Are You Partaking?

Sometimes I wonder if I am doing my part to rise up to my full potential and making blessings accesible. I look back on the past month and then look at the person I am now...

Have I changed for the better? Then I look at the life I was living before this journey of a mission and know that I am only doing my best.

How do we reach that potential and partake of the privileges?

"As you read the scriptures and listen to the words of the prophets with all your heart and mind the Lord will tell you how to live up to your privileges."

Without my Savior there is no way that I would be able to receive those privileges but if I'm doing the best that I can everyday and striving to be more like Him, He will make up for the rest.

"We will be able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Find Joy in the Journey

He Lives

Because of Him

Forgive & Forget

Matthew 6:14-15
 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"Nine Principles for a Successful Marriage and Family"

 "It is possible to make a home a bit of heaven; indeed I picture heaven to be a continuation of the ideal home."
-David O. McKay

Faith
 "Faith in God includes faith in His timing."
-Neil A. Maxwell

Prayer
 "We must not only say our prayers; We must also live them."
-J. Devin Cornish

Repentance
 "It's better to prepare and prevent than to repair and repent."
-President Benson

Forgiveness
“Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive.”
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Respect
"I hope that the noise of our homes will drop a few decibels, that we will subdue our voices and speak to one another with greater appreciation and respect"
-Gordon B. Hinkley

Love
There is beauty all around
When there's love at home

Compassion
In the scriptures, compassion means literally “to suffer with.” It also means to show sympathy, pity, and mercy for another.

Work
"Work cements family relationships"
-Dianne Dibb Forbis

Recreation
"Families must spend more time together in work and recreation. Family home evenings should be scheduled once a week as a time for recreation, work projects, skits, songs around the piano, games, special refreshments, and family prayers. … This practice will bind a family together, in love, pride, tradition, strength, and loyalty"
-President Ezra Taft Benson

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/06/nine-principles-for-a-successful-marriage-and-family?lang=eng

Christus

Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. (3 Nephi 9:15) 

I came into the world to do the will of the Father. (3 Nephi 27:13)

My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; …that I might draw all men unto me (3 Nephi 27:14)

Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my spirit, and you shall have peace in me. (D&C 19:23) 

Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet (D&C 6:37) 

                                              lds.org                                                     lds.org

For behold, I… have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent. (D&C 19:16)

Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall men know that ye are my disciples (John 13:34, 35)

In my Father’s house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

If ye love me keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

lds.org

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the ELSM Sisters

Invite: LDS General Conference

#ldsconf

Watch it live here:

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?cid=HPFR100413105&lang=eng

To All Women

You are a daughter of God.

Creation

God’s wonderful creation

By: Elsie Palmer

God made the world so wonderful

With mountain peaks to hike,

And hills and vales and rocky trails

Where I can ride my bike.

God made the world so wonderful—

The beach, the raging sea,

The quiet stream where I can dream

Of things I want to be.

God made the world so wonderful—

Made sunshine, warm and bright

That lights the day so I can play;

His moon stands guard at night.

God made the world so wonderful—

Made trees with grass below,

And corn and wheat that I can eat

To help my body grow.

God made the world so wonderful—

Made birds with feathered wings.

He gave me dogs and leaping frogs

And creeping, crawling things.

God made the world so wonderful

Then at the end, you see,

Before He’d rest He made the best,

For that’s when God made ME!

A Tribute

Last year, on September 14th heaven received another precious angel.

Trenton Lane Ervien

Trent was not only a friend, he was part of our family. He was the definition of a brother from another mother to us. I can't think of one Lake Powell trip with the family without him being there except for last summer. Last summer we begged him to come with us but as far as I can remember I think he couldn't get the time off of work to come. He told us, 'next year'. I will never forget the amazing person that he was. He was the biggest daredevil I had ever met and he will forever be remembered for always being as happy as can be. He loved bull riding, long boarding, snow boarding, mud bogging, 4-wheeling, jet skis, wake boarding and BMX racing. I had never seen someone love his nieces and nephews so much.

