To Accomplish or To Become

I often wonder if I am accomplishing all that I should be, all that I was meant to do or if I am coming up short. It often bothers me, especially around New Years. This year as I sat down to write out my goals and all that I wanted to accomplish in 2009 I had one of those thoughts that stops you in your tracks. Was I too worried about accomplishing things, than who was I becoming? What would the Lord be more concerned about...what I accomplished while I was on the Earth or who I was as a person? The thought then continued that if I was to accomplish all that I was meant to, I needed to be a certain type of person. In a harsh reality moment, I realized I have been going about it all wrong. I was so concerned about accomplishing what I felt was good and right, I was often not worried enough about who I was as a person. I was stalling myself from progressing. The words of "what type of person" came to my mind----integrity, service, charity, kindness, humility, honor, duty, honesty, holiness, love, hope and a host of others.

In the past two weeks I have had two individuals I know pass away. I was able to go the funeral of one who I went to church with and the other was a mother of 5 who I went to high school with and her brother is a good friend who lives close by. As I sat at the funeral of the 57 year old father who had taught my little girls how to ride a horse, little was spoken of accomplishments....much was spoken of the person he was. Father, best-friend, brother, husband...and all the reasons everyone loved him. Not because of what he accomplished, but because of who he was.

I have significantly changed my New Years Resolutions due to today's and last nights thoughts. David Guy Stuart, 57, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was born Dec. 5, 1951 in Pittsburgh, PA, and died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008. Memorial services will be held at 2pm Tuesday, Dec. 23, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 5020 NW 63rd, in OKC. Family visitation to be held at 1pm prior to the services. Survivors include his wife Melissa four children, James and his wife Allison, Jeff and his wife Julie, Scott and his wife Stacy, and daughter Hillary grandchildren Aidan, Ethan, Kodie, and Jante siblings, Suzanne, Andrew, Brian and James. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Edward and Geraldine Stuart. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to:Make-A-Wish Foundation (http://www.wish.org/)

Christi Rae Hales 1970 ~ 2008 Christi Rae Hales, 38, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 in the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Christi was born December 2, 1970 in Rota, Spain to Frank Gerald and Toni-Rae VanHarten Hart Jr. She and Robert Hales were married August 16, 1994 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Christi was a Silver Director for Heritage Makers and was passionate about keeping memories. She loved dance, ballet, and survived three bouts of cancer since the age of 14. Christi is survived by her husband Robert Hales; three sons, Alexander, Nicholas, and Spencer; along with two daughters, Abigail, and Isabella, all of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her parents Toni and Gerry Hart, of Southaven, MS; four brothers, Gerry Hart, of Edmond, OK; Michael Hart, of Southaven, MS; Jonathan Hart, of Minneapolis, MN; and Patrick Hart, of Noblesville, IN; her sister Jenni Hart, of San Diego, CA; her paternal grandfather Frank Hart, of Highland, UT; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Tony and Inez VanHarten; and her paternal grandmother Alta Marshall Hart. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 2, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the Spanish Fork 12th Ward Chapel, 1150 E. 1240 S., Spanish Fork, UT. Family and friends may call/ gather at the church from 8:45-9:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.walkerfamilymortuary.com