Category: Information

Ready To Go For It And Then…

It was a tender mercy I received a discount, which came as a result of when ready to go for it and then…becoming aware of a lesser expensive option which I paused to research for quality to getting the combination of quality and at a lower cost.

An older car that was handed down and purchased by my husband for our teenage drivers came with only one ignition key. Concerned, if it got lost, having only the one key, I decided to go to the dealership that serviced the make of the car to purchase a second ignition key. I was ready to go for it and then….

It was a tender mercy as I stopped into Lowes to purchase a spare door key for the vehicle, while at the key kiosk, it was brought to my attention that they cut ignition keys also, of which I was not aware, and at a lower cost than having it done at the dealership. Excited, a part of me was ready to go for it and then…the other part of me was somewhat hesitant to jump on board. It was a tender mercy a question to ask came to mind, “Even if the key fits the ignition, will it actually start the car?” The certainty was unknown. I considered, “do I risk it and purchase a less expensive ignition key right then and there in hopes that it works or hold off until I had a definitive answer?” 

I decided to step away and do some research which led me to calling several of the same make dealerships in various locations to find out, with which like information was shared. I learned that the ignition key at a dealership is cut and programmed for the vehicle and is 100% guaranteed, whereas, the ignition keys cut and programmed at, let’s say, a Lowes is not guaranteed to consistently start the car. I also learned of a lower price to program an already cut ignition key at a same dealership in a different community.

With this information I landed back where I began, purchasing an ignition key at the dealership I originally planned, with one difference. Per all of my research, as I shared what I had learned with the employee and asked if they price match or offer discounts, it was a tender mercy the shop manager walked by right then to which I again relayed the information I had obtained and they gave me a discount. 

Not only did my research pay off in that regards, but also with the purchase of new tires for the car. I, likewise, per my experience with the ignition key, researched for a quality tire store and called various stores within the chain in different communities to determine the best tire and cost for the vehicle. It was a tender mercy that though the tire store I selected to go to indicated not having a discount for the tires I was getting, they gave me the discount another store in the chain would have given me had I gone there instead.  

In both instances, it was a tender mercy I received a discount, which came as a result of when ready to go for it and then…becoming aware of a lesser expensive option which I paused to research for quality to getting the combination of quality and at a lower cost.     

When have you been about to precede forward with a purchase and were ready to go for it and then…you became aware of a lower cost that gave you pause to research it and the end result was the purchase of a quality product at a discounted price? 

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the posts as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Undoubtedly Watched Over and Cared For

My ignorance of a traffic pattern I was unfamiliar with could’ve had a catastrophic, “did not know what hit us” outcome. Fortunately, it was a tender mercy that in my oblivion, we were undoubtedly watched over and cared for!

No! No! No! No! In my ignorance, one of my children and I were undoubtedly watched over and cared for!

While in route with one of my children for them to attend an activity in a new area, my ignorance of a traffic pattern I was unfamiliar with could’ve had a catastrophic, “did not know what hit us” outcome. Fortunately, it was a tender mercy that in my oblivion, we were undoubtedly watched over and cared for!

As I came off of a main thoroughfare to enter onto another main road, two turn lanes veered off to the left in a snake-like manner. As I remained in the far right turn lane with my eyes fixated towards the intersection lights up ahead, I was unaware that off to my right side was another signal light specific to a small section I had not recognized as a break in the through traffic that stopped occasionally for oncoming vehicles prior to proceeding onward up to the intersection. 

I was oblivious to this light, having not noted it until out of my peripheral line of sight as I was midway into this unrecognizable intersection of sorts, did it dawn on me that I may have gone through a red light. As a traffic-abiding citizen, I was stunned and shocked that I may have done just that, run a red light. In that moment, I felt panic as I quickly scanned every angle around me, left, right, front, and back for cars coming towards me from either side or head on. 

As I looked in my rear view mirror, I saw the car that had been to my left had stopped, confirming I had indeed run a red light. In that split second, my mind processed my options, back up or continue forward. I continued forward. To me, what was thought to have been a straight shot from one major intersection to another became apparent in an almost catastrophic way that was not the case. It was a tender mercy that during the time of day I traveled along that roadway, it was not rush hour traffic. Additionally, due to it being summer, traffic was light. In my oblivion, my child and I were undoubtedly watched over and cared for and protected. 

