Wednesday 3/28

Wednesday
Thankful for...
Progress, being able to cross things off the list, accomplishing things.  Don't always do that, but did today and felt good.  Felt good to vacuum my craft room.  I've not been able to see the floor for a couple of weeks!

Study time...  Oh war chapters, what are you trying to teach me?  I'm almost finished w/ Alma and the inspiration has seemed to dry up just a little!  I'm looking for something new, want to see differently.  Ch 54 and 55.  Do you think Moroni acts rationally?  I think it is fair to ask for women and children in trade for a man.  Even though Ammoron rants and raves about his beliefs, in the end he agrees to Moroni's terms.  Why does Moroni re-nig and now want him to restate his cause?  Was that really necessary?  In the end they do get their women and children and a city back, so no harm.  I just wonder if he let his anger get the best of him, if things would've been easier, or how they'd have been different if he'd just traded.

Photo... It's been a while since I've taken a photo of Matt.  He needed a head shot for work, glad to get an updated one for us.  I like to record the steps he's taking in his career.

Tuesday & Wednesday 3/20 & 21

Wednesday 3/21
Thankful for...
That reminder call from the Sister missionaries!  I forgot I signed up to feed them!  I had it written, but hadn't looked at the calendar. 

Study time...
Alma 50:12 - Moroni's armies did increase because ...the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them.
He was a man of action and his righteous actions, his integrity is what people trusted.
First in v 26 there is a warm contention.  That warmth grows and now there is fighting and killing.  It amazes me that these people lived in such a way that you could go to battle and kill each other, then get captured or defeated and you could be restored to your land if you promised to keep peace.  That is pretty trusting right, because today people surely wouldn't be able to let it go!  I think it's forgiving to give these dissenters their land back.

Photo...
Bulbs are starting to bloom here.

Tuesday 3/20
Thankful for...
My good friend who just brings me a diet coke.  I had Tyce for a bit today.  Molly brought us drinks and we sat in the sun visiting.  Loooove the sun right now!

Study time...
Nothing!  Ah!  I can usually even get a verse in, but nothing today.

Photo...
Such a sweet thing to have O say, I want to 'nuggle' Garrision.

Monday 3/19

I am recommitting this week to this journal.  For all of it.  We had a RS activity Saturday morning and keeping a grateful journal is a good tool for me.  I have been continuous w/ my scripture study.  I'm down to a chapter a day although Friday I fit a few more in.  I haven't taken the time to write so I need to recommit.  I enjoy the writing, it makes my thoughts more in depth, plus I have a journal.  For the photos, I have slacked there, to only a few/ week.  Recommit!

Monday 3/19
Thankful for...
that run is over!  I pushed the boys in the stroller today and it was hard, always is a challenge getting used to it again!
Study time...
Alma 49 - Amalackiah seeks first take over the 'weakest' city Ammonihah.  He attacks in the weakest area.  Satan operates the same.  Knows our area of weakness.  Interestingly enough the city has been rebuilt... and fortified.  It not only has been restored, but has been strengthened enough that the Lamanites won't attack.  When we are restoring an area of weakness it is necessary to not only restore and rebuild, but fortify and increase strength so that area of life is no longer a weakness.

Photo...
This past weekend Matt put up the trampoline, or bumpline as E calls it.  They are all in heaven!

monday 3/12

Monday 3/12
Thankful for...
Such beautiful weather!  It feels so good to be outside.  The kids were in heaven today.

Study time...
Going into the war chapters, things aren't necessarily in chronological order.  Ch 43.  Possible Moroni gained his new war tactics through benefit of translating the plates of Ether, reading about the brother of Jared and their wars.

Photo...
Today I'll put up the invite I did for G's party...

Sunday
Thankful for...
Accomplishing something.  Sometimes it just takes crossing something off the list to feel better in life.  Today I took photos of the kids to post for the spring mini shoot and that felt good... the sunshine did too.

Study time...

Photo...
kids

Saturday
Thankful for...
Coming home to a clean house.  I went to the temple w/ Molly of course thankful for that, coming home to a clean house was a great transition back into life.

Study time...
Didn't study, but learned so much at the temple.

Friday 3/9
Thankful for...
I'm so glad to feel better today!  I was thankful to lunch with my friends.  I'm thankful to get my blogging accomplished.

Study time...

Photo...
G wanted me to take some pix of him playing hockey.  He got some pucks at the ticket exchange today.  Cute kid really wants to learn hockey.

Thursday 3/8
Thankful for...
It's hard to feel thankful when you feel sick.  I was home sick today.  It's so interesting how when you are limited or feel vulnerable physically, it affects your spirit.  I just wanted to cry many times today at things non-related to being sick.  I'm thankful to have made it through the day.  Oh, and I'm thankful my Q forgave me after a rough morning.  I love her so much, but she can sure try me at times.  My best does not always come out when we converse!  This is probably the day I could've used a good study.  I read a little from my Ludlow study companion, but not much, didn't have it in me.

