My Dad & The Best Gift

Today I realized something very significant. Earlier today I had the opportunity to go to a little's girl's baptism where she was able to be baptized and given the gift of the Holy Ghost by her father. It was today that I realized that my earthly father has given me THE greatest gift that I could EVER have. He gave me the Holy Ghost. 13 years ago, my worthy father gave me a gift that will forever keep in touch with my Heavenly Father, and oh how grateful I am for that!

The Holy Ghost has constantly been with me since I was 8, so it is hard for me to realize what is was like without it. But then there are those days that I can't feel Him as close, and it's then when I realize how much I depend on Him to keep me going through every day life.

What can I do better to have the Spirit attend my life? Why is He is important in each of our lives?

What an immense blessing to have a member of the Godhead in my life consistently

A New Year & Winnie the Pooh

So this week, real life starts again. Christmas decorations are taken down, New Year's resolutions have been made and hopefully the holiday goodies will disappear quickly too. With so much ahead of me and so much to do on my checklist, it is hard to figure out where to begin.

But every day I find little treasures of encouragement from my Heavenly Father that keep me going. Like this one from Christopher Robin to Pooh; "Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. " I can't help but take this piece of encouragement to heart.

I love that although Pooh is a plump little guy, obsessed with honey, he still finds ways to be happy and embraces being his own self.

I'm thinking that the one big New Year's resolution that I am going to focus on is love myself better.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined!" -Henry David Thoreau

2012 is a new year. Full of opportunities to love, laugh and grow. Here we go!

Pre-Cursing My Mission

As my MTC (Missionary Training Center) date inches closer and closer, the excitement and thrill I have to serve my mission continues to grow...immensely. Every day, God gives me a peak into how magnificent my mission will be. Tears, laughter, love, frustration, growth, strength, patience, understanding...I'm pretty sure the list can go on endlessly. My mission is going to help me out so much. But because this is going to be something so good for me, there is a ton of opposition that comes along with it.

Man it is hard to stay on top of my emotions. I feel like every day is another day full of struggles to get rid of feelings of depression, discouragement and self-criticalness. And honestly, this is pretty much the hardest part of my life so far.

If this is what it takes to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then so be it. I will endure. I guess I am just wondering how well and how I can endure these next 70 days before my mission.

So ya.....why do I feel the need to blog about it? I guess to just try and get out of it. Or maybe ask for you out there for suggestions for help in this time of my life.

The Real Me

I love knowing about my true identity. It gives life so much more meaning.

I am-

Happy.

Lovely.

A child of God.

Excited about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A friendly person, who is making a difference in the world, one person at a time.

Going to be a missionary =)

Enthusiastic.

Sincere.

Me.

I love who I am becoming.

A Beautiful Heartbreak

Life is a constant struggle. Constant. But I feel that as continue on through all the struggles in my life that God requires of me, I can never truly forget that God loves me. Even through the tears, the pains of frustrations, the unfilled expectations and the unexpected turns of life - my spirit never gives up the hope and the reality that God does live. He lives. And He knows the songs I cannot sing.

I'm realizing now, more than ever before, that my life is a Beautiful Heartbreak. Thank you Hilary Weeks for this beautiful song and music video.

I'm Going on a Mission!!!

Three weeks ago I received the best of piece of mail that probably I'll ever receive in this life. I received my mission call. And I am humbled to tell the world that I have been called to the Brazil Recife mission! There, I will serve the people of Northeastern Brazil for 18 months. I will learn to speak in their native tongue - Portuguese - and it will be the hardest, yet the best, experience of my life thus far.

Tonight I was watching this video about Jesus Christ and, in reflecting on the Atonement, I realized that this is the purpose of my mission to Recife. I have the most magnificent blessing to share the message of the Infinite Atonement. And what a most precious gift that has become to me. I have a Savior who loves me. I have a Father in Heaven who forgives me so constantly and frequently, I can't but help feel of His great love for me when I recognize this. And I have the blessing of having the Holy Ghost constantly at my side and in my heart - which helps me remember that I am never alone, even though I have been inclined to feel like that a lot lately.

And this weekend, I have the opportunity to become closer to Heaven then I have ever been before. And I am so grateful that this time has finally come. It has definitely been a bit of a bumpy road -- BUT -- I am clean. I am worthy. And I am ready to make this next step in my life. I am ready to take His name upon me more fully.

For any of you out there who are hiding from the shadows of your past - listen up. I know the Lord is tapping on your heart - telling you to change. I've been where you are now. And the burden is so heavy to carry. I once carried that weight too. I testify to you that this side of life - a side only possibly with a repentant heart and aid of Church leaders -is SO worth it. The Lord loves YOU. Bring it into the light. And in the light you will stay with His help. =) Where else could be better then that?

When you begin to kid yourself that your effort to be a little better isn't good enough, consider this from Elder James E. Talmage; "the best, if offered willingly and with pure intent, is always excellent in the sight of God, however poor by other comparison that best may be."

Waiting for My Golden Ticket

Today, Heavenly Father gave me my own golden ticket learning experience. I felt like I was running around being dramatic about not having received my mission call in the mail yet. I found myself at work, thirsting for some encouraging words. I first turned on a talk given by President Uchtdorf from the Saturday Morning Session of General Conference, in which I was reminded of a wonderful truth. Even though God is the Master creator of this grand universe, He cares about me. I matter to Him.

Then I went on to listen to President Uchtdorf's talk from the General Relief Society meeting, where he related of the story of Charlie and Chocolate Factory and his quest for a golden ticket. He said there are some who wait for those golden tickets to make their life happy, all the while missing the simple beauties of life - "The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy."

It was after this talk that I realized what I needed to do. I need to stop waiting for my golden ticket, waiting for my happiness to be defined by a single event, I need to live now. The wonderful thing is that I get my golden ticket (receiving my mission call) and enjoy the everyday moments too! I just don't get to pick the timing. =D When I realized this, my day was turned around. I haven't been this truly happy in about 4 weeks now! And oh, does it feel so good! The gospel of Jesus Christ does that for me; gives me light during my darkest night. It lightens all around me and helps me embrace what God wants me to embrace.

I love my Heavenly Father. He is oh so good!

P.S.

This past weekend, a second Provo temple was announced! And I'm SO EXCITED. They are renovating the Provo Tabernacle to make it a new temple, and I couldn't be more happy with the decision! I just love that we live in a time where there are people worthy to enter the House of the Lord