Miguel's Missionary Moment

**No Kittens were eaten in the taking of this photo**

What up world!

This has been a really good week.  I am really loving serving in Winder and finding a lot of new people to teach.  This week we made a lot of progress with Kris and Cathy.  They are homosexual and we knew that even though they had not told us yet.  They have been reading the Book of Mormon and Kris has talked a lot about wanting to be right with God, so we invited them to be baptized.  She talked about how she kinda knows she has to change and we bore testimony if they read with the intent to change, that they would receive one.  Itt was very interesting and very spiritual.  I was apprehensive about teaching them because of the situation.  I have been praying for the ability to love all of gods children so I can invite more to take part in baptism and come unto Christ.  This has truly been a learning experience.

We also met with Adam this week and read 1 Nephi 8.  Hee made the connection for himself how important it really is to read the Book of Mormon along with the Bible. He had been reading, but just what we asked.  He would read it right before we got there, too.  But now he truly is going to read it for himself.  It was a great lesson as well.  He is going out of town for a week, but he has all the gospel apps now and is going to read and listen on flights and drives between business at work.  Our next meeting will be a church tour and he invited his friend from work who is a member so it should be really awesome.

This Tuesday we also have dinner with a family, and I am very excited.  They have family in the Ellijay branch who have called US because the family told them she was going to hear from some of the Mormon missionaries.  The Ellijay family called very excited that they were interested, and told us they were praying for us and we are praying very hard that we can have a good teaching experience with them. I have been praying for a while now for a family to teach, and I really hope this is going to go well.

We also have 2 families in the ward who we challenged to invite a family to hear our message, and they agreed.  They actually have two people they are inviting so we hope everything will go well. This week after we shared a dinner message a member said to me "You' ea veteran aren't you?" He was like "No offense Elder Eads but you can tell Elder Miguel knows what he is doing."  It was super funny Elder Eads is still only been out 3 months.  They gave him a hard time, but he laughed it off.      

Also this week we borrowed a giant teddy bear from another Elder and put a white shirt and tie on it and it chilled in the back seat of our car for a few days.  The teddy bear definitely looked like a missionary haha.

Oh and someone backed into our nice Chevy Malibu this week and jacked up the front!!!!!!! It looks terrible!  Maybe we will get a new car.  Our car is old! Life is good, I love the mission, I read my scriptures everyday!!!!!!

Elder Miguel out!"

in(RL) Weekend

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I'm breaking my weekend rule of no internet and blogging.  Yet this weekend was (in)courage's online in(RL)  Weekend Conference.  How could I not participate?   What an amazing organization with their spiritual thoughts and uplifting messages.  I'm grateful to know that even though we may not share the same religion, we share the same Faith.  Religion need not be divisive but that Faith in Christ is what should bring us together.  We all believe and worship a loving Savior, and strive to be better sisters, daughters, mothers and wives.  I'm grateful to be a part of such an incredible community and to call these women my Sisters in Christ.

Faith, Food and Shopping

With the afternoon sun overhead, we piled in the Honda, four of us on a journey of faith, food and shopping.  Faith, food and shopping.  A dichotomy, yes?  Yet, in the same weekend all were fulfilled.  We were fed both spiritually and temporally.  You see we were going to Salt Lake City, a Mecca of sorts for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Twice a year, leaders from our faith speak of Christ, his life and how we can embrace Him more fully in what is called General Conference.  We were lucky enough to be in possession of four tickets, otherwise, we would just sit at home and watch it on BYU-TV, which is totally okay with me, too.

Our first stop in reaching the outskirts of Salt Lake was

Because you just can't get them in Idaho.

The next day found us shopping and visiting a different kind of Mecca

Yeah, it was my birthday weekend.  Let me just say that I have never been to IKEA.  I was overwhelmed and in awe as I wandered around that maze of a store.  I could have gone through a second time once I took it all in, but I had two males in tow, and a good woman should know their limits.  

Sunday found us here

and here

How overwhelming it was to be amongst so many fellow Latter Day Saints all filled with the excitement and anticipation to hear the good words about Jesus Christ from these amazing and inspirational men.

Yes, our hearts were full, our belly's were sated 

and my checkbook a little bit lighter.  

