Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving, a day for love, a day for laughs, but most importantly, a day for gratitude. What fills your heart with joy this holiday season? I know that our Heavenly Father is blessing us everyday, and we just have to learn to recognize those blessings. 

I encourage each of you to put forth a little effort to show your thanks this Thanksgiving, by doing a simple act of service for someone you love, I know it will help this season be a special one :)

Sons and Daughters of a King

  Often in my life I have found that when I am surrounded by the wrong type of people I feel like the ugly duckling, worthless, and so alone. Our loving Heavenly Father does not want any of us to feel this way. He loves us, and knows us perfectly. 

  The world may tell us we are worthless, and ugly, but we know better. We are children of the most high God and he loves us so much. I know that we all have a divine nature that cannot be changed by anyone. Do you know who you are? 

LDS.org

Dirty Windows to Clean

You're sitting on a crowded bus headed home after a long day at work. Your feet are swollen a bit, you've been standing most of the day. Darkness has finally laid a blanket over the day, and you feel suddenly exhausted. It's impossible for anyone to feel as tired as you do right now. You lean your head against the window as the bus stops to pick up new passengers  As you close your eyes to rest, suddenly screaming and laughter break your solitude. Instead of peaceful slumber suddenly you find yourself agitated and annoyed at your current surroundings. It's late! Why are there children on the bus? You wait for what seems like an eternity for the children to take their seats, but nothing. In a rush of frustration you walk over to the father of these little rug-rats and look at him with a serious stare "Sir," you begin, "It's incredibly late, and your children are very loud. Will you please try to quiet them?" The father looks up at you with tears in his eyes. Suddenly you feel quite guilty inside. "Sir?"

The Great Mediator: Paying off our Spiritual Credit Cards

 

 When I was 18, I got my first credit card. And if you automatically just cringed a little, that's good. I was so determined that I was going to be responsible with it. I was ONLY going to use it for what I needed and then immediately pay it off. I knew that I could do it, and I wasn't worried at all. Naturally, my parents were a little more apprehensive than I was. 

 Well, it wasn't too long before I found some pretty great uses for my credit card. I really LOVED those shoes, and I couldn't live without that new dress. Of course, going out to lunch with my friends was a must, especially because I hadn't seen them in what seemed like so long. Before I knew it, I had racked up a bill I couldn't pay by myself. When the bill came, I found myself paying the minimum I could, and my head was running with stress. Thankfully I had the sense to go to my parents, and they knew what to do. 

Dream A Little Bigger

Looking back on my childhood, I realize I was a bit of a dreamer. I always had imaginary friends, and my mom was always so supportive in inviting them to dinner. I used to love to talk with them, and tell them about how someday I was going to do big things, I was going to change the world. 

Unfortunately telling my imaginary friends as a child did me no good in accomplishing my real dreams. Alas, they were only in my mind, and could not help me along the way. However, I have come to know that there is one that can help me fulfill my dreams, He is waiting to help me change myself so that I can change the world. I too cannot see Him, but unlike my imaginary friends, He is always there.  

In a world of ever changing values, it is hard to count on anything in particular. Everyone seems to adapt this attitude of, "looking out for #1" and being 'self-reliant', which is really quite foolish. For anyone who feels like they must do it alone, and keep to themselves, I invite you to re-evaluate where you stand. There is a better way. And the way is trust, and FAITH in your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

Heaven Is Near

I have a really amazing family, they are always there for me whenever I need them, and there is a mutual love of Jesus Christ and one another that seems to fill our home. But our life wasn't peachy-keen perfect either. When I was about 8 years old, my Dad lost his Job. Being so young, I didn't realize the impact it was going to have on the family. All I knew was Dad didn't have to go to work, and that meant he got to play with me...ALL DAY. To a kid that was like winning the lottery. 

It's interesting to me, because I remember not having a lot of money, we lived off our food storage and our garden, and yet, I can't remember a summer I loved more than that one! As a child this was the greatest blessing in the world, but as a family, this was by far one of the most stressful times. 

Wouldn't it be nice if we all saw trials like little children saw them? Like an opportunity for something
greater? I look back on my attitude as a child and think, wow, what faith I used to have. Even now I wish I looked at everything they way I used to, and then I thought about this truth beautifully stated by Elder Henry B. Eyring, "If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing."

A Creation of Color

I love to tie-dye, call me a true Oregonian, but I feel like good tie-dye is in my blood. The vibrant colors are a form of expression and personality. No two items ever look the same, and yet, nothing ever seems to 'clash'. It's a different kind of art.

Our lives are filled with all kinds of color. When we are born we start with a white shirt, pressed and full of possibility. As we go throughout our lives we pick and choose splashes of color, are we bold? Outgoing? Musical? Political? With all the things we do and are, there are splashes of color, vibrant and dull. We involve ourselves in all kinds of things, progressing and becoming who we someday want to be, but just like tie-dying a shirt, with too many colors, a shirt just becomes ugly.