2018 in Review

2018... was a good year!  I worked towards some goals - I tried to simplify and build relationships.  I have a lot more work to do, but I think there was also some fun along the way.  Here are a few highlights of the year....

Traveling

• St. George - I made it to St. George three times this year - President's Day weekend, Labor Day weekend, and Christmas.  It's always nice to spend time with Mom and Dad and it's starting to feel more like a place I know and really quite like.
• Idaho - Cari and I went on our second annual sisters' trip in May.  We had a great time visiting two new temples - Star Valley and Idaho Falls.  I think I could for sure live in Star Valley.  I can see myself retiring to a little mountain town like that someday.  We also had a chance to spend a few hours in Rexburg where Cari had a fun time reminiscing.  
• Washington - I spent a few days with Mom and Dad as they drove up to visit Josh and Kirsten in Washington in July.  We stopped in the Tri-Cities area, went to the Columbia River Temple and explored the paths and sunset along the Columbia River.  We had a couple of days in Seattle to see Josh and Kirsten's favorite places and then several days together on the Olympic Peninsula.  Some of the highlights were the Sequim lavender fields, Port Angeles, Lake Crescent, sunset at Salt Creek looking across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria, hiking Hurricane Hill, Sol Duc Falls, Marymere Falls, Rialto Beach, Second Beach, and Ruby Beach.  I flew home via Boise to make a stop at the Boise and Meridian temples on Pioneer Day.  It was a wonderful way to celebrate!
• Sundance - We spent a fun few days together with the whole family at a house in the mountains near Sundance in August.  It was wonderful to be together for talking, hiking, games, memories, and celebrating mom and dad's 40th anniversary (a little early).
• New York City / Washington, DC - It was a treat to spend a few days with Matt and Megan and their family in Manhattan in November, while Josh and Kirsten were also visiting.  We had a fun two days exploring the city--walking many miles together from the Brooklyn Bridge to Chinatown, Madison Square Park, Midtown, and all corners of Central Park and Riverside Park, listening to Josh quote lots of movies, enjoying the fall leaves and the Upper West Side.  Then I took the bus/train to/from Washington, D.C. for a couple of days.  It was wonderful to be back there, see some friends, spend time with Sarah and meet her darling twins, and walk around the Mall in the fall.  Highlight!

Reading
This year I read the Book of Mormon twice.  The first time through I studied about truth.  It's full of truth!!!  In a world that wonders where we can find truth this book is such a blessing!  The second time through I renewed my study of Jesus Christ, His names/titles, His words, His characteristics, and His mission (as President Nelson invited us to do by the end of the year), but I also focused on knowing the Lord's will for me.  I found a lot of direction and joy.  It was a great blessing to study these words.  I'm grateful for the power of the Book of Mormon in helping me draw closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I'm looking forward to starting again.  I'm still working my way through the Old Testament, and look forward to jumping into the New Testament.  Just today I finished reading all of the General Conference talks since the year I was born (a project that I've been working on for about three years or so now... this year I read about 1,000 talks from 2001 to 2018).  I'm grateful for chances to learn and study.  I'm grateful for prophets in the land (anciently and this very day)!  Their words help me to focus on what's most important.  Here is a list of some of my favorites (that I intend to continue to add to).

In addition to this study, I read 75 books this year.  Here were some of my favorites (in no particular order): 

• The Standard of Truth by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Teachings of President Russell M. Nelson
• Refugee by Alan Gratz
• A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin
• The Zookeeper's Secret by Jeffrey A. Thompson
• The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie
• Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
• Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
• Boundaries by Henry Cloud
• Reading People by Anne Bogel
• I'd Rather be Reading by Anne Bogel
• Everybody Always by Bob Goff
• Love Lives Here by Maria Goff
• As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist
• Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall
• Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
• How Not to Die by Michael Greger
• The Thing with Feathers by McCall Hoyle
• A Christ-Centered Christmas by Emily Freeman

