Personal Progress – Integrity Value Experience #2

March 7-8, 2016

Personal Progress – Integrity Value Experience #2

Conduct a self-assessment of your personal integrity. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I avoid gossip, inappropriate jokes, swearing and profanity, and being light-minded about sacred subjects? Am I completely truthful, morally clean, honest, dependable, and trustworthy in my schoolwork and other activities? Pray daily for strength and for the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help you live with integrity. Write in your journal the things you can do to improve your personal integrity and at least one new habit you want to develop.

To improve my personal integrity if I hear gossip I can stand up for that person and/or change the subject.  I will improve my integrity by not texting or checking email while driving.  I know this is dangerous.  I will also do better to be on time to appointments and things.  I know that when you are late it is as if you’re saying that your time is more valuable than another’s time.   The new habits I want to develop are to be a little early to appointments and things instead of always running late and to not text or check email while driving. 

Personal Progress – Integrity Value Experience #1

Started February 18, 2016

Finished March 3, 2016

Personal Progress – Integrity Value Experience #1

Integrity is the willingness and desire to live by our beliefs and standards. Read Moroni 10:30–33 and think about what it means to “deny yourselves of all ungodliness.” Read the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth. Reflect on how the Lord’s standards differ from the world’s standards. Record in your journal appropriate standards for behavior, dress, and conversation, as well as literature, movies, television, Internet, music, cell phones, and other media. Also write your plan to stay morally clean and worthy to attend the temple. After keeping your standards for at least one month, record your feelings in your journal and continue to keep your commitment.

Think about what it means to “deny yourselves of all ungodliness.”

I think “deny yourselves of all ungodliness” means that in all areas of our lives we try to do that which is good and holy.  We seek good entertainment, friends, books, music, environments, language, etc.  We will not be able to do this all at once.  Little by little we get better each day.  Today we are better than we were yesterday; tomorrow we will be better than we were today.  As we do this we develop integrity, the moral courage to make our actions consistent with our knowledge of right and wrong.  Until eventually, by the grace of God we become holy, without spot. (Moroni 10:30-33)

Reflect on how the Lord’s standards differ from the world’s standards.

The world doesn’t seem to have any set standards anymore.  It is more of an anything goes, do what feels good at the moment type of mentality.  There is rarely any teaching to develop self-control.  I know that I am a daughter of God and that he has standards for my happiness.  I know that I was created by Him in His image and that He knows who I am and what my mind and body needs to be happy and to help others be happy.  I know that wickedness never was happiness so I need to stay away from wickedness if I want to be happy.

Appropriate standards for:

• Behavior – Modest Behavior, avoid being extreme or inappropriately casual in behavior.
• Dress – It is important to dress in such a way that shows you know how precious your body is, to also show that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ and that you love Him.  Be well groomed--neat and clean and avoid being extreme or inappropriately casual in clothing, hairstyle and behavior.  Do not use special occasions as an excuse to be immodest.  Immodest clothing is any clothing that is tight, sheer, or revealing in any other manner.  Short shorts and skirts, shirts that do not cover the stomach and clothing that does not cover the shoulders or is low-cut in the front or the back should be avoided.
• Conversation—Use clean and intelligent language  for it is evidence of a bright and wholesome mind. Use Good language that uplifts, encourages, and compliments others invites the Spirit to be with you.  Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith, hope, and charity.  Choose friends who use good language. Help others improve their language by your example. Be willing to politely walk away or change the subject when those around you use inappropriate language.  Speak kindly and positively about others. Choose not to insult others or put them down, even in joking. Avoid gossip of any kind, and avoid speaking in anger. When you are tempted to say harsh or hurtful things, leave them unsaid.  Always use the names of God and Jesus Christ with reverence and respect. Do not use profane, vulgar, or crude language or gestures, and do not tell jokes or stories about immoral actions.  Remember that these standards for your use of language apply to all forms of communication, including texting on a cell phone or communicating on the Internet.  If you have developed the habit of using language that is not in keeping with these standards—such as swearing, mocking, gossiping, or speaking in anger to others—you can change. Pray for help. Ask your family and friends to support you in your desire to use good language.
• Literature, Movies, Television, Internet, Music, Cell phones and Other Media -- Select only media that uplifts you.  Do not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in anything that presents immorality or violence as acceptable.  Do not watch, listen to or read media that portrays what is wrong and evil to be normal, humorous, or exciting. Do not spend long periods of time using the Internet or a mobile device, playing video games, or watching television or other media because that can keep you from valuable interactions with other people. Be careful that your use of social media does not replace spending time with your family and friends.  Guard your safety and the safety of others by taking great care about what personal information and images you share through technology. Do not communicate anything over the Internet or through texting that would be inappropriate to share in person. Obey the laws that govern sharing music, movies, and other copyrighted items.

Also write your plan to stay morally clean and worthy to attend the temple.

I plan to stay morally clean by living the standards in the strength of youth pamphlet.  I also will do my best to keep my relationship with Chad strong and healthy and to be a good help meet for him. 

