eh isn't being sick the greatest thing?! *Sarcasm intended*
It looks like I'm overdue for a Thanksgiving post so I guess we'll pound one out right now!
Despite the fact that half of my family is sick with the stomach flu, I am still in awe at how many incredible things I have in my life to be thankful for! Upon reflection I've realized that my very favorite things in life are the people that surround me, so here is a non-inclusive list of a few of my favorites.
My family!
I love my family so much! It's on a regular basis that you can find me on all fours and crying because I am laughing so hard because of my family. There is never a dull moment when it comes to Reid family time. I am so thankful that I have such a good relationship with both my parents, as well as with all my siblings. I know so many people who have family feuds with members of their family, but I am so blessed to live in a family where love is spoken and where small arguments remain small. My sister and I are asked all the time if we ever get in fights. The answer is that our fights are seldom and far apart. I can honestly say that the members of my family are my very best friends. I'm thankful for a sister that shares sibling telepathy with me and who is capable of making painful situations bearable, and enjoyable situations even greater. I'm thankful for a little brother who will go to every extent to make me laugh and who finds joy in hanging out with his big sister. I'm thankful for a little sister who is my very best friend and who tells me her secrets and follows me around at the gym. I'm so glad I get to keep them for eternity!
I am also so thankful for my awesome extended families. I have defiantly been blessed with the best when it comes to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I am blessed to see some of them on a weekly basis, and others the reunions are more rare, but I love them all the same. I'm thankful for crazy uncles that provided the most painful tickle attacks as a kid, and who never cease to make me laugh. I'm thankful for the little cousins that greet me with running hugs, and for the older ones that always make me laugh. I'm thankful for grandparents that read all my posts, and who provide never ending love. Again, I'm so glad I get to keep them for eternity.
Seminary Council!
It is almost on a daily basis that I have to refrain from talking about how much I love them because I don't want other people to feel jealous. I am going to put that worry aside for a second because I need to express just how much I enjoy this wonderful group of people. I cannot express it in words how much I enjoy being on seminary council with these people. The members of this council have some of the strongest testimonies I have ever heard. I always look forward to our lunch meetings and they never last long enough. I wonder everyday how I was blessed to be able to work with such incredible people. Each of them have touched my life in ways they will never know. They have taught me so much and they have truly changed my life for the better. I don't have any idea how I am going to say goodbye to them at the end of the year... but we won't talk about that because it will make me cry. Let's just say this song represents my feelings about seminary council and that I cry every time I hear it because it reminds me that I have to say goodbye to them at the end of the year. I love you guys!
EFY!
This includes new friends and counselors alike. I first realized I had a testimony at my first EFY as a fourteen year old. My counselor, Kjarinda, challenged us to pray for ourselves to know if the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints was true, and oh-boy! The prayer I said that night altered the entire course of the rest of my life more than any other single experience ever has. My testimony has grown so much since then, but I will forever be grateful for Kjarinda's righteous example in my life. EFY has also brought me many many other "blessings". I have been blessed with, in my opinion, the very best counselors and friends. I am thankful that I have been able to attend five different sessions since I was fourteen and that one of those was a trip to Palmyra, New York where I was able to visit the sights and places where the Church was first restored.
My gym!
I started tumbling when I was seven, but I have been with my gym since I was a timid eleven year old. In the early years we tumbled in a match-box sized room with only a few mats and a very small trampoline. I was blessed to be on my gym's very first competition team that consisted of only fourteen competitors. We have grown so much since then. Tumbling on the team has allowed me to travel to places I would never have been, and to meet and become friends with some of the most incredible and influential names in the sport as well as in my life. I remained on the competition team up until August of this year when I traded my spot on the team, for a spot as a competition coach. I am so thankful for my boss/coach, Jill, who has become my second mother in the sense that she watched me grow up. I am thankful she hired me to start assistant teaching classes when I was thirteen, and for providing me with the very best job for the last five years. I have been able to teach hundreds of children in that time and I have been touched so much by each child that has ever called me "teacher". I'm thankful for all the teammates I have had since I was eleven. I love you all so stinkin much. I also need to give a huge thanks to all my coaches that have touched my life. Thank you thank you thank you Steph for going beyond your job as my coach and for becoming one of my very best friends and mentors. I always know I can trust you to help me with anything. You always give the best advice when it comes to tumbling or life. And thank you to Nicole, Riane, Jake, Ashley, and Lance for everything you have ever done for me. And thank you to Justen and Sandy for being my "coaches from another team". I don't have any idea what my life would be like if I had never walked into that little gym when I was eleven, but I do know it has blessed my life for the better.
I have SO MANY other people in my life that I want to thank including the Daniels, school friends, teachers, church friends, and blog friends, and the random kid down the street that eats nothing but saltines and mayo. (that's a Psych reference, in case you were wondering) but unfortunately, this whole "stomach flu" thing is making me tired. I want you all to know how much I love and appreciate your presence in my life. I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for the people I have associated with for the last eighteenth years. Thank you for everything.
feel my sunlight
p.s. Well, now that I've finally caught up on Thanksgiving... BRING IT ON CHRISTMAS!
Showing posts with label EFY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EFY. Show all posts
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
My trip to New York #EFY2014Palmyra
Whoa! Hi guys!
Today while coaching tumbling to my class of 2-4 year olds I asked the class to pretend to be an animal, and then I proceed to ask each child which animal they wanted to be. When I reached one of my small blond students I said, enthusiastically, "WHAT ANIMAL DO YOU WANT TO BE?" And she replied with: "A CUPCAKE!"
Any argument that your job is better than mine is invalid.
So, how are you my people? I hope you're doing swell. I sure am, which might explain my lack of posts, but I promise I have good reason!
I spent last week in the beautiful Palmyra, New York.
I mean, is this not the most gorgeous place you have ever seen?!? I fell in love instantly.
So like you may know if you read any of my recent posts, I was there attending a special edition session of EFY. For those of you who don't know, EFY stands for Especially For Youth, and it is a week of non-stop spiritual stuff, line dances, and pure awesomeness. This may or may have not been my 5th time going to EFY. I love it a lot.
Like I said, this was a special edition of EFY which means that instead of a normal session like the ones in Provo, we were able to travel to the various church history sights in and around Palmyra, which as you might know, was where The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (AKA "LDS," or "Mormons") began.
Growing up in the church we hear about these places all the time, but being able to go there and experience these places for myself was awe-inspiring, and I loved every second of it.
So, I'll spare you the details about what time I brushed my teeth, and what I ate for each meal (although, I must say that if you are ever in charge of providing food for anything, you should avoid meatloaf...) But I do want to share with you the more exciting parts, the amazing places I went, and things that were note-worthy of my journal. I apologize for the length of this post. It was an entire week of almost non-stop amazing experiences, and I filled 101 pages of my journal during this week alone. I did the very best I could at condensing it, but it is all so good! If you want a quicker read, I suggest you at least read all the italicized parts. Those are the very best!
Saturday July 26th- Raegan and I flew out from Salt Lake City to Rochester, NY all by ourselves. It was at this moment when we became pro-airport people. It's a thing.
Sunday July 27th- Raeg and I went to Church in the morning at the chapel right behind the hotel. It was great how welcoming the ward was and just how many people went out of there way to say hi to us. We met several other people who were there for EFY and between all the visitors we at least tripled the size of their Young Womens group. It was awesome.
After church we took a walk to see the temple and the Sacred Grove, and then hung out with other people as they arrived for EFY.
