Amber - I'm getting excited again

 The future is all mine!  Getting my things cleaned and making small progress on my goals is getting me excited.  I also got up a little earlier today so that is helping.  I want to do all the things!  I'm also feeling closer to reaching my current main goal.  So again here are the main goals I'm working on.  

First the one time things.

• Make a service jar
• Write up my call list
• Make a sign to put on my door for electronic-free space
• Make signs of my goals to put on my goal board
• Make said goal board
• Make signs of affirmations and put up
• Make a plan of what extra things I'm going to study
• Make a plan of how I want to practice doing my daily goals

Now my daily goals

• Keep my room electronic-free
• Do service when I'm lonely
• Memorize when I drift off into an imaginary world
• Call someone when I feel tempted
• Repent each night

As a side note I'm also trying to stop eating sugar because it's seriously affecting my health and weight.  I've bought some food to help so that I'm not hungry and we've eaten all the candy and my favorite ice cream so I shouldn't be too tempted.  In addition to that I'm trying to get up on time because my work is suffering by staying up late and I can't do my job very well.  I'm not going to keep track of either of these right now, it's more of a bonus if I've made progress on them.  I will say that last week I ate more complete meals and snacks and that seemed to make a bit of a difference.

Monday:

* I read a nice little talk today from Elder Eyring.  I didn't get anything profound but just some nice fuzzies and gained some more understanding of myself.  The talk was about how much influence women have in the gospel and the world in general.  My favorite part was probably the description of the City of Enoch.  I've always thought there had to be a special circumstance or reason why Christ would live on the earth as opposed to just visit.  However, we are promised that each of us can have the experience of seeing Christ.  A certain level or amount of faithfulness is implied and the people of Enoch were so faithful that he dwelt with them.  It makes sense that if you and everyone around you were this faithful then he could be visiting all of the time, basically dwelling with you.

• Progress has been made!  I have done half of my service jar, namely I have prepared the actual jar by painting it.  I now need to fill it with the service ideas from my list I've made.  Seems simple but they aren't concrete and it's after 8, my brain has already gone to bed.

Tuesday:

* I stayed up late last night again and I have a reigning headache today.  However I did read and found a small bit I liked enough to put here.  D&C 18:25 "Wherefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father."  It isn't enough just to be a member of the Lord's church.  If you don't know who he is and have a relationship with him then you won't be doing what he asks.  It is by coming to know him that we will know his will for us and be able to become as he is.  

• I finished my service jar today!

Wednesday:

* I didn't do great on my reading, I read a few verses before frantically running to the store to get a salad made for a funeral because I woke up too late.  Then the whole day was busy until evening where I did the not smart thing and watched a movie instead.  So no thought today.  Also no goals either.

Thursday

* In section 18 again but this time in the first few verses.  It talks about the importance and value of the words of God that we already have.  It says "in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock."  Those are all valuable to have if you are trying to know God and do what he asks.  My favorite part is probably the most pertinent for me.  "if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written."  This only makes sense.  If I really believe that they are the world of God then I should rely on what he says instead of on myself.

• I made a temporary goal board, I'll make the actual one when I find/decide on the materials.

Friday:

* I noticed a new thing that gave me some hope in section 19.  Verse 2 says "I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me - having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself."  That kind of leaves you hanging but my point is that Christ set out to do something extraordinary and he did it.  My life has been one of trying to do things and usually failing.  We are trying to be like Jesus, he is the example that will help us become like God.  Not only is it possible to accomplish amazing things but it is what we are expected to do.  The key is that Christ didn't do everything alone.  When he needed help he prayed for it, he followed the promptings he received and kept the commandments of the Father.  We won't be perfect the same as he was but we can be perfect with him and accomplish all the amazing things we are trying to in our own lives.

• Ink isn't coming until next week.  higher demand with all of the supplies coming overseas has left a shortage of printer ink.  So right now I'm working on making my room more of a haven to help with doing my daily goals.  A better place to pray and sleep and keep my stuff from interrupting my daily schedule.  Today I deep cleaned my closet so that I can keep the extra bedding there and off the floor.  This house was infested by mice at one point and I've cleaned a lot of the house now but they lived in that closet so I've been limited in how much of the closet I use.  It took a good portion of the day but I feel so much better now that it's clean.

Saturday:

*I read through section 19 again because come follow me said to go through it and notice what you learn about Jesus Christ.  I always like to do these things because I find so many things but I also don't like it for that same reason.  Within just the first three verses there are a few things.  I thought to make a list of just a few things here.

• All things start and end with Christ
• He is the Redeemer of all things and being in the world that exist right now, have existed since the world began, and will come at any point in the future.
• He does what the Father says
• He actually does what he sets out to do
• He has the abilities and power to do whatever the Father asks of him
• He will win the battle in the end and overcome Satan
• He will be our judge on the day of judgment

That is only in three verses, there is so much in the scriptures that we can learn about Christ, who he is and how he can help us with our own struggles and our own goals.  Read the scriptures to find what you need because it is in there.

• I did a little bit of cleaning but beyond that I didn't accomplish any goals.

Sunday:

*I didn't read again today.  I chose to do other things first and ran out of time for real study.

I didn't have a great week last week, in fact it was so bad that it has affected this week so though I did accomplish more than I have been lately it still was pathetically small compared to what I would like to.  I'm hoping to get the rest of those one time things done next week and get the daily stuff started up again.  Those daily things have really worked in the past for me so I'll keep trying.  Love you all and good luck with your week.