my aaaahhhh hhhhaaaa moment today

most of you know that i am volunteer with FSA (Family Supporting Adoption) with LDS Family Services. Thursday i had the opportunity to attend an advisory board meeting. i had no clue what to expect, never been to one. we went over a variety of stuff happening with LDS FS. towards the end of the meeting the chairman, Kirk Jenkins gave a Spiritual thought. one that i needed to hear and some things i had been thinking about.





i had been thinking about my life. where i was at Spiritually. what was i doing with my time. but most importantly.....how was time spent with my children and family. sometimes i can balance just fine and some days seem very overwhelming with little sleep, not eating healthy and hiding in the computer to get away for awhile. (ok....i may regret being this honest but it needed to be said.) i do take care of my kids and spend time with them but i wasn't teaching them the important things in life. i did for awhile and my priorities change. so here is what happened at the meeting.....





Brother or President (i think President) Jenkins said that The doctrine was unchanging truths. He asked the questions "If all your children knew was from what you have taught them, what would they know?" (wow.....it was so powerful. i have taught my children some wonderful things but have realized i need to shift some training.) He talked about being "'a loud example". i don't mean by yelling. he was talking about really being an example, like going to church every Sunday. He read D&C 68: 25 "And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents." He then talked about a stake that rein acted the tree of life, for the youth. they found a hill and on the top was a tree that they rigged with lights and then placed fruit or something in the tree. They place 2 iron rods on the side of the hill. the one brethren in charge forgot to have someone play Sara and Lehi. so he called his parents, they accepted. he said that the kids went on this trek to get to the top. when everyone was up there, he realized he needed to go up. he went and as he got to the top, his dad was the one to give him the fruit. the brethren told President Jenkins how he thought about growing up: having family scripture study, family prayer, going to church, etc. President Jenkins ended by suggesting that we go home and watch the CES Fireside to the Young Adults by David Bednar. here's the link:





http://lds.org/broadcast/ces/0,7341,538,00.html





now my aaahhh hhhhaaaaa moment. today the kids were asleep this morning. i thought that time would be a good time to watch it. it was powerful! i happened to have my journal in front of me and thought that i would make some notes. i couldn't write fast enough. i would love to share with you what he said but i am hoping that you will take the time to listen to it. i do want to share with you what i learned. what were my aaahhh hhhaaaa moments. it helped me to think about what was important to me: my husband, kids and religion. what had i been full filling in those area. how important were my internet friends? how important is it to get onto facebook and chat with old friends? how important is it to play games or play Yoville with my friends? how important is it to decorate and buy things in Yoville? "it's just a game, it's just facebook, it's just old friends but is it really?" it's our lives being pulled from real life into a virtual world. when my judgement day comes, Heavenly Father isn't going to tell my how cool my apartment was in Yoville or how cool it was to meet old friends again or that was a nice comment on facebook. what he is going to ask me is "how did you live your life? what did you teach your children? etc."




i might regret being so honest later today but i really feel like i needed to say what i needed to say. this is about me and what is important. So i leave with you 2 questions to ponder: 1. Does the use of various technology and media invite or take away the Spirit in your life? 2. Does the time you spend using various technology and media enlarge or restrict you to live, love and serve in many ways?