Handouts

I've been thinking about doing this blog post for about a month now.  I have finally decided to do it. 

If you follow my blog, you know that I gave a lesson (workshop) on receiving personal revelation at our Super Saturday type Relief Society meeting back in November.  Well, the next day during our regular Sunday Relief Society lesson, the teacher made a snide remark about handouts and how they are not necessary when teaching a lesson.  Basically she was dissing my handouts I gave out at my lesson the previous day.  Yes, she was in attendance and did receive the handouts.  I think she was just trying to make herself feel better for not ever doing handouts.  I personally don't care whether she does handouts or not.  And, she was right, handouts are not necessary.  But I think they add to the lesson and I enjoy going the extra mile when I prepare and teach.  To each their own.  Thankfully, I am not easily offended.  But everybody agreed that it was rude and unnecessary.  It was obviously directed at me. But I just let it roll off me like water on a duck.

Normally I would not post this story to my blog but there's a reason I'm telling this story.  To illustrate a point.  So here's the rest of the story and the point I want to make.

So, two or three weeks later I received an e-mail from our Relief Society President.  She asked me if I had any more handouts left over from my lesson, and if so if I could bring them to church for a lady who was requesting extra handouts.

I thought this was a bit of an odd request but, sure, we had extra handouts and would be happy to bring them.  Not thinking much of it, I had Mom and Lisa find and gather up three sets of extra handouts to bring to church the following day.

When we arrived, the sister that requested the handouts was waiting for us in the second row.  We always sit in the first row with wheelchair cutouts as that is the only place my wheelchair will fit.  She introduced herself and told me that the handouts I made changed her life.  I thought this was just a nice exaggeration.  Then mom arrived and I told her that this was the sister requesting the handouts and she gave them to her.  She was so happy. She wanted to share the handouts with her family members.

Apparently she was not even in attendance at my lesson/workshop.  But I guess her diligent visiting teacher -- or I should say ministering sister -- took an extra hand out to give to her.  She didn't even know about the flower pens.  She wanted to put them in a vase on the podium.  :-) Only later did she realize they were pens.  :-)

Anyway she was very appreciative.  I was happy that the handouts made her so happy.  And I thought that was it.  Then, during Relief Society, this sister made a comment during the lesson about my handouts and how they changed her life.  Then I realized that the handout really did make a big impact on her life. This is why she wanted to give extra handouts to her family members.

This is when I thought about how we should always follow promptings and personal revelation.  I was inspired to put those quotes on pretty paper and laminate them to hand out to the sisters at my lesson.  Granted, it wasn't my handout that changed this sister's life.  It was the quote by our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.  I was merely the vehicle that made it possible for her to read the Prophet's words.

But, nonetheless, in this case, those unnecessary handouts changed someone's life for the better.

To emphasize the point, this same sister, at our last Fast and Testimony Meeting, also mentioned me by name and the handout and the impact it had on her life.  I give credit to the prophet but it's nice to be an instrument in the Lord's hands in helping somebody progress of the covenant path.

This is an example of seeing the fruits of your labors.  In someone else's opinion, my handouts were unnecessary.  But because I listened to the promptings of the Spirit and followed through, someone's life was impacted for good.

We don't always see the fruits of our labors or understand why we are prompted to do certain things.  And we will often face discouragement or persecution for striving to live a Christlike life on the covenant path.  But it's little things like this example that remind us to keep enduring and doing what the Lord would have us do.

That's my two cents.

For the curious, these are the life-changing quotes I put on my front and back laminated handout:

Missing Dad on Christmas

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, today, I can't help but think about Dad actually being with Him and, perhaps, celebrating His birthday with Him in person.

Things won't be the same this Christmas Day, or in the future.  Dad loved getting presents and was extraordinarily good at guessing what his presents were before he unwrapped them.

I know we will all be missing Dad today.  But it is comforting to know that he is actually with our Savior.  Dad may not be with us in body but we can all celebrate the miraculous birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ, from both sides of the veil.

These pictures were taken last Christmas.  Dad's last Christmas with us.

I can't help but notice the way the light is shining on Dad.

I love these last pictures taken of Dad at Christmas time.  He is dressed up fine in his suit -- looking angelic and radiating heavenly light.  

I love and miss you, Dad.  Tell Jesus happy birthday for me.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Guitar Picks

A month ago I ordered a 100 pack of guitar picks to put on our Christmas lottery table this year.  Well, yesterday when we were putting everything out I noticed that the package looked awfully small for 100 picks.  So I had Lisa open the package and count them.  There were only 53!

