Service

(Shame on me for not posting in a while. But, I'm married and I work literally all day long.. so when I get home, I kind of like to spend time with my husband before we both fall asleep and repeat our busy work day.... SORRY!)

A few days ago, two sets of missionaries came into Red Robin for lunch. I was hosting that day so I got to greet them and show them to their table. About 10 minutes after seating them, I seated a party of 10 people right next to them. When the missionaries had recieved their food, a woman who was from the party of 10 came up to me and asked if she could take their bill and pay for it. I was just so shocked and so happy that someone would do something like that for them, especially since a tab for just one person could easily be $15 before tips and not including a dessert.

On Monday, one of my close friends came home from spending four months in China to teach english to younger children. While she's been gone, I've be stalking her facebook pictures and her blog like you wouldn't believe. She took four months of her life to spend it in a foreign country, with food she prolly wouldn't even like, with the possibility of having to work with people the she didn't like, learn a new language that makes my head go !@#$%^ -_-........ and she did it all and made it look like a breeze!

Alix and I welcoming home Miss Desiree

So what do these two stories have in common (besides missionary work)? They were in the service of the Lord by serving and helping His children. Neither Desiree(my friend) nor the woman from that party knew the children in China/the four missionaries, yet they went our of their way to take care of them, loved them, and treated them as if they had known them their whole lives.

The love of the Lord and Savior empowers us all whether we recognize it or not.

...maybe this whole post doesn't even make any sense... But, I wrote what I wanted and it makes sense to me, SO THERE :)

Just kidding <3

I'm just grateful for the service of others :)

Family

Last night, my sister in-law and my nephews came over after she had dropped off her husband at the airport. We were just hanging out, baking and eating cookies, and just playing with the boys.

Here is what happened with my nephew, Sam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX_16yYvj_c

I am thankful for families- they they can be together forever. I saw the savior in my nephews smiles last night. I saw it in my sister in-law as she played with and parented her children.

I see Him every day.

Addiction

Heroin

I destroy homes, tear families apart, take your children, and that's just the start. I'm more costly than diamonds, more costly than gold, the sorrow I bring is a sight to behold, and if u need me, remember I'm easily found. I live all around you, in schools and in town. I live with the rich, I live with the poor, I live down the street, and maybe next door. My power is awesome; try me you...'ll see, but if you do, you may never break free. Just try me once and I might let you go, but try me twice, and I'll own your soul. When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie. You do what you have to just to get high. The crimes you'll commit, for my narcotic charms will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms. You'll lie to your mother; you'll steal from your dad When you see their tears, you should feel sad. But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised, I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways. I take kids from parents, and parents from kids, I turn people from god, and separate from friends. I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, I'll be with you always, right by your side. You'll give up everything your family, your home, your friends, your money, then you'll be alone. I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to give. When I'm finished with you you'll be lucky to live. If you try me be warned this is no game. If given the chance, I'll drive you insane. I'll ravish your body; I'll control your mind. I'll own you completely; your soul will be mine. The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed, the voices you'll hear from inside your head, the sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see; I want you to know, these are all gifts from me, But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart, that you are mine, and we shall not part. You'll regret that you tried me, they always do, but you came to me, not I to you. You knew this would happen. Many times you were told, but you challenged my power, and chose to be bold. You could have said no, and just walked away, If you could live that day over, now what would you say? I'll be your master; you will be my slave, I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave. Now that you have met me , what will you do? Will you try me or not? Its all up to you. I can bring you more misery than words can tell. Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell... Repost this and you might save a life..or at least make someone think twice

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for whispering to me that some people whom I chose to hang out with were bad influences.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for taking me away from influences
(dont read into that statement.. i've never done heroine..)

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for allowing me to heal from hurt..

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for being my shoulder to lean on...

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for saving my life.

I am Thankful

I am thankful for the life I have. Now.

I saw a few girls smoking today

..and I'm thankful for the strength I've had to quit.

I saw the smiling face of my husband, Jayson today

...and I'm thankful to be married to such an amazing man.

I brought a food order to a table of two young men at work today

..and I'm thankful for their service to the Lord and His children.

I accidentally left for work before saying a prayer

..and I'm thankful for Him hearing the prayer in my heart.

I wish I made more money in tips at work

..and I'm thankful for His help to make sure I'm honest.

I'm thankful to be

a daughter of God

I'm thankful for

the love from my Savior and my Father in Heaven

I'm thankful for

their Spirit and guidance.

I'm thankful for the life that I have... Now

Elder & Sister Missionaries

Missionaries= The Best

Tomorrow, a friend of mine is leaving for the Provo MTC to get ready for his mission in the Argentina Buenos Areas Argentina West Mission.

A few days ago, one of Jayson's best friends got home from serving his mission in Chile.

In October, a girl from my home ward (well, the ward I attended before I was baptized) left to serve her mission in Ohio at one of the Visitor Centers.

One of the missionaries who taught me, Jon, got home about a year ago (maybe longer?) and is getting married to a girl he met while on his mission. Well, technically he met her parents and they gave their daughter his address so she could help him out with school things.

Missions are great. Missionaries are needed! When I first started going to church, I thought that any young man or woman who spent 18-24 months of their life walking around in church clothes 24/7 teaching the gospel was pretty stupid.. but then I learned the importance of serving missions. If it wasn't for the many missionaries who taught me, I don't know where I would be.

I am so thankful for Elder Jon Romeril and Elder Dan Reeves, for being the coolest set of missionaries I have ever met, for teaching me so many lessons that changed and blessed my life.

