New York...the deciding factor

Today was a good day.

I got to sleep in again...always a nice bonus. We had church at 12:40pm at the same building as the Manhattan temple. Church is on floors 3 & 4 and the temple is on floors 5 & 6.

We met some new people and I even found a girl from my freshman ward here. Her name is Caitlin Winmill and she served Long Beach (Spanish) the same time that I was in Carlsbad. So, it was kinda fun to see her and to already know someone in a random ward all the way across the country! :o)

After church I had some time to read before the cafeteria opened for dinner. Reading is a nice luxury I find a little time to enjoy around here so that was nice and I finally made a little more progress on book 6 of The Work & the Glory (Amy & Amber would be proud!).

Dinner was good and then we headed to the CES Fireside, where Pres. James E. Faust spoke from the Institute building on the University of Utah campus. I actually had a mission reunion in that same chapel 2 years ago so it was cool to see him there.

Today was a good reflection day for me and President Faust's talk just enhanced it all the more. I loved how he talked about making every moment a new beginning and bettering ourselves each day. He talked about being and doing our best, even on the smallest jobs, to help prepare us for the biggest ones; and to make time for regular and important spiritual renewals.

He shared six beginning measures for those spiritual renewals:

1. Have regular, ferverant prayer
2. Perform daily selfless service to another
3. Strive daily for increased obedience & perfection
4. Be a disciple of Christ
5. Study the scriptures daily
6. Do something!! (a.k.a. don't be lazy!)

He also talked about how we need to be doers of the word, not hearers only and that most of life's rewards come to those who prepare carefully.

I realized that there were a lot of things that I needed to be better at on this list, if not all of them.

On the way home from the fireside Laurel and I talked about our experiences of the day and had a really good reflective talk about everything. We decided that being out here in New York is a great opportunity for us to really develop who we are or we're going to be. I think it's a real turning point in my life and will influence a lot of my future decisions...where I want to be, what I want to do, etc.

I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to be out here. Tomorrow will be one week and I can hardly believe it. It seems like it's been so long...and yet...not. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks. I know they're going to fly by so its important to take advantage of each of them.

I haven't heard from most of you so please take some time when you get a chance and let me know what you're up to. Thanks to those of you who have made comments or have emailed me. It's fun to hear from you, too. :o) And yes Sarah, you should be jealous. I HIGHLY recommend New York! :o)

I hope you're well!

-mk