Sunday Musings

During church today, we were talking about the spirit and started listing blessings we receive from the Holy Ghost.  Several people mentioned how the Holy Ghost can increase our capabilities, whether it's our ability to love someone, or our happiness, or physical strength, or whatever. 

 It made me think of how enabling and strengthening the Holy Ghost can be to us when we allow him into our lives.  Our lives and abilities are truly enhanced by having the spirit to be with us always.  I can think back on specific times in my life when I did things that I shouldn't have been able to accomplish- through the enabling power of the Holy Ghost we are able to access the atonement of Jesus Christ and use that power in our lives to accomplish the things which are before us.  He brings the power of the atonement into our lives and allows it to enter our hearts and strengthen us in whatever we are struggling with. 

Elder Nunnally Mach 2

Another email from my brother!  He's loving England and all its beautiful countryside!  This past week included a trip to the emergency room due to some paint getting in his eye.  Apparently, they were helping someone paint their house and some paint fell into his eye.  He immediately washed it out, and they went to the emergency room just in case where he was given some eye drops.  All is well!

My Brother, The Missionary

My little brother, whom I love and adore, is in England for the next two years!  As members of the LDS faith, young men who are age 18 or older and who have proven themselves clean and worthy may be recommended to serve a full-time mission for two years.  (Women can also serve, but at age 19 and for eighteen months instead of two years.)  My little brother was called to serve in the England London South Mission!  He has now been out for a little over a month and he is loving every minute of it!!  We get weekly emails and these are some pictures from this week!

 Words of Wisdom from My Brother on Encouraging Others to Serve Missions:

"Tell them that this is a once in a life time opportunity and that they will never regret the decision to serve a mission. It is the biggest learning experience they will ever have, and not just spiritually. They will learn and grow so much on a mission. Its unreal. I have only been out a little while and I have already seen how much I have grown and how much I have learned. It's incredible."

The Post of Father's Days Passed

Once upon a time, in honor of Father's Day, my siblings and I did the 

same thing as the year before.  The end.  

Every year for Father's Day for as long as I can remember, we would always do the same thing for my Dad for Father's Day.  It was always a scavenger hunt.  We would first decorate the house and put up cards that said things like 'We love you!' and 'Happy Father's Day!' and 'Best Dad Ever!'

One year, instead of 'Father' we accidentally wrote 'Fatter' on the card ... 

Then we would devise clues to a scavenger hunt that would lead Dad all over the house in search of his presents.  At each location, there would be a piece of a royal wardrobe ensemble for him to put on.  First was the royal scepter (aka pink duster), then the silken cape (aka red shag blanket), and finally the regal crown with family jewels (aka an inflatable crown that said 'Happy Birthday').  

After the crown got a hole in it, we started using Dad's baseball cap instead.

After reaching the final destination of the scavenger hunt, Dad would finally have his well-earned gifts.  Usually hand-made paper ties, school produced poems, and TV series on DVD.

One of the more memorable Father's Day gifts was a trombone.  My father played in high school, but hadn't since then.  It was quite the feat to acquire one and hide it and quite the surprise when he opened it.

Then we would all share in the cake/brownies/rice crispies/other dessert while we watched either Ben Hur or The Ten Commandments- two of my Father's favorite movies- depending on which one my Dad wanted to watch.  

Song of choice for the day was always "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home."

Christmas Shots from Dad!

My father, the amazing transformer!  Most of my life, I remember my Dad being around 400 pounds,
but he lost a LOT of weight and looks more like the guy in the picture above this one.

Daddy's girl

My Father taught me the difference between a man and a boy.  He taught me that I should always do what I love and love what I do.  He taught me the power, joy, and emotion that comes from sharing my talents with others.  He taught me to always respect people, even if you don't agree with them.  He taught me that family is the most important thing I'll ever be involved in and it should always come first.  He taught me that no matter what the situation is, you can always find something good about it and it's not the end of eternity- life will go on.  He taught me that Mom is always number one and should be treated likewise.  He taught me love.  

Thanks for all you've ever done for me, Dad.  

And thanks for all the fish.

Mother, I Love You

Today being Mother's Day, I've thought about my mother a lot all day today.  She has done a lot for me and I am more thankful for her than for anything else.  In my opinion, she is second to none on this Earth, and second to only one in the eternities, our Heavenly Mother.

