Hello 2018

Can I make a confession? 

I don't like the term "New Year's Resolution", and I never have.

New Year - New Post

goodbye 2017, hello 2018!

I love the feeling a new year brings. A new year is a fresh start, a clean slate, a desire for change. As soon as Christmas is done and over with, the wheels in my brain start turning, and I start thinking

Sacrifice

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As a family we have been preparing ourselves to receive the great blessing of having another temple in our midst.

At our last Stake Conference (in February), our Stake President issued the following challenge:

"I challenge each of you to make your own personal offering to the Lord by the time of the Payson Temple dedication.  Seek revelation to what the Lord would have you sacrifice to lay on the alter of the temple."

My offering:
 my negative self-talk.

I'm sacrificing all my pity parties, and all the mean things I tell myself.  I've become really good at bullying, and beating myself up.  I knew that this truly would be a sacrifice.  Something that is not easy to do.  Something that will take a lot of hard work, and focus.  My negative self-talk has been around for decades, and is a trait that has been passed down from generation to generation.  It's a hard habit to break.  But it's going to stop with me, right now- no more.

 I've been diligently trying to learn to compliment myself, to love myself- flaws and all, to forgive myself for all the stupid things I do and did, and to see myself the way Heavenly Father sees me.  

I've been reading tons of books about taking control of your thoughts.  One of my favorites is the book, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay.  She teaches that what you say to yourself (whether out-loud or in your mind) you believe. And this belief shapes your life. I'm learning that our thoughts control so much!  
Have you ever been around a person who complains all the time?  What is their life like?  They're usually always sick (or complaining that something hurts), and they're never very happy -everything stinks. I'm realizing that life is what you make it.  It's all about your perspective- your thoughts.  We get to decide how we feel about something, what makes us happy, what makes us angry, if we feel pretty or ugly, fat or thin. etc. It's our choice. No one can make us feel or think anyway we don't want to.

How many times have we heard our leaders say "watch your thoughts"  I always thought they were only referring to inappropriate 'naughty thoughts'.  I'm now realizing that they were also referring to our negative thoughts-  whether about ourselves, a situation, or someone else.

So I've embarked on a mission to change a 37 year old bad habit. I'm taking charge of my thoughts - all of them. No more negative self-talk.  It is not easy and it is not going to happen over night.  I have to remind myself daily to be patient that it takes time to learn and create a new habit.

This scripture has been my motto.  I have it taped up around my house where I see it often.  It helps to remind me that if any thought I'm thinking is not good, change it so that it is.  I truly believe that happy, positive thinking is the way to go.

If Tomorrow Never Comes-

This morning in the paper I ran across an obituary for a young man about my oldest sons age.  He died in a car accident.  Then it hit me:  

 We never really know when our last time with those we love will be. 

  I took a moment to reflect on my last moments spent with my children and husband.  What did I say to them?  What was my mannerism?   Was I kind and happy and smiling?   Did I take the time to hug and kiss them? Did I tell them how much I love them and how proud I am of them? 

 This really hit home to me.

 From this moment on, I am going to consciously try my best to do these things - to make every moment with my loved ones count.  

 I never know when it may be my last, and I don't want any regrets.

Connect

HAPPY 2015!

Last night was a pretty boring New Year's Eve.  We had plans to go see a movie with some friends, but when we arrived at the theater, after several text messages, we realized we had misunderstood, and we were at two different movie theaters.  So, we went home, put on our P.J.'s, and pretty much just lounged around.  We did watch the ball drop at midnight, and that's all that really counts when it comes to New Year's Eve anyway.

 This little girl did not make it.  She fell asleep before 9:00.

This guy however did.  And since he got in such a good nap, he was in charge of waiting up for all the older kids to get home.  

With the new year comes new year resolutions.  Today I want to share mine.  This year, I chose to sum my resolutions up in just one word - 

This year I want to just CONNECT.

-Connect with the scriptures

-Connect with my husband

-Connect with my children

-Connect with my health

-Connect with my spirit and soul

-Connect with my Savior

-Connect with God and His Spirit

My over-all goal is to become WHOLE in body, mind, heart, and soul.

Happy New Year- Let's make 2015 the best year yet!

Finished

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I'm done, finished, completed, and most of all I've accomplished the goal I set out for myself to read the Doctrine and Covenants this month.  And boy am I glad to be done.  I'm embarrassed to admit that this is my first to ever read the D&C cover to cover, and it was really challenging for me.  The next time I read it, I plan to take it slowly and use a supplement book like this to help me understand it better.

While I still spent a few minutes in the Book of Mormon each day preparing for family scripture study, I've missed my daily dates with the Book of Mormon and can't wait to get reacquainted.

P.S.- Have you heard about My Origination?  CHECK IT OUT!  Do you think I could pass as an 18 year old so I can do this?  I really really want to.