I've learned that sometimes the things we want don't just magically happen in a day. It doesn't come all at once. It may even take a little patience... actually a lot depending on the person. But I really got to thinking as I began to assemble this 1,000 piece puzzle. As we started sorting the edge pieces and putting them together, I thought "Wow, this is going to be easier than I thought." It seemed as though every piece we randomly picked up and put in its place, fit just right. Eventually, the border was done. Just like that.
We (Me and my brother mainly) then started to sort all of the rest of the pieces in certain colors and areas. Sure enough, just like the border pieces we were getting lucky with each random piece we tried. Each hour we put into the puzzle kept getting easier. Then, suddenly we were stuck. We had moved onto the orange sunset pieces at the top. I was getting frustrated by the minute. Each piece seemed to be the exact same color and shape. I wanted to give up. My patience was running out. But then a scripture came to mind... 2 Nephi 28:30 "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have." I eventually realized that each piece wasn't going to be just as easy as the last. I also realized just like with a puzzle, we build ourselves one piece at a time, one day at a time, one experience after another, and even one trial after another. There have been countless times where I've wished that certain circumstances in my life would change, that somehow magically that I would go to sleep and wake up the next day completely happy. Life just doesn't work like that. But if it did, we wouldn't learn and we wouldn't grow. Our loving Heavenly Father wants us to turn to Him and tell him ALL our needs and ALL of our problems. I have had to trust in this and trust in Him. That hasn't always been easy for me, as I'm one that doesn't like to ask for help. And that is okay. It takes time and that's okay. I came across a quote by Al Fox Carraway... "No matter who we are or what we're going through, there is always a solution. It is and always will be Christ." Don't give up now. You've come a long way. There is hope. It is in Christ. Sometimes, it is as simple as that. I hope you all had an amazing Christmas with family and friends! Again I thank you for all of the support with this blog and on my @_simplyness_ account. Have a wonderful Monday and week. Ness
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For this post, I wanted to tie it in with today's 12 days of Christmas (DAY 9) : SHELTER- For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. -Psalms 61:3 As I was thinking about this I thought of the Christmas present that my YW leaders had gave to all of us Young Women. Here is a pic of it: Standing in Holy places doesn't just have to be in temples, it can also be the way we talk and how we choose to live our beliefs. I am so grateful for Christmas time to have the opportunity to really reflect on that. Choosing to follow Christ and remember Him is also standing in Holy places. This scripture also says... "And be not moved until the day of the Lord comes." We can't just live the gospel one day and totally do the opposite the next. It is being consistent and remembering Him. :) I came across a super cute instagram account @laura.creates... she sells custom water color and copic marker artwork that is gospel related. I ordered one of the Mt. Timpanogos Temple that came a couple weeks ago. I absolutely love it. It is the cutest thing ever so I thought I'd share her account with you so you can check it out! Sad news though... her shop is closed right now but will open in Mid-January. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! Here is a link to a video based on the church's hashtag #ASaviorIsBorn to end this post. Love you guys and thank you for all your continuous support. Ness
https://youtu.be/Ly7c9scxB9I Instead of the typical Motivation Monday, I wanted to do something a little different today. I wanted this post to be tied to today's 12 Days of Christmas. Today's (DAY 3) is INFLUENCE: Light of Christ, Divine energy, power or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things.
Sometimes it is through others that we can see God's hands working miracles in our lives. One time in particular was when my eyes were truly open to that. Holidays for most are exciting, fun, joyful, etc. But for some they can be times of mourning, loss, devastation, sadness, etc. One holiday season in particular for our family ended up that way. On Christmas Eve 2011 my mom's boyfriend/fiance passed away. Just like that. Try to bear with me as I write as my emotions and mind are all over the place and as I try to organize my thoughts. I woke up the next day, throwing my covers off me practically against the wall. I was grinning from ear to ear. It was Christmas! Little did I know however, in just a couple minutes our lives would take a totally different turn. I ran down the stairs and towards our Christmas tree by the front door. My older brother and mom came following after. We began to take turns ripping apart wrapping paper, ripping off tape, untying bows, etc. My mom had pulled out her phone to take pictures when she noticed that she had a text message. She opened the text. Her eyes were wide. She didn't blink once. The text was from her boyfriend's twin brother. He had told her very bluntly (there was no other way) that Tyler -name changed- had died. She showed us the text. My first reaction was disbelief honestly. I thought he was lying. "Yeah right. He's just joking. You talked to him last night!" I protested to my mom. She sat motionless. "I don't believe that. Let's just finish unwrapping and then you can call Travis -name changed- later." My brother suggested. "You know what, you're right. He's just trying to scare me." My mom was used to things like this coming from Tyler's twin brother Travis. So we went about unwrapping our presents one by one. Until we all began to feel very uneasy moments later. We knew something was definitely not right. Travis wouldn't go that far. Time seemed to slow down at this point. We no longer cared or noticed it was Christmas day. Just minutes later as my mom was conversing back and forth with Travis we received the real and haunting news that Tyler had passed away. To leave out sensitive details, he had taken his own life. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to feel. I felt lost. I felt angry. I had hundreds of questions running through my head. I was only 12 years old at the time so I don't think I fully grasped what had happened even though I knew my emotions were real, I just didn't know what to do with them. Tyler had battled depression for years. It seemed as though he was in a dark hole and couldn't figure out how to break free. Even though we were very aware of this, we never expected it to reach this far. Memories after that text are very faint to me. I can't remember much, but what I do remember is God's hand in my life that day... later that night, we got a knock at our door. We hesitated to answer, considering the circumstance. But instead, my mom had a strong feeling to open it. So she did. It was our visiting teacher, husband and their older son. "Kelly! Merry Christmas! We brought you some-" She stopped mid-sentence noticing the tears in my mom's eyes and solemn feeling in the house. Me and my brother were in the back room listening in. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Our kind visiting teacher had asked. My mom broke down. She explained the tragic news. Our visiting teacher came inside while she asked her husband and son to wait in the car. She held and sobbed with my mom for what seemed like hours. Then my mom mentioned a priesthood blessing. Tammy -name changed- immediately said yes! "I am going to line one up right now. Hold tight for just a second, okay?" In less than 10 minutes she had another priesthood holder over to help her husband give a blessing to my mom. I don't remember what was said. I wish I did. But I do remember feeling that everything was going to be okay. Despite the current circumstance, I felt peace. I felt love. In my little and inexperienced 12 year old mind, I knew that Heavenly Father knew our needs. He knew and understood our pain. His son had felt what my mom was feeling that day. After the blessing, our visiting teacher, her husband and son left. She came back a half hour later with a mug of cake pops, 2 tubs of homemade chicken noodle soup, stuffing, ham, corn, yams, etc. I can tell you that God works in mysterious ways. He knew our sorrow, he knew our grief, and he sent someone to be his hands to let us know that he cared. Our visiting teacher had dropped everything that Christmas day in 2011 to help someone in desperate need. We were so grateful. We were so blessed. God works in wonderful and mysterious ways. He knows your pain. He hears your cries in the night when no one else does but yourself. During this Christmas season, try to look beyond yourself and find someone who is in need. Lend a hand. You may never know how much good you can do until you do it. Have a wonderful week. Love you all. Ness For today's Sunday post I thought it would be perfect to share the hashtag and this Christmas season's new initiative. #ASaviorIsBorn !! When I first heard about it, I thought... Ahh that's so perfect! So without further a due click on the link below to watch the video that the church put together. If you've already seen it, that's okay watch it again or with your fam!:)
https://youtu.be/q_TEOyhy7Bg As we celebrate Christmas this year, let's remember the reason for the season. It is so easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle and trying to pick out just the right gifts for everyone, all the holiday baking, all the glitter and bows, wrapping, etc. All of that stuff is awesome and great and super fun, but that is not what it's all about. I think the hashtag #ASaviorIsBorn is so perfect and relevant for this time of year. I love the scripture that says "For unto us a child is born. And his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the Almighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace." -Isaiah 9:6 He is our literal Savior and Redeemer. He atoned for our sins and shortcomings so that we can be healed through Him. He suffered for us so that we wouldn't have to. Death has no sting. We can have joy. That knowledge alone brings so much peace and I am SO grateful for that. I am so grateful for Him. I am grateful that our loving Heavenly Father gave his only begotten son to die... for us. So what better way to celebrate this season than of his birth! I came across a quote from Thomas S. Monson, he said "As we exchange gifts at Christmas, may we remember, appreciate, and receive that greatest gift of all gifts-- the gift of our Savior and Redeemer, that we might have eternal life." I hope you all will keep that in mind. Have a wonderful Christmas season and cherish every minute of it. If you missed it, check out DAY 2 of the "12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" that I have started on my instagram @_simplyness_ Love you all. Ness I had originally wanted to post this a couple days after thanksgiving or the beginning of this month but that didn't go as planned.
