Mother Teresa said, "There are many people who can do big things but there are very few people who will do the small things."

I've loved this quote for a long time and have thought often about why it is so. I believe that the big things often get done because more people are aware of larger things. But larger things then, bring out many people who willingly put their shoulder to the wheel in order to ride the vehicle of attention. 

On the other hand there are few people who are aware enough to hear of small things like muffled cries for help. There are even fewer people filled with enough humility to step into lonely darkened lives, to do whatever 'little thing' is needed. 

It is those things that seem small to the world....... loving words, lifting hands that hang down, words of comfort, help for the hopeless, sincere praise, unconditional love, humanitarian service, etc., that are 'big' in the eyes of those who benefit.

By humbly doing the little things no one really wants to do, we ensure our efforts will bless in big ways.

What a wonderful world we live in. As I was traveling to Arizona to spend Thanksgiving with my sons David and Vance and daughter's Erin and David's wife Sara, I looked at the beautiful world around me. How grateful I am to have eyes to see. What incredible beauties are around us that we can choose to be aware of, or we can choose to let them dissolve like the sunsets that distill across the desert, without taking notice. 

Like everything else, we can be so involved with the little things in our lives that pile up around us, that we forget that outside our realm of dailies, there is an exciting and beautiful world. Take time to look around and be thankful for the world we live in.

Thursday 2012 November 15
I had the blessing of going to a humanitarian center to work on projects that would be sent around the world to help people who could not help themselves. This humanitarian center is set up for needed projects that will go all over the world, as well as for a drop off place for the local food bank and other organizations helping displaced or needy people.
I have felt the need to "give back" for all the great blessings I have received recently and over my lifetime. My children are grown and the role of grandparent certainly has freed up a lot of my time. Although I still feel there are songs the Lord would have me write, I also feel His gentle prodding to give some of my time to help His other children.
When I arrived at the humanitarian center there were only a couple of cars in the parking lot. The emptiness of the parking lot turned, as I walked into the hall full of tables with working women, into a joyous bouquet of happy beautiful blooms of love.
There were women at different workstations busily crafting their assignments. There were old women, and middle aged women and younger women. There was a buzz of activity and sisterhood that enveloped me even though I had never met any of these women before.
As I put my "shoulder to the wheel", (actually it was to a machine that attached snaps to items of clothing) I could not help watching the younger women who were lovingly watching small children while they worked. What an example of service these younger "mothers" were to me. There they were serving their fellowman, whom they would never meet, while I know there were a thousand other things waiting for them when they returned home. Most young mothers also serve unselfishly as teachers of primary aged children and young women advisers, in Relief Societies, as well as being good neighbors. Women of all religions and backgrounds come together to do what Mother Teresa called, the small things. "There are many people who can do big things, but there are very few people who will do the small things."
As I continue to go to the humanitarian center to do my small part in this effort to bless the lives of those less fortunate than I have been, I am determined to follow the examples of Mother Teresa, who never turned away the small acts of service, and these women I had the privilege of working with who have big responsibilities yet take time to do the 'small' yet needed acts of service.

What an emotional roller coaster I, as many people, have been on this past couple of days. The excitement of being able to vote, at least for us here in the United Sates of America, was everywhere. As the time neared I thought about the many souls of this earth who never lived with the freedoms I enjoy everyday. I continually thank God for the privilege I have of living in this country that allows me to worship Him. I pondered those who lived and died so that I could be a free citizen of this country and all the hundreds of thousands of citizens of this great nation who never had the opportunity to vote. I thought too of those brave women who fought for my opportunity, as a woman, to cast my vote.
But even so, when the results of the election came in, a great fear arose in my throat, that took me by surprise and back to my childhood. When I was 10 years old, the Cuban-Missile Crisis was the thing that I feared the most. I remember my heart so scared and pounding at the sound of air-raid sirens being tested. I remember trembling as I, with the rest of my elementary school friends, crawled under the desks in our room when we had 'air raid' drills. The talk in the country was of bomb shelters and what to do in case of this, and where to go, in case of that. I have not felt that fear ever again in my life until hearing the results of the voting for the President of the United States, two nights ago.
When I realized that I was drenched with that same fear, I dropped to my knees asking Heavenly Father for peace and understanding. As in so many times before, I was wrapped in His arms of Love and taught again, that He is in charge and is very mindful of what is happening in my life and in the lives all His children. I was reminded that many of His other good children voted opposite than I had, because their understanding of what our country needs, is different than mine. My fears were calmed and I tried to listen to what God had for me to do.
There is ahead of us darkness, that will surely come, as we as a nation drift further and further from God's laws. Through the many difficult trials of life I have always prayed that I would become better and stronger. This is my prayer now, that all of us, which ever candidate we supported and voted for, will become better citizens. I pray we will all move toward the Light of Christ so that His arms of love will bring us the peace and understanding that is needed in our hearts now more than ever before.
Now, two days after that rush of fear and my little 'private' journey, I realize that nothing will thwart God's plans and I really do have nothing to fear if I will put Him first and Trust Him. I will keep the bright light of my Hope in Christ burning through the dark days ahead.

I wanted to end my October Blogs with the report about the fun Masquerade Ball and wedding reception Craig and I attended last Saturday night.

I must admit that I had fun dressing up as the wife of Zorro. Craig dressed as Zorro with the mask and all. I forgot to carry in my red mask as we had our pictures taken, but we did look the parts.

The festivities were held in the Underground Social Hall in Provo, and it was the perfect magical venue! Jasmine and Eli, the bride and groom looked like they had just stepped from the pumpkin coach from Cinderella! I don't think I have ever seen someone in real life that looked like a real princess as Jasmine did. She has a wonderful collection of items she has found in her world travels.  I especially loved the items from France and those that seemed to transport us to a long ago day and far away place. The 'Underground' was dark and earthy, lighted by elegant candles, posh pumpkins, and soft lighting. The live band added to the charm of the evening with the sound of violins wafting through the air.

The edible fare was perfectly fitted for an underground Masquerade Ball in October with pumpkin soup in bread bowls as the main dish. There was humus dip, flat bread chips, beautiful fruit tarts and the hot drink of the season, wassail.

Eli and Jasmine were the most beautiful couple of the night, as it should have been. But, I must say that Craig and I were the next best dressed masquerade attendees. All in all, my first and last masquerade ball was totally enjoyable.