Sunday- the BEST day of the week...

This is totally out of character of me- doing another blog entry so soon. Its only been, what, 9 hours since my last one?
So, Brian and I have been talking a lot about life, and how insanely crazy it has been lately. It seems as though, just when you think a break is coming your way, it just gets crazier. I'm not complaining. Life is good. We are happy, healthy. We have work enough to do! We have wonderful family and friends. But sometimes, we get caught up in the craziness of life, sometimes we forget for a time that we are not alone in this craziness!

I love Sundays. Sunday is usually the one day that allows a break from the world. A rest from all the craziness. We, as a family, devote Sunday to going to church, spending time with family, and pretty much just shutting out the "world" to reconnect with each other and spiritually reconnect with God-our Heavenly Father, and our Savior Jesus Christ.

So, this morning I took a little time to read in the November Ensign, the last few articles from October Conference that I'm missing. I love being able listen to Conference and then go back through and read the talks. I really love that I have 6 months between sessions, I need that. Obviously, since I'm just finishing up November's and we just had Conference this month!!
Anyhow, this morning as I read, a talk really struck me. So, here I am. Trying to share my thoughts to the blogging world. A little unlike me. Well, okay, A LOT UNLIKE ME. I'm pretty(really) personal, but I felt like I should share this one.
My attitude about life somewhere in the last few months has gotten slightly off kilter...a little like a frustrated child "I can do it MYSELF..I don't need help!" I wanted to do things MY WAY, in MY TIMING. I didn't want anyone telling me how things should go.
Yeah. Stop laughing. Its true.
Everyone knows that I NEED HELP! Apparently, I didn't get the memo!

Here's where his talk (Elder Corbridge of the Seventy) struck me:
"One of the most popular and attractive philosophies of men is to live life your own way, do your own thing, be yourself, don't let others tell you what to do.
But the Lord said, "I am the way."
He said, "Follow me."
He said, "What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am."

Yeah. I'm listening now. (This is why its SOOO important to take the time to Be Still- and listen!!)
Elder Corbridge goes on to say that we might get caught up in thinking we can't really follow Jesus Christ because the standard of His life is so astonishingly high as to seem unreachable. We might think it is too hard, too high, too much, beyond our capacity, at least for now. DON'T EVER BELIEVE THAT! (This is the part I LOVE!!) While the Lord's invitation to follow Him is the highest of all, it is also achievable by EVERYONE, not because we are able, BUT BECAUSE HE IS, and because He can make US able too. (Yep, there it is. HE is able. Who am I to think that I can "do it myself?")
The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, STRENGTH, knowledge, confidence, LOVE, and joy or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and GO IT ALONE- without His support, and without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief and despair. And I ask, which way is easier? "

Life is hard, but life is simple. (Here it is...the grand finale...)Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don't quit, and you will make it. There is only ONE way to happiness and fulfillment. Jesus Christ is the Way."

I LOVE that. Get on the path and never give up. Keep on going. Can I just tell you, I can pull a whole lot of analogies about life through running- especially running LONG distances! There are times, during a long run, when you'll hit an incredibly hard wall- your body just wants to be done. But you don't give up. You have people- cheerleaders, friends and family, some who run with you during those hard times to keep your head up and your feet moving, people who know how you feel cause they are hitting that same wall (or did 5 minutes earlier!). So, you don't quit, you keep on going. In life, when I'm hitting that wall, I have my Savior who is there, reminding me to keep my feet moving and my head up. He helps me through "the wall". You don't quit, you never give up, and you will make it.
Yeah. Its a good morning. These are all things I know. But its been really nice to be reminded. I really needed to be reminded that I am certainly not at this race of life alone! And if I do feel that way, it is because I have moved, not Him. He is the Way. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You just keep on going. You don't quit, and you will make it...

Eight is Great!

Today was a big day! B was baptized a member of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We love and highly value our membership in the church and it was such a blessing to be able to see her make this choice- and really understand what she was doing. She's so sweet. I could tell by watching her, the sweet change that came over her as she came out of the water all sparkly clean, and again after she was confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. I felt the spirit so strongly and I know that Heavenly Father was smiling down on her today.

My brother Brad's daughter and B are the same age- only 6 weeks apart. It was funny that their baptisms ended up on the same day. It made for a very crazy, but very fun and meaningful day for our family. Betsey, a friend of my sister-in-law(Julianne), took pictures of the two of them together a few weeks ago, in their MATCHING white dresses. We scored and found them at Costco for a REALLY great price. Anyways, Betsey did an amazing job! We really appreciate all of her hard work!

Thanks to all of our family and friends for their love and support. We have such a wonderful ward family that really supports and loves each other. And as far as family goes, Brian and I lucked out on the parent and sibling side of things. We are surrounded by wonderful people who we look to as our examples in so many ways. We were blessed to hear from both grandmas and both grandpas at her baptism today. It was a great experience to be able to hear their testimonies. My heart is so full! I don't know what more I can say!