Facing Challenges

I was reading the other day and came across a great quote about facing challenges.  And since it's something we all have to do on a regular basis, I thought I'd include it here.  It's a quote from an article by Elder Bradley D. Foster.  He says:

"May we all face our challenges with faith, endurance, and trust in our Heavenly Father and in His plan for each of us.  Remember, it's not what happens to us that matters; it's how we handle what happens that makes all the difference.  "When the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces," the Savior's power and assurance can still make it possible for us to experience joy and peace." ( Trials, Tribulations, and Trust in the Lord, by Elder Bradley D. Foster, Ensign, March 2014, p 67)

I love this quote because it's so true.  It's how we face challenges that matter.  We can choose our responses to problems and we can choose our emotions about them.

-Jessica

My Feelings

This is my testimony of what I know.  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true.  I am so grateful for my family and friends and of the examples I've had in my life.  I know that Book of Mormon is the word of God and that President Monson is the prophet today.  Jesus Christ lived and died for us and knows each one of us - our joys, our pain, our sicknesses, our grief, our sadness, our longing...  I am so excited for the future.  I am excited to see the church become more of a Zion people - of one heart and of one mind.  I know that the whole point of the gospel is Love.  If we know the scriptures and have no love then we do not understand them nor are we living what they teach.

I am grateful for my trials and for everything I've learned in my life.  I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. I am grateful that the Lord gave us agency to live how we choose.  That we have the opportunity to choose how we live and ultimately where we end up when we die.  I choose to live in the Celestial Kingdom.  I know I am not perfect and that everyday is a struggle to live as I should, but I am grateful for each day.  I know that everything we say and do matters - it has an affect on others and I am trying to be better about always doing what's right.  I also know that following the promptings of the Holy Ghost is important.  I have always wanted to be wise, and although I will likely never reach that goal, I strive to learn all I can about the things that really matter so that maybe one day I can help those around me for good.  My main goal in life is to help build of the Kingdom of God on earth.  I try to keep my perspective on the eternal view and to not stress about those things that do not really matter in the eternal scheme of things.  I think the most important lesson I have learned so far is that love is the key - charity to be precise.  

These last few years my husband and I have noticed that we never really felt like we were part of the wards we have been in.  We do know it's partly our fault for not reaching out, and that we have never felt truly accepted by members of the wards we are in, however that does not change how we feel about the church.  I honestly feel like feeling like an outsider has taught me so much about how we are supposed to be as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - and I am certain that there are so many people out here that are exactly what they should be and doing exactly what the Lord wants them to do.  I know that there are many areas where I can improve.  I cannot wait until the day when we, as members of the church, are more of a Zion people - One.  Through feeling  a little like an outsider, there are many things I have learned  - that is important for everyone to have a friend, that a strong testimony is so much more important than what imperfect members (which is all of us) of the church say or do (for the doctrine is perfect, but people are not), and that service is essential.  I am so grateful for visiting teaching and home teaching.  I hope that some day that I will be so much better at making friends and serving others.  I can't wait until the day when everyone in the church feels like they are being looked after by their ward family - and I do mean family :) a day when we always listen to our promptings to stop by and help a new mother help clean her house or lift her spirits, to help care for the elderly, or help heal an aching heart.  I know that there are so many wonderful people out there doing just that, but I know that I can do better at reaching out to others and I pray that I will do better and better each day to be more perceptive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost so that I can do my part to help build the Kingdom of God on the earth.  

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Messages from Water

A while back my brother-in-law told me about Masaru Emoto and his Messages from Water.  Basically he does experiments with water crystals and how they are affected by words, pictures, music, and payer.  The words, pictures, music, and prayer change the water crystals.  It is absolutely amazing.  Positive words, etc bring about a beautiful change, whereas negative words, etc. bring about almost destruction of the crystals.

