I am so grateful!

I was raised in the school of Pollyanna... learning to be glad about things. It struck me today as I was teaching my primary class and taught my kids to replace negative thoughts with something they are grateful for. One of my darling little girls looked at me, shivering, with her arms tucked into her sweater and said "I am SO grateful!"

So am, I thought, SO AM I! At that moment for her faith in me. Humbling.

Yesterday was one of those perfect days. I am SO glad!

In an effort for "balance", I registered myself a few months ago for a half marathon. I had every intention of training and being ready for it. Though I've been a regular at a boot camp for the past 3 months, my longest run has only been 7 miles and that was on a treadmill. I was a little nervous! But I did it. And I did it well!

With my wounded feet and achy legs I SPRINTED past some guy trying to beat me through the finish line...running those 13.1 miles, only walking at water stations and a short 1/2 block at mile 11.

I am so grateful for MY perfect body that continues to amaze me.

I am so grateful for my strong spirit that manages my body. Running always magnifies my dualistic nature.

Last night was our fund raiser for Hope Arising. Debbie West Coon performed a song called "My Name is Hope". It was perfect. It may as well have been written for Hope Arising and our children in Ethiopia.

I am so grateful for music and the spirit it brings.

My good friend John Johnson created the most beautiful video to go with it, as well as an amazing fund raising campaign that he is getting ready to kick off for us. Both of these people are in my life because I've gotten to love their children.

I am so grateful for the fruits of loving more, of loving, reciprocal friendships.

One of my colleagues came with his darling little girl. She and I are best friends you know! She ran into my arms and handed me an envelope, stuffed full of coins and dollar bills. The note on the front said "to help the children in Africa. Yay!" It's her allowance money. She wants those children to have it more.

I am so grateful for the pure hearts of children.

Randal was amazing. It was so great to be able to sit and listen and learn from this gifted speaker and storyteller. I know of no other way to thank this great mentor of mine than to live well and help others... pay it forward: He and his publishers are going to donate 50% of book sales to Hope Arising. So if you are interested in a book, please email me (jabrinkerhoff@gmail.com) your address and how many books you want. (Your order needs to be on a specific card to get the donation. They'll bill you and send the book.)

He teaches an incredibly unique 3 word method to recording your memories. Really. It's brilliant. You'll have to read the book to totally get it. What a perfect Christmas gift, huh?

I am so grateful for generosity.

I am so grateful.

Guest Writer

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a Mormon Women website which is sponsored by the More Good Foundation. They asked if they could interview me to do a story. Ha! During the interview, she asked if I'd just write something... actually she asked if I'd become a "regular" but that all depends on time...

Regardless, I'm honored to have published with them....here's my first post: Mormon Women

Becometh as a Child

I have always loved the scripture in Mosiah 3: 19 "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

The older I grow, the more aware I am of my "natural man" tendencies and my desperate need to become more like a child. I'm always looking for how...

My family has been doing a fitness challenge for the past 3 months. It's been a lot of work and has really helped us to develop some good, healthy habits. We've had a lot of fun talking about it and working toward it. My 9 year old niece joined in and really worked hard. I'm so proud of her.

And bless her! She won the challenge and the cash prize. I got to be the banker and so was able to deliver her prize to her tonight. I loved how big her eyes got when she saw the money and started to count it. But what happened next was really the "how" I needed to see.

She started to calculate what tithing would be on her "increase". Then she took a twenty dollar bill and handed it to me and said "For the kids in Africa. I want to help." Of course my eyes filled up with tears and I wrapped her in my arms... promising that her generous, unselfish heart will always bring her happiness.

Me too.

THIS is the last thing I should be doing right now. Especially since I fell asleep studying today and I need to be on campus in a few minutes. But that's my point. I realized last week how much time I spend rushing....

