Priorities and Such

I've decided that the next few months are going to be used wisely. I want to start projects for myself so I can start being more productive. Time is starting to fly by, and before I know it, it's been 3 months, and I hadn't done anything productive at all. Therefore, that is going to change.

(Or rather that I hope writing them down may help me be successful....)

In the next few months, I hope to:

• MOVE! (Actually, this is in the works for next weekend. We're moving and it's starting to be crunch time. I guess my goal is to get everything as packed and organized as I can before we move so it won't be as stressful.)
• Start my wedding album. (Yes, and this means that I'm going to give the whole scrapbooking thing a try. I may love it, I may hate it... but I'm going to start it none-the-less. I've been wanting to start it for a while, and I have decided now is the time.)
• Enjoy my sister. (Jennifer and her husband, Willis, are coming to stay with us from April 2nd-6th. I haven't seen her in ages, and I'm so excited to see her. I've felt extremely blessed these past couple weeks. I've seen so much family!) 
• Enjoy my best friend. (Audrie and her husband, Nate, are also coming to visit for about a week or so! And that is also in the beginning of April. I'm trying to breathe and enjoy it all instead of stressing out.)
• Buy plane tickets! (My brother is getting married in June, and we're going. Of course we won't miss out, but I don't want to put it off, put it off, put it off until we realize that we don't have the money or have to use the credit card. I want to have it all planned out early so the vacation will be enjoyable.)
• Enjoy our 1 year! (June 6th will mark our 1 year together. We've made plans to go stay at the same place we went for our honeymoon... an adorable bed and breakfast, Inn on the Hill. It's not really that cheap, so this is another thing I want to be able to do. We are going to try all we can to set aside money and make this possible.)
• Get on a more regimented work out schedule. (Isn't this always a goal?)
• Enjoy the present.

Also, there's always the fact that my birfday is on Tuesday, and the hubs has plans... which he won't disclose to me. Which means I'm a pretty excited wifey. 

Just a reminder.

"If the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years. Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world."

Achieving the Seemingly Impossible

Well, I finished Inside My Heart and I immediately picked up another. Running with Angels was the next book on my list, and talk about motivation! I am so inspired by Pam Hansen's spirit. It sucked me in from the first page. Truly, EVERYONE read this book. It doesn't matter if you have a problem with obesity or not. It's about taking care of yourself, and making goals for yourself, even though it seems impossible. Great, great read.


I'm going through one of my reading phases, where it's all I want to do. I read before I go to bed, I read when I come home from work. And there definitely isn't anything better than a lazy Sunday afternoon and doing some reading after church. I should make more of an effort to always be reading something, but time gets the best of me, and I often forget. I'll have to be better. :)

And P.S. Isn't this chandelier amazing?

Current Read?

My friend Brynnly suggested to me to read this book, and so far I love it. It's basically about being excited about your life and excited about being a woman. It's about seeing your life as a vast array of choices that can bring you closer to the person you long to be. I LOVE the motivation and how she always brings God into her situations and choices. It's a wonderful 'pick me up' and helps you be more excited about life, and making your own opportunities.


Great read, thus far.


I know how it is to get into a groove with your daily life, and often times you forget to stop and realize what you have. I have a caring husband, an amazing family, a loving heavenly Father who knows my needs personally, and plenty of other blessings. It's nice to have a reminder of those things from time to time.

Alex and I have been on such an organizing power trip lately, and I must say it's only getting worse from here. I have an addictive personality, and now that Alex has turned me on to cleaning/organizing/re-organizing/re-arranging/etc, I feel I'll never get away from it. And ya know, I'm okay with that. :) I think that my favorite thing in the world are these storage tubs. How could something so plain, so simple bring such joy into my life? I've been gung-ho about wanting to put everything in these. It's the simple things in life....

Can I just say?

That going to the temple by yourself gives a whole new meaning to making spiritual goals?


Wow...

"Do we periodically participate in all of the temple ordinances and thus receive the full blessings of vicarious work for our ancestors? Do we return to the temple often to receive the personal blessings that come from regular temple worship?"
-Gordon B. Hinckley

Regular temple worship. Alex and I do try to go at least once a month, and I would say we are mostly successful... but would I call that regular? Especially now, before we have kids? Especially now, where I live 15 minutes away from the nearest temple? Especially now, when I'm strengthening my testimony to be a rock for my husband and future children? No, in this juncture in my life, I would not say that is regular.