Monday July 28th- The official start of EFY! This day consisted of the ever exciting orientational stuff. Getting to know your counselors and everyone in the group, hearing from our session directors, a fire drill, and some some great spiritual discussion right outside the Sacred Grove with our company.
Tuesday July 29th- After a breakfast of blueberry muffins and peaches, My company headed to Fayette to visit the Whitmer Farm. If I could pick a favorite place we went, this would be it. We were there in the morning and this is what I wrote in my journal as we sat outside taking in the beauty of the farm.
"We are currently at the Whitmer Farm which is one of the most beautiful pieces of land I have ever seen. This was where the church was re-organized and there is no doubt in my mind that this farm wasn't hand selected. While sitting here I can feel the love of my Savior so strongly. I am at peace from the silent atmosphere and the gorgeous chirping birds. I can't help but think that it would have looked exactly like this back on April Sixth of 1830 when the church was restored. This is sacred ground we stand on. Just like those who were here in 1830, I express my desire and determination to act in accordance to the commandments of God. I am determined to find more heavens on earth like this beautiful farm, and in places where there are no heavens, I am determined to create them. This is what Heaven feels like."
After our time on the farm we went to visit the Hill Cumorah which is the place where Joseph Smith was guided to to find the Gold plates, which he translated and are now what we call The Book of Mormon. Here is my journal entry about this place.
"This is a surreal experience for me. I'm sitting atop the Hill onlooking a gorgeous view that stretches for miles. This was the very place on earth where Moroni sealed his testimony by burring the plates. He gave up his live so that I might be able to know the truth. It is also the very hill where Joseph was when he received the plates. He also gave up his life so that I might know the truth. I am forever grateful for these men, along with my Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave up their lives for me, so that I might know the truth."
After the Hill Cumorah we went to Musical Program Practice, Dinner and then one of the most rockin dances I have ever been to.
Wednesday July 30th- After breakfast we headed to the Sacred Grove and Smith Farm House. While sitting in the Sacred Grove I pondered this statement;
"God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in this Grove."
I then wrote the following;
"I need to think about this statement a little more. Either it's true, or it isn't....While sitting in the grove I ponder these words. I sometimes feel that I need to see for myself that it is true, but I don't need to because I can see the evidence. I've never seen my own face. I've seen the reflection, and I've touched it, and I know that others have seen it, but I've never seen it myself, likewise is my testimony of the Gospel. I haven't seen angels or heard voices, but I have seen the reflection of the truth in the way the sun comes up in the morning, I've been touched by the Holy Ghost, and I know that others have seen physical evidence. So no, I've never seen God, or heard a voice, but still, I know that this church is true, and that Joseph Smith really did see God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ here. Because, like Emma Smith said, there are some things more certain than sight."
After the Sacred Grove we visited Alvin Smith's Grave, and then we toured the Grandian Building, which was the shop in which the Book of Mormon was first published.
After that we headed to the Palmyra Temple. Here is my journal entry.
"We are at the Palmyra temple and we just did baptisms and are in the waiting room waiting for the boys. This is a special experience because it is the only temple that had it authorized by the prophet to have a clear glass window. The window looking out shows a view of the Sacred Grove. It is significant because the Sacred Grove was the place where it all began, and the temple is why we are all here. From this window everything looks lush and healthy and it looks like how I imagine Heaven, beautiful and full of life. After we did baptisms we went outside to take pictures and as it started to rain we were blessed with the gorgeous view of a stormy sky, with a lit-up gold Moroni in the foreground. It was magnificent beyond description and I feel like with each of these magnificent experiences I reach closer to heaven and the thunder we can hear from inside the temple just confirms it."
After the temple we had dinner, made up a cheer, had games night and Cheer-Off, followed by Pizza Night, and Reflect and Review in bathroom at the Hill Cumorah due to the pouring rain. One of the most memorable R&Rs by far!
Thursday July 31st- We started off with breakfast and then time in the Sacred grove as a company. After that we had an activity with just the girls that was splendid. After Lunch we had the EFY Game Show and a Musical Program Dress Rehearsal. And After Dinner I performed in Musical Program, which I had a speaking part in by the way, and that was followed by a Fireside, and Testimony meeting. During testimony meeting I wrote these words:
"I've never heard silence quite this loud. This is hollowed ground. This will always be a special place to me personally. We are here because we have Lives to Brighten, Hearts to Touch, And Souls to save, That we may all sit down together in Heaven. I'm walking on Sunshine"
After testimony meeting we had R&R on temple grounds and it was wonderful.
Friday August 1st- We started off the day at the Sacred Grove and then went to breakfast. We had a morningside, and company pictures, we then went to a Panel Discussion that was very good. After Lunch we went to the Variety show, and after free time and dinner we went to a second awesome dance. After the slide show and Taking it home we had R&R at the church.
Saturday August 2nd- We woke up and packed our bags. Said goodbye and headed to the airport. We flew back to Salt Lake with several of the other youth in our group, as well as most of the counselors including both of ours. In fact, we even sat in front of my counselor Kourtney! It was fun and after we got back to SLC we said our real goodbyes and headed to Texas Road House for Dinner with my family and Raegan's family where I proceeded to almost fall asleep due to the wonderful exhausting week I had just been through.
So, in all I'd have to say that it was a successful trip. I got to know some incredible people including my wonderful counselors Kourtney and Brady! They were so much fun to be around and I couldn't think of two better people I'd rather have spent this week with. I'm so grateful I had this opportunity to go and that I made the effort to pay for most of it myself because it made it that much more special. Thank you to everyone who made this week so great! I will forever cherish it!
feel my sunlight
p.s. I promise a picture post soon!!! :)
Today while coaching tumbling to my class of 2-4 year olds I asked the class to pretend to be an animal, and then I proceed to ask each child which animal they wanted to be. When I reached one of my small blond students I said, enthusiastically, "WHAT ANIMAL DO YOU WANT TO BE?" And she replied with: "A CUPCAKE!"
Any argument that your job is better than mine is invalid.
So, how are you my people? I hope you're doing swell. I sure am, which might explain my lack of posts, but I promise I have good reason!
I spent last week in the beautiful Palmyra, New York.
I mean, is this not the most gorgeous place you have ever seen?!? I fell in love instantly.
So like you may know if you read any of my recent posts, I was there attending a special edition session of EFY. For those of you who don't know, EFY stands for Especially For Youth, and it is a week of non-stop spiritual stuff, line dances, and pure awesomeness. This may or may have not been my 5th time going to EFY. I love it a lot.
Like I said, this was a special edition of EFY which means that instead of a normal session like the ones in Provo, we were able to travel to the various church history sights in and around Palmyra, which as you might know, was where The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (AKA "LDS," or "Mormons") began.
Growing up in the church we hear about these places all the time, but being able to go there and experience these places for myself was awe-inspiring, and I loved every second of it.
So, I'll spare you the details about what time I brushed my teeth, and what I ate for each meal (although, I must say that if you are ever in charge of providing food for anything, you should avoid meatloaf...) But I do want to share with you the more exciting parts, the amazing places I went, and things that were note-worthy of my journal. I apologize for the length of this post. It was an entire week of almost non-stop amazing experiences, and I filled 101 pages of my journal during this week alone. I did the very best I could at condensing it, but it is all so good! If you want a quicker read, I suggest you at least read all the italicized parts. Those are the very best!
Saturday July 26th- Raegan and I flew out from Salt Lake City to Rochester, NY all by ourselves. It was at this moment when we became pro-airport people. It's a thing.
