Quotes of the week!

I was looking through a box of books, and came across "Small and Simple things", by Marjorie Pay Hinckely. I frogot I even had this. I believe my cousin Kenny gave it to me but I can't remember if it was for my birthday or for Christmas. Either way, I am glad he gave it too me, and I have come across a couple of quotes that I like. "Who knows but that something wonderful may happen today. Have faith that it will. After all, every morning is a chance at a new day."
"Sometimes the pattern of life seems a little monotonous--and discouraging. It is like climbinb a mountain and, after reaching the top, getting knocked back down to the bottom to climb it again; but i guess the fun is in climbing and not in arriving. I hope so!" I really liked these two quotes and wanted to share them. I have read them before, but it always helps to read them again and again. Reminds us why we are here, and that we can succeed. I love you all, and hope you have a wonderful week!

Temple Tuesday!

Today is Tuesday, therefore, it is Temple Tuesday. Every Tuesday for the past year I have been going to the temple with my friend Karyn. I felt the need to start going to the temple regularly about a year ago. Not long after I started going, my dance teacher of more than ten years was diagnosed with cancer again. They say that things happen for a reason, and most of the time it takes months and even years for us to figure out why it happened. They also say that the Lord gives us tools to get through those obsticals much faster than he gives us reasons. Its crazy how one decision can change everything. It can change the life of just one person, or it can change the life of so many. There are so many things that happen in our life, and they pull us in so many directions. You find yourself taking so many different roads, and you never once made the turn on that road your self. So many things have happened since I started going to the temple, and many could say that that is the reason all of the things have been happening. But I know for a fact that was one road I turned on myself, by the promptings of the spirit, and it has changed my life dramitically. It has been the tool in which the lord has given me to get through all of the crap. It is the one place where I can say this is my path, and this is the road that I have chosen for my self. I am so thankful for the lord and all of the tools he has given me in my life. So many times people become tools in our lives, and I am so thankful for all of the wonderful friends and family that have come into my life. The lord has given us friends and family to help us make it through all the many pathways that we chose to take, or are forced to take. He has also given us himself. I know that when I feel there is no where esle I can turn, that I can always turn to the lord. No matter what, I know he knows exactly how I feel, and he has become the best listenerIi have ever found. Thank you Lord, for all the many ups and downs. They have brought me closer to myself, and closer to you!

Slimmy Goodness!

I have been wanting a change for a little while now, and i guess this works!

I have been looking forward for this day for 6 1/2 years. Yup, my braces are finally off, and i am so excited!! I have been waiting for this day for so long, and never thought it would come. I finally get to look my age instead of a twelve year old. Wahoo!!! Other than getting my braces off today, nothing has really happened. I am trying to change my attitude and be more positive, so hopefully this little change will help!! Yea!!!!

Sedona Arizona!

Beautiful Sedona! One of the views we got to see on our 2 hour walk!

I really loved the red rocks! This town was so incredibly beautiful! It reminded me a little of St. George, and i also really love that town!

The entire town looked as if it was made for an old western movie. It was so cute! I thought John Wayne was going to jump out at any second!

The Barking Frog! This is where we ate dinner on our last night! It was so relaxing, and peaceful inside. It was a little expensive, but they had the best chocolate cake i had ever eatin in my life! Yum!

This is Donna, after we decided to go on a 2 hour walk in the heat of the day. Not the brightest idea we had on this vacation, but we survived and got to know the town a little better.

The view from our balcony! Isn't it beautiful?! We got lucky, and our balcony faced the mountains instead of the parking lot! I really enjoyed just sitting out there and taking in the scenery. It was so beautiful, and i didn't want to leave the beauty!

Our wonderful home/condo for the week.

Nice little note for guests who stay at this condo. Not something that made me too excited. I hate animals that can kill me! Hobo spider, scorpion, and two types of poisones snakes. ahhhhhh.

Our kitchen, which we cooked in at least twice a day!

Our first view of Sedona, and we were so excited! 10 hour drive, and we would have been happy with dirt!

