Marie's Sunday Message - December 18th, 2022

We are one week away from Christmas. When did that happen? I’m sure you’re busy with last-minute Christmas errands, parties, and gifts left to buy. For me, the week before Christmas usually is as organized as a middle school food fight!!😂 I would find lists on stickies everywhere. And the thoughts of sugarplums are not just running through my head, but running like a buffalo stampede! All the typical “mom” thoughts like…

• Did I remember everyone’s gifts? 

• Do I have enough tape? (I never have tape) 

• Who is in charge of dinner reservations? (we will be at Disney this year)

• Locating a church and most of all…

• How will we find everyone’s shoes???

I don’t know about you, but honestly, the holidays seem to turn into a survival movie and we are the ones trying to get on that last boat out! I used to be so good at this, but… well, I’m tired!!😂 Anyone on my team?😉 These days, when decorations fall off the tree, they just lay there. Actually, half the ornaments are still on the table next to the tree! Choosing to do the holidays with one eye shut has given me a different perspective…. And definitely less stress because I’ve come to realize…

It’s ok…😂

Remember last week's message when I committed to writing down the times I felt the Spirit? Well, now I’m going to add to it. I’m also writing down when I felt overwhelmed and I remembered (thank goodness) that life is NOT meant to be easy. Somewhere, we came to believe we should be strong enough to handle or fix things ourselves. We can feel a need to be perfect before we come to Him for help. This frame of mind is so not correct nor productive. I know that because I have had to learn this the hard way! Now, I know that He is here for ALL of it…He signed up for bumps and bruises and, yes, even all the way to stitches…😂😂😂

Photo Credit: Dan Savoie

Right now, I’m still on tour. It’s so busy, and of course, I’m having a wonderful time!!☺️ But with so many moving targets on this tour, I’m sure you can understand the margin of error is pretty thin to nil. Each day as we move on to a new city, we want to get it right. To do this, I try to remove all distractions (well, except my silly TikTok videos😂), so I rarely take calls that aren’t from my family. But Thursday night, I got one of those “you up?” messages from a friend. With the holidays roaring along, she said she made a pretty big mistake in her business and needed someone to remind her that stuff happens. When I couldn’t console her, she stopped and said, “Wait, only the Savior can lift this awful feeling from me… I’ll call you back; I need to pray.” Later she texted back and said she was finally feeling the Christ-like peace she was looking for. She made a mistake that caused others a lot of worry and difficulties which was the worst feeling ever. But, after that immediate prayer, she found out her clients had found a solution and sent her the nicest text. She said it felt like pure grace. They said, “We know who you are, and we’ve got your back….it’s Christmas, and things happen; just breathe.”  That statement from people who could have chosen to be angry made my friend’s Christmas!  Thus, my topic today!  

Being the recipient of forgiveness is the greatest feeling of relief there is! And I believe the Lord loves to forgive us because he knows how wonderful it feels. My friend knew the burden that was lifted came directly from the Savior. He’s the only one who can touch so many hearts at the same time. His peace is unlike any other because It covers everything! All we have to do is ask. And then, just like that, He gives it to those who choose to believe, love, and remember Him! That is the miracle of forgiveness. 

He was sent here to do this for us. Our Father doesn’t want us to suffer, but He knew we would sometimes make colossal mistakes. We are human, and humans are prone to messing things up!🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️. It’s sometimes what we do best.😳😂 That’s why our Father provided the Savior. He was sent here to help us daily get back on track. So basically, the Father is saying, 

“Whatever you need…please just ask.”

How do I know this? Because He has done it for me throughout my life! I am so grateful I have given my heart and, yes, my sorrow and pain to Jesus Christ. He knows how to bring healing and how to provide those needed miracles when we just can’t do it anymore. Only He knows how because He chose to descend below ALL things for us. He knows how to heal us, and He chooses to do it because He loves His Father that much. We are His Fathers’ greatest joy, so the Savior does everything He can to help us. I may break His heart as I struggle from time to time, but I know He will never break mine!  

