Stars can't shine without darkness

           For the past couple months I’ve been learning a lot about opposition & how this life of ours is invaluable. During life we experience so many different things. Whether it’s happy, sad, funny, difficult, lonely, eventful, amazing, deep, bitter, etc...It’s what makes up each moment of our lives and when put all together = reality. Sometimes it's hard to pass through the rough points when things aren't going as planned and when we are doing our best. But how grateful I am for the knowledge and experience of what opposition is.

 In order to develop certain qualities it's vital for our growth as children of God. I think of the Savior and how he had to experience everything in order to know how to truly understand how to help us. In the Book of Mormon, Alma 7: 11-12 reads “And he shall go forth suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, the he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”  I love those scriptures because it shows us that even Christ, who led a perfect life, had to experience it. None of us are exempt from life’s challenges. But it’s up to us whether or not we will learn and grow from them.
             So how can we do this? Having an attitude of gratitude towards life and enjoying each stage no matter the circumstances will help us move forward with confidence, purpose & fulfillment. It's ok that we aren't perfect and we need to stop punishing ourselves because of it! Isn't that why we are here!? :) By more so utilizing the atonement and the tools God has given us to be successful, we can bring this sense of fulfillment and joy to our lives. Righteous decisions will always lead to positive results. Bad decisions will always lead to negative results. There are things that are out of our control, but when we are personally making good choices we can confidently move forward with hope and purpose. Like Gordon B. Hinckley once said, “Try a little harder to be a little better.” Be patient with yourselves and set goals each day that will help you progress.
             Everything has value. At the end of the day a hundred dollar bill will still have the same value even if it's worn, and crinkled. Same goes for us. We all hold the same value no matter the things we experience or go through.  God loves us infinitely and is not giving up on us. In D&C 98:3 it states, "and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good..." I truly believe that as well.           

 The fact that we can feel deeply and make others feel is proof that nothing is void. That we can be moved by a song, laugh until we are crying, or feel sad after saying goodbye to someone. That a scent of a home can bring back so many memories, that dancing and singing can bring a surge of powerful energy. That we can find peace and solitude in nature, or that driving through a canyon with the windows down, can make us feel free. That crying because we've lost someone close, or have a broken heart, can help us realize what it feels like to be whole. That we can fall in love & be vulnerable to allow ourselves to feel it.
             This is life. And it's all for us. The happy & sad. Good & bad. Everything. It all makes it extraordinary & worth it. Because even "stars can't shine without darkness". And when we have experience in all things...we will want to shine, because we know that is what makes us happy.

The pumpkin bread recipe

Pumpkin bread recipe:

Ingredients:

*1/2 cup (1 stick) of room temperature butter

*1 cup of granulated sugar

*2 large eggs

*1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

*1 tsp baking soda

*1tsp salt

*1 cup of pumpkin puree

*1/2 cup of sour cream

*1 tsp of vanilla

*1 tsp of cinnamon

*1/2 tsp of nutmeg

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cream butter & sugar together with an electric mixer. Add eggs.

3. In a separate bowl whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon & nutmeg.

4. Add both bowls together & mix.

5. Add pumpkin, sour cream & vanilla. Mix well.

6. Put into prepared pan & bake for 50 minutes!

Enjoy! 

Footprints in the Sand

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. 
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. 
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. 
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, 
other times there was one only. 
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, 
when I was suffering from anguish, 
sorrow or defeat, 
I could see only one set of footprints, 
so I said to the Lord, 
“You promised me Lord, 
that if I followed you, 
you would walk with me always. 
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life 
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. 
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” 
The Lord replied, 
“The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, 
my child, is when I carried you.” 

-          Mary Stevenson

I love this poem because it reminds us that we are never forsaken. Even in our darkest hours, we still have the reassurance that there is someone who loves us unconditionally and that will carry us when we no longer can. He loves us and will never leave our sides.

We are good enough

It's important to make righteous goals in our lives. It helps us progress and move forward towards our full potential.
It's also important that we don't allow negative thoughts to limit us in our abilities, or to tell us we aren't good enough.
This is one of the adversaries biggest tools that will weaken us.They want to make us feel inadequate, stuck, unsuccessful, hopeless, useless and not worthy of heaven's blessings.
So how do we overcome this cycle of thinking? By building a mind of positive thinking and shielding negative thoughts.
Negative thoughts like to be entertained. Have you ever found yourself having a negative thought, and then that thought becomes 20 different negative thoughts... to the point where you feel completely hopeless as a human being? As silly as this may sound, it's sometimes very accurate of the process.
In order to prevent ourselves from becoming the result of our negative thinking, WE have to change. Once again, WE have to change in order for things to change.
So every single time you find yourself forming a negative thought, finish that thought positively.
Keep a journal/book and write down all the negative thoughts that you have. It's easier to overcome our challenges when we can visually see them. It will also make us realize how wrong the adversary is.
Saying bold statements of truth throughout the day, and when you first wake up is another powerful tool. Examples of these can be:
* I add value to people's lives.
* I am a loved son/daughter of God.
* I am a successful and hard working student/mom/employee.
* Through Jesus Christ, I can overcome my weaknesses.
Its so important to tell ourselves the things that are true and positive, because we become what we think. At first it might be hard to change the way you think. But the change and happiness that will come from it outweighs the hardness.
God wants us to see the future with a bright and positive outlook, full of opportunities. As soon as we let ourselves believe we are good enough, we can create and become the person God intended us to be. We weren't sent for failure here. We were sent here to shine and rise above the things of this world. So with this being said, as children of God, WE are good enough.

