“There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things [see D&C 88:11–13]. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “The Hope of God’s Light,” Ensign, May 2013, 75.
"Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were—better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before.This should be our purpose—to persevere and endure, yes, but also to become more spiritually refined as we make our way through sunshine and sorrow. Were it not for challenges to overcome and problems to solve, we would remain much as we are, with little or no progress toward our goal of eternal life."
Recently, a wonderful woman I know was admitted to the hospital for a planned knee surgery, and the unexpected happened. Her condition became critical and a few days later she passed away. She had lived a long life, yet her death came by surprise. Shortly thereafter, a funeral service was held in her honor- to celebrate her life and the influence she had on so many of us.
There is Life after Death.
When I first learned of her passing away, I truly sorrowed for her loss yet my mind was immediately brought back to the knowledge I have: There is life after death. As I have reflected upon my testimony, and the comfort and peace which comes from this knowledge, I have felt inclined to share some truths with others who may be struggling with the loss of a loved one- or any other difficulties in their lives. From reading this, I hope you will find the comfort you so desire.
Turn to the Savior.
I wish to begin by saying, I know that nothing can replace the loss of a loved one. That loss can be devastating but I also know that, when we feel so burdened, there is someone who has already felt all the pain and sorrow that we are feeling and He pleads to us:
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."(Matthew 11:28-30)
Jesus Christ is that person. He is our Savior. He wants us to turn to Him so that He can lighten our burdens that are too hard for us to carry alone. He knows precisely what we are going through (see Alma 7:11-12; John 3:16, Matthew 26:36-44). Only He can calm the storms of life. Only He can fill an anguished soul with peace. All we need to do is let Him. We can do that by pouring out our hearts to him through prayer (See Bible Dictionary on Prayer ).
We need not fear death.
If we have not yet experienced losing a loved one to death, we all will experience it some time in our lives, for everyone must pass from this life (2 Nephi 2:11). It is part of God's eternal plan (The Plan of Salvation). When that time comes, we need not fear. We can rely on Jesus Christ our Savior to strengthen and comfort us. I testify that our loved ones live on, and are doing a great work in heaven. I testify that they are engaged in our lives. I testify that our deceased relatives are not far from us at all. We are only separated from them through a thin veil. Sometimes the veil may feel thinner than other times. If you don't know this for yourself, you can know this too. Turn to the lord in prayer and he will answer your earnest plea. He will fill you with the knowledge that surpasses all understanding.
I Testify of this in the name of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, through whom I know these things to be true.
If you have any comforting words to share regarding death or trials (or any positive comments) I would encourage you to share them at the bottom of this post.
President Thomas S. Monson, Prophet of the church of jesus Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, addressed this subject of trials and death at the latest General Conference. It had only been 6 months since his beloved wife of almost 65 years passed away. of her death he said:
Of utmost comfort to me during this tender time of parting have been my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the knowledge I have that my dear Frances lives still. I know that our separation is temporary. We were sealed in the house of God by one having authority to bind on earth and in heaven. I know that we will be reunited one day and will never again be separated. This is the knowledge that sustains me.
Good timber does not grow with ease, The stronger wind, the stronger trees. The further sky, the greater length. The more the storm, the more the strength. By sun and cold, by rain and snow, In trees and men good timbers grow.8
It Must Be the Christmas Season. I felt Very blessed today and actually had a wonderful day! Here's Why:
Final-Ly finals! And The Beginning of Christmas Break!
Today I left the testing center, leaping in the air because the semester was finally OVER and because I did Well on my Final! I think it was all thanks to the complete stranger who said "Good Luck" to me as she was walking past me. I'm so grateful for her. ; ) Actually, now that I think about it, it's ALL thanks to my Mom and my Visiting Teacher. My Mom, because she was willing to drop ALL of her plans to drive an hour north, in the traffic and snow, just so I could take a test! Gotta love my Ma! My Visiting Teacher because she came to my aid just when I needed it. I had lost her number and was literally in the middle of trying to find it when she called me! Next thing I knew, she was taking care of my kids and I was sitting in the testing center.
