Sunday Thoughts: Do More of What Makes You Happy

At the beginning of the year I stepped back to see what things I was missing out on or what I should be doing in my life. I found a few things that I wanted to add into my life and made a few changes to make those things happen. Whether you need to find another job, make more time for someone, or time for a fun habit try to make it happen. It probably won't unless you make time for it.
On a similar note, some things that we might focus on to make us happy might be for more selfish purposes. I like this following quote that lets us realize the many great things we have in our lives and how we need to recognize that we have so much, and in many cases... enough.

Sunday Thoughts: Trials

EVERYONE is going through some kind of trial in one form or another. We need to give people the benefit of the doubt because you never truly know what is going on in their lives. For our trials in our lives, we can't let them slow or weigh us down. Chris and I have had our share of trials this last year, but we have decided to have goals to bring us closer to the Lord and have thought of ways to serve others and have the 'spirit of charity' where we develop in ourselves to listen to the spirit how we can help others, put others first, always give. This has changed our attitudes from self pity, to forgetting our trials because we are focused on the future and what it holds. How we can be better and have these trials make us BETTER NOT BITTER.

Are your trials weighing you down, different trials can affect people so differently and some might be harder than others. But turn your life over to the Lord and see how He can help guide you through this trial. There will be different seasons of our lives, some will be nice and sunny and some will be winter storms, but we can get through all of them with the help of the Lord.

On a similar note, we shouldn't make fun or judge people for what they don't have. There was a couple in front of us one Sunday who was making fun and taking pictures of a man at church because of the way he appeared and was dressed. Recently, I have seen that man walk to and from work/ school everyday so he can support his family. He is doing the best he can, maybe they don't have the means or a car to help him in that regard but that is not for us to make fun of. You never know someone's whole situation. We are all brothers and sisters and we need to be there to support eachother, not to tear down.

Sunday Thoughts: New Year For Making Goals

I am a goal setter. I love making goals so I can see how much I have improved or grown, to get further in life, to be a better person, to make good habits that need to be a part of me. I make goals at the beginning of each year personally and with Chris to help us accomplish the things I mentioned above. Some things take more discipline or are harder to attain than others, but at least I am going somewhere and getting better. I rather have goals and fall short than not having any goals that get me nowhere.

Here are some more encouraging words for making goals this year:

Thanksgiving Time

First of all, Black Friday was a big success (I'll blog about that later) but I wanted to say what a great Thanksgiving we had. We spent time with Chris' family and had so much fun talking to mine on the phone. We stuffed our faces, watched movies and football, and had a great time.

There is so much to be grateful for.

Our health, our families, a full fridge, roof over our heads, work, a bed, safety, our cars, the gospel, The Book of Mormon, a free country, a great ward, kind neighbors and friends, opportunities to do good, warm coats, etc.

We have so many things, we need to always show appreciation to the Lord and give to others not just during the holiday season but all year round.

Sunday Thoughts: Chris

No matter what, we have been given so much. Sometimes it might be harder to be grateful, but we are so blessed and have so much more than most of the people on Earth. We need to recognize our blessings and always be thankful for what we have. There is always something to be grateful for.

Something I am so grateful for is my wonderful husband. This week has been difficult and he has been so kind and thoughtful to me and has praised me with compliments and kind words as he always does, but this week they were something that I really needed. We had friends come over for FHE and our lesson was on gratitude. Chris told them the things he was grateful for and said that how "God has blessed [him] so much because He gave me Elise". I still am teary-eyed over that one when I think about it. He is such a great example to me, he is always pushing me in the right direction and helping me not to give up, he has helped me have a greater perspective of things and has helped me increase my faith in our Heavenly Father. He does so much for me and others and always has something so kind to say and to pick me up.

When that couple was over last week, my friend said she couldn't think of anything she was good at or any gifts she had. Chris stepped up and complimented her saying how she is such a kind person and how she was the first to become my friend in the ward and welcome me in. Chris is an example to me of how we need to look for the good in others and there are so many good things in everyone and we should let them know.

