A Christmas Carol

How have I gone through so many Christmas seasons without reading this wonderful book? I have watched many screen adaptations but it has stayed on my mental list of books to read for years. Our good friends gifted us a copy this year and there were no excuses! I tried and tried to read it with my family before Christmas, but it didn't happen. I decided that I would read it on my own anyway, and I am so glad I did.

I loved so much about this book. There were so many good insights about humankind. In particular, I loved what Jacob Marley's ghost said to Scrooge about what our business (as human beings) needs to be:

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business! The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

I hope that with the new year I will be better about concerning myself with the common welfare, charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence. 


**Have you read this book?
**What is your favorite quote (or idea) from the book?

Some Agreements

I just finished reading this book... and before I return it to the library I thought I'd share a few ideas from it. I will admit freely that I didn't love this book and rolled my eyes several times during the course of reading it. Perhaps my mindset wasn't where it needed to be (on a higher plane?) to appreciate it... It came very highly recommended by a friend with whom I usually agree on book choices, so I was a little disappointed that it didn't rock my world like she thought it would... but no matter, it still had a few things that caused me to reflect a bit more and I hope that I'm better for having read it.

It's based on the assumption that we have all made agreements with ourselves and our society, most of which aren't beneficial to us. The author suggests that to improve our lives (and increase our happiness and freedom) we need to rid ourselves of these bad agreements and form new agreements.

I liked the four agreements that he suggested:

1. Be impeccable with your word.

2. Don't take anything personally. (This one was interesting... he emphasizes that it's not just the negative things thrown our way that we shouldn't take personally, but the compliments and positive things too.)

3. Don't make assumptions. (I'm so guilty of this... but trying to do better... which leads us to...)

4. Always do your best. (This section reminded me of President Hinckley. I love that President Hinckley always reminded us to do our best, but make sure it's our very best. I liked that the author spelled out that some days our best is better than others. We won't need to have any regrets if we know that we have always done our best.)

**Did any of those agreements speak to you?

Because I'm the Mom

We were able to attend the morning dedication session of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple today. I loved that Olivia was old enough to experience it too. The speakers were wonderful and I was reminded of the great many blessings that I enjoy because of the temples.

One of the speakers talked about how there are only minutes (or hours) needed to travel to arrive at one of 13 temples in Utah, but that the spiritual journey takes many years. I was grateful to be sitting next to Olivia who is in the beginning of that journey, forming her testimony of temples and learning more about the blessings that come from temple attendance. I felt so much gratitude too for my place in that spiritual journey... that I am trying harder to make my temple experiences more meaningful and I am trying to attend more often.

Another speaker--Margaret Lifferth of the Primary general presidency--spoke about obedience and mentioned that she often hears her 3 year old grandson ask his mom "Why?" when she tells him to do something. Many times his mama will take the time to explain to him why he should obey, but sometimes her answer is just a simple, "Because I'm the mom." Sister Lifferth said that she wanted her grandson to understand that it was because she loved him most of all, and she wanted only the very best for him... that his obedience would help bring him the full joy that she desired for him.

She compared that to all of us and the need to listen and hearken to the counsel of the Lord... He loves us the most of all and knows what will bring us joy.

I hope that I will keep that in mind as I strive to listen and be obedient.

I can't end this post without saying what a cry baby I am... President Monson reminded us that the closing songs were a part of the Kirtland, Ohio Temple dedication and the Salt Lake Temple dedication. I was all choked up and emotional before the first note was played. Needless to say, the warbled notes and words coming from me weren't pretty, yet heartfelt still the same.

**Do you get emotional easily?
**Do you ever say "Because I'm the mom" (or the teacher or the aunt or the grandma) to children in your life?

Happy Easter!

These last few days I've been so happy to see signs at businesses stating they would be closed for Easter Sunday. Local retailers say, "Thanks for coming, have a happy Easter" after we check out. I am comforted to know that this holiday is celebrated and honored.

