Friend

You know the type of friend you always want. The type that when they hear you are crying, they will come and hold you, or call you. The type that when you are upset about something, you call them. The type of friend that does not wait to be asked for help. The type of friend that just does it. That is the type of friend I always try to be. And I am so glad I have a friend like that. She may live miles and miles away, but she is there for me. And I am so thankful for her.

Be that type of friend, because it is worth it.

WINNER of the $10.00 GC to CHILIE'S!

Congratulations to ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Katie Edelman Skoubye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please send me your address so I can mail your Gift Card! You can just message me on FB!

This blog is to help life souls. Today there a soul that has needed some lifting, my own. This song has been in my head all day. I don't like it when I feel down. And it is usually no one else's fault but my own. I just get in a funk and get lost there. I cry and get angry and I snap at the ones I love. My patience is thin and I feel like I want to crawl out of my skin. These kind of days are not fun at all. I want them gone, and buried deep.




I have struggled with my image since I had my first child. I grew up being the kind of girl that could inhale an entire pizza without a thought or care, because there was no consequence. I did not need to watch what I ate or worry about how many calories I ate each day. But now............ well that carefree part of my life is over. Oh how I took for granted the scrumptiousness of my youth!

Not only has my image been a struggle, I struggle with missing a dear friend. You know who you are. I miss this friend like crazy, and seriously long for the day when we can laugh and hug and just talk to each other face to face. I seriously miss you!

There are also times when I know I have failed at being a mother. I hate those moments when I know I have gotten angry when I shouldn't. And when that happens I feel so defeated and troubled. Sometimes I wish I lived near a warm sandy beach so I could just go take a breath, watch the sun go down and unwind. But I can't even go on my back porch without freezing to death! Oh Utah, we have a love hate relationship.

So now the question is, when we feel like this, how do we get ourselves out of it? How do we slap ourselves in the face and say, GET OVER IT! It is a simple answer, but not always an easy action. Give our troubles to the Lord. And we need to remember what matters most. This next video I have on here is one that lifted my soul today. I hope know that you are loved. And remember that there are things that matter more than our weight, how much money we have, how big our house is, if we have nice cars or whether we can afford nice clothes or not. There are things that matter far more than all those things. And if we can give our troubles to the Lord, he will help remind us of those things.

Giveaway Time!

Ok lets try this again......I am giving away a $10.00 Gift Card to Chili's! Who wants it? We are going to make this easier this time!

1-You MUST follow my blog.

2-You MUST like this blogs FB page, there is a link on the top right corner of the screen.

3-You MUST share this on your FB page.

4-You MUST leave me a comment on this post telling me you did these 3 things.

I will randomly select the lucky winner Friday Dec. 2!

GOOD LUCK! And have fun!

Thanksgiving

On facebook everyone has been saying what they are thankful for daily. I have not done that this year, because I was going to wait and make a post for this wonderful day of Thanksgiving.

So HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my readers! I have so much to be thankful for. I have 2 beautiful daughters, and wonderful husband and wonderful family and friends both near and far! I am blessed.

I am thankful to those pilgrims that came to a new land and settled in the wonderful country I am blessed to call my home. I am thankful for for my fore fathers who sacrificed so much to make this country free. I am thankful for the soldiers who have given there lives for this country and the ones who have and who currently serve to protect us all.

I am so very Thankful to my Savior who gave his life to save us all! He is my best friend, my Redeemer and Savior. I am eternally grateful for everything my Heavenly Father and my Savior have given me. I am blessed beyond measure and my cup runeth over.

I am so very thankful for the Temple and the blessings it has brought to my life. And for the covenants I have been able to make for myself, with my husband and God. And for the opportunity it gives those who have already passed on. I am thankful for my Ancestors that led the way for my family to come together.

And again, I am so VERY THANKFUL for my family, my 2 deliciously sweet little girls, my amazing and devoted husband, my amazing parents, my brothers and sisters, my awesome in'laws and the family they have given me. I am so thankful for all of them.

I am so very thankful for all things in my life, the good, the bad and the wonderful. And I am thankful for the many wonderful examples I have in my life. There are to many of you to name. I love you all.

I hope you enjoy this video. It is a wonderful one to watch on such a wonderful day of Thanksgiving.

Postpartum Depression/Anxiety Old post from now private blog.

This is a blog post that I wrote on a now private blog. But I feel that this is a post that should be public, so that if it can help someone else, they can be helped. That is the only reason.


