Books of 2020 Part 2

26. Left to Tell, by Immaculée Ilibagiza and Steve Erwin - (finished 7/6)

27. Eternity is Now, by John H. Groberg - (finished 7/16)

28. The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell - (finished 7/20)

29. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks - (finished 7/30)

30. Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell - (finished 8/19)

31. Changed Through His Grace, by Bradley R. Wilcox - (finished 8/22)

32. Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe - (finished 8/26)

33. Midnight in Austenland, by Shannon Hale - (finished 9/10)

34. Reconceiving Infertility: Biblical Perspectives on Procreation and Childlessness, by Candida R. Moss and Joel S. Baden - (finished 9/18)

35. Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert - (finished 9/24)

36. Period Repair Manual, by Lara Briden - (finished 10/12)

37. Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky - (finished 11/18)

38. One Child, by Mei Fong - (finished 11/30)

Unfinished Books:

The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown - 

The Nature Principle, by Richard Louv - 

Eliza R. Snow: An Immortal, selected writings by Eliza R. Snow - 

Christ in Every Hour, by Anthony Sweat - 

Religion of a Different Color, by W. Paul Reeve -

Presidents of the Church: Insights Into Their Lives and Teachings, by Truman G. Madsen -

The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man, by Bruce R. McConkie -



Audiobooks:

1. Without the Mask, by Charlie Bird - (finished 9/7)

Snapshots of July and August

I've realized that I've majorly fallen off from my goal to blog more regularly...I started actually journaling daily again back in April, and I think that has made it easier to slack on blogging, because I'm already keeping a record of my life. But journaling doesn't keep my family updated on my life (and neither does my facebook cause I hardly ever post anymore).

Last night at a small women's group meeting, one of my friends mentioned a type of snapshot journaling where you just jot down or list phrases and words describing your day/week/whatever. I really liked the simplicity of the idea, and thought I should give it a try for my blogging and see if it helps me be more consistent. So here goes!

July and August 2020 - These are the days of:

Weddings. Catching up with old friends.

Car repairs- ugh.

Game nights. Old friends and new.

Extra long evening walks.

Swimming. Appreciating summer.

Slow work. Boredom.

Doing more family history.

Morning walks with Marissa and her kids.

Meal planning. Grocery shopping.

Picnic dinners at Devil's Den.

Hiking.

Watching TV shows. Lazy afternoons.

Reading. Book nights with friends.

Returning to church. Feeling the sense of home.

Books of 2020 Part 1

Finished from 2019:
The Temple Letters, by Claude Richards - (finished 1/5) This is one of the books we got that belonged to Grandpa Willis. It's a collection of letters a man wrote to his family about the importance of temple and family history work. It wasn't life-changing or anything, but there were definitely some good quotes that he shared.


2020 Books:
1. The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett - (finished 1/10) This was so fun and magical to read. I guess classics are a classic for a reason, huh? I especially loved the descriptions of nature, her wonder and awe in experiencing it, and how her time outside, connecting with nature, changed her for the better. There is magic outside that we all need in our lives!

2. Covenant Keepers, by Wendy Watson Nelson - (finished 1/25) This almost doesn't even count as a book it was so short. Honestly I was a little annoyed I payed for it when I saw how short it was. But then I sat down to read it and all regret disappeared. There's not necessarily anything totally new or profound in it, but it was exactly what I needed at the time. Specifically, her thoughts on family history work and the challenge she issued. That was a first step for me into consistent family history work!

3. Miracles, by Eric Metaxas - (finished 1/31) I love the author - we really enjoy watching his Socrates in the City lectures. He writes in a fun, engaging way. The first half was his discussion of miracles - his definition, large-scale examples (like all the parameters being met for this earth to be able to sustain life), and their purpose. I very much enjoyed the first half. The second half, which I also enjoyed, was a collection of personal stories of miracles in the lives of people he knows/trusts. There were some stories that really challenged my thinking, because the experience was so foreign to my understanding and view of how God works. What it really taught me is that God works according to our understanding, so if we expect communication from Him to happen in a certain way, He will likely work within that expectation/understanding.