I MET SANTA CLAUS!
I now believe in Santa Claus. I had just left the testing center and was walking home when I saw Him. "Hey look, It's Santa." I said. I thought it was peculiar that Santa was just walking around on Campus. Not something you see everyday. Then, as I passed by him I said "Hello!" and what Happened!?
He handed me a 10 Dollar Bill!!! Way to finish a semester of School! Thanks Santa!
So yeah. Now, I'm a believer.
CHRISTMAS PARTY!
A couple of hours after I got home from school we went to our ward Christmas Party!
There's nothing quite as awesome as a Spanish Ward, Especially ours. But...I may be just a little bias since it is my ward and all.
At the party:
-weate a delicious dinner.
-we took family pictures with santa. When Jayden saw santa enter the room his eyes lit up and it
was like nothing else existed...for a second or two. Once he got his toy/candy bag, Santa was out of the picture.
-We danced Merengue, Salsa and Whatever we wanted! All four of us had a blast
dancing. It was no one-man dance. Everyone who was anyone was on the dance floor.
- Jayden Got New...Shorts. His pants (and underwear) got wet while we were at the party. When I checked the diaper bag there was an extra pair of underwear, a shirt for jayden, some pants and a pink T-shirt for abby. I had to get creative so... we turned a pink shirt into some cool shorts. Jayden didn't like the idea all that much. "No MOM. Those are abby's pants" he kept protesting(while I forced the sleeves of the shirt over his shoes). Finally, I couldn't help it. I just busted up laughing and said "No. They're not abby's pants buddy." worse. "It's her shirt." BWAAAAHAAA HAA!
It's a moment where you have to be there for it to be funny. Lucky for him, Dad came back with some of JAYDEN's pants before we took our family picture.
-Last, but not least, we got to take home nicely-wrapped, empty gift-boxes that were about to be thrown away. Now we'll be able to wrap our kids gifts by doing a lot less. Just re-open the top of the empty gift-boxes and place the toys inside of them!
Summary.
To wrap things up, this day was filled with blessings and joy and I thank the people who made it so, including my Savior, Jesus Christ, And My God above who gave me this wonderful life and all the good that is in it. I am so grateful for this Christmas Season, which inspires so many to give a little more than the usual. I hope I, and all of us, can do the same!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!!!!!
Some Empty Gift-Boxes.
pictures of Jayden in his pink "shorts" and our Family-Santa-Picture to be posted here soon.
At our home we normally aren't big fans of sticky, pasty peanut butter but with a TWIST We LOVE it!
We make a Delicious Peanut Butter dip that is so simple and So healthy!
All it takes is Peanut Butter, Honey and milk!
Scoop 2/3 cup of freshly ground peanut butter into a bowl (no oils or sugars added).
I get mine at the Local Health Food store. I fill up an old, 32 oz, glass Peanut Butter Jar for merely 3 bucks! It's a deal you can't beat! If you go to any regular store (even wal-mart) you can't get organic or Natural Peanut Butter without paying 7 or more bucks!
Mix in about 1/6 cup of honey (more or less depending on your preference).
we get local made honey. Always tastes better and we get way better deals than what the grocery store can offer.
begin pouring some milk into the mixture and mix. keep adding milk until it has a soft frosting or soft, caramel texture, about 1/3 cup of milk.
Thanksgiving came and left pretty quickly and, while My Family and I had a WONDERFUL thanksgiving experience, I'm going to have to save my "thanksgiving Update" for another post.
But hey, who says you can only be thankful on thanksgiving? There are so many things to be grateful for each day that I can't imagine only being able to give thanks on "Thanksgiving".
Take today for example! I am so thankful that Cam and I Were blessed to go to a work Christmas Party! Complementary from KW. We enjoyed meeting new people, eating a wonderful meal, listening to a comedian and, last of all, we won a 32" LED TV! Wow! Don't I feel blessed. Funny thing was that, right before he drew our name out of the bowl, the man asked "who needs a tv?" Jokingly, I shouted "woooh!" I guess my shout was heard. I am so thankful for KW for the time they put into serving their employees and consumers.
