Success through Failure

So obviously the blog thing didn't go as planned (hence the "I haven't written in almost two years" thing) but really, what ever actually goes "as planned?"

Over the past almost two years, I've learned a lot more about how to "better get to livin'" than I think I ever would have had I listed a million new things to accomplish.

I've learned how to get livin' better through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been all my life, but these past few years have taught me that this fact means little unless I choose to live it. My name can be on the roster, but unless my heart is on the altar, I'm not experiencing the true joy that comes from being a member of the Christ's true Church. In college, I had to make the choice to figure out for myself if everything I had been taught was true, or if I was going to go my own way. I tried my own way - the world's way - and I am here to say that Christ is the only way to happiness in this life and in the eternities to come, and that His way can only be found in its entirety within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

So here, I give my testimony with the many that have gone before me and the many that will come that I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Redeemer of my soul. I know that He loves me, that it is only through Him that I can finding healing and salvation, and that this Church - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - embraces and embodies His teachings.

As 2 Nephi chapter 25 verse 26 in the Book of Mormon states, " . . . we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ . . ." and we invite all those who seek Him to come, to ask your questions, to receive your answers, and to know for yourself as we know that He is your Redeemer.

So I may have failed in the "accomplish 101 new things" department but I feel I have been successful in the area of my life that really counts. So I invite you to do more than sit back and read along - please, find out for yourself if the things of which I witness are true. Ask questions, look for answers, because I promise they will be answered.

Better Get to Livin'

My list isn't quite complete yet (I'm on #47!) but I was thinking about why I'm actually doing this. Could be I just want a little more fun in my life. But then again, my life's already pretty awesome. So I must give Ms Dolly Parton credit for this madness (for those of you who really know me that really shouldn't be surprising).

A few weeks ago, my family and I went to Cracker Barrel to celebrate my grandparents' 50th anniversary. While there, I saw Dolly on the CD rack in the store and naturally gravitated in that direction. I picked up her Backwoods Barbie CD and (after controlling my laughter) I listened to a few selections. That's when I came across her song "Better Get to Livin'" and I heard these words:

You better get to livin', givin'
A little more thought about bein'
A little more willin' to make a better way
Don't sweat the small stuff
Keep your chin up
Just hang tough
And if it gets too rough
Fall on your knees and pray
And do that everyday
Then you'll get to livin'.
The day we're born we start to die
Don't waste one minute of this life
Get to livin'
Share your dreams and share your laughter
Make some points for the great hereafter.

Seems corny, I know, but it was one of those moments when you completely believe that the words you're hearing are meant for you. So maybe that's why I'm doing this: cause I want to get to livin'.

And I want others to join me. You don't necessarily have to list 50 things you want to accomplish this year, but we can all do something to make us better people. Figure out what you need to change, be brave, and get to livin'.

Just the Beginning... well hopefully

So this is my first experience as a blogger. Hopefully I'll be pretty good at it. Seems like anyone can create a blog; it's just the keeping-up-with-it part that people seem to have trouble with.

But I created this blog to basically keep track of my life. Seeing as how many of us have gone digital, I thought, "Why not me as well?" I also started it because I have this crazy goal. A crazy goal of completing 101 new things by the end of the year. Awesome, I know. #1 on my 101 new things list is to actually finish writing the list. I've got a few ideas but I'm still working on it. I don't think they're anything life changing, but who knows? Maybe they will be. There's really only one way to find out. So let the list begin...