40 Days: Finished!!

Well, it took more than the 40 days, but today I finally finished the Book Of Mormon. I could have done it within 47 days but I did not make reading as much every day as high a priority as I had. More immediate concerns were pressing on my mind and made it difficult to concentrate on the scriptures though when I did read it was well worth the effort.

I am grateful for the challenge and the growth I've experienced as a result of it. It has truly been a gift and blessing.

Riding Along...

It was a BEAUTIFUL spring day today! Oh it is so refreshing to have nice weather. It's unfortunate that temps will drop this coming week and bring more snow. I am ready for full on spring, but I'll take what I can get for now.

We spent a lot of the day cleaning and such, but by the late afternoon I was ready to get out of the house. I pulled out my bike and we road down the street. I wasn't sure how my body would handle it, but overall it went well. Mine and Jared's legs are out of practice so we had to walk our bikes up the 'hill' but I didn't have any trouble with balance or hurting. For a little bit afterwards my left leg was giving me some problems when I walked but that actual riding was quite refreshing. If it weren't for the turn of weather I think we would be up to doing it every day and build up our stamina again. I did discover my back tire's valve has a leak so that will have to be taken care of better than the electrical tape fix I did today. Last summer when I tried to change out my tires I couldn't get them off. Maybe Matthew would be able to do it even if I couldn't.

Wowzuhs!

35:27 minutes/1.16 miles/172 calories/53.8 fat

holy smokes I'm out of shape! My legs have been begging for me to get back into a walking routine and last week the weather convinced me to get out and do it, but before I actually followed through it snowed. I decided to set up my treadmill 'office' and walk while I was on the computer instead of laying in bed all day. I've been walking for 35 minutes and have only gone a mile and I'm POOPED!

That being said, I feel so much better than I have been now that it is done! I feel like I have more energy overall :) If only the weather could stay nice.....

40 Days: Day 40

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

We made it!

Day 40: "It is not by marvelous manifestations unto us that we shall be established in the truth, but it is by humility, and faithful obedience to the commandments and laws of God." -Joseph F. Smith 

Today's reading: Moroni 1-10
Mark and ponder: Moroni 10:4-5

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Well, I am on Helaman 12. I didn't quite make the 40 days, but I will complete it. It's  been a blessing to participate in this challenge. That is for sure!

40 Days: Day 38 & 39

"Forty Days Closer To Jesus Christ" 

Day 38: "Let us have compassion upon each other ,and let the strong tenderly nurse the weak into strength, and let those who can see guide the blind until the can see the way for themselves." -Brigham Young

Today we are reading: Ether 4-10
Mark and Ponder: Moroni 7:16-17

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"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 39: " I will go forward. I will smile at the rage of the tempest, and ride fearlessly and triumphantly across the boisterous ocean of circumstances... and the 'testimony of Jesus' will light up a lamp that will guide my vision through the portals of immortality." -Eliza R. Snow

Reading for today: Ether 11-15
Mark and Ponder: Moroni 8: 9-12

40 Days: Day 37

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 37: "Jesus will not be found by crusades of men. Jesus will not be found in councils of debate. The formula for finding Jesus has always been and ever will be the same-the earnest and sincere prayer of a humble and pure heart." -Thomas S. Monson

Today's reading: Mormon 9-Ether 3. 
Mark and ponder: Ether 12:41

ugh

I woke up this morning thinking I'd resist sitting in bed on the computer the entire school day, but I didn't. Two days in a row of no yoga. The only movement since showering is a potty break and getting lunch around noon. The days are wasting - WASTING - away with nothing to show for it. There are so many other things I could be doing but choose not to. The next two days will be spent working (cleaning) so I intended to take it easy today so hopefully I won't be sore tomorrow, but really, this is ridiculous. 

A bump on a log....

You Never Know

Sunday was fast and testimony Sunday. Most of the time when I'm moved to share, I am already to the point of tears and feeling pretty humble but this Sunday I felt a conviction to get up and share about the moving that happened this week as I read from the book of Alma that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God reserved for us today and express gratitude for those men who wrote it. I went up feeling joy and tears were no where on the horizon, but by the end I needed a tissue. This is beside the point.

