I was looking through all the old blog post I have that I never finished/posted, and I found this one. I wrote this post last May, and I have no clue why I never posted it... I thought I would post it, and I didn't change anything from the way it was a year ago. :)
****************
Right now, [one] of the books I am reading is The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is one of my favorite books ever, and this is the 7th or 8th time I have read it since I was 11. I just love it! I just now realized that my title for this post has a double meaning: I am always tempted to read LotRs and other similar books during the school year so I can concentrate more on schoolwork, but I have obviously been failing! (You only need to look at the list of books I read last fall to see why:) Anyway, that is not why I am calling this post that, but it is another very good reason. I am calling it "Temptations" because of a quote I found a few minutes ago while reading. One of the characters (Frodo) is talking to another character (Strider) about the enemy and his spies and servants. He says "I think one of his spies would--well, seem fairer and feel fouler, if you understand." I like how he says "Seem fairer and feel fouler". It is exactly how Satan works, he makes things seem "fair" or desirable, but he can't totally cover up the fact that they feel "foul" or wrong. You could compare it to candy. (not necessarily Satan and candy, but just as an example) Imagine you are walking through your house on a normal afternoon, and there on the table in front of you is-your favorite kind of candy ever. Be it Skittles, Snickers, Jelly Beans, what ever is your favorite. It is up for grabs, and you see it and it looks "fair"; as in you really, really, really want to take and eat it. But, if you really think about it, you might remember all of the sugar and food coloring and other bad stuff in it. It might feel rather "foul" to your mind if you think about it and all of the bad things in it, no matter how good it looks. After the part I shared from the book, it continues with the other character saying "I look foul and feel fair. Is that it?" For this, you could make a comparison between candy and "green" green smoothies. I won't call green smoothies "foul, because there not, but I must say that when they are literally "green" green smoothies, the candy looks a lot better. But once again, green smoothies don't always look to gorgeous on the outside, but you know that in side them there is "fair" or good things. I am certainly not saying don't eat candy, I love candy, but maybe next time you are making decision about something like this you can decide whether whatever it is is "foul or fair" on the inside, not on the outside.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Another Talk...
Today was ward conference, and I gave a talk in it. Does that sound familiar? Well, last year I gave a talk at ward conference as well. This year, I was less nervous, and I think that is because I was well prepared (preparation, what a novel concept!) I was asked to speak two weeks ago, and my talk was basically finished on Thursday. I did do one thing that I should not have done as far as speaking, and that is... I read my talk. The whole thing. Everything but my testimony was down on paper. Every word. Horrible, I know. I just REALLY wanted to read it. Usually when I give presentations (I'm giving one in class this week) I use note cards, and I actually look at the audience. I have noticed when I give the Spiritual Thought in Young Woman’s, people look uncomfortable when I look them in the eyes, since so often people avoid eye contact when speaking. When I'm speaking in a smaller group, I am totally ok with looking people in the eyes, speaking directly to them, using note cards, etc. But not in front of the whole congregation. But still, I was much less nervous then I was last year. I know this because I did not lock my knees the whole time I was speaking. That's probably an improvement. I did start shaking when a few people laughed at one of my stories, though. I think that's because their laughter reminded me people were actually listening to me. I had put the audience out of my mind while speaking, which wasn't that hard since I couldn't see them. I was looking down. At my paper. Which I should not have been doing. To make amends, I will use note cards and look up as much as possible during my presentation on Thursday. Its on "Water Rights." Doesn't that sound exciting?!? Anyway, here is my talk if you would like to read it. It was actually pretty fun to write, since I didn't procrastinate. (Not procrastinating, another novel concept) Oh, and just because it was fun to write does not mean I would like to speak in church again anytime soon. I would be happy to take a loooooonng break. (that's what I said last year)
Here's my talk!
Mosiah chapter 2 verse 17, says;
“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”
When we serve others, we are serving God. I am sure you have heard that said many times before, but, have you ever really thought about it? When we serve other people who are friends, strangers, anybody, we are literally serving God. Service can be thought of in many different ways. But really service can be anything; it just has to done for the right reason. In Matthew, chapter 25 verse 40, it says.