When my mother was my age, she went through a lot of the same things I have had to go through as a young adult, surprisingly enough.  The unfortunate part for her was her mother had already passed away by the time she was my age.  So, during those especially difficult times when I called my mother nearly every day, she had no mother to call.  Yet, she remained strong in her faith and unshaken in her beliefs.  That is strength.  That is my mother.

When I lived at home, I became the 'ward babysitter' almost every Friday and/or Saturday night.  Every night, when I would walk through the front door, she would still be up, just waiting for me to come home.  It didn't matter is it was 10pm or 1:30am, she was always there, sitting at the kitchen table, patiently and lovingly waiting.  That is patience.  That is my mother.

Whenever I would stay home from school and during the summer months, I would witness my mother's daily scripture study.  Every day, without fail, she would sit down and search the scriptures diligently, sometimes watching TV clips of BYU professors discussing doctrine and script, and other times referring to our modern prophets for clarity and guidance.  Her scriptures are marked through without cross references, inserts, significant passages, and modern parallels.  That is diligence.  That is my mother.  

When my mother had a calling in church, she magnified it to the fullest.  I remember her service in the Relief Society Presidency and helping her to make welcoming gift bags for the young women who turned 18.  I remember her service as a visiting teacher and going to visit the sweet sisters which she watched over and cared for.  Even now, as the primary chorister, she spends time each week, preparing for the music which she will share with the tender spirits of children and the simple truths she will teach them.  That is dedication.  That is my mother.

Each week, my mother writes an old fashioned pen-to-paper letter.  And each week, she sends it to her brother.  She never receives a letter in response, never a phone call, never an email, but she continues to write.  She tells him about our family, and their siblings, keeping him updated on all the news and happenings.  The last time she saw her brother was when their older brother passed away, almost five years ago.  At that visit, she saw that her letters were indeed reaching their destination and they were very much appreciated.  She hasn't heard from him since, but she continues to write.  Still no responses, and still no confirmation of receipt.  That is unconditional love.  That is my mother.

When I was born, my grandmother had long since passed away.  Growing up, my mother would tell me countless stories about my grandmother; her likes, her personality, her character, her appearance.  I feel as if even though I haven't met my grandmother on this Earth I truly do know her and I can't wait to meet her one day.  My mother, in anticipation of this day, has helped me to get to know my grandmother and recognize her spirit.  That is hope.  That is my mother.

A few words about mothers from songs:

"Her plea to the father quiets all my fears"1 

"I know a ... glorious name, dearer than any other ... it is the name of mother."2

"Dear mother, all flowers remind me of you"3

"I learn how to love them, dear Mother, from you."3

"Your happy smiling face is such a joy to look at."4

"I'm so glad he gave me you." 4

"We like to help mother 'cause we all love her so."5

Like sunshine in the morning, that wakens day from night, 

Like flowers in the springtime, so colorful and bright, 

Like happy songs of bluebirds, that fill the air with cheer, 

A person bright and lovely is my mother dear.

-- My Mother Dear, Becky-Lee Hill Reynolds

Songs quoted in order: 1-Love is Spoken Here, 2-The Dearest Names, 3-I Often Go Walking, 4-Mother Dear, 5-When We're Helping

Coming Up For Air

Finals are DONE!!  Winter Semester is DONE!!  Just in time for spring term to start on Tuesday ... bought all my books today and am just trying to enjoy the lack of things to do before the storm begins!  So here's a quick little update to let you know that I'm still alive.

Also, my roomie is back!! :D Throwback Thursday on a Saturday in her honor!

July 2011

Also, I got a new job!  Well, a new position within the place I work- if that makes sense.  I'll be working in an office now working on a computer rather than on the floor dealing with ten missing employees all at once.  I started training last week, and the person who is currently doing it will be graduating in August so I have four months to learn everything! 

Fine By Me

We went to the Andy Grammer concert tonight!  It was so fun!!   He sang my favorite song and Jenna's favorite song and we learned some new songs that are equally amazing!  He's a fantastic entertainer and really interacts with the crowd in a way that gets everyone excited!

Waiting in line- two and a half hours before it started

Waiting inside the ballroom ... 

The National Parks opened and our impression of them has not been good, but tonight I actually enjoyed their music- our main problem comes from a stake dance in which they were supposed to play, but it took about half an hour for them to even get their sound equipment set up (well after the dance had started, by the way) and then they wanted all 2000+ of us trying to dance and have a good time to be quiet ...

