life is beautiful

Life is beautiful and people are wonderful.

I know It might not always seem true, but it is.

The way the light kisses the wood floor, the way the baby waves at you from under the table, the kind words spoken by people you look up to, the way the sun peaks over the mountain early in the morning, The encouraging words from a teacher, the people that take time to talk to you, the sweet spirit shared in sacrament meeting, the affects of the atonement felt, The way your headphones send music of Christ to your eardrums. The long meetings made fun. The way people testify of truth, the smiles shared, the laughs that become contagious, The excited texts your get from friends, the way the baby falls asleep in your arms, the joy shared thought the room.

And this was only what happened today.

Now add that to yesterday and tomorrow, and life is a beautiful thing.

I'd be ungrateful if I didn't write this post to thank God for all he has done for me. Don't get me wrong, life is hard and trials are ever present, but with the Lord even trials can become beautiful.

{Random insert: Need some AWESOME music? Click right HERE and check the box "Strength of Youth Media" I promise you will not be able to listen to it without smiling. BONUS! It's 100% clean!}

An awesome lady spoke in my ward today I loved when she said

  "isn't life a great adventure? 

It has it's ups and downs,             

      we never know what is 

around the corner,         

  but still, it is 

worth living." 

I've spent some time recently with some people who have less than good things to say about life. To these people I say keep going, focus on God, and let him show you who you are to him. Because,

"most of the confusion in our lives come from not knowing who we are"

                                   -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

You my friend, are a beloved son or daughter of God. He loves you and he wants nothing for greatness for you. Sometimes greatness comes through broken roads. If your in the middle of a hard time, maybe your just a currant bush.

If your stuck in a rut the best thing to do is to

"forget yourself and go to work"

          -Bryant S. Hinkley

because "those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
                                                                  -J.M. Barrie

    

I hope you know that you are GLORIOUS and ETERNAL, that 

"Your future is as Bright as your faith" -president Monson,

 and that you can change the world.

You are incredible.

People are wonderful.

 Life is beautiful.

Look up.

feel my sunlight

p.s. ASL is an awesome language. It's also an awesome class that everybody should take. Just sayin. 

    

New York and a sweet reunion

Todays post has three pieces and they all happen to relate to the State of New York. How that happened, I don't know, but I think it's kinda fun.

NY #1
Remember when I said I had a big decision to make regarding this summer? (aka the P.S.S. of THiS POST.) Well, I made a decision, and I made it official. I am officially registered to attend EFY in Palmyra New York this summer!!! I am SO excited about this and it feels so right. This does; however, mean I probably won't be able to compete at the US Power Tumbling National Championships this year in Louisville, KY due to the fact that bank accounts aren't bottomless. I am super bummed about this, but I have prayed about this and NY is where the Lord wants me to be. I can't wait for this adventure!

NY #2
The second piece of this blog post is simply a link to something awesome. I don't know about you but I get sick of listening to stuff that is on the radio at times and I just need something else to fill the sound waves in the air around me. CLICK HERE to listen to some awesome recorded blog posts by the incredible Al Caraway {aka Al Fox}! I have been listening to them today and they are probably my favorite thing. How is this related to New York you ask? Al lived in New York before she moved to Utah. It's a big part of her awesome story. Go check it out!

NY #3
Number 3 is the main bulk of what I wanted this post to be about and it is related to New York due to the fact that my current scripture/seminary journal looks like this...

This thought originated from my seminary teacher but I thought it was so powerful that it needed to be shared.

This comes from Alma 17

This is the part in the book of Mormon where Alma is reunited with the sons of Mosiah.

It had been 14 years since he had last seen these friends (Alma 17:4). And these sons of Mosiah had not only been his friends, but they had shared a conversion story. They were there when Alma was first visited by an angel.

Now, Alma hadn't seen them for 14 years. And not had he not seen them, he hadn't heard any word from them. After 14 years of no word it could have easily been thought that they had perished in the land and that they would never return. Imagine how sweet this reunion would have been.

Alma 17:2 says "Therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still is brethren in the Lord."

Think of the longest time you have been away from someone you love. How sweet was the moment when you were finally reunited?

