Sunday Inspiration

I testify that God’s grace is sufficient. Jesus’ grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Don’t quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength. Don’t search for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ, and, as you do, I promise you will feel the enabling power we call His amazing grace. It is wonderful. It is powerful, and it is constant.

Sunday Inspiration: The Hope of God's Light

Many of us have wondered if God knows us or if He even exists. Todd was someone who made fun of people who thought God was real, and he wasn’t surprised when he didn’t get an immediate answer to a prayer. But could God be giving us small but obvious answers? And how patient do we need to be to get those answers? 

Sunday Inspiration

INSPIRATION.

A Message For You

Shirt: Avon // Black Skinnies: Ross // Boots: Kohls // Necklace: Daisy Gem // Ring: Big Lots // Sunnies: F21

Who are you?

You are...

BEAUTIFUL

SMART 

TALENTED

FABULOUS

STRONG

HIS!!

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Sunday Inspiration

“Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.” 

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Tuesday Thoughts

 

 

Make this day better than yesterday!

Have a great Tuesday!

Testimony Tuesday: Emi from C&E

Blog

do you believe in miracles?

we do.

We had an experience which made us believe in them even more.We are newlyweds who just got married on the first of june, 2012.

After returning home from our honeymoon in june, we had one week to open all of our wedding gifts, pack up our things, and move to california. needless to say it was a hectic week. the night after we got home, we had a family party and opened all of our wedding gifts. It was a crazy night as we opened lots of presents, wrote down lists of thank yous, and sorted them into piles to take with us, to store, or duplicates to return.

The day after this gathering, I noticed that my wedding ring was not on my ring holder...or on my hand! These are the only 2 places it would usually ever be, so I was shocked to not know where my favorite thing was. In 8 months of having it during the engagement, that had never happened once. I thought I must have set it somewhere in the house or somewhere as we had opened gifts or packed up. I was sure we would find it.

Well, that week went by with all of our family members searching high & low for it. Finally sunday came when we had to move, and we left heartbroken and with a bare left hand. I still had hope that it would be found, but as the days went on after we moved it seemed less & less likely. My cute parents searched every night for it and my dad kept calling me with more and more questions about what I remembered. My parents both looked through all the garbage, gifts, and everywhere they could. They would not stop looking!

Meanwhile, my new husband had every excuse to be furious with me about it...but he was handling it so well. Instead of making me feel guilty about losing our most prized, special and expensive possession, he just took it like a gentleman and made me realize that we still had our love which was most important thing!

We were just missing the symbol of it........

Well, exactly one month later on friday the 13th, that all changed.

the ring was found!

you won't believe how:

The night back in june when we had opened all of our gifts, I had somehow unknowingly taken off my ring amidst all of the unwrapping and packing. Everything was sorted into piles, and the ring was with some items we returned to bed bath & beyond the next day...I had no idea as I made those returns that my RING was inside the box with all the gifts!
Right at that moment, it could have been gone forever. As they processed and restocked the returned items at bed bath & beyond, the ring could have fallen out, been taken by an employee or customer, or endless other possibilities. But instead, it ended up inside of a mini cupcake tin which was restocked on the top shelf of the store.

A few weeks later, a lady named jilda went to bed bath to get a mini muffin tin to make her son some muffins he had asked her to make. As she chose her pan, she reached up to the highest level in case they had any different sizes. She happened to grab the tin the ring was in...coincidence? I don't think so! She came home and discovered a diamond ring loose inside of the muffin tin. She had no idea how it got there or what to do with it.

Meanwhile, my dad had gone to have his hair cut by our family's favorite hair stylist. She is our good family friend and does all of our hair...so she was asking my dad about how we were, and he said great except for the sad loss of our ring. she had just seen the ring when I was in to get my hair done before the wedding, so she knew what it looked like. She asked him when we lost it, and he mentioned we had been opening wedding gifts at the time.

The next week, megan's coworker jilda came into the salon and was talking about how she had found this ring at bed bath & beyond and didn't know what to do. She was having a jeweler come into the salon that day to tell her the price in case she were to sell it.

Megan overheard this and remembered her conversation with my dad...she said that although it was a longshot, she knew someone who had lost a wedding ring. She remembered we had been opening wedding gifts, so she thought it might be possible that it was found at bed bath. As the jeweler arrived, megan called my dad to check if we had ever found the ring. He said no, and she said that her coworker had found one that looked like mine. The jeweler advised them to have my dad send a picture of the ring to them to identify it.

