A two-edged sword

"Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words." (D&C 6:2, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/6?lang=eng)

This is said at least five times in the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants. It was said to the early saints to remind them that God was in charge, and when they followed His commandments they would be blessed. This is no less true now than then. Sometimes we think that we've got everything together, but we would be very wrong. It's only when we realize that we don't have all our ducks in a row that He really is in charge. We can't fight God, we would never win. I bear to you my testimony that I know that God's word might be sharp, but it is true. In the name of Jesus Chrsit, amen.  

We can be the leaven

"We are to live in the world but not be of the world. We must live in the world because, as Jesus taught in a parable, His kingdom is “like leaven,” whose function is to raise the whole mass by its influence (see Luke 13:21; Matthew 13:33; see also 1 Corinthians 5:6–8). His followers cannot do that if they associate only with those who share their beliefs and practices. But the Savior also taught that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (see John 14:15)."

(Loving Others and Living with Differences, http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/loving-others-and-living-with-differences?lang=eng)

I have made a lot of bread recently (artisan bread if you must know, recipe is at the bottom) and I have noticed a couple of things: This recipe only calls for half a teaspoon of yeast (leaven) and has the dough rise for 8-12 hours. 

How many of us have had to stand alone because of our values and morals? But also how many of us have seen our blessings multiply from maintaining those values and morals? I have been the only (or one of the only) Mormon(s) in school for most of my life, but because I had such strong faith in my values my other Christian friends found it was easier to stick to theirs when they are around me. We can be that half a teaspoon that helps raise the whole loaf. 

Whenever my bread is rising I am always moving it to a warmer spot and checking on it (much to the frustration of my mom). I imagine Christ is the same with us. As long as we are doing our best to do as He did, He will keep moving us to a warmer place for us to grow. 

I bear my testimony that I know that as we try to be like Christ, not only will we be able to do so, we will also help others around, and Christ will look after us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

http://www.frugallivingnw.com/amazing-no-knead-bread-step-by-step-recipe/

Awesome Tomato Soup!!!

For anyone who read my Bad Pancakes post this summer, you would know how immature in the art of cooking I am. Well, about a week ago I made some AMAZING tomato soup and AMAZING artisan bread. I changed the tomato soup recipe a bit. Here is my fabulous tomato soup recipe:

Lyssa’s Tomato Soup

Prep Time: 15 mins   

Cook Time: 25 mins    

Ingredients

Serves 8

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 large onions, chopped

• 2 large cloves garlic, minced

• 4 ribs celery, chopped

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 10 large super-ripe tomatoes (about 4 pounds), coarsely chopped (or 7 tomatoes and one can of chopped tomatoes)

• 2 teaspoons sugar

• 5 leaves fresh basil + 2 tablespoon chopped

• 1 ½ teaspoons salt

• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 ½ cup half and half, or 1 cup milk and 3 tablespoons butter, or nondairy equivalent 

• Pinch of ground cayenne (not optional, add more necessary)

• Grilled cheese sandwiches

 

Directions

Step 1. Warm the oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery and spices, and cook until soft but not browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. 

 

Step 2. Add the tomatoes (with juices), sugar, basil leaves, salt, black pepper, and cayenne (if using). Increase the heat to high and bring the tomatoes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes, skimming off and discarding any foam from the surface. 

 

Step 3. Puree the soup in a blender, in batches if necessary. Return the soup to the pot to keep it warm. 

 

Step 4. Add half and half. 

 

Step 5. Divide the soup among the bowls, serve it with the rolls, and store the rest. 

 

Tip: Ripe tomatoes are the key to great taste here. Sample the soup before serving, and add a touch more sugar or salt if the tomatoes need it. This soup can be refrigerated for up to three days and freezes for about three months.

 

Throwing baby steps

Recently I've been trying to make myself more receptive to the Spirit. I had a prompting that I shouldn't go eat in the cafe for lunch. This sounded so bizarre at first because I thought that I had great friends in there and it had a microwave (I bring my lunch). Turns out all of my good friends that ate in there first semester, now have class while I have a break in between classes. This was ok for a while because I still knew people. I began to realize that the cafe wasn't very conducive to the Spirit. It was loud and there was a lot of cursing and really really inappropriate conversations/situations that I did not want to be a part of. I had no idea where I could go to eat lunch though. 