Wednesday 3/7
Thankful for...
The opportunity to donate for the VanRy fundraiser.  I hope to gain exposure for sure!  So thankful to Matt for watching all 7 kids so Molly and I could go together. 

Study time...
Alma 39 - Read and learned today the difference in an unforgivable and unpardonable sin.

Tuesday 3/6
Thankful for...
An increase of girls.  Sometimes it is overwhelming being in charge of activity days.  I need to get myself organized.  It went well.  The girls had fun tonight.  I had 4 extra girls, so happy to have visitors.  We had 16.  It felt good to have it done!

Study time...
Alma 38:10 love the words be diligent and temperate in all things.
Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English temperat < Latin temperātus, past participle of temperāre to exercise restraint, control. See temper, -ate¹
1. ^{moderate or self-restrained; not extreme in opinion, statement,}

^{2. moderate as regards indulgence of appetite or passion, especially in the use of alcoholic liquors.}

^{3. not excessive in degree, as things, qualities, etc.}

Is this not what life is about?  Self mastery, temperance?  I need so much work in this area, in so many ways in my life.  I was telling Molly that this is her word.  She is temperate in my eyes.
Monday 3/5
Thankful for...
Progress.  Want to get Liza's hair pieces done.  Did the giraffe today.

Study time...
Alma 37:9 Corrects himself, first says the scriptures or these words bring the Lamanites unto repentance.  I like the correction.  The scriptures actually bring us to a knowledge of our Savior and our faith in him brings us to repentance.

Photo...

Thursday 3/1 - Sunday 3/4

Sunday 3/4
Thankful for...
Good meetings at church.  They were all good.  Love coming home feeling uplifted.

Study time...
SS talked about the Isaiah chapters.  Appreciated hearing other's thoughts on those.  My own thoughts were from 2N 22:2 - Isaiah realizes that God is our salvation and Jehovah, our savior and redeemer is his strength, to get us to our salvation.

Photo...

Saturday 3/3
Thankful for...
A double date w/ the C's!  Yea, we always see each other on date night because we are watching each other's kids.  We never go out.  We did tonight, loved it!  Ate at La Tolteca, then came home and watched the latest vampire movie, might be Breaking Dawn?  Our boys were good sports, crackin' jokes all of the way, but it was good fun!

Study time...
Reading the words Alma has to his sons.  Re-read this verse and it spoke to me.  Alma 37:41 - particularly the words at the end... and they did not progress in their journey.  He is referring to Lehi's family w/ the liahona.  Small means brought about marvelous works, but when they forgot to exercise their faith, they ceased... and they did not progress in their journey.  I've been thinking a lot about faith these past few weeks, it is important to keep working it out, exercise it, practice the principle.  Our journey is hindered when we don't.  In particular I thought of our eternal progress.  This life is but a small measure of our complete existence, yet it it the proving ground.  If we want to progress in our eternal journey, we must practice faith.  We must develop faith. 

Photo...
Little E is really good at the computer!  I think of my big kids and how they were in grade school before they really got onto the computer.  Things are so different for these little ones because they see the big ones.  They can already maneuver the mouse and find games etc.  They still need help occasionally, but I'm most in awe w/ this little 2 year old.  He loves playing computer games!


Friday 3/2
Thankful for...
Lunching with the ladies.  Shannon hosted Molly, Melissa, Penny and myself for a VTing lunch.  It was great to break up my long day!  Lunch was delicious too.
AND, so thankful to have my purse back!

Study time...
I appreciate the intimate moment between father and son in CH 36.  Alma doesn't go into detail about his sins, but goes into detail about his change.  Focusing on what made him who he is now, not what he was. 
Going back to Alma's conversion of which he speaks... I think you get to a 'past feeling' place where you don't even realize what you are doing anymore.  It is what you have become.  God needed to take Alma out of his own realm so he could see how awful his behavior was.  In the presence of good and God we realize how imperfect and wrong we are.  We can try to justify it, or take the path of change.  Alma really SAW, he saw truth, he saw good and he saw that he was wrong.  This is Godly sorrow.  He couldn't stand to BE in the presence of God because of how guilty he felt, how unclean he was.  This was his hell and torment, and this is how he paid for his sins... until (v18) he caught onto the fleeting thought of his Savior.  When he sought him out, he found relief. 
We do pay for our own sins way too much, suffering.  Why not give that to Christ?

Thursday 3/1
Thankful for...
There is much to be thankful for despite the fact that my purse is gone!  I left it at the event we were at last night.  Such a bummer... but, I am thankful no charges have been made on my card, I'm thankful I still could go to institute, thankful Molly took O to play... it was so nice to have a day w/o fighting!  Thankful for my husband loving my hurts better.

Study time...
Alma 34 left notes for myself.  Good to go back and read what I've felt before.  V17 exercise your faith unto repentance... practice this principle, use it!  Repent!  We all need to all of the time.  Practice using the atonement, look at watch my life, where can I use this?  Always realize my need for Him and His redeeming power.  Will change me, even as I master myself, can always find purpose for this principle.
V36 - He dwells in the hearts of the righteous.