The Most Important Thing..

Family: It's about TIME, therefore, make it happen.

Regardless of how you view 'family', that could be friends who have nurtured for you, a church community that has never let you down, members within a community that have given you that TLC, the list goes on and on. I'd like us to pause and reflect on simply what is known as..FAMILY.

For the last 18 months, I was doing a volunteer mission for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Atlanta, Georgia. I had the opportunity to teach people and strengthen peoples faith about their Savior, Jesus Christ. I bring this up, not to boast, but for two reasons: #1-Some people do not even have a CLUE the ideals of family. LET ALONE THIS CAN GO ON INTO ETERNITY. #2-Being away from family (aka the loneliness factor) totally bites. When it seemed like all else was failing, I knew my family was back home cheering me on. There were days that that was all that kept me going.

Life gets hard, does it not? Sometimes life gives you lemons and you wanna say, "Screw it. I am NOT putting up the lemonade stand today." Unfortunately you do NOT get to have that attitude. ESPECIALLY with your family. There's Good, Better, and Best. When these crap-shoot moments come (which they will), channel that energy into turning your family into better. INTO BEST. Do not settle for mediocre: Of moderate quality; not very good.
There's a really great book, where brother is fighting against brother. And soon, nation against nation. However, there is a difference between these two nations. One fights merely for bloodshed, gain/victory, pride and glory. The other nation, fights for liberty, protection of his family (wife, children, brothers, sisters, etc.) land, and religion. Thousands upon THOUSANDS are killed between these two. Yet the nation that is...in a sense...humble, never gives up on their family and those whom they associate with.

Whatever higher power you believe in, whether it be the dog sitting next to you or God Almighty..that higher power did not put you in a family to quit. There's no crying in baseball, there's no worries, and NO GIVING UP ON FAMILIES.

Matthew 28:19

So...if you haven't realized yet, I'm going on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have been called to serve in the Georgia Atlanta mission and will be serving for a period of 18 months. AKA...a year and a half. When I think of just 'a year and a half', it's really not that long to me. It doesn't seem long enough! Granted, I will miss a lot of wonderful things here back home, but I really, in all seriousness, don't care. I would much rather be talking of Christ and His goodness 24/7 than anything else.

I never knew how real the adversary was until I started preparing for my mission. The second I started announcing that I was going and getting the papers ready, he was right at my side. Constantly taunting and hissing in my ear reasons why I shouldn't go "Girls like you don't go on missions." "All the boys you like will be married and gone...." "Boys don't like sister returned missionaries." Do you know how annoying that was? Not only was he throwing those in my face, but other frustrations and temptations as well. Anytime we try our very best to do something good, he will do his very best to stop us.  


I opened my mission call May 25, 2011. It was an experience that cannot be described. My departure date of August 31st seemed so far away...and now it's a mere three weeks. I wish my friends and family could understand or feel how excited I am. Sending out a missionary kicks butt, but to be the missionary...that's even better. I've tried to put into context how important this is to me to me family and friends and why I am going on a mission. It's not because I'm a 21 year old Mormon, Utah girl who isn't married yet and doesn't have anything else better to do. It's also not a reason to give boys a chance to grow up or make them realize what they're missing. It's plain and simple folks: When the Lord commands it, do it. I had incredible experiences two years before I even started thinking about a mission. Then a few months before I started the papers I had another one, which confirmed I was to go. (Clearly, they are not going to be shared on here).

My life has been full of difficulty, heartache and challenges that I would never wish upon another. However, those moments in my life, where I felt I couldn't breathe, felt abandoned, lost or angry, have become stepping stones for me and have made me that much stronger. I know I just sounded like a country song, but without those experiences, I wouldn't be that grateful of a person. 
I know that those experiences have prepared me for my mission and will become valuable on the mission as well.

I love this gospel with all my heart. We put so much focus on having the glamorous car, the sweet babes and gorgeous dudes, but all that doesn't matter. Stick to the gospel and everything will fall into it's proper place. I am so excited to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Atlanta. I have such a burning testimony of it's truth and burning testimony of Him. The Book of Mormon....it's true! I can't..put it into words? But I feel it every time I read and study the Book of Mormon. We are Sons and Daughters of the most glorious being in the universe. We were created in His image and it's safe to assume we walked and talked with Him before we came here. As a member of this church, one who was born with the fruit in my hands, it is my duty and responsibility to share the gospel with those who were not born with that same blessing. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations." That is what I intend to do.  

