PARACHUTE

Ok guys.
Big news.
Like REALLY BIG news.


I met my favorite band of ALL TIME Tuesday night.

Oh my gosh, guys, seriously. You have NO idea how happy I am! I am so still so shocked and happy.

Parachute.

I was first introduced to them by my sister. I just got my new IPod for my birthday and needed new songs to start listening to. My sister was the editor of the school newspaper and they always had these mix CDs that had random music on it. One CD had a song by Parachute and my sister loved them, so she bought a couple of songs by them and then gave them to me.

I always liked them. They were a band that I could listen to for hours and hours and never get tired of. Similar to Coldplay and OneRepublic, they always had an interest in the back of my mind.

Then last year, I bought their new album, Overnight. Gosh, it was everything I needed. It hit every sweet spot in my body that loved music.

_________________________________________________________

One day at work, one of the FTE came up to me and asked that we put the BYUSA concert on the calendar for April 14th. Apparently the band Parachute is coming. 

I can't really remember what happened, but I am pretty sure that I fell out of my chair and then started to jump up and down in my chair like a 4 year old who was told that they are going to Disneyland. The FTE was so weirded out (he probably thought something neurological happened to me or something) and my employees probably thought I was having a seizure. I told them that Parachute was my favorite band of ALL time and then they nodded their heads as if they understood and could relate. 

I spent the next 5 minutes to figure out how I was gonna go to the concert. Knowing that my employees would be working the event for audio and lighting, I thought- "hmm, what if I delivered their food...."

Sure enough, I brought the idea to the FTE and he was totally down with me bring them food and letting me stay for the concert. 

Now I was on countdown. 

April 14th arrived and I delivered the food. I ate my Cafe Rio salad while watching the band do their sound check. Will Anderson is so hot and SO TALENTED. The band started to leave after their sound check and I thought I should ask for a picture then, but I didn't want to bug them during their "chill time". (I also didn't want to come across as a crazy fan that looked like they had snuck up on them during sound check)

The other band did their sound check and then the FTE came up to me and said to chill out in the lighting booth and I could come down when they opened the doors. I was in shock because I was planning on just watching the concert from the lighting booth all together. 

I was so excited. I came down right before they opened the doors and stood right in the front. The masses swarmed behind me, but I stood my ground and kept my place. 

The opening band was "Kindred Dead". They were eh. Mediocre. 

Then Parachute came out and it was one of the greatest moments of my life. During the first song, the lead guitarist was playing so well and I pointed at him and he looked at me, winked, and smiled. I was so in love with all of them. 

The band played for a solid hour and 15 minutes. After it was over, I helped the audio people clean up. (I mean that was the least I could do for letting me be FRONT row)

An hour later we were finishing up and the FTE found a jacket under some audio equipment and was like, "Emily, I think you would want this." I looked at it and it was the jacket Will had worn during the concert and took off at the end. His manager must have misplaced it and now it was in my hands. All my friends were joking and said that I should never wash it and frame it in my room. Instead, I tried it on and it fit so well. I wanted to keep it because it looked cute on me, not necessarily that it belonged to Will, I mean, that would be an added bonus. 

I kept it slung over my purse and told myself that if anyone asked about it, I would say I wasn't giving it back until I get a picture with Will. Ridiculous, I know. 

I was nervous the band wouldn't come back down from their Meet and Greet with the VIP people, but low and behold the guitarist and the bass player came back for their instruments. I got a picture with them and in the corner of the WSC Ballroom, I saw him. Will was on his phone so I didn't want to go running up to him like a creeper. 

About 10 minutes later, my friend nudged me and told me that he was off his phone. He said something to his stage crew then started to leave. I called out to him and said, "Hey, I think this is your jacket!" 

When he saw it, he was SO genuinely grateful that I had gotten his jacket for him. I was a little surprised at his gratitude- he must have really loved that jacket or something.  He took it and then I asked if I could get a picture with him. He said, "Of course! That's the least I could do for you saving my jacket." (my heart melted a little) He took my phone and selfied with me and then my friends came in for a picture. 

I chatted with him a bit after about where he was headed next and I told him to travel safe and he told me to have a good week. 

Literally. 

Best.

Night.

Ever.

Here are some pics to prove my story. :)

Always Remember

There are certain experiences in our lives that we need to hear over and over again. We forget these pivotal times in our lives where we have learned and grown and become better.

Why would we have these experiences if not to teach us more in the future and to help others learn as well.

I was reading in my journal from my mission and came across an entry where I learned a lot about myself and the person that I wanted to become.