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
This scripture means that it doesn’t matter who it is that you’re serving, you are still serving God. I think it also means even if you don’t think anybody noticed a quiet act of service you gave, God still knows what you did and is thankful for it. There are also many kinds of service. Sometimes you might not think of something as service, but really it is. A few years ago I was taking some classes for school that I really enjoyed. I noticed that one of the kids was very shy and usually alone without any friends. I decided to try talking to them and be nice and try to be there friend. That was almost four years ago, and now they are one of my best friends. That may not seem like service, but in a way it was. I think that can be compared to the scripture, because when we are kind to people that others might treat as “less” because they are shy or different, we are serving God.
In the October 2008 Priesthood Session of General Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a talk entitled “Lift Where You Stand.” In this talk, he told a story about service that I enjoyed. The story is about a man named John Moyle who had joined the church in England and traveled west with a handcart company. He had built the home for his family in a small town that was a valley away from Salt Lake City. John was an excellent stone cutter, and he was asked to work on the Salt Lake temple because of that. Every Monday morning, John would leave his home at 2am, then he would stay in Salt Lake City working on the temple until Friday evening when he would walk home. He would usually not get home till after midnight on Friday, and he did this for years. President Uchtdorf goes on to say:
“One day, while he was doing his chores at home, a cow kicked him in the leg, causing a compound fracture. With limited medical resources, the only option was to amputate the broken leg. So John’s family and friends strapped him onto a door and, with a bucksaw, cut off his leg a few inches from the knee. In spite of the crude surgery, the leg started to heal. Once John could sit up in bed, he began carving a wooden leg with an ingenious joint that served as an ankle to an artificial foot. Walking on this device was extremely painful, but John did not give up, building up his endurance until he could make the 22-mile journey to the Salt Lake Temple each week, where he continued his work.
His hands carved the words “Holiness to the Lord” that stand today as a golden marker to all who visit the Salt Lake Temple.
John did not do this for the praise of man. Neither did he shirk his duty, even though he had every reason to do so. He knew what the Lord expected him to do.
Years later, John’s grandson Henry D. Moyle was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and, eventually, served in the First Presidency of the Church. President Moyle’s service in these callings was honorable, but his grandfather John’s service, though somewhat less public, is just as pleasing to the Lord. John’s character, his legacy of sacrifice, serves as a banner of faithfulness and an ensign of duty to his family and to the Church.”
I think this story is a good example of how service is service, no matter how public or private it is. God appreciates any service we give to others, so long as we do it for the right reason. If we are doing it to make ourselves look better than others, or because we are prideful, that is not really service since we are doing it for ourselves. True, heart-felt service is what God really wants us to do.
My family has benefited from the service of others many, many times, especially from this ward. Last month, my family was sick. Many members of the ward, and a friend from another ward brought us dinner over the course of the week we were sick. That was service because they were helping us in a time of need. A few years ago, everyone in my family had the flu. We hadn’t been to the store in a long time since we were so sick, and we were having a difficult time. It was also around Halloween, but we had been too sick to go Trick-or-Treating and my siblings and I had all been sad about that. Sister Harris knew we were sick, so she brought us over some yummy food, and some of our favorite kinds of Halloween candy. When she found out that we hadn’t gone trick-or-treating, she had each of her children “donate” 3 pieces of their favorite candy, plus some of their other candy to give to us. Even though we didn’t trick-or-treat, that is probably one of the most memorable Halloweens for me because of the service of the Harris family.
I am thankful for the service in my life, both the opportunity to give it and when I receive it. I know that when we serve others we are serving God and we will be blest for it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
I hope you enjoyed my talk! Thanks for reading it, let me know what you think! :)
Here's my talk!
Mosiah chapter 2 verse 17, says;
“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”
When we serve others, we are serving God. I am sure you have heard that said many times before, but, have you ever really thought about it? When we serve other people who are friends, strangers, anybody, we are literally serving God. Service can be thought of in many different ways. But really service can be anything; it just has to done for the right reason. In Matthew, chapter 25 verse 40, it says.
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
This scripture means that it doesn’t matter who it is that you’re serving, you are still serving God. I think it also means even if you don’t think anybody noticed a quiet act of service you gave, God still knows what you did and is thankful for it. There are also many kinds of service. Sometimes you might not think of something as service, but really it is. A few years ago I was taking some classes for school that I really enjoyed. I noticed that one of the kids was very shy and usually alone without any friends. I decided to try talking to them and be nice and try to be there friend. That was almost four years ago, and now they are one of my best friends. That may not seem like service, but in a way it was. I think that can be compared to the scripture, because when we are kind to people that others might treat as “less” because they are shy or different, we are serving God.
