genealogy, masonry, the next step, and enjoying.

i've been inspired to do some family history. :) it's kinda of a daunting task but extremely exciting! i'm working on my biological family right now. i'll start with my father's side. maybe someday i'll know where to begin for my mother's native american side!

my patriarchal blessing speaks very specifically of doing genealogy and i know that patriarchal blessings are of a sacred nature and should not be shared with the world but i really want to share this one paragraph. it's so exciting to me!

" You have a great responsibility in the area of genealogy, many of your ancestors wait patiently beyond the veil for you to do this great work in their behalf. This may seem very difficult and an impossible task to accomplish. The lord will be with you and He will open the necessary doors that you will be able to accomplish this to a very good measure. The Lord loves you and desires for you to succeed in this great work."

i guess this means i need to get to work. my goal is to have four to ten names to take to the temple and have all their ordinances done by the end of the year!

so, mick has become a mason. now a lot of you may think, "what?! that is so sacrilegious!". or something like that. i know i wasn't really all up for it when he mentioned he wanted to become a mason. in fact i was pretty against it. my argument was "why do you need to be a mason when you can go to the temple?". he asked me to go to a meeting that they were having where i could go check out the masonic lodge and ask questions. he had to work so i went by myself. it was a little nerve wracking but he's so passionate about it and i wanted to know why, as well as support my soon to be fiance/husband.

i went and my only question was how being a mason conflicted with being an active lds member. i learned that masonry isn't a religion. it a fraternal organisation. a free mason must believe in a supreme being, be of good morals and have a good reputation. they are the very best men they can be in their families, community and religion that they choose to be affiliated with. after learning these things i was very impressed. i felt...uplifted.

there's a scripture in Moroni that says:

"Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgement which ye judge ye shall also be judged."

mick was initiated last month and is working on his degrees and on his way to becoming a master mason. the reason why i'm "blogging" about this now is because i am LOVING the difference this has made in his life and the way it is affecting my life as well. he's so happy! he's so excited about...life! he's trying his best to become the very best person he can be. the other day he deleted 20 gigs of music off his itunes/ipod because it just wasn't appropriate. his very favorite band was deleted. i couldn't believe he actually did that! i was so impressed with his integrity. "for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." there are other ways i've noticed that him being a mason has changed him for the better. i won't go on and on and bore my mom and the other two people who read my blog. haha. :D i'm just so grateful for my soon to be husband. he has an amazing heart. i'm very grateful for this organisation he's a part of that is making him a better man and influencing him to do good.

my great grandpa was a mason. he was the sweetest and most kind hearted, caring, and giving person i had ever met. it's so exciting to see my mick become that kind of man. especially as we get closer to entering the temple to be married!

which leads me to the next step. we have like 40 days till the wedding. FORTY DAYS! Wow! Time has flown by! i just got fitted for my dress today. have to take it in a whole size. pretty upset about that because i argued with the lady at the bridal shoppe about how i needed a specific size but she thought i needed a size bigger, blah blah blah. well, the dress came and guess what. it was a whole size too big. oh well. at least it's here and i have wonderful friends willing to help me out!

i just have to say life is good. not always easy. but it is really good.

there was a talk given by a missionary in sacrament meeting today; he said {paraphrasing} "endure is kind of a harsh word. endure life to the end. i rather use the word enjoy. i am enjoying life to the end." what a great motto!