Thanks to our wonderful friends who live close by, we were able to attend this Christmas party. We forgot to find a babysitter. Called them the same day and- although Husband/dad was working, Wife/Mom said yes! They are one of the only people that my 1 year old daughter will go to without crying. She not only doesn't cry, she actually has a ton of fun! My 3 year old loves it too. He gets to play with their kid who is his same age!
The First Snow of The Year! December 03, 2013.
Yesterday was the first snow of the season! What a beautiful Day!
My list of gratitude was endless, from the moment I looked out the window until I snuggled into my warm blankets at the end of the day. I quite enjoyed the simple, seemingly-meaningless things that filled me with so much gratitude.
As I tended my kids, then walked to school, enjoyed family time, made mistakes and just experienced my day,
here's what I found myself feeling sincerely grateful for:
"I am so grateful for the beautiful snow."
"I am so grateful to be outside with my kids, enjoying the beautiful snow"
"I am so grateful for my boots, my snow pants, my scarf, my gloves, and my EXTREMELY WARM coat (that is so warm I'm practically sweating in it while I walk to school). I love it when I don't have to freeze!"
"I am so grateful for the man in the car, who just smiled and waved for me to cross the street, so I didn't have to wait at the crosswalk. He really didn't need to do that."
"I am so grateful for the young man who I just saw sliding across the slushy sidewalk with a huge grin on his face. What a Great Idea!"
" I am so grateful for this large paved hill covered in slush that I am practically snowboarding down (without the snowboard). It's so much FuN! I am so grateful I'm still a kid at heart."
"I am so grateful for the delicious Hot Chocolate and my husband who so lovingly made it for all the family to enjoy! I'm also grateful for these homemade, flavored, marshmallows that taste so good in the hot chocolate. I'm also grateful for the delicious toast that goes so well with Hot Chocolate and marshmallows, if you ask me."
"I am so grateful for my family, who is all snuggled up with me on our comfy couch, watching a cute Christmas movie."
"I am so grateful for the beginning of December, which is the beginning of The christmas season, the time to reflect on The Savior Jesus Christ in OUR lives."
"I am so grateful that My sins, folly's, setbacks and imperfections can be swallowed up through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and be replaced with His Joy that He gives to us all!"
"I am so grateful to be alive today."
Being Grateful When the Sun Doesn't Shine.
As I reflected on that snowy yesterday, I realized how easy it could have been for me to be negative and upset. I realized how much one's attitude towards life affects him and those around him, for better or worse. I also noticed how much easier it was to be grateful and happy when I was turning to my Savior and God throughout the day.
Yesterday, I was blessed with a heart full of gratitude. It was such a wonderful thing to be grateful. Of all things, I was reminded that, even on a blizzard day, when the sun isn't shining in the sky, there is still room to be grateful! Let us all choose to make room for "gratitude" each and every day, ESPECIALLY during this Christmas Season. It is so uplifting to see a grateful person and oh so gratifying to be GRATEFUL! What greater gift could we give back to our Savior than that-the Gift of Gratitude!
So, to say the least, tonight, I was over-exhausted (that, being a complete understatement) and wishing my baby girl would just sleep. I had spent over an hour trying to get her to sleep, but to no avail. It was Just when I thought I couldn't handle it any longer, that I learned this great lesson.
Little sleeper in training with her mama.
"Help. me. teach me. Please teach me," I cried. "I can't go on like this much longer. Pleeeease teach me."
And then...I was taught. Taught from on high. Something only God could teach me. This is what He said:
"Your savior, Jesus Christ. He is Perfect. He never did one thing in all of his life to deserve mistreatment, or anything less than glory. He is absolutely perfect. He lived on this earth without one single spiritual blemish. And yet, he suffered temptations and trials, the worst of all. He bled from every pore- in the garden of gethsemane, so great was his pain- for us, and because of OUR sins. Then he was spat upon, tortured and, finally, He was crucified, never deserving one single bit of mistreatment. But He did it ALL because He loved us! He suffered patiently and without guile or resentment, he suffered willingly because he loved us so much! His motivating reason was love!
