tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4076038400400829582024-03-05T09:48:50.242-05:00Thinking OutloudAllow me to help you paint a picture of what's going on in my head...This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-14910579133170198482010-11-09T19:01:00.002-05:002010-11-09T19:01:53.195-05:00New blog!Go Follow it and leave some comments!!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mormondayz.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">www.MormonDayz.Blogspot.com</span></a></div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-6066768371378667002010-11-04T16:37:00.000-04:002010-11-04T16:37:27.575-04:00Check it out!!I have a new blog. Go to it... FOLLOW IT....and COMMENT ON IT!!!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mormondayz.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">www.MormonDayz.blogspot.com</span></a>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-68210909017382176642010-10-28T20:18:00.000-04:002010-10-28T20:18:20.087-04:00Hey Followers!!Check out my new blog. I won't be working from this one much longer. So latch on to the new one! :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mormondayz.blogspot.com/">http://www.mormondayz.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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You're all wonderful!!!This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-8683819243062139182010-10-23T15:06:00.000-04:002010-10-23T15:06:18.550-04:00My New Direction<span style="color: red;">NEW BLOG!!!!</span><br />
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<strong><em><u><a href="http://www.mormondayz.blogspot.com/">http://www.mormondayz.blogspot.com/</a></u></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to be going a little different direction than what I have been going. I am going to focus each of my 'day posts'. So, this is how its all gonna go down. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is going to be a theme for each day. So, when I post on that day, you'll have a specific idea to read about. Make sure to memorize what each day specializes in so that you can get your 'fix' when you need it. :)... OR, you can just look on the list to the right and click on the day you want. Either way! Just enjoy reading and LEAVING comments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">So here are the themes... If you think I should do something different, let me know! I want this to be fun for YOU to read. :) I can have fun writing about anything.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Miracle</span></strong> <em>Mondays</em></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tuneful</span></strong> <em>Tuesdays</em></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wondering</span></strong> <em>Wednesdays</em></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thoughtful</span></strong> <em>Thursdays</em></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Faithful</span></strong> <em>Fridays</em></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, Pic of the Week</span></strong> <em>Saturdays</em></span></span></span>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-90415698342001860052010-10-08T12:36:00.002-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.365-04:00Do You REALY Wanna Know?Do you really want to know what the difference between you and me is? There is only one difference between us and if we both realize that then we will be fine... The ONLY difference between me and you, in that we are DIFFERENT!!! Haha, bet you didn't see that one coming :P<br />
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Being on a mission you are put with different companions, kinda randomly, with lots of heavenly intervention. :) There are sisters out here from all walks of life; some who seem to have never made a mistake in their lives, some who seem to have made every mistake in the book. Some who come from very wealthy families, some who never got new clothes for school. Some who are an only child, some who have 12 brothers and sisters. Some who think they are better than everyone, and some who wish they could catch up to anyone.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzWmTW12xQQr2O3UfeXx83v8Q_oXZHdOHQx6LyNM2TkWtehcE9Kg4yo2fWrKi_FRDdkuvldOyvR71Klla7wd3TtT3zLukafbcUGUiuS72-0BF08RX5mft2sIEbGp6OPRRWGJPu8Cmxd4/s1600/24466_1306429414801_1052490064_1002120_4446812_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzWmTW12xQQr2O3UfeXx83v8Q_oXZHdOHQx6LyNM2TkWtehcE9Kg4yo2fWrKi_FRDdkuvldOyvR71Klla7wd3TtT3zLukafbcUGUiuS72-0BF08RX5mft2sIEbGp6OPRRWGJPu8Cmxd4/s400/24466_1306429414801_1052490064_1002120_4446812_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> We all are so different, we all have different goals in life, we all learn differently, we all handle situations differently, BUT we are all daughters of our Heavenly Father and we all have one goal that is the same: <span style="color: #741b47;">We want to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.</span><br />
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Sometimes what that statement says is the only thing that helps us get through every day. Helps us have love for one another and helps us remember our call. We are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it is such a great blessing!!<br />
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I'm so grateful to have this learning opportunity both about the Gospel and about life. And no matter how hard it gets sometimes, the Gospel is what makes us happy. The Gospel is what can make us ONE!This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-39825494305402640352010-09-29T17:50:00.005-04:002010-10-16T15:47:07.084-04:00What Is Your Strength?I want to tell you a little story today. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It was in May 2006 when I lost one of my best friends. We grew up together and our moms were best friends since college. Her family came to visit our home in Utah, from Texas, for the blessing of my older sister's new baby girl. Meridith and I were heading to the mall on saturday and I was texting while I was driving. She told my mom... I didn't really get in trouble, but I got a good talking to. I so wasn't happy and was mad at Meridith for telling. And for that, I didn't talk to her the rest of the time she was there. I wanted her to know how mad I was... How mad I was at something that was SO dumb and insignificant. Really I was just showing her how prideful I was.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMFfyJZhfckfTPyH1G9VmL2a1Y8eDT7iOG7NKQmY91e8h9wMQEMlm3MA5zuIn2C7gLluyQo_SacwUq_yAGI33aiQjG8SOQ8Qn9e-RuacQ74ESM6CKhkRKLOVFvD8S9PCbsc2z3m-okEE/s1600/l_3926a7628f014f8db0197bf2489890c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMFfyJZhfckfTPyH1G9VmL2a1Y8eDT7iOG7NKQmY91e8h9wMQEMlm3MA5zuIn2C7gLluyQo_SacwUq_yAGI33aiQjG8SOQ8Qn9e-RuacQ74ESM6CKhkRKLOVFvD8S9PCbsc2z3m-okEE/s320/l_3926a7628f014f8db0197bf2489890c6.jpg" width="212" /></a>When the weekend was over and we were all saying goodbye, I refused to hug her. I was still mad but she still gave me a hug, only I just stood there with my arms down and said nothing as she told me goodbye and that she loved me. Stupid pride... I will never forget that day now, and at this point I can't take it back.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Within the next couple weeks we got a call from her mom. I remember standing in my sisters kitchen, putting hot pads in the drawer, when the phone rang. It was one of those calls that you don't think you'll EVER get. Meridith had passed away due to a car accident she had been in. I just started crying, thinking of the last time I saw her, thinking about her not being there anymore, wondering how this could happen and why her!?</div><br />
