This is such an interesting concept to me. To actually be perfect. What would it be like? What would I think? How would I act? What would I do?
We have a few accounts of perfect people, but we don't get to read their inner thoughts and know exactly what they did in this life. However, it does give us proof that we can BECOME perfect. Yes, even in this life.
Now, I realize that there are many out there that would argue with this statement and declare that we can't be perfect in this life. I, again, declare, yes, we can. In fact, we are commanded to be perfect.
If Jesus didn't actually think we could become perfect in this life, ie: the day of our repentance, then how CAN we become perfect later? That doesn't make sense to me. Sure, our bodies will be perfected in the resurrection, but I'm pretty sure scripture also states that whatever spirit inhabits your body in this life will inhabit your perfected body, too.
So, how do we do it? SIMPLE! (Yes, I realize that I just said that becoming perfect is simple.) The plan and execution of that plan to become perfect is a simple step-by-step procedure.
Think, for instance, when the last time you stole was. You haven't ever stolen anything? Guess what? You are then perfect in that! When's the last time you lied? Or cheated? Or ran a red light? You don't? Guess what? You are perfect in those things! Make a list of those things you have become perfect in and thank God for those accomplishments. Then make a list of small steps (emphasis on the small, because you CAN get overwhelmed...read my previous post) of other things you can improve on and perfect.
Sure, you aren't going to be perfect tomorrow, but you will eventually become perfect IN THIS LIFE if you keep working hard! Remember, Jesus did NOT give us commands (commandments) he thought we could not achieve. He KNOWS what we can achieve perfection and He is here to assist us.
25 January 2011
23 January 2011
Amazing Weekend
We just had a wonderful weekend learning more about the gospel of Jesus Christ at our local stake conference. I think my two main highlights would be this:
We aren't teaching people to come to church, but we ARE teaching them to come unto Christ.
Don't fret over the failings we have. Focus on our strengths so that we are being built up instead of torn down.
Subheadings would be the significance of prayer, both individual prayers and praying as a family as well as how much we can learn from those around us, especially our children.
It's nice when you've come to certain conclusions yourself and then to have them reiterated by others so you know you aren't just a crazy person for thinking those things.
And, Elder Malm is a funny, joyful man of God. He spoke in the most recent General Conference, and you can read his talk here.
We aren't teaching people to come to church, but we ARE teaching them to come unto Christ.
Don't fret over the failings we have. Focus on our strengths so that we are being built up instead of torn down.
Subheadings would be the significance of prayer, both individual prayers and praying as a family as well as how much we can learn from those around us, especially our children.
It's nice when you've come to certain conclusions yourself and then to have them reiterated by others so you know you aren't just a crazy person for thinking those things.
And, Elder Malm is a funny, joyful man of God. He spoke in the most recent General Conference, and you can read his talk here.
19 January 2011
Time Occupation
What occupies your time?
My list goes something like this, and only in the order it came to my head:
Raising Kids/Babysitting
Tending and Training Puppies
Cleaning/Keeping House
Genealogy Work
Church/Scripture Study/Pondering/Meditation
Being a Wife
Blogging/Reading/Researching
Sewing
Sleeping (sometimes even through the whole night!)
That list looks like a large portion of my life is devoted to other people, but it really isn't. All of those other people/things that I am responsible for are also people/things that make me a better person than I could be on my own.
For instance, somehow I always, always, always have scriptures and prayer with my girls. I don't always have scriptures by myself. See? When I'm taking care of others, I'm getting a greater benefit.
Or, another, is while I'm doing genealogy for Mr. J, I'm learning more about finding records and composing books as well as identifying new family members for my own family tree (we are distantly related, but I even know where and how).
But, I'll admit. Training the puppies is strictly for my benefit. I'm pretty sure they don't really care where they potty. =)
I'd love to add a couple other hobbies/interests that have gone on the back burner, but for now, this is probably enough and I do feel like my life is balanced. I don't want to miss out on the enjoyment part of life and these things just to cram in one more goal that can wait until something else isn't quite so demanding/time consuming. For more about this concept, check out what Dieter F. Uchtdorf says.
My list goes something like this, and only in the order it came to my head:
Raising Kids/Babysitting
Tending and Training Puppies
Cleaning/Keeping House
Genealogy Work
Church/Scripture Study/Pondering/Meditation
Being a Wife
Blogging/Reading/Researching
Sewing
Sleeping (sometimes even through the whole night!)
