Graduation... What Now?!

Who are you becoming? 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As many of you are aware, this is the time of year that graduation is taking place in high schools. This is a time of change and realization for a lot of 18 year olds around the world. It's a fun and a scary time. I too, graduated this past week- and I will be the first to admit that it has been quite the journey and it is really quite a realization time for me. Along with graduating, it is a time for us to find out who we really are- without our parents to tell us what to do, where to be, and when to be there. This time is all about us- being us: on our own. It is quite a strange feeling knowing I am responsible for me now. I find myself asking: "Who am I really when I'm alone?" And I came across this video: God Knows You

I am never alone. God knows me, and He is with me. Am I with Him? He sees my potential and who I am destined to become. Am I going to do all I can to become that person? I want to challenge you, newly graduate or not, to look at your life and see if you are doing all you can do to be who God sees you can become. See what you need to change in your life, and go out and work to change that. Become who He knows you can be. Now that I am responsible for me- I need to try harder to stay on the right path because I won't have my parents to tell me. Remember He loves you and He knows you personally! Never give up! :)

Love,
Samantha

Give Thanks Often

How is your attitude? 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

This week I just wanted to share a quick thought about thanks. I have been reflecting a lot about my life and how far I have come already, and how far I yet have to travel in this life. I have been writing many letters of thanks to those who have played a major role in me getting to where I am today. I have been praying in earnest thanks for the many blessings I have thus far received and for all the help and angels I have been sent in this life. As I have been pondering all this, I wanted to challenge each of you reading this to stop and think about all the blessings you have. I want to challenge you to count your many blessings and to vocally give thanks for them. Weather it be in prayer or in a simple letter to a loved one: go and give thanks today. We are such a blessed people and we live in such an amazing time with so many opportunities. We need to open our eyes to see and our ears to hear. We need to be thankful for what we do have, and we need to learn to give. I know that Heavenly Father is pleased with us when we do these things. Thomas S Monson once said: "Ours is the responsibility to show our gratitude by the actions of our lives." So I ask you- how are you showing Heavenly Father every day, that you are thankful for His plan and this life He has blessed you with? Do you give thanks to Him daily? If not- I challenge you to do this. It will bless your life in so many ways, and you will see His hand in your life more easily. I know He loves each of us. Of this I testify. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen 

Love, 

Samantha 

A Service Reality Check

SERVE! :) 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I had the opportunity to speak in church because I am graduating from Seminary in a few weeks. I shared about an experience I had in seminary of a lesson that touched my heart. The lesson was about serving others and never suppressing a generous thought. What I took from this lesson is this: If we ever feel that we should do something for someone else- no matter how "silly" it may be: we need to do it! Life is all about service: so let's go out and serve!
In Doctrine and Covenants section 136 verses 32-33 it reads: "Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear; For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite.." This scripture, to me, means that if we humble ourselves enough to ask God for guidance to help others: He will truly send His spirit upon you to enlighten your mind and heart and guide you to help others. When we ask, we must be willing to ACT when He sends us the opportunity we prayed for. We must have faith and confidence- even if we feel silly at first. Service is always a little awkward at first, but after we learn that it's not about us- it's about the people we are serving: it becomes an act full of love for those around us, and we become more like Christ.

I want to share a video with you about a group of men who chose to put their needs behind them- even though it was difficult and felt more like a burden at first, they serve this woman in their neighborhood every single day in a way that she desperately needs. This video has special meaning to me because I am a Nursing Assistant, and I understand the struggle that these men face. They are helping a woman with things she cannot do for herself. Every night it is a long and sometimes painstaking process to help her. Being a nurse I totally understand what these men are feeling, because I have to do this type of thing daily when I am at work- and yes: I complain quite frequently about these tasks. After watching these men, hearing their testimonies and seeing the joy it brings this woman: I was taken back and truly humbled. These men do my job every single night for this woman, with zero pay, and they love her. I get paid to do this job at my work and I complain. I am not taking this opportunity to see the beauty of my job. It is a very hard work, and it takes a special spirit to do it, and love it- one that I truly need to work harder on, and after watching this video: I am going too. Hopefully this video will help you see others through the eyes of God too. Click here to watch "Lift."

