What Happens When Life Gets One Degree Colder?

I was talking to my mom today, and she'd just listened to a devotional in KBYU 89.1 at 11:00, while she was working on some things in her office, and said it was amazing!  I looked it up, and read it, and I have to say, I was so touched!  You can find it here. 

I loved it!  There were so many great points!  There was a quote in there by Joseph Smith, Jr. that stuck out to me for a funny reason. 

"Hope and courage have always characterized the righteous. Ever the optimist, 
Joseph Smith was once quoted as saying:

I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties should surround me, if I was sunk 
in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged but hang on, exercise faith and 
keep up good courage and I should come out on the top of the heap.^7"

 

Optimism, hope and courage are all characteristics I try to have, although, I admit I've not been the best at some of these.  There's always room to improve, right?!

 

So, one of the reasons I loved this is because it says Nova Scotia!  My dad loved to say Nova Scotia.  Whenever we'd ask him where we were going, he'd always say Nova Scotia.  So funny!  I don't know why he picked Nova Scotia, but it was a common name in our household.  Someday, I hope to be able to ask him!

 

Really, though, anyone struggling with anything should read that talk!

New Year, New You!

It's that time of year, where you look back at all that has gone on, and you can see all the ways you've been blessed.  You can see where you've struggled, and decide on things you want to change.

I don't make New Year Resolutions.  I, generally, have time to sit and contemplate the things I want to change at Snowbird.  There's something about being up there, at the end of summer, out in the beautiful mountains, where you can feel closer to Heavenly Father than you do in the crazy, busy-ness that goes on down in the valley.  That being said, I'm not going to post any goals or resolutions, but I want to share some things I'm grateful for.

I have to say that the last year has been amazing in many ways!  Amazing in good ways and amazing in bad ways.  I feel like I've been being a downer for the last while, and I don't like that I've become that way, so I'm working on fixing that (I think I may have stated a resolution ;)). 

I've been serving in the LDS Mid-Singles program in Davis County for nearly a year.  For those that don't know, midsingles are singles in many various circumstances from divorced, widowed, and unmarrieds between the ages of 31-45 years old.  I've probably said this before, but I would never have imagined me being a leader like this.  When I started showing up for the weekly religion classes about 19 months ago, my plan was to attend the class, because I needed the spiritual uplift and get out of there.  I was shy and nervous, and didn't want to be noticed.  Then one day someone noticed me, and welcomed me in, and it felt right, so I stuck to it.  Through this program I have met a lot of amazing people that I have grown to love!  I've also learned many, many things!  Some things I sort of wish I hadn't, but oh, well!  Overall, I can't believe I'm the same person that walked in there not that long ago!  I've been able to step out of my comfort zone, that had me sitting on the back row, by the door, with my phone in hand, so I could escape, to being in front of many, many people and feeling completely comfortable.  I'm not saying that I'm always completely comfortable, but it's been amazing, because I have moments where I'm nervous and shy, but I just have to put on that "leader persona" and I can walk up there and do what needs to be done, and the nervousness and shyness dissipate.  I'm grateful for that!  I'm grateful for the wonderful people I've been able to associate with!  I'm still in shock to think that I accompanied Emmy nominated violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker.  It was thrilling!  Terrifying, but thrilling! 

I'm so grateful for a loving and supportive family!  I don't know what I would do without my mom, my brother, sister-in-law and their kids, and the support I can feel from my dad!  I'm thankful for all of my nephews and niece!  I'm grateful for each of their own identities, with their personalities, talents and all that comes with them.  Ford is brilliant and beautiful and so talented, and knows so much!  I'm grateful for his testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  Ev is the funniest kid I know.  He's really smart, and is an amazing, athletic boy! Ady is hilarious and darling and my little twin!  Akston has been a comfort to me these past few months, as I get to cuddle him and rock him to sleep.  I am blessed!

I'm grateful for the people I've been able to serve with in young womens.  I'm amazed at the strength of the youth in the stake!  There are so many that have amazing gifts, talents, and testimonies.  I've loved getting to know them and see them grow up. 

I'm grateful for the abilities I've been given!  Heavenly Father has blessed me in so many ways, and I'm so grateful!  I'm in awe, knowing that He knows me, and knows my needs, and loves me.  I'm amazed that I can receive answers to prayers, and that even when I don't like those answers, and I keep wanting different answers, that I still know when my prayers are answered.

I wanted to share this video , as the new year is upon us.  I hope you enjoy it and take advantage of the new beginning that we all have!

It's November! October is over! With that being said, I can say that I'm trying really hard to be better, have a better attitude, and to serve more. I received a priesthood blessing a week and a half ago, and am feeling better. I'm so grateful for the blessings that come through prayer, and the priesthood. I'm thankful for the righteous priesthood holders in my life that can give me blessings when I'm in need.

Interested in what priesthood blessings are? Watch this example.

I am very grateful for the many opportunities that I've been given, and the people that I've met. To think of the changes, opportunities, and things I've learned over the last year and a half, I'm amazed!

TMJ stinks! There are two things that cause it to flair. One of them is if I eat something I shouldn't, like toffee (learned that since Halloween) or chew gum. The second is stress. I can't believe how dumb it is! It's amazing for me to see how people affect me, how I LET people affect me.  From someone not treating me the way they usually do or getting hit by a ton of strange comments on event pages or timing of responses to texts, etc...  My face hurts!  I sit here, holding my face, needing my neck rubbed, telling myself that I'm so dumb for letting myself get all tight like that.  So, I know what I need to work on, I just need to know tricks for getting myself out of the stress... haha!

It's almost election day.  I'm glad it's going to be here, and be done (hopefully), because I'm so sick to death of all of the commercials and all of the signs all over the place.  I'm scared for the outcome of the election.  I see people's posts on Facebook, and I get nervous!  I've seen the events of fasting and prayer in behalf of the election.  Events like that, or reading the Book of Mormon in said amount of time, I don't rsvp to, because I think that those things are very personal.  However, seeing the negative comments on such events, makes me sad.  People say that Heavenly Father wouldn't take part in politics, and that praying for such is wrong.  I disagree whole heartedly!  Heavenly Father will answer a prayer to help me find my keys, and that is such a miniscule thing in whole realm of existence, what makes anyone think he won't answer prayers in behalf of a nation.  Reading the Bible or the Book of Mormon, you can see the Lord's hand in ALL civilizations.  He didn't just send us here, to be on our own, although a lot of people think that, he sent us here to learn and grow and overcome trials and temptations.  He sent us with help, and that's for all of us individually and as a whole.

Okay, I'm off my soap box now!  Hope everyone is doing well!