"My Burden Was Made Light"

Could you forgive the drunk driver who killed your wife, two children, and unborn baby?

 

   

how many people died that night?

 

how many people really  died that night?

 

in reality, because Chris Williams forgave Cameron, a life was saved.

 

 

This man is a perfect example of the state or 'condition' we need to be in to forgive.

How can we get into a 'condition' to forgive? :

 

 

PRAY.

He prayed and  Heavenly Father listened to his anger. Then when his heart was ready, He taught him more about how he could heal through his son, Jesus Christ.

 

 

KEEP AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

Chris kept an eternal perspective. I love the part towards the end of the clip when he says, "...one day I will be with my wife again, as well as the rest of my family."

 

"Please remember this one thing. If our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently  wrong." Elder Howard W. Hunter

 

 

LET IT GO.

Elder Jeffry R. Holland said: Certainly not everything that we struggle with is the result of our actions. Often it is the result of the actions of others or just the mortal events of life. But anything we can change we should change, and we must forgive the rest. In this way our access to the Savior's atonement because as unimpeded as we, without imperfections, can make it. He will take it from there."

• Sinners experience the healing power of the atonement by repenting; victims experience it by forgiving. Same power; different access codes.
• Figuratively speaking, Christ has purchased all of the debt from every insolvent soul who has ever lived mortality. So we have no right to demand repayment from each other. Only Christ does--and he purchased it at an enormous cost.

 

Forgiveness Challenge: "May we have the Spirit of the Master dwelling within us, that we may forgive all men as He has commanded, forgive, not only with our lips but in the very depths of our hearts, every trespass that may have been committed against us. If we do this through life, the blessings of the Lord will abide in our hearts and our homes."

 

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I know my Savior lives and am so grateful for His sacrifice and the gift of repentance. I'm thankful for the knowledge I have and the peace and surety it brings me. I love knowing that I have an eternal family and that we will always be together even after our time here on earth. I'm thankful for the fullness of the gospel and the scriptures, both the Bible and Book of Mormon; I couldn't imagine life without the other. I know that my Heavenly Father hears my cries, complaints, and rejoices, and will always guild me down the right path. There is no denying what I know and how it makes me feel.

 

(we were taught a very powerful lesson this morning

at church that I really wanted to study

more in depth. In this post, I am quoting a lot of what

our teacher taught and adding some thoughts of my own. I hope by sharing this,

it may also touch some of you the way it has me)

 

Sleep Challenge

Oh beautiful sleep, I miss you dearly.

 

I have been sleep deprived since...oh, my first child was born, 2 1/2 years ago. And lets not forget my kids are ELEVEN MONTHS apart meaning I really haven't gotten a break. I even had some post partum depression for 6 months after Ella was born due to lack of sleep.

 

Sleep is vital and one of the most basic necessities. More sleep means lower stress (big one for me), improved memory, live longer, healthy weight (a huge plus!), and it's the omega 3, vitamin D, and antioxidants all wrapped up into one cozy package. We all know how cranky the kids get if they miss a nap. I don't mess with their sleep schedules or else I'll be dealing with two never ending tantrums. When we lack sleep, our immune system shuts down, we become forgetful, we're low on energy, and I know I'm on the edge of throwing a tantrum myself! 

 

I'm guilty of staying up late, doing absolutely nothing. I put the kids to bed no later then 7:30 and I usually don't go to bed until 11 pm and right when I lay down, without fail, Ella wakes up. If I don't get her right away, then Lincoln wakes up. On average I have to get out of bed 2-3 times a night. (These past 3 weeks have been worse because of the kids being sick and teething). I've accepted the fact that I'm probably never going to sleep through the night because I'm a mom and this truly is a 24 hour job. To be honest I love it. I love knowing that I am the one that brings comfort to my children when they aren't feeling well, even if it is in the middle of the night. There's just a few things I could do differently, or sacrifice some of my very coveted free time at night so that I can get the rest I need.

 

So lets do this.

 

I've come up with a few personal goals to help me catch up on those Zs.

1. eat well balanced meals throughout the day. (This has been proven to help with sleep).
2. turn off all screens (TV, phone, computer) at least 1 hour before bed. For me this will be 9 pm.
3. no sweets or other stimulates after 5 pm. (also proven to help)
4. small snack before bed (Mama Natural suggested warm milk with honey and a dash of salt, but we'll see about that one).
5. have a strict cut off time to start my night time routine. I'll make it 9 pm. (I think this is important and will help a lot).
6. I bought a Book of Mormon study guide I'm excited about so I think I'll add that to my night time routine.
7. my goal is to have the lights off and in bed by 9:30 (it takes me awhile to actually fall asleep).
    

