Donna's Journey

I woke early and came to the living room to find my husband. We engaged in an interesting coversation about things we need to procrastinate, delegate, and say no to, as well as adjustments to rhythms to facilitate the changes that need to be made. Actually, it was more me sharing what I needed to do and then he reflected what he needed to work on.  What is my load now:
* daughter of God
* wife
* mom
* home owner (need to be cleaned and maintained)
* home educator of 4 children
* visiting teacher (3 ladies)
* Primary Teacher CTRB 3- 6 year olds (weekly)
* Relief Society Board- Nursey coordinator (quarterly)
* Stake Family History Extractor (as I can????)
* Teaching four classes- Defenders, College Bound Girls, Princess Academy, and Adult Scholars (2hours class on Wednesday and Thursday 3-5, and prep time to read the books etc.)
* GWC Methodology I ED 601
* GWC Practicum ED 611
* GWC Classics ED 615B
* GWC lecture once a month
* GWC Mentor twice a month
* IW Monday Class with Bob, 5-6
* IW Monday mentoring every week
* IW Wednesday class with Tom, 5-6
* Epiphanal Living Newsletter
* Find time to study for graduate classes and IW
No wiggle room there. I think I just saw the enemy and it is me. Ok no room to breathe either. My husband wanted me to pray about something. My mind was so full of the above list, it was a lost cause, I did pray but it was futile for I did not feel or come to understand anything. Granted, the answer may not have come, but then again, it may have come and the thoughts in my head may have been too thick to cut. That happens sometime. I told him the answers will come when my mind settles, as I do mundane tasks.
I came in here to study and work over my schedule to make sure I make all of my appointed commitments. ARGHHHHH!

I studied II Nephi 22-23, more Isaiah chapters. 22 was about the glorious millennial day and the rejoicing of the righteous. 23 was about the destruction at the time of the second coming. I know the day is dawning. What the next decades will look like, I am no prophet. We do not know if time or clock of events. We could have another saeculum or we could have the crisis that leads into the millennium. Either way it will require all I can be.

Do not mind me, I am just whiney today.  Usually I  do pretty well.  Only this time I had a three day seminar hemmed in by sickness in my family on both sides.  Even when I do not have much on my plate, illness sets be back.

I finished the annotations for Apology by Plato.   I like my new format for annotations.  I have a grid of 10 things I am looking for, along with a place to have a symbol for it, followed by a place to type in vocabulary and definitions.  Then I type in my annotations and notes.  This makes for quick retrieval of quotes for the book I am working on.

I had my first mentor session for my IW class.   I can see this is going to be good.

FHE tonight was on prayer.  My husband gave it from the RS/PH manual on Spencer W. Kimball.

Good Night

My daughter came from GWC yesterday evening and I never got back here to end my day.

Yesterday, before class, I went to the bank.  Apparently my checks were not ordered on the 9th when I thought they were.  I had been there as the bank closed and the banker that assisted me did not come in the next week, and has been out ill ever since.  So, I got them reordered for my school.

I got home in time to set up for our Daughter of a King — Princess Academy Liber Tea.  Table linens adorned the tables, topple with glistening glass luncheon plates, a modest meal, and Mary folded the napkins.  The girls and their mothers arrived,  and were all beautiful.  Out came the tiaras and on they went.  My 12 year old son arrived with some friends, and they thought it was peculiar what we were doing.  My son said we were having a princess class for his little sister.  (personally, he thinks it is cool for her). Mothers and daughters gathered at the tables and  discussed The Princess Academy, I read aloud The Daughter of a King, and we made flower pens to go with their princess diaries.  I wanted writing to be more enjoyable.  Next month we will read Kazunomiya and get to discover a taste of Japan, followed with humanitarian service.  One of the moms had a friend help us out by heirloom sewing some soft delicate pink floral satin into little drawstring bags for the tiaras to be stored in.
Julia arrived home just after class finished.  While I prepared a late super she read to me the auto biography pf Gladys Aylward called The Small Woman.  This is the story that the movie, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, with Ingrid Berman Playing Gladys, was based on. Very miving story of a woman that lived her life by her core books, taught it to others, pursued her mission and lived a life of submission to her maker.  A powerful stateswoman who led 100 children through mountainous terrain, across Northern China, to saftey. Very moving Public Virtue!

