The Family Proclamtion to the World

Can I just say that I love my family, I am so blessed to have such great people in my life.

"I have a family here on earth,

They are so good to me.

I want to spend my life with them

Thru all eternity.

Families can be together forver

Thru Heavenly Fathers plan.

I always want to be with my family

And the Lord has shown me how I can,

The Lord has shown me how I can."

I so love my neices and nephews...arent they the cutest? I hope they know how much I love them, and that I will always be there for them.

Below you will find the Family Proclamation To The World by the First Presidency and 12 Apostles, I encourage you to read it.

W

E, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve

Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a

woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to

the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

A

LL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the

image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of

heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and

destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual

premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

I

N THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew

and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted

His plan by which His children could obtain a physical

body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection

and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of

eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family

relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred

ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it

possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and

for families to be united eternally.

T

HE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve

pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and

wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children

to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We

further declare that God has commanded that the sacred

powers of procreation are to be employed only between

man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

W

E DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be

divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its

importance in God’s eternal plan.

H

USBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love

and care for each other and for their children. “Children

are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a

sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness,

to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to

teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments

of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever

they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—

will be held accountable before God for the discharge of

these obligations.

T

HE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and

woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled

to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by

a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete

fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be

achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord

Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established

and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance,

forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and

wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers

are to preside over their families in love and righteousness

and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and

protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible

for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities,

fathers and mothers are obligated to help one

another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances

may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended

families should lend support when needed.

W

E WARN that individuals who violate covenants of

chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill

family responsibilities will one day stand accountable

before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of

the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and

nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern

prophets.

W

E CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government

everywhere to promote those measures designed

to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental

unit of society.

What is a friend?

I have always been an all or nothing kind of girl when it comes to my friendships. Maybe I have too high of expectations of what a friend is? But, I always end up feeling silly for offering my desire to hang out or whatever after the 10th invite and no results.
What made me think that friends should be there for you and have the desire to be there? What made me this way? Maybe its because as I child I was let down a lot? My brothers would call (they are all a lot older than I) and say they were going to come get me to go out....and I would wait by the window for hours and they would never come (this isnt the case anymore as we are now adults). I love my brothers, but I felt let down on many occasions.
Maybe this is why I give so much to those I think are friends....cause I don't want them to feel like I don't care???
Someone recently told me that I make friends with people that I am so much better than.... that I sell myself short. But, what is wrong with caring about someone and wanting to help them out? I know that someone will only change if they have the desire to change....but what is so wrong with offering my 2 cents?
I am sorry about this post... I am just coming to the realization that my family are the ones that will always be there.... not a friend. My family will always support and love me, and I am so grateful for that...that I have a good family that cares.
I just need to let go, be myself and keep my family close.

Life is good

Its been a while since I last blogged.
Since this is about my journey, I will tell you that life is good so I will tell you a little bit about whats been happening.

I just moved to Central Utah to work on myself, enjoy the mountains and outdoor activites before I move back up North. Its really tough for me being in a small town without a lot of freinds and not having a job where I can get my social time in.
I said that I was going to take this summer to build my confidence back up after all the drama that took place in St George, and I have become more content with myself.
I took up cooking and baking, which is something I have never enjoyed or done a lot of. Its so rewarding when I throw together a dinner from scratch or bake a sheet of cookies and they come out tasting wonderful and others agree.  I also started making jewelry with my natural stones for people I love and to sell once I have enough made. I also took time developing my art by drawing.
I didnt go to church here except for the first week I moved down and just last week, its not that I do not want to go... I just stay up to late working on the things I have talked about above and end up sleeping in. I will say that I notice a HUGE difference in my week when I do ro do not go to church and thats why I decided that I cannot miss out on it anymore. Our meetings at church are so uplifting and I know that when I attend I come away with a goal of wanting to be better the coming week, and not having those spiritual goals tends to make the week a little tough.
I think we are so blessed to be a part of this gospel. How amazing is it that we can go to church and by partaking of the sacrament we renew our baptizimal covenants and come away knowing all the things we have struggled with during the week are washed away once again.
I am so blessed to have this summer to work on myself and spend my time connecting with my family. My family means everything to me and the time I spent living n St George and being so far away has made me appreciate and love them so much more than I have before.... and this is why I am moving up North this summer instead of going back down to St George. It will be great to live back up there with two of my brothers and all of my extended family.
I want to share my expereince of how I knew I was going to serve a mission, so I will post about that in the near future.