Happy Endorphins and Journals

I recently read an article on Mind, Body, Green entitled The Power of Gratitude in the Face of Tragedy.  My focus this year has been on being grateful.  I've posted about it a few times, but as of late, my writing has been neglected, but I digress.  The article talks about being grateful and how gratitude fosters happiness and optimism.  Yes, Yes, Yes!  And do you know what else?  Happier people are generally healthier.  When you focus on blessings and what is going right in your life and are thankful for that, all those happy endorphins are just to flow through your veins.  It's good stuff.  They mentioned the infamous Gratitude Journal.  I've read many things on Gratitude Journals and the art of documenting those gifts from Oprah Winfrey, to One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, to leaders of my Church.  One thing is certain, these people know something, and I'm certain they speak the truth.

My writing has hit a slump here on the blog and elsewhere.  I try to blog happy things, because "joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody." Isaiah 51:3.  I have found the idea of guided journaling might be just the thing to get me out of my writing slump weather here on my blog or in journaling.  The journals I can find online are lovely with prompts and pretty papers.  I like the ones here, and bought one at Christmas time. Better still, I came across this gal's website where she offers her pages for free.

I really love it when a blogger goes the extra mile.  I quickly downloaded them to put together my own guided journal/SMASH book.  Because, yes, I do often put in pictures and mementos, too.

An absolute must are some fun, colorful journaling pens.  Just sayin'

Since journaling is so good for your health, 

do you think I could give up running and yoga?

Miguel's Missionary Moment

"I hate writing.  I even stink at writing in my journal! This week everything has been yellow........ like literally EVERYTHING.   Pollen is everywhere it is crazy.  I have included a picture of my shoes with pollen.  

It has been a good week teaching wise.  We taught these ladies, Kris and Cathy, last night, and it was a super spiritual lesson.  We blew them away with the plan of salvation, One of them said she wants to be right with God, but she would have to give up a lot to be a Mormon. We told her to read Alma 22 Where Aaron teaches the Plan of Redemption through Christ. This other guy Adam is going really well.  I'm pretty sure he will eventually get baptized.  When he commits to something, he does it.  He has felt the spirit a ton.

Oh! When the big lightning storms came Elder Eads and I sat on the porch and watched lightning.  One hit super close, so we went inside.  We saw where it hit, it was awesome.  It was a crazy storm.

 

Elder Miguel"

When it's better to say nothing

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What does a blogger say after the terrorist event in Boston this past week?  What can we say?  Anything I could have contrived and written in those hours following the event on Monday would have seemed trivial in the wake of the pain and suffering of my fellow  Americans.  Therefore, I chose not to say anything at all for a few days.  My moments of silence, if you will, stretched on for several days.

Wow, senseless, horrific, tragedy, cruel, hateful, devastating, insecurity are all words that come to mind.  As I have pondered these events and the future of our Country, I have found solace in the fact that good people far outweigh the evil people in the world.

Albert Einstein said, "God did not create evil.  Just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of God."  Albert...he was a pretty smart guy in more ways than one, wouldn't you say?  I could go on and elaborate, but I find these words quite poignant...it's depths to ponder.

Let me finish with this quote below, and let there be more light.

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Miguel's Missionary Moment

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"Well this week was cool! So there are two other Elders who live on the same street as us, and we have been pulling a ton of pranks on them. We put Kool-aid in the back of their toilet so when one went pee and flushed and walked out the other one walked in and then went out and asked him if he needed to go to the doctor cuz it looked like blood it was super funny! There are a lot more pranks that I won't expound on at this time. 

This week we taught Adam again, and it was a good lesson.  He had just been thinking about the Spirit he felt from the first lesson all week.  The lesson on the plan of salvation went really well.  He said he just feels every thing we share is positive and is about the love of God.  This Wednesday we are going to ask him if he wants to be baptized.   This week we met a man named Terry.  He opened the door and invited us in. We went in and he said that he hasn't been to church but twice in 52 years.  He asked if we can prove to him right then that we were worth listening to.  I told him that I could, and then I asked him if we could bless his home. He opened up about how lost his family is.  I  blessed his home then testified of the peace the gospel brings.  He told me that I touched his heart. It was awesome!  

Elder Miguel Out"

Just a Reminder

Just a reminder to follow me on Bloglovin.  

Google Reader is going away in July, 

don't miss a minute of my witty humor and sarcasm.

Just sayin'

Striking Out

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This message is for Ladybug because I know at some point, she will read this post.  She always reads my blog...This is a favorite movie of hers, A Cinderella Story, and a favorite quote.  It is also a really hard thing to learn to live.  Failure does not define us so much as the lack of trying does.  I've tried and failed at things....but I tried.  In high school, I tried out for Cheerleading, Competitive Choir and the school musical.  It was an epic failure every time.  But, I tried...So for Ladybug who is afraid of trying, "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game."

