On Purpose

There are things I do different on purpose. Ways I try very hard not to appear ordinary.

I asked Sister Babcock on her mission what I could pass on to the pre-missionary youth. She talked about the ability to open up and talk to complete strangers, learning to share your feelings and thoughts about religious and spiritual things, and then she stressed, "Complete obedience in all things."

She told me that they were very impressed with a young missionary who had to go to the doctor with his companion. There was a tv in the waiting room, outside of their control, but this obedient elder purposefully turned his head away and would not watch.

It is okay to stand out in beliefs and moral conviction!

The trick is doing it consistently. Believing it and living it needs FAITH so you act on it and avoid being a hypocrite.

I *cringe inside when I tell the seminary kids they are in charge of their bodies. They don't have to just go along with what is happening to them. They can exert force, choose to get out of uncomfortable and wrong circumstances.

They can STOP breaking the Word of Wisdom, they can STOP kissing before the intensity of passions and feelings and hormones take over; they can stop touching inappropriately.

They can STOP looking at immodest people. They can turn away.

They CAN WAIT until they get married to have sex. They CAN WAIT to experience those pleasures.

They CAN CONTROL their thoughts by singing their favorite hymn. They CAN CONTROL their appetites and desires by exerting faith and acting on the Sunday School Answers that outline what the GOSPEL is all about:

1. be strong, read the scriptures so they will know and can obey the commandments, (FAITH in the LORD JESUS CHRIST)
2. pray every day at least twice, (REPENTANCE)
3. go to Church, keep coming to seminary, (BAPTISM and renewal of that covenant each Sabbath through the Sacrament).
4. do everything in their power to step away from and avoid temptations (listen to the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST)
5. and then do it every day (ENDURE TO THE END!)

Even though I am not a perfect example of exerting body control (don't say chocolate, ice cream, donuts, or anything about my eating when I am stressed and not exercising enough) the principle is still true*.

I can control my physical body with my spiritual choices. I believe that.

Now I just need to do it on purpose.

Crop it OUT?!

When we were first married we used a film class editing reminder. Verbally we said, "Rewind, start over" in the middle of an argument. "Take TWO." Or three...Communicating is complicated.

There is power in editing. In repenting. In deleting. In starting over. Cropping a photo tells a different story. Less is okay.
Change is okay.

Back door=#3, kitchen curtain fabric from IKEA. Exit sign from yard sale last summer. New orange shirt $2 from favorite thrift store yesterday.

As soon as we get the kids all off to school we are driving down to the temple. It's a good day to remember, and renew. Pray and serve. Repent and remember. Hope and remember. Forgive and forget and remember to count blessings.

1. Good, honest, faithful husband.
2. Temples close enough--1 1/2 hours away.
3. Children-brilliant, mostly healthy (get better Em), strong, faithful.
4. Family support in trials.
5. Trials that help us remember, start over, re-prioritize, spend time together.
6. Working car.
7. Seminary! I love teaching. Showed the class the dress I wore the day I was baptized and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands! Had them write down what they remembered on their day. 2 Nephi 31!
8. Colors of Fall! Glorious oranges and reds, rusts, purples, brilliant yellows and golds, crunchy browns. I love this time of year!