Veggie Stuffed Steak Roll

Veggie- Stuffed Steak Roll- yumo- recipe on the cooking blog!!!

Another Birthday

"Today is my birthday (actually yesterday)- gonna have a good time."  The Beatles


Whew!  100 is getting closer all the time!!!!!! 

Church time was great time.  Loved the messages that were shared.  It is hard to record because it is the spirit that you can't capture here.  Anyway, perfect edification for me and several things went straight to my heart.  I heart Heavenly Father....

Brandi invited us out for dinner.  It was FABULOUS!  Doug grilled rubbed steak and sliced it for either steak salads or burritos- and had all the fixings.  I smile when I think of it. 

One birthday tradition that we have is to go around the table and everyone shares what they love about the birthday person.  Of course my family (boys) always go off the deep end here- "I love his smelly socks, etc."  But all my kiddos (including Bri)  and Brandi and Doug were so heartfelt- I really did feel so loved.  It was a gift.

And speaking of gifts- these faces on my card were the BEST GIFT EVER!!!  Truly, silly things make me happy!

And the kids had written "small plates" (spiritual) experiences for our book.  My treasure!


When we got home (with Addi for a sleepover since she's off track tomorrow)- our home was decorated with balloons EVERYWHERE!  I  mean balloons representing every darn year of my life.  That is A LOT of balloons.  What a fun, fun surprise!  Travis and Tenille and the kiddos at their best!

I celebrated  last week (Pedi's and lunch with Brendalyn, lunch and our favorite stores browsing with Cathy, and will get other friend time this week.  It is hard to work on "butters" with all this love surrounding me.  Saturday Brendalyn and I were doing our Saturday errands/lunch and ended up at the Grilled Zucchini.  When we were in line, we kept hearing, "Marilyn! Marilyn!"  At one of the tables were Brandi and Jenny (Valene's daughter) and all their college roommates from Ricks!  I LOVE these girls!  It was so fun to see them all and they all sang me happy birthday.  What are the odds of us all being in that place at the same time (and like at 2:00 when no one is eating lunch??)  Saturday night we went up to Joe and Brendalyn's for games.  Fun times with friends.


 Calls from Ben and I think Ryan and Tanner tried to get me from Guatemala. (they are there with Cami and a dr. and dentist trying to set up a Humanitarian clinic.) Got lots of Facebook love and messages.    The funniest one was the call from my dad.  I told him, "Thanks Dad for making me!"  and he replied, deadpan, "Oh, it was MY pleasure!"

He cracks me up.

Cookies

Yesterday Addi and I had another girlie date.  She likes to choose the Food Court at South Towne for lunch and that's our regular.  Then we had a cookie day.

Guess what!!!!! Swig now sells cookie mixes with icing.  Tastes just like them!

 People have got to learn: if they don't have cookies in the cookie jar, they can't eat cookies. Suze Orman
 

 

 

 

 
We spent the afternoon making cookies and thinking of what wonderful people we wanted to surprise and leave cookies for.

I chose friend Libby- who had a birthday yesterday.  I heart her.  And I made a plate to take to a new neighbor that moved in next door that I haven't met.  Addi chose two families in her neighborhood that have had hard loses.  She wanted me to park down the street so she could knock and run.  She did and I watched a girl come to the door and watch Addi run down the street.  When she got in the car, I said, "You just got busted.  Your friend watched you run the whole way."  She said, "Bummer!"  but then I said, 'Well, it's not like they wouldn't know.  You wrote your name on the Valentine with it!"  Ha- ha.  We had a good laugh.

Addi went to Regions in Reflections this year for photography.  I love that she's developing an artists eye.  She looked at the window and said, "Look how beautiful the rings are on that icicle!"

Thank you, Addi, for not letting that picture pass me by!

 I turn and I look back across the lake. The mist is gone and the ice diminished, the drip of the icicles quick and heavy. The sun is up and the sky is blue empty blue light blue clear blue. I would drink the sky if I could drink it, drink it and celebrate it and let it fill me and become me. I am getting better. Empty and clear and light and blue. I am getting better.
(James Frey "A Million Little Pieces")

Girl Date/Snow Date

I think this is my second to last off track for Addi!!!!  It just breaks my heart!  Brandi's girls and I have had girlie dates for about 7 years when the girls have been off track and Brandi's working.  Now it is just down to Addi and me- and next year her school is going off year-round.