We have gone to the temple so many times this year and have our goals in different aspects of our life. Our goals help our priorities stay in place and help us grow even closer to eachother and to Heavenly Father. He is such a great man, I love him so much and I am so glad we are sealed together FOREVER!!!!

Make sure this holiday season to tell your loved ones how much you love them

Sunday Thoughts: Plan A?

At college graduation a lot was going on... graduating, job searching, Chris meeting my fam for the first time, touring with my grandparents etc... so I only remember a few things about the talks that were given for commencement. The main thing I liked was from Brother Magleby was his talk about "Plan A."

He told us life isn't about the Plan A but Plan B. Things rarely go 100% the way we want or expect them to. You have to have a backup plan and keep pressing forward, great things can and will happen even if Plan A doesn't work.

I loved his talk because it is true things haven't gone exactly as I would have liked thousands of times. When something fell through or things turned out differently then I hoped, it was important to keep a positive attitude and not give up. No matter our hardships or disappointment from things not working out, having faith in the Lord is key because He knows our plan and what is best for us even though we don't see it.

Don't worry, everything turns out for the best, if something doesn't work... keep going. We have a lot of life still on the earth and we can't be let down by things out of our control. Be happy, figure out what you need to do next, rely on the Lord, and move on.

Sunday Thoughts: Putting God First

Sunday Thoughts: Standing Alone

We had Stake Conference today. We were lucky to hear some great talks, one that struck me was from Sister Dalton about standing up for what is right. She told a story of her son Jess who was the Student President of a university and went to Chicago for a leadership camp with other colleges. They were doing leadership activities and were asked questions and then had to run to a tree which had signs saying "strongly agree, agree, strongly disagree.." In one of the questions, everyone ran to a tree and her son Jess was the only one infront of "strongly disagree." Everyone made fun of him and said how funny he was and to be serious. He had a choice to go to another tree or not say anything, but he did not do that and said he was serious and this is what he believed.
Many people will not stand up because they are worried about what others will think or say. To be a leader we need to stand up, especially in hard times. We have covenanted to "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in..."
Don't be afraid to be alone, I love the statement from President Hinckley: "I rather be respected than popular."

Sunday thoughts: Examples of kindness

Today was Fast Sunday and I was able to reflect on all of the kindness that people have showed to Chris and I recently.

This weekend or car wouldn't start and Chris was out there under the hood of the car trying to figure out the problem. I swear every single person who went into the store we were in front of stopped to offer assistance. That was so kind of them to take time to offer to help out of their busy schedules.

A boy from primary bore his testimony at church and it was so sweet. I bore mine as well today.

A couple who is new to the ward made us feel so welcome to the ward the last few weeks. They are new too but they wanted to be there, help us etc any way they can.

A guy who lives by us was working on his car and always waves to us. He said if we ever needed any help with a car issue he will help us. He doesn't even know our names but was so willing to help if we ever need it.

Our wonderful family helped us move recently, that was a huge help where they sweated in the intense heat, lifted our awfully heavy desk, and didn't complain.

When getting food this weekend, Chris have some money to the charity that the restaurant was sponsoring. Such a great example to me on helping others.

I'm so grateful for so many good examples of people serving us. There are so many great people out there and I need to get out there and look for ways to serve as well. There are so many people around us that could use a helping hand or smile.

How are you spending your money?

Here are some stats regarding US money management that I found from these websites:
http://character-education.info/Money/money-studies-and-statistics3.htm
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-industry-facts-personal-debt-statistics-1276.php

