Semi- annual Directors Seminar

We just had our three day semiannual Director's Seminar. Daniel likes to do them in May and November right after he has been receiving new training from the Presiding Bishopric. He likes to share with everyone anything that he has learned. He is an amazing leader and boss. I was asked to give some closing remarks and this is what I prepared:

William ward said: "We were given 86,400 seconds today. Have you use one to say thank you." 

"Often we assume that people around us must know how much we appreciate them but we should never assume, we should let them know. We will never regret the kind words spoken or affection shown...of ingratitudes be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues." President Monson 

( I took a few minutes to thank them and to read from my journal of two years ago) "Today was the second meeting at the office. The first one was with Bishop Davies who introduced Daniel as the new DTA but this time, I love the fact that everything was all coordinated perfectly without Daniel's involvement." In other words like Elder Bowen mentioned: ' He can sleep when the wind blows."

 I told them the how we appreciate their team work and how we learn from each other. In our family our children teach us some very important traits that don't requiere any talent such as: Integrity, passion, work ethic, being teachable, Energy, Doing extra, Being prepared, Effort, Good attitude, being on time. I identified some of our children who are very good at some of those things like Andres and family with being on time etc. 

I read the quote: "A lot of problems in the world would disappear if we only talk to each other than about each other." We all need to have those meaningful conversations. We have our meaningful conversations at times on what movies to watch. Daniel likes action movies and I like Disney. One movie I like is Cinderella when her mother tells her just before she dies to have courage and to be kind and that is how we need to be when we are having our meaningful conversations. 

I mentioned that a day before the spouses got a chance to go to an activity design to teach team work. everyone was helping each other and that was the best example of team work.  I said" This Seminar is meant to to build unity in the work place. Daniel is your friend, he cares about you and he prays for you and he appreciates what you do. 

Lastly I gave them some advice sister Rendlund gave us when she came to visit two years ago.

Are there goals we want to accomplish?

Relationships we want to repair?

Act of service we want to do?

Mistakes we want to fix?

Friends and relatives we want to visit?

Projects we want to wrap up?

( And I added) Are there any meaningful conversations we need to have? 

Daniel finished with his closing remarks and his testimony. 

 It was good for everyone to get together for the past three days away from the routine to focus on the new goals for 2018 and to wrap up any unfinished business. All of the directors from all the departments even those who don''t report to him came with their spouses so it was a good way to get to know them a little better too. 

Today is also the end of another month and a Holiday here in The Philippines which is a good thing because I am fighting a cold and it's so good to stay home in bed with nothing to do. Daniel has a cold too. He has worked so hard this past few weeks and his body finally got tired of so much abuse but life goes on and whether we feel up to it or not, today is a good reminder that we only got one last month to finish what we started and to wrap up the year. 

Con amor,

Vero