July 17th 2013
(yes, 2 years ago people!)

Monday- A new look with my eyes and heart

I want to be able to love everyone the way Christ did. It wasn't just a toleration, but a true genuine love. People's well being and families are important.
I want to be able to love God more. That I will love His children, but also His other creations.
I bore my testimony in the Women's Garden of the majesty of our God. He loves us enough to give us a beautiful Earth filled with things to bless and enrich out lives further.
I AM able to see people with God's eyes and with His heart with His power that He bestows upon me in accordance with my righteousness and obedience.
When others are not acting the way that would be appropriate, I AM going to love them. When they say something hurtful, I AM going to love them.
I AM able to have a change of heart to see and treat people with an ETERNAL LOVE.
---


I read that today and it was exactly what I needed to hear. It wasn't easy to love everyone all the time in Nauvoo, and yet, I look at each of the Elders and Sisters I served with and I can think to myself, "I LOVE THEM".


Last night in the temple during Prayer Meeting, one of the Matrons of the Temple shared the scripture in Alma 5 that reads,
"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?... I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?"

I want to remember this experience and scripture. I want to be able to pull it from my heart and mind when I feel the temptation to not love someone. Everyone is deserving of His love and sometimes the Lords uses us to show that love to others. We are instruments in His hands and we must be more like He who lived and died for us.

Meet and Greet Monday/Music Monday

Hey guys.

Meet Sydney.

• she is super spunky. and clever. and witty. and cool.
• she cuts her hair off because she wants to and she doesn't care what people think. like Britney Spears.
• she lives in one of the coolest cities EVER!
• she can play the ukulele and sing songs.... AT THE SAME TIME!
• she is an avid seamstress.
• she can draw like nobody's business.

She is an amazing human and I am so grateful that I sat next to her one Sunday and we became friends. 

You ROCK Scud!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

And now for Music Monday!

This song played on SYTYCD or something, but it has been one of my favs to listen to in the morning. It keeps me nice and calm and relaxed. 

Look up other stuff by Daughter. She is brilliant!

other favs: Landfill, Candles, Shallow, Still

How I was Raised

As I grew up, my parents had fairly high expectations of me. I was the youngest of three and my older siblings set a standard that my parents wanted me to follow. I remember watching my sibling grow up. I saw their failures and their successful moments. I saw how they reacted and how they changed.
They are my heroes.
They have helped me shape who I am and continue to help me understand the person I want to become still.

There was one standard that I remember watching my sister keep sacred to her.

It was respectful and appropriate language.

I remember her telling my mom an experience of her first year in high school where there were people cussing and talking about Mormons in a negative way. She stood up for what she believed in and I remember being in awe of her. How she could have so much courage, it was amazing.
Didn't she care what people thought of her?
Wasn't she scared that they would make fun of her?
I think that answer is yes for both questions, but standing up for her beliefs and standards was MORE important.


I had friend who cussed a lot in 5th grade. I wanted to be just like my sister, but I was really scared that this person would hate me and judge me for being different than everyone else. I thought I would lose a friend. (a 10 year old worries about those sort of things a lot!)

One day, she said a bad word and I just went for it.

Me- "Allison, would you mind not saying those kinds of words around me?"
Allison- "Huh?"
Me- "The bad words.... Can you not say them around me?"
Allison- "Oh, sure! I didn't know they bothered you?"
Me- "Uh, ya, they do. Thanks."

UTTER RELIEF!

Now not everyone reacted that way when I asked them, but Allison was my friend and she respected me and didn't use those words around me ever again. If ever she slipped and did, she would immediately apologize and move on.

I was taught at an early age that foul language is degrading and harmful to our spirits. We should always use clean and wholesome language that uplifts and edifies.

When we choose to stand up for our standards and our beliefs, we are showing that we value the opinion of the Lord more than the opinion of men.

I want to be like Hyrum Smith when the Lord told him, " Blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right."

I love the Lord.
I love his commandments and I WANT to obey them because I LOVE the Lord.

Gift of Life

day 15

 

 

 

 

 

I woke up yesterday to this:

and then this picture came through and I died a little of happiness.

 

 

What a gift to the Jex family. This beautiful baby boy has answered so many prayers and is a representation of PURE LOVE!

 

 

I can only imagine the Savior, laying in a manger on that night, surrounded by people and animals who loved Him dearly, knowing that He would save them all. His gift to us is His life, His example, and His Atonement. It's hard to think that this child would one day take all the sins of the world upon Him and then die for all mankind.

