Welcoming Change

 
Focus... Intention... Purpose. To me these words convey power. When I do something with focus and laser-like intent I am better able to follow through. If I lose focus I relinquish results. When it comes to personal improvement and overcoming weakness, sometimes focusing on the desired outcome can feel elusive and discouraging. In my experience, true change (repentance) is best realized by focusing on Jesus Christ. Change - especially personal change is hard to measure. Elder Anderson teaches that repentance is a 'day by day' process. It doesn't happen overnight. I feel like repentance includes every prayer I offer, every moment I spend in the scriptures, every thought of Jesus, and every good deed I do because it helps me to know Him better. As I draw closer to Him I discover weaknesses I still need to work to overcome. That process is always gently guided and graciously delivered to my soul. I love that through prayer, we are guided and inspired on the next steps we are to take in Christlike change. Prayer invites the power to change which is obtained only through our Savior's Atonement. This is essential to our efforts to overcome because we truly need the everyday powers of Christ. Anthony Sweat listed them as an acronym: C-Cleansing power, H-Healing power, R-Restoring power, I-Identifying power, S-Strengthening power, and T-Transforming power. Meaningful, intentional, and consistent prayer invites greater spiritual capacity and the POWER of our Redeemer into our lives. I personally need every aspect of His power to effect lasting change in my life. Elder Andersen says, "We may not always succeed as  quickly as we would want, but as we make repentance a covenant part of our lives, miracles occur!" It is my testimony that not only is Heavenly Father anxious for us to draw near, but that as we humbly do so, the Holy Ghost will guide us in the refining process of change and repentance and miracles will follow.

What Matters Most?

 Talk of the Week: "Remember What Matters Most"

One of the things that Elder Ballard taught in his list of what matters most is family relationships. 

In paragraph seventeen he taught that

 "Nurturing these important relationships is a CHOICE. A choice to be a part of a family requires commitment, love, patience, communication and forgiveness.... We CHOOSE to love and sustain one another. We do the same in other family relationships and with friends who are like family to us."

 I know that love is a choice... especially when choosing an eternal companion, but I don't think I've ever considered that principle from the perspective of a child before.

I think it would be easy for a child to feel like they had no choice in their family, after all, they might say, wasn't it their parent's choice to bring them here? Truly their parents made a choice! God sent them to a family, but the choice is theirs as to how well they belong or not. Like Elder Ballard says, NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS IS A CHOICE. When we struggle in a relationship, particularly a family one, it is important to ask ourselves: "Am I nurturing this relationship? Am I choosing this relationship? How invested am I in loving this person?"

If family relationships are among those things of mortality that matter most - and they are - then they will be among our greatest priorities. We will choose to love our family members no matter what dumb stuff they might do or say. It will take focus, intention and effort. Without those elements the relationship is merely a wish that may never be realized. If we want to be closer to a particular family member we must choose it over and over and over again and then act on it, act on it again, and again and again forever. The minute we doubt a relationship, we weaken or compromise it. 

This is a message that I needed to hear. I desire the power and promise of a united family.

Epic Fails or Success?

 I love to create and one of my greatest successes in the creative area recently was the completion of the marble. It took two thick coats of resin and dried with a glass-like finish. The client LOVED it!!! I tried to do a sunflower T-shirt design with the word faith. It looked great! But I forgot to heat set it before I put it in the dryer, and I smudged the colors terribly – an epic fail! 

I planted a garden this spring that I thoroughly enjoyed watching grow. I had in my mind great big watermelon and cantaloupe fruits to enjoy this fall. I have amazing carrots, and we even got corn. The squash has practically taken over the compost area, but the melons are tiny or nonexistent. Next year we’ll try again...

I brought a friend to church with me pretty consistently, and it felt great to be involved in the process of sharing the gospel. My friend cooled, but I have a good friend….

I lost weight... I gained some back... but I learned I can do it!

I held my tongue... I thought a judgment that influenced my actions...

I have to wonder if a success is a failure, and a failure is a success! 

I have to wonder if on some level a success is a fail, and a failure is a success! My failed sunflower project re-taught me something of value that will lead to success! I’ll try the melons again next year… I’ll keep my friend regardless of religion… I’ll recommit and rededicate to hundreds of things I am trying to improve at. If I could do them perfectly the first time, what would I learn? Without growth, it becomes an epic fail in the long run. The Lord says there is supposed to be opposition in all things. Ultimately, my opposition is shaping and molding me into something better [I hope]! Opposition has been a transforming ingredient in my life that has yielded greater wisdom and love for others. 

Ready... Set...

 Life has a way of moving by quickly! So much has changed over the last month - I have an entirely new schedule, new goals, and new thoughts. I have been trying to think ahead to get everything done that I need to do before I move into the full swing of everything. What is everything?

I have taken two new jobs since June.

I have gone back to school.

I am now babysitting for two of my children regularly.

I love spending time with the kids and interacting with them.

I am excited to learn and open up my mind to new ideas and thoughts.

I am grateful for the work that the Lord has blessed me with.

I am confident that the Lord will bless me to be able to do all that I have committed to do as well as still magnify my calling. For me, I know that putting time aside to do the Lord's work is what enables me to do all the other things in my life without having them stress me out. I feel so blessed, not without struggles, but still very blessed.

Mini Miracles

 Some things happen in our lives that may not seem like a miracle - but miracles don't always have to be unexplainable to be a miracle. This week miracles looked like finding time, organizing, harvesting, canning, teaching the gospel, serving friends, and feeling growth from each little experience.

Miracle 1: I finished the Marble!!! I was commissioned to have a marble painting done for the end of the summer. I was given a specific board to paint it on, and I finished it this week!

Miracle 2: We picked 4 big bowls of apples and juiced 10 quarts of apple juice this week.

Miracle  3: We loved helping Janice unload her moving truck.

Miracle  4: I LOVE getting organized, and the shop project is spurring projects in the house, under the deck and in the garden shed!

Miracle  5: Dad and I worked together studying for the Priesthood and Relief Society lesson he was teaching, and he had a great, discussion in his class.

Miracle  6: Awesome haircuts given by Charity

Don't the little things, the small miracle moments, just make your heart sing? We have been so blessed this week.!