Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

This past Wednesday was transfers, so I got a new companion. I am still in wonderful West Jordan, but I am now with Sister Johanson from Houston, TX.

There are a few cool things I learned this past week that I'd like to share with you. First, I would like to start with a talk I heard yesterday in church. The lady who was speaking started by talking about how she took her family to the frozen yogurt store and let them get all different kinds of frozen yogurt with candy and sprinkles on top. Everyone was having so much fun and had exactly what they wanted. After they left and went to run some errands, the kids started complaining about wanting to play on the coin machines at the front of the store. They put in a quarter and played the claw machine, but they didn't get any prize. They were so upset and continued to complain. The lady went on to say that she stopped and asked the family, "what is going on?!" They had planned out a fun evening with frozen yogurt and spending time together, but now everyone was unhappy and upset. She related this experience to how we sometimes have everything we have asked for, but we still complain to God that we don't have something. Why can't we just be grateful and happy with the things that we have? She gave a really good talk about this, and it made me stop and think about what I have in my life that I am thankful for.

Here is a list of a few of the things that I am grateful for. I am grateful for my family who loves and supports me no matter how crazy my decisions seem sometimes. I am grateful for my family who is always there for me and encourages me even in the midst of their own trials. I am grateful for a home ward full of deeply caring people who continue to love and visit my family even though I'm all the way out here. I am grateful for friends who have been there for me throughout the darkest times of my life, and who helped me to realize that life doesn't have to be so dark. I am grateful for all the coworkers that I have had at the Academy, and I am especially grateful for the ones who helped me to become a more patient and caring person. I am grateful for being able to serve a mission. I am grateful for the friends who continue to be my friends even though I only get to talk to them roughly every other week via e-mail or letters. I am grateful for a brother who is funny, caring, and super creative all the time, even when I am a punk to him. I am grateful for people who are selfless and would give anything just to help someone else. I am grateful for knowing that God loves my family and friends as well as me. I am grateful for silly jokes, for snow, for walking in the rain, and for sports. I know that everything God and Jesus Christ do is to help us be happier and eventually return to live with them.

This past week, my companion and I were teaching two kids about the 10 commandments. My companion had some easy to remember hand signals to help the kids learn the commandments and what they mean. After we had taught the lesson, we reviewed all 10 commandments with the kids. When we got to the 7th commandment, (Exodus 20:14) which is about not committing adultery, the kids were stuck and couldn't remember what is was. My companion, in an effort to help them remember, said, "It sounds like Adult Trees". An image came to my mind of two fully grown oak trees with faces on the bark. I immediately started laughing, and then my companion started laughing, and then everyone was laughing... it took a few minutes to get back on track with the lesson.

In my scripture study this morning, I came across a verse I would love to leave you with for this week. It says in "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.". I really like this verse because it points out that we need to BELIEVE that good things are going to happen if we follow God's laws. If we don't think that there are any blessings that come from following the commandments, then why do we follow them? Have faith that the Lord will bless you and help you.
Never give up. Never give in.