Three Gifts in Jars

Last fall, I spent a good part of one day at my mom's house, canning vegetable soup for my family's use in the following winter months. Those jars held more than three gifts. In addition to the edible gifts of potatoes, carrots, celery, and barley, the jars were filled with the gift of my mother's teaching, the gift of preparation to cast out fear, and the gift of my love for my family.

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Three Gifts in Weakness

Faith. Humility. Grace.

"My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:27).
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A Gift of Rhythm, Rhyme, Reason

Music.

Elisabeth performing at Abravanel Hall.
November 2008.

Poetry.

Numb
A Poem by Erin Kaseda
(2011)

"Numb"
Said the mama bear to her cub
"Is devoid of sensation
Devoid of emotion

Empty.

Numb is when you stop
Feeling
Numb is when you blend in
With the snow
And when white becomes black

So be anything but monochromatic
Bleed red
Bruise rainbows
Spray paint yourself purple

Just don't become
Numb."

Thought.

Alumnae of Brigham Young University.
Class of 1962, Class of 2013, and Class of 1986!

#1000Gifts #JoyDare

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Three Gifts Water

Crystal Cove State Park. October 2009.
Laguna Beach, California.



Oxnard Beach Park. March 2013.
Oxnard, California.



Ocean Beach. December 2011.
San Francisco, California.

#1000Gifts #JoyDare

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A Gift of Challenge, Conflict, Change

• A dare to live more fully.


• A belief in Christ and reconciliation to God.


• A new creature, spiritually born again.

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Three Gifts of Enthusiasm

en·thu·si·asm
enˈTHo͞ozēazəm/

noun: strong excitement about something; intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.

• Right now I'm very excited about my upcoming trip to NYC to celebrate my fiftieth birthday with my family! A year in the planning, now less than a month away, this trip will be the fulfillment of some of my lifelong dreams.


• Though I am shy and an introvert, I can talk about books and ideas for hours! I am grateful for the friends and family members who are willing to do that with me.


• "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). My mantra scripture, this is a reminder to be grateful in every circumstance and a prompt to always seek joy.

#1000Gifts #JoyDare

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Three Gifts of Persistence

That which we persist in doing becomes easier -
not that the nature of the thing has changed,
but that our ability to do has increased.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

• I've never actually seen the movie Finding Nemo - but I find encouragement in Dory's advice: "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming."


• In July 2012 I ran a 5K for the first time. Since then I've run four more, most recently yesterday. My training has ebbed and flowed over the past three years, but I keep reminding myself that persistence is the key - so I keep going.


• All my life I've taken a perverse sense of pleasure in doing what other people say I can't do. (Yes, I'm one of those people!)

#1000Gifts #JoyDare

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