I loved Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, "None Were With Him" and found this great (short) video clip:



My favorite quote: "...may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,”21 for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone."

**What do you do to remember the Savior at Easter?

200th Post

For the 200th time I'll publish a post
With not much to say, just a little boast...

I got a job, oh yes, it's true
A part-time gig at WIC is what I'll do.

I was going to interview at a hospital as well
Timpanogos Regional might have hired, which could have been swell.

Olivia asked, "You'll work at Wikipedia, Mom?"
And Coleman said, "Timpanogos Cave, that's the bomb!"

They are excited to get to play with friends
Re-entering the work force might give me the bends.

I'll be teaching about nutrition and such
and if we go to lunch I can now go dutch.

So many gracious thanks to everyone
For your love and concern, maybe our worries aren't done.

The mess that our economy is in
Has taken it's toll where Ryan's work has been.

His job is still there but hours are cut
And his salary too, it's a pain in the ....

Provident living is a great and wise school of thought
Had we done it better we might not feel so distraught.

We know that we will come out okay
And we'll build our savings for the NEXT rainy day.

We are so very grateful to those who have given so freely
Of time, means, and compassion or even a mealy.

We hope you aren't bored with this silly little rhyme,
We will end it now, it's certainly time.

Blessings of the week...

This week I'm grateful for so many supportive friends and family members.

I'm grateful for good counsel from Church leaders (listen here) and a chance to examine my life and see where I need to improve. Oh, can we count the ways? I love Conference weekend. I love eating cinnamon rolls and watching Conference with my family while they color ties and play Conference Bingo. (This time around I missed gathering at my granddad's house for a yummy potluck and visiting with my family.)

I'm grateful for a VT who knew that warm rolls and a simple note would be more meaningful than a lengthy visit and message.

I'm grateful for friends who brought soup and rolls and treats and words of encouragement.

I'm grateful for a dear friend who provided me with a box of decadent dark chocolates, complete with a guide so it wouldn't be a guess each time I chose one of the treats she hand-picked for me.

I'm grateful for kids who love me, even though by their own admission (and mine) I wasn't very much fun this weekend.

I'm grateful that Roberts gave us a chance to get out of the house and let the creative juices flow.

We made some alligators with boondoggle and beads. Longest craft to make EVER especially for a make-and-take. They should have called it a "stay for three hours and make this ridiculous alligator with no clear instructions and then take it with you if you can finish it with the help of the well-meaning and helpful worker who probably wishes you had passed her table by craft." Coleman loved it. Me, not so much.

Liv made this darling card.

I'm grateful that my husband finally returned to cell phone range.

I'm grateful for another chance to get out of the house and listen to uplifting music. If you need to commission some music, M. Ryan Taylor's your guy.


Most of all, I'm grateful for family members and friends who have provided leads for work opportunities, help with piano lessons and gymnastics classes, and good shoulders to cry on--even though many are in much worse situations than we are.


**What's your favorite part about Conference weekend?
**Do your craft projects ever elicit such negative emotions, or is it just me?
**What do you feel grateful for these days?

The Power of Words

We just read a wonderful book for Book Club and had a great discussion to go along with it. The Book Thief gives an entirely different perspective on the Holocaust than I have ever read (the main characters are German, law-abiding, and Nazi-supporting--if only to prevent getting in trouble--yet still find it in their hearts to hide, shelter, and nourish a Jewish man who is in danger of being sent to the camps), It is told from an unlikely yet extremely pleasant narrator--Death--who offers perspective and insight as only Death could do. I loved the beautiful writing style and so many things about this book--themes of hope, resilience of the human spirit, sacrifice, love, service, selflessness, and so much more.

