Enjoy the simple things in life!!!!

While on our youth snow trip we had decided the easiest lunch was cup of noodles, chips and hot chocolate. The youth went up and had a great time with the snow, food and each other. It is amazing how simple things can bring us such joy. Blia Lee is a YSA girl in our ward. She is an amazing person who I find strength and courage from everytime I see her. She taught me to put fritos in my cup of noodles. It actually tasted great. It has been on my mind for awhile.

I have been thinking about how the gospel of Jesus Christ is simple and beautiful. That we as people make it much more complicated than it was ever meant to be. I have loved being in the Pioneer Park Ward. It has been one of the biggest blessings in our lives. I have really been able to focus on what is most important and that is becoming more Christlike and simply living the gospel. I have learned to love in a way that I never thought I could. I have learned to enjoy the moment. I have learned to have fun no matter what happens and enjoy the people and being together. There has been several activities that I was stressed out about. I found all that stress did not no good. The activity happened and even though it could have been done so much better the youth had a great time. At times in the church we are too busy trying to make the perfect activity that we push the most important thing out and that is the people and the spirit. I find that it all works out if we just open up our hearts and minds. I have also learned to look at people's heart and not what they wear, say and even do. It is too easy as members to judge and be critical...we all want to love and be given the benefit of the doubt...but we are not so easy to do likewise.

I once heard a great talk about becoming Christlike. The person put the characterstics of the Savior on the board. The list was long and amazing. Then we were challenged to take on of the attributes and work on it for a month and make it part of us. Then we pick another one and continue replacing our bad habits with good habits from the Savior. I love the story about a general authority asking what as members could we do that would show that we have a testimony of the Savior. The list went on for about 45 minutes...it is all the good things that we do...magnify our callings, going to the Temple etc... Finally the person giving the talk said the biggest way we can show that we have a testimony of the Savior is how we treat others. That has really stuck out in my mind. We at times get to stuck on doing and being.

I have just realized that it is my small and simple things that we do makes a big difference. It is all about the small things that we do for each other. We made a covenant when we were baptized that we would uplift each others burden. It is my testimony that the biggest thing I have learned in the last few years is that the spirit will tell us what we need to help each other. We just need to be close enough to the spirit to do it. The little things are calling a friend, sending a note to a friend, smiling and giving someone a hug at church and many other small acts of kindness. So it is our family's goal to be able to focus more on the Savior and becoming like him. To have more trust faith in God and what He has planned for us. Most important is to stop and see the small and simple miracles in our lives.