Gospel Message Day 317

Family Time

When I was taking my Proclamation on the Family class, my teacher often said "It's quantity time, not quality" when it comes to family. It means more to family members, especially children, to have lots of times together, rather than long stints of occasional time. As an adult, it is a lot harder for us to have lots of times together when we are so spread out. But over this past couple of weeks we have certainly crammed in as many times as we could to be together. Tonight we added a certainly memorable time as we had a pre-celebration of a wedding that had us see a beautiful storm. One in which we got quite soaked, but not before saving things from being blown away. And typical to our family, we came together to help each other out. And we found much laughter from it all. I think those are some of the greatest lessons we have learned over time as a family, because of all the times we had together as a family.

Gospel Message Day 316

Dancing

I really love to dance. A lot. I love music. I love to move. I love to move to music. It is why I'm an interpretive dancer--I like to move by how the music makes me feel. I prefer beautiful dancing. Not what I consider "nasty" dancing. I'm sure you can guess the kind without me having to elaborate. Beautiful music to bring beautiful dancing. I also am fascinated by how dancing is done--the way a body can move. It is such a wondrous blessing to be able to move, and of one's one accord.  The blessing of our bodies is a part of the Gospel. But so is dancing! In the scriptures there is happy dancing, celebrating dancing, and the not-so-good kind that led to not-so-good things. It can be used for good or ill, so hopefully we will use such a gift for good!

This topic brought to you because I really enjoyed dancing tonight. :-)

Gospel Message Day 315

Eternal Families, again

One can always blog on this topic, especially when they are actually though rarely surrounded by their eternal family! There have been one or two things of this vacation in which there were things I wanted to do. For example, water aerobics. I adore water aerobics. Such an amazing workout all while basically just playing in a pool. But I rarely get a chance to do my water aerobics exercises in a class setting. I was looking forward to two chances to participate. And I didn’t participate in either. Why? Because I felt it was more important to be there for my family. I had family to cheer me on during the Ropes course. I wanted to be there for those I could. So I cheered on the young’uns who did the climbing tower. And then I was major Soccer Mom cheerleader for the tweens yesterday and the teens today in shouting out encouragement and Good Jobs. It meant more to me, and I hope it means more to them as well, that I was there. Because family really is about time. And some times (actually, often if not most times), that time means sacrificing things to be there and be with them. I could have done a musical this week and missed the evenings with my family. But my family was more important and more worth it. Supporting and seeing how awesome my siblings and  “niephews” are is much more worth it than exercising in the water, or reading a book, or taking a nap, or giving this introvert time to rejuvenate in nature.

I will cherish the times I have had with my family here, because our times together and exceedingly few and far between. I want to make the most of eternity here on earth.

Gospel Message Day 314

Boys

What? That’s a Gospel topic? Well, yes. In its way. Our family reunion room of females (two teen, two single adults—though one will not be single in 10 days) has had a lot of conversations about guys. As you can probably imagine. Frustrations as well as the fun stuff. But these often frustrating, “game-playing” guys are an important part of the Gospel, because I believe in eternal marriages, as well as eternal families, and eternal friendships. And the males in our lives are part of those relationships. A rather crucial one! So though it’s frustrating that “men are from Mars, women are from Venus,” I think it is vital that we learn to work together, to get along, and to find happiness in, through, and with each other.

Gospel Message Day 313

Family Support

This brief message brought to you today by my experience on the High Ropes course today. Many of us chose to do it. In. The. Rain. At first I thought this would be an awesome challenge to tackle. Plain stupidity on my part. Still. I made improvements on the log and the rappelling from last time. But the rock wall and wires were so difficult because of the slickness from the rain. That and I actually fell from the rock wall, which sent pure terror in me. Even though my belay men had me, and I knew I wouldn't fall to the ground, it was freaky hanging there in air. And I didn't want to experience that again. It was a very, very tough experience. Even though I have basically been "training" for the last 2 months so I would be ready to tackle this challenge again--and be better at it--it was still extremely difficult for me. A little bit emotionally as well as physically. But I was determined. I knew that I could get through this difficult, challenging thing--because that is what I have had to prove over and over again in life.

But what was a reminding proof to me was that I'm never alone in what I do. Not only were the two belay men there to guide me where to put my hands and feet and to lift when I could not do any more on my own, but every single one of my present family members stopped where they were and what they were doing to call out love and encouragement. I believe in life the Savior and the Spirit are my two belay men, pulling me up and guiding me and helping me along. But I also know that even though I am not near my family, from where ever they are and with what ever they are doing they are still calling out words of love and encouragement to me.

Gospel Message Day 312

Failure

Failure has been discussed a lot at work, mostly with my ILEAD and ULA stuff. But I'm starting to hear it everywhere else, too. Almost like it is trending. :-) But I liked that part of our Relief Society lesson today focused on failure. I don't think I ever thought of how important it was to have and to acknowledge failure until an Institute class a few years ago where a student kept trying to convince the teacher that we should never use the word fail. It should rather be fall. And I thought that ridiculous and that no, use fail when it is a failure. There is nothing wrong or shameful about failing. It is a part of life. And it is more about what you do and you you deal with the failure that counts. I loved how the RS teacher ended her talk--it is only truly a failure if you completely give up.

So why would I blog about this as a Gospel topic? Not just because it was a lesson in church. But because as we strive towards being like the Savior, we are inevitable going to fail at some things. If we weren't going to fail, then we would be considered perfect and have no need to be tried, tested, strengthened, and able to grow on this Earth. So let's remember that failure will happen. And that the real true test will be what we do and how we deal with that failure. (And if we need a little help with those, I know the Savior will ever be willing to reach out a helping hand to us.

Gospel Message Day 311

Jesus - Teacher, Part 4

I love how important teaching was to the Savior. As soon as He was old enough and knowledgeable enough, He was teaching others. He taught through example, through testimony, through stories, and through service. He taught with love, with patience, with kindness, with understanding, with knowledge, with power, and with the Spirit. Even as He was persecuted and as He was being crucified, He knew His duty and continued to teach others.

Indeed He is the best example of a teacher we could ever have had. As we go about being teachers at work, as member missionaries, in our wards and in our callings, in our communities, and as family members, may we always use the Savior as how to best fulfill the duty of teaching.


Just a head's up that for the next few days I'll be enjoying and reveling in the joys of being with family--not something I get to experience often. Where we are going has limited internet access. So I will be writing every day, but I might not be able to post it every day. When I post, I will back date them. But if you are (ha ha) a steady reader and (ha ha ha) looking forward to my posts, just know that's the possible answer for some possible silence in the coming days. Oh yes--and since I don't want to cart the Dog o' Topics with me on the trip, I'm just going to come up with some on my own. Wish me luck!