 

Luke 2:15-21

 

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

 

 

He loves us so completely and unconditionally- this little baby who grew up to be about His Father's business.

 

 

The gift of the season and our reason for living.

 



Jackson Steiner Jex
12-14-14
8:17am
9lbs 8oz
22 1/2 in





#sharethegift  #sharegoodness

Love the Gift

day 9




I went to my cousins house last night for FHE and had a blast make Candy Trains. Because who makes gingerbread houses anymore.
(observe picture below of my "train wreck")

Pretty legit, right?

And yes, the snowmen have fallen over the railroad track, awaiting their death. Somewhat morbid, I know.

 

Anyway, on my drive home, I turned off my music and listened to the heater blow warm air on my face and hands. I allowed my thoughts and feelings to come to the front of my mind.

 

I thought about how blessed I am.

I thought about how scared I am for finals.

I thought about Matt and Greta and their adorable baby boy, who will be arriving in this world SOON!

I thought about my sister and her wonderful life and how much I miss her.

I thought about my mom. I LOVE HER.

I thought about my inadequacies and my strengths.

I thought about my friends.

I thought about the difficulties and hardships I am facing.

 

It is so easy to go from happy and wholesome thoughts, to hard and depressing thoughts. I got trapped in an array of emotions that caused me to feel as though I was less than the dust of the Earth. I started to feel that the experiences I am going through are not FAIR.

 

Why am I the one stuck with hard roommates year after year? Why do I have to be the one who is verbally attacked and talked about behind my back? What have I done that has caused this to happen to me?

 

Look at all I've done. I've been so good lately and yet, I am still suffering.

 

Then today, at work, I found this glorious quote.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the precise power that we need to overcome our natural man tendencies. We may feel that the world is against us and we are the target of people's jokes. We may feel bullied and unloved. That is not fair.

The Atonement takes away all those feelings of "fair" and "unfair". The Atonement fill us with all those happy feelings that we are missing.

 

When I read this, I was filled with LOVE because that is what I needed. I needed to feel LOVED by someone. I was seeking the love from the people around me and I wasn't getting it. I needed to go to the one and only person who understands what I am going through and can perfectly love me in the exact way I need.

 

What can we fear, when filled with such love. 

 

I know that the Lord is there  is fill us with the kind of love and happiness that we need. I know that when we go to Him, we will find the strongest and most powerful love we can ever imagine.

 

 

#sharethegift #heisthegift



 

Endurance

"There are so many things to be endured: illness, injustice, insensitivity, poverty, aloneness, unresponsiveness, being misrepresented and misunderstood, and, sometimes, even enemies. Paul reminds us that meek and lowly Jesus, though the Lord of the universe, “endured contradiction of sinners against himself.” (Heb. 12:3.) Smaller variations of these contradictions or hostilities will be felt by His disciples.

We tend to think only in terms of our endurance, but it is God’s patient long-suffering which provides us with our chances to improve, affording us urgently needed developmental space or time. (See Alma 42:4–5.)

Paul observed, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” (Heb. 12:11.) Such “peaceable fruit” comes only in the appointed season thereof, after the blossoms and the buds.

Otherwise, if certain mortal experiences were cut short, it would be like pulling up a flower to see how the roots are doing. Put another way, too many anxious openings of the oven door, and the cake falls instead of rising. Moreover, enforced change usually does not last, while productive enduring can ingrain permanent change."

- Neal A Maxwell

 

What more can be said than that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I learned from GC

 "Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your life. Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences.

Because He respects your agency, Father in Heaven will never force you to pray to Him. But as you exercise that agency and include Him in every aspect of your daily life, your heart will begin to fill with peace, buoyant peace. That peace will focus an eternal light on your struggles. It will help you to manage those challenges from an eternal perspective."

- Richard G Scott

This one goes out to my BEST FRIEND!

Driving all day, then crashing for 3 hours makes you forget really important things.
Like your best friend's BIRTHDAY!
Whoa, nearly punched myself in the face for forgetting....

Well, Camille Williams, my best friend,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

A Birthday hug and kiss sent your way.... Miss you to the moon and back!!

You have been a blessing in my life in more ways than I can describe. I would find every cute and adorable picture and quote on pinterest to show that, but for now, know that I love you and love our friendship. 

xoxo- Em

The Universe

“I believe the universe wants to be noticed. I think the universe is inprobably biased toward the consciousness, that it rewards intelligence in part because the universe enjoys its elegance being observed. And who am I, living in the middle of history, to tell the universe that it-or my observation of it-is temporary?”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

We are, and always will be, a part of a bigger plan, a bigger idea.

