A Special Calling

And.... this is the big sister. This picture is sometimes how I feel about her, and this is how she sometimes feels about me. We have this understanding though, this mutual agreement that we still love each other no matter what.

     In the Old Testament, there is a story about a woman named Hannah. Now Hannah, for whatever reason, had not been blessed with children in her life. Because of this, Hannah "was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore" (1Samuel 1:10). She prayed to Heavenly Father to bless her with a son, and promised that if He did, she would give her son to the service of the Lord. The Lord then did bless Hannah with a son, and she named him Samuel. True to her word, Hannah brought Samuel to the house of the Lord to learn. He grew to be a great prophet and servant of the Lord.



    Motherhood is a divine calling. It is one of the most selfless callings that this world has. When we choose to raise our families and teach our children in the ways of the Lord, great things can happen. Hannah was later blessed with many other children in her years, and Samuel still was part of her life. Not only did Hannah's choice to teach her children of the Lord bless her family, but it was also a blessing to many other people as Samuel led them to know the Lord.



Photo by Jenn Davidson



   My older sister and her husband were recently blessed with a healthy baby boy. Because of the testimonies that I know that Brittany and Scott have, I know that they will ALWAYS choose to raise their family the way the Lord would have them. I've been told that parenthood isn't easy, that sometimes when you want the best for your children, they still have agency and can choose to make wrong choices as well as choose the right. All we can do is teach what we know and lead by example. I'm so excited for Brittany and Scott. Brittany has always been a good example for me to follow and Scott has accepted and loved our family like his own. It's through these principles of selflessness, care, and love that families can build their foundation upon Jesus Christ, "whereon if men build, they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12)

Just That Simple.

   I've been having a bit of trouble composing my posts lately. My plan is to have one post about each of my family members and talk about a Christlike attribute that I see in them. To me, there are few things in this world that can teach better than example, and they all come from Divine guidance.
   It's not that I've been homesick (sorry, Mom and Dad), but when it comes to family and home, it's hard for me not to share the most exciting experiences and the times when I have learned the most from this particular family member, and I want those experiences to stay special.

  My short message for today: The Gospel Blesses Families. It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter where you came from or how broken or even happy your family may be, it all can be made better through obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It really is just that simple.

Mataya, Patata, Tater Bug, Darth Tater...

"Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."
                                 Isaiah 60:1

      I've never met someone who doesn't absolutely love Mataya. I think she's pretty great, but hey, she's my sister. The outfit she is wearing in this picture was designed and created by her. Mataya is one of the funnest (and funniest) people you will ever meet. Every time I remember laughing my guts out, Mataya has been there 9 times out of 10. She's one of those girls who seriously knows how to make you feel better and have a good time no matter what you were feeling like before.
 
      Mataya is an excellent example of being a light of Christ. She shows kindness to everyone. The way she dresses, the way she acts, and how she talks is all a reflection of what I hope to be. I have seen her be a good example to those her age and also been a role model for the young girls she babysits. She is always beautiful and modest. I love to talk about my younger sister and how great she is. There are so many things in Tennessee that I know she would truly appreciate and enjoy!

      I love to watch Mataya when she shares her testimony. She doesn't always vocalize it, but she lives it. To some of her non church member friends, she has been the one to whom they always go with questions about the gospel because they know that she knows. Mataya knows that Christ is where her happiness comes from, and she shares her joy and happiness with others through service to them. She is a daughter of God with valiant courage and the light of Christ.

The Biggest Younger Brother

KC is my older younger brother. One of the things I love most about KC is that with whatever he does, he becomes fully invested.When he was little, and he wanted to be a cowboy. He LOVED old western movies. I am convinced that the biggest fan that John Wayne ever had was this four year old boy. He would get all ready to watch in his wranglers, chaps, long sleeved flannel shirt and cowboy hat, no matter how hot or warm it was outside. When he got older, he really liked baseball. KC practiced hard and worked with his coach to become better and better. A few years ago he had the chance to throw an opening pitch for the Salt Lake Bees minor league baseball team, and the audience cheered him on the loudest out of any of the other pitches. He has even taught some of what he knows to Judson. KC is soon going to be a senior in High School. He likes to snowboard and he works alot at his job so he can earn money to buy a season pass early to the ski resorts. He has awesome friends. His best friend lives just as much at our house as he does his. Two perfect peas in a pod if I ever saw them. K.C is the one on the left, his friend Matt (sometimes called "Mac" at our house, courtesy of Goober!) on the right. They have lots of fun together.

  Another thing that I truly admire in my younger brother is his dedication and testimony of the gospel. He lives his life in a way that others can see the good example he sets. He surrounds himself with good people, he works hard, and still has a lot of good old fashioned fun. I'm proud of my brother for the way he treats others. He talks about how great his Sunday school and priesthood leaders are, and you can tell that he really respects them. KC also works hard to help out my mom. Whenever she is gone for a few days,  KC does his best to make sure the house is clean when she comes home. Sooner than I like to think about, KC will be going on a mission, and I look forward to writing him and telling him how great missions really are and giving him all the support he needs, but I know that when he dedicates his life to the Lord, that will be all he needs.

  KC is a great example of someone who is truly making the most of what Heavenly Father gives him and enduring to the end. Nothing that KC has done has ever come easily to him. He works hard and puts in the time and dedication, much like we have to put in time and dedication if we want to follow the Lord. When challenges arise, you press forward and keep your eye on the goal. By doing so, you can find your many strengths and talents that the Lord has given you to find. I'm proud of you, little brother.

 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore,  if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, behold, this saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

                                                                            -2 Nephi 31:20