Ponderable

A couple weeks ago PJ and I headed down to SLO for the weekend. It was tons of fun and I loved catching up with so many dear friends! I truly miss them more than I can communicate it.

While we were there, some interesting topics came up in discussion that have been on my mind. One in particular was giving to the Homeless. You may be thinking "random court?" but there are a crazy amount of homeless people in SLO. They have really good services there and think they may actually attract more people there because of it.

So while we were getting sandwiches on Sunday my dear friend brought up her struggle with giving and wanting to be Christ like but not knowing what exactly she should do about it. She said she had come to the conclusion that she should at least treat everyone like a son or daughter of God in attitude by not shying away when she wasn't going to give. I agreed with her that yes we do need to be smiling and warm to the homeless but I had been reading with PJ in Mosaih in the Book of Mormon just a few months ago and this verse had literally been playing in my head.

Mosaih 4:16 "And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish."

I don't know about you but I have made and heard so many excuses not to give. Number one on the list being "I would give them money but I know what they will spend it on and I don't want to support that" After thinking and praying about it I have felt a sense of guilt over this thought. No where in the Bible or the Book of Mormon does it say give only when you know their intentions or only things they can't turn into money for drugs.

Sure, if I can be prepared with granola bars or things like that they are great to give but if not I don't think I should turn away my "succor."If I am thinking about it in terms of Matthew who am I to look at his mote of affliction. I should be focused on my beam of being unwilling to share and forget the judgement in the rest.

I think that's my conclusion I need to be more giving and focus on that part of it. At least that's my resolution.

A Get Away

We are hitting the road this afternoon! I am so excited to be heading back to SLO I can hardly stand it. It is so beautiful and I am giddy at the thought of a weekend there!!! Can't wait to give ya'll a recap on our return.

Q&A

My beloved sister tagged me in a post over here  and it seemed like a perfect way to get back in the posting game over here. You see I have been spending a fair amount of time creating and blogging about it over here and kind of got off track posting about us.  So not only is this great to get me back to this blog but it also will get me in the mood for this journal I just bought.

It has a question for each day and a space for 5 years of recording. I'm so excited to see how my answers change and stay the same! Now for the 11 questions to get me prepared! 

1. Blogging.Why?

I started blogging as a way to keep a nice record of my/our life. I loved reading all of my friends blogs. I am notoriously bad at calling people but a blog is a sort of mass shout out of "hey we did this" and "how about you". More recently though it has been a way to track productivity. I'm not ashamed to say that I have been unreasonably bummed at times over my sporadic job situation this year. Starting the craft blog for me was a way to say hey Courtney your working on some skills this time isn't waisted. 

2.If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

This one is a tough one... I dunno I try really hard to be comfortable and confident with who I am but I would like to be less concerned with small things. I have a tendency to worry too much about the little bumps that don't really matter in the grand scheme and i would like to get over that. 

3.Chocolate or Vanilla? Think about it.

If we are talking ice cream I am a vanilla but other than that I'm a Chocolate girl. I practically have the entire Sees stock memorized by appearance (and personally rated by awesomeness).

4. Your favorite movie genre?

I am a sucker for romantic comedies and musicals so this one is a bit tough. If pressed I would invent my own genre called romantic musicals! It would feature such movies as Enchanted, Hairspray, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (A guilty pleasure of mine from my childhood).

5.What/Who inspires you?

The list is sooooo long. But I would have to say My mom. It may sound cheesy but she is a strong pillar in our family.  She was always so honest with us about everything. I never had to wonder or question about her reasoning. I knew when she gave me advice that she had the experience to back it up, even if she wasn't too proud of it.  She has always thought for her self and has gained one of the most beautiful and moving testimonies. I aspire to be like her in soooo many ways.

 6. The greatest lesson you have learned in the last year?

Never underestimate the trial of PATIENCE. It is easy to feel lost when all you are asked to do is wait. I need the faith to be able to withstand whatever time the Lord needs me too and understand it's not all on my perfect plan timeline. 

7.Gun to your head.Have you pick just one.favorite movie? Just one.

Easy! PRIDE AND PREJUDICE! and not the new one the old (I have it on 6 VHS tapes) one. It is magnificent. I never get tired of the story and interesting medley of characters. I watch it every time I'm sick, packing, sad, or really anytime Peej will tolerate!

8. Where do you see yourself if five years?

O goodness, considering #6 I've decided I really don't know anything. However, if i'm hoping ... I'll be 28 and Peej will be 31. I will have taught for 2 or 3 years and quit to have a baby. We may have another or one on the way. We will be living locally or in Peru or Spain. We will hopefully be looking into buying a house in the bay no matter where we are. 

9. Dream travel spot?

Right now I really want to explore more of Europe. We LOVED our trip there last summer and I am dying to go back and to new locations. I think Ireland is at the top of my list. I have always wanted to go and we hope to couple a trip their with one to Norway and Denmark some day as a mini heritage trip. We also have Madrid, Morocco, Portugal, Verona, Peru, and really anywhere else we can afford to!

One off the bucket list!

10. Random fact about yourself?

When PJ is out of town on Business trips I sleep with a Maglight next to me just incase I hear a scary noise or need to beat up an intruder. I know its weird and paranoid but it truly makes me feel safer and I know it could be an effective weapon because I saw it on an episode of murder she wrote :)

11.Favorite way to relax?

Well I wish I could end up on a beach somewhere every time I wanted to relax (one reason I really miss SLO). Most of the time though, my relaxation looks like me in PJ's sweats, watching a movie I've seem a million times, eating Dryers peanut butter cup chocolate ice cream.