The Best Book Ever

I love The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

It is just a wonderful book, chronicling the dealings of God with His children on the American continent over a thousand-year period, and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in plainness and simplicity. Today in church we discussed the beautiful vision Lehi had of the tree of life, and after church, as I pondered what I had learned, I grew in understanding of how the vision fits with the entire plan of salvation. We are blessed to be children of a loving Father in Heaven who has specific plans for His children.

This year, one of my goals is to pray each day for the opportunity to bless someone's life, so that I can be a better instrument in the hand of God. I try to pay attention throughout the day, so I can find the opportunity for which I've prayed. Some days, it is obvious what I am to do. Other days, it might be so small, I'm not even sure it will make a difference. But it does make a difference, in both my life and the lives of those I try to help. Here is how I know that:

Yesterday, at the store, the cashier asked me how I was. I gave the standard response (I am well, thanks; how are you?) and she actually answered my question. It was the day after her 21st birthday. She shared how she had celebrated the birthday that began her adult life. That turned into a conversation, since my awesome sister shares her birthday, and she was genuine and kind. It was such a pleasant experience, I left feeling lighter and happier than before. (Not that I wasn't happy before, but I had already been out running errands for hours, and was tired and not wanting to go out again, despite the imminent need to make dinner out of something other than eggs, carrots and potatoes, which was about all I had in the fridge.)

Thank goodness for the Spirit, who teaches me how to act; the examples of others, who demonstrate by their actions that even the small things have power to bless; and the scriptures, which confirm the benefits of righteous living.

Happy Sabbath.

Adventures

This morning I cleaned the church. Not by myself, thankfully, but with a fair number of other dedicated CRW-ers who were willing to respond to the call of duty. It was two hours of fun, and now we have a beautiful, orderly building for worship tomorrow.

After our cleaning adventures, some went to lunch in Harvard Square. I wanted a shower more than lunch, so we declined joining them, and came home to clean up.

The sun was shining and it was warmer than usual (read: low 50s), so my friend and I decided a day outside would be a good way to appreciate it. We ended up in Rockport, MA. It was warm-ish in the sunshine (except right by the ocean) and chilly in the shade, and we walked up and down Rockport center and poked around its quaint little shops. We saw many beautiful handmade trinkets - my favorites were the colored glass and the gorgeous hyperbolic scarves - we smelled the fantastic cheese strudel baking at the little cafe (and wished it would be less than twenty more minutes before it was done), and we admired the ocean views. The rocky northern shores of the Atlantic seem to me to be a wild sort of beauty, with white-tipped waves crashing against the rocks.  It was a beautiful way to enjoy a day of January sunshine.

And since no adventure is complete without a Jamba Juice, we stopped on the way home for a treat.

Happy Saturday!

Happy New Year

I celebrated today by listening to Handel's Messiah after spending 3 hours trying to clean the basement. I think the first layer of dirt is gone... then I had to clean myself and then my bathroom and my kitchen. But things are feeling better now. And all the laundry is done. If I had 4 more hours worth of energy, I'd clean the rest of the floors and rugs, too. I guess that's what next week is for.

Oh yeah, and for filing. Normally I do it on New Year's Day, but tomorrow is the Sabbath, so I will write letters, study the scriptures, write in my journal, and cook enough food for the next week instead.

I am grateful for the Christmas season we just had. It was a blessing to me, and my testimony of my Savior grew in abundance. I am glad to be a member of His Church, and for the blessings of the temple and personal revelation. They have made all the difference in my life this year.

Sabbath Musings

I have been contemplating many things recently, from how to get food to magically appear in my kitchen without any preparation or trips to the grocery store (unlikely), to how to get enough sleep and still do all the things that need doing (near impossible), to the remarkable change that takes place in my heart when I serve someone for years on end (astonishing), to the ways my testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel has grown through the experiences of the past twelve months (profound).

I was thinking in Relief Society today as we talked about exaltation - what it is, how to obtain it, and why it is so important to focus on it - about a conversation I had with a colleague of mine a year or so ago. We had been discussing another employee. Who or why is irrelevant to the story (mostly because I don't remember). She contested that no matter what I invested in this person, it would do no good because "people can't change". I don't recall my direct answer to her then, but I knew as well then as I know now that she and I believe entirely differently on that point.