That is a day that I will never forget. But I am so happy to know that I will get to see her again. That this life isn't the end. It's been over 4 years now and she is a big reason I am where I am now. I don't think I'd be on a mission today if it hadn't been for her example and my desire to make her proud. She is a strength to me each day. I try to live so that I will get to see her again. And its through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that I will be able to do that. What a blessing! <br />
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She lives on with the beautiful smile and same wonderful personality. She is one of a kind and even though her time was short on earth, she made a difference in more ways than she knew. She's still one of my best friends and I can't wait to see her again. <br />
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She is my strength.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VlxjROORQqg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VlxjROORQqg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-73268905024992319262010-09-24T15:22:00.000-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.365-04:00Bed time Thoughts<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtosgTph_ydsw5zIfUb2B5MaOzQ6lx3OYkJpLQst1QbtynuNW-VDmZDopYOC8AvzJLLP61Mbzgds6yPeatMPbuuPjUoax098qfQSb2O6tC5hc30MUijAWAIRSsrE_CBq8wjthO1YPbTcI/s1600/1UYPD00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtosgTph_ydsw5zIfUb2B5MaOzQ6lx3OYkJpLQst1QbtynuNW-VDmZDopYOC8AvzJLLP61Mbzgds6yPeatMPbuuPjUoax098qfQSb2O6tC5hc30MUijAWAIRSsrE_CBq8wjthO1YPbTcI/s320/1UYPD00Z.jpg" width="320" /></a>Do you ever have those times where all you want to do is lay in bed...? I do, all the time! haha The other night I got home from doing all the normal missionary stuff and I just layed in bed and stared up at the ceiling and thought about stuff. So much stuff!! Now, in this case I was just thinking about random stuff about being a missionary, and things back home, and things I want to do when i get home, and relationships, and the different designs on the ceiling... it was crazy! So many different things were runny through my head. Our heads are an amazing thing. They retain information forever! I was seriously thinking about things that had happened 2, 8, 15 years ago!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1iunfGa8KAUQsb-uf-x-BZAyjiOETBFzT3NqDXBb8D2Yf5dB9ueFOW5pA-e6lRpyxcYvXSqCIB-u2fxr-QAWlldu4bFB5lPSI-pcqyEDtNaUg8NW1E8brK7HR502SYVx99DTo6HCVtE/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1iunfGa8KAUQsb-uf-x-BZAyjiOETBFzT3NqDXBb8D2Yf5dB9ueFOW5pA-e6lRpyxcYvXSqCIB-u2fxr-QAWlldu4bFB5lPSI-pcqyEDtNaUg8NW1E8brK7HR502SYVx99DTo6HCVtE/s320/untitled.bmp" width="212" /></a></div>That's why it's so important to keep our minds clean. The knowlege we gain here on earth is one of the thing that we can take with us to heaven. We can't just erase things that we allow into our minds. We are to keep our mids clean so that we can make really good decisions here in this life. <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=7937b73f64838210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">"The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”6 Brethren, it is our responsibility to keep our temples <span class="highlight">clean</span> and pure. President David O. McKay, ninth President of the Church, advised, “I implore you to think <span class="highlight">clean</span> <span class="highlight">thoughts</span>.” He then made this significant declaration of truth: “Every action is preceded by a <span class="highlight">thought</span>.</a><br />
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I so love being able to just lie in bed and think about all the things I love.This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-61086172489127505052010-09-17T17:47:00.001-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.366-04:00Praise in Public, Punish in Private <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wow! It's crazy some of the ways I see parents treat their kids these days. I was walking into Wegmans, the local and widely loved grocery store, and there was this woman who had her maybe 3 year old son by the arm and was screaming at him to stop screaming. I was so confused!!!! How is he suppose to know what the heck she's meaning if she is doing EXACTLY what she wants him to stop doing. totally doesn't make sense.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">picture from venusvision.com</span></em></td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thank kind of behavior is learned young. It's a cycle that will probably continue on through that little boy to his kids too. It's so sad and what it develops is not what Heavenly Father would have develop... Anger.</div><br />
The other day I received a public post from a friend of mine chastising me for something he thought I was doing wrong. And then I received a private email apologizing for what he said. He didn't delete his comment nor did he rebuke it. But privately he said sorry. At first I just blew it off and didn't think much of it, but as the night came I was getting a little frustrated with the situation. I was thinking about different things that I could say to him to let him know how I felt, publicly.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeOGFAv_RX9r8aZqPDLqaW4ChI-b60rPllATJrkVcQxc3hSAwYYhCQhtduk4-dVGv4AB2pj-KMkX5fX35-p4buusHe0Sniqgd2rvsvKwkIOW2ZVOncdujSStsBhnmug-BJh49BfzmhIY/s1600/Emotional_Gym6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeOGFAv_RX9r8aZqPDLqaW4ChI-b60rPllATJrkVcQxc3hSAwYYhCQhtduk4-dVGv4AB2pj-KMkX5fX35-p4buusHe0Sniqgd2rvsvKwkIOW2ZVOncdujSStsBhnmug-BJh49BfzmhIY/s320/Emotional_Gym6.jpg" /></a>But as I continued to think, I wondered where these feelings were coming from. Why did I want to make him feel bad? Why did I want to do exactly what I didn't like him doing to me? Why?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Satan. Satan gives us negative feelings. Satan wants us to react negatively and to persecute those around us. Just like that mother I talked about before, Satan glories in the anger that was being shown to the young child and the anger that was building in me and probably other on-lookers toward the mother. Satan was loving the feelings that were building in me toward my friend. <br />
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We must "<a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=b32e56627ab94210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">school thy feelings</a>" <em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<-click)</span></em> and control them. We are in charge of how we feel. And Heavenly Father would never want us to feel mad or angry toward someone else. We need to show love just as Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ do with us each day.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To read some more articles about anger click on the link below:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=6f5378159909b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&hideNav=1&pageNumber=1&maxResults=20&NARROW_BY=&query=anger&bucket=Ensign&dateFrom=&dateTo=&AUTHOR_CATEGORY=&AUTHOR_NAME=&FORMAT=&submitSearch=Search&dateFromDisplay=&dateToDisplay=&findByAuthor="><span style="font-size: large;">Anger Articles for the heart and mind</span></a></div><img height="48" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokaDKDtBIMvkdyccrmlBbSEqpjCj68m_smuc0EBAhM7kMrIMx15lK5NgbBw0PJVEXbjD4qlAITRg8BK-BYKbcyBTOB932DD-TRdwp4BtBBcDHTsPyHuo5tUHHoYftvbY4r4pHwVD1Ayc/s320/mom-dragging-son.