Down, but not out

If you haven't already noticed, things don't always go as planned. For instance, I thought this semester would be a breeze in comparison to past semesters. However, I failed to take into consideration that searching for a job is a lot of work and that having senioritis can be quite the feat to overcome for one who graduates in April.

I'm not ashamed to admit that this past week was not my best week for keeping New Year's resolutions. Yes, I know I didn't even make it to February, but I've learned that I'm not perfect, no one is perfect. Thanks to our Savior Jesus Christ we can repent and try again. I think the true measure of someone's character is whether or not they give up after they fall short.

Here's to me and all of you not giving up. Let's never stop trying to be better and do better. ". . . with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26)

Mom

I have been thinking about you this past week as your birthday approached and some scriptures came to mind. In Moroni 7:44-48, Moroni talks about charity. (Click the reference to read the verses.) As I thought about Moroni's words describing what charity is, I realized that you contain many if not all of those qualities. You are one of the greatest examples of charity in my life. As it reads in verse 47, "charity is the pure love of Christ." I want to thank you for always trying to bring that love, even the love of Jesus Christ, into our home growing up and even now as we are 1000 miles apart. I love you and am grateful for you!

You are an amazing women to put up with so many kids. I would say that we all have turned out really well because of you. Thanks for your patience and support. I know that I can always come to you for anything. As I grow older I become more and more appreciative for the things you have done for me personally. I can see how important God is in your life by the choices you have made and continue to make.

I know this is simple. I just wanted you to know that I love and appreciate you. I wish you all the best on this your birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!

New Beginnings

It's this time of year that many people, including myself, reflect on the past year. It is in those reflections that we are able to see our losses, failures and also see the struggles we have overcome and successes we have had. As we look back we often see areas in our lives we wish we could have done better and resolve to do so in the year to follow. It is around this time I reflect on a quote by Elder Russell M. Ballard.

“I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”

I had a goal this last year to blog once every week. I'm proud to say that I did it. Some weeks I wrote more than once other weeks I forgot to write or didn't have the time. In the end I did it and am happy that I stuck with it. The point of this post is that all of us have something we would like to improve in ourselves. I know that if we set realistic goals and work toward them with patience and perseverance, we will look back at the end of each year and at the end of our lives having more fully reached our potential. Doing this will bring more peace and happiness into our lives. I wish you all the best in achieving your goals this year! May we all become a little bit better than we were last year. Happy New Year!