4. The Truman G. Madsen Story, by Barnard N. Madsen - (finished 2/15) I always enjoy biographies, especially ones about faithful, inspirational people. Truman Madsen really did live a life full of faithful sacrifice and diligence. Reading about his life and choices inspired me to be more devoted and work harder myself.

5. The Rent Collector, by Camron Wright - (finished 2/16) A quick and enjoyable read. The story follows a woman who lives on one of the largest trash heaps in Cambodia, picking through the garbage to find things to sell for a living. The main character is based on a real woman, but her story is largely fictionalized. I felt like the story the author created was meant to look at the power for change that literacy can be in an individual's life, which was very interesting. My only issue was that some elements in the story didn't seem to fit with setting or didn't feel completely authentic. Nothing major though, just enough to make it a 4 star instead of 5 for me.

6. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, by John M. Gottman - (finished 2/22) I really loved this book and his approach. Basically the message was that you have to be friends and truly respect and care for each other, and if you do, you can pretty much work through anything together. He gave many self-questionnaires to evaluate how your marriage is really doing in different areas, as well as practical, simple exercises to improve and to get to know each other better. I felt like it was a very reasonable, relatable book that is applicable to anyone and everyone desiring a happy, healthy marriage. Lots of helpful tips and important things to recognize. I also enjoyed the dispelling of common myths at the beginning.

7. Jayne Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte - (finished 3/4) I read this book in high school and hated it - I couldn't get over the age difference between Jane and Mr. Rochester and it ruined it for me. But I absolutely LOVED it this time! Beautiful writing - the descriptions of scenery, the character depictions and development, the moral character of Jane, the different views of what it means to be a part of a family, and just the story in general. Again, classics are classics for a reason! I really loved reading this one and discussing it with my book group.

8. The Call of the Wild and Free, by Ainsley Arment - (finished 3/11) I feel like this is a must read for anyone considering homeschooling. She's all about trusting your intuition and feelings as a mother and protecting childhood - fostering wonder in their lives, spending time in nature, and telling/reading stories. Her views really resonated with me and I really enjoyed reading it. It made me want to notice the wonder in my own life and be better about stopping to "smell the roses."

9. The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary Book 3, by Bruce R. McConkie - (finished 3/25) Probably the same review I wrote from Books 1 and 2. Takes some time to get through, because it's written in a more academic/scholarly style, but I like the slow look at the records we have of the Savior's life and teachings.

10. Amazing Grace, by Eric Metaxas - (finished 3/29) Again, love the author. He does a great job of making it interesting, engaging, and adding just the right amount of humor. This is the biography of William Wilberforce, who was the leader of ending slavery in England. What a battle! Very insightful and interesting to read - I definitely learned a lot from it.

11. Saints: No Unhallowed Hand - (finished 4/7) Just as good as the first! The narrative style it's written in makes it so approachable and easy to read. I learned so much from this volume, especially about the practice of plural marriage in the church. Honestly, it's something I've largely ignored because it's hard to wrap my head around, but it doesn't bother me as something that happened in the past. Reading more about it really forced me to look deeper at my understanding and view. And just like the first volume, I loved learning from the faith and experiences of the earlier saints. 

12. Refuge and Reality: The Blessings of the Temple, by John H. Groberg - (finished 4/20) I love the temple, and clearly Elder Groberg does, too! Written in a very similar style to his other books, this is basically a compilation of stories and experiences he had while serving as the temple president for the Idaho Falls temple and the lessons he learned from them. Some great insights. I think what I loved the most though, was just hearing from someone who really understands the vital necessity as well as the joy of the temple and all that it offers.

13. The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary Book 4, by Bruce R. McConkie - (finished 4/21) Next book in the series!

