Almost doesn’t count…
Today is July 1st. This means that we have lived through a full six months of the year 2010. This got me thinking about what my new years resolutions were, and I decided to check my progress and share my status with you. You can read my New Years post HERE where I clearly outline my goals.
Resolution 1.) to be a better missionary. i will invite (and pray the invitation is accepted) a minimum of 10 people to attend church with me. I was able to get two visitors last year, and although neither have been baptized yet I know that they have at least been introduced and that they know where to go if they have questions or concerns of any kind.
My first New Years Resolution this year was to be a better missionary. I feel as thought I got off on the right track by having the missionaries who are currently living in my ward over for dinner once and inviting my Mother over to join us. My mom has accompanied me to several church events where she seemed to have enjoyed herself, and I thought that maybe having her over for dinner would be a good start. We ate the dinner I had prepared, watched a church movie with the guys and then read a from our scriptures outloud. I am pretty sure the topic of that evenings discussions was The Restoration of the gospel because, still to this day, it is one of my favorite things to discuss. My mom was given a Book of Mormon to read aloud from and then accepted the offer to keep it. I am not sure if she has read any of it since, but I know that she has been introduced and she knows where to go if she has any questions. I invited the missionaries over once again the following month, and my mother agreed to join us, but I fell ill and had to cancel our plans so that I could go to the hospital that evening. I haven’t signed up to have them over since, but I think its about time. They have such a strong spirit about them, and you can’t help but have a great time when they are spending time with you in your home. As far as inviting anyone else to church, I have drooped invites into conversations and emails throughout the year, but as not to seem overly pushy, haven’t followed up as much as I probably should have.
Resolution 2.) to better live the words of wisdom. I already follow the words of wisdom, but I want to be even healthier. I want to take care of this body that I have been given. I only get one and truth be told I have already put mine through hell and back in the seemingly short time i have been on this earth.
I am somewhat pleased with my progress on this resolution thus far. Of course I do follow the words of wisdom, I have since investigating the church and don’t ever intend on not following them, but, I still have a few unhealthy habits that I am sure I intended on giving up when I made this resolution. A decrease in fountain drinks would be a good start, as it seems to be my current obsession.
Resolution 3.) to be a better wife and mother. I will give all of myself to my family. I will make sure they know i love them and that I am here for them. I will teach Sam the right ways of living and try to get less frustrated with him as he grows and learns and naturally makes mistakes. I will raise my daughter as best as I can and remember my unconditional love for her at all times – even during the 3am feeding on my 97th consecutive sleepless night following her birth.
Ah, yes. Its strange to re-visit these. I wrote them while I was expecting little Miss Charlie to arrive, and was almost clueless as to how her birth would effect me. I would like to say that I am, again, pleased with my progress on this resolution. I have been getting less frustrated with Sam as he grows, learns, and makes mistakes. He is actually very mature for his age, I think, and we have developed a great method of communication. As far as Charlie goes, I make a conscious effort to enjoy her every moment of baby-hood. She has almost doubled in size since her birth and I know she’s just going to continue to get bigger. I still consider her a newborn, at only 7 weeks old, but she can sit unassisted for over an hour in her little chair and she can roll-over and scoot too. She still has her baby smell, but it is quickly fading and just the thought of it being entirely gone makes me want to cry. I try to focus only her while she nurses, although I do often multi-task, and just enjoy her. Sam grew up way to fast for me, and I am trying to slow down and enjoy it more this time around. She may very well be my last baby (although i hope not!) and I don’t to miss a thing. I also have taken much better care of my house and my other in-home responsibilities this year, than in years past. My focus is my family and everything I do – or choose not to do, for that matter – is for them… even if they might not understand it at times.
Resolution 4.) blog more often. I want to use this blog as the tool i originally intended it to be. I want to learn more from ya’ll and i want to write about the ways that the LORD is working in my life.
I have pretty much failed thus far at obtaining this goal. I think about blogging ALL the time, but just never get around to it. You do have my promise that I will continue to make an effort when it comes to keeping this site updated. I do want to hear from you guys more often and I want to speak to you too.
Resolution 5.) read The Book of Mormon from start to finish. The ladies group at my church is doing a challenge together so that we can all read a little bit each day and complete the book on or before the end of the year.
Fail. Big fat FAIL. I haven’t even finished 2 Nephi, to be completely honestly with you, but I AM reading and I WILL finish. I am waiting before trying to accomplish other church-related things until I am done reading my scriptures from cover to cover. I am extremely motivated to do this, believe it or not, I just need a few hours of uninterrupted silence and I could probably read it all at once.