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

Postpartum Depression/Anxiety

I have been contemplating on whether or not I wanted to write about this, but I feel it may help me in the long run. I believe that being honest about this is a good thing and will help me heal faster. So if you have not figured it out, I have been suffering from this horrible condition called Postpartum Depression. And the anxiety is just a lovely additive. The anxiety hit me like a ton of bricks one night...and I have not been able to make it go away as I would like to. Why the anxiety? Honestly, I don't know the real cause. Maybe because two children has proven to be harder than I imagined, or maybe because this week Gerritt has to go back to work. Or maybe it is just part of the depression. I am not real sure.
Along with this depression, it has made me feel like I am failing as a mother, I am told everyday that I am not, and I am trying to listen to those who are telling me this. The anxiety makes me feel physically impaired. It makes me feel detached from my life. My wonderful life as I have known it. The worst part of all, is because of this sickness, and yes it is a real sickness, I have not wanted to hold, talk to, or feed my baby. I hate to admit this, and it makes me feel evil, and horrible, but like I said, I feel that being honest will be healing. Don't get me wrong I love my baby. But with this problem I am faced with, that love is harder to feel and see. And it has been devastating to me. And I cry about it often. I feel like I am all alone.......I know I am not, but that doesn't change the way I feel. I wonder had I not gotten so sick a week after she was born, and had to spend a night in the hospital away from her....would I be going through this now? My body has not healed as fast as it did with Meagan, my body has been weak, and ill. And I wonder if that is the true cause of all this, including my hormones going crazy...I mean I did just have a baby about 3 weeks ago, I shouldn't expect to be 100% yet. But this has been harder for me than I planned and thought it would be.
So yes I admitted this to my Dr. I was honest and asked for help. I was given Zoloft and told to take 1/2 a pill everyday, unless I felt I needed more. Well when the anxiety hit, I was told to take a whole pill everyday, and for the anxiety xanax is what I have been prescribed. I feel it is important to admit this. I have been someone who has advised others to take medicine for depression/anxiety, because if it is going to make you feel better, then why not take it. It is no different than someone that needs to take blood pressure meds everyday. But for some reason, when it is a mental thing, people tend to feel ashamed and less of a person. I am here to admit, I have felt less of a person, because I have not been able to function as I am used to. But I also know that these medicines will help me function again. And so therefore I am going to take them and not be ashamed of it.
For those who may have suffered from this...your advice is welcomed, and for those who may not have suffered from this, I hope you are understanding and kind about this trial I face. I look forward to the day when I wake up, and I am whole again. That will be a liberating day. Until then I am just taking it all one day at a time. Forcing myself to do the things, my mind and body don't feel like doing. Talking to my sweet baby and getting to know her. Trying to enjoy my 2 year old and reminding her that I love her everyday. Trying to get out of the house and doing things that feel normal, or make me feel more alive. I am trying, and for now that is all I can do. I try to be strong, and I try to remind myself that this to shall pass. I asked "Why do I have to go through this? It just is not fair!" And I still think that it is not fair. But I try to remind myself that maybe, just maybe this is something I have to go through.......maybe I can help someone else.
I have been blessed with a wonderful support system. A family there when I need them, making sure I am not alone if I feel I can't be. A husband who is understanding that I can't help the way I feel, and that I am trying and wanting to be better and to be myself. A husband who says, do what you can to feel better, and doesn't push me to do things I feel I cannot, except eat.....I am forced to eat. My mother is constantly reminding me of my good qualities, reminding me that I am not failing, that I will get through this, and it will all feel normal. And so many more who would do whatever I ask. I have been blessed, and this is something I try to remind myself of.
I also know, that I can find complete healing through my Savior. I know that he understands my pain and suffering, and that he is there to heal me. And as much as I would like to be like the woman who just touched his clothes and was healed, I know I must find healing within myself, I must have strength and faith to receive the healing power of Jesus Christ. He is my brother, my Savior and my Redeemer. And I love him.
So this is me being honest. This is me telling my story, as to help heal myself. I am thankful for all I have, and I love my sweet precious children. And I pray and hope that soon, I can be the mother that they deserve. And until then, I will rely on my family and my Savior to help me become me again.

I am a Christian

I have told you all before that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Or as the world would call me, I am a Mormon. Lately our church has been splattered on the news as many things that we are not. Such as a "cult", which we are not. Are we polygamists, NO! We have been painted as intolerant and hateful, which we are not. Of course there are things our church does not allow, but that does not mean we don't love and respect others. But every religion has things that it will not allow, we are not different in that sense. We different in the sense that we do not conform to the changes of the times. What is taught is always the same and will not change. We will hold steadfast to what we believe and know to be true.

One thing that has been said a lot lately, is that Mormon's are not Christians! How could this ever be assumed?! The title of our church holds the Sacred name of Jesus Christ. So why are we being labeled as a Non-Christian faith? I really do not understand it. It cuts me to the very core and saddens me that someone would really believe that we are not Christians. Because we are, and we always have been, and we always will be. Jesus Christ is the center of our faith. He is our Redeemer, our Savior, our Messiah, our Brother, and Friend. He bled from every pore, and he died to save us all. I know he loves me. He has buoyed me up in my darkest hours. He has given me strength in my weaknesses. He has never left me alone and he never will. This I know. So why would am I called a Non-Christian? This I cannot understand. And as I sit here and write. I realize that it does not really matter whether others believe that I am a Christian. What matters is that I KNOW that I AM A CHRISTIAN. And I always will be.

I hope you enjoy this song with pictures of My Savior, Our Savior.

Truth

Hello on this snowy Utah morning. This is to my friends who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And for those who are, but may be struggling in the faith. I am going to start by giving you my testimony.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know it to be true. I know that Joseph Smith knelt down at the tender age of 14 and with a sincere heart prayed unto Heavenly Father about which church to join, and though as he tried to speak and was bound by the adversary, a pillar of light, that defies all description descended upon him. And there standing before him was Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. The Father spoke to Joseph saying, "This is my beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Hear him." And I know that Joseph was told to join none of the churches, but that he was to restore the true gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth in this last dispensation. I know this. I know that The Book of Mormon is another true testament of our Savior. I know that the words in this beloved book are true. I know that it is through our Savior that we are saved in this life. That through his atonement that we can become clean and forgiven of our sins. I know this. I know this all to be true. I know that we must all try to be like Jesus. I know that he loves us all and wants us to come unto him. And I know that I must do whatever I can to help those who do not know him, to come to a knowledge of him, to feel his love and the light he offers.

This video I am sharing is one of true greatness. I hope that my friends who do not understand what the Book of Mormon is will watch this. I hope you can feel the peace this book can offer. This man is truly a remarkable man and missionary of Christ.

Do You Believe?

Do you believe? This is a question that has been circling in my mind for a few days now. Something that has kept me thinking. And I asked myself, Do I believe?

I do believe. I believe that our Savior, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe that he walked the earth and taught the people. Think about that, imagine what it must have been like for those people. How blessed they were to have the Savior on the earth in their time. To see him, to possibly touch him. And to hear and drink in his teachings. What a glorious time it must have been. But, also a hard time as there was much opposition against our Savior. But he was a humble loving and peaceful man, and knowing that, I wonder how anyone would ever want to spit on him, hurt him and in the end kill him? Though these things needed to happen for God's plan to move forward, it is still something I will never understand in this life. But I know it had to happen so that we could all be forgiven of our sins that we will and do commit in this life, so that we can return to live with our Father in Heaven.

So do you? Do you believe? Do you believe that Jesus Christ suffered for all mankind? Do you believe that he died for all of us?

In this video Elder Jeffrey R. Holland expresses some of his feelings of the Savior. It is hard not to feel of the truth of his words, and the spirit that radiates from his words.



