The Walk

 My companion and I are running low on miles so we decided to walk around our area yesterday and find people to teach. It was a lovely, sunny day in Buffalo (which is very rare) so it was the perfect day to walk! Neither one of us knew where we were going too well, so we carried the GPS with us. That failed. We still got lost and as we tried talking to people, everyone shut their door on us. Someone even honked at us just to give us a not so nice sign. Instead of being upset, we did our best to laugh and keep walking. We were both more exhausted at the start of the day than we had been in a really long time and we knew that Satan was just working on us because he didn't want us to see the miracles that God had in store. We kept on walking. That primary song that goes "pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked and walked..." was our theme song! After having walked around for a few hours, knocking on some doors, we both felt as if we were going to crumble to the ground.

Now lets talk about Cinderella. Her wicked stepmother locked her upstairs and tried to keep her from ending up with Prince Charming!! Cinderella started to get discouraged and thought that there was no way out. But some of her lovely little mouse friends came to rescue her. They helped her get out of the locked room so she could run down the stairs, put the glass slipper on and then marry Prince Charming!!! Just when things started to look dim, great things happened!!

Just like Cinderalla, things weren't looking so great for Sister Curtis and I. But we had faith that something good was about to happen. We had faith that we were going to see miracles. So...the walking continued. 

As we talked together on our trek through Orchard Park, we were both reminded of the scripture in Alma 26 that says, "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." We truly believed that we would see miracles and so our legs kept moving and we talked to everyone we saw. But when people don't want to talk to you, it gets a little depressing. Our laughter started to fade and my heart began to sink.

 Just then, the biggest truck I have ever seen pulls on the side of the road and rolls the window down. Who could it be? Sister Liscom!!!!!!!!! With the brightest, loving smile on her face she said, "Hop in Sisters! Where can I take you?" Words cannot describe the love I felt from my Heavenly Father in that moment. He knew that we were struggling and needed some assistance, so He sent sweet Sister Liscom to rescue us. As she drove us around for the next few hours to our different destinations, people still didn't want to talk with us but I was comforted knowing that my Heavenly Father was aware of me. Sister Liscom pulling up yesterday was a miracle to me. 

As I've been thinking about this experience, I've realized that we all have moments where we feel like things aren't going to look up, like we are stuck walking in the same path and very well might be lost. I know that we have a loving Father in Heaven that wants to bless us, but the blessings might not come on our time table or in the way we expect. Just like Elder Holland stated, "Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come." As we are obedient and live true to the teachings of Jesus Christ, I know that good things will come. Never quit. Keep going and believe in good things to come. 

Heroes

"Who put the glad in gladiator... HERCULES!" To be completely honest, I've only seen Hercules like twice and I don't remember that much but I do remember that song and "I can go the distance." Regardless of my terrible memory, we all know that Hercules is a great hero! He is strong, handsome, has GREAT hair and he gets the girl! Stud. We all have heroes in our lives and today I want to tell you all about my hero... my dad. 

I love my dad so much. He is strong, handsome, pulls off the "I'm losing my hair" look and he got his princess, my cute mom! To me, those aren't the things that make my dad a hero. Sure, they are all great but he is so much more than that. My dad is a man who loves the Lord more than anything and truly gives his all everyday to become more like the Savior. He reminds me of one of my Book of Mormon heroes, Captain Moroni! 

In the book of Alma, talking about Captain Moroni it says, "...Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding...a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God... yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ." Captain Moroni loved the Lord more than anything and he was always obedient regardless of what the Lord asked of him. Every time I read those verses, I think of my dad. He has always taught me by example to put God first and then everything else will fall into place. He is my hero because he turns outward like Christ does and puts everyone's needs before his own. He genuinely loves people and has such a strong desire to help. One of the many things I love about my dad is that he is ALWAYS smiling! Life is not easy for anyone, my dad included, but he chooses to find joy and recognize the blessings that God has given him instead of focusing on what he doesn't have. 

I know that my dad does more for me than I realize but I am so grateful for what he does. He has given me so many wonderful opportunities and helped me to find joy through living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has always lived worthy so our family could have the blessings of the priesthood in our home. I am so blessed to have been raised by such an amazing man of God. 

The relationship I have with my sweet dad has helped me to better understand the relationship between Heavenly Father and all of His children. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and that love is unconditional.

Dad... I love you!!!! :)

Change

There is a word that has been plaguing my mind lately....CHANGE!! That word is scary to me, and I know that I'm not alone on that one. New things bring new challenges and that can be scary. It always seems to be that the moment we feel comfortable, change takes place. At Sacrament Meeting in the Palmyra Ward, a member said something that has completely changed (there is that word again) me. He said, "God cares more about your growth than your comfort." Throughout the past two weeks, that has been on repeat in my head. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he allows change to come into our live so we can grow. He sees us for what we can become, but we aren't there yet...so change needs to happen. 



In Mulan, she wants to fight, but she isn't at the level she needs to be. My favorite part of that movie is when they are singing "Need a man.. He must be swift as the coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire; mysterious as the dark side of the moon!" That song lists the qualities of a good fighter and much to her dismay, Mulan isn't there yet; but she wants to be. Throughout that song it shows Mulan changing into a better fighter. Her transformation into a warrior did not happen overnight, it took time for that change to occur; but when it did, she came out stronger and better than she had been before. Change requires work but it makes us better.

Many times in the scriptures we are told to follow Jesus Christ. Christ is perfect and if we, who are imperfect, are going to follow a perfect being, change is inevitable. Everyday when I wake up I am determined to be better than I was the day before; but sometimes when Heavenly Father answers my prayers by putting changes in my life so I can be better, I panic inside. As a missionary there is a lot of change! Saying goodbye to my family for 18 months..that was a HUGE change. Flying off to a place I had never been to and being surrounded by completely new faces was another huge change. That change was hard and scary, but looking back after having served in the New York Rochester Mission for the past 9 months has made me realize that those changes in my life were absolutely needed in order for me to someday reach my full potential.

We all have a goal to return to live with our Heavenly Father. The scriptures teach us that "no unclean thing can dwell with God" (1 Nephi 10:21). None of us are perfect. We "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Because of our imperfections, we need to change if we want to return to live with our Father in Heaven. We need to "try a little harder to be a little better" everyday (President Hinkley). Through Christ and His Atonement, those changes everyday are possible. We can turn to Him and He will help us to become all that we can be. Our Savior not only provided the perfect example for us, but He is right by our side helping us to follow in His footsteps. 

Change is hard; but without change we will never become who our Heavenly Father knows we can be. Let the change that comes into your life allow you to grow and become more like the Savior. Enjoy the changes that come your way! Recognize that you are becoming more like Christ! We only live everyday once and so we might as well enjoy it. 

I am so grateful that our Heavenly Father loves us enough to put changes into our lives and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, so we don't have to go through it alone.