Pride.

Wow. Thanksgiving came and went. And I'm hoping so did my pride. Some things happened this week that Brian and I definitely learned from. We found ourselves being covetous. Silly, when we are so blessed. We have everything and more then we possibly need. We have been extremely blessed. And of course the time of year when we should be most thankful for what we have we fail to give thanks. After we finally realized how prideful we were being we had a little talk and decided to change things. We changed our mind set. We suddenly realized everything we have is from the Lord. We have been so blessed. I keep repeating that but really we are.  The rest of the weekend we spent trying to focus on being more grateful and not so much on what we don't have or what we don't get to do. We tried to put our focus more on giving. Pride is such a nasty cycle. And no matter how much we try to avoid it, it always seems to slip back in to the picture and then we have to push it back out before some real damage has been done. The Lord has given us everything we have. He has provided us with this life. All the things we do, opportunities we get come from Him. How silly it is for us to forget that. Forget that you would not even be reading this if it weren't for His blessings He has provided. This time of year there seem to be two types of people. The type that get so carried away in the worldliness of Christmas and then the type that seem to do nothing but give more and more without once ever thinking of themselves. The ones who don't even get a Christmas. What would the world be like without all the Christmas hype. All the presents. All the craziness. All the Pride. We would be simply celebrating the birth of Christ.  What joy. After all, His birth was the start of such greatness. The start of the life of a man who provided the world for us. Provided peace. Provided the atonement. A way out. Such love and mercy from this Man. Eternal life. Hope. What more can we do for this Man then to show our appreciation. Celebrate Him. Do as He has done. Give. Sacrifice. Love unconditionally.
Lesson Learned:

(Alma 26: 35-37)

"Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name. 

Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my savlation, and my redemption from everlasting wo....

Now my brethen, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

I would hope that this time of year that we can all take the time and effort to sacrifice a bit more for others. Give thanks a bit more. Do something a bit more then you have in the past. Make it a more joyful time of year for people. Give a bit more. Remember Him. Give as He does. Love as He does. 

Kite Flying

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to the General Young Women Auxiliary Leadership Training Meeting. It was really uplifting. The last speaker talked about his mother and how she loved to fly kites with her father. One day she was flying a kite with her father when she was younger. She came up with the brilliant idea that if she let go of the kite it would fly even higher. Oh how she wanted to let this kite fly high into the sky. She even thought maybe I will break the world record of the highest a kite has flown. She asked her father if she could let go to let the kite fly higher. And her father replied with a simple no. She then asked again a few minutes later if she could let the kite go, wanting so badly to let it fly high. He again replied no that is not a good idea. She thought to herself I'm holding this kite down and if only I could let it go it could go even higher. So once more she asked her father if she could let the kite go to fly high in the sky. He replied no once more, and that it was not a good idea. But also told her it was her choice if she wanted to let go. So the little girl used her free agency and best judgement and let the kite go. Sadness came upon the little girl. For the kite did not fly high into the sky. The second she let go it flew sideways, then down down, and got tangled in the trees.
Lessons Learned:
"Sometimes the things that we think are holding us down are actually holding us up."
This is true in so many aspects. The one I would like to compare it to is the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the standards we are to live by. Following the commandments is not always easy. Following the Gospel is not always easy. Being the odd one out because of the standards you have is NOT always easy. Choosing to say no to that cute guys who asked you out on your first date because you are not 16 yet is not always easy. Putting on the modest dress even though it may not be as cute as everyone else's is not always easy. Saying NO to your friends, or simply stop being friends with them because the choices they are making aren't good choices is not always easy. Going through trials and tribulations in any part of life is not always easy. It is NOT always easy to be a member of the church. BUT it is worth it. Sometimes I think we tend to forget that when we are following these gospel principles and going through the hard times that it is for our good. If we do not remember that it is really those principles and Jesus Christ at the base holding us down we would not be flying at all. If we fail to recognize that the standards of the gospel are for our benefit and help us then we fail to fly. When we have Christ as our base, holding our string, that is when we are able to fly higher and higher. The more we put our trust in Him and follow His teachings, the stronger our string becomes which allows Christ to let us go higher. We can not go higher if we do not have the strength for it or we will break. We will lose our base. Trust in Him. Push through those hard times. Because if you do, when all is said and done your kite will be flying higher then you ever imagined. You will not be tangled in a tree. He is not holding us down. He is holding us up.