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 517px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 277px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-33540961714857777112010-09-16T13:16:00.001-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.366-04:00Who are YOU?<div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes it feels like we are trying to keep up with what every one else wants us to be. I remember in high school I completely lost who I was. I didn't know what <strong><u>I</u></strong> liked or what <strong><u>I</u></strong> wanted or even what made <strong><u>ME</u></strong> happy. I wanted to be what everyone else expected of me. And that got really hard because I had tons of different people that I was trying to make happy. So every which way I turned, I was trying to be someone different.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0yHsNSNVYrI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0yHsNSNVYrI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">My mom always used to tell me that I was beautiful and it didn't matter what everyone else said. But those words are easier said and heard than actually believed. Because we live in the world we sometimes forget who and what actually matters. But we can't let other people tell us who we are. Don't ever let them!<br />
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We are children of God, <strong>He</strong> loves us more than ANYONE in this world ever could. <a href="https://new.lds.org/scriptures/search?lang=eng&query=the+same+yesterday">He is the same yesterday, today and forever.</a> <em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<--click for scriptures)</span> </em>And He is who really matters. What He expects of us is to be the best that we can; which is perfect to him. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">So, remember who you are. Remember that you are a son or daughter of God and you have divine qualities. And don't let anyone tell you that you are any less that what you are.</div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-23176700383037697042010-09-13T20:27:00.000-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.367-04:00Missing Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSugmh6zQY32D1Dx_5Afb_0diVdjEWgI8ac38M8bl27MYrjS9N1nM64kO_F7yrO1pbawfOcL80HXBRh4RqpJ3j3lTzX0y2jb1RYusFPWWwyk96WOMW1_Rb84psmueLkHLW-oJVC7LDO0/s1600/family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSugmh6zQY32D1Dx_5Afb_0diVdjEWgI8ac38M8bl27MYrjS9N1nM64kO_F7yrO1pbawfOcL80HXBRh4RqpJ3j3lTzX0y2jb1RYusFPWWwyk96WOMW1_Rb84psmueLkHLW-oJVC7LDO0/s320/family.jpg" /></a></div> Sometimes being away from your family makes each day longer and harder. I've been a full-time missionary for the Mormon Church for over a year now and it's one of the most awesome things I've done in my life. It's helped me have a better relationship with my Father in Heaven, but it's really hard sometimes.<br />
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But, <span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="color: black;">I love knowing that I can be with my family forever!!! But, that knowledge doesn't always make it easy when I am away from them. I love my family so much! And I miss them every single day. I also Love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I love that he trusts me enough to be a missionary for HIS church. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>My mom bought me a wooden plaque thing that said <span style="color: #741b47;">Mis*sion*ary: (noun) someone who leaves their family for a short time so that others may be with their families for ETERNITY. <span style="color: black;">And its that very fact that keeps me going every day. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrEozdYQ1IswmKrQ5-vikhA1Gq8mANkFsghMwqMiPtV2pIsqdwrkjw4KFnDEpOkC2ypP8RM6bVSF1zmxz3h-Hz8DyGKcAxkZ8c_XZ1mfjuqiO9Ti7vyHlOViNSTtvKoC1zRgZfRqZ5NM/s1600/missionary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrEozdYQ1IswmKrQ5-vikhA1Gq8mANkFsghMwqMiPtV2pIsqdwrkjw4KFnDEpOkC2ypP8RM6bVSF1zmxz3h-Hz8DyGKcAxkZ8c_XZ1mfjuqiO9Ti7vyHlOViNSTtvKoC1zRgZfRqZ5NM/s320/missionary.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="color: black;">I get to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ every single day. I get to help my testimony grow with each time I teach about the restored gospel. I get to learn to love the people of Rochester New York. (even when they slam the door in my face and tell me they are "all set" lol)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="color: black;">I love being a missionary for the Mormon Church!! What a Blessing!!</span></span>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-54958889080131620152010-09-11T13:15:00.000-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.367-04:00Journal of Your Own<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDRmTm5psOVafEmqhI-7hy0cEj3f0BA3V5lh6IUVukBlLXI0rctofc5PX2Vsk8tgC-6I6ooIJgSc7KwEH6LH8I0ufh52bRXe1iwfltHyS_KLRpQv05M8vB2KBAESe9k-Q2VC3Qol8L4o/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDRmTm5psOVafEmqhI-7hy0cEj3f0BA3V5lh6IUVukBlLXI0rctofc5PX2Vsk8tgC-6I6ooIJgSc7KwEH6LH8I0ufh52bRXe1iwfltHyS_KLRpQv05M8vB2KBAESe9k-Q2VC3Qol8L4o/s200/IMG_0094.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Oh my goodness!!! I have come to the realization that I am not writing about the experiences that I have just for me, I am writing for my future children and grand kids to read! I realized that when I was reading in the Book of Mormon a while ago, but I never REALLY thought about what that meant. But it's so important, just like Nephi did, to write about our experiences. <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/1/1-3,17#1">1 Nephi 1:1-3</a> We have to be willing to take the time today to keep records so that others can be blessed later. At least we don't have to print like they used to, type by type.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzAohFOn6g9AKNGjwKrZVJOlGfIkf9IB4p5V0lxWbTvHe-GKL6FhNivrLUfHG28j2mHOIRrVne5I_WJJC-ct6rmHRlpsf0hwf_cCgGXZokNxhQ_Tj4PIYmtriCsEW5p7WsUuJTfs6PmQ/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzAohFOn6g9AKNGjwKrZVJOlGfIkf9IB4p5V0lxWbTvHe-GKL6FhNivrLUfHG28j2mHOIRrVne5I_WJJC-ct6rmHRlpsf0hwf_cCgGXZokNxhQ_Tj4PIYmtriCsEW5p7WsUuJTfs6PmQ/s200/IMG_0299.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>The Book of Mormon is a "journal" kept by prophets of old. They wrote their experiences for future generations to read. And because they knew it was important, we are blessed today. But, we can't be blessed unless we open up the book. It's like when you go house shopping. You can't just look at the front door and decide if it has what you want. You have to actually GO INSIDE!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDvzH-VUBYHp0rVTGBewz1ViaTrRIHP8fBvvfWFLl0m8zeiEGZTDkmiqdLx0H3IenBvNGCbizwScNtdy5ewffELj5ZuAiBZInfzizrn3fxLcjZIV-atWivDntaqGlR_yzwSEtAgQWL8M/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDvzH-VUBYHp0rVTGBewz1ViaTrRIHP8fBvvfWFLl0m8zeiEGZTDkmiqdLx0H3IenBvNGCbizwScNtdy5ewffELj5ZuAiBZInfzizrn3fxLcjZIV-atWivDntaqGlR_yzwSEtAgQWL8M/s200/IMG_0557.JPG" width="150" /></a>I wasn't ever a very good journal writer. I would write randomly at different times in my life about pointless stuff. One time I was going through a really HARD time in my life and everything I wrote was negative. I remember ripping it up later cause it wasn't the kind of stuff I wanted to remember. But now a days I write things that I WANT to remember and I write things that might benefit my future posterity. I write about experiences that make me happy, some that annoy me lol, but mostly things that help me grow.<br />