Almost doesn’t count, and because it doesn’t count I will continue to strive to reach these goals that I outlined 6 months ago. I’m so very glad I decided to revisit them, it was a good reminder.
Also, I’d love to hear from you… so de-lurk, my blogger friends, and say hi!
(PS what time does Magnolia ward start? I want to visit ya’ll, but I never remember what time your meetings begin. Sorry!)
Filed under Mormon, baptism, being a mother, family, goals, holidays, what i'm doing... | Tags: 2010, lds, new years resolutions revisited | Comments (2)Agency & the Words of Wisdom…
When I first became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormon as most folks tend to call it, one of the most frequently asked questions I got from friends, family and even random people who happened to be listening in on whatever conversations I happened to be having at the time was, “Don’t you have to, like, uh, give up a bunch of stuff now?” or something along those lines.
My answer was – and still is – a simply put “No”.
Now, I assume that these people were referring to the Word of Wisdom when asking me about changes I would have to make in my life when joining the church. The Word of Wisdom, as defined in True to the Faith, is a law of health revealed by the Lord for our physical and spiritual benefit. This revelation, as documented in the Doctrine and Covenants, basically tells us what foods are good for us as well as those that should be avoided. We are promised spiritual and physical blessings for obeying The Word of Wisdom.
We have been instructed to not use alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, and tobacco (D&C 89: 5-7). We are also taught that we should eat Vegetables and fruits, which should be used “with prudence and thanksgiving”. The flesh “of beasts and of the fowls of the air” which is “to be used sparingly” and Grains such as wheat, rice and oats, which are “the staff of life”. (D&C 89:10-17)
We are given promises of blessings if we obey the Word of Wisdom, as stated in D&C 89: 18-21.
And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
Now, back to the topic I wanted to talk about today, Agency. We are each given the gift of Agency, the ability to act and choose for ourselfs. So when it comes to the Word of Wisdom I like to think of it as guidelines that we have been given by our church leaders to help us live a healthy life. If I follow the Word of Wisdom and never drink alcohol I will never, ever, become an alcoholic. If I choose not to do illegal drugs, I will never become a slave to the hold they would eventually have over me. Choosing not to use tobacco makes it impossible for me to become addicted to it and also much less likely to get different types of cancer that modern-day science has proved it to cause. If I choose to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, to limit my meat intake, and to consume grains I choose to live a healthier life. The most important thing here is that *I choose* to do these things. I choose to follow the guidelines of my church leaders. I choose to be healthy. I choose to avoid addiction.
I have not always been a member of the church, and I have not always followed these guidelines. I have done drugs, drank myself into such an ignorant state that I was completely unable to defend myself from what was happening to me, and even though I am barely 5 feet tall I once weighed over 200lbs because of my very unhealthy eating habits. If I had been made aware of the Word of Wisdom at a younger age I may have avoided some of the most horrible experiences and hardships of my life, but knowing that I chose to willingly participate in those activities, and that I am now choosing not too makes me feel that much stronger. I am very thankful that I have never really been addicted to these substances, and also thankful that I survived the poor actions – and sometimes very serious consequences that were a direct result of – my youth. I can attribute so many things to the choices that I once made, including getting cancer, before becoming a church member.
I would also like to point out that these revelations occurred prior to modern day science proving that alcohol and Tobacco were dangerous and that whole grains were good for you…
I am so happy to have been given the gift of agency. To be given the ability to act and to choose for myself. I am so thankful to have been introduced to the Words of Wisdom while I was still somewhat young and to have the rest of my life to choose to be a healthier woman.
Filed under Mormon, body image, healing, hope, how it started, quotes, religion vs science, sick | Tags: agency, lds, words of wisdom | Comment (0)the short version of what i’ve been up to:
I have been out of town, and I am exhausted. This is the very short version of everything I want to blog about.
Saturday was the Relief Society’s broadcast, and although it was a little different than I had expected I really enjoyed it. Before watching it we were able to make 1000 hygiene kits for families in need.
Sunday was a great meeting. It was fast and testimony week (early because of conference this weekend) and although I spent most of the sacrament meeting in the hall since Sam was talking loudly I enjoyed hearing the testimonies… I always do. I also was set apart for my first calling & paid my first full tithe (going to do it monthly) during the second hour of church. It was really a spirit-filled day.