I honestly don't remember everything I said, but I do remember looking out into the audience and seeing someone whom I know has struggled with the church and testimony and was happily surprised to see this individual and also caught a wiping away of tears as I spoke. I received a text from this person today thanking me for my testimony and that it touched them deeply. I noticed a post on facebook from this person today referring to a recent change of heart, and it warms me to think that I had a small role in being an instrument in the hands of the Lord.

Some things I do remember sharing that I have felt as I have taken the 40 day BOM reading challenge:

-Because it is a challenge to read the BOM in 40 days, I am often behind so many of my spare moments I am immersed in the scriptures trying to catch up and this has been a benefit to me. I have definitely felt a difference in my ability to feel the Spirit as a result. (Kind of more like my old self)

-Nephi is often looked at this amazing good guy whose likeness is unattainable, but what I realized is that besides studying the scriptures and praying, he recognized the hand of the Lord in his life and that is where his greatness came from. He was able to come to a point where he could trust in the Lord absolutely. Likewise the Lord could absolutely trust him. It was mutual. Nephi was willing to do whatever the Lord asked of him because he knew he could trust Him and the Lord would help him.

-Since I've been studying the Old Testament as well, I've been able to see the Nephites in a whole new light since they were living the law of Moses. I realized that Sherem believed the law of Moses saved them, not Christ. He was like the Jerusalem Jews who missed the symbolism.

- Alma 32 teaches about faith, but 33 teaches that is in Jesus Christ that we should have faith and 44 teaches it is because of the Atonement.

- Later in Alma we learn about the resurrection and what happens after we die. And it was as I read these teachings of Alma and Amulek I realized how vital the Book of Mormon is to us in this day. We live in a very complicated society, but the answers for clarity are in the BOM. It is plain. So easy to understand. I want to share this with my friends who don't have a clear understanding because it brings peace. So much peace when the unanswered questions can finally be put to rest. I am so grateful for these men who wrote their testimonies and experiences so that we could have them today when we desperately need them. And I am thankful for Joseph Smith who also trusted in the Lord and did his part to bring them to light.

I know the Lord keeps his promises - even if it is years in the making.

40 Days: Day 36

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 36: "You wonderful sisters render compassionate service to others for reasons that supersede desires for personal benefits. In this you emulate the Savior, who, though a king, did not seek position, nor was He concerned about whether others noticed Him. His thoughts were always tuned to help others. He knew that greatness had little to do with outward signs of prosperity or position." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Today's reading: 4 Nephi-Mormon 8
Mark and ponder: Ether 12:27

40 Days: Day 35

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 35: "The gospel plan is the plan by which men are brought to a fullness of joy. This is the first concept I wish to stress: The gospel principles are the steps and guidelines that will help us find true happiness and joy." -Ezra Taft Benson

Reading for today: 3 Nephi 22-29
Mark and ponder: Mormon 2:13-1

40 Days: Day 34

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 34: "Our women are not incredible because they have managed to avoid the difficulties of life. They are incredible because of the way they face the trials of life... They remain remarkably strong and immovable and true to the faith." -Quentin L. Cook

Today's reading: 3 Nephi 17-21
Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 27:8

Yoga two days in a row!!

Yesterday I felt pretty good all day. I don't recall having any major problems with walking like I have the rest of the week. I am going to pretend it is due to doing 20 minutes of yoga and getting out of the house and deepening a friendship. I was exhausted at the end of the day (probably from the 3 hours of standing in the kitchen while we all made our own pizzas), but I felt good and energized most of the day. The yoga is easy enough that it isn't hard to convince myself to take the time to do it. Easy enough that I did it again this morning. Go me!!

40 Days: Day 33

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 33: "We may not achieve our ideals in a day, but like stars, they serve to guide us on our way." 

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 11-16
Mark and Ponder:: 3 Nephi 12:48

go me!