As I finish up my study of the Old Testament this week, there is a consistent message from our God throughout it… He says that it doesn’t matter what you’ve done, how you may have messed up, or even how far you’ve gotten off the path, Father in Heaven’s continual invitation is… Come back … I’m here…I love you!!! 

I love this quote: 

“The Savior loves to restore what you cannot restore; He loves to heal wounds you cannot heal; He loves to fix what has been irreparably broken; He compensates for any unfairness inflicted on you; and He loves to permanently mend even shattered hearts.”

- Dale G. Renlund

The gift I want to give the Savior this season is simple, to have more faith. The faith to lean on him,

And let Him fix things, especially those we cannot fix. I am going to strive harder to remember Him in everything I do and let Him do what Heavenly Father sent Him here to do for ALL of us—take my burdens so that I can feel the peace that only He can give. 

And what a gift that He gives! 

#Sundaymessage

Marie's Sunday Message - December 4th, 2022

Have you ever visited a children’s hospital? If not, I hope you do. I am so grateful for them when our precious little angels need help! Over the 40 years that I’ve been involved with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, I’ve learned many lessons from those precious children served there. The most amazing thing I’ve learned is that it doesn’t matter what the child is going through, they all stay positive and exude love and concern for the others around them! Whether it’s for the other patients or their own family members who are worried, they are just amazing kids!!! It’s humbling, to say the least, and they inspire me to strive to be more positive, kind, and loving to those around me.

When I visit these incredible places, I am overwhelmed by the love that I feel for everyone there. That includes ALL the hospital workers! I have witnessed miracles at the hands of these caring doctors, nurses, and staff—I’ve witnessed these miracles as my kids, at one time or another, were in a children's hospital. Two of my children’s lives were saved there; One at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, and another at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Two of my precious granddaughter's lives were saved at Children’s Hospital Orange County in California. All I can say is I’m so grateful for the people who are there 24-7, ready to serve a child when they are in need.

I’ve been asked before how the idea of Children’s Miracle Network began. Well, it was at an award show with John Schneider…I’m sure you’ve heard the story before. But, for me, it began years before that night with my niece, Jennifer; my brother Tom’s daughter. She was born without a skull and only lived a few hours. When she was born, my mom called me (my brother Tom is deaf) and said, “Tom needs you to come to the hospital right now. He said to tell you that he needs his sister.” I remember telling her, “Mom I don’t know if I can do it—I don’t think my heart can take it.” She encouraged me saying, “Marie, we are promised in scripture that our weaknesses can become our strengths. So, sweetheart, please pray for strength because your brother really needs you right now!” As I hung up the phone I had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to be there and it wasn’t so much for my brother but for this little girl. I felt so strongly through my body that I needed to hold my niece. 

The experience in that hospital room was so profound, I can barely even describe it except to say that there were angels in that room. When I arrived at the hospital room, my brother placed her broken little body into my arms. As I held her, I knew that her life was quickly slipping away. Then suddenly, her little hand moved towards mine and she put her tiny little fingers around my finger and squeezed it tight. It was as if she was saying to me, “Thank you for coming, Auntie. I’m just here to gain a body for my spirit and then I will move on to the next existence. I knew you’d be here for me, and I love you!” I felt that I knew this sweet little baby girl from before this life and a tremendous love poured through my heart and soul. That feeling changed my heart forever! Jennifer, this precious little soul who drifted in and out of our lives so quickly, changed everything for me. It was because of her that I saw the need for families to have places to go when their children need help.

I have since been able to spend countless hours at Children’s hospitals. As I said, I have never met a child in these hospitals that didn’t have the most beautiful attitude despite whatever challenges they were going through. They are unique teachers and leaders; showing us how to be brave and strong through their examples.

In Matthew 18: 1-5 the Savior called a little child to him and placed the child among them. He said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

I have had to learn what He means in this section. 

