What Have You Done?

What have you done?
I stole this from Kristin Bonacci. I have bolded all that I have done from this list that someone emailed me. I've done more than I thought, but still have tons to do! There are, however some things that I hope never to do, like food poisoning. Yah, no thanks!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept overnight on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when your're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden a water bus in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen Amish country
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. One cavity or less

Just Some Random Things

Yesterday I gave Leah some Cheerios type cereal for breakfast.  She came out to the living room where I was on the phone and said, "Mooommmyy, I duhn wan some polka dot cereal."

I thought that was funny.

Thursday night, I was en route to a stake welfare committee meeting.  I had made dozens of cinnamon rolls during the day to take to the meeting.  I stopped at the Hess station to fill up and grab some milk.  The man pumping my gas just seemed to sad and miserable.  More so than typical for a gas station attendant.  

I asked him how he was doing.  He said that he was doing better than he had been earlier in the day.  I told him that I had something for him that was going to make him the happiest man in the world.  I reached in the car and brought out a big GIANT cinnamon roll.  Still warm even.  I gave it to him and he thanked me.

Let me tell ya.  I loved that feeling.  He didn't gush all over me about what a great person I was.  He didn't sing my praises about how yummy it tasted.  He just said thank you and went into the little shelter there between the gas pumps and ate the cinnamon roll.  My heart just got bigger and bigger.  THAT was the spirit of Christmas.  I didn't do anything to change his life.  I just made a few minutes of it a little sweeter.  I'm so grateful for that opportunity to serve.

Our Family Home Evening

I am sad to say that I have never really felt or been deeply engrossed in the spirit of Christmas.  I've felt twinges here and now but I've always kinda been a grump.  Too much trouble and mess.  I do enjoy giving gifts.  I enjoy shopping and trying to be thoughtful with the gifts I give.  All in all, though, I've just never been interested in the whole Christmas theme.

That is, until this year.  Something has happened to me this year.  I'm different.  I think I know what happened.

Last month, I designated November as Gratitude month in our family.  I hate multiple Family Home Evenings on the subject and even created a new family tradition.  I made up "leaves" to hang on our sad little Christmas tree left up from last year that has been hanging out behind the couch.  Everyone wrote something they were thankful for each day and hung it on the tree.  Our little tree was full of Fall-colored leaves.  The Sunday before Thanksgiving, we celebrated our Thanksgiving because Jen and Jessie wouldn't be with us for the holiday.

We had all the fixin's and after dinner we read our leaves.  We laughed and enjoyed each other's company.  We realized how to make it even more successful next year.  

After reading the leaves, I talked to the kids about what December was going to be.  Our Service month.  We're planning on finding ways to serve others as Christ would do.

We've never really been a service project type of family.  To me, service projects are so complicated.  I enjoy the service for the arranging and delivering seems to be my downfall.

I'm so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost that helps me be a little less brain-dead than I am. :)

Monday night for Family Home Evening, we talked about selflessness and service.  Our service project was to write Christmas cards to the US military servicemen and women.  We had a box of 25 cards.  Everyone was able to participate, even Leah.  Sam and I encouraged the kids to express gratitude for the service rendered.  Then they drew pictures and colored things.  

There were moments as I watched my family, that tears filled my eyes and the true spirit of Christmas gently enfolded us all.  I was grateful that even the littlest was able to participate.  I was grateful that my two teenage step daughters struggling with their feelings about their two homes and religion, were able to feel the spirit of family and unity and service.  I was thankful for my three in the middle who wrote and drew and joined in completely.  I was thankful for my husband's participation and very pithy notes to the servicemen.

I have been spending more time with my children.  Enjoying their spirits and laughter.  I'm grateful to finally feel this spirit that changes lives and lifts all to a higher more enlightened level.

My report

Today is December 1, 2008.  Today is the day after the 160-day challenge ended.  

Here is my report of my own efforts.  

1.  Really, I crashed and burned.  I did not accomplish what I had intended to accomplish.  It was too hard for me.  Really.  I didn't have the ability to write a book of fiction.  So, because of that, I gave up.

2.  In the early days, back in August.  I was doing everything I said I wanted to do.  This resulted in other blessings.

Although I didn't write the book I still want to write and know is in me, I did spend time in my scriptures and writing about my understanding of them.  Because of this, when I was asked to speak in Stake Priesthood Leadership Meeting, the talk was all but written.  What a great blessing!!

I actually have quite a few scripture writings that I feel are quite insightful.  