So, I know 10 pm isn't that early to be going to sleep but I want to make small changes so that I don't get discouraged. Hopefully some the things I listed above will at least help me to relax and sleep quicker.

 

This post might sound silly; Sleep, REALLY!?! But yes, I do believe sleep will help me be a better mom and a happier person over all (and help with those dark circles under my eyes).

 

Ahhh! It's 8:45 right now so I only have a few minutes left before I start counting those sheep!

 Good night!

 

Part of the Plan

Last night I had the privilege of seeing the First Lady of the Marine Corps., Mrs. Bonnie Amos, for the second time at a dinner social put together by QOSO (Quantico Officer Spouses Organization). She is such a spunky lady, so funny and so much wisdom to share. I love how open and real she was with all of us marine wives.

 

She met her  husband in September, got engaged in October, married in December, and they've been happy married for almost 50 years! When someone asked her how her marriage has lasted so long, she replied, "Well, I'm sexy!" I told you she was spunky! ha ha ha. She then went on say that the foundation of their marriage is God. I really enjoyed everything she shared with us. She helped me realize that it's perfectly normal for me to throw my "pity & pissy party" (first you feel sad, then you're mad) every time I move. Her and her family have moved to over 20 locations and she said she kicked and screamed every time! Mrs. Amos is such an inspiration to me. I want to enjoy every location we're stationed at and really embrace the changes and all of the different opportunities that come with that.

 

 "We're in this position because God put us here."

-Mrs. Amos.

I couldn't agree with her more. One night, 3 years ago, as I was trying to understand why my  husband should commission into the Marine Corps, I got the impression that I was also called to this life. There is a reason why I would be moving around with my family to new and different places and meeting new and different people. I'm still not exactly sure what I have to offer, but I'll continue being myself and work on being and instrument in His hands. I know that this is Heavenly Father's plan for me.

 

 

I wanted to share this reading list with you military (or non-military) friends that Mrs. Amos put together. I just ordered 1001 Things to Love About the Military Life! Can't wait to start reading it!

1. Separated by Duty, United by Love  -Shellie Vandevoorde
2. 1001 Things to Love about the Military Life  -Crooks, Henderson, Hightower, Scherer
3. Help! I'm a Military Spouse--I Get a Life Too  -Hightower, Scherer
4. Confessions of a Military Wife  -Mollie Gross
5. The Military Spouse's Employment Guide: Smart Job Choices for Mobile Lifestyles -Janet Farley
6. The Road Home: Again. Smoothing the Transition Back from Deployment -Elaine Gray Dumler
7. Transformation: The Mindset You Need. The Body You Want. The Life You Deserve -Bill Phillips
8. Faith Deployed / Faith Deployed Again  -Jocelyn Green
9. Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq & Afghanistan & Their Families  -Keith Armstrong
10. Wounded Warrior, Wounded Home  - Waddell, Orr
11. The 17 Day Diet  -Dr. Michael Moreno
12. Service Etiquette, 5th Edition  -Cherlynn Conetsco, Anna Hart
13. A Family's Guide to the Military for Dummies  -Melissa Seligman
14. The Day After He Left for Iraq  -Melissa Seligman
15. Eating For Life  -Bill Phillips
 

My 1st Mother's Day

This year was my first official Mother's Day! Chris was so sweet and  brought me breakfast in bed with a lovely card [tears] and a gift for a day at the spa - my favorite! It was such a great day. After church we went over to my grandma's house to see my aunts and uncles and cousins. I always enjoy getting together with them - I couldn't ask for a better family! After dinner with them we went over to visit with Chris' family where we always have a fun time! We're so blessed to have both families so close to us.

This day made me really want to be the best mom I could possibly be. Some times I get so over whelmed with all the responsibilities of being a mom that I forget to enjoy all the blessings that come with it. I know I have a lot of growing to do spiritually and emotionally and as a wife and mother. I need to make time for myself (just 20 minutes a day) to ponder and work towards being a better person. My next step is to set some goals for myself to work towards.

It really is an amazing gift being a mom. I have such a wonderful mother to look up to, I hope to one day be like her. She is the kindest, sweetest, most caring person I know! She's always thinking of others and how she can help them. I've never heard her gossip or talk badly about anyone. She is always so happy and positive, even when times are hard for her, and she's always so fun and energetic! I don't know how she does it!  If I could just be half the person she is, I'd be the a great person too! I swear she has to have a free ticket to heaven! I love my mommy so much!