In the October 2008 Priesthood Session of General Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a talk entitled “Lift Where You Stand.” In this talk, he told a story about service that I enjoyed. The story is about a man named John Moyle who had joined the church in England and traveled west with a handcart company. He had built the home for his family in a small town that was a valley away from Salt Lake City. John was an excellent stone cutter, and he was asked to work on the Salt Lake temple because of that. Every Monday morning, John would leave his home at 2am, then he would stay in Salt Lake City working on the temple until Friday evening when he would walk home. He would usually not get home till after midnight on Friday, and he did this for years. President Uchtdorf goes on to say:
“One day, while he was doing his chores at home, a cow kicked him in the leg, causing a compound fracture. With limited medical resources, the only option was to amputate the broken leg. So John’s family and friends strapped him onto a door and, with a bucksaw, cut off his leg a few inches from the knee. In spite of the crude surgery, the leg started to heal. Once John could sit up in bed, he began carving a wooden leg with an ingenious joint that served as an ankle to an artificial foot. Walking on this device was extremely painful, but John did not give up, building up his endurance until he could make the 22-mile journey to the Salt Lake Temple each week, where he continued his work.
His hands carved the words “Holiness to the Lord” that stand today as a golden marker to all who visit the Salt Lake Temple.
John did not do this for the praise of man. Neither did he shirk his duty, even though he had every reason to do so. He knew what the Lord expected him to do.
Years later, John’s grandson Henry D. Moyle was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and, eventually, served in the First Presidency of the Church. President Moyle’s service in these callings was honorable, but his grandfather John’s service, though somewhat less public, is just as pleasing to the Lord. John’s character, his legacy of sacrifice, serves as a banner of faithfulness and an ensign of duty to his family and to the Church.”
I think this story is a good example of how service is service, no matter how public or private it is. God appreciates any service we give to others, so long as we do it for the right reason. If we are doing it to make ourselves look better than others, or because we are prideful, that is not really service since we are doing it for ourselves. True, heart-felt service is what God really wants us to do.
My family has benefited from the service of others many, many times, especially from this ward. Last month, my family was sick. Many members of the ward, and a friend from another ward brought us dinner over the course of the week we were sick. That was service because they were helping us in a time of need. A few years ago, everyone in my family had the flu. We hadn’t been to the store in a long time since we were so sick, and we were having a difficult time. It was also around Halloween, but we had been too sick to go Trick-or-Treating and my siblings and I had all been sad about that. Sister Harris knew we were sick, so she brought us over some yummy food, and some of our favorite kinds of Halloween candy. When she found out that we hadn’t gone trick-or-treating, she had each of her children “donate” 3 pieces of their favorite candy, plus some of their other candy to give to us. Even though we didn’t trick-or-treat, that is probably one of the most memorable Halloweens for me because of the service of the Harris family.
I am thankful for the service in my life, both the opportunity to give it and when I receive it. I know that when we serve others we are serving God and we will be blest for it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
I hope you enjoyed my talk! Thanks for reading it, let me know what you think! :)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Dear Orlando.
Dear Orlando,
I appreciate you for catching the mouse, and I am proud of you for bringing it in the house. I know this was your first catch, and it is very exciting for you. I also know it catching the mouse was probably extra hard because it is raining right now. I am glad you caught the mouse, that's what cats are supposed to do. But Orlando, Orlando, Orlando. Did you have to lose it? In the house????? Bringing it into the house is one thing, but loosing it in the house is another. The Bathroom was a good place to bring it, burring it in a towel was a good thing to do, but dear, dear, Orlando, you need to KILL IT DEAD before you do that. Because now its gone. And even when we were looking together, Tikka, Molly, and I couldn't find it. I know Molly never hunts anything and make life harder for Tikka whenever Tikka goes hunting, and Tikka was too Closter phobic in that small bathroom to do anything helpful. But where is the mouse? It would be appreciative if you would get out of the toy basket and find it.
Love, your mother Larkin, who loves you and wants you to find that mouse before it dies in wall.
