October 21, 2016
I did it!!!!
I completed the challenge that was given to us at the beginning of the year to maintain a schedule of reading the Book of Mormon in order to finish this month!!
I have been able to read this book before. In various kinds of ways. Yet honestly, this is the first time I've really stuck to a specific goal and made it on time! It feels so nice to accomplish something in this way. I think the key was not worrying so much about strict quotas for each day, and just doing what I could each day and making up the difference on others.
And I have to share-- I feel so strongly this book is TRUE!!
There is truly a power in this book. It WILL bring you closer to Christ. :)
March 21, 2016
Almost a year has passed. That cross stitch should be done. It's not. Maybe this conference. :)
I've been a hypocrite.
Plain and simple-- yet not so simple.
I want to be good. I try to be good. I know how to do good. I just wasn't always honest with myself and others.
But I am now. And I have been for a while. And it's awesome! To actually be and do ALL what you profess to be and do. Not that I was doing terrible things on the side-- I just wasn't totally honest. I tried to hide what I struggled with or needed to change.
For example, in high school I would fudge on my seminary reading log. I read the scriptures somewhat, but not what I was supposed to.
When President Hinckley issued the Book of Mormon challenge, I read in The Book of Mormon-- but I didn't finish it. I didn't say I had read the whole thing, but I was too embarrassed to admit I hadn't.
It's the half-truths that I lived with. And those are just the same as lies.
It's okay to be honest. Sure it's vulnerable and sometimes embarrassing-- yet it is much better than the gnawing feeling that you're not being totally truthful. A clean conscience is the best!
"I believe in being honest. I believe in being true....in all I say in all I do." :)
April 21, 2015
This picture is of a cross-stitch I started over 15 years ago. It is for my aunt who was my 2nd mom while I lived with her in Texas for a little over a year. I can not seem to ever get it done. The main times that I work on it are during two days every 6 months while I watch the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I always learn so much and am so uplifted while watching and listening to the inspired messages from living servants of God. I am so thankful that there is a real prophet of God on the earth today--his name is Thomas S. Monson. I know he represents the Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the head of the church which bears His name. This Conference we just had at the beginning of April was especially wonderful for me. So many answers to questions I had came through, as well as encouragement to keep pressing forward with faith. Enduring to the end is a real endeavor. We are to do and be our best until we are finished with this test on earth. The cross-stitch I have been working in some ways represents that endurance. Stitch by stitch I am working to complete the life I have been sent here to live. Some days it is hard to continue because it seems like I will never make it. But the end result is worth it, and I will feel good about the gift I will finally be able to give. Instead of a cross-stitch, it will be a life well-lived. <3
February 23, 2015
140 Origami Hearts
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members contribute their time and efforts in various responsibilities without expectation of monetary compensation. Some responsibilities are more involved than others, yet all are needed and important! At this time in my life, I have been asked to take on the responsibility of the Primary President-- one who oversees and facilitates the gospel teaching and learning that occurs for young children ages 18 months through 11 years. I've just begun my 3rd year in this responsibility/calling, and I am so grateful to have this opportunity! It has been quite the learning curve with many mistakes, yet I know I have grown so much in so many ways. I continue to learn so much and one of the greatest things I've come to increase in is my love for these children and their families!
I don't always know how to express my feelings in meaningful ways, but this February I was wanting to do SOMETHING for the children. Most kids love treats, so in my mind I wanted to make something yummy. Strawberry mini-muffins sounded fun and good, and they wouldn't be too sweet in contrast to all the Valentine candy the kids would probably have already consumed. But when I realized how much I would actually need to make for all 140 children or so, I felt a little overwhelmed. Baked goods in great quantities is probably not a stress for many, but apparently it is for me. Plus, I was trying to be economical and not have to purchase more ingredients than what I already had.
It really does not make much sense at all, but I thought about all the paper I have in my craft room. There is plenty. So I looked up how to make origami hearts. There were probably more simple ones I could have chosen, but I particularly liked one called a "Blossom Heart". I typed up a message to go with the origami heart when I took it to the children, and then started folding. I was about 15-20 origami hearts along when I realized just how much time it was going to take me to complete this project. I timed myself on one of the hearts, and it came to about 5 minutes of folding. YIKES! 140 times 5 equals...... way more time than I intended to spend. But I had already started, and already felt committed to completing this task. I wanted to do something SO much. So I continued.
Eventually I made it. It was quite providential that my toddler ended up being sick and there was a lot of sitting around and not going places because of it. That allowed for continuous folding for a few days. I prepared the notes and hearts, and then took a few days delivering them. (I can't get around as quickly or easily when I'm almost 9 months pregnant.) :) I don't share all this to come across as some amazing person. On the contrary, it actually is mostly foolish to me. Yet the desire and feeling behind it is what really matters. As silly as it turned out, it was just one way to show I care and love for these amazing children of our Heavenly Father!
January 21, 2015
“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives.” Ezra Taft Benson
This has been such an incredible guideline in my life lately. And it is so true. Everything has fallen into place as I've put God first more in my life. I know God lives and loves us, and I am so strengthened each day by doing the simple things....praying, reading and pondering the scriptures, striving to do what is right and make good decisions (being guided by the Holy Ghost.) I intend to continue on this improved path of discipleship, and I know that the following quote is also being fulfilled in my life:
"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends,
January 2, 2015
For the month of December, I challenged myself and others to read/listen to/watch the messages that were given at the October 2014 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have definitely been strengthened and blessed for doing so, as well as have come closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father in the process. I am so grateful for living prophets and apostles and servants of the Lord who help guide us on our path back to our heavenly home! We are not left alone or have to muddle through without help-- we can have the guidance of heaven and the strength to carry on through any difficulty!
"I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus"
I actually feel pretty good about this category right now, yet I know there is always more I can improve and do better with. Like how I've noticed that I still struggle with not judging people and the way they live and stuff like that. I feel like I accept everyone as children of God, yet I still can improve how I feel about them and the choices they make. I can only focus on myself and do my best to be who I should.
My daily scripture reading has been going quite well. I usually read/watch a children's version of the Book of Mormon stories with my two-year-old in the morning. I started out with the Old Testament in January, but then I got side-tracked by a book called "Jesus the Christ." While it is not considered a part of the standard works, I am grateful for the insights I am able to have about the New Testament and about the time and life of the Savior, Jesus Christ, on the earth.
The words and lessons expressed by Jesus have been opened up to me and helped me understand further what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. I know He established the Gospel and His church while on the earth. I know that through the closed hearts of men, that Gospel and the proper authority to act in the Savior's name was taken away from the earth for a time. I know that this same, true Gospel was restored to the earth within the last couple centuries through the prophet, Joseph Smith. It's such a comfort that we have a living prophet today-- Thomas S. Monson. I am so thankful to have a personal testimony of the reality of a loving Heavenly Father, His Only Begotten Son who came to redeem all mankind, and that there is one true church through which we can obtain all that is necessary to return to live with them and our families again-- forever. And this personal testimony has come through many experiences, and the witness of the Holy Ghost-- which can be felt by anyone seeking the truth.
No comments:
Post a Comment