And to that, stretching a bit the concept of watched over and cared for, upon meeting a new friend in this area, in our dialogue, they shared an amazing authentic food establishment recommendation, for which it was a tender mercy this named place, Sol Agave, only in a few locations far and wide, was in close proximity to our temporary residence. 

The food was excellent and being such, as my husband raved to the owner of our very much liking the food, per their gratitude, it was a tender mercy we were unexpectedly given a specialty virgin drink, on-the-house, to top off a super all around rewarding eating experience from the presentation and quality of the food to the ambiance and service. As simple as it was, I felt watched over and cared for as I appreciate when eating out, trying new places, and being that this place, not located everywhere, came up in the dialogue and was close by our temporary residence was a tender mercy. 

As a side note, another incredible restaurant my husband learned of while we were on a cross country road trip weeks earlier that came as a tender mercy after spending the night in a hotel off the side of the road in a town with no place open to get food that evening or breakfast served in the morning due to COVID was “Hidden Cuisine”.

When have you been undoubtedly watched over and cared for whether via protection during moments of oblivion to an unfamiliar traffic pattern, recommendations for services when new to an area, or in any other way?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the posts as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Peace From Within Came In Due Time

A peace from within came in due time after a number of consecutive tender mercy moments.

Nearly a year and half ago, I received a distinct impression that a big change would occur for our family. And, it was clear to me the time for the change was not right then. As to when I did not know until a few months back. It was a tender mercy it was then I received a confirmation over and over again that the time had come, however, there was a component associated with the change to which I felt unsettled. With a desire to be fully on board with this component as I was with the overall change itself, I sought to feel peace. A peace from within came in due time after a number of consecutive tender mercy moments. 

The process to my eventual feeling a peace regarding that component started off with a late night prayer before I read my scriptures with a hope that a peace would come by way of something I read. Amidst the words I read and reread as I desired to capture the gist of every verse, a very specific question of concern popped into my mind. I was enlightened to bring it up to my husband the next morning. When I did, he shared that it had not crossed his mind, however, it was a tender mercy he had received information that morning, unrequested by him, in his email inbox that directly corresponded to the question of concern and ruled out that undesirable circumstance I would not want to face. It was a tender mercy I felt of Heavenly Father’s awareness of me to provide an assurance all was well in regards to this critical detail of good to know importance associated with the component that may not have come up on my radar. Unfortunately, though I was grateful, I still did not feel the peace I desired to feel. 

The following evening, I drove to a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to seek for a peace the rest of my family and members of our extended family already felt regarding the component. While there by myself in the parking lot looking up towards the temple that was closed at the time, it was a tender mercy I was impressed to share immediately with a number of family members before they, who in that very moment were gathered together in the same place, returned to their own residences this statement that came to my mind, “Though I still do not feel the peace I desire to feel and I am continuing to seek it, I am willing to join you all on the journey.”    

And then, it was a tender mercy that back-to-back, I came across this verse in my daily scripture reading, 

2 Nephi 11:3 “And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.”

And, right after this scripture, Proverbs 3 verse 5 entered my mind, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Each tender mercy moment was impactful. Even though I still struggled to feel peace after each one, a peace from within came in due time. The tender mercy moment that clinched it for me and the desired peace came was when I had an aha moment of realization that the opportunity to expand and do more with a hobby of mine would be available to me by means of this component. It was this tender mercy that impacted me the most in a very personal way. As I sought for peace, though it did not come immediately, I was grateful peace from within came in due time. 

When have you known that an inspired change in your life was right, but unsettled about a component of the change you desired to feel good about also, and specific to that, peace from within came in due time? 

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the posts as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Stay Put

Uncertainty if I had come to the right place, I considered going elsewhere instead, yet an impression led me to stay put.

Once I reached my planned destination to purchase a gift for an incredible person’s momentous occasion, due to inclement weather and uncertainty if I had come to the right place, I considered going elsewhere instead, yet an impression led me to stay put. 

As in-person gatherings have become sparse due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, my connection with those I used to see on a regular basis has changed some, in the sense I am not as aware of their to date interests and happenings in their lives. 

When I was invited to attend a special occasion for one of them, I wanted to give them a gift, however, as I pondered what to get them, I was completely blank of ideas. Until, early one morning, it was a tender mercy the perfect gift idea came to me in a dream. 

Days prior to the event, it was a tender mercy an evening opened up for me to be able to go out and buy the gift, to which I was grateful as I did not want to procrastinate up to the day. 

