Understand Who You Are

I was able to give a talk yesterday in Sacrament Meeting. I was asked to speak on respect. Respecting yourself includes understanding and always remembering who you are.

Your Divine Heritage

Robert C. Oaks-

BYU Devotional, 21 March 2006

“How does Satan do it? He is quite straightforward and predictable. First, he attempts to prompt doubts in our minds about our divine potential. He even cultivates doctrine in the world implying we are much less than we really are. He undermines our faith—and thus our confidence—in our ability to achieve our potential. He strives to bring us to a mind-set in which we believe that we, individually, are not good enough to ever achieve our celestial goals.

“In this same vein Satan seeks to convince us that we are so bad that even the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ is not sufficient to reach down to our lowly depths and draw us up unto our Savior. He tempts us into paths that seem to verify his cynicism about our grand and glorious potential.

“…He is a clever fellow with many tricks to make us forget who we really are: sons and daughters of God with divine potential.”

cabin fever

"Cabin fever: boredom, restlessness, or irratability that results from a lack of environmental stimulation, as from a prolonged stay in a remote, sparsely populated region or confined indoor area."

I've got it. Big time.

I don't want to just do anything.

I want to go on a roadtrip with friends.

I want it to be warm.

I want to leave the country.

I want to go to the reservoir.

I want to go camping.

I want to go hiking.

And I want a someone to do all these things with.

"I know I have a little life in me yet, I know I have a lot of strength left."

t.w.o.

"Forever can never be long enough for me to feel like I've had long enough with you....

Together can never be close enough for me to feel like I am close enough to you."

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Remember this night 2 years ago?

It was the night I first met you.

When I turned that corner and saw you walking towards me, I knew. I knew at that first moment I loved you.

Can you believe how far we've come?

happy birthday

A couple weeks ago, I went through all my childhood stuff. Now that I've moved back home and will be here until my mission, I decided I should organize everything so I know where everything is. --I have found a great love for big plastic tubs!--

I have a lot of stuff!

I am so grateful to Mom and Dad for saving all my awful drawings, stories, photos and art projects from my childhood (especially drawings and notes I gave to them!) A couple years ago Mom showed me that they had kept everything. I love her so much! I can hardly wait to share these things with my children!

Mom also gave me a bunch of cards and notes Dad wrote to her during their marriage that I found again. Tears streamed down my face as I read through them. Can I just say how much I LOVE MY DAD! He was such a sweetheart. He never hesitated to let us know how much he loved us.

Dad's birthday was yesterday. He would have been 90!

Dad was usually the discipliner growing up. Ha ha... I only had to be spanked once, and I only had a spoonful of Tabasco sauce once. Only once because I hated that I had disappointed him by saying a naughty word or what not.

Dad was my best buddy. When I was still young and the boys were off to school and Mom at work, it was just us buddies hanging out :) He would take me to meet all his friends. He and I would go for walks down the street. And when I was sad, he would pull me into his lap and rock me in grandma's old rocking chair and hum in my ear. (Although Mom always loves to tell the story of when she came home from work one day and I was crawled up on my bed just crying. She asked what was wrong, and I replied, through sobs, "Mommy! Daddy scared the jabbers out of me!")

I love that guy! As much as I miss him, I know he's so happy now. He doesn't have to live with any pain and he's back with so many people who love him. I can constanty feel his presence. I know he's still looking out for me and I know he loves me and misses me as much as I do him.

I'm sure they threw a big old birthday party for him up there for his big 9-0! Happy Birthday, Daddy!