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Even though my life is far from being over, I loved this quote.  I hope to serve the Lord faithfully and diligently throught my life!

Julie Joins the Church

Growing up, my mom (Julie) had very little religious background.  As a young girl she believed in God, but did not claim a specific religion as her own. 

As she got older, she was determined to have good values and good morals.  She lived an honorable life all through High School.  As High School Graduation came, Julie and her friends took a trip to Hawaii, and toured the Hawaii Temple.  She filled out a referral card at the end of the tour.  The card asked basic information, and then asked if the visitor would like to have the missionaries come to their home.  Julie saw this card, but didn't know what to check.  So she left it blank.

A few weeks later, two LDS missionaries knocked on her door.  They held her referral card from the temple.  The box was checked "YES".  My mother was confused and explained to the Elders that she did not check that box.  She closed the door.  She later told us that when she closed that door, she knew she had done something wrong.

After graduating from the College of Nursing at the Universtity of Arizona, she got a job working in the Los Angelos Hospital.  On one of her first days, the staff nurse was showing my mom around the hospital.  There was a display of pictures of all the doctors working on her floor.  She saw a picture of a doctor named Mark Valentine and thought, "He's cute!"

They ran into each other at work, chatted, and eventually, Mark asked Julie on a date.  He was a classy man, and took her to the symphony.  This impressed Julie, and she agreed to a second date.  They continued to date, and because Julie was so cool (and anyone who knows her knows legitimately how awesome and fun she is), Mark became more and more interested in her. 

Mark was also very interested in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He had grown up in a religious family.  His parents and all four siblings were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He had served a full time mission in El Salvador. 

One day, Mark asked Julie, "What do you know about the Church I go to?"  Julie had a friend who had been a mormon, and had some preconceived notions about their beliefs. 

She answered, "I don't like that you worship Joseph Smith."  She then told Mark about how important she felt it was to only worship God.  Mark smiled at Julie and explained that mormons worship only God the Father and Jesus Christ.  He explained Joseph Smith's role as a prophet, but assured her that we did not worship any man.  He gave her a book about the life of the man named Joseph Smith.  Julie read it.

While she was reading the book, she felt a desire to learn more.  She believed that there must be more to this man.  He never denied what he saw, and even died because of it.  She picked up the phone and called the number for the Los Angelos Temple Visitors Center.  An elderly man picked up on the other line.  My mom said, "I think I need to learn more about your church.  Is there someone I can talk to?"

Before too long, Julie was actively reading the Book of Mormon, and knew it was true.  She knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  She knew that she was a daughter of God.  So what did she do?

Put on a white jumpsuit and got baptized!!

The following year, Mark and Julie were sealed for time AND ETERNITY in the Los Angelos Temple. 

And I'm lucky enough to have them as parents. 

I am so grateful for my Dad's willingness to share the gospel with my mom.  I will talk more about HIS story in another post.  But since it is mothers day, this goes out to my mama!

I'm blessed to have a mother that loves the Lord as much as she loves her children.  She has always put the Savior first, and taught us to do the same.  My sister followed the example of my mother and was sealed to her sweetheart in a Temple of God.

I miss you mom.  Happy Mothers Day!

1 Hot Mama!

My dad bought this card for my mom back in Mother's Day 2010.  It was the last Mother's Day I was able to celebrate with my family. 

And let me tell you--I do have a great mom!! She is adorable.  I'm lucky to have some of her genes!  She is so fun. 

I'm grateful that I get to visit with them a little over the phone this weekend. 

Mom, I love you.  Happy Mothers Day!  I hope it's the best yet!

Even the Flamingos

I had a chance to go to the Zoo with some friends a few weeks ago on our P-day.  While there, we saw a  flamingo who had wandered from the rest of the flamingo clan, just chillin in the pond.  He continued to stretch his neck down into the water, drinking and splashing himself over and over and over and over and over. 

Get the picture? 

  I thought to myself, "how could he be so thirsty when the water is right in front of him?"

As I thought of this thirsty flamingo, it reminded me of some past experiences. 

I grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Also known as the Mormons.  During my early college years, I did not know I was thirsty for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I thought I could easily find happiness through friends, a good job, and a good education.  I searched and searched but still felt that there was something missing in my life.

Soon I found myself wandering from my daily habits of scripture study and prayer.  I also distanced myself from family members who I had been so close to for so long.  Most importantly, I distanced myself from my Savior, Jesus Christ and my Father in Heaven.

I was thirsty for spiritual water, but couldn't find the pond.

I started a new job, and made an incredible new friend.  Her name is Jenn.  She was actually my boss at work.  She began to invite me to events, and pretty soon we had grown close.  She set a great example for me.  I saw that she still had fun while living standards the Lord had set.  She was happy and thrived on teaching others about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in her Sunday School class.

She told me that she had a desire to serve a mission, had prayed about it, and received the answer that now was not the time for her to serve a full time mission.  But she was a missionary to me.

She led me back to the water that had been sitting in front of my face!  She helped me regain my testimony through her example and friendship.

Jenn put her whole heart into our friendship and showed me where to find the living water of the gospel.  She taught me the importance of daily conversion and daily study.  Those habits are now ingrained in me and I will never again stray from the arms of my loving Heavenly Father.

I'm grateful for my dear Jenn!  I miss her and am so proud of all the wonderful things she has accomplished in her life. 

I hope you read this, and think of someone that you can help lead back to the water that "springs up unto everlasting life."  Even if that person is yourself!

Every Knee Shall Bow

A few months ago I went hiking around Radnor Lake with some of the missionaries on our Preparation Day.  As we paused to look at the lake, I snapped this picture.  The day was beautiful and clear.  The colors of the trees were just starting to change.

It was yet another witness to me of God's love.  The earth he has created is so beautiful.  I feel so blessed to be a part of it.  I think it is incredible that we are the only species in the world that has the capability to self evaluate.  We can look at past experiences in our lives and figure out what we need to do to become better. 

I know that this is a gift from God.  I know He loves me.  He has given me the ability to choose, evaluate, examine, learn, create, grow, and develop.  One day the entire world will know that He reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I want others to know and understand who God is, and that He loves them. 

I look forward to the day when I can kneel at the feet of my Heavenly Father. 

Recognizing God

Alright folks, I found this awesome scripture this week:

It made me realize that we only recognize God when we look for Him.  So look yo!

At the End of the Day

At the End of the Day...

... What have I accomplished?

                                                  ... What have I forgotten?

                  ... Who have I helped?

                                                    ... Who have I hurt?

                                                                                ... Am I happy but exhausted?

                                             ... Am I grumpy and bitter?

                                                         ... Was I wise with my time?

                                                                       ... Did I stop and smell the roses?

                                                           ... Did I remember to pray?

... Did I remember to thank the Lord for the Glorious Day I just had?

These are all questions that have run through my mind recently.  They've given me a new resolve to have a more productive, loving, gratitude-filled, busy, useful day!

As my dear friend Sister Kimberlee Franson says... Have an action-packed day!