It is easy to look back on my life and see challenges that I have overcome! There are many! When people talk about lessons they learned, or times they changed that are ancient, I always cringe and wonder what challenges or opportunities we are taking today! Recently! Have I seen the Hand of the Lord in my life today? Yes! Recently I have really struggled personally. I have a couple of teens who are really giving me a run for my money. That coupled with struggles with my parents, my life has been a bumpy ride in recent years. I am learning and growing. Coming back to school is a challenge I am determined to conquer! I love to climb. I love to say I have been to that top, and that top, and that one too! Last Friday I set out to conquer one more mountain in my home vista that we had not tried. We got a really late start. At the bottom we only had a couple hours of light. I was skeptical as to if this was even a good idea. We set out, and made it to the top of Lizard Peak! Even before the sunset! :) We can do hard things! I can finish this degree! One class at a time! "Step by step we'll climb the highest mountain. Step by step, we're closer than before! There is nothing we can't do, doing it with you, step by step we'll reach the distant shore!" "Climb every mountain!" I will! :)
Several years ago our family decided to have a theme for our year. After our prayers, we put our hands in the middle and with a cheer say our theme word. This year our word is Focus. We have had many great words over the years, and each year the word comes to just fit the events that happen in that year! A couple of years ago the word was SMILE which means: Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal. For some in my family that year it was less than that. It meant to them to see the good, to find something to SMILE about. I am ok with that. I recognize that we are not all at the same place. My teens that year were really struggling. They still are. They don't really want me to be preaching to them. I know that I need to share the light, and to stand as a witness at all times, and in all things, and in all places. I am grateful that they have always put up with prayers, and so they join in our cheer. I felt that SMILE meant they would still buy into that part of our family. They did, and I saw lots of growth that year. This year our FOCUS is different for all of us. I am grateful to FOCUS on our Savior! Why? Because we Love Him! That is the answer to all the questions of life! I am grateful to FOCUS our efforts and make sure that we are climbing the ladder on the right wall! To make sure that these efforts we are putting forth are leading us to the destination we desire - even life eternal! I am grateful to be climbing mountains, climbing new educational heights, and climbing a road to a stronger, more unified family! I hope they each choose to build foundations in Gospel soil, but for some, right now, they are stretching their wings, and flying, and it is hard to watch them make other choices.
I get to Find Light and Focus on my goals! As long as we Focus on the Savior and listen closely to His promptings, I know He will help me to succeed!
Several years ago our family decided to have a theme for our year. After our prayers, we put our hands in the middle and with a cheer say our theme word. This year our word is Focus. We have had many great words over the years, and each year the word comes to just fit the events that happen in that year! A couple of years ago the word was SMILE which means: Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal. For some in my family that year it was less than that. It meant to them to see the good, to find something to SMILE about. I am ok with that. I recognize that we are not all at the same place. My teens that year were really struggling. They still are. They don't really want me to be preaching to them. I know that I need to share the light, and to stand as a witness at all times, and in all things, and in all places. I am grateful that they have always put up with prayers, and so they join in our cheer. I felt that SMILE meant they would still buy into that part of our family. They did, and I saw lots of growth that year. This year our FOCUS is different for all of us. I am grateful to FOCUS on our Savior! Why? Because we Love Him! That is the answer to all the questions of life! I am grateful to FOCUS our efforts and make sure that we are climbing the ladder on the right wall! To make sure that these efforts we are putting forth are leading us to the destination we desire - even life eternal! I am grateful to be climbing mountains, climbing new educational heights, and climbing a road to a stronger, more unified family! I hope they each choose to build foundations in Gospel soil, but for some, right now, they are stretching their wings, and flying, and it is hard to watch them make other choices.
I get to Find Light and Focus on my goals! As long as we Focus on the Savior and listen closely to His promptings, I know He will help me to succeed!