A few weeks ago I posted the following thought on Facebook-
"I'm finding that I don't necessarily have a firm stance on most things in life...i.e. I like to be healthy and feed my kids healthy things but I also enjoy junk food. I love working out but if I skip a day (or 2 or 3) it's no biggy. I vaccinate my children against some things but not others and I don't really care if others choose to vaccinate or not. I like my job and what I do as a nurse but I also wouldn't mind be a stay-at-home mom (I would actually prefer it most of the time.)
I suppose there are really only 2 things I stand firm on and believe in whole heartedly, that is 1) God, Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation 2) the importance of family."
This thought frequently crosses my mind. I used to wonder why I'm not particularly "good" at any one thing, but realize it's probably because I dapple in a little of everything. How does the saying go? "Jack of all trades, Master of none"? Yeah that pretty much somes up my life.
Today, however, this thought didn't have anything to do with talents, it had to do with friends. Let me explain. Sarah and I had a conversation this morning about not feeling a part of our ward families. (Wards are the areas/neighborhoods that go together to church.) I have lived in my ward boundries for almost 5 years. I love my ward. We have wonderful people in this ward. Yet, most of the time I feel like I have one foot in and one foot out, it's like I'm standing on the threshold of a home and can't figure out if I would be better inside or outside. During my conversation with Sarah, I started to wonder, are my feelings about my ward related to the fact that I don't really have close friends and I have a tendency to talk to everyone and not really be close to anyone. In essence, am I "dappling" in accquaintences, but never really developing deep, satisfying friendships? If so, perhaps the best way to really feel a part of my ward family would be to develop better friendships. Not just the "hey how are you, we should hang out sometime" friendships, but friendships where uplifting conversations occur with ease and you have the desire to stay in that persons presence. Ultimately, this begins with me.
So I have a new goal for for 2014. (It's not too late to make resolutions, right?) I plan to be a better friend, one that others want to be around. I plan to spend more time listening and less time talking. I will be that friend that uplifts others. I hope by doing this, I will develop friendships that last and that I will no longer feel like I'm standing on the threshold, instead I'll be standing inside, surrounded by people I love, in a place that feels like home.
Cyndi is my oldest sister, about 20 years older. Cyndi is the reader. She is one of the few people I know (other than my friend Kaylee) that can read a book in a few hours. Cyndi is always reading....always! She will read anything, I have seen her reading mystery, romance, church literature, etc. It has always amazed me at how quickly she can read a book by one of our general authorities...I mean come on, it takes me an hour just to get through a 2 page talk. :) I think Cyndi learned early on that "we are able to progress as we increase in KNOWLEDGE and experience." I am grateful for her example to try to immerse myself in more books, who knows, maybe it was her example that made me the reader I am today.
Becky is a HARD WORKer, one of the hardest workers I know. She is always working, at home, at work, at play. Sometimes I get tired just hearing how much she does in one day, but it is amazing to me. For example, she wakes up early to help get the kids ready for school and then get to work by 7. She works a full day, leaving at 3 to pick up her 3 children, all of which go to different schools (elementary, jr. high and high school). Sometimes she will return to work to finish up loose ends, but even if she doesn't, her work is not done when she gets home. Once she is home she almost always makes a home-cooked meal for her family, (a definite feat in my mind). She then cleans up, goes to mutual/visiting teaching/dance classes/etc. After that she often works out, cleans around her house, spends some time with her husband, gets her kids ready for bed, probably only falling asleep herself close to midnight...then she starts G. Scott that says, "they became outstanding servants of God because of their discipline, hard work, and trust in the Lord." 
Michelle is a bit of sunshine on a cloudy day. She brings humor to our sometimes dull family and I am so grateful for it! I remember one of the first times I got to hang out with Michelle. She took me shopping for a new dress when I was about 13. I was excited to go shopping with her partly because she had this rad green truck and also because she was always so HAPPY. I was not disappointed on this trip. As we were driving to the mall a song came on the radio that she liked, she then cranked up the volume and started dancing and grooving in the car...I can honestly say that was a first for me. I remember her telling me to join in with her and thinking to myself, "she is SO cool, I wish I could be as fun as her." I suppose I have been lucky enough to get a piece of Michelle's fun attitude, because occasionally, when a really awesome song comes on the radio, you can see me doing my own little dance moves on the US60. 
Karla is amazing! She is the first person I have ever met who was a doctor at the age of 24. I am only beginning to realize how much work it was for her to accomplish such a task in so little time. What amazes me even more is she is continuing on with her schooling. She is a great example to me of endurance. There have been so many times when I have wanted to quit nursing school because I was overwhelmed, but knowing how much Karla had to SACRIFICE to get to where she is today, reminded me that it takes hard work to accomplish great tasks. Along with that is also her sacrifice to give up her home and family to come to the U.S. to marry my brother. I cannot imagine having to leave so much behind, but once again Karla is a wonderful example of how important the virtues of sacrifice and compromise are when you love someone. 
Marianne is my bosom buddy in a lot of ways. She and I have a lot in common and have endured similar trials in life and those trials have allowed us to bond in a special way. One of the things I have learned from Marianne is to set GOALs. I know a lot of us set goals for ourselves. I do all the time, but most of the time it seems that we forget our goals or give up when things get rough. Marianne on the other hand, not only sets goals, but makes a PLAN to acheive that goal. I have seen these characteristics in her when she planned her wedding, graduated from college, prepared her home for a new baby, lost weight after her first baby, started working as a teacher, started working out at the gym, I have even seen them in the simple daily tasks she has to do. Elder Wirthlin has said, "I have known many great men and women. Although they have different backgrounds, talents and perspectives, they all have this in common: they work diligently and persistantly towards acheiving their goals." I really believe that Marianne is one of these great women.
Becky Filhart is my sister from the Filhart side. I am so lucky to have Becky as a sister. I remember praying Dave would just propose to her so that she would officially be a part of our family. Becky is the epitome of FRUGALity. First of all she practically made it through college debt free because she knew how to budget and be frugal with her money. Second, she always has the cutest decorations and furnishings in her home, almost all of which were not only inexpensive, but also high quality. Becky has taught me that cheap is not always better, but that you can always find a good deal if you are patient and creative. In fact, although she may not realize it, Becky has taught me most of what I know about decorating on a budget. Becky definitely exemplifies the teachings of the church to be wise, frugal and provident.
Sarah. It's pretty amazing that all I have to do is write her name and tears start streaming down my face. I could say a lot of wonderful things about Sarah, but I think the one thing I would like to share is that Sarah is the GREATEST example to me of what a SISTER should be. I can say this because she has not only been a wonderful sister to me, but she is a wonderful sister to every person she comes in contact with. She is able to see beyond the flesh and blood and really connect with people on a spiritual level. Sarah not only knows that we are all Spirit brothers and sisters, but she lives her life and treats others like they are all part of her own family. Because if this I think Sarah has been lucky enough to have a little bit of heaven in her life. I love the quote by President Hinckley that says, "love is like the Polar Star. In a changing world, it is constant. It is the very essance of the gospel. Without love...there is little else to commend the gospel to us as a way of life." Sarah is like a Polar Star, I know her love for me is constant and not dependent on what I do, and for this I am eternally grateful.
