Food for Thought

I just got back from dinner with some friends & can I just say girlfriends are the best. They push me to be wiser, kinder & to try a bit harder. They challenge my thinking & validate my fears. I love discussing just about any topic with these girls which is so refreshing. They aren't "just" stay-at-home moms. They are learners & thinkers. They can talk politics & poopy diapers, careers & carseats.

Tonight the discussions centered a lot on the power of our thoughts. Thoughts=words=actions=reality. I have been thinking on this a lot lately & am glad that they have been too! The past several weeks I have been striving to take more control of my destiny. By that I mean really taking stock of where I am at, where I am going & where I want to end up & then looking to see if I am taking the necessary steps to get there.

This past weekend General Conference was a huge boost. I felt like so many of the talks could be incorporated right into my life...it has given me much food for thought. I am trying to write down more things, pay attention to where my thoughts are & keep them in a positive zone, or at least a patient place. I am looking for the triggers that veer me off course & finding others that can help to get me back on course quickly when I lose focus.

You might remember this post...my scripture reading. I have made progress, but it has been a struggle. I hate to say that...a struggle to read my scriptures? I mean c'mon. I'd think I could do better than that. So I have begun a new approach & while I might not be completely through the Book of Mormon by Thanksgiving...I think in the long run, this habit might actually stick, which is probably more important. So here it is (compliments of another friend)...each morning I (try to) get up before Zack. I spend about 30 minutes reading either in the BofM, another Conference Talk or my Sunday School lesson...anything gospel related. I don't read the entire 30 minutes & it could probably be classified more as studying as sometimes I just think about one paragraph...anyway, it is just 30 minutes of pure bliss. A time to be alone and like the primary song says, search, ponder & pray. It is a moment during my day for me to connect with myself. Do any of you feel like you lost yourself somewhere when you had kids? I sometimes find myself wondering where the "old" me went & when that person might return. These days, I don't really want the "old" me to return as I have obviously grown & changed a lot, but there has been this one component missing & I feel like this quiet time helps me to feel like myself again. To be honest, I feel like I lost myself completely when Zack was born...to the point that I didn't know who I was anymore because I wasn't ever by myself...I'm sure you can all relate, or maybe none of this even makes sense. Anyhow, I guess my point is this...take time for yourself & don't begrudge the fact that that time might be at 6 am...that is okay.

My New Favorite Book!

I have found a great find & I thought I would share it with you all. I have been trying, quite unsuccessfully to be honest, to read my scriptures daily. Scot's sister gets home from her mission at Thanksgiving & she challenged us all to start with her & finish the BofM by the time she gets home. I was glad for the extra push...I am currently in Second Nephi & I will not be starting over in the name of the challenge. Let's be honest here, we've all read First & Second Nephi zillions of times, right? Anyway, since I have been at my parents this last month I have noticed both my mom & dad toting these books. This is my new find. I've had it all of 4 days, but already I LOVE what it is doing for my scripture reading. It is called The Book of Mormon Made Easier and it is written by David J. Ridges. There are a series of 4 books each containing different sections of the BofM...with the entire book being covered throughout the four. The books essentially provide a commentary along with the scriptures...but here is the great thing...the scriptures are in the book! So the verses (all of them!) are plopped into this great commentary. I LOVE the commentary because it isn't a bunch of historical facts (that I really don't care much about), it is the doctrinal teachings explained in plain English! I highly recommend it.

Hopefully this helps turns my unsuccessful attempts around! I love to read & to be honest, always feel bad that my scriptures aren't at the top of my reading list. I feel like I am just starting to hit a rhythm with Zack, so this is probably the best time to get this habit established. I feel like every time I sit down to read, something interrupts me...is this just me? What is the deal, here? I think that is one of Satan's greatest tools...making mom so "busy!" This week I have been trying to figure out what I am so busy doing all the time that I can't fit in 15 minutes of scripture reading. If you are having the same problem as me...grab this book next time you are at Deseret or you can even order it on Amazon, and maybe we can tackle this together!

Let me know if you have any other tips & I will keep you posted on how I do...