It has been a busy two months! Really busy!! I am not in school this semester, and in January I thought....This will be so nice to be able to relax. Well life has a great way of keeping you busy doesn't it.
I really planned on blogging tonight, but I am not feeling very creative so here is a preview of what's to come
Lisa's Bridal Shower
Rustin's Baptism
Sledding (Redneck Style)
Weekend with Ryann
Me attempting to be domestic and crafty
A possible new hobby
Lisa's Wedding
and the No Snow 5K indoor run while pushing kids in a stroller!
Hope you are all doing well! Please let me know if I can do anything for you.
Since I claim the ownership of this blog I get to choose what I write about … Right!
Well today I want to brag about my cute little sister:
Hermana Penrod
(Don’t worry boys she will be home in November)
Kris is serving in Chile right now, and I is loving it.. It is such a highlight for me every week to hear how her testimony is growing. I can honestly say I think she is going to come back as a spiritual giant.
Last week I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Jacob 5 – And I came across this scripture that made me think of her:
71And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, andlabor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is thelasttime that I shallnourishmy vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
I am so very grateful for the blessings that are coming to my life because she is choosing to serve the Lord. She is such a good example to me and I love her so very much!
Here is a part from one of my favorite letters of hers:
Sunday was an amazing day but also a crazy day. Why? Because JAVIERA ALLENDE GOT BAPTIZED. Her parents are less active of years and we found them one day not to long after we got to this sector and were out knocking doors looking for investigators. Well the great news is the family is now active and Javiera is baptized but Sunday was a mess. Her dads records were not here and it took the assistants to the president calling someone to get them here. Well the family went out of town thursday night and were not coming back till saturday. Friday Nightthe bishop called us looking for them because he had finally recieved the records for Jorge her father. Well Saturday night came and he still was not interviewed so they told us that Elder Smith was going to be doing the baptism. Sunday MorningEverything is all set and ready to go. After the meetings we are out taking pictures with Javiera and Elder Smith all dressed in white when the ward mission leader walks up with Hermano Allende and says he is going to baptize her. THe bishop had interviewed him during the last meeting and we were all set to go. So Both he and elder smith changed clothes and then Elder Smith and the Ward Mission leader taught him the prayer and what he had to do in about ten minutes. After this we went in and found out that the ward mission leader had lost the program we had given him for the baptism and decided to change everything well we were able to set a few things right but it was so confusing and disorganized. Hermana Miguel kept saying I promise that every baptism is not like this one. But all the confusion of who was gonna baptise the poor girl was worth it when you saw both of them enter the water and then hug each other after the baptism. I think it was one of the happiest moments of my life it was amazing and so wonderful to see her come out of the water and know that she was clean and pure of everything. Hermano Allende had to baptize her twice because he was afraid to do and her hand stayed out the first time. And then of course after this Javeria decided to go swimming in the font. Silly girl. When she bore her testimony afterwards the spirit was so strong it was great and worth coming on a mission just for that. THe whole family has changed so much since we first met them and started teaching them and to me this is proof that Heavenly Father knows us, knows where we are, and what we need. He sends people to find us just at the right moment.
Keep up the good work Hannah!
***** After I did this blog I got an e-mail from my Dad, which said that Kris was going to be working as a trainer, Training a new sister who is coming to the Mission. The letter said She has been chosen because of her example of love, obedience, ability and personal commitment to missionary work.
This morning I got lost. Well actually I woke up lost. In my house. I took some NyQuil last night before I went to bed to try and help me with a fever and flu bug I have been battling. I forgot to lock my door to my room. I go crazy when I take medication. Apparently I got up sometime during the night and went to another bedroom to sleep. Probably running away from the spiders that were trying to attack me in my dreams. I don't remember. I didn't know where I was when I woke up, and I screamed. Really loud. Glad I am home by myself so no one could hear me. Go Ahead and laugh. It is funny now.
Last night I realized I was missing something. When I was a little girl I remember waiting for forever for Santa Clause to come. It seems like he couldn't get here fast enough. For weeks I would think about what Christmas would be like, what I was going to get. I don't have that anymore, I honestly think it is because this month has been so full of the hustle and bustle of December. I have had a terrible problem of taking on way too much on this month, and not meaning to complain but because of that I feel like I haven't been able to fully enjoy the month. There have been a lot of things that I have wanted to do, but the reality is they probably aren't going to happen because I have just run out of time (and energy). *
I have taken a few quick moments this season to read a book by Emily Freeman called "A Christ Centered Christmas". It has been a really good learning experience for me. One of the things that I love that she shared was when she talked about driving somewhere with her young daughter and after singing a Christmas carol her daughter said "Mom, I believe in Santa Clause and you believe in Jesus Christ" I thought that was cute! From that she decided that she needed to do a better job at teaching her children the real meaning of Christmas.
