Thank You!

Laura, for listening to me when I am just being weird. Thank you for clearing off my car this week. Thank you for being my friend and not casting judgement.

Dallin, for helping me to become a better person but at the same time accepting me for me.

Uncle Tony, for just calling to check up on me and see how I am doing. Thank you for being that wonderful example of what a priesthood holder can do for a family.

Savannah, for wanting to talk to me on Skype and being so excited to do so.

Mom, for always being there for me and caring about me so much. Words really can't describe how much I am thankful for you.

Dad, for showing me that people can change. Thank you for constantly loving me and looking out for me.

Irina, Brenda, Jordynn, thank you for showing me the love of God and how much the Gospel and the gift of the Atonement can change lives.  

Lately I have been feeling very grateful for the people that God put into my path. I know that I don't always express my gratitude as well as I should and I feel awful about that. There is so much for me to be thankful for. Mostly I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and my loving Heavenly Father. They help me become that person that I am meant to be. They help me change, they help me stay strong, they help me feel important. They make it possible for me to be with all those that I love for eternity. One way to give back to them it to show my gratitude.

This week I am starting a new goal. My goal is to make sure that I express my gratitude more frequently. I am not going to be stingy with the words "thank you". I really feel that by simply doing that, by expressing my thanks, I will feel even more blessed.

I encourage all those who are down or just need a pick me up to start this challenge with me as well. I think it will be just what we need. 

I'm Rich!

The other day Sister Ricks and I went gold panning with a person that we are teaching. While panning I found a piece of gold about the size of one of the two shone above. I automatically exclaimed, "I'm rich!" We then weighed the gold to see how much it was worth. I was pretty excited. Never had I earned that much money over doing something so basic as washing dirt out of a gold pan. Then I was asked where my true riches lie. They aren't worldly wealth or what man say are important. So what are our true riches?

Faith



Family



Friends









Families, Love Them Don't Hate Them

I love my family! I mean I really love them. Just look at them. How could you not love them? Each one brings a special spirit to our home. The greatest thing is that I know that they will always be there for me. Now my family isn't perfect but it sure is great. They are the ones that I can fully be myself with. My favorite times of the year always have to do on whether I am around my family or not. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday simply because that is usually when we all get together.

The greatest thing is that no matter what our family situation is like the Gospel of Jesus Christ can strengthen our relationships. "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." The Family: A Proclamation to the World 

How very true this is. If we just take the time to be with each other, to build each other up, to share the Gospel with each other, and to love each other then our families will start to be on the path of where we would like them to be.  We can start now. We can mend bridges or we can keep our ties strong as we follow the example of our Savior and love our families.

I am super excited to help my family grow closer together and to be with them for eternity. If you would like your family life to be a little better read the rest of The Family: A Proclamation to the World and try out the different things it suggest. I know it will bless you. 

Easter

The other day I came across a wonderful story that really shows how the Atonement works. You can read it here. http://www.sermonillustrationlibrary.org/illustration52

I just want to leave my testimony at this Easter season. I know that Jesus Christ died and took upon Himself all of our sins for each and everyone of us.I know that He died on the cross but on the third day that He arose and that He still lives today. That He loves us and that He is constantly wanting us to turn to Him. He will never give up on us and even when it seems that we turn against Him He is always there just waiting for us to return to Him again. I know that it is only through Jesus Christ that we all can be saved. That it is through Him we have the possibility of living with Heavenly Father again and that we have the opportunity to be sealed to our families in the temple so that we can live with them again as well. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that knew that we would make mistakes so that He sent down His only Begotten Son so that we can make right our wrongs. This I know and am so very very grateful for.
http://lds.org/pages/his-sacred-name-an-easter-declaration?lang=eng