 

Today Parker joined us for lunch since he was home on work release (and not working. lol)  Addi chose a new burger place- Tony's Burgers- which really was fabulous.  The kid's menu said "for kids and really immature adults."  That's what I got!  After we took Parker home, we did errands several places and did a little shop since Addi's birthday is Wednesday.  (11!!!!!!)    We bought the missionaries in line behind us their groceries which they were so darling about (and grateful!)  We got lost trying to find our car in a blizzard which I did tell Addi is part of the fun. Then the blizzard stopped (and we were soaked)- and on the way home, our goal was to find 11 snowmen that made us smile in honor of Addi's age.

 

We have had a TON of snow and it is good and wet.  But the snowmen pickings, other than a few, were a titch sad.  Lots of melted faces and lost limbs.

 

 

 
This one made us laugh...he fell over dead!!!!

 

 I do love that this one lights up!

 Go BYU!

 

 

 

 

 

We weren't sure we could really count some as snowmen- snow blobs really but there were a few wonderful ones. And snow blobs have feelings too.  I think the wind has done a number on them.  We decided that sometime you just have to make your own happiness and came home and made our own!!!  Love my girl!  Snowmen make me smile.

Faith

Today I had the opportunity to teach Relief Society- the lesson was on faith based on a talk by Pres. Uchtdorf called "Fourth Floor, Last Door" which he gave in the last Women's Conference.  I have loved this talk and really enjoyed studying it to share as well.  Here are a few of the thoughts that spoke to me:

 

Faith is a strong conviction about something we believe—a conviction so strong that it moves us to do things that we otherwise might not do. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”²

While this makes sense to believing people, it is often confusing to nonbelievers. They shake their heads and ask, “How can anyone be certain of what they cannot see?” To them, this is evidence of the irrationality of religion.

What they fail to understand is that there are more ways to see than with our eyes, more ways to feel than with our hands, more ways to hear than with our ears.

 

Just because we can’t hear something doesn’t mean there is nothing to hear. Two people can listen to the same message or read the same scripture, and one might feel the witness of the Spirit while the other doesn’t.

 

Perhaps better advice—for anyone who wants to increase faith—is to listen differently. The Apostle Paul encourages us to seek the voice that speaks to our spirit, not just to our ears. He taught, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”³

 

No, the purpose of faith is not to change God’s will but to empower us to act on God’s will. Faith is trust—trust that God sees what we cannot and that He knows what we do not.⁷ Sometimes, trusting our own vision and judgment is not enough.- I learned this as an airline pilot on days when I had to fly into thick fog or clouds and could see only a few feet ahead. I had to rely on the instruments that told me where I was and where I was headed. I had to listen to the voice of air traffic control. I had to follow the guidance of someone with more accurate information than I had. Someone whom I could not see but whom I had learned to trust. Someone who could see what I could not. I had to trust and act accordingly to arrive safely at my destination.

 

 

Faith means that we trust not only in God’s wisdom but that we trust also in His love. It means trusting that God loves us perfectly, that everything He does—every blessing He gives and every blessing He, for a time, withholds—is for our eternal happiness.⁸

 

 

With this kind of faith, though we may not understand why certain things happen or why certain prayers go unanswered, we can know that in the end everything will make sense. “All things [will] work together for good to them that love God.”

 

All will be made right. All will be well.

 

We can be certain that answers will come, and we may be confident that we will not only be content with the answers but we will also be overwhelmed by the grace, mercy, generosity, and love of our Heavenly Father for us, His children.

 

Hallee-ism

Hallee and Addi had their piano recital this weekend.  Addi did fine but it wasn't Hallee's best performance.  In her words, "Mom, it was like my left hand was having a seizure!"

Another Peytonism

David reminded me of another Peytonism while we were laughing about the garage code.  A while ago Peyton got in some trouble at our house and Tanner took him aside to lecture him.  Finally Peyton said, "Dad, let's pretend this didn't happen."

Faith

I am a woman of faith.  I  believe in prayer.  I had a wonderful experience a few years ago, praying for an extended family member that I had feelings with.  After diligent prayer the spirit said to me that praying for someone you have bad feelings for is really unproductive.  If I truly wanted good things for someone, I would pray that my heart could be softened toward them, that I would have more understanding- then I could pray more authentically. 

Do I have great feelings for President Trump?  No.  But do I believe in America and Democracy?  Yes.  Instead of continuing to ridicule and bash, I am going to pray for him and all leaders of this great nation.  Pray for President Trump to become a better man.  Pray for him to have the spirit to help him lead this great nation.  And I am going to try harder to be a better American.