14. Accomplishing the Impossible, by Russell M. Nelson - (finished 4/29) A good read. Your typical gospel themed book giving practical application to our lives. I think what these books really offer is not so much knowledge as it is another avenue for the Spirit to teach you.

15. Moby Dick, by Herman Melville - (finished 5/2) Wow. I can definitely say I would not have finished this one if I hadn't been reading it for my book group. It took some real effort to push through! Mostly because of the ridiculous amount of detail and (in my opinion useless) information about whales. But also because of the dragging story line and difficult language. There are some real gems in it though. Taking the time to review and discuss it after reading made me appreciate it much more. I'm glad I read it, making it through felt like a major accomplishment, but I don't know that I'd honestly recommend it to others.

16. Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson - (finished 5/12) My first real fun read since February. Gabe, and especially my friend Marissa, have been trying to get me to read Sanderson for so long. This was my first step into his books, and I absolutely loved it. One of the ones that you start and have a hard time ever putting down, but then regret reading it so quickly because you're sad that it's already over when you finish, haha. I loved the characters, and the story was fascinating and intriguing. Made me excited to read more of his books!

17. The Great Divorce, by C. S. Lewis - (finished 5/21) I always love C.S. Lewis. This one is written as a story to visualize heaven and hell. I am always amazed at his insights and abilities to portray spiritual truths. I really enjoyed the read, and gained so much from the insights and ideas.

18. Whole Body Barefoot, by Katy Bowman - (finished 6/5) I picked this up to flip through and find some tips for a friend transitioning to barefoot shoes, and ended up just reading it. It's a quick read, only about 100 pages, informative, but also enjoyable and even funny. I love Katy Bowman's goofy humor that gets thrown in. A great read though - highly recommend it!

19. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne - (finished 6/6) Another book I read for my book group. I read it in high school English and didn't care for it, and while I could appreciate it much more this time, I still didn't love it. I did really enjoy the discussion about it afterward though. We felt like it was much less a story about characters, and more a look at specific character traits and what comes from them - revenge, honesty/acceptance of consequences, and guilt from trying to hide your mistakes.

20. Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring, by Henry J. Eyring - (finished 6/7) This was such a fun biography. There were some seriously funny stories! But I especially loved his outlook and views on religion and science. He had full faith that the two are completely compatible, and believed that anytime they appear to contradict we are either missing the full picture or have an incorrect understanding of what the truth actually is. His views had a huge impact on me, and really were life changing. It was so refreshing to have someone say that things don't have to be either/or and you don't have to have all the answers.

21. The Priesthood Power of Women, by Barbara Morgan Gardner - (finished 6/9) A great book that does a fantastic job of laying out what the priesthood is, how it works, and how it functions differently in the church and home. It did so much to clarify and deepen my understanding - highly recommend.

22. The Worth of a Soul, by Ayse Hitchins and Kristen McKendry - (finished 6/9) Wow, what a story! This is an autobiography/narrative of Ayse's life growing up in Turkey and eventually immigrating to Canada. I read it in like 2 days, because her story was so engaging. She had an intense childhood/growing up and overcame a lot in life. I really enjoyed it.

23. Holy Places: True Stories of Faith and Miracles from Latter-day Temples, by Chad Hawkins - (finished 6/12) This was a super quick read, just a compilation of very short stories about various miracles related to different temples. Inspiring to see the small and simple ways the Lord's hand is in His work.

24. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin - (finished 6/23) Another one I read with my book group, and like most biographies, I really enjoyed it. It does end before really even touching on the Revolution, so that would be interesting to read a biography that goes into that part of his life. But I really enjoyed hearing about his life, from his perspective. I think my very favorite was his discussion of when he decided to try and be perfect, haha. Really though, the method of self-reflection and evaluation of character and virtues hat he developed and used for the rest of his life was very insightful. I also really enjoyed the groups he started with friends for intellectual development. And I was seriously amazed at how many organizations he started and social changes he affected! He really left a legacy (even before playing his part in the Revolution)!