I have many friends and family who do not believe as I do. Some who have completely turned their backs to all religion for reasons I do not understand. Some who just have another faith than I do. But when it all comes down to it. We are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. And we are all brothers and sisters to our Savior Jesus Christ. And we all rely on him, whether we know we do or not. So I ask you, Do you believe?

Be A Light Giver

"Be A Light Giver" is something my mother has always said to me. And it is something that has been on my mind as I see others going through difficult, sad and extremely rough times.

I have had family and friends who have been affected by divorce. This is not something I myself can be 100 % understanding about, but I know that sometimes relationships cannot be healed. I know what it feels like to be emotionally and verbally abused. I know the pain that an ended relationship can bring. But divorce was not involved in my ending, as I was not married to the man who caused the abuse. So as I consider friends and family that are going through such heartbreak, sadness and anger, how and what can I do to help them? I want to lift the souls of the burdened and sad. I want to see them smile and feel the warmth and love that our Father in Heaven and our Savior have for them. Divorce is something that can never be easy, it is not a decision these people have made lightly, it has taken much thought anguish and prayer to make such a choice.

I pray my readers, that we are willing to help our family and friends by showing compassion love and no judgement. It is not our place to judge and pry for the details of something that is very personal to each individual that goes through something so heartbreaking as divorce. Sometimes children are involved, and I believe that would make the choice 10 times harder and terrifying. So instead of placing blame from outside the situation, offer love and support. Be a relief to the individual, help them find joy and love. Be a shoulder to cry on. And by all means DO NOT help them by telling them how wonderful your spouse is in those tender moments. I believe we need respectful of what they are going through. And often pray about how to help them, and pray for them.

I know that every situation is different. I know that everyone handles things in a different way. Be mindful and comforting to those friends and family. Help them by loving them, whether they seem like the guilty or the innocent.

Dallin H. Oaks talks about this in the video below. I pray for anyone who may be suffering and going through this hard time. I pray that we can all be a lifter of souls, and lighten the burdens of our loved ones. Be as my mother has always said, "A light giver". Offer the comfort and solace that our Savior would. Help them to remember and know that Jesus Christ is there for them and is there to buoy them up and give them the peace and comfort. Love them.

Comfort in Forgiveness

We have all done and said things we regret. We cannot deny that. I have done it many times. And when I find that I have done these things, I feel remorse and sadness for my mistake, so I try my best to do what I can to correct it and make it right. And for the most part the sorry and remorse is reciprocated, and relationships are mended and the offense is forgotten. And that always leaves you feeling good, and repentant in a way. But what about the times when the apology is not reciprocated by forgiveness? What if there is still a grudge being held? What happens when they say nothing to you? I have had this happen to me, it is something that I have let bother me, and I keep asking what else needs to be done to make the wrong right?

The most recent experience for me is something that I still think about. Things were said out of anger, I seriously felt my foot enter my mouth, but before I could stop it, it was to late. I could not take back the words. And because of this whole situation some people had hurt feelings. I tried to call, but got no answer on the other line. I left a message, but did not get called back. So I sent an e-mail, and though I was not forgiven, at least there was response and they acknowledged my efforts to an extent. And to the other person, I sent a text message, but never heard back. This one haunted me. Why would they just ignore my heartfelt apology? Why? I asked that question over and over again in my mind. I would tell myself, they know me, they know I really am a good person, but even good people make mistakes. I recognized it, why could I not be forgiven? This is something I will never know on their end.

So I have wondered, when we ask for forgiveness and forgiveness is not received from the person, what do we do? I talked to my husband, who is better at thinking these things through. He told me that he felt I really had done nothing wrong in the first place. But he knew it was something that had bothered me, and he said, "Honey, you have done all you can do. If they choose not to respond it is no longer your responsibility to apologize anymore." I thought about that for a while. And then I reflected on my Savior. Jesus Christ forgives us, he wants to, he just needs us to ask. If there is something that we have done, he is always there to buoy us up, and comfort our hearts. He WANTS and WILL forgive us if we get on bended knee and simply ask for it. Sometimes the journey of forgiveness is a long and hard one, but he never leaves us in silence. He always is there to answer us, to comfort us, and to guide us. He will NEVER just ignore our pleas for forgiveness. And in that I take great comfort. I trust in him, I believe in him, I love and honor him. So when we ask for forgiveness from someone, and they ignore us, take comfort in remembering the Savior, and his love for EACH and EVERY one of us. Though an individual may not forgive, he will, and therefore you will find that forgiveness which ye seek. And we must always remember, when someone asks us for forgiveness, it is our duty to do so. Do not deny someone the comfort of forgiveness, because we ourselves would not want to be denied that comfort.

This video is a talk given by President James E. Faust in the April 2007 Conference. One of my favorites. I hope it helps you understand more about the power and true healing of forgiveness, the same way it has me.

A Decision

Since my husband has been working for the church, we have had the opportunity to go to a Temple devotional that is held in the Salt Lake Temple for the temple workers there. It has been a neat and touching experience every year. One I look forward to. This year this event has fallen on the same Sunday as my daughter's primary program. I have struggled on deciding what the best thing to do would be. Do I just have her not go while my husband and I attend the devotional? Or do we forgo that this year and watch our daughter give her one line in the program, "We are to feast upon the words of Christ." It is her very first primary program, do I really want to have her miss that? I just have not been sure what is right. Because the devotionals are always wonderful, and I love to go, yet I have been before and my daughters 1st primary program will only happen 1 time. Then this morning I read this quote,

Henry B. Eyring: "A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child's life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths."

Ok, so I know what we are supposed to do. My daughter is more important than the devotional. I know that some may think this may be an easy choice one way or another, but it was something I struggled with.

It is just like her one simple line, "We are to feast upon the words of Christ." And though she is only 3 almost 4, she needs to learn what her line means. And I need to make sure I am an example of this. I think I know where my Savior would be. And that is where I will be. I look forward to attending her primary program this coming Sunday. :)

And The Winner Is?!

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SUZY STEED!!!!!

CONGRATS!  Keep your eyes open for another give away everyone, and of course my totally awesome posts!!  Thanks to all who entered!  We all truly enjoyed seeing your funny photos!

