Keeping a Record

An important part of family history work is keeping a record of our personal experiences.  This journal will provide the opportunity to reflect and record any thoughts or experiences gained.  My hope is that this journal will be of value to my children and grandchildren, and so on, to help them catch the Spirit of Elijah and keep our families bound for eternity.

Ponder - from this weeks lesson in family history -

1.  What were my experiences with family history?
I think this week, I've just been so busy with getting Tricia ready to head to the MTC that I've sort of put my genealogy on the back burner.  However, Tricia has been wanting to go to the Temple a few times before she leaves, and this has been valuable to me because it has forced me to gather and prepare some names.  I've been working on my genealogy for quite a few years now, but I am good at "putting it off" when I hit a brick wall.  My goal is to keep in on the "front burner" so to speak and keep it boiling, not giving it time to simmer, so that I can get as much work done as I possibly can.

2.  What did I learn?
As I went through the number of "pink" cards that I have, I realized that many of them are not ready for endowments.  I began to panic as we were getting ready to leave for the temple.  I felt really bad because I wanted to do my own family names, even though I knew I could get other names at the Temple.  I opened my temple bag to double check and make sure that I had everything with me, and there in the bag were two pink cards, needing endowments.  I don't remember putting them there, but they were exactly what I needed to see at that moment, and I know they were exactly what THEY needed me to see.

3.  What obstacles did I have and how did I overcome them?
My obstacles were in not being better prepared this week.  I didn't overcome them by my own means. This was a blessing from the Lord.

4.  What tender mercies or miracles did I witness?
I know how much Tricia wanted to go to the Temple, and the tender mercy received that evening was that she was able, for the first time after receiving her own endowment, to perform an endowment for one of her ancestors before she leaves on her mission.  It was a wonderful evening.

5.  Do I have any helpful tips to share? - Yes!  Be prepared.

6.  What resources were most useful to me?
I guess the resource I used this week was definitely the Spirit.

7.  In what ways did I receive "more than my own strength?"
Being as busy as I am this month, it would appear that this work was done for me.  I am grateful for the small miracles and tender mercies in my life.  I am grateful that Heavenly Father knows my limitations and fills in the gaps for me.  He is always there when I need Him, in every way!