Author: Angela

I write so my family will always have letters from home.

current reading and current mood

Last week, I gathered some of my books that I found in various places throughout the house. I realized that I am in the process of reading 10 books, and that’s probably a personal record. I can predict the books that I will finish first and the ones that will change me. They are not the same. šŸ˜ There are many purposes for reading, and my 10 books represent that.

I am in a phase of life where I can do a lot of reading, but my book count doesn’t reflect that. Even though I am reading 10 books at once, I am still finishing them at about the same rate. So, there is no magic when the children leave home. I am still the same person with the same habits. The only real change is that I’ve lost some zeal and capacity to do some things that once came easily for me.

It’s just a very quiet, baffling time of life.

And with that happy thought, I will go pull a bucket of weeds in the yard and see what the sky and earth can teach me about seasons and life and new growth. After a few more tasks, you’ll find me reading. šŸ™‚

Endnotes

I have needed the counsel from my patriarchal blessing all my life, especially at times of decision or challenge.

Over time, I have discovered that there are many scriptures quoted throughout my blessing. Sometimes they are indicated with quotation marks, but more often, a few words are woven into the cadences of sentences without notation. This opens a new level of discovery for me. As I find and study the quoted passages, these scriptures provide context, expand my understanding, and often give me a scripture hero with whom I can relate. As I collect these hidden references, they become valuable endnotes to my patriarchal blessing.

Every time you wonder what you should do with your life, study your patriarchal blessing. Every time you want to feel Godā€™s love, read your patriarchal blessing. Your patriarchal blessing is your own personal revelation, and itā€™s scripture just for you.

-Teresa Bell, The Hand of God in Your Life

Here is a link to Teresa Bell’s talk with some of the best insights and doctrine about patriarchal blessings. The segment begins at minute 17:43.

The Hand of God in Your LifeĀ 

Decluttering some journals

I felt a nudge to clean out two boxes of journals and memorabilia last week. From reams of paper from my teenage and college years, I pulled a thin collection of excerpts to keep. Most pages landed solidly in the trash bin, but the process of sorting was enlightening. Here are some takeaways:

I have come a long way and overcome a lot.

I still have some patterns of thought that began in childhood that I need to conquer.

My family will not have to sort through this trash someday. Thank goodness.

Not every thought and emotion is accurate and worthy to keep.

My words awoke some empathy for what young women experience during these years.

The writing I kept:

  • Anything about my family
  • A few entries about my friends
  • Violin and science achievements
  • Goals
  • Especially funny and memorable experiences
  • Expressions of my testimony of Jesus Christ

I have always intended to leave behind a written record of my life, but it will be edited for content and length. (Says the woman who has also written thousands of blog posts. šŸ˜‰)