The Reading Mother

Welcome! I'm Liz Livingston. As a mother of 7 (8, counting my daughter in-law) I have learned that it is the small and simple things that help me have peace and joy and help my husband and me in raising our amazing children. I believe EVERY person on earth has unlimited potential. Often it's the smallest decisions and actions that help us grow toward that potential, like kind, gentle words, a wholesome, simple meal, or a funny book read aloud together. Whatever you nurture grows! What will you do to nurture your or someone else's potential today?

Mental illness is a challenge we face, but it doesn't define who we are. It defnitiely doesn't have to prevent us from fulfilling our purpose in life. Read my story in the "Dear Daisy" letters. Click on the image.

Our journey to being active together has been slow and challenging, but we are learning that it is lots of fun and makes great memories. Exercising is more fun when done together! Click on the image to learn more about our journey to better health.

“I invite you to prayerfully consider what kind of sacrifice you can make…to do more family history and temple work this year.” (President Russell M. Nelson) Doing family history helps me feel more connected to my ancestors and feel their love for me. I feel more empowered when reading their stories! Family history and indexing can help anyone with addictions or mental health challenges. To learn more about how you can discover your family history for free, click on the image.

Whole foods help me feel better. This salad ROCKED. The photo doesn't do this salad justice. It was SO GOOD! To see the recipe and other things we've been cooking up lately, click on the photo.

Creating something useful is really satisfying and a great way to take a mental break from the stresses of life. Sewing everyday fabric napkins is a good project for a beginner AND a good way to replace single-use, throwaway napkins with something reusable. Click here to learn how to make them and other helpful things we've made.

Music really helps me. This album ("This is the Christ" by the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square) is very peaceful, calming music for me. It helps me focus on the Source of my peace and strength and has been a gift particularly in recent weeks as I prepared for my lesson on mental health. Click on the image to see other music I love/recommend.

Re-focusing my thoughts on Christ helps when I recognize my thoughts turning negative. Memorizing this document was a source of peace and power for me. Want to memorize "The Living Christ" document? Click on the image above to go to some audio recordings I have made to help.

You may have tangible wealth untold;/Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold./Richer than I you can never be--/I had a Mother who read to me. ❧ Strickland Gillian, "The Reading Mother" Click on the photo to go to the entire poem "The Reading Mother."

Need an idea for a board book for a baby shower, birthday, or Christmas gift? Here's a list of some of our favorite books.

I am passionate about children's literature! To learn more about this and other books I recommend, click on the book!

This month I'm reading Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Marc Twain. I started it in June, and it's been slow going because I have just snippets of time for reading, and I want to read it instead of listening to it! To learn more about books I recommend, click on the book.

I listen to books more than I read these days. This book is very encouraging, particularly if you are interested in non-medical interventions for improving your mental health. Click on the image to go to a link to this and other audio books I recommend.

My Father's Dragon is a fabulously fun read for young parents to read to their children. Click on this book to see lists of books that we have enjoyed reading as a family.

We love good movies that the whole family can watch without wincing. Click on this movie to learn more about this film and others I recommend.

Commonsensemedia.org is one review site I use. Click on the button to visit their website.

Click on the image to listen.

Click on the quote to read more.

Which ideas that you have taught your children are true? Which are false? Ideas are powerful! They can help us change our behavior. They can improve our mental health. Click here to read more powerful ideas from past sidebar postings.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I love poetry! Click on the image to go to poems I love and posts about poetry.

Summer 2018: Sarah's white coat ceremony. (Lane was taking the photo.) I post a yearly family photo here.

Say "Cheese!" Family photos help us remember the good times and bring former happiness back to the present. Click on this photo to view some of my favorite family photos.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15. Need more love in your life? Click on the image to learn more!

The temple is my place of peace away from home. There are temples all around the world and more are being built everyday. Click on the image to see more.

Challenges and accompanying negative emotions are our common lot in life. The Savior understands, and knowing that helps me. Click on the image to read more about how I am learning to deal with negative emotions.

“In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” ❧ Gordon B. Hinckley Family life is so funny! Click on the photo to read some of our family quotes.

Are you learning French? I'm passionate about French! I have links to both religious and non-religious French learning resources. Click on the image above to go to my resource page, which includes a link to my audio recordings of the Book of Mormon in French. Je suis en train d'enregistrer ma lecture du Livre de Mormon cette année. Cliquer sur l'image du livre pour voir la page d'enregistrements. (Sample audio below.)

Learning Finnish? My friend and her children recorded some of the songs from this Children's Songbook for me to help me begin to learn Finnish. Click on the book to go to these sweet recordings (listen to the sample recording below!).