Wednesday, June 21, 2017

May: Hope, Positivity & Joy

I'm always a little late in posting these, but I still want to make sure that I do! 

In case you missed it, I made a New Year's resolution to pick one gospel topic each month and study it in depth. So far...


As usual I start with a topic and throughout the month it evolves into something completely new. I love it though. I learn so much more this way. I started off wanting to study positivity. It evolved into a whole string of topics- faith, hope, joy, and happiness. Let me explain, ultimately it's unrealistic to be happy and positive 100% of the time. We will inevitably experience sadness and hardship in this life, and that's okay...

Because of Jesus Christ, 
no sadness, negativity, pain, grief, or failure
 is permanent.
Period.

I am know it sounds like I am over simplifying, but I'm not. It may feel like we are just stumbling through this obstacle course of life, (and maybe we are) but we can have complete assurance the Lord is the master game keeper. He is strategically putting and pulling those obstacles in and out of the way. If we have faith in Him and His all encompassing Atonement, rest assured everything will work out in the end perfectly.

 Isn't this the best news? Talk about a sigh of relief!

**SHOVEL** 
Recently I came across an idea in my new favorite podcast (Bold New Mom), which I LOVE, that reaffirmed this idea. Whenever you experience something that is less than ideal, try on the thought "this is exactly what's supposed to happen." I am trying this out lately and it's making my life so much easier. It makes not knowing WHY things happen more bearable.  

"If clouds instead of sun spread shadows o’er our heart,
If pain afflicts us, never mind; we will soon know who Thou art.
Jesus guides us with His hand, and He will tell us why;
If we listen to His voice, He will tell us by and by.
Confide in God unwaveringly, and let Him us sustain;
Sing His glory endlessly, for later He’ll explain."

-“Not Now but in the Coming Years,” found in the LDS Portuguese hymnal


So knowing all of this, how could I not have joy and happiness? I am already on the winning team. I know everything is going to work out. Why not choose to be happy and positive in the process?

John 16:22 -"... your joy no man taketh from you."

And now some pictures of the girl who gives us the most joy...










Tuesday, June 6, 2017

10 Months

#ProjectVandMe

V: 
You are in size 6-9 month clothes and wearing size 2 diapers. You are changing so quickly these days. It’s hard for me to remember a time when you slept all day, didn’t crawl, didn’t eat solids, and didn't chat all day long. You are extremely mobile- crawling so fast everywhere and walking all over the furniture. Your new favorite toys are boxes. You especially like to use them to walk around. You are developing some stranger danger and get anxious when Dad or I aren’t around. This last week on vacation you became a serious Daddy’s girl. You say “Dada” all the time. You love to wave like an adult, and it’s the cutest thing. You are eating almost everything we eat, but still eating some baby food. You have two teeth on the bottom. You are sleeping well, usually taking two naps a day. You love men for some reason, (Get the gun now, Dad…) especially Uncle Marcus. He’s a close second behind Dad. You are our world and we love you as much as ever.

Me: 
I feel like I’m in one of those “when it rains, it pours” times. I went to the dentist and got bad news. I have cavities, like a lot of them… On top of that, I need to get my wisdom teeth removed. (Yep, still have them.) I also have an ear infection. All around my head is taking a beating. BUT we also just got back from an awesome vacation with my family- so much fun time together playing games, swimming, boating, hiking, etc. Amidst the struggles of life, I have so much to be grateful for. Side note: I studied positivity and joy this month, and I obviously needed it. Blog post to come soon.