Sooo, I had the idea to gather responses from a couple of my relatives about thanksgiving. Even though i'm getting this up later than expected, my intention and purpose for this post was to remember to "live in thanksgiving daily." This is actually a quote by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I thought, 'Wow, that's perfect!" I hope that as we transition from thanksgiving to Christmas that we will remember how much we are blessed and how thankful we really are. So the first question I asked my family was... 1. What do you love most about thanksgiving/ what do you look forward to? This post will be a little lengthy but it would mean tons to me if you read til the end haha. So, here is what my grandma said: "The thing I like most about Thanksgiving, besides the days off work and an extra long weekend, is spending the majority of the day with my wonderful family. It's awesome to enjoy great food and fun times visiting and playing games and putting our annual puzzle together. We gorged ourselves and spent quality time together. Oh how I love this fantastic family of ours!!" Isn't she the cutest? hahah. And yes, I love the annual puzzle even though my patience is little to none, it's still pretty great. ;) Here is what my mom said: "I'm so thankful for a day that it give us to reflect on what we are thankful for...we actually try to do it all month. What is so special about that is that it helps us really reflect and be grateful for even the small things, that sometimes we take for granted...cars, shelter, food, clothes, etc...we get into the regular routine of every day and don't stop and realize so many around the world do not even have these basics that we take for granted, and to me that's what makes Thanksgiving day so very important, if we do our part and really stop and count our blessings on that day😊" That is so good to remember every day... stop and realize how blessed you are. Here is what my aunt Erin said: (we are still on question 1 by the way;) "I love Thanksgiving and I look forward to spending time with Family and eating delicious food!" My other aunt Shannon: "I look forward to Thanksgiving because I love reflecting on all the many ways that the lord has blessed our lives. Plus, the yummy food and spending time together makes my heart happy!" My oldest brother Chandler: "I love the meaning and spirit of gratitude that comes with thanksgiving. It seems to bring a unity that other days often lack. Seeing family and friends come together and the love you can see between them is fun to see and experience too." My older brother Enrique: "Thanksgiving gives us a chance to count all the many blessings we have. It's cool we have a holiday to do that. Sometimes we don't take time enough to be thankful. It's super important. I like how it brings everyone closer and we get to enjoy it with family." And lastly for question 1, my cute cousin Mallorie: "What I like about thanksgiving is definitely the food for sure! From potatoes and gravy to stuffing to pumpkin pie, its the best! I stuff my self till i'm sick, but it's worth it. What's more important then the food though that I also enjoy, is getting together with my extended family because that is one of the very few times during the year that everyone comes together and spends time enjoying each other's company. It's just so fun and cozy :)" For the last question AKA question #2, I asked them: What are you thankful for? My Grandma said: "The things I am most thankful for are: an amazingly wonderful and helpful husband, six beautiful children and their spouses and 21 of the most loved and fantastic grandchildren on earth. Also for the best and most loving siblings ever. I am very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the peace it brings to our lives, for home and freedom and health and good jobs. Life is wonderful and full of so many blessings, including terrific and supportive friends!!" My mom said: "I would have to say that there really is no way to name off everything..but for sure I'm so very thankful for my kids, as I tell you all the time, I live for you!! Life can be tough, but the thing is, is we always forgive and hopefully forget as well. We have been through a lot together...good times, but also some very rough times and you guys have had to suck it up with me so much and are such great kids in every way!! They're just not enough words to let you know how much I think of you and love you with all I have! And for all of those who reach out to me and try to lift my spirits, when I feel like I'm not enough! I do my best ,but it's so hard to hold yourself up all the time. Also for being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! For the blessings that come from living righteously and knowing why we are here, and to have His help to get us back to live with Him again❤" My aunt Erin said: "I am most thankful for my daughters above all, they are my everything and they’re so precious! I am also grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope and peace it brings into our lives. I’m grateful for my wonderful parents who show unconditional love and support to me. I don’t know what I would ever do without them. I’m thankful for their example and the way they raised me." My other aunt Shannon said: "I'm thankful for my family! They love me unconditionally and always help lift me up on my bad days. Also, I'm so thankful for my Savior who has made it possible for me to be with them forever. I'm grateful for temples and the blessings that come from serving in the house of the Lord." My oldest brother Chandler said: "I'm thankful first and foremost for God and His son Jesus Christ. They are the strength and hope that drives our spirits. They truly love and uplift everyone who comes to Them and especially on days we can't seem to help ourselves. I'm grateful for my family and all the love they show to me, even when I often don't deserve it. Also for the food and shelter they have provided for us younger ones for so many years that can't ever be repaid. And lastly I'm grateful for the Saviors Atonement and the lifetime of chances it provides for me to overcome myself and become the person God and myself want me to be. Also for the privilege it gives me to become the person my future spouse and children deserve." My older brother Enrique said: "There are too many things I'm grateful for to name then all. It's good to cherish the small things. As for the big, I'm most thankful for love and support of family. I'm so blessed to have them. I'm grateful for the education I have and the opportunity to seek higher education. I'm thankful to have the Gospel in my life. It provides so much to be happy about. It's the reason why we are here." And last but not least, my cousin Mallorie said: "I am thankful for so much it's hard to put it all into words. I don't always realize it, but thank heavens for the Thanksgiving holiday to remind me and make me think about what really matters most in my life! The foundation of my thankfulness is the gospel, including my savior Jesus Christ, along with Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. Without their examples, guidance, and love for me, I don't know where I'd be. I'm grateful that I was raised to have faith in the true church and that I have a testimony of it. I'm secondly so so grateful for my family. Even though we disagree a lot, I always know that I have them to catch me when I fall and help me when I need it. They don't meaningfully judge me, or leave me feeling bad about myself, and whenever I have questions or concerns, I know I can look to them. I'm also very lucky to be blessed with a home as a place of safety and shelter, parents who willingly work to provide for me, friends, food, clothing and so much more!!" Thanks again fam for taking time to write out all of your responses! I hope you readers enjoyed reading. It is something a little different that I thought would be good for a change. My family is a HUGE part of my life and I am so incredibly grateful for each one of them. I hope you will continue to have an attitude of gratitude during this upcoming Christmas season. Have an awesome weekend! Love you all! Ness |
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Ponderize Of The Week:
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." - James 1:5-6 Quote Of The Week:
"Give it to God and go to sleep." - Unknown |