One day in ceramics I knew I wasn't going to be finished with a project we were working on. The ceramics studio is open all the time so we can work on our projects outside of class too. I decided to stay after and work on my project instead of going to eat in the cafe. (I did eat lunch, I just mostly focused on my work). There are some people from the advanced classes who also come, but mostly I keep to myself. A couple of weeks have passed and I've been in the studio every single lunch break since then. I love the studio because it's so peaceful and quiet and I do a lot of thinking while I'm throwing (making things on the wheel). This has helped me so much with feeling the Spirit (and throwing is much fun, like oh my goodness). It is a baby step towards being closer to building a strong testimony, but that's how our testimonies grow, in baby steps. I bear to you my testimony that if we do our best to surround ourselves with good things we will feel the Spirit and grow closer to God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

I am not my learning disability

Knowing what makes you different, knowing that you can overcome it and how, is such a blessing. I am Lyssa Lumgair, and I have attention deficit disorder (ADD). 

Before I was diagnosed with ADHD, my parents couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I couldn't concentrate on my school work, doing simple tasks like cleaning my room was a struggle, but I could hyperfcous on things like scrub in the cracks in the bathroom floor with a toothbrush. Reading was very difficult. I felt like a wind up toy car but instead it was attention that was the part that needed to be wound up to achieve. After I was tested everything made sense. For a while we tried everything but medication to combat my lack of attention. We tried herbal supplements, we tried a hypnotist, we tried everything. Even once I tried certain medications some did not work, and some worked too well, but I found the right dosage. I was on that dosage for six and half years.

Not only medication helped me. In my 504,  part of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we set up a couple of different things such as sitting in the front of the classroom, extra time on tests, and taking classes that challenged me. 

I graduated ranked 25 in my class, obtained a scholarship to SVU, graduated seminary, and am in my second semester of college. Through many prayers, the blessings of medicine, changes in how I do school work, and support from my teachers and parents I am a new person.

A diagnosis is not the end of the world, but a new beginning. Having a mental disability is really hard, but it doesn't have to be as hard. Doors don't close, they open. And as those doors open, more will follow.

My parents have always taught me that I am bigger and stronger than my ADHD. My dad has ADHD and dyslexia, and my mom has depression. My dad has just finished 22 years in the army and is now in school to restore classic cars. My mom is a proud mother of four children and is currently working on her master's degree. I have two amazing role models that I couldn't possibly have become the person I am today without. I have ADD, I am not ADD. I am not my disability. I am a child of God. I am Lyssa Lumgair. 

Talents

I've been watching these videos for ceramics as these people make their crafts, their pots, cups, vases, and other things. As I watch these artists I'm noticing something very interesting and rather humbling. Many other forms of art are aloud like music and theatre. But ceramics is silent. Watching these artists create has given me a different perspective of art, at least in certain aspects: creating, for the artist, is very spiritual. I am beginning to understand how intense their love is for their craft. When Jesus gave the parable of the talents, he was talking about literal talents as well as other things. As we develop our talents, we eventually become more in touch and in tune with our Heavenly Father. It is a strange and wonderful experience that I have gotten to know a little bit because of my sewing and somewhat for writing. God gave us talents to use them and develop them, and as we do so we will grow closer to Him. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

My hero

This is my mama graduating with her bachelor's degree. In the week that she finished her associate's degree she submitted her finals, paid her taxes, had a baby, while her husband (my daddy) was deployed in Iraq. She returned to school a couple years later with a two year old in preschool, a son in Wright School (a special school for kids with severe behavioral disorders), a daughter in kindergarten, and a daughter in high school plus seminary. In the time between then and now she has had one daughter graduate high school (me), a son transfer back to the regular public school system, a husband retire from the military (with all the drama the Army has to give in that mess), and so much more I cannot put into one post. My parents are my heroes. My mama is my hero. I love her so much. Congratulations Mama!

Charity

I was actually a pretty bitter and angry teenager for a long while. I was not nice and I just thought it was honesty. It started in 11th grade when I started to become nicer and more considerate of others very very slowly, but really it started my senior year when my seminary teacher gave our class a motto, Moroni 7:45-48. I thought it was meant for some of the other students in my class, but I came to realize that it was for me. I began to take it to heart and I tried to love those around me more.

