30 Days of Thanksgiving #10

I love how the Book of Mormon begins:

"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days."

There is so much in that one, first verse! Yes, life is going to be hard - there will be afflictions. But even with trials, life can be good. The Lord loves us and will bless us. We need to teach our children of the Lord and seek to learn of Him ourselves. So much!! But I also love that Nephi starts off by stating that he was born of goodly parents. I, too, have been born of goodly parents.

I am grateful for the blessing of having parents who love each other and love me. I am grateful that my parents also love the Lord and have taught me of Him. I am grateful that my parents committed to each other for all eternity and were sealed as an eternal family in the temple. I am grateful for the opportunity to someday make that same committment to my best friend and start an eternal family with him. I am grateful for the opportunity to someday become a mother and teach my children to love the Lord. I pray for these blessings and choose to have hope and faith that they will come to pass.

And, for your viewing pleasure, I've included some of my favorite pictures of my parents! (Some of them I should have posted in June when they celebrated their 35 anniversary - but the summer was crazy and I never got around to it! I guess better late than never.) I am grateful for pictures :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving #9

I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who loves me enough to push me to help me grow. I was recently prompted that it was time to be brave and try the Singles Branch in my Stake. And while that doesn't sound like a very hard thing to do to some people, it is very hard for me. I don't like change (see my previous post about control issues!). I've also been rather isolated because of my health (which, thankfully, is improving!). But I think the hardest thing for me is leaving my home ward.

I grew up in my home ward. Half of the ward feels like they helped raise me - and they did. I have at least a dozen extra "Grandma"s in my home ward. They see the full potential in me. They pray for me, cry for me, cheer for me and are always there to offer the best hugs in the world. My home ward was literally home. My time there has been a time of renewal for me.

I am so grateful for the concept of a ward family. I am grateful for all of my extra "Grandma"s. I am grateful for this period of rest and renewal. And I am grateful that it will always be my home ward - I can always visit and come back.

I have been to the Singles Branch a couple of times now, and I am so grateful for the kindness and welcome that has been shown to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and socialize again. I am grateful for the opportunity to be brave and to grow.

I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who always sees my full potential and prompts me to find it myself.

30 Days of Thanksgiving #8

I sang in a recital this afternoon. The song I sang is from a straight-to-video movie called "Joseph: King of Dreams." It was a follow-up movie to "Prince of Egypt." I love the message of the song and I'm so grateful I was finally able to find the music. I ended up needing to transpose it down a bit - I'm no longer a soprano! - but I'm very happy with how it turned out. Here are the words:

Better Than I
from Joseph: King of Dreams

I thought I did what’s right.
I thought I had the answers.
I thought I chose the surest road -
but that road brought me here.
So I put up a fight
and told you how to help me.
Now just when I have given up,
the truth is coming clear.

You know better than I,
You know the way.
I’ve let go the need to know why
for you know better than I.

If this has been a test,
I cannot see the reason.
But maybe knowing I don’t know
is part of getting through.
I try to do what’s best.
And faith has made it easy
to see the best thing I can do
is put my trust in you.

For you know better than I,
You know the way.
I’ve let go the need to know why
for you know better than I.

I saw one cloud and thought it was the sky.
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow.
But it was you who taught that bird to fly.
If I let you reach me, will you teach me?

For you know better than I,
You know the way.
I’ve let go the need to know why.
I’ll take what answers you supply.
You know better than I.


I've had a lot of ponderings lately on my need to trust the Lord. I like to be in control - a personality trait that was only intensified by my health problems. I am really trying to let go and let the Lord guide my life. I have really tried to live by Elder Cook's counsel to "Live by Faith and Not by Fear." If I try to control everything, I am letting my life be guided by fear - fear of the unknown, fear of failure. I don't want to live that way. But if I choose to allow the Lord to guide my life, then I am letting go of that fear and living in Faith. It is a hard lesson and one I'm still struggling with. The song's thoughts on letting go and trusting the Lord because He knows "better than I" really express what I am trying to learn.

I am grateful for good music that enriches my life. I am grateful for the talents I've been blessed with and for the opportunity to share my feelings through music. I am grateful for such a wonderful voice teacher. She seriously has the "Midas touch" and she is a good friend. I am grateful for my Gorgeous Grandma who has been to every single recital I've ever been in, including today. She has my recital for my students already written on her calendar.

And yes, this is one of the songs on my CD :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving #7

Yesterday I had a good friend suggest some reading from one of Elder Maxwell's books, "Not My Will, But Thine". The chapter I read last night was amazing and powerful. I am grateful for this friend and for his recommendation.

