Pearls & Perfection Pending

Have you ever felt anxious?  I like to think that I am a fairly grounded, reasonable person.  I tell myself that I am down-to-earth and that I go with the flow.  These are lies.  It's much easier to lie to myself than to simplify my life, let go of the things that make me crazy, and actually become that person I tell myself I already am.  This week I have been feeling anxious.  Not the unbearable-panic-attack kind, just the unsettled-mind-won't-stop-making-lists kind.  I can't seem to turn it off.  When I am sitting, I am worrying.  When I am working, my mind is racing.  When I am laying in bed, I am mentally creating check-lists of things I haven't done yet. I know what real anxiety feels like.  In the past three years, I have had three major panic attacks.  I never knew what a panic attack even was until I found myself in the middle of one.  They're not fun; I can tell you that much. The first one was at school....

Anytime we made mistakes playing games or doing anything really, as little kids (especially playing 4-square), we would yell, "I call redo!"  This was the all-inclusive, error-erasing phrase that could never be contested, and always allowed one the chance to try again.  You could use this phrase in many circumstances: when you messed up yourself, or when others messed up in a way that gave you a disadvantage.  Either way, it was a saving grace throughout my childhood. Well, today, I call redo. Earlier this week, I posted about my thoughts on the "Wear pants to church" controversy that people were talking about all over Facebook and in the news.  I had one friend who helped me to see that I hadn't really considered all sides of the story.  I am grateful for the time she took to point out some of my unjust and partly ignorant thinking. Just because someone participated in, or even initiated this event did not mean that she was demanding to be given the Pries...

This week has been...different.  It started off with some ridiculous feminist group deciding that men and women should be treated more equally in the LDS church and launching an initiative for women to wear pants to church today.  I was glad to see that my ward choose not to use sacrament meeting as the time or place to draw attention to themselves, but to worship God. Don't misunderstand me.  I like pants.  I wear them almost every day.  I don't care what people wear...to a certain point.  My very favorite investigators and friends on the mission wore pants every week.  There is a man in my ward that wears jeans every week.  Guess what they have going for them?   They are there every week.  I do  think that the way we dress says a lot about what we think of ourselves, others, and the activities in which we are participating.  There are some girls I know that wear really short skirts.  There are some boys that wear real...

Today I was impressed by a statement made by Carl B. Cook as I read his recent conference address .  He spoke of a particularly overwhelming day he had in which he was staring blankly at the floor of the elevator he was on, when President Monson entered and somewhat humorously encouraged him that it was better to look up. "Experience" Brother Cook says, "has taught me that if we, like President Monson, exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life.  We will not feel incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do.  We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy.   We will come to realize that most of what we worry about is not of eternal significance--and if it is, the Lord will help us.  But we must have the faith to look up and the courage to follow his direction. " He goes on to talk about our difficulty in consistently looking up in life.  He asks, "Why is it ...

David was responsible for conducting a sacrament meeting at the retirement home across the street from us this morning. I really think they have it figured out. Church is about thirty-five minutes, most of which is spent singing. The Sacrament is the key focus and the talks are short and sweet. I have been strengthened both times we have gone and felt the spirit as well. I was particularly impressed this morning by Lizzy, one of the adorable girls in my Sunday School class. She is such a put together person. She works at the retirement home a few times each week on top of everything else she has going on in her busy life. I was touched as I watched her help each elderly person who needed assistance and spread the light that she emanates constantly. It was tender to see such love and care expressed through such simple gestures as holding a little cup to the mouth of a frail woman or gently waking each who had fallen asleep so they could participate in such an important weekly ...

Our lesson in Relief Society today was about eternal marriage. I am so grateful for the most perfect husband ever. Yes, he has his flaws, just like all of us, but he is so super perfect for me that I can hardly stand it sometimes. He is the most kind, positive, creative, selfless, productive, encouraging, helpful, generous, responsible, handsome, thoughtful, wonderful person I know. I am humbled to think that I get to be his best friend forever and ever and that he actually chose me! What a steal! Today, marriage is often considered disposable or even inconvenient or unnecessary. Luckily, I found one who is willing to throw himself into anything that will make my life better and he is in it for good. I can't imagine a day without this amazing man. He teaches me, strengthens me, and brings me joy. Marriage is not an activity, it is as James E. Faust said, "a joint quest for the good, the beautiful and the divine. This is the grandest quest I could have ever starte...

Last night we held a parents’ night at the local church to display some of the things the kids have been doing at camp. I was watching the group in the first row and made an impressive realization. Katherine, the female counselor for this group was given one of the most challenging groups of kids. A lot of them were very needy or obnoxious. Her co-counselor was super lazy and ditched out on camp two weeks early. Yet, each day, she came to camp with an ear to ear smile and did nothing more than love the kids. There were days when her kids were unsupportable, and I would see her let out a deep sigh and continue on. But she just kept going. She was the energizer bunny of camp. The thing that hit me though was the result that came from her longsuffering and constant kindness. This crazy group that was nearly impossible to manage at the beginning of camp sat calmly and lovingly on the front row last night, almost begging to be the special one to sit on her lap or by her side. Th...

This comes from Elder Bednar's three steps to becoming more diligent and concerned at home. I like the idea that life and spiritual progression does not need to be a miraculous or spectacular event each day. We do not have to plan detailed FHE lessons or provide profound spiritual experiences each time we open the scriptures with our families. While these things are often welcome and exciting, they are not the norm. Our lives are detailed masterpieces, painted carefully and painstakingly, one brush stroke at a time. To read the whole talk, click here . Express love and show it: As disciples of the Savior, we are not merely striving to know more; rather, we need to consistently do more of what we know is right and become better. Just as our love of and for the Lord is evidenced by walking ever in His ways (see Deuteronomy 19:9), so our love for spouse, parents, and children is reflected most powerfully in our thoughts, our words, and our deeds (see Mosiah 4:30). Bear t...