So I contacted customer service to ask them if they could please send me the 47 picks that they omitted from my order.  Of course that was too easy of a request.  They want to make me jump through a bunch of hoops to remedy their mistake!

They couldn't just send me 47 more picks.  They told me they could send a replacement but it wouldn't be here in time for Christmas.  They would have to send a replacement package of 100.  And I would have to send these 53 back to them.

I know they also sell them in 25 packs.  I don't know why they couldn't have just sent me two of those.  Of course that would be too easy.  They want me to print out a return label.  Find packaging to return it.  Then take it to UPS.  And I don't even want to return it!  I just want them to fulfill the order that I purchased.

So after some back-and-forth, I finally just told her I would return them.  But UPS will have to come pick them up. Why should we have to waste our time and money driving the package to a UPS drop-off location?  For their mistake!  It's bad enough that I have to print a label, repackage it and wait for UPS to come get something I don't even want to return. Just because they didn't give me what I ordered.

To pay the UPS driver and waste all that time and fuel driving up here just to pick up 53 guitar picks costs more than they are worth.



Not only is it terrible business practice but it also creates angry customers.  Especially when there is a logical, cost-effective solution.

So sorry kids, these guitar picks will not be on the Christmas lottery table this year.  :-(

That's my two cents.

Transgender Comment

Yesterday I read an article in the Deseret News about a scientist who was fired for claiming that you can't change your sex.  I guess the author JK Rowling tweeted something about supporting her.  The transgender community got all up in arms.  So I spent a while composing a comment and tried to post it.  But I received a message that I used a word they didn't like and they wouldn't post it.  This ticked me off because I didn't say anything bad.  It was mostly a biology lesson.  Apparently the Deseret News doesn't like biology lessons.

Then I was mad at myself for not copying my comment because I lost it. This is very similar to what I said:

I hate to break it to the transgender community but every cell in your body (except red blood cells and platelets) contains a nucleus containing DNA which codes for your sex.  Every cell nucleus contains 23 pairs of chromosomes -- one pair of which are sex chromosomes.  XX (female) and XY (male).  You can do whatever you want to try to change your phenotype. But you cannot change the DNA in every cell in your body.  You cannot change your genotype.  This is just basic biology.  So, sorry transgenders, but you cannot change your sex.

That's pretty close to what I said.  But the Deseret news didn't like it. They wouldn't publish it.

I spoke nothing but the truth.  It's unbelievable that people are so deranged now that they want to argue with basic biological science.

A zebra can try to change his stripes, humans can take hormones and undergo mutilating surgery but the truth remains in the DNA in every cell of their bodies.

It's ridiculously silly that someone would get fired from their job for speaking the truth.  Especially an expert in the area of which they are speaking.

People who are wrong -- yet pretend they are right, and want to be right -- are the most angry deranged lunatics living in Lala land.

If you are male and want to pretend to be female, be my guest.  But no matter what you do, you'll never actually become female. Or vice versa.  It's impossible.  It's a scientific fact.  So quit arguing about it and face reality. And quit being so angry and ruining people's careers because you can't have what you want.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 15 and 16

1. Rex   -1   TB 56
2. Clint -2 tiebreaker 52
3. Mom  -2  TB  63
4. Kingston -3  TB 56
5. Tammy  -3  TB 43
6. Michael -4 tie breaker 69
7. Lisa -5  TB 63
8. Juliet -6  TB  64

Actual Tie Breaker :  52

Spiritual DNA

As you all know, I find DNA fascinating.  I've always liked learning about the human body and biology in general.  In fact I've used my DNA expertise to help two of my biological second cousins who were adopted to find their biological parent to whom I'm related.

Your DNA can tell you a lot about yourself.  It can reveal diseases you're prone to or genetic variants you carry that can be passed on to your progeny. It can also tell you what you look like, and even if you can carry a tune or if you prefer sweet or salty -- amongst a myriad of other traits.

Your DNA can also tell you how fast your body metabolizes certain drugs and alcohol.  It will tell you your muscle type -- whether you are more of a sprinter or endurance athlete. Your DNA will reveal your ancestry composition.  Where do your ancestors come from?  And of course it tells you how related you are to someone else.  How much DNA do you share with your relatives?

So the concept of spiritual DNA is interesting.  But it makes perfect sense, since we are the spiritual children of Heavenly Parents.

