Who do you love and WHY?

My kinda Man, These things I love...

Where did you get your list of Character traits you want in a spouse?  What is, or was the list like that you made of that special someone out there in your future that you "wanted to be with for eternity"?
A really good book?  I'm sure Apryl has a list from some Jane Austin Book or Doctor Who! How bout a movie, soap operas, a TV show, Maybe more appropriately a Father or Mother
Where or where???  Were you always rootin for the bad guy? Did you pick the Vixen or the the "Love to Hate him guy"? Was your person to beat all persons the Diva or the honorable clean cut guy? Did you always root for the couple that shouldn't be together but you love the Drama! or Turn off or close the book because you just couldn't stand that "they" were together.  Maybe when "that couple" you love was finally together you stop watching or listening because you want your own "Happily everafter".  Who was the couple you always set your goals and dreams to be like to exemplify? To reflect.  The notebook? Your parents?

In 2 Timothy 3:1-7 it warns of a whole slew of chartacter traits that we should avoid that hopefully nobody sets the goal to be like or around to exemply or reflect in any way.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

So with my past experience and all the lists collected over the decades of my life, I've created a list of character traits and the role models I learned them from. I think together it would make the Perfect Eternal Companion - so here goes, just for fun!!!

Ricky: first love, well he was trouble - avoid trouble no when to shut the door! He loved my mom and was kind to her.
Maurice: loves his wife and kids - good dad - honors his priesthood

Blaine taylor: reeked of really good taste in cars!

Jesse: a compassionate listener, not only Temple worthy, but attends the Temple often

Christian: a kind teacher

Tyler: charastamatic and an enthusiastic convert creative hardworker

Ron: trustworthy, a desire to go and do family history
Logan: athletic and competitive honors his priesthood
Mikel: integrity
Zane: provider and protector, staunch, isn't afraid to whoop your BUTT if you have hurt someone he cares about

Earl: stalwart COWBOY!, endured to the end.

Austin: smart , provider, funny honors his parents

Hyrum: sense of humor and both of us love his mother
Tom: Protector fun loving cowboy!
Buddy: Trustworthy, candid
jWayne: loves to sing, great friend

Ben: humble, a good friend, honors, his priesthood
Seane: Affectionate, peacemaker

Colin: a gentelman
Amric: sincere, warrior, honest, loves from the bottom of his heart, hard worker, dedicated, determined
Matthew: sensitive, honors his parents
Deacon: Spontaneous he's "Done Talkin'"!

Robert: Romantic

Kirk: Willing to go the distance to surprise me, confident

Paul: welcoming, concerned for well-being

Brandon: likes to watch my TV with me

Calvin: loves my family, hard worker, good businssman, we both love his mom!

Jake: a protector sense of humor honorable priesthood holder
Curt: A leader in Righteousness - Family Prayer and prayed with kids by bed every night

Terry: honest and a desire to serve a mission
Timmy: Captain and defender of country

Sean: repentant
Otis: Frugal, knows how to budget

Darcy: non judgmental

Glenn: DANG FUN! Spoiled me :) Integrity

Bryan: Does his calling

Vincent: patient and Generous, Family First
Tod: kind, wants the best for you, willing to lend a hand when needed

Olaf: thinker, family man, fun

Dave: honest - Great Ethics

Richard: Provider, forgiving and loves me more than anyone else! (I just can't not have that!)

Being the Right Person is just as important if not more than "finding the right person", so all these character traits I want in my man, I need to develop in myself.  This is who I strive to be (I've got along way to go!);

Proverbs 31

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

AGAIN - wish me luck!!!

We are all working at being better people
and being with the ONEs we LOVE.

ideas for reference other than mine!--

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/10/preparing-yourself-for-marriage

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/09/choosing-and-being-the-right-spouse 

Dig in .. Exert Yourself

Dig deep, Exert yourself increase in faith and spiritual knowledge gain and incorporate a STRONG Testimony...

These are the words of Lorenzo Snow

they apply so much to our day that I just had to include them here ... PLUS it's my whole EXERT YOURSELF theme for the year 2013!!! and something Amric wrote about this week in his letter, how we all have to find our own testimonies and not live in the shadows of anyone else's.

ENJOY!

It is just so in regard to matters that pertain to the things of God. We have to exert ourselves and go from grace to grace, to get the law of action so incorporated in our systems, that it may be natural to do those things that are required of us


So in regard to us, respecting the things which we are undertaking. If we expect to improve, to advance in the work immediately before us, and finally to obtain possession of those gifts and glories, coming up to that condition of exaltation we anticipate, we must take thought and reflect, we must exert ourselves, and that too to the utmost of our ability

Because he failed to exert himself before God with the view of developing the gift within him; he became greatly disappointed ... Nothing can be more foolish than the idea of a man laying off his religion like a cloak or garment. There is no such thing as a man laying off his religion unless he lays off himself. Our religion should be incorporated within ourselves, a part of our being that cannot be laid off. If there can be such a thing as a man laying off his religion, the moment he does so he gets on to ground he knows nothing about, he gives himself over to the powers of darkness, he is not on his own ground, he has no business there. 

