Future is as Bright as Your Faith

I, like most of my peers, are in the stage of great uncertainty. A few weeks ago when I was seeking some peace I really loved this Quote by Elder Nelson from his talk Face the Future with Faith.

“Your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord … and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

“Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.” {Section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants}

The Lord chose His strongest words to reassure us! Seal! Testament! Sworn! Decreed! Immutable covenant! Brothers and sisters, believe Him! God will heed your sincere and heartfelt prayers, and your faith will be strengthened.

How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. 

The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. 

As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His people.

Our beloved President Thomas S. Monson has given us his prophetic witness. He said: “I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments.”

President Monson continued: 

“My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”

Promptings Come in All Shapes and Sizes

As I was leaving the bathroom stall, I saw a girl with the “this-feminine-product-machine-is-not-working-and-I-am-scarred” look on her face as she had a quarter in her hand. I asked her, “Do you need a tampon?”. “Do you have a pad?”
"I think so" as I began to look in my backpack and gave her a pad. 
"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah of course! :D"

"You are seriously so nice! Thank you so much! You are a life saver!"

... Repeatedly!! I think she said a combination of this more than 10 times! She kept saying it until I was out of the bathroom-- mind you there were like 15 other girls in the bathroom.
I felt sooo good leaving that bathroom. I forgot how selfless service really does make you feel so good! 

Listening to the spirit and being an answer to someones prayer feels so good!! I was so happy after that. :D

Life “Lately”

“Lately” as in the past few months… but hey, I still love the feeling of being caught up in one of my “journals.”

^^ In the middle of summer, Sam and I used one of our gift cards to go here. It was really good!^^

^^Went through the Temple with one of my Best Friends, Kenzy. We have know each other since kindergarten.^^

^^Before she left on her mission she came down and we spent some time together. {Long time joke, the orange Julius-- it's tradition}^^

^^Us three have been friends since about 3rd grade. It's great to have friends you've known basically your whole life^^

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This really nice lady came up to me after briefly visiting with her and she offered me a ticket to that nights football game!! So after I finished my test, we had fun at the game!

^^BYU vs. Middle Tennessee. Go Cougars!! :D ^^

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Three Saturdays ago, Sam was able to go shooting with his capstone team. Capstone gives each team money to do some “team bonding” and that is what they decided on.

 ^^Sam said he was a little sore the next day^^

^^Sam doesn’t go shooting very often {once every few years}. However, his first shot hit his target! I’d say he is multi-talented.^^

Bragging moment: Sam told me that the sponsor of the capstone was telling the team about his phone conversation with Penn State (they are working together on this project)—he said that he didn’t have much to tell Penn State about the BYU team, except that Sam is the nicest. Sam said he didn’t know how that came to be {Except anyone that knows Sam knows that he is a sweet-heart!}.

Sam also told me about how the sponsor brought his kids and how he was parenting them.-- Story short, we are really excited for the day we are blessed to start our own family. 

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I got a new job!! My first official day was September 6^th. I got a migraine and it was our one-and-only-biggest-event-of-the-year for the donors. I was pretty upset—but also really determined. I was looking forward to this for weeks. I took naps in between my fluctuating “I feel like I am going to die and saying good-bye to my breakfast” on the family bathroom floor (which I didn’t care—I would have probably passed out if I tried to leave the building—and it was COLD—so it felt sooo good!). It was in the Hinckley Center—so it was also nice granite and really clean.

I am now working for LDSP (before I was working in a Dean’s Office for a Donor Liaison that worked for LDSP) I work with the Legacy Societies (donors that put BYU, BYUI, LDS BC, BYUH or the church in their will/ estate plan). It is lots of fun! They are very flexible with when I need to work which is so nice with a busy schedule. I also get to drive the nice cars to run errands in-- also really fun! However, I did cry a few times leaving my old job-- I had so many memories (good and bad). But I still feel like my decision was right so I can't be more happy. 

 ^^Old Desk^^

^^Old Office^^

^^New Desk^^

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 ^^Sam and I went rock climbing before school started. Thank you neighbor for the free tickets!^^

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One of Sam's best friends got married in St. George the weekend before school started so of course, we took a road trip. Luckily one of my step sisters just moved down there and so we were able to stay with her family for the night. We were so happy we were able to go. They hadn't seen each other in 4 years. It was an exciting time.

Emergency Preparedness

Since it was the 5th Sunday lesson, we had combined RS and Priesthood. Our bishop decided to talk about emergency preparedness. One of the things that he did was show what he and his wife have in their 72-hour kits. The list that they gave us included radio, space blanket, solar/winding flashlight... none of which we own. 

So on our way home I said to Sam: I think we should put put together a 72-hour kit soon. 

I love how diligent my husband is: "I think we should do a 144-hour kit!" 

I thought to myself... You want more food?...

Yes. 

I think they say "72 hours" because after 3 days then most people are able to get where they need to go or other help arrives.

"Yeah, but I want to be luxurious... I want 2 bags of craisins in case I eat the first one too fast."

Oh, how I love my husband! He makes me laugh! :D 

Who You Are: A Message To All Women

I really liked this video :D

How I Want to Live My Life

"I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

-Sister Marjorie Pae Hinckley

Mother Teresa

I really liked this quote and the new perspective it gives to loving our neighbor. 

"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made . . . We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you clothed me, I was homeless and you took me in.’ Hungry not only for bread—but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing—but naked for human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks—but homeless because of rejection.” ~ Mother Teresa