Ceyda's baptism.

About a month ago I received a text from one of my very best friends telling me of her baptism date, & I was so excited for her!! Unfortunately I missed it. I had just seen her a couple of months earlier and because her baptism was during the holidays I couldn't go out west to witness her special day. 

Last week she texted me a photo of her baptism day and...oh my gosh! Just look at her. If you knew this girl eight years ago and saw all the changes, along with the triumphs & trials she had to learn & overcome in order to get to where she's at you would think "wow...she's really come a along way!" 

And she has. 

Ceyda is one of my dear friends whom I've  known for eight years now and I'm just so happy that she made this decision in her life.

Sharing my beliefs to her eight years ago without having a clue as to how to share it was awesome. For those of us who've never served a mission, attended seminary or grew up in the lds church we tend to shy away when it comes to talking about religion & Christ. I have then since realized that it's not hard to share the gospel, or be a friend. I learned to be a friend first & to let them know that my first priority in this life is 'to love'. To share the love that I have for God & them. To share with them that life is good & that there is a purpose in this life for all of us. 

I will always remember the first time I met Ceyda & how sweet & shy she was. Having her visit us for eight days last September was so much fun. Her example and personality was filled with confidence, and it was amazing. She wasn't this shy girl anymore. Her face glowed with a happiness that seemed all too familiar to me. She reminded me of how I was 21 years ago after I joined the church. Her behavior tells me that she has found the true meaning of happiness within her life. It's humbling to know that my example had a lot to do with her conversion & that is really touching. I am also thankful for those missionaries who taught her & never gave up on her. 

I am thankful that I never gave up on her. 

Heavenly fathers plan is unique & while we are living our mortal lives in a world that is so corrupt with negativity it's good to know that as long as we trust & believe in His plan of eternal life that we can be happy. That if we do what is right we can be able to handle that negativity with strength, and the Lord will be by our side for assistance.

Life will never be perfected, but having the love of Heavenly Father permeating throughout our entire being will help us to want to be better every day.

Patience, love & yearning for change will help us get to where we need to be in this life. 

Hearing that Ceyda was going to be baptized was full circle for me knowing that the missionary work that I strive to do as a member of the church was accomplished. Again...I'm so glad I never gave up on her. 

And I'll tell you something else. It is a tearful & wonderful moment knowing that you are going to be with one of your best friends for eternity. 

All we have to do is to continue to live our life that is pleasing to the man above.

Blessings in disguise

Be the kind of woman 

that when your feet 

hit the floor each morning,

 the devil says,

 "Oh crap, she's up."

Sometimes "life" such as stress,  and anger tend to creep up on us causing those unhappy thoughts to come into our mind, and let me tell you...I don't even want to go there. I have so much love and service to give to everyone...especially my children. I am grateful for the choice I made in having this little guy close to the age of 40, and in return giving him the best gift which is to raise him all day by my lonesome.

Sometimes being a stay at home has its privileges. I just don't sit back, watch TV, and eat bon bons all day! Oh no...I definitely don't do that. I don't have the time. Then again I don't have a sweet tooth. I know...shocking huh?

I am making more of an effort to wake up feeling positive, doing some yoga, and fighting those thoughts the kind the adversary puts in your mind. Having a mild winter helps too!

This week has been filled with blessing after blessing. I have had two opportunities to share the gospel, and my love that I have for Christ with two women whom I just met. They live in my neighborhood, and it has rejuvenated my spiritual side!

I was talking with my husband last night about my day, and told him about the two lovely women I just met. I also mentioned how I can relate to them, and how much we have in common. When I meet someone for the first time...we automatically hit it off. Sometimes I wonder if our car broke down was a blessing in disguise. It has given me two chances to share, talk about, and invite two women to church. I have a voice, and I intend to put it to good use when it comes to talking about the Divine.

Being carless right now has opened a lot of doors for missionary work with my middle daughter as well. She has learned to be resourceful when it comes to planning a need for rides. She auditioned for honors band last week, and got in. Two of the rehearsals are being held on Saturdays this month, and she will be needing a ride. I told her to ask someone at her school who also got in, and she did. I was impressed in how quickly Alexandra found a ride. I spoke with the mother of that child last night for nearly two hours!! I was shooting my mouth off about where I was from, how we ended up on the east coast, and yes...talked with her about my faith in God. She also was telling me a little bit about herself as well. I was expressing my gratitude to her, and explained to her how having the gospel of Jesus Christ has been such a blessing in my life...especially when trials intervene. She couldn't be more happier to listen, and in helping us out.

