Turn The Music Up And Remember Him

During this Christmas Season I have fully embodied the Joyous spirit by blasting "Run Run Rudolph" along with many others from Kelly Clarkson's Holiday Album 'Wrapped in Red' as well as listening to the oh so emotionally beautiful Christina Perry sing "Ave Maria." 
I also Made a Christmas Tree from wrapping paper and taped it to the wall just above my kitchen table :) I have included a picture below:)

I had the brilliant idea after a conversation with my little sister Linda who said that really all she wanted for Christmas was a Christmas Tree :) Thanks to my awesome Mother and Father who always taught us that a present from the heart was always better than a billion store bought presents! I started my project at 10:00 pm after she left for work and It took me a good two hours to do it.. I think it took so long because I am a perfectionist....I know it doesn't look like it, but it could look worse ;) The joy that filled my heart while serving my sister was so strong and warmed me up despite the growing cold outside. This season is all about what Charity we as humans can bring to the table. What can you do to brighten someones Christmas? Christ gave us the ultimate example of how to give all that he had and than some when he gave his life on the cross for each and everyone of us. God is real, and present in your life. I promise you this is true and when you serve your friends, family, and those you may not even know this holiday season you will be emulating Jesus Christs example of selfless service and like the Grinch who realized the true meaning of Christmas, your heart will grow 10x while you do it.... or at least it will feel that way ;) 

God lives!! and loves each and everyone of you! At the very least share a smile with someone today! 

Lin and I also had a blast decorating a Gingerbread House and also got surprised with the tip top of our older sisters Christmas Tree to decorate as our very own! The smell is incredible and I think it is my new favorite thing about the Holidays. Fresh pine smell just cannot be beat!!! 

I pray during this Holiday season that we will all remember the true meaning of CHRISTmas :) Don't forget Christ, he never forgets you!!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25

"But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord." Helaman 14:17

As I remember him I am brought to my knees in gratitude for the many blessings I have already received in my life and will yet receive in the future. I can feel the Atonement (The result of his death) in my heart guiding me to feel deep forgiveness for the wrongs done to me and for the wrongs I may have done to others and definitely to myself. It is easy to call out others for hurting us and to blame them for the way that we are but I believe in being better than that. I believe in understanding and owning my own decisions and taking responsibility for my successes and failures. If I stumble the rest of my life because I married an abusive man and now can never trust another person again than that decision is on ME. I WILL FLY. I will heal, recover and trust again being wiser for my life experiences and I will be happy :) I decide my fate. No one will control me now nor ever. I decide, to be submissive to my Saviour because I know that by being obedient and willing to be taught is the only way to be someone that he would want to spend time with in Eternity. Eternity is the next step and I am willing to be patient, faithful and submissive in order to return to him someday and live in his presence. 

Whether you are currently happy, sad, mad, relaxed, nervous, stressed, tired, selfish, charitable, filled with harmony and balance or cluttered; you have made the decision to be that way. Turn your life around, remain where you are, or evaluate the decisions you are making and decide where YOUR life should progress to. It is after all your life so where you end up is entirely up to you :) Merry Christmas! May this season find you on your knees thanking God for all that you have!

 Merry Christmas 

Anthony VS Anthony

I just realized that I never did a post in August and that was the month that our marriage (if you can call it that) was Annulled. I remember the moment I found out so vividly. I was just exiting a sealing session for two awesome friends of mine from high school in the draper temple. While waiting for the bride and groom to come out I turned my phone on to see if I had any missed calls... I did!!!! My lawyers had called during the sealing to announce that I was completely free from the man that had almost taken my life. I couldn't breathe, tears of joy streamed down my face and all I could say was "oh my goodness" and "Its over!" I had to sit down I almost fainted in the temple lobby. The people I found out in front of where a group of tight nit old high school friends who I had recently come in better contact with. I love that I had people around me who knew who I was, knew what this meant to me. The circumstances where set up by the Lord I just know it. I was ending my eternal marriage just as a couple was starting theirs. I love how the Lord knows us so perfectly that he blesses our lives in the most perfect of ways.
I cannot say that I am completely happy with my choices immediately following finding out that I was a free, single woman again.... but it had been 5 months sense I had kissed anyone... If I could go back I would not date that friend of mine for the week before I moved to Boston. I would spend more of that time with my family members and best friends! I would have treated myself to dinner and a movie instead of asking it of him. I learned so much from the experience of dating someone for literally less than a week that I am grateful for but I also ended up losing a friendship that I could have kept had I not dated that person. Sense dating him I have no desire to ever talk to him again and that is not just due to the fact that the last words he spoke to me a side from a hug and saying goodbye was "Don't forget to delete my number." I can really pick um that is for sure. That is also why I am not dating presently. I will not put my failed marriage on a man until I have completely come to terms and grieved in my own way. I will not go on dates until I feel sure that I am steady on my own two feet and able to express what happened to me in past tense.
"You is kind, you is smart, you is important." -The Help
Being in Boston I feel like a different person. The self doubt, self talk, and put downs toward my self have STOPPED!! I do not know how I lived with a smile on my face before knowing how much I was hurting myself. I am a beautiful Daughter of God and he loves me. When we put ourselves down we are putting Him down and he is perfect and our creator so we should really not do that. yeah? Jesus suffered our sins on the cross so that we could LIVE! So everyone out there just spread a little joy within your head and do your happiness some good this holiday season ( and everyday from now too.)
My brother Cameron ( who is single, by the way ;)) had this recent insight and I want to share
"If what we are experiencing here on this earth was not important, then Jesus would not have suffered our sins on the cross. He took our pain upon himself because our life experiences are valuable." Now lets just rephrase that last part. "He took our pain upon himself because our LIFE is valuable." Your life has value!! Everyone please remember that this holiday season as winter can be more than a little depressing without loved ones and the knowledge that our Savior Christ was born this month:)
Thank you anyone and everyone who reads this! I am more than blessed to be able to share my experiences and am happy when it can touch the lives of others. Merry Christmas!! ( Just in case life does what it's best at and gets busier)