Upon arrival to the store I assumed had the gift item, I paused before exiting the car as doubt struck me that perhaps the store I had come to did not actually have the gift item and where it was a rainy night, I did not want to step out of the car into the rain, go inside the store, and walk aimlessly around looking for it if they did not have it. As I considered driving to a different store, I was impressed to stay put and first look up on my phone whether the item was carried in the store where I was at already, and if not, what stores around me carried it. 

It came up on my search that the store I was at did carry the item, however, at a more expensive price then a couple of other stores in the area. Before deciding to go to one of the other stores, it was a tender mercy I recalled the store I was at had online coupons whereas the other main retail stores near me did not. When I looked up what online coupons may be available, there was a 20% off coupon which would bring the price of the gift item down to a comparable price of the item in the other retail stores. 

With this information, I decided to stay put and go inside the store. As I walked around, I came across a similar, even better, more ideal version of the product I sought to purchase, however, it cost quite a bit more than I had budgeted. Yet, with the online coupon, it was more affordable and an amount I was willing to pay. Before going to the register to check out, being that I had not been in the store for awhile since the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced, it was a tender mercy I decided to roam the aisles as I came across a display rack on the complete opposite side of the store with the exact same item as the one in my hand at a discounted 60% off. I was thrilled. At that price, I went ahead and picked up a second of the same item. 

When I arrived at the register and asked for a price check, the item came up full price, however, when I shared with the cashier that the item was in two different locations in the store, on one side at full price and on the other side at 60% off, an employee, a manager I presume, went to the discounted display rack and approved the purchase at 60% off. Woo hoo! It was a tender mercy I did stay put and not only did the store have the gift, they had an even more ideal and better version of it, and I was able to get two of them, a double gift, for a final price close to equivalent the regular price it sold for in other retail stores.

When have you questioned if you had arrived at the right place for something in particular and as you considered going elsewhere, you felt impressed to stay put and further information confirmed you were in the right place?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the posts as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Discovering A Happier Path For Me

As I set my sights on pursuing what I thought I would love doing, I came into discovering a happier path for me.

For years, I have had a strong desire and interest to do what I thought I would absolutely love doing. As I have set my sights on pursuing this endeavor, along the way, doors of opportunity have opened up and I have come into discovering a happier path for me.

In my first semester of college many, many  years ago, I took an accounting class. I liked accounting and I thought I would enjoy it as a career, however, one day during a question and answer session with several accountants who came to our class, it was shared that within five years it was not uncommon for accountants to feel burnt out. It was a tender mercy I learned this beneficial information in the beginning of my college years. As I wanted to get a degree in an area I would love long term as well as one in which I could financially support my future family if necessary, I decided right then that going into accounting was not in fact the career for me.

I eventually went on to study and graduate with a degree in Family Science to which I am to this day passionate about and drawn to continuously educate myself on various areas within this field. With a great love for all people, who they are and their individual backgrounds, I have always been inspired by messages and stories shared by speakers at firesides, conferences, Time Out For Women, TED Talks, etc. and have one day wanted to be a speaker myself. The ability to be a light to others and impact the lives of so many in a positive, uplifting way on a stage in front of a lot of people is what I thought I would absolutely love to do.

Along the way of aspiring to become an inspirational speaker, I have had numerous opportunities to interact with individuals one-on-one and in small groups through various church callings, time as a copy pal liaison and a backup Mindful Parenting coach, to hosting social gatherings in my home. It has been a tender mercy that through these experiences, I have come into discovering a happier path for me where I thrive and my personality comes alive. If that translated on a stage, it would be great! 

I imagine outside of being on the stage, a large aspect of being a speaker also involves a lot of correspondence via writing. For me, keeping up with it all would be too much at this time!! I am not ruling out that I’ll be an inspirational speaker one day, but as of right now, I am discovering a happier path for me and it is working with individuals one-on-one or in small groups—teaching, coaching, and facilitating discussions where I am able to be a light and a positive influence in the lives of others for good without being inundated with what for me, at least at this particular time in my life, would be overwhelming and cumbersome. 

When have you pursued what you thought you’d love doing and you came into discovering a happier path for you?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to  receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the post as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

All Squared Away Just In Time

Preliminary processes for a particular procedure were all squared away just in time before circumstances potentially postponed it until a much later date.

As the coronavirus pandemic has quickly altered the course of day-to-day living and many calendared events have been put on hold, it was a tender mercy I was able to finalize and get plans for a particular treatment that would take place incrementally over many months all squared away just in time prior to the office possibly closing their doors for, at the least, a couple of weeks.  