ANDY!!!

We Love Andy Grammer!

Because of Him and 23 hours!!!

Because of him, no goodbye lasts forever and I can spend time with these wonderful people again.

also ...

ANDY GRAMMER IN 23 HOURS!!!!!!!  (not that I'm excited or anything ... )

This is one of my favorites- mostly because of one line "I'm looking for a love that's still alive and well in rocking chairs".  I mean really- how cute is that?!

Siblings and A Book

It's here!  My real live book which I wrote and illustrated!

As an assignment for my music education class, we had to choose a children's song and make a book out of it.  I chose "Bobby Shaftoe" and came up with a story to go with it and wrote some extra verses and voila!  I love it so much!!!

Apparently, it's also sibling's day again.  (Didn't this happen last year, too?  How often do I have to tell my siblings I love them?!)  So, a few commemoratory (is that a word?) stories/pictures celebrating those four crazies who I grew up with and couldn't live without.

One of my favorite things about my little brother (younger?  I guess he's not little and is in fact taller than me now as are all of my siblings except one ... ) is his hugs.  My little brother gives the best bear hugs in the whole world!  My last trip home, I surprised him by waiting for him after he got off work and surprised him with ... well, my presence.  His reaction to seeing me always makes me feel so important and loved.  Don't know how I'm going to live without this kid for two years while he serves his mission.  England, I hope you're ready for this boy!

Throw back to the first time I went back home after moving to Provo.  Saying I was ecstatic about seeing my sisters is an understatement.  I was absolutely positively thrilled!  We've had so many adventures and good times and I wouldn't trade them for anything!  I remember when my dad and brothers would go to Priesthood session of conference, we would throw a hen party and make brownies and watch Princess Diaries together.  So much fun!

My true partners in crime

My big brother and I have an interesting relationship.  We've spent most of our lives together as in, he's always been in mine since I was born and I've been in most of his.  One of my favorite stories about my big brother and I is only remembered by my mother and a photograph.  We had just moved to our new house and my little brother was only a few months old.  Jorel and I were outside playing with sidewalk chalk.  My mother looked outside and caught us drawing on each other instead of the sidewalk.  It was truly a hilarious sight, according to her.  Our entire arms and legs were covered in pink and blue and purple chalk.  I'm sure it was a blast.  And then when we were older, high school was more of an "ignore my annoying little sister" time for my brother ... but here's to more days of coloring together with chalk and less of ignoring each other!

An Andy Grammer A Day Keeps the Sadness Away

Andy Grammer is doing a concert at BYU next week!!  SO pumped!!  My roommates and I are all going in celebration of the last day of class, graduation, and because we love Andy. So, to help the internet world understand why Andy Grammer is so amazing, here's a "one-week-till-we-get-to-see-Andy Grammer!" post with one of my favorite Grams.

A Short Piece of Prose

One of my classes (my least favorite- Foundations of Literacy) is what's called a blended learning course.  Half of the time, we meet actually in a classroom and the other half of the time we complete online learning modules instead of going to class.  This week's topic is writing.  I was working on my module and got to a point in the lesson where the instructions were to simply write.  "Take the next 20 minutes and write. It can be a poem, a letter, or an essay--the style and topic do not matter. Write about something that is important to you."  

The following is the product of that experience.