Things happen for a reason, and I know that there are no coincidences. Heavenly Father puts certain people in our path for a purpose. He gives us challenges to grow and learn. He opens doors in which you would never know are being opened. All we have to do is listen, and to act on it. It's an amazing feeling when you recognize those reasons, and to allow those doors to open before you.

Fixing our car will be costly, but after looking at the big picture as to why this happened to us has really been an eye opener for me. I look at the past two weeks in how I have created two friendships which resulted in missionary work, and to me that is priceless.

Spiritual insulation

Some of the most rewarding times of our lives are those 'extra mile' hours given in service when the body says it wants to relax, but our better self emerges and says, 'Here am I; send me."

~James E. Faust (1920-2007)

Sierra and Lexie with the missionaries-2002, San Antonio, TX

Every Sunday in the church I attend I learn something new every time, and each week I feel renewed ready to tackle anything that comes my way whether it's good or bad. That's the power of the holy spirit. We all leave the Lord's house feeling different, and much happier. One of the most happy moments in my life is when I have the LDS missionaries over for dinner.

Although we lived in Utah off and on for 10 years prior to moving to Texas, we never had them over in our home. You'd think we would have had them over for dinner more since we lived in Utah for so long, but because there are so many members you had to be quick in grabbing the missionary calendar otherwise you won't ever have them over for dinner. Then again we lived in a few wards where we didn't have missionaries.

I remember the first time we ever had LDS missionaries over for dinner was when we lived in Texas. When we moved to San Antonio 8th ward, and was given a missionary calendar of meals during a Relief Society meeting I was excited! I always tried to be the first sister to snag the calendar so I can sign my name on it. I really wanted to have them over our home. I wanted to bring back that feeling of peace when I was being taught the discussions by two wonderful sisters in my home. I wanted to once again have them bring their knowledge, and testimony with them, and have my family be a part of it. My two oldest daughters at that time were two, and seven. They loved the spirit that they carried, and really enjoyed their presence during sacrament meeting (we always sat next to them).

This experience of having them in my home was different compared to when I was single and being taught the gospel. This time I was married and had a family of my own. Every time I have them in my home sure brings back memories of when I was a single adult, and had F.H.E. with the missionaries. My husband will always tell stories of his mission to them as well. I think I have heard his missionary experiences at least a thousand times! I never want to forget those memories because they are a strength that help build spiritual insulation in our home. We try to have them over for dinner once a month now, and when they do come they always leave behind a euphoric feeling.

There is more to having the spirit in our home, and living a Christ like life than having the missionaries over. There is so much that we can do spiritually to insulate our home with the positive things than allowing the worldly negative things to enter in. Listening to clean music, studying our scriptures as a family, involving ourselves deep in thought with prayer, and individual scripture study, writing our heart out in our journal about how we can make a difference in this world, serving our family, friends, neighbors, and fellowshipping those in our congregation. All of these things can be hard to do on a daily basis when we are surrounded with so much adversity, but having faith is one sure way to be able to accomplish these things.

When I look back in my journal, and see pictures of all those missionaries that we've had in our home since 2002 it reminds me to do the Lord's work. We are very lucky to have them in our area. I don't want to ever take them for granted. Missionaries come and go, and new ones come out to serve. I love what they do, and what they stand for. They are doing the Lord's work in bringing others to come unto Christ, and share with them this book that will change their lives. If we constantly read it, and open our mouth to share it, Heavenly Father will bless us, and what will change our lives forever can become something eternal.

What will change our lives forever can become something eternal. 

I give thanks to the Lord each day for the strength, and courage that I had at 20 years of age to call an 800 # on the television screen to request this video. Although it took me six months to convert, I am thankful for the time that I had before officially becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It really gave me a different perspective in life, and helped me become a much stronger person. By attending all three meetings helped me grow spiritually, and helped me gain knowledge of what I was learning along the way.

I've had my ups, and downs (still do), but at 40 years of age with mothering four children, and being a wife to one, makes we want to work even harder, and make each day count as if it were my last. I want to share with the world the one thing that keeps me spiritually uplifted.

Beside my family, I am thankful for the gospel, and for our Savior. 

When we invite Him into our lives...all things are possible.