Now, imagine what the reunion will the reunion be like when we go back to our heavenly home? What will it be like to go to heaven and see those you haven't seen in years, to see those who you thought wouldn't make it.

How will it be to see your Heavenly Father again?

I ask you, is this not motivation to live your life in such a way that this sweet reunion will be made possible in your life?

Have hope in this reunion.

Feel my sunlight

p.s. Seminary is a very good thing. Go to seminary.

p.s.s. Here is an awesome Mormon Message about being Strengthened in the Lord. Can you guess were the youth are from in this video? That's right! New York!!!

perfected.

Life is a beautiful thing.

Sorry I've been away for the last 9 days. End of semester struggles. Ya feel me?

So I must first say thank you to my incredible coaches and team mates who have propelled me over the last little bit. And thank you Sandy for spending so much time with out team this week! You rock!

Yesterday marked the start of competition season for the year. Whooo!

For those of you who don't know, I am a competitive power tumbler. A power what? Power tumbling. It's a great thing. Watch this video. (I'm nowhere near that good, but you get the idea.)

Like I said, yesterday was the start of competition season and I finished out my first meet in third place with a score of 53.7. I'm pretty happy with it and am so thankful for my coaches and team mates who propelled me to where I am right now. I love you guys!

Even more, I am thankful that I even had the chance to compete.

Two days ago I was riding home from school in my friends little car when we collided with a school bus.

Nobody walked a way with even a scratch on their body.

This proved as a great awakening for me. Here we are, in a little tiny car, crashing into a moving bus. We shouldn't be this okay.

It shook me awake and made me realize that

we never know when we will be called home.

Nobody knows when the time will come for them to meet their maker. We need to be forever prepared for this experience because that moment can come in the blink of an eye when you least expect it.

For me I was fortunate enough to be given more time, but with that comes responsibility to be better.

I hope you take that responsibility too. 

I love this quote from the teachings of Lorenzo Snow that says:

"Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today. The temptations that perhaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow. Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves."

“Come unto Christ, 

and be perfected 

in him, and

 deny yourselves 

of all ungodliness”

-Moroni 10:32

Let's become perfect.

On a slightly unrelated note, if you happen to have 59 minutes and 55 seconds of free time over the next few days I encourage you to watch this awesome video about Thomas S. Monson. It's great.

    

feel my sunlight


p.s. My soul smiles because the sun is shining. It's a good day. 
p.s.s. Thank you thank you thank you to my AP English teacher for being merciful.

Intro to my beliefs: The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints

Dear friends of blog land,
I apologize for my temporary unintentional hiatus I've taken from this lovely blog land. I have been enveloped in tumbling, school, work, and whatnot that this cute corner of the internet has been set on the back burner. (not literally... don't set computers on fire people.)

So, I have had some things running through my head recently and I have two topics that I would hope you would take the time to read about. Not because I want recognition for myself, but because I want you to know and understand what I believe, and I want you to have this great joy I feel in your life.

This first topic is dedicated to my countless friends that don't share the same faith as I do. This is for those of you who don't understand the time I turned you down when you offered to buy me coffee, or why in the world I choose by my own free will to wake up at 5 am on Tuesday morning late start days to attend the temple. I know it seems odd from the outside looking in on my life, but I just hope that this post will make me and my faith a little clearer to you.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints (LDS church), popularly known as "the Mormons".

The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. This short video accurately describes how the LDS church came to be.

*****intro to Mormons video*****

The Bible is widely known to much of the world, however, during this same time period Christ had another land of followers. These followers lived in the Americas and they are the ancestors of the American Indians. After Christ's death and resurrection he visited these people. The record of his ministry to the people in the Americans is called the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is not meant to replace the Bible, but rather to serve as another testament of Jesus Christ.

To me it only makes sense that if God had prophets on the earth in the times of the Bible, He would have prophets on the earth today. Joseph Smith was the first prophet of these modern days. He did not create the church, but rather, he reestablished it for these later days. {To learn more about Joseph Smith's story and to watch one of my FAVORITE movies CLICK HERE.} The prophet on the earth today is President Thomas S. Monson.