Turning Back

No matter how long or how far you've traveled in the wrong direction

Which leads you to believe your distanced too far from Him above.

To be loved and accepted by Him seems unattainable,

Well... I'll tell you its never too late to turn back and feel of His redeeming love.

I've been down paths surrounded by darkness,

My heart and soul felt ice cold.

I thought turning around and seeing His face was wishful thinking,

And hearing that it wasn't seemed a statement too bold.

"They have never been where I have", I thought

"Or felt the devils breath on their skin".

They said He was there waiting with open arms,

And they talked with so much faith and conviction.

I put my faith in them and turned one day

And to my amazement I felt of His presence and love...

I knew each day would be a struggle and it certainly wouldn't be easy,

But I'd put one foot in front of the other with help from Him above.

I know that I will stumble and I may fall,

But the trick is to get right back up and keep looking ahead.

Without hesitation or fear, towards God and His Son I'll go,

Because "Doubt not, fear not", He said.

.

My Heavenly and Earthly Father

Today is Fathers Day and there are many Fathers that I am grateful for, I will talk about 2.

First, I am grateful for my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for my knowledge of Him, and my relationship that I have with Him. I am grateful that no matter how far I distance myself from Him, He will always be waiting for me to turn back towards Him because His love for His children is unconditional. Its so important for us to remember that we are children of God, that we have a royal inheritance... it is ours if we desire it.
I am grateful that my Heavenly Father loved us enough that He sent His only Begotten Son here to earth to atone for each and every one of us. I always think of this talk I heard on my mission where someone quotes Melvin J. Ballard when he talked about how God did not fail us even when His son was on the Cross. Here is a part of this talk...

“I think I can see our dear Father behind the veil looking upon these dying struggles until even He could not endure it any longer; and, like the mother who bids farewell to her dying child and has to be taken out of the room so as not to look upon the last struggles, so He bowed His head and hid in some part of His universe, His great heart almost breaking for the love He had for His Son. Oh, in that moment when He might have saved His Son, I thank and praise Him that He did not fail us, for He had not only the love of His Son in mind, but He also had love for us.”

I just love this, it sings to my spirit. I thank my Heavenly Father for ALL He has done for me, and for all of us!


Second, I am grateful for my earthly Father. I have always looked up to my dad in so many ways. I grew up with 3 older brothers and you would think that my dad would just take his sons on all the things that the "boys" would do, but I remember he would always include me in everything he did. When all the other men would only take their sons camping or fishing, my dad took me anyways. My favorite memories include:

• Getting up at 4 in the morning and going ice fishing with him and his friends from work or his brothers
• Going hunting with him, and when I started hunting myself he always let me take the first shot even if he was hunting as well, and this still stands.
• When I decided that I WAS going to get my Golden Retriever that I always dreamed of having and he said "Nope, we are not having a dog here." I said, "Well, I am going up to Idaho to get her." he then said "Well, I will drive you.". On the way back from picking up Lucy, after he had made it clear the dog would not sleep inside the house, he stopped and we got a carrier so she could sleep inside. Now, Lucy and my dad are as close as close can be...and I love that! I know that may be surprising, as I argue that Lucy is mine NOT his, but I would never take Lucy away from my Dad as I know they are the best of buds.
• The first time I rode a roller coaster I was scared to death, but my dad put his arm across me the whole ride to make sure I didn't fall out as that was my fear.... I will never forget that.
• When I had cancer a nurse came to our home to show my parents how to give the shots to me that I needed the times that I was actually not in the hospital, but at home. My mom didn't give that orange a very good shot, but my dad was awesome! Even when I was in the hospital I would not let the nurses give me these shots...only my dad could give them to me, as he was the best! He came every day when I was in the hospital, and I will always be grateful to him for this, and for the priesthood that he holds.... I know that if it wasn't for the blessings I received during that year and a half of chemo from my dad, that I would not be here. The priesthood is so amazing and powerful and I know that it can heal, and I am so grateful that it has been restored here upon the earth...and I am grateful that my dad is a faithful saint who has the blessings of the priesthood.

