Smile in my heart!

One of the best callings ever has been serving as a Sunday School Teacher to the 12-13 year old youth. What great joy they have brought to my heart as they have shared their love with me.

I walked into class today to find a note with my name sitting on the chalkboard rim. I picked it up and set down my manual and other library materials on the table. When I turned back towards the chalkboard is when I noticed the sweet cup of flowers sitting next to where the note had been.

What a sweet and kind gesture done with love. Little did this sweet girl know how much my heart needed it today.

Thank You!!

Thanksgiving

I know you are thinking, "no Michelle, it is Easter."

Don't worry I am not confused.

Last weekend (Mar 31st & Apr. 1st) my church had what we call General Conference.
This is an opportunity for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and anyone else to listen to talks that have been prepared by our Prophet and the Apostles.

They are messages of hope, encouragement, calls to repentance, teaching, and most importantly testifying of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I enjoyed the talks given. I felt humbled, rejoicefull, anxious, repentant...

One of the talks given was on Sacrifice by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, one of the twelve Apostles.
I knew as I listened that this was a principle I needed to better understand and live in my life.

I have endeavored to study it so I might learn how it applies in my life specifically.

The other night I was studying about Peace Offerings in Leviticus.
A peace offering can be offered with the purpose of Thanksgiving to God.

That is part of the purpose of this specific blog.
It is part of my modern day peace offering I am offering to the Lord.
I want to show thanksgiving publicly not to say look at me, but to share what great things the Lord has done. The rest of my peace offering I will hold sacred. Don't worry no animals will be harmed ;)

There is not necessarily a specific order to this list, and it is pretty impossible to include everything and everyone, but here is a go at the beginning. I understand most will stop reading now if they haven't already, but the point was to see the many things God has done. My own specific things won't mean much to you, only to me.

I give thanks for:

1. My mother - among so many amazing things has taught me how to be a woman of faith
2. My father - diddo... has taught me how to listen and heed the spirit
3. Willie - taught me to not be afraid of being myself
4. Nathan - always gives the best hugs, hug with a massage!!
5. Seth - powerful leader of making right choices
6. Shannon - so darn funny!
7. Laura - kindest person I know!
8. Benjamin - adventurous spirit
9. Kami - Happy spirit
   
10. Mission Presidents Pres. & Sister Fugal, Pres. & Sister Cushing - taught me wisdom
    
11. Scriptures - taught me how to live, to be a missionary, to be a woman...
12. Heavenly Father - He really listens to me, he is my confidant.
    
13. Jesus Christ - He has saved me!
14. Holy Spirit - Peace, assurance, taught me truth
15. Gospel of Jesus Christ
    
16. Testimony
17. Desiree
18. Tamara
19. Florisel
20. Elizabeth - National Park adventure buddy among other things...
    
21. Phillip & family
    
22. Pamela
23. Jason, Mary Ann, Rowyn - Framily
    
24. Brittany & Jeff - My adventure Buddies
25. Abraham
26. San Marcos Friends... I realized you are soo numerous, but I love you all
27. Austin Friends... Diddo
28. Allred Family
    
29. Del Rio Friends... Diddo
30. Taryn, Crystal the whole exclusive club gang ;)
    
31. San Angelo friends... Diddo
32. Sweetwater friends
    
33. Bastrop friends
34. Oregon friends
35. Mission comps and elders
36. Sunni & JoLee and family
    
37. Brackettville friends
38. Co-worker friends...As you can see I am highly blessed with friends
39. San Antonio friends
40. President Thomas S. Monson
41. Twelve Apostles
42. Cooking
43. Job
44. Education
45. Money
46. Traveling
47. Photographs
48. the ability to create
49. Love
50. My body
51. Professors
52. Technology
53. Nature
54. Oxygen
55. Ambition
56. Dreams
57. My bed
58. Laughter
59. Sun
60. Sunglasses
61. Texas
62. An apartment
63. Food
64. Music
65. Dance
66. Shoes
67. Clothes
68. My ancestors
69. Canoes/Kayaks
70. National Parks
71. Perfume
72. Car
73. Letters
74. Water
75. Pools/bodies of water
76. blankets
77. teddy bears
78. baseball hats
79. note cards/paper/binders
80. journal
81. the ability to learn
82. humor
83. eternity/plan of happiness
84. exercise
    
85. books
86. movies
87. grass/trees
88. United States
89. World
90. General Conference
91. Bicycle
92. Temples
93. Pens, crayons...
94. Toys
95. Bathrooms
96. Toothbrush
97. Camping
98. hiking
99. Food storage
100. Heart Rate watch
101. On and On and On.....................................................................
     

Hiking with Bluebonnets

My favorite form of exercise is hiking.

So as I drove home today from work I thought to myself:
"Self, lets go hiking in the park for your workout today!"

This is what I got to enjoy along the way!

Unfair Pain

I have been having a lot of conversations with God about this lately.
It seems so many people I love and care about are going through some heartache that is not fair and no fault of their own.

