miracles and lessons learned

"Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery. …The sufferings of our Savior were part of his education."

Spencer W. Kimball

My grandmother is now part of the 20%. To read my aunt's post about it go here.

 

It's truly amazing what the Lord gives us so that we can learn.

Some people like to think that God doesn't give us trials. Based on this quote, I think he does sometimes, and he does it out of love. He obviously wants us to learn something from this life and we learn our best when we struggle. We learn from our mistakes. We learn from our trials. 

It's all in our attitude friends. If we choose to remember his love for us and his desire for our happiness and return to him, then we will be able to see the lesson in the labor. 

In Need of a Hobby: Inspiration from Julie Powell and Julia Child

Last night I stayed up until two watching Julie and Julia. It really inspired me in that Julie Powell needed something to do so she could get out of her rut. That is exactly what I need! A new hobby.

My entire life reading was my hobby. But then I decided to make that my career so it's not a hobby anymore. I still love it, don't get me wrong, but I need something different.

I just don't know what....
Cooking? Exercising? Sewing? I don't even know.

I think I will be completely unoriginal and try the cooking thing...it can't hurt right?

my new favorite show

Am I obsessed? Only a little.

My Mother

Yesterday was the second anniversary of my mommy's 23rd birthday! 

I love my mother very much. She has taught me everything I need to know about being a decent human being (like chewing with my mouth closed and being nice to people). 

I envy her ability to quilt. It is absolutely magical the way she can see the colors of the fabric and how they go together. And that's only the beginning. It's a whole new level once she actually sews them together. My mother makes art and she does it well.

 My mother is also very courageous and strong. She has had to deal with things from heartache to stupid people and she does it with class and style. 

 She chews ice in the morning while she reads her quilting blogs. It's annoying as heck but I love her for it because it means she's there, being my mommy just how I like her. 

 I remember the first time I heard my Mother bear her testimony in sacrament meeting. I was so proud and I felt so blessed to have her as my mommy. She did everything she could to raise me in the gospel. She made sure we knew that church was important. 

 Most of all I love my mom's sense of humor. She always has something funny to say. I think my favorite of all time was "On Sundays at church when the crazy people start to talk, it's the worst! The spirit gets to leave but everyone else is stuck there!" I also enjoy that she has embraced the "Deb-Tina" nickname that her children have dubbed her. She gets funnier every day. 

 I love my mommy and am very grateful for everything she does for me and my family. She is my favorite support and constant friend. Happy birthday Deb-Tina!!!!

My (lack of) New Years Resolution

I get it.

New year's was forever ago.

However, I have decided that New Year's resolutions are a stupid idea for us forgetful ones (I'm serious. My memory is almost nonexistent).

So I didn't make any.

Resolutions that is, not babies.

My Grandmother's Hair

My grandmother is going through chemotherapy. She has uterine cancer. Chemotherapy means no hair. My entire life everyone that I have ever met has known my grandmother by her hair. For example: my fifth grade school program went like this. "oh my grandma is here!" "is your grandma the lady with the big blonde hair?" "yes" "her hair is way cool!" Ok so maybe not word for word but you get the idea. Her hair has been many styles. Always trendy and always always beautiful. Her hair is part of her. Always big and blonde. And now it's going to be gone. And I am weirded out. And then I remember what this all means. Her hair being gone means she is willing to fight no matter what. It means she is going to be bigger than life by fighting death, just like her hair. And that's how I know everything will be ok. Because she is powerful like her hair. She is important. She is strong. She is amazing.

If you ever want to cry...

Watch the "I'm a Mormon" videos from Mormon.org. Wanna feel uplifted? Watch the "I'm a Mormon" videos from Mormon.org.

If you haven't been to Mormon.org, do so. It is great.

I love watching these videos because it is so uplifting to see people living with the gospel as the priority in their lives. It's amazing.

Here's a good one to get you started:

This is the lead singer from the Killers, Brandon Flowers. Amazing testimony about having children and not "outgrowing" the church.

Love.