Today Julia and I went to see the movie Amazing Grace.   Again, I was moved.  Wilberforce, the main character was definitely part of a Renaissance of Kings, living during the high, after the Revolutionary War, he worked for two decades to end slave trade in England, with the dawning of the Awakening that then followed, he impacted many institutions, and society, and internationally.  Another powerful look at public virtue.

Off to work on Plato’s Apology;)  More later.

I embrace a new day!

More Isaiah chapters, yum! I studied II Nephi 16-19, checking back and forth between today’s reading and Isaiah 6-9. He was so plain about the tribes that followed Ephriam and what would happen to Judah. He was so clear about the Messiah. As I read His names, I found myself singing them in my heart…thank Georg Fredrick Handel. If I had sang out loud as loud as I did within my heart, I would have woken the house. I also felt to studied Matthew 21. The Messiah, would as Isaiah said, be both a sanctuary and a stone or stumbling block, As Matthew stated, a stone that they reject. Again, I thought of Charlotte Mason and thought of how parents offend and cause children to stumble.

Yesterday, Mary and I completed The Princess Academy. We loved the book together. She was so excited when we finished, she punched the air and said, “Even though it is not a true story, I loved the book and learned things. I will have so much to share tomorrow.” Mary caught on the phrase of Doter, that if you think something is impossible, it is. She also liked the idea of quarry-speak. Which of course was only explained in the book from Miri’s perspective. This opened discussion on how epiphanies can come, how we get impressions to do something, and the thinness of the veil, at times. I loved the lessons on diplomacy, commerce, and on conversation.

I spent time yesterday contacting those I had invited to the statesmanship retreat in May. I also was able to get my hotel reservations for the TJEd Forum, in March. I will need to set up the table early and staff my table through the event. So, I will need to spend the night at the hotel, as i do not want to add an hour commute to and already early morning. Though, between hotel room, parking, meals, and booth fees, it was cost me $400+, I know I should to be there. I know I will learn great things from the people I meet. I know I will have opportunity to attend a few speakers, this time. Things will unfold and I will be amazed.

More later…

This morning I studied II Nephi 11-15. I would have to agree that great are the words of Isaiah! These chapters paralleled Isaiah 2-5. I love to read Isaiah. These were chapters that deal with Zion and the last days. I also studied Matthew 20 and Christ’s prophesy of what was about to befall Him. Would we choose our path if we could see what we would pass through? That is why it is important to know who is piloting and who is co-pilot.

Yesterday I read Plato’s Apology again (two days in a row) with more clarity and epiphanies this time. I did my annotations on the computer this time. Works great.

Yesterday, I spent a significant time reading the Princes Academy with Mary. She loves the book. She is learning so much from it. She had not understood it was fiction, and when she discovered it was, she admitted that she was learning good things, like the rules of conversation and diplomacy.

More later…

At the statesmanship retreat this last weekend, I participated in a simulation. Prior to that we had dinner and got to hear Dr. Andrew Groft give his talk on the Renaissance of Kings. Upon pondering later I decided that the talk should have set us in the right place, to see we need to participate. The simulation was so much like real life. There were a vocal few, some of which knew Roberts Rules, some did not, some had a good depth and breadth of cultural literacy, some knew how to connect with others, and some did not, and some were articulate… As I sat there during the debrief I heard people mention, “if only I knew Robert’s Rules.” I thought about that.

With the understanding of Robert’s Rules, one could participate and speak their mind. However, without a sound depth and breadth of cultural literacy, one would be in the position to repeat the mistakes of history, not knowing what had been tried, failed, and why. Lets say one knows Robert’s Rules and also have that deapth and breadth, but one is not a people person and have never learned how to connect? One would still have a difficult time making impact. Lets say one has developed those areas, but still does not know how to articulate them. Again, one would be ineffective. The good news is, all of this can be learned and it is learned line upon line. It takes time to polish.

I love simulations, they give me an opportunity to see Robert’s Rules in action. I can get inspired to deepen and broaden my cultural literacy. I can see what polish looks like. I can learn to connect better. I can find my voice and speak up, without the consequences that would normally follow this place I am on the learning curve.

I can see that much can be learned here about diplomacy, and much can also be applied to the family, as it is a small form , a basic form of government. Of course, self governance is the most basic form. Lessons all around, and not just on how to solve national problems.