I have three pairs of maternity pants that I rotate through that I'd gotten at good will. Two of them are a spandex pull over your belly to your boobs kind and one is a low rise smallish elastic waistband. My favorite are the pull over ones. I usually wear them for two days and then put them in the laundry. Well, yesterday it was low rise's turn. By the time the boys left for school (an hour after putting them on), I had to get out of them. They felt so tight and as I went upstairs I realized they aren't even really making it up my legs. They just don't fit anymore - and it isn't the belly band's problem - it is the thighs. I went to my drawer and thought about pulling out one of my sweat pants but remembered that with one of them I'd worn the week before I had decided it would have to be the last time b/c it was  getting tight and uncomfortable. I decided to try on the leftover size 18 pants from Jared and Aaron I had tucked in the drawer just in case (thinking 3rd trimester kind of thoughts) and found they weren't quite so saggy anymore. I ended up wearing them for the day.

I had been becoming more and more aware of the collection of fat in my thighs and bottom due to the amount of laying around I am doing but yesterday it was glaringly obvious the consequences of that choice. I made a coded comment about it on facebook that sparked quite the conversation. I didn't want any association with pregnancy on it, so any reference I deleted. It is not about being pregnant. It is about not exercising and the resulting extra padding that creates. But there were some good comments and suggestions - like yoga and just doing it.

I spent some time on youtube and found a couple of prenatal yoga videos and watched the shorter ones. Many of them were short - even as short as 3 minutes!! and some were longer. I decided I can do 10 minutes of breathing and stretching and it wouldn't even matter if I'd already showered. I finally talked myself into doing it. YAY! It was easy enough I even did a second video. 20 minutes of yoga/exercise today. Now only to keep it up.

40 Days: Day 32

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 32: "We like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibilities upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized..." -Eliza R. Snow

Today's reading: 3 Nephi 5-10
Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 11:29

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 Eons ago I was feeling under-appreciated and frustrated at home. In a setting apart blessing, I was told that the Lord was aware of what I was doing and appreciated it. It made all the difference in the world and all of a sudden those other feelings didn't matter b/c I knew the Lord saw and cared.

40 Days: Day 31

"Forty Days Closer to Christ" 

Day 31: "The Savior is not a silent observer. He Himself knows personally and infinitely the pain we face."

Reading for today: Helaman 15- 3 Nephi 4
Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 11:14-15

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Most people love Alma 32 because of its discourse on faith and the whole experiment upon the word analogy, but my favorites are 33 and 34 because we learn who we should have faith in and why. This is the meat of the gospel and plan of salvation!

Last year when I was preparing my talk on overcoming challenges, I discovered these verses in Alma 33 and just loved them, esp verses 21-23:

19 Behold, he was spoken of by ^aMoses; yea, and behold a ^btype was ^craised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.
 20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would ^aheal them.
 21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in ^aunbelief, and be ^bslothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?
 22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and ^abegin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to ^batone for their sins; and that he shall ^crise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the ^dresurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be ^ejudged at the last and judgment day, according to their^fworks.
 23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall ^aplant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, ^bspringing up in you unto ^ceverlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your^dburdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye ^ewill. Amen.

On the topic of loss

A friend posted a link to this post called why miscarriage matters if you're pro-life. Considering my recent post, I have a lot of thoughts on the topic. I don't know if I will ever actually get around to saying them out loud, but in the meantime thought I'd put that link here on the chance I do write out what's floating around in my head.

40 Days: Day 30

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

I love today's quote. 

Day 30: "No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility... It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire."
- Orson F. Whitney.

Today we are reading: Helaman 10-14
Mark and ponder: Helaman 10:4-5

40 Days: Day 29

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 29: "If our house is built upon a rock with the brick and mortar of good works, it will withstand the storms and perils of life and preserve us for an eternal inheritance hereafter. If is is built upon the sands of evil with the rusty nails and rotting timber of carnal things, it will be destroyed." -Bruce R. McConkie

Reading for today: Helaman 1-9
Mark and ponder: Helaman 5:12

40 Days: Day 28

"Forty Days Closer to Jesus Christ"

Day 28: "You are chosen to be faithful women of God in our day, to stand above pettiness, gossip, selfishness, lewdness, and all other forms of ungodliness. Recognize your divine birthright as daughters of our Heavenly Father." -Howard W. Hunter

Today's reading: Alma 59-63
Mark and ponder: Alma 60:23