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And I just started a separate journal that isn't just about life, but about spiritual experiences that help me to see the Lord's hand in my life. I hope that one day it can be a good thing for one or even all of my kids to read to help them, or even their kids.I hope they love it. I already love going back and reading about experiences I had.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcnHKdRwNJTXn0SDKCETVslblGDDGj9c0pOMitAUnWIf4Viiycpryk1uu3zumZO2Wg4un9AfAgTXciegQiqwieqVVOY5Pd4rMf6ukkEZx_J_-MZKQGY738wXo0Lh1qjHolQhaydXzNfc/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcnHKdRwNJTXn0SDKCETVslblGDDGj9c0pOMitAUnWIf4Viiycpryk1uu3zumZO2Wg4un9AfAgTXciegQiqwieqVVOY5Pd4rMf6ukkEZx_J_-MZKQGY738wXo0Lh1qjHolQhaydXzNfc/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So the Moral of the story... WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL!!!</div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-6596294724551103722010-09-09T13:52:00.000-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.368-04:00Scatter Brained Brent... As Always<div style="color: black;">Well, I had just written a post all about how we have divine identity because we are children of God. Since we are sons and daughters of God, and He is a king, we will one day be kings and queens.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemH9rD0Wsv8PiQh2VEyArnmJ4d8B0ZesEzdhF1Cc_mmcpkYbd01P-JWmN2A5fuw1ZWmafqNLar2yriVLxt9SXDDdthbir8y6ibh_iC0K1mwc8RCe5wPzU06zCaRs_mWWTisO51Zim7kE/s1600/Computer-Confusion-456876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemH9rD0Wsv8PiQh2VEyArnmJ4d8B0ZesEzdhF1Cc_mmcpkYbd01P-JWmN2A5fuw1ZWmafqNLar2yriVLxt9SXDDdthbir8y6ibh_iC0K1mwc8RCe5wPzU06zCaRs_mWWTisO51Zim7kE/s200/Computer-Confusion-456876.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.featurepics.com</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: black;">So, I know that what I was talking about was super important and probably something that someone NEEDED to hear... I know this because right as I went to post it, it disappeared! I was so not happy. And the fact that i got really discouraged about writing it again I knew even more so that Satan was giving me those feelings so that i wouldn't want to rewrite it. I hate him... I hate Satan SOOO much.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I know that I will never have discouraging or down or sad feelings from my Heavenly Father, Satan is the only one that works that way.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ4bfcoou6BzO3gKh-lwHPq3Jl41DblZ0yZTTgn35KKKLletbveWTpzSYES1z_TWW_Kwd0Y0aXmxoaE6wm_mEczpqsc55nODXajQZ6Arjz6Kb3KFs9kRSu4lE12iqHBew53zwASW2uj0/s1600/medium_sadness1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQ4bfcoou6BzO3gKh-lwHPq3Jl41DblZ0yZTTgn35KKKLletbveWTpzSYES1z_TWW_Kwd0Y0aXmxoaE6wm_mEczpqsc55nODXajQZ6Arjz6Kb3KFs9kRSu4lE12iqHBew53zwASW2uj0/s320/medium_sadness1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://johnryanrecabar.files.wordpress.com</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: black;">Now that I am writing about this stuff I feel like this is why I actually wrote that blog yesterday, not because someone really needed to know about their divine identity, but actually the love of their Heavenly Father and the fact that Heavenly Father will never give you negative thoughts.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">It's like when people are investigating the Mormon church for example... They feel so good when they read the scriptures, or when they go to church, or when the missionaries are over. But as soon as they are alone they have doubtful or negative thoughts. Those negative thoughts will NEVER come from God. Read about it in, <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/7/12-13#12">Moroni 7</a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">It makes me so sad when people let Satan discourage them. The <a href="http://mormon.org/values/">Mormon church</a> never asks you do to anything against the will of God. This church only asks you to do things that uplift and edify one another. Even those who don't like our church even say, "I like what you do for the young people and what you teach, but it's just not for me." I hate that!!! It's only not for them because they don't want to sacrifice things of the world like alcohol and cigarettes. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I guess the point of this blog post is that The Church is True and that our Heavenly Father really talks to us and loves us and wants what's best for us. Don't ever forget that! Remember that God is real, God is love, God is our literal Father in Heaven. How awesome is that!?!?!</div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-171070632246098902010-09-05T23:53:00.003-04:002010-09-06T00:05:50.224-04:00Intro!Hello out there! So I am Racheal and am a long time best friend of Sister Brent who is spearheading this blog. I am 22, the most blessed wife of almost 3 years, a nurse, and most excitingly soon to be a new mother! My husband Jon and I have been together for over 4 years. We met in June of 2006 (with a little help from Britney), Jon was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in September of 2006, we were engaged in November and were then married September 20th, 2007 in the Bountiful Utah temple. It was the best and yet hardest decision that we have ever made. Whenever we have followed what the Lord has asked of us, we have been blessed.<br /><br />We strive to keep our love and marriage strong by being best friends. We are always laughing and working together through each challenge life throws at us. We have common goals and work to support and help each other.<br /><br />A funny story from today... Jon likes to cook and to bake and every now and then he likes to try new recipes and so forth. So today he was trying to make an Italian cake with cream cheese frosting. I was helping him to get the egg whites to peeks and I told him about how when I was in Jr/Sr high I would put egg whites in my hair to make it curly, so after he finished with the egg whites that needed to go in the cake, he put a little in his beard/chin hairs and asked if he looked sexy now. I was so funny.<br /><br />Well, I'm off to spend some time with my hubby! The Church is true!Rachealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03728400833365875655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-55182607962351684762010-09-03T16:29:00.001-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.368-04:00Hola Nueva Compañera!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iAFISn4v3-oIdGO45RntwF13b-a9atzWCw643Zi5Odg7I086BPBKCrhPRUgN9DosvDwkMUZxEwTJagsMG2X0ehWA5sNAC6Fsxzv5lJ3vVBu3vKlC-sJHsaTyx2Df7nP3rlrj4Zg8fxs/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iAFISn4v3-oIdGO45RntwF13b-a9atzWCw643Zi5Odg7I086BPBKCrhPRUgN9DosvDwkMUZxEwTJagsMG2X0ehWA5sNAC6Fsxzv5lJ3vVBu3vKlC-sJHsaTyx2Df7nP3rlrj4Zg8fxs/s320/IMG_0388.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Click on her name to see her on facebook!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Oh my goodness. What a blessing!!!! Mid-transfer-transfer might have saved my life. There is one sister I have wanted to serve with since I met her but I didn't think that it would ever happen because she is in the Spanish program and I am not. However!!!!!, do to the fact that there is spanish work here in Fairport, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#%21/profile.php?id=1172098086&ref=ts">President Christianson</a> did a mid-transfer-transfer and now I am in the spanish program with <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#%21/profile.php?id=100001457366971&ref=ts">Hermana Yael Esper</a>!<br />