And that my friends, is a joyful thought.

Knowledge is UNLIMITED!

Here is my reiteration of the 13th article of faith. No looking- I promise!

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow to admonition of Paul, we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

I drove home from BYU on Thursday morning. All by myself..... and it was so much FUN! Blasting music, eating junk food, and the lone road.
I got home to find welcoming parents and a very attractive bed.
I went crazy and unpacked pretty much everything. My mom came up to me with a little cute smile on her face, which means she has something exciting to tell me.
Her surprise?









2 Tickets to the performance of WICKED!!!!


Now let me just say, my whole family saw this musical in LONDON ENGLAND without me. So this was sooooo exciting for me! My mom told me the story of how her visiting teaching companion had two extra tickets and just gave them to my mom! Just like that!
Well, what a beautiful performance and we had wonderful seats thanks to our new friend.

Thinking about the requirements for this experience, I was filled with appreciation for not only the performers and their talent, but the message of the play.
-Love
-Friendship
-Honesty
-Courage
-Accountability
-and more LOVE
Sometimes when we do something, it can be perceived by others in a way that we never intended it to me seen or recognized. Our intentions were true and honest, but the perception of others would say differently. How then do we fix it?

As I have had my own experiences similar in nature to those of Elphaba, where people don't understand me or the things I do, or even I don't understand why some people say what they say or do what they do, I have had this phrase come into my head on multiple occasions.
"Give each other the benefit of the doubt."
Glinda had her heart broken because of something that Elphaba did that she didn't understand. But when she put aside those hard feelings and remembered that she loved Elphie, that she was her best friend, those feelings that tore them apart disappeared and there was love and kindness.

How grateful I am for the experiences that I have been having that have led me to learn and grow. I know that the Lord is leading on a path that will only bring me more happiness.

Thoughts from this past General Conference/ Women's Conference

It is amazing to me to think that my spirit does not belong to this mortal world. Instead, it belongs to a Eternal being, preparing me to rule my own world one day.

He is our Father in Heaven. He wants us to depend on Him as we do our own mortal fathers. As we seek advice from the men who raised us, we should also be seeking His advice. And to those who have grown up with an absent father, I testify to you right now that HE is there. HE is ready for you to come to HIM. HE loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Has there ever been a time when you had no idea how things were going to turn out? You didn't know where the heck you were going in life?
I have.
I am feeling it right now.
But it is comforting for me to realize and understand that He knows everything. Unlimited knowledge. And He asks of me to be obedient and He will guide me along.
Why would I ever doubt that He would direct my paths if He knows EVERYTHING?
I don't know, but I know that when we are obedient, we are BLESSED beyond compare.

No Matter What.

Those are the words that keep me saying "Thank You" for everything that I have.

When you hurt, it is so easy to hurt others. 

Why?

You don't want to be the only one hurting. 

But here is a secret: Everyone is hurting in their own way. Never hurt someone more than they already hurt just because you are feeling wounded.

Forgive and Forget.

When we have a strong and personal testimony of the Atonement, we are less inclined to do wrong.

Why?

I believe that when we are true to the Savior and knowledgeable about what He has done for us, how much he suffered, we are more aware of the decisions we make. Every time we sin, He hurts. The thing is, is that He already suffered for us, but it doesn't mean we can sin all the time and get forgiveness tomorrow. We have the gift of agency. We choose our destiny. When we can understand that the Savior loves us so much that He suffered for us, our desire to do wrong decreases. I truly believe that to be true. 

Be worthy.

Be willing.

Be desirous.

And He will take care of you.

Have you ever had a friend that always seems like the happiest person in the entire world? Like they have no problems and everything is perfect for them?
I have.
Sometimes I have been accused of being that person.
But do you remember that happiness is a choice?
Even when it feels like your world is falling apart in front of your eyes, there is light. It is the Savior. He brings hope and love. When you can accept Him and his love and hope, it doesn't matter how disastrous the situation may be, He takes care of you and you can't help but feel HAPPY.
I know with every fiber of my being that He cares. And He can make you more happy than you ever though imaginable.

My last and one of my favorites.
Be you in every situation. Don't let Satan tear you away from who you truly are.
Even when you are the happiest person in the world, depend on the Lord as if you are in the darkest of times. He can keep your spirits high and happy.



#ldsconf

Celebrate the Birth.

