In Order To Get The Best Parking Spot

I've felt inspired as I've read the various posts my fellow bloggers have written regarding their New Year resolutions. In fact, our beautiful cousin Kera recently blogged about the goals she has set for herself physically. After reading her list, and knowing full well that this girl will accomplish anything she sets out to do, I consoled my envious, flabby self with imagined thoughts of what I'll look like after I'm resurrected. Until then, I"ll just keep up my nightly walks with my neighbor friend (she's pregnant so I can keep up) and chug a Slim Fast each morning.

To those of you that successfully achieve yearly goals, I sincerely commend you. By nature, I'm not a goal setter. This doesn't necessarily qualify me as being a 'bad' person, but rather a lazy one with a history of small failures. *smile*

I consider myself to be a work in progress, as we all probably do. But in following your examples of finding something to focus on, it was quite obvious (as it is every year) that I need to be diligent in studying my scriptures, personally and with Andrew.

My personal history has proven that when I'm faithful in doing this, I'm simply a better person. Andrew and I have a running joke that whenever we score a stellar parking spot, it's because we read our scriptures the night before. Clearly, that's not the reason, but it's symbolic of the fact that I find my life blessed in little ways for doing it. Examples include:

I have an extra slice of patience at the end of a long day. I have a desire to prepare my lesson for Church sooner than later. I'm able to resist the temptation to buy chocolate covered granola bars, sometimes. I love others more easily. Andrew and I have a healthier relationship. I'm able to handle the ugliness of life with more grace, etc.

So as I welcome 2009, I'm committed to bettering my personal study, which includes, reading my children a few verses during breakfast and to keep reading with Andrew. We've recently come to the end of the Book of Mormon, but technically are only 'half way' through because we started it in the middle to avoid the eternal repeat of the first two books of Nephi. To my non-Mormon friends who are confused, you can CLICK here if you're curious. Something I took for granted when living in Salt Lake is that most people are familiar with Mormon lingo/terminology. I find myself back tracking a lot when having Church related conversations.

And finally, here's a slide show from our trip to Utah.