25. Emma, by Jane Austen - (finished 7/2) Another book that I couldn't stand in high school because of the age difference between love interests, but absolutely loved this time! I just can't get enough Jane Austen. Her character depictions are always spot on. The characters and their relationships are really what make her books so great and fun to read. But it's not just fluffy fun like so much we get today - she creates so much depth and in doing so gives such accurate and poignant reflections on human nature. This one was right up there with Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion for me.

Audio Books:
1. The Heavens are Open, by Wendy Watson Nelson - (finished 3/18)
2. Dreams as Revelation, by Craig K. Manscill, Kenneth L. Alford, and Mary Jane Woodger - (finished 4/30)
3. A Case for the Book of Mormon, by Tad R. Callister - (finished 5/20) This book was fantastic. It was amazing to have so many myths and accusations dispelled and proven false beyond doubt.
4. Letters to a Young Mormon, by Adam S. Miller - (finished 5/21)

5. Seekers Wanted, by Anthony Sweat - (finished 6/17) A great resource for helping you distinguish truth and determine historical accuracy of sources. Highly recommend.

6. That We May Be One, by Tom Christofferson (finished 6/22) This book was amazing, and really made us take another look at how we view and approach homosexuality. So well written, amazing examples, and a profound life story.

7. Seek This Jesus, by Neill Marriott (finished 6/22)

Everyday Life Updates

Well I've fallen behind a bit on my goal to blog more often, and I figured it's probably time to post another update on how life is going for us here in Arkansas.

Coronavirus. Ugh. Thankfully Arkansas never actually went on complete lockdown, so we were still able to enjoy walking at Lake Fayetteville and going on hikes and spending time with friends. Business has definitely slowed down, but we'll be ok. Actually, the slower pace with everything was really nice in the beginning. We were travelling so much. And it all just stopped. No more overnight trips to the temple, no more Little Rock, and we didn't even go visit home for the first month since Missouri was on lockdown. And it was really nice to just be home and not sleeping in a new bed every week.

We've started up our work trips to Little Rock again, but we're going every 3 weeks now instead of every other week. It makes it so much easier! We've also gone to visit family twice now, which has of course been wonderful. Especially getting to do "home church" with others. As much as we like staying home...home church with 2 people can be a little...underwhelming? haha, Again, initially it was very much appreciated - I was starting to burn out with my calling. But it's been long enough now that I'm starting to miss just seeing everyone each week. There are of course some people that we still see regularly, but I miss getting to see everyone else in the Ward. But that won't be changing anytime soon...

Last week we got an email from our Stake President about resuming meetings. There has been an increase in cases in our area lately, so they aren't comfortable setting a return date yet. And when they do finally feel that it's safe to resume meeting...they plan to actually start another 4 weeks after that...with only 50 people per meeting, all wearing masks and no congregational singing. That's just crazy to think about. It already feels like it's been so long. We decided we probably ought to do more with our Sundays and home church if it's going to continue for that long. So we're combining FHE and church for the time being, and doing our "family" Come, Follow Me then. We played church music this morning to make it feel like Sunday. Then for church had an opening prayer, sacrament hymn, the sacrament, watched a conference talk, and then did Come, Follow Me. I've been staying in my dress all day to make it feel not just like every other day as well. It's been nice, and felt good today to be trying a little harder to set the day apart for ourselves.

I've also started doing family history since we can't go to the temple. I never thought I could get so excited about doing family history work, but I'm loving it! Also, Family Search makes it so easy...if you don't know what to do or where to start, just look at your tasks list. I can't count the number of times I've opened up a name from that to connect a record...and then got lost for over an hour looking at their children or parents and siblings, and their parents and children, and so on. I've also been amazed at how many beautiful, sacred experiences I've had as I've found names of those whose work is ready to be done. I've experienced powerful feelings that I'm used to feeling in the temple, while doing the work, but never imagined it could be just as strong and memorable at home, sitting on my couch. I've definitely come to realize that both Temple and Family History work very much hinge on the principle in Ether 12:6, "dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." The testimony comes from doing. If you want to know and feel for yourself the power and importance of the work, you have to try it yourself!

