"Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it by word and example with a family, a member, neighbor, or the stranger? Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it?" - Marvin J. Ashton
I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow him in faith. I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll honor his name. I'll do what is right; I'll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim.
I love my co-workers. Especially my new one. She is absolutely amazing and I just love her!! I'm so excited that we get to work together. I love that we get along so well. I love that we have many things in common. And I love to just talk with her. I feel kind of bad for only one thing--when I'm scheduled at the desk with her, all I want to do is talk to her and get to know her more, and hear about her baby, and talk books and period dramas, and just chat the hour away. That's not so good when one is at work!
But I love and am grateful for the fast friendship in this wonderful person the Lord has helped me cross paths with.
Today's Smile: I pretty much took over running one of the two game booths our ward was in charge of at the huge YSA Summit tonight. It was the Rubber Ducky race. First, how perfect was that for me!! :-) While it was not the social experience I had been hoping for for weeks now, it turned out really well. Probably better for me in fact. On my own, I would have been my typical quiet self, struggling to try and pretend I had no social issues. In a small group of my very outgoing ward friends, I would have spoken a bit more, but probably would have backed into my quiet, observant self instead of the trying-to-be-more-outgoing me. But give me a responsibility, something left up to me, and I was able to bring forth the outgoing. I was able to smile and chat with everyone who came by. I enjoyed laughs and many squirts from water guns. But I also got to provide many smiles for everyone who came by and took part. And that made it all worth it. I love that the Lord always knows best.
Today's Something New: Some water guns do not fill up by just sticking them in water. I know! What nerve. But some people are geniuses and after much practice were able to teach me that these particular cheap-o water guns had to go in the water upside-down, at an angle, and shaken. Who'd have thought?
Another late night. And another worthwhile one. I began a book when I came home from work. I intended to read just a bit before I had dinner and then treated myself to the best film version of Emma that exists. But I was instantly hooked. So much that I could not put the book down for anything (save the pizza I splurged to order because, well, I craved it already and then they were eating it in the book and I didn't feel like cooking and I hadn't had pizza in months and well....just because). A fast read. And an unexpected one.
For I never expected my testimony of the Atonement to grow, nor my love for and gratitude towards my Savior to increase--and I'm very grateful that the book gave me so much.
It is not always wise to hang out with friends in the middle of the week. Because it very likely will lead to a late night. And when everyone in the party has work the following morning, well, we all know how we're going to feel the next day. But it is very much worth it. Especially for me, as I don't have many opportunities to be social right now.
I am grateful for each time the Lord gives me to spend with friends.
Today's Smile: We had another Toddler Play Hour at work. Our last for the summer since storytime will begin in the fall. And much to my sorrow I have been asked to really focus on the teens this fall and not do any storytimes. It makes since, as for another few months we have 3 other children's librarians. By winter or so there will be just the 2 of us and I'll have my chance to work closely with the preschoolers and toddlers again. But what sadness for the few months I'll be separated from them. Especially when one of my favorite little guys came in with his mom (who is expecting #2 in Sept. and which I did not know!), and when he saw me his wonderful, only-he-could-give smile spread across his little face. It made my heart so happy that he remembers me and that he still smiles when he sees me. How I wish I could give such smiles every day and all day.
Today's Something New: I learned how the Aboriginal phone call works! All of those years of knowing it could make the sound, but not knowing the "trick" or science behind it. Now I do. Nifty stuff! Thanks, Mad Science program. I wish I could have stayed in for the rest of it and learned more.
I was given a great honor and kindness today. My dearest friend invited me to attend his temple sealing in a few months. I would really, really love to go. But I don't know if I'll be able to make it (schedule-wise, financial-wise, and vacation-wise).
Still, he invited me. I'm the girl who is humbled and grateful to receive a wedding announcement from someone. I am not often invited to sealings since families are large and should be accommodated. I'm not usually the close kind of friend that one thinks of to invite. That is perfectly fine. Indeed, I do not ever expect to be invited to sealings. I understand that it is a small group that can be invited and I don't feel I have much of a "right" to be invited--unless it's my own siblings!!
Outside of my own family, I have been invited to 7 temple sealings. Five I was able to go to--three of them involving me flying on a plane in order to attend. One I was out of town for (though I was the brides temple escort the previous week), and the other I found out the night before and couldn't fit it into my plans. I was honored by each one. But especially by this 8th one.
I'm grateful for dear friends, and for dear friends finding happiness, and for the Lord being at my side all along the way.
Today's Smile: The teens who received a book for their prize. It's nice to see the kids and parents happy. But I just love seeing a teen happy about getting a book!
Today's Something New: Winnie the Pooh is considered to have 2 birthdays. In June, when the toy bear was released for sale. And August 21, when Christopher Robin received his bear on his 1st birthday. Either way. it's 90 years this year.