Service / Learning / Other Exploring

• Temples - This year (in addition to weekly temple visits here in the Salt Lake valley) I attended five new temples - Star Valley Wyoming, Idaho Falls Idaho, Columbia River Washington, Boise Idaho, and Meridian Idaho.  I'm grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life!
• Service - I was a hostess again at the Festival of Trees in November.  I found a few causes to support for Christmas and look forward to dedicating more time to community service in 2019.
• Church - I was involved in my ward and participated in a lot of ministering visits this year. I have a testimony of the importance of reaching out and loving others.  I also had the chance the last few months to teach Sunday School.  It has been a great blessing to learn more about the Old Testament and share my testimony of the truth on a regular basis.  I love the scriptures and the covenants and promises that our Heavenly Father has made with His children since the beginning.  It's clear to me that we're living at a time that many prophets have seen and foretold.  I'm grateful to be here now and hope I'm doing my part.  I also enjoyed being part of our ward and stake choir.
• Fitness and Nature - I ran the Mount Nebo Half Marathon in August (just a month before much of that beautiful canyon was destroyed by a huge fire).  I also spent a good amount of time hiking, which always does my body and mind good.  Some of this year's favorites included the Bell Canyon Waterfall, Desolation Lake, Snowbird Tram, Albion Basin, the Draper trails, Stewart Falls, Lake Blanche, Willow Heights Lake (multiple, many times with a variety of friends and family), and (what's becoming somewhat of a Christmas Eve tradition) Observation Point.  
• Relationships - This was something I tried to focused on this year, but it's hard to measure or see progress.  I don't know how successful I've been, but I'm grateful for relationships, people--family and friends--that give life meaning.  I was able to spend time with all of my immediate family on multiple occasions this year, which was a great blessing.  I've tried to get to know new people.  I've spent more focused time on my relationship with Heavenly Father and the Savior.  I hope that each of these relationships can grow further in 2019.
• Other Events - It was fun to celebrate Paul Dean's wedding with the Loto Taha crew in July.  The rest of us that are here in Utah got together again in August.  What a great group of people, dear friends!  Sarah was cute and gathered some other great MPA friends in DC in November.  One of my favorite ways to talk and be with people this year was hiking.  I invited quite a few people to join me this year, where I'd usually go by myself, and had a great time!  The beautiful world, exercise, and good people--there's not much better.  I also tried to support and be a part of the lives of those I care about...funerals, sporting events, inspirational events, birthdays, etc.

I'm grateful for another year.  Life is great!

I love the Book of Mormon!

I love the Book of Mormon.  I know it's the word of God!  As I studied it most recently I have been reminded again of the importance of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the only way to salvation and true happiness and joy.  He is here.  He loves us.  Our Heavenly Father sent Him because He loves us.  They have a plan.  They send prophets.  They send the Holy Spirit.  They keep their promises.  We learn Their commandments and promises and blessings as we study the scriptures and pray.  We are happy and blessed as we keep Their commandments and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They want us to return to Them, become like Them, find lasting joy, and share that joy with others.

Here are some of my favorite bits of joy and counsel this time....

• Look for and record the goodness of God.  Recognize His hand.  Learn His dealings.
• Rejoice and share your joy in the Lord.
• Be obedient and faithful, keep the commandments.
• Give thanks.
• Desire to see, hear, know.  Cry unto the Lord, believe.  Seek Him diligently, with holiness of heart. 
• Be proactive, turn to the Lord, solve problems, be willing to work.
• Be humble.  See the Lord's vision.
• Believe in His promises.  Trust in His power.  He will teach, show, lead, feed.
• Follow the Spirit and the Lord's direction through the fertile parts of the land.
• PRAY FOR OTHERS!  (I was surprised how much I saw this.)
• Seek God's glory and brothers' welfare.  Bear others' burdens.  
• Pray, study, keep a record.
• Choose eternal life, do His work, live His way, be happy.
• Bless children and posterity with covenants.  Know the covenants.
• Delight in the Lord, the scriptures, covenants, truth, justice, mercy, the plan.  
• Ponder these things.  Learn His law.
• Rejoice.  Give no place for the enemy of the soul.
• Care about others.  Serve.
• Remember His words.  Pray.  Give thanks.
• Teach and testify of Christ.
• Come unto Christ, feast on His love.  Offer our whole souls to Him, give all.
• REPENT.  Be reconciled to God.  Seek to do His will.  Obey.
• Teach and keep the commandments.  Prosper.
• Rejoice.  Love God and men.  Serve.
• The knowledge of the Savior will spread to all.  Salvation is only through Christ.
• Repent, call on His name, believe in God, covenant to change.  Be His.  Retain His name, hear His voice, turn to Him, trust Him, serve Him.
• Apply hearts to understanding.  Write the commandments in our hearts.
• Give.  Build unity and love.
• Submit cheerfully and with patience.
• Remember His mercy, exercise faith, repent, become like Christ.
• Seek joy of the gospel.
• Be humble, be grateful.
• Rejoice, praise, glory in the Lord.
• Be content with what the Lord has allotted to me.  Desire to share.  Remember Christ is joy.
• Recognize and kick out evil.
• Be diligent, patient, long-suffering waiting for fruit.
• Pray continually.
• Give to those in need!!!!  Be charitable.
• Do as the Lord commands (even when we don't know why).
• Be steady, faithful.
• Inquire of the Lord to learn truth.
• Be humble.  Get rid of pride.  Cleanse the inner vessel.  
• Have faith.  Trust.  God delivers and preserves.
• Forgive.  Rejoice in others' greatness.
• Gather together in the strength of the Lord.
• Yield hearts to God... fast, pray, love, be humble, have faith, have joy, be purified, sanctified.
• Pride is the beginning of downfall and leads to destruction.  Cleave to God.
• Do good, don't boast, lay up treasures in heaven.
• Remember, keep, and teach the word of God.
• Don't let the devil have your heart.
• Don't ask contrary to His will.
• Repent, hearken.  Listen to what the Lord puts in your heart.
• Remember, believe, rejoice, be firm and steadfast with unwearied diligence.
• Know the Redeemer.  Be gathered.
• Turn hearts to the Lord, listen to His prophets humbly, get rid of pride and follow the Lord.
• Be clean, do miracles.
• Repent, COME TO HIM, bring a broken heart and contrite spirit.
• Seek after righteousness with a pure heart.
• Be salt, be a light, give, love.
• Pray humbly, in secret.
• Have heart and eye single to Him and His glory.
• Seek first the kingdom of God.
• Ask, seek, knock.
• Minister, bring others to Christ.
• Be ready to meet Jesus.
• Pray for the Holy Ghost, with desire.
• Open hearts to understand.
• Do all the things Christ taught.  Know what He taught.
• Pray, fast, do the Father's will.
• Repent, endure, come to Him, be sanctified by the Spirit.
• Taste and know of the goodness of God.
• Remember the Lord.  Believe in Jesus Christ.
• Be faithful even when you're alone.
• Seek Him!!!!!
• Exercise faith, be sanctified, receive more.
• Commend selves to Him.
• Be humble, be grateful.  Remember the things the Lord has done.
• Have faith, hope; be steadfast; do good works; glorify God.
• Have faith so He can do miracles.
• Seek Jesus.
• Repent with a broken heart and contrite spirit.
• Rely upon Christ.
• Recognize God's will.
• Do good.
• Pray with real intent, sincere heart, and faith in Christ.
• Cleave unto God and every good thing.
• Have hope through the Atonement of Christ.
• Be meek and lowly of heart.
• Pray with all of your heart to be filled with His love!
• Pray continually.  Be humble, repent.
• Be bold and full of love (no fear).
• Be steady, unchanging.
• Recognize and remember the mercy of God.
• Endure by diligence unto prayer.
• Pray for others.
• Labor diligently to conquer the enemy of righteousness.
• Be faithful in Christ and He will lift you up.
• The Holy Ghost will help you know truth.
• Deny not the power of God.
• Recognize and use the gifts of God.
• Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him; deny yourselves of all ungodliness.
• Be sanctified by the grace of God.

