Tuesday, November 13, 2007

I got my very FIRST comment!

Wow. I got a comment. How honored am I that someone commented. It was Jared. :) He suggested that I add the blogs that I like to read. I added a few. My only and still frustration is that everything is at the bottom. Whereas I could figure out how to add the links I couldn't figure out how to move where they show up.
But...WOW! I got a comment!

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Giving Thanks

At October 2007 General Conference President Eyring gave a wonderful talk (when has he not?) entitled "O Remember, O Remember." He said:
"...find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness. It will build our testimonies. You may not keep a journal. You may not share whatever record you keep with those you love and serve. But you and they will be blessed as you remember what the Lord has done."
I have always tried to keep a journal. At some times I have been better than at others. For many years I wrote every Fast Sunday. It is really fun to go back and read. Over the past 7 years that we have been in Colorado I have barely journaled at all. AND SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN OUR LIVES SINCE WE MOVED HERE! What a shame and loss to not capture those moments as they happened instead of in retrospect.
Writing on this blog is more writing than I have done in all that time. Earlier this year I wanted to start seriously journaling again and I wanted to find a nice smaller journal that I could carry around with me. So I paid $10 for a book size journal and have barely written on 4 pages, if that much. I am thinking that I do not like that size. But I could still use it for note taking at conference or other meetings worthy of remembering.
While in Guatemala in 2006 I kept a travel journal. I think that will be valuable in the future. I also had a journal to take notes in when Elder Ballard was here in our Stake Conference. He gave two awesome talks which I will eventually transcribe as the journal is falling apart.
My calling in Relief Society is to lead the Teachings For Our Times lesson. The Bishop or Stake Presidency chose the talks from the most recent conference for the lessons. I was SO excited that the lesson for November is President Eyring's talk. But guess what? We will be on vacation and so I will not get to teach it. But you better believe I will read it over many times. I think that I will add a copy to my journal.
I very much have a testimony of journaling for many reasons: Remembering experiences, sharing testimonies with future generations, mental health, etc. I like the Blog, but somehow it does not do the same thing for me. But it is a real time way to share thoughts with my family.
Anyway, I began this whole entry today wanting to share what I was thankful for. President Erying's talk supports my desire to "remember."
He said at the end of his talk:
"Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him."
Just a start on what I am grateful for on November 1st 2007.
1. My testimony of Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer of the World.
2. My membership in the true and living Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
3. My family
4. A reliable, trustworthy, hardworking husband who loves me.
5. The Book of Mormon.
6. Books in general.
7. Spring and Autumn
8. Music
9. Animals, Millie and Nikki in particular
10. Modern medicine
11. Airplanes
12. Sunrises and sunsets in Colorado
13. Cesar salad
14. Chocolate
15. Ice cream
16. Skiing (yes, there, I have admitted it.)
17. Sewing machines
18. DVD players
19. IPods
20. Email
21. Hawaii

That is a start for today. As the month goes on I will think of more.
What are you thankful for? You don't have to tell me. Just think about it.