Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Anniversary Week {Day 2}

Today is Day 2 of the SITS Back2 Blogging Extravaganza!! This challenge has really got me excited about blogging and creating and inspiring. Thank you SITS!!!

Here is the Challenge for today...

"Re-post an entry that you really liked and you wished more people had paid attention to."

I am a Collector of B's



"Be grateful. Be smart. Be clean. Be true. Be humble. Be prayerful."
- President Hinckley

This piece of advice was given by one of my favorite men that walked the earth-Gordon B. Hinckley. He was a great leader in my Church...respected, loved and cherished by everyone who ever met him or heard him speak. Sadly, he died a couple of years ago...but his memory lives on in the hearts of so many.

The first time I came across Hinckley's famous "Be" quotation was back in 2006. We were visiting our friends in Utah and I saw the quote hanging above their sink in the kitchen. I LOVED it! It spoke to me on so many levels. "Be grateful. Be smart. Be clean. Be true. Be humble. Be prayerful." It was a like a compass for my life. A reminder of how I envisioned myself to be. The qualities I wanted to pass along to my children.

It was during that summer I became a fan of "Be's". I found myself searching for not only that quote on a plaque but anything with the word "Be" in it.



I've always enjoyed the song "Let it Be" by the Beatles. It's my favorite. That summer I found a shirt with that on front of it! I was thrilled. I wear it often especially on those days I want to feel inspired...like today.

Two summers ago, during one of our Utah trips, we ended up at the Ogden Mall, like always. We hit all our favorite stores like Franklin Covey (yes, I'm a nerd), Aeropostale, American Eagle and Down East Basics. As we were heading out, we happened to go through a HUGE gift type store. There, right by the door was the most amazing grey granite tile I'd ever seen. It said in bold letters "Just Be". Without hesitation I bought it and smiled all the way home. It now sits on top of my armoire in our bedroom. Every morning I'm reminded to let it go. Enjoy life, all those little moments. Don't get uptight over the little stuff. Just Be.

Last fall while back to school shopping with the kids I sound the most perfect "B"...it was a silver necklace...very simple. Just a letter "B" on a small silver circle with another circle (this one gold) that says "Love". Inside the box was a note that said, "Whenever you wear this "B", be reminded of who you are and where you are going. Love the journey." I wear it almost daily. It might sound funny but when I'm wearing it I'm reminded of all those "Be's"...Hinckley's, The Beatles and my "Just Be" plaque. It keeps me calm and on the path I've set out for myself.

Now, it seems, wherever I go I'm in search for more "B's". The letter, the word...it doesn't matter. I just want more. Be's speak to me.

Oh, I did find this website the other day. Of course I had to check it out. She must love "B's" just like me:)


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Why do I love this post?

-I love B's :)
-I wrote this using my voice. I think you can tell how passionate I am about the letter B!!
-These are all things I want to remember in my life and use daily
-I still love B's and Be's
-I thought the Title was clever:)

If I wrote this post today I would include a photo of my "Just Be" tile (I know I should today but I am strapped for time!) I would also add a question at the bottom of the post to encourage comments. Here's the question...

"What are you a collector of?"

**I am learning so much from the SITS Challenge and am having a blast reading all the participating Blogs. Finding so many new, amazing and inspiring women!!

***I am celebrating my ONE YEAR Blogversary THIS Friday!!! I will be giving away a HUGE Collage pack filled with handmade tags, papers, a journal and more!!! 

Comment Here-1 entry
Like me on FB-1 entry
Become a Follower -1 entry

Happy Tuesday!


PS...if you left a comment in yesterday's post that counts as an entry!!!:)



12 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, I used to LOVE going in the Franklin/Covey store!!

    We did a "Be" series at our church a few weeks back. I've been meaning to post about it all. In fact, I just came across my notes yesterday. Then I saw your face over at SITS and felt compelled to pop over. This is a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing that quote!

    PS: I have two more Bs for you... BElieve and BEautiful.

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  2. Thank you for stopping by my blog!! I instantly fell in love with yours when I saw ALICE!! I love ALICE!!!

    Loved your post! I haven't collected anything in years, but I used to collect unicorns when I was a teenager. I should really dig those out one of these days.

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  3. love words of wisdom and b's!

    LOVE your blog design. the Alice in Wonderland idea is beautiful!

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  4. Lovely story, Leslie. I try to BE grateful for all that God has bestowed upon me! You asked what I am a collector of? I think I a a collector of Boxes!! LOL! (There's another B for you.) Well, I don't purposely collect them, I'm just too lazy to crush them and get rid of them. I wait until it gets out of hand and then I get my son to do it! :)
    Best regards,
    Gloria

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  5. I remember this post when you first wrote it - and the B's were just a fantastic thing! LoVE that you selected it for today's post and love to hear the story about why you love this post!!

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  6. Dear Leslie-I LOVE this post! Yes...so many B's/be's as is...
    Be amazing/loving/kind/grateful/amazed/...just BE. on and on. What am I a collector of...African masks, Indian silks, books, but...more importantly...memories, dreams, soul, life moments, joys and heartaches...all of these things add richness and depth to who we are; to our LIVES. BTW I visited Sits and tried to enroll via my e-mail but for some reason...it did not go through. I have to try again. I loved all their challenges/post ideas and it seemed like a strong and wonderful community.
    About your dreams...I can't wait to hear about the "miraculous" that entered your life. I am a firm believer that no dream is too big or TOO SMALL. It's all those small dreams that grow into big ones. dream feed us and take hold of our hearts and spirits. xxx

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  7. P.S. I am going to re-post one of my old posts from when I just started blogging and...I don't think anyone read it:( Also...I am a super nerd too...LOVE Franklin Covey to bits. I constantly re-read 7 habits and the 8th habit is a work unto itself.

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  8. What a fabulous post! It's a great reminder of Pres. Hinckley's inspiring talk. I love the sound of your plaque and the necklace. Thanks for the reminder to "just be"!

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  9. Oh!!!! I'm on your blog list over there--->> That's always so exciting to see!! THANK YOU!!!!

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  10. Lovely Les...I will be in search of a necklace with the letter B!

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  11. I am a collector of quotes---
    Just found a great one here--thanks!

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  12. LOVED this post! I went to my google reader and was reading back on some of your posts {I do this with new people I follow} and I saw the picture of President Hinckely and I felt so much excitement! I get REALLY excited when a new blogger I follow and am getting to know is LDS! I'm LDS TOO!!

    One of my favorite quotes by Sister Hinckley is this one:

    “I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”

    I had never heard the "Be" quote by President Hickley but I love it!

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I appreciate your thoughts and ideas...they inspire me!! I will be visiting you soon. Have a CREATIVE day!!