As I was touched by many of the things Elder Maxwell said, I starting thinking of all of my favorite quotes by Elder Maxwell - and they are a lot! So today, I am grateful for Elder Maxwell, for his service and example. I am grateful for his willingness to share his spiritual insights so that I can grow as well. And in that same spirit of sharing, here are some of my favorite Elder Maxwell quotes. These first are from that chapter last night:

• One of the most important contributions submissiveness makes to our individual happiness occurs in crucial moments of truth. These are moments when we teeter back and forth between surrender to Him and surrender to ourselves, between obedience and defiance. Submissiveness not only helps us to make right resolutions but also dissolves our pride, with its worry about what others will think if we admit error and yield to God.
• Spiritual submissiveness is not blind faith but deliberate obedience.
• Submission to God, among many things, requires us to strip ourselves of our pride in order to be obedient to Him.
• Certain supernal spiritual blessings seem to come only after demonstrated obedience.

One of my favorite talks by Elder Maxwell is "Notwithstanding My Weakness" from the November 1976 Ensign. Here are some of my favorite quotes from that talk (although I highly encourage you to read the entire talk!):

• The scriptural advice, "Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength" (D&C 10:4) suggests paced progress, much as God used seven creative periods in preparing man and this earth. There is a difference, therefore, between being "anxiously engaged" and being over-anxious and thus underengaged.
• We can distinguish more clearly between divine discontent and the devil's dissonance, between dissatisfaction with self and disdain for self. We need the first and must shun the second, for when conscience calls to us from the next ridge, it is not solely to scold but also to beckon.
• We can make quiet but more honest inventories of our strengths, since, in this connection, most of us are dishonest bookkeepers and need confirming "outside auditors." He who was thrust down in the first estate delights to have us put ourselves down. Self-contempt is of Satan; there is none of it in heaven. We should, of course, learn from our mistakes, but without forever studying the instant replays as if these were the game of life itself.
• We can learn that at the center of our agency is our freedom to form a healthy attitude toward whatever circumstances we are placed in!
• Discouragement is not the absence of adequacy but the absence of courage, and our personal progress should be yet another way we witness to the wonder of it all!

Another of my favorite talks from Elder Maxwell is "Endure It Well" from the May 1990 Ensign. I haven't read it for awhile - that's on my agenda for today. And one final quote - I have this on a magnet and I haven't been able to find any source information so far - if you can help, please leave a comment!

• Faith in God includes faith in His timing.

I found it! It was in the beginning of the very next chapter after the one I read last night! From Elder Maxwell's "Not My Will, But Thine":

• Real faith in God includes faith in His timing.
  

30 Days of Thanksgiving #6

Last night, between 10 and 11 p.m., I ordered some boots. It was a very responsible thing to do seeing how our world was covered in snow yesterday. It was probably not so responsible that I waited until our first real snow storm to order them. Also, the boots I chose don't exactly scream responsible. Let me rephrase that. The boots I chose are very responsible - they have good traction and will keep my feet warm and dry. The pattern I chose doesn't exactly scream responsible :)


At 2:00 this afternoon, 15-16 hours after I ordered these boots, I answered the door for my piano student and my boots were sitting on our porch waiting for me. Not even 24 hours turn around! I am very impressed. What is even more impressive is that the shipping was free. The shipping is also free if I decide not to keep them. Are you impressed yet? I sure am! And where, you are wondering, did I find these fabulous boots with free, fast shipping? At Zappos!

I am grateful for new winter boots that are practical and whimsical at the same time. I am grateful for my new found joy in snow and improved health giving me a desire to play in the snow so I need new boots. I am grateful for Zappos and for free, fast shipping!

30 Days of Thanksgiving #5

Happy Blogday to me! I've been blogging for 1 year! I am grateful for the opportunity to express my thoughts and feelings and keep in touch with friends and family. I am grateful for all of the kind and supportive comments I've received. Thank you!

I am also grateful for a beautiful snowstorm today. When I first started getting sick, it was in the middle of a particularly harsh winter. For many years snow and winter symbolized that hard time in my life. The days get shorter, colder and darker. My anxiety and depression increased. Winter was something to endure and survive. But the last few years, as I've healed, I've been able to enjoy and even look forward to winter. Everything is beautiful and white. And Christmas is coming! I am grateful that I am able to see the beauty and joy of snow again.

30 Days of Thanksgiving #4

I am grateful for the opportunity to vote. I am grateful that I live in this country and have the liberties and freedoms that I do. I am so grateful for our troops who risk their lives to keep our country safe and free. (And for a great post on that, visit this site.) I am also so grateful that Proposition 8 passed in California - that people stood up for the sanctity of marriage.