book covers

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.

What I love today

I love when people tell me they read my blog. I also love when I nail something and my coach cheers for me. I love when I can feel the eyes of the little ones watching me and when I can hear their cute little voices say "lets go Whitney!" behind me right before I tumble. I love temple trips with friends. I love that even though the two closest temple were closed today, the furthest one was still only 30 minutes away. I love when my former students run up and give me hugs. I love things that remind me of EFY. I love filling my journal and I love the things that fill my journal. These are the things I love today.
Oh! I also love this quote...

"If a man owns a million dollars worth of gold, he possesses approximately one 27-billionth of all the gold that is present in the earths thin crust alone. This is an amount so small in proportion as to be inconceivable to the mind of man. But there is more to this: The Lord who created and has power over all the earth created many other earths as well, even "worlds without number" (Moses 1:33); and when this man received the oath and covenant of the priesthood, he received a promise from the Lord of 'all that my Father Hath' (D&C 84:38)"

-President Spencer W. Kimball

And lastly, I love songs that are titled "home".

Feel my Sunlight


p.s. Uh, so what's with this whole no-upper-levels-showing-up-to-tumbling-and-leaving-Whitney-to-fend-for-herself-thing? Well I'll have you know I had a fantastic time during adventure time with Steph and you didn't get to participate. Ha!

Do not dwell

Stolen from the Mormon Channel... I like it.

I know I have written about tumbling quite a bit as of late, but I promise I will try to make it something you can relate with today. At least I will try.

Since my defeat at nationals (and no, I'm not saying I was defeated in the sense that I did terrible and I feel like a failure, I was defeated in the sense that I knew I was better than what my performance showed.) I have gotten a new perspective on things. See, when I first saw my ranking among the best athletes in the nation I was quite disappointed. I was mad at the judges, I was jealous of those select few with the opportunity to stand atop the podium and receive huge shiny medals, I was angry with the girls that I believed should have scored lower than I did, but most of all I was angry with myself. I was fuming on the inside and began to deteriorate and downgrade myself with thoughts about giving up because I might not be the golden girl, and thoughts that I might not ever be good enough. I was destroying my confidence and soon realized that it had to stop. In my anger I decided to put on a happy face and follow the advice from Shawn to enjoy the rest of the trip. I put on a smile and decided that it wouldn't make any sense to let this ruin my trip so I didn't let it and I must say It became one of the most fun trips I have ever been on.
When I got home I had a moment of defeat, but I soon had to make a decision. I could either cry and whine about it, or I could turn my defeat into hard work and my hard work into success. I realized that the attitude I bring to the table will be the most important ingredient in my final product and that if I wanted to make something of myself I had to start now. I knew I had the support from many of those around me and that no matter what I was a daughter of God and that if I made the right decisions I would be okay.
I made the decision then and there that I would punch this with everything I had. I made a vow that I would listen to my coaches and do my everything to accomplish what they tell me to do. No matter how terrified I might be. I made the decision that I would train harder than I ever had before.
I have had two days of training since I have made this decision. I have improved my attitude and my effort to listen to my coaches. I have put on tramp shoes once again and called out for help. I even got up early this morning to run with my brother. The results have been great and it has only been two days. The support I have received from Steph and Kodee have helped me regain my confidence and their support helps me push myself to my limits every time I punch off that mat. I love you two and am so thankful for you help! please don't stop what you are doing. You guys rock.

Now I share this with you mostly because it all that has run through my mind over the last few days, but I also share it for another reason. I share this with you as a proof that your attitude determines your outcome. You can make an excuse for everything. There is always going to be something that hurts or something that doesn't feel right, but if you give in to those excuses you will never become what you want to become. Some people have it handed to them with raw talent and never have to work hard, Some people just have the ability to do what the judges what to see. I on the other hand, don't have that raw talent, but I do have a determined attitude. I heard a quote a long time ago that said...

"Hard work        

       beats talent      

      when talent doesn't            

work hard."