That list looks like a large portion of my life is devoted to other people, but it really isn't. All of those other people/things that I am responsible for are also people/things that make me a better person than I could be on my own.
For instance, somehow I always, always, always have scriptures and prayer with my girls. I don't always have scriptures by myself. See? When I'm taking care of others, I'm getting a greater benefit.
Or, another, is while I'm doing genealogy for Mr. J, I'm learning more about finding records and composing books as well as identifying new family members for my own family tree (we are distantly related, but I even know where and how).
But, I'll admit. Training the puppies is strictly for my benefit. I'm pretty sure they don't really care where they potty. =)
I'd love to add a couple other hobbies/interests that have gone on the back burner, but for now, this is probably enough and I do feel like my life is balanced. I don't want to miss out on the enjoyment part of life and these things just to cram in one more goal that can wait until something else isn't quite so demanding/time consuming. For more about this concept, check out what Dieter F. Uchtdorf says.
15 January 2011
Investments
The joke in my husband's family is that his parents should have invested in stock for ketchup because they all love it so much.
I think Eric and I need to invest in crayons and coloring materials. The number one thing I hear every day is "I want collee!" (Gianna's word for color) and "Mommy, can you get me the crayons?" And, yes, I do have to pull down the crayons every time. Otherwise the other thing I'd have to invest in would be paint.
I don't like the washable crayons. Good in theory, proven bad in practice. They rub off more easily on clothing...especially Eric's white shirts on Sundays. They also make a grand mess in the laundry. So, I take full responsibility for the crayons and they don't end up making a mess. Thankfully my kids don't have the need to color on walls or anything else. They do their one or two expressive moments and after learning that's a big no-no, they keep to coloring on paper (although, after Emily got to design a bag she received as a gift this Christmas, she thought she could also "enhance" a My Little Pony...but it was only one).
What stock do you need to invest in?
I think Eric and I need to invest in crayons and coloring materials. The number one thing I hear every day is "I want collee!" (Gianna's word for color) and "Mommy, can you get me the crayons?" And, yes, I do have to pull down the crayons every time. Otherwise the other thing I'd have to invest in would be paint.
I don't like the washable crayons. Good in theory, proven bad in practice. They rub off more easily on clothing...especially Eric's white shirts on Sundays. They also make a grand mess in the laundry. So, I take full responsibility for the crayons and they don't end up making a mess. Thankfully my kids don't have the need to color on walls or anything else. They do their one or two expressive moments and after learning that's a big no-no, they keep to coloring on paper (although, after Emily got to design a bag she received as a gift this Christmas, she thought she could also "enhance" a My Little Pony...but it was only one).
What stock do you need to invest in?
13 January 2011
Life Altering Decisions
There are so many choices in this world. So many choices that can change the path of our lives by one tiny decision. I have made many of those.
The first monumental decision I made was when I decided to be baptized when I turned 8 years old. I am not going to sugar coat it; I had no idea the impact of this decision at such a tender age. However, I did have some understanding of being given a clean slate. I was devastated when I made a wrong choice after being cleansed in this way, but I have since learned that this is part of the learning process. In order to become perfected, we, at times, will make wrong choices and face those consequences.
The next major change for me was by making a wrong choice. I did something my parents did not know I had done. It may sound silly to some, but I was not yet old enough to attend dances but I spent the night at a friend's house and still went. I did not enjoy my time at this party/dance. I felt sick the whole night. When I went home, I went to talk to my mom and confessed what I had done. I even gave myself a punishment. This was a turning point in my life to not rebel against my parents or the church we attended. I never wanted to feel that way again.
My next major decision was to go to college. I was very close to my next oldest brother who was serving a mission at the time for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to him going, he attended Brigham Young University. Because of his decision, I wanted to be close to him and share in that experience and ONLY applied to this school. Thankfully, I was accepted and it was there that my true and fuller testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ began.
Following this decision, I ended up moving into an apartment that I would share with 5 of the most influential and important people of my college experience. From the examples and rules, I began to see where my own expectations of myself were somewhat slack. Things happened that year that demanded I know that The Book of Mormon is a true book written and translated by Prophets of God.
From this point, I later met and was engaged to someone who taught me exactly what I did NOT want in a husband. It's not that he was a bad person, we just had different ideas and expectations for marriage and life in general. It was because of this situation that I firmly decided to find someone who matched the inner me. It was also because of this situation that I began to have a closer and more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, and friend to me.
