So- I seem to be gleening some good stuff from my American Literature class! Today in my readings I came across an excerpt from Booker T. Washington's "Up From Slavery". As I read I couldn't help but think of President Uchtdorf's Conference Address, "Lift Where You Stand." I find when juxtaposing these two pieces, and perhaps my Patriarchal Blessing as well, I just might be able to determine where and how I personally need to "Lift" and/or "Cast down my bucket". After reading "Up From Slavery", and combining it with what I know from the BYU-I Learning Model, I asked myself what I see in Lyndee that I need to change so as to create Zion within my school classes, my home, my ward, and/or all the other regions of my life. I'll have to get back to you with my answer- that is I'll get back to you when I HAVE my answer.

Booker T’s excerpt mentioned above:
“A ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the mast of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal,“Water, water; we die of thirst!” The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back, “Cast down your bucket where you are.” A second time the signal, “Water, water; send us water!” ran up from the distressed vessel, and was answered, “Cast down your bucket where you are.” And a third and fourth signal for water was answered, “Cast down your bucket where you are.” The captain of the distressed vessel, at last heeding the injunction, cast down his bucket, and it came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the mouth of the Amazon River. To those of my race who depend on bettering their condition in a foreign land or who underestimate the importance of cultivating friendly relations with the Southern white man, who is their next-door neighbor, I would say: “Cast down your bucket where you are”— cast it down in making friends in every manly way of the people of all races by whom we are surrounded.”

President Uchtdorf's Address http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-18,00.html

Learning Model http://www.byui.edu/learningmodel/src/default.htm

The Mad Hatter

I recently came across my new favorite online store. hatsinthebelfry.com It's FAAAAANtastic!!! It's where I picked up this little polka-dot number. Isn't it great? I fancy hats quite a bit. Wearing them saves a lot of what would be hair-do-ing time. Plus, they keep me hidden. I like that quite well.

A Vegas Girl in Zion's Court

Last week in my American Literature class we finished reading Mark Twain's
"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", and we were asked to rate ourselves regarding where we stand in the gammet of cynism to realism to romanticism. First, I had to decide how I define each of these, then where Heavenly Father would like me stand, and finally conclude where it is I find myself today. This was pretty difficult!


Cynic(Webster's definition)- a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.
Cynic (Lyndee's definition)- a bitter person; one without hope. A cynic likes to use phrases such as, "Yeah- right!" and "Keep dreaming!"

Realist (Webster's definition)- a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are.
Realist (Lyndee's definition)- a person who BELIEVES he things as they really are. A realist likes to use phrases like, "Oh yeah?" and "It is what it is".

Romantic (Webster's definition)- fanciful; impractical; unrealistic.
Romantic (Lyndee's definition)- fanciful; hopeful; a bit unrealistic.
Romantics use phrases like, "We're going to get married, and live happily ever after!" and "I will have the PERFECT life!" (and she means PERFECT- without trials or adversity). Romantics generally speak in a futuristic style, or they speak of things without immediate connection to themselves.

I decided that for me Heavenly Father wants me to be a realist with the hope of a romantic eternity.

This is what I decided for myself:

I wish I could be a bit more romantic, and maybe tomorrow I will be. Who knows? So is the life of one with bi-polar disorder. I do think I lean more to the cynical side of life. However, I used to be such a romantic! Life changes a person. And, I'm only 37! I've seen things, probably no worse than the things every person in this class sees throughout their individual lives, but I believe I allow my experiences to dent my soul more than I should. I shouldn't be such a cynic. I know that everyday I wake up, and I earnestly pray that I will see the Lord's hand in my life, and I do.
I pray that I will lean on my faith and hope in my Savior, Jesus Christ. But, then reality steps in to my life, and it all goes asunder! I have difficulty believing I will find happiness in this earthly life. In 2 Nephi 2:25 we read, "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."
Everytime I read this I feel so bleak. I "might" have joy. "Might". That doesn't mean now, or for sure. It's a matter of enduring, obeying, serving, loving, etc. Arrrggghhhh! I have moments- few and far between- that offer glimpses of joy and peace, but I honestly see this mortal portion of my eternal life as pretty Hellacious. I just want it over and done with. I want out. I want the next phase of eternity to start NOW!
I want to be at my Savior's feet, learning, feeling His love, being accepted for who I am - for the first time ever. But, that's not enduring to the end. So, I stick with this life, for the time being, and pray that I can see bits of eternity here and now- just enough to get me through one more day. I've decided to look to the example of Esther.
What an amazing woman of faith. I want to become more like her. Then I won't have to worry whether I'm a cynic, a realist, or a romantic. I can answer, "I'm Lyndee. I'm a Christian. I am a Woman of Virtue."