So Blessed.

OH MY GOODNESS. I know I haven't posted in what feels like years, but I just got this amazing sense of gratitude and I felt like I needed to post about it! So here I was just trying to scrape by these last 3 days in high school, trying to keep my grading up, you know that usual procrastination. And all of the sudden I just felt this huge wave of gratitude wash over me. I guess its probably because right now is a very exciting time in my life, and also brings a lot of change with it. In just over a week I will have my high school diploma and be moving on to whatever this summer brings and college. And thinking about that I couldn't be more grateful for everything. 

First off, for my Heavenly Father. I am so glad that he made me who I am. I know that I am his daughter and I know that I will be able to live with him again. And knowing that brings peace, motivation, and SO much happiness into my life. When there are times when I want to freak out and give up, I remember that he's got everything under control and that he doesn't give anyone challenges they can't handle. 

Second, for Christ. This year my testimony of Jesus Christ has grown by incredible amounts. This past summer I decided that I was going to use this year to grow my relationship with Christ and learn more about Him. And doing this has been the best thing EVER. Like seriously I get so excited to read the scriptures now because I love reading about Him, and I feel so grateful knowing everything he has done for me. 

Third, for blessings. I feel like this year has brought a lot of challenges my way, but having that happen has let me see more clearly all the blessings in my life. Heavenly Father knows exactly what you need, and will always send blessings your way when you follow the commandments. If you read in the scriptures, there are so many amazing promises God makes, and I have learned that if you do what ever He says you need to do in order to receive those blessings, he will NEVER let you down. 

And for EVERYTHING else. Seriously I have so much to be grateful for! Its crazy!! 

Also, just thought I should share this talk by Elder Holland. Literally one of the strongest testimonies of the Book of Mormon that I have ever heard. So grateful for that book too. Everyone definitely needs to listen to this talk.

Finding Peace...

It has been too long since I have posted last!! And holy cow so much has happened. But I am as happy with my life as ever! :)

I've been thinking about something lately and decided that I completely believe it is true. That God is always concerned with us and will always be there for us, we just have to put effort in and have faith in him. These two quotes I saw recently made me start thinking about this. Hard times and difficulties are part of life. They are always there, and there is nothing we can do about that. But I believe the key to living a happy life is when those hard times come how we react. Do we get angry with God and ask why he would let that happen to us? Or do we find comfort in God, knowing that he is always there to show his love to us? I know that my faith in the gospel has let me live such a happy life, because I know when I am having difficulties, I can find peace through my faith. Lately I have grown a huge testimony that prayer brings so much peace and comfort. There have been quite a few times in the last few months that I have been completely overwhelmed with things and have felt so down and had times when the tears wouldn't stop flowing. But each time that happened I knelt down and prayed to my Heavenly Father, and immediately I felt peace. Like it says in Isiah 41:10 " 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I amthy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." I know that we have to go through trials in life, there's no way around that and God lets us go through those trials because they will help us grow and become better people. But he is always there for us when we need comfort. So if there is ever a time when you need help, and you think you can't handle what you are going through, remember there is someone always there for you.

Its the start of a new year, and as always people are setting goals, resolving to change something about themselves for the better this year. And everyone keeps saying how very few people actually follow through or are successful with their New Years resolutions. I don't like that people are dwelling on that. I say that if there is something you want to change about your self then do it. And really try to do it, cause who's to say you can't be one of those people who is actually successful with their goals. This quote to the right makes a very good point. If you want to change something about yourself then do it. You can always change yourself if your not happy with how your life is going. Don't ever forget that. This year is going to bring a lot of changes in my life. Graduation, Ashton coming home, College and living on my own, and many other things. And I couldn't be more excited.

Closer to Christ

People will disappoint you. People will talk behind you're back. People will be annoyed with you. That's part of life and there is nothing you can do about that. You can be so happy and content with life and for some reason all those things still happen to us. Lately I have been thinking about that a lot, and I have come up with an idea. I think that if you have the Lord as the focus of you're life, those things won't bother you. I am happier with my life right now than I have been in awhile and it's because I have done all I can to have my focus on bettering my relationship with Christ and God. And when you do that, the little petty things in life don't bother you! I am such a big quote person, and I saw a few quotes that I thought were right on the spot:

So life is good:) Christ is the ultimate example of this kind of a situation. He had so many people who ridiculed him, and yet, he stayed positive. He knew what his purpose in life was, and wasn't willing to let any criticism or any body stray from doing what he knew was right. Also knowing that because of the Atonement, Christ has felt everything we have gone through and every challenge anyone has ever had, It is comforting knowing he understands. And if he was able to go through and feel everything that we have all felt, I know that I can do anything. He will take you by the hand and help you through ANYTHING. Joy comes from knowing Christ cares about you. Joy comes from knowing why I am here, and where I am going. Joy comes from living the standards that I have. Joy comes from living what my Church teaches, and I am SOOOOOO glad that I have it in my life.

