Amber - Last of 2020

 Here is my last post of 2020.  It has been a great year for me in personal growth but as always they keep getting better in some way.  My goals are going to have to change a bit because I am losing right now.  Christmas is over and it will be easier to conquer and change.  I have shortened or eliminated things but I really need to work on my evening again so that will be the focus.  Getting up early after a good rest is key and then have some direction during the day also helps.

1. Set some intentions for the day and visualize.  I'm lumping these together because I'm putting less into them to make it easier.  I just want to start developing a habit, later I'll improve it.

2. 8:30 I say my repentance prayer and get ready for the next day.

3. Bed at 10:00.

Monday:

* I did read and I liked it but nothing stood out strongly so I don't have a thought.

• I did nothing this day but that is really because I was still on the old schedule.  I didn't actually officially decide what I was going to do until Wednesday.

Tuesday:

* I read a conference talk by Elder Christofferson called "Sustainable Societies".  I don't really remember this one from conference but it was really interesting.  The key he says to have a sustainable society is for the people of those societies feel like they are accountable to a higher power such as God.  When people's highest power in their life is themselves then societies begin to fall apart.  All good values and things in life come from God.  We become better as we try to live by those good things and values.

• I also did nothing, same reason as yesterday.

Wednesday:

* I read another talk, this time "Finding Joy in Christ", by Steven J. Lund.  He spoke about the youth and said that "Some are making decisions even now that they would not make if they understood their true identities".  I really feel this is true for all ages.  I think few realize fully who they are and what is in store for them.  We are literal spirit children of God, the creator of all.  He has a place and a plan for our lives that is greater than we can imagine.  If we could understand this and remember it always I'm sure it would change many of the choices we make on a daily basis.  Whenever I stop and ponder and think about it more then I'm always motivated to do and become better.  It's rather exciting if you think about it.

• I did set a few intentions today.  They worked out not too bad.
• I was late but I said my prayer and prepared for tomorrow.
• I didn't get into bed until 11:30 but I'll confess that is sooner than it has been lately.

Thursday:

* New Year's Eve!  I don't think I'll get much of a party but that is just fine with me.  I read D&C today and one of the purposes for the book mentioned in section 1 relates to the talk on Tuesday.  It says that those who stray from God walk in their own way and worship something else.  In the end they perish.  God hasn't just made commandments to control us and keep us being good.  He made them because he knows the laws of the universe and his commandments are based on truths.  They aren't just the way he wants us to follow they are also the way to happiness.  We as a society try to figure out the best way to live together but God already has that information and we aren't going to find a better solution.  He after all knows all.

• Alas I failed today.  I totally forgot that I had any goals.  I was so excited to make fish sticks and I spent the entire day working from wake time to about 6.  The fish sticks didn't turn out as I hoped.  I didn't toast the crumbs long enough before hand, I was afraid they would burn.  Then I realized I didn't have a wire rack to bake them on.  This meant that the crust was not very crispy.  Also I failed to put the oven higher because it is always colder than it says its at.  I need to get some sort of thermometer to test how hot it actually is so that I can bake things at the proper temperature.  Those were all my mistakes but I will say the crust needed a bit more salt so when I try this again I will fix all those things and then see if I actually like the recipe or not.
• Actually the only goal I thought of was the evening goal and as it was New Year's Eve and I was thoroughly enjoying myself I decided to stay up until after 1 am.

Friday:

* I read more of D&C 1 and liked that the Lord has provided words of warning and words of wisdom that allow us to know the way to find happiness and live with him again.  We have living prophets today that speak directly to God for us and God in turn gives us knowledge that will keep us safe and help us prosper in this life.  The scriptures say that these words are for all people.  Verse 24 says "these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding."  The Lord does not hide great knowledge but offers it freely to any who want it in a way that they can understand and use it.  It does it according to our weaknesses and in our language, he wants everyone to know what he knows and to have what he has.

• I woke with a headache but I slept so sound that I'm not sure that I moved at all.  I woke straight out a strange dream where we were trying to find a bird for the Christmas animatronic puppet show and Jenny Fife Rock was helping us.  And we hadn't finished decorating what was supposed to be the Gibson's house.  We were waiting in line while trying to put the bird together.  Chad had found some duck parts but because he was going to use real feathers he refused to share and make more than one.  Several other things were happening including people and scenes from the Polar Express.  Such strange dreams I have sometimes.
• I've been very bad and keeping up with this lately so I don't remember at all what I did Friday.

Saturday:

* I know I read something today but I don't recall what, I guess I'll come back and fill it when I look it up.

• I'm pretty sure none of my goals were completed today.

Sunday:

* I didn't read today, I was again so busy and it was too far down on the list.  Church was nice though.

• I did try to go to bed on time and I will say that I did say my prayer.  However my planning for the next day and other planning took so long that I was in bed a little after 11.

Obviously I'm doing worse not better so I have come up with something else which you will see next post.