His motivating reason
still
is love."
"Let your motivating reason be love."
Then and there, my heart was changed. I looked at my sweet little girl. She had a puzzled look. I could imagine her thinking something like "what on earth. my mom was smiling two seconds ago and now she's crying like a baby. strange mom." I said in my mind "my motivating reason is love." I held her in my arms and rocked her a little longer. Her sweet innocent eyes glanced up at mine. I was filled with love for her. Tears were turned to tears of joy and gratitude.
I had hope a little longer- given to me in that very moment, just as I needed, from my God. He gave me the eyes to see and the ears to hear so I could love my daughter even when I was tired and worn down, so I could remember why I endure my sleepless nights. He gave me Love when I needed it most. He reminded me that, as the Savior did for us, I do it all because I love. Because I love my sweet little girl, my handsome son, My wonderful husband, my family, my neighbor, my friends, my enemies and strangers. I do it all because I "LOVE."
And the more I am striving to do it, to love and to serve, the more I am learning from on High.
It is these small and simple, yet profound, learning moments that give me a reason to be alive each day, that give me a reason to have joy and hope and happiness each day. Without the Savior, I, nor any of us, would have a reason to hope, but He- Jesus Christ- is here for us, Always.If only we ask, we will see!
Reiterating what I said moments ago, when the Savior shed his blood, He did it because He LOVED us and He LOVES us still!!!
He knows your pain, he knows your trials, your heartaches. He loves you perfectly. Even though you and I are sooooo imperfect. He gave everything for us, including his perfect love! Let's give something small back to the Savior for all He did, does and IS for us. Let us be a little more like Him, who gave everything to us, who set the perfect example. Let's let our motivating reason for EVERYTHING we do be "L-O-V-E", love!
The other night I was going over some plans with my husband and I began to feel a little stressed about everything going on. Immediately, I remembered this poem "Choose Faith" which I wrote during a trying time. I began reciting it out loud to myself. My husband turned to me and said "that's impressive. I didn't know you had it all memorized. You should share it on your blog!" So here's the poem.
Choose Faith!!
Why have doubt and
why have fear,
When they won't
get you anywhere?
Rather, Faith,
will bring you through
to that which you
are destined to.
If you doubt
because you fear
that faith won't
get you to the door
you're looking,
hoping, praying for,
What's the point?
When knowing fear
and doubt
won't get you
anywhere.
Even if your
faith,
doesn't take you
where YOU plan to go
it will take you
miles further
than your fear
will let you know.
Fear will only
hold you back,
keep you from
moving on the track.
It may even shut
you down,
Dig you deeper
into the Ground.
But Faith could
never do such a thing
for, Faith, it is
a Godly thing.
Faith may not
bring you to that door
that YOU are
looking for,
but it will
always, Always...
..ALWAYS!...
give you MORE!!!
-Kiley
Chamberlain
June 01,
2012
Just a little background on this poem. One night I was laying in bed, trying to sleep, but my worries and FEARs were so pressing on my mind that there was no way I was going to be able to sleep. I was being swallowed by my fears. I began praying, and pleading for Heavenly Father to help me to not feel so scared, to give me the faith I needed...just for one night, so I could sleep.
Then these words, came so inspired to my mind, as a poem. I couldn't see well (as it was dark, and I didn't want to wake my husband by turning on the light) but I grabbed my journal that was sitting next to me and scribbled the poem in it. I read the poem every day for a while and eventually hung it on my wall so I could remember the truths I learned in this poem.
Since that time in my life, this poem has really helped me to have FAITH in moments when I felt like my fears could have eaten me up.
I truly believe that this poem came to my mind as a gift from God. It is not my poem, but God's poem, written just for me. He knows me so well, that he knew the words in this poem would be exactly what I needed to keep me going during difficult times.
I hope this poem will be of benefit to someone. But if not to anyone else, it has been so helpful for me!