I was coming home from a tiring friday of work in LA when my dad called me and casually asked me to send him a picture of the ring. I had no idea why, but we hung up and I sent him a picture. 5 minutes later my hairstylist megan called me out of the blue and gave me the best news I've ever heard in my life- she said,

"emi this is megan blanchard...i have your wedding ring! your dad is on his way down to get it right now!"

Obviously I was in shock! I had zero context, but I started crying from happiness the second she told me...I really hoped I wasn't dreaming!  Later I got the entire story and we put it all together. We have gone over it hundreds of times since and still can't get over it. The ring is now safe and sound at home in Salt Lake City, and we will be coming home to visit in 2 weeks so I can get it back on my finger then. I am so excited to have it back and in SUCH DISBELIEF at the series of events which came together and got my ring back to me.

This story is such a miracle and it makes the ring even more special to us---we will tell this to our children and grandchildren forever!

This story may not seem like a big deal since it is just about a material thing, but the more we thought about how it all happened the more we realized what a true miracle it was. There is no way that this could have happened randomly, and it's such a testimony builder. Heavenly Father proved more than ever that He truly is involved in the details of our lives and can make the most unlikely things happen! What a sweet reminder of the fact that our prayers are heard, no matter how small our problems are. If it's important to us, it's important to Him!
There's no way to deny that after this experience!

These two were happy to be reunited!

Thanks for having me, cute Kimberly!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Friday Thoughts

Testimony Tuesday & Winner of Blue Bird Bride Giveaway

Today I am so excited to introduce you to Sarah from Just the Two of Us

She is stopping by to share a wonderful story with you guys. 

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did after reading it.

 Okay Sarah...you are on! 
Take it away girly!

My husband, Dave was in his last year of his Undergraduate degree and I was finishing an internship, taking classes and working part time. We had been married almost one year.  Life was crazy.  Dave was studying to take the GRE and researching what schools he wanted to apply to for Graduate school.

By the end of January all of Dave’s applications were in.   Now it was time for the waiting game.  A few weeks later, Dave received a letter from the administration who writes the GRE.  They had decided to hold his test scores because they were up for review. What? How could his scores be up for review? He did really well on the test and we figured everything was fine. Before we knew it, they were going to take the scores away from him. They had decided he cheated. What!? My husband is such a hard worker in school and I KNOW he doesn’t cheat.  Apparently Dave had taken in a small piece of paper that had the address of the testing center and the room number and everything on it. He had the small piece of paper in his pocket. They found it in his pocket when he was going back in after the middle break.  The employee reported him for cheating! Our hopes were gone. None of his test scores would be to schools in time and he wouldn’t be going to graduate school with ‘cheating’ on his record.

Dave didn’t give up. He wrote a letter to the head of the department telling them his story. With a lot of prayer – Dave received a letter in the mail a few weeks later saying it was all a mistake and he would receive his scores.  When he looked at his applications, the scores were reported as received two months prior. I knew it was a miracle.

A month later, we started hearing from schools. Dave only applied to four schools- what were we thinking? Dave had amazing grades but really? Only four schools? He was denied to the first two he heard from.  A couple weeks later he was accepted to UMASS. We were so excited! Living was only $1100 a month for 350 sq. ft. apt. . . yikes! We could do it if this is really what our Heavenly Father wanted for us.  Then in April, Dave received an acceptance letter from the University of Florida. They invited him to be apart of the Hispanic Linguistics program and they offered him a teaching assistantship. This means all tuition paid for and they were going to pay him to come there. He would have a monthly stipend and all he had to do was teach one undergraduate course. I knew it was a miracle.

A month later, the school contacted him again. They wanted to increase his stipend. Double it. They asked him to teach a second class of the same course.  Teaching is what Dave LOVES. I knew it was another miracle. 

Fast forward to August.  We had a fabulous time with all our friends and family before we drove across the country to our new home.  We rock climbed, A LOT. We sure miss those mountains.  We were climbing three days before we planned to leave and Dave found a little bump on his leg.  It looked like a bite but we weren’t sure.  Lucky for us, we didn’t have insurance for him at the time because we were between jobs.  We met with a family friend Doctor and discovered a poisonous spider bit him.  Not only that but he had walked through poison ivy.  WHAT?! How could we drive across the country with him in this condition? Dave received an incredible blessing before we left.  We knew it was the right thing to embark on our long road trip anyways.  Dave was in so much pain. Covered in puss-filled rash and his skin was dying at the site of a spider bite. With the help of literal angels along our trip, we finally made it to Florida.  It was a miracle. 

