To you this Easter:

My Dear Savior:
In light of the Easter season I thought I could write you.
Tears come to my eyes now as I try to convey in words my feelings about this event we call Easter. Although this holiday has become colorful and filled with eggs and bunny rabbits I try and recall the events that led up to this glorious day.
When I reflect on the beginning of your sacrifice, the Atonement, I recall the scripture in Luke 22: 41-44
41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

At this moment you willing took upon yourself the sins of the world. Our sins, the things that separet us from you and the Father. In these words I see that this was not something easy for you, you in fact asked for it to end. But your humility in submitting to the will of the Father shows how much you truly love us all. Then in your plea, the Father sent you an angel that strengthened you. Even you, the Son of God needed help and strength to fulfill this task. But what is truly beautiful to me is the next verse it says 'in an agony' you 'prayed more earnestly.' This angel didn't take away anything did it? The angel did not 'remove the cup' but in essence gave you the strength to preserve. Thank you! Thank you for that example of faith and courage and charity to do that which seems impossible.
I will not in detail go through the events of the next day. The betrayal, trial, whippings, mocking, ridicule, and lastly your final task of hanging on the cross...Again...why you did this for me I'll probably never fully understand in this life. But in 3 Nephi 27:14 you state your purpose,
14 And my Father sent me that I might be ^alifted up upon the ^bcross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the ^ccross, that I might ^ddraw all men unto me...

For the short time I got to be a missionary, this is what I got to help you do. 'draw all men unto' you...I was honored to be apart of your work and purpose, and I thank you for the countless times that you sent angels to me to strengthen me in difficult times.

So as I reflect on Easter and the resurrection, what really fills me with gratitude is your life, example, and love for me. I know I fall short so often of what you know I can be. I try hard each day to live up to who I can be. Who you know I can be. Because I know there will be a day when I am in your presence once more, and at that day the only thing I wish to know is that I never took advantage of that which you did for me. I want to make it worth it, all that you suffered for.  Because no matter how hard life gets, I know that there will be a day when I get to see you again. I imagine that day, falling at your feet, and the feeling of relief, and peace filling me...no matter how difficult it all gets here, I know that being there, with you will make it all worth it.

I love you. I hope that through the way I live my life you see that. Because never will I be able to repay you for what you did. But I pray that each day I can show you my gratitude by living more like you each day.

Much love.
Me.

Why families?

You know there was a time when I thought it would just be better to be single the rest of my life. It wasn't out of selfishness but out of fear and a lack of faith on my part. However a lot has changed over the years.
A woman in her 70's was talking about how there might be a possibility of her having liver cancer. She said that she was so tired of fighting her health that she was done. But after her many exhausted reasons for not wanting to go through more health procedures, she sighed and said "what scares me the most is that I wont be able to see my granddaughter perform. I don't care about me anymore. I just want to be there for her." I met another women in her 50's battling leukemia and she said the same thing. Others came to mind and how they have had very difficult lives, but the minute they are able to do something for their children or grandchildren their whole countenance changes.
This I thought is the reason the Father puts us in families. Because life is difficult and sometimes it just can be overwhelming. So instead of making our lives all about us, so that all we think about is ourselves, the Lord puts within us this desire to have children and families so that as life goes on we have a reason to keep fighting. When the motivation is based on love for others one can do anything! How else would Christ have been able to endure all that he did, had he not had his focus been on us?
Just a thought that makes me so grateful for my family and grateful for the opportunity to have a family of my own. Not right now... just in general. :)

Crazy Christmas Time

So I was thinking about how busy this time of year gets. How we all have so many places to go and so many parties to go to. Suddenly we are filled with thoughts of what to buy for those we love. How to show people we care. It can get very overwhelming. Now I'm not going to complain that we've lost the meaning of Christmas. No, what I have realized is that this is totally the meaning of Christmas. All the things we spend our time on, all the events we engage in, all have to do with those we love. I like that Christmas time is when we all tend to think of one another. Get together with old friends, try and find something for each person that has helped us get through one more year. As hectic as we make it, I think it's fun. There really is no other meaning for Christmas, than thinking of those we love most.
That iss why I'm glad we celebrate the birth of our savior this time of year. He truly gave those he loved most, the greatest gift of all. He descended below us all to come to earth and perform the greatest act. He was only thinking of us when he chose to come to earth. No longer at the right hand of our Father in Heaven where we reigns and rules the Heavens but, down here among those who regarded him as nothing, so that we could one day be with our Father again. So just as we fill this time of year with parties and events that bring us close to each other, I think of how that is just what our Savior did. He caused the event that will one day unite us eternally all together.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. I hope that each of us was able to and continues to feel of the Love of our Savior, for that is the spirit of Christmas.
Love you!

Charity

So once again not much to update so I thought I would share with you what I have been thinking about and read. I've been thinking a lot about charity lately and how much I lack :) just go with me here. So I was reading out of PMG (preach my gospel) in chapter 6, 'Christlike attributes.', and in there it lists what Charity is and then how to obtain it as well. In Moroni 7 we learn that we can "pray unto the Father with all energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love" So I read on and it says that as you do this, certain things will come. So I posed some questions to myself. Am I willing to do all these things that are natural reactions to being filled with Charity?
Am I will to . . .
1. Feel a sincere concern for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people?
2. See others as children of God with the potential of becoming like our Heavenly Father?
3. Avoid negative feelings such as anger, envy, lust, or covetousness?
4. Avoid judging others, criticizing them, or saying negative things about them?
5. Try to understand others and their points of view?
6. Be patient with others and try to them them when they are struggling or discouraged?

I'm sure there are more but this is what is listed. So I asked myself, 'when I'm praying for this gift of charity, am I taking into account what it will mean?'
One of my favorite scriptures is found in Romans 8 vs 35-38.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, or life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We are so lucky to have the knowledge that we do. And what great opportunity it is to live up to such wonderful expectations. I hope ya'll have a good day!

Much Love!

I'm so grateful that we have an example in our savior Jesus Christ. Where all these things are hard to do and take time and a whole lot of practise I know that through the help of the holy ghost and continually looking to Christ as an example we can become like this.