“I’m not making an argument for the outcome of the election, but I make an argument for the democracy on which our freedoms depend, and we cannot have democracy if we cannot accept outcomes with which we disagree as well as outcomes with which we agree. " Dallin H. Oaks

He Cracks Me Up- Peytonism

Peyton never ceases to make me smile.

He came home from school the other day (kindergarten) and told his mom he made a new friend.


Brooke asked what the new friend's name was.

Peyton said, "He didn't tell me his name or garage code."

Heart Deposit

The above painting is called "A Woman Who Listens" by Caitlin Connolly.

I mentioned that this year my word is miracles.  I plan to look for them, be available for them, record them and give thanks for them.  They don't have to be bigger than life miracles- like parting of the Red Sea- or raising someone from the dead.  They can be tiny tender mercies that remind us that God is here to help us.

David has been anxious for his first appointment with his orthopedic surgeon.  That appointment was today.  It is hard to get in.  He insisted he could drive, I insisted that he could not.  I won. Yesterday I asked David when his appointment was and he said "3:50 p.m."  That was our plan. 

Last night, after saying my evening prayers, I crawled into bed and as usual, thoughts were swirling around.  When rest finally came, there came a picture into my mind's eye. 

It was a page in my calendar. 

It showed a different time.

I got out of bed and went to actually look.  9:50 a.m.

Thank you.  Thank you.  I will take that tiny miracle and deposit it right into my heart.

Back to Butters!!!!

Yay!  It actually feels good to be back on the plan.  I have such a short attention span that I'm just happy that I'm still committed after a whole week! (Actually 10 days)  I love knowing that 5 whole lbs. of something like butter is gone!

I haven't harnessed the "get up and go" part but hopefully that will come.

Windows and Doors

A week or so ago, one of my favorite artists in the world died.  His name was James Christensen.  One day when I was in the throws of motherhood/wifehood/daughterhood/every-kind of hood, I remember standing in an art gallery in Foothill Village, by myself....and seeing the painting The Responsible Woman -

and feeling such emotion.

 

It was the first piece of artwork that made me cry.

 

Now.

 

The Difference Between Night and Day

or Men and Women

or Right Brained/Left Brained

or .....

 

 

I was so moved by the piece that I told David about it.  Told him I wanted it so dearly.  Told him I knew we couldn't afford to buy it AND have it framed but I would be happy, for now, with just the print.

 

Christmas came.  There was a huge picture under the tree.  I could tell there was a picture frame through the wrapping.  I couldn't believe it!  David bought me the picture and had it framed!  I could hardly contain myself.

 

I opened up the present....and there was a lovely Al Rounds painting.  My face fell.  David said, "Don't you like it?"  I said, "Well, yes, but the painting I told you I wanted was The Responsible Woman."

 

"Yes," he exclaimed, "but this one was bigger for less money!"

 

 

The next year David wasn't going to make the same mistake and headed to the gallery to buy me MY picture.  It was sold out and now on the secondary market and no way on earth could we afford to buy it.

 

Sigh.

 

So the next year, I got the puzzle of The Responsible Woman.

 

The End

 

 

I think one of the reasons why I loved James' artwork so much is that it is full of metaphor.  I looked at this painting and almost got weary from all the different things I was responsible for...and yet, this woman was flying (with red shoes, no less!) with light held up ahead to guide her.

 

Wow.  It gave me strength.

 

 

 

I remember when the Apostle Neil Maxwell died.  What a loss to me in my life.  I had a sweet experience when I was a Stake Young Women's President, and we had asked his wife to be our keynote speaker at a Young Women's Conference.  She consented.  Imagine how I felt when our Stake President called me to tell me Sister Maxwell was sick and would not be able to come!  My heart sank.  His next words were, "Elder Maxwell has consented to take her place."

Wow!  He was such a remarkable man, full of wisdom and beautiful language and imagery.  He was a light in so many people's lives.  At that conference, he gave an apostolic blessing which I will never forget.....and in doing so, answered the prayers of a grieving friend in the audience who had lost a child.  I remember it was like a ray of light from his soul to hers...and I was witness of that sweet miracle.

So, when he died, I mourned.  The church mourned.  I could not believe that we would have to live without his profound testimony and insight.

Pause.

David Bednar was called to replace him.

I had never heard of him.



Can I just say, that from the first time he spoke, that man's words went straight to my heart......