And of course I think of my own heartache and inner suffering that I feel from time to time.
It seems to hit randomly and brings my heart to much sorrow, not just because of what I lack, but then also leads me to feeling the sorrow for those who are dear to me. Those who struggle with similar pain, who have endured pain longer, or who have suffered even greater than I. Before I know it I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders, I feel tired and sad. I wish I could change circumstances, but know that I can't. I plead for help to change circumstances, that maybe this one prayer will be the one to make all the difference. That it will tip the blessing in my favor, in my friends favor.

Honestly sometimes it seems that the other end is silent in granting what I want most. It seems that I have put forth the effort to become... and it is greeted with the almost blessing: The blessing that is the simple joy letting me know that God loves me.

A beautiful sunset
A sweet compliment
A rainbow in the sky
The Bluebonnets dotting my drive to work
The sweet and peaceful feeling of the spirit
Friends
A Hug
A text message from a family member full of love...

All of these things reminding me that God has heard my prayer even if my or my friends circumstances don't seem to be changing.

I continue to pray because of these simple experiences that continue to happen. They let me know if the little things matter so much to Him, then He must be helping me with the greater things, and I just can't see it.

This morning I felt weighed down with sorrow and not sure what would uplift me. I didn't want a pep talk, I didn't want to listen to what I should keep doing because I already know and am committed to it in my heart. The Lord knows that.

In search of something but not sure what I went to LDS.org. Often I find uplifting and inspiring talks, but honestly did not feel like that was what would make the difference. I went because I knew it was a source for inspiration and despite my disbelief that anything could make a difference, trusted that the Lord would provide in some way.

On the front page was a video representation of the Savior Suffering in Gethsemane.

I clicked to watch it feeling that maybe it could offer some sort of relief.

There was a man representing the Savior heavily weighed down with sorrow, looking tired and worn, with the literal weight of the world on his shoulders.

He did not look happy, he did not look joyous, but he was willing. Willing to suffer for me and for my friends. Willing to continue to do what was right even though it would cause him the greatest of all suffering. He asked for it to be removed and yet he continued to endure in sorrow, in my friends and my sorrow according to the Father's will, so that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father after this life. So that we can have the greatest happiness.

It made the difference. It was OK that my heart was full of sorrow and that life feels hard, He understands that better than I do. He understands wanting it to be taken away, He understands wanting different circumstances. All of a sudden I wasn't alone in my pain, He shared it with me.

I feel that when we endure through sorrow to do what is right we will receive the greatest happiness as a result, in this life and the next. This is my hope and my faith.

These are a few things that have inspired me during my own pain and heartache:

The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane

The Atonement Covers All Pain

The Songs They Could Not Sing

Jalapeno Popper ...What!

Mmh, Jalapeno Poppers.

It's like a party in the mouth. Quite literally.

Each bite is an explosion of flavor from the spice of the jalapeno, to the saltiness of the bacon, and the creaminess and gooey-ness of cream cheese.

They are wonderful!

While shopping at HEB* the other day I splurged on some pre-made jalapeno poppers to go with my fajitas I was planning to make for dinner that evening.

That night as I was nestled all snug in my bed
I had visions of jalapeno poppers dancing in my head

I began to think of other delicious ways where I could enjoy and explore these flavors and an idea was born. Jalapeno Popper Pot Pie**

Here are the pictures of my recipe creation:

Cream Cheese Sauce

Just before entering the oven

Yummy, all nice and bubbly from the Oven

I liked it! Maybe not the best for a main course, but a great side! Obviously it is not on the healthy side of things. Sometimes you just need to splurge!
Had enough of a kick to get my nose to run, I'd call it a success!

While making the above recipe, I also decided to try my hand at loaves of bread from the oven. So far I have only ever made Banana Bread in the oven, the rest has always been my bread maker. I looked up a yummy recipe online and gave it a shot.

I used it today in my lunch for my Turkey sandwich. Yep, it was pretty awesome! Soft and every bite gives you a taste of cheese. Who doesn't like cheese?

Another Success!

Next I am going to try a recipe I found for Jalapeno Cheese bread. I can't wait to eat a sandwich or hamburger off of this!!

* The grocery store everyone misses when they leave Texas.
** I have been on a pot pie kick lately, exploring all sorts of different kinds I can make.

Letting Go...Moving Forward

It is so easy to hold onto the past when our desires lie with it.
It takes time to change our hearts and desires.
It Takes Action, a step at a time.
Turning away from what was or could have been and looking forward to what can be.
It takes looking to Christ and seeking for God's vision.
It takes making choices, taking risks, acting in obedience.
It takes remembering the whisperings of the spirit to your heart.

Elder Holland shared some wise counsel on letting go of the past and moving forward towards the future: Click the link below to read or hear his full talk.

"Remember Lot's Wife"

These are some of my favorite quotes. I like to remember these words of wisdom in the moments when I am struggling to let go. Words of wisdom remind me of faith and remind me that the Savior can be my strength in my weak moments when I struggle.

"The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives."

"Dismiss the destructive and keep dismissing it until the beauty of the Atonement of Christ has revealed to you your bright future and the bright future of your family and your friends and your neighbors. God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go."

Alligator Wrestling

New talent I have picked up:

Alligator Wrestling!

Can't believe I haven't shown this off before now?

My friend Brittany is also part of this awesomeness.
Pretty much we are both awesome!