He's Our Bishop!

At the 2007 UCET conference David Warlick recommended that our blogs should have a purpose. I've been thinking about that for a few weeks now, knowing that this blog's purpose is just the miscellany of ideas that motivate me until I finally put fingers to the keyboard and share them. It's not that I really expect anyone to read them. Seems rather unlikely that any one does except for me. But I do like reading them myself, so I happily think I'll continue sharing. Then I had a brainstorm...what if this blog did have a specific purpose? Or what if I expanded its purpose?

Today I taught the lesson in Young Women about Appreciating the Bishop (YW manual 2, lesson #11) For some reason I become more nervous with each lesson I give. The lesson was straight forward enough. We were to discuss the responsibilities of the Bishop, who helps him with these and then why the Bishop is important in the lives of the Young Women. While preparing to give this lesson, I reflected on my days in the Young Women program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the only member of the LDS church in my family, I often looked to my Bishop when I did not have the family support that I needed. While we lived in Garland, Texas, and I attended Seminary, the lessons often recommended that the students discuss certain things with their parents, so I often visited with the Bishop about some things. Today, I really appreciate how my Bishop always had time for these visits. He always supported the role of my parents in my life, and had good counsel about how to nurture my relationships with my parents after they divorced. He cared enough for me to want the best for me.

During the lesson today I shared a special activity that meant a lot to me at the time and even more now. For one mutual activity when I was in Young Women we were each given a paper that was past around to the others in the room, including other young women and the leaders. Each took a turn filling out blanks about different characteristics about the person whose paper we held. Then the papers were passed on. I still have my paper from that activity. My Bishop had my paper when we were supposed to put the shape that reminded me of that person. I likely put "circle" or "triangle" about the person whose paper I held, but my Bishop wrote "perfect" about me. Knowing that my Bishop felt that way about me helped me through many difficult times over the years.

There are many folks that write derogatory remarks about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some even have received great acclaim from the world. I would like to use this forum to share my growth as I learn more about the gospel and apply it to my life.

Last night President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke to the Young Women of the church. He challenged them to not let a day go by without attempting to better themselves. There were four things he wanted them to remember:

1. Pray-speak to our Heavenly Father every day
2. Study-the gospel and get a good education
3. Pay tithing-open the windows of heaven
4. Attend your meetings-partake of the Sacrament

How blessed we are to have a prophet of the Lord!

The Sunday Night Phenomenon

After an engaging weekend supporting family members and pursuing my own passions, I find it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. I’ve tried many techniques to overcome this problem including foregoing a Sunday nap, a hot bath, quiet activities before bedtime, reading and daydreaming before sleep. Unfortunately this Sunday night seemed worse of all. After a fantastic UCET conference I spent the weekend doing some web activities that I haven’t taken the time to do, such as upgrade on of my websites (totally muffed it though…) Then I carefully began shut down mode on the early side and climbed into bed ready for a good night’s sleep and then my brain started going and I couldn’t shut it off. Fortunately I was tired from illness and being up all day, so I did fall into a busy sleep. Then about 2:30am the smoke detector decided that it was time for a new battery. I had a tough time getting it up on it’s mounting last summer, but I had it down and apart in no time. I took care of a few of my concerns: a new load of laundry in the washer, put together a few things I didn’t want to forget in the morning, and then settled back in for a little more rest.

Unlike most Monday mornings, I was able to get up when the alarm went off and begin my day, almost as planned. A trip to the gym for a brief workout did wonders for how I felt.

I took a pad of paper and pen to the gym and while I worked out on the bike and sat in the sauna, I wrote about all of the things that I wanted to do. Many ideas had come to me during my fitful sleep. After the brain dump I could process the day more clearly. Perhaps I should try writing before sleep?

Fortunately I can sleep on Monday nights.

Clean Office via Mission Get it Together!

I've used this blog to keep track of my progress attempting to get our home in tip top shape. There's just one bathroom and one hallway to go to complete the inside painting, but I don't like to paint when it's too cold to go outside to clean up the painting equipment. It has been wonderful to have things clean and organized, that is until you venture to the bottom of the basement steps and enter my home office.

About two years ago my two youngest sons determined that they would continue sharing a room in order for their Mom to have a room for an office. I had a desk and computer in the dining room, but stuff was everywhere. It was a kind gesture, so I took them up on it. Actually it was the home office where the painting began. The first wall was painted a beautiful rosewood color, but being on the dark side the next wall was painted a color that was a little lighter, but it still seemed a bit dark, so the rest of the room and the connecting hallway were painted an off white color that had just a hint of the base rose color. The bookshelves were moved in, along with a long table to serve as a desk. The large desk that I loved to use upstairs was just too big to put anywhere, so it found a new home in another home office. Then the stuff began to pile up. Research files, scrapbooking supplies and things that still need to be scrapbooked, books, sheet music, paperwork from running a household, computer bits and pieces, my work stuff (because I don't have an office at work), and that other stuff, too: souvenirs from many vacations and mementos received from my childrens' trips away from home, keys from old vehicles, my stamp collection that I haven't touched since junior high, the boxes of photos that I need to finish scanning, quilts that need to be completed, books that didn't go to college with #2 son, and other things which I had just piled up until I could figure out where they belonged.

It's not that I haven't been making an attempt to get the stuff in my life under control. I'm fairly good at having many things in a specific place, but I'm also a family historian, so my home is somewhat decorated with memories. I've even spent some time each week to put things in order. The time between ordering though is enough to create more stuff to deal with, so I was barely keeping my head above water, or at least my snorkle. A few weeks ago my favorite pen ran out of ink. I had ordered a large package of refills because I frequently run out of ink. I remember debating whether to keep the refills near my neatly organized pencils and pens, but alas, for some reason decided to put them somewhere else. So for a few weeks, I haven't been able to use my favorite pen. That has been sad, because my favorite pen flows so well when I'm trying to express myself in my journal, or when taking notes. I had to find those refills!

Then number two daughter made a decision. She decided that she wanted to become a professional organizer. When it came to getting things in order, she had been one of my very best organizers. She had organize the kitchen, her little sister's room, and her own room over the years, so she had good references. We looked at my office and this time, it was in a different light. I explained what I had tried to accomplish with my room arrangement. She praised my efforts and then started making suggestions. Considering her budget is about $100, I have to say that she had some great ideas. Then she left.

Finally just yesterday we got started. She was quite patient. I didn't get home until 6:00pm, then a phone call reminded me that I had a commitment until 8pm. When I returned, she was still there, waiting to get started. So we began, then I felt like those silly people that I've seen on tv who try to justify why they still have the key to the cars they no longer own, or the broken keychain that said #1 Mom from #1 daughter at a time when I know that she didn't really believe it. Looking at it through the eyes of someone who really wanted to help me get things in order so I could have a place that would really be a great place to work and who understood the real meaning of that keychain, it was easy to let go of what needed to go. She knew just the right questions to ask to allow me to think through what should stay and what should go. We had piles for things to be thrown away, things to be donated and things that don't belong in the office. We only worked for two hours, but those two hours were far more productive than previous office cleaning sessions. My daugher encouraged, praised and coached me through each box, bag and pile of stuff around the edges.

I felt so refreshed and lighter for having been able to figure out what to do with the stuff that had been just sitting around without a real place to be put away and of course never used, because it couldn't be found. This morning I took a few minutes to sort through some paperwork to get it where it needed to be. I've often tried to do a little here and a little there, but having someone else to guide me through the process, and direct my focus to the task at hand, I made great progress. Having worked in the office, I know what will help me to be more productive. Suzanne understands what I need, what I have to work with and has some great ideas for the possibilities.