Those are just a few, there are many... in short, my dad is my hero. I may not show it, as I am as stubborn as he is... but I love and appreciate him so so much!

The Milestone

I hit a milestone just now, it has been 2 weeks since I have had a drink.

Alcohol is something I have struggled with off and on for a long time. I had my first drink when I was 22 and instantly knew I had a problem becuase I could not stop once I took that first drink. I was a social drinker though, it was not something I did on my own and definatly not something I did every night.

A few years after I got over that first hurdle I started drinking again and in large amounts, but not daily and was able to stop after I had hit rock bottom (Well, little did I know that rock bottom then was not nearly as deep as rock bottom now!).

This last time around I took my first drink in Mesquite with a friend on mine, and of course drank too much. It was a week and a half before I took my second drink and from that night on it was a nightly occurance. And I am not talking a mixed drink or one or two shots... but anywhere from 8-15 shots in one evening.

I stopped calling my parents everyday (I always call them daily) when I started drinking again and I got a text from my mom saying that I must be doing something I wasn't proud of, otherwise I would call... she was right.

The thing is, once I started drinking and I let go of all the things that keep me close God and I left room for someone to come in and take over my life. I remember the day that I realized I was in too deep and I wanted to go home, and thats when I realized that I no longer had the power to make my own choices, someone else was making them for me. In error, my way of coping was to keep on drinking to deal with the anxiety and panic attacks of not being able to go home to my own bed and get myself clear of the alchohol again.

I am so thankful for my friends who stepped in when I texted them telling them I needed help getting out of the situation I was in, if it werent for them I would not be here sharing my story.

Good thing is I know that God loves me, I know the atonement is for me as Christ has already paid the price of my sins and He can also wrap His arms around me and weep with me as I struggle thru all the pain brought by this person who took so much.

What a blessing it is to have this Knowledge of God and His Son!!!

"His arms are open and He WILL respond with warmth and love. He wont say a word to condemn us; we have plenty of those for ourselves. He will only offer His embrace."

"You must reach beyond a sense of the infinity of the Atonement to accept the portion thereof intended for you and you alone. You have the priviledge of His embrace. He is not on the cross. He is not in the tomb. He stands looking upon you asking, "Whom seekest thou?" He whispers YOUR name and waits for you to recognize Him. He wants you to feel His embrace. So yield to His entreaty. Give in to His love and, please, please say to the Savior, "Just Hold me, Tighter."
"Though it may seem that our own displacement from the right way has put us too far out to be reclaimed, it is not so. Not for anyone. If it is lost we feel, then we can listen to the voices calling for our return and move in their direction."

"The loving arms of the Savior are open wide to revieve us-- that when no one else seems to be around, when others do not appear to understand or even pay attention to our need for a hug, He is there. "if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after us...we can still be clasped in the arms of Jesus"."



Its okay to go alone

I came to a realization...

I would much rather go fishing alone then be in the company of someone who will bring me down (And I am not referring to my usual fishing companion as I have so much fun with him, just a general rule :).

This lesson has taken me long enough to learn, and I wish I hadn't had to go thru what I have in the recent past to realize this... but I am gratefulfor this knowledge.                                 



My whole life I have feared being alone, therefor I settle for the company of those I should not. I am not only talking romantically, but friends and mere acquantances as well. I think it comes down to am I confident in myself? Well... obviously not as much as I should be.

Confidence is what I hope to develop this summer. I know it may not be realistic to think that I can be completly confident and self-loving in 2-3 months time, but I plan on having my foundation strong.


(This was a few years ago)

I just have to take it one day at a time. And enjoy the time that I have, even if it means... going fishing alone.  Besides, I don't mind cleaning my own fish and baiting my own hook anyways.