Lifting Weights: Barbells and Trials

I have been reading "Believing Christ" for a while now. With my busy schedule, I get in a few pages here, and a few pages there. I had intended to fly through it, but with every moment of time budgeted, its incredible I have gotten this far.

Today I read something that totally clicked. It spoke directly to me, because 1) I have trained in a gym before, and 2) I am at the edge of my abilities. It all makes sense...

To quote Stephen E. Robinson:
"When I was in high school, I used to work out in the weight room....After doing all the repetitions with the barbell that I was able to, being on the brink of collapse, I would say to the spotter, "take it!" but the spotter would always say, "no, do one more!" Usually reaching way down deep I could in fact manage one more rep, after which I would say, "ok, take it!" again the spotter would rely, "no, do one more." No matter how many times I did just one more, the spotter would always reply,"just one more." This would continue until my muscles actually gave out, and then the spotter would grab the bar.

"...In a gym, both spotters and the lifters understand that the real power is gained on the last repetition, on the thin edge between what one can do and what one can't. By coaxing me into working at the limits of my abilities, the spotter helped me develop the power I was seeking.

"...One purpose of the Church is to perfect the Saints. Since we make the most progress by working at the limits of our abilities, then no matter how much we do or how well we do it, the Lord...will always ask for more, will always seek improvement, will always push us toward perfection."

Oooh. Its ok to struggle and say "help" but then realize the help is just an encouraging word while you try not to cry because what you are doing is so hard. Its actually the plan to push and push and push, even when you don't have anything left...because most of the time, you have at least something left. And when you hit that point where you can't lift the bar any higher, your muscles are shaking, your breath is almost gone, and nothing seems to do what your heart wants it to do - that's when your spotter steps in and takes the weight.

In that instant, you are thankful that the bar is out of your hands...but then the frustration comes: "HOW COME YOU DIDN'T TAKE IT SOONER?!?!?" And your spotter just smiles back, "But you did it."

Click. You did it. wow. I didn't realize I could do that much....And then the next day you are able to push yourself just a little bit more...and you are stronger then before.

Stronger.

Diddy #4: What Love IS

One of my family's favorite movies is Yours, Mine, and Ours (the 1968 version). It is an extremely entertaining movie about blending 2 VERY large families, and the lessons learned by having so many children under one slightly leaky roof.

I think of quotes from that movie often, and its quite sad that more people don't know what I am referencing when I use them. Yesterday and today I have been thinking about what proves you love someone. How do you show it? How do you know what's real and what's silly? How do you know what's worth fighting for?

This scene from Yours, Mine, and Ours popped into my head. The oldest daughter picks a particullary busy, but perfect time to ask her stepfather about what true love is. I LOVE his answer.

"It isn't going to bed with a man that proves you are in love with him...its getting up in the morning and facing the drab, miserable, wonderful, everyday world with him that counts."

I want to face the drab, miserable, wonderful everyday world side by side with my best friend... I may look slightly scary in the morning...I may forget to push the start button on the dishwasher...I may bake crusted edges and mushy center brownies...but I want to walk through that life together.

Diddy #3: pucker, pout, or priss

I just came across this...do you need a smile? I did.

Motherhood

I love to wonder onto LDS.org on Sundays. This is the message on Motherhood that was posted for this week. I spent the day with my mother...and her mother....I had intended to be a source of light and joy for them....but instead I was the one who had a load removed as tears were shed. Even though I try so hard to be an adult, and to be tough, and to handle things myself, those women were still being the Mothers I needed. It was their big day, and they spent it loving on me.

My greatest desire is to be mother. I don't just want to be a mom. I want to be a righteous Mother in Zion. I want to be there. I want to experience it all. The late nights, early mornings, cold food, soiled beds, smelly socks, and cheerios spilled in the car. I want to fulfill the Purpose Heavenly Father designed for me. I want to teach my children about Christ. I want them to hear that I know who He is. I want them to seek Him.

So for now, I seek Him.

Diddy 2: The Solution to Everything

I have a class this term that is all about teaching English as a second language, and all we do is discuss controversial topics about rights of individuals. It has the tendency to get quite heated. Everyone is looking for the perfect solution...but there isn't one to be found. It was getting kinda ugly, between class members (and the things we discuss about how society handles the topic, is SUPER ugly).

I got slightly distracted, because I couldn't handle all of the yuckiness. I wanted to figure out what the utopian solution would be...then it hit me upside the head. THERE ARE SO MANY ETHICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT A MYRIAD OF TOPICS ACROSS THE WORLD, AND THE SOLUTION OF HOW TO ACT AND WHAT TO SAY IS......

BE CHRISTLIKE!

Enough said.

Fatherhood

This video was even more powerful for me then the previous one. I love it. This is the kind of man I am looking for. He who understands his role as leader in our home. He who knows the magic of fatherhood. He who knows the responsibility, and he welcomes it. 

We will face those sticky kisses, nap time, jammies, and tantrums together.

Children

I watched this a few weeks ago, and was filled with love and faith. I truly look forward to the future. Today my roommates and I were discussing motherhood and the collegiate world. We were trying to find the balance. 

Was school our first plan?

Was it the back up plan? 

Could we personally handle both at the same time?

Then I remembered this video....and I knew I needed to share it.

Diddies

I need to be blogging more. Not because I want fame and fortune. Not because I want a huge following...but because I need to share my thoughts...and someone needs to hear them...and the Lord said "DO IT" and I respond "Yes SIR!"

I  have a couple random thoughts I will share. I may not be doing HUGE lengthy posts like I have in the past, but I am going to put little ideas, diddies, and videos. (Is Diddy a word? I want it to be a word) I wanted to call my new little posts : Dinda's Diddies...(Della used to call me Dinda) but then I realized that my innocent brain would think nothing of that title, and somebody else might just have a cow....so I will do a variation...because I REALLY like the word Diddy.....

I will call it Diddies by Dinda...
There. It is decided.

Diddy #1
Thursday I was volunteering at an After School Homework thing...I asked to help a child with an IEP (Individualized Education Program). These student can have mild behavior problems or something morel like a major learning disability.

I will call the little boy, Sir A.

Sir A and I were working on math homework. I leaned in to look at one of the questions, and his scent awakened my senses. My nose remembered something.

I smelled poverty.

I knew that scent: it is the one of unwashed hair. The lack of soap/perfume smell on clothing. It was the smell of "not enough". It was the smell of many of my beloved Navajo children.

It was a smell that made me LONG to give Sir A more. It was a smell that made me love him.

I love Sir A.