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So many blessings in such a short amount of time! I got to stay in my area for the exchange, I got a new companion who I absolutely adore, and I am going to get to work on my Spanish. Working on my spanish is probably the biggest blessing of all at this time because I just got word from my parents that my Abuela is going to be living with us. She doesn't speak hardly ANY English. But now, I'll be able to work on my Español to better communicate with my Abuela! Church is True!!!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0yokNph0GlNcr2rPFtIpwKI4Ij3MO4g0wRnTkjbhepV00x5IBKm_MISiiDEEl_aUiaz_d-q6OiFw7sMAEUcGMbzXkBa2EQT3cqJClWpiciJXwUhpoC46cM9O7gOXilgVGE3ZlLsJjsQ/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0yokNph0GlNcr2rPFtIpwKI4Ij3MO4g0wRnTkjbhepV00x5IBKm_MISiiDEEl_aUiaz_d-q6OiFw7sMAEUcGMbzXkBa2EQT3cqJClWpiciJXwUhpoC46cM9O7gOXilgVGE3ZlLsJjsQ/s320/IMG_0387.JPG" /></a></div>What a Blessing!!!!<br />
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These are pictures from one of our first days together. We decided to make a Mexican/ Argentine feast :) Arroz con Pollo, Frijoles, Maiz con Queso y Abuelita Chololate Caliente.This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-88746723158946489652010-08-31T13:34:00.002-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.369-04:00Behind Closed Doors<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQfAHlEjn0ClgSFsAnGes6x198CFQR9QvGlNvmlCe7vKcxNVwecP4v-mRZIbzTYxUAocPeNk3ccD70QKFBKYlwStpwYmmhd-CI2d49lmtv6Q59J-sMpB7MsHn4TkW3ZnfO0gBzHEsAxI/s1600/door" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQfAHlEjn0ClgSFsAnGes6x198CFQR9QvGlNvmlCe7vKcxNVwecP4v-mRZIbzTYxUAocPeNk3ccD70QKFBKYlwStpwYmmhd-CI2d49lmtv6Q59J-sMpB7MsHn4TkW3ZnfO0gBzHEsAxI/s200/door" width="150" /></a>I was talking with a few other sister missionaries yesterday about how we hate being judged, especially by other sister missionaries we work with. It kinda makes me frustrated how we have all been out of high school for at least 3 years now, some even 6 or 7 years, yet we still gossip and judge those around us as we probably did in high school. I hate it!!! I can't believe how many times lately I have said, "Man! I feel like I am in junior high again, and I hated it there!" (my junior high years are the ones that were most brutal to me)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jzwCmMyvKCusxsU2zdA-0WtdHVTun9hQ5ERiLIeS_i0QtkSl-zByTVpPSXip4hAKxQDjigQP_CBuzzw07JFT76nwtwU2vKyDp8zCkC62kHzPUs6ZlRepPITtmSJ9ukHA4n8Smk-ylUY/s1600/peek" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jzwCmMyvKCusxsU2zdA-0WtdHVTun9hQ5ERiLIeS_i0QtkSl-zByTVpPSXip4hAKxQDjigQP_CBuzzw07JFT76nwtwU2vKyDp8zCkC62kHzPUs6ZlRepPITtmSJ9ukHA4n8Smk-ylUY/s200/peek" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
But the thing is, everyone is fighting their own demons... Everyone has something locked behind their door that they don't want anyone to see. And at the same time they believe that everyone is judging them for that very insecurity they are trying to hide.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa1HlyrwilMygfPquiBFfaH0EZ93mAQPE5bjqom_uuxk_uVF2VRrWmN2X9LE2izipPoIwj3wpgnUi5r-uOQwEiXEuy1VuBYtwVe8gSV_FWyb9RldEc3_27f2XoRGIOmPEaZD8zHfBkyw/s1600/what's+there" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa1HlyrwilMygfPquiBFfaH0EZ93mAQPE5bjqom_uuxk_uVF2VRrWmN2X9LE2izipPoIwj3wpgnUi5r-uOQwEiXEuy1VuBYtwVe8gSV_FWyb9RldEc3_27f2XoRGIOmPEaZD8zHfBkyw/s200/what's+there" width="200" /></a>I've had the opportunity to meet with our Mission President, President Jack R. Christianson, because of different things and it seems like the topic 'judging in the mission' seems to come up every time. And each and EVERY TIME he tells me that there is only ONE judge in Israel and that judge is none other than Jesus the Christ. (<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_ne/9">2 Nephi 9:41</a>) And here on the mission there is only one judge of the missionaries, and that is the mission president, NOT the other sisters.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even though this sounds so good and should be easy to remember, sometimes it's really hard to remember. We just gotta remember, if we aren't doing anything wrong, then don't worry what other people think. Just work on what YOU think you need to work on. Focus on what's behind your closed door, not someone else's.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-13179097477577602342010-08-28T12:02:00.000-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.369-04:00The AA program<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcZ1LBSyzTebiySy3PMR7bhrCY6MsUmWcdpRexq-Ozy8jC6IYTynj1Qvp54QsgU9nEuaAQqy7uyP4rnnmRM-hYMBIAHUDSQMc-aAFGr89b2Uj8p8DGqrNm57HWUjlDyt60GhoQ_lRfzc/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcZ1LBSyzTebiySy3PMR7bhrCY6MsUmWcdpRexq-Ozy8jC6IYTynj1Qvp54QsgU9nEuaAQqy7uyP4rnnmRM-hYMBIAHUDSQMc-aAFGr89b2Uj8p8DGqrNm57HWUjlDyt60GhoQ_lRfzc/s320/A.jpg" /></a>My companion and I have been going to a local AA program with one of the women we are teaching. The AA program is really interesting and has lots of great qualities about it. I love that it is a support system for those who are struggling. I love that they have sponsers they can call on to help them in a ruogh situation. The only thing that makes me sad about the program is that they are to believe that they have NO power over their own lives. That the very agency (ability to choose) given to them by God is something that they do not possess.</div><br />
One of the greatest blessings we have in this life and teachings of the Mormom church is that in Heaven we all <strong><em>chose</em></strong> to come here to earth and then while here CHOOSE what we do . We all knew there would be difficult times but we also knew that it would be 'worth it' so we could live with God again. We have the choice in this life to <em>make choices:</em> have jobs, go to school, have families, stay single, volunteer, or do nothing too. :P <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgZ4glUxpqdzMoBX70IIabKk1R40IkYNX6qxnrtQPo41wZ6t5NYGYsrATdc03t8tq7RX4VGTsu6Wb1HxlMjoni77B4OwlWM9-h5wr8TaFWqWJnd1htp_912qW6TNUESP5xqsLznHEWug/s1600/july_2006_mg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgZ4glUxpqdzMoBX70IIabKk1R40IkYNX6qxnrtQPo41wZ6t5NYGYsrATdc03t8tq7RX4VGTsu6Wb1HxlMjoni77B4OwlWM9-h5wr8TaFWqWJnd1htp_912qW6TNUESP5xqsLznHEWug/s320/july_2006_mg.jpg" /></a>Satan would have us believe that we have no right to choose. And his ultimate goal is to make us miserable. And to me, not being able to choose things for myself makes me miserable. Rules are VERY hard for me lol, and being a misionary we have lots of rules. But again, he didn't say it would be easy, just worth it! When we let something over power our lives like alcohol or drugs or pornography we are giving in to Satan's plan: wherein we have NO AGENCY.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDz1y820QvSUQ40w1p7C85g3vjN7eQw-wkyNe_0_12CCzgmrYyHj0tqbw4l4AWM76FPpjFNvBjovNFJoTswsDOiPpiRHWHNtSmP3BJbE5F1nuk_TtPE1Ank722_dXXwZcLSTS3MCEVrw/s1600/prophet_Monson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDz1y820QvSUQ40w1p7C85g3vjN7eQw-wkyNe_0_12CCzgmrYyHj0tqbw4l4AWM76FPpjFNvBjovNFJoTswsDOiPpiRHWHNtSmP3BJbE5F1nuk_TtPE1Ank722_dXXwZcLSTS3MCEVrw/s320/prophet_Monson.jpg" /></a></div>What a blessing to have modern day prophets to help guide us and warn us of dangers. When the commandment called the Word of Wisdom was given to church members clear back in the 1800's Joseph didn't know of the problems that smoking and drinking would cause, he just knew that Heavenly Father had commanded us not to partake. And now we see the addictive qualities and life quality problems they cause. <br />