One of the themes that has stuck with me in the last few days is about the power of words. Liesel (the heroine of the story) discovers a book, and takes it, as her brother is buried and her mother leaves her with a foster family and is presumably taken away for being Communist. Her circumstances are far from ideal, but with the book she has stolen (from the snowy ground) she learns to read and opens up a love for words and learning. She develops an unbreakable bond with her foster parents and friends that helps her through the uncertainty of life in Germany during the war. During the tumultuous times of WWII she is educated about the power of words and is taught from her Jewish friend Max that is hiding in their home, that much of the horror that took place for the Jews and so many others happened because Hitler used words to twist ideas, thoughts, and prejudices to the point that as a country, Germany was willing to exterminate a people. I've heard people say they thought the book was depressing, but I thought it offered so much more than just a glum look at the Holocaust. I loved this book and recommend it highly.

The idea that words are so powerful (for good or evil) has been floating around in my head a lot lately. Today I taught Relief Society--it was the talk given by Neil L. Andersen of the Seventy Presidency last General Conference called "You Know Enough." In so many ways it was just what I needed to learn about. With the theme of words being powerful stuck in my mind, there were some phrases that I shared and that we discussed as a group. I won't give much in the way of explanation, but I wanted to post these words for you to think about.

First, I shared a list of the phrases he used to describe being in a spiritual funk. I know that each of us has found ourselves in that frame of mind at different times of our lives. Maybe we are now, or maybe someone we know is. I believe that everyone goes through cycles where they are strong and sure in their faith, and other times where things are hard and doubts creep in. Anyway, here are the "spiritual funk" phrases from his talk:

• Challenges
• Unbearable sorrow
• Shattered hopes and dreams
• [Feelings of being] inadequate and uprepared
• Doubt
• Confusion
• Difficulty finding spiritual footing

Do any of those things sound familiar? Contrast that list with the gems of wisdom and strenth that peppered his talk:

• Revelation
• Spiritual power and confirmation
• Foundation of faith
• We treasure [gospel] principles and ordinances
• Commitment to prayer
• Priceless spiritual knowledge
• Willingness to be obedient
• Ongoing witness of the Book of Mormon
• [Being] steady and patient
• Spiritual balance
• Simple, pure faith
• Faith is not just a feeling, it is a decision

He spoke of taking our moments of spiritual power, inspiration, and revelation and sinking them deep into the chamber of our souls, preparing our spiritual home storage, and settling it in our hearts. The idea that there are times to build our spiritual reservoirs with patience and steadfastness and other times to draw on that which we have stored is comforting to me.

We discussed at length the gospel truth that God loves us, and that we can gain that knowledge through prayer. Sometimes we (or loved ones) aren't in a position that we (they) desire to pray for that confirmation, and we (they) may not even recognize that they lack the knowledge that God loves them. Sometimes we (or someone else) can share that knowledge, simply by saying, "God loves you."

I don't know everything, or even most things (contrary to what I've told my children), but I do know ENOUGH. I know that God loves me and loves each of you. With all of the other challenges and uncertainties that swirl around us, it is enough to know that.

**Have you read (or do you plan to read) The Book Thief?
**What do you believe about the power of words?
**How do you get yourself out of a spiritual funk?

To Be Like Her

For the last several months I've been working on an extended family newsletter. Several of my many cousins and I felt like it was an important way for us to stay in touch and also learn more about our heritage so we've joined efforts to collect information on our family members. For this edition, we focused on our great-grandmother Madeline (whom my mom is named after). A few weeks before my granddad passed away, I got to interview him about his mother so we could include his memories and recollections. It was so wonderful to learn about such an incredible, strong, and faithful woman.One of the main reasons I love learning about my ancestors is because I feel like it helps me sort out who I am and who I can become. I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting several weeks ago about the talk, "Come What May, and Love It" which included some information from our interview about Madeline.

I think that this was one of his best talks. It seems that in his later years, my granddad spoke form his heart and shared personal experiences and insights that touched many people.