* 93% of retirees carry some debt
* Real Median Household Income = $48,201
* Official Poverty Rate = 12.3%
* People without health insurance = 15.8%, or 47 million (From U.S. Census)
* 32% "love" their jobs. "Only 9% dislike or hate their jobs."
* "Being married is also strongly related to life satisfaction and happiness, and may be a more important predictor of these states of mind than income."
* "Over half of Americans under 30 expect to be rich some day, but by the time Americans reach the age of 65, only 8% have that dream."
* A new Gallup Poll Social Audit on gambling shows that 57% of Americans have bought a lottery ticket in the last 12 months...."
* "...according to a Gallup poll conducted October 21-24, (1999) 60% of American households are now invested in the stock market."
* 73% of teens whose families discussed the importance of savings reported saving 25% or more of their income.
* A high school diploma increased earnings by $600 per month over those who never completed high school.
* "Thirty-four percent of the adult population (18 and over) had degrees or certificates above the high school level in 2001."
* Average credit card debt per household with credit card debt: $15,799
* Average number of credit cards held by cardholders: 3.5, as of yearend 2008
* Total U.S. revolving debt (98 percent of which is made up of credit card debt): $793.1 billion, as of May 2011
* Total U.S. consumer debt: $2.43 trillion, as of May 2011
* In 2006, the United States Census Bureau determined that there were nearly 1.5 billion credit cards in use in the U.S. A stack of all those credit cards would reach more than 70 miles into space -- and be almost as tall as 13 Mount Everests.
* Half of college undergraduates had four or more credit cards in 2008. That's up from 43 percent in 2004 and just 32 percent in 2000.
* 76 percent of undergraduates have credit cards, and the average undergrad has $2,200 in credit card. Additionally, they will amass almost $20,000 in student debt.
* At about 20 percent, New Hampshire and New Jersey have the largest concentration of consumers with 10 or more credit cards.
* 58 percent of Hispanics have not used a credit card in the past 30 days.
* Penalty fees from credit cards will add up to about $20.5 billion in 2009, according to R. K. Hammer, a consultant to the credit card industry.
* 36 percent of respondents said they didn't know the interest rate on the card they use most often.
* In the last 12 months, 15 percent of American adults, or nearly 34 million people, have been late making a credit card payment and 8 percent (18 million people) have missed a payment entirely
* Nearly one in three Americans -- 29 percent -- said that in some of the past 12 months, they paid only the minimum payment on their credit cards.
* When finances are tight, 59 percent of people would pay their credit card bills last. A majority -- 52 percent -- would pay the mortgage first and 38 percent say they would pay for utilities before paying other obligations.
* The first widely accepted plastic charge card was issued in 1958 by American Express.
* Between 1989 and 2006, the nation's total credit card charges increased from about $69 billion a year to more than $1.8 trillion. (Source: Demos.org, April 2008)
* It is estimated that there are 10,000 payment card transactions made every second around the world.
* The number of U.S. identity fraud victims rose 12 percent to 11.1 million adults last year, the highest level since the survey began in 2003.

Crazy Encounters at the Airport

I totally people watch at the airport. It is so interesting to me, on my way to and from Michigan I took notes of interesting things I saw in the airport and on the plane... ENJOY

• A man standing up and putting deodorant on
• We hadn't boarded for moe than two minutes and the woman in front of me changed her babies diaper
• Waiting at the gate and a woman doing the splits on the ground and staying like that as she read a book
• A lady was checking in her and her dog and she asked if the dog could get sky miles (maybe they can but it sounds so dumb).
• Too many pillow pets and one shaped like a pokemon.
• At the gate, a guy sitting three seats away from me asking me to save his spot. I felt so bad bc I wasn't paying attention and a businessman on his phone say there. Oops
• Two girls carrying fake bats ... Yes like the animal.. Onto the plane. I have no idea why, they were over a foot long
• A really presumptuous lady w a huge hat. She would have fit perfectly I the royal wedding
• A girl with panda ear headphones
• People bringing a longboard and rollerblades on the plane
• I swear I saw an Amish person on a cell phone.
• A man was flossing his teeth at the gate.
• One flight attendent started singing the Tigger song... "the most wonderful about thing about Tiggers, are Tiggers are wonderful things..."
• Oh, and a girl wheeling a Cake Cricut on the plane (ME LOL)

Time Out According to Supernanny

I have been watching the show supernanny recently. These are her rules for TO. It doesn't mean that they are correct, but she shows that when a child does something wrong, this is a healthy way they can be disciplined and can change behavior.