Since we arrived here in Gainesville, the blessings have continued to flow. It is the farthest thing from easy for me to be away from home.  I miss my family so much.  I miss my Utah fall leaves. I miss my mountains. I miss everything.  However, I am so incredibly grateful for the events that have led us here.  There were so many times that we were ready to give up on Dave’s dream but I have no doubt it my mind that is God’s plan for us to be in Florida.  Through his many miracles, I know this is where I am supposed to be.  I have a testimony that God has a plan for each one of us.  He will guide you along your journey in life; all you have to do is ask for His help.  He will give you miracles.  

Thanks for having me Kimberly!!!

Need more Bloggers!!!

If you would like to be apart of  TESTIMONY TUESDAY 

please email me with your information.

Email me @

bostonksox {at} gmail {dot} com

  


Winner of the Blue Bird Bride Giveaway is:

**Kaitlin Hogan**

Please email me!

Congrats!

My Story: Part 3

Haven't read part 1 & 2?

Part 1 & Part 2

So here I am...now living in beautiful sunny Arizona.

I spent the first couple of weeks just relaxing and having fun with some friends.

Then it was on to finding a full time job and a church to join.

I had interview after interview and wasn't getting any calls back.

I was also "church shopping" trying to find a church to call home.

I remember being on my knees every night asking and begging God to help me find

a great church where I would feel welcome and a church I could call home.

I seriously attended possibly every Christian church in the valley

(well not literally but attended quite a few)

and none of them really felt right to me. Something was missing.

I got a call back from a job I applied to on Craigslist.

They were located in Scottsdale and I was in Phoenix.

The next day I went into the interview and in walked this tall (6'5") handsome fella.

I was trying to focus on the interview but it was just so hard because he was so good lookin'!

He mentioned that the job was only starting off part

time and would possibly turn into a  full time position.

Again...I felt something telling me to just go for it. So I did.

They hired me on the spot and my start date was a week later.

While working at Unruly Studios (a custom web design company)

I got hired on to do all the sales for the company.

Josh (the handsome interviewer)

 and I became really good friends

over the next few months.

There was just something about this guy that I couldn't put my finger on!

Well friendship quickly turned into us really liking

 one another so we started hanging out

outside of work and had a great time together.

One day when we were out driving around doing sales, we got to talking about God.

He asked me what church I was going to.

Josh: "So what church are you going to?"

Me: "I am not going to any particular church at the moment. Just this small

church close by. I really haven't found one that I like"

Josh: "Well why don't you come to my church with my family this Sunday?"

Me: "Which church do you go to?"

Josh: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"

Me: " The what? I have never heard of that church before?"

Josh: "Haha...otherwise know as he Mormon church.

(I remember laughing a little bit at him)

Me: "You are not Mormon! Are you seriously?"

Josh: "Yes I am. I have been my whole life.

 I'll tell you what. I will come to your church if you come to my church?"

I told Josh I had to really think about it and I would let him know asap. 

I went home and told my roomate and she freaked out!

"What! You have been hanging out with a Mormon all this time!

"FYI....He is NOT allowed in my house"

"Do you know what they believe!!"

I had read and heard a lot of things about the church.

Throughout the work week Josh and I spent alot of time talking on the phone together.

My whole misconception was that they believed and worshipped Joseph Smith.

Not true. I remember him send me a picture of Jesus Christ pictured above his bed and

a Christ statue that he had in his room. He also told me that the name of the church was

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints" not the "Mormon" church.

In my heart I just felt a really strong feeling that I just needed to find out for myself.

That night I prayed and talked with my Heavenly Father about the situation

but I never once got a feeling like I shouldn't attend his church. I more less felt at peace.

Sunday soon came and I met up with Josh to go to his church.

From the moment that I stepped into his church, people

 from all angles were coming up to greet me and welcome me.

I felt this rush go over my body and felt the spirit stronger than I had ever felt it ever before.

I couldn't get over what I was feeling and it lasted the entire service.

It felt like a really warm blanket was being wrapped around me and at that moment I knew

Heavenly Father was saying "Kimberly this is your home...this is where you need to be"

I was baptized just a few weeks later.

You cannot judge a book by its cover. You cannot judge someone before you actually know them.

You cannot know anything until you find out for yourself.

I love what the Church teaches and really admire how much they center it around families and Jesus Christ.