I've been feeling the lack of the Spirit in my daily routine. Yesterday while at work, I made the decision to go do a session straight after work. I haven't gone by myself before, and it was absolutely incredible. I love going with Alex, don't get me wrong, but when you are in the House of the Lord by yourself, it forces you to look inside, and see where you've been lacking.

Definitely some serious introspection involved.

I've decided that for the next couple months, I'm going to go to the temple once a week. Alex has school at night, so it gives me the perfect time to go. I feel it's going to get me back on track, and help me get through this rut I'm in. Also, there are many big decisions that will need to be made, and I want to make sure that we're following His council, and we're completely in tune with the Spirit.

It seems that I've felt the urge, or rather the need to go to the temple more often. Sometimes it's hard to just sit at home for a minute without thinking, "I should be at the temple right now." When I ignore it, it only becomes more persistant. Interesting how that works...

I am so grateful for the knowledge I have.

Gifts For Me. From Me.

One of my New Years resolutions of 2009 is to be healthier. Therefore, I've heard these two books are great to start with. I'm so excited! As well as eating healthier, I plan to work out 6 days a week, go to the temple at LEAST once a month, and pay off our debts as quickly as possible. I'm so pumped to make necessary changes to make my life better. Don't you just LOVE New Years?!

Warning:

Don't read this book if you're not willing to listen to her guidance, if you're a feminist or easily offended. Eh, on the other hand, maybe you should. Dr. Laura is one feisty woman! She speaks how she feels, and I love her all the more for it. She's got a good head on her shoulders.

I've always had the attitude that when you marry, you treat your husband like a king. You live to make his day just a little bit better. You don't criticize or belittle them. You help lift them up. You are affectionate with them, you allow them guy time, you love them for who they are.

My brother bought me this book as a gift. I think he knew how much I loved self-improvement books, PLUS he is a current huge fan of Dr. Laura. I have been waiting for it to come in the mail, and I got it just last night and have already read half of it. I love it!!

I'm so glad that my parents taught me the way they did. We rarely saw them fight. They were always affectionate and always loved eachother. They raised us in a loving, secure environment and it has directly affected my marriage to Alex. To be a wife is a wonderful thing. I haven't experienced being a mother yet, but I know that when I do- I will work at my marriage just the same. I recommend this book to ANY woman. These days there is such a "feminist" movement. Women who are mere housewives or treat their husbands well are weak, and are missing out on what's "truly important."

"How many women's mags talk about women's obligations to their men and children? Not many. The typical article is about deserving freedom: Day care vs. child rearing, sex out of wedlock vs. marriage, affairs vs. fidelity, and solo parenting vs. two parent homes are offered as entitlements for women." -Dr. Laura

I love my husband, and therefore want our marriage to be successful. I want there to be love and commitment. I want us to be eachother's first priority always. I'm determined to live that way to the best of my ability.

Stand a Little Taller

"Don't fear. Just live right."

-Neal A. Maxwell

My heart is full as I write this today. Last night, Alex and I had a talk about making Christ a priority into our daily lives. It was something that we've been lacking lately. It's not as if we've been doing anything bad, we just haven't been doing anything to help build eachother up. Being fast Sunday, we decided to fast for the strength to do what's right, and to find ways to bring Christ into our daily lives.

When we returned home from church, we watched "Special Witnesses of Christ." Many, many times I had chills run down my spine as I heard these amazing men bear their solid testimonies. Everytime I hear Eyring speak, I tend to get teary eyed along with him. It was such a moving experience for the both of us... and much needed. Interesting how you don't realize you're lacking something until you finally experience it. My testimony has been fed and I hadn't realized I was hungering.

I love the Gospel. There have been times in my life where I was lost. I've always known it was true, deep down, but something was holding me under water. Everytime I'd come up for air, another thing would pull me down. At the time, I thought I was just weak... but as I've gotten older, I've realized that Satan has been preying on my weaknesses and triumphed. Not anymore.

I want to change how I've been living. I tend to judge others easily. Gossiping and backbiting seem second nature at times. Negativity seems to be a habit I can't get away from. Faith has been hard to find in times of trouble. Prayer hasn't been my first priority. I'm here to say that I don't want to be that person anymore. I've always taken the easy way out-- and I've only now come to find that there is no "easy way". It's going to require a change of heart, sacrifice, sweat and tears... but not without reward. One of my mother's favorite quotes was, "Don't fear, just live right." And that is what I intend to do. This is one of the wonderful things about the Gospel. Always room for improvement. I definitely can't complain about that. :)