Heritage

This weeks will be short I apologize for the shortness I have been taking a class all week and I am a little brain dead at the moment.  I also have been making things and crafting things to sell to save a little money for our IVF fund. It has been busy.

I would like to talk mostly about heritage and culture.Culture is a wonderful thing. This week I am currently being educated in the art of Archaeology. It is very informative and is giving me a greater appreciation of those who have gone before me. My ancestors put down everything to get to where we are today. They came across the plains some by hand cart and some by wagon train. They faced so many heart wrenching things. Most buried family members along the way. They left their homes and some of their precious things to go where they could practice what they believed in peace. It took much trial and error to do so. Starting in Palmyra New York, working their way down to Nauvoo IL and later to SLC UT. They were the ones thinking of us, of their future kin and how they wanted for us to be able to worship our beliefs in peace. Pioneer History is a huge part of my life. Not only do I have the privilege to work with History each day, I get to constantly learn not only about the vast Pioneer history that most of us have. but I also have the privilege to learn about the Ancient History that happened before the Pioneer History. Most of which is still around today in a modern sense.  I have found that the more I study and try to understand different  cultures I gain respect for them. Cultures fascinate me, they are a view to what life was like long ago. I am so grateful for the History we have. Not only for Pioneer History but for the many others as well. For our Founding Fathers who laid down their lives just so we could be free. Who stood up for what they believed, and accepted new cultures. They founded a new culture and adventure when they created the Declaration of Independance. Therefore creating the United States of America. I think sometimes we get so caught up in who is right and wrong. Are we still United? Times have surely changed, and freedom has been tested. I am thankful for the things I was taught, by my Dad who taught us about family, and our country, serving as a Mechanic in Vietnam. To my Grandpa who fought for our freedoms when they were tested in WWII. And now It is my turn to fight for what I believe. I may not be a soldier who fights in the war overseas. But I am fighting for what I believe every day. Our beliefs are challenged each day. I will never give in, and say I give up.  I am proud to be an American. I am thankful for my heritage and for the heritage of others. For the cultures in this world that we can learn about. For our ability and willingness to learn. Never forget your heritage, be willing to learn. God Bless America!

Forgive

Forgiveness is one of my weaknesses. Just when I forgive someone for offending me or doing something to hurt my feelings  they do something else that makes it worse. Most of the time those people have no Idea they hurt me. I hate confrontations they really are awkward. Instead of confronting them and telling them how I feel I usually hold it inside until I explode on someone else who is not involved. Not the way to go trust me. Why is forgiveness so hard?  

It shouldn't be, but it is. I have a hard time forgiving others who have said offensive things or lied to me, or said things about me. I have come to find that people make mistakes, most of the time it is not because they are “out to get us” But just that they just being themselves in this world. On rare occasion there will be people who are out to get you.  My advice to that is kill them with Kindness. :) Kindness goes a long way. Not only that but Forgive them. Christ before he died on the cross said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

He forgave them instantly. Those people had him killed, and he said please forgive them. Why cant we be more like that? I wish with all my heart I could forgive as Christ has. I know that if i hold a grudge and don't forgive, not only does it cause bad blood but it doesn't hurt those others at all. It hurts me. It poisons me the moment I hold a grudge. All it does is tear me down. If we forgive others not only does it help us. Forgiveness saves us from so much heartache, if we practice forgiving we will become a better person. I know in my life I have been thrown under the bus many times by people I thought I could trust. It has taken me a long time to forgive some people around me. Forgiveness is a process just like anything. It doesn't happen overnight, we have to constantly work at it. With the Lord on our side we will succeed. Something to think about, is it better to be right, or better to love unconditionally?

Truely love of a family member is more important than being right. It is hard sometimes I know I get caught up in, I'm right! I am the youngest of five children and I have always had to fight. Trying to prove that I know even though I am younger. I dont stop to realize that it doesnt matter who is right.

I’m setting a challenge to myself as well as any of you. If you are dealing with any kind of grudge, start your path through forgiveness. Pray for help, ask for help from those who you trust. You will find there will always be people bearing you up, on this side and the other side of the veil. You always have help, don't be afraid to ask for help. If you think you don't have anyone who is there for you know that I am here for you all. Best wishes!