The Bridge Keeper

 The Bridge Keeper

"There was once a bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river paralleled with the banks, allowing ships to pass thru freely on both sides of the bridge. But at certain times each day, a train would come along and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river, allowing a train to cross it.

A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed. One evening as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day to come, he looked off into the distance thru the dimming twilight and caught sight of the trainlights. He stepped to the control and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge. He turned the bridge into position, but, to his horror, he found the locking control did not work. If the bridge was not securely in position it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto it, causing the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This would be a passenger train with many people aboard. He left the bridge turned across the river, and hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river where there was a lever switch he could hold to operate the lock manually. He would have to hold the lever back firmly as the train crossed. He could hear the rumble of the train now, and he took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply his weight to it, locking the bridge. He kept applying the pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man’s strength.

Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. “Daddy, where are you?” His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child, “Run! Run!” But the train was too close; the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost left his lever to run and snatch up his son and carry him to safety. But he realized that he could not get back to the lever. Either the people on the train or his little son must die. He took a moment to make his decision.

The train sped safely and swiftly on its way, and no one aboard was even aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the onrushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of the sobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after the train had passed. They did not see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked: to tell his wife how their son had brutally died.

Now if you comprehend the emotions which went this man’s heart, you can begin to understand the feelings of our Father in Heaven when He sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Can there be any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His Son died? How does He feel when we speed along thru life without giving a thought to what was done for us thru Jesus Christ?"
 - Dennis E. Hensley

I hope each of us can take the time to thank Heavenly Father for the sacrifice he has made in our behalf. He gave us his son, Jesus Christ, so that we can return to live with him one day. He loves us so much and is grateful when we remember all that he has given us! :)

Awesome chocolate chip cookie recipe!

Today's post is short & sweet! For those of you who are chocolate chip cookie fans (which I hope is all of you reading this post)...this ones for you :)! Here's my favorite recipe:

Ingredients:

 - 2 eggs

- 1 cup of softened butter

- 1 cup of white sugar

- 1 cup of brown sugar

- 2 tsp vanilla

- 3 cups of all-purpose flour

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 2 tsp of hot water

- Chocolate chips (as many as your heart desires)

Directions:

 - Mix butter, both sugars, eggs & vanilla together in one bowl. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda & salt. Stir well.

- Then combine both bowls and mix.

-  Add the hot water

- Pour in chocolate chips

You're ready to put them on the cookie sheet! Bake for 9 minutes on 350 degrees F. Let them cool for 5-10 minutes & they are ready to eat!

 Enjoy!

Live with an eternal perspective

The title of this post is one of my favorite phrases and mottos that I try to live by. I think in the world today, there are alot of messages that are telling us to forget about the big picture...and that actions don't have consequences. But I know that amidst this, God does have a beautiful plan for each of us that is far greater than anything that the world is telling us or has to offer. It's easy to forget the big picture if we stop doing the little things. We start to doubt our faith and lose sight of the eternal plan. When we sincerely pray, read our scriptures, repent, attend church, serve those around us and have Christ at the center of our lives, we begin to understand the 'WHY' of the gospel. It's because the spirit testifies of truth and changes our hearts. It's why we want to live in harmony with God's commandments and become converted disciples of Jesus Christ.

I love this quote by my mom:

"It seems like each person will experience adversity, during their lifetime, here upon earth. I know we develop faith and learn as we go along. I've learned alot about faith and trusting Heavenly Father, because I know He knows what's best. Everyone has adversity, and Heavenly Father is there to help us through it."

I totally agree with this. All of us are going to experience adversity. It's a part of our earthly experience. But when we trust Heavenly Father and 'live with an eternal perspective', we are making choices that will lead us back to him. He loves us more than we can comprehend, and has given us a way to return to him. We still have our free agency and make choices everyday that are going to determine the path we choose to walk on. As it states in the Doctrine & Covenants 14:7 "And, if you keep the commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."

I know that eternal salvation isn't cheap. Therefore it isn't going to come at a cheap price. But I also know that because of Jesus Christ, anything is possible. We can overcome our weaknesses through him. We can still live in the world, but not be of it.

 The blessings that come from making righteous decisions and living the gospel of Jesus Christ are available to all of us.  We will receive more joy, peace and happiness in this life than we ever thought possible if we choose to live a Christ centered life. Good will always triumph evil. Light will always shine over darkness. We can start this very moment. It all starts with our thoughts.  Now lets stand with God and live with an eternal perspective.