We are... Back!

“Every person should keep a journal and every person can keep a journal. It should be an enlightening one and should bring great blessings and happiness to the families. If there is anyone here who isn’t doing so, will you repent today and change—change your life?” Spencer W. Kimball

“Your journal should contain your true self rather than a picture of you when you are ‘made up’ for a public performance.... The truth should be told, but we should not emphasize the negative” (Spencer W. Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals,” New Era, Dec. 1980, 26).

So, here I am repenting... I have a lesson to give this Sunday about journal keeping. In preparation for my lesson I came across these two quotes and they hit home, HARD. I have never been good at keeping a journal. I have tried many times and end up writing for a few days and then stopping. So, here I am... repenting. My new online journal.

I came home from youth tonight and was talking to Eki about what I was feeling and wanting to be better.. He could hardly believe what I was saying. I would never believe it, he told me, but just yesterday he had the thought come to him at work that he needed to start a journal. I do believe him. We are married, connected and Heavenly Father wants us to grow together. Of course he would prompt both of us for the same thing. This is not the first time it has happened nor will it be the last.

We were talking to each other about what my journal should include. About the possibility of ANYONE reading it. We spoke of wanting to be honest and yet always positive. In the midst of all of this I thought to myself, whatever would I write my first entry about? Just then it started to rain and we had to hurry down to our house before we got soaked! On the way down the path to our house, after my fourth step, what do I see? A HUGE Possum!! Just chillin in the middle of the walk! I scream. It stares at me. I jump back and yell for Eki. It still stares. Eki throws a rock at it. It STILL stares, and right then it hit me.. My first subject! So, thank you, possum that made me scream on the way home.

How often are our trials in life like that possum? We cruise along thinking everything is dandy and as we turn a corner, BAM! TRIAL! It could be anything.. And of course human nature we think just by spotting it, it should go away.. but no, it stays and stares. So then we get upset and maybe a little scared and scream for it to go away.. but no, it isn't scared by you, it just stares back. Throw a rock at it... sometimes this works.. but sometimes... more staring. SO what can you do? Well tonight, I took a few minutes.. Got up my courage! Made sure that Eki was in between me and the possum the whole way down and I slowly made my way past it to the security of my home. What more can we do? Get up our courage face our trials put Christ in between as a buffer and make our way safely home.

Yup, like I said thank you, possum that made me scream on the way home. I like the thoughts that you brought to me.

P.S. Anyone know what to do about a possum problem?