• There is a better way than physical abuse
• Before Time Out, give a child warning of their behavior. Come down to their eye level and tell then if they continue ____ behavior they well have to go to Time Out.
• Child does it again they go to TO. Parent needs to tell them why they are in TO.
• The TO location should not be a bedroom, somewhere fun or distracting like w toys or something. You show TO is not a privilege. The child needs time to think of what they did was wrong.
• TO length should only be the childs age. Sending them to TO for half hour is too long and unrealistic for children. A short time seems so long to kids and going there is not fun for them. Supernanny has parents use a timer. If the child gets off of TO, they should be taken back and the time starts again.
• Parents should leave the child during Time Out so the child can think. Playing, cuddling etc w the child can send messages that when they do something to get to TO they get more attention and they will continue to do that.
• Of a child gets off TO before their time is done, they need to go back and the time starts again. Having them get off whenever they chose puts the child in control of discipline instead of the parent.
• After the time is done, have the child explain why they were in TO. Sometimes parents can kindly remind child what they did was wrong and the child needs to apologize
• Hug and tell your child how you love them

Book of Virtue: the magic thread

Blah I'm sick and don't feel well. So something I love is Aesope Fables and Book of Virtues and anything like that.

One of my favorites is the Magic Thread found at:
http://www.noogenesis.com/pineapple/magic_thread.html "Too often, people want what they want (or what they think they want, which is usually "happiness" in one form or another) right now. The irony of their impatience is that only by learning to wait, and by a willingness to accept the bad with the good, do we usually attain those things that are truly worthwhile. "He that can have patience, can have what he will," Benjamin Franklin told us, and this French tale bears him out."

So what happens is Peter is a "strong, able boy" who would daydream of the future and what he would be when he grows up. "Peter found it hard to enjoy whatever he was doing at the moment, and was always hankering after the next thing. In winter he longed for it to be summer again, and in summer he looked forward to the skating, sledging, and warm fires of winter. At school he would long for the day to be over so that he could go home, and on Sunday nights he would sigh, "If only the holidays would come.""
He fell asleep in a forest and when he awoke, an old woman was there with a silver ball with gold thread.
"This is your life thread," the old woman replied. "Do not touch it and time will pass normally. But if you wish time to pass more quickly, you have only to pull the thread a little way and an hour will pass like a second. But I warn you, once the thread has been pulled out, it cannot be pushed back in again. It will disappear like a puff of smoke. The ball is for you. But if you accept my gift you must tell no one, or on that very day you shall die. Now, say, do you want it?"
Peter took it and when he was sick of school he would pull a little of the string so he wouldnt have to work or if it was during the week he would pull more so payday would come around. He would want to be married and when he pulled the string he was, he wanted kids then pull the string and kept doing that. When something was resolved another problem would arise. He became old, his kids left for careers of their own, his wife old and in pain and his mother passed on. He went to the forest and found the old lady who asked if Peter was happy.
"I'm not sure," Peter said. "Your magic ball is a wonderful thing. I have never had to suffer or wait for anything in my life. And yet it has all passed so quickly. I feel that I have had no time to take in what has happened to me, neither the good things nor the bad. Now there is so little time left. I dare not pull the thread again for it will only bring me to my death. I do not think your gift has brought me luck."
Anyway he wanted his time back and woke up as a young boy again.

Sunday Thoughts: Do you know your spouse's Love Language?

So in Relief Society today we were talking about service and I really liked some comments that were given. We were talking about serving our spouses and how their ways of giving and receiving service could be different from ours and we need to know those so we can better serve each other.

I'm not a huge advocate of the 5 Love Languages or anything, but I really think it is important to know which ways you show love and know how your spouse shows love. I just figured Chris was the same as me, but we went through them after church so we could know how we can better serve and know how to love each other. Here are the Love Languages from 5lovelanguages.com:

1) Words of Affirmation
Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

2) Quality Time
In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

3) Receiving Gifts
Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

4) Acts of Service
Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

5) Physical Touch
This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

I am definitely the words of affirmation (I love the reinforcement of doing good things or knowing that I am loved) and also the acts of service. Chris has quality time and physical touch of just holding hands and knowing that I am there. So yeah, I encourage you that have spouses to learn each other's love languages to see how you can better serve them.