The foundational principle of the Gospel in which I believe is that people can change - and that they do, every day. King Benjamin's people were not just saying some trite, meaningless phrases when they responded to his teachings with the expression "we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more desire to do evil, but to do good continually." Truly, their hearts had been changed. Their tendency to act in ways that violated God's commandments had been replaced with a burning desire to do good. I'm not talking about murder and covetousness and adultery here, although the desire for those things died, too. This experience also changed the tendency for a man to get upset with his neighbor because he felt taken advantage of; his secret desire for the failure of his colleague who was implementing a bad idea; the self-pitying nobody-appreciates-me-itis that made hard workers disgruntled; and the judgmental conversations about others wherein ignorance met speculation.

If the Gospel is true (and it is), then when the Atonement of Jesus Christ is efficacious in our lives, it provides a way for us to change not just our behaviors, but our very natures. We learn to give even when others don't give equally back; we learn to support our leaders even when we disagree with their ideas, and then pray fervently for their success; we learn that gratitude for God's blessings overcomes all forms of -itis; we learn that withholding judgment is sometimes the best choice, for only One knows the desires of our hearts and can truly judge righteously.

God, our Father, who gives us all, is so anxious to bless us that He gave us blessings in anticipation of our obedience! He gave us life, breath, this world and all its beauty. Then, every time we obey, He pours out blessings upon our heads - more than I feel I merit, at times - and yet, He does so willingly, lovingly, and without expectation: further obedience does not settle the account, you see. He continues to bless us abundantly each time we obey. It is not about keeping score. If it were, I'd be losing. Every day.

Perhaps this is part of what it means to become like God - to learn to bless and give willingly, abundantly, and generously, regardless of response. To forgive those who (literally or figuratively) wound us, as Jesus forgave those who pierced His hands and feet and side. To love those who may never thank us for all we gave on their behalf. To give, and give, and then give some more, without demanding anything in return, because it is how we express our love and our confidence in the one to whom we give.

Such a description rings true of parenthood. Fatherhood. Motherhood. Godhood. Exaltation.

I have experienced this kind of fundamental change in my own life. I am by no means perfect, but my Father has, in His wonderful, loving, omnipotent way, taught me a little bit about how to love like this. He has filled my heart with feelings that must be akin to His: great yearnings for the happiness of His children; desires for them to know Him as I know Him, that they might see His hand in their lives as I see His hand in mine. These yearnings fill my soul some minutes, and leave me wondering how to share that which I know with those I love in such a way that it will penetrate into their hearts - the part that is prepared to receive His love.

I don't have all the answers, nor do I profess to, but I am confident that when I join forces with the most powerful being in the Universe, we'll figure it out together. And it is that confidence that tied together a lesson on exaltation, a lesson on the book of the Revelation of St. John, three beautiful talks on compassion, a thought on our everlasting sphere of influence, and the prayer of a loving bishop in tithing settlement into one great message: the message of Christmas, of Christ, of Love.

On Reality

Some days, you just have to laugh.

Goal: be super productive and get lots done after a wonderful three day weekend.

Reality: 10 am - orient self to recently rebuilt computer and catch up on email. 11 am - meeting one (recurring, planned, fine). 11:45 am - meeting two (spontaneous but necessary). 12:15 pm - meeting three (also spontaneous but necessary). 12:45 pm - call IT so recently rebuilt computer will run the way I'm used to. 1:10 pm - kick IT out and start meeting four (ten minutes late). 1:30 pm - relocate meeting four to colleague's office who also has the computer program I need for the meeting (and involve said colleague). 2:00 pm - meeting five (planned, but 30 min late). 2:30 pm - grab food, tell IT about computer problem, and head to meeting six (unplanned but essential). 3:30 pm - grab more food and head into meeting seven (an hour later than planned). 6 pm - start the day's work by doing a bunch of unimportant stuff that will clear my desk and my head. 7:10 pm - look at the clock, startled - it's already time to go to FHE!

The best part about tomorrow is that I can try again. :-)

Miracles

I believe in miracles.

Two friends I dearly love are getting married. To each other.

A loving Father inspires me to know how to help another who is sad.

And He made our voices glorious in singing praises to His Holy Son tonight during our Christmas concert. I am so glad to believe in a God who loves us so much He can magnify our talents, tune our pitches, and help us feel of His great love! What a joyous time of year!

Come to tomorrow's performance! I would love to see you there.

On Being Happy

Last week, we had ward temple night. While there, I realized how happy I feel when I am regularly in the temple. More importantly, I realized how much happy I had missed out on over the week or two prior because I hadn't been in the temple. Saturday and today reinforced the message.

