Amber's Foundations Week 2

I'm halfway there.  First a review of the last week.  I've done super good on the scripture study so yay!  It has made a difference everyday.  My sleeping routine has become more of a habit.  Mornings are going great, my body wakes up at 6 on its own and if I'm not feeling sick then I'm getting up and doing that routine.  However evening has been a struggle.  I have the hardest time letting go and getting to bed.  I'm just not ready to be done having fun!  However I've learned that I have to keep my fun second to my schedule or I don't get anything done and I don't get sleep and I don't feel good when I get up.  So the good thing is that when I get to bedtime I'm almost always tired.  I've got to get this evening routine down. If I can do well on that this week then I will move on next week.  Otherwise I will go for week three of my foundations.  So on to this week.

Monday:

• My thought today is from Alma 17.  In it it claims that the sons of Mosiah were men of sound understanding and had searched the scriptures diligently.  From that I gleaned that it is sound to turn to the scriptures for knowledge and understanding.  We often google things or even search scientific journals or other sources that are considered sound facts.  However I think it would be best to include the scriptures in whatever we are searching for.  I've found some answers to bizarre questions in the scriptures.  Things that you wouldn't think the scriptures would have touched on yet they were there.  They were made for us today.  Also I liked Jacob 7 where it says the people turned to the scriptures and from listening to wicked men.  The scriptures will keep you in the ways of truth and help you discern who speaks truth and who doesn't.
• I woke up at 6 and even took the dog for a short walk.  She is usually asleep with grandma when I go but I think I should take her more often.  She has been calmer today than most days.
• I was in bed before 10!  Unfortunately it took about 30 mins to fall asleep and that is unusual if I get to bed on time.

Tuesday:

• I have some sad news, no thought today.  I read but I woke up with a sore throat and a general not feeling well.  I laid in bed and tried to study but my brain is just feeling a bit foggy so I gave up.
• This also means that my morning routine didn't really happen but I did wake before 6.  Nice most days but almost a curse on sick days.
• I managed to make myself do some work and I gave two more pairs of pants pockets.  Two more to go and then onto the next part of the sewing project.
• I went to bed late as I forgot to update this blog until bedtime.

Wednesday:

• I did have a thought today.  Alma 18 is the story of Ammon and Lamoni.  In here Ammon tells the king that as his servant he will do whatever the king wants with the condition that it be right.  It struck me that that could be applied to my life in work, with friends, with family, and any other relationships.  It is not worth whatever you think you will get from someone or something if they are asking you for something wrong.
• So I'm not any better, I again woke at 6 but stayed in bed and did actually get something out of the scriptures today.  Then I helped grandma get dressed and did her hair because they are taking a trip today.  So no routine but I should have time to do other things today as well as get extra rest.
• I spent most of the day getting food and resting but I did do one craft thing.  I was about to sew some more pockets but then remembered that this pair of pants I wanted to dye.  It was a faded black so I pulled out my dye pan that I stole and overdyed them black, they came out pretty nice, maybe I'll try adding pictures of projects when they are done.
• Oh dear I'm not doing well on this evening routine/bedtime.  I was playing with Chase but we were done about 9:30 so I could have got off right then.  Instead I stayed on until a little after 10 then I got on the internet and searched for some needed clothes.  I could have put it off but the sales were ending at midnight so I didn't.  I did find some great stuff but alas I was up until 12.

Thursday:

• I read Alma 19 and I really liked the part where the Lamanite tried to kill Ammon while he was unconscious and was struck down before he could.  The Lord had promised Mosiah that he would spare his sons lives if they went and preached to the Lamanites.  Here Ammon couldn't have defended himself but the Lord did.  It is a comfort to me to remember that the Lord can and will always keep his promises and look after his children.
• I still woke at 6, I feel like this half of the goal is going to be completed but I'm not sure about the second half.  However I was definitely still sick this morning so didn't do the routine again.  I'm thinking I'll have to tweak how I do the evening.
• So I did alright, got off the computer just after 9:30 and started getting ready for bed, but got sidetracked with my phone and didn't get to bed until 10:30.

Friday:

• My thought from Alma 20 is one that I've loved for years.  I didn't get anything else out of the chapter so I'm sharing this which I know I've shared before.  Lamoni's father the king of the Lamanites is beaten by Ammon in a sword fight and begs for his life by offering up to half of his kingdom.  Later when Aaron teaches him the gospel the king says he will give up all he possesses to be cleansed, to receive the Spirit, and to be filled with joy.  His life is only worth half, but the joy of the gospel is worth all.  It is a reminder to not let anything eclipse your desire for the eternal life.
• I'm still sick, surprise surprise.  Unfortunately this has affected my morning routine.  Well the routine is really minimal but today I woke at 6:30 and didn't get up for another 1 1/2 hours.  I'm not really upset by this as I need to rest so I can recover, however it is something to note.  I'll probably have to start setting an alarm again once I'm recovered.  The good news is that my throat is much better and I'm not that stuffy, however I am coughing a little now so we'll see if this is progress or not.
• I sewed one more pair of pockets.  They look really cute right now but these are the ones that I dyed so I totally expect the pockets to turn a little darker.  Oh well no way to get around that without repeatedly washing them and not wearing them.
• Stayed on the computer until 11:00 so obviously no routine.

Saturday:

• I read Alma 21 and noticed something new.  I knew it before but didn't really focus on it until today.  Aaron and his brethren didn't have as good a time as Ammon.  They traveled from city to city with little success and lots of persecution.  They were argued with, made fun of, put in prison, and suffered many things.  Once they were released they quickly went on and followed the spirit wherever it lead them.  It wasn't until after this that the Lord began to bless them with success.  It is harder for me to keep going without some success, so it's a good reminder to keep trying even when I think it is not working because the Lord will help me as I do.
• So I woke quite groggy but I'm definitely feeling better than I was.  My cough is pretty much gone so I'm pretty sure I'm getting better.
• I finally did my last pair of jegging pockets.  Also I started my second round of pockets with my black dress pants.  These are just going into the side seams.  I have three more of these types of pockets to do after this one.
• I stayed up again!  Only this time I wasn't on the computer/phone, instead I was up until midnight sewing my pockets.

Sunday:

• I'm in Alma 22 and found my thought within the first few verses.  Aaron comes before the king and the king wonders why Ammon didn't come.  Aaron tells him that the Spirit of the Lord called him another way.  This seems contrary to a lot of things.  Ammon is trying to bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth.  Here he has been asked by the king of the Lamanites, the most powerful man in the land, to come and teach him.  The king could open the doors to the whole land of the Lamanites.  It makes the most sense to go and teach the king.  Instead he trusts the Spirit and it all works out.  I've been in this type of situation where it made no sense to me or anyone around me to follow that feeling.  However every time I have it has worked out well.
• I woke up late today, I'm feeling a little more sick again.  I'm getting anxious to get better now so I can improve on these goals.
• I did actually do a little bit of sewing today.  I sat and watched tv while finishing my pockets.  So the last four pants I've put pockets in aren't actually finished.  Because the pocket already is finished on the pants it made it impossible to finish the start and stop points of the seams right at the edges.  This leaves little gaps at the corners so I'm closing these by hand.  I finished the front seam on all four today.
• I went to bed by 10 but had a problem falling asleep so I didn't get to sleep until around midnight.

It is the end of this week.  Being sick really got in the way of this weeks morning progress.  However the evening was mostly my own fault.  I think you can guess what is going to happen next week but that will all be in the next post.