After this experience I studied Isaiah from The Old Testament in the Bible. I then decided to go on a mission and share the testimony of Jesus Christ and the importance of the RESTORED gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the most important decision of my adult life. It was during and through my mission that I KNOW that Jesus Christ is real and living. I KNOW that His gospel has been restored to the Earth. I KNOW that I cannot deny these things and the experiences I have had.
It was also through this experience that I learned more what it means to be a wife and mother. I watched so many different families and marriages and children. I took note of what I wanted. The only way I could accomplish those tasks, however, was to find someone who viewed the world as I did and someone who could help me build that future. I didn't know it while it happened, but I found my best and forever friend and began to get to know him and all of his inner thoughts and share mine with him. Marrying him has made me the happiest woman in the world. Raising children with him is incredibly rewarding and it is hard to imagine things being better than they are, but we know that, too, is possible.
You know, when I sat down to write this, these things weren't even what I was envisioning saying. For someone, perhaps even myself, I need to acknowledge and proclaim these words. I know that when we hope to find the answers of our hearts, we find God, and in finding God, we find happiness and an abundance of blessings to fill our lives with joy. God's work is to bring immortality and eternal life to all of us on earth. Man was created to have joy. These things ARE true. I know they are. I have prayed and searched and studied and have had profound experiences that have given me the faith that I have. In order to partake of that "eternal life" or, in other words, "eternal joy," we must find God and obey all of His counsel, not just the parts we agree with at the moment. It may be difficult at times, but so was walking and talking, and here we all are.
The first monumental decision I made was when I decided to be baptized when I turned 8 years old. I am not going to sugar coat it; I had no idea the impact of this decision at such a tender age. However, I did have some understanding of being given a clean slate. I was devastated when I made a wrong choice after being cleansed in this way, but I have since learned that this is part of the learning process. In order to become perfected, we, at times, will make wrong choices and face those consequences.
The next major change for me was by making a wrong choice. I did something my parents did not know I had done. It may sound silly to some, but I was not yet old enough to attend dances but I spent the night at a friend's house and still went. I did not enjoy my time at this party/dance. I felt sick the whole night. When I went home, I went to talk to my mom and confessed what I had done. I even gave myself a punishment. This was a turning point in my life to not rebel against my parents or the church we attended. I never wanted to feel that way again.
My next major decision was to go to college. I was very close to my next oldest brother who was serving a mission at the time for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to him going, he attended Brigham Young University. Because of his decision, I wanted to be close to him and share in that experience and ONLY applied to this school. Thankfully, I was accepted and it was there that my true and fuller testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ began.
Following this decision, I ended up moving into an apartment that I would share with 5 of the most influential and important people of my college experience. From the examples and rules, I began to see where my own expectations of myself were somewhat slack. Things happened that year that demanded I know that The Book of Mormon is a true book written and translated by Prophets of God.
From this point, I later met and was engaged to someone who taught me exactly what I did NOT want in a husband. It's not that he was a bad person, we just had different ideas and expectations for marriage and life in general. It was because of this situation that I firmly decided to find someone who matched the inner me. It was also because of this situation that I began to have a closer and more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, and friend to me.
After this experience I studied Isaiah from The Old Testament in the Bible. I then decided to go on a mission and share the testimony of Jesus Christ and the importance of the RESTORED gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the most important decision of my adult life. It was during and through my mission that I KNOW that Jesus Christ is real and living. I KNOW that His gospel has been restored to the Earth. I KNOW that I cannot deny these things and the experiences I have had.
It was also through this experience that I learned more what it means to be a wife and mother. I watched so many different families and marriages and children. I took note of what I wanted. The only way I could accomplish those tasks, however, was to find someone who viewed the world as I did and someone who could help me build that future. I didn't know it while it happened, but I found my best and forever friend and began to get to know him and all of his inner thoughts and share mine with him. Marrying him has made me the happiest woman in the world. Raising children with him is incredibly rewarding and it is hard to imagine things being better than they are, but we know that, too, is possible.
You know, when I sat down to write this, these things weren't even what I was envisioning saying. For someone, perhaps even myself, I need to acknowledge and proclaim these words. I know that when we hope to find the answers of our hearts, we find God, and in finding God, we find happiness and an abundance of blessings to fill our lives with joy. God's work is to bring immortality and eternal life to all of us on earth. Man was created to have joy. These things ARE true. I know they are. I have prayed and searched and studied and have had profound experiences that have given me the faith that I have. In order to partake of that "eternal life" or, in other words, "eternal joy," we must find God and obey all of His counsel, not just the parts we agree with at the moment. It may be difficult at times, but so was walking and talking, and here we all are.
