Goals

I wasn't perfect, but I feel like I did significantly better.  I've been making scripture study a bigger part of my life and I've found scriptures come into my head more.  The scripture that came into my mind is Alma 48:17 It's about captain Moroni, how if every man was like him, Hell would be closed.  I want to be like that, so I figured I ought to study him, his life, his choices and his character.  I was also thinking about the scriptures where it says that God "giveth liberally" to those who ask.  that has a lot of implications to me.  I have to figure out what it is that I need to ask for.  More importantly however, I need to "pray in faith"  I've been thinking about faith and what that means for me.  Faith is an action (not an inaction). Which means I need to do something.  I figured out the things that would really help.  (Also I was thinking that personal progress really worked for me so I wanted to create goals that mirrored the program)1. being geneology and indexing because the general authorities in the last conference said it strengthens and protects us against temptation (10 hour project). then there were some other ones that were less important.  I had an interesting discovery, I came to the "avoiding bad habit" part and realized that it wasn't an action, it wasn't something I could do.  I decided I needed to find a replacement activity.  I decided that When I get in the mindset that I end up in bad habits, it might be "easy" (with some practice) to divert this mindset into a good channel by writing letters.  

Back to the "giveth liberally." It gave me a different picture of Heavenly Father.  As if he is just waiting to give me these blessings and he's not going to skimp on them either.  He is generous in his gifts. This is a huge perspective change for me.

I figured all this out by reading and keeping a journal.

Fun and Games

(http://www.igourmet.com/images/topics/turkey1.jpg)

This Week for Thanksgiving I spent the week with my family in Utah.  My sister just had a baby (her fourth) and they are all so adorable!  I was afraid Benny (now three) was going to grow up before I got to see him again (a little paranoia) and I was glad to see that he hasn't changed too drastically.

I loved the food and my family and I played lots of games and watched movies.  My little brother played video games and I realized, I don't really have the patience for them so much anymore... weird what age and responsibilities can do to a person.

Today Carly, My mother, and I all went shopping leisurely for her "birthday adventure" my mom gave her some money and she could spend it how she wanted...personally the best part was looking at all the odds and ends.  I found some really cool things at the dollar store haha.  I was really proud of myself however, I had my visa in my pocket and didn't purchase a thing even though I had money...but not for odds and ends.

I am currently going through a stage of self discovery.  I am learning some things about myself that In ways would have been nice to know a while back.  In others, however it is just nice to know them now.

This Thanksgiving season inclines me to make a list of things I am grateful for:

• My Savior, Jesus Christ
• The Atonement
• The Scriptures
• Prayer
• My Family
• My Friends & Room mates
• My Schooling
• My Talents
• My Singing Voice
• My Piano Playing
• My Knitting
• My Limited Sewing knowlege
• My Cooking
• My Writing
• My Drawing
• Literacy
• Food to Eat
• Home to Shelter me From Frigid Idaho Winters
• Blankets
• Sweaters, and other things to keep me warm.
• Clean water to Drink
• Warm Water to Wash in
• Computers
• Books