Bring them hither

This weekend I'm grateful for the reminder that Jesus invites ALL of us to COME to Him!  He love us.  He know us.  He heals us.  He is the only one that could judge us.  He is our Judge, but He's also our Advocate.  He is merciful and He is kind. He desires to bless us and wants us to be better.

While watching my nieces and nephews I had a sweet reminder of His tender care and selfless love.  One of my nieces was visibly sick the other night and the other kids and I were kind of trying to avoid her, letting her sleep and not wanting to get sick ourselves.  She got out of bed and came to join us and one of her brothers started to push her away.  I had been doing the same thing in my mind, but in that moment a couple of scriptures came to mind:

"Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy." (3 Nephi 17:7)

"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14)
I'm grateful for these reminders that helped me respond more compassionately and she was visibly and immediately grateful for my more welcoming response.  We have no right to criticize or judge.  Responding with selfless compassion is what Jesus would do.  He asked us to "go and do thou likewise."  Invite, love, comfort, heal.  That's the plan that brings peace and healing to all of us.

Unwearyingness

For various reasons, recently I've been thinking a bit about weariness, about joy, about service, about purpose, about authenticity, about motivations, about why we do things.  I think sometimes I turn life into a checklist and my calendar into a puzzle trying to fit in as much as I can.  I like to be productive, and accomplish good things, but sometimes the checklist leads to weariness and I lose the joy and the love and the reason I'm doing any of it in the first place.

We recently had a discussion in Sunday School about the scripture from Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34, "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.  Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days."

I love this verse.  I think it's encouraging.  The Lord loves us.  He wants to bless us.  He knows our hearts.  That's what He requires from us - our hearts and minds willingly given to Him.  To do His will.  It doesn't have to be anything larger than that.  It's simple and small, really.  I think we (or at least I) sometimes get overwhelmed creating a much larger checklist of unreasonable expectations.  For the first time ever, I think I realized that here the Lord was teaching us how to not be overwhelmed.  He wants us to be engaged in His work, and in doing good, but most importantly He wants our hearts.  If our hearts are His, if we simply LOVE, He will lead us to what He needs us to do, and we don't need to worry about the rest.  If we truly love Him, if we love others, if that love is our focus and motivation behind anything on our checklist, we will not be weary.  He's not only inviting us to do good, but to find the joy in doing it because our hearts will be set on Him.  Whatever trials, responsibilities, opportunities to serve, and anything else that comes will not make us weary, because our hearts are His.  And He will help us do His will and His work.... however large or small that is.