So, what I am getting to is that saying, "When God shuts a window, he opens a door."  We all suffer losses in life- but somehow those holes in our lives get replaced with beautiful things.  I was thinking about the irony of that while I have been taking care of my husband this past week after surgery.  What really is a loss for him....has turned to a sweet experience for he and I- for me to be able to serve him with love and patience.  I will count this as a blessing in my life.

I found a new artist yesterday.  I have actually seen her work before but had never scrolled through a whole collection.

My heart started to pound.

Look at this picture.  This theme.  It is called "Woman With Things On Her Arm."  She is my Responsible Woman in a different light.  The artist's name is Caitlin Connolly.  Her art will help fill my hole.

 

I'm going to go out and buy some red shoes.

Love Sundays!

Rewind-1

One of my goals this year is to start going through my old blogs to edit/erase (all the lunches!) and learn some things I have forgotten.  This is how I started my journal blog 10 years ago next month.  I learned so much- how and when and why we started Bucket.  I've gotten 10 new grands and lost 3 of our parents.  New in-laws and one "outlaw."  One thing that I should have journaled better is in the story about the grocery cart- I can't remember which grand daughter was in the hospital.  When you write in your journal, try and be specific.  Use names so your posterity (and YOU!) will know who you are talking about!

ABOUT CONSTANT GROWING AMAZEMENT

 

I've always been a journal fan- diaries as a child through college, lots of cute journal books with just a few pages filled as a young mother, copies of letters preserved that serve as great journal entries and my years of playing "catch-up" recording my life and of writing consistently these last few years. I teach classes (not professionally) on journal writing and especially about writing a creative life history and recording the most important things first.  I guess my sweet cousin, Deanna, who lives in Arizona, was the first to really share with me about blogging. She told me about blogs that she loved and looked forward to reading. I didn't really know what she was talking about. Now I do and I get it! On Tuesday, I hosted a new women's group at my home. It's called a "Fill Your Bucket" group. My dear friend, Valene, and I were talking on the phone and we expressed the need and desire to form a group of women, to get together once a month for lunch (of course) and sharing wisdom and thoughts. I actually shared with them my testimony of writing sacred journals- how important it is to actually try and capture our personality and life lessons, in writing, so that our influence can be felt, for generations beyond our own. We had a marvelous time together and afterwards, one of the members made comment to Valene how wonderful it was- how important it is for women to be able to share with each other. It is a edifying and safe environment in which to share our hearts. I can see that blogging will be a new and exciting way for me to share and learn with and from others. I have kept my journals on the computer for years but I love the idea of being able to add pictures automatically.

The hardest part of setting up an online journal was what to call it. But all I had to do was look next to my computer, to my new favorite quote from Elder Busche, from a talk entitled "The Only Real Treasure:

"When we consistently follow the Holy Spirit, in a continuous, constant spirit of prayer, the world of miracles is open to us now, in this life. A life of adventures, of constant, growing amazement, of surprising vision, of new aspects of life, of new dimensions of joy and peace will be the consequence."

I love this quote and I believe it is true. As a poet, I make an effort to pay attention to the world around me and am constantly looking for the metaphor in life. That is probably why the scriptures speak to me so profoundly. I study them earnestly and they are a constant source of strength and light to me. As is trying to live a life in such a manner that I can be in tune with the Spirit, to know what I need to do, know who could use my help, to help guide me and comfort me in the very moment I need. I am lucky that as a young child, I KNEW that God was there for me. I heard and recognized His voice and through the gift of His presence, I know that He loves me (and you!) And yet I am constantly amazed at His love and His attention to me. I believe that we can find His presence in the everyday and that is the kind of thing I would like to record. Life as it happens, the big and small of it, the sweet and hard of it. In the book Mrs. Mike, this woman who lived a harsh prairie life states that life is not made up of all the big (sometimes terrible) things of life but in the small, everyday. I think that it true. My life is made up of family (a wonderful husband, 5 kids (one living at home), 3 in-laws that I adore, 9 grand kids with 2 in the oven and both sets of parents who enrich our lives), girlfriends, the scriptures, poetry, painting, cooking, dining, girl's night out, the bucket group, the gospel, serving. My life is full and rich! I love to laugh, love to share, love to do anything right-brained (creative!) I love to learn, I love to write, I love to read. So, to end this first introductory blog, I'll share an excerpt from my journal from one year ago that pretty much sums up how I feel about what is important about life.