12 January 2011
Gift Giving
I am so addicted to giving homemade gifts for baby showers. Seriously, I can't stop! I have so much fun. I also tend to think of the dress as truly belonging to the child I make it for. SO, this most recent one is Abigail. Loved, LOVED making this!
I've also found a pattern for a dress I hope I have the skills to make for myself to wear to Winner's Circle (an annual reward weekend Verizon does for their top employees). Yep! Eric made it again! We'll see if the dress does, though.
07 January 2011
Beauty Tips
I am not claiming that these are the reasons I am thin. They aren't. God decided that one for me. I just got this lucky blessing to be thinner after having children than I was before. However, I will say that these tips can help anyone to at least be more aware of their figure, but more importantly, they way you are conveying your image to the world (and most importantly, your husband).
1. Wear appropriate sized and fitted attire. When your jeans get tight, you'll notice and do something about it rather than downing a gallon of chocolate icecream. Besides that, when you see yourself as beautiful, you treat yourself as beautiful. So wear those pretty clothes hanging in your closet! "Pretty is as Pretty does."
2. Don't justify your eating habits. We all look at food just a little differently. The point is that food doesn't control you. You choose what goes in your mouth and, therefore, on your hips (or belly or other undesirable location). Be consistent and you'll never end up in the binge-diet routine. Remember, we are all on a "diet" because a "diet" is what you eat.
3. Drink more water. Put away all of those diet drinks and carbonated beverages. Your body doesn't need that stuff. What it needs is pure, clean, unadulterated water. Drinking more water will not only improve your skin, but your entire body, including your brain. Better brain, better thoughts about yourself, right? Better brain, better ability to schedule good things for your body. That equals a better body, too!
4. Play with your kids and keep the house clean. I know it is good to get some "real" exercise in, but if you are truly implimenting active play time with your kids (when is the last time your family played tag? that'll get your heart rate up from the exercise AND the laughter) you won't need it or at least as much other exercise. Go get that "old fashioned" mop and turn on some music. You are going to work some abs as you clean the floor!
5. Stay away from the scale. Seriously. Use your clothing as your judge and jury rather than a number on the scale. You can weigh ten more pounds than you "want" but if those ten pounds are muscle, are you really going to be upset? If you haven't heard my silhouette experiment, ask. Some day I'll get to try it out.
6. Write encouraging thoughts on your mirror with a dry erase marker. My husband did this for me a couple of years ago. I'm not sure how long I left those words on the mirror, but it changed my opinion about the way I look into a mirror. In order to see my face to pick it apart (my skin is too pale, my nose is too big, my head is shaped EXACTLY like an egg), I had to look past words like "beautiful" and "smart". When we get nit-picky, that is exactly what we are doing: looking past our true qualities to be mean to ourselves. Who needs to do that?
7. Pay attention to your husband. This sounds pretty simple and not exactly like a beauty tip, but it is probably the most important. Those of you who are not yet married, see yourself as your best guy friend sees you, or maybe even your dad. I guarantee that these men look at us completely differently than we view ourselves. A lot of our frustration about our bodies stems from society and the view of "the other woman" rather than ourselves and our husbands. Maybe I'm naive, but I will also reference "EAT, PRAY, LOVE" because our men are NOT complaining about those "extra five pounds" or whatever it may be.
This isn't going to make you a size 0 or a size 6 or whatever. It WILL make you happier with the body God gave you. Enjoy it! Your uniqueness makes you beautiful!
1. Wear appropriate sized and fitted attire. When your jeans get tight, you'll notice and do something about it rather than downing a gallon of chocolate icecream. Besides that, when you see yourself as beautiful, you treat yourself as beautiful. So wear those pretty clothes hanging in your closet! "Pretty is as Pretty does."
2. Don't justify your eating habits. We all look at food just a little differently. The point is that food doesn't control you. You choose what goes in your mouth and, therefore, on your hips (or belly or other undesirable location). Be consistent and you'll never end up in the binge-diet routine. Remember, we are all on a "diet" because a "diet" is what you eat.