The sun will come out tomorrow

The sun will come out, tomorrow

Bet your bottom that tomorrow, there'll be sun

Just thinking about, tomorrow

Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow,

Til there's none.

When im stuck with the day, thats grey, and lonely,

I just stick out my chin and grin and say,

Ohhhhhhh. The sun will come out, tomorrow

So you gotta hang on til tomorrow,

Come what may,

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I luv ya, tomorrow

You're always a day

The definition of a ghetto car

The definition of a ghetto car:

A car that you can't take in the car wash because the sunroof leaks.
A car whose radio won't work so you have to blast music from your Ipod.
A car whose AC doesn't work so you need to roll down the windows, but two are not working.
A car whose door panel is in the backseat because the window wouldn't work and it had to be fixed.
A car whose driver's door handle is off and you need to open the door by pulling a wire, or just go through the passenger side.
A car whose side mirror is crooked and you need to manually adjust.
A car whose been scraped on the backside and crunched on the front side and hasn't been fixed because the damages are more than the car is even worth.
A car whose ceiling sags (from the water from the sunroof).
On the other hand, a car whose door handle is off on that driver's side and you need to pull the metal bar at the right angle and the right strength to open it.

All of these things together equal= "THE PUDDLE JUMPER" (aka the name for my car).

Ok I could go on and on but this is the state of my car right now. I actually find it humorous because it seriously is not in the best shape but know what... it gets me from place to place. As much as I want a new car right now I think its such a good idea to save now and get something nicer later. I'm glad that we have that ability to wait.

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

Today is going to be a great day if you make it that way

This morning I woke up and instead of jumping in the car, I decided to spend some 'me' time and got ready, made breakfast, read some world news, read an Ensign talked, and of course blogged.


I loved the talk I read by Elder Uchtdorf which was called "Looking for the Good." He told a story of how a family was moving in the area and talked to two neighbors, one told of how great a school was and its teachers and the other told how it was so bad, they couldn't stand it. Both were talking of the same school, he said we can find bad wherever we go, but we can also find good wherever we go. Which one will you look for? There is so much joy and happiness all around and counting our blessings every day can help us realize that.
I love the story I heard of a Relief Society President who, by every name of each sister in her ward, wrote three positive things. Instead of tearing someone down, she was looking for the good which sometimes isn't as evident in some people especially if you don't know them well.
I think we can look for the good and that glass "half full" all of the time, no matter what hardships or trials we're going through. Believe me, everyone has some kind of trial they are going through and I love the saying that "someone always has it worse than you" because we shouldn't have a bad attitude but know that the Lord loves us. We aren't the only one going through something difficult.
Well it is Saturday, look for the good this weekend and HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

"There's a lot more to people than you think"

"The Girl you just called fat? She has been starving herself & has lost over 30lbs. The Boy you just called stupid? He has a learning disability & studies over 4hrs a night. The Girl you just called ugly? She spends hours putting makeup on hoping people will like her. The Boy you just tripped? He is abused enough at home. There's a lot more to people than you think."

This was someones facebook status and I really liked it. EVERYONE has something going on in their lives whether great or small and we usually do not know their full background. My mom would always say "give ppl the benefit of the doubt, you never know what's going on in their lives." Over the years I've really tried to be understanding of people and sympathetic to their behavior or why they might be acting a certain way.
There have been so many cases where I have talked to someone and for to know them better and heard about their sever trials our all they have home through. Who are we to judge? We usually don't know everything that is going on in peoples lives, give them a break. People need more bringing up then tearing down, I love the words of President Hinckley "I rather be respected than popular". Many times its not the "cool" thing to be nice, but I am so glad I have the courage to stand up for the underdog and those in need and I hope you can as well. Being popular in the end doesn't get you very far. I definitely want to be remembered as "the nice kid."

Being someones "yoke"

Yesterday Chris and I taught our cute Gospel Doctrine class. We have learned so much from preparing these lessons and I believe that this will help us in one day teaching our children.
One main thing we spoke about was about how we can be there for others and help bear their burdens. I hope we can always look out for others and lift them up. I know or lives are so busy, but being selfless and thinking about others is such an important characteristic to have.