A Little Secret About Happiness

Last Saturday, Sister McCall and I went to a local park to meet up with some of the youth from the Church of Jesus Christ.  They are amazing! 

We were invited to have a picnic dinner with them and play some games.  Some of their friends came to join our picnic party.  It was a great opportunity for each member of our Youth to express their love and devotion to their Savior and His gospel to their friends who came.  It was a casual setting, but the spirit was there and I know they all had a great experience. 

These crazy kiddos rock.  Seriously.  Look at them--Don't they look so happy?!

Here's their secret:

They are great missionaries, and they live the standards the Lord has given them EVERY DAY!  They dress modestly, avoid harmful substances, attend church weekly, they follow dating guidelines that will lead them to an eternal marriage, and they get up early each morning to attend bible study classes called "Seminary" each morning before school.

This year they are studying the Old Testament.  What a great way for them to start each day.  We love the youth.  They love sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with their friends, because they know what a blessing it is to live the lifestyle the Lord wants them to live. 

Seminary has been a blessing to these Youth.  To learn more about seminary, and how it helps the Youth of the World, watch the video below.  Click here to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ and it's youth programs.

 

B is for Bacon

This is my brother, Ian.  On his tenth birthday, I found the ultimate present:  Bacon Bandaids.  They were pretty stellar.  I took this picture, and as I was looking at it, I realized that some days, you wake up feeling like you have bacon on your forehead.  You can smell it.  You can feel it.  You can even see it in the mirror.  But you can't eat it unless you physically peel it off!

Sometimes I know exactly what I want.  I can tell people what I want.  I can feel good about my decision to get it.  Often times it is even within reach.  But if I don't work towards what I want-I will never get it!

As a missionary, I set a lot of goals.  There are a lot of things I want to do.  Here's a mini version of my "wishlist":

I have learned that I have to set small goals.  I have to learn to deal with current trials so that I might be able to accept the bigger ones.  I need to be willing to share my talents and abilities to bless the lives of others.  I must be willing to love the Lord with all my heart.  I must be willing to be patient with my future family.

To eat the bacon, I have to prepare my muscles.  I need to lift my hands and arms.  I must feel the bacon on my forehead.  I have to peel it off.  I have to open my mouth.  I have to put the bacon in my mouth! 

Dear friends--don't wait!  EAT THE BACON!  Set small goals so you can enjoy the eternal blessings of juicy-bacon-goal setting! 

My Favorite Piece of Plastic

I love teaching.  I am pretty positive that those I teach don't learn nearly as much as I do!  Every time I teach, I'm filled with this warm feeling that just makes me feel beautiful.  It reminds me of my calling-being a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Every morning before I leave the house, I pick up a small, black, plastic rectangle.  My name is carved in white on the front.  I place it next to my heart and clip it on.  Every time, I stand up a little straighter.  Why?  Because I get to put on a name tag, that bears my name with My Saviors.  Jesus Christ.  He is with me during every moment of every day.

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." 

(Doctrine and Covenants 84: 88)

I only get to wear this tag for 10 more months!  And then I'm back to living an ordinary, regular life.  I will still have incredible experiences-and I will do my best to continue to be a missionary.  But there is something so sacred about being set apart as a full time missionary for Heavenly Father.  Some days I feel like a super hero with my name tag.  Maybe that's why I love it so much!  


I know that the Lord will help me every day, as long as I continue to be His disciple.

Five

I'm joining the throng of women who will now sport Forget-Me-Not flowers on their blogs.   Why do we suddenly have these small 5-petaled flowers on our computer screens and in our homes? 

Last Saturday was the world wide General Womens Conference.  A prophet and apostle of the Lord spoke about these small flowers.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf related these forget-me-nots to the women of the church-and to the truths we must remember.  We are Daughters of our Heavenly Father.  He loves us, cares for us, and wants us to use our time on this earth wisely.  He wants us to bless the lives of others, and He will, in turn bless our lives. 

As I listened to these words, I felt a powerful feeling of love.  I know that God loves me.  He loves each of us.  The following day, I sat in a church pew with a sweet and kind-hearted woman.  She has been a member of the church for many years.  As we visited after the sacrament services, she told me how this talk about the forget-me-nots had touched her.  With tears in her eyes, she expressed her sadness and heartache as she had gone many years without feeling the love of her Heavenly Father.  She grabbed my hand and said, "But on Saturday, I felt it!  I felt His love.  I had not felt it in a very long time.  But then it came, and it was wonderful!"

To learn more Click Here

Under Construction!

I'm currently learning a lot about blogging.  This whole blogging world is amazing to me!  There are going to be lots of great stories to come, so be excited!  :)

As a Little Child

        A little over a year ago, I was photographing a friends wedding.  As I went to take pictrues of the cake, I spotted this adorable little girl, standing against this cabinet.  Her eyes amazed me.  I didn't touch this picture with photoshop.  Her sweet, innocent blue eyes were so pure, and so delicate, I had to capture a picture of her.  As soon as I snapped the first picture, she began to smile.  What a sweet face!  She then got embarrassed and hid behind her grandmother before I could take another picture.

Every time I see this picture, my heart just melts.  I'm reminded of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He truly loved children.  Christ taught His disciples about the Faith and Submissiveness of innocent and pure children. 

"Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

(Matthew 18:3-4)

As we turn to the Lord and become more Christlike, we literally become His Children.  When we are humble with undoubting faith, we are the children of His Holy Kingdom.

The Spirit of Courage