Sunday July 27th- Raeg and I went to Church in the morning at the chapel right behind the hotel. It was great how welcoming the ward was and just how many people went out of there way to say hi to us. We met several other people who were there for EFY and between all the visitors we at least tripled the size of their Young Womens group. It was awesome.
After church we took a walk to see the temple and the Sacred Grove, and then hung out with other people as they arrived for EFY.
Monday July 28th- The official start of EFY! This day consisted of the ever exciting orientational stuff. Getting to know your counselors and everyone in the group, hearing from our session directors, a fire drill, and some some great spiritual discussion right outside the Sacred Grove with our company.
Tuesday July 29th- After a breakfast of blueberry muffins and peaches, My company headed to Fayette to visit the Whitmer Farm. If I could pick a favorite place we went, this would be it. We were there in the morning and this is what I wrote in my journal as we sat outside taking in the beauty of the farm.
"We are currently at the Whitmer Farm which is one of the most beautiful pieces of land I have ever seen. This was where the church was re-organized and there is no doubt in my mind that this farm wasn't hand selected. While sitting here I can feel the love of my Savior so strongly. I am at peace from the silent atmosphere and the gorgeous chirping birds. I can't help but think that it would have looked exactly like this back on April Sixth of 1830 when the church was restored. This is sacred ground we stand on. Just like those who were here in 1830, I express my desire and determination to act in accordance to the commandments of God. I am determined to find more heavens on earth like this beautiful farm, and in places where there are no heavens, I am determined to create them. This is what Heaven feels like."
After our time on the farm we went to visit the Hill Cumorah which is the place where Joseph Smith was guided to to find the Gold plates, which he translated and are now what we call The Book of Mormon. Here is my journal entry about this place.
"This is a surreal experience for me. I'm sitting atop the Hill onlooking a gorgeous view that stretches for miles. This was the very place on earth where Moroni sealed his testimony by burring the plates. He gave up his live so that I might be able to know the truth. It is also the very hill where Joseph was when he received the plates. He also gave up his life so that I might know the truth. I am forever grateful for these men, along with my Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave up their lives for me, so that I might know the truth."
After the Hill Cumorah we went to Musical Program Practice, Dinner and then one of the most rockin dances I have ever been to.
Wednesday July 30th- After breakfast we headed to the Sacred Grove and Smith Farm House. While sitting in the Sacred Grove I pondered this statement;
"God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in this Grove."
I then wrote the following;
"I need to think about this statement a little more. Either it's true, or it isn't....While sitting in the grove I ponder these words. I sometimes feel that I need to see for myself that it is true, but I don't need to because I can see the evidence. I've never seen my own face. I've seen the reflection, and I've touched it, and I know that others have seen it, but I've never seen it myself, likewise is my testimony of the Gospel. I haven't seen angels or heard voices, but I have seen the reflection of the truth in the way the sun comes up in the morning, I've been touched by the Holy Ghost, and I know that others have seen physical evidence. So no, I've never seen God, or heard a voice, but still, I know that this church is true, and that Joseph Smith really did see God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ here. Because, like Emma Smith said, there are some things more certain than sight."
After the Sacred Grove we visited Alvin Smith's Grave, and then we toured the Grandian Building, which was the shop in which the Book of Mormon was first published.
After that we headed to the Palmyra Temple. Here is my journal entry.
"We are at the Palmyra temple and we just did baptisms and are in the waiting room waiting for the boys. This is a special experience because it is the only temple that had it authorized by the prophet to have a clear glass window. The window looking out shows a view of the Sacred Grove. It is significant because the Sacred Grove was the place where it all began, and the temple is why we are all here. From this window everything looks lush and healthy and it looks like how I imagine Heaven, beautiful and full of life. After we did baptisms we went outside to take pictures and as it started to rain we were blessed with the gorgeous view of a stormy sky, with a lit-up gold Moroni in the foreground. It was magnificent beyond description and I feel like with each of these magnificent experiences I reach closer to heaven and the thunder we can hear from inside the temple just confirms it."
After the temple we had dinner, made up a cheer, had games night and Cheer-Off, followed by Pizza Night, and Reflect and Review in bathroom at the Hill Cumorah due to the pouring rain. One of the most memorable R&Rs by far!
Thursday July 31st- We started off with breakfast and then time in the Sacred grove as a company. After that we had an activity with just the girls that was splendid. After Lunch we had the EFY Game Show and a Musical Program Dress Rehearsal. And After Dinner I performed in Musical Program, which I had a speaking part in by the way, and that was followed by a Fireside, and Testimony meeting. During testimony meeting I wrote these words:
"I've never heard silence quite this loud. This is hollowed ground. This will always be a special place to me personally. We are here because we have Lives to Brighten, Hearts to Touch, And Souls to save, That we may all sit down together in Heaven. I'm walking on Sunshine"
After testimony meeting we had R&R on temple grounds and it was wonderful.
Friday August 1st- We started off the day at the Sacred Grove and then went to breakfast. We had a morningside, and company pictures, we then went to a Panel Discussion that was very good. After Lunch we went to the Variety show, and after free time and dinner we went to a second awesome dance. After the slide show and Taking it home we had R&R at the church.
Saturday August 2nd- We woke up and packed our bags. Said goodbye and headed to the airport. We flew back to Salt Lake with several of the other youth in our group, as well as most of the counselors including both of ours. In fact, we even sat in front of my counselor Kourtney! It was fun and after we got back to SLC we said our real goodbyes and headed to Texas Road House for Dinner with my family and Raegan's family where I proceeded to almost fall asleep due to the wonderful exhausting week I had just been through.
So, in all I'd have to say that it was a successful trip. I got to know some incredible people including my wonderful counselors Kourtney and Brady! They were so much fun to be around and I couldn't think of two better people I'd rather have spent this week with. I'm so grateful I had this opportunity to go and that I made the effort to pay for most of it myself because it made it that much more special. Thank you to everyone who made this week so great! I will forever cherish it!
feel my sunlight
p.s. I promise a picture post soon!!! :)
Friday, June 6, 2014
Maybe I'll talk about
Remember when I blogged about these two awesome efy counselors?
Well, they're getting married today.
Every efy participant's dream. I cannot even handle how happy I am for them. Congrats to Braden and Randi. #EFYtoETERNITY #UpbraidethNotForever #Literally
You'd think that with school not in session that I'd be able to keep up in this blog land that I love so dearly, but God has had some other plans for my time.
I have been out of school for exactly a week and every single day has been filled with so much good, and I am oh so grateful for it.
So... what do I want to talk about today?
Maybe the fact that I completed 9:3 on the Whip Chart today. (
Maybe I'll talk about how much I love summer and how much I enjoy the whole no school thing. Last night I had a dream that there were all these desks in the gym and my coaches were telling me to tumble on top of them. I thought I was going to die because desks are not safe to tumble on desks (obviously). I'm pretty sure that was my subconscious telling me to avoid school at all costs.
Maybe I'll talk about how I'm going to Portland with the family next week and how I can't wait.
Maybe I'll talk about an awesome spiritual experience where I read an awesome scripture that demands to be shared. (Doctrine and Covenants 21:6 is awesome.)
Maybe I'll tell you about how I finally drove on the freeway for the first time since I crashed my car. It was incredibly scary and I didn't like it one bit. But, guess what! I'm alive!
Maybe I'll tell you about all the plans I have for the summer. I'm going to Portland with the family, and Palmyra New York for EFY, and Girls Camp, and Youth Conference. I am just so very excited for it all.
