Sunday School

This week I learned, or relearned:

• I shouldn't feel so sorry for myself. The pending move and undecided details (like where we are going or when we might be leaving) have really started to stress me out a little. I'm used to always having a plan... but its more than that. We have this baby that needs to be born in the fall, and I would l-o-v-e to be as settled as possible. In a conversation with my sister this week, I actually said the words "x task and x task are not going to happen before the baby is born, and I just need to get over that." I felt a little better after confirming that reality to myself. Then, today, we watched part of a video with the youth and it had a little segment about the Nativity. I thought of Mary, her uncomfortable journey, and the humble arrangements provided for the birth of her son. I really shouldn't feel so sorry for myself.
• Happiness and good behavior go hand in hand. Gracie has been so good this week. She has been the better-than-gold kind of good. She has also been so happy all week long. We haven't had many breakdowns, where I was getting used to at least one good one a day. Maybe its what she's eating, or how she's sleeping. Maybe she's just growing up too fast. What ever the cause may be, happiness and good behavior keep great company. Its hard to find one without the other. This is a good lesson for me to remember in my personal life.
• The power of scripture study. In the last interview I had with my mission President, he gave me some excellent council-- five pieces of excellent council to be exact. But the first two were these: 1. Continue a relationship of fervent prayer so that you can be speaking with the Lord 2. Continue a pattern of regular scripture study so that the Lord can be speaking with you. This mode of successful communication has been proven to me time and again. I take my thoughts to the Lord in prayer, and He responds through the scriptures I study. Every July to August, our ward has a Book of Mormon challenge where we all try to read the entire book. Our Bishop kicked the challenge off in church today. In the testimony meeting we had with the youth, I was so impressed to hear our kids share their testimonies about the Book of Mormon born of the experiences they've had reading the scriptures during this challenge over the last couple of years. We don't have to understand everything we are reading (though this does help--don't get me wrong). Even just an obedient pattern of reading the scriptures brings a Spirit and a power into our lives that we cannot get any other way.

Sunday School

This week, I learned (or relearned):

• After working for weeks to teach Gracie to say 'please' (and finally succeeding), that it would take only moments for her to learn how to say 'mine!' with great emphasis.
• Cleanliness is close to Godliness. Gracie and I spent the whole week while Cori was in NYC cleaning out our apartment. Closets, cabinets, and cupboards, are all sorted, cleaned and organized. This was done in an attempt to exert some control over our current moving limbo. We may not know the when or where about our move, but we could be ready tomorrow... In the meantime, the apartment is a little piece of heaven for me.
• lds.org is such a great scripture study tool. I've started doing my study during Gracie's nap time--the morning study schedule wasn't happening, and I'm too dead tired at night. I went onto the website to look up the Gospel Doctrine lesson, and just started reading it from the site. Soon, I was clicking my way around links and flipping effortlessly from the New Testament, to the Pearl of Great Price. I read a couple articles pertinent to the lesson, and even listened to a conference address. Its given me something new to look forward to in my scripture study.
• A couple of gems from my studies this week--all to do with signs of the Savior's coming, the last days, and the many perils that will necessarily be a part:
  “But where do we find hope in the midst of such turmoil and catastrophe? Quite simply, our one hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ. … Armed with the shield of faith, we can overcome many of our daily challenges and overpower our greatest weaknesses and fears, knowing that if we do our best to keep the commandments of God, come what may, we will be all right” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 41–43; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31–32). Doctrine and Covenants 45:34-35 And now, when I the Lord had spoken these words unto my disciples, they were troubled. And I said unto them: Be not troubled, for, when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled.

Sunday School

A post dedicated to the things I've learned (or, more likely, relearned) this week

Sea slugs ink the way octopus do. A nice bright violet hew.

So often, the only thing I can control about a situation is myself; my actions, thoughts, motives, and attitude.


Similarly, there is a lot of peace and satisfaction that comes from correcting myself rather than pointing the finger of blame at anyone else.


Hardwood floors should have 4-7 days to acclimate to a house before installation. Before you get impressed into thinking that we are going to have any flooring other than the regular tan shag carpeting that comes standard with most apartment rentals, this is just a tidbit we learned watching HGTV.

Matthew 23: 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their
phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments. This is the Savior remarking about the scribes and Pharisees. Phylacteries are the prayer boxes the Jews strap to their foreheads and left arms as part of their worship. The size of the box is very obvious and was used (the size of the box, not the phylactery itself) to outwardly imply the piety of the person wearing it. Similarly, the borders of their garments refers to the fringed apron that the Jews wear as a symbol of obedience. In Jesus' time, it became fashionable to have very long and unavoidable fringes which were again intended to outwardly imply the piety of the person wearing them. What phylacteries and fringes do I don everyday? This was the real lesson of the week.