ADVICE FROM THE NIGHT SKY

 

Advice from the Night Sky

See the big picture

Be a star  Keep looking up

Don’t be afraid of the dark

Stay full of wonder

Expand your horizons

Turn off the light!

Ilan Shamir

MORE WORDS OF WISDOM

 

              I WAS LOOKING THROUGH A VOLUME OF NEWSLETTERS (WHICH I WROTE FOR MY CHILDREN DURING A DECADE NOT LONG AFTER THE MILLENIUM YEAR) WHEN I SAW THIS LITTLE GEM I HAD PUT IN AS FILLER FOR ONE OF THE ISSUES. 

IT IS STILL GOOD ADVICE AND I OFFER IT HERE AS A REMINDER THAT ANYTHING OF VALUE IS WORTH THE EFFORT THAT HAS TO BE EXPENDED. 

                   

                                                                                                                                                

But the view from the top is BREATHTAKING!    

KEEP ON CLIMBING.....

BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

 

Every time you ask for a miracle, 

you get a prompting to do something for someone else. 

 It might look like one of the following:

 A thought to send a text to say, "Thinking of you!" 

Write a note of thanks 

Look someone in the eye and say, "Good morning. Have a great day!"  and really mean it 

Say a prayer for someone you know is struggling 

Bake a treat and surprise someone with homemade goodness

Give someone a spontaneous hug 

Play a game with someone who is lonely 

Clean some debris from a familiar path people take 

Plant a fairy plug in a cute container and gift it to a person who needs a lift 

Give your full attention when someone is talking to you 

Share a heartwarming anecdote 

 When you look back with gratitude for that resultant wonder you asked for, you will see the start of the miracle you wanted the minute you took that one small step which set things in motion. 

It will feel minute and unimpressive, 

BUT Heaven will move!

God puts His power in the simplest steps.  

Have the courage to take them!

SIMPLY TRY IT!

250 YEARS OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

             You may go to France, but you will never become a Frenchman.  You may go to Greece, but you will never become a Greek.  You may go to China, but you will never become a Chinese, to Japan and never become a Japanese.  But anyone can come to America and become an American.  That is the greatness of this country we call the United States of America!                                                                                              Angie Papadakis

  

“The United States of America is a great nation, founded on gospel-based principles and values.  I believe our leaders were guided by Deity during the very formation of our country to make it so.  In turn, we are promised by God we will always have His care and protection as long as we serve Him. 

In a 1775 letter when George Washington was the head of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, he wrote: “A kind of destiny ... has thrown me upon this service. I shall hope that my undertaking of it is designed to answer some good purpose.”

That “good purpose” was that the United States was where the Lord intended for liberty to take hold so that agency might thrive. Here the gospel would put down roots and then branch out with truths to bless millions.

Though we are aware that religious freedom is clearly under fire, teachings based on faith in God have always contributed to moral actions that benefit the entire nation.  Cultivating a sincere and abiding love for all others, by loving our country and its values, and most of all by demonstrating love for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will help us joyfully engage in the Lord’s great work to help us maintain freedom and liberty for all in our wonderful country—and around the world.  It is a work for everyone to preserve freedom and moral agency.” 

(The above is a summary of remarks given by Ronald A. Rasband, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He was the keynote speaker in the 2026 Patriotic Service of America’s Freedom Festival, Sunday, June 28, 2026)

 

I am grateful for this bold message with wise words which invite us to be more valiant during challenging times ahead when our country’s values and freedom may be contested even more. 

Let’s take an active part in preserving our God-given freedom and moral agency every day by extending a sincere love for all—here and around the world!  We are truly brothers and sisters in Christ’s family no matter where we live.

 

 John Adams gave the following suggestion at the time of the Declaration of Independence.  I hope you celebrated July 4, 2026, in the same true American style as it was celebrated that day 250 years ago on July 4, 1776, when we declared ourselves a nation!

“The 4^th of July,1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward….” 

DAILY MIRACLES

 

I got up the other morning to go on my walk and was murmuring to myself about all the things on my TO DO list that I didn't feel like taking care of.  I just wanted to sit down and do nothing.

But as I stepped out the door and saw the brilliant sun rinsing on a pristine view of blue skies, majestic mountains in the distance, and green everywhere, I thought how petty of me to complain when I have so many blessings--good health, a loving family, dear friends, and a purpose in life.