Hopefully you don't mind reading my letter to my cat, I thought you might find it funny. And giving Orlando some advice on how to catch that mouse might be helpfull for him. :)
I appreciate you for catching the mouse, and I am proud of you for bringing it in the house. I know this was your first catch, and it is very exciting for you. I also know it catching the mouse was probably extra hard because it is raining right now. I am glad you caught the mouse, that's what cats are supposed to do. But Orlando, Orlando, Orlando. Did you have to lose it? In the house????? Bringing it into the house is one thing, but loosing it in the house is another. The Bathroom was a good place to bring it, burring it in a towel was a good thing to do, but dear, dear, Orlando, you need to KILL IT DEAD before you do that. Because now its gone. And even when we were looking together, Tikka, Molly, and I couldn't find it. I know Molly never hunts anything and make life harder for Tikka whenever Tikka goes hunting, and Tikka was too Closter phobic in that small bathroom to do anything helpful. But where is the mouse? It would be appreciative if you would get out of the toy basket and find it.
Love, your mother Larkin, who loves you and wants you to find that mouse before it dies in wall.
Hopefully you don't mind reading my letter to my cat, I thought you might find it funny. And giving Orlando some advice on how to catch that mouse might be helpfull for him. :)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Quotes~
On my side bar, I have a bunch of quotes, but it is really crowded, so I will post all of my old quotes and start putting some new ones up :)
"Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people."— Eleanor Roosevelt
"I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday" — Eleanor Roosevelt
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself. " —Eleanor Roosevelt
"It is not our abilities that show who we truly are, but our choices."-- Professor Dumbledore- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Smart people learn from there mistakes, but the real sharp people learn from the mistakes of others. --
Fablehaven
Not everything is a good experience, but that doesn't mean it's bad.
"Of course it is all hapening in your head, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"--
Professor Dumbledore- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."— Albert Einstein
"Some people say, 'I can't afford to pay tithing.' Those who place their faith in the Lord's promises say, 'I can't afford not to pay tithing.' "
-Dallin H. Oaks
“We’ll never survive”-Buttercup
“Nonsense, your only saying that because no one ever has”-Wesley
-The Princess Bride
The world is like a puzzle and all the people are puzzles pieces. Each one is different, but all have a place in the world
-Libby Cabrera
A sword is only as good as the person who holds it.
Sometimes as people, we become so obsessed with filling an image that other people have made for us, that we forget the most important thing, be yourself. I’m not saying, that if you make a mistake you shouldn’t try and be “Okay” with it… I’m saying strive to be all you can be. You are a great person, who has awesome skills at smiling and making others feel special, don’t put up an act because that is being a “second rate version of someone else”. Only you are good at being you.
-Sofi Cabrera
FRIENDS: Will bail you out of jail. BEST FRIENDS: Will be in the cell next to you saying, “That was awesome! Let’s do it again!”
The future is as bright as your faith."
Thomas S. Monson
~Larkin
"Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people."— Eleanor Roosevelt
"I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday" — Eleanor Roosevelt
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself. " —Eleanor Roosevelt
"It is not our abilities that show who we truly are, but our choices."-- Professor Dumbledore- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Smart people learn from there mistakes, but the real sharp people learn from the mistakes of others. --
Fablehaven
Not everything is a good experience, but that doesn't mean it's bad.
"Of course it is all hapening in your head, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"--
Professor Dumbledore- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."— Albert Einstein
"Some people say, 'I can't afford to pay tithing.' Those who place their faith in the Lord's promises say, 'I can't afford not to pay tithing.' "
-Dallin H. Oaks
“We’ll never survive”-Buttercup
“Nonsense, your only saying that because no one ever has”-Wesley
-The Princess Bride
The world is like a puzzle and all the people are puzzles pieces. Each one is different, but all have a place in the world
-Libby Cabrera
A sword is only as good as the person who holds it.
Sometimes as people, we become so obsessed with filling an image that other people have made for us, that we forget the most important thing, be yourself. I’m not saying, that if you make a mistake you shouldn’t try and be “Okay” with it… I’m saying strive to be all you can be. You are a great person, who has awesome skills at smiling and making others feel special, don’t put up an act because that is being a “second rate version of someone else”. Only you are good at being you.
-Sofi Cabrera
FRIENDS: Will bail you out of jail. BEST FRIENDS: Will be in the cell next to you saying, “That was awesome! Let’s do it again!”