GROCERY CARTS

Just Friday night I needed to run to the supermarket. I had my cart and as I was standing and examining something on the shelves, I noticed that someone dropped something in my cart. I looked up to see two high school boys. They had put several things in my cart and then they were further down the aisle getting something else. I thought perhaps they thought my cart was their cart and said, "Hey!" They looked back at me and I said, "Did you think this was your cart?" They acted confused like they didn’t know what I was talking about. I just kind of laughed as they walked off thinking "Great, just a couple of goofy boys horsing around in the grocery store. That is something I could see Tanner and his friends doing." As I was on another aisle, sure enough, they would show up and put more groceries into my cart. This time I just rolled my eyes. I thought to myself, "you know, if they knew I had just been up to the hospital with my sick granddaughter, they probably wouldn’t be harassing me." I continued shopping, forgetting about the boys, but they showed up again when I got to the meat department. As I was looking at steak, they promptly threw armfuls of 2 liter bottles of pop into my cart. This time I started to laugh and called out to them, "Hey, you two, get over here and take this cart. I really don’t want your stuff!" The boys smiled and came back and started taking out the unwanted items from my cart. They were smiling and one said, "You passed. You were nice." Come to find out, they said they were video taping grocery store experiences for their psychology class. They had dropped a wallet with money in it and taped whether people returned the wallet or pocketed it. They also put groceries in people’s cart to see how they reacted. They said, "You passed. You were nice." I hope that is what will happen when this life is over for me. Maybe going through life is like shopping in a grocery store. I go through life picking out what I think I need or want. But, somehow, all this stuff that I didn’t really want keeps popping up in my cart. It starts loading me down. It requires a lot of effort to remove it or deal with it. But I hope when I get to the checkout stand, I hear the words, "You passed. You were nice. Enter the kingdom of your reward." But rewards aren’t just something we have to wait for in heaven. Rewards are what I get every day of my life, when I kneel at my bed with gratitude for the things God has given me and also "the things that I learned" that day. Feb. 2006
so......be nice. It is a nice mantra to try and live by!

Let it begin with each of our drops of Christlike love until we “sweep the earth as with a flood."

Pain

Oh man- my man's in pain.  For the lst two days he had a pain cath in which left him in pretty good spirits.  Yesterday the cath came out and he's feeling the aftermath of 3 1/2 hours of shoulder surgery.  He's not a pain med guy but now he's a pain med guy!  And I'm the nurse.  I set the alarm for every four hours, all day and all night, so I can give him his pills.  Not fun to watch.  Thankful for kiddos that help out.  Ben called yesterday to say he was coming to shovel (we have tons of snow)  and I said I thought I could do the driveway myself, and started....and Travis pulled up as I was and finished. He takes care of the horses too.  Diane and Dick brought a yummy dinner when I got home from the temple on Wednesday.  Friends checking in.  Good to be loved.



January is that great time of year when I try to start shedding butters.  This is how I feel about it....

 
 
 

 

Broken Wing

Out of sheer love and respect for my dear husband- I didn't take pictures of him in his surgical gown that only had one tie in the back- with his blue shower cap type hat and non-skid booties. 

We had to be at the ortho center at 8:00 this morning and didn't get home until 5.  It was a loooong day.  David hasn't ever had general anesthesia.  And because his law practice was medical malpractice- he knows everything that can go wrong in surgery.  I think he was pretty nervous.

Okay, really nervous.  And we're both thankful that so far, so good.  He's miserable and uncomfortable and will probably hate life trying to get sleep in the night- but he's good.  We're good.  Thanks for all the love and well wishes.  We have such great kids and friends!  (David did say he was sorry he wasn't more sympathetic when I had shoulder surgery.  But he was pretty attentive with my recent broken back.  Wow- we are a bunch of accident prone oldies!)

New Word

I'm reposting this info because I love looking at these amazing pictures.  35 years ago today, Tenillie's mom (who if 5 ft. nothing) delivered quads at 28 weeks!  Look how tiny they are.  The below picture is them all grown up.

When Travis and Tenille got married, we got her wonderful family as well...Tenille plus 2 other brothers and 1 more sister!  What a great family. 

Brandi sent me a text yesterday and asked what my new word was for the year.  I hadn't even given it a thought.  No inspiration. 

But MIRACLES pop out to me.  This past year has been hard in so many ways but I have also said that there were so many tender mercies and miracles, it has been awesome as well.  This year I am focusing on witnessing all the miracles around me.  Miracles reaffirm to me over and over, God's knowledge of me and His love and tender care.  Those manifestations are before us everyday if we choose to see.  I'm a believer!