Other than that, we're so happy that summer is here! We went swimming for the first time this week and we've been walking basically every day. We also realized the other day that there are multiple mulberry trees on the trail we always walk. (Felt kind of dumb for just now realizing it when we've been walking that trail for over 2 years now...and avoiding the black spots on the ground the fallen mulberries leave in the summer, lol). Most of them are super tall and out of reach, but we were able to pick a few and snack on them the other day - so yummy. It feels SO good to be outside! And we love the warmth and the sunshine. Yay, summer!

Random Things I've Learned About Myself

1. I'm an introvert! Like wow. Phone calls with people I don't know make me anxious. I'm terrible at small talk. Alone time is my jam. Even texting can be too much for me at times. I totally sympathize with people who deal with social anxiety! I am proudly, and without a doubt, a major introvert. Funny that I didn't realize it until college and later - once I moved away from my well established comfort zone. It also seems like I'm just getting more and more introverted the older I get... 😬

2. I don't like being vulnerable. Even the word itself used to annoy me - no joke. Sharing my deepest, most personal feelings? Uh, no thanks. Like, it makes me super uncomfortable. Even with people closest to me I find that I have a really hard time finding the words. Well, correction, I have about a billion words going through my head of what I could/should say, it's the actual speaking of those words that I struggle with. I've also noticed that I don't mind so much opening up about things or feelings from the past, that I've already moved on from. It's current, ongoing struggles or poignant feelings that I have a hard time expressing or even wanting to share. If I'm currently dealing with it, then I feel like it's none of your business, give it a couple weeks and I won't mind so much, lol. This is something I'm trying to work on, because I've seen how much opening up really can help yourself and others, but it definitely isn't easy.

3. I'm fairly independent, even though I didn't necessarily think of myself this way. I feel like I usually think of independent people as the ones who proudly and widely proclaim the fact, just in case anyone wasn't already aware. That is definitely not me. But I've realized that I do have a tendency to want to work things out on my own or accomplish things by myself. If I can possibly do something without having to ask for help, I will.

4. I love books, and learning, and intellect. Ok, so I pretty much always knew this one (hence making the goal in 6th grade to graduate high school as Valedictorian), but I've come to realize how much I really value it. I read a ton as a kid, but slowly stopped over the course of high school after feeling like I couldn't find anything worthwhile to read. A few years ago I made it a goal to start reading more...like 6 books a year or something (the fact that that was an improvement is almost appalling to me now! haha) Then 2 years ago I started reading a book with Julia, sharing our thoughts as we read, and it really reignited that spark! Last year alone I read 50 books (if you count my reading through the Book of Mormon again). And with my love of learning and intellect, I've found a passion for non-fiction books as well. My fiction reading is actually still fairly minimal, mostly consisting of more classic works/authors like Jane Austen. Ya, I love books. :) And I especially love that I married someone who loves it all as much as I do! (If not more...I may be more than a little envious of how quickly he can make it through a book. I'm not a slow reader, but he still gets through so much more than I can in the same amount of time! It's annoying...)

5. I love learning about and understanding people. I really enjoy biographies. And I love the aspects of personality type that help me to better understand other people that function so differently from myself. What makes people tick? I love to try and get inside their head to see how and why they act or react in certain ways. It really is becoming a passion of mine.

6. I really enjoy cooking. Especially if I don't have to come up with what to cook. ;) And thank goodness, cause I do a lot of it! (Well, by today's standards at least.) Also, the figuring out what to cook...I wouldn't survive without meal plans. Well, correction, I would live off of nothing but cereal and other easy, grab and eat foods, which I'm pretty sure is what I did all through college. I hate to cook for just myself - it feels like a waste of time. But I enjoy cooking for Gabe and I and for friends, especially when it turns out well and tastes delicious!