3. Drink more water. Put away all of those diet drinks and carbonated beverages. Your body doesn't need that stuff. What it needs is pure, clean, unadulterated water. Drinking more water will not only improve your skin, but your entire body, including your brain. Better brain, better thoughts about yourself, right? Better brain, better ability to schedule good things for your body. That equals a better body, too!
4. Play with your kids and keep the house clean. I know it is good to get some "real" exercise in, but if you are truly implimenting active play time with your kids (when is the last time your family played tag? that'll get your heart rate up from the exercise AND the laughter) you won't need it or at least as much other exercise. Go get that "old fashioned" mop and turn on some music. You are going to work some abs as you clean the floor!
5. Stay away from the scale. Seriously. Use your clothing as your judge and jury rather than a number on the scale. You can weigh ten more pounds than you "want" but if those ten pounds are muscle, are you really going to be upset? If you haven't heard my silhouette experiment, ask. Some day I'll get to try it out.
6. Write encouraging thoughts on your mirror with a dry erase marker. My husband did this for me a couple of years ago. I'm not sure how long I left those words on the mirror, but it changed my opinion about the way I look into a mirror. In order to see my face to pick it apart (my skin is too pale, my nose is too big, my head is shaped EXACTLY like an egg), I had to look past words like "beautiful" and "smart". When we get nit-picky, that is exactly what we are doing: looking past our true qualities to be mean to ourselves. Who needs to do that?
7. Pay attention to your husband. This sounds pretty simple and not exactly like a beauty tip, but it is probably the most important. Those of you who are not yet married, see yourself as your best guy friend sees you, or maybe even your dad. I guarantee that these men look at us completely differently than we view ourselves. A lot of our frustration about our bodies stems from society and the view of "the other woman" rather than ourselves and our husbands. Maybe I'm naive, but I will also reference "EAT, PRAY, LOVE" because our men are NOT complaining about those "extra five pounds" or whatever it may be.
This isn't going to make you a size 0 or a size 6 or whatever. It WILL make you happier with the body God gave you. Enjoy it! Your uniqueness makes you beautiful!
Getting Out of the SAHM Slumps
I have heard so many people talk about feeling frumpy or not noticing that they have gained weight as a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM). The thing is, since getting married and becoming a mother, I feel more feminine and dress up more.
A couple months ago I found these incredibly cute, uber feminine shoes. I was going to try an experiment. Well, that one fell flat on it's face when I realized that these shoes and I weren't meant for each other. I have incredibly narrow feet with a high arch. One of my mission companions referred to my feet as "Cinderella feet". My toes kept slipping out the peep toe no matter the efforts I made with adjusting shoe size or implementing the use of foot grips and the like. So, I returned them (as a side note, I got those shoes on a really good deal and then ended up trading them out for an even better deal: two pairs for the same price).
Yesterday, I tried my experiment. I wore heels around the house. I did my daily chores in those shoes. Guess what? No back or heel pain because it is a good pair of shoes. Guess what else? I felt super feminine and s-e-x-y. Seriously. Try it. I now know how they came up with the concept that the 50's woman could do it all. I certainly felt that way looking chic and yet keeping my home in order and tending the children. When Eric got home, I already felt beautiful, so his affection emphasized that even more.
So, get out there, ladies. Put on your feminine clothes. Wear the heels. Enjoy life. You are beautiful. Let it shine!
A couple months ago I found these incredibly cute, uber feminine shoes. I was going to try an experiment. Well, that one fell flat on it's face when I realized that these shoes and I weren't meant for each other. I have incredibly narrow feet with a high arch. One of my mission companions referred to my feet as "Cinderella feet". My toes kept slipping out the peep toe no matter the efforts I made with adjusting shoe size or implementing the use of foot grips and the like. So, I returned them (as a side note, I got those shoes on a really good deal and then ended up trading them out for an even better deal: two pairs for the same price).
Yesterday, I tried my experiment. I wore heels around the house. I did my daily chores in those shoes. Guess what? No back or heel pain because it is a good pair of shoes. Guess what else? I felt super feminine and s-e-x-y. Seriously. Try it. I now know how they came up with the concept that the 50's woman could do it all. I certainly felt that way looking chic and yet keeping my home in order and tending the children. When Eric got home, I already felt beautiful, so his affection emphasized that even more.
So, get out there, ladies. Put on your feminine clothes. Wear the heels. Enjoy life. You are beautiful. Let it shine!
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