Maybe I'll tell you about how I think family history work is awesome and how I have no idea what I'm doing as a family history consultant. The bishop said that the only way I can do anything wrong is to not do anything at all. This is going to be exciting. I seriously can't wait!
Maybe I'll tell you about how we start doing stuff for Seminary Council next week and how I am VERY OVERLY EXTREMELY EXITED for that to happen. I really like seminary. Like a lot.
Maybe I'll tell you about how excited I am to serve a mission in a year, but how I wish the whole "getting your wisdom teeth out before you go" wasn't a thing.
Maybe I'll ask you what your current favorite books are because I need some new ones to read.
Or MAYBE I'll just refer you to somebody else's blog because I can't decide. Perhaps Al Fox Carraway. I really liked her blog post this week.
 |
| Read her post HERE |
Ya. I think I'll do that.
Well, I love you all, and I hope you all have a fantastic day. I hope somebody brings you ice cream or cake because that would make your day even more awesome and you deserve that. Cake and ice cream are always a good thing because it's always somebody's birthday somewhere.
feel my sunlight
p.s. Sorry for the randomness of this post. ha I don't know how that happened, but I kinda like it.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Darling Distressed Blue Bench for SALE!
I am selling this SUPPER cute up cycled bench!
*pillows not included. My mom would be mad.
It would be awesome on a front porch, at the end of your bed, or in a front entry way, or at a kitchen table. It is super sturdy and is freshly painted light blue and distressed (as you can see).
I'm selling it for only $45. This kind of bench would go for $100-$300 on Etsy.
I am willing to deliver within the Layton area (or close to there).
If you are interested leave me a comment or shoot me an email at feelmysunlight@yahoo.com.
If you aren't interested in this, but would be interested in other up cycled furniture leave me a comment!
Thanks for your help! I appreciate all the support! Love you guys.
feel my sunilight
p.s. It's weird waking up and not going to school while the rest of my family does. High School rocks.
Friday, January 24, 2014
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...
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!!!
Friday, January 10, 2014
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
book covers
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| image source |
"Don't judge a book by it's cover, but make sure your cover is clean and tidy shows who you truly are."
Just lettin that phrase soak in a little.
I'm in my CE Digital Media class with nothing to do. I submited my work on Monday so that makes today a blog day!
The blinds are open {and by "blinds are open" I mean the floor to celing glass wall of windows is not covered.} and it's fall outside. I'm totally lovin it.
"Don't judge a book by it's cover, but make sure your cover is clean and tidy and shows who you truly are."
This is my key to associating myself with people.
I'm by no means "popular", I mean, I eat lunch in a low traffic hallway with my two friends for crying out loud, but nevertheless, I get along with people really well.
I have found that everyone has gems inside of them and that everyone has something for you even if they appear to be ordinary rocks. I have found that if you look hard enough you can find connections and ties with anyone and that everyone, no matter who you are, has the same goal: to be loved.
If we realize this our associations with our fellow humans can be so much sweeter. Reach out to others, smile a little more, remember names, ask questions, give hugs, send texts for no reason, remember birthdays, compliment ugly socks, make inside jokes with people you aren't super close to, and those same acts will be ricipricated back to you.
I heard a quote in Seminary yesterday that said
"Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, but less about yourself."
I think we as a society need to spend less time saying to ourselves "I'm not good enough" and more time saying to others "you are good enough." Because lifting others up is the greatest way to get yourself lifted.
This is only the first part. "Don't judge a book by it's cover." Focus on others, celebrate the strengths and happiness of others. Look for the good in people that might go unnoticed.
The second part is "make sure your cover is clean and tidy and shows who you truly are."
"Making your cover clean and tidy" doesn't come from being the head of the cheer squad, a 4.0, or a spot on the football team. It comes from inside. It comes from how you treat others. It comes from the way you make others feel. It's not about your accomplishments, but your actions.
And how do we do this? By focusing on others.
This is going to be my goal for the rest of the week. What about you?
So I need to catch up on my 30 days of Thanksgiving because I'm a slacker with a busy life.
day 12
I am thankful for the chance I had to hear Hank Smith speak at our morningside on Tuesday. It was incredible and an awesome message. I will share more about it later, but I love how he said "The palest ink is brighter than the brightest memory." I'm kind of a journal writer and I adore this quote. I am also thankful for journal writing.
day 13
I'm thankful for all things EFY. In case you have just joined us, I'm an EFY lover. I am thankful for the people I have met, the experiences I have had, and the things I have felt because of this program. It's really the greatest.
feel my sunlight
p.s. Shout out to Hannah who gave me lotion today just because she knows I like it. I love you girl! You are seriously the coolest greatest most awesomest person ever. Also, I love that we are basically the same person.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
get your rod on
Two things.
This,
and this.
Your life is better now.
I am in a ridiculously good mood right now. Conference was fantastic and I am finally registered for EFY express and I just can't wait! It's been a good day.
As any of you with a twitter know that the twitter overload that happens during conference is pretty crazy. Basically everybody on twitter tweets everything any of the speakers say included with there thoughts on just about everything. Its kinda fun. Out of all of the tweets I read to day my favorite by far had to be this one by Alex Boye...
I thought it was an awesome tweet and it is going on a sticky note on my bathroom mirror as a reminder to live everything said during conference. It is a reminder to hold fast to the rod and to follow the teachings of God. I also like how by saying "get your rod on" it as if you are putting on an outfit for everyone to see. We aren't just supposed to keep the commandments quietly, but we should be standing up to our beliefs and being an example to everyone around us. We are the Later Day Army. We are fighting for him and we want the whole world to see us that they might join us. So don't be afraid to "GET YOUR ROD ON!!"
For the rest of my spiritual message for this post all I am going to say is I want you to watch any session or talk that you may have missed (first video), and let Michael Mclean's music (2nd video) play sometime thought the next few days and really listen to what is being sung. Also, "GET YOUR ROD ON!!
feel my sunlight
p.s. Isn't conference the best?
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
blogtember day 2 (because starting with 1 is overrated.)
One word. Redundant. That's what I feel about my day today.
So remember that whole Blogtember thing I was supposed to start yesterday? Ya I promise I didn't forget about it. I simply had this fantastic idea that since the prompt was "where are you from" I would upload all these photos of me from my childhood. I spent a long long time going through old pictures, even longer trying to take good pictures of them (with my iPod, so you can all imagine how great they turned out, and even longer trying to figure out how to get them all from my iPod to my blog. (My blog app wouldn't let me upload that many, and apparantly you can't copy and paste from the "synched with phone" feature on facebook.) I tried and tried and eventually got so frustrated I turned off the computer and went to bed, therefor, no blog post.
But the rules did say there are no rules, so I am now making up the rule that I get to miss the first day. (Atleast it's not something too important like the first day of school right?) So here is day 2.
Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?
If I could take three months off from my current life (I am going to add here that money is limitless in this situation, and also that it is summer. Because EFY happens in the summer.) I would probably spend a portion of it attending sessions of EFY and the other portion of it in other countries volunteering at orphanages around the world. That's about it.
Now, because this isn't actually true, I now have to go get ready for work. I promise to give you a better post tomorrow. I feel like this one is slacking a little, but I'm out of time. I love you all! Go read your scriptures!
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. I really enjoy sign language. #ASLlife
So remember that whole Blogtember thing I was supposed to start yesterday? Ya I promise I didn't forget about it. I simply had this fantastic idea that since the prompt was "where are you from" I would upload all these photos of me from my childhood. I spent a long long time going through old pictures, even longer trying to take good pictures of them (with my iPod, so you can all imagine how great they turned out, and even longer trying to figure out how to get them all from my iPod to my blog. (My blog app wouldn't let me upload that many, and apparantly you can't copy and paste from the "synched with phone" feature on facebook.) I tried and tried and eventually got so frustrated I turned off the computer and went to bed, therefor, no blog post.