I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints is the true church and it has been reestablished by the hand of God onto the earth by his prophet Joseph Smith. I believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet and I also believe that Thomas S. Monson is the true prophet today. And lastly, I have a strong believe that the Book of Mormon is true.

Now, I want to shift gears a little. You may be wondering "how does any of this apply to me?"

We live in a world of trial and turmoil. We live in a time of much confusion as to what is right, what we should do, and what we should believe. I want you to watch this short video and we will talk after.




I feel like the world often feels like the frantic, tragic, scary world depicted in this video. We live in a world where the family is attacked, and morals questioned, where crime is high, and charity low, where talk of religion is not allowed to be spoken of at work or in schools. I feel like there is no question as to why the world would be confused when in this scary state of chaos, But in this state of chaos I have found a source of peace.

This source of peace is with my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and with his church restored to the earth for these later days.

This is why I wake up at 5am on Tuesday mornings to go to the temple, this is why I spend my Sundays at church meetings, this is why I spend an entire weekend listening to 10 hours of the prophet speak twice a year. This is why I dress modestly. This is why I don't drink coffee, this is why I have clean language, this is why I study out of an ancient book, this is why I write this blog.

Peace.

My testimony of the gospel has given me so much peace in my life. I have had hard things happen to me, but every day is made brighter through Christ who is the light of the world. I have a testimony of this Gospel and I know the church is true and I invite you to come unto him, for he is calling to you saying "abide with me".





feel my sunlight



p.s. To learn more about my religion click HERE, or email me at feelmysunlight@yahoo.com. To request a FREE Book of Mormon click HERE!


p.s.s. I'm in the midst of making a relatively big decision that has to do with this summer. I am 99% decided on what I am going to do. I'll give you a hint... It has somewhat to do with this blog post and EFY, yet will require me to give something up this summer that look forward to every year involving tumbling. More on that later.

2013 in review

 

 

 

 

 

2013 was a big year. I did a lot, I felt a lot, And ultimately, I grew up a lot. Here is a trip through my 2013 year.

The time I competed on a sprained ankle at an international meet

The time I competed at State Championships and qualified for National Championships

The time I went to Vegas and competed at Regional Championships

The time I went to EFY SLC Special edition. 

The time I went to Missouri to compete in the 2013 Power Tumbling National Championships

The time I went to EFY AGAIN!

The time we prayed for Kalon

The time I started 11th grade

The time I saved the day at Girls Camp and took over when the speaker didn't make it. #brownsugar!

The time I turned 17

The time I became a REAL blogger for Christmas

The time I said goodbye to 2013

As you can see, this year has been big. My testimony has grown mountains, I have traveled farther than I ever have before, and I have met so many incredible people, and had some many incredible opportunities. It's been a good year, but I can't wait to see what 2014 brings!

Shout out to the amazing people I've met this year that have changed my life! Including but not limited to: Mama Shell Bell, Papa Spence, Mama G, Jett, The Charititez, My awesome roomie from the Charititez, ANNNDDD... The Humble Bees. I love you all.


Now, I think it's fit to write some New Years Resolutions. It's a must really.

Tumbling
place top 3 atleast twice
hit mobility
qualify for National Championships in Louisville, KY

Spiritual
go to the temple at least twice a month (and every week when possible)
read the B.O.M. AGAIN!
Index more
Read my scriptures EVERY SINGLE DAY
go to mission prep
be a better missionary
EFY EFY EFY

academic
work harder on homework
get better grades
improve my ACT score (I still don't know what I got on the first one)

My sister and I are also going off sugar tomorrow due to the fact that I am training for competition season, and she is one of the leads in the school play. Rules: all natural sugars are fine. No candy, icecream, soda (even if sugar free) or treats UNLESS it is a special occasion ie. birthdays, holidays, celebrations, etc.


Anyone want to join?



Well, that's about all from me. I can't wait to see what 2014 brings. I wish you all a happy New Year!



feel my sunlight



p.s. After 2014 comes 2015... the year I graduate and go on a mission. This is my last year as a child. AHHH