In my e-mail this morning, I found that I had received an e-mail from my brother in Texas. Attached to it were some really cute pictures. There were three pictures taken at my niece Ashley's dance recital in the rotunda of the George H.W. Bush Library at Texas A&M. Below is my favorite:
Aren't Ashley and Landon the cutest? They are getting so big. Yesterday was Ashley's 8th birthday. She will be baptized this Saturday. I wish I could be there. If it weren't for my sub job, I'd probably have made the trip. But they'll be here at the end of May for 2 weeks and I can't wait!!!
is my ward family. Though we are a very unique group of young single adults, I still find enjoyment and happiness being a part of the Logan River 3rd Ward. We do have some great times together. And most of the time I'm happy with my decision to stay in the ward! So today I give thanks for my ward family...
...the gospel in my life...
...and the talents I've been given.
is the gospel in my life. I'm so blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I don't know where I'd be without it. It gives me direction in my life. It gives me hope. And most of all, it offers me the opportunity to change and become better. I know I would be lost without it. So today I give thanks for the gospel in my life...
...and the talents I've been given.
is the talents that I've been given. Although yesterday was a crazy day filled with practice for 5 different musical numbers that will take place within the next week, I am thankful that I have been given musical talents. I know I haven't developed some of the them as I should, but there is always the chance to be better, beginning today. I am thankful that I have a voice to sing and fingers to play the piano and clarinet (even if they are small ;o) ). I sometimes complain about having to play the piano for different church things, but when it comes right down to it, it's really kind of fun. So today, I give thanks for the musical talents I've been given.
P.S. I decided to do a countdown with the 12 days of Christmas this year. However, I've turned it on its head. Instead of listing gifts, etc... I've chosen to write about something for which I am grateful over the next twelve days.
P.P.S. The above post is for yesterday, the 13th of December. I'm working on today's.
I just had to share this great picture. My nephew Dylan is as turning into as big a hunter as his dad. This is his first goose, which he shot yesterday (7 December) in Soda Springs. School up there was cancelled so he got to go hunting. Lucky!
"With every failure comes the opportunity for success."- Glenn Beck
I recently heard this quote and it struck me how true it is. I have to admit that I thought I would be in a completely different place in my life right now. I had everything planned out. I was supposed to have had a wonderfully marvelous student-teaching experience, substitute teach for the spring semester following graduation, and then land a great teaching job. In addition, I was supposed to be living on my own, driving a new vehicle, and just being an independent adult. In the mix was a great social life with lots and lots of dating, etc.
Nothing has turned out like I had planned. I am still living at home, driving a '91 Chevy truck, substitute teaching, and working on a better social life. And I have been angry and disappointed about this for a long time.
Recently though, I have taken my own advice and come to accept that LIFE ISN'T FAIR. Sometimes, no matter how good you are, or how many plans you make, things are going to suck. You just have to accept it and move on.
And that's what I am doing now. I'm taking what I perceive as failures and looking for positives. I'm making new plans and setting new goals. It's not easy. I have setbacks and dissapointments. But if I learned one thing through all this, its that there is a plan for me and when things don't turn out the way I thought they should have, then that plan wasn't the right one for me.
In my last institute class of the semester, Bro. Irwin talked about pride. He quoted from Pres. Benson's landmark address "Beware of Pride". Something that struck me was the word "enmity". Said Pres. Benson: "the central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us." Bro. Irwin was mostly talking about enmity in the marriage relationship, but also pointed out that it happens in any type of relationship of which we are a part. He challenged us all to look for sources of enmity in our lives and then find a treatment or a cure.I've been thinking about this for the past couple of days. It has been interesting to look at my school relationships with this in mind. For example, there are teachers at the school I'm at who know me or at least should recognize me. Some however, have pretty much disregarded my presence, or so I thought. In looking at these relationships through new eyes, I have come to adopt a new point of view. Maybe they do recognize me but aren't sure what my name is, etc. Or maybe they've got something else on their minds instead of going out of their way to talk to me. As I've tried to have a new perspective, I've worked to not let the little things bother me. It's not all about ME! I can be friendly and maybe they'll reciprocate, maybe they won't. In the end, it really doesn't matter if they said hi to me or not, so long as I did my very best to be a friend to all.I think this is what Pres. Benson was trying to get us to learn. When we forget about ourselve, we take pride out of our lives. We begin to search for ways to help others find happiness and in doing so we put their needs above our own. Ultimately, we become like our Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm thankful that Bro. Irwin chose to teach us about this. I can definitely see a need to evaluate and rid my life of enmity and pride. I know it can bring a positive change in me and make me happier, which something that I really want.