But the rules did say there are no rules, so I am now making up the rule that I get to miss the first day. (Atleast it's not something too important like the first day of school right?) So here is day 2.
Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?
If I could take three months off from my current life (I am going to add here that money is limitless in this situation, and also that it is summer. Because EFY happens in the summer.) I would probably spend a portion of it attending sessions of EFY and the other portion of it in other countries volunteering at orphanages around the world. That's about it.
Now, because this isn't actually true, I now have to go get ready for work. I promise to give you a better post tomorrow. I feel like this one is slacking a little, but I'm out of time. I love you all! Go read your scriptures!
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. I really enjoy sign language. #ASLlife
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Brown Sugar confidance
Whew! Twice in two days! I'm on a roll! (or trying to play catchup for the whole week I missed. Which ever you prefer.)
So I just decided I am going to do Blogtember. I think it will be fun. Only, I think I'll skip the whole 'coffee thing' since you know, I'm Mormon, and we kinda don't do that. (Maybe I'll make myself some hot chocolate or something.)
Right now I'm sitting at the sunny yellow computer desk (Just for your information, it's more fun to blog when the desk you are sitting at is yellow. It just is. I kinda love yellow right now and I hope you all go buy yellow desks because they are just that great.) So I'm sitting at the yellow desk and realizing just how truly blessed I am. I have great friends, a great family, and am loving life right now. How much better can it get? Also, this greatness is playing in the background--------> click here! or here! or here! or here! or even here! (seriously, what happened to this greatness? I mean, their new stuff is so not virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy. And that stinks because this stuff is prime. #Jobrolife #Jonas)
I just got back to a 16th birthday party for one of my best friends named Marissa. I love you Marissa! Happy Birthday! You rock my socks!
So this post is going to be short because it's midnight and my bed is calling me. But I just wanted to share this awesome video with you, because I think it's great.
I don't know how many of you know this about me, but when I was little I was the SHYEST person on the face of the planet. Like, people would ask me what my name was and I would just stare at the ground and not answer. I know this is hard to believe because it's almost the opposite of who I am now, but I just remember being so shy and hating it.
I've come a long way since then, and my confidence didn't start to come until I began to realize who I was. In the words of Sister Dalton, I began to know who I was, and whose I was. And that made all the difference.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to girls camp. On Thursday night at girls camp we had planned to have this awesome spiritual night with this awesome motivational speaker. Unfortunately, our speaker had a flat tire on the way up and had to cancel due to the fact that there was no way he would be able to get there.
As soon as I heard the news I had the feeling that that meant I was supposed to teach, and that I was supposed to teach brown sugar. (I will explain what that is in a second) I went to my friend Reagan and told her about the situation and asked her if she would teach it with me. (She went to EFY with me and new Brown Sugar.) She agreed and we started to freak out.
We had an impromptu meeting with the YCLs, Bishop, and Young Women's Leaders about what we should do. I volunteered and my heart pounded. As I started to volunteer I remember thinking "what the heck are you doing? You are supposed to be shy." But the funny thing was, there was no shyness, just excitement.
A few minutes before we were supposed to teach we walked outside to have a peptalk and to say a prayer since we had had no preparation on this whatsoever.
We walked in and sat down just in time for the opening song. "How firm a foundation" I remember singing the words of the third verse and having them hit me hard.
I was going to be just fine. We stood up in front of two whole wards and we taught and everything went perfect. It was awesome to know that even though we hadn't had time to prepare, we were prepared to teach when the time came.
This experience helped strengthen my testimony that God will make weak things strong.
I am obsessed with brown sugar and I challenge all of you to try it. It has brought me so much more knowledge and love for the scriptures and It is awesome. I have a testimony of brown sugar. I also have a testimony of the scriptures. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. life is so great. How can you not love it?
p.s.s. eh, so the whole "I'll keep this short" thing didn't work out, but you know, YOLO!
p.s.s. please enjoy this picture of me buckling milk into the car. #theyseemerollintheybucklemeintothecar #clickitorspillit #nousetocryovermilkthatcantspill
So I just decided I am going to do Blogtember. I think it will be fun. Only, I think I'll skip the whole 'coffee thing' since you know, I'm Mormon, and we kinda don't do that. (Maybe I'll make myself some hot chocolate or something.)
Right now I'm sitting at the sunny yellow computer desk (Just for your information, it's more fun to blog when the desk you are sitting at is yellow. It just is. I kinda love yellow right now and I hope you all go buy yellow desks because they are just that great.) So I'm sitting at the yellow desk and realizing just how truly blessed I am. I have great friends, a great family, and am loving life right now. How much better can it get? Also, this greatness is playing in the background--------> click here! or here! or here! or here! or even here! (seriously, what happened to this greatness? I mean, their new stuff is so not virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy. And that stinks because this stuff is prime. #Jobrolife #Jonas)
I just got back to a 16th birthday party for one of my best friends named Marissa. I love you Marissa! Happy Birthday! You rock my socks!
So this post is going to be short because it's midnight and my bed is calling me. But I just wanted to share this awesome video with you, because I think it's great.
I don't know how many of you know this about me, but when I was little I was the SHYEST person on the face of the planet. Like, people would ask me what my name was and I would just stare at the ground and not answer. I know this is hard to believe because it's almost the opposite of who I am now, but I just remember being so shy and hating it.
I've come a long way since then, and my confidence didn't start to come until I began to realize who I was. In the words of Sister Dalton, I began to know who I was, and whose I was. And that made all the difference.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to girls camp. On Thursday night at girls camp we had planned to have this awesome spiritual night with this awesome motivational speaker. Unfortunately, our speaker had a flat tire on the way up and had to cancel due to the fact that there was no way he would be able to get there.
As soon as I heard the news I had the feeling that that meant I was supposed to teach, and that I was supposed to teach brown sugar. (I will explain what that is in a second) I went to my friend Reagan and told her about the situation and asked her if she would teach it with me. (She went to EFY with me and new Brown Sugar.) She agreed and we started to freak out.
We had an impromptu meeting with the YCLs, Bishop, and Young Women's Leaders about what we should do. I volunteered and my heart pounded. As I started to volunteer I remember thinking "what the heck are you doing? You are supposed to be shy." But the funny thing was, there was no shyness, just excitement.
A few minutes before we were supposed to teach we walked outside to have a peptalk and to say a prayer since we had had no preparation on this whatsoever.
We walked in and sat down just in time for the opening song. "How firm a foundation" I remember singing the words of the third verse and having them hit me hard.
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
I was going to be just fine. We stood up in front of two whole wards and we taught and everything went perfect. It was awesome to know that even though we hadn't had time to prepare, we were prepared to teach when the time came.
This experience helped strengthen my testimony that God will make weak things strong.
And if men come unto me I will show unto them
their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and
my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for
if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I
make weak things become strong unto them.
-Ether 12:27 #humblebees!
Now I said I would tell you about brown sugar, so here it is. This was a method of scripture reading that we learned at EFY so here it is.
Brown Sugar
So imagine your mom puts a big bowl of plain oatmeal in front of you. How would react? (eh...ewww!) Now what do you do to make the oatmeal taste better? (BROWN SUGAR!) Now say your mom pours lots of brown sugar over your oatmeal, now how would you react? (YUM!!)
