Thankful

I love the word 'inspire'. I love what it does to my soul. I love that it ignites a spark for my ideas, and gives me such illumination to my goals. It is my favorite word.

I know that I have to be so careful with my time, as there are many things to be inspired by, and one can easily get caught up in the whirlwinds of goodness. I have to constantly monitor what I am spending my time on, and do inventories with myself. 

I have the desire to write good things, but I am not a gifted writer. I read from many others who have a beautiful way with words, a gift. I am a simple person. I love the beauty of things, but I feel that I am very simple, and that's ok.

I am blessed to know amazing friends. They teach me quietly all the time with their doings and examples. I try very hard not to compare myself, but I am grateful to know them, and to learn from them. 

I am thankful for my memories of my life so far. I've been on some wild adventures with my mom, college life, mission, and more. Life seemed to be busier and more active before the kiddos came. Now, I guess you could say it's still active with young kids, but slow, simple days at home, which are a blessing. 

Grateful for cooking. I love good food. The kitchen seems to always get destroyed with each meal. Can't seem to change that one. Maybe eat on more plastic plates on those crazy days. Nothing wrong with that:)

I am so thankful for my short time in Vancouver, WA. It's been three months since we moved back. I think of the people often, the sights of the trees, the climate, and the adventures we were on. They are in the back of my mind, while I focus on the present. It still is a gift to be home, and partake of the goodness that is here, but I still am forever grateful for our time up there. 

I am thankful for phone calls from old friends whom I've shared some fun chapters with. Hearing the sound of their voice takes me back to those days for a moment. Blessing. 

I'm thankful to be a Mom. It is the hardest calling I've ever had. I'm learning that it is one of constant personal renewal. In order to teach children how to be a good person, I need to be a good person. To cease yelling and bring peaceful interactions into the home, I must constantly work on myself, and pray for help always. Constant mistakes, and starting over again and again. Being a Mom changes you for the better, and shows you your worst moments, which help you want to change. Hard, but a blessing. 

These are the things I am grateful for today:)

My Manifesto

I am on a little vacation. It's a tender treat. My friend Amy flew me to her home in Stockton, CA to help her shoot a wedding. It's always fun to visit a new place. I took a walk this morning around the neighborhood, smelled the smells, listened to the birds and sounds, and marveled at the California trees that I grew up seeing.

This morning, I had some time to play around with Amy's endless supply of fonts on her computer. Oh, fonts are so much fun. I love quotes and all things inspirational, and so I looked through my Pinterest boards of quotes, typing them out with many pretty fonts. After a bit, I wanted to type out something that really spoke to me. I searched and searched for something, and finally thought "Well, I'll just write something". I came up with this. I think I'll print it, journal it, tape it on wall, and do a few more things with it. I like it. Had the thought to share it:)

I will no longer be hard on myself and give the adversary that power over me. I will also realize that I will make mistakes often, and will not expect perfection. The days are long, and the years are short with my children. I am blessed with three beautiful souls in my home who teach me how to be a better person. I will pray for the understanding and patience I need to experience better days with my children. I will be gentle. I will be kind. I will laugh more, and hug more. I will take time to deep breathe, and to slow down before I react. I will not let the natural man get the better of me, but will be vigilant in taking care of myself. To fill my cup more, to nurture my soul, that I may be a help to my family, and to others. I will love my husband and children with more passion, and more tenderness. I will treasure my husband more, and remember that we are together forever. I will remember that being a mother is a gift and a treasured calling. There still will be hard days. There still will be tears of frustration. Those are needed for growth and humbling. How else can I learn and be molded into something better, if not for the hard days. I will breathe and pray through them, and will embrace the good days, and savor the peaceful moments when they come. My time on earth is fleeting. Each day is a gift, and gives me more chances to learn something new, and to try again at becoming better and kinder. It wasn't supposed to be easy, but I have tools to help me through the rough parts, and tools to bring me peace and enlightenment. I have books to read written by inspired authors. I have scriptures that bring light to my mind, and are a channel to hear the spirit whisper to me, and music to flow through my home and heart. I have opportunities given to me every day, and I’m expected to not throw them aside, but to learn from them. I have angels on my side to strengthen me when I have a hard time finding hope. I can do this. I am alive, and I am here to embrace my time on earth, through the hard days and blessed days. Life is beautiful, through it all. 

Bednar's Social Media Address

A few weeks ago, David A. Bednar gave a powerhouse talk at BYU Education Week about using social media to share goodness. It was an amazing talk that can be seen here.  I loved it so much that I watched it a few more times afterwards and picked up new things.

We live in an incredible time today, with powerful tools of communication. He emphasized to use these tools to 'sweep the earth as with a flood' of good messages, upliftment, and peace. It left me thinking of what I like to do online; share things on Instagram and Facebook. I thought about the huge, vast amount of people who may see the things I share. Who knows what things I share may help one person, at least one person, find peace and draw closer to the Savior. I hope so.