Let me introduce you to one of those amazing kids I have met. I can’t tell you how much I love her!!!! She is my hero, and I could not love her more!!!!!!!! I continually think if she can overcome her challenges, then, for goodness sake, so can I!

This is RE! She is one of our Miracle Children. I met her at a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital event and she is one of the reasons I spend so much time helping these kids and their families have a children’s hospital in their local area. As you can see, RE was born without arms. But she doesn’t let that discourage her. She has overcome tremendous challenges in her life and achieved many amazing things!

I was deeply touched when RE described learning to ride a bike as feeling like eating a “piece of candy.” That’s how much it meant to her. Activities that most of us take for granted are as sweet as candy to those who have incredible obstacles in their way. When she decides to tackle a new challenge, she says, “The effort alone just makes me stronger”. Well, she is so right! And, isn’t that how this earth life works?! We all have weaknesses. Some are more difficult than others. But I know RE’s example is the pattern the Lord wants us to follow. He wants us to be STRONG and make our weaknesses our strengths!

I believe God knows what he’s doing, and the Lord is preparing a new generation to be ready and strong enough to take on whatever challenges they will face. I’m not the least bit worried about these brilliant children being born into this chaotic world because they were born to be STRONG! 

Because of these beautiful children I’ve come to know over the years, I want to work harder, stay positive🥰, and be STRONG! 

As we celebrate the Savior’s birth this month, let’s strive to emulate his example of how to comfort, help, love, and heal those around us. Keep the faith by having a positive attitude in our hearts…even through our greatest trials. God knows that the storms WILL eventually pass and they will make us stronger!!!!

 Enjoy this first week of December….

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!

xoxo #Sundaymessage #strong #childrensmiraclenetwork #cmn #marieosmond 

Marie’s Sunday Message - November 27th, 2022

We had our first show of the Christmas tour yesterday and, yes, it’s always a bit overwhelming. People ask if I ever get nervous before a show. Yes! There were so many new elements of this show that my hands were shaking before I went on. After all, I want to do a great job for you. In the end, you prepare the best you can but you have to just go for it. We got through it and it was all so much fun!!

How often do we pray for things to go right, but then chaos ensues? We pray for protection, but the car still breaks down. We pray for peace only to have the baby get sick and cry even longer. We pray for knowledge only to get a request to help teach a class or give a presentation. None of these ironic little twists mean that God isn’t listening, it just means He is the greatest listener and teacher and wants you to experience the “dirt on the path”. The fact is, if you pray for patience, God will put you in the middle of traffic.😂🤣😂 He will give you an opportunity to learn to have patience.

A friend of mine shared this concept with me. “God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things” (Harry Emerson Fosdick). Instead of asking for answers and then expecting them to show up at the door, our Father, like a perfect parent, wants us to experience the joy of learning…to feel the “dirt on the path”. But to feel the dirt we have to start walking.

I have learned to just start walking and God will walk with you. When we do, we grow and so does our confidence. Even if we fail, we still tried. My mother always taught us, especially through her example, that “the only failures are those who fail to try.”

Another good quote I love? Nike—“just do it”. 😂😂

This idea has tremendous appeal. What can I do right here? Right now? Lift where you stand! Movement brings motivation. And yes, especially as we get older, it may hurt a little bit. Are you getting older? Well. just keep moving. That’s what I have to do now that I’m not feeling as young as I used to. Anybody there with me? Haha

Don’t wring your hands, start ringing the bells of praise to our God whose love is so enormously infinite that He allows us to strive, struggle, learn, and grow! Why? So we can learn to be like Him. We may not get what we want all the time, but God knows what we really need. In the end, we will become better by “walking on the dirt”!

