Beautiful Ride

My life has truly been a beautiful ride.  Even though there have been hard times, I am stronger because of them.  Life is what we make it, and I am so grateful for the experiences I have had each and every day.
I am beginning another blog, Our Journey, His Timing, for women and families who struggle with infertility.  I hope to create a place where they feel comfortable sharing their stories, experiences, and suggestions.  It is hard to go through something like infertility, when not everyone around you understands it.  I'm not trying to say those of you that have beautiful families can't share your experiences with us, because I love hearing about your lives and I'm sure that others do to.  I just know that when you have others to lean on for strength, it helps so much!
I hope you can all find beauty in your life, and enjoy the ride.

Blessings

For a moment today I let myself compare my life to others. I wished I had so many of the things I see others with.

Then, Scott stopped me and reminded me of a song we sang at church. "Count Your Many Blessings" which is a favorite of mine. 

We stopped and sang the song together. Then, I reminded myself of all the blessings in my life. I have a strong and healthy body.  I have a loving husband, who cares for me so much. I have an incredible family that continually loves and supports me. I have a job that I love, which also helps provide an income for our family. I have the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father.  

The list could go on and on.

If you ever get to the point of comparing yourself to others, STOP! Recognize the blessings in your life. They may be big or they may be small, but there are blessings. 

Each Day Be Grateful

Truth.

Your Path Can Be Bright

The words of Dieter F. Uchtdorf are better than mine.

"My dear sisters, I was grateful to speak with you this evening at the general women's session of #LDSconf.  Wherever you are through the world, I hope that the Spirit touched you with new insights.  

In this painting, a pioneer girl is skipping along a bright blue path.  She has endured many dark and dreary days, but she has a spring in her step and looks optimistic, happy, and hopeful.  

As you walk through life, I hope you will feel a spring in your step as you trust the Lord and continue on your own bright path of discipleship.  Faith will lead you to open your eyes to the things Heavenly Father has in store for you.  Love for God and His children will continue to brighten your path, even on dark and cloudy days."

Know that the choice is yours to be optimistic, happy, and hopeful.  Take each day one step at a time.  Discover faith in your life, it will lead you to hope and love.

Love is Spelled Time

I think we all need to live by this sweet and simple quote from Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Love is spelled TIME."  How true is that? 

What really matters most in life, is those that we love.  And just in case you guys are questioning who I love...it's my incredible husband, my parents, my sisters, my in-laws, and my friends.  I truly love all of these people and don't know how my life could go on without them.  

And really, how can you come to love someone without spending time with them.  Can you love someone if you're hiding behind a screen, whether it be your phone, computer or the TV?  Can you love someone if you don't spend time with them?  The answer is NO! 

Memories are made when you spend TIME, and might I add, quality TIME, with those that you care about and love.  Take the TIME to go on an adventure, make a puzzle, go for a hike, go pick apples, work in your yard or house, the list can go on and on.  

If you find it difficult to find TIME, then you meed to make TIME for those that you love.  Dieter F. Uchtdorf said it best when he shared, "If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."  

When it's hard to find the TIME, take a step back and reflect on your life.  See what you can do to better your life - and your family and friends lives too.  

Taking the TIME for those you love it totally worth it, just try it out and see for yourself!

p.s. If you want to read all of what Dieter F. Uchtdorf talked about you can find it in his talk "Of Things That Matter Most" - Enjoy!

Happiness is a Choice

Did you ever realize that you determine your happiness?  That's right...YOU!
When you wake up every morning, you choose the outcome of that day.  Not only do you choose if you are going to get up and out of bed (choose to get out of bed), you choose if you are going to be happy, sad, grumpy, mean..whatever feeling you may have.

There will be times when life gets really hard.  I totally feel ya if you want to get down in the dumps.  Just don't do it! I've done it before and guess what...my day was miserable, awful, double thumbs down!  Did I choose for it to go that way? Sure did.  Then, because of that I had to suffer through that whole day because of that one choice I made.

So, what do you do to wake up happy and stay happy?

I'll give you a few ideas of what I do.

One.  Get enough SLEEP.
Oh my goodness..I don't think I can emphasize this enough! You need your sleep, it's a necessity.  Not only for your health, but for a happy life.  When you don't get enough sleep, man oh man, just go back to bed...it'll make everyone else's day better too.

Two.  Exercise as regularly as you can.
I know that your lives can be so busy and it's hard to find time to exercise, but make the time.  You won't regret it.  If you only have time for a walk around the block, you go! I try to stay as active as I can and try to get to the gym or go for a run 4 days a week.  Do I have to sacrifice some time to do this? Yes, but it is totally worth it!

Three.  Do something that makes you happy.
We all have different hobbies and interests, and I sure hope that we make time to enjoy those!  If you like crafting, sewing, reading, painting, baking, running...make time for it.  When you do something that makes you happy, you live a happier life.

So there you have it.  If you just start with those few things I know that you will live a happier life.  Also, try to wake up with a positive attitude.  I know it can be hard some days, but try to find one thing to be happy about, or one thing that to look forward to that will make your day.

I hope you all have a happy day and don't forget YOU choose to be happy.

Gratitude

Words cannot express the gratitude I have right now.  I have felt such an outpouring of love from so many family and friends that I don't think I can say thank you enough.  

The kind words, prayers, and love coming my way is something that I recognize each and every day. To my husband, Scott, who has been there for me every step of the way through recovery, Thank you! To those of you that have brought over meals for us, Thank you! Those of you reaching out to me and seeing how I'm doing, Thank you! Those of you offering your help, Thank you! To those of you keeping me company, Thank you!

This past week has been a big change for me from my everyday routines.  For the past three years now, I have been waking up early, getting ready, packing a lunch, and heading out the door to go teach for the day.  This week has been nothing like that.  I have not been to work all week and I seriously feel lost.  Sometimes you forget how wonderful your job is until you have it "taken away" from you.  I miss teaching, my students, my co-workers, my life as a teacher.  

I am so grateful for the life I have.  Although there are trials in life, that doesn't mean I still can't be grateful.  I am grateful for the trials that come into my life, because I know that they make me stronger.  There is purpose to our lives, and we are blessed with a great way of learning through our trials.  

To go through the trial of having surgery and losing a part of my body, it has been difficult.  To think that the future of me and Scott starting a family may be even more difficult now, it's hard to accept.  However, I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me.  If Scott and I are to have a family, there will be a way. 

I am grateful to have the knowledge that I have.  I am grateful to have loving family and friends to support me and help me along this adventure, we call life.  I am so grateful to have the life I have and to be healthy and strong.  

Inspiration Sunday

Sundays are special days.  Sundays are the day of worship.  They are the day of rest.  A day to reflect on your relationship with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  A day to strengthen your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A day to share your testimony with others.

Scott and I had the opportunity to speak in church today.  We are loving those that attend our ward, the group of members that attend church with us, and have felt so welcomed already.  While preparing my talk the past few days, I have felt that I should share inspirational thoughts more often.  As I studied and searched what I would be speaking about, I found so many wonderful quotes and messages to share.  Finding all of those quotes and messages gave me so much joy and made each day even better for me.  I have given myself the challenge to fine a new quote or message to share with you.  So, from here on out, I hope to bring joy to your life and make your day better with the messages that I share.

I hope that you all had an uplifting Sunday and are ready for a new week.

Have a great week!