Oh how I love General Conference. Especially
October Conference...the chill in the air, the smell of my Spiced Pumpkin candle, cute friends who surprised us with delicious pecan cinnamon rolls. So great.
I usually like to do a rundown of my favorite talks and mention briefly my thoughts from each one. However, this time around there was one talk that really struck a chord with me. Don't get me wrong. I can't wait to drink many great words of wisdom, encouragement and motivation again from that November Ensign, but for now, I want to focus on one in particular: President, Thomas S. Monson's talk on Change.
The main message of this talk, to me, was about living in the moment and accepting change.
There have been a lot of things going on lately that have made me think about this. This is a concept I understand and that I strive for, but have a hard time
living. A very 'easier said, than done' thing for me. I feel like the majority of my life, I've lived for the next moment. And although I think that's more understandable while growing up, I feel that the regret you'll feel for not living in the moment, grows exponentially as you enter the adult phases of life, such as marriage and parenthood, just like how your joy grows exponentially in those phases for choosing to
"find the joy in the journey, now."
I also have a hard time with change. I'm a planner and I'm a worrier and those two things don't mix well with change, let alone with
unexpected change.
I think the reason this talk resonated with me so much is because it offered me the perspective of the effects living this principal can have. Not only will my regret go down and my joy increase, but I will be more able to accept unexpected change when the occasion calls for it, and that's a great comfort to me. I also loved how President Monson pointed out that living now goes
"hand in hand with gratitude". How can you not be grateful for your blessings when you are taking the time to embrace and live each one? All of the pettiness, envy, grudge holding goes away because you no longer have the space for it.
I think the Savior was really good at living in the moment. He got what life was all about. I think when you figure that out, you know you only have time to love.
President Monson also focuses about how it's our choice:
"It's our conscious choice what secret garden we will tend...Not to focus on what is missing but are grateful for the abundance that is present: love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us happiness...the waste land of the illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth."
You see, I discovered the charming show around the beginning of the second season. It was then I fell in love with the witty and sassy mother/daughter combo. I followed them as much as I could but it got a little patchy after I headed to college. So, you can see how happy I was when I noticed ABC Family was playing their reruns. I started watching these reruns right where I left off during my college days and totally enjoyed viewing some never-seen-before episodes. We were unfortunately approaching the last season (which I managed to see most of) and if you too, are a GG fan know why I say "unfortunately". BUT on the day that last season of reruns was supposed to start, it went back to the pilot and very first season! Yay, for me! All the episodes I hadn't seen before, right in a row!
And I must say I have enjoyed myself thoroughly. Particularly, the first season. I mean there were so many questions answered! I didn't know I was lacking so many of the GG fundamentals until I saw the first season. For example:
*SPOIL ALERTS*
Can you see, I had no idea on what I was missing out on! But now I know and I just have to say how much I love this show. As for the end, I refuse to talk about the Chris/marriage mishap and how they barely got Luke and Loreli as they should be. As for Rory, I thought it was lame she dumped Logan. Yup, I'm a "Logan-Liker". But even for the majority of you who are not, how can she be totally in-love with someone and leave them because she has to go explore the world? I mean he was a millionaire, I'm sure they could've worked something out.
Anyhow, they should make up for that whole hideous last season and make a movie written by and only Amy Sherman Palladino. L&L can be pregnant and we can catch-up with Rory in her fast-pace, successful career-oriented life with awesome come-backs from the big three (Dean, Jess and Logan). Except, maybe not Jess because now they'd be related. Or take the story line and focus on Luke's daughter, April. So many possibilities!
Wow, it really feels good to get that off my chest. A lot of these thoughts have been roaming around in my noggin' for awhile now. If you're interested and you've got cable, GG is on every day at 2 p.m. on the ABC Family Channel.
Notes: There is a good possibility we're moving this year, so more permanent things like paint and fixtures aren't necessarily the priority.
Here are some thoughts:
I loved something like this for books. It keeps them up high just in case you have some nicer childrens books your little buddy might tear in a fit of excitment :)
Second, 
Well, I had on my to do list for this week to finally get my Washington State drivers license (I know, it's been like what? Two years now?? Huh.) Anyhow, we we're going skiing in Canada over Thanksgiving and I found out that Washington residents get a discount on their lift pass if we purchase them before this Friday. So--better time than ever to declare my Washington state residency, right? An annoying errand, but it must be done. Well, as I started checking the website and gathering all my ID and proofs, I read that I was supposed to have done this 30 days within becoming a resident. WHAT!?!? And if I didn't, I have to retake the written and driving tests! WHAT?!?! I've never liked driving or cars and its for reasons like this. Now an annoying errand has turned into a stressful nightmare!