Every man has got to learn to stand upon his own knowledge; he cannot depend upon his neighbor; every man must be independent; he must depend upon his God for himself entirely. It depends upon himself to see if he will stem the tide of trouble and overcome the impediments that are strewn in the pathway of life to prevent his progress. A man can get information by the operations of the Holy Spirit, and he approaches to God and increases in his faith in proportion as he is diligent.

It is impossible to advance in the principles of truth, to increase in heavenly knowledge, [unless] we exercise our reasoning faculties and exert ourselves in a proper manner

 We are getting up higher and higher. We are advancing to a higher condition and sphere and to a higher plane, and we are receiving such an education that the wisdom of the world with all its attainments and false doctrines and principles, will have no effect upon the Latter-day Saints, for they are rising above the theories and hypothesis of human inventions and soaring in things of truth that raise the mind, exalt the understanding, and establishing them[selves] more and more fully in the true principles of life and glory. We are filled in our hearts with these truths and we cannot tell the day or the hour in which our faith has been increased, but we feel, when we look back over the last week, month or year, that we have increased in faith and in the knowledge of faith and power of God; we know that we have got nearer our God and we feel that we are in fellowship with God our Father

Reverence .... at ground zero

The Sunday in January that we took the subway to lower Manhattan...

Walking toward "Ground Zero" the new towers in view

Austin came to visit us from his work for the weekend. He had said that for my trip I could do "what ever I wanted to do" so I wanted to go to see the where the Twin Towers went down, now a place of remembrance I thought it a suitable appropriate thing to do on the Sabbath.  What I didn't know was just how appropriate I would feel it really was until after we had gone there.  It was hustle and bustle on the subway, then the subway stopped and we got out and walked up the stairs to light, Sunlight it seemed even brighter than before we had gone in.  We stood on the corner of - it seems like 6 different streets meeting in the middle. It seemed like it should have been also hustle and bussle - chaos and mayhem, but it wasn't.  We debated a direction and then made choice and started to walk.  As we walked we stopped talking really, and just looking - different "sight seeing" than we had been doing the last couple of days.  In the moment maybe not even realizing it, but later learning from each other that we all had felt it.  The change in Atmosphere.

A very real very humble honor

Austin and I reading names around the fountain square.

Richard hadn't wanted to go here.  He had other intentions for this day, so he was reluctant.  We smiled and spoke to all of the police officers gathering around the fences so early and then went thru the guards at the gates, the security checks just before the switchback lines started and then we were in.  As we stepped into this Memorial, the only word I could then and still today can use to describe it - REVERENCE. I felt Reverence. The dictionary says that reverence is a deep respect or regard.  My interpretation of reverence is that plus so much more, a time of silence, honor, tribute, in this case sadness and heart felt condolences and yet a wonderment at life and the symbolism of this place and how life goes on, after death.  So much death, it's not a wonder to me at all that I felt the atmosphere change, I can't think that with that much death those spirits aren't all over that place - I felt that!

Richard's heart was changed after going here,
he was very glad that we did!

The idea of the water in the footprint of the buildings is awesome and enlightening   The scriptures teach us that water is representative of the WORD and the Word represents Jesus Christ. It's the only way I know how to make the comparison and share how I felt there that day.

There is rebuilding going on, it is amazing to see the process.  To physically be able to see the adjustment and a way to go about rebuilding something that has been defiled, abused, .... death.

 Life does go on and we must rebuild after tragedy   We must see the foundation and it must be rebuilt.  Under the twin towers were 3 subways that were smashed, people had to find new roads, travel into new territory,  experiment with open minds into darkness, make new choices.  And as we all do this and rebuild on a stronger more sturdy foundation we will triumph, grow taller, be smarter and leave behind wisdom for the generations that follow. Just as they are reconstructing here.

It was very cool!  I am so grateful to go and see this place.  I remember "that day".  Watching on the television black ashes coming towards people on that street that I was now walking on toward ground zero.  It was a dark time for me, we had just moved -(twice, two different states in 4 months, My sister and brother had both just died).  I felt dark and without hope.  Seeing those people and those planes that day - it was so helpless, I remember only wanting to hear the voice of President Hinckley telling the world it would be ok.

Todays feeling is one of peace and commitment to raising tall, lifting up, being a better person and wanting that for my children and grand children, nieces and nephews.  Life is good.  Make something of yourself.  Have no regrets, don't be slothful,  Dig in those roots and stand tall.  Nourish your spirit with Good better BESTEST stuff you can!!! - Exert yourself!  "We ought to dig deep into the things of God, lay our foundation upon the rock, until we come to that water which shall be in us an everlasting fountain of eternal life." Lorenzo Snow

This is a picture of the only tree left standing, it makes me cry seeing it and all it's strength struggling to live to it's fullest produce leaves again, shed the remains of fire and blackness that were left on it.  We all NEED to be reminded that life is for living and be about good works and integrity.  Teaching  and being of service to help others put down stronger foundations and stronger roots themselves. and in turn that will make our foundations and roots stronger and deeper too!

lds.org
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng
http://www.history.com/topics/world-trade-center