The Scriptures are sometimes like oatmeal. If you are just reading they can be a little bland, but if you add brown sugar, they become sweet.
How to add Brown Sugar to your scripture study.
1. Say a prayer that the Holy Ghost will be with you.
2. Read the verse.
3. Pick a word or phrase that sticks out to you.
4. clarify the message.
5. How does that relate to you?
6. What is a measurable goal that can help you apply it to your life?
I am obsessed with brown sugar and I challenge all of you to try it. It has brought me so much more knowledge and love for the scriptures and It is awesome. I have a testimony of brown sugar. I also have a testimony of the scriptures. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. life is so great. How can you not love it?
p.s.s. eh, so the whole "I'll keep this short" thing didn't work out, but you know, YOLO!
p.s.s. please enjoy this picture of me buckling milk into the car. #theyseemerollintheybucklemeintothecar #clickitorspillit #nousetocryovermilkthatcantspill
Saturday, August 3, 2013
greater things
Once again my heart is filled. I just got back from a weekend of fun in the mountains. I got to go on 4th year hike as a YCL and it was very rewarding. I had a blast with my 3 4th years and was asked lots of questions about high school. Girls I'm pretty sure you are going to rock the high school.
This summer has been one fantastic thing after another and you can't help but be filled when the spirit is so strong and so constant in your life. I discovered many things this summer that mean so much to me. Some of them tangible, and some of them little gems of knowledge, or love, or memories, or laughter, or music notes. All of them have made me greater and helped me live in a higher manner. I hope that as this summer comes to an end, and the dreaded school year begins, that I will be able to take these things with me to help me continue to live in a manner that my father in heaven would be proud of.
One of these wonderful things is journal writing. I just filled my large grey journal and I just love it. I also have discovered how much I love hand written notes. There is just something special about them that brings people together into a tighter bond of friendship. Another thing I will always cherish is the people I have met this summer. I have met so many wonderful people who have blessed and changed my life and ultimately made me a better person. I have also discovered a deep love for the temple and have found great peace in attending as often as I can. I cherish the wonderful things given to me by the wonderful people I have spent time with this summer from the notes, to my lucky turtle it will always be loved and I just want to say thank you. All of these things have brought me the greatest thing I have. This is a stronger testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints is the only church with a complete fullness of the gospel. I know that through him I can do anything and through him I can be made whole. I know that even when you're broken you are loved.
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. SHOUT OUT TO MAMMA SHELL BELL!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!
p.s.s. People are so great.
p.s.s.s. If you belong to the group classified as "young women" READ THIS!!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Meet the conditions
Today was a sad day for my sport. The World Games are underway in Cali, Columbia (for those of you who don't know, the World Games are the equivalent to the Olympics for non-Olympic sports.) Due to circumstances regarding safety the FIG (International Federation of Gymnastics) has requested a waiver to be signed, and the US has refused to sign it because it puts the athletes at high risk, and therefor, the US has been forced to pull out of the World Games It is very sad for me to think of all the work that these athletes have put into this sport, only to be pulled out at the last second. {Read more about what happened HERE.}
Now all this EFY, relate it to the gospel, lifesaver stuff made me think "what in our lives are stopping us from signing our waiver to allow us to enter the Temple?" I know this is a stretch, but bear with me.
In our lives we all have the goal of the temple, yet there are things that could stand in our way from being able to sign our "waiver" or our temple recommend. These conditions (temple recommend interview questions) if not met would force the bishop to have to refuse our participation in temple ordinances.
I now challenge you to "meet the conditions"
To me "meeting the conditions" doesn't mean do as little as you possibly can, but enough to still make it. It means strive to be your very best so that when the time comes there is absolutely no question as to weather or not you are fit to enter into his kingdom. "Meeting the conditions" does not mean you train like you are going to the "spooky spectacular", but to the World Games. "Meeting the conditions" means you are anxiously engaged in a good cause, and are in constant prayer with your Father in Heaven. It means that you study and love your scriptures, and you apply them often. It means you attend church, and you pay attention. It means you give 110% in your callings and you look for opportunities to serve. It means you are a good example and you let your light shine. It means you strive to be perfect, but because none of us are, you recognize your faults and you work at making them better. It means rising to the occasion.
Now since none of us are perfect and we all slip up sometimes there should be no way we would be able to sign our "waiver". But we have been given a mediator, a person who will sign the parts we can't sign as long as we have done what we must do for him to sign them. Through the Atonement Jesus Christ has taken all of our hurts, our trials, and our heart aches and has suffered that we might not have to suffer. Our sins are taken from us when we repent and they are remembered no more. Through him we are able to be made clean again and are able to sign our waiver allowing us to enter into his Kingdom.
I have a testimony of the Atonement and I know Jesus Christ suffered for all my sins and heart aches. He knows what I have been through, and if we call out his name he is more than willing to reach down and lift us up out of the water, no matter how deep we are sinking.
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. I feel like if my life were a movie this would be the part of the movie where they show a montage of me staring out of the window of a car dramatically with clips of me going back to normal life while they play the song Home by Michael Buble. It feels fitting.
p.s.s. post-EFY-withdrawls stink! Lets go back.
p.s.s.s. Going back to the gym is hard. But it feels so good. <3 I love my team!
Now all this EFY, relate it to the gospel, lifesaver stuff made me think "what in our lives are stopping us from signing our waiver to allow us to enter the Temple?" I know this is a stretch, but bear with me.
In our lives we all have the goal of the temple, yet there are things that could stand in our way from being able to sign our "waiver" or our temple recommend. These conditions (temple recommend interview questions) if not met would force the bishop to have to refuse our participation in temple ordinances.
I now challenge you to "meet the conditions"
To me "meeting the conditions" doesn't mean do as little as you possibly can, but enough to still make it. It means strive to be your very best so that when the time comes there is absolutely no question as to weather or not you are fit to enter into his kingdom. "Meeting the conditions" does not mean you train like you are going to the "spooky spectacular", but to the World Games. "Meeting the conditions" means you are anxiously engaged in a good cause, and are in constant prayer with your Father in Heaven. It means that you study and love your scriptures, and you apply them often. It means you attend church, and you pay attention. It means you give 110% in your callings and you look for opportunities to serve. It means you are a good example and you let your light shine. It means you strive to be perfect, but because none of us are, you recognize your faults and you work at making them better. It means rising to the occasion.
Now since none of us are perfect and we all slip up sometimes there should be no way we would be able to sign our "waiver". But we have been given a mediator, a person who will sign the parts we can't sign as long as we have done what we must do for him to sign them. Through the Atonement Jesus Christ has taken all of our hurts, our trials, and our heart aches and has suffered that we might not have to suffer. Our sins are taken from us when we repent and they are remembered no more. Through him we are able to be made clean again and are able to sign our waiver allowing us to enter into his Kingdom.
I have a testimony of the Atonement and I know Jesus Christ suffered for all my sins and heart aches. He knows what I have been through, and if we call out his name he is more than willing to reach down and lift us up out of the water, no matter how deep we are sinking.
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. I feel like if my life were a movie this would be the part of the movie where they show a montage of me staring out of the window of a car dramatically with clips of me going back to normal life while they play the song Home by Michael Buble. It feels fitting.
p.s.s. post-EFY-withdrawls stink! Lets go back.
p.s.s.s. Going back to the gym is hard. But it feels so good. <3 I love my team!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Rejoice
I love love love this gospel because it gives me hope. It gives me hope that for everything I am doing, and all the effort I am giving I might one day be rewarded for it and that my efforts won't be in vain.