7. I observe and analyze - it's how I learn and process and understand the world and people around me. Also something I think I've always known, but what I didn't know is that not everyone else overthinks everything as much as I do. :P Hence also my love of learning about and understanding people - I observe and analyze!

8. I've come to really love the outdoors and nature. I never saw this one coming. Not that I ever had anything against it, I was just always the one having to be pushed/dragged out the door, never the one calling for others to join me. I was generally indifferent to it. But now I just love the calming nature of, well, nature. The further I can get from the sights and sounds of the city the better! But also, just being outside in the sun is so rejuvenating, even if it's in the middle of a neighborhood (our apartment balcony facing the parking lot, unfortunately not so much).

Jacob Chapter 5

Over the last few years as I have spent more time in the Book of Mormon, I have come to love Jacob chapter 5 with its Allegory of the Olive Tree. And though its main message is that of the scattering and gathering of Israel, what I have come to love most are certain phrases and words within it that teach me of God's ways and His love for His children. So here are some of those phrases and what they mean to me.

vs 5: "according to his word" - His promises are sure - we can rely on the Lord! As it says in D&C 1:38, "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth shall pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled." That which He has promised us we will receive as we remain faithful. This understanding gives such a surety of hope as we wait upon the Lord.

vs 7, 11, 13, 32, 46, 47, 51, 66: "It grieveth me that I should lose this tree" - He cares for us. He loves us. He grieves when we are lost. Also that grief is a godly attribute. There is no anger, frustration, or irritability. Not indignation or criticism, just godly sorrow and grief. No "I told you so," just a wish for the salvation of loved ones.

vs 8, 13-14, 36, 53-54, 75: "withersoever I will," "according to his will and pleasure," "for mine own purpose" - He is the Lord of the vineyard, the gardener. We must learn to trust Him and accept His will above our own. It is His choice, not ours. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

vs 3-5, 7-13, 20, 22-28, 31, 33-34, 36-37, 46-47, 52-58, 60, 62-64, 67-69, 71, 73-77: Prune, pluck, dig about, dunged, graft, nourish, preserve - These words are found more often than not throughout the chapter. I love the reminder that they are of the Lord's constant care for His people, as well as the reminder that such care is not always comfortable or pleasant. Pruning, plucking, grafting, digging and dunging about - these don't sound like particularly pleasant experiences for those on the receiving end. And yet we know that this is how the nourishing and preserving are brought about. Without the painful or at least uncomfortable efforts and experiences, the desired result could not be achieved. Elder Maxwell taught that principle beautifully over and over again, reminding us of the necessity of such opposition in our lives if we are to be made in His image. "Know though, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7).

vs 8, 11, 18-20, 23, 29, 31, 33, 46, 54, 71, 74, 76: "lay up of the fruit thereof against the season, unto mine own self" - The Lord desires to bring us unto Him. We wants to make us His own, because He loves us.

vs 10: "the servant of the Lord of the vineyard did according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard" - How blessed we are to be led by a prophet of God! He speaks for and acts in behalf of the Lord in these latter-days. He leads the church "according to the will of the Lord," and so we can rely and depend on him. He is trustworthy just as the Lord is.

vs 15, 29: "a long time passed away" - Sometimes it feels as though "a long time (has) passed away" in our own lives before we receive the guidance, direction, or blessings we are seeking from the Lord. The presence of these words reminds me that it's okay. Sometimes He intends for us to wait, but our time will come, He will come.

vs 22: "I knew that it was a poor spot...wherefore...I have nourished it this long time" - It doesn't matter where we are planted, how ideal or not ideal our situation or environment is. The Lord will nourish us, and that is all we need to thrive and bring forth good fruit. The Lord will give us everything we need, even if it's not everything we want, to succeed.