Aloe Infused Sock GIVEAWAY!

Ok followers!  I am a sock lover!  So my next CONTEST Giveaway is for 2 pairs of Aloe Infused SOCKS!  YIPPEE!

How you enter you may wonder!?

First you MUST follow my blog!

Second you MUST go "Like" my lifting the Soul FB page!  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lifting-The-Soul/279517802067240

Third you MUST post a FUNNY Picture on my FB page of yourself!

Whoever gets the most likes on their picture WINS!  So share the link so you can get likes!

The deadline is October 6th!

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!

Flecks of Gold

I remember someone telling my husband and I once about a family they knew that were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They told us how they had decided to stop going to church, because it was to time consuming and they had no time with each other as a family if they attended. I remember this person telling my husband and I that we should do the same. That way we could go skiing, boating and many other things with them and each other more often instead of attending church. My husband and I just smiled and said that we like attending church, and that we were going to continue to do so, and that we have a lot of opportunities granted us to spend time with out friends and family. They laughed at us, and mocked our decision. But we did not let that bother us. There are times when we look for things to instantly gratify us, things to make us instantly happy, because we don't want to work for the reward. There are times when we are asked to serve and accomplish tasks that are not always appealing or maybe repetitive, and at those moments we have a choice, a choice to murmur and mock those who ask or need our help, or we can choose to serve and complete the tasks we are given. My husband has been going to school for what seems like forever. There have been times when he has wanted to quit and just work. It seems like it would be so much easier. But he sticks with it, because he knows the reward will be great. It is the same thing when it comes to following the gospel and I wish I would have told that person who asked us to stop attending church this, "You went to school, your got your Bachelors and you Masters, and you feel it was worth it. That is why I continue to go to church, and follow the teachings of my Savior, because, I KNOW it will be worth it." Brothers and Sisters, Though sometimes we have little patience for the journey and tasks we are given. If we remain faithful and if enjoy the journey and appreciate the little blessings we are given, it will all be worth it, and our reward will be greater than we can even imagine.

This video reflects how I feel today. It shows that though we want the big reward now, we need to be patient and we have to work for it.

Temple

My husband and I went to the temple last week.  It was a nice peaceful evening.  As I was sitting in the chapel before the session began I observed the people around me.  We were all dressed in white, it is a beautiful thing to see.  Everyone is that same in there.  No one cares how big your house is, what kind of car your drive, how nice your clothes are, who has more money and who doesn't.  It is a place you can go where no one judges you.  Where you can feel a little peace of heaven on earth.  I love the temple.  I am so thankful for the ordinances that we make in the temple.  The promises and blessings that are offered to those who enter the holy doors.  I urge those who do not understand the blessings the temple has to offer to find out.  To make yourself worthy to enter.

Those We Love Most

Today I have been thinking a lot.  Things have occurred that have made me reflect on the way we need to treat the people we love.  We all have false in this life, there is no way around it.  But do the ones we love need to remind us?  I have always felt that we should try to help others see the best in themselves.  Not point out the bad.  It is like my mother said to me when I was 15 yrs old, "If you look for the bad in people, you will ALWAYS find it.  So look for the GOOD in people, because we are all children of God."  And I have tried to live by that.  Have I found myself gossiping?  Yes.  Have I been negative?  Yes.  We all have at one time or another.  But if we are continually trying to be better I think that will be recognized by our Father in Heaven.

As I reflect on the things that have made my life better, it was never because someone pointed out what was wrong, it was because of something positive.  Now I recognize that there are times we need to be told we are wrong in order to make something right, but there are ways of saying these things that will not hurt the person.  But as humans we do not always have that filter from our brain to our mouth connected properly.  So it is something we have to be conscious of and continue to be aware of.

Before my husband and I got married, we had some arguments about my past.  There were things that worried my husband about how I was before, and how messy I was.  Most of the time he was kind and thoughtful about how he talked to me about these things, but there were a couple times when his filter was broken, and my feelings were hurt.  But one thing I never doubted was how much he loved me.  He always made that very clear.  And that my friends is IMPORTANT!  You should never make the people you love ever doubt that!  We all deserve to feel like we are being fought for.  Because being in a relationship where you are the only one fighting for the other, it is exhausting in many ways, physically, emotionally and spiritually.   So be willing to fight for the one you love most.

Saying SORRY and admitting when we are wrong, is always hard.  And I admit, I am not always good at it.  I do not like to be wrong, as no one does.  But if I reflect on the past I look back to a relationship where I was the only one fighting, and where I was the only one that ever said sorry.  It was a battle to get through everyday.  I felt like I was on a muddy road trying to pull myself to something better, but I could not see anything better in front of me.  And since I was the only one fighting and saying sorry, that relationship ended, and it ended bitterly.  It took me a long time to forgive the individual, but with time forgiveness is possible.  So when I met my husband, and we were at a crossroads, deciding whether or not we wanted to pursue a more serious relationship, or be friends.  I remember telling him that I wanted someone that would fight for me.  And what happened?  He did!  And it was refreshing and made our relationship stronger and made it easy to be in.  We still fight for one another, but it is not really a fight, because we just show each other and tell one another that we love each other.  We both are willing to admit we are wrong and say sorry when needed.  We show each other affection, and compliment one another.  Now we are not perfect, and we still have arguments.  But we get through them and we get over them.

Let us remember that our Savior fought for us.  He bled from every pore, and suffered the pains of all our sins, and then he sacrificed his life on the cross so that we could live again.  So that we could be forgiven of our sins that we make in this life.  He did this, because he loves us deeply and eternally.  So love those who are around you, show the people in your life that you love them unconditionally.  Show them that they are important.  Love one another. Fight for the one you love.  Because love is worth fighting for.

WINNER!!!!

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!!!!!!!!
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The winner was picked by using a website that picks the winner at random!  I wanted it to be totally fair! Thanks to all who entered!  And keep your eyes open for future GIVEAWAYS!  And enjoy all blog posts in between! Love to all my followers!
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LINSEY!!!!!!  CONGRATS!!!!!! Please send me a message with your address, and your Gift Card will be in the mail shortly!

