Little Bean Turns Two!

Joel Birthday 2012

Kills Me With Cuteness!

And a conversation with Kyle:

K: Mom, I wish I always lived in Heaven and never came to Earth

M: Why?

K: I had a really good view in Heaven

M: But aren’t you glad you could come and get a body on Earth?

K: I don’t know.  I just really liked my view.

M: What was your view?

K: Well, there was an ostrich and plants and angels and animals.  It was a really good view.

January’s Book

As far as New Year’s resolutions go, I usually make them, but not on January 1st.  I’ve found that within the first couple weeks of the year a need arises, and I can make a resolution that I can really get behind.  This year my resolution is to read a (non-scriptoral) church book every month.  In January, I read Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy by Elder Scott.  I chose it because he is my favorite apostle to read.  And he actually explains really well why I chose this new year’s resolution:

“As you pray for a stronger testimony, you may feel the need for a vigorous spiritual housecleaning, not just a rearrangement of prejudices or brushing off of accumulated convictions.  It may require a deep introspective scouring, a cleansing away of inappropriate thoughts and acts, and a casting out of any debilitating habits or friends–in short, a spiritual rejuvenation.  Such renewal is generally not self-initiated.  It can arise from spiritual prompting occasioned by profound experiences, disquieting thoughts, or the recognition of divine guidance.  Should such an impression come, give it full freedom.  Respond quickly and decisively.  The transient discomfort that accompanies spiritual stretching is compensated manyfold by increased capacity to feel and to interpret, through the Holy Ghost, the will of your Father in Heaven in your life.”

Here are some of my favorite parts of the book:

(talking about Challenges)  “Consider this simple example.  A race horse may resist efforts to develop his potential to run, preferring to enjoy the beauty and rich, green grass of the pasture.  Yet if the horse will train, even at times against his will, he will develop a new excitement, a grander pleasure–the incomparable joy of winning.  The pleasure of the pasture is not diminished, but his joy of life is expanded.”

“Don’t judge yourself by what you understand of your potential.  Trust in the Lord and what He can do with your dedicated heart and willing mind.”

“You are not able to remember one of the most exhilarating moments of your life, when you were filled with anticipation, excitement, and gratitude.  That experience occurred in the premortal life when you were informed that at last your time had come to leave the spirit world to dwell on earth with a mortal body.  You knew you could finally learn through personal experience on earth the lessons that would bring greater happiness–lessons that would eventually lead you to exaltation and eternal life as a glorified, celestial being in the presence of your Holy Father and His Beloved Son.  You understood that there would be challenges, for you would live in an environment of both righteous and evil influences.  Yet surely you resolved that no matter what the cost, no matter what the effort, suffering, and testing, you would return victorious….Ponder for a moment.  How are you using that opportunity you were so anxious to receive?  Do daily decisions lead you toward those goals you so eagerly anticipated as a spirit int he premortal life?”

“As a woman, please don’t judge how worthwhile, needed, and loved you are by our inept male ability to express our true feelings. Your divinely conferred trait of giving of self without counting the cost often leads you to greatly under-estimate your own worth.”

Quoting Hugh B. Brown, “Man cannot live without faith, because in life’s adventure the central problem is character-building–which is not a product of logic, but of faith in ideals and sacrificial devotion to them.”

“The challenges we face, the growth experiences we encounter, should be like temporary scenes played out on the stage of continuing peace and happiness.”