Ok Why I Haven't Posted

Ok Ok my blogging abilities have gone so down hill its kind of sad. All I can say is this....I have gotten so caught up in the problems of my own life or at least what I thought were problems that I couldn't see all the good around me.

I kind of started catching on to this sad pity party I was living in a few weeks ago and said it was time to something about it. All I could think about was to stop praying for me and focus on solely prayers of gratitude...with prayers for others mixed in as needed.

My frustrations have stemmed from 3 sources....1) Not knowing when or if my job will become permanent... 2) Living in a very confusing dating life (trust me this is the easiest way to post it cause I swear the Jared and I thing is ever changing) ... 3) These two leading to stress, overeating and laziness which has lead to oh so many bad things being pounds now needing to be lost.

But that is all negative. And no more of that.....

So how did my experiment of only offering prayers of gratitude go? Well I can say this much...I often avoided praying on the days which were just hard because I could not find anything to be greatfull about. But on those days I was avoiding praying God still found a way to teach and reach me. I also found that my strength to continue forward kept growing and problems seemed less and less because I wasn't focused on them.

The biggest lesson I learned during this little experiment was simply this...God knows what we need and will not leave us. He will give us the strength we did not believe we had. He will comfort us when we need it. He will remind us of his love and that he his looking out for us. He will find ways to teach us lessons from things all around us.

Some ways these lessons came are this:
1) Needed conversations with Friends
2) Preventing cars from killing you in the gym parking lot
3) Getting to be involved in supporting Sklyer and his fight against cancer (I learned a lot her about strength and hope)
4) My little bro challenging us mid November to read the entire Book of Mormon by Christmas
5) Simply feeling the spirit burning in your heart
6) And so much more.

So this catch up blog came first for a few reasons....its negative and I wanted to explain the lack of posting. Because I have a lot to catch up on the posts are probably going to come by lots of pictures and some words but who knows.

I apologize in advance for the onslaught of posts

Please Pray for Skyler and All Other Children Battling for Their Lives

I know that I am more then over due for a blog post about me...that will be taken care of this weekend I promise.

However this post is to ask you to please pray for Skyler and his mom Crystal. Crystal is a dear friend to my dear friend Roger (I get it complicated connection here.) Crystal has gone through so much she lost her husband to a heart tumor two days before Skyler's 2nd birthday and now her 4 year old son is fighting for his life. In August he was diagnosed with Leukemia. His battle for life as been long and hard with many ups and downs. Currently he is fighting infections after infections. Please pray for Skyler.

Also please pray for all children fighting for their lives this Holiday season. Pray that they can grow to adulthood. Pray that their families can have strength to support their child during this battle. Pray that they can see Gods hand in their lives and that he gives them strength when it is most needed.

I work at Ronald McDonald House. Every shift I work I see the families who's children are fighting for their lives. Its amazing to see the strength and determination in their eyes. But the best part is seeing the pride and pure excitement and relief when their child gets to go home with them. What I have learned the most from working here is the power of Hope! I can see that God is supporting and strengthening all these families during their battle for life. The quote on the wall of the room I stay in at work says it all right "A little Faith, A little Hope, A lot of Healing."

This Thanksgiving please BE GRATEFUL for the HEALTHY CHILDREN in your life.....and PRAY for those children FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES....PRAY for THEIR FAMILIES that they have the strength to continue...PRAY FOR SKYLER.

Oh My Gosh I Have Been So MIA

I know I know I have been completely MIA. Is it bad to admit I have been letting life get the better of me.

....Lets put it this way. The last 18 months of my life have been an emotional rollarcoaster, my life has taken hundreds of ups and downs, twists and turns that I have let things get the better of me. I wanted to tackle my life with my new years resolutions...but they went to pot...so time to start again. I have decided to dedicate the next three months to goals...goals and more....goals. I am so so dreeding turning 25. My hope...is that if I can accomplish fixing a lot of bads in the next 3 months I will feel better about growing one year older.

On the list:
1) Create a habit of good scripture study
2) Learn to eat good again
3) Meet new 2 people each week at church
4) Be open to fun social engagements (hard to measure, should not be a goal)
5) A few personal things...not needing to be mentioned as they cant be measured
6) I would love to go on a date or two or three (please help here...Im open to being set up :))
7) Regular journal writing
8) And most important losing weight (they amount is my little secret!!)

I know it seems like a lot but they are the things that nag on my mind. (Ok the date thing doest have to be accomplished its just a wish. I would love love to start dating more....and more then that to go on many dates for my birthday...that gives you three months to get thinking)

But on a good note...Kendra is finally employed....more to come on that!!

Faith

Thoughts on Being a Child of God

In prep for my RS lesson I was wondering if you would mind sharing with me when you first gained a testimony of being a child of God and what this knowledge has done for you...how has it changed your life?

Also if you could please share scriptures or thoughts that helped strengthen your testimony of being a child of God.

If you can just leave a comment!

Thanks!! :)

Splish and Splash Sprint Triathalon!!!

Today I completed my first triatholon!!I competed in the South Davis Rec Center Splish and Splash tri!

Why this one?...Why a tri?

Well this one because I am terrified of swimming in a lake...afraid of drowning...I like being able to touch the wall every 25 yards. yep a slight wimp I am. Plus it was good timing to get the feel for them and know better how to train and what todo for the rest of the year.

Why a tri? I needed a new challenge. Everyone says I should do a full marathon...but Im not mentally ready. So this was my new challenge see what I can push my self to do.

How it went:
* I loved it!!!
* Times to come
* The swim was out of control. People jumping in the pool to start every 20 sec. People swimming on top of one another. I cant tell you how many times I got hit or hit someone. At least we are all doing so no need to feel bad!
* The bike was way fun. Though I probably shouldnt have pushed it so hard. But I figured I need to learn to run after biking hard. (Change in training coming soon!) The funnest moment was waiting for the train. A good rest. Though we only had a mile left.
*The run....Well I never knew my legs would forget how to listen. After the bike my legs wanted to peddle not run forward. A little challenging. And they made us run on the sidewalk...bad race planning there.

AND MANY MORE TRIS TO COME!!!

Enjoy the pictures and slide show. My parents get carried away taking them!

Family History Work

I have always been proud of my pioneer family history. My mom and her family are direct decedents of Wilford Woodruff (yep my moms madden name is Woodruff) so I guess I am too!! I love the strong heritage from which I come from, strong believers of out faith and examples of Christ. (My only complaint is that Wilford Woodruff was so good at journal writing, I cant help feeling guilty that I am not so good at it myself.) I have this secret desire to have a physical trait that is from Wilford Woodruff.

But enough that rambling. My ward is preparing to go to Martins Cove this summer and to learn about the rescue party and how we serve as rescuers through temple work. Part of the preparation has been the challenge to begin to do our family history work. So I decided to go for it.

Let me say this I never know it could be so overwhelming!!! I have spent months finding times and today I took them to temple to printed off and be ready to go. I am so excited to be able to do their work.

What excites me is that I have found a few names in the Woodruff/Delightstocking line. For whatever reason I cant help but feel that I am giving back to my wonderful Great Great Great Great Grandpa by sealing his family to him. He was such an influential leader in church history, a strong president of the Church and a wonderful example to his family and now I have a way to give back to him.

I know its silly but I am loving that I am able to do this and am excited to start the work.

Thank you wonderful bishopric for challenging us to do this.