Learning Experience

This weeks will be short and sweet. :) I tried my best to keep a positive attitude and to step out of my comfort zone. It was extremely harder than I thought it would be. It seemed like every time I tried to do something right that voice in my head was like are you sure you are good enough? And yes I am. We all are. We need to keep going even though we have bad days. In the words of a very good friend of mine,  “Fake it until you make it.” That is and will be my motto for the hard things in life, for the challenges we face daily. The adversary is always there and he is constantly trying to get us. I won't let him get me. I am stronger than him, and I won't let him in. This is what I have learned this week. Just when you think you are doing great and you don't have to worry about too much. Life throws another curve, it feels similar to some things we have experienced in the past, but it is harder. Do you ever wonder why we keep going through some things over and over again. Perhaps it is because we need to learn something. Like trust, patience, humility, and many more. We are constantly learning and will be for the rest of our lives. Thank goodness. I think I would be get pretty bored if thought “I'm good I don't need to learn anything else because I know all.”  I am so thankful learning it is one of my talents.  I try to learn new things each day.  Like today I learned that I am a good teacher to kids. I had an opportunity to teach about the Native American tribes of Utah, to our Junior Archaeologists at Archaeology Camp at the Museum. (The Museum of the San Rafael, My job, I am the Director of the Museum). It was a whole new experience. I teach kids on Sunday, but it was so much more to teach them other things. It was very cool to be able to communicate with them. They are so great. We had fun the two day camp was a blast. I am happy to have met some new friends. Not only did I teach them, but they taught me. They helped each other, and laughed together they were great. It was a positive experience, I needed that to start my week out.  I look forward to what I will learn tomorrow. Remember to  keep going, never give up and always know you can learn something from this.

A Challenge

We are strong immovable women. A lady taught this to us in Relief Society this last Sunday. I am going to share some thoughts of how I have become immovable in some challenges in my life. Let's face it life is hard. We have so many things we need to do each day.We get lost in the crowd and don't remember the little things that mattern the most. How can we be immovable when we are struggling to get through the week? I ask myself that quite often. I feel as though things are fighting against me rather than by my side. like the currents are pulling me away from my goal. The top three things that were stated in the lesson were

1-Faith

Faith, we all have faith that the sun will come up in the morning but why is it so simple to say where is my faith when it is something harder that the sun coming up each day? We know the sun will rise and it will be another day but why do we not trust all will be well when we are faced with things that are hard for us it will be ok. Just like I know with all my heart that I will be a mom some day but why is it so hard for me to let go of my faith on a bad day? My conclusion to that is I need to constantly pray, read my scriptures, go to the temple. I need that constant comfort that comes along with the trials I am faced.

2-Family

I know that I can always rely on my family this last year my family was faced with some hard times. Im not going to share that yet. Something I always have to remember is you're nothing without your family. The beautiful part of families is we are all different, different personalities thrown into a family unit to make it through the hard paths of life. The attack on the family is so strong right now. It amazes me the new things Satan throws at the family because he knows how strong the family is. As I stated before, there is nothing he wants more than to rip apart and eternal family. I find he is constantly working on me trying to tell me my family is not worth it. When really they are.

3- Relief

We are sent to this earth to help others. To serve others, and Relieve their burdens. We lift and enlighten with our spirit, and our  testimonies. That is what Relief Society is about isn't it? When we serve others it silences our own insecurities. It brings the spirit into our lives, and pushes out Satan.
I know I am not perfect, but I want to challenge all of you, If you are reading this. I want to challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and open your mouth. Talk to someone new and find out more about those who you don't know. Be a relief to someone, that way your faith and family will grow. You will find you have more time in your busy day. I am challenging you to this and I will do this as well and report next week how it went. You dont have to answer to me. I am challenging you to do this to help you. Because I know how hard it is to get through Life. It is hard but think its hard for me and others around me also. We are in this together. Have a great week everyone.