I intend to be that hard work. What are you going to work hard at?

Feel my Sunlight

p.s. Today Kodee and I legitly convinced one of our girls that Kodee's real name is Friday. I didn't think she really believed us but at the end of class she came up to me and said "Friday said I could have three treats." I almost died.

Reserved for these later days

WhitneySuePhotography.blogspot.com

I have updated my photography blog! Feel free to take a peek!

WhitneySuePhotography.blogspot.com

Lately I have been thinking about what it means to have been reserved for these later days. As a later day saints we are on the earth when the fullness of the gospel is restored. We have a work go do.We have a friend to help, a person to serve, an example to set. We have the responsibility to bring others to the light and to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. There is much to do. Lets get to work.



Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Isn't summer the greatest?

The army stands strong in times of fear.

Hello friends! It has been a few days. I guess that is what happens when I try to get all my computer tech work for the entire unit done in two days. (Turned in! Now I have the rest of the week to do nothing but post in that class! Whoo!)

So a quick update on myself and my fab life would probably start with mentioning that imaginary boyfriend and I are doing well in the sense that our relationship status hasn't changed one bit. But even though I have been sixteen for eight months now and haven't been on a single date {COUGH COUGH} I am happy and loving life. I am still weirded out by the fact that FamilySearch already has a spot for my husband. I mean who just "adds a husband"?

Ha I love that family search already has a spot for him. It's cool to think about really. I mean, he is out there somewhere. What is he doing? Does he ever think about me? If my future husband ever reads this I hope he knows that I expect, and hope that he is fighting on the Lord's side and that he has joined the army of Helaman. {look teacher! I just foreshadowed something in my writing! *fist bump*} And oh how excited I am to meet you someday. Now like I said, I am happy and enjoying life. I learned something from a fantastic lady this weekend. This is a former teacher of mine that taught me several years ago. She has fought some hard battles including a battle with cancer. She gave me some wise advice that was something I really needed in my life. She told me to be like the little duck that as it surfaces the water, lets the glistening liquid run down it's neck. She said to the happy one that rubs off on other people, because life is too short to spend your time being sad, and it may be shorter than you think.

{Picture via Google. christophermartinphotography.com}

Now those words have stuck with me over the past few days. "Life may be shorter than you think." It makes me think of the children, and the runners and spectators whose lives have been shortened. These two events, added to thousands of others have brought much fear to the lives of many people. Many people are living in a state of fear that limits what they do. Just yesterday a pipe bomb was found in an elementary school very close to where I live. It hit home when I drove past a bomb squad vehicle on the way to the gym and got there just to hear stories of my teammate's schools being evacuated. Events like these make you think a little bit about your life. I am reminded of one of my favorite Mormon Messages that has given me great comfort in these difficult times.

I remember wanting to share this message with the many people who stayed home from school that day that the world was supposed to end. Because no matter how difficult the world gets, we will be okay if we only have hope in our father.

Now these huge calamities have startled the peace of the world, but what about the peace of ones soul? This is my favorite talk. It was given last April by Jeffery R. Holland and I listen to it often.





I know with out a doubt that Jeffrey R. Holland is speaking truth. In the last days even the very elect could be deceived if they stray from the iron rod and let fear overtake their lives. The hour is nigh at hand, but we still have work to do. Do not fear, and do not let the influence of Satan govern the way you live your life. We are the army of Helaman.

{Pic via google}

Feel my Sunlight



p.s. I know that was long, but I really hoped you watched all of those videos since my words are no where near as powerful as the words of our wonderful prophets. Stay strong army, stay strong.

Sometimes I mix church and state, so sue me.

Insert attention getter here-----------------> {ATTENTION GETTER!}

It's Wednesday... Not sure how I feel about it, seems how I'm home, and not at the gym right now. Ya I don't like it. But I will be back soon enough. My teacher gave us a lecture about how important it is to put an attention getter at the beginning of your writing... so I did. My teacher is so cool. Please don't lay him off.

