Welcome to the family!

Ladies and Gentelmen! I will now be announcing my newest and greatest investment. I have recently purchased a new toy that I'm excited to learn how to use and put to great use. Are you ready? I just bought me one of these...

Isn't she beautiful? I haven't picked a name for her yet but I will. My sister told me it feels like I adopted a child, which I feel like I did too. The decision to buy it was just as intense as an adoption decision but I have no regrets with this baby!

I've been wanting one for a really long time but I just never thought I'd be able to afford one. I pretty much have no money anymore but like I said before...no regrets. I'm just really excited to start this new hobby that I've always wanted to get into and now that I have the right tool, I can. This is such a good investment for me and I'm excited to learn all about photography and to be able to capture the beauty that surrounds my life everyday. Being able to do that and share those with everyone else would bring me such joy. Hopefully when I get good enough I can put a section for my photo blog:) Welcome to the family Nikon! (Don't worry, your name won't be Nikon forever...I'll get you a real name.)

Encouraging Words

Last night I talked with a dear friend about some issues I have been struggling with lately. I won't go detail but today this friend told me about this youtube video of a BYU devotional I should check out. Alone, quiet, and without interruption. Well, my best alone time is here at 2 in the morning. Everyone is asleep and I can be here without interruption. I just watched it and I got a lot from it. I wanted to share some of the parts of his talk that gave me such hope and encouragement.....

-Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks.
-When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself, and direct them in gratitude and love toward God.
-In life there will be challenges, they will either bring you closer to God and make you stronger, or they will destroy you. But YOU make the decision of which road you take.
-Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
-Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm.
-Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine lights develops in places of peace and quiet.
-Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with your heart, might, and strength.
-When you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that as you are learning this lesson, GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING BETTER.

I hope some of these encouraging truths helped some of you as they have helped me in this trying time in my life. The Gospel is good. I'm grateful for friends who stay so close that they are able to act on the promptings to give me what I need to hear.

MUTUAL THANKS FRIEND!