post 10

This week is thanksgiving and so I’m trying to get everything done early so that I can spend time with my family. In class we read some stories about people having to choose between work and family. It caught me off guard, because here I am trying to rush through my important schoolwork. Sometimes I think that we have to just do the best that we can with what we have. Most of the time, I will stop doing schoolwork when the kids come down or need an extra kiss goodnight. This week I have just sent them back to bed. Not that one choice is right and the other is wrong, I think it is just what we need right now. One of the stories was about a dad that had an emergency at work and had to choose between his attending his daughter’s recital and handling the emergency. I’m sure that, just like me, the dad would rather be spending time with his children but has some things that need to get done first. By getting my work done now, the rest of the week can be focused on family. If I wait, I will worry about getting it done and turned in on time. Family is still my first priority, and by getting this done now, I will be able to completely focus on them when it matters.

§  What is your attitude toward money?

My attitude is that it’s a means to an end. I don’t want it to show off, I just want to pay off loans and have what we need. I think that I am more like the author than the sister in that I also think it’s important to keep track of it and have plans for it.

§  How can your view of money affect the way you live?

If I loved money than I may give up important things to have it. As it is, I don’t always see things as a need when others might see it as such. It’s hard to give to others when you are struggling to provide for yourself and family.

§  What rules are recommended for prospering?

§  Rule 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him

§   Rule 2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings.

§  Rule 3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant.

§   Rule 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters. Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, is the Key to Opportunity.

§   Rule 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated.

§  Rule 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held captive.

week 9

I have to admit that it was really hard to stay focused on the readings this week. With each paragraph that I read, I thought of different things that I could do to improve family businesses or start my own. I'm not sure that was the point of the readings, but I saw how, with a little push, some of these small dwindling businesses could grow again if they wanted to. It's really quite exciting to think about.
Being able to interview an entrepreneur this week was a very special opportunity. I interviewed a dear friends father, who happens to be a very successful lawyer and businessman. He has always been so humble and down to earth that i hadn't known that just how successful is has been. Lots of awards and honors, as well as, published articles and interviews. I had only discovered these things about him because I googled his name. He didn't mention them in the interview, but since I had just discovered them, it made me quite a bit more nervous about doing the interview. He talked about the best part of his job was helping people. Especially being able to help the young children that were hurt through no fault of their own. Throughout the interview, I realized that although he was well off, it wasn't about the money. He enjoyed his job. He is also a very religious person and I noticed that family aways stayed as his top priority. I think that, because he kept his priorities in the correct order, he was very blessed.
This man was a great example of how to be successful, without allowing the success to rule your life. He was humble, helpful and very encouraging to me in going back to school with a family. I hope that I can always keep my priorities in order and have a great attitude as he has.

week 8

As I read this weeks lesson, I was very impressed by an article titled “A Message to Garcia”.  It talks about being the person with the ability to execute. This is very true since companies aren’t looking to hire people who are unwilling to take some initiative and do the work. The article says that we are in a world of underachievers who, for whatever reason, are unwilling to put in the work. He points out the “imbecility of the average man” that can’t accept a task without asking a bunch of questions that could be found by simply doing the task. As I read through it, I found myself wanting to be the one that can execute. I want to be the one that people can turn to when they need things done. We all have the desire to be great and important, but not very many are willing to put forth the effort that it would take to get there.

 Another article talked about going from good to great. I think that this goes along with the other article in that for these things to happen, we have to put in the effort. I’m not completely sure that I have what it takes to be great, but I do have the desire to be. Maybe with this new knowledge and a renewed effort and sense of purpose it can happen for me.

week 7

This week’s lesson was on overcoming challenges. This was a good lesson for me this week. It has been a rough week without having a husband home and five children to manage. I have felt huge frustrations as I have tried to get things ready to move and still keep a reasonable looking house. But as I have read through these trials of others, I realize that my trials aren’t so bad. I have support  and lots of hugs and kisses. I have wonderful children that are very supportive and helpful.I also know that we will have struggles that will come up but as Elder Holland said, we have to hang in there and not give up. I do have a vision of what life will be like in our new place. It won’t be easy, but I think that we can do it. Taylor Richards pointed out that with the Lord, anything is possible. Elder Holland told the story about the early Saints building the Salt Lake Temple. I think that we can all relate our lives to that temple. It is slow going and sometimes it seems like no progress is being made. There may also come hard times where we have to cover it and have distractions that draw us away from our goal. But after the sweat, blood, and tears are put into it, it will be finished and we will be able to be that beautiful person that God sent us here to become. So I may not like staying up late to do school work right now, but tomorrow when I have time to spend with my family, I will appreciate not having to worry about getting homework done.