Your Arms

            Your arms are not like other people’s arms.  Other arms are all skin and elbows and hair.  Some of them are skinny, and some of them are flappy like mine.  Some of them are big and bulging.  But none of them are like yours.  Yours are covered with strength and support.  The muscles inside of them are made of warmth and comfort.  They’re prickly with love instead of hair.  Other arms wrap you up with hugs and shoulders.  Your arms make a home where I am always welcome and can feel the joyful sensation of belonging.  Your arms are attached to your hands.  Just like your arms, your hands are not like other people’s hands either.  Other people’s hands can be dry and scratchy like when you’re washed them too much.  Other’s people’s hands can be slippery and hard to hold on to like they’ve just bathed them in oil.  Other’s people’s hands can be grabby, always searching for something to snatch up and cling to.  Other’s people’s hands can be shy, never actually touching yours but wishing they could and wanting you to make the first move.  Other people’s hands can hurt.  They form fists and slaps and pointing fingers, their only intention to bring pain and take away pleasure.  But your hands don’t do that.  Your hands are not perfect in appearance, but in them is the fulfillment of perfection.  Your hands are always inviting, waiting for me to accept your invitation.  You have taken my hand in your many times, but never forced me to keep holding on.  But I have.  I’ve held on so many times through the bad and the ugly.  I’ve tried to hold on, despite the messages of the world and the thoughts that try to penetrate my faith.  Why are you still holding on?  Why don’t you just let go?  Why don’t you just do what you know will bring results?  Why do you dare to think that there’s something better for you?  These thoughts are hard sometimes and it takes me a while to push them away.  While they’re in my mind, I can’t move forward, but you’re patient with me.  You know that it’s hard for me, because you’ve done it before.  Fighting past the thoughts, I can continue to endure and press forward with you leading me on.  Your imperfectly perfect hands and arms are not the only parts of you.  My favorite is your eyes.  I don’t know what color they are.  Maybe blue like mine?  Probably brown; the same kind of brown that just makes you feel close and warm.  But even if they’re not really brown, I do know one thing I’ll find in them: love.  When one day I can see your face again and look into your eyes as you look into mine, I’ll see your excitement that I kept holding on, even though it was hard.  I’ll see your joy from all the times I didn’t falter and none of the disappointment for the times I did.  I’ll see your love that has been there for me all along and that has made me feel important, even when no one else said I was.  I’ll feel the home of your embrace, celebrating the light that envelopes me, never again to leave.

https://istandallamazed.wordpress.com/tag/comfort/

He Loves You Because of You and He Needs You

(Be warned, this one is rather lengthy.)

Thinking about divine nature always reminds me of these lyrics, which I imagine would be how the Savior feels about us whenever we feel down.  “The greatest gift I could give to you, is if you could see yourself the way I do.”

image taken from http://findingstrengthwithin.blogspot.com/

We have so much potential to grow and become better.  At this current moment, our souls are filled with sorrows, our bodies with weaknesses, and at times, our lives can be filled with sin.  But we have the potential to become better, no matter what state we are currently in.  Not only in this life, but the gospel teaches us that we also have potential in the next life to become like Gods if we endure the trials and challenges of this life and remain true to the truths of the gospel.

“There is something of divinity within each of you.  You have such tremendous potential with that quality as part of your inherited nature.  Every one of you was endowed by your Father in Heaven with a tremendous capacity to do good in the world.” (Gordon B. Hinckley)

Heavenly Father knows us- we were with Him before we came to Earth, He is with us now, and, if we live faithfully, we will live with Him in the eternities.  He knows us even better than we know ourselves, because He knows what we have the potential to become.  Because he knows us so well, he has catered a plan, specific and individual to each of us, that will help us to realize who we are and to become the person He knows we can be.

image taken from http://www.ldsliberty.org/the-moral-question-of-government/pre-mortal-life-5/

Stop for a moment and think about who you are right now.  Think about the relationships you have, where you live.  What are the experiences that led you there?  Without just one of those experiences, would you be where you are now?  How can we deny that those experiences were not crafted and put into our lives by a loving Father who is helping us to reach our divine potential?

Image from pinterest

Individual Worth, to me, has always meant the statement that everyone is important to God.  But this blanket statement is not personal, and defeats the purpose of individual worth. 

You are important and have infinite worth to our Father in Heaven because of who you are and the potential you have.  You bring to the table a unique combination of experiences and ideas and traits that make up your irreplaceable character which no one else can bring.  No one else can ever take your spot, and that’s why you’re important. 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared a story about a couple living in Utah: Every week, the man, while he was at work, would pull out his scriptures or other Church literature during lunch and read.  His coworkers would ridicule him and challenge his beliefs every day.  Nevertheless, he smiled and spoke to them with kindness and confidence.  Years later, one of the men who had mocked him asked the man to speak at his funeral, which he did.  His influence was known and felt by all who came into contact with him, even those who mocked him.  His wife, widowed after an industrial accident, underwent brain surgery, leaving her unable to walk or write.  People love coming to spend time with this dear sister because she listens and remembers.  “She never complains but spends her days blessing the lives of others … This couple would have been the first to say they were not much of importance in this world.  But the Lord uses a scale very different from the World’s to weigh the worth of a soul.  He knows this faithful couple; He loves them.”