So it's official. Being in the temple = being happy.

And the part that made me smile tonight? I was asked by an acquaintance if I brought my husband with me when I came to the temple. I told him no, because I'm still looking for him - but if he can figure out if he's here, to let me know. That made him smile, and I thought to myself, this is probably the best place to find him anyway. So I will keep going back. Just in case he's there one of these times. :-)

But if not, I will still be happy.

That is all.

And When You're Feeling Creative...

What does your gingerbread house look like?

Last year I made a little nativity in my gingerbread yard. Don't remember? Check out last December's posts. (I'm too lazy to link it.)

This year, I made the suggestion that my good friend the gingerbread-house-making-princess make me a stable instead of a house. It turns out I like making Tootsie Roll people better than decorating the walls of a house.

Here is how it turned out:

Details of note: Joseph has a beard. I made hay out of Nerds. (Coconut would have worked better, but I had already committed to the Nerds when I figured that out. Next year.) My camel is nothing short of awesome (I think my sheep are pretty awesome again, too). Blue frosting made good water in the well. The Star(burst) on the top of the stable and the straight and narrow path lead a man right to Christ.

I find great joy in creating things that remind me of Christmas. Even if it's with candy.



May the joy of the season be with you now and always.

Love.


Post Edit: the cloaks are made of flattened Dots, I think; if not that, then it was flattened gumdrops. I can't remember... Any other questions? :-)

The Feast

Appetizers: Crackers & Cheese Ball!

Main course: Lots of Orange Food...

Dessert:

Blueberry pie, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin bars.

We were stuffed.

When I invited the Sister Missionaries over for Thanksgiving dinner,

I told them I would be making all my favorite parts of Thanksgiving

(and none of the parts I didn't like to eat).

As I planned, I neglected to think about color.

So, we had less color than perhaps we could have:

White cheese with white & yellow crackers,

Orange butternut squash soup,

Pink ham,

Orange sweet potato casserole,

Orange stuffed squash,

White crusty bread,

and Green kale (as a last-minute addition for some color!).

Orange pumpkin pie,

Blue blueberry pie, and

Orange pumpkin bars topped off the meal.

I opted out of the mashed root veggies (they would have been orange)

because I didn't feel like making gravy.

Thanksgiving was a wonderful time

to remember all the good things in my life

and to begin to learn to be thankful

for some of the harder things, too.

And he who receiveth all things

with thankfulness

shall be made glorious;

and the things of this earth

shall be added unto him,

even an hundred fold,

yea, more.

-D&C 78:19

Teaser

So far, so good.

Thanksgiving is going to be awesome this year.

Random Thoughts

Sometimes I have to laugh at myself. Tonight in my living room, I have a laptop plugged into one outlet, my phone plugged into another, the camera in the middle, and the iPhone hanging out on the side. But I'm not dependent on my electronics or anything.

I have a new favorite Christmas song. It's time for Christmas music again!  Yippee! I discovered it during Christmas concert practice, and liked it so much I bought it on iTunes. Come to our concert in December and listen to it!

Today I had two good friends over for lunch. We ate all the food I was going to eat for the next few days until I had time to go to the store again. Fortunately for me, I enjoyed the socializing and it will be worth having to eat emergency backup frozen dinners for a few days to have spent time with people I love. By the way, my second cousin introduced me to the awesomest emergency backup frozen dinners - Lean Cuisine makes sandwiches and pizzas that actually come out of the microwave crispy! They are much better than some frozen stuff I've eaten. But real food is even better.

Yesterday, I had my stylist cut my hair. It rocks. I had about twenty compliments in the first 24 hours. My stylist rocks, too. She's great. Now I just have to figure out how to get her to come over every few days and blow it straight for me, since she does it so much better than I do... or I guess I could learn how to do it myself. Nothing makes you feel amazing like a new haircut that everyone loves. Except maybe the people who love you even when you don't bother to do your hair at all. :-)

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. Two days off, a reason to cook for most of one of them, and chick flicks. Need I say more? Wait! Yes. I need to say cranberry-orange muffins with glaze, sweet potato casserole, and cinnamon rolls. Get excited!

And that is all. Until next time.

Happy November!

Tomorrow marks the end of Daylight Savings Time.

Good bye. I will miss the sun after 4:30 pm, but I think this year it is worth the exchange for sun in the morning when I get up for work. It's hard to wake up early to read scriptures when it's dark outside.

