A Season of New Beginnings

It seems this time of year is full of opportunities to start something new ...

First we have the New Year, when people traditionally establish New Year's Resolutions which they may or may not keep.

Next we have the Chinese New Year. OK, I know I'm stretching just a little but doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?

February 1st was a new beginning for my karate school. I had been renting the aerobics room at the fitness club, where I was running classes as if I had 20 students instead of the 2 or 3 actually attenting. I realized shortly after the first of the year that I was just too tired to keep that pace up but couldn't stand the thought of giving it up entirely. We created a training room at our house where I now plan for smaller, more targeted groups of students of the same skill level. It's still a work in progress, but I think it's working out quite well.

Basketball season has ended and Michael is preparing for a new season of baseball and softball. He has a new uniform, has been diligently studying the rules and making note of changes, and will officiate his first game this afternoon.

Last night was New Beginnings for our Young Women, the formal program where the Young Women present their program and theme, explain each of the "Young Women Values" (Kylie spoke on Integrity and what it means) and welcome new members who will be turning 12 and joining the program during the year. The girls look ahead with hope at what they want to accomplish and who they want to become by the end of 2009.

Steven will turn 14 (!!) next week, and Kylie will be 16 (!!) just a few short weeks later. Both will move up a class in their youth programs ... Steven has completed his Duty to God requirements for Deacons and will soon become a Teacher, with new responsibilities. He'll be able to attend dances and in the fall will start Seminary and High School. Kylie will move into the Laurel class and continue working on her own Personal Progress. She'll be able to date (oy) and drive (OY!). The toughest part of High School will soon be behind her, and she is looking forward to her choices of classes for next year.

Soon it will be Spring and Easter -- both traditionally times of fresh starts, new life and rebirth.

With all these new beginnings going on all around me, it seemed a great time to begin publishing my thoughts on the internet for all to read. I have stubbornly resisted this trend, but lately I have begun to fully understand the opportunity that today's technology presents us. I thoroughly enjoy reading posts on my family's blogs. I feel closer to them as they effectively open a window into their lives and invite me in, almost as if I'm a part of them. Now I, in turn, invite you to peer through a window into my life and feel closer to me.

I had initially titled this blog, MDM Family News, but let's face it -- it's not about my family, it's about me. So I renamed it after the Large (secular) and Small (spiritual) plates of Nephi in the Book of Mormon.

I can't promise you that everything I post here will be uplifting and edifying. My husband likes to say, "Sometimes I wake up grumpy. And sometimes I just let her sleep." Sometimes I will need to vent and sometimes I may want to brag. But I will promise you that everything I post here will come from my heart.