In closing I just want to say that I love the Gospel. I am so thankful for the opportunities that I have been blessed with to serve my fellow men and women and I hope that as I strive to be more like Christ, that I can truly take advantage of the opportunities I have right in front me, weather at work, home, school. or play. I hope that you too can take time and give your time and your heart to God to serve others and do His work. I know it will change your life. Join with me in doing a "generous thought" every single day! Even if it's just a small note for a neighbor/friend letting them know that you appreciate them. NEVER SUPPRESS A GENEROUS THOUGHT! You never know who's life you will change and bless. Heavenly Father will guide you if you ask Him. Trust Him, and follow Him. Always remember that He loves you!

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

Today Is Short

My mom is my best friend :) 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I just wanted to be short so that you can all go spend time with your fabulous moms for mothers day! I just wanted to share a short message. This week I wanted to share with you that I know that Mother's are amazing. To be a mother requires a lot of effort, well I guess all your effort- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for eternity! There are no breaks, no "time outs," no rest periods, no pay, no sick days, no holidays, etc. It is always and forever your job. You must be able to cook, teach, be a nurse, a councilor, a best friend, a listener, a discipliner, a referee, a chaperone, and much more all at the same time! And you have to do this no matter how you feel. If your sick, if your hurt, it doesn't matter- you never cease being mom. This is why Heavenly Father endows mothers with a special and loving talent and compassion for their families and children. And that is why: I love my mom. She never ever quits. I know that it's not easy and that we, her children, can be pains a lot of the time, but she loves us. She loves us when she's happy, when she's mad, when we are dumb, when we mess up, she loves us unconditionally and forever. I know she will always be there and I know that no matter what: she will always be my mom- and she won't just say she's my mom: she shows me every single day in all her actions and things she does for me and our family. Every one that comes into our home can feel the love she has for us and they see and partake of all the hard work, the years of sacrifice and love and endurance in the walls of our home. My mom is my dad's best friend- no matter what he does. She supports him in all his crazy hobbies, she takes him food at work, she makes sure he gets things done, she helps him in his callings, she does everything for him too. My mom is always so busy doing things for others that I don't know when she does things for herself- in fact I know there are many days where she goes to bed not having "checked off" her list for the day because she was too busy helping us get our lists checked off. We are her priority and we know that because she shows and loves us always. I don't know how else to express my love and appreciation for my wonderful mom other than to say: Mom, I love you and if I can be half the mom you are, I will feel like super woman. You are my perfect example. You are my best friend. You are always there. You help me draw closer to Christ. I know that Heavenly Father blessed me with you as my mom for a reason. I know you are chosen for a great work and that you are special. You are my mom- and I wouldn't change that for anything. I love you mom. Thank you.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha

ps. take time today to say thank you to your mom! :)

Mother's Day is Coming!

Moms are amazing! 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It's already May! Where has the time gone?! With it being May- a very special holiday is approaching and approaching very quickly! MOTHERS DAY is in 1 week! (May 10) This will be my last year at home (potentially) so I have been doing all I can to think of ways to show my mom I love her. This year I want my mom to know more than anything that I love her and I am so proud to be the daughter of such an amazing woman. I cannot wait to show my mother how much I love her and show her how thankful I am for all she has done and sacrificed for me and my family. As I have been looking through some things, I found this and I wanted to share this one minute video with you! Click here to watch.

I want to challenge you to find something special and simple you can do for your mom this week. Mom's are amazing! It's more than a full time job, with no pay, no breaks/holidays, no handbook, and many many endless requirements. You have to know everything. You have to be a teacher, a nurse, a scientist, a chef, a counselor, etc. but most of all you have to be everything your kids need you to be and I've been told that sometimes that's the scariest and hardest thing of all- yet they do it, and they love it. They love us endlessly, with a perfect love like Christ- even when we are a pain. Moms all over the world are doing it, and we- the kids need to stand up and say thank you mom. For everything you do because you amaze me in every single way.

What are you going to do to show your mom how much you love and appreciate her? How will you take time for mom?

I want you to know that God's plan for us is perfect- that He knows what He's doing. Mom's are essential to His plan, and without their divine guidance and purpose, we have nothing. Moms are amazing because God made them amazing. I know this is true. I love my mom more than anything and I all I ever want is to be like my mom someday. I hope I can be half the mom she is. I love you mom.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha