Experience Has Taught Me

Looking back at the last two years, I am amazed at how much my life has changed!  I am happier, stronger, and closer to my Heavenly Father than I had ever been before.

I was recently asked, "If I didn't think the church was true could you explain to me how it is without telling me to read the book and pray about it?"

I had so many memories flood into my mind (just from the last 2 years) when I realized that it all came down to this; aside from constant confirmation from the Holy Ghost that the Church of Jesus Christ is the true church, actually living the principles of the gospel and witnessing the blessings that come from doing so leave no room for doubt - the gospel is true.

I know tithing stories like mine are cliche, but I can't tell you how many times I faithfully paid my tithing while wondering how other bills or necessary purchases were going to be taken care of when all of a sudden a check came in the mail that was just enough to help us break even.

I can't tell you how many times I prayed asking for help, then received the guidance I needed by being prompted to read an article, talk to the bishop, confide in a friend, etc...

I have been comforted, strengthened, forgiven, healed, guided, loved, and so much more.  Experience accompanied by confirmation from the Holy Ghost has taught me - the gospel is true!!!

...just so you know ;-)

Stress, Stress, Stress

As you can tell from the title of my post, I have been quite stressed lately.  Maybe my pregnant brain is blowing things out of proportion, but it feels like life has been especially challenging lately.

What's been going on:

Cael has asthma which mostly makes itself known at night keeping me from sleeping ....A LOT!

School has been throwing all sorts of surprises my way!  Unexpected due dates, professors assigning the wrong reading and not telling us til the day before the exam that we need to read a whole different section of our text book, finals being mailed in and getting lost somewhere along the way making it so I have to do my final all over again.

Church:  I have been given the calling I have dreaded the most.  Teaching in RS.  I have also been asked to speak in a few weeks and on top of that, Cael throws terrible fits when I leave him at nursery.  I thought we were over this at Moran Prairie, but then we moved and Cael decided he just couldn't live without me again.

Pregnancy:  This pregnancy has been the most painful I have every experienced.  Every little move I make makes me want to break down into tears because I hurt so bad.  One day I tried walking down the stairs and the pain was so overwhelming I fell to my knees and couldn't move for a few minutes.  It has not been fun.  Due to the pain and lack of sleep I have been having a hard time being the house wife, mother, and employee that I need to be.


So yes, I have been very stressed.  Fortunately for me, one my current courses is Stress Management.  I have actually learned a lot and I've been able to apply a lot of what I have learned to my own life including time management, budgeting, now meditation.  I have also learned that I need to be more assertive and I need to learn how to ask for help.

I have been very fortunate to work with Sora Smith.  She has been so great at the music school and so willing to cover for me when I am not feeling well.  I have also been very fortunate to have a loving husband who does so much to help relieve my stress by helping with Cael at night, taking on extra cleaning duties, satisfying my pregnancy cravings, etc...  Even Jaeda has been trying to help out.  Just yesterday she heard me complaining about how sore my whole body was.  She ran over, took off my socks, and started massaging my feet, haha.

I love my family and my friends, and I am so grateful for the help that has been given to me to help make my life easier and less stressful.

Thanks for the support everyone!!

Curse My Face!

So I ran out of Votre Vu a month or so ago and decided to be frugal by purchasing a less expensive skin care system.

First l I told Ryan of my idea.  He was so nice, he surprised me by buying a system for me on his way home from work.  I love it when he does stuff like this, but he bought the Neutrogena system.  It looked legit with its cleanser, moisturizer, and acne control lotion, but I started using it and my face has never been in such bad shape!

I really don't want to spent $100 on skin care products - does anyone have any suggestions for affordable skin care products?  Because I am going crazy and I don't want to waste anymore money on something that won't work.

Any and all help would be appreciated :-)