     

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
― Albert Einstein

Gail Miller plays to win the game of life — and helps others do the same

Gail Miller plays to win the game of life — and helps others do the same

Sadie-Sadie-Sadie

Travis's best friend growing up, Casey T., laughs when he sees me because he always remembers me saying to Travis, "Come on, Travis, I'm doing back handsprings for you- help me out." or something like that.   The image of me doing back handsprings makes him and me laugh.  Then I laughingly say Brandi's cheerleader try-out back handspring cost $500. (for classes)   She had to do one for try-outs and that was it.  Good thing she was a fabulous dancer. 

But then there is Sadie Jo Jo.  This girl can't sit still (or quit talking) for a second.  From the time she could walk, she was doing somersaults, then cart wheels....and now she does tick tocks or....back handsprings.  She amazes me and makes me laugh.  She truly is sunshine in our lives.

Let's hope this new year is a handsprings year!

Bummer. Actually shoulder.

I was telling David that I was glad that 2016 was over.  It hasn't been my favorite year (although some amazing tender mercies happened which I wouldn't trade for anything.)  David asked why?  Hello?  My mother died, I broke my back, Hillary and Trump and the mess of everything. (that sounds if he is indifferent to all of the above but he's not- he just had a memory lapse.) Well, on the very last day of 2016- it brought it home to him.  He was at a roping...going after a steer, leaning into roping to the right and his horse turned to the left...and off he went.  He jammed his elbow so hard it really messed his shoulder- torn rotator cuff!  Right arm.  This will seriously affect his life.  He plays racquetball 5 days a week for two hours with buddies and rides and ropes almost 6 days a week.  Because it is a holiday weekend, the surgery can't be scheduled yet but he is one unhappy camper.  I feel so bad for him.  He is NOT a slug like me so this could do him in.  2017 might not be his favorite year.....

Although he was in pain and hurting, and spent about 4 hours at the U of U Emergency room (Susie actually was working and texted Ben- "Your dad's here."  Ahhh!  Good freak!),  he still thought he was up for our New Year's Eve plans- which was pretty tame.  Second year at Baer's with Brendalyn and Joe, Penny and Tom.  I made French Onion soup and breaksticks and we picked up Chicken Noodle (from Chick a fil) (my pet name) and had salad and veggies.  Perfect.  We all brought our leftover treats from Christmas- passed on the games because of David's arm, then watched the movie Sully- in the Baer's awesome theater room.  Nice and cozy.  Good friends.  Awesome company.  Great evening.

Last week, after Christmas, Brandi and Doug invited us over for soup and game playing.  Brandi had made a big pot of Zuppa Toscana Soup (Oliver Garden Copy Kat) (recipe on the cooking blog.)

and we played a new game called Qwixx.  Loved it.  Anxious to buy it for us. So fun to just be with Brandi and Doug (kids were elsewhere.)  B and D had gone that day to another refuge family that they've "adopted."  Boots and clothes for all.  These poor Somolians are going to freeze to death in our country!

Today in Sacrament meeting, they had a meeting focused on people's favorite hymns.  A few people were asked to share their favorite hymn and why but all were invited.  I was asked to share but I didn't share my favorite, but one that matters to me greatly.  It concerns the hymn "How Firm A Foundation."  Brandi shared years ago, when she was a single mother with 4 young children, how great was her pain and sorrow and exhaustion and actually prayed specifically for the healing and enabling power of the atonement to take away her heartache and provide comfort.  She said, "I cannot describe adequately the peace that I felt for a time that evening, it truly was the peace referred to in the scriptures that "surpasseth understanding."  She also understood that the feeling was temporary, however, it did last for several hours.  That period of time allowed her to look at her situation very objectively, and offered respite from her emotional pain that seemed overpowering and allowed her to sleep because her heart and mind were at peace.  As she came to learn, the Lord provides us with "as much relief as we need."  At times that equates to the peace that surpasseth understanding and at other times it is "just enough" to allow us to breathe, or think clearly, or endure.  She said, "It is during these periods when relief is not offered fully, but sufficiently, that we grow and we have the opportunity to become more like our Savior.  This is the time when our spiritual muscles are developed.

Shortly thereafter, she was in a meeting and the hymn "How Firm a Foundation" was sung.  As she sang the second verse, specifically the words "As thy days shall demand, as thy days shall demand, so thy succor shall be," her heart swelled.  She understood that this succoring was possible through the atonement of Christ.  She understood that succoring or relief was not just provided as we needed, but also was provided as the Lord knew we needed.  At time, peace to surpass all understanding and at times "just enough".