Day 7

Today I had to google birthday traditions and start a new family tradition. Can I just say I am so glad to be an American! As I was researching birthday traditions I founds some rather interesting traditions. For your pleasure I will share them with you... hahaha

Kenyan Birthday Traditions: When a baby is first born , the mother takes the baby strapped to her back into the thorn enclosure, where the cattle is kept, and there, her husband and the village elders wait to give the child his or her name... yikes!! For real! I am so all about having a name picked out before hand haha!

Indian Birthday Traditions: On a Hindu child's first birthday, his or her head is shaved while being held by a special fire. Removal of the hair cleanses the child of any evil in past lives, symbolizing of renewal of the soul. WHAT! So they automatically think that their child could be of the devil... I'm so glad I know that a child is born perfect and that it doesn't need to be cleansed at birth or at anytime before they are 8! In there behalf, they did have a nice tradition as they were older. They also got to where colorful clothing when they went to school and pass out chocolates to everyone, so they could all celebrate. They also kneel at their parents feet to show respect. I like that part... at least they show respect to those who brought them into this world... Still not sure about the shaving head part though.

So, the tradition I did end up picking after reading those crazy ones, was to make a balloon wreath! We can hang it out on the door for everyones Birthdays! I think it would be kinda fun, then people would know that something fun and exciting was going on that day. LOL
I happen to actually stumble on to the site that told about the balloon wreath... After I read about it and I thought who would really make something like that, besides Mormons... lol I looked at the site I was on... HAHA I was on ldssplash.com... lol Yeah, I know my people! AND I'm totally gonna make one... I can't wait to go and get the stuff for it this weekend!

Day 6

Change someones life... As always I am thinking huge when I thought about this challenge. I did pray that I would be able to help someone today and even be a good example to people around me. I also felt like I needed to put a Book of Mormon in my bag, I thought maybe I would have one of those random missionary moments today But... I didn't lol. I actually was kind of feeling like I wasn't going to be able to do this challenge. Today I was kinda stuck in an office doing training, so I barely was able to even talk to people. However, it turned out that I had 2!

The first one, I had texted a friend asking if he had any ideas on how I could change someones life. His response to me was no, but you could change mine, I could use a lift today. Usually Ihave something good for him, like a funny story or even a good quote... I had nothing! So, I just told him that I loved him. Not sure that's what he needed but he was happy to hear it! Not sure it was really life changing but if it made him feel better, I'm happy with it! I know that when I hear that someone loves me, it makes me feel just a little bit better, even if I'm happy at the moment.

The next was a work thing. I offered a pretty sweet deal for the member. I helped him pay off 2 loans and lowered his interest rate and his payment for the loan that we consolidated into. LOL after we were all done, I said, " I changed you're life today!" He agreed and it was done! I changed someones life today.

I love that I think huge sometimes and bring it back down to size. It just goes to show that it's the little things that make big changes over time!

Day 5

Watch your favorite movie!! That's a hard one... So I watched 3... LOL Because today was a holiday I was able to relax a little. I watched When in Rome... Love that movie, super cute! Then I watched Radio... That movie just makes me smile. It's so good. The last one was Sweet Home Alabama... Who doesn't just love that movie! Such a cute love story, I am such a sucker sweethearts. It's been a great day though!

Day 4

Today I had to research the word Goals on LDS.ORG. I wasn't really sure where I needed to go with this one but I'm really glad that I found the article I did. I found an article from the Jan 2010 Ensign by Elder Holland. I love love love Elder Holland. The name of this article is The best is yet to be.

In this, he started out by saying that he didn't want to talk about new years resolutions and when I started reading this, I wasn't really sure this could work for goals. But because of what is going on in my life and the things I feel like I need to do, it helps to set myself, my goals in order. He urged us strongly to let go of the past. He said not to dwell on the yesterdays, no matter how good those days might have been. The past is to be learned from, not lived in. I love that! I cannot tell you how many times I have thought to myself that I just wish I could go back to something because it seemed better at the time.

In this article he talked about Lots wife, he took us back to Somom and Gumorah. He taught that the reason why she looked back, wasn't because she wanted to see what was going on, but that she yearned to be back in Sodom and Gumorah. She didn't have faith in what was yet to be for her, she didn't trust in what the Lord had in store for her. I really felt, that I didn't want to be like her. I don't think I want to even look back to see what happened. I really want to just have faith, that the Lord with take care of what needs to be done. He goes on to talk about faith. Faith is always pointed to the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficaciousin our lives.

