So Can You!

This morning in my scripture study I had a thought I wanted to share. (I started reading the New Testament this year because I want to get to know Jesus Christ better.) I have noticed a lot of people around me struggling, as well as myself, ALL wanting to understand the struggle better...

St John chapters 15 and 16 are what I read this morning (read them if you want), but look at this CH 15 Verse 2; Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
What is purgeth? In the reference below the scriptures, in the LDS reference section of the King James bible, it says purgeth- purifies. To test, try or prove.

So is that what the struggle is all about? To test us, to try us, to purify us so that we will bring forth more "good" fruit? I think so. I look at all of the GOOD fruit that has come from my cousin Brittany's experience (click to read) with the death of her baby and all of the GOOD that has come from the NieNie dialogues (click to read). That is "Good Fruit" and God seems to be using them as a way to spread forth good fruit. May I say to those struggling, He allows it because He loves YOU. God knows you can do it!

In John 16 verse 32, Christ is speaking, he says, Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
May I suggest that YOU are not alone because the Father is with You! He is with us all, loving us and strengthening us to keep on going!

In a couple verses in John 15 Christ calls us His friends. This is comforting to know because as long as we keep the commandments we are His friends. If I have a friend in Him I believe I can do all things. So Can You!

First week...

Well I just finished my first week (30 hours) of work as a graduate intern and these are my thoughts...

(Just so you know, I am working with troubled youth)
As people we need to be secure with who we are. I watch these teens struggling to be liked, struggling with attachment, struggling with depression, struggling with choices and one of the biggest things I see they need is a little love a little self-esteem.

Why can't we all just be happy with who we are, happy with who others are... "you be you and I'll be me and if by chance we find each other it will be beautiful!" (I heard that from a friend, I think it is a hippie saying or something). Anyways it is true. I think if these kids could see themselves from God's eyes they would be a LOT better. We all would, if we could see what God sees. We would treat ourselves better and we would treat other people better. I think that if there was a way to help them see this it may just solve most of our problems. I guess its like the commandments, love God and Love your neighbor-as you love yourself!

We are supposed to First Love God and then Love our neighbor, but this takes first loving who we are, because we are supposed to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, so if we don't love who we are then how can we love our neighbor??? I pray for help to see people, especially these kids, how God sees them. It makes my eyes water when I get glimpses into the Love of our Father. I wish I could give it to them, but it seems they have to struggle for it, they have to want it and work for it.

I am grateful for this chance to make a difference and hope I will! I am grateful that my boys can be home with their Dad as I am doing the things I am "supposed" to do. Life is Good. We are blessed. I am grateful to know that God loves me. I am grateful when I am reminded how special I am because it reminds me how special others are. LOVE!!!!!

Change of subject...
Here are a few pix from what we've been up to. I had a few days off so we decided to do some fun FREE family stuff.We went to a dinosaur museum.

We went for a hike.

We did a couple puzzles.

(I liked this picture of myself so I had to share it. Love yourself, right?)
We also did a couple other things like getting ice cream and go karts and mini golf... but these are probably enough pictures for now.

Make a Difference...

I am enjoying learning.

Today I went to a porn conference. . . It was on how to protect children and families from pornography, I was not viewing porn.

Anyways the most important thing I feel I got out of the conference was that this is a Battle we all need to fight with Humble Warrior Hearts, as spoken so well by Dan Gray. 1 Peter 2:11 warns us to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul... I am beginning to see the extent to which pornography is destroying families, as I am in this educational process. It is infiltrating homes, this is now an all out war that we must not give up on.
Many of you probably already know that Utah has been ranked number 1 for online porn subscriptions along with being ranked number 1 in looking up family values online. If we do not do something this will destroy more and more families.
I am grateful for the opportunity I will have to work with individuals and families facing pornography addiction, there is relief and there is help available now. What a blessing, yet what a responsibility we all have to help, to understand, and to protect our families.
I got a lot of information at this conference, if you know of anyone that needs help please help them realize this is nothing to be ashamed of. Help them see that getting help will set them FREE.
For parents or for any individual who cares about helping make a difference with this cause you can start by going to www.parentstv.org and see if there is a chapter in your area. This site helps to stop inappropriate images from being on TV. For parents wanting to educate their kids you can go to sexedlibrary.org and there are useful tools there. www.lightedcandle.org is another opportunity to help fight pornography.
Another network of help can be found at www.lifestarnetwork.org or www.lovingmarriage.com that has quite a few articles to help couples "love" marriage. Gosh there is just so much I could go on and on. If you want anymore info just email me and I'd be happy to help or direct you to the right places, no shame or money attached:)

Mothers...

This was on my friends blog, and since I needed to hear it, I figured I'm probably not the only one. So here goes...

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;

they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils

are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,

filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough

doesn't come out of carpets or off the bottom of shoes.

Real Mothers don't want to know what

the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'

and get their answer when a little

voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth

is not measured by height or years or grade...

It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother

As mothers it is probably best if we don't "should" on ourselves and just enjoy the journey, recognize we're all human and do the best we can!

More Spring Stuff....

This was my balloon and flowers from the boys when I got home from my last day of school this semester. Yay! only one more year to go!I love flowers of all colors and all kinds. Actually I prefer not to have a dozen roses but rather a variety and colorful! I love Daisies.We hiked Bridal Veil Falls again. It is so beautiful there. I love the mountains!

Dave and the boys look for fossils so they can show them to Grandpa Truman.Momma and her boys.Brothers.

Spring.....

First I must say that yesterday I turned in my last paper for the semester.
WooHoo!!!! One more semester over, two down, two more to go!
I feel so blessed. I know I could not do this all without some Divine help.
I am so thankful for the help I receive daily!

NOW, to the funner picture stuff.
Ready for a rainy Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday before Easter Sunday...I love these two boys! We missed the Easter Egg hunt at the park by about 5 minutes so we had our own when we got home.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful Sun Shiny day! This is just before church... I love to have kids in crisp new clothes, especially nice shirts like these (that only cost $5 at Wal-Mart).

After Church we had some family time outside enjoying the Sun!

I think they have the cutest faces and the Best big Brown eyes ever!

I haven't taken many pictures lately so when I had a day off from school I had them take a couple shots....
He wanted to get this tough look for some reason...

David Jr.
But he really is a softy sweet heart!

My little Men!
Look at that face...

Joey Truman
He is such a nice boy as well, he's our comic by nature.

So there are some pictures. I have a lot more that I'll save for another day...

What I have been doing...

This is an article from the Deseret News about a project that one of my classes has been working on. Check it out if you want. This just goes to show how Organizing really can get things done.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705298070/Mental-health-manual-for-clergy.html?pg=1
And then here is the link to the same project in the BYU newspaper. There is a picture on this link if you want to see some of my classmates and our professor. He inspires us all to "give a damn".
http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/72149
It is pretty interesting and something I have passion about. Social Work is Amazing!

The next Morning the Daily Herald had an article about us as well... click to check it out too!
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/306365/17/

This is our Whole class, but only 25 of us are doing the project.