Amber - slight change with extra motivation

 So I didn't post last week.  I will confess that no one has been here and I was feeling like what is the point.  Actually the bigger issue was that I didn't want to report another week of failure, which is what it was, as far as measurable goal progress was concerned.  However I had some good scripture study, mostly of the chastening kind where I realized I'm slacking in some areas and exhibiting some lazy and self centered behaviors.  Basically I've had a rough few weeks and I think it is time to put my foot down.  Thus I'm creating a mandatory schedule and I have some fuel/motivation from last weeks scripture study to back it up with.  (Sorry for those who like to read my scripture study I can't remember all of them.  I did come follow me, the last two conference talks, and a study on the covenants made in the temple).  Anyways the schedule is split into three sections and consists of the stuff I've been trying to do for the last few months.  There are a few tweaks as you will see below but the real difference is that I am placing restrictions and anything at a specific time is mandatory at that time, the only exception being someone needing me during that time.

MY PLAN

Morning:

• Rise at 6 am
• Day planning meeting prayer
• Scripture study & Blog (Rotating between Come Follow Me & BoM/extra topics)

        I'm pretty good at doing my morning stuff so I don't think any restrictions are necessary here.

Day:

• Exercise
• Practice evening alarms
• Eat less sugar (actually I've not done too bad but I want to keep at it)

        Restrictions are that I cannot use my phone or computer for any form of entertainment until I've                completed the first two day goals.

Evening:

• React to my alarms as intended, 9:00 means wrap up what you are doing, 9:30 means get off the electronics and get ready for bed.
• Day reporting prayer
• Bed at 10 pm

        Restrictions are that my phone stays out of the room as soon as go to get ready for bed.

Monday:

* My study was a rehash of last week's study and so I am just going to give you a short list of rephrased quotes.

• Notwithstanding your faults if you humble yourself the Lord will lift you up. D&C 106:7
• What sign do I want to give God? President Nelson 2015
• Learn your duty and act on what you have been given and assigned with all diligence. If you are slothful you won't be counted worthy to stand. D&C 107 99-100
• Keep your temple covenants and blessings foremost in your mind and heart. Ordinances of the temple fill our lives with power and strength available in no other way. President Nelson 2021
• Rise up and be more careful henceforth in observing your vows and you will be blessed with exceeding great blessings. D&C 108:3

• Morning - up before 6, had my prayer, read and blogged
• Day - went for a walk, practiced the alarms, did middling on the sugar
• Evening - didn't react to the alarms.  I was was playing with Lorelei, however we ended at 9:45.  I really wanted to stay up because I had so many things I wanted to finish on the computer, but I didn't!  I turned the computer off and went to bed.  I gave my report and was in bed by 10:22!  I would call this a very successful day and I am super happy with the progress.  I really need to use this mandatory technique more often, it works!

Tuesday:

* I studied a talk about the law of sacrifice and there was one really neat insight.  Hugh B. Brown was once asked why, if Abraham was blessed to have posterity as numerous as the sand of the sea, was he asked to sacrifice his only hope of posterity.  Elder Brown's reply was that Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham.  The point of sacrifice isn't because God needs the things we are sacrificing for himself.  He asks us to sacrifice for us and our future.  We learn things and grow in ways that we would likely never otherwise. 

• Morning - up at 6:30 (the alarm didn't wake me and I forgot it was mandatory to get up at 6), had my prayer, read and blogged.
• Day - did some yoga, practiced my alarms, did poor on the sugar.
• Evening - Didn't react well to the first alarm but honestly it wasn't really my fault.  The power went out just after and I was trying to fix the tv so we could finish our movie as well as get the computer fixed.  I forgot about the alarm and when the second alarm went off I was in the middle of a thing I couldn't quite stop.  I did however get off just as soon as I was finished.  I gave a report and was in bed around 10:30.  I am feeling great about this plan so far, except I really have little free time.  My stuff is taking most of the day to do and that is without adding anything extra.  I am working on it so I hope to see changes between these goals and other stuff.

Wednesday:

* Section 109 is the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland temple.  As I was reading I thought how fabulous it would be if I could apply much the same attributes to my own home, my own room, my own family, and my own mind.  Here are a few that I really liked.

• God's glory and presence may be there
• people there will seek learning and be taught out of the best books
• house of prayer, fasting, faith, glory, and house of God
• no unclean thing allowed
• those who go forth from the house shall go forth armed with power

• Morning - up at 6:17, read and blogged

Sooo this week is out, I got a bit busy and then I didn't catch up because I got pretty sick.  In fact Grandpa gave it to me and I'm much worse off than he is.  I won't be updating the rest of this week's post and not sure about doing one next week.  I have been bedridden with Covid.  Yep we finally got it here but I'm planning on it being mild enough to stay at home for the duration.  Grandma usually stays healthy and Grandpa always has mild symptoms so I expect we will all be fine.