Tender mercy

So, last night Scout went to find his textbook to start his homework. We couldn't find it anywhere. We checked and rechecked everywhere.   Finally I decided I needed help.  I said a prayer asking for help in finding it.  I went and looked under scout's bed one more time. As I was getting back up, I looked down and saw my hand was resting on the missing book.  No other real explanation for it, we had looked there 3 times already.

I am grateful he heard and answered me.

Happy Monday !

Taking responsibility - Live what you believe

I guess this post has been coming for a while.  For some reason today seemed like the right day to write it. 

I was raised in a pretty orthodox Mormon household.. At the age of 19 I volunteered to spend 2 years serving as a missionary for my church.   I got married in an LDS Temple, and have raised my children in my faith.  While I was married we had periods of time that for one reason or another we did not attend church regularly.   We always seemed to find our way back to the familiar surrounds of the church.   I still attend church with my family every Sunday as we take our place in the fifth row of our chapel.

Some days it is so hard to stay focused on the meeting and feel the Spirit of what is being spoken.   I constantly check my watch to see how much longer is left in the meeting.  I have to repeatedly tell my children to hush and not be loud as they are obviously bored as well.  

After our hour long worship service we separate off into our Sunday School classes. More often than not I slip out and don't attend.   Again, I find the instructors boring and non engaging.  Of course I make sure my children make it to their classes.   After Sunday School the men and women separate into their own classes with the young men meeting separately than the young women.  Most of the time I will stay for this meeting, but depending on the instructor I may slip out the back door. 

Today after I excused myself from my last meeting I couldn't help but ask myself what I was doing.  I believe in the doctrines of the Mormon faith, so that wasn't the problem. I came to the realization that I was often just being a Mormon by name only.  Just going through the motions.

I realized that I am responsible for my own actions.  I cannot control whether or not a teacher or speaker is boring.  It is entirely possible that I am hearing the same talk I have heard for 40 years.   The Gospel doesn't change.  Why should I always expect to hear something new and entertaining or earth shattering?   I go to church to worship God and to learn of his Son, Jesus Christ.  I can control what I am learning.  I have the scriptures containing his word.  I have information at my fingertips that I can study to gain knowledge and strengthen my testimony of what I believe. 

I have to start walking the walk... not just talking the talk.  I am doing a disservice to myself as well as my children by not teaching them about our God and his Son. 

This blog can be applied to anyone... not just about religion.  Do your actions match your words?  Do you live what you believe?

I am going to make a conscious effort to make sure that my actions and beliefs are aligned....

5 minutes free write

So I'm waiting for class to start and no idea for my blog.   Scout has one or two football games today. For a kid that didn't want to play this year he sure is having fun. Football is his thing.  He seems to be enjoying high school. I just hope he stays on top of his assignments and asks for help when he needs it.

Bailey is rocking junior high. He does well in his classes and works hard to keep his grades up.

Bella is just Bella. She has a hard time getting up in the morning and getting moving. She does fine at school and keeps busy with soccer. I just wish she had a little more ooomph.

Well my five minutes is up.

Have a great thursday

Back to school

I'm sitting here waiting for my class at uvu to start. If all goes well, I will have two semesters plus student teaching left until I graduate.  I need to hunker down and just finish so I can move on.  

The kids are all busy with sports. Scout is playing football for the high school,Bella is playing soccer for utah fc,  and bailey is playing football for an 8th Grade accelerated Team. Life is good but busy.  I quit weight watchers and need to make a work out schedule.
Well. Class is starting, I'm out

Perspective

So last night I was sitting in the car watching part of Bella's soccer practice. From what I could see she was having a hard time with the drill. The coach appeared to be riding her pretty hard. In my head I was defending my baby. I thought he was being too hard on her. Of course, my windows were closed so I couldn't hear what was being said.  When practice was over I asked her about practice.  She said she really enjoyed it.  I said it looked like coach was getting after you. She said ya, he was, but I didnt have a good practice.  She proceeded to tell me how much she likes this particular coach and his practices. 

It rang in my ears about how as can be so quick to jump to conclusions about things before we know the details.   I am glad I kept my mouth shut this one time.
How often do we see something going on and we immediately start to mentally berate the person that we percieve as being at fault. 

Lets be a little slower to judge.  Have faith

Happy humpday

What is your legacy?

I was saddened last night by the news of one of my  coaches from junior high. He Coached me in football, wrestling, and track.  He was the coach as well as a friend.  He always greeted us with a smile and was as happy to see us as we were to see him.  I remember talking to him and he was so excited when he was adopting children. Coach Thrash Attended my 25th high school reunion with us. It has been amazing listening to the stories from all of the students that he had an impact on their lives. Now he is gone and all we have left are the memories and lessons he taught us. 

What will people say about us when we are gone? Are we going to be remembered as a great person, a friend, someone that really made a difference?  We have opportunities everyday to make a difference in somebody's life. 

Remember this as you interact with people today.

Oh baby!

Follow through or blow it off

I have noticed a bad habit that I have; I will have moments of self discovery where I will identify things that I want to do differently in my life. Sadly, more often than not I will get distracted and never put these new ideas into action.  I need to find a way to change this. Not only would I benefit from this, but my family would as well. 

How would you handle this? Any list makers? Post it posse?

Weight watchers

Anyone that knows me, knows that I have always struggled with my weight.  In February I stepped on the scale and was disgusted with what I saw. I weighed more than I ever had, it was time to do something about it.  I joined weight watchers and have have lost 40 pounds since then.  I still have a long ways to go.  I run or walk 5 days a week and am starting to really enjoy it. 

I have recently gotten into a rut and am having a hard time getting motivated to lose the next 20. I will find a way to do it, I just don't know how yet. 

I may be down- but I'm not out.

Catching up. High school reunion

Last month I attended my high school 25th reunion.  I had not been to any of my previous reunions. After high school I never really looked back.  With facebook I have connected with. A few old classmates and established friendships with some that I missed out on for one reason or another.  I had a pretty good time at the reunion. It was fun to catch up for a couple of minutes.   The jury is still out as to whether or not I will go to the next one.

While we were in CA we took advantage of the opportunity to visit Disneyland, sea world, USC campus and an angels game.  It was great to get away but was very nice to get back home.