Happiness is a choice!

Life is hard and when we get through hard we can have a good life

We can be grateful for the “hards,” in our life. We all have them. They are the hard life situations that we think we cannot get through and then we do and we are better because of what we went through. The adversary wants us to think that when we have trials in our lives we did something to deserve it. That we did something wrong and God is punishing us. This is simply not true. This is life and life experiences. As we go through life people die that we love, we have failures and disappointments. People let us down and hurt us. We fight within our own heads that we are not enough. We are not good enough for the blessings and a good life.  I have found that when we do get through these art life experiences, we can be grateful and learn from them. We are better because of them. I married the love of my life after I gave birth to 5 children and had been married for almost 25 years to my first husband. I had a lot of insecurities After I married Jim, a longtime friend of the family, I was devastated that

Read More »

“Everyone has to die sometime.”

It was a casual comment and it sent a deep conflict in my soul. Everyone dies sometimes. What about a young man who dies just after his 18th birthday? Yes, this son is safe and with his grandmother, but, what about the mom, brothers, and sisters? Because I have been given the opportunity to look at death right in the face, I may see it from a different respective. It seems that in normality parents die before the children. When someone is old it is a natural time to die. When a young father or mother dies, a child is facing death it is disruptive and confusing. For me, my children are grown and able to care for themselves. It would be hard if I was to pass on, but it would not change the course of their life in many ways.  I am so grateful that I have seen all my children and step-children to adulthood. I have done my part in raising them. They are their own man or woman now. They are in charge of their own destiny. 1 Corinthians 15:54 New Testament 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put

Read More »

Hug yo wife, Hug yo kids

My baby brother, 4 kids, in his 40’s . He Just graduated from business college , a great job, his health was better than it had been in a long time. Then the news came,…. What a difference a month can make. First week in Sept I was hiking the Tetons with a great friend. A month later I’m battling leukemia. Hug yo wife, hug yo kids. Life is crazy!- Chad Cannon We just never know. if you know me you know then you know my cancer experience story. If you don’t you can get an overview here. My brother commented- C. Cannon7 months ago Love this, Sis! Grateful you’re still around to brighten our days! Now it is him. He is 13 years younger, a miracle in itself that he is alive this long. He has his own story of heath and pushing through hard. He is sweet, kind, and smart. He helped me get my graduation plan in place and teaches me to be a little more kind, a little more unselfish every day. He is a peacemaker. This scripture shows the world what he is all about. Mosiah 37 And how blessed are they! For they did apublish bpeace; they

Read More »

Survivor or Thriver

\ It was getting harder and harder to breathe. I was afraid to eat food because it was getting stuck in my throat. There were 5 doctors around me, feeling the 18-centimeter lump in my stomach. The pet scan indicated that I had cancer from my chin to my ankles. I was diagnosed with the big “C” and according to the pet scan,  I lit up like a Christmas tree. The questions were ringing in my ears. How is she still alive? Can her heart make it through this treatment? She is going to die either way. How is she still walking? “Carol are you up for this? We are going to double the treatment, your heart might not be able to handle it, you will die if we don’t do something fast. I understand fully well. My own personal mantra is,” life is hard when we can get through hard we can have a good life.” I would survive, I knew it without a doubt. We are all survivors. If you are reading this, you are alive and you are a survivor. A thriver is living life to its fullest. I was using the, “as if,” principle and planning

Read More »

Why TEDxRexburg?

I looked at my coach and said, “I never have to do that again.” Back story, I met  Maija-Liisa N. Adams three years ago. It was fate. Earlier that morning as I woke up I had a strong impression that I needed to improve my own speaking skills. I had participated in public speaking as a child and teen but had put it aside as an adult. I had involved my children in public speaking for 4-H and dabbled here and there with judging rodeo queen contests. When I met Maija-Liisa and realize that she was a TEDx coach I was overwhelmed and may have cussed a little. I knew that it would be a miracle for me to accomplish a TEDx talk. In my mind, I would jump in, get this over with, and move on with my life. I had a story to tell. I started lessons from Maija-Liisa and tried out, failed, tried out, failed, for 3 years! To top it off, I tried out in Idaho Falls where I grew up and Rexburg where I live presently! There is a process. You send in an application and then you get to go to an interview to

Read More »

Recent Posts:

Troubles

When I was going through a lot of family troubles someone said to me,”I am sorry for YOUR troubles” It helped me understand that those

Read More »

Open the Door

I just heard this story at a “Master Your Influence” training and I instantly  messaged my friend and told her they were talking about us! There was

Read More »

Good Examples

My Father and Mother in law. They love each other. I am so grateful we have their example of sticking together no matter what. Good

Read More »