From April 21 to April 28 we went to Hawaii for a cluster meeting. April 21 was the longest day ever. We got up at 6:00 am to get to the airport in time to take the flight by 10:00 a.m. bound to Japan and then Hawaii. After we got in what it seemed forever, we got in to Hawaii at 8:00 a.m. the same day. Two hours early then when we left.
The next day was so special as we had a good interview with Bishop Davies. He also offered to give us a blessing. In his blessing he told me that Heavenly Father is aware of me and He is listening to my prayers. That He will answer them. It will take time but He will answer them and many other wonderful things. He gave me my blessing in Spanish. He gave Daniel his blessing in English. What a sweet Bishop. There is a connection we have with him because he has lived in Uruguay as a missionary and lived in Puerto Rico as well. Elder Nelson is in Hawaii as well so we ended this day with his amazing devotional.
Our cluster meeting in Hawaii was the best! We learned so much and got our batteries charged. We attended the beautiful temple next to the BYU Hawaii campus. Went to the Politician Center, the Pineapple farm and Pearl Harbor. The cluster meeting came to a close with our testimonies as always. We said good bye and went shopping on our way to the airport. What a blessed week! What more could we ask?
Con amor,
Vero
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Friday, April 20, 2018
Looking back from when we came
It was exactly three years ago when we knew we were coming to the Philippines. Ah yes, the famous words of Hannibal on the A-Team. There is little in life that is better than when a plan comes together, especially when the plan itself turns out to be far larger and expansive then any plan you had pictured in your own mind.
As I look back with the benefit of hindsight, I can see that moving to the Philippines could not have come together more perfectly than it did…only it came together far differently than the stick figure drawing I had in my head…seeing that has taught me to trust that what God has planned for us is far more of a Masterpiece than anything we could imagine for ourselves, so put your head down, go to work, and then trust Him to help make it happen! We are all so lucky – so blessed. We are all blessed.
Every one of us. As we move forward with our lives, putting in the hard work, and adhering to the values of integrity and going the extra mile, life will continue to be blessed in ways we have not even begun to imagine. I am totally confident in that statement. Give life your best effort. Keep up your energy and your excitement and your enthusiasm every day. You are going somewhere.
All of us are going somewhere. Somewhere incredible. Somewhere bigger than even I know how to describe to you. I just know its somewhere that exceeds anything you have pictured in your head…and that is a great reason to be stoked! How cool is that!? I mean really! Your life is making history that will forever change things in the future…just you watch and see. I take that back…don’t just watch…join in and make it happen!!!
Con amor,
Vero
Thursday, April 19, 2018
What is needed for a marriage to last?
One answer of what is needed for a marriage to last is found on 2 Corinthians 9:6 Whomever sows generously will reap generally or in other words: "You only get out of marriage what you put into it."
Let me explain with an example: My son in law, Brooks Dame, thought of an idea for a unique new product. He had started a small company in his garage manufacturing eyewear so he carefully organized his plans to expand his star-up business.
He met with consultants, accountants, and attorneys, calculating revenues and expenses. He worked hard to sell the concept to banks and investors to raise capital. He even went on the TV show: "Shark Tank."
In time the company grew so he needed to lease new space, purchased what was needed needed and hired employees so finally he was ready to begin. He worked so hard pouring his heart and soul into the business, determined to make it succeed and sure enough, it thrives.
But does he now merely sit back, relax,, and enjoy the fruit of his labor? No! He gets people he can trust to help him expand his business and works harder than ever, while conjuring up new ideas improving efficiency, bettering customer relations, and bolstering profits.
If a marriage is to last a lifetime, it requires the same level of devotion and energy. Both partners must give 100 percent. Each must be available to the other when needed, fully present, ready to listen, to talk, to act. Both spouses must pour their heart and soul into this enterprise, making whatever sacrifice necessary to ensure success.
