Smile

So today was just an amazing day all around. I fasted for the missionaries and really put myself to the challenge while at work of being accountable on my word to fast and pray for those who have needed it. Then we had the Brockport missionaries over for dinner followed by a visit from the spencerport elders (who are the elder in our area). The sister missionaries called me to thank me for fasting and as we spoke I received several email notifications. Before Elder Kelly left he took down my email to add to his moms lost of emails she forwards out with his weekly messages. I asked her to do me the favor of sending me any emails where Andrew and I may be mentioned. I was overwhelmed with joy when I received maybe 8-10 emails where we were mentioned. From moving in, to seeing the sites, dinner, setting up baptismal dates, callings, and plans to get sealed. It has been one great journey so far. One message he wrote that helps him I wanted to share: “Don't you quit. You keep walking, you keep trying, there is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon. Some come late. Some don't come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be alright in the end. Trust God and believe in Good Things to Come.”

 This is so very true in so many different life experiences you may have. I also think it ties in to the Brockport elders words they shared as well. "Spiritually-minded is life eternal (2 Nephi 9:39)" and if you take the beginning letter of each word in that sentence it spells SMILE. How beautiful for them to leave that little message with us! I am forever grateful for any missionary. 

Amazing

So I just had an amazing day!( and of course I hope you did as well) worked a great shift with the individuals I serve, talked to my papa, best friend , Elder Kelly and had some house guests. And it's only 8:40 pm. I am truly blessed. This blog is being shared by some very important people to me. Two of them being my original missionaries. My papa had them knock on his door and even though he was not really interested he never shut them out. Soon they found out he was moving and offered to come back any time and help him out. So when my papa gave the house to me(to buy in the future) he urged me to call the missionaries. I thought I could handle it with Andrew. But soon was overwhelmed and the call for help happened. Little did I know a phone call would turn into so much more. These missionaries are now both in new areas and flourishing. I still get to keep tabs on the great works they are doing! They have helped me heal so much. Almost two years ago I was 5 months pregnant. The day after Easter I knew something wasn't right. After seeing my doctor I soon found out I was losing my son. Losing Matthew was the hardest thing I have faced. Back then I wasn't sure where God was that day. I felt my faith journey to almost come to a hault. But then I just prayed and prayed. Soon we decided to host a foreign exchange student. Boy were we surprised when the boy student picked for us was named Mathieu. God may have my Matthew in Heaven but he gave us Mathieu from Belguim to be in our lives forever. Mathieu helped us grow and heal. But through the missionaries kind words and scripture guidance the whole I once felt would never closed started to heal. Anyways I noticed Elder Kelly liked to personalize his planners with pictures and scripture and soon asked if he coils do something special for me. I have a specific notebook I started when I was pregnant and soon it turned into my healing journal. Elder Kelly was asked to personalize my journal and I couldn't have asked for anything better. It took me a couple of days to be able to read one of the poems he put inside. It was so beautiful and perfect. It captured my emotions and feelings so well. 

Fear Not My Child

You

Came to us from God-

a child so pure

that in your trip to earth 

you didn't need to stay and prove to Him

that you would do His will.

God only needed someone willing

to create for you a home-

and then to let you go.

How blessed we are, 

for He has chosen us. 

And though we weep,

peace comes in knowing 

that death will only bring

the sleep that wakens you to life again

to breathe the warmth of paradise.

Fear not, my child.

We will be together soon 

and hold you in our arms-

encircled in celestrial love

that unites us with our God.

There you have it. The most precious words I read since the loss of Matthew on April 9th 2012. So beautiful. Thank you Elder Kelly and Elder Jones for impacting my life forever. 

Inventions!!!

So another member of my church posted the link I attached below and I decided to check it out. I thought at first maybe it will be something I use. When in fact I use everything...even the hearing aide..yes I am 26 and wear a hearing aide. Thank you to these amazing inventors who also happen to be Mormon! Click here for the link
Did you know a lot of A-list celebrities have grown up with a Mormon foundation...Ryan Gosling ring a bell? Raised Mormon! Even members of the NFL are Mormons. What a great foundation to build up from. I am glad I met my best friend Felicia's family had me around their faith in high school. If I ever wanted to see her on sundays I was invited to church and then would be able to spend sundays at home with her and her family. I believe this planted a  seed in me. I loved sundays at home with family.

Alma 32:28 Now, we will compare the word unto a ^aseed. Now, if ye give place, that a ^bseed may be planted in your ^cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your ^dunbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to ^eenlighten my^funderstanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.


Keep praying!
If I can keep the faith after all I have been through then I hope to be an inspiration to others. 

Why am I a Mormon

So another person asked me yet again why I converted to being a Mormon. "Can Mormons dance" " Can you even watch tv?" " Why would you want your husband Andrew to marry more women?"   I have to sit back and chuckle a little bit because so many of my friends have no idea what being a Mormon means or includes. So I thought I would just chime in and blog about it. Yes we are allowed to dance and listen to music. We are allowed to watch tv. Where people may be getting confused on is the fact that while missionaries serve they do not watch tv and are encouraged to listen to more Christian music and Mormon artists. (I even made my two local missionaries a music cd with music they would like.) No my beloved Andrew will not be marrying more women. We are not in any shape or form polygamists.  Nor will we ever be. We are members of the Mormon church and have 3 hours of church on sundays. Some find this intimidating. I actually love it. Its broken up into parts consisting of sunday school, small groups, and most importantly sacrament. It's funny many people are still confused on whether or not we believe in Jesus Christ. When in fact he is the forefront of our church and beliefs. (Hence the name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) My papa often asks me..."Are you sure they believe in Jesus?" I always chuckle to myself but still always answer YES WE DO!!

Now that I am Mormon and have made some lifestyle changes I feel more blessings in my life. My husband and I can not wait to be sealed together in heaven. We never believed in "To death to you part" so those words were never in our vows. When the missionaries talked about eternal marriage, and all that it promises, we knew this was what we always believed in.  This past weekend I was able to teach my best friends husband all about eternal marriage and what it means. Who does't want to have their families forever?

Until next time.
Keep praying.

Service

So I have not blogged in a little while but today I wanted to focus on service. Missionaries know all about service. Especially the ones in my area. I have had them help me move into my home, paint, rearrange rooms, shovel my driveway and even help with my dogs one time chasing them to come home in the snow. But what could I do for them in return?? Besides cooking I was unsure at first. But really dinner turns into stories, scripture sharing, building testimonies and then even developing friendships. I will always remember my original missionaries: Elder Kelly and Elder Jones. They put up with my crazy moving arrangements. This included moving my husband and I into my papa's home and then packing up all of my papa's stuff so he could then move. Once he moved they came back to help me make the home more ours. They helped give us all of the new member lessons, and were there for me when it came time to be baptized.

Service is not just for another person, It is most certainly for you as well. I have been so blessed to have the missionaries serving in my area. And recently I was called to be a Ward Missionary. This is all about serving others! I want to urge everyone..Mormon or not to serve others and volunteer. My job allows me to work with individuals where everyday we go to other non profit places to help out and volunteer. It is so rewarding and I love each day.

 “And whosever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:44-45).