Hello.
Yesterday, my sister had her birthday.
She is 24 years old. She is 200.71 weeks older than me.

I would like the entire world to know how wonderful my sister is.

On her birthday, she decided that she was going to have a grilling day in the park, because it was so DANG beautiful outside. When she picked me up, I expected to see just her husband there, but instead, I saw 2 little girls and a mother sitting at the table talking with Sean. Cali told me that she invited a lady and her daughters for dinner because her husband was sick.
I saw my sister helping this lady with her daughters.
I saw my sister cutting up the burger into smaller bites so the little girl could eat it.
I saw my sister run away to the playground holding the hands of these happy, smiling, beautiful girls, and all I could think was how beautiful my sister was.
She wasn't making today all about her. She made it about other people, which in turn only made it more about my sister.
She didn't even open her presents on her own! She let the little girls "help" her open them. (see picture to the left)
When we got back to her apartment, Ellie, Cali's BEST friend, besides me of course, came over just to give Cali a birthday hug. You could just see the happiness radiating from her whole being as she caught up with her friend.
Then, to my surprise, she invited Ellie to stay and watch a movie with us on Cali's bed. (a little strange, but if you know Cali and Sean, it's not weird at all)
Not at all making it about her, it ended up making me love my sister more for her selflessness and GENUINE love for others.

Sometimes I struggle with this idea that not everything is about me. (Insert snide remark from older brother Matt) But I thank my Heavenly Father each and every day for a wonderful example that I have, who knows what I am going through and can put it in words before I even understand it. She is a light and a beacon of love to all those who know her.

Cali, I love you. And am so grateful for you and all you are to me and our family.



Now go eat some more cake!

Heal

Bishop Merrill J. Bateman gave a talk entitled "The Power to Heal from Within"

The talk refers to an experience involving death and how it is a distinct and important part of our mortal life. He shares a story of a family friend who passed away in a car accident and how the family was able to cope with the loss of their son because of the Savior.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: … And with his stripes we are healed”

Now, my circumstance is not as severe as death. But it is still important. Because my wounds can be healed because of the Savior, no matter how small they may seem to be.


A while ago, I hurt someone I loved. Almost immediately, I began feel all the hurt that I caused this person. I prayed for the Savior to heal the wounds that I inflicted on them. The pain so much that I couldn't bear it on my own. I gave it all over to the Savior.

These past few days, I have had more interaction with this person. This person showed me love that I didn't think I deserved. And I still don't believe I deserve it.

I'm healing too.

I don't know if I can fully appreciate all the love this person has given me until I have forgiven myself and heal with the help of my Savior.

"Whatever the source of pain, Jesus understands and can heal the spirit..."

"The Savior, as a member of the Godhead, knows each of us personally. Isaiah and the prophet Abinadi said that when Christ would “make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed”. Abinadi explains that “his seed” are the righteous, those who follow the prophets. In the garden and on the cross, Jesus saw each of us and not only bore our sins, but also experienced our deepest feelings so that he would know how to comfort and strengthen us."

"The Savior’s atonement in the garden and on the cross is intimate as well as infinite. Infinite in that it spans the eternities. Intimate in that the Savior felt each person’s pains, sufferings, and sicknesses. Consequently, he knows how to carry our sorrows and relieve our burdens that we might be healed from within, made whole persons, and receive everlasting joy in his kingdom. May our faith in the Father and the Son help each of us to become whole."

A Silly Little Thing

Yesterday I decided to go donate plasma before I went to work the WBB vs Gonzaga. I had to wear my work clothes because I would be walking all the way to the Marriott Center from plasma. I got dressed and walked to plasma. I was wearing shoes that were newer and I could feel the pain begin to tingle on me heels from the shoes, but it was fine. I made it there, donated, collected my money, and began my trek to the Marriott Center.
That's when the real pain began.
Apparently, blisters had formed on my heels while I was donating and when I started to walk back, I tore the skin, so the tender, red skin was being rubbed against the back of my cute converse.
It was utterly painful.
I called my dad and needed him to distract me while I tried to walk/limp/hop/skip/run/crawl to my destination. He was trying to make me laugh, but honestly, I HURT!
And I'm not just being a baby.
I hung up the phone with my dad, said a prayer that I would be able to make it there without any severe difficulty, then a sweet miracle happened.

I was crossing the street when a car honked at me. I turned to see a guy that I work with, but don't know very well through the window. He rolled down the window and asked if I was headed to the Marriott Center. I said yes, and he said to hop in!
He told me that he saw my work shirt and knew that I was headed to the game. I didn't tell him that I literally couldn't walk anymore, but I did convey my sincere gratitude for the ride. I grabbed some bandaids and wrapped up my sores.
Alone, I said a prayer of gratitude that my Heavenly Father would be so aware of me, that He would send someone to help me get to work because even He knew I couldn't walk.

It is the little things in my life that remind me of the love that my Heavenly Father has for me. I don't have big spontaneous miracles happen in my life. Instead, I feel like I get a better deal. He gives me experiences that lead me right back to Him. Whether it be a car that picks me up to go to the temple or work, or seeing someone who gives me a hug when I needed love, or even to see that I can make it this year financially. They all lead me back to him. I have been blessed to witness little miracles in my life.
When I was in Nauvoo, we would call them Nauvoo miracles. The little things that helped our testimony and our love for one another.
He knows all of us.
He loves all of us.
He is aware of all our needs and will bless us with things that we need.
I love Him.

A Letter

Today was weird.

Sort of overwhelming.

I went home for the weekend and now I am sucked back into the life of college, being constantly swirled around by homework and stress.

I came home to a wonderful surprise.

My beautiful, talented, spiritual, best friend wrote me a letter from all the way in Ohio where she is serving her mission.

I had written her a letter about 3 weeks ago and was worried she hadn't gotten it. I was elated to see her handwriting on a stamped envelope addressed to me.

She reminds me of the happiness that comes from serving the Lord. I can tell that she is being blessed beyond compare for the work she is doing in Ohio.

She uplifts me in the little ways. I always remember how she always focuses on other people when she talks to them, never herself, which is a trait I believe is difficult to truly obtain.
Ultimate selflessness.
I mean, that is one of the most Christlike attributes we can ever obtain in this life. It means showing love and interest in something other than yourself, in ANY circumstance.
That's hard.
But look at the Savior's life. Never about himself. Never making His life more important than others. It was making sure those around him were loved and cared for in ways that only He could provide.

There are people out there in the world who need our love and care because we are the only people that can give that particular kind of love to them. If we don't, not only do we miss out on the blessings of service and charity, but that individual misses out on that blessing of YOU.

I love Taylor and am grateful each and every day for her wonderful example to me and how I want to be more like her.

"Repeat the Sounding Joy"

Repeat:
the laughter
the cries of surprise
the smiles that last forever
the longing gazes into the fireplace
the warmth received from the piles and piles of blankets
the marathon of movies
the endless knitting
the beautiful decorations that never want to be taken down
the times when i can look and see my mom and dad beside me with smiles on their faces
the hope
the everlasting joy that comes from the knowledge that there is a Savior who did it all for us, and we can celebrate His birth because He means so much to all of us.

I believe in Christmas because I believe in Christ.

Quick Thought

If the only love you received was from Heavenly Father, His Son, and your family, would it be enough?
Could you live your life still loving those around you?
Even if the love was reciprocated?

A Crack in the Surface

I was listening to Elder Holland's talk from this past General Conference entitled, "Like a Broken Vessel".
He talks a lot about those with mental disabilities, specifically depression. Now, I have never had depression before, but I have felt depressed at times.

While he was talking, my mind zoomed past thoughts and experiences I have been having this past week and I couldn't help but see the crack that had formed in my heart and mind. I am not broken, but I surely wasn't perfectly put together.

Elder Holland said, "Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind."

All I really wanted was someone to be there for me, being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind while I struggled to understand myself. But listening to his talk, I realized that it was still my responsibility to be that kind of person to those around me who are going through similar trials. I can't leave them alone. That is not the type of person that I am. I love people too much to let them hurt.

A Crack in the Surface
Sometimes overlooked, presuming that nothing is wrong
Just fill it in with some glue and it will be as new
But what come from a crack
Pain, anguish and hurt
No one wants to have a crack
In some ways it is worse than being broken
God is working on the cracks
He is making repairs
One day I can be as new
Oh how I want that day to come


Challenge for the week:
What can you do this week that shows someone you care about them and desire for their well being?

Day 22

Today I got a letter in the mail from a girl who has become one of my best friends. We were roommates last year and for some reason, her and I just seemed to fit together and get along better than anyone else in our apt.

She is now in Ohio. Serving the Lord and doing fantastic.

I am grateful for Sister Taylor Byers.

She is such a righteous daughter of God. I love her and pray not only for her, but for all the missionaries of the church. May they be blessed and protected for their sacrifice and obedience.