What an investment, but the payoff is rich, healthy, loving relationship that lasts. And everyone involved reaps countless rewards. Does this sound good? Devote time and energy to your marriage.
Con amor,
Vero
Let me explain with an example: My son in law, Brooks Dame, thought of an idea for a unique new product. He had started a small company in his garage manufacturing eyewear so he carefully organized his plans to expand his star-up business.
He met with consultants, accountants, and attorneys, calculating revenues and expenses. He worked hard to sell the concept to banks and investors to raise capital. He even went on the TV show: "Shark Tank."
In time the company grew so he needed to lease new space, purchased what was needed needed and hired employees so finally he was ready to begin. He worked so hard pouring his heart and soul into the business, determined to make it succeed and sure enough, it thrives.
But does he now merely sit back, relax,, and enjoy the fruit of his labor? No! He gets people he can trust to help him expand his business and works harder than ever, while conjuring up new ideas improving efficiency, bettering customer relations, and bolstering profits.
If a marriage is to last a lifetime, it requires the same level of devotion and energy. Both partners must give 100 percent. Each must be available to the other when needed, fully present, ready to listen, to talk, to act. Both spouses must pour their heart and soul into this enterprise, making whatever sacrifice necessary to ensure success.
What an investment, but the payoff is rich, healthy, loving relationship that lasts. And everyone involved reaps countless rewards. Does this sound good? Devote time and energy to your marriage.
Con amor,
Vero
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Holding hands never gets old
Holding hands-- It start with a tiny fist wrapped around a mother's finger. It continues with a young hand held gently in one much larger. It endures through puppy love, adolescent relationships, and courtship. And if we are wise, it extends into marriage, through middle age, beyond the golden years, to the very end of life.
Holding hands never gets old It's one of the most intimate expression of love between humans.
Don't ever let this beautiful act slip away from you. It's so much more than a gesture of affection, so much greater than a mere symbol of connection. It's an incredibly meaningful communication, a deep connection in and of itself. It requires no words; in fact, no words can convey such a profound message.
Why would two people in love ever stop holding hands? Perhaps it seems silly, somehow undignified, when we are older and have been married a long time. We may begin to think such thins were meant only for young lovers and newlyweds. That's far from the truth! Besides is many other purposes, holding hands helps satisfy the basic human need for physical touch, a need we never outgrow.
Hold your spouses hand throughout your life together; don't ever let it go until the day when you've fulfilled every marriage vow and finally release it form your grasp, placing it lovingly, trustingly into the hand of the Lord.
"I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand . You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." Psalm 73: 23-24
Con amor,
Vero
Holding hands never gets old It's one of the most intimate expression of love between humans.
Don't ever let this beautiful act slip away from you. It's so much more than a gesture of affection, so much greater than a mere symbol of connection. It's an incredibly meaningful communication, a deep connection in and of itself. It requires no words; in fact, no words can convey such a profound message.
Why would two people in love ever stop holding hands? Perhaps it seems silly, somehow undignified, when we are older and have been married a long time. We may begin to think such thins were meant only for young lovers and newlyweds. That's far from the truth! Besides is many other purposes, holding hands helps satisfy the basic human need for physical touch, a need we never outgrow.
Hold your spouses hand throughout your life together; don't ever let it go until the day when you've fulfilled every marriage vow and finally release it form your grasp, placing it lovingly, trustingly into the hand of the Lord.
"I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand . You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." Psalm 73: 23-24
Con amor,
Vero
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
What does a lasting marriage require?
A good, lasting marriage requires effort-- but it takes fun too! King Solomon said, "I commend the enjoyment of life." (Ecclesiastes 8:15) so have a good time with your spouse. Enjoy each others company. It does not take a lot of money to have fun if you think of creative ways to be lighthearted and playful together.