Oh hush.

I read something earlier today, online, that really bothered me. A friend had posted how their 'life sucked' and others started to comment with sympathy. And agreeing how much this persons life did in fact, suck. I became rather puzzled and then annoyed. I won't say what they were complaining about, I will just say it was a minor adjustment to their life.

I don't knows this person that well, why we are fb friends, I don't know. However, I am sure this person has gone through much in their life. So I cannot judge, however, if there is ONE THING I do not deal with well, it's the "My life SUCKS. I hate my life..." attitude. When in reality, and we've all heard it, it could be worse.

The other day while I was at work, a woman came in who was wheelchair bound, but MAN was she friendly. She came in looking for jewelry and pretty soon we were lost in conversation. She looked familiar to me, but I couldn't put my finger on it. She told me she lived at the care center across the street and was out for a stroll because it was such a beautiful day. She told me about the care she receives, the great nurses, how sad it is when someone passes away and how she recently just published a book of poems. This woman hasn't been able to drive since 1995, her accident (not sure what the accident was). She used to be paralyzed from the neck down, but due to miraculous surgeries and incredible help, she is now only paralyzed from the waist down. She has ambitions to get married in the Temple and move to Hawaii. She has participated in many pageants for women who are wheelchair bound and has won a few or has been the runner up. She loves to sing and has had many offers due to her love of singing.
This woman is incredible! She is stuck in a wheel chair 24/7, but takes on her days running. I can't count how many days of my week are completely opposite.

I could go on and on about people I know who have it bad: very sick children, or they are sick themselves. They have lost their children, gone through an awful divorce, lifelong health problems, abuse etc. The point of this post is not to bring on guilt, or tear you down or make you feel inferior. Notice the picture? 86,400 seconds in a DAY! What are we doing with it?? Are we wasting it? Or living up to it. Life does not suck.

Life is like a straw: It only sucks when you want it to. 

You get what you give...so don't be stupid.

Oh my word!! Saturday was quite the day! I truly don't know where to start, but I guess it's best to start at the beginning. It was a gorgeous day, the sun was shining and there was just a skip in my step! My mother and I went for a walk that morning which she normally does with my little sister. I try and tag along on every one of them, it's hard due to work. So we're walkin along Parrish Lane in Centerville. It's a busy street, you've got places to eat on either side. Grocery stores on both sides, apartment complexes, etc. Well my mother and I cross paths with a jogger. She asks us where 'Tah-get' is..keep joggin, it's just right across the street on the west side of wal-mart. This girl has the accent I wish I had...she was Australian, or somewhere over there, very friendly. We continue onward and as we are in front of some apartments, I look down and there is a debit card right in front of me! I pick it up, it's not signed..it's bran new and I'm thinkin "The poor soul who lost this. They either don't know or they are in shear panic." My mom is telling me we can take it to the police at the gas station that's close or the Chase bank over by Tah-get. Then it hits me, "Mom..I bet it's that girls. $10 says it's hers." So we flip the other way and start trackin this girl down. I couldn't wait to find her! I just didn't want her to already be at the check stand..I'm sayin' countless prayers..I really wanted her to notice before she faced the cashier. We cross the street, she turns the corner, looking at the ground so intently. Not to mention the panicked look on her face as well..turns out, it was hers! She was so relieved! It popped out of her pocket while jogging and she was shocked, but so happy someone would return it. But the fact I felt like it was hers...coincidence? I don't think so. I continued on that walk with the biggest smile on my face and warmest feeling within my heart.

That day I went and got my temple dress and it is so beautiful!! I cannot wait to wear it! I was beaming when I got it and I couldn't believe that this moment in my life was/is coming. However, something else took place that day, something that is near to my heart. It's no secret that I love my family and it's going to be very difficult to be away from them for a year and a half. I do know, however, that not only myself, but my family will be richly blessed because of my decision to go on a mission. Moving on: I always wonder why some people in this life can never seem to catch a break. It hurts my heart to see those people taking blows, one right after the other. And of course, being myself, I want to fix it. I want to do everything I can to make it all better. Life doesn't always work that way, you can't just wish it away, but fortunately the Lord gives us friends and family to ease the pain of the burden or the burden itself. I have a family member, I'm not sayin if it's a cousin, sibling, so on so forth, who is in difficult circumstance. I want more than anything to take that from them. It's a circumstance that I never thought, in a million years, would happen within the bonds of my family. My mother pulls me aside and asks me if I have any church clothes (clearly this says it's a girl) that I don't wear anymore or that don't fit me, so she can wear something to church the next day. I go through my closet like a wild animal and sure enough, I do! Either things that don't fit or dresses that won't work once I'm endowed. It wasn't a big deal, just take them. She then messages me on FB and tells me how thankful she was and how much of a lifesaver  I was..See a need, fill a need. It's that simple.