Psalms 8:3-6 says:

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:”

This scripture brings us to the interesting paradox of man.  The Lord created the universe; he created worlds without end and compared to Him, man is nothing.  We literally are mortal beings who live on a small planet and live for only a brief moment in the grand expanse of the universe.  But we matter to him- thus creating the paradox.  WHY?  Why does he care about us so much?  Why has he given us so much?  He created this universe just for us so that we could grow and become immortal beings ourselves.  Dieter F. Uchtdorf gives us this answer- “God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child.  He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become.” 

Using our knowledge about divine nature, we can more fully understand our individual worth.  For illustrative purposes, I’m calling this Divine Worth- the sandwich of Divine Nature and Individual Worth.

To the world, your worth is determined by how big your house is, how updated you are in technological advances, how many people you sleep with, how many countries you’ve been to, how many gold medals you have, or how ‘ideal’ your figure is.  Worldly worth is a process of comparison between yourself and somebody else- there are all kinds of examples of this in rankings of team players, lists of most attractive people, and even in calculating one player’s odds of winning over another’s.   “A person’s true value has little to do with what the world holds in high esteem … The Lord uses a scale very different from the World’s to weigh the worth of a soul” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf).  The Lord’s scale is not based on class rankings, or where we live, or even what our calling in the church is.  The Lord’s scale is based off of who we are and who we have the potential to become.  It’s our divine nature that helps us understand our individual worth.

In preparing this talk, a song I learned when I was young kept returning to my mind called Every Star is Different.  “Every star is different and so is every child- some are bright and happy, and some are meek and mild.  Every one is needed for just what he can do; you’re the only person who ever can be you.”  This first verse teaches us that every single one of us is different- we each have different experiences, different ideas, and different characteristics that combine in a unique way to make us who we are.  None of us is exactly the same; even those who go through life together and have the same physical experiences will not have the same perceptions or thoughts and thus create different people.  Because of this uniqueness, we are, as the song said, the only person who can be who we are.  This makes each and every single one of us needed in some way or another by our Father in Heaven- we each have a divine mission to fulfill on this Earth and we are the only ones who can do it.  Because of our individual worth, our unique experiences and ideas that create our own distinctive characteristics- no one else can complete our responsibilities in the same way that we can.  They also cannot grow in the same way we will after going through an experience. 

He loves us because of us- who we are and who we will become.  Our individual worth is because of our divine nature.  These two values are infinitely connected and each one helps us to understand the other.  Yes, the Lord cares about us and loves us.  But He doesn’t base that love off of how well we did on our finals, how many dates we went on last week, or even where we work.  “What matter[s] to Him [is] that [we’re] doing the best [we can], that [our] heart[s] [are] inclined toward Him, and that [we are] willing to help those around [us]… God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history.”  (Uchtdorf)

Let us continue on in doing everything we can to reach our divine potential; let us look at others through the eyes of the Lord; and let us remember that we matter to Him.  

(images taken from www.lds.org unless otherwise noted.)

Sisters For Life

This weekend was a very special one in my family- we had not one, but TWO birthdays!!

Not-so-little Little Sisters

Miranda

Miranda turned 18 this weekend!  Official adult status!  For her birthday, they cancelled school all over the state! (Also, because there was ice everywhere ... )  Miranda is so talented, but you'd never know it unless you really got to know her.  This weekend, I saw some of her art sketches and I am completely amazed- I don't thing I've ever drawn anything that well!  She has also completed her very own novel, and although it has not been published yet, she is working hard on another one.  I started many writing many books in my own high school years, but never actually finished any of them- I think the closest I got was five chapters before I forgot or got bored.  Also this weekend, she took some pictures that I wanted to get on my computer, so she gave me the memory card from her camera and oh my goodness!  So many beautiful pictures!!  Miranda is also a very talented singer- I love having jam sessions with her when I go home and just hearing her sing the words to some of the most touching and beautiful songs ever written.  

Here are some of her photos.

Emily

Emily turned 15 this weekend!  I told her she was halfway to 30!  She's the baby of the family and boy does she know it!  I remember when she was a baby and we all doted on her and treated her just like a royal princess.  She is just a little ray of sunshine in everyone's life- and is possibly one of the smartest little girls I know!  She is currently learning how to play the cello and coming along in a most excellent manner.  Here is a video of her Christmas concert- skip to 4:02 and she is the one in black playing the cello. (She's only on for the one song, but she did great!)

The Best Kind of Prize is a SURPRISE!