Marie's Sunday Message - November 20th, 2022

What are you grateful for? Since I’m counting down the days to Thanksgiving and posting what I’m thankful for, I think about this a lot! I believe being grateful keeps sadness and depression away to a degree. If nothing else, it’s a great subject to fill your mind with instead of all the things we might worry about. 😂

Over the last few weeks, posting every day what I’m grateful for it’s made me ponder upon all the times the Lord has sent someone with just the right skills to help me. I know He is in the details of our lives, but when I see it with my own eyes, I actually “Stand all amazed” at what the Lord has done.

Sometimes my gratitude comes when I get an answer to a prayer for comfort. It could also be as simple as a hug or the prayers friends offer for my family. I know not every prayer is answered right away, and I’m grateful for that, also. Maybe we aren’t ready for the answer because there just isn’t a place in our hearts yet, and it is up to us to trust Him that the answer will come. But this I do know, Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives, and I am so grateful for that.

I felt gratitude recently when I received an answer for something that I had questioned for years. You know the phrase people say, “Everything happens for a reason.”

Well, that never quite made sense to me. I know Heavenly Father doesn’t give us challenges or trials…earth life does that. But to say everything happens for a reason just never felt right to me. So when a friend sent this video, I finally had an answer.

This incredible woman in the video reminded me of my Grandmother Osmond. She had red hair too, and had to be incredibly strong raising her little boys on her own when her husband, my grandfather, died as a very young man. The video is about a soldier in the Army who went to Afghanistan. When he was killed, he left behind a beautiful wife and seven young children. When someone said to the young widow, “Everything happens for a reason,” she recoiled. She said there were plenty of brilliant people, including past prophets, scientists, inventors, and all kinds of people who had passed to the other side. She felt she could make a very convincing case that her husband was just as needed with her and their children as Heaven was. Then, she said the thought came…. ”Instead of “Everything happens for a reason,” how about God can help us find a reason for everything that happens.” This hit me so profoundly because this is what our Savior, Jesus Christ, is for. To help us find a reason to keep going when bad things happen to us, whether through other people’s agency in their choices or our own choices. He is waiting, full of love to help lift and heal our broken hearts and help us move forward. I’ve been counting down the days to Thanksgiving, but I’m grateful for this clarity today. I am grateful for our Savior’s atonement. I know I would never have made it through this life so far without Him and His infinite atonement. My prayers are with all who struggle and suffer. Remember, He is the way, He is our light in this world, and He will help us find the reasons to keep moving forward. All we need to do is ask.

#Sundaymessage

Marie's Sunday Message - November 13th, 2022

I enjoy watching the little miracles that happen each week between my #SundayMessages. This week, well, it was especially fun!

Like everyone else, the time leading up to Thanksgiving always gets extremely busy. For me, while I’m finishing up my regular shows, I start preparations and changes for my Christmas shows. There are also the commitments with other projects and scheduling to coordinate for the year ahead. And in the midst of work, I’m like every other mother and grandmother trying to make sure the holidays are filled with fun for our children. For me, our sweet babies need these joyous memories to lean on through the tough adult stuff.😂 I probably feel strongly about this because I didn’t have much of a childhood, since I started working at such a young age. However, I know my parents did everything to help us have as normal a childhood as possible filled with happy memories.

They went to great effort to take us back to our home in Huntsville, Utah, whenever we had a break from the studios in LA.  My mom even enrolled me in the 2nd grade for a couple of months in Huntsville so I could see what it was like to be a normal kid in school. 🥰 During that time I made some great friends and we always played whenever we came back to our home there. My bestie in second grade was Linda Montgomery. She was so kind and helped me transition into the school world I knew nothing about. She is the kind of person you may not talk to for 10 or 15 years and then, boom, when you do see each other again it’s like you were never apart!

Linda is my sweet friend I circled in the middle row!!

So when I received a call from her the first part of last week asking if she and her sister Julie (who became my other Bestie 🥰) could stop by since they would be in my neck of the woods, I knew I would move heaven and earth to see them; after all, it has been over 15 years. But wait, the story gets even better!