That Time Again

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It's that time again...You know the time when I run dry on what to write?  If I had a blog focused on one area, perhaps coming up with ideas would be easier.  But, I and my blog are a dichotomy.  My thoughts flit about and scatter like the flower blossoms swirling in the viscous wind outside my home.  Staring at this computer screen, trying to dredge up a thought or two is torture.  It is in these moments that I contemplate an end to blogging...for just a moment.  However, I feel this deep seeded obligation to carry on.  I know not why... Perhaps, I need to revamp things a bit...come up with a mission statement and direction for my words. But is that really me?  Or is that me trying to be a me that is not that much like me?  See what I mean?

A Spotlight and a Birthday

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Today I, as in my blog, is being spotlighted at Mormon Mommy Blogs.  Conveniently, unbeknownst to them, it is my birthday, as well.

Check out their Spotlight here.

Thanks, Mormon Mommy Blogs for making me feel special today!

Miguel's Missionary Moment

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"Elder Eads and I basically tore it up this week.  The spirit was just throwin' down on everyone one we talked to.  haha jk but it was a good week!  This week we knocked into a guy named Adam and I felt like I should say that we were sent by Jesus Christ to bless his life, and he asked "Are you serious?" I said "Yes". We prayed this morning for someone to teach and this street stood out to us. Then told us 2 hours earlier he had been praying for a way to change his life! We went back and taught him a couple days later because he was hung over when we first met him, and the spirit was so strong that in the middle of it he said "Do you feel like the air has just been sucked right out of this room?"  I said, "Adam that is the Spirit of God testifying that what we are telling you is true."  It was epic!  Elder Eads and I walked out, got in the car and just were like did that just happen? It was awesome!

Then we found another lady who lets us in to teach her and we taught her the first lesson.  We were talking about a prophet she said "It all just makes sense and I am getting goose bumps."  It was really cool as well.  

Elder Eads and I have been pulling a lot of pranks on other Elders.  I mailed Elder Bridge a piece of bacon for Easter...I cooked it so I hope he liked it. There is another set of Elders in our apartment complex, and we can get in their door with a credit card and we mess with them.  It is pretty fun.

I'm trying to get better at writing these emails but they are hard because I don't have much to say......... I had to teach a lesson to the whole Ward on the atonement on Sunday.  Oh and when you knock on someones door on Easter to share a message about Christ....... no one will talk to you. haha well that's all I got!!!

 

Elder Miguel Out!"

 

Alma 36:25-26 "Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors; For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God."

 

The Final Day

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Today concludes my last and final day of Spring Break and an end to my blogging break.  You wouldn't have known I was on a break as I scheduled my lovely blog posts ahead of time.  Although, you may have noticed less commenting on my part.  Monday brings me back to the regular everyday schedule.

Over Spring Break I was very productive.  We had friends visit from Las Vegas, Ladybug had surgery, I did Spring Cleaning which included scrubbing bathrooms, vacuuming off plant shelves, cleaning the tops of cabinets, getting my carpets cleaned, going Easter dress shopping, made a pillow, a skirt AND read two books.  Phewww!

A few random things that blogging has taught me over the last week:

1. I am way more productive when I'm not blogging
2. If I'm not visiting you, you are far less likely to visit me.  My numbers have been down.
3. Blogging brings me out of my introverted world.
4. There is far more living to be done outside the computer world. 
5. I've missed it....

Service and Doormats

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Ann Voskamp recently wrote these very wise words on her blog "service isn’t about being a doormat but about being a door for joy to walk through."  There have been times in my life where I felt like I was being a doormat or being used by someone and that isn't a good feeling.  

There was that one time a lady asked me to come do her dishes because she was bit by a dog and her husband wouldn't.  I had two little boys at home in bed and my husband worked nights.  Or there was that other time a lady asked me to babysit her children.  I had literally just had a miscarriage and she knew it.  She needed me to watch her kids because her husband was in the hospital.  I did, in all honesty, feel like a doormat.  Couldn't someone else do it?  Sometimes others can't see beyond their own struggles to notice yours.  But, that's not their problem.  I learned in those moments of service, that it could have been worse.  I may have lost a baby, but I had two beautiful boys at home AND a healthy husband who was not in the hospital.  God teaches us while we are serving.  I've realized it's all about our attitude towards others and their requests.  Certainly, I prefer to see a need and act on it first before being asked, but my reaction and attitude to requests is in MY hands.  

When someone asks me for help or I give service voluntarily, I want to be that person who brings joy when I walk through that door.