It's a wonderful thing when I am able to get Friday off and we have no class on Monday- so this week, I returned to my roots and surprised everyone for Valentine's Day/birthdays/President's Day/just-for-fun day!
It's been a blast!!!  And it was nice to kind of have my own little spring break ;]

Dad was the only one who knew I was coming, so he came and picked me up from the airport and we started our way home.  We reached Dallas right as my brother should have been leaving for work. Just to make sure, I called home and asked if I could talk to Mom.  I was told she was just leaving, but would call me when she got back.  So, we took the back way home in order to get there before Mom got back.  I took that opportunity to surprise my little sisters (there was lots of screaming and hugging) and enlist them to help surprise my mother.  She came back and we captured the little gem at the top of this post. :] Then, that night, I got to surprise my little brother when he came home from work.  SO fun!  But it didn't stop there!  Every Sunday, our family has a skype/google hangout date with everyone.  So when my older brother called for our regular meeting, he also got a surprise when I was sitting at home!  So much fun!!! :]

Today, we went to church and I got to help teach in primary!  The class I helped with had some of my three-year-olds from before I left for BYU (and now ... they're old!)  And I got to help one of the most amazing ladies EVER, so that was awesome, too. :]

One of my little sisters gave a talk on music and I got to hear it and the other one taught during Sunday School, so I got to hear that as well!  It was so cool!!  I picked a good weekend to come/my sisters picked a good weekend to be born.

Whoa! It's February and Time for a Challenge!

Where did February come from??  Sorry I haven't posted in so long ... I've been super busy with classes- here's a typical day for me:

Sleep (as long as humanly possible while still completing all important tasks)
Awake and eat breakfast (sometimes, just a Nutrigrain bar, but hey- it's better than nothing
Rush to class/work (good thing I only live seven minutes from campus)
After class/work is over, rush to the other one
Take a lunch break and eat some food (hopefully, I had time the night before to make something so I don't have to spend money)
Do homework- study for a test- read in a textbook- practice
Rush to final class/work shift for the day
Meander home to finish more homework, read emails, and get ready for tomorrow!

Unfortunately, blogging is not on that list ... but because I am ahead on homework at the moment, I can pause and enjoy letting the creative juices of my soggy brain flow!

http://www.petfinder.com/dogs/living-with-your-dog/dog-valentines-day-date/

Since it is almost Valentine's Day, it's time for my traditional Valentine's Day challenge!  This year will be a little different from in years past, though I still intend to write a letter to my future spouse and encourage all my single friends to do so as well!

This year's Valentine's Day challenge is all about love.  There are lots of small things in every day that demonstrate the love which the Savior has for us- there's a song that I absolutely love which talks about the Savior's love for us.

I Feel My Savior's Love

I feel my Savior's love 

In all the world around me.

His spirit warms my soul 

Through everything I see.

I feel my Savior's love;

Its gentleness enfolds me.

And when I kneel to pray, 

My heart is filled with peace.

I feel my Savior's love, 

And know that He will bless me.

I offer Him my heart;

My shepherd He will be.

I'll share my Savior's love

By serving others freely.

In serving, I am blessed;

In giving, I receive.

Chorus:

He knows I will follow him, 

Give all my love to him. 

I feel my Savior's love,

The love he freely gives me.

(Words: Ralph Rodgers Jr., 1936-1996; K. Newell Dayley, b. 1939; and Laurie Huffman, b. 1948)

The Savior blesses us everyday because of His love for us.  The beautiful trees and mountains that mark the landscape, the glorious sunrise, the little wisps of wind on a hot summer's day, the tiny birds that hop through the garden, the lovely butterflies that land on our shoulder- all of these creations from our Lord and Savior testify of his love for us.  He has done so much out of love for us and even gave the ultimate sacrifice because of it.  I can't even imagine loving someone that much (maybe that's why I'm still single ... ).

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/127789708150780349/

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help fill the world with love!  In order to show our appreciation for the love which our Savior has for us, share His love with others by serving them.  Small acts of kindness go a long way!  Even just a simple smile can brighten someone's day!  Sit with someone who's all alone during lunch; compliment someone on their outfit; have a conversation with the person behind you in line; tell someone they are loved.  If there's only one person who feels a little more love in their life from me issuing this challenge, then I will have done my part and helped to spread a little love. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/127789708150780339/

Do your part.  Share the love!