It was super-fun to be in the temple today with so many of my dear friends, some of whom I haven't seen in a few months (or longer), and it filled my heart with happiness, even though we were so busy that by 3pm my knees hurt from standing and moving up & down stairs so much. One of my friends told me I'm too young to have bad knees. I agree. Now I just have to convince my knees.

My work now requires me to have an iPhone. I like being able to cross-reference scriptures without having to look them up - it speeds up a topical study of a concept. It almost made up for how confusing it was to figure out how to use the calendar function the day before. It would be nice if my smart phone were not smarter than me, but there were moments this week when I wondered... :-)

I am grateful this weekend for good conversations with people I love and appreciate in my life. (And a lot of other things, too, but now it's bedtime so you have to wait to hear about the other things until later.)

Upside

The snow looks beautiful from underneath the streetlight.

As I drive home from Stake Conference, I remember that Trader Joes is right on the way. I can finish my grocery shopping after all!

I ponder as I sit at a red light.

All week, I have been asking what I am to learn from the things that are happening right now.

Then I realize what I have learned...

The talent of asking for help is a little, but critical, blessing.

 It drives away the lonely isolation of a hidden trial.

Burdens are lighter when others are helping to lift.

Father in Heaven often inspires His children to aid each other.

He will inspire me.

But I first need peace in my heart so I can hear His voice.



It was good to be gathered tonight with the Saints of Zion. I felt the Spirit testify it is good for me to be here. All week I have been looking forward to this Stake Conference with anticipation, knowing that if revelation will come, it will come in a meeting such as this. And when it ended, my heart felt lighter and my faith strengthened.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Random News

Recently, I've taken to writing down my schedule in a little calendar I've been carrying around (but not using) since last Christmas. On the one hand, it makes things easier. I don't forget where I'm supposed to be. On the other hand...

Tonight was my only free evening all week, so I determined it was a good time to buy a gift for a good friend and purchase three things I needed at Target. Off I went on my shopping excursion... I came home with five things from Target, the gift, two new tops, and an absolutely adorable coat. If the stores hadn't all been been closing, I'd probably have some boots, too.

Plus one for good time management! I caught a 40% off everything sale.

In other news...

Fall has come, and along with it the time for alluring cinnamon-scented tree parts (last year it was a stick broom... this year, pinecones!). They make me happy. Still. Just like they did last fall. Only this year, I have an awesome turquoise charger on which to place said pinecones.  See?

Sorry... this is not a scratch 'n sniff picture.

I'm not sure which is the more incredible feat - the clutter-free table or that I designed a centerpiece on my own. Either way, I am happy!

I love the scriptures. This morning as I read, it was like wrapping my heart in a down comforter. Warmth, calm, and a peaceful feeling came over me as I read familiar words from the Book of Mormon. Words of a prophet. Isaiah, to be precise, as quoted by another prophet, Nephi. They are like old friends and faithful companions, come to strengthen me in the current challenges of the week. It was a great way to start the morning.

It has been nearly a year since the weekend of Stake Conference in 2010, during which I received personal revelation in preparation for a big change coming my way in the weeks following. I look forward to Stake Conference again this weekend, for the insight and spiritual strength it will inevitably provide, and as a way to mark the growth I have observed in my own life. Personal revelation is a great gift. The ability to cheerfully walk down the path on which it leads me is another gift. This week, I am grateful for both of these precious gifts.

And lastly (but most definitely not most importantly)?  I think Dilbert gets funnier every week.

The End.

Friends & Saints

We had a unique opportunity today to share in our faith and worship with our friends across the Longfellow Park at the Society of Friends (aka the Quakers).

After our chapel burned over two years ago, these good people helped take care of us, offered their space for storing the things we could rescue from the building after the fire, and were generally good and kind. Today, they hosted an Open House for our newly built chapel after our meetings.

Our Sunday School was an opportunity to hear from two of their members, who taught us a little about their faith and beliefs. It was insightful to hear what we believe in common... that there is an element of godliness in each of us, that personal revelation will guide our respective actions, that quiet worship is fundamental to feeling the Spirit speak in our lives. Likewise, we sent a representative from our membership to their meetings, and shared with them what we believe. There was a feeling of mutual goodwill, and it allowed us to get to know our neighbors in a friendly, respectful, appreciative way.

It reminded me of this scripture:

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. (Moroni 7:16)

I always find myself grateful when I see truth reflected in others' lives. It brings us both closer to God.