At the beginning of the month, before the coronavirus outbreak, I scheduled a free consultation to go over the details of the treatment. The appointment was set for a Friday morning just over a couple of weeks away. With the rapid progression of the virus, two days prior to the appointment, I called the office questioning whether or not the schedule would hold and they confirmed the appointment.  

The day before the appointment, I happened to be speaking with someone in an optometrist office and learned from them that starting on Monday they would sadly be closing their doors for two weeks as per CDC and local government recommendations and that others with like health practices were encouraged to do the same. Hearing this news and information was a tender mercy as it prepared me to be more deliberate in my decision that would come into play the next day. 

Upon arriving at the appointment, I was surprised when I was stopped as soon as I opened the door and understandably required to have my temperature taken before being allowed to fully come inside the office. Though spring allergies were in full bloom and I was experiencing the impact, it was a tender mercy I did not have a temperature and was permitted to proceed with the appointment. In the office’s attempt to maintain a healthy environment for all their patients, the waiting room was empty as appointments were spread out to conform to social distancing practices.  

At the completion of the consultation, I approved the treatment layout and was ready for it to begin. Before making a final decision on one specific payment plan, I wanted to confer with my husband first, however, he was on a business call at work and unable to be reached. 

With the office closing mid-afternoon, just over an hour away and no guarantee they would be open for sure Monday morning, I wanted to have the payment and preliminary processes taken care of before leaving so treatment could begin as soon as possible rather than delayed for sometime later on down the road. 

It was a tender mercy I was able to touch base with my husband within minutes and everything that was essential to get the ball rolling was all squared away just in time before the office closed for the day and prior to their possibly closing their doors for, at the least, a couple of weeks.

When have you come to know ahead of time about a possible delay in a procedure you preferred to have taken place sooner rather than later and you were able to get what needed to be done all squared away just in time prior to its potential postponement?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Don’t Worry About It!

Don’t Worry About It! Although something may appear concerning, the likelihood of something terrible happening may be slim to none.

Don’t Worry About It!

I decided today is the day, the day to finally celebrate my birthday. As I gathered my family to head out for the evening, a couple of concerns wrenched my mind, true to my natural worrywart tendencies, however, a diagram I came across in the morning of a big circle representing “things I worry about” and a small circle inside the big circle referring to “things that can happen“ and an even smaller circle inside of that circle, the size of a dot, indicating ”things that ‘DO’ happen” quickly halted my thoughts and I instead told myself, “Don’t Worry About It!”

As I went to a neighbor’s home to let one of my children, who was outside playing basketball with their friend, know they had five minutes left to play, I noticed on the hood of the neighbor’s car that was backed into their open garage just off to the side of the basketball stand, an iPad screening something in the background. Although it did appear that the kids were aware and mindful of it as they were playing, I was immediately concerned that a missed layup, free throw or any shot would, per karma, knock it over. 

I contemplated, would it really happen? What was the likelihood or probability that the iPad on the car would be bumped off by the basketball. It was a tender mercy in that moment that as the image of the diagram flashed in my mind as well as I also felt impressed to not overparent, rather than feed my anxiety and worries, I managed a deep breath, sigh, and walked away not giving my concern a second thought. Fortunately, the possible scenario did not play out! 

And then, in considering between three options of top picks on where to go eat for my birthday dinner—a restaurant with unlimited fries, an establishment with unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, or a steakhouse with unlimited, just out of the oven, warm rolls with a side of honey butter spread, my #1 choice was the honey butter rolls, but the location was the furthest away and it would mean driving in what is most often heavily congested traffic, which I dread as those conditions increase my anxiety as a passenger. 

Again, it was a tender mercy the image of the diagram entered my mind. I took a risk without knowing the condition of the highway and made a reservation to the place with the warm rolls, and as the driver, off we went. It was a tender mercy that despite the risk, I went for it without giving into my fear or concern and pleasingly, the traffic was light.

When has a quote, image, phrase, diagram or the like changed a concerned thought you had about something to being able to tell yourself, “don’t worry about it” and truly not worry about it?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Why Am I Struggling So?

While writing up a blog entry, I couldn’t figure out why my post was not coming together and it was troubling me…until I stepped away to take a much needed break. In part, it made sense since writing is not my forte, however, it is something I do on a regular basis and many days I do fine, but today was extremely challenging and a struggle for me.