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Now, I am not saying that the AA program is bad. I think that it is a GREAT program to help people out or a slump. I am just grateful to know that I DO have agency over my own life and nothing and no one can take that away from me.This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-74177454753422433932010-08-27T12:00:00.001-04:002010-10-16T15:46:42.102-04:00A Great Day for Coloring<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7grBXEhFS8fi0W7CHCpbRNyn0MYNK-qrZojvfaJegZiRnOIwE-JRcf5x_3PGzLp6EjcGniJdYyfOfH_qBqzZDG9oASZt5ftWqnWlEDR-NxzdJwPuGBobW_DzzNPs71_lFn3795F-Xu0/s1600/celia.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7grBXEhFS8fi0W7CHCpbRNyn0MYNK-qrZojvfaJegZiRnOIwE-JRcf5x_3PGzLp6EjcGniJdYyfOfH_qBqzZDG9oASZt5ftWqnWlEDR-NxzdJwPuGBobW_DzzNPs71_lFn3795F-Xu0/s320/celia.bmp" /></a>My name is Celia Larson! I am a working LDS mom who has 2 beautiful children, Maya 4 and Jake 1, at home! I am expecting our third child in March. Being an LDS mom has lots of ups and downs! Between the playdates, teaching primary, going visiting teaching, and having family home evening its hard to get a minute to breathe! But its the great moments that you know your Heavenly Father sends you that keep you going.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> For example, yesterday I was standing at the sink doing the dishes (which I SWEAR I just washed earlier that day) when my daughter climbed right up the stool with her pencil and paper in hand. She sat down looked at me and said, " Mom isn't it a great day for coloring! The sun is shining, its hot outside! Its a great day for coloring a rainbow!" I just laughed.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxg7jV0oPpAdoqIpLSQgmYvRcgFYGzBKZqEGCYrGc0lYWmE-dqEy30uD2rms1XHjHUblc7gjMSVG7mC_J9LFMzdQluPBDxf4g2Czg2hl_h50HszU20JQdJEHwmobqqHA_JeazKLH6tmc/s1600/1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxg7jV0oPpAdoqIpLSQgmYvRcgFYGzBKZqEGCYrGc0lYWmE-dqEy30uD2rms1XHjHUblc7gjMSVG7mC_J9LFMzdQluPBDxf4g2Czg2hl_h50HszU20JQdJEHwmobqqHA_JeazKLH6tmc/s320/1041.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo from </span></em><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://media.photobucket.com/</span></em></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Its true the days are hot but I never would have appreciated a rainbow without her subtle reminder. Being a mom is great, but being an LDS mom is the BEST! Each of the children that the Lord sends to my home has a special spirit that my Heavenly Father knows we need in our home. I love the gospel and the knowledge that it gives me that I can be with my family forever ( even though sometime forever seems like too long!) </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-33065959321001473402010-08-26T12:26:00.001-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.370-04:00Patience is a Virtue... and SO HARD<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4v7omIf7teoxCDvOUCzVd3VMi5YwNTKawERsziF8DLJaqGb9fLbSZylKRomymFbaRA5_80x8Wu-Se7hrQ9o3xzrQJqnyG9gDFsuaPE-yxMvAbKxhoyK85Jrx4danVH7GjYv7kQ5EvlA/s1600/rotary-cell-phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4v7omIf7teoxCDvOUCzVd3VMi5YwNTKawERsziF8DLJaqGb9fLbSZylKRomymFbaRA5_80x8Wu-Se7hrQ9o3xzrQJqnyG9gDFsuaPE-yxMvAbKxhoyK85Jrx4danVH7GjYv7kQ5EvlA/s320/rotary-cell-phone.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">picture from bigjimindustries.com</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>As a missionary you are with a companion 24 hrs a day 7 days a week and you can get moved around just about every 6 weeks to work in different areas of your mission. (my mission is all of western New York.) You get paired up and sent to the area you're needed by revelation given to your Mission President by Heavenly Father himself. But, sometimes as a missionary you wonder if Heavenly Father really knows you lol.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4794_WcjoEoCwTutd-_Wt_YdXNOZcdMiGVy6QmUkr189owALt4wBGvSRth9BlRJjgGqYskw0vzGo3ZrH_x3ZA4lb3GoOZuKb48Q_1lTUjsMNpML9ugu_uRtPjZ21uJidsPxNlUNAXezg/s1600/caPreston_y_Badillo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4794_WcjoEoCwTutd-_Wt_YdXNOZcdMiGVy6QmUkr189owALt4wBGvSRth9BlRJjgGqYskw0vzGo3ZrH_x3ZA4lb3GoOZuKb48Q_1lTUjsMNpML9ugu_uRtPjZ21uJidsPxNlUNAXezg/s320/caPreston_y_Badillo2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">picture from http://felices2juntos.blogspot.com/</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When I got transfer calls a couple weeks ago (transfer calls are given every 6 weeks to let you know what city you will be serving in and who your companion will be for the next 6 weeks) I started crying so hard. I had been working at the Church historical sites and because of all the time we spent AT the sites we didn't have hardly any time in our assigned areas. I LOVE TEACHING THE GOSPEL!!! And during that previous 6 weeks I had only taught <strong>ONE</strong> lesson. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I couldn't understand why Heavenly Father wanted to keep me at the sites for another transfer. I had been praying so hard for so many different things to happen and I felt like my prayers weren't being answered. After literally crying for almost 2 hours I received a phone call saying that the area I was being asked to serve in was going to be a full proselyting area. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8AaFb6fKYC5DJXsbs7L6JRZj3JT6PPTKwR8t06XhvAUdSXF6Wdn0rQU1ZUk8xuo585t2eWjG1mbf_S5aTVicMDmiH91h-OKBQsgjz62GB3KmCPUlVlVWQ7wYeqiJJbmcMFtyW9iYEH8/s1600/god_knows_me_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8AaFb6fKYC5DJXsbs7L6JRZj3JT6PPTKwR8t06XhvAUdSXF6Wdn0rQU1ZUk8xuo585t2eWjG1mbf_S5aTVicMDmiH91h-OKBQsgjz62GB3KmCPUlVlVWQ7wYeqiJJbmcMFtyW9iYEH8/s320/god_knows_me_sm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.greatchristiantshirts.com</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">How did I ever doubt Heavenly Father. Had I just kept trusting in him with all my heart I would have saved all those tears, and not gotten broken blood vessels in my eye. lol, I'm not even kidding :P </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This was just one of those simple ways Heavenly Father reminds us of his love for us. Why hadn't I gotten told right away that I was going to be doing exactly what I was praying for? Sometimes we don't always find out the answer, but I know in this case it was to help remind me that He really knows me!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm so grateful to have a Father in Heaven who is looking out for me and who truly knows me better than anyone else. I sure do love him!</div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-69669626663821992022010-08-25T15:14:00.003-04:002010-10-16T15:46:46.971-04:00First timer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2yfwMBlcf_3_nhCbk7h_8JbX-mjZkYekPfYeHAdA42TvvHC6HMseudEiWwCELzXhxz9UWW9zigCcbOzfRb9CxtOH8n5jach49JBrvEUkIpQq5CrSQ7lRH214_I4nlQ7lE08I5HhhoP0/s1600/bowling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2yfwMBlcf_3_nhCbk7h_8JbX-mjZkYekPfYeHAdA42TvvHC6HMseudEiWwCELzXhxz9UWW9zigCcbOzfRb9CxtOH8n5jach49JBrvEUkIpQq5CrSQ7lRH214_I4nlQ7lE08I5HhhoP0/s320/bowling.jpg" /></a><br />
Hello!<br />