My day ended with me having a heart attack. Figuratively speaking of course. I went on a date to the Real Salt Lake Soccer Game and had a great time, the game is over, everyone wanted to slaughter the refs, we walk to our car. I pull out my keys and as I'm searching for the key to my car...it's not there. I look at my hand and see key chains, the house key, but no car key. My heart sinks, I panic and wonder if my mind is playing tricks...it's not. My car key was lost somewhere within the distance of my car and the stadium. I alerted my date, we look in the car, no. Under, over, sideways, around, etc. We had parked in a dirt area that was also surrounded by weeds, grass, dirt...more weeds and grass. I mean, talk about trying to find a needle in a haystack. I was embarrassed and couldn't breathe all at the same time. He is searching one area of the grassy part and I'm searching another and saying prayer after prayer after PRAYER. WHERE IS MY KEY?!!? No spare, even if we got in, we can't start the car. Within 5 minutes, which felt like 20, I look over to my right at the sidewalk and THERE IT IS!! JUST LAYING THERE! No one had touched it the entire game! It had sat there for nearly 2 HOURS! I flipped out, I was so happy! All I could say was "Pay it forward! Pay it forward!" I'm sure Aaron thought I was nuts. So I explained to him what that meant...so I didn't sound too crazy.

I found this picture/quote and it describes perfectly my day on Saturday. I have had off days and my attitude was curt, had a short fuse, and extremely sarcastic. Those days where my attitude was like that, I basically got what I was dishing out. Why should I receive good if I can't give it? Life is about love and being compassionate and killing everyone with kindness. People say life is short, so make the best of it. I have always taken that as a selfish concept. So I'm going to put a new twist on it. "Life is short: So make the best of it for other people."

45th and Broadway..

This just happens to be my favorite picture of ALL. TIME. Wanna know the story? August 15, 1945 on Broadway and 45th Street, Edith Shain joins thousands of people to celebrate the surrender of Japan. A Sailor suddenly grabs her and kisses her! Any woman's dream, right? That moment was caught by LIFE magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt. The sailor, however, knew that the picture was being taken and curled his wrist so her face could be seen. Clearly...his efforts were unsuccessful.

This picture says so  many things. Hope, Love, peace, and tomorrow. The end of the war was a wonderful experience for those men and women, and this photo represents all those feelings.

So what's my obnoxious challenge for this week and upcoming going to be? Do/try something you've never done before. I'm not saying going and grab a man or woman and kiss 'em, but hey, you may make the front cover of a magazine and 35 years down the road become killer famous :) Step out of your comfort zone and experience what the days have to offer. It quite the thrill, if you allow it to happen :)

Think..think...think...

Today I received a fabulous note and at the end of it, it read
" think a new thought everyday."

That brought the biggest smile to my face :)
Unfortunately I am guilty of thinking about the same things over and over again...why do we do that? In thinking about it today, I believe it gives us comfort. It's a security matter; our comfort zone within our own mind. Relationships, past/present: We know the ins and outs of that person and what it would take to win them back; if necessary. Gossip: Well we keep up with it as if it's going to stop loving us. But y'all catch my drift? Right? Right. Imagine if you did think a new thought everyday...

You'd be walkin' on air...possibly learnin' new things too! The possibilities are endless! Conversations would never have a lull and dates..those might actually be fun again ;)
So don't think about all your worries..your cares and sorrows. Think about all the joy life gives us. And the surprises it brings. Think about the things you see throughout the day, the people you encounter. We were blessed with incredible minds!
Lets use 'em.. :)

Lace? Satin? A-line? Mermaid?

What will she wear?!!? Kate Middleton has a beautiful figure and quite frankly...likes to show it off. So does that mean a mermaid style gown?? Possibly. Or will she do a traditional, satin a-line gown? So, make your guess! What will Kate Middleton wear on the biggest day of her life?!!?