I just thought I'd give my two cents on the budget cuts that are supposed to take place on the first. {Ya, I'm cool and know about the world and stuff.} First off I'd like to say making these cuts in our educational system will only hurt the country worse. We are the future of America and the quality of our education depends on the funds our school receives. Without teachers the student's will be the ones who suffer. Do you really want to fix the nations economy by taking opportunity from the students? I don't know where you grew up and I don't know where you come from, but I don't think you have ever sat in a classroom that is over full. I have. I have been in a class with over 40 kids and only room for about 30. I struggled in that class because I got almost no help from the teacher. I didn't get to sit at desk for half the year. Please don't take money from my school. I don't think you have ever sat in a school that was so hot it was unsafe because it didn't have air conditioning. I have. There were students that were sent to the hospital because of heat stroke, and we had to do math in the hallways because it was 2 degrees cooler. Please don't take money from my school. I don't know if you ever got involved in the extra curricular activities, but I did. Theatre was a huge part of my Jr. High experience and is a big part of who I am today. These extra curricular activities such as sports and theatre keep kids out of trouble and give us something to achieve. Please don't take money from my school. I know you have never had to use an online text book because "online" was something foreign to you when you were growing up. The online text books don't work. They have typos and errors, and they make it hard for families with several children. I know you think every family in America has multiple computers, tablets, and apple products to use, but the reality... not everybody has those things. I may be fortunate enough to have resources in my home, but I know many people who don't. {I must also note that none of your text books work on Apple products since Apple has blocked these sights, and they don't work on Kindles either, because the Kindles don't read the format of the online books.} It is not fair for these students to have to suffer because you can't figure out the government. I may not know everything, but I know enough to say that the future of America rests in your hands. Please be careful with it.

Now I'm sure that was a long and boring paragraph for most of you. Congrats on finishing it! Now I'd like to leave some thoughts and scriptures with all y'all who, like me, are amazed by these great and terrible thinks taking place in the world. This was from my scripture study this morning. Take from it what you will.

1 Thessalonians 5

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, peace and safety; then  sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, bretheren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.



I believe these scriptures go along perfectly with our theme schripture this year...

        "Wherefore, 

                STAND YE in holy places,                         

                                   and be not moved,    

                       until the day of the Lord Come;                

                                                                        for behold,                                         

            it cometh quickly, 

saith the Lord, Amen"                   

                                        -D&C 87:8

I believe these are dark times, and that they will get darker the nearer we get to our final hour. We must stand as an army of God, ready to contend with all evil. I encourage you to stay strong, and to keep on fighting.



Feel my Sunlight


p.s. I am going to watch the season 7 PSYCH premiere right now. And AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I can't wait! I can't even contain myself, Psychic forever! <3

p.s.s. What is your opinion on this font? Is it too hard to read? I can't decide.

Happy Single Awareness Day!

So here we are on February 14th. The day of chocolate hearts and red balloons. It has been an odd, yet normal day. Valentines day is just another day same as any else, except people think PDA is acceptable. Again I received no pink roses, but all truth to tell, I think I would feel incredibly weirded out if anyone gave me pink roses today. I'm not very close to very many boys right now and totally okay with it! I'm so cool I eat lunch in my history teachers class room. Boys are swarming me let me tell ya! So I will just blog and listen to On My Own from Les Miserables and sorrow in self pity at my dateless self. See, I usually tell people I am dating a guy named Jim....with the last name of Nastics. {yes say that out loud....whoo! I'm dating Jim Nastics!} But today I am not even going to the gym! What is up with that? So happy Valentines day Jim!
A team mate of mine posted a quote on facebook that I really like so I thought I just might steel it and post it on here.

“ Love 

                        is more than a paper heart. 

Love is of the very                       

       essence of life. 

                It is the

 pot of gold at the end of the          

 rainbow. ”                   

                            --Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

 

So the odd part of my day consists hearing of the swat team and tear gas a few streets over and their happenings last night. Exciting stuff! {I think I watch to much Psych...} Me being extremely excited about a project in health {what the?!}, and well, its sugar day!