The hashtag #sharegoodness has been recommended to be used when sharing things online through Instagram and Facebook. I imagine when posting something good, and using the hashtag, that it sends a ripple effect out into the online world. I love it. Missionary work now comes in all forms, and a large amount of it is online. Lifting, loving, and helping others can be done in small and simple ways.

I am a busy mom homeschooling my kiddos, running a photography business, and balancing life, but I want to use these tools more effectively like Bednar counseled us to. I love the gospel so much. I've seen lives with the gospel, and lives without. I love the peace it brings. I want to help in some small way share that goodness with others. I'm so thankful for this talk that rocked the world. I searched on Instagram under the hashtag 'Bednar'. There are loads of pics from people who were at that address, all ready to go and start sharing goodness, with a great attitude of 'let's do it'. How stinking exciting.

The church put up a great page on how to share goodness from this address. Check it out, and share something uplifting to help someone today:)

PS: I made a simple little printout of Bednar's guidelines HERE. Feel free to print off and hang it somewhere to see often:)

A Great Ward

Just a few pics from our journey in Washington:) 

Definition of an LDS ward: ward is the larger of two types of local congregations (the smaller being a branch). Wikipedia 

I have lived in many wards. Burbank first ward and Carpinteria ward in CA, Desert view, Mountain Shadows, San Destin, and a few more in Las Vegas, Kamiah first ward in Idaho, Parkland ward in Tacoma, Wa, Lecanto, Lake city, Jacksonville, Williston in Florida, a Provo student ward in Utah, and a handful of student wards in Rexburg, Idaho. 

I have seen a lot. Each ward had their own flavor and great gifts to share. I want to take a moment and talk about the last ward I lived in, the Salmon Creek ward in Vancouver, Washington. 

The very first Sunday in September that we came, I immediately saw that this ward was quick to laugh. There was a sweetness and kind feeling that was felt in the sacrament meeting. I loved it. Here's why being quick to laugh is so great; your heart is more open. Not so closed up and wrapped in your own stuff. More quick to embrace and love others. It is such a great trait. I saw our family be embraced and loved instantly. I'm forever grateful. 

Gospel Doctrine class: 

This class was amazing. Nothing short of a CES fireside, meaning extremely rich in content, teaching and participation. Hardly an open seat, and I always wanted to sit in front row. Took notes like a mad woman. Everyone talked! Wonderful thoughts were shared. More laughter. I could tell that people had lived in this ward for a long time, so classes at times were more like a family reunion with jokes and such shared directly at times with others. I loved watching it happen. I hung on to every moment of my last gospel doctrine class there, knowing that my next ward might not be the same as this. 

Relief Society, women's gospel doctrine class: 

Relief Society was a riot. When you get a bunch of ladies together and everyone's laughing, it's a great sound. One time we all sang the opening song. Hardly any of us knew it, and it didn't come out sounding the prettiest. Our relief society president made a funny face and said 'yea, we're done'. The whole room erupted in laughter. So great. Everyone there had their unique gifts to share, their touch of kindness, and beautiful testimonies to impart. I gained so much from them. 

Ward choir:

The first time I went to choir, they immediately made me feel welcome and a part of the gang. It was held in the choir director's home, with beautiful windows that showed the forest of trees outside. I kept getting distracted gazing out the window while we rehearsed. 

The first time the choir opened their mouths to sing, I was blown away. I thought, 'Holy crap! This is not a ward choir. Mini mormon tabernacle choir.' They loved music, blended beautifully, and captured emotion. They are very, very good.

The choir director was so familiar to me, because there is a Las Vegas version of him directing my stake's choir right now with the same passion for music and same darling sense of humor. Because of his love for music, he helped the choir soar musically. Such a blessing to sing with them. 

Ward email chat:

I'm sure other wards have something like this, or I hope they do. This chat was a great tool to help unify the ward through many opportunities, mostly service. Sometimes, it's hard for us to serve. We're not sure what we can do, scared to get out of our comfort zone, whatever. This chat gave many opportunities to serve and get to know each other. One time a mom was locked out of her home and needed help with the garage. She wrote for help on the chat. I saw about 30 minutes later she got help. Pretty neat. The ward chat was great. 

My family and I were so lucky to live in this ward and experience it's sweetness. I will never forget the smiles and love of those members. I try to carry it with me.

Now, I've had the unique opportunity of moving back into a ward we lived in 5 years ago. It's not every day when people are delighted that you move into their ward and your one of the topics at ward council. That was nice. It's a small ward, with tiny boundaries, almost feeling like a branch.

My first Sunday back, I thought 'Well, it's not the magnitude of Salmon Creek,,but it's ok. Now, what kind of good can I do here?'. Since then, I've been put to work with my music. It's been wonderful to see old friends who have never moved out of the ward, and make new friends. There are some great people in this ward. I love meeting good people everywhere. 

To the dear Salmon Creek folk who are reading, thank you so much for loving us, and for sharing your testimonies, love of music, and kindness with me. Please go to Lewisville park for me and have John Denver moments in the river, soaking up the beauty. I've traded tall trees and moisture for magnificent skies and breathtaking desert sunsets in Vegas, but I now hold a special place in my heart for Vancouver:)