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I'm Racheal and I am a latter-day saint wife! I am also completely new to blogging so hopefully this works out. I love life and enjoy each min of it. The Lord loves us and will help us through anything that comes our way. Well now I must be off to class. Take care and Choose the Right!Rachealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03728400833365875655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-81193041803367595282010-08-24T12:28:00.005-04:002010-10-16T15:46:50.692-04:00True Love's KissThe other night while talking with a friend of one of my daughter's about boys and dating, I was reminded of a story: My granddaughter, Maya, was about two at the time and had a play date over who happened to be a little boy. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYeH5fT2Vs64UhcxlXN-clObpXpr69Ugq2HznCad_DNbLHNClt2U90M51uMQ9Lj7bCdlUlyICOfYd62HI3ETyLPWORAl8K1KmNDoBNuw49_NURIE2lGMTfPUsvq0uOgHayZrGbZL_y6Y/s1600/sleeping+beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYeH5fT2Vs64UhcxlXN-clObpXpr69Ugq2HznCad_DNbLHNClt2U90M51uMQ9Lj7bCdlUlyICOfYd62HI3ETyLPWORAl8K1KmNDoBNuw49_NURIE2lGMTfPUsvq0uOgHayZrGbZL_y6Y/s320/sleeping+beauty.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture taken by me before the Mish!</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sometime during this play date he appeared in the kitchen, standing alone with her mother, Celia. She sweetly asked him why he wasn't playing with Maya. He replied "Maya is sleeping on the couch." Curious, Celia went to the couch and asked Maya "Why don't you want to play?" Maya opened her eyes and answered, "I'm waiting for True Love's Kiss!" :) (She was playing Sleeping Beauty and he had no clue!)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhKqJs0OFSrznohWQqw9KVesZkXNuH8ejvMVIc7TSEAudBEFhARumKfMJMBIbrhiXx5oTq-36iANz1FIJgGeRgEL6Atk2iHIqei4hyphenhyphenGfT-Jf4Tap6nkz40jV3bZyBie2F4Hf2pMglH9g/s1600/maya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhKqJs0OFSrznohWQqw9KVesZkXNuH8ejvMVIc7TSEAudBEFhARumKfMJMBIbrhiXx5oTq-36iANz1FIJgGeRgEL6Atk2iHIqei4hyphenhyphenGfT-Jf4Tap6nkz40jV3bZyBie2F4Hf2pMglH9g/s320/maya.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture by Kaethe Hartman Binder</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table> As our conversation continued she explained today's dating style. I began to realize that in this very technical and modern world few of the youth of today will ever know what it feels like to "wait for his call" or to receive a card in the mail saying just how much he was thinking about you. They'll never be sure if the one they are casually dating could deliver "True Love's Kiss" because they can't get past the E-Mails or Texting. But I'm here to say if you can navigate your way through group dating and technology "True Love's Kiss" is out there and it's real!! It's the kiss that gets you through the rough times, the sad times, it makes your heart skip a beat when you see his car in the driveway, it lets you know that you chose with your heart! This kiss is real and can be eternal :)<br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><em><strong>What does she mean by 'eternal'? For more information, click on the link below and read an artical from our previous Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley.</strong></em></span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=0e5b74536cf0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">LDS.org- Ensign Article- The Marriage That Endures</a></div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-46130756786737908392010-08-22T19:34:00.002-04:002010-10-16T15:46:58.623-04:00It all added up<div style="background-color: blue; color: white; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">My name is Melissa Baxter, I have an eight year old boy who keeps me very busy, I’m going to school full time to become a physical therapist, I have a temper, I’m shy, have a tendency to be vague when speaking verbally, can be prideful and selfish on occasion, but I have Jesus Christ in my life to help me become a better person. I look to Christ, I am a Christian, but I am also a Mormon. </span></b></i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KvkVdM3jZD9tEwxC7LTC2PulVn2p4DfsTCMqoNRwHkDHF1Bg395JCtgY3Rz5wutfyaPDIUQzK2N52l3zatBbw9zT4tTm9yxjgWud34YsPQan8iNIcb5T6KwpRhyp1VO4-YirvWFP04E/s1600/Melissa+Baxter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KvkVdM3jZD9tEwxC7LTC2PulVn2p4DfsTCMqoNRwHkDHF1Bg395JCtgY3Rz5wutfyaPDIUQzK2N52l3zatBbw9zT4tTm9yxjgWud34YsPQan8iNIcb5T6KwpRhyp1VO4-YirvWFP04E/s320/Melissa+Baxter.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">I believe there is a prophet on the Earth today to help guide the general body of Christ.</span> I recently watched the documentary; <b>Lord, Save Us from Your Followers </b>and in it someone described the body of Christ (he was speaking of everyone who called themselves Christian) in a similitude of Frankenstein which I found very interesting. Because in 1 Corinthians (6:15, 10:17, and pretty much all of 12) Paul speaks of the body as one and in 1 Cor 12:25 he states “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” An image of Frankenstein as the body of Christ, the only thought that came into my head was… all Christians have their moments of falling out of line with the will of God, but so much so that the body becomes a monster? <span style="color: blue;">Then I thought about The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints, and how I feel comforted that this church, being the true church of Christ, in my opinion is the most unified whether speaking of a local branch or ward or the whole global community, we are united by one faith and one spirit.</span> I see this unity as possible because <span style="color: blue;">we are being guided by a prophet of God</span>; we are being guided by apostles. No matter where you go the same teachings are found in every one of our churches. That keeps us one in body and spirit, as Christ would have us be. Think about it, what other church gets together twice a year to hear the exact same message. Over 13 million members uniting maybe not physically, but spiritually we come together as one body to hear messages from our prophet, apostles, and other general authorities. <span style="color: blue;">One body, one faith, one spirit, one baptism.</span> Where there is unity you can bet Christ is in it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">This is what I believe to be true now. However, that wasn’t always the case. <span style="color: blue;">A year ago I didn’t even know what a Mormon was really.</span> I had heard the term before but had no clue what it meant. I didn’t even think I knew any Mormons. The funny thing is, it turns out I did know some. Another thing is that I have come to understand <span style="color: blue;">and realize I had been looking for The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints for a very long time. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I can barely remember but <span style="color: blue;">I was probably eight or nine years old when a couple of boys knocked on our door. My mom didn’t let me answer it.</span> I think she did answer the door and obviously told them no. But I remember looking at them through my front window and being drawn to them. I found these two guys walking around my neighborhood completely fascinating. I think I tried asking my mom about what they were doing. I don’t remember much of what she said but I know she told me they had to knock on peoples doors for two years. She made it sound mandatory. Which I know isn’t the case…in case any out there are wondering. I wondered what it was they were trying to talk to people about. I remember wishing I could talk to them and ask them questions. It’s pretty incredible; those two young missionaries were probably very discouraged that day, walking around, no one willing to listen. Little did they know they had planted a seed just by knocking on doors.</span><br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I mentioned I am a single mother. Never married. I had my son just ten days before my nineteenth birthday. I was troubled for quite a few years and made many bad choices along the way. I used to smoke cigarettes, drink excessively, and I also partook of marijuana for a time. I was a mess. I was deeply depressed and had no idea what I was doing with my life. I hated myself. However, during this time there were a couple of occasions when I thought of God and wanted to be close to him. I would try going to either the Presbyterian Church I attended as a kid or I would try some other one out. When I would get into one of these God Modes, I would s kim through scriptures and listen to Christian radio stations. And in these modes, I would ALWAYS come across the scriptures like 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?” When I came across these, I would often think that I was not living worthy to let the Spirit dwell in me. But I would fall back away from God shortly after.