That was on Monday, so Wednesday, my husband and I were cleaning out one of our storage units. He reached into a large box that was filled with hundreds of random photos and pulled out this little one. That’s the only school photo taken of me from second grade in Huntsville!

Seriously isn’t that crazy?! And here I was going to see my second-grade besties the next day! Sooooo fun!!!! This wonderful family, without them even realizing it, gave me a sample of a “normal” childhood. It’s where I learned to catch and gut a fish, hunt, row a boat, shoot a BB gun, garden, cook, drive a tractor, collect frogs, have a pet duck and chicken, and shoot a bow and arrow to name a few (I know, just call me Woodsy Mama). 😂Linda and Julie and their family were also good friends with all my brothers; we were one big happy family! ❤️❤️❤️

Their mom was Donny’s and my first piano teacher and the maker of the best homemade jam ever! She remembered how much I loved it and had Linda and Julie bring some fresh strawberry and raspberry jam to me.💖💖💖 Those are such happy memories from my childhood!!! Mrs. Montgomery, now 91, was a great friend of my mother’s, and every time we would return from a faraway place where we had been touring, she would have fresh dough waiting on our front porch with a bottle or two of her jam so my mom could make fresh scones for breakfast!!! I love her so much for these memories. She reminds me of my mother…loving and kind with family always being first; we spoke about it all when I was with them.❤️ When we first sat down to dinner Thursday, Linda reminded me of a funny story. I put her on the spot one day in our rowboat with Donny and me when I said, “Linda do you want Donny to kiss you so you can say you’ve kissed Donny Osmond?” Her eyes got so big😂 I said, “Donny kiss her!” So he leaned over and gave Linda a kiss. She laughed as she reminded me about this and said she’s been famous ever since because he was her first kiss! 😂 Dinner with them was such a great treat especially since it happened so right before flying out to do the rehearsal for my Christmas tour and the last regular concert for the year. The nostalgic feelings I had reconnecting with them was the perfect familial backdrop to start the holidays with.

I thank my mother and father for all the effort they put into creating magical holidays for us kids. My mom loved always trying to make wherever we were, “home”. No one has a perfect childhood, we can dwell on that, or, on those moments in our past that did give us such joy. And then we wait, always with hope, for the new memories that are right ahead. I pray we never take the innocence and simple joys from our children too soon. I also pray we can create a safe place for them, a place they know they’re loved….because I know love can get us through anything no matter how challenging the road!!!  

It’s not easy to be away from my family during the holidays but being with Linda and Julie reminded me of all the reasons I even do a holiday tour. It’s a time to remember old friends and the hope of making new ones…I have friends like Julie and Linda I don’t see for decades and then when I see them, it feels like we’ve never been apart. I think it will be like this when the Savior returns, we will feel like no time has passed, and after we catch up we will be so happy to be “back home.”

These are my classmates from 1967.

Back row: Susan Doxey, Jamie Peterson, Jerilyn Clark, Penny Thompson, Doug Allen, Jerry Storey, Thom Summers. Front row: Linda Montgomery, Pam Thompson, Rowdy Muir.

PS Jerry in the photo was my first crush😂

#gratitude

#remembertheSavior

Marie's Sunday Message - November 6th, 2022

Today is day six of our #24daysofthankful leading up to thanksgiving and today’s has to be family! I love my family and my friends are part of that family—these communities we create in our lives become family.

