The Weekend + Easter

+ Minus from my dad, I got flowers for the first time from the male gender.

+ German chocolate has tickled my taste buds all weekend. 

+ I got to catch up with a friend who just returned from his LDS mission. (hence the chocolate from Germany)

+ I shopped until I dropped (literally) at City Creek with my madre and sister.

+ While shopping, I bought the most amazing dress, ON SALE. Praise to the clearance heavens.

+ Happened upon the cutest old time candy store. Hello sugar bliss.

+ Took the traditional Easter pictures with the fam. (Yay for self timer fails.)

 

+ Visited my mom for the afternoon.

+ Had Easter dinner with the extended family.

+ And lastly, I got to celebrate the life of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to be a part of this gospel, and to have the knowledge that I do. I'm grateful for the atonement. I know the strength that comes from it, the healing, and the blessings. I know that my Redeemer lives, and I need him every hour. I am His child, and I strive to walk in the light of His love. "He is risen! He is risen! He hath opened heaven's gate. We are free from sin's dark prison, Risen to a holier state. And a brighter Easter beam, on our longing eyes shall stream." Oh, how I love Him! Happiest of Easter's to you!

photo via Mark Mabry

Believe in the Good

Does it frustrate anybody else that the world seems to revolve around money?

You need food to live, you need money to buy said food.

You can't run around naked (dangit! jjuusstt kidding), so you need money to buy clothes.

Get an education, but pay thousands of dollars to attend.

Need to go somewhere? Go use the money you're barely hangin on with to buy some gas.

Want to do something fun? Treat yourself to something nice? I'm sorry, you don't have the means until next paycheck.

No need for me to go on. You know the frustration.

I have these unpleasant thoughts more frequently than I'd care to admit, and I hope I'm not the only one.

But as this reoccurring thought was swimming through my head today, I happened upon this video on good 'ole Facebook, and it enlightened my soul! 

We (...I) spend too much time doing things for the reward and/or the recognition. Don't get me wrong, I love so much to do things without all the hype afterwords. Being the "Unsung Hero", but I think it's human nature to be that way a little bit. After watching this video, my thoughts and goals have changed. Do things for the emotion. Be the good, and believe in the good. Like M. Russell Ballard said in the April 2011 General Conference talk Finding Joy through Loving Service, " Great things are wrought through simple and small things. Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another." 

Doesn't this just warm your heart? It sure does mine. I hope we all can try a little harder to act on our promptings and have a greater desire to serve, no matter what the outcome!

And because this weather is PRIME, Happy Spring!

Yay for blooming yards!

Because of Him

"Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. Because of Him, death is not the end, and life takes on new meaning. We can change, we can start over--and we can live again with God. This Easter, celebrate His life and discover all that's possible because of Him."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has put out an incredibly written Easter story this year, and if you haven't seen it, I highly encourage you to read it. And the video above? Amazing. Put Easter back into perspective, bring the spirit of Easter into your heart and into the lives of others, and have gratitude towards our sweet Savior. Because of Him, everything is possible. "Because Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind it's possible for each of us to live again with God." You can read ''The Meaning of Easter'' HERE. 

[ picture via Ashley Parker Photography ] 

#BecauseofHim