This is a Longish story, but worth sharing.
Once upon a time the Missionaries were over for dinner. We were talking about reading. If you know me well, you know that I do no allow myself to read because I get too involved in books and I forget important things like feeding my kids and sleeping. This was exactly what I was explaining to the Elders. Then one of the said, "imagine if you read the Book of Mormon the same way." I replied, "I could probably do it in a week." And that's how it all started....
HOWEVER, you also know that I am the queen of procrastination. A long, long time went by. We challenged the young women to read the Book of Mormon by the end of 2013. I failed completely, and by failed I mean never even started. Yeah, not proud of that.
Anyways, new year, new start, I've got this. I committed myself to the task. Yes friends, you read the title correctly. I read the Book of Mormon in 11. Honestly, it was a good experience, but I will never ever do it again.
Most of it is a blur to me. I remember a few things here and there. I remember the familiar stories: Alma the younger, Nephi's adventures on land and sea, Ammon, the brother of Jared. A few verses here and there stood out to me. There was one that made me not feel bad about not understanding all the Isiah chapters. There were several mentions of pride and focusing on worldly treasures. I was impressed by the enthusiasm Ammon had as a missionary.
The events at the very end of the Book of Mormon really made me think. The Jaredites went to war and fought until EVERYBODY died. It made me so sad to read that. The Nephites and Lamanites also fought until the only righteous person left was Moroni. I cannot even imagine what life was like for him. Then I realized that as wicked and scary as the world is today, it's not quite yet the end. I worry for my children and what the future holds for them.
But the thing that stuck with me the absolute most was Moroni 10:32
"Yea, acome unto Christ, and be bperfected in him, and cdeny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and dlove God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be eperfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."
There are only two verses after this in the entire Book of Mormon, and it also happens to be this year's theme for the youth of the church. I know that this verse specifically was written for us, today.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Personal Progress: Good Works #2
Food planning and prep (yeah, that is what this one is all about)
Ok, so as a teenager this experience would have been the death of me. Now, it's just part of my everyday life, so I shall list what I have learned about this through my mothering experiences.
#1 Learn to cook before you get married, or have a patient husband. (Ask Jerry about the experimental chickens of our newly wed days)
#2 Learn what food costs, so you aren't shocked on your first trip to the grocery store as a grown up. It also helps you know what really is a good "sale" price and what isn't.
#3 Plan a menu and make a shopping list of what you will need to make those meals. Stick to the list, so you don't go over budget.
#4 Never go to the grocery store hungry.
#5 Always read the label of what you are buying. I have made this fail too many times: jalepeno olives, beef bacon, no sugar added nesquick
#6 Set a timer (I often get distracted and remember something was in the oven only when I smell it burning)
#7 Sometimes it is best to just walk away. What I mean is that you can't hover over hashbrowns if you want them to be brown.
#8 Don't be afraid to try a new recipe. This is where I have found some of my favorite dinners.
#9 Eat together as a family at the table. You talk, you laugh, you learn manners, your living room floor stays much cleaner, you are more likely to pray....good things
#10 Teach manners to your children young. It's harder to teach them when they get older.
Ok, so as a teenager this experience would have been the death of me. Now, it's just part of my everyday life, so I shall list what I have learned about this through my mothering experiences.
#1 Learn to cook before you get married, or have a patient husband. (Ask Jerry about the experimental chickens of our newly wed days)
#2 Learn what food costs, so you aren't shocked on your first trip to the grocery store as a grown up. It also helps you know what really is a good "sale" price and what isn't.
#3 Plan a menu and make a shopping list of what you will need to make those meals. Stick to the list, so you don't go over budget.
#4 Never go to the grocery store hungry.
#5 Always read the label of what you are buying. I have made this fail too many times: jalepeno olives, beef bacon, no sugar added nesquick
#6 Set a timer (I often get distracted and remember something was in the oven only when I smell it burning)
#7 Sometimes it is best to just walk away. What I mean is that you can't hover over hashbrowns if you want them to be brown.
#8 Don't be afraid to try a new recipe. This is where I have found some of my favorite dinners.
#9 Eat together as a family at the table. You talk, you laugh, you learn manners, your living room floor stays much cleaner, you are more likely to pray....good things
#10 Teach manners to your children young. It's harder to teach them when they get older.
Personal Progress: Good Works #6
This is an easy one. 2hours of service outside of your home, and then tell y'all how awesome it is to serve.....