 

 

Happy Valentines day! 

 

 

Feel my Sunlight 

 

P.s. I have two blog post I think you should read by some pretty cool people. Click

HERE and HERE! One might make you cry... fair warning 

20~Sandy~12

Sandy

2012

A few months ago the world "sandy" would have brought on thoughts of summer, and beaches, and joy, but today the word "sandy" brings on thoughts of tragedy. Tragedy for a school, a city, a nation, and a world.

October 22nd to October 31st 2012 Hurricane Sandy took 253 total lives, and left behind $65.6 billion dollars in damage.

December 14th 2012 a gunman entered Sandy Hook and took the lives 28 people. Including 20 children between the ages of 5 and 7, 6 women that worked at the school, his mother, and himself.

These statistics are burned into the hearts of people everywhere. These two tragedies have brought many heartaches, and lots of tears. It is hard to express the sorrow felt by the nation at this point in time. These children killed had their whole lives ahead of them {read about these beautiful children HERE}, the survivors have watched the murdering of their best friends and teachers, and they haven't yet finished the first grade. This is something no person should ever have to go through, let alone a first grader.

These children, and teachers killed showed the greatest form of heroism. Many of them stepping in front of others to protect them. There have been many heroes in the efforts of Hurricane Sandy relief. People have donated both time and money to help the people affected. 

Though the majority of the world hasn't been affected directly, we have all been affected. I remember the way the nation came together after the attacks of 9-11. How people began to remember why we are all here. People began to turn to God and let him control our lives. During the years since then it has felt that people have forgotten. With these sandy tragedies we are beginning to return to God again. More prayers are being said, and we are becoming closer as a nation

In the words of JK Rowling...

"Times like these, dark times can bring people together or they can tear them apart."


We as humanity must make sure we are binding together. There is hope. Hope can be found in the most unusual of places such as a picture...






 a Facebook Page...

or a song.
{okay...I couldn't find the right version on YouTube, so look up Dearest Children, God Is Near You by Cherie Call on iTunes.}




We live in dark times and in the words of my friend, Hannah, "I have a feeling it is going to get worse before it gets better". I know that the 2013 theme for the youth was inspired by god. It is a call for youth every where to "Stand in holy places, and be not moved" These future days are going to be hard, even the very elect will be deceived, but we must be steadfast and immovable, we must always be abounding in good works, we must strong, we must have courage, we must not be dismayed, we must arise and shine forth, that our light will be a standard for the nations, we must stand in holy places, we must not move, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever though goest. (Joshua 1:9, D&C115:5, D&C 87:8, Mosiah 5:15). Our future isn't going to be easy. People all around me are suffering from hardships of all kinds. {Read THIS BLOG HERE to read about an inspiring family I know.} I pray that you turn towards God in the times of struggle, that you keep those you love close, and pray like you have never prayed before.

"Get on you                 

knees and 

        pray, 

then get on your               

       feet and go to 

work."           

 Feel my Sunlight

p.s. all those UNDERLINED WORDS are links to awesome places. You should check them out.    

consider your thanks

"and when thou risest in the

                    morning

let thy heart              

        be full

             of thanks unto God;

 and if ye do these things,        

                ye shall be lifted up at the

          last day."

                         -Alma 37:37

 

 

 

I recently came accross this YouTube Video. {below} This video made me think {as I often do}. It made me think about my life. The opportunities I have. The chance I get to go to school. The most amazing family ever. Parents that love me. A place where I can feel save. The greatest team mates in the world. Work. That I can afford what I need. This warm house over my head, this computer I'm typing on. My wonderful guitar sitting next to me, Music, good roll models, the list could go on and on. It made me realize how truly greatful I am for this wonderful life I live every day, and I know for a fact that I have taken it for granted. I sometimes think to myself about all the people in 3rd world countries that dream of living a life like mine, in the same way I dream of life as a Princess. To people like this, I live like royalty. As I was in the car driving to the gym today I wondered how many times I had made that drive. More than I can even count. How many days of learning have I been blessed with? Well this is the 13th year I have been enrolled in school (including pre-school and kindergarten) How many times have I worried about going hungry? Not once. ever. I live a blessed life. Sure there are ups and downs, and bumps in the road, but when you really step back and evaluate it all you realize that your life is blessed. There is always someone who has it better than you, but then again there is always someone who has it worse.

