Beautiful things come from the ashes!

Wow has this year gone by super fast! I can't believe that it is already Dec. This year has defiantly been a long, rough, and challenging year, but I have made it through thanks to my family, friends, but most of all my Father in Heaven! As this year comes to a close I have pondered a lot on the things that I have been through and realized that I have become a much stronger person through all of this. Tho at times I still feel extremely alone I know that is not the case, because as long as I am living my life the way I should my Savior is always by my side! The past few months I have been very blessed in my habits of reading my scriptures and saying my personal prayers have most defiantly improved. I have grown so much closer to my Father through this. A few months ago going home and getting ready for bed almost always ended in tears now it still ends usually in tears, but this time they are tears of joy, the love I feel as I study my scriptures each night is overwhelming to the point my body is so full of joy I cry! I no longer dread the end of the day, I now look forward to my time i get to spend with my Father in Heaven! I love what the scriptures have to offer. If you can't find happiness in your life start by looking there! Yesterday after I left institute I read the chapters for our next class period it was in Alma 13 though 16 I took a lot from the reading, but something I would like to share came from Alma 14:26 And Alma cried saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ even unto deliverance. This really touched me because I know that asking him to take away our pain is only disabling us. We need to ask him to help us through the pain so that we can grow and become stronger. I know there are things in my life I wish I never had to go through, but I also know that my Father knows that I am struggling and he is there to pick me up when I fall :) it is truly a blessing! I have been blessed in so many ways this year, but the two that have meant the most to me have been the trials that have strengthened my relationship with my Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ! The second one is the relationships I have with my family! I have such an amazing family and I don't think I could have made it through this year without the love and support they have shown for me! I am glad I have such a wonderful Dad who I know I can rely on no matter what! I know at times he disagrees with my choices, but he still supports me and then when they go bad he is there to pick up the mess I made! I love my talks that I get to have with him one on one they mean the world to me and I know they will always be the highlight of my trips home! I love my Momma what more can I say, she is such a beautiful woman and has taught me so much! I am so glad that she has taught me how to cook I really did learn from the best and not only has she taught me how to cook amazing meals, bu she has taught me how to do it on a budget as well as off my food storage! I don't think I could have gotten through these past few months if it weren't for her! My big sizzler Shay has been my best friend since I was little she helps me through so much she has taught me to be a strong confident women. She is an amazing example of the person I want to strive to become. I am also grateful for the little munchkins she has brought into our family with the help of her kind husband Arron-on CC is amazing I love watching her grow up and I am sure the little yokie on the way will bring just as much joy into my life as she does! I am so very happy to call Toe my baby sister I love this kid so much she has always been such a strong minded little bugger who knows what is right and is going to do what is right no matter what! I loved being home for thanksgiving break and getting to spend time with her and seeing what an amazing young woman she has become! I of course saved the best for last my wonderful Parker. This little boy truly touches my heart like nobody else can. He is my rock, I know that the love he has for me is bigger than anyone else! He makes my day when I walk into the house and he screams in his squeaky teen voice and yells my Kin oh I love my Kin! I loved being home at night and sitting in the family room and cuddling up with him he is so special to me and will always be my little man even though he is close to passing me. I have been born into a truly loving, kind, patient family that I wouldn't trade in for anything! I love you all! Have a safe time this holiday season! Remember the true meaning of Christmas as it is in the midst! Our Savior is to important to put to the wayside! Without him there would be no chance to Return to our Father in Heaven and live with our families for time and all eternity!

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving break!

Me and Booda (Parker)

Toey (Tori) and Me

Me and my baby CC (Cecily)

Me and Shay Bird!

Me, Booda, and CC I love my cuddle bugs!

Small and simple things!

This past week has really taught me a lot in fact this last 6 months has and the best thing I have taken from the crazy past few months has been to find joy in the small and simple things because through these things will come great happiness! I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and the things that it has to offer I am so very blessed to have the scriptures they are such a huge blessing in my life. I love the D&C this book truly was inspired for me. There is so much in it that helps me to grow closer to my Father in Heaven! I am so thankful for my family, I was brought to this earth by amazing parents who I know love me no matter what I do and that is such a huge blessing in my life. I am grateful for my trials and that at this time in my life my Father in Heaven is teaching me a great lesson of patience. I thought I had mastered this one until he surprised me with the last few months. It defiantly helps that he is by my side and comforting me when I am learning! I am very pleased that he knows me inside and out and that I have realized this so that when I don't know what I need or want I can go to him and ask! I feel like a toddler at his side and I am so grateful he can coddle me at this time! I am so glad he has placed people in my life to help with this as well! I have amazing friends in my life and am so blessed for that. I am thankful each day for my dear friend Elizabeth who has walked the steps ahead of me and knows what I am going through and can help me make sense of it all as well and be by my side when I don't know what else to do! I am grateful for the institute program! Today as we were going through our reading I was hit with a comment from a friend sitting next to me. we were in Mosiah chapters 9 thought 17 and she made the comment of how at times in our life when we need comfort we need to turn to our father for comfort and not to the world. I loved this because I know that there are times i seek comfort from people and don't receive any, and it can feel like a slap in the face! When I seek comfort from my Father in Heaven I always receive it! Glad to have this reminder this morning! I am pretty sure my Father in Heaven has made his point that I need to turn to him and I need to have patience, every lesson I have had this past week has been on those things as well as my personal studying! I am also grateful for this beautiful world my father has created to for me to live in! I love primary songs and the one that comes to my mind as I walk out my front door each morning is My Heavenly Father Loves Me:

Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heavenly Father created for me.

2. He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear

The magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:

I thank him reverently

For all his creations, of which I’m a part.
Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me

This is the simplest reminder that life is amazing and we are so loved and to remind us to live each day in pure gratitude! The thing I am most grateful fro in my life at this time is that my Savior came to earth, and died for me so that I may live with My Father again! This was a huge sacrifice he didn't have to make, but he did and for that I am forever grateful! I won't ever be able to repay him for what he did, but in all honesty he doesn't ask that we repay him he simply asks that we try our best to be like him! That is a minor request in my book! I am just very content with life at this moment in time and even though everything isn't perfect or just the way I thought it would be I don't mind because I am at peace with my Father in Heaven and I can feel his love and comfort surrounding me and protecting me from all the stress and cares of the world. I love being in this bubble of his love! I hope you all are doing wonderful, remember life is a gift and we need to be grateful for it! I love you all!