Fathers Day Reflections

On this Fathers Day, I reflect on the influence my own Father has had on my life. I am filled with gratitude in my heart for his example of love, accountability, forgiveness, positivity, hard work, and so much more. My parents example has been one of true devotion, loyalty, choice and commitment, and unconditional love, to each other and to their family.

 I just have to share what my younger sister wrote about my beautiful parents; Gary and Donna Miller. 

My sister Vicki's words so echo my own thoughts and feelings about these two special people in my life, and their beautiful marriage which has blessed my siblings and I, and their posterity of 14 grandchildren and 25 (soon to be 26) great grandchildren for the past 56 years.

 Thank you mom and dad for never giving up! For loving one another no matter what, and for your continued love and support no matter how old I get! You are both incredible. I am forever grateful for you!! 

"A BIG Anniversary shout out to my Amazing, Beautiful Parents. June 13th they celebrated 56 fantastic years married. 🎉💕✨💖🎉❤️💕✨ As a young child, they were my first examples of deep, profound and unconditional LOVE. What a blessing that has been to be surrounded by that growing up.❤️🙏🏼 The LOVE they share is seen by all who know them.... it’s absolutely beautiful!! 💕As an adult they have continued to be my inspiration and solid foundation of LOVE and support. As I look at them today, and all that I have learned these past 8 years since the demise of my 25 year marriage, I realize what escapes most people is the commitment part of marriage. We all look at the LOVE and happiness shared, which is truly beautiful, but what most people don’t see is the commitment of integrity, dedication, loyalty and the decision that’s made to keep Loving each other each and every day. 56 years of wedded bliss is a DECISION... it’s a CHOICE made by TWO people, because let’s be real... a couple is still two different people with two different personalities, two different ideas, and often a difference in beliefs. To top it off, life has its ups and downs... its challenges along the way. All the LOVE in the world will not keep a couple together unless they BOTH CHOOSE it TOGETHER. Today I applaud and celebrate my parents, not for their wedding day and their decision to get married 56 years ago, but for the decisions they continually make TOGETHER, to keep their LOVE strong in both the easy, and the challenging times. The dedication to their individual integrity, loyalty, generosity, gratitude , understanding, ability to forgive, and the actions they take daily to be standing here together 56 years strong! 🎉💖💕✨❤️ Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!! What an amazing journey you continue to share!!" XOXO❤️😘 "
#LOVE #COMMITMENT #LOYALTY #GRATITUDE #DEDICATION#FORGIVENESS #LOVEisaVERB #ACTION #DECISION #CHOICE 💖@picsbydonna

Renee

aka Mama Dezee

The Beautiful Journey of Childbirth

For some, birth is viewed as a scary thing. Some moms are terrified of the labor and delivery process. 

I was blessed with a beautiful Mother who chose to educate her daughters on the power of our bodies and the blessings of natural childbirth. 

She viewed labor and delivery as something that was very natural , that we were born to do as women, and she taught my sisters and I that our bodies were capable of glorious things. Pregnancy, Labor and delivery being one  of the most powerful!

Because of this teaching, I went into the process of pregnancy, labor, and birth with open eyes and a feeling that all would be well, and my body really can do this!

Sure, I had some butterflies, and I was a little bit nervous before each birth; but that is very normal. I soon began the breathing techniques and got about my business of laboring, and the fear left and excitement and anticipation of meeting my new little one took its place. 

Although my pregnancies often came with a lot of achiness and pain in my hips, I moved through most of my pregnancies without any trouble, at all, and was blessed with wonderful labor and delivery experiences. 

I LOVED all 7 of my birth stories! My first was very memorable, of course because it was the first time of becoming a mother.                    

6 weeks before my due date I began taking some herbs called Dr. Christopher's 6 week birth formula. ( I took this with all 7 of my pregnancies) Dr. Christopher was a famous master herbalist who created formulas to support the body systems in various ways. 

This formula helps prepare and support the woman's body for child birth.

 If I can give any advice for expecting mothers there are 5 things I would say. 

#1 Breathe, its going to be ok. YOUR body is amazing and it knows what to do. So, relax, and breath through all the nervousness, possible anxiety, and eventual labor pains. Breathing is KEY. this experience will be lovely. It will be work, and effort for both you and baby, (and daddy too!) but, with great effort comes GREAT success!  There will be a wonderful blessing in the end. 

#2 Take a Lamaze and Bradley birthing class to help you AND your spouse know exactly what is happening in the body and to teach you proper breathing through contractions AND to help your husband learn how to become a great birthing coach. 

Men feel so empowered when they know what to do to assist their wife. My husband was the BEST birth coach ever because of the class we took before our first child came.

 He continued to get better and better with each birth because of this beautiful foundation of education and support that he and I had from the beginning. KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE FROM FEAR. 
 