It was a tender mercy that immediately as I set it aside and moved away from it, one of my children came to me with the exact same question I was stewing over, “Why Am I Struggling So?” only from the flip side. I was intrigued and delighted. 

For them, it was with basketball. On this particular day, they were very pleased with their basketball accomplishments, yet, they brought up how interesting it is that on some days they do well and on other days they don’t do so well. I was curious…what makes the difference? Such as, a bad hair day versus a good hair day, a bad writing day versus a good writing day, a bad workout day versus a good workout day and on and on… 

Per our conversation, these various thoughts came to mind. 

1.  What I was writing was a significant post that had potential to bless the lives of many, and as such, the adversary was working full force to prevent and thwart my efforts from it getting posted. 

2. Einstein had many a bad days, but he didn’t give up and kept going and great things came from his perseverance. 

3. How often do we tackle a project like a renovation and think it’ll be easy, but once we get into it, we find issues—rusted out pipes, mold, termites… etc. Although the repairs and fixing it up is tedious and frustrating, the effort extended results in an amazing finished product. 

4. Perhaps, it opens the door for other good things to happen redirecting and focusing our energy, for the time-being, elsewhere. For instance, in basketball, rather than practicing 3 point shots that, for whatever reason, are not sinking like usual, improving upon lay ups instead. With writing, maybe setting it aside and engage in a completely different activity and area of interest for an essential breather to clear one’s mind. Or, with bad hair days, trying a different hairstyle that may result in discovering an amazing new style that only came to be because of a bad hair day. 

5.  In addition, another family member shared a reminder that there is opposition in all things. 

As I reflected on each of these points, I had an enlightened perspective when I returned later to my writing. Even though it took longer than most to write up the specific blog post, I did not give up and eventually it came together. 

In a nutshell, my takeaway was that things of great importance and worthwhile may require more painstaking effort and to not give up when something isn’t working out in the moment(s); and, that struggles and “bumps in the road” do not necessarily mean stop doing what valuable thing you are doing, particularly, when it doesn’t feel right to do so, and “throw in the towel”, but rather step away to do something else for a time and then come back and try again.  

When have you been at a point of contemplating giving up on something beneficial you were working really hard on that wasn’t coming together and a conversation with another, right at that time, inspired you to keep going and pressing forward? 

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.* 

Walked In At The Right Time

While at a Krispy Kreme store one evening waiting for my children to get free donuts for each “A” they had received on their recent report cards, I noticed a bunch of people gathered together in a group off to the side of the registers and figured they were observing a demonstration on how the donuts were made. 

As my children also looked over in the direction where the people were standing, one of my kids spotted someone they recognized among the crowd and asked me if I knew them. Upon my scanning who all was there, sure enough, I identified a friend of mine who when she saw me, came over to say hi and I learned that what brought her into the donut shop with her family was a sign outside the store that when lit up means hot fresh donuts are being handed out. I had no idea. It was the first I had heard this additional way Krispy Kreme gives out free original glazed donuts. 

Not only did each of my children receive donuts for their grades, but also by being in the store at the right time, they were given another hot fresh donut for free and I was given one too. It was a tender mercy that my friend was present and shared with me the reason so many people were in the store at that time when I had previously been unaware and was oblivious prior to her coming up to me.

When have you walked into a local business at the right moment and learned about a freebie item they were giving out specifically on that day or during that certain timeframe that you had not known about prior to your arrival? 

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.*

Another Side Of The Story

As one of several speakers during a congregational meeting, I did not anticipate my message would extend right up to the close of the hour and be the concluding talk leaving no time for the final speaker. I walked away embarrassed and in dismay. After some time had passed, even though I didn’t know what or how I could have changed anything, I recovered and accepted what had happened and focused on what I had gained from the experience.  

A week later it was a tender mercy when I learned from a member of our congregation their story leading up to that meeting. With information from this individual and others that had been in attendance, the reason for how it went the way it did came together and made sense. I could see clearly that all worked out the way it was supposed to work out. Their was no coincidence. What was an awkward and uncomfortable moment for me I recognized was part of something bigger. As the member shared their experience with me, it provided a clarity I had not fully seen or comprehended and I felt an increased comfort that my talk was intended to go the way that it did.  

When have you experienced a time when the outcome of something you were participating in didn’t go so well and when you later learned from one or more attending the event their personal story, everything made sense and fell into place why things happened the way they did? 

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.*