What can WE do?

How can we all help uplift those around us?  That is a question I have been pondering this morning, as I watched an argument unfold before my eyes.  I am a person who tries very hard to be a good person, I feel it is important to show my love and respect for others.  I also understand that I still have a lot to learn in this life, and that I am not always right, and that I do not know everything.  But I try to do my best to be a good person.  So how can we uplift those around us?  Here are a few things we can do,

Smile at someone
Hug them
Tell them you love them
Give them a compliment
Help them with something
Be there if they need to talk
Make them feel important
Respect who they are
Take them to lunch

There are many things we can do to uplift those around us.  My mother always tells me to be a, "Light Giver." So let us all try to be Light Givers.  Let us all be the examples that those around us need.  Spread the goodness that this world holds.  And by being doing so, you will feel uplifted as well.

Expressions of Love

A little something that lifted my soul today. Enjoy friends!

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This is how this works

RULES: AND YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL OF THEM!

1- You MUST follow this blog!

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3- Leave a comment ON THIS BLOG telling me you did these things, AND tell me why you think you should win!  

You do not need to know who I am!  I will mail the GiftCard to the winner!

My blog is to lift the souls of others, and giveaways are always a great way to do it!  And of course they are fun!  Good luck!  And I will be picking the winner on September 8th!

Love

I had the pleasure of having my father come over this morning.  He is always fun to have around.  My children love him, he is smart and fun to talk to.  We got on the topic about how you really start to understand what love really is.

As a child I remember having this enormous love for my parents.  I would cry when they left to go on a date, and eagerly await the moment they would come home.  When I was sick I desperately wanted my mother at my side.  Her just being near me helped enormously.  I remember feeling so comfortable wrapped in a blanket snuggling with my father.  Those are moments I treasure and love to remember.  Moments that went by far to quickly.  And I remember loving them with all my heart and soul.  And I still do.  As a child, that is what love was to me.  Simple, comfortable and blissfully innocent.

As a teenager, I always had a crush on someone.  It would change from week to week.  I read some journal entries not long ago, and oh my how dramatic and silly I was.  I thought I knew what love was.  I remember when a boy I said I "loved" went on an LDS mission.  I cried and told my father that I loved this boy.  My father laughed and said, "Laura, you really don't understand what love really is."  I of course knew he was wrong, and I was smart and I knew exactly what I was talking about. LOL, right?  My father then said this, "Laura you are in love with the idea of being in love."  Oh how wrong I thought he was.  Didn't he realize that I knew everything already?  I had so much to learn.

Then as I grew into and adult, and found my first love.  He was someone who came into my life very unexpectedly.  And changed my life forever.  I did love him.  I was in love with him.  But he was dangerous, and was a "predator" in my parents eyes.  But there was nothing they could say or do to change my mind.  And I remember a specific conversation  I had with my mother.  She was trying to warn me.  I had made the decision to move to where this man had moved for school.  My mother did not want me to go.  She was telling me how much she loved me.  And how she wished I would reconsider and wait to move, at least until this man and I were married.  We were engaged at this point,  and I would come to find out later how much the engagement devastated my family.  Because this man was NOT good for me.  She began to tell me that she was worried, she did not want me to go.  She told me, "Sweetheart, I would go to hell to get you if I had to.  I love you that much."  I still made the choice to go, and since she loved me, she did her best to support my decision.  And onto a dangerous adventure I went.  But my mother was right and I would later need her love and support more than ever only 5 months later, when she came to my hell and retrieved me from it's fiery realms.  I understood a little more about love then.

When I was 23 I met a man, a wonderful, handsome, smart, spiritual and just all around amazing man.  He fought for me when I felt weak or scared about our relationship.  He loved me, he really loved me.  And I fell in love with him, a love I never thought I could feel again, a love that was beyond my comprehension of love.  He and I decided to get married.  We chose a date made all the arrangements, he gave me a beautiful ring, and we were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple for all time and eternity.  He gave me the Temple marriage that I always wanted.  Something I almost missed out on.  And I understood that my father had been right, I did not know what love was when I was 17 years old.  And now that I had my husband, I knew.

When I was 25, I gave birth to a beautiful little girl.  The moment I heard her cry, I began to sob.  My baby, she was my baby!  I stared at her, and I then knew what love truly was and is.  The love you have for a child is something that you cannot describe with words.  It is overwhelming and joyous!  It is remarkable.  At that moment I understood what my mother meant when she said, "I would go to hell to get you if I had to."  I understood what love really was that day.

I have 2 children now.  The love I have for them grows and grows.  I amazed at the love they have brought to my life.  And now as I cuddle my children, or comfort them when they are sick, or sad.  When they cry when I leave for an hour or 2, I remember the love they also have for me.  And I am thankful for love of all kinds.  And as I look at my children, I am reminded that, as much as I love them, I know it is only a glimpse of the love that our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ have for everyone in this world.  I know that my children are a gift.  And I am forever thankful for this gift.  

My favorite scripture:

1 Corinthians 13:1-13If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a tinkling symbol.  And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And if I dole out all my goods, and if I deliver my body that I may boast but have not love, nothing I am profited. Love is long suffering, love is kind, it is not jealous, love does not boast, it is not inflated. It is not discourteous, it is not selfish, it is not irritable, it does not enumerate the evil. It does not rejoice over the wrong, but rejoices in the truth    It covers all things, it has faith for all things, it hopes in all things, it endures in all things. Love never falls in ruins; but whether prophecies, they will be abolished; or tongues, they will cease; or knowledge, it will be superseded. For we know in part and we prophecy in part. But when the perfect comes, the imperfect will be superseded.   When I was an infant, I spoke as an infant, I reckoned as an infant; when I became [an adult], I abolished the things of the infant.  For now we see through a mirror in an enigma, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know as also I was fully known.  But now remains  faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Respecting Those Around You

 I had a conversation yesterday with a good friend.  We talked about lots of different things, and I really enjoyed talking with her.  We also talked about how people should always respect other peoples beliefs, even if they don't share the same beliefs.