When we went to Uruguay I was a couple flying a kite. When was the last time you flew a kite? Grab a couple of inexpensive ones and head for the beach, where there always seems to be a steady breeze. Kick of your shoes and walk together along the shoreline until you find a good spot, then let the wind take your kites as high as they can go, while you and your spouse sit on the sand, relax and watch them soar. Before you know it, the sun will be setting over the water, putting on a free light show to add to the fun.
As you reel in our kites, admiring the colors on the horizon, take a moment to reflect on the One who provides you with so many blessings. After all, who made the sand and the beach? who created the air and the wind? Who made the water, the sky, the glorious sunset? Most of all, Who fashioned and breathed to life the wonderful person with whom you delight to share it all?
Go ahead -- have some fun!
God...Five us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17)
Con amor,
Vero
When we went to Uruguay I was a couple flying a kite. When was the last time you flew a kite? Grab a couple of inexpensive ones and head for the beach, where there always seems to be a steady breeze. Kick of your shoes and walk together along the shoreline until you find a good spot, then let the wind take your kites as high as they can go, while you and your spouse sit on the sand, relax and watch them soar. Before you know it, the sun will be setting over the water, putting on a free light show to add to the fun.
As you reel in our kites, admiring the colors on the horizon, take a moment to reflect on the One who provides you with so many blessings. After all, who made the sand and the beach? who created the air and the wind? Who made the water, the sky, the glorious sunset? Most of all, Who fashioned and breathed to life the wonderful person with whom you delight to share it all?
Go ahead -- have some fun!
God...Five us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17)
Con amor,
Vero
Monday, April 16, 2018
worry worm
Sharing an article I saw on how much we worry.
"I had a good laugh when I saw this post because it reminded me of my mother.
“I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” – Mark Twain
What a fabulous quote by Mark Twain! And SO TRUE! Worrying is a crazy thing if you think about it. It has no redeeming value as the act of worrying does absolutely nothing to impact the outcomes. All it does is causes you stress and make your life miserable. So why do we do it??…
I grew up with a mother who is a constant worrier. Amazing mother, but constant worrier. The woman worries about absolutely everything, and I truly mean everything. She has read every urban legend ever published anywhere on the internet and she worries about every single one of them. And then she forwards them on to me and all of my siblings as a warning of “what might happen if we are not careful.” She has emailed us to warn us of toxic spores that might occupy our pillow when we sleep at night to slowly kill us. She has emailed us the warnings of everything from underwire bras causing cancer to laptops that when placed too close to a males private parts will destroy their ability to father a child. I kid you not. The woman worries about absolutely everything. Her life is filled with worry.
As I became a young adult myself I found that I too began worrying about everything, allowing myself to stress about the “what could happen” or “what might happen”. I spent years worrying about things which did absolutely nothing other than to make me an anxious person and it caused anxiety for the people in my life. Then one day when I was spending time with my mom it hit me…oh my goodness…I am becoming a worrier just like her. And I realized I had to change it.
I am a person who believes in being very proactive about changing the things in our life that we are unhappy with and so I read book after book on worrying and positive thinking and I even spent time talking to a counselor on how to overcome worry through cognitive therapy where you are taught to control your thoughts in order to help change your emotions. One of the little exercises I learned in regards to controlling worry was the art of postponing your worry. That probably sounds a little silly but there really is merit to trying it and it genuinely helps you to overcome your own worries. Here is an article that explains a little bit about that process:
“Learning to postpone worrying:
1. Create a “worry period.” Choose a set time and place for worrying. It should be the same every day (e.g. In the living room from 6:00 to 6:20 p.m.) and early enough that it won’t make you anxious right before bedtime. During your worry period, you’re allowed to worry about whatever’s on your mind. The rest of the day, however, is a worry-free zone.
2. Postpone your worry. If an anxious thought or worry comes into your head during the day, make a brief note of it on paper and postpone it to your worry period. Remind yourself that you’ll have time to think about it later, so there’s no need to worry about it right now. Save it for later and continue to go about your day.
