Beech Tree: January 2012

In God I trust I do

It's late--so ignore spelling or grammatical errors.

Been so long since I've blogged. Bad luck with cameras. 3rd one gone in a year and a half...hm, what does that mean? Anyway, nice to have pics to go along with the story of my life.

Set some goals this year. Haven't done that for a while. Felt pretty complacent with how I was doing things. Being a mom and a wife is enough, right? That urge came this year and I've decided to push myself a little more..stretch, maybe change a bit, evolve?

While visiting my cousin and his family up north, I was sitting in their Sac. Mtg. reading the program and came across this quote:

"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." -M. Russell Ballard

I'd like to at least try to reach my "potential". One of the goals I set this year was to complete my Young Women Personal Progress. I only made it halfway through when I was young, and thought it wonderful to do.. now that I care. ;)

Tonight I was reading the scripture heading under Divine Nature in 2nd Peter:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious^apromises: that by these ye might be^bpartakers of the ^cdivine^dnature, having ^eescaped the ^fcorruption that is in the world through^glust.

5 And beside this, giving all ^adiligence, add to your faith ^bvirtue; and to virtue ^cknowledge;

6 And to knowledge ^atemperance; and to temperance ^bpatience; and to patience ^cgodliness;

7 And to godliness ^abrotherly ^bkindness; and to brotherly kindness ^ccharity.

8 For if these things be in you, and ^aabound, they make you that ye shall neither be ^bbarren nor^cunfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What stood out to me: The words "precious promises". I've always believed in God's promises. I've known that many times my unhappiness or discouragement was due to my idleness or poor choices. Never Him.

Reading on in verse four: "having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". The use of the word ESCAPE! It's incredible! What a perfect way to describe what living righteously can protect you from! I thought of how cool using this word to teach my children the safety of living the commandments.

And verse 8 just needs a repeat since its promise is so beautiful and perfect: "For if these things be in you, and abound (!!), they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." ..these things being diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.

Godliness before brotherly kindness and charity? Why? I'll have to study this some more. But what wonderful, absolutely divine character traits! Oh, to have them!

I love the scriptures.

Favorite pics/videos from Christmas/New Years in WA

In no particular order:

Tristan entertained himself on the drive to WA by putting this pillow on his head. He is a very entertaining co-piliot.

Ruby, Adam, Harris at the Allen's

Yeah! Ellynn is in the house!

We had a super fun (super cold) game of kickball at Louisville Park

Horsetail Falls

Pa and Lil' Ru

Uh, Geof. did you know that there was a dirty tissue in the pocket of the short's you gifted Adam?

Sweet Bennett made a purse for Sierra.

Harris tries out Jackson's new pull up bar.

Sierra and the walking stick at OMSI

Adam fed these guys muffins for breakfast one morning. Not wanting to clean up the mess, he fed them outside (not all the way outside, 'cause it was pouring rain)