Be yourself! No cookie cutters allowed.

This is me. 

                                          

(Yes, that is totally a 'future missionary' bracelet. It's been in my plans since forever DREAMS COME TRUE)

I was totally the girl who never got asked to dance. Like, ever. 

I looked like a wolf, actually. Fine. Here's a picture. 

And this isn't even before I had braces. 

People (because no one is perfect. NO ONE. Not me, not you ok cool) People used to judge me, and still do, because of who I am. I am a tid bit rambunctious at times, I like to dance like a crazy person, and people used to never take me seriously or trust me with ANYTHING. 

But hey, God trusts me. 

He trusts you with what He needs done. He does NOT call you to change who you are, but become your BEST SELF through Jesus Christ, our Savior. 

He doesn't want one million of the same missionary or even CHILD. 

He wants YOU, for who you are. 

He has a job He needs done, and He'll call on you to do it, if you let Him. He'll call on you to BE YOURSELF. He'll call you to go and do because of the talents that YOU have.

And if you don't let them shine, He'll take them from you.

So WHATEVER. Boys didn't like me, people are imperfect, but me with allllll of my imperfections have been made so much better through my Savior. 

YOU ARE SO SPECIAL. 

You have a million and one qualities He wants you to share with the world to make it a better place. Please believe it. 

Why you need THIS.

(by that I mean WHY YOU NEED THE RESTORED GOSPEL)

BECAUSE IT TOTALLY MATTERS.

and not just to me, no noooo. It matters to you. 

God is your loving Heavenly Father. He loves you so very much. 
He always calls a Prophet who shares the gospel of Jesus Christ to God's children here on earth.
That prophet has the authority to act in the Lord's name. 
People reject those prophets. 
He sent His Son, Jesus Christ.
Through Him, we can be saved. I know He came to save us.
People rejected Him, too.
The gospel was taken away. 

NO ONE had the authority. The church of Jesus Christ was GONE. 



Then, in the Spring of 1820, a boy was very confused of which church would lead him back to God. His name was Joseph Smith. He read in James 1:5 

"If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God..."

So, he went to this grove of trees. 

And in his own words, he said

"I saw a pillar of light,

exactly over my head

above the brightness of the sun

which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

When the light rested upon me, I saw two personages 

Whose brightness and glory defy all description

standing above me in the air.

One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said 

pointing to the other

"This is my Beloved Son, hear Him!'"

I know Heavenly Father came with His Son, Jesus Christ, to a boy in a grove of trees who simply wanted to KNOW. God had again called a Prophet. Because of this, His authority is back on the earth. When we follow our Savior, our family can be together forever, we can be TRULY HAPPY, our sins can be washed away through Baptism, and we can return to live with God.

You can know this is true by reading the Book of Mormon. This video introduces it like a pro!

Hey, whether you've heard this story a billion times, or if this is the first time you've ever heard about this, I PROMISE you that if you ask God, you will receive an answer by the Holy Ghost, which can be felt with peace and comfort in your heart. I know that these things are true and it has made all the difference in my life, because there was no other way. I know God is not only the Almighty, all knowing God, but your Heavenly Father. He loves you and He wants you to live with Him with your family forever. He sent His Son, He sent you the Book of Mormon, and the gospel has been restored for you. 

Your life can be better, I promise.

Click on this link  to talk to some missionaries online :) or comment below and I'd love to tell you more :)

Pinky Promise you're good enough.

I'll  be the first one to tell you that a mission wasn't what I had expected.

Noooo sir.

It is HARD at first. I felt so inadequate. I felt like I already had a million things to regret on day one in the field and that I RUINED EVERYTHING. Are you afraid to represent Jesus Christ?

Well, hey. Don't be.

Fear, doubt, inadequacy... CONQUER IT.
He's blessing you. He's with you. Promise.

Satan, our ENEMY, hates you being happy. He hates it. ughghghghgghh He throws everything bad you've ever done in your face as a GOODMORNING SUCKER PUNCH DON'T BE HAPPY YOU CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE OF ALLLL OF THESE REASONS.

Like a little PUNK.

Anything accusing, IGNORE IT. Jesus Christ and your Heavenly Father come to you in LOVE, pure love. They are the only ones who know your weaknesses, and when you come to them, your Savior will help you make them strong.

 

"...if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." //ETHER12:27 mmmhhhmmm. Straight up.

You. are. GOOD ENOUGH.
He has called you to assist Him in His greatest work to SUCCEED, and out of the billions of people on earth, He's called YOU to labor in His vineyard with all your heart, might, mind, and strength. give it all, and that's all He asks. You will be GOLDEN.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2TIM1:7

If it's anything negative or accusing, throw that right out of your head. Your Savior will make you equal to EVERY SINGLE obstacle and task that you face. Trust Him. Abide in Him. Represent Him. Love Him.

He is proud of you. He is happy with you. He loves you.

