Day 10: Choose Ye This Day

James 4:13-15

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

What plans are you making that ignore God and His work in your life? 

I hope I live my life that I don't ignore Him and His work, but I think there are times I go through the motions of living: morning prayer, repetitive prayers done quickly over meals, not planning Family Home Evening properly, and not making enough opportunities to share my inner faith with my children. I think my problem is my failure to plan for Him and see His work.

Like the Army of Helaman, I grew up in a house where I knew my mom had a testimony. My mom read her scriptures every day, had the Ensign, wrote in her journal, and often shared her testimony of her prayers for us, over us, and for the world at large. I knew my mom believed, and it made it possible to believe upon her words.

We had times on Sunday where we had Book of Mormon stories on tape, and they were turn the page books... We had to listen to stories as a kid, and I loathed it. However, my mom invested lots of time and effort to teach us music and scripture that would increase our testimonies and help us find God's Hand in all things. We would listen to "inspiring" stories as we drove in the car, and we sang as mom would prepare her Sunday lessons for Primary.

Are there any shifts in attitude you need to make in order to acknowledge God and His plans?

I think I need to take more time to show my children how I believe in a Heavenly Father who loves us. I do most of my studying in private, and I need to be more public in my study of the scriptures, the reading of the words of the prophet, and in my belief that Jesus is the Savior of all mankind.

I think that I do a great job at Christmas time, and I am working on Easter... I need to do a better day-to-day job of showing my children what I believe and that I believe that God's hand is always over me for good.

525,600 minutes...

The email I got today from Pastor Rich asked this question:

For today’s thought, take one minute right now and jot down things you’d want to do if you only had 21 days left to live.  Really.  Stop what you’re doing and for the next 60 seconds, write down as many things that you can think of.

I've been thinking of only that for the past several days. I've been thinking about how quickly days turn into months turn into years, and suddenly my oldest has been baptized and my youngest has been weaned, and where did the time go? Did I spend it wisely?

I think often of Randy Pausch and his "Last Lecture" and how he spent his last year, and what am I doing with my todays that will make them memorable tomorrow? I love the story of the 1,000 marbles, and all those Saturdays that seem so endless (like Summer Vacation); but each day of every day is numbered. All of us are going.

What would I do if I knew the actual number of days? The though runs through my mind that I am not doing enough. I always feel like it has not been enough. If there were no tomorrows, I know what I would NOT do. Let's start there.

1. I wouldn't grade another paper. Ever.

2. I wouldn't hike to the top of Mt. Timpanogos, just to say I could.

3. I wouldn't worry about how messy my house was.

4. I wouldn't travel to some exotic place.

5. I wouldn't stop working.

I have thought hours about what I would do. In no particular order:

I'd read or have some special time with my children at night.

I'd sing to my children, so they would remember the sound of my voice.

I'd take each one on a date, somewhere, so they could have time alone with me.

I'd go on a date with John, a fun one, someplace unique and wonderful, like a tiny light shop, or a museum of fine art.

I'd teach some of my best, most finely tuned lessons at school, one last time.

I'd send an email or card to all my friends to remind them of how much I love them.

I'd phone my grandparents.

I'd re-read one of my favorite books.

I'd blog.

It turns out that the life I'm living is pretty close to what I'd do, even if I knew how many days I have left. I have a great life. My children are marvels, each one. My husband is fantastic. I associate with teenagers who will grow to be thriving adults in my community, and what I do with them and for them makes a difference in this world.

525,600 is the number of minutes in a year. If we are to "Carpe Diem" and seize the day, we must, therefore seize each of these moments, seconds, and make them count. I choose to make my mark on people, rather than objects, for people are the only thing that matters. Only our associations last into the hereafter, and if all I have left is today, I want you to know: You matter to me.

Prince Maxwill Turns One

As Max is the king of the castle around our house, we went with the prince theme. His dad made an impressive castle-looking cake (with 3 flavors!) and we had guests and ate cake.

Max liked the chocolate bars on his cake, and he ate one whole slice of chocolate and then cake... and was of course, ill. He threw up, and then was as happy as a clam. I can't WAIT for Halloween. I think I'll see

 a three-peat of that sort 

of activity.

"Life is Measured in the Moments that Take Your Breath Away"

I was talking Stacy! and told her that the Bretheren (and Sisteren) were going to give me good advice. What did I get from the Bretheren?

Brother Perry: Sometimes bad things happen to good people: we need to endure these things with hope and being positive. "The best is yet to be..." I needed that right now. Find hope and peace because no matter what happens, the best is yet to come. AND, he talked about Henry David Thoreau!!

Sister Allred (RS): I thought of my teaching and how I have the opportunity to share myself with my students. I love that opportunity of being with the young people in my city. It also reminded me of how working with the cub scouts gives me the chance to help young boys grow into good men. I am doing what I can in my small part of the world to do good things.

Brother Anderson: Told the story of the deaf girl; my son Jack immediately identified with her in that he said, "I'm special, and when Jesus comes again, I will be perfect." That's a beautiful gift.

From Brother Uchtdorf, I learned that I must have HOPE and FAITH and charity towards myself and to others. I need to hold hope for it is a gift of God.

I know that there were other messages for other people this morning, but this is what the leaders said *to ME.*

Let us enjoy life while we live it: Carpe Diem! Seize TODAY.