Some how service is easier as an adult, or atleast it seems easier. My absolute most favorite service to do is feeding the missionaries. It gives me an excuse to make extra fancy things for dinner, and I love the spirit they bring into my home. On Halloween, I fed them navajo tacos. The missionaires are always happy to be fed, but for some reason they were extra excited about navajo tacos. It turned into a how many can you eat contest between one of the Elders and my husband.
Anyways, feeding the missionaries is a fun easy service. If you haven't done it recently, you should.
Some how service is easier as an adult, or atleast it seems easier. My absolute most favorite service to do is feeding the missionaries. It gives me an excuse to make extra fancy things for dinner, and I love the spirit they bring into my home. On Halloween, I fed them navajo tacos. The missionaires are always happy to be fed, but for some reason they were extra excited about navajo tacos. It turned into a how many can you eat contest between one of the Elders and my husband.
Anyways, feeding the missionaries is a fun easy service. If you haven't done it recently, you should.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Personal Progress: Knowledge #2
This one was all about talents.
Step 1: I have talents. It's true I do. I can sew. I can cook. I can craft. I can braid and braid and braid and braid. I can write. I can listen. I can forgive. See, I have talents.
Step 2: Read the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30 in case you were wondering): As Polly Bottema once told me, "Don't hide you talents under a bushel"
Step 3: (the actual story part) Pick a talent you want to develop.
I decided to expand upon my hair doing skills, because you can never know enough hair styles.....to the pinterest....
I learned a 5 strand braid and a 7 strand braid. I tried new things with Kadence's hair. I did a waterfall braid. I put braids in braids. And then there was the hairstyle of failure. I would show you the picture from pintrest, but it isn't on my board anymore. Anyways, I tried this hair style 3 different times and failed it 3 different times. Which brings me to the what I learned in this adventure....
Some hairstyles I picked up quickly and easily. Others, like the fancy braids, took multiple tries. Just because you have a talent for something, doesn't mean it's going to be easy to do every time. You still have to put time and effort into making it work.
Step 1: I have talents. It's true I do. I can sew. I can cook. I can craft. I can braid and braid and braid and braid. I can write. I can listen. I can forgive. See, I have talents.
Step 2: Read the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30 in case you were wondering): As Polly Bottema once told me, "Don't hide you talents under a bushel"
Step 3: (the actual story part) Pick a talent you want to develop.
I decided to expand upon my hair doing skills, because you can never know enough hair styles.....to the pinterest....
I learned a 5 strand braid and a 7 strand braid. I tried new things with Kadence's hair. I did a waterfall braid. I put braids in braids. And then there was the hairstyle of failure. I would show you the picture from pintrest, but it isn't on my board anymore. Anyways, I tried this hair style 3 different times and failed it 3 different times. Which brings me to the what I learned in this adventure....
Some hairstyles I picked up quickly and easily. Others, like the fancy braids, took multiple tries. Just because you have a talent for something, doesn't mean it's going to be easy to do every time. You still have to put time and effort into making it work.
Personal Progress: the explanation of this label
Remember how I used to be in the primary a year ago when I was actually posting....yeah, not so much anymore. I am now in Young Women's. :)
In case I have any nonmormon readers, Young Women's is an organization in our church where all the girls age 12-18 go. As a young women's leader, I teach lessons on sundays sometimes and attend wednessday night activities. It's fun stuff.
One thing we do in young women's is personal progress. It's a program of goal setting that encourages the girls to build a closer relationship with their Heaven Father and Jesus Christ, discover who they are, use their talents, and various other wonderfully awesome things. I actually did finish the program when I was a teenager, and received my young women's medallion. However, since then the program has been changed and as a leader I am allowed to do the program with the girls and earn it again :)
The new program involves alot of journaling. Since this is my journal, it only made since to me to put that stuff here.
So....if you see the label Personal Progress that is what I am talking about.
In case I have any nonmormon readers, Young Women's is an organization in our church where all the girls age 12-18 go. As a young women's leader, I teach lessons on sundays sometimes and attend wednessday night activities. It's fun stuff.
One thing we do in young women's is personal progress. It's a program of goal setting that encourages the girls to build a closer relationship with their Heaven Father and Jesus Christ, discover who they are, use their talents, and various other wonderfully awesome things. I actually did finish the program when I was a teenager, and received my young women's medallion. However, since then the program has been changed and as a leader I am allowed to do the program with the girls and earn it again :)
The new program involves alot of journaling. Since this is my journal, it only made since to me to put that stuff here.
So....if you see the label Personal Progress that is what I am talking about.
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