The Proof

Last night at Tithing Settlement {Declaration of tithing status. It is an eternal principle that we are accountable for what we have been given by God: our time, talents, and means. We know that we shall be “judged out of those things which [are] written in the books, according to [our] works” (Rev. 20:12; . At the end of the year, the bishop or branch president is asked to indicate on the records of the Church the tithing status of each member in his unit. It is our privilege to exercise our accountability by declaring for him our own tithing status.}

with the Bishop of our Church he talked to our family about doing math and having to show the proof of math equations.

He encouraged our family at the end of every year to write a proof list of the blessings we have received in our family from paying tithing, just like showing our proof in math class. I loved when he reminded us about the "windows of heaven opening up" when we pay our tithing. He reminded us that when the heavens open they sometimes bring sun, snow, rain, sleet or other elements which not may always be what we planned.


I started thinking about writing a "2009 Proof list" of the blessings that have been given to our family this year. This list would take me days to write. Then I started playing this game in my head thinking, "are my list of proofs really blessings or just luck"
My thought process goes as follows.
We were blessed with ....being able to see the world this year, Jeff did not have to go to Iraq, Jeff got a new job, the spot found on my MRI scan turned out to be nothing, our family is healthy...and so on.
Then I think about our friends who also paid their tithing but their husband went to Iraq, they are out of work, the spot on their MRI was something, family members were not healthy ...and so on.

So are my blessings because of paying my tithing? If I believe that then when something goes wrong in my life I get caught up in a "Well I did everything I was supposed to do" It can become a catch 22... if I let it.
So then I go back to what the Bishop said about the different elements coming from the opened sky.
I believe that I need to learn to count my blessings and acknowledge what I have been given, because if I don't practice it when life feels good how do I think I can do it when the proof is more difficult to prove.

When it comes down to it my proof is in the next 4 photos. I am blessed to have Caroline

I am blessed to have Annie Kate

I am blessed to have Sally Jane
(and that this year the monkey did not get any closer than this)and really.... so blessed to have this guy.


Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done

Happy New Year!