I never thought I could have the faith that I have now.

I never thought I could love my Savior as much as I do now.

I never thought I could love my Heavenly Father as much as I do now.

I love the Bible and the Book of Mormon and read both everyday.

It's amazing how well they work together!

Some people think that because we read the Book of Mormon, we don't read the Bible. That's just not true. It's like saying that we don't eat oranges because we eat apples. Both are good fruit! The Book of Mormon is not a replacement for the Bible. In fact, because the Book of Mormon and the Bible both contain the gospel of Jesus Christ as it was revealed to different civilizations, studying them together can clarify some concepts that are difficult to understand.

In the Bible, Jesus told His apostles, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them

also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" ( John 10:16 ). Christ visited these "other sheep" in the Americas after He was resurrected, teaching the same message to the Nephites that He taught to the people of Israel. The Book of Mormon makes it clear that Jesus Christ's message and His atonement are not for one group of people at one time. They are for everyone, everywhere, from the beginning of the earth to the end. Having the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ reminds us that He is mindful of every one of us.

I have had SO many prayers answered through the Bible and also the Book of Mormon. Every day when I read from the Book of Mormon I feel the spirit so strongly, I feel peace, I feel pure joy. I never thought in a million years that I would say I am a Mormon. But I am and I am the happiest I have ever been!

So you are probably saying to yourself "Well what about Josh?"

Josh proposed and I were happily married just 7 months later!!

I really hope you guys enjoyed reading my conversion story.

If you would like to learn more about my faith go HERE

Please feel free to email me with any questions you might have.

I would love to answer them!!

Tuesday Thoughts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dont forget to enter the Giveaway! Ends this week!

http://diaryofabrwneyedgirl.blogspot.com/2012/09/thankful-thursdays-giveaway.html

Sunday Inspiration

Tuesday Thoughts

Mood Swings

 

I believe that there's a time to pray and a time to act. And even though it's not easy sometimes, confrontation is often necessary. If you feel the need to confront someone or something in your life, make sure you do it. 

If someone has treated you badly, you don't have to let them continue to disrespect you, de-value you or mistreat you. Obviously it won't help you, and it won't help that person either. Confront them about it in a nice way.Maybe what you need to confront isn't a person. Maybe it's something you've let creep into your life uninvited, like negative thoughts, a bad attitude or habitual sin. 

We shouldn't let these things control us...

We need to confront them face first...

Some people let unstable moods and out-of-control emotions take control of their lives. They feel miserable all the time and feel like nothing good can happen to them. 

Does this sound like you?

Challenge: Start with saying

 "I'm going to do something great with my life!" Get rid of small thinking and begin thinking according to what God's Word says and promises.

When you first feel your mood sinking, that's when you need to get a hold of yourself. As the Bible says, "Resist the devil at his onset (James 4:7)

 Even if someone's done you wrong, forgive them in the first 5-10 minutes or you'll sink deeper into that bad mood, and it will be harder to deal with and let go of.

You don't have to feel like doing the right thing to do it. Just take that first step and make the choice to do it.

Stability is defined as the ability to quickly return to a calm, stable state when disturbed, disappointed or upset; the strength to stand or endure any situation and remain calm. One of the most wonderful gifts we can give others or ourselves is stability, or dependability. It's a sign of choosing to trust God. Once we're stable, we will have the ability to do what we're called to do.

Trusting in God and relying on Him is the key to moving forward into the things God has in store for us. 

You never know what's going to happen when you get up in the morning for that day, but God wants us to rely on Him and look to Him all throughout the day for guidance and direction.

A dozen opportunities may arise to get you offended or to say stupid and negative things, but no matter what you feel like inside—even if you feel like you're going to blow up—you have a choice. Are you going to throw a fit, or are you going to go to God and ask Him to help you to change your mood? 

I had a situation this week happen and made me feel like I was going to "blow up" and I felt like I had to vent and tell everyone around me. I have to admit...it was hard trying to take a step back, take a deep breath and get a hold of my negative mood. I feel so grateful that we have the gift to communicate anytime we want with God and tell him what we are feeling. I said a silent prayer to myself and asked God to help me with the situation and help me to calm down and relax.

He did just that :)

When you immediately go to Him, suddenly something will change inside you. Once you get into the habit of this, you will start to see those moods and bad attitudes leave a little sooner. That "uninvited guest" may try to come back, but you will have already decided to not let him in! 

Make a choice...then do it.