Suddenly, the world around me seemed full of wonders.  Birds chirping, a friendly wave from my neighbor, and an opportunity to breathe fresh air.

It was a wake-up call to focus on the marvels of a beautiful world all around me and to have a grateful heart.

This is just a little note to invite you to see all the everyday miracles in your life, too.

I hope you are enjoying your summer!

YOUVE GOT THIS!

 

What if God is not disappointed in you?

How many times have you gone to one of your children’s sports events or music performance of some kind and the occasion didn’t go the way they had hoped?

Once my younger daughter was in a swim meet competition when for some reason, she began swimming in the wrong direction once she had jumped into the pool and surfaced ready to go.  She became disoriented and flustered.  By the time she had recovered and began to swim in the right direction, she was the last one to finish the relay.

Another time when my oldest son was at his piano recital, his mind went blank after he had played the introduction to his very difficult piece.  Though he had memorized it perfectly, it took him three or four starts before he could get beyond the first few notes.  His teacher even offered to give him the music to use so he could play.  He shook his head and surprisingly was able to play the entire piece flawlessly after those first initial attempts.

There were tears, frustration, and looks of heartbreaking disappointment on both those occasions.

In my experience, when those unfortunate things happen all of us parents at whatever event it is lean in —not just me because these might be my kids—but everyone worried for all of the participants, clapped louder, and cheered harder when each kid finally got going in their performance. Everyone wanted all the kids to get back up and finish strong if things were not going well.

Don’t you think that must be a little like Heavenly Father?

 When He sees us make mistakes, He does not distance Himself. When we are frustrated, discouraged, or close to tears because life is harder than we thought it would be, He is not standing back in disappointment.   He is helping us rise. He is cheering us on. He is still full of mercy.

 I invite you to think about your own life.  Maybe things sometimes have not gone the way you had anticipated.  Maybe you wish you could get your act together and do better than you are doing at this time.  Let’s face it, maybe you are just plain tired and every little thing looks insurmountable.

Please know the Lord has not left you on your own.  He DOES see when you are trying, in spite of being tired.  He does help you plug away when the task of being better seems insurmountable.  He stays right there—close by—while you pick yourself up and attempt again.

God does not give up on His children!

He is merciful, patient, and lovingly invites us to come back to Him.  His very character invites us to return to Him with hope. 

So, let us remember His promise to always be with us.  Not just when things are going well, but when we find we are going in the wrong direction, or something we know perfectly well how to accomplish suddenly seems like we do not know how to take the first step. 

Think of that positive cheer people exclaim to each other now when the going gets tough…

YOU’VE GOT THIS!

MEMORIAL DAY 2026

 

Memorial Day is my favorite holiday of the year!

I have such fond memories of going with my family to take flowers to the cemetery for my brother’s grave when it was still called Decoration Day.  Then we would usually have a picnic in the back yard with my two married sisters and their families who lived in my hometown.  

My graduation from Brigham Young University was on Friday, May 31st—the day after Memorial Day 1968—before Congress mandated in 1971 that Memorial Day was to be the last Monday in May forever after. What a great date for me!   Still celebrating Memorial Day!

When my children were growing up Memorial Day was the official start of the “Nichols Family Summer” and all that George Gershwin wrote about the living being “easy”.  After washing windows and cleaning the garage in the early morning, we would spend the rest of the holiday playing games, going on a long bike ride, and eating our favorite summer barbeque foods.  

After my children were much older, we would run together in the BOLDERBolder 10K race before a short rest followed by our holiday picnic and evening fun.

Once my children got married and had their own children, any of the Nichols Family who could would get together for a fun-filled holiday with many of our favorite Memorial Day activities.

 But now it is just my husband and me.  Not as much fun as it used to be when the day was full of so many people and events.  This year it was going to be an empty backyard, so I proposed we go on a day trip.  Louis picked Colorado Springs—close, yet still far enough away that it felt like an occasion.

 We saw so many stores with outdoor displays featuring riots of blooms and potted flowers, each shouting “Pick me! Pick me!” to the throngs of people purchasing summer livery to enhance their yards for the ultimate get-away of a summer afternoon.  No wonder Henry James said the two most beautiful words in the English language have always been “summer afternoon”!

I didn’t buy any of those beautiful blossoms, however when I saw a display of colorful pinwheels, I bought one to enhance the atmosphere of summer afternoons in my own space.  So, when I see it turning in the breeze, I will remember my favorite holiday and all the memories that make it that!