Elder Holland then spoke of Paul and what he had given up. Pauls said that giving up all his riches and position in the Jewish community is like Dung. He would rather have the Christianity. Paul also said; I have stopped rhapsodizing about "the good old days" and now eagerly look toward the future, that I may apprehend that for which Christ apprehended me. That is so me sometimes... To many times I want the good old days and forget what I have before me. It's ok to think about the past but not to live in it. Those are happy times but we must progress.

He taught us to forgive and forget, ourselves and others. We should not dig up things of the past. We should hold on to just enough, so as to not do wrong again but to let that which has been buried through repentance, stay buried. Something that he said and that I loved was, God doesn't care as much as to where you have been but he does care where you are at now and where you are headed and willing to go. If we repent, the Lord will forget and just wants us to keep moving forward. He wants us back!

Every day out to be a new start of a new year and a new life! Every day I can wake up and look towards the future. I can set new goals or adjust myself to the goals set previously. Elder Holland finished by saying; We wonder what the future holds for us. Are we going to look towards it or look back. and dwell in the past. He called out to us, to remember Lots wife. Faith is the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the "High Priest of good things to come." Keep your eyes on the dream, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever.

I don't know how much this really is about goals but it helped me to think about my goals. I have to continue in faith. Faith is a hard thing sometimes and I know that my goals this year require a lot of faith. Just when I think I have faith, I realize that I need even more. The Lord does push me to go further. He knows that I can do hard things and so do I, with faith in Christ.

Day 3

So today I was suppose to donate my time. You wouldn't think that would be so hard to do, but today it was! I kinda of had to think creatively. I didn't do what you would normally think, like go to a soup kitchen and help out or even do a service project. Today, I had to work and then I had a friend receiving her endowments at the temple and then we had Blayne's open house. I had about a 3 hour window.... Not a lot of time to do anything. So... I decided I would help make some cookies. LOL wasn't really anything I planned or wanted to do. However, I did do them and I was able to still make my temple session. Sometimes when you donate your time, it doesn't just mean that you have to do something huge. I helped at home. Simple and fun.

Day 2

So todays challenge was to Eat something new that I have never had before. So after much thought during the day and some help from friends... I decided to go with Indian food. Not gonna lie... I was a little nervous. I have never heard anything about Indian food before, so I really didn't know what to expect.

I am happy to say, that I came out on top. Indian food is some amazing food. I will totally be going out for it again. Amy, Lee, and I went to a little place called Samosa Factory Indian Cusine. I just googled Indian food and this little place had some really great reviews. The reviews also said that they weren't as pricey. Trust me when I say this, cause I looked up a couple other menus... They weren't as pricey. Tonight was money well spent.

I started out with these yummy Vegetable Samosas. They are a wrapped potatoe and pea pastry... basicly. They had some great spices in them. MMMMM...

My dinner was Lamb Korma. It was lamb in a curry sauce that was a spicey coconut and almond. Oh sooooo good. We also had a Garlic Kaan, which is a flat bread. It's a must have!

I even had dessert. I couldn't get enough of the Samosas hahaha So, we had them for dessert too. LOL They were a wrapped cherry and chocolate pastry, with some delicious vanilla ice cream to finish it off!

So there you have it... I tried new food! I loved it! AND I will so be going back to this place too... Anyone wanna come!

30 days til I'm 30!

I have the greatest friend ever! Amy I love you so much! So... I now have 30 different things to do before I turn 30! Last night I accepted a challenge and I only get 1 skip lol. So here's how it goes. I have 31 evnvelopes with 31 different things to do. If I choose not to do the challenge for that day I can use the skip envelope that has a different challenge for me to do. After that skip, that's it... no more, I have to do the rest of my challenges, so I have to choose wisely. Trust me... Amy wants me to choose wisely lol. So, I can't open the next day until I do the challenge for that day. KILLER!!! I just wanna look at them lol. I will be honest, I'm a bit nervous but not to much. I am super excited though. Amy always makes me feel so good for my b-day! I love ya girl!



Day 1... I had to go to the temple and do an ordinance or just walk around. I decided to go and do Initiatories. I'm so glad that I decided to do that! I love it when I feel the spirit of those sisters who have been waiting for so long, for the blessings that belong to them. I had some pretty excited sisters tonight. :) I love the temple! I love love the temple!