Lent

In 2014, lent begins Wednesday, March 5 and ends Thursday April 17.

I'm a Mormon, and won't attempt to describe lent to you, so here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent

Essentially, it's a period of time before Easter during which the faithful show increased faith, penitence, and self-denial.  It's not traditionally observed by Mormons, but every year when it comes around, I get inspired by my friends who do observe it as part of their religion.  I think it's something everyone can learn from.

So this year, I'm making a concentrated effort to give up a couple things "for lent" and be a little more generous.

The Resurrection of Christ, Carl Bloc

What about you?  Can you make a commitment to give up something to be a little closer to God over the next few weeks?
One thing I like about lent is that it doesn't last forever.  Because some things are impractical to live without forever, but they can be sacrificed for a few short weeks. Like buying clothes.  But for other things, it's a doorway into giving it up forever, like road rage or swearing.
It's just something interesting to think about.  It's like the "Christmas Spirit," but for Easter. And instead of overloading our lives with stress and buying presents, it's about simplifying and purifying our lives and hearts.

What If We Chose How We Look?

I was ready to leave for work this morning.  I had gotten all packed up for Thanksgiving break so I could head straight for home right after closing time.  I was standing in the living room, eating my cereal mentally scanning for anything I forgot to pack.  The sun was coming up and soft morning light was coming through the windows, and I could see the frost on my car outside.

I have a big, rectangular mirror hanging on the wall in my living room.  As I was finishing my cereal I absent-mindedly started gazing at myself. I was having those rolling, dreamlike thoughts, the kind you're barely aware you're having.  I had my hair pulled back in a bun with no make up on except a little red lipstick.
I was thinking to myself, "Yeah, I look pretty good:)  I like the way I look.  I mean, if I were choosing, I'd probably have tweaked a couple things a little differently...." Then I chuckled at the thought of my spirit in Heaven before I was born getting toddler-excited and picking out a bunch of crazy features:)

But then I stopped and thought, "Well, why not?"  I'm pretty dang sure this is false doctrine, so most def don't quote me in general conference when you become a general authority, but I thought, What if we did?  What if, in Heaven, we got to choose how we would look?  And everyone picked out what their tastes truly dictated was the most beautiful to them?  And we didn't think otherwise until we came to Earth and society imposed false standards on us and we lost our ability to see all beauty?  What if we are all the most beautiful?  And some of us just forgot? What if we picked everything about ourselves?

Food for thought:)

However, we are all created in the image of God by a loving Father in Heaven.  Isn't that kinda enough to make you accept the beautiful gift of your body?

Thanksgiving point gardens!!!

The glorious central lawn at Thanksgiving Point Gardens

 We went to the Thanksgiving Point gardens for $2 Tuesdays in August.  They were soooooo beautiful!  It felt like we were in paradise.

 The waterfall there is the largest man-made waterfall in this hemisphere. So awe inspiring!!!

One of my favorite parts (every second was my favorite part...)  was the secret garden.  It's tucked away, just a small wooden door in a wall in a brick archway.  

When you walk inside, you see this beautiful fountain.  There are a few little "rooms" to wander through and some sculpture.

We got caught in the rain:)  It was actually pretty fun. And as stunning as nature can get.  We saw the bronze statues of Christ in the rain.  I felt like it was their natural state to be seen in.  Particularly the life-size one of the Savior walking on water during a storm, and the one of him in Gethsemane.  They rain made tears stream down His face.  What a beautiful experience.:)  We were so lucky to be able to come.

Keeping Commandments = Happiness

There are a lot of things we are commanded to do and not do. It can seem overwhelming and like a burden at first, but the more I practice keeping the commandments, the more I learn these three truths: wickedness never was happiness, live according to your light and knowledge, and commandments are blessings.

First, wickedness never was happiness. What an embarrassingly simple, straightforward truth.  Yet so many do not know it. I think it's because the world's/Satan's message is so loud and complex that wickedness is happiness.  The world says drugs, sex and rock and roll is fun and brings you happiness.  It's portrayed in every form of media. People seem totally at ease, confident, happy, and fulfilled when following the ways of the world.  We see it so often, many people become convinced that these things bring happiness. People try to treat sadness, pain, and emptiness with fun. They become jaded, confused and disillusioned when they feel worse instead of better. Because what they really need is to seek peace and healing by following the commandments and using the atonement and Love of the Savior. It may not seem as exciting, but it's true, and it's what brings happiness and contentment.

Second, each person is responsible to live according his/her own light and knowledge.  Understanding this allows you to love other people.  Perhaps people that are not living all the commandments, but are fully living according to their own light and knowledge, view people who are keeping the commandments a little more fully and think that they are being pretentious. If you followed commandments that you had no faith in, it would be a little pretentious. People who are strict followers look down on others and are annoyed that they don't sacrifice and step up to the plate and live a higher law. They think they are lazy and irresponsible.  If you had a great knowledge, it would be lazy and irresponsible not to live what you know to be true.  If people understood that not everyone has the same amount of light and knowledge at this moment, it would be easier to understand that it's extremely likely that they are doing (with their personal capacity) what they believe to be best, and who can blame anyone for that?  

Third, keeping the commandments not only bring extra, unrelated blessings; they are blessings in and of themselves.  Some people think that this life is a test, and once we get to heaven we can do whatever we want. Not so.  This life is a time for us to realize that we love the Celestial law because it is good for us and for others.  Keeping the commandments can sometimes seem unpleasant because it requires sacrifice and delayed gratification. But in the end, keeping the commandments brings us maximum happiness.  If you kept the commandments 100%, you would be 100% happy.