I will never forget the night that I found out of his passing. I was watching the Lorax with my twin sisters. My mom, dad and little brother, Jake, were out of town at Jake's tennis tournament. My phone was in my bedroom and once the movie was finished I did the routine to go to bed. I washed my face, brushed my teeth and got into my pajamas. I checked my phone to see if I had any texts...none. I did have a missed  call from my Aunt Donna though. I didn't think anything of it and decided to call her back even though it was 10 o'clock at night. She answered sobbing telling me the news. Trenton? Ervien? No. I went into shock then later came denial. She told me that he was on his way to my cousin Serena's house when he went head on with a vehicle on his motorcycle. My cousin Serena tried calling him tons of times because she was expecting him but no answer. Finally a police officer answered and simply told her that he was in custody. They wouldn't tell her what had happened. I broke down into tears and called my mom. She knew. I tried calling Serena then Johnny, my cousin, Serena's brother and Trenton's best friend. No answer. I spent the rest of my night crying until I fell asleep.

September 22 was the day of his funeral, a Saturday. I saw one of his sisters and gave her a hug holding back my tears. I made my way to the chapel bypassing the open casket. I couldn't bare the thought. I found my seat with my cousins and tried to hold myself together. The ceremony was beautiful as was the burial. I will always love and miss that kid.

How amazing is it to know that there is a life after death? I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of the Plan of Salvation. I'm grateful to know that I will be able to see him again. I know that he is in a better place probably doing his crazy stunts. If you want to know more about the Plan of Salvation you can click here.

Daily Bread

Do you notice a difference in your day when you don't pray or study the scriptures in the morning? I sure do and I know that it can turn your day around just by doing those simple things. We need to be spiritually fed everyday just like we need food to live.

"In the beginning habits are like cobwebs. In the end they are cables."

Are your habits spiritually uplifting?

All Is Well

Even though I know that we all go through things to make us stronger it can get really difficult to endure to the end. I am so grateful for the trials that help me learn and grow because in the end I know that "all is well". Heavenly Father only gives us the trials He knows we will be able to handle. He is always there for love and support.

I Believe

'Nuff said.

The church is true! (insert fist pump here)

Understanding

 

Have you ever felt like this? From personal experience I have felt EXACTLY the way the girl in the wheel chair feels as well as the dancer. 

I've been on both sides of that dance floor. My freshman year of high school I tore my meniscus in my right knee and had to have surgery to repair it. I missed 2 competitions and many dance practices. 

Six months later my meniscus re-tore and then I had to have another surgery to trim it out. I then missed another competition and many more practices. 

 My senior year of high school it happened again but this time to my left knee, same exact timing. More competitions and practiced were unattended. 

Even being recovered I am unable to do certain things.

While going through recovery I would wake up in the middle of the night screaming from pain as the meniscus slowly tried to accept the repairs. 

I remember thinking 'the Savior knows what I am feeling right now'. It's true. He has felt every pain that we have and ever will feel. I felt bad that He felt that pain for me but also grateful because I know He understands.

He lives.

Small & Simple Things

In this fast pace world where everyone seems to be rushing to be somewhere or to do something we tend to miss those tender moments happening around us. While sitting in the passengers seat of the car I noticed some things passing by. The green trees of the countryside of England were very still but the pavement below them were filled with busy people. I saw a little boy racing down the hill with his helmet on and his bag on his back, leaning towards the handlebars as if he were a professional. I also saw a mother, who I realized I see every school day, walking back home carrying two scooters. I then picture her walking earlier that morning with her two children as they ride their scooters to school. The busy street that is filled with cars has come to a stop. The people waiting to cross the street finally have their chance. We live in a world where small and simple moments can be easily looked over with distractions. Take a step back today and recognize those moments, whether they be good or bad. Either will help you to learn and grow. When I arrived at my destination I thought about the blessings that I have in my life that is filled with many personal yet simple moments.

Oh The Places We'll Go

It's amazing how much our lives can change based on different paths that we choose to take. Sometimes we choose the right path and sometimes we don't but all of those paths that we choose have a consequence no matter what. When we choose the not so good path our Savior is there with open arms to welcome us back. Choosing to serve the Lord on a mission was one of the best decisions of my life. I'm not going to say that serving a mission is easy because I'd be lying but it has blessed my life in so many ways. Serving in the England London South Mission, the best mission, is one path that I chose to take that has the most beneficial consequences imaginable. With the help of our loving Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost we can choose that right path to take, on a mission or not. Life in general has some big paths, small paths and some with more 'right' paths but it's up to us to decide. So which path will you take?

Father's Day 2013

I'm so grateful for the dad that I have and for everything that he does for me. I love him very much!

I am also grateful for my loving Heavenly Father and for the love that he has shown me by blessing me with such an amazing earthly dad and family.
What has your Father done for you?