Monday was the new member ice cream social for my ward. I was able to attend AND bring both of my parents along (they didn’t attend my baptism, and this is the first time they have been able to attend a church event.). My mom ran into a friend of a friend and both seemed to have had a great time!
I have been preparing for my first craft show all week! One of the sisters in my ward has helped me with some of the sweets I am making, and what a blessing that has been! I have made well over 250 cookies, hand-dipped chocolate covered pretzels, candied apples, chocolate covered apples, lollipops and old-fashioned hard candies to sell there in addition to my crafts. If you live in the southeast Texas area come out and see me! I’ll post a separate post with the address and hours of the show (I don’t know it off the top of my head…)
Last night my sister’s water broke. I was inspired to leave immediately to go and see her, although the original plan was to travel the next day. It took a little while but I convinced my parents that we should leave even though that meant we would drive until close to 3:30AM. Her placenta ended up rupturing and she had her baby via emergency c-section. Doctors said this was only the 3rd case were both the mommy and baby survived the rupture in the history of this small-town hospital. Auden Breize Alfaro was born on 10/1/09 at 1:30AM weighing in at 6lbs 14oz in Beeville, Texas. All seems well. I have a niece and Sam has a cousin. Sam was VERY excited about the baby and begged to hold her several times. He did great supporting her head and making sure her little hat stayed in place. The drive was a little hard on me, and we are all exhausted but are back home and doing well. Photos to follow soon.
I was supposed to go to the temple tonight for the first time, but missed it because of my travels. I am planning on going next week. A few weeks ago, when my grandmother was in town, she attended church with me. The RS lesson was about Baptisms for the dead, and this was something that she found interesting. She declined the opportunity to keep the lesson book she used in class, but asked me to make a list of Biblical reasons and examples where baptisms of the dead were preformed or talked about in the Bible. I am working on composing a mini-lesson for her to study via email and when I am done I’ll also post the scripture references here for any of you that are interested.
Filed under Mormon, about me, baptism, family, fast and testimony, scarey stuff!, what i'm doing... | Tags: 200 cookies, auden breize alfaro, baptisms for the dead, beeville texas, family, full tithe, ice cream social, lds, random updates, RS conferance in cypress texas, ruptured placenta, set apart for calling, short version of updates, temple, upcoming craft show in magnoilia texas, what i have been up too | Comment (0)I’m back from a long weekend away…
Thursday started out like my recent Thursdays have been. Sam and I got up and went to a local park. There was an abnormally nice squirrel that stole a cracker from me (I have never seen them get close to people) and then took the crackers Sam and I offered him. After eating two crackers alone he took crackers, one at a time, to squirrels hidden behind a large tree close by. I got a really neat 2 and a half-minute video of him doing this, and it ends with Sam chasing him away. I will upload and post it after I get my micro SD adapter back from my mother’s house.
After the park Sam and I stopped for a hot dog lunch and came home where I quickly put Sam down for his nap and welcomed the missionaries for their next visit. Our visit went by quickly (more about that in a separate blog…) and after they had gone I got ready for that nights enrichment meeting. One of the sisters in the local ward came and picked me up and we headed off to the church. One the way there I received an email on my blackberry from my mother with the subject line being “911”. Knowing that I wouldn’t answer my phone at church she had titled it as such so that I would know it was important and open it immediately instead of waiting. I opened the email to see that my great grandmother had been taken by life flight in the small town she lives in to a hospital in San Antonio for treatment. At the time of the email she was not expected to live through the night, and my dad (who was raised by his grandmother) was rushing down to San Antonio and praying that he would be able to say goodbye. My grandmother is 87 years old; she had 7 children of her own, and raised several of her grandchildren. She has a lot of health problems, including diabetes, and has had several strokes and heart attacks in the last decade not to mention an aneurysm in her brain that almost took her life a few years ago. I had accepted the fact that she wouldn’t make it, and put on a strong face in the car on the way to church, but when I got there I stepped outside to call my husband where I broke down like a baby and cried. Honestly, I was much more concerned about my father than I was about my grandmother. She wouldn’t be hurting anymore, I kept telling myself. I wasn’t sure that my Dad could handle her death. My dad was way to emotional to tackle the long drive by himself, so my husband gave me the OK to go with him on the trip. We made plans and coordinated Sam’s pick up with my mother. My dad picked me up from the church and I accompanied him, taking only what I had with me and nothing else. I wore the same clothes all weekend, and spent all my time at the hospital or at family’s houses sleeping for only a few hours a night. I didn’t shower, and I didn’t brush my teeth. I couldn’t, I hadn’t taken anything with me other than what I had on my back or in my purse, and my Bible and my Book of Mormon. On the way down there we had a very long talk about the Mormon Church. My dad told me that he had once dated a Mormon girl and did a lot of his genealogy research in her church library. While there he had learned a lot about their history and their beliefs. He talked about what he liked and didn’t like about the church, and told me he wanted me to join if that is what I felt was right for me. That surprised me, with him being Pentecostal. He had never said anything negative about the church at all, but I didn’t think he knew much about the church. We talked for hours about the church’s history. He likes a lot of the things they stand for, but he’s not sure he can believe how it was founded. I told him was planning on joining. He was actually happy. It was nice.