Last night I shared with my EWI class how I at times have wake up calls, epiphanies that wake me up and that I usually get up, no matter how tired I am, and do what I was impressed to do, which is usually get up and create or write.  I retired at 9:30 last night and I woke with epiphanies around 3 am.  I was still suffering the ill effects of a few weeks with sick family and the Cedar City weekend.  I closed my eyes and started to drift, intentionally.  I knew instantly that I might forget.  I was woken at 4 am, and promptly rolled over.  I knew better, but the flesh was week.  I finally arose around 5:30.  Yes, it was gone.  I cannot even think what the epiphany was.  I know the ideas were profound connections, but I cannot retrieve it.  I knew better,but my poor choices of ignoring my physical need for rest, set me up for this morning.

I studied II Nephi 20-21 and then 10.  Some of the Isaiah chapters.  I love this part of the Book of Mormon.  It helps me see things as they really are.  I see that things can be both literal and a type.

Time to do my exercises and study.

More later.

I got a pretty good night’s sleep. I arose early and was able to study II Nephi 10, and read Plato’s Apology, before going to the dentist. I had my last cracked tooth repaired, above the one that was crowned last week.

I ordered, A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe by Michael S. Schneider, for Julia, as she needed it for the Math and Science block that she is taking. I had already taken a copy of The Origin of the Spieces by Charles Darwin, down to Cedar City, for her, last week. Then I went to Barnes and Noble to pick up Inherit the Wind by Lawrence and Lee, to two day mail to her, tonight.

While in the store I was overcome with a sense of total well being. It startled me, really. As I was thinking of the task at hand and could think of nothing I glanced at that would have brought my mind to this place. This was more than in my mind. I felt whole and that every part of my being was feeling this. I had a sense of hopefulness fill my being. I can not completely describe it here, but this feeling let me know that this would be a successful year. I was filled with gratitude. I cherish the moment.

I got home in time for my EWI Class. My assignment this week was to become aware and keep track of the times I heard people talk out loud what they had been thinking. “I was thinking to myself.” “I said to myself’” etc. I had driven to the seminar with my daughter, who shares what she thinks and is thinking. At the seminar I became very aware of others who shared what they were thinking. I reported that I was aware 22 times, though I know I witnessed it more often. I had the highest awareness in the class and was the one that won me the $100. OK I thought surely that others were more aware than me and would beat 22. I think we all witnessed far more than 22, but only took mental note a fraction of what we experienced.

We had scripture study, late, learned about turning the other cheek, in family home evening, and had devotional. I needed sleep and retired early.

A long Sabbath.  I taught Sharing Time in Primary on the creation.  I taught the children about the restoration of the Gospel, in my primary class.  Pana came over for dinner and after dinner Julia caught a ride back to Cedar City with school mates.  After Julia left, Pana, and I sat on the couch and had a delightful conversation and discussed the Mahonri Moriancumr. Their travel was not only without sail or rudder, but without windows.  Sometimes our travel through life is like that, and windows to our future may be a danger.

I want to share my epiphanies about simulations, but I want to go to bed.  If I have a few moments tomorrow afternoon, perhaps I will share.  Meanwhile, I am off to slumber land, and I sooooooooooooo need my beauty sleep.

Goodnight.

On Valentine’s Day, Roger and I decided for a Chinese lunch. Then we went to See’s for dessert. L had my youth class, then had my Robert Allen class. When class was over I came to the kitchen and helped Mary and Jeremy make butter cookies and made 4 batches of frosting for Jennifer to take to young Womens.

15 February, Jennifer and I drove to Mona, picked up Bethany up and headed to Cedar City for a statesmanship retreat, at GWC. I have spent the last three days at the retreat. It was excellent! I will share more tomorrow.

Mary is finally out of the woods today!
I finished up Twelve Greeks and Romans Who Changed the World by Carl J. Richard. What an introduction to the ancient world, it was like reading a Who is Who in the anciet world,  the righting style inspiring, and he was able to trace the movers and shakers of the ancient worls to the influences on the founders of our country.  This was a great introduction or overview of classical studies from Homer to Augustine.

I had a great mentor meeting with Adam today and beginning to move at a good pace.

I rewrote my proposals for my grad classes, reflecting the refining that came to me this week, and submitted them.  I decided to make a grid and 10 symbols for marking my books that I will use for my graduate project of writing my own book.  This is falling into place.

Goodnight.