One of the lovely girls from my group this last week shared with us a scripture. This is now one of my very favorite scriptures. Here's why.
feel my sunlight
p.s. I am obsessed with EFY music. Isn't it great?
p.s.s. My mom is awesome. Just sayin.
One of the lovely girls from my group this last week shared with us a scripture. This is now one of my very favorite scriptures. Here's why.
"And I soon go to the place of my rest,
which is with my redeemer;
for I know that in him I shall rest.
And I rejoice in the day when my
mortal shall put on immortality,
and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face
with pleasure,
and he will say unto me;
Come unto me, ye blessed,
here is a place prepared for you in the
mansions of my Father. Amen."
-Enos 27
I love the word rejoice from that scripture. It reminds me that I should not fear what might happen to me in this life, for if I endure it well, I might gain everything and be blessed when I return to live with my father. And when times get hard, and struggles happen he is always there. Just one prayer away.
feel my sunlight
p.s. I am obsessed with EFY music. Isn't it great?
p.s.s. My mom is awesome. Just sayin.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
July 24th buckets
I know I have been away from the nest lately{and by nest, I mean this beautiful little piece of the internet that I call my blog.} but I have good reason. My heart is filled with thoughts and emotions as I sit here at my computer in my EFY t shirt watching fireworks that are probably illegal explode outside my window. The last few days, as well as the majority of the summer, have been extremely thought provoking and have ultimately made me a better person. Now the only way I think I can explain my testimony this summer is to say that if a testimony was measured in water, I have gained buckets. I have gained buckets of love, and buckets of joy. I have had buckets of spiritual experiences that have taught me things that I have never even thought of before.
These experiences stretch from the first session of EFY I attended this summer with the amazingly wonderful Mamma ShellBell {and by the way, the screaming of my name and attacking me with a huge hug on Monday basically made my life and I just love you so stinkin much and you are basically the greatest ever.} and my awesome company #TheCharitytez who taught me so much and who reminded me that there is much more to life than tumbling. This session of EFY taught me about the pioneers in a sense that I had never thought about before.
My next rendezvous took me to Missouri where I competed at the US Power Tumbling National Championships, but tumbling is beside the point in this post. Tumbling took me to Missouri, but what I found was much greater. In Missouri I was given the opportunity to visit Far West, Independence, Adam-Ondi-Ahmen, and Liberty Jail.These were things that I might only get to see once in my lifetime, and they are things that helped me get a greater understanding of my pioneer ancestors and their reasons for crossing the planes.
Not long after the Missouri experience I put on my bloomers and headed out on pioneer trek. {are you sensing a theme here?} This was an incredibly awesome experience that I haven't shared much about due to the fact that immediately following pioneer trek I headed to my second session of...
EFY! Which is where we are now. See, I have this obsession with EFY where 1 week just isn't enough. We just finished day 3 of EFY this week and let me just say it has been absolutely incredible and I have loved every second of it thus far. Now I have had an experience that came as somewhat of a surprise to me. Yesterday during dinner our fantastic guy counselor Jett came up to me and said "Amberleigh wants to talk to you." {I must add here that Amberleigh is my counselor and she is pretty much the coolest person that you will ever meet and I am obsessed with her knowledge of quotes and scriptures and her ability to make things fun. I love you Amberleigh!} Well Amberleigh asked me about my instagram and I had no idea what she was talking about. She later explained to me that someone was posting things bashing the church on my instagram. I won't go into much detail on that, but I want to say that this experience taught me more fully how the saints felt before they left to come to Utah. I feel like I now understand a sliver of what they must have felt like to be persecuted.
Now, I have had many many more spiritual experiences that I would love to write about, but unfortunately I must arise early tomorrow because tomorrow is going to be a long amazing spiritual day, and my bed is calling. So I leave you with my testimony of the Mormon Pioneers and that they crossed the planes for a true religion. The entered into Zion that I might be able to live in peace and freedom to worship my God. I have a testimony that I know this is the only true church and that no matter what anybody says or does to try to convince you otherwise, you must stand firm in the faith and be a witness and a beacon of light to the world around you. These are the later days and we are the later day army. We must fight with everything we have and do everything in our power to honor our pioneer heritage and the legacy they have left for us. We have big footsteps to follow, but we have been given the tools to do it. I know this church is true and that Thomas S. Monson is a true and living prophet. I love this gospel and all the joy it has brought. I have a strong love for all of you and I write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
feel my sunlight
p.s. Um... have I ever told you I love EFY, and that I love all my counselors? Shout out to the incredibly awesome Kjarinda, Randi, Braden, Michelle, Spencer, Jett, and Amberleigh. You guys are such great examples to me and I love you all so dearly.
These experiences stretch from the first session of EFY I attended this summer with the amazingly wonderful Mamma ShellBell {and by the way, the screaming of my name and attacking me with a huge hug on Monday basically made my life and I just love you so stinkin much and you are basically the greatest ever.} and my awesome company #TheCharitytez who taught me so much and who reminded me that there is much more to life than tumbling. This session of EFY taught me about the pioneers in a sense that I had never thought about before.
My next rendezvous took me to Missouri where I competed at the US Power Tumbling National Championships, but tumbling is beside the point in this post. Tumbling took me to Missouri, but what I found was much greater. In Missouri I was given the opportunity to visit Far West, Independence, Adam-Ondi-Ahmen, and Liberty Jail.These were things that I might only get to see once in my lifetime, and they are things that helped me get a greater understanding of my pioneer ancestors and their reasons for crossing the planes.
Not long after the Missouri experience I put on my bloomers and headed out on pioneer trek. {are you sensing a theme here?} This was an incredibly awesome experience that I haven't shared much about due to the fact that immediately following pioneer trek I headed to my second session of...
EFY! Which is where we are now. See, I have this obsession with EFY where 1 week just isn't enough. We just finished day 3 of EFY this week and let me just say it has been absolutely incredible and I have loved every second of it thus far. Now I have had an experience that came as somewhat of a surprise to me. Yesterday during dinner our fantastic guy counselor Jett came up to me and said "Amberleigh wants to talk to you." {I must add here that Amberleigh is my counselor and she is pretty much the coolest person that you will ever meet and I am obsessed with her knowledge of quotes and scriptures and her ability to make things fun. I love you Amberleigh!} Well Amberleigh asked me about my instagram and I had no idea what she was talking about. She later explained to me that someone was posting things bashing the church on my instagram. I won't go into much detail on that, but I want to say that this experience taught me more fully how the saints felt before they left to come to Utah. I feel like I now understand a sliver of what they must have felt like to be persecuted.
Now, I have had many many more spiritual experiences that I would love to write about, but unfortunately I must arise early tomorrow because tomorrow is going to be a long amazing spiritual day, and my bed is calling. So I leave you with my testimony of the Mormon Pioneers and that they crossed the planes for a true religion. The entered into Zion that I might be able to live in peace and freedom to worship my God. I have a testimony that I know this is the only true church and that no matter what anybody says or does to try to convince you otherwise, you must stand firm in the faith and be a witness and a beacon of light to the world around you. These are the later days and we are the later day army. We must fight with everything we have and do everything in our power to honor our pioneer heritage and the legacy they have left for us. We have big footsteps to follow, but we have been given the tools to do it. I know this church is true and that Thomas S. Monson is a true and living prophet. I love this gospel and all the joy it has brought. I have a strong love for all of you and I write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
feel my sunlight
p.s. Um... have I ever told you I love EFY, and that I love all my counselors? Shout out to the incredibly awesome Kjarinda, Randi, Braden, Michelle, Spencer, Jett, and Amberleigh. You guys are such great examples to me and I love you all so dearly.