In my World Civ Honors class yesterday we were discussing the Untouchables. For those of you who don't know what untouchables are, it is a "class" below slaves. Once born into it, there is absolutly no hope of ever getting out. In a society that has no mobility between classes, you have no choices. You don't get to choose your own destiny. However, here in America...land of the FREE! You have every right to make yourself a better life. We life in a land where Olympic athletes are regular people, and the greatest singers were made fun of growing up. We live in a world where you don't half to be born into a rich family to learn how to be successfull in life. Remember:

 

"The biggest

trees     

           got their start

in the         

         dirt"

                                       -Whitney {me}

 

 

I have just felt so much gratitude lately, and I would feel ungreatfull if I didn't share it. I am so verry thankful for the life I live, the people surrounding me, and the opportunities I have. I am thankful for the Church.

 

Now I want you to consider what you are thankfull for as you watch this YouTube video about an incredable person

 

 

 

What are you thankful for?

When Satan goes to sleep

"When Satan goes to sleep he checks under his bed for Jeffrey R. Holland." #mormonprobs

Found this on Facebook. Made my day! Thank you MormonProbs! haha

I'm a Mormon

Well, Young men can now go on a mission at age 18, and YOUNG WOMEN CAN NOW GO ON A MISSION AT AGE 18! This might just change my plans for the future and I might be going on a mission in 3 years. I love conference! Prepare to get lots of posts about it over the next two days. When you wake up to the sound of MoTab you know it is going to be a good day!

 

"I'm a Mormon

                 I know it.

I live it.      

           I love it!"

Coach Ashlie

This post goes out to a great coach.

This coach has pushed me hard, and never let me take the easy way out.

This coach taught me that I will fix it, and I will never go back.

This coach taught me that great success doesn't aways involve tumbling.

This coach left on her mission today.

ASHLIE! I love you so much! You have been one of the greatest coaches that I have ever had. You have pushed me harder, and gotten me further. You helped me get over fears, and helped me overcome obsticles. You have fixed my bad habbits, and taught me new skills. You have taught me to work hard. You have taught me that it doesn't matter if it felt funny, you go for it! You taught me to pray before I compete. You taught me to trust. You taught me that sometimes the most success we will have in our lives, doesn't involve tumbling. We love you so much Ashlie. We believe you will make a great missionary. 18 months will fly bye. We will be right here waiting for you when you get back with a few new tricks to show you. Your testimony has strengthened mine. We will always have your voice playing in our heads as we tumble. Good luck! We are praying for you! Love you!
-Whit


"Lift and finish!"



After Ashlie's Mission Farewell talk on Sunday.





Ashlie's last night in the gym. Her last night as coach for the next 18 months. Like my leo?? Ashlie gave it to me.

Sunlight

I don't know if I've ever done a post on why I named my blog what I named it. So here it is!

 

Feel my Sunlight

 

So as you all probubly know, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day saints aka "the Mormons".

I heard this talk by Diter F. Uchdorf.

Since I have made several blogs before, when I heard this I had the thought to make a blog where I could write my beliefs. So, the title of my blog came about because of  D&C 115:5, which was the mutual theme for the youth, as well as the theme for EFY. (and we all know I love EFY!)

 

 

Arise

and

shine forth,

That thy

Light

May be a Standard

For the Nations.