Today's Smile: Summer Reading prize hand-outs have begun. That means pandemonium!!! But it is so nice to not have the extreme stress and craziness like I did last year. This year, I can be busy and crazy but only lose 90% of my brain function. :-) But how I love Summer Reading and the fun and smiles it brings to people!
Today's Something New: They're making more Chronicles of Narnia movies. I know that's not a life-changing bit of knowledge or anything. But I have enjoyed the new movies and I'm glad they aren't ending with the Dawn Treader. (Which, by the way, I thought was well done.)
I got to see "17 Miracles" last Monday. I fit it in as part of my Pioneer Day celebrations. It was perfect for that, and it already one of my favorite movies.
It was wonderful! Especially when I realized it included a song I very much love from my recent acquisition (via Christmas present) of "Joseph Smith, the Prophet" musical. Indeed, I cannot hear it without coming close to tears.
Just having this song in the movie would have been enough. But even more especially because it used a version by a singer I greatly love to hear (though I do love this soprano's voice!). I can't find anything with him singing the song, but here is a clip of him singing one of my favorite Broadway songs.
After the movie, I longed to have the lyrics available. In the temple yesterday, I thought "Try to find the sheet music!" Because then I could accompany myself whenever I desired to sing the song. Unfortunately, Deseret Book didn't have it and the young man at the desk said it was no longer being sold. He suggested I check on Amazon.
Well, I didn't get to the Internet for an Amazon search, not for any Googling of the lyrics alone. Thus, today when the closing song was announced (before all of the speakers) in Sacrament meeting, I think I visibly was taken aback to hear "Hymn #112--Savior, Redeemer of My Soul." My eyes must have been huge. It couldn't be coincidence.
But it was!!! There within the Hymn book that I have been singing out of all of my life was this hymn that I only recently came to love in the last 7 months. Of course, the arrangement was completely different. And the one in the Hymn book, well, the hymn in general is not much sung among us at all. (A shame about those hymns.) But the lyrics. The very same. And my Elder Orson F. Whitney. Oh, the message is just as wonderful.
And I'm so grateful to have this amazing new-to-me song to praise my Savior--Redeemer of my soul.
Today's Smile: Telling my new Visiting Teachee (who is already a good acquaintance) that I am her new Visiting Teacher. She seemed so happy to have someone who may actually come to visit her. And I get along with her well and enjoy her company. I'm excited for this myself!
Today's Something New: Elder Whitney wrote a hymn. Of course, I never looked to see if he had. I usually look at composers, but typically of songs that we sing. Since I unfortunately have never sung that hymn in my life, I didn't have the chance to see that he had written one. Of course, then I had to check the composers and saw that he had written one more hymn ("The Wintry Day Descending to Its Close") which I have sung. (But not as often either.) I love that we sing hymns written by the early Saints.
Lyrics:
Savior, Redeemer of my soul,
Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
Whose wondrous pow'r hath raised me up
And filled with sweet my bitter cup!
What tongue my gratitude can tell,
O gracious God of Israel.
Never can I repay thee, Lord,
But I can love thee. Thy pure word,
Hath it not been my one delight,
My joy by day, my dream by night?
Then let my lips proclaim it still,
And all my life reflect thy will.
O'errule mine acts to serve thine ends.
Change frowning foes to smiling friends.
Chasten my soul till I shall be
In perfect harmony with thee.
Make me more worthy of thy love,
And fit me for the life above.
I have been bad, and I know it. I haven't written on this blog in almost two months. It is simply because I get home fairly "late" (after 8pm) and after having spent an entire day at a computer, I don't often want to turn on my laptop to type in here. Thus, two or three weeks got away. Then the idea of "Playing Ketchup" just seemed too much and too daunting and I avoided it. Thus avoiding the blog altogether. Silly, I know. But I did.
Instead of Playing Ketchup, then, I am just going to pick up from today and keep going. However, I have to note that the last month has been a particularly trying one. It's Summer Reading, so that isn't a surprise that all kinds of things are effecting me mentally, physically, and emotionally. But spiritually, things are fabulous! I have made it through the trials in the other areas because I have made sure to hold to my scripture study, my prayers, my faith, my Church attendance, my Institute classes, and so much more. Indeed, these trials really were much easier to bear because of the spiritual support I had in my life from my Savior and the comfort of the Spirit. It is a shame that I did not have the daily recordings of this pressing on and growth and such. But I know they happened.
This is a blog where I share inspirational/explanatory quotes, pieces of my testimony, and various things/events/experiences that have strengthened and will continue to increase that testimony. I am not officially called of my church to keep this blog. I share these things because they are the core of my very existence. And every part of me wants to proclaim it to all the world. So, I'll start here. I hope all who read my "spiritual ramblings" may know with a surety that I know and believe these things with all of my heart and with complete assurance.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I would love to talk more with readers, though I do reserve the right to not discuss or respond to anything inappropriate or that I am not comfortable with.