I am SO very grateful for this foundation of preparation that we had together. I loved having my husband as my coach!

#3 Take the Dr. Christopher 6 week formula. This formula will prepare your body in such a way that your labor will be more more fluid and easier than if you had not taken anything to prepare. 

You can read about this formula here.

***I SWEAR BY THIS FORMULA, My sisters all had 20-30+ labors and they did not take this formula (even through I recommended it) I took it with all 7 children and I had 7 natural labors and delivery varying in range from 3 hours to 10 hours! A BIG difference. and even my longest labor, although my hardest, was still relatively easy. (My first was only 8 hours!) 

#4 Enjoy every moment. Each birth story is special. Keep a journal and write your feelings and special experiences. Have your hubby write a little note too that you can keep in your child's baby book

Know that your body was designed for this. Know that YOU CAN DO THIS! 

Trust your body. 

You will know when you are in labor (very few women do not), If you are in turn to the subtle changes that occur daily in the last 6 weeks, you will intuitively feel that things are changing. Look for the physical signs (such as the mucus plug being expelled. If you do not know what this is, it is one of the major signs that labor is beginning..or will begin soon. Look this up for info. ;)) 

#5 Remember, to ask for a priesthood blessing before you go into birth. This will be very special and will help to ease your mind and your body. Talk to your body, mind, heart, and spirit. Write to each one. Share your feelings and ask each part of your body to come on this journey with you. Let each part of you know that you are safe. YOU ARE A POWERFUL TEAM. =     along with your sweetheart and your doctor/midwife.

 If I had it to do over again, I'd do it all the same with just a few exceptions. 

1. I'd have a midwife for every birth (my first four I had doctors, the last three I had female midwifes, and it made a big difference in my own comfort level) 
2. I would also choose to have my 3rd, 4th, and 5th births at home.  I could have had all of them at home, but these were my easiest ones and I think it would have been lovely to have birthed in the water like my daughter has done with 5 of her 7 children. 

No matter where they are born...birth is an unbelievable, incredible blessing. I feel so privileged to be a woman, and to have had the experience of bringing my babes into this world.

You are on a great journey...a wonderful adventure. Look at it all with a positive outlook and speak beautiful empowering declarations to yourself DAILY! 

Know that your baby will be beautiful. You will be a wonderful mama! You and your sweetheart will be wonderful parents. 

Congratulations! Your life is about to get a lot more exciting! 



Love,
Renee 
A.K.A Mama Dezee

P.S. Here is a great little tid bit of advice for dads:
"How to Treat Your Pregnant Wife" Published by LDS Living

 

Call Down the Angels From on High

Hello Sisters!
I'm going to direct this blog to you!

Today is Sunday...a day of rest. A day of worship. A day of...Peace.

I saw this article (from LDS.ORG) and it really touched me. I have felt so exhausted the past two weeks,

so the title speaks volumes!

When you are already tired and can't do one more thing!

This article is a MUST READ. Its based on a talk By Sister Sharon Eubank, (First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.)

She gave this talk at an address at BYU Women's Conference in Provo Utah, on May 5, 2017.

Her talk is titled:

Relief Society - Divinely Ordained of God

You can watch her whole talk here.

In her talk, she bears her testimony that in our time of need, when we are too tired to do one thing more...we can call up to God and ask that He send us His angels to help and bless us, and they will help us carry our load and strengthen us so that we can accomplish things which are beyond our own physical strength.

She shares a quote that she found scribbled on the back of a slip of paper that she found in a time of need which was an answer to her concerns and her prayers.

“When you can’t give more, when you’ve gone beyond your ability to give, then sit still. Call on the Holy Ghost and angels to come to you. Be still and get full.”

Have you ever felt like this? like you can hardly do one more thing?

Have you ever felt so exhausted that it hurt to take a deep breath and you could hardly stand to move even an ounce because you felt like if you stood up, your muscles felt so worn out that they might not hold you up? Have you ever felt so tired that the tears are right at the surface...even though you might be really happy...despite the exhaustion?

I have felt this way several times in my life. This week, was exactly like this. This week, I was reminded of other times in my life when I had felt this type of exhaustion, and the divine help that

was given to me by angels from heaven.

There was a time about 18 years ago, when my husband and I were going through a difficult time in our marriage, and I was using all my strength, emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually, to do all that I could to save our marriage. Pleading with the Lord for guidance many times a day, fasting, several times a week and attending the

Temple at least once a week. At one point, I was so exhausted, that I wasn't sure how I was going to get all my house work done, or care for our 7 children that day, because I was so depleted.

So, I got down on my knees and plead with the lord to send me 10 women who could help me and

support me in my time of need.

I can remember being on my knees and cleaning the base boards, when I felt other women kneeling beside me and behind me...yet there was no one there, that I could see with my natural eyes. I felt them and other heavenly beings; which I sensed were angels, working with me all day long.