3. Go over your “worry list” during the worry period. Reflect on the worries you wrote down during the day. If the thoughts are still bothering you, allow yourself to worry about them, but only for the amount of time you’ve specified for your worry period. If the worries don’t seem important any more, cut your worry period short and enjoy the rest of your day.
Postponing worrying is effective because it breaks the habit of dwelling on worries in the present moment. Yet there’s no struggle to suppress the thought or judge it. You simply save it for later. As you develop the ability to postpone your anxious thoughts, you’ll start to realize that you have more control over your worrying than you think.
“ In addition to trying those things I also read book after to book to help me. I absolutely love inspirational books! I found a fabulous book that I absolutely loved that also taught me about the value of letting go and doing your best and trusting that things would be as they should be. It was written by an Indian Author named Deepak Chopra. The book is called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and it is a seriously fabulous book and I would highly recommend it to everyone as a great read. It changed my life.
All of these things I did really helped me to change my own thinking patterns and to let go of the worry because there was no value that would result from being worried. All of these things helped me to realize that God was in charge and I had to just learn to let go and trust that life would turn out as it should so there was truly no need to be worried.
Yes bad things might happen, but they will happen whether you worry or not. And nine times out of ten the things you worried about will never ever come to pass and you will have spent all of your energy worrying for absolutely nothing! What a waste of a beautiful life.
So today’s challenge is DON’T WORRY about things. Have faith and trust that things are as they should be and they are all in place to help make your life absolutely amazing!! "~Amy Anderson
Con amor,
Vero
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Three words: "I Love You"
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25: 11
Every spouse has a deep need to feel, cherished, valued, and treasured to name a few. Daily reminders of love and affection will fill your hearts and lift your spirits, nurturing your relationship and causing it to thrive like a lush, well- tended, sunlit garden. And just as a beautiful flower garden harbors many colorful varieties of annuals and perennials, there are countless ways to express love.
A special favor, a helping hand with the chores. A card, a bouquet of flowers, a tasty treat. A touch or what we call "masajito" a hug, an impromptu slow dance. A listening ear, a real conversation. A shared memory, hearty laughter, a walk in the moonlight. A wink, a smile, a compliment. And don't forget to speak those three words each day, "I love you!"
Words are powerful. They can build you up individually and strengthen you as a couple. They can encourage you and remind you of your lifelong commitment to each other., of the reasons why you chose to journey through this life together.
"I love you." Poets and songwriters of every age have searched for compelling words to communicate the depth of such emotion, but none has found a better way than this simple, heartfelt phrase. It never wears out and it never gets out of style. Take a moment to hold hands, gaze into each other's eyes, and whisper it today: "Te quiero" or simply ask: Do you still love me?
Con amor,
Vero
Every spouse has a deep need to feel, cherished, valued, and treasured to name a few. Daily reminders of love and affection will fill your hearts and lift your spirits, nurturing your relationship and causing it to thrive like a lush, well- tended, sunlit garden. And just as a beautiful flower garden harbors many colorful varieties of annuals and perennials, there are countless ways to express love.
A special favor, a helping hand with the chores. A card, a bouquet of flowers, a tasty treat. A touch or what we call "masajito" a hug, an impromptu slow dance. A listening ear, a real conversation. A shared memory, hearty laughter, a walk in the moonlight. A wink, a smile, a compliment. And don't forget to speak those three words each day, "I love you!"
Words are powerful. They can build you up individually and strengthen you as a couple. They can encourage you and remind you of your lifelong commitment to each other., of the reasons why you chose to journey through this life together.
"I love you." Poets and songwriters of every age have searched for compelling words to communicate the depth of such emotion, but none has found a better way than this simple, heartfelt phrase. It never wears out and it never gets out of style. Take a moment to hold hands, gaze into each other's eyes, and whisper it today: "Te quiero" or simply ask: Do you still love me?
Con amor,
Vero
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