Having friends, it turns out, is the best thing we can do for ourselves. Simply said, we live longer when we have close friends. Did you hear that Darla (she's my bestie🥰) was with me last night when I went to see my longest best friend, my big brother Donny. 🥰 We went to his show in Vegas last night. D and I talked till the wee hours of the morning; it was so much fun. We were laughing and reminiscing about our unique childhood together. We played together, worked together, studied together, and figured out life together. We grew up being each other's protectors and confidants. We’ve lived a lot of life together, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I told him that at our niece Sophia’s wedding, there was a quote about marriage that I absolutely love by Thomas S. Monson. It is, “Choose the one you love and then love the one you choose.” I think that statement is applicable to everyone in our lives. We choose who we love, we choose our friends, and even though we can’t choose our family members, 🤣 we can definitely choose to love them. I sure love mine! It reminded me of an old saying my Dad taught me as a little girl. He’d say, “If you can get along with your family, you can get along with anyone!” That’s profound! Now, as an adult and a mother, I believe this more than ever! The point is that WE choose who we surround ourselves with, who we love, who we give our loyalty to, and who we trust.

I’ve been rereading and studying the Old Testament this year. One of the best examples of a close and loyal friendship is that of David and Jonathan. They were great friends but Jonathan’s father, King Saul, became so consumed with jealousy and hatred towards David that he ordered David’s life to be taken. Jonathan became aware of his father Saul's plan and how he became filled with pride and jealousy and was consumed with hatred towards David. Jonathan chose to do the right thing no matter what the consequence, and he protected his friend David. To me, this story is the epitome of courage and true friendship. Not only did Jonathan stand up for what was right by supporting David, but he stood up to his father, the king himself. We rarely see that kind of loyalty in life. But I do know that if you want to have a great friend, you must BE a great friend. David and Jonathan were!

Speaking of great friends, it was so fun to be at the show last night and see those of you who could attend. Friends…oh, some may say fans…but for me you are my friends! I have known so many of you for so long; you are cherished by me, and I’ve missed seeing you! It’s so important that we make time to connect because, over the past two years, we have been so isolated, and that’s not healthy! We are social creatures that need people! Interaction! Hugs!! It’s one of the reasons I’m doing my Christmas tour—so I can come to you instead of you coming to Vegas. This way, you can bring your friends and family and hopefully connect and create more happy memories.

I don’t know what I got for Christmas five years ago. Do you? What I do remember are the wonderful times I spent with family and friends. When we go out to dinner or see a show together, we create lasting memories simply by spending time together and putting aside electronics to talk and reconnect.

Over the last little while, we have become so fearful of merely gathering around each other. It’s so sad to read the statistics about people who have suffered from isolation. They’re depressed, alone, and have lost hope. Many aren’t even going to church anymore or to any social events. This train of thought and action only brings upon us the deepest and worst kinds of depression. I believe that “Family” is now needed more than ever! The adversary, or as I call him “scratch” (because he’s an irritant like a rash😂) is trying desperately to destroy any and all family relations he possibly can. By taking away these safety nets around us, it removes the safety net of hope. Our Savior Jesus Christ is all about love, hope, friendship, forgiveness, understanding, and compassion. He’s full of light and that light inspires us to strive for all things that uplift, to be like Him, and to serve and love others.

As part of my #24daysofthankful, today, my gratitude is for family. It’s everything!!! We are God’s children. We are His family, and we need to rekindle love, hope, respect, and kindness toward one another. I also believe, along with these ideals, we need temperance and boundaries for those people in our lives who try to intentionally hurt us or those who create contention. We need to let go and let God in. Let go of our anger and hurt and let God direct us back home to Him. Let Him help us see truth and how we need to change. We need to be humble enough to see and understand His will for us in all things .

I love this life. Yes, it’s been very challenging. But it’s difficult for all of us! Through it all, I have loved the lessons my challenges have taught me. I love the things I’ve learned about myself which help me strive to become a better person. I love all of you and everyone I saw last night. I’m so looking forward to seeing many more of you on the road during the coming weeks over the holiday. Let’s choose to get together and create some magical holiday memories filled with hope and “love and laughter along the way…and may God keep us in His tender care ‘till He brings us together again”… Sounds like lyrics to a song?😉😂🤣❤️❤️❤️!!!

Remember this today, you are all my family. You are stuck with me. I love you and this community we have all created. Have a blessed day. 🥰

#HappySunday🥰❌⭕️

#SundayMessage