                  D&C 115:5

 

It got me thinking about how I can share my light with others. It made me want to become a better person, and help others become better also. I believe that in this world we can get so caught up in our to-do lists, and our busy lives, that we sometimes forget to take a moment to stop and evaluate how others view us. Our goal is to bring others to the light, and the best way to do that is to share your light with others. It can be as simple as a smile in the hall way, or it can be as extensive as sharing a Book of Mormon. No matter what we do, people are always watching us. We need to share our light with others in as many ways as we can. We are the sons and daughters of a hevenly being, and not everyone knows it. It is our job to share that knowledge with the rest of the world. There have been so many songs, videos, and quotes inspired by this theme, and I have found so many scriptures that go along with this. Here are just a few, and my thoughts on them.

 

 

The world needs our light! We must shine for everyone to see. Make the right choices, and help your friends do the same. This song was from the EFY CD from this summer. It was one of my favorites on the CD. The time to prepare is over, the time to shine is now!

 

 Is there a way to safety? Is there an escape from threatened destruction? The answer is a resounding yes! I counsel you to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. I have said it before; I will say it again: there is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what the lighthouse of the Lord can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls, “This way to safety. This way to home.” It sends forth signals of light easily seen and never failing. If followed, those signals will guide you back to your heavenly home.

-Thomas S. Monson

(to read rest of talk click -------> HERE!)

 

I love this quote by President Thomas S. Monson! The light of Christ will guide us to where we need to go if we will just follow it. He will guide us to safety, and will protect us if we will let him.

 

 

"Wherefor, stand ye in holy places,

and be not moved,

until the day of the lord come:

for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the lord, Amen

-D&D 87:5 

 

We must stand in the light at all times. Don't go places where the spirit can not be. Stand in places where you will not be tempted to give up your standards.

 

I promise you that within the next few days you will feel the illumination of the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Ghost in your everyday life. When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and the happiness that will finally be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring with you, who have walked in the light because you did.

 -Henry B. Eyering

(to read the rest of this talk click ------> HERE!)

 

I know that when I walk in the light I feel the spirit stronger durring the day. If you walk in the light you can have the spirit with you at all times to help you make decisions. We need to share our light with others so they can have it too!

 

We are children of god and we are made to shine the light,

That which is of God is

                 Light:

and he that recieveth                    

   Light...

                       recieveth more

              Light

and that             

  Light

groweth brighter & brighter

                        until the perfect day.

                       D & C 50:4

When we shine our light through our example, people pick up on it and begin to share their light. The army of god will continue to grow stronger until the day the Lord comes.

 

 

 

 

Did you recignize me??? This is a video from my session at EFY this year. This is how we will arise and shine forth in our lives. 

 

 

 

 

This is a three part video series by David A. Bednar. He tells us how we can recieve revalation from God. Sometimes it is imediate, but more often it is slow and comes gradually.

 

 

We live in a hard world. Sometimes we may feel we aren't good enough, but we need to remember that we are sons and daughters of God, and he needs us to be examples for the rest of the world.

 

 

 

 

 

  

These two videos came from A Brand New Year back in 2008. I attended this performance and it made me want to go be a better person. To go and shine my light to the world.

  

 

I love this video! The world needs YOUR light. Be the best you can be, and share your light with everyone.

 

 

So I don't know about you, but I feel like shining our light is an important thing. For me shining my light means that we need to be a good example in all of our actions. We need to keep the commandments of the Lord, and never sacrafice our standards. We need to share the gosple with everyone through our words, as well as our actions. We need to let our friends know our standards and help them keep high standards. We need to be attending Seminary, Church, Young Womens, and other church meetings, and do our best to get as much out of them as we can. We need to dress modestly, and use good language. We need to be earnestly studying our scriptures, and saying our prayers daily. We need to be friends everyone, and make everyone feel loved. We are sons and daughters of God. We have been given a light that we need to follow, and share with all the world.