We really enjoyed our vacation, and i am really glad that we went. I had a wonderful time, and it was very needed. Now that i am home, i will be getting ready for school. I have signed up for 3 classes this semester, and also recieved a grant! I was so excited, and felt so relieved when i found out i got the grant. I am now excited for the next couple of month! I will try and be better at posting on here. I hope i can try and post at least once a week! Hope you all enjoy your week! Love ya tons! xoxoxo

Who am I...

I have been thinking about a lot of stuff lately, and one of the things that has been on my mind is a phrase from a hymn " who am i to judge another when i walk imperfectly". Another is when the savior said to the many people that wanted to stone a woman, " whom ever is without sin may cast the first stone". These things have been on my mind a lot lately and for a while i was thinking that other people need to have these thoughts on their mind. For the most part, they do, but i have realized i need to as well. I need to stop worrying about other people and what they think and what they do, and just try to be the best person that i can be. As long as the lord and I know what i am doing is right then that is all that matters in the end. I also wish others would take that last part on as well. Sometimes i think we get so caught up in what others may think or say that we forget about the lord and what he will think or say. So, for now i am going to worry about Brandie and making her the best person she can be inward and outward. I am going to try and be kinder to people, more respectful, and start treating everyone as a son or daughter of God, because we all are and we all deserve to be treated like that! I guess i need to remember that when i feel people have done me or my family wrong. Whether they are family or not, they desesrve to be loved and treated like the wonderful son or daughter of God that they are, because in the end we are all family.

Quote of the Day/Week!

I found this quote this morning in a Deseret Book catalog, and i love it! "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain." Oh my goodness, i really love this quote! Love it, love it, love it! I need to find this quote on a bigger plaque, so i can put it in my room where i can always see it! Wow, i love uplifting quotes, and i think i will need to find a new one every week, and i will share them with you all every week as well! Hope you all enjoy your day and i love ya tons!

Humbled

I am very humbled from conference this year! I always love conference and am so thankful for all that i learn each time it comes around! It amazes me how each time conference comes around that it always addresses what i need at that point in time. I have been very angry lately about how work and life in general are going. This conference had made me realize that all of that does not matter. There are so many more important things in life to worry about, and the new cashiers at work is not one of them. I realized i need to give them a chance and pray for love of my new coworkers and knowledge and understanding with and about them. Quentin L. Cook said, "it is not appropriate to be disagreable". This small statement hit me hard. I realized that i have not been the most enjoyable person to be around lately, and i feel horrible about that. He also said we need to "manifest our love for god when we keep the commandments and serve his children". Another talk that hit me was one by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Some of the things i enjoyed were: We all are in need fo mercy, we condem too quickely, every person we meet is a vip to our heavenly father, everyone is walking his or her own difficult path. It is unworthy of christians to think that those who suffer deserve their suffereing, true love requires action. All of these really made me think. I found that i am condeming my fellow coworkers and judging far too quickely. I have not been giving them the appropriate respect and love that they deserve as one of heavenly fathers children. Another talk that helped my realize how not acceptable i have been treating my coworkes was by Keith B. McMullin. He talked about how god helps us forgive and that god forgives. Things can get better and better even in the face of tragedy. Another point he talked about was duty. Duty does not require perfection, but dilligence. We are duty bound to god first. All that we have is due to god, and we need to always remember that and not take it for granted. Second is duty to the lord jesus christ, our examplar, redeemer and king. We need to magnify our talents and pray always. Prayer is the lifeline to heaven. "Ye must watch and pray always to avoid temptation." "Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." This was the talk that really made me think. I realized that i have not been acting in the best christ like attitude that i have wanted and need to. I need to rely more on the lord. No one is perfect, but that cannot be an excuse, just something to remember when we get down on ourselves. I am so thankful for the savior and all that he has done for me. I am so very very thankful for the atonement, and that i know that i can be saved and forgiven because of the savior and what he did for me. I know that i can do all that i can, and the savior will help me get the rest of the way there. My goal is to remember all that i have learned this weekend and take it with me through the next while, and not just today!