Create!

My Aunt Shannon forwarded me this in an email. I usually scoff at and delete forwards without reading them, but this one really inspired me. I figure if it's got Elder Uchtdorf in it, it must be worth looking at, right?

The talk this was taken from truly inspired me. On the one hand, the small amount of time I spend on creative things often daunts me and leads me down a spiral of self-criticism for not making time for myself, not cultivating my talents, and so on, until I collapse in an uncreative, exhausted heap on my living room floor and spend yet another night on Facebook. However, I doubt that's what Elder Uchtdorf had in mind.

On the other hand, he's totally right - everyone is creative. I remember thinking similar thoughts when I tried to convince a discouraged teenage sister of mine that yes, she was indeed creative. She has since discovered scrapbooking and no longer needs any convincing. But creative does not necessarily mean artistic or musical or eloquent. Creative means you can create things - all sorts of things. Smiles, children, cleanliness, friendships, organization, peace, consolation, patience, habits, flowers, compliments, faith, hope, encouragement, laughter, testimonies - all these things need creating, perhaps even more so than songs or paintings. One of my favorite quotes that I posted on my wall in college encompasses a lot of what Elder Uchtdorf is talking about:

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

~Bessie Andersen Stanley (often misattributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

One of the chief reasons I scoff at and delete forwards before I read them is because they contain rants that just make me feel angry or guilty without any invitation to do anything about what I've just read. So, if you've actually read to the end of this very long post, congratulations - now get off my blog and go create something!

Firsts and DanceSport

Aaron and I went to DanceSport for our date this week. We took Noah with us, but he was really good, so I think it still counted as a date. It brought back fond memories of when Aaron and I were only friends and dance partners (or so he thought). We totally botched DanceSport, but we had a great time dancing. We're planning on taking a dance class together next semester. The jury is still out on whether that will be standard or latin. I'm voting for latin.

Noah seemed to really enjoy himself. He was fascinated by the bright colors and sparkles on the dancers' dresses. He watched intently for two hours before drifting off to sleep on my lap.

The last little while has been full of firsts: the first black president, the first time Noah woke up only once during the night, the first time I found an ancestor's name and got it ready for the temple, and the first time I tried corned beef and cabbage (a new favorite). Kind of cool...

General Conference

So General Conference is pretty much awesome. I always come away feeling all warm and fuzzy, but with a long list of things to improve on at the same time. I felt the Spirit very strongly at the Relief Society session and the first general session on Saturday. After Elder Uchtdorf's talk, I've recommitted myself to make time to improve and share my talents. I also really want to work on developing more faith in Christ and in the restoration of the Gospel.

Which was your favorite talk/session? Leave a comment with your General Conference experience, inspiration, or tidbit.

Sweet Baby Jack

After clinging to life for 1 1/2 months, little Jack Sisson passed away yesterday. He had complications from a lack of amniotic fluid in utero, and he wasn't expected to live past a few days. His time here on earth was truly preserved by the hand of the Lord. Unfortunately for us, Jack's mission on earth is complete and Heavenly Father has other work for him to do. We are sad at the loss of our nephew and Noah's cousin and would-be playmate; Jack was born about a month after Noah. Our hearts and prayers go out to Dan and Summer and their family at this hard time. Please keep them in your prayers.

How grateful I am to know that this life is not the end! There is more than the pinpoint in eternity that we call mortality. What a comfort it is to know that each person has the opportunity to have eternal life and go back to live with our loving, Eternal Father! What a comfort to know that Christ understands EXACTLY what we go through and is constantly reaching out, ready to help and comfort us. (For more information about this, visit http://www.mormon.org/)

Here is Jack at my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary party.

Jack, Jackson, and Noah. Sounds like a law firm, doesn't it? Three cute little cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary party.