Standing in Holy Places: Finding your own Sacred Grove

We had a great combined meeting with Palm Harbor Relief Society the beginning of February. Since life can get crazy... always... the topic of the night highlighted a few areas to think about when trying to find your own Sacred Grove so you can recharge spiritually. All the presenters did a great job and it was a very positive and uplifting program. The presenters said it better, but for those of you who couldn't come, here are some of my notes.

Beautify

• If you don't love the space you live in, change it! Don't be scared to make mistakes because you can always change or repaint it.
•  A good place to get cheap furniture or items to decorate is thrift store shopping, garage sales, the side of the road (one woman's trash is another woman's treasure).
•  Anything can be up-cycled or repainted. Chalk paint (made of Latex and calcium carbonate) can be made and used to cover furniture without sanding down the whole surface.

Journaling
Besides traditional Journaling (writing every night before you go to bed) other ideas for keeping track of memories were presented.

• Photo Books - found on picture websites like Shutterfly, Snapfish.You can upload pictures and journal information next to the pictures. Ex. a travel book outlining all the places, funny things that were done or said on your vacation. 
• Grattitude Journal - everyday write one thing you are thankful for so you can look back and remember the day and be reminded of the good things in life.
• Calendar books - It has the dates already written and some have pretty pictures where you can write events of your day. 

Spirit (within the home)

• If you try to force or manufacture the spirit it will chase it away. Don't force it.
• The feeling you create in your home, is from all the things that you do. Stay on course and move forward. 
•  A plaque that hangs in their home says, "Be nice or go away."  This can also apply to the Spirit. If you are not nice, He will go away. 

Habits -Personal and Family Scripture study

• Pray before you start your scripture study.
• JUST KEEP TRYING 
• If you don't know what to study, try going to the Bible Dictionary or use a picture from the Gospel Pictures to study and learn more information.
• With your family act out scripture stories, they will never forget it.
• All seminary guides are online and can be used as a resource.
• Learn, Practice, use the Top 100 scriptures that are used in Seminary.
• It is a great help to your Sunday school and Relief Society teachers to read your manual and be prepared for class.

Talents
We all have different talents. We can find them by asking family and friends and by reading through our Patriarchal Blessing.

Music

• Helps their family get through the cleaning, but has also pulled them through tough times and given them some of the most spiritual moments that bind their family together.
• Church music (hymns, children songbook) is all available Free on LDS.org., use it! 

Resources

• Surround yourself with things you like. Pictures, quotes, poems anything that inspires you and change it when it isn't needed anymore. 
• A poem was shared about a man in a hole. If you are in a hole, did you put yourself there, do you want to get out, how do get out, can you avoid it next time?
• Ask yourself  "Have I done everything I can do today?"

Still working on adding leaves to my tree, but this was the craft of the night.