minimum effective dose

One strategy I use for achieving goals is the idea of a “minimum effective dose.” Let’s say I want to improve my consistency in reading, so I set a small, attainable daily goal that I will read one page. Some days I may only read one page, but I have achieved the goal simply by opening the book for a few minutes. Most days I am likely to read more than one page because I am already reading a little bit and I’m not intimidated and paralyzed by a huge goal. I learned this concept from Benjamin McEvoy for improving reading but I use this strategy in many other areas of my life. Here are a few examples:

Housework: ten minutes to clean the kitchen or I make one improvement.

Scripture study: each day, read until I feel the Spirit and find something for me.

Violin practice: play one song.

Writing: write something each day. It can be a journal entry, a note, a blog post, a few words in my book…anything.

I am amazed at how well this works for me.

Quorum

Here is a super short segment of Mark reading his mission call to his Priests Quorum and a friend. I actually like that mission call letters are long and don’t begin with the assignment, but focus the attention on the gospel of Jesus Christ and the purpose and blessings of missionary work. I have two full length videos of Mark reading his call that I will keep for our family history.

Of all of the art and objects in our house, what were these young men drawn to? The three missionary tags from Richard, Daniel, and Tim displayed on a magnet board in our kitchen.

Mark the Missionary

Mark opened his mission call by himself in the grove at the Weber cabin, then he came inside to read his call to Richard and me. His friends don’t know yet, and we will host a little gathering for Mark to announce it soon.

He is assigned to the Denmark Copenhagen Mission and will begin his service on October 7. 😃 🇩🇰

Luke 6:38

I will be playing my violin with a Primary choir for Mother’s Day this year. On Sunday I practiced with them for the first time. I had spent some time transposing the music for my instrument, so it was good to hear that my work was okay. My accompaniment is not difficult to play and the notes are understated and mild, but I had taken some time to get it just right.

When I stood at the front of the room full of children and saw their faces as they sang with my violin and the piano, the abundance in this reward was overwhelming. No money or praise can match the wide-eyed wonder, the heartfelt effort in their voices, and the generosity in their facial expressions. I want to remember these faces forever. I also want my giving to be more like theirs.

Primary children teach me every single week what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

Last studio recital

Last night was Mark’s last piano recital with his studio. He will have a solo recital next month, so I am grateful that we have one more moment where we can see him shine as he plays the piano. I can’t count the number of recitals we have attended over the last 18 years, but I can tell you that Bridget’s recitals were the best.

Mark played the Chopin Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat with maturity and skill. It was a great event to inaugurate a month of celebrations for Mark, our high school senior.