In this world today it seems no one can really respect one another, it is as if you are not supposed to love those around you if they don't think like you do.  But that is SO WRONG!  I have many friends of different beliefs, weather it is their religious belief that is different or political beliefs that are different, we don't all think and feel the same way.  But they respect me in my beliefs, and I respect them in theirs.  And that is how it should be.  But when you watch the media, that is not how it is.  People are more interested in showing their hatred for those who don't feel the same way they do.  And I have a hard time understanding why someone would rather hate?  It is as if you are not supposed to love someone who is not like you.  But I have always been taught love the sinner, not the sin.  Because we are all sinners.  We all make mistakes in this life, so should we just continue to hate?  I know that God loves all of us, regardless of our mistakes.  Of course I believe that he hopes we become stronger and do our best to be  good people, and I think we are responsible for correcting/repenting for our sins.  But he has given us the way to do so through our Savior.  So that way we are not left here completely helpless in this life.  I love all my friends, they all mean a lot to me and I hope to never offend them.  But I know that they know who I am, and they respect me for who I am.  It is so nice to have that.  We may not all share the same beliefs, and we may not live our lives the same way.  But we respect one another for who we are, and  we love one another for who we are.  And that is how it should be.

Peace in Forgiveness

We all make mistakes in this life.  And when we make these mistakes how do we get past them?  We can let it rule our life and let it cause us continual grief, or we can rule that mistake, learn from it, and become better.  I always try to rule the mistake, so then I can move on and become a better person.  I hope that we can all try to do this.  May we seek the forgiveness that can heal us, the forgiveness that has been made possible by the only perfect being, through our Savior Jesus Christ.  May we always come unto him.  May we allow him to buoy us up.

 My heart aches for those I may have wronged in my life.  I pray they know my sorrow for my false.  I pray they can forgive me. I pray that my father can forgive me, for all  my imperfections.  May I always try to be an example of peace and love, as my Savior would want me to be.  I love him, I believe in him, I will continue to come unto him.  He is the light and life of the world.  It is in him that we can all find that true eternal happiness we all desire.  Everyone in this world seeks for happiness and peace.  I pray that I can help others feel the peace and love that this Gospel has to offer.  May we be the peacemakers of this world.  And allow ourselves to be healed through the atonement of God's only Begotten Son, our Brother, Redeemer, our Savior Jesus Christ.

I hope that the video can bring you peace and comfort as it has me.  I love you all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coef8G5ax6E&feature=related

Stop, and be Thankful

Do you ever have those moments where you stop and think for a minute, "WOW! This is my life!" Whether for the good or the bad?

I remember being a teenager and wondering where I was going to be when I was older. Wondering if I was going to get married and have children before I was 30. Wondering if my husband would be cute, and if I would have boys or girls? I remember also thinking that it would be a long time before any of that happened. And well, here I am! I am married to a very handsome and WONDERFUL man! And I have the 2 cutest little girls imaginable! And 10 years ago, I could not have imagined it being this great! The love you have for your children is not something you can imagine, until you have them. And once you do know that love, WOW, how can you ever describe it in words!?

Then there are those moments when you say, "WOW, this is my life?" Like today when I was walking through the store looking at things I wish I could buy, but can't. And I start to feel bad for myself because I have a small house, with only 1 bathroom. I don't have the money to go on trips, or do all the fun things that I want to do. I start to complain and wish I had more. And then I stop and think about how silly all those "things" are. And I am thankful for what I have, I may have a small house, but it is my house. I may not be able to just grab things off of the shelf and buy it, but I have what I need! I may not be able to go on all the trips I would want to, but I have fun with my family here at home! I am able to stay home with my children, and that my friends is so worth it to me. How blessed I feel to be able to do that. And how thankful I am to my husband for making it possible. He works so hard to provide for us, and I love him dearly and deeply for that.

May we always remember that we all have a purpose in this life.  May we always being willing to get down on bended knee and thank our Heavenly Father for what we have.  Though there will be times in our lives when we are faced with challenges we are not sure we can overcome, let us remember to turn to the one who bled and died for us.  Let us remember that we are always welcome in the arms of our Savior.

So even though we all have those moments when we feel bad for ourselves, we need to remember to stop and be thankful.

I hope you enjoy the video below. And I hope you can also live by the motto of Thanksgiving Daily.

It has been a while, I have been in a spiritual low for some reason.  It has weighed on me a lot, and I have not expressed this with anyone really.  So I thought maybe I would write about it.  We all go through times where we feel out of it.  I think it is just a way for us to find our way again.  I am not lost, but I am just......out of it.  I keep waiting for something to bring me back up, but maybe that is the wrong approach.  Maybe I am supposed to work for it harder than before.  

 

Recently I ran in a 5k, and I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful lady.  She and I talked until it was time to run, and we talked about things, that I would not normally talk about with a stranger.  But she was just a warm person, and her love for the Savior emulated from her.  And I think were it not for her, my run would not have gone as well.  I think that our Heavenly Father puts people in our paths to help us be more than we think we can be.  And it was the best run of my life so far!  I felt like I could go on and on,  and I know it was not because of physical strength.  So to this lady for helping me have the spirit with me as I ran, Thank You.

When we feel like our lives are not as exciting as we want them to be, or not as fulfilling as we think they should be, those are the times when we need to stop and re-evaluate ourselves.  When we need to step back and see what we need to change or improve. 

I have attempted to post on things of this nature for a few months, but, I never feel that what I write is post worthy.  I hope that by posting this, I can help myself, and maybe someone else.  

Regardless of this spiritual low....I can testify to you, that our Savior Lives.  I know that he wants me to feel the peace I am longing for.  And I know that it is through him that I can find it.  In Luke 8:46-48 it reads, 

  ⁴⁶And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

 ⁴⁷And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

 ⁴⁸And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

This is a passage that has touched me many different times, for many different reasons, in many different ways.  I hope you can also feel the peace it brings.  Because brothers and sisters, He is just waiting for us to come unto him.  What are we waiting for?  I hope that we can always remember the sacrifice that was made in our behalf.  I pray that peace can be with you all.  I love you all.  "My peace be with you this day, and always."