Listening to President Nelson speak at President Monson's funeral yesterday, I made another connection about the importance of unwearingness.  The Lord tells Nephi in Helaman 10:4-5, "Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.  And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will."

Nephi and President Monson were "not weary in well-doing."  They gave their hearts and their lives to the Lord, and spent their time blessing others.  We are blessed by their examples, by what they did, and how they did it.  We might serve in different ways, but like them, we can't give up.  We keep going.... with love and enthusiasm and joy.  We do what we can do and what the Lord asks.  We love the Lord; then we will be able to serve Him with unwearingness in whatever capacity He asks us to.  As one of President Monson's favorite songs teaches.... 

If the way be full of trial, weary not  :) 

If the way be full of trial, weary not; If it’s one of sore denial, weary not;

If it now be one of weeping, There will come a joyous greeting,
When the harvest we are reaping, weary not.
Do not weary by the way, Whatever be thy lot;
There awaits a brighter day, To all, to all who weary not.

If the way be one of sorrow, weary not; Happier will be the morrow, weary not.
Here we suffer tribulation; Here we must endure temptation;
But there’ll come a great salvation. Weary not.
Do not weary by the way, Whatever be thy lot;
There awaits a brighter day, To all, to all who weary not.

If misfortunes overtake us, weary not; Jesus never will forsake us, weary not.
He will leave us never, never; From his love there’s naught can sever;
Glory to the Lamb forever, weary not.
Do not weary by the way, Whatever be thy lot;
There awaits a brighter day, To all, to all who weary not.

2018 Goals

In reflecting back on 2017 and thinking about some goals I've been trying to work on for a while, this year I want to simplify and focus on relationships!  Jesus taught that the most important commandment is to "love the Lord...with all [our] heart,... soul, and... mind" and then to "love [our] neighbour."  I know this and say it a lot, but this year I want to live it and prioritize it better.

I've been thinking about this the last few days and then when I heard of President Monson's passing early this morning, one of the first quotes I saw someone remember him by was from a 2008 talk where he said, "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."  He talked so much about love and lifting others, "Every day of our lives we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us.... Love is expressed in many recognizable ways: a smile, a wave, a kind comment, a compliment. Other expressions may be more subtle, such as showing interest in another’s activities, teaching a principle with kindness and patience, visiting one who is ill or homebound. These words and actions and many others can communicate love. May we begin now, this very day, to express love to all of God’s children, whether they be our family members, our friends, mere acquaintances, or total strangers. As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way."  And even more than he talked about it, President Monson lived it, and blessed so many individually and all of us by his example.

I want this to be my focus this year - people, relationships, love, kindness, and the Spirit that will help to direct and lead to the best ways to serve and the people that need to be noticed.  It's easy to get caught up in schedules, do-to lists, goals, checklists (even if they have some good things on them), but I think for me some of these have become a distraction from what's most important.

When I say I want to focus on relationships, here are a few specific ways:

• Heavenly Father - Most importantly, I want to strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  I'm a pretty consistent pray-er in my heart.  I feel like many and most of my thoughts are drawn out to and directed towards Him - expressing gratitude here and there, asking for help and guidance, thinking about His tender mercies - but I know that I need to be more focused in more formal and faith-filled prayers and will make this my highest priority this year.

• Jesus Christ - Knowing the Savior better is related and important.  He is my Advocate with the Father and the perfect example for what I need to become to make it home to Heavenly Father.  I loved and learned a lot last year studying the Book of Mormon specifically looking for the Savior - his words, his names, his mission, and his character.  I hope to continue this study in the Old Testament and other scriptures this year. 

• Holy Ghost - We learn truth and are guided and comforted by the Holy Ghost.  I would like more of that in my life and hope to be more attuned to His direction and ready to act.

• Me - One part of my focus on relationships this year is about me, I hope not selfishly, but I'd like to better know and love myself, be true to myself, worry less about others' expectations, and give myself permission to be me. :)  I want to learn and work on cultivating some talents - music, photography, writing, reading, language, hiking, running, cooking - and of course include some travel time (maybe Australia/New Zealand, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Florida?). 

• Family - I want to be more thoughtful about meaningful time with my family members this year - grandmothers, parents, siblings (and their spouses), niece/nephews, and extended family.

• Friends - Friends add much to the joy of life and I'd like to deepen relationships this year.

• Strangers - I hope to always be aware of those around me and find ways to lift and help.  I hope to find ways to consistently serve.

I realize, even in thinking about and articulating these goals, that relationships are work.  It takes being proactive and selfless, vulnerable and open, thinking more about someone else, listening, giving, being thoughtful, but I know relationships are rewarding and the reason we're here - there are people to love!  I want to do better.  <3

Happy New Year!