After keeping your standards for at least one month, record your feelings in your journal and continue to keep your commitment.

When I live with integrity–keeping my actions in harmony with my knowledge of right and wrong—I am happier, I have peace, I recognize the prompting of the Holy Ghost.

Personal Progress – Good Works Value Experience #3

February 12, 2016

Personal Progress – Good Works Value Experience #3

Read Mosiah 18:7–10, and in your journal list three ways you can comfort others or help them bear their burdens. Do the things on your list, and tell a family member or leader about the experience and how your attitude and understanding have changed.

·         Massage Bryant’s sinuses, head and neck since he has a headache and sinus trouble today.

·         Check in on Sharon Miller to see the results of her chest x-ray since she is dealing with some health challenges.

·         Go to Snowflake this weekend so we can be with my Mom over Valentine’s Day so she won’t feel quite as lonely without my Dad on Valentine’s Day.

February 16, 2016

When I massaged Bryant’s sinus, head and neck it helped me feel good that I could bring him a little relief from his sickness and I had hope that it would help break up the infection so he would get better faster.  It helped me care for him more and be more considerate of his condition.

When I checked in on Sharon I felt like I was a good friend and I hoped that by checking in on her she felt support through her burdens.  It helped me have a desire to be a good friend to more people.

It was a neat experience to be with my Mom on Valentine’s Day.  As I was there trying to help her feel less lonely, I was able to witness service and companionship that my family members do for her on a regular basis and on special days too.  It helped me want to do more for her even though I do not live close by.  I will have to think about good things that I can do for her.

Personal Progress - Good Works Value Experience #1

Started - January 26, 2016

Finished - February 11, 2016

Personal Progress - Good Works Value Experiences 1

Learn why service is a fundamental principle of the gospel. Read Matthew 5:13–16; 25:34–40; Galatians 6:9–10; James 1:22–27; Mosiah 2:17; 4:26; and 3 Nephi 13:1–4. Others often give service you may not notice, such as preparing meals, reading to or listening to younger children, repairing clothing, or helping a brother or sister. For two weeks record in your journal the quiet acts of service your family members and others perform. Acknowledge their service in some meaningful way.

Why service is a fundamental principle of the gospel

As we let our lights shine by doing good things for others it brings glory to Heavenly Father.  (Matthew 5:13-16)

When we serve others we serve God.  (Matthew 25:34-40)

We should not get weary of serving others and doing good things to them.  We will reap the good things that we do if we don’t give up.  We should do good unto others every time we have the opportunity, especially to those of faith.  (Galatians 6:9-10)

It is not enough to hear the word of God we must do it.  Pure religion is serving and visiting others. (James 1:22-27)

We have wisdom when we learn that when we are in the service of our fellow being that we are in the service of our God. (Mosiah 2:17)

Serving others—“ imparting of our substance to the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants”— allows us to retain a remission of our sins. (Mosiah 4:26)

It is important to serve others without desire to be seen or them or for recognition.  Service should be done anonymously if possible.  Those who tell everyone of the service they have done are hypocrites and their reward is the glory of men.  Those who serve in secret are rewarded openly by Heavenly Father who seeth in secret. (3 Nephi 13:1-4)

Quiet acts of service I’ve seen family members and others perform:

• Tilly took her siblings clothes baskets to their room for them while they were at school.
• Mothers (or maybe fathers or other caregivers) brought choir uniforms to their children at BFHS when they forgot their uniforms for choir pictures.
• Andrea Taylor gave me a heads up this morning, Jan. 26^th, that the parents of 11 year old YW who are turning 12 this year did not get notified that new beginnings was changed from today, Jan. 26^th, to Feb. 10^th.  That allowed me time to apologize and to let everyone know of the change well before they went down to the church.
• Tim Reed offered, without me asking, to pick up all the laurel’s tickets for the ASU family devotional with Elder Andersen while he was picking up the priest’s tickets and he delivered them to my house.  This helped me SO much not to have to go down to Tempe to pick them up on such a busy day.
• Karalee opened the front door for Spencer to signal to the carpool that Spencer would be out in a little while.
• Karalee got Tilly’s boots from out in the yard and brought them in the house.
• Shon forwarded Molly’s missionary letter to me and other family members and friends.
• Doug forwarded Lindsay’s missionary letter to me and other family members.
• Chad and the kids, Devin and family and Anna and Tyler helped Heather move.
• Brenda had Grammy days for Tilly and her cousins her age.
• Spencer babysat while I took Bryant to basketball practice.
• Several people cheered me on when I posted my resolve to lose weight on Facebook.
• Robert Skouson told me about a good supplement I should use to help regulate my hormones.
• Celeste helped me pick out which brand of supplement was a good brand.
• Karalee unlocked the door for Spencer so when he came home he wouldn’t have the ring the bell.
• Marlee and Tilly threw away my crochet scraps of yarn for me.
• Bryant brought me scissors while I was crocheting.
• Spencer brought me a drink of water while I was crocheting.
• Chad, Spencer and Bryant helped the Patterson’s move.
• Chad installed a new cord on Heather’s dryer.
• Mom and Shon wrote a letter to me and to the family.
• Theresa Schenck volunteered to take our ward’s laundry assignment at the temple.
• Jessica Carr, Brittany Call, Kathy Walker and Chelsea Snell offered to make a dessert for our upcoming Stake Relief Society activity.
• Bryant got all his sisters vitamins this morning.
• Tilly put Karalee’s scriptures away for her.
• Lindsey Bowen took Spencer to and from his game last night.
• Jenny Reed called and offered a ride to Karalee to activity days.
• Nicole Rudd had Jorsyn Taylor over to play with Emmie while her Mom was working.
• Marlee picked up Karalee’s sunglasses.
• Natalie Sandall offered to watch Tilly so I could go help in Marlee’s class.
• Spencer sat and listened and helped Marlee do her reading homework.
• Chad went out back and shot baskets with the boys and taught them skills and tips.
• Courtney Rae offered dinner to members in the ward when she made too much.
• Tilly helped clean up the older girl’s forts.
• Brenda wrote a letter updating us on her life.
• Mom wrote a letter to the family.
• Brenda emailed a great article.
• Karalee took Bryant’s scriptures to him at church when he forgot them.
• Marlee picked lemons so we could have lemonade with Sunday dinner.
• Spencer went to church early to set up chairs and prepare the sacrament.
• Marlee and Bryant went early with Spencer to help with the chairs and hymnbooks.
• Sherry Sedillo made arrows for New Beginnings decorations.
• The YW leaders planned, made cookies for, decorated and executed the new beginnings program for the young women.
• Jensen Bailey conducted the music for the closing song.
• Liv Wilcox accompanied the YW special number and the closing song.
• Jenny Reed let me borrow white table cloths for New Beginnings.
• Natalie Sandall, Kristie Kerr, and Kathy Walker shared a spiritual thought at new beginnings.
• Spencer prepares a come follow me lesson for our family each Monday morning, Chad prepares a come follow for the family every other morning before school.
• Tena Moore picked up after school sports carpool when it was my turn.

Meal Planning - Personal Progress – Good Works Value Experience #2

February 11, 2016

Personal Progress – Good Works Value Experience #2 

Service is an essential principle of family living. Help plan your family’s menus, obtain the food, and prepare part of the meals for two weeks. During that time help your family gather to share mealtimes. Report to your class what you have learned.

I have learned that in meal planning it is helpful to plan ahead.  I choose 5-8 dinners to shop for at a time.  In addition to that, I try to always keep things for breakfasts and lunches and quick, easy dinners on hand in my pantry.  When I have chosen my 5-8 dinners I make a list of things we will need to buy to make those dinners, I also add lunch items, breakfast items and fruits and veggies that we are running low on to the list.  Then about once a week, I go to the store and purchase those items.  Each morning I decide which of the meals on my list I will make for dinner that evening.  I make a mental note of how long it will take to make dinner and what activities we have going on that evening so I can try to do as much prep ahead of time as possible.  When I am cooking if I notice I am running low on spices or condiments I put that on my shopping list right away so I won’t forget to buy more.  I try to do this with cleaning supplies as I am cleaning and every other type of household good too.  In addition to that, I try to keep at least two of each spice, canned food, cleaning supply, etc. on hand at all times and then when the one I am using runs out I have a backup on hand and then I replace the backup right away.  (I’m not sure if that makes sense, but I don’t know how to explain it better.)  Planning ahead makes things go much more smoothly.  It helps my life go better because dinner becomes less of a hassle...most of the time anyway.  If I'm able to keep food, fruits and veggies, and snacks on hand I don't hear my kids grumble about be "starving" quite as often. ;)  Sometimes I love cooking, sometimes I don't love it, but I feel it is a necessary skill when raising a family.

Personal Progress – Knowledge Value Experience 2

Started January 19, 2016
Finished 1-21-16

Personal Progress – Knowledge Value Experience 2

In your journal list talents you have and others you would like to develop. Read Matthew 25:14–30. Learn a new skill or talent that will help you care for your own future family or home (for example, playing the piano, singing, budgeting, time management, cooking, sewing, or child care). Share with your family, class, or Young Women leader what you have learned.

My talents are:

·         Playing the Piano

·         Organization

·         Playing the Organ

·         Good choir voice

·         Playing the violin and viola

·         Volleyball

·         Basketball

·         Understanding

·         A good listener

·         Good at keeping confidences

·         Budgeting

·         Saving money

·         Cooking

·         Baking

·         Diligent at reading scriptures

·         Diligent at exercising

·         Multi-tasking

Talents I would like to develop:

·         Staying calm and not yelling at my children

·         Crocheting

·         Being more reserved

·         Missionary

·         Patience

·         Charity

·         Better manners

A new talent I am learning that will help me care for my future family is crochet. I will continue to practice so when I am a grandma I can make beautiful baby blankets for my grand babies like my mom made for her grand babies.

Grandpa Sanders' biography

Chad's cousin shared this biography of Grandpa Vearl Sanders on Facebook.  It's wonderful.