Core Values

I have been doing some thinking this morning on the importance of being raised with core values. I think that it is vitally important to be raised in an environment where you know what is to be expected of you (what is life without some expectation of/for the future) and that you have a strong set of values. I personally feel that the best method to use as a starting point is religion.

I was taught many things as a child some of the ones I would consider of high importance are:

• testimony of the Gospel
• moral cleanliness
• taking care of my body by what I eat/drink and how exercise
• honesty
• integrity
• hard work
• service to others

(I could probably make the list go on and one) my point being that I was taught values at a young age and they are now ingrained in me today. There are things that I would never do as a result of the values that I was taught as a young girl.

The more I look at the world around me I am beginning to see more and more evidences that the world is getting increasingly bad. Evil is everywhere you look, even checking my email I feel like I need to cover up the other half of the monitor where there are flashing ads of images that I would prefer to not look at. I hardly ever turn on the television (in fact I didn't realize the switch from analog already happened...), and movies. What happened to the good old days when three were movies like, The Journey of Natty Gann???

An evening out...

Last week I went to Enrichment with "L" (from work). It was very informative and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There was a guest speaker who had graduated from the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. She taught us relaxation techniques and we talked a lot on the need to have balance in our lives...physical, emotional, mental and spiritual...Mind, Body, Spirit.

After one of the exercises I could literally feel the stress lifting from my shoulders. So wonderful as life seems to have been piling up on me. (Don't worry...just regular stuff)

One thing that she mentioned on breathing was to try to inhale for at least 4 seconds and exhale for 6 seconds...start with that and then try to increase both of those to see how long you can inhale and exhale. After only a few times I could feel myself relaxing and becoming calmer.

She ended her presentation with a video that was taken from a talk given at BYU in May 1996 by Elder Busche entitled "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit". Very good article. The video captured a portion towards the end of his talk where he states a several ways to help us reach our vision of true discipleship.

Some of those things he suggested are:

• Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you
• When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and directed them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
• In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
• First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.
• Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul
• God knows you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
• God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us - everything will fall into its place
• Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin
• The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.

There are other's I am not going to list them all here.

~Enjoy

Last 10 Years...

So I was at lunch today and someone mentioned to think about what you have done in the last 10 years and try and imagine what the next 10 years will bring. So...here is a short list of things that I can think of that I have done.

1- Moved to Arizona
2- Had 33 different roommates {currently looking to fill an open room with the 34th} only 7 of them I don't know how to contact
3- Lived in 8 different places in AZ
4- Moved to Utah and Back to AZ
5- Received my Endowments
6- Attended at least 12 different Temples
7- Started exercising on a regular basis
8- Bought a house
9- Bought a new car
10- Visited Europe 3 times
11- Travelled to New Zealand
12- Travelled to Mexico
13- Travelled to the East Coast 5 times (I think)
14- Jumped out of an airplane at 13,000 feet two times
15- Served as Relief Society President
16- Served as Stake Relief Society Secretary
17- Served as Young Women's Secretary
18- Taught Temple Prep for 2 years
19- Spoke in Stake Conference
20- Ran in 3 separate 5K's (I think...could be 4 of them)
21- Ran a 10K
22- Had 4 different jobs
23- Comforted a friend at a siblings funeral
24- Found an armful of lasting friends!
25- Had a personal trainer for a year

That is where I am going to stop the list now that I have put them on a list I feel like I might need to go and take a nap?!?!

Anyway just food for thought today. Have a GREAT one!!!

Here's one for you~

It was such a nice surprise this morning at work to get a Thank You note from the CFO letting me know that she appreciates all of the work that I am doing. The note included a coupon good at the gift shop or cafeteria. I thought I would just buy lunch with it. But then on my way over I was thinking that I have always wanted a lanyard that was a little dressier than the LA Fitness one that I have been using since I started. So we took a detour on our way to the cafeteria and headed to the gift shop. I had been there before and looked and the lanyard’s and knew which one I wanted. It was so pretty and looked like a nice necklace. I was so excited to get it…

As I get to the gift shop I don’t see the cute ones…I looked through all of them and they were not attractive at all. I didn’t want to settle for one that I didn’t like so I quickly looked through the rest of the store to see if there was one that had been misplaced. The lady behind the register asked me if what I was looking for was like the one that she was wearing. There it was – the cute lanyard/necklace!!! I was excited and said yes it was, she informed me that she had purchased it just this morning and that it was the last one. I asked if they would get more in and she said that she didn’t think they got them in very often. Then she smiled, shrugged her shoulders, said she was sorry, reminded me that she had bought it just this morning, and turned to help someone else.

My coworker "R" and I walked out of the gift shop and just started laughing. It was so funny!!! "R" thought that the lady was going to offer to buy a different one and sale me the one that she had, but no…she just kept reminding me that she had just bought it that morning.

Needless to say the coupon provided a delicious lunch from the cafeteria

Just curious how all of you may have responded to this situation…

New Calling

Well…after almost a year in my new ward I said goodbye to my VT District Supervisor calling this week. Lucky for me I get to hang on to the activities committee calling – who doesn’t like to plan fun times??

Anyway this week I was sustained as the Young Women’s Secretary. I have been told for years by those who know me that I should be in the Young Women’s program. I guess now we will get to see if they were right. So far I have only attended one meeting because my parents were in town for the weekend. But I am sure that in no time I will be fully submerged in the calling.

Reasons to celebrate

This one is for all of you out there!!

Really though, sometimes I have a really hard time trying to keep myself motivated. It is as if life is just sort of hum drum. At times I wonder if it is just life...at my job we only have 6 paid holidays a year - that is not very many in relation to the number of days that you work. By the way - New Years day to Memorial Day is the longest stretch EVER!

Moving on...well I found this website that I like to check when I am feeling like there is no reason to celebrate. I now know many reasons to look forward to each and every day!! In fact today is...National Jelly Bean Day! Who would have known!! I mean if I were more on top of things I could have planned a fun filled day in recognition to the BEAN! Maybe I will be more on top of things when it is National Zucchini Bread Day (April 25th) or Raisin Day (April 30th)!

http://www.holidaysforeveryday.com/