his website is: http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/water-crystal.html

you should go there and checkout the pictures of the water crystals.  It's absolutely amazing.  It's also interesting that our bodies are made up of 50%-65% water.  So, if words, music, pictures, and prayer affect water crystals it would make sense that what we hear, see, say, and listen to would also affect the cells in our body in positive or negative ways.  I've seen this evidenced in the way people live: the happier they are, the better they overcome trials and illness; the affects of drugs, and alcohol on the physical body and state of mind - there is actually a physical difference in looks between someone who is on drugs vs. someone who is not; the affects of stress on our bodies; our thoughts affect how we view the world, others, and ourselves.  It seems to me that everything we do, see, say, hear, etc has an affect on our physical bodies.  Our bodies and the cells( like the water crystals) in them are a testament to how we live.  It seems our cells record our life in a way.  So we must choose the things in our lives - the things we do have control over -and how we react to them, as well as how we let them affect us.  We can choose the music we listen to, the things we see, the thoughts we entertain, and how we speak to others.  We may sometimes hear or see things that we do not wish to, however, we can train ourselves too see the good in life, and to keep positive influences in our lives so that our bodies/and the cells in them can reflect good and beautiful light, not become destroyed by negative influences.  I don't know if that all makes sense, but ever since I heard of Emoto's research, i thought it was so amazing that the things we hear, see, say, etc affect the physical world in such small ways that we cannot even see without a microscope, it makes so much sense that those things affect us as human beings too.  I have always thought that was the case, but I had not realized that the affect goes as deeply as our cells.  So, I try to remember to keep good influences in our lives, especially in the lives of our children.  I am grateful for Emoto's research and those who seek to find truth, and change the world for the better.

my daughter woke up from her nap, so I have to go.  hope that all makes sense,
-Jessica

Seasons of Life

I can honestly say that I love life.  It's not always been easy, but as I look back, I can say I've learned a lot along the way.  Currently, my trial is trying to remember that there is a time for everything in life - there is a season for everything.  There are so many things I want to get done, but I need to remember that right now is my time to enjoy my children and my husband.  I have lots of goals, while although worthwhile often take too much time and attention from my family.  I am trying to find a balance of getting everything in that I feel that I should.  But I have to remind myself that some things are more important than others and to include my children as part of those goals throughout the day.  My family is the greatest joy of my life and continually learning how to be a better mom and wife is a constant goal of mine.  I am so grateful for the Lord's gentle reminders that there will be time to accomplish what I need to throughout my life, each in it's own season.


"We have seasons in our lives as well. Some are warm and pleasant. Others are not. Some of the days in our lives are as beautiful as pictures in a calendar. And yet there are days and circumstances that cause heartache and may bring into our lives deep feelings of despair, resentment, and bitterness.

...

Still, we will have to pass through all seasons—both pleasant and painful. But no matter the season, as followers of Jesus the Christ, we will rest our hope upon Him as we walk toward His light."

-"Saints for all Seasons", By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, First Presidency Message, Sept 2013

-Jessica 

More time for music :)

so excited to start working on my music again :) hoping to get better recordings of my songs and write the melody to a few others that I have lyrics for.  It looks like my daughters are going to cooperate.  My 2 month old likes it so much she sleeps through it.  Haha.  it works out well though.  My 3 year old wants me to sing princess songs the whole time tho.  It's been too long of a break from my music but the holidays and having a baby made things a little crazy.  Super fun, but crazy.   Gotta go, she is yelling at me to get off the computer.  Haha.  Gotta love kids.

-Jessica

Our Founding Fathers

I started writing the lyrics to this song when I was in college but I tend to get distracted so I finished them up about a year ago and had Yeremy Turcios write the accompaniment to my melody/lyrics.  He did an amazing job and got it done sooo fast.  He is an amazing pianist.  So then I was supposed to record my vocals....which took me longer than it should have.  Having a baby in about 3 months so I decided I better get it done before I run out of time and before my insides get too squished to sing very well.  haha.  Anyway, I will hopefully have the  recording up on my website soon!!  Excited to finally have a copy made.  that's all for now :)
Jess

Gratitude

I'm about as good at writing in my journal as I am at blogging...which means not very good.  Not long ago, I decided to start a gratitude book.  It's just a simple spiral bound notebook that I can open when I remember and write down what I'm grateful for.  My entries are often simple and short, but I find that it's easier to take 1 minute and jot down the things that made me smile that day instead of 10-30 minutes of journal writing (because when I open my journal and realize that the last time I wrote was 3-6 months ago, I feel like I have to catch up, and then I get overwhelmed and give up). So, although I don't get my whole life's story written down, at least I can remember the good things in life, and I find that I'm better at writing things down - like what my daughter did to make me smile, or that my husband gave me a much needed foot rub without me even asking!!! How awesome is that.  It helps me ingrain those things in my brain, so in my moments of weakness I can remember those and realize how blessed I really am.  Maybe that's how my blogging should go too.  haha.  Then maybe I will post more often.

Remember that life is beautiful and it's even better when we fill it with love, gratitude and smiles,
-Jessica