Don't stop until you DROP

"Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing..." // ALMA36:24

It Happens in a Blink

"Behold his mission is given unto him, and it shall not be given again." // D+C58:16

"Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you." // D+C71:3


Today a man came into the Joseph Smith Farm. He was so excited to see how the homes were doing, because he had been a part of the creation process. Might sound like a boring story, BUT STAY WITH ME PEOPLE IT KIND OF CHANGED MY LIFE.

ok.. sorry about that... anywaayyyysss

After he left, our friend told us that he had actually done only a small fraction of the homes here. He built some buckets and some barrels, tried to help make the home but actually ruined it a little bit. He had only participated a FRACTION.

We are only here for a fraction. 18 MONTHS, to two years, to be exact. Our role is so small, really. But, it will forever be engrained in us. We will always be happy with our work, even if it's small and even if we messed up a time or two. I know the Lord is happy with our work, even if it amounts to one soul being converted; you.

Never let negativity, self doubt, or our enemy ever tell you any different.

Whether you baptized 70 or 1, if you had to go home early, made mistakes, I know that the Lord is happy with you if you gave all because that's all He asks.

 

I love these so much.

This one is my favorite. MMMM so ggooooddd.

:)

Click on this goodness. :)

Brother Flowers is a nice guy.

So, yesterday I was swiveling on a chair when I saw these three guys walk across the grass.

I thought... "They dress really nice... WAIT THAT'S BRANDON FLOWERS"

mmmhmmm.

Sister Carlson and I are the two lucky missionaries that  took him on tour of the most Sacred place in America. Only where Heavenly Father came with His Son, Jesus Christ, to a boy who wanted to know which church was true. 

No big deal. Not. 

Heavenly Father is so good to us. Sacred Grove. Brandon Flowers. Book of Mormon. Working camera. What? So good. 

I was about to vomit, so I asked if we could say a prayer, and then I WAS OK. It was awweeesome haha 

For the record, they were so nice, and they had so many great things to say about Jesus Christ and this gospel :) Brandon Flowers, if you read this, thanks for bringing your family and for sharing your testimony.

You rock.

But really. 

See what I did there? 

Ps. sorry for ruining your favorite hymn. I hope you still like it. Yes, we sang in front of him. Sorry, again.

The church really is so true. It can bless the lives of all people. You can pray to God and know for yourself, and I PROMISE life will never be the same. Gain a testimony, and make it strong all the days of your life, whoever you are. mmhmmm. That's true happiness. 

My boy, Alex.

"Nobody deserves to be lonely,
God's love will give hope to each wondering soul.
Whenever you feel you're the only,
hope in this world is only a prayer away."

//Alex Boye WORDS OF WISDOM

ONE DAY I'LL BE A MOMMA

Once upon a time, I found this little gem.

haha so creepy.

Ok, my beautiful people. I will tell you a story. One day, I was going crazy because I had no idea what to do with my life. My brother, Justin, told me "Make a goal and then choose something that will get you there" Ok, done. I wanted to be a mom. Like, you know, a mother. Think what you will, that I'll just make sandwiches in the kitchen all of my life.I know it's much more than that. So, holler to all of the momma's out there. I think you are pretty great.

In lieu of Mother's day, I will explain WHY motherhood is soooo stinking important. Because, it is THE most beautiful, best, important thing I will ever do. 

This basically sums it up.

"There is eternal influence and power in motherhood." // Sister Beck

Because, when my baby is born into this world, I want to be the one there to love them, and nurture them, care, teach, encourage them.

"To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes." // Sister Beck

It's a forever partnership with my Heavenly Father to help raise this little person to return to Him. I want my children to know that they are loved by God and they are His child. That their potential is incredible and that this life can be the most happy when we follow our Savior. I want them to feel confident. I want them to feel that they ALWAYS have someone; their papa and momma :) And that home is a place of refuge and safety and happiness. I NEED to be there for them. All of you mommas who have sacrificed to raise children, you are AMAZING. You are of infinite worth, and I know the Lord appreciates and loves what you do.

Just watch this video, already. You'll love it.

P.s. if you've seen this woman, tell her I am forever grateful she's my mom :) For my siblings she raised with me that I love so much, for choosing my Asian daddy that I love, and for raising me in the true church. Love her forever.

I love to see the Templeeeee :)

I never really understood why there were so many Temple celebration videos.

I thought it was so random

and then I watched this :)

Because of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, there are Temples once again on the earth. Our families can be sealed together FOREVER. 

This is my dad and my baby niece, Fia. I love them SO MUCH.

I can't ever imagine not being apart of my Family. Because of the Temple, I never have to if I live my life right. 

Those who never had the chance to hear about the gospel in this life, have the opportunity to accept it after they die.  Because of the Temple, they can have those necessary ordinances, like Baptism done for them. They, too, can return to live with God. IT'S SO AMAZING AND BLOWS MY MIND.

One more thing, in the temple we make covenants and promises with God. I am soooo forever grateful for Temples.

Me on that day :) whatWHAT. I was so happy on the insides. :)

 oh, and Temples are beautiful. 

 

OF COURSE THERE ARE TEMPLE CELEBRATION VIDEOS.

love them.