When I saw the following video I couldn't help but think of that cute little girl who believed in Santa Clause and know that while she probably does believe in Santa Clause she also believes in Jesus Christ. I love the excitement of Christmas that little kids have.
Now this is a completely rhetorical question but I am going to throw it out there. What are you going to do today to help light up the world? I hope that during the "busy busy" of the day you can find sometime to accomplish that. May you find a moment to remember the real reason we are celebrating.
Have a good night!
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On a personal note: I am heading to a new doctor tomorrow, meaning more tests. Hopefully she can figure out what is wrong with me! Looking forward to what she has to say!
*You are probably thinking "What the heck...if you didn't spend so much time writing this blog that nobody reads you would have a lot more time in the world. My response to that is this: Yes you are 100% right but this is one of the 3 things that is keeping me sane and somewhat focused this year.
"Before faith or knowledge is found, before joy or happiness is experienced, before the healing begin, one emotion starts to stir from deep within the depths of despair. It is hope." - Emily Freeman
The last few months I have had many many opportunities to reflect on hope, to evaluate what I hope for, and to realize what I hope in. I was able to attend Time Out for Women twice this year, the theme this year was infinite hope. One of my favorite things that I took away from the meeting was this - The things I find Hope in will sustain me while I wait for the things on my hope for list to happen. How great is that! I love it when a simple truth hits me on the head and just make since but brings me comfort and peace and clarity.
This Christmas season I have had many opportunities to recognize HOPE in my life. I have hope in the atonement of Jesus Christ, I have hope in the Lords plan of happiness, I find hope in a knowledge that my Savior and Father in Heaven know me personally. I find HOPE in the knowledge that my Savior does not make up the differences in my life, but that He makes all the difference. I find HOPE in knowing that He will be with me in my darkest hours, to help me and comfort me, to give me strength and help me see JOY!
This weekend my hope increased... I was so blessed to spend one last weekend with two of the cutest kids in the world. After spending about 3 hours of trying to keep Mason asleep and finally figuring out He would stay asleep if he could feel my hand My HOPE was strengthened and increased. I find HOPE in knowing that someday I will be able to be a mother. My hope was increased again when I read the blog of a sweet example in my life who was able to take her 2nd little adopted angel to the Temple to be sealed to their Family. Hope is alive in me, and I know it is because I have a Father who loves me.
I love the following clip from Elder Holland. Someday's it is hard for me to realize that I am not in charge, and than all of my blessings won't come when I demand them, but I have HOPE that they will come!
So... I have decided if I want to have a Christ centered Christmas I need to center my life around Christ. Pretty simple right, but that is me, most of the time I put way to much work into thinking of a solution that I miss the simplicity of the real answer. I have found a lot of really good ideas from a book by Emily Freeman "A Christ Centered Christmas".
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is always going to the Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean. I have seen this show quite a few times (It is on DVD) and every single time I am completely touched and taken back by what seems to be a different part of the program. Of course I will be honest and say I cried through the whole thing but there was several parts that particularly called my name.
A song that for years has touched my heart "What I need"
All I ever wanted,
All I ever dreamed of
Everything I hoped
And all the things I prayed for
Couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given
I've been given what I need
No mansion on a hill
Or Love like in the movies
Perfect little dreams
Where no one has a problem
Instead of all those things I thought I really wanted
I've been given what I need
Even when I didn't understand
When I thought you had no heart
Thank you for rejecting my demands
And always giving me the better part
All I ever wanted,
All I ever dreamed of
Everything I hoped
And all the things I prayed for
Couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given
I've been given what I need
(Michael McLean)
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Now don't call me crazy, I still wish for things - - Prince Charming, perfect Children, a house, to be finished with school. But I know that right now at this very moment in my life I have what I need. I firmly believe that there will be a time and a place for those things in my life, but it's not today.
How thankful I am for the times that my loving Father in Heaven has said "No" even to some of the very most righteous desires of my heart. In the last four years I feel like I have grown up a lot and become more of who I was meant to be instead of a selfish little girl who I had been. How thankful I am for a patient Father in Heaven who doesn't give up on me, even when I give him plenty of grief.
What a blessing it is to me to have this holiday season to remember and try to give thanks for the wonderful gift of the Savior of the world. May we all find time to remember Him this month. May we spend as much if not more time looking for Jesus as we do for Santa
Confession: I like many of you want to be a better person. I want to be more Christ like, more giving, more quick to lend a hand, less selfish, slower to judge, a better peacemaker. I have had several thoughts on my mind especially the last month, and I have come to a decision. This holiday season I want to make it a truly "Christ Centered Christmas"... I am looking for any ideas to help me accomplish this. Any suggestions?
You don’t have the power to make rainbows or waterfalls, sunsets or roses, but you do have the power to bless people by your words and smiles and your sincere interest in them. Think of it—you carry within you the power to make the world better for someone each day! That is standing as a witness of God. Sharon G. Larson