As he did with so many of his talks, he referred to his mother and football in this talk. Football was one of the great loves of his life. Ryan and I chuckled during our interview with him before we were married, because he drew us a football type diagram of where we should park, how we should enter the temple, and even our placement in the sealing room. Football was a part of him, and that was in large part due to the support that his mother gave him. His father was a businessman and felt that the children should spend their time working in the family business. My granddad's mother made sure that he had time for football and other sports because she saw their value.

A few weeks before my granddad passed away, I had the chance to interview him about his mother. She was a remarkable woman. In his words she was: "perfect, genuine, aggressive, positive, Mrs. Republican. She had a lot of zip in life, she was always busy, and she was just not a mediocre person, she was an achiever. She was the most organized person I know." I asked him if they had any family traditions while he was growing up. He said, "Yes! WORK!" He said his mother was a model housekeeper and kept her gardens manicured to perfection. She was a state champion runner when she was young in the 100 yard dash and always lovedx sports. She insisted on good language and would correct them if they made mistakes. As I talked with him more, I realized that she was a person I would love to know and be like. He said she belonged to to women's groups and a "contemporary readers' club" which her husband called the "Contemptable Women's Club." At this point, Ryan thought that maybe I already was a little like her.

She encouraged prayer, 100% attendance at meetings, and didn't accept any excuses from anyone. She told her children often that she didn't want any "scrubs." I asked my granddad if there was anything his mother had done to help her children become the extraordinary people that they are. He responded, "I don't know that we're all that great, but she never let us sit down much and rest. She always had a page of assignments to perform." When he was seven, she spoke with him about his older cousin Gordon. She said, "Now you watch Gordon. He'll amount to something." She was right about that and she was right about so many other things.

I love the advice that she gave to her son after a hard and disappointing day at football. She said, "Joseph, come what may, and love it."

"She taught her children to trust in themselves and each other, not blame others for their misfortunes, and give their best efforts in everything. When [they] felt down, she expected [them] to pick themselves up and get going again... I think she may have meant that every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don't sing and bells don't ring, yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger wiser, and happier as a result." ("Come What May, and Love It," Ensign, November 2008).

I have a lot of growing and progressing to do (gardening, housekeeping, always having my hair perfect, organization, general perfection--just a few small things to work on, right?), but I hope I can be like her.

**Have you caught the family history bug?

Bread, Glorious Bread

It's a well known fact that I would not be a good on a gluten-free diet. I love all things carbohydrate, particularly those made with wheat.

In an effort to be more self-sufficient, I have started making bread with the wheat we have in our food storage.

Despite the fact that my mom makes homemade rolls all the time and that she is a pro at making bread, baking bread has always scared me a little bit (will I kill the yeast? will it rise? will it taste good? do I really have ALL DAY to spend making bread?) but I was determined to find a way to do it. I got a great recipe from a Relief Society activity, but it made too much (My Kitchen-Aid will only mix so much and I don't have 5 loaf pans).

I was so excited when my sister-in-law Kristen gave me a fabulous book of her best recipes for Christmas which included her bread recipe, aptly titled "Best Bread Ever." We've made it several times, and we've always had success. The thing I love best is that it's super simple and it takes just over 2 hours, start to finish. We have LOVED having fresh bread with our dinners and for toast in the morning. With her permission, I'll share the recipe with you (because I never have "extra" bread to share, unless you trade me cookies or something).

Best Bread Ever1 1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp oil
2 cups water
3/4 cup milk
6 to 8 cups flour (You can use all white flour, all wheat flour, or a blend of white and wheat. I have loved it with about 2 cups of white flour and 5 cups of wheat flour, freshly ground.)

Put all dry ingredients into a mixing bowl (I put the dry ingredients in my Kitchen-Aid). Put liquid ingredients into a microwave safe bowl and heat in the microwave until it's very hot to the touch. Pour liquids into the dry ingredients. Knead with hands or mix in mixer for 10-12 minutes. If dough is sticky, add flour sparingly. Let rise for 45 minutes. Punch dough to flatten. Remove from bowl and divide in half. Shape two loaves and put into greased bread pans. Let rise for 40-45 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

And just because I love bread, I wanted to share another great recipe from my friend Elaine. I love pumpkin things, especially during the fall and holiday months. The other day though I had a hankering for this yummy bread and thought, what the heck, who cares if it's February, I can make it again.