I sensed that these women were those who were my ancestors who had gone before me. I could sense their great love for me as I/we cleaned. They stayed with me all day long, silently working beside me. Once in a while I would seem to hear laughter, as though they were chatting and one of them said something funny...but I couldn't quite make out what they were saying. A couple of times, I even heard them singing. I couldn't recognize the song...because it was so soft, but I knew they were singing while they worked with me, and they buoyed me up as I went about my chores of deep cleaning my home.

I have never known my home to get clean so quickly or to sparkle to greatly as I did that day, when angels and ancestors came to lend me a hand and support me in my work!

When I got done and looked around, I was AMAZED! I felt like I had my own special "secret" dream team!

When my husband came home, he noticed how "exceptionally" clean the house was, and remarked at how beautiful and clean everything was. He said I must have worked extra hard that day...but I told him , I was actually surprised at how easy it was...and I proceeded to tall him of my special sacred experience!

I will NEVER forget this experience! It was a testimony to me that Heaven is really not far away!

And that Angels and those sweet spirits in Heaven who "belong to us" are always watching over us and are VERY invested in our lives and in serving and helping us when we need them and ask for their assistance!

Angels have been spoken of for centuries. Paintings have been drawn of them, songs have been written of them...

Hearts have yearned to believe that there really could be angelic being from heaven on high that could comfort us

and hold us and bless us while on the earth. That a small piece of Heaven could be a part of this world with us too...

Here is one of the sweetest pictures I've ever seen of an angel comforting a child...

There seems to be power, and safety, and great love in this painting. The child seems to be holding on for dear life...as if she knows instinctively, that she can trust this angelic being.

And the look on the female angels face is one of serenity, grace and confidence. Her robe is flying up above her head as the light from Heaven shines down on her and the child. To me it is so precious.

This is one of my favorite paintings. When I was a young child, my grandmother had this painting on her wall in her bedroom. She used to describe to me how the angels were watching over the Christ Child and playing their Heavenly music for him...their Angel lullaby. 

She used to talk to me about how Jesus was once a little child...just like me. At age 5 this was quite the incredible thing for me to know. I felt close to Him. I loved Him. Even at that tender age, I felt a deep and abiding love for this little Christ child. 

I can remember wishing I had been there, the day He was born. 

Look at the expressions of the angels in this close-up.

Such care and protection and devotion on their faces. Mary seems to be tired as well, although you can seem to feel her deep love for her baby Jesus.

Angels have been spoken of in rescuing and assisting those in need, in all generations. 

Here are two of my favorite paintings which depict the help the Mormon Pioneers felt as they crossed the plains to Utah:

You can read the incredible story behind this painting here. 

I have recently learned that many of my cousins were in the Martin and Willie handcart companies. So, this painting means even more to me now than when I first saw it and was choked with tears as the Holy Spirit bore witness to me of the truthfulness of this beautiful, yet painful story. I am so grateful for the angels that attended my many cousins during that difficult, cold, and dreary journey. 

This one is called "He Strengthens Me

 By Tim Bird

It is a reminder that we all need a little hand now an then.

You can order a copy of this painting here. 

In April 1992, Bruce Hafen gave a talk titled:

 "When do the Angels Come." 

In his talk, he states. " At Certain sacred times, God has sent his holy angels to instruct and minister to his children."

When my children were young, I used to sing them this song from the play, My Turn on Earth, called "Angel Lullaby." Now, I sing it to my grandchildren.

Reba Macintyre sings a beautiful angle lullaby here:

Here is another sweet angel song by Richard Marx

Here is a classic from Billy Joel

Here is a sweet little lullaby called Dreaming Angel

And...one of my favorites...

Songs of the Angels

I testify to you, that Angels really DO come to our aid , IF we call upon God and ask for their divine assistance.

We can count on this to be true.

There are many sources for scriptures that speak of the care and duty of angels. Here are three:

1. This one shares the many places that angels are mentioned here.

2. This one shares how angels help us, here.

3. This one gives more Bibles verses about Angels here.

This is one of my most favorite stories in the Book of Mormon about angels; 3rd Nephi Chapter 17.

Here is a guide to help you know a little more about the different types of angels.

Jeffery R. Holland, of the quorum of the twelve apostles, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, spoke about angels in his 2008 Conference talk; The Ministering of Angels.

This is one of my most favorite talks! I hope it may comfort you in your time of need as it has comforted me many times in my life.

"God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face."

When speaking of Adam and Eve, Elder Holland tells how God knew of their challenges when they left the garden of Eden, and how God helped them in their times of need. He says...

"...But in times of special need, He sent angels, divine messengers, to bless His children, reassure them that heaven was always very close and that His help was always very near."

I pray that you will have angels in your life, both heavenly angles and earthly angels to guide you and assist you

along your way.

Love and blessings,

Renee 💜