Come As You Are

 I loved the talk given by Thomas S. Monson about having an attitude of gratitude. This isn't a new talk that I just read this week but one that I have read often. I think it's important in our lives to be grateful for all that we have because we really have been given so much in this world. There is another talk that was given by Elder Eyring where he would keep a gratitude journal and write in it daily. The think that I loved about this idea was that the things he wrote down weren't always huge things. In fact, a lot of them were small things that a lot of the time, we don't notice or take for granted. Like birds singing in the morning. Or someone letting you through in traffic. Or someone giving you a compliment that day. How many time do we miss these small things everyday because we don't take the time to reflect and notice them?        Another reason why I love the idea of have a heart of gratitude is because it helps us to remember our Savior who created this

Do we help our fellow men? With or without money are we helping and serving others? What I loved about the thought provoking study material this week was that it said it was okay to make wealth and to want to make wealth. I think a lot of times, people who have a lot of wealth are seen as maybe selfish. We don't know what they did to earn that wealth. We don't know what they are currently doing to help other people with their wealth either.      Personally, I think it's a little easier to give to others when you have money but on the other hand, does it mean more if you give others some of your money if you have less of it? I don't think those are really answers anyone can answer except for ourselves in our own situations. We don't know other people's situations and so can never know how easy/hard, much/little they have done for others. It's not up to us anyway to look at others to determine if they've done too much or too little. We just need to focus o

 I view money as an important and necessary element of life. It definitely isn't the  number one thing on my mind all the time but I know that however I choose to handle that money will affect my life greatly. I know that I must be smart with it and that if I'm not, it can cripple and weigh me down. I also realize that we can do a lot of good with money  in the world. We can help other people, donate to charities, etc. and do much good in the world.      Up to about this point in my life, I have not been in a financial situation to really do a lot for other people. Everything we have given, have been small and simple things, but helpful nonetheless. This year, my family and I decided that we could help another family with their Christmas. I'm not just talking about one gift for each kid but several things off their wish list to have for Christmas. I don't say this to gloat but because it felt so good to feel like I actually made a positive impact for a family and brough

Sometimes I wonder, do I dream too small? Are my ambitions not ambitious enough? Even before reading the lessons and articles from this past week, I have had these thoughts and feelings. My husband is a very ambitious person and has become very successful because of it. I look at him and am amazed at all that he has accomplished. I shouldn't, but sometimes I compare my ambitions to his and other peoples as well. Mine seem almost small and inferior, which is silly (because they're my dreams!) but unfortunately, those thoughts happen regardless.        I have always been fairly simple with what I want out of life. I have never had any desires for fame, fortunes, large or multiple houses, expensive cars, etc. Totally NOT a "keeping up with the Jones's" type of girl. Don't get me wrong though, I think my simplistic view and desires are a good thing; except that I wonder if I'm settling with my dreams. Am I really living to my full potential with what I could r

 This past week I read something called, "A Message to Garcia". I had never heard of it or the story before but I quite liked it. It basically tells the story of a man named Garcia who is given a mission. Garcia, after given the mission, doesn't ask questions or for clarifications but goes and completes the mission. How many of us are like Garcia where we just go and complete as "mission" or task without further instruction? I, unfortunately have to say that I do not and maybe that's why this story resonated with me so much.  I think when I am given something to do, I want to make sure that I do it well and that I do it right. So I then start asking questions. I don't think asking questions is necessarily a bad thing, but tedious questions that could have been answered with a little bit of thought, are not appealing. I would like to take what I read to heart and be able to complete tasks as much on my own as I possibly can. This not only would bring more

 The clear message I got out of my readings and lesson this week was of determination and tenacity. I think a lesson that every person needs to learn on this Earth is perseverance. What kind of people are we or how successful can we be, in not only business, but life if we quit at the first sign of challenges? I don't think that means that we can't ever quit on things BUT I think that there needs to be the proper effort put in to at least try for success. I know there are plenty of marriages, business's, relationships, etc. that failed because of lack of effort put in. On the other hand, I know plenty that failed even when great effort was put in. The difference is that they TRIED to succeed and didn't give up without a fight. My husband and I actually had a discussion with our tween son earlier this week on this very subject. He plays for a traveling soccer team and signed up to play with them for a year last June. He has become interested in other sports and now wants