We listen to a prophets voice.

I came away from conference this year with one simple goal. Often I get inspired to improve on many aspects of my life but I can get a little overwhelmed with everything I want to work on. I start out with all these ideas, and then fizzle out too quickly.  This year I chose just one.  I am going to read the Book of Mormon front to back.  If you aren't familiar with this book check out mormon.org.

To be totally honest, I can't remember the last time I read it cover to cover, although that it embarrasing to admit, I am excited to start this goal, and actually complete it!  I found online a booklet called 100 days closer to Christ that you can print for free here.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BykX1CZqesK6cWF2MUFNQUd0TTg/preview

I started 3 days ago, and if I read a couple days worth for a week or so I will be able to finish by the end of the year.  I feel with this daily encouragement I can do it!  Come do it with me too!

I will let you know how it goes as I move along through it!

Forget Me Not

This evening I read the article by President Uchtdorf called Forget Me Not.  It was exactly what I needed in the middle of a week with lots of things on my mind.  Here is the article

Often in life I get caught up in  the big things of life like the monotony of work everyday, wondering if we will ever have enough money for a house and large family, ect.  But I can't explain how many times I do forget the beautiful little forget-me-nots that make the world a wonderful place.  The laughs Bryan and I share, the hobbies I enjoy of sewing and quilting, the peaceful walks we take together, the little tiny kicks my baby gives me, the simple life we have.  So many things can get looked over.

He also talks about 5 points to the Forget Me Not.  These are so important.  "Yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths."  Why do we do this?  I find myself doing it daily, comparing myself to others doing exactly what he says, my worst to their best.  It was a very good reminder that we need to love ourselves and be happy with who we are, and the true potential we have to become perfect someday. 

Blessings of the Gospel

Today we were able to attend the baptism for our 8 year old niece.  I didn't bring my camera up to Idaho, so i'll have to commandeer some pictures from this weekend and post them when I can, but it was a fun (but short) trip.  Macy is 8 going on 20.  She is so grown up, intelligent and beautiful.  She knows the Gospel so well and will be a great member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I vaguely remember my baptism at eight years old.  I was lucky enough to actually be baptized on my birthday.  The whole baptism night was just for me and I didn't have to share it with anyone else.  Macy had 2 other girls and a little boy as well, which is how they do it in Idaho and Utah with so many members.  I wore a velvet floral dress with puffy sleeves, it was special.  I remember our old stake president was one of the speakers and I remember being baptized and receiving a big wet hug from my dad.  My mom helped me get cleaned up and ready then I was confirmed.  There were so many priesthood holders to hug after I was confirmed.  Afterward we had cake served in the church and we got to visit with friends and family who came. 

It was a special day and I didn't want to ruin the clean purity I felt.  I remember thinking if I sin now I have already messed up my baptism covenants.  I don't think I quite understood that every week when I took the Sacrament I could be forgiven.  I think I made it until the next day before getting "dirty."  Special memories.

Do you remember your baptism?

The Purpose of Visiting Teaching

I have never had consistent visiting teachers.  They will come once or twice and then move or forget to come and I won't see them again.  I still haven't been visited by ours, in Utah and that's ok.  For a while I felt that it was something I was doing for them to not want to visit.  Maybe I was too shy and it came off as snobby, or because I was busy made them think I didn't have time for them, I don't know the answer.  Instead of being sad that nobody is coming to see me, I changed my mindset and contacted my current visiting teaching companion.  We have taught our 3 sisters for two months in a row now.  I know that two months is nothing, but I have not been strong in visiting teaching, and in my defense we just got our list of sisters.

It feels so good to take time out of my busy life and schedule to just sit and visit with these sweet sisters.  Two of the sisters have 1 month old babies, and we love to google at the babies.  The other sweet girl we teach does not have kids yet, so the three of us have other things in common like being newly weds, college students and graduates, ect. 

As the three of us sat and visited tonight I felt the spirit very very quietly confirm to me that I was assigned to be with these girls for a reason.  We were able to open up to each other (even though we were meeting for the first time) and discuss struggles, trials, spiritual blessings and feelings, and the gospel.  It was wonderful to share things with these girls and feel so connected to them. 

I know that visiting teaching truly is a divine calling.  I needed the guidance of having certain sisters, and I love them already.  My mom has taught me a sweet lesson that you don't need to only teach the sisters on your little paper list, but follow inspiration to teach whoever needs a visit, or who you need to befriend.  I am excited to work on this part of the gospel, and have my testimony strengthened more.