"You have the spiritual DNA of God. You have unique gifts that originated in your spiritual creation and that were developed during the vast span of your premortal life. You are the child of our merciful and everlasting Father in Heaven, the Lord of Hosts, the One who created the universe, spread the spinning stars across the vast expanse of space, and placed the planets in their appointed orbits. 

"You are in His hands.

"Very good hands.

"Loving hands.

"Caring hands.

"And nothing anyone ever says about you can change that. Their words are meaningless compared to what God has said about you.

"You are His precious child.

"He loves you.

"Even when you stumble, even when you turn away from Him, God loves you. If you are feeling lost, abandoned, or forgotten—fear not. The Good Shepherd will find you. He will lift you upon His shoulders. And He will carry you home."

-- Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Three Sisters", October 2017 General Conference 

I love this quote by Elder Uchtdorf, of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.  Not only did we inherit physical DNA from our mortal parents, but we inherited spiritual DNA from our heavenly parents.

Each of us is unique physically and spiritually.  But we are all children of Heavenly Parents who love us unconditionally and want what's best for us.  And whose spiritual DNA we carry.  Just like we take on the characteristics of our physical, mortal parents through inheriting their DNA.  We also take on the characteristics and traits of our Heavenly Parents through inheriting their spiritual DNA.

I find this comforting and reassuring.  I hope we all remember who we are and do our best to honor our parents whose DNA we carry -- both physical and spiritual.

That's my two cents.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Tammy, happy birthday to me.  :-)

Here are some random throwback pictures I found that we recently scanned.

Some I don't remember ever seeing before.

Feel free to send me a Happy Birthday e-mail or comment.  :-)

Labels Part Two

Yesterday I posted a quote from President Oaks about how we label ourselves.  I wanted to elaborate yesterday but I was too sick to do anything but copy and paste the quote.  I'm not feeling much better today but perhaps enough to do a quick post.

I really like President Oaks' quote reminding us that we should first and foremost think of ourselves as children of God.  That should be our number one label.  Because really, in the eternal scheme of things, those other labels don't matter.  But we will always be a son or daughter of God.

As President Oaks emphasized other labels are temporary or trivial.  People tend to live up to labels.  If someone is told they are fat, skinny, smart, stupid, a drug addict, promiscuous, virtuous, beautiful, ugly, etc. they start seeing themselves that way and living up to the label.

All of those labels I listed are changeable depending on choices through time.  People can easily gain or lose weight.  Beauty fades with time.  Virtue and promiscuity are defined by lifestyle choices.  Addictions to drugs, alcohol, pornography, sex, gambling, even smart phones are all changeable lifestyle choices.  Granted, most addictions need professional help and rehabilitation to overcome.  But, nonetheless, they can be overcome with effort and determination and a desire to change.

It's very dangerous to label people -- especially to place labels on ourselves -- because labels start to define who we are and how we see ourselves and how we think others view us.  And it becomes very difficult to break out of those labels.

In the eternal scheme of things, we all have the same label -- children of God.  That is who we are.  It is human nature to judge and label others to elevate ourselves.  Instead we should try to get past the natural man and work on our own salvation.  While helping others along the covenant path where we can.  Try not to see others as labels they place on themselves or that we or other people give them.

Because, in the end, we are all just children of God trying to navigate our way through mortality.

Let's all try to focus more on seeing ourselves and others as children of God and let that define who we are.  All other labels are temporary or trivial.  And only serve to divide us and hinder us on our moral journey.

That's my two cents.

Labels

"I wish to offer a principle to guide young men and women in today’s world. Be careful how you label yourselves. Don’t define yourselves by some temporary quality. Our single best quality by which to characterize ourselves is that we are sons or daughters of God. That fact overrides all other labels, including race, occupation, physical characteristics, honors, or even religious affiliation.

"We have our agency, and we can choose any label to define ourselves. But we need to know that when we choose to label ourselves by something that is temporary or trivial in eternal terms, we de-emphasize what is most important about us. This can affect how others treat us. It can lead us down the wrong path, and it can hinder our eternal progress. I pray that you will always think of yourselves as sons or daughters of God."

-- President Dallin H. Oaks

College Football Picks Week 14

1. Clint -12 tie breaker 64
2. Lisa -15 tie breaker 54
3. Rex -16 tie breaker 66
4. Mom -17 Tie Breaker 43
5. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 51
6. Michael -19 tiebreaker 59

Actual Tiebreaker 44