October 29, 2013

So much to do today!

1. Scriptures
2. Exercise
3. Chiropractor
4. Lunch with chiropractor (DB - one of my most favorite people in the whole world. We're going to a cafe' that serves gluten-free chicken fried chicken cutlets - yay!!!)
5. Meet with MK client
6. Order MK products for several clients (yay!!!)
7. LSU consulting (don't forget to send receipts)
8. Deposit MK check (yay!!!)
9. Cook pasta to go with leftover pork

Probably 100 things I'm forgetting - better get started!

OH almost forgot - today I read last Sunday's Sunday School lesson about self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Because I'm short on time I can't go into all the details, but the gist is we need to use our time, talents and resources to help ourselves become temporally and spiritually self-reliant. Then we can bless others! What I need to work on:

1. Live within my means
2. Eliminate debt
3. Save at least a 3 month equivalent income
4. Obtain a year's supply of food (start with 3-day emergency kit, then 3, 6, 9, 12 months)
5. Store as much water as possible
6. REALLY study the scriptures

I better run!!!

October 28, 2013 (gotta work on titles!)

Wow, last week flew by! 

I went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the week. I was there primarily for consulting work I'm doing for Louisiana State University, but I was also able to visit family. The cool thing was that I was able to meet family members I didn't know existed - on the Bentin side. More about that later.

Just finished reading my lesson for yesterday's Relief Society meeting. Always behind! Anyway, it was about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't think I'm afraid to share, I just don't seem to have anyone to share with! I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I know without a doubt that this is the restored church as Jesus Christ meant it to be. I'm going to try to figure out how to use social media on this blog, just in case someone reads it! Meanwhile, here's a great link for learning more about my faith Learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Speaking of behind, it's 2:30 pm and I feel I've lost the day! So, time to find some joy. I should think of what I have accomplished, right? Hmmmm...

1. Woke up
2. Took all my morning meds (yikes - forgot the lunchtime meds - be right back)
3. Drove my son KB to potential new job
4. Drove him BACK to job b/c he started this afternoon (yay!)
5. Cleaned the litter box (this was NOT on my list for today). Apparently the poor darlings went through the weekend without a clean powder room! We have a covered box. By the time I realized there was a problem (in other words, I removed the cover), there was no other option but to empty and sanitize the box. This is much easier said than done when you live in an apartment complex!!! Luckily my son was home so he carried buckets of hot water outside for me to use to scrub the box.
6. Bought cat litter - so I have a very clean (and cloroxed) litter box - but NO LITTER! All I could do was pray the kitties would not need to powder their little noses until I returned from Petsmart! Thankfully, they held their business. I'm trying a new cat litter - Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract. Will keep you posted.
7. Read my lesson
8. Blogged about my lesson
9. Returned several emails

Often the reality of a "wasted day" is that we don't recognized what we DID accomplish (often items we did not intend to do). Instead we focus on what we failed to do (usually items on the to-do list). 

Hey, life happens. Yes, because of several unexpected events I missed my trip to the gym. It was important (urgent? critical?) to take care of the litter box. Ditto driving my son to his (new) place of employment, twice!

Good news, this morning a couple of people contacted me about ordering Mary Kay. I suppose that's what I should do next, put together an order. I'm so grateful I live only 12 minutes from the warehouse! I'm also grateful that I was introduced to the Mary Kay opportunity. Lots more on that later!!!

Addendum

So to add to my list:

10. Cooked dinner
11. Bathed, dressed and put on my "Mary Kay" face
12. Attended my Mary Kay unit's Success Event - lots of fun! We meet on Monday nights for training and guest events. Hope to find some guests to invite soon! Want to learn more - go to Learn more about Mary Kay!
13. Avoided a speeding ticket - wow! 

Sometimes I'm reminded of all the "tender mercies" I receive from Heavenly Father. I was returning from my MK meeting and had managed to let my speed creep up to about 47 - in a 35 mph zone!!! I was thinking about my blog, when I was suddenly prompted to glance at the speedometer. Big oops - the cops often patrol this street in the evening! Quick slow-down, and I as rounded the corner (down to 37 mph) there he (she?) was - beautifully concealed in the shadows - waiting for me. 

I wonder how often we are "saved" from ourselves (or other dangers) by a loving Father in Heaven - we probably have no idea! I am often reminded of the saying "God looks after fools and children." I am so thankful He does!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

I'm sure it will take me a little while to figure this out. For now I'm going to use this blog for several purposes - but most specifically as a reminder that there is joy in the every day, no matter what. 

I didn't attend church today because I'm not feeling well. I did, however read the Sunday School lesson "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" (lesson 37). There are a couple of things I want to remember.

1. Conversation between President Hugh B. Brown and a member of the House of Commons and former justice of the supreme cour of Britain just before outbreak of WWII. He asked President Brown to defend his religious beliefs. He believed that God stopped speaking to man shortly after the Resurrection of Christ. Pres. Brown asked "Why do you think it stopped?" Then proceeded to ". . . suggest some possible reasons why he has not spoken."

• He cannot. He has lost his power. (Response: that would be blasphemous.)
• He doesn't love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men. (Response: God loves all men, and he is no respecter of persons.)
• We don't need him. We have made such rapid strides in education and science that we don't need God any more. (Response: There never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now.)

Then the man asked President Brown, "Perhaps you can tell me why he doesn't speak?" The answer was, "He does speak, he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him." (Story can be found in Conference Report, October 1967, pages 117-18.)

2. We have a responsibility to listen to the living prophet. Today that is President Thomas H. Monson. We need to study general conference talks, First Presidency Messages, and other articles in the Church magazines, as well as any letters from the First Presidency that are read in Church meetings.The Conference issues of the Ensign should "be the guide to [our] walk and talk during the next six months (Harold B. Lee)."

3. We need to take stock of our situations and see where we fall short in falling the counsel of the prophets (stay out of debt, food storage, family history, etc.).

4. As we listen to the prophet's counsel and act on his instructions, we will receive the direction and strength necessary to meet the challenges of our day.