3.  During August, again when I was really applying myself, I happened upon a great business opportunity that I have really grown to love.  StoryKeeping is the process of interviewing others and gathering/recording their stories to be burned onto CD or uploaded to a website.

This has combined my love of story and my love of family.  I wish with all my heart I had recordings of my best friends and family who have passed.  I wish I could have my Grampa Snow relating his "corny jokes".  Or my dear friend Jolene with her sweet little voice.  These things would be priceless to me.

StoryKeeping allows me to do this for other people as well as myself.  I have been working with Estate Planning Attorneys, Hospices (to train their volunteers to be StoryKeepers) and nursing homes.  Gathering these stories before they are gone.

If this interests you, you're welcome to check out my website at www.keepingstories.com

I'm not trying to sell you anything.  Just relating my experiences.  But you can earn money too. :)

4.  I have learned through the 160-day challenge that it's not easy to change my life.  Just because I put a fancy title on it and figured out what my routine would be, I didn't prepare so much for the bumps or distractions.  The StoryKeeping thing was a huge distraction, but it was a really great distraction.  But, it was a distraction and took me away from my goal.

As I stated earlier, I didn't know how to write a book.  Fiction or otherwise.  Now, do I need to take a class or read a book or visit websites or pay someone?  Probably. 

I think I've learned that there are other things that are more important for me to learn and change than writing a book at this time.  So, I feel comfortable with setting that "book" on the shelf for a while until it becomes more important to me.  The thought and feeling about the book and what it will contain won't go away.  Hopefully.

So, I'm going to turn my attention to other things that I know will be challenging for me but a little easier because I know how to do it.  Learning a language or losing weight come to mind.  There just has to be application and consistency.

Although I crashed and burned and have no best seller book to deliver today, I am a better person for attempting the change and learning a little more about myself.

I intend to start another journey if anyone would like to join me.  Once we get some of the wrinkles out of this, we'll be unstoppable. :)

Too Serious

I think I'm too serious.  Perhaps being the oldest child brings that out in me more than I should.  Laughing really is most important to me.  Having fun and being spontaneous.  And yet, I get so burdened and flattened by dumb stuff. 

I don't know what exactly it takes to not be so dang serious.  I think there are things that are serious.  And we have to be aware of those.  I'm ok with that.  I enjoy having serious, intelligent discussions with people.  Especially about the Gospel.

But, it's the dumb stuff that I get all hot and bothered about.  The house being a mess.  My husband's ex-wife being a total menace, screwing around with MY life.  

Perhaps I'm just not grateful enough.  I gotta keep trying.  I do work hard at being grateful.  I think I'm getting better.  When do you put your foot down though?  

My children are going to remember me as being a fun mom but with a severe temper because I get so stressed out.  I don't even know how to be different.  

Or perhaps a good night's sleep would work.  And a massage, manicure and pedicure.  That may just fix everything.  It'd have to be weekly though. 

More of Leah

"Kiddie - hup, horsie."

The Peace of Preparedness

I was asked to speak in Stake Priesthood Leadership meeting on Saturday.  The topic I was given was "The Peace of Prepardness".

1 Nephi 1:11-13

In a vision, Lehi is given a book to read.  He shares only one verse of what he read.  It's not very positive.  I call it the "wo, wo..." verse.  

1 Nephi 1:14-15

Interestingly enough, Lehi does not focus on the negative.  He surely must have seen some fantastic things in the vision.  But, again, we only have one very pessimistic verse.  But reading in verse 15, I'm so impressed with Lehi's response.  He praises the Lord with his whole soul and rejoices in the goodness of the Lord.  

I wonder how many times we hear or see things that aren't so positive or are even down right scary or upsetting.  Do we look to the Lord with gratitude for his goodness?  Or do we only concentrate on the "wo, wo" part?  We need to be cheerful and positive regardless of our circumstances.

It's one thing to recognize a challenge or even negativity in a situation.  But, we don't have to focus on it.  We will be so much happier if we choose to be grateful for what we do have.  The Lord would love to give us more but he needs to know that we're grateful for what he has given.  Good or bad.

1 Nephi 1:18

Lehi does not keep the vision to himself.  He's not selfish with it.  He goes out and starts to tell other people about it.  Unfortunately, he is not met with friendly responses.  But, he is fortified and focused because of the visions and faith he has in the Lord.  He's not scared of the outcome because he knows who is in control.