It was as I was bookin' it up to the "G" on a little hike on Saturday. I was focused, I was moving fast, and I had a goal. I stopped to tie my shoe and looked up and around and couldn't believe all the beauty I was missing out on because I was in such a hurry to get up that mountain. Of course the view was best from the top but there was so much beauty in the process. I loved thinking about how it changed as I finally did achieve "higher ground".

Yet I kept thinking about the fact that I wasn't in a race and I didn't NEED to be up there that fast.

Feels like my life right now. I think there's a lot of beauty I'm missing out on because I'm so focused to "get there". Sure am needing to slow down a bit. Um. I guess that's how I'll justify being late to class.

I could get use to this....

AH! I loved today! I loved having the whole day to study! (That sounds kind of crazy, doesn't it?) Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, but it sure felt good to be focused on just one thing. And I got so much accomplished!

My reward (does anyone else reward themselves for checking off their whole list?) was to get new running shoes! FINALLY! And I did it right... went to a running store and had them check out my feet on the treadmill and with the computer... the whole shabang!

I even had time to browse Costco tonight after class. Man! Do I dream of the day when I am pleasure reading again. Don't you just love to peruse their books? One day...

Sure do love fall break!

By the way, I'm blogging on another blog these days. If you're following jbrink, I hope you'll add this one too: Hope Arising. Of course!

How My Hope started Arising...

I've been REALLY blessed with wonderful mentors in my life. Each with perfect timing, perfect advice, and the perfect help to assist me in moving to the next step in my life. I could give you a really long list of all of my amazing mentors but for now I will tell you about just one: Randal Wright.

Randal and his wife knew me as a little girl in Beaumont, Texas 30 some years ago. We re-met June 2008 in Virginia at EFY... he was my session director. I'd just come from Israel and was so excited about my life...wanting so much to change, to be guided to where I was supposed to be going in my life....to figure things out.

Imagine my surprise when Randal and Wendy were driving me to the airport and Randal turns to me and says "Why aren't you getting your PhD?" What? Did he know that I had been seriously thinking about it but talking myself out of it every time the thought entered my mind?

Needless to say, he pushed me off a cliff and here I am 15 months later planning my comprehensive exams, dissertation, and my next career goals. Who knew? HE did, because HE continues to place people in my path to help me get to where I need to be... because I have a mission to achieve.

Thank you Randal for being an instrument in propelling me forward.

I'd like to invite you to meet Randal, to learn about some of his life's work in helping others to achieve their mission. He'll be in Mesa, Arizona on Saturday, November 14 to do a fundraiser for Hope Arising. I'd really love for you to come!

Tickets are $10... times for 2 events are 5pm and 7:30pm. Both at Mesa Community College Library (Mesa and Southern)

Go here to purchase your tickets and reserve your seats.

Make Us One

There's something really wonderful about sharing a common passion, the same goals and vision...experiencing true unity! I just couldn't help but count all the women who I share a Relief Society legacy with. There are just so many! My dearest friends! I love that we share a bond of sisterhood because our "legacy is passed heart to heart".

I couldn't help but think of my sisters in Ethiopia tonight. And how I was able to teach Relief Society while I was there ... I taught them about our heritage as Relief Society sisters and the strength in visiting teaching. (Isn't it awesome that they were able to participate in the very first Mormon Helping Hands in Ethiopia this week? AND that the Church News mentioned our youth conference this week?? I STILL can't believe that I got to do this!)


I loved viewing the Relief Society Broadcast with my mom, 2 sisters, a sister in law and a niece tonight. It's been a long time since I've been able to join them. There's really nothing like it... especially when you want to communicate something to your mom, in the middle of President Eyring's talk... something that a look in the eyes can say. Or a message heart to heart.

The past two nights I've had the opportunity to visit with 3 men that grew up in Ethiopia... all of them during the 60s. I felt that connection with them too. This common passion and instant connection because you both love the same people so very, very much. I wonder if it would be different if the purpose wasn't service?

Regardless, my heart is very full...with gratitude and joy...thinking about what it means to be "one" and why it matters so very, very much.