Friendship

What is a true friend?  A true friend is always what I try to be.  Sometimes at a cost.  I have had friends who have taken advantage of me, and that is always painful.  But I have also had, and have great friends.  But what defines a good friend?  

I feel that a real friend is someone that is thoughtful, caring, there for you when you need them, and always willing to tell you the truth.  I have a friend, one of my greatest friends in the world, but she lives miles upon miles away. I don't like it, in fact I hate that she lives so far. I have known longer than I haven't.  And when she needs me or I need her, we can only be there through a phone call or Facebook.  And it is hard, but it is enough, because we know we are true friends, and always will be.  I love her, and I miss her. I am so thankful she is my friend.

I have friends who live near me, and they are great.  I try to be there for them in many different ways, and I do so by praying daily for guidance. So that I can know of the things I can and should do for them.  Sometimes all it takes is a phone call, others it may be a little more, but I am trying to be the kind of friend to them that they need.  They are here for me, and I am thankful for them.

Right after I had my 2nd daughter I had horrible headaches.  I have a friend who is a massage therapist.  She came over and brought me a treat, and massaged my neck and head.  I don't know if she will ever know how much I needed that and how much I appreciated it.  She is such a great friend, and I am lucky to have her.  And to her, thank you.  I love you.

I have another friend who is always a good listener.  I do complain a lot at times, and she will always listen without complaint.  And it is nice to have her there to vent.  She is also always willing to go out and do things when she or I or both of us need some time out of the house.  There was a time in my life where I felt I had no close friends near.  I prayed for a friend, and she was an answer to my prayers.  Thank you and I love you.

I have great friends, and I am thankful for every one of them.  I hope that I can always deserve them.

And I have my family............I love them all.  My mother is a beautiful, loving, talented, funny, smart and so much more than words can describe, and she is one of my greatest friends.  I am thankful to have such a great relationship with her.  She is always there for me in every way.  She is not just the greatest friend, but the greatest mother.

I have my husband, and he puts up with all my nagging and bickering.  He tells me I am beautiful when I feel like I am not.  He loves me for reasons I don't understand.  I am blessed to have him.  I can talk to him about anything.  He helps me in so many ways, it would take to long to list them all.  But he may never know how much his love and help and devotion means to me.  He is such a great husband, father and friend.

I have 2 sisters who I love dearly.  We call each other to talk and and vent and joke around.  We love each other.  It is nice to know that I will always have them.  My older sister is always encouraging me to do better with many things, and is such a great example.  My little sister is fun to be around and also a great example.  Their faith is a blessing to me.

My brothers are also great friends to me, and to both of them, thank you, I love you and I am blessed to have you in my life.  You make me laugh, and you have helped me and my little family in many ways.

And my sister n laws.  You are both wonderful women.  And I am thankful to have you in our family.  You are both beautiful and talented.

And then I have my mother n law and my sister n law on my husbands side.  You are both wonderful to me.  And you both do so much for me.  I hope I can be the kind of daughter n law and sister n law you both deserve.

Friends come in many different forms.  What kind of friend are you?  Are you a friend who is there when your friend needs you, or are you a friend who is only there in words and not in deeds.  Sometimes words are all that is needed, but there are the times when you need to do more.  Are you willing to give more?  Are you willing to serve those around you?  I believe we should always treat others how we would like to be treated.  Do you do that?  I try to.  I try to treat my friends and family how I would like to be treated.  Being there is more than just telling them you are there for them.  It is actually showing them that you are there for them.  Sometimes all you can do is call or write.  But if you can do more, don't you think you should?

I know that our Savoir wants us to serve those around us.  He has given us the tools to do so.  By getting on bended knee we can be guided to those who need us.  Maybe they are not our closest friends, or maybe they are not our friends yet, but if we are always heeding the whisperings of the spirit, we can be the kind of friends we need to be.  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." proverbs 3:5.

Impersonal World

It has come to my attention lately how impersonal we have all become.  Facebook rules the social world and I admit I have fallen into its "web".  When someone posts things on Facebook it is truth!  Or at least that is how we read it.

The past few weeks have been evident to this fact.  As people have been deleted/blocked, feelings have been hurt and friendships have been lost.  Real friendships, not just Facebook friendships.  And I have to ask myself, have we really let ourselves become so out of touch that Facebook is where we are our real selves? I wonder how the Savior views this situation?  Who would he add as a friend?  Anyone who asked.  He would answer every message and every wall post.  He would accept us for who we are, and be there when we posted something sad and something good.

Have we really forgotten what is most important?  God does not answer us in a text message, or an e-mail, and most definitely not FB.  He answers us in a much more personal matter, he answers us with people, with love, charity and grace.  He answers us through scripture and through inspiration.  How often do you get on bended knee to talk to him?

Now I am not saying that Facebook is bad, because it is not.  It can be and is a wonderful way  to keep in contact with those who do not live near us, and can be a great tool for good.  But I think it has just made us all to impersonal.  And it is in some instances causing problems where there should be none.  But this is what the world has come to.  Digitized and uploaded on the world wide web.

I feel it is important to remember that things said in the digital world can be misleading and confusing if we are not sure of the context.  Because we cannot truly understand the meaning all the time.  Since you cannot hear a tone of voice, or see the expression on the persons face, it is not always obvious what some things are meant to mean.  I feel it is important to take a moment and remember what life is really about, to remember that just because it says so on Facebook, doesn't always make it so.  And just because it seems like someone is mad, sad, or whatever else, doesn't mean they are.  Live, Laugh, Love.  Pick up your phone and call a friend.  Write a letter.  Lets become personal again.

Choose This Day

Finding strength to overcome the shadows that seem to lurk in the corners of our lives can be difficult, I know this because I am stuck in one of those corners.  I know that I need to be better, and do those things that I know will pull me back into the light, where I truly long to be.  I just need help.  I need to ask for the help though.  I need to get on bended knee and ask my Heavenly Father for the help.  I need to Choose this Day.

I hope this video can bring you the comfort in which it has brought me, and lift your soul as it has lifted mine.