vs 41, 47, 49: "What could I have done more for my vineyard?" "I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long," "I have done all" - Truly the Lord has done all. He gave His all, His life, Himself, and continues to so give, nourishing, lifting, and strengthening us, caring for us. He has and will do all He can to preserve and save us. That is the love that He has for us.

vs 48: "Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard? ...the loftiness of thy vineyard...taking strength unto themselves" - We must learn humility. Pride, trusting in the arm of the flesh, these lead to our ultimate failure. Hence the need for pruning, to cut back our "loftiness." We need to learn to be able to say, "Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down." Because surely he does so only for our own good and salvation.

vs 50-51: "spare it a little longer" - He has such patience with us! How many times have we produced corrupt fruit, but He has chosen to "spare us a little longer," working with us and enabling us to progress and improve rather than giving up on us and our imperfections? If He is so patient with us, we ought to be as well. We must learn to be patient with ourselves and with our loved ones as we continue to struggle along our journey, and choose to spare judgment "a little longer."

vs 54: "sufficiently strong" - Am I "sufficiently strong"? Am I bringing forth good fruit unto the Lord? And am I rooted firmly enough to continue doing so? If so, what am I doing right to keep myself "sufficiently strong"? If not, what am I doing that I need to stop doing, and what am I not doing that I need to start doing?

vs 59: "because of the change...the good may overcome the evil" - Sometimes a little bit of change is all we need to help us grow and push forward. Change can be hard, it can be scary, but it can also be just what we need. So if and when unexpected changes comes into your life, ask the Lord how you can grow from it rather than worrying or complaining. See what it is He wants you to learn.

vs 66: "clear away the bad according as the good shall grow" - This principle is so meaningful to me. We can't expect to change overnight. Sometimes where we are looks so far from where we want to be. But if we try to cover that distance in one, big jump, we will fail. Just as with gospel knowledge, personal growth comes line upon line, one step at a time. We have to let the good within us continue to grow before we can expect to root out the bad, the weaknesses and imperfections. And when we do it that way, those failings and faults will fall away naturally. When we try to scour them out before learning the correct patterns to replace them, we are left with a big, empty hole and no understanding of how to properly fill it. So it's okay if you're still struggling to overcome that bad habit that feels like it has been plaguing you for years. That's how it's meant to be! Growth is slow and gradual, so much so that we likely will not even recognize it in our day-to-day lives unless we regularly take the time to stop and reflect on where we have been and how far we have come.

vs 72: "the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them" - The Lord indeed does labor with us and at our sides when we are engaged in His work. What greater help and companion could we hope for than the Lord Himself?

Hear Him

How do I "Hear Him"?

I hear Him when I read from the "best books." When the words of others come from the pages and into my heart. When the author's words become His, speaking to me.

That is how I hear Him.

I hear Him in sacred music. It's beauty brings peace to my heart and I hear Him saying "Be still."

That is how I hear Him.

I hear Him when I am with family. When I am surrounded by the laughter, smiles, and companionship of loved ones. I hear Him saying that the joy of family is everything.

That is how I hear Him.

I hear Him because of what my parents have taught me. The family lessons, the individual conversations, the heartfelt prayers. I hear Him because they showed me daily how to listen.

That is why I hear Him.

I hear Him in the temple. Its peace enfolds me. He enfolds me. That sacred space reaches in and touches all of me. I hear Him saying that this is truth, and truth eternal.

That is how I hear Him.

I hear Him when I obey. For what good is the hearing if we fail to act? And as I act, He speaks again and tells me to keep going.

That is how I hear Him.

I hear Him when I am surrounded by his creations. When the din and confusion of mankind and our manufactured world take a back seat to the grandeur and beauty of His. When I step past the buildings, the cars, and the artificial lights and step into the forests, the fields, and the rolling hills. I hear Him saying, "By My hand were these made."

That is how I hear Him.

I hear Him in my anguish. When the pain is more than I can bear. When I am broken and in despair. He soothes my aching soul, binds my broken heart, calms my troubled mind. I hear him saying, "I understand."

That is how I hear Him.