The future is as bright as your faith."
Thomas S. Monson
~Larkin
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
No more Ella the Cat...
The title of this post sounds very depressing. It is because, while we no longer have Ella the cat, we have Orlando the cat. Yes, my cat is a boy, and we thought it was a girl... Funny how that goes sometimes.... :) The poor kitty's first name came from Cinderella, since "she" was all black like cinders, and I liked the name Ella. Orlando comes from a Shakespeare play I was in, called As You Like It. The first time I read the play, it was for class, and I really liked the name Orlando right off. After reading the play, you also can see that the character Orlando is a really good (and extremely funny) person. After I was in the play, I decided that someday I would own a black cat and name him Orlando. Well, I got my wish! I think the name fits my cat well, maybe someday he will respond to it, he never come when I called him Ella!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Books Read in 2010
Looking back on 2010, I guess I read a lot more then I though I did! I read a lot of books I liked, and some I did not really like, and a few I hated. But mostly, I liked almost every book I read! I read 41 books in 2010, and for all but 6 of them, it was my first time ever reading them.
For School:
Across Five Aprils
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Amazing Grace of Freedom
Uncle Toms Cabin (I listened to it, not read it though)
Romeo and Juliet
As You Like It
Macbeth
A book on Abraham Lincoln
Tartuffe
Oedipus Rex
King Lear
A Man For All Seasons
The Phantom Tollbooth
String, Straightedge, and Shadow
Carry On Mister Bowditch
For Book Clubs:
The Chosen
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
The Swiss Family Robinson
Series of Books:
Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident
Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code
Artemis Fowl Opal Deception
Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony
Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows1
The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse
Percy Jackson and the Battle in the Labyrinth
Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
Other Books I read for Fun:
Fablehaven 5
Peter and the Starcatchers
Under the Lilacs
D'aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
The Horse and his Boy
Here is my favorite book that I read this year for each category:
Sci-fi: Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code
Fantasy: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Adventure: The Swiss Family Robinson
Fiction: The Chosen
Non-fiction: I didn't read any that I liked...
For School: Macbeth
Re-read: The Horse and His Boy
Yay for books! :)
For School:
Across Five Aprils
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Amazing Grace of Freedom
Uncle Toms Cabin (I listened to it, not read it though)
Romeo and Juliet
As You Like It
Macbeth
A book on Abraham Lincoln
Tartuffe
Oedipus Rex
King Lear
A Man For All Seasons
The Phantom Tollbooth
String, Straightedge, and Shadow
Carry On Mister Bowditch
For Book Clubs:
The Chosen
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
The Swiss Family Robinson
Series of Books:
Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident
Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code
Artemis Fowl Opal Deception
Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony
Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows1
The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse
Percy Jackson and the Battle in the Labyrinth
Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
Other Books I read for Fun:
Fablehaven 5
Peter and the Starcatchers
Under the Lilacs
D'aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
The Horse and his Boy
Here is my favorite book that I read this year for each category:
Sci-fi: Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code
Fantasy: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Adventure: The Swiss Family Robinson
Fiction: The Chosen
Non-fiction: I didn't read any that I liked...
For School: Macbeth
Re-read: The Horse and His Boy
Yay for books! :)
Monday, January 3, 2011
Utah Snow
Lots and lots of snow!!!
Me shovling snow. It was actually suprisingly hard, snow is heavy!
One of our favorite days was when we went to BYU and visited the Bean Museum. We took lots and lots of crazy and fun pictures!
We had a lot of fun aligning our head with antlers and horns of animals in the museum. The pictures turned out pretty cool!!!
Since we were in Utah for New Years Eve, my cousin Franklin and I went to a New Years Eve dance! It was super fun, and it was neat because I went to my first ever church youth dance (which was also a new years eve dance) with her.
Some home-school family friends were in the same area of Utah as my family, so my friend Kraig went with Franklin and I to the dance. That made it extra fun. :) Here we are, we all look like we are the same hight.
Haha, nope! Kraig and Franklin are waaaaay taller then me, but I don't mind tooooo much. ;)
My family and my Great-Grandpa Rogers. He will be turning 99 in June! We visit him pretty much every year, and I think we all enjoy each visit. He has many childern, grand childern and great-grand childern, and we all love him very much.
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