Angels on Earth

The woman standing is Cindy.  She is my neighbor.  And she is an angel on earth.  We had the pleasure of taking her to the zoo with us last week.  Being in her presence is like being with an angel.  She is pretty much a perfect being.  She is mentally a lot younger than she physically is.  And she is one of the sweetest people I have ever known.  I know that some people out there are afraid or unsure about people that are like Cindy is.  But I for the most part people like Cindy are just like children and they are innocent and as perfect as any human being can be.

The day I asked Cindy to go to the zoo with us, truly brought me real joy.  She literally jumped for joy.  It was such a great sight to see.  And the day we went, she was out waiting in her jacket with her lunch at 8:30 that morning.  We weren't leaving until 11, but she was so very excited!  As were we!  

My mother n law told me of a friend of hers, who was very afraid of people with special needs.  She was at a public swimming pool with her children one day, when a mother and her older special needs daughter were walking towards her.  She was going to have to go by them.  And she prayed right then and there asking father in heaven for help.  She did not want to offend this mother and her daughter.  When she opened her eyes after the prayer she say this mother, holding hands with the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life.  And then she heard a whisper in her ear saying, "This is how I see her."  

Our Father in Heaven sees us for who we truly are.  And so I try to keep that in mind.  When we are in the presence of these earthly angels, that is what I tell my children they are.  If I notice them staring, I lean down and say, "Do you see the Angels?"    

So next time you are blessed to be in the presence of one of these Angels, think about how our Heavenly Father sees them.  Because he sees them perfectly.

Dwelling on the Past

I was talking to a friend I used to work with the other day.  And  we talked a little about our old boss.  I was talking about my feelings towards this old boss of mine.  And as I was talking, my friend stopped me and said, "you are still hung up on that?"  I said no, that I just didn't like this person.  But later that night, and since then I have thought to myself.  Am I really still hung up on that?  It is like the picture above, sometimes we dwell on things so long, before we know it, those things roots are deep and hard to pull out, therefore they are hard to let go of.    And I thought to myself, why do I really need to have those things in my life?  Why do I continually feel the need to revisit those times, and think about them?  Why should I not forgive, forget and get over it?  So to this friend, Thank you for making me really think about this.  WAKE UP CALL!

It also made me reflect on a talk I heard by President James E. Faust.  I had the privilege of being at the conference center with a great friend named Melissa, and his talk still means as much to me if not more now, as it did when I first heard it.  It is called "Instruments in the Hands of God".  Here is a paragraph from his talk, 

" I believe that all of you sisters want to be happy and find the peace that the Savior promised. I think many of you try very hard to keep up with all of your responsibilities. I do not wish to offend anyone. I am reluctant to mention a matter but feel it should be said. Sometimes we carry unhappy feelings about past hurts too long. We spend too much energy dwelling on things that have passed and cannot be changed. We struggle to close the door and let go of the hurt. If, after time, we can forgive whatever may have caused the hurt, we will tap “into a life-giving source of comfort” through the Atonement, and the “sweet peace” of forgiveness will be ours.⁴ Some injuries are so hurtful and deep that healing comes only with help from a higher power and hope for perfect justice and restitution in the next life. Sisters, you can tap into that higher power and receive precious comfort and sweet peace. "

If you would like to read the entire talk, here is the link 

http://lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/instruments-in-the-hands-of-god?lang=eng&query=175th+semi+annual+conference+relief+society

As I read that paragraph I long for that comfort that he speaks of.  I do carry to much pain from my past.  I don't mean to, but I can feel it there.  And I should forgive, and let go.  But how do I do that, after holding onto it for so long?

We need to leave our past behind us, let it walk away and not resurface in our daily thoughts.  I think this can be done by a real desire to do so, and of course with sincere prayer and scripture study.  And if you feel you need it, a priesthood blessing  As we do these things I believe that our past hurts will become blurred in our memory, rather than vivid.  I believe that though we can reflect on what we have learned from our past, we can let go and forgive those that have wronged us, and forgive ourselves.  I think that is one of the hardest things we as humans do, we cannot forgive ourselves. There was a time in my life, one of many really, where I was seeking forgiveness from my Heavenly Father.  And I kept praying, "please Father, forgive me."  I would say this over and over on bended knee.  I would plead with my Father for his forgiveness.  I remember talking to my very wise mother about this, and she said something to me that has always stuck with me, "I think our Father in Heaven forgives us rather quickly.  It is you who needs to forgive yourself now."  That really got to me, had I forgiven myself?  I still wonder this today.  But I believe that to be true.  It is not doctrine, but I know that our Heavenly Father loves us.  And he wants to forgive us.  He does not want to with hold his forgiveness, and so therefore when we ask for it, he freely gives it.  All we have to do is ask with a sincere heart.  

So, Can we all try to let go of those deep rooted pains of the past we carry with us, make our lives lighter, and feel the peace, joy and comfort that is eagerly awaiting us?  I believe that we can.  I know that we can.

Trust

Today I have been thinking about trust.  I love the scripture Proverbs 3 vs 5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

That is one of my favorite scriptures.  And I try to live by it.  I try to trust in the lord in all I do.  Sometimes it is hard to trust in him.  Because sometimes you have to make decisions that are not easy.  But Since I have trusted in the Lord in all I do, I feel like I have been rewarded.  One of the times was whether or not to end an engagement.  I didn't want to, I loved my fiancée, but things were not right between us, and we both knew it.  I prayed for help.  And help came.  Help came through my mother, my bishop, my friends and most of all my Savior.  And because I trusted in what the Lord wanted me to do, I now have a wonderful husband, and 2 beautiful daughters that I would not have, had I not trusted in the Lord.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was also one of the best things I have ever done.  And I am so thankful for the experience.  

I also trust in the Lord for little things, in all I do.  I trust in him daily.  And I know that since I do, I am happy.  When I have lived without trust, I may have thought I was happy, but it wasn't until I trusted in him with all my heart, that I found out what real happiness is.

So I ask you all to put your trust in the Savior, because he will enrich your life.  You will be filled with the joys that this world can offer.  The joys that our Savior has to offer.  Trust in the Lord and he will guide and protect you.