Regrets and Resolutions

Wow how sad, I haven't blogged in over a year!

                 Well I was inspired by our lesson on Sunday. It was on the General Conference talk Of Regrets and Resolutions by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. It got me thinking and I must say the one thing that I have regret in my life is not publicly sharing my testimony on a regular basis. For one I guess I just assume people know that I have a strong testimony in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which may not always be true. Second my testimony is so sacred and special to me that I have a hard time opening myself up to the possibility of criticism for my belief in something that is so sacred to me. Third I really don't feel comfortable as the center of attention without a lot of mental preparation first. However I have learned recently that it is not good to assume, it doesn't matter if people criticize me, and sometime it is more important to share the message then to feel comfortable all the time.

So there is my regret. Here is my remedy.
                     I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family, amazing husband, beautiful children and great supportive friends. I know that everything I have is a direct gift from my Heavenly Father. I know that he knows me personally and that he celebrates my joy and grieves for my sorrow. I have been going through some rough times in my family recently and I have never felt closer to my Heavenly Father. I have gone to him for the most random and very specific answers and have been given great inspiration and support. I could not have made it through these tough times with my testimony intact if it were not for the help and guidance from my Heavenly Father, or the support from the wonderful people that he has placed in my life. Our children are the greatest blessings that we have received in our family. Unfortunately I have gotten very overwhelmed lately which in turn has resulted in a "short fuse" with the kids. A wise man described it this way; it's like we're carrying a stick on our shoulders with a bucket on each end. One bucket is the Logistics of Life bucket the other is the Replenishment bucket Most of the time we are SO worried and get caught up in the logistics of our every day lives that we forget to replenish ourselves and those around us with encouraging thoughts and supportive feelings. Things get off balance, and we can lose our grip. I realized how true this principle is when I was on vacation a few weeks ago.
                   My children were with me visiting my parents and family, my daughter could not find something valuable to her. I was hustling and bustling to get things cleaned up and focused on the logistics of every day life. I turned around and found my dad teaching my 3 year old daughter that when she has lost something of value to her, and needs to find it, she can kneel down and pray for help and guidance from Heavenly Father, because as she so sweetly puts it, "Heavenly Father knows everything so he knows where my things are.". Within 5 minutes she had found her lost item and was so pleased she could hardly stand it. My dad then continued his lesson by telling her that once she has received the help from Heavenly Father that she asked for, she needed to also kneel down and pray thanking Heavenly Father for the help he has given. Since then she has lost a couple of things and every time she does she reminds me that "Heavenly Father knows where it is, lets say a prayer." So we do, and she finds what was lost, then she gets down on her knees and thanks Heavenly Father for the help she has been given.
                   What a truly humbling and (replenishing) experience. I was so caught up in the logistics of life that I forgot to take time to replenish my little girls spirit when she needed it. Thankfully I was around family that is ready and willing to step in when I have dropped the ball on such matters. It is an experience that I hope I don't soon forget, because I don't want to lose out on the opportunity to teach and replenish the little spirits that have been entrusted to my care. What a truly great blessing it is to be able to go to church every week and be spiritually uplifted and replenished. I have a testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that he is the Savior of the world. I have a testimony that things happen for a reason and that through inspiration we can know the lessons Heavenly Father is trying to teach us. I have a testimony that people are put into our lives at specific times, for a reason, to help us through times of trial and heartache. I have a testimony of eternal perspective, and living so that we are open to the inspiration that someone needs replenishing. I pray that I can continually learn, grow and be humble and open to the things my Heavenly Father needs me to know. I have a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.