I'll Stand By You

*Sorry It's a long one*
I remember when I was a senior in high school and it was that time of year where everyone was applying to colleges and pretty much making the choices that would affect the rest of their future. I knew I wanted to go to beauty school...but that was about it. I started to realize, as I was deciding where to go, that I would probably be alone. All my friends were applying to places where they could room together. It seemed I was the only one staying home to go to school. I thought seriously about going to a beauty school where ever my friends went so I could at least room with them.  I prayed and prayed, asking where I should go. When I got my answer I wasn't pleased. I needed to stay here and go to the community college for beauty school. I remember crying for days. Sounds dramatic, but really I was so sad.  I was so caught up in the fact that I wasn't going to be with my friends, I didn't take the time to think that maybe the Lord has a different plan for me that is better. I wanted the same plan as my friends. I even remember the first night they all moved away. My best friend called me and all I could hear was people in the background talking and laughing. My heart just sunk. Not only was I feeling alone because my friends had moved away, but I had also been struggling for a while with some choices I had to make and ended up breaking up with my boyfriend of 2 years at the time. Life couldn't have been more lonely. I asked my dad and bishop for priesthood blessings. So many blessings, comforts, promises. I heard it but I didn't seem to believe that all would be well. That I would make new friends. That I would be a mother and wife in Zion someday. That I would be ok. The Lord had a different plan for me. And with much humbling I was able to realize that that plan was far better then the plan I wanted. Sometimes it's easy to forget that the Lord really does know best. He can see the bigger picture. We can't. So why not put all trust in Him. Pride. Failure. Fear. If only we could always remember and have full faith in Him we wouldn't have pride, fear of failure, fear of stepping into the unknown. I ended up getting a scholarship which paid for my entire schooling. Blessing. I made new friends and to this day are some of the people I cherish most. Blessing. I went on my first date with my husband now,  after a week into school. Married that Spring. Blessing. I was able to find a job without any complications to get me through college, that I had for two years. Blessing. We we're able to buy a home after a year of being married. Blessing. I have had the opportunity to serve in many callings in my wards. Blessing. I have a sweet baby boy. Blessing. We have been given a grant that pays for the amount I would have made if I work so I can be home with my baby boy. HUGE blessing. (Coincidence, I think not.) I have been blessed beyond measure. I never dreamed that when I was given the answer that I needed to stay home and go to school that it was really because I needed to get married and start a family. The Lord has a plan for each of us. And He doesn't promise that we can see the out come. But He does promise that He will stand by us. All times. As long as we put our faith in Him.

 "Oh why you look so sad
The tears are in your eyes

Come on and come to me now

Don’t be ashamed to cry

Let me see you through

Cause I’ve seen the dark side too

When the night falls on you

You don't know what to do

Nothing you confess

Could make me love you less

I’ll stand by you

I’ll stand by you

Won’t let nobody hurt you

I’ll stand by you

So if you're mad get mad

Don’t hold it all inside

Come on and talk to me now

Hey, what you got to hide

I get angry too

Well I’m a lot like you

When you're standing at the crossroads 

And don't know which path to choose

Let me come along

Cause even if you're wrong

I’ll stand by you

I’ll stand by you

Won’t let nobody hurt you

I’ll stand by you

Take me in into you darkest hour

And I’ll never desert you

I’ll stand by you

And when, when the night falls on you, baby

You feeling all alone

You won't be on your own

I’ll stand by you

I’ll stand by you

Won’t let nobody hurt you

I’ll stand by you

Take me in into you darkest hour

And I’ll never desert you

I’ll stand by you

Oh I’ll stand by you

I’ll stand by you"

(The Pretenders)

Lesson Learned:

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will  not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things..." (Alma 26:12)