Good luck Elder Smith and Sister Maynard- you will change and bless so many lives and in return you will gain so many blessings for yourselves.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for sending out so many worthy young men and women to serve thee and thy children

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for allowing those young men to show me the truth of this gospel

Thank you,

Heavenly Father,

for showing me that I am a daughter of God

The Prophet

One of my good friends, Ashley, wrote a letter to the Prophet. She wrote a letter about his encouragement to do service and sent him pictures of a YSA projexct she did. A few days later, she received a letter with a thank you from his secretary on his behalf.

It's amazing that the Prophet would take time out of his day to write back, even when he must have a million and one things to do every day ontop of spend time with his family. I may not have been the one to write or receive a letter to/from the prophet, but seeing one of my closest friends do so and receive one back is a blessing...

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for working with the Prophet

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for blessing Miss Ashley with that letter
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for allowing the small things to mean so much
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all that you do
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your unconditional love

It's still so hard..

I had a rough night last night..

Jayson and I were up pretty late last night just watching TV. This one particular episode of a series we are watching was harder to watch than I thought. It wasn't rated R or anything.. It didn't demoralize women or have content that we shouldn't have been watching... it just brought back painful memories...

That's exactly what I am doing/ have done. I'm not gonna lie and say that my past mistake/mistakes don't hurt, but through Christ and His atonement, I am forgiven. I have learned that the only way the Lord can forgive me, is if I forgive myself first.

Extra hours for work...and a new position!

Maybe this is harder than I thought..

Maybe I'm not allowing myself to see when He's placed his hand into my life..?

I think asking that question just gave me an answer..

(well, two completely different ones.)

Today, I went to work and asked my Supervisor/Manager when the new schedule would be posted. She just so happened to have posted it just minutes before I asked. I was very excited to see what was posted..

Jayson and I are kinda on the push for money. Life is honestly way too expensive in my opinion.. Anyway, we have been looking for as many jobs for me to apply to as possible. Some have sounded amazing up until I had the interview. Then it came down to not being able to even pay me minimum wage, ending up needing to drive farther than our gas budget will allow, not getting a second interview, etc. Well, from the looks of this weeks schedule, I'm hoping that my job search will be able to come to a close..

I am currently employed at Red Robin, which is nice because I had previously worked at another location back home in California, so I already know the ropes. My position right now is a Expo (I bring food orders to tables). My manager asked me today if I'd like to be a host as well as an expo and I said yes. This means I have way more hours. More hours means more money! Its already nice getting a decent pay check and walking out with about $15-$25 tips a night, but working double positions just boosted my hours from 17 to about 25-30+ a week! Thats a crazy tough schedule, and I probably won't be able to spend as much time with the hubby as I'd like but....that's life.

I feel like this is a tremendous blessing from the Lord. He knows we need help financially, and I feel as though He's been testing our faith with having me apply myself to jobs that have been outside my comfort zone, as well as accepting the expo position when I felt very out of place and... well.. whats the word... I don't know... underqualified? No, not even that. Being an expo means you have to learn what comes on every food item, how it should look, what side orders/dressings come with it, etc. Basically, you have to make the plate look Picture Perfect.. and there are over 100 items to memorize..and I struggle with memorization..

Anyway, I know this is a blessing from the Lord without a doubt. I put my faith in Him, knowing that as long as I did everything I could to apply myself to this job and keep an open mind for others, that a greater opportunity would come my way... and it has.

My Father in Heaven..

I was browsing the internet and found this :

...and I needed to hear every word I read.

Even non members know about the Temple

Ashley K: "So are you Mormon?"

Me: "Yes, I am"

Ashley K: "Were you born into the church?"

Me: "No"

-about a 15 minute conversation about meeting my husband, Jayson, and how I became a member-

Ashley K: "I don't quite know how I feel about the Temple and being able to feel 'a spirit'...but I'm not a member.."

I wasn't quite sure how to explain this to her. I mean, I know how to explain it to those who are members simply because they have experience with the work that goes on in the temple and feeling the spirit that is there. How on earth am I gonna explain this to her? Well.. I said a quick prayer asking the Lord to help me explain my thoughts..and the magic happened.

There is without a doubt a strong spirit at any temple that you visit, both on the grounds and inside. You literally can feel the Lords presence with you, as if He is standing right next to you. Any questions that you have may not be immediately answered, but you do receive in site about any questions you may have, even if you weren't aware that you had a question at all.

Ashley is a co-worker of mine and I did my best to explain to her about the Spirit, and how recognizing when the Lord and Savior help with certain things in your life and how much of a blessing it is. I also explain to her how my conversion may have been hard at times, but it has changed my life for the better. She didn't say she was going to run off and get baptized, but she did say that she didn't understand why or how, but she had a greater understanding of 'the spirit' and appreciates what I had to say.

I know that the Lord was helping me through this small task. While it may not have been a 'big' event, it certainly was one that the Lord had played a part in, and it needed to happen, and I am grateful for that opportunity.

What this is about

Hello all!

You're probably wondering what this is all about...

Step 1: READ THE TITLE!

The Savior in my Life

I have decided that I want to keep a journal (a blog counts as a journal right?) to record the events or moments in my life where I can see the Savior's work in my life.

I have a testimony

"that my redeemer lives, what comfort this sweet sentence gives!"

I am going to try to bring myself more closer to my Savior by recognizing when He has placed His hand in my life. Not only that, but I personally get a lot out of hearing insights from other people about spiritual moments or personal revelations that other people share.

Which brings me to...

Step 2: How this idea came about

Thank you Miss Ashley Allen
because I totally stole this idea from you-completely

her blog is here --> http://ashleys-sits.blogspot.com/