Throughout all of the sadness and awkwardness of the trip (I am not close with most of my father’s family) the highlight was seeing my grandmother and actually talking with her. She remembered me, and asked questions about my husband and my son. This was awesome because she has HUNDREDS of living descendents and with her health problems she sometimes doesn’t recognize or remember people. Also, I got to meet my first cousin once removed, Alan Hughes, for the first time in my life. He is one of FOUR Alan Hughes’ – so excuse me for referring to him as my first cousin once removed every time I refer to him. Other wise I would get confused as to which Alan I was talking about. Anyways we bonded over our love for Fords, classic American cars, good steaks, southern gospel hymns, family, children, and guns. (Can you tell we are southern?) I didn’t have my Springfield with me (I didn’t have much of anything with me, LOL) but I said something along the lines of “Man, I only have a .40 because I was worried about the kick of anything bigger, but if it was in my size and price range I totally would have gotten a 1911. Colts made ‘em purrrty, but man… Kimber is just awesome.” Then he said “I have a Kimber .40!” and we went outside away from my Obama-Loving-and-gun-hating-uncle to his truck and swapped gun stories and he let me check out his gun. He also told me the neat story about the grips his wife had given him. It’s a really sweet story. He is 40 years old and has 7 kids, and from what I hear, a really sweet wife. He lives in a different state, but after I told Casey all about him he said we’d take a trip out there one day to meet them all. He came to see grandma alone, so I haven’t met his wife and kids yet. Its amazing how a distant relative about 20 years older than me and I have so much in common. Its amazing the bonds family can create.
His sister- my first cousin once removed Leanna, was sick while she was in the hospital waiting room getting grandma updates. I was only around her for literally 30 seconds (when I arrived she was leaving) but I must have gotten whatever bug she was carrying. I was a little sick on Saturday, but it got worse on Sunday. Monday (today) has the been the worse yet, but I am feeling better now that its late. I think it has finally ran its course. I started to go out to church on Sunday, but was so ill that I had to keep pulling over so I could get sick. I finally gave up and turned around, even though I didn’t want to, but I figured It would be better for everyone if I wasn’t throwing up all over the church.
I am meeting with the missionaries again tomorrow, and unless something else goes wrong or I get sick again I will be at church this coming Sunday. I really enjoyed the few minutes of the enrichment meeting that I got to attend, and I really look forward to becoming a member of the church and attending that ward.
I haven’t read any of my scriptures over the past few days, even though I actually had them with me, because of all of the craziness of the trip. I will get back on schedule tomorrow, and am excited to do so! Also, my journaling has been short and sloppy and in my day-planner (not my actual journal that I purchased after watching O Remember, Remember) but at least I am still doing it.
Oh, and on a little side note I began telling Casey about “the years supply of food” and he amazed me by excitedly agreeing with me about saving food and gardening. At this time we have different reasons for wanting to do this, but at least we are on the same page about getting it done, and done quickly. In the coming weeks I’ll be preparing our back yard for a small garden, and starting to plant seeds in little homemade green houses while I wait for the yard to be finished. When September arrives I’ll plant my seedlings (and hopefully) have a garden! I am really bad with plants, and we live in a area filled with bugs and birds and other small animals. I am still going to try though, and I’ll keep you updated on how it goes. I’m very very excited, and so is Casey! Yay!
Also, if you haven’t already watched it PLEASE watch the video I posted in my previous post “Lessons I learned as a young boy”. It is so incredibly touching, I can’t even use words to explain its emotional impact on me.
Its 12:07AM and I’m still a little sick. Goodnight ya’ll!
Filed under Mormon, about me, family, gun rights!, healing, hope, prayer requests, scarey stuff!, sick, what i'm doing... | Tags: converstaion with dad, death, enrichment meetings, ford, great grandmother, guns, hughes, kimber, lds, Mormon, squirrels | Comment (1)