Just Have Hope

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! "God knows what is best for us and he gives us the best at the right time. So just have trust and faith in God." ~Ekta Umaraniya I was not super excited about moving to Fayetteville as you may already know. I was sad to leave everything I had behind, especially my friends. I still miss them. My seminary teacher wanted us to write letters to people in four categories: school, church, teachers/school, friends, and family. He wanted us to put five people in each category.  As I started to fill this chart out I had more than five names for all of the categories and most of them were people from Fayetteville. It's been one hundred and fourteen days since my family moved to Fayetteville and already I have been able to meet so many people. In fact, I have made so many more friends than I thought I would. In total, I have made about 9 or so friends. I had a friend group of three people and two other friends that I hung out with right before moving ...

 "All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty God, I have seen it." ~Joseph Smith What a powerful statement but one that rings true. Our losses will be made up to us.  I do not know how or when our losses will be made up to us, all I know is that they will. Heavenly Father has a plan, he will carry it out.  Many of us have lost loved ones or friends. We will see them again, of that I know. Death is not an end but a continuation of what has begun. I feel reassurance and peace knowing I will see those who have died again.  We will all lose many things in our lives, not just people but other things that will be considered losses as well. Do not let these things discourage you. There is hope, always.  I hope all of us can find ways to support people in their losses. We may not always understand what someone is going through but we can still offer our sympathy and support.  Associated ...

Isn't it great? We've just been handed a brand new year!!! "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." ~Seneca  We just came from the year 2020, the year of challenges and hardship. The year that will live in infamy. We are now at the start of 2021. It can be everything we make it and more. I was excited for 2021 not just because we would end 2020 but because I would be given a new beginning. A chance to start over and make new memories.  Even though Covid is still here, we can make 2021 a new beginning and a blessing for all of us. I think after everything we have been through we needed a new start and now we have it.  Congratulations on making it through 2020. But can we make it through 2021? I don't know, but only time will tell. 😊 How will you start off 2021?

My, what a year we have had!!! I can't believe 2020 is almost over. It has definitely been hard but here we are still making it through.  "Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection." ~Winston Churchill   This year has definitely been difficult and my family has hit some rough patches this year and feelings of uncertainty. The joke was that we would all see clearer this year because we would have 2020 vision. But I am afraid that my vision this year has been a little foggy and the future is a bit unknown.  Nonetheless, through all the uncertainty and hardship I have reflected on the good things lately that have happened this year rather than the challenges I have received. That has truly made all the difference.  For example, I started a journal where I have written down at least one miracle I had that day. I have recently flipped through it and was impressed to see the results. Miracles really do happen every day, all in their own way, some b...

"You can't take darkness out of a dark room, but you can fill it with light." ~Lindsey Stirling This seems like common sense: you can't remove darkness. However this quote isn't just about darkness and light. We can relate it to ourselves in so many ways. ~Light will always prevail over darkness.  ~The only way to get rid of negativity in our lives is to fill it with positivity.  ~Righteousness will always win over wickedness.  No matter how many analogies or interpretations we make of this quote. It will always be true. We really can't take darkness out of a room but we can fill it with light.  What do you like about this quote? What did you take from it?

There was a knock at the door.    An accepted invitation.            A secret was shared.                 As they journeyed down the road.                                    On the road there is beauty to be shared.      Green leaves grow on apple trees.            Magnificent butterflies fly, and buzzing bees.              A majestic place, leading to the undiscovered.                         Pretty pink pansies grow on the si...

I have come to believe in life that sometimes the hardest challenges lead us to even better things. Right now many of us are going through a challenging time but I believe that one day we'll look back and think about how much that experience really helped us.  "Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us." ~Nicole Reed I have seen this in my life many times. We had to move in November of my fifth-grade year. That year I had a really tough time understanding math and I was struggling. Then on top of that, I had to adjust to a new school when we moved.  However looking back, my fifth-grade year in my new school was the best school year I've ever had. Math ended up making a lot more sense to me at my new school. That year I also had the best teacher for Science and History. I loved that class so much and that led to me really enjoying my 5th grade year. Remember that sometimes bad things wil...

Back in May, I found a quote I really liked that helped me remember to be patient when times are hard.  "Be strong now, because things will get better. It might be stormy now but it can't rain forever." ~Tiny Buddha. I love this quote for many reasons. The main lesson I got from this was to be patient, and to wait until the storm ends. I am sure we are all anxious for everything to return to normal and for Covid to be over. However, it won't be over instantly and it might take time. But, this quote promises that the storm will end and I believe that Covid will be over someday too.  Right now, I think we can focus on spending time with our families and staying connected online with those around us. I have enjoyed spending more time at home and I have started goals that have blessed my life. I hope you will still be able to see positive things in your life each day. 😊 ~How has Covid changed your life?