Pumpkin Bread

Preheat oven to 350 F.

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Cream together butter, sugar, and eggs. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Alternate mixing in dry ingredients and pumpkin until it's thoroughly mixed. Stir in chocolate chips. Spray pans with Pam and bake two large loaves for 60 to 65 minutes (5 small loaves for 50-55 minutes or muffins for 20-25 minutes).

I love making this bread in small loaf pans so I can use a few for our family and take a few others to friends.

**Do you make your own bread?
**Do you have season-specific foods?
**Is your mouth watering?

Second graders make really good teachers

As I was helping in Olivia's class for her Valentine's Party, I was taught a valuable lesson.

There is a student in her class who has some form of degenerative disorder that has weakened her muscles to the point that she is wheelchair bound and needs help with everything she does. Despite numerous tests, doctors haven't been able to figure out what is happening or how they can stop it.

Her classmates and schoolmates have always rallied around her--in the fall her neighbors sponsored a carnival to raise money for her and just last month the school held a "Penny War" to raise money to buy her a special computer.

Tiffany comes to school when she is able, but has a weak immune response, so she's been absent for most of the winter to protect her from getting sick.

She wasn't at school the day of the party, and Liv's teacher said she wasn't sure she would be able to come. About half way through the party, as the kids were having fun decorating cookies, playing games, and doing crafts, Tiffany and her mom entered the room.

It didn't take more than a couple of seconds for the kids to realize that she had come in and they all jumped up from their seats and rushed to her, yelling her name and saying sweet things like "Oh, we are so happy you are here!" and "It's so good to see you again!"

The next thing that happened brought me to tears. All of the children burst into a cheer that was obviously well-practiced... and repeated it several times. It is short, but moving:



These children show unconditional love to someone who is their peer, yet is just a little different than they are.

I have been thinking for the past few days that I wish we could respond to each other in the same way--that we could rush to each others' sides and give a cheer for each other, even just a little inward hooray, hoping with all sincerity the best for each person around us.

Second graders make really good teachers.

Update: Thanks to Beckie for pointing out that there is a website for Tiffany: www.helptiffany.org. Visit if you'd like to know more about Tiffany!

Going to the Post Office

Coleman's preschool took a trip to the post office last week. It was a good reminder of something I want to do more of: send good mail! It's so easy to shoot off an email, but there is nothing like going to the mail box, expecting only bills or junk mail, to find an unexpected card, note, or package from a friend or loved one. I hope I can do more of the sending this year. Watch out, good mail just might be coming your way.

All the kids got to mail a letter to someone or have one sent to them. Coleman was so excited to get his very own mail the next day.

They showed us around the post office and then took us outside so we could see the mail trucks. The sun was so bright!

Coleman and his class with our tour guide. He was great!

Not that this qualifies as "good mail" but at least it made me laugh. Apparently ordering the flagging tape that we used for Red Ribbon Week gets you on all sorts of fun mailing lists, like this handy catalog for janitorial supplies. I know my house cleaning skills need much improvement, but do I really need THAT much help?

**Do you like to send good mail?
**Have you gotten any good mail lately?
**What's the funniest thing you've gotten in the mail?

Lighthouses and Random Thoughts

This last week has been a busy one for me in my church responsibilities... and each thing I've worked on has given me an opportunity to reflect on a few ideas. They aren't deep doctrinal thoughts and may not be enlightening to you, but I'll share them anyway.