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">That cycle went on for some time. I managed to get myself in a really terrible relationship which was very damaging for me and my son. With the help of my best friend, I was able to get out of it. For a year my friend and I shared a three bedroom town house. It was great. We would spend many nights out on our balcony smoking cigarettes and drinking wine or beer. I wasn’t making a lot of money, and a lot of the time I found myself spending most of it on cigarettes and alcohol. I also found myself wondering why I needed to drink. I needed to drink to be sociable, to have a good time, to have deep conversations into the morning hours. Why couldn’t I do these things on my own? Why did I need to be drunk or buzzed to do it? I remember wishing I could do those things without drinking, but I had forgotten how. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">During our time together, my best friend had been laid off from work. This meant once the lease was over we would have to part ways. <span style="color: blue;"> Through a miracle of God I found a really nice apartment that would keep my son in the same school and a land lady who would let me rent it.</span> <span style="color: blue;"> I think it was that miracle from God that made me want to go to church again. I found a church and started to attend. However, after three months I began to feel my spiritual growth dwindling like all the other times. I also still felt like a complete outsider to this church.</span> <span style="color: blue;">I stayed after the services, I tried to small talk with other moms there, but I just wasn’t connecting with the congregation at all. </span> <span style="color: blue;">I didn’t want to turn my back on God and Jesus again. I needed them in my life, I knew it. So I prayed. I prayed to Heavenly Father, I begged Him to help me find a church that felt like a family. A place where I could always feel the Spirit, where I could grow in His grace. I tell you now, He answered my prayer with the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints. I tell you now that God would not EVER answer a prayer with a lie. He cannot, he is God, He is Truth, and He loves me and would not do anything cruel to me. I am so grateful to Him. It was in this church that I gained a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I know this church is Christ’s only true fully restored church. I know this because He has been calling me to it for a long time. </span></span><br />
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<div style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><i>I know my body is a temple, and it is worthy to hold the Holy Ghost. Nothing will ever be enticing enough to make me let go of that Gift. I pray that those who have had the seed planted that you let it grow, that you pray with REAL INTENT to know where the straight and narrow path is. You are not going to get the answer you want by asking mortal beings, but you must go to the one true source. Your Heavenly Father can and will tell you the truth. But you have to be willing and receptive to hear it and to follow it. There is safety, comfort, love, joy, peace, and relief in the arms of the Lord and in His true church. Read the Book of Mormon, Pray to know if it is true or not. Pray to know if the missionaries are the Lord’s servants spreading His Gospel. Pray to know if the church is true. Have Faith that God and Jesus Love you and want you home. You will get the truth revealed to you and it will set you free. </i> </span></div>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-3864109108984134012010-08-20T15:58:00.002-04:002010-10-16T15:46:36.370-04:00What I do as a missionaryYou might wonder what, exactly, a Mormon missionary does, other than ride a bike and knock on doors, or how a young man or woman just out of high school might end up on a mission. Here are the basics.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZkDSJDEyASnGFRRiU95Al6L7ab_L54wk0Kj0ZBsmExhSdwLJw4BR6_I5F5SkZ0d0DQhI8TP0BmyckUBKQOUysMAcTv0LmO2FXrdknROFNPYG_9yiaTE91lFqEqnbCaf7hq7L41RgpP4/s1600/bom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZkDSJDEyASnGFRRiU95Al6L7ab_L54wk0Kj0ZBsmExhSdwLJw4BR6_I5F5SkZ0d0DQhI8TP0BmyckUBKQOUysMAcTv0LmO2FXrdknROFNPYG_9yiaTE91lFqEqnbCaf7hq7L41RgpP4/s320/bom.jpg" /></a>Most of the Church’s missionaries are around twenty years old, though many members also volunteer to serve after they’ve retired. All prospective missionaries turn in applications to Church headquarters and one of the Twelve Apostles calls them to a specific mission around the world. They spend a few weeks in a training center where some of them learn a new language and all of them rigorously study and practice teaching the gospel. Then they set off to their assigned locations and begin their service. Missionaries’ lives are completely dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. They pay their own way and put off school, dating and work for two years in order to focus entirely on doing the Lord’s work.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>A common morning for a missionary might consist of waking up at 6:30 a.m., studying the scriptures, and meeting new people to share the gospel with. The afternoon might include discussing gospel lessons with people they meet and volunteering for service in the community.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6gR_-7SlB-hJHpqLthoxW6oWaLEHxi8EvIXvl0RFJZ4zcs7awnydoaK50AAILt-wcbXkndBWfG89UQykerQ-WdV97KMlMIw41ivMVgrNk2NxRobuvHOMjgIKfCPxEEeY-jLbFXOcckI/s1600/bed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6gR_-7SlB-hJHpqLthoxW6oWaLEHxi8EvIXvl0RFJZ4zcs7awnydoaK50AAILt-wcbXkndBWfG89UQykerQ-WdV97KMlMIw41ivMVgrNk2NxRobuvHOMjgIKfCPxEEeY-jLbFXOcckI/s320/bed.JPG" /></a>A good night has them teaching the gospel to interested individuals and helping them learn and keep God’s commandments or attending a baptismal service for someone who’s decided to join the Church. They return home around 9:30 p.m. and fall into bed, usually exhausted and happy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Article from: <a href="http://mormon.org/missionary-work">http://mormon.org/missionary-work</a>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-71870342756050176142010-08-18T20:48:00.002-04:002010-08-18T20:50:09.070-04:00Test post!! I'm just a Mormon Dad working with my amazing missionary daughter to make this Blog one that will touch your heart and make you understand how wonderful the gospel is in the lives of these women....PcBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05186762956938879694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-407603840040082958.post-90138647212176706972010-08-17T12:33:00.000-04:002010-08-17T12:33:56.618-04:00What a life!You've never seen a page like this! Now you'll get to read about the lives of 4 different women in todays world. <br />
<ul><li>All 4 are in different stages of their lives. </li>
<li>All four have different problems, and worries. </li>
<li>All four have happy times and spiritual moments. </li>
<li>And above all else, ALL 4 LOVE being Mormon! </li>
</ul>This is lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18183321347584305395noreply@blogger.com0