 

 

Feel my Sunlight

Write about it

Taylor Swift writes songs about her life, I write blog posts.

day two. {4th year hike, & girls camp}

day two. Tuesday

a day I will never forget

The waterfall

We got up and I ate a bagel. (I know, exciting right?!)

My friend, Kaylee, had gotten sick in the night and didn't know if she could make it all 15 miles. She had been throwing up in the night (I know you where dying to know that.) The priesthood holders gave her a blessing that she would be able to make it the entire way. If I was in her position I would not want to attempt the 15 mile hike. But she set out with faith with the rest of us.

The hike was long. It wasn't too bad for the most part for me, but it was so hard for some of the other girls (like the one who was sick).

"you will find you are your strongest when you bend down to pick someone up."-Meg Johnson

I kept thinking of this quote over and over while I was on this hike. I knew I had to be a motivator. I had to help the other girls. I hiked with Kaylee almost the entire way. I found that when you tell others that they are doing awesome, you start to believe you are doing awesome yourself. Every time someone asked me how I was doing I replied with "I'm fantastic!" And I was! (Katie asked on the hike "how's life?" I replied "my life is fantastic!" She thought I said "my life is hectic!" It was kinda funny.)

I hiked with Trisha Green (yes, my favorite sewing teacher), and Kaylee almost the entire way, and we discussed everything

from the hardest thing about being a teenager, to our favorite vegetable. Talking to these two made me really rethink some things, and get excited about the future. It gave me the strength, and the mindset for starting high school. Because life as a teen in our day is hard. And we need to be strong. 

Bob's Lake. Our destination. Every single person that started on the hike made it. Every. single. one. I know that there where times when angels had to carry the girls. We kept calling Kaylee our miracle because she had the faith to try, and by the time we got to the top she was feeling tons better. We made it to Bob's Lake, and that was such a great feeling. We took off our shoes, and soaked our sweaty toes in the freezing water. It was such a great moment. 

The hardest part of the day hike was the giant hill we had to climb before we reached our destination. This hill was huge (well lets face it, it was a mountain.) We decided that 

"it's always darkest before the dawn."

The hardest hill was right before the triumph. In life that is often true. In in times of the hardest trials you just half to keep going, because as soon as you get through it you will be stronger, you will be wiser, and you will realize the reason for your trial.

Me and Katie T. with our socks and flip flops!

After Bob's Lake we made the descent down the mountain. We hiked down that mountain like we had wings on our feet. Taking almost no breaks, and speeding through as fast as we could. We made it back to camp in what felt like record time. We where so proud of our selves. As we where walking through the meadow with our camp in sight Kaylee said to me "Whitney, I'm proud of you." and I replied with "I'm proud of you."

We got to camp, took our shoes off. (this was the very first time I sported the socks and sandals look. And let me just say, I LOOKED HOT!" haha) We then ate dinner. I had Mountain House Chicken Al A King. It was DELICIOUS!! I'm pretty sure it wouldn't taste as good at home, but it was a ridiculously yummy backpacking meal. 

After dinner we talked, Sang our awesome Amazing Grace song (not the one you are thinking) and played some more games. We had a devotional and testimony meeting. It was such a fantastic spiritual night. Sister Greens words ring in my head. She said that 

"In our hardest times in our lives, I want you to remember these moments. Remember that time you hiked 20 miles, and lived out of the things you carried on your back. Remember that you can do hard things, but through the strength of the Lord you can do all things." 

Bob's Lake

 

Bob's Lake

My dirty shoes...EW! They smelled as bad as they looked!

Fred the Flamingo! We found him outside our tent one morning! Every Tent had been flamingoed! Ours was the best because it was zebra striped!

Bobs Lake

Marissa, Katie f, and Katie T.

Kaylee

Bob's Lake

Madie, Marissa, and Shavini

Bob's Lake

Rocks!

Bob's Lake

Trisha Green, Kaylee, and Katie

Lauren & The Meadow

This was one of the most fantastic days of my life. A day I will never forget. I am a much stronger person because of this hike. I would do it again in a heart beat!