A White Chick from Next to the Boondocks

(This post is an assignment for my Foundations of Multicultural Education class.)

Jerald and Loraine Anderson

I chose this picture to represent my grandmother and her influence on me.  My grandmother passed away in the early 80s from cancer, so obviously I have never walked with her on this Earth in a physical body.  However, I have felt her influence in my life many times and I can pinpoint specific moments when I know that my grandmother is with me.  My mother always used to talk about my grandmother's love of learning and how smart she was.  I wanted to be smart just like my grandmother in heaven.  I know that she and I had a relationship in heaven because I can feel it whenever I think about her.  I admire her love of learning and as such strive to take advantage of all the learning experiences which I have the opportunity to enjoy.  Also represented in this picture is my love of family and belief that we can one day be reunited with our loved ones in the spirit world.  My grandfather passed away just over five years ago and I know he and my grandmother are happy and reunited now just as they were in this picture on their wedding day.

Cougareat Food Court Logo

I chose to include where I work as part of my cultural diorama because of all I have learned while working there that has helped to shape my character.  I have been a part of the management for about three years and in that amount of time I have learned a lot about respect, communication, sacred resources, stewardship, and responsibility (just to name a few).  Because of the experiences which I have had there as a member of the management team, I have been able to pinpoint what kind of impact I want to have on those whom I come in contact with and how I want to be viewed by others.  Certain other members of the management team have been examples which I have looked up to because of the influence which they have on others and the respect which they have for others and their values.

Marching Band Competition- Megs and Me

In high school, I was a part of the marching band and learned A LOT.  I joined my freshman year and remember how much I hated band camp- it was SO hard and I felt like I wasn't getting it and I was doing everything wrong.  Junior year, I quit.  After quitting, I realized how much I missed the music and how much the joy really was worth all of the hard work that went into each show, each performance, each set.  I learned to value hard work and endurance for the reward that comes after.  Our directors had a vision for our band to become one of the greatest in the state.  We attended intense competitions that pushed our small band to its limits.  Our band program was not made up of a lot of people.  Our principal put so much more emphasis on the sports than any of the arts programs and they all suffered from it.  Despite this challenge from forces beyond their control, our directors had instilled in us that we could still be the best band in the state.  No matter what others say or think about you, the most important thing is that you be your best self.  We learned that you can set your goals however high you want as long as you are willing to work hard enough to reach them.   (After marching season of junior year concluded, I rejoined for my senior year.) 

Bringing in the New Year ... A Little Late ...

In our culture, we generally set goals every new year of things that we want to accomplish that year. I am a huge fan of goals and accomplishing new things in life! Goals help us to have direction and progress rather than remain stagnant with no purpose. I hate when that first challenge to your goal comes and people just give up. I once heard from a guy who was a personal trainer at a gym that he sees more people in his gym in January and February than almost any other month. Why do we give up? Why are we so good during the first months of the year and then we maybe forget one day or purposely disregard our goals and never get back into it. 

"In our journey on earth, we discover that life is made up of challenges—they just differ from one person to another. We are success oriented, striving to become “wonder women” and “super men.” Any intimation of failure can cause panic, even despair. Who among us cannot remember moments of failure? ... Our responsibility is to rise from mediocrity to competence, from failure to achievement. Our task is to become our best selves. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final." 

- Thomas S. Monson

No matter what your goals are for the New Year, be the best you that you can possibly be- it's NEVER too late to change. And there's never a bad time to restart goals- if you fall off the horse, get right back up and start riding again. Winston Churchill once said "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it if the courage to continue that counts." 

So some of my personal goals this year: 

1) Be healthy! We're supposed to be good stewards over all that God has entrusted to us and certainly our bodies are one of those things. I don't think I'm a junk food addict or a couch potato, but there are things I don't like about my body and I want to change those things. 

2) Be a voice for good! The great and terrible thing about the internet is that it gives everyone a voice- not everyone has to listen to a specific voice because there are so many of them out there. There are lots of opinions, misconceptions, ideas, and thoughts out there that can be for good or for bad. I want to add my voice to those for good and help to bring a little bit of happiness into the lives of others. My voice alone will not drown out the bad, but together with other voices for good, it can help to lessen the influence of the bad voices in the world. 

If you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will succeed. Be brave and know that there are people to help you- all you have to do is ask. Sorry this post is so late ... but better late than never! 

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What are some of your goals for this year?