I still struggle with pride, but it's easier to be kind and have charity towards those around us when we try and think good things about them. Today I heard something very profound: be kind to those around you, even if they are mean, because a lot of the time they do not know kindness because they aren't taught it at home. This is a great quote on charity in my opinion. When others do not know the pure love of Christ, but we do, we should show them. Sometimes the pure love of Christ is tough love and love from afar, but sometimes it's a hug or listening or even just speaking softly towards someone. I admit, I am not perfect, and I still struggle with this, but it's come a lot easier and if I work on it I can develop charity more and more. 

I testify that Jesus Christ lives, and loves me, and each and every one of you. If we work to love our brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors, enemies and family, then we will become more and more like Chrsit. I believe this with all of my heart. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Legacies

"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression." (Articles of Faith 1:2)

This article of faith says a few things about what we believe: children are born innocent, children do not answer for their parents' sins, and that the Fall of man is a blessing. 

We believe that children are innocent and pure, incapable of sin until the age of eight, the age of accountability. We do not believe in the baptism of infants. In Moroni chapter eight it talks about why we do not baptize young children. Christ came to save the sinners, to be physician to the sick. Children are considered "whole" and not capable of committing sin. If God were to condem all the children who have died before the age of eight, he would be an imperfect being. Since children are incapable of committing sin, then he would be an impartial God who denies the blessings of heaven to the other innocent children who died without baptism. We also believe that people should leave a good inheritance for our children. This does not mean money necessarily, it means that when we die we should leave the world a better place than when we arrived. Raising upstanding members of society, being a good example of a disciple of Christ, lower national debt, etc. 

In John 9:1-3, there was a man blind from birth and Jesus' disciples asked Jesus who had sinned, the man's parents or the blind man. Jesus answered that neither had sinned to cause this man's blindness. The sins of parents do not transfer to their children. 

Adam and Eve were given two commandments: do not eat the forbidden fruit and have children. They could not have possibly been able to follow both commandments. The first would mean they had to be innocent forever and not have children. The second would mean they would have to eat from the tree and die eventually. If Adam and Eve didn't eat the forbidden fruit, the Plan of Salvation would have been brought to a halt. We would never have been able to have bodies, and thus never have the opportunity to become like our Father in heaven. We honor Adam and Eve as our first parents. 

I am very grateful for the opportunity to come to this earth and experience true joy. I testify that I know that God has a plan for me. That plan is possible because Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and Christ suffered, died, and then was resurrected so that we can have the opportunity to gain eternal life. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Questions, comments, cheese? All are welcome (except for the cheese, please don't mail me cheese)! 

My walls

Walls can be symbols of protection and isolation, but today I'm to talk about something a little different. Bedroom walls.  Everyone has posters and stuff up in their room, so do I. The way I define my decorations of my walls is a collage of everything that is me and what I'm trying to be.

Starting from fifth grade, fifth grade was the first time I had a teacher that supported me, and I had friends who I genuinely loved. I have several successes from fifth grade pinned upon my wall.

I have all of my camp awards up. I loved my YCLs my third and fourth years at camp, and I could tell that they really worked hard at being YCLs those years. I loved them for effort and kindness. They paid attention to us and were so wonderful and Christlike.

I have lots of stuff from my wonderful Young Women leaders. Through my entire career in the youth program my leaders made it clear where my heart needs to be, and that is the temple. I have several pictures of the temple on my walls because of this.

I have some pictures of myself when I was a baby up on my walls. My parents love me so much and I feel this through looking at these pictures. I have my Daddy Doll on a shelf where I can see it before I go to bed. Daddy Dolls are given to kids when their dad deploys, the face of the doll has a clear sheath that you can slip a picture of your daddy in. It gives kids a way to snuggle with their daddy while he is deployed. I love that daddy doll, and am and always will be an Army Brat.

My newest addition is the lovely note one of my Activity Day girls wrote me about how much she loves Activity Days and she loves me.

My favorite pieces are of my Savior. I have several and they convey the warm kindness that I need day to day.

Our bedroom walls are like our lives, if we surround ourselves with positivity and love, that's what we will feel. If we surround ourselves with good people, good books, good tv shows, and the gospel we will come to know our Savior better and realize that we are happy. I testify to you that surrounding yourself with good things and people will bless you exponentially. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.