuinely love.   Living the Life You Love Starts Within   At the heart of the program is a powerful truth: we can only create lives we love when we're deeply connected to who we are and what matters most. We went through three core phases that turn this idea from a dream into a tangible reality.   Phase 1: Reflecting – Seeing Our Lives Clearly   The journey began with Reflecting – not just a quick look back, but a thoughtful exploration of where we are today and how we got here. We identified moments that brought us joy or drained our energy, and dug into the values that truly drive us (not just the ones we think we should have).   For me, this meant recognizing that while everything seems to be doing well, v...
Read more

Why Family Insurance Matters: Securing Your Loved Ones’ Health and Future

Image
In today’s uncertain world, having reliable health coverage isn’t just a personal necessity—it’s a cornerstone of family well-being. KwikCare’s health subscription plans  offer an accessible way to protect every member of your household, ensuring you can focus on what matters most without worrying about medical costs.   Key Reasons Family Insurance Is Essential   - Financial Protection : Unexpected medical expenses can strain household budgets. KwikCare plans save up to 50% versus traditional health plans, with cashless transactions at accredited facilities to avoid out-of-pocket costs. - Comprehensive Coverage : Plans include inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care. For families, this means everyone—from infants to seniors up to 65—can access quality care when needed. - Peace of Mind : Knowing your loved ones are covered lets you face life’s challenges with confidence. As one subscriber noted, having a trusted insurance partner provides reassurance during ...
Read more

Safe Boundaries + Strategic Prevention: Parenting the Latter-day Saint Way

Image
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , we’ve always found strength in the Lord’s teachings about families —He calls parents to be “ nurturers of their children” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:25), and that sacred role means more than just providing for physical needs. It means guiding them with love, wisdom, and intentionality. In this blog, we want to share two principles that have transformed how we approach parenting in our own home.   SHOW LOVE BY SETTING SAFE BOUNDARIES   For years, we worried that setting rules would make our children feel restricted or unloved. But as we studied and strive to live the gospel, we learned that discipline is not punishment—it’s an act of love. Just as our Heavenly Father sets commandments to protect us and help us grow, we set boundaries to keep our children safe in a world that can feel uncertain.   When children know they are cared for by parents who are self-controlled, prayerful, and g...
Read more

Why a TESOL Certificate Matters: Open Doors to Teaching English Worldwide

Image
With around 1 billion students globally learning English, certified teachers are in high demand across classrooms and online platforms. A TESOL/TEFL certificate isn’t just a qualification—it’s your key to building a meaningful career helping others master the world’s most widely used language.   Why TESOL Certification Is Essential   - Meets Global Hiring Standards: Most schools and online tutoring companies require a TESOL/TEFL certificate when hiring ESL teachers. It’s proof you have the foundational skills to teach effectively. - Builds Core Teaching Skills : Courses cover English language structure, classroom management, and proven teaching techniques—giving you the confidence to lead lessons for learners of all ages and levels. - Unlocks International Opportunities : Certified teachers can work in popular destinations like Vietnam, China, Japan, and Korea, or teach from home with top online platforms.   What Makes World TESOL Academy Stand Out   W...
Read more

Finding Joy in the Little Things

Image
Ever get an email that feels like it was written exactly for you? That’s how I feel every single time Gemma Stone pops up in my inbox! This week’s message hit different – with three simple but powerful reminders that I knew I couldn’t just read and forget:   - Delight in the tiny moments of pleasure ​ - Find all the reasons to celebrate ​ - Choose joy for no reason at all   So I decided to turn these beautiful ideas from screen to real life – and I’m sharing exactly how I did it, including a ready-to-use phone reminder setup you can copy-paste right away! Here it is:   - Delight in tiny moments of pleasure : Pause for 10 seconds at least 3 times a day to fully notice something enjoyable – the warmth of your morning hot choco, the sound of birds outside, or someone's genuine smile. - Find all reasons to celebrate : At the end of each day, jot down one thing you’re grateful for that feels worth acknowledging – even small wins like finishing a task or tryin...
Read more

Our New Year's Family Tradition Takes a Beautiful Turn

Image
  Since we started our family, it has been a New Year's tradition for my husband, Anatolin , to give a priesthood blessing to me and each of our children. As we prepare to welcome the new year and seek the Lord's guidance for the months ahead, these blessings have become a cherished part of our family gospel culture – a way to invite the Spirit into our home, express love for one another, and set our hearts on things of eternal worth.   We gather in our living room and Anatolin would begin by opening his mouth in prayer, then place his hands upon our heads as he pronounced blessings tailored to each of our individual needs and circumstances – whether it was for a child preparing to serve a mission, for me navigating a new career chapter, or simply for strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead. For years, he has been our steady anchor for our family in this covenant path.    This year was especially meaningful because our oldest son, Ammon Jarom, who...
Read more

Out with the Old, In with the New: I Emptied My Gallery for 2026

Image
January 1, 2026 | Calgary, AB   As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, I did something I’ve been putting off for years – I hit "delete all" on my phone’s photo and video gallery. After backing up every single file to Google Photos, I watched thousands of moments from the past few years disappear from my device’s storage. It felt both terrifying and incredibly freeing.   Why I Decided to Hit Reset   My gallery had become a digital junk drawer. There were blurry duplicates of the same mountain, screenshots of messages I’d already acted on, videos that never loaded properly, and hundreds of photos taken just to "remember later" that I’d never actually looked at again. With over 10,000 files clogging up my phone, opening the gallery took seconds longer than it should have, and finding recent photos felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.   More than just freeing up space, I wanted to create intentionality around how I capture memorie...
Read more

Sacred Dwellings | The Sanctity of our Homes and the Role of Temples

Image
Having recently moved to a new neighborhood and community closer to the Urdaneta Temple, we started the week on a positive note with a morning devotional. As a family, we studied Elder Gary E. Stevenson's conference talk years ago, entitled " Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples ." In his address, he emphasizes the importance of creating sacred spaces within our homes and the significance of temples in our lives. From his message, we can derive valuable lessons on the sanctity of our homes and the role of temples in our spiritual journey. Lesson 1: Creating Sacred Spaces   Our homes can be sacred spaces where we invite the Spirit and nurture our relationships together.    Just as temples are dedicated to the Lord and are places of worship and revelation, our homes can also be sanctuaries where we invite the Spirit to dwell. By creating an environment of love, respect, and harmony within our homes, we can make them sacred spaces where we feel the presence of God and s...
Read more

BYU-I Fall 2021

Image
We are looking forward to starting and completing our chosen course this fall semester. Child Development course is a theoretical, academically oriented course focusing on the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of the child from conception through adolescence. As parents ourselves and assisting and giving support to other children, we are excited to learn and  explore the influences of family, peers, and social institutions on the child's development.  We know that connecting the dots between what we learn and what we do takes creativity and even stepping outside our comfort zone.Our most favorite part is searching for daily opportunities at home and at work to apply what we learn.
Read more