Last week we had New Beginnings for the Young Women in our ward. We based the night on the 2009 Mutual Theme which is found in Timothy 4:12. It reads "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." We ate yummy soup and cheesecake, which always starts a night off well :). We had lighthouses all around and our YW President spoke about how we can be like a lighthouse to those around us by being an example of the believers. Several of the young women spoke about each of the Young Women's Values (Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice & Accountability, Good Works, Integrity, and the newly added value of VIRTUE) and how that value can help them be an example of the believers. I love listening to these girls (12 to 18 years old) speak from their hearts about spiritual matters.

Our bishop spoke last and reminded us that light from lighthouses reaches a certain distance before it can't be seen anymore. He mentioned that one lighthouse had the capacity to reach 20 miles, which seems like a long way! He asked us to think about our own circle of influence and what we can do to make sure that we are a good example to people within that circle. As I think about how technology allows us to communicate, I am encouraged (and a little overwhelmed) to think that our circle of influence can reach all the way around the world. I don't claim to have a strong voice or influence, but I do hope that I can be a force for good.

On Sunday Ryan and I spoke during our Sacrament Meeting and we were assigned to speak about my granddad's last General Conference talk "Come What May, and Love it." When I first heard our assignment, I was excited and thought (pridefully) how great it was, because I could perhaps give some more insight to what he had said since I was his granddaughter. Very shortly after, I started to realize the error of my thinking and panicked... "Oh no! People will expect me to give more insight to his words!" We made it through our talks, and I was grateful for the chance to study my granddad's wise counsel more in depth.

His talk is about making it through challenging times in our lives by laughing, seeking for the eternal, understanding the principle of compensation, and relying on the Lord. The one thought that has stuck with me is about trying to gain an eternal perspective. I know that Heavenly Father can see and understand me and my life in a clearer way than I can. I can even verbalize that. But when it comes to praying and even desiring or hoping for certain things, I think I have it all figured out. I wonder if my imploring, however heartfelt, is the spiritual equivalent to asking to eat candy and drink soda for all of my meals or to play video games all day long. When my kids ask for things that aren't good for them, I say no, over and over again. In their minds, the requests they make are reasonable and good. In my "wisdom" though, I can see that some things aren't in their best interest--I know the consequences and I can see a broader picture. I say no because I hope for more for them and I know that in the long run, they will be glad I said no. Sometimes I don't get what I ask for from Heavenly Father either. It isn't because He doesn't love me--it's because He knows more and blesses me with the things that are best for me, on a grander scale than my mortal eyes and mind can understand. It is precisely because He loves me that I don't always get what I ask for. I have a strong desire to change my prayers from "Please bless me with..." to "Please help me to accept the ways that I am blessed..."


And a last thought is from the Relief Society lesson that I taught from Elaine Dalton's talk "A Return to Virtue" which was fitting since virtue is the newest addition to the Young Women's values. She said, "Virtue is a word we don't often hear in today's society, but the Latin root word virtus means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost." One sister in our class noted that in our society, virtue isn't just a word not heard often, but it can be thought of as being negative, prudish, or old fashioned. The thought that has been going over and over in my head is that we need to be the guardians of virtue... no one else will do it for us.

I love what President Monson said (and that Sister Dalton quoted in the talk): "You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow." (This brought the lighthouse idea full circle for me.) At the end of the lesson I had the sisters sign a banner, pledging that they would return to virtue. Some of the ladies (particularly the older ones) thought I was off my rocker as I handed them a permanent marker and asked them to write on my tablecloth, but I think that if we do something tangible and make a statement that we will do something, it's more likely to happen.

All photos in this post were taken by Ryan Harper of Ryan Harper Photography. The first and third are a lighthouse that is on Cape Cod, MA (taken in September 2007) and the middle photo is of Pigeon Point on the California coast (taken in November 2008).

**Any thoughts?

The Art of Juggling

Last Sunday as I was listening to Music and the Spoken Word I was reminded of something else I want to work on in 2009--finding a balance between the things that I have to do, the things that I should do, and the things that I want to do.