Monday, June 24, 2013
#TheCharitytez A week of EFY
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| Notes from our lovely boys. |
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| Scriptures scriptures scriptures |
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| We did baptisms on Thursday |
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| Our lovely counselors Mama Shell Bell and Papa Spence |
 "If this isn't your castle, then you aren't my prince." Yes, I did take and edit this picture |
| Hiking Ensign Peak |
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| The Beehive House |
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| Our wonderful company at the top of Ensign Peak. {don't mind my awesome bangs...} |
Last week marked my third time attending EFY and it hasn't ceased to be my favorite thing of the year. I'm sure you all ready know I have an obsession with EFY and dream of being a counselor one day, so I will spare you from hearing that again. What I would like to share with you are a couple of things I did, felt, and promised to do.
WHAT I DID
Now I won't share with you everything I did because well, that would take a week. But I will share with you a few of the highlights form each day.Monday-Monday I met my wonderful counselors and my fantastic room mate, and hiked Ensign Peak with my new family. How much better can it get?
Tuesday- Tuesday we spent the day at This Is The Place National Park. We also had the best donuts ever eaten by man. There was also a dance at the end of the day.
Wednesday- Wednesday we pretended to be missionaries, we played a bunch of games, and pigged out on pizza while we laughed until we cried. "call Ellen right now." "I heard you were more beautiful on the inside, so I brought a knife."
Thursday- Thursday was spiritual day and we spent the day at Temple Square. We did baptisms in the morning and that was when we almost met the prophet but didn't. {more on that story later.} We toured a bunch of things and spent a lot of time in the scriptures and I sang and bore my testimony in the musical program. We also had testimony meeting. Thursday is always my favorite day.
Friday- Friday is always a hard day because it is the last day you get to spend with your new family before they all hop on airplanes and fly out of the state. We danced like we had never danced before at the second dance, and we cried a little bit as it started to get dark.
Saturday- We got up early so we could spend our last final minutes with our company and counselors. We gave lots of hugs and before I knew it I was in my car driving home.
WHAT I FELT
I felt the spirit constantly testifying to me thought the week that this is the true church. I felt the presence of the prophet when we sat in the chapel of the baptistry on Thursday, I felt extreme love for people I had just met. It always amazes me how much you can love a group of people after only knowing them for a week. I felt love for my amazingly wonderful counselor/ mama. I felt gratitude towards my Savior for all he has given me and all he has done for me. I felt a little piece of heaven.WHAT I PROMISED TO DO
Every year at EFY you make commitments to be a little better and to stand a little stronger. I made the commitment to be open in sharing the gospel by bringing it up whenever I have the opportunity while talking to people. I made the commitment to help hasten the work of salvation by indexing at least three times a week. I made the commitment to make my scripture study better by studying in the morning and by not setting a time limit on my study. And my final commitment is to use my "castle license" {temple recommend} more by attending the temple at least twice a month, and every week where possible. {if anyone would like to join me in my temple attendance any time I would love you forever.}It was a super fantastic week and I am so excited that I get to go back and do another session in a few weeks. I'd just like to say thank you to my amazing new family for making it so wonderful. #TheCharitytez
Now, I have a week of normal life, and then I get to hop on an airplane and fly to Missouri to compete in the 2013 US Junior Olympic National Power Tumbling Championships. AHHHHHHHH! I am so excited I can not even stand it. This week will consist of nothing but preparation for that. Wish me luck.
Now that I have talked about myself, myself, and myself, I'd like to share a video with you that I have posted before, but that really shows what EFY is all about, and how I feel right now.
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. I really love summer.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
I'm back!... for a week
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| My view of the Temple on Thursday. Same day I almost met the prophet... cool stuff. |
Hey friends! I'm back from my summer adventures for a week and I must say I had one of the best weeks ever. I spent the week in Salt Lake City at a special edition of EFY and it was fantastic. I will post more about that later.
Now I have a week at home, and then I leave to Missouri to compete at the US Power Tumbling National Championships. I'm excited. kinda sorta extremely excited. I just wish I didn't have to return to real life this week. Sorry this post is short I promise to post more later today. Love you all! I wish all of my EFY friend from out of state safe travel home. {ha! The perks of living the closest! No long road trips or plane rides.} You guys rock!
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. Have I ever told you I love EFY?
I hope everyone is having a super fantastic summer. Sorry this post is short
Friday, May 3, 2013
Almost going to go insane
Well my friends, It has been four days since I last wrote. I know you have all been sitting at your computers waiting in suspense for me to post. Now where to start?
Lets start with the fact that we are almost done with this school year, when I say almost I mean I am almost going to go insane. I am ready for The Color Run, and mission farewells. I am oh so ready for EFY, 4th year hike, trek, girls camp and the US Power Tumbling National Championships. I am ready for summer training and I am ready to have the opportunity to sleep. These final weeks in school are just painfull. I can hardly focus on anything. Sorry Teachers.
This weekend starts the Elite Challenge. The Elite Challenge is well, just that, an elite challenge. My fab coach, Steph, is competing and is going to do fantastic! Texas had better watch out. We love you Steph! Good Luck!
On that note can anyone guess what next weekend is? That's right! Regional Championships! Whoo! Flipside is going to Vegas! This will be our final step on our road to Kansas City Missouri for National Championships this July. Ahhh! Oh and if anyone would like to help support our team in fundraising for National Championships click HERE. {And no, I am not going to Morp, incase you were wondering, I will be in Vegas.}
I was going to post a cool video here, but I guess it will have to wait until later. I'm at school you see, and at school the fantastic thing called YouTube doesn't exist.
So my mind is pretty much stuck on tumbling right now and I'm pretty sure it isn't coming out. So I will end here. Enjoy this picture of my team being super awesome at City Creek. I am the one on the far left. Admire my perfect handstand.
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. Congrats to all of you out there going on missions or getting married! There are lots of you and I am excited. Congrats! I love you all.
Lets start with the fact that we are almost done with this school year, when I say almost I mean I am almost going to go insane. I am ready for The Color Run, and mission farewells. I am oh so ready for EFY, 4th year hike, trek, girls camp and the US Power Tumbling National Championships. I am ready for summer training and I am ready to have the opportunity to sleep. These final weeks in school are just painfull. I can hardly focus on anything. Sorry Teachers.
This weekend starts the Elite Challenge. The Elite Challenge is well, just that, an elite challenge. My fab coach, Steph, is competing and is going to do fantastic! Texas had better watch out. We love you Steph! Good Luck!
On that note can anyone guess what next weekend is? That's right! Regional Championships! Whoo! Flipside is going to Vegas! This will be our final step on our road to Kansas City Missouri for National Championships this July. Ahhh! Oh and if anyone would like to help support our team in fundraising for National Championships click HERE. {And no, I am not going to Morp, incase you were wondering, I will be in Vegas.}
I was going to post a cool video here, but I guess it will have to wait until later. I'm at school you see, and at school the fantastic thing called YouTube doesn't exist.
So my mind is pretty much stuck on tumbling right now and I'm pretty sure it isn't coming out. So I will end here. Enjoy this picture of my team being super awesome at City Creek. I am the one on the far left. Admire my perfect handstand.
Feel my Sunlight
p.s. Congrats to all of you out there going on missions or getting married! There are lots of you and I am excited. Congrats! I love you all.
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