Do we do the same?  Do we have a strong enough relationship with the Lord to trust Him while we go out into potential unfriendly situations?  Do we have the same vision the Lord has?  Do we believe in His work?

1 Nephi 1:20

Because of Lehi's faithfulness, the Lord promises to deliver him.

Do we have the faith to follow the Lord and promote His work?  Times are getting scary.  But, the Lord depends on us to have trust and faith in Him.  He will protect us.

1 Nephi 2:3

The Lord tells Lehi to get out of Jerusalem.  Lehi is unwaveringly obedient.  The Lord tells him to do something and Lehi does it.  He doesn't try to bargain with the Lord.  He has such a relationship with God that there's just no question about who knows best.

Every once in a while, nestled in the verses of the scriptures, the Lord gives us a "What Not To Do" manual.  This is the case with Laman and Lemuel.

1 Nephi 2:12

Laman and Lemuel do nothing but fuss and complain.  They do nothing remotely positive but whine.  I would imagine that no one in the Lehi family wanted to leave their very comfortable life in Jerusalem.  They were all obedient in following him but Laman and Lemuel just made the situation worse.

I know I'm guilty of doing the same thing.  Seems like it takes so much less energy to complain than it does to be grateful and find reasons to praise the Lord.  Does it do any good?  Really?  No one likes to be around complainers.  They're no fun.  And we know that we're here that we "might have joy".

We read more in chapter two that Nephi was really struggling with the decision to leave as well. But, unlike his brothers, he takes it to the Lord.  He wanted to know if his dad was crazy or was he really instructed by the Lord to leave.  Nephi, of course, learns that his dad was commanded by the Lord to leave Jerusalem.  The Lord is so impressed by Nephi's faithfulness that He blesses Nephi with all sorts of great promises.

Let's be more like Nephi.  We might not be happy about a situation, but rather than fuss and complain, let's get on our knees and find out the will of the Lord and then comply with it.

Lehi has a dream in which the Lord tells him that they need to go back and get the brass plates from Laban.  The brass plates contain their genealogy, the teachings of the prophets and a guide for their language.

Lehi tells his sons that they get to go back.  Nephi immediately complies and Lehi tells him that he will be blessed because he didn't murmur.

1 Nephi 3:6

Again, encouragement to be cheerful and grateful.  Just get in there and "git 'er dun".

The boys go to Jerusalem and try a couple of times to get the plates.  I have to give Laman and Lemuel a little bit of credit for trying even when they didn't want to go nor did they want to have to deal with Laban.  Then they gave their cool stuff to Laban only to have him steal it and then try to kill them.

Laman and Lemuel are so stressed and so mad that they start to beat the snot out of Sam and Nephi.  During the beating, an angel appears to them and tells them to knock it off.

1 Nephi 3:29-31

The angel hasn't been gone but for a short time before the older brothers start fussing and complaining again.  What a waste of an angel!  

(Wendi's note:  at this point I looked out into the gathering of men and said, in a very loving way, the Spirit really took over...)

"My dear brothers, I am your angel.  I am hear to tell you some things today.  Women want to be lead.  We do not want to be bossed around.  We do not want to be guilted or cajoled or belittled.  We bear a heavy burden on our shoulders.  We are responsible to have babies, to care for the babies, to feed the babies and you.  To keep the house clean, cook dinner. Some women work outside the house all day and still come home to do all of these things.

We want to be obedient.  We want to gather our year's supply of food and supplies.  We can not do it alone.  We need your support and encouragement.  We need time to develop skills.  We want to learn how to make bread, to make yogurt.  

I hold home storage classes throughout the year and my classes need to be packed.  The women that you serve, the women in your lives need to be encouraged by you to attend these classes.  They need to be supported to buy the equipment they need that will help them in their quest to be more self-reliant."

Nephi goes into Jerusalem to get the plates.

1 Nephi 4:6

He goes into Jerusalem not knowing what he'd find.  I'm sure he knew that he could possibly die.  But, he had ultimate trust in the Lord.

We need to go about our lives with the same trust.

1.  Be grateful and praise the Lord.

2.  Go out and share your knowledge of the goodness of the Lord with others.

3.  Be faithful and the Lord with protect you.

4.  Be obedient.  You can never go wrong.

5.  Don't murmur.  Be cheerful.  Figure it out.

6.  Have ultimate trust in the Lord.

You can choose whether or not the blessings that have already been GIVEN to you will come to pass.  You choose to accept the blessings and the peace from trusting in the Lord.  Keep His commandments and feel the peace of your obedience.