I'm Back! :)

Matthew 5:16. 

This is one of my all time favorite scriptures. It says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." It has kind of become my motto for the school year, I guess. The way that I look at this scripture is that it is saying to be a positive example. That everything you do should reflect the wants of our Heavenly Father. That reminds me of a quote that says something like, Live in such a way, that others want to know Christ because they know you. I want to be that person, who strives to be like Christ in everything that they do. And believe me, I know how hard that can be. At school, people will look down on you for being different. Teenagers are ruthless, and so its hard not to just be like everyone else all the time. But honestly, I have come to love being the different girl. I LOVE knowing why I am here and where I am going. I LOVE knowing I have a Father in Heaven who loves me. I've learned that the only opinion that matters is Heavenly Father's, and knowing that brings so much happiness. 

Also, I saw this video again today and I HAD to post it on here. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE watch it! It will make a impact on you, I guarantee it! I look up to this man so much. If everyone would strive to be more like this man, the world would be a very happy place. 

MAY MAY MAYYYYY

Well, today is just a GREAT day! Today I was walking down the hall and I saw this kid sitting against the wall and it looked like he was crying, and the hallway was packed but no one stopped to help him. But then this guy turned around and went and help him and asked if he was okay. I'm just glad that there are people like that in this world who, when everyone just chooses to ignore him, goes and helps the person who needs it. That's the kind of person who I want to be! I don't even know who that guy was the reached out to the boy on the ground but I have so much respect for him, and I look up to him. That's the kind of person I want to be friends with. I really hope that someday I can be like him! That moment was one that put together everything I talk about on this blog. Standing for what is right even if it means standing alone, reaching out to others, and Doing the little things for people because they can have a big impact. I'm just so glad I witnessed that moment today because I really needed to get perspective on things today and that really did it for me!

So I saw this picture the other day and decided more people need to see this! Because it's easy to just go with the flow of what everyone else my age is doing, even if its not right. But who wants to be known as the kind of person who will fall for anything, who will lower their standards for anything, and who will do something that they know is wrong. And I think standing for something makes it easier to not fall for anything. While many of the other kids at my school are drinking every weekend , doing drugs, and who knows what else, it makes it easier for me to not do those things because I know I have to stand for what I believe in. I know that in the big scheme of things, doing those things will NEVER be worth it, no matter how much pressure you have to do them. Standing for something is always worth it in the end. Maybe I'll be known as the good Mormon at school or a goody two shoes but I don't care! I know I'm happier for not falling under that peer pressure and I'm proud of it! People might make fun of my beliefs, but I'm SO happy with where I am in my life and what I'm doing and who I am, and I would probably guess that those people who make fun of those beliefs aren't as truly happy.

Last weekend was Mormon Prom and it was SOOO much fun! I'm so glad I have the friends that I do! And my date was the greatest! Here's some pictures :)

Anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy

So in young women's today my leader read the 13th article of faith to us, which says "we believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow that admonition of paul- we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things an hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report or praise worthy we seek after these things." Even though this scripture was the church 2011 youth theme, I never REALLY thought about it. Or at least I never thought about it in this way! I realized that every thing that is explained in it, is really what our whole church comes down to. We believe in being good people and being the best we can be. We hope for all things and have gone through some hard times but we know that things will be better, and so we keep trying. We believe that anything good, beautiful, and virtuous is something that we should seek after.

This article of faith basically describes why the people of my church are such happy people. It's because we have hope and seek after good things. Earlier this week my boss and some co workers of mine were talking to me about my church. Something that really stuck with me was that my boss was talking about the south park episode that is about mormons and the whole time it is ripping on the mormon faith but at the very end the mormon guy says something to the other guy like, you can keep making fun of my beliefs but you know what? Im happy. And you and your friends are miserable.. And my boss said how happy I always am and that it stands out to him. And it's completely true! We are always happy, even in the hard times, because we know that there will be better times. And that just makes me so grateful to have this church in my life:)

Best friend I could ever ask for.

Thanks for always being there for me Hopey. You're the best!