Word-full Wednesday.... Better late then never

"Now let me take a moment here to note that we must take care in our families not to cause spiritual or emotional snakebites in the first place! In much of today's popular culture, the virtues of forgiveness and kindness are belittled, while ridicule, anger, and harsh criticism are encouraged. If we are not careful, we can fall prey to these habits within our own homes and families and soon find ourselves criticizing our spouse, our children, or our extended family members. Let us not hurt the ones we love the most by selfish criticism! In our families, small arguments and petty criticisms, if allowed to go unchecked, can poison relationships and escalate into estrangements. Instead, just like we learned with the poisonous venom, we must 'make full haste' to reduce arguments, eliminate ridicule, do away with criticism, and remove resentment and anger. We cannot afford to let such dangerous passions ruminate

--not even one day."
~By David E. Sorenson
"Forgiveness Will Change Bitterness to Love," Ensign, May 2003

Once again I have been blessed with words I need to hear and words I need to share. Nothing hurts worse then to have contention within a family, to know you are not included, to know that life goes on without you. All I can do is pray that one day things might be different. I have faith in the knowledge that one day it truly will be all okay.

Families are Forever!!!

Word-full Wednesday....

"Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years."
David A. Bednar, "Pray Always, Ensign," Nov. 2008, 42
In the past week I have been so blessed to have been able to strengthen my testimony when it comes to the the power of prayer. I have found myself taking many opportunities to ask Heavenly Father for strength, for guidance and for direction. I am so thankful to have the knowledge that the lord is only as far away as a moment of prayer.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Yes, I know that is normally a phrase you hear at Christmastime. However, for me back to school time and the beginnings of fall is my favorite. I love the first day of school, it makes me happy to get Mason back on a structured schedule. Not to say I do not enjoy the fun freedom of summer. But there is just something about knowing day in and day out exactly what is going on.
Although this year I have really struggled. About two weeks ago we found out that Mason was not allowed to transfer to his old school, so he was going to have to attend the local school. I do not know who it has been harder on him or me. So on Monday with a knot in my stomach I registered him in a new school, where he knows no one, and has to make friends over again.I try not to let him see my tears and I hope that they will eventually stop. I have prayed that Mason will be strong and it seems that my prayers have been answered. The first day of school Mason called when he got home and said he hated school and couldn't we just move back home. Today was better. I pray that next week the upward trend will continue.

Oh Happy Day....

Some of my friends from work and I where just sitting down to lunch and chatting about the whole stolen car things. When my phone rang. It was the Salt Lake police department.

They found my car!!!

I was so excited. I hurried and wrote down the address, and ran out the door to take custody of my car. I began to drive in the direction the car was when I realized I had walked out of the office without the address. I called the office and asked someone to get it off my desk. No sooner did she read it to me then I saw my car. I couldn't believe it. The car was less then a mile from my office.
I got out of the car and got to see this....

and this...

and this...

So not to bad on the outside. Three of the four brand new tires were blown. When I opened the door only to be hit in the face with a huge gust of smoke. Not even cigarette smoke, but really smelly, harsh, cigar smoke. I looked inside the car to see that it had been cleaned out. The car looked like it did when I first bought it. Although they had very nicely left my First-Aid kit in the trunk, everything else is gone. But of course these are just things. there are so many worse things that one can lose in their lives.

The real sad part is that in the back seat they had left several my little ponies, and I pretty sure they do not belong to Mason.

They had driven the car around 1500 miles and the trunk was full of pine needles and leaves. I do hope the enjoyed their camping trip. Which I know weren't ours because I had just had the car fully detailed the day before they had taken it. The stolen plates on the car were from another Green 2007 Subaru Outback.

On a good note they left me with a full tank of gas.

Really though, I am so grateful for my Father in Heaven. This was something that I needed to have at this very time in my life. I sometimes feel as if Heavenly Father is not there for me. I think it may have to do with the fact that recently I have really struggled with keeping up with my part of the covenants that I have made. But I think it is situations like this that are provided to us, to renew our faith. Situations to renew our strength and situations to remind us just how real the power of prayer can be. This time I do not know that I will ever forget.

Are you talking to me ...

Eric and I have only been in this ward a few months, well really four. Our ward here is incredible they are so eager to make everyone feel welcome and included. We go to church regularly, Mason has young men's weekly as well as scouts and Eric has gone on several activities and camp outs with the boys. I new it would be only a matter of time before a calling came along, I never thought it would be this.
After church the second counselor grabbed me and asked if he could talk with Eric and I before we left. I of coarse said sure and immediately began to scan through all of the callings that had been released in the past few weeks, Activities director, Sunday school teacher, Scout leader. Nothing really jumped out. I have held a few callings before as a visiting teacher and enrichment assistant. Callings that I took seriously but have never really felt that I was depended on for teaching the gospel. I looked as these as more of service and helping others, testimony builders.
So when Eric and I were asked if we would teach the CTR class, you could have knocked me right over. So much excitement but so many emotions. I am so very humbled that Heavenly Father feels that I am worthy enough to teach and share the gospel with these special children. I will do my best to share all of my faith and knowledge with them and pray that I can do justice to the teachings of the church.

Happy Birthday Dr.King !!!

Although today is not the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, it is very poignant that we are celebrating him today on the eve of history in the making. What a better gift to him then to have his dreams coming true. As I was reading through his famous speech, this paragraph brought tears to my eyes, and sent a chill down my spine.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. "

Tomorrow is the day that this country has shown that a man can be President based on his character and not the color of his skin. Regardless of whether your vote was for or against our new President, I believe we must all take the opportunity to look to the future. Look to what changes can be made in our country and pray that these changes will take place, for the benefit of all of us. Whether we are white or black, male or female, rich or poor. Us means all of us in these United States of America not one race, creed or religion singled out.
I pray that our Heavenly Father watches over our new President and allows him the opportunity to make the changes he feels are necessary to make this country what it once was.