Over the coming months I want to make sure that I make time for cultivating and improving abilities (and responsibilities), my physical health, my relationships, my spirituality, my intellectual prowess (do I still have that?), my emotional well being, my service to others, and any other area that might need refinement.

The challenge lies in the fact that there are a limited number of hours in each day and a limited amount of energy that I can put forward. My "to do" list seems to stay fairly constant because so many things are on-going or repeating. Despite that fact, I still like to make lists and I get great satisfaction when I can cross something off. I've tried the whole electronic tasks or lists, but it isn't the same as physically writing on paper (cute paper and a great pen help) the things I want to accomplish, then being able to cross them off once they are done. Some days, I list things that I've already done (like showering or making my bed) just so I can cross something off the list and have a tangible record that I have accomplished something.

I love the scripture that Lloyd Newell quoted, found in Ecclesiastes 3:1: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." I need to keep reminding myself that there are many worthy and worthwhile pursuits that may not necessarily be part of this wonderful season of life that I am in.

In 2009 I want to make the most of this--my season in life--as a wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, friend, neighbor, volunteer, and servant of the Lord.

**How do you prioritize to make sure you do the most important things?
**Are you a "to do" list maker?
**Do you love the season of life you find yourself in?

I Love To See The Temple

Last week I went to the temple early in the morning. It was dark and bitterly cold and I noticed a few other people walking from nearly empty parking lot. Each of us hurried to get out of the cold and into the warm, peaceful refuge of the temple. I felt inclined to break into a run, but I kept it to a brisk walk to keep from looking like a total idiot. It struck me that I want to cultivate that same anxious and excited feeling to get to the temple often--to serve, to worship, and to learn.

Once inside, I chuckled with the cute elderly woman that not only was I there on the last day of the month, but it was also the last day of the year. She smiled at me and said, "It's okay, dear, you're here, and that's what is important." Indeed.

To Be A Queen

In the past I have set New Years Resolutions and have been sorely disappointed in myself when I don't reach them. Likewise, I've felt something of sadness when reaching my goals doesn't have the glorious results that I think should come from such hard work and dedication. As the new year is upon us, I have a new approach: I am not going to set goals. Mind you, there are many, many things I want to improve on and focus on in the coming year, but I am not going to set any specific, measurable, or attainable goals. How's that for trying to reach my potential? In light of that, I want to post about things that will help me with the improving that I want to do.

I've been reading a great YA fiction book called The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. I came across a paragraph about the heroine, Alyss, who was about to start her training to be the queen of Wonderland the queendom is attacked by her outcast aunt who has returned to regain the throne that she feels is rightfully hers. Alyss narrowly escapes death and learns that both of her parents have been killed. She travels through the looking glass and lands in the streets of London (through a puddle) and comes in contact with a street urchin who befriends her and helps her survive . The author explains that Alyss has had a first-hand, real life experience that taught a lesson which would have been in her curriculum for becoming a queen if she had proceeded with her training. It struck a chord for a couple of reasons. First, I believe that all women have the potential of becoming queens--in their own homes and in an eternal perspective (my previous post on being a queen was more comical than anything serious, but it's good to know that my kids think I'm a queen)... Second, the lesson is on something that most of us struggle with--judging others without having a full vision or understanding of their position and challenges. The lesson is:

"For most of the universe's inhabitants, life is not all gummy wads and tarty tarts; it is a struggle against hardship, unfairness, corruption, abuse, and adversity in all its guises, where even to survive--let alone survive with dignity--is heroic. To soldier through the days in the wake of failure is the courageous act of many. To rule benevolently, a queen should be able to enter into the feelings of those less fortunate than herself."--The Looking Glass Wars, page 102

So there is one of the things that I will work on this year... trying harder to walk in other people's shoes without passing judgment and also assuming (understanding) that most people are dealing with unknown challenges and trials, and therefore feeling more compassion for others. I know it will help me be a better "Queen of Everything."**Any thoughts?