ENJOY!!...The Little Things!

I looked around today and thought of all the "Little" things that mean the world to me, and that bring me JOY. I found that I often always concentrate on the big things and lose sight Of Things that Matter Most!!

Some of my "Little Things" include:



My Awesome Parents and Brother!!



My Church!

More Family!! :)





Tennessee Sunsets





Being a Missionary!!



Playing ANY type of Sports

Hangin with my BUDDIES!!

Observing the beautiful outdoors!!

 

Missionary Mail

Some of the other things that I love are: Spending time with my family, shopping with my mom, singing at the top of my lungs with my friends, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, laying on the floor- Just to ponder, doing service for someone, excercing till I drop :), being a nurse and helping people,  and just being myself! :) I love doing so many "Little" things, and it's those things that bring me the greatest joy in life!!

WOW!! :)

I was always excited to go to the Holy Temple. When I was in my teenage years I was able to go the Manti Temple numerous times to do Baptisms for the Dead.  This had to be one of the greatest blessing. I have never in my life felt the Spirit of the Lord so strong, until I was within the temples walls.Then when I was a little older, I was able to go and recieve my Endowment in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. It was a very awesome experience!  One day... (in the distant future :)) I look forward to going to the Temple with my wife, to be sealed for time and all eternity together. Temples bring us so much joy, becuase they enable us to feel the Spirit of the Lord in our lives, and to be with the ones we love forever and always. :)

The following lyrics are from a Primary song and goes as followed:

 

I love to see the temple.
I’m going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

 I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.

 I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

I’ll promise to obey

For the temple is a holy place

 

 Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:

A fam’ly is forever.

President Thomas S. Monson said this in the latest General Conference, "Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure. They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort."

"Quotation, n.: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another."

I decided today to make a post with a lot of my favorite quotes. I would love for everyone to find their favorite quote and add it to the end!! This should be pretty cool if a lot of people participate!!! :)

“Light tomorrow with today.”

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“Make each day your masterpiece.”

-John Wooden

“Face your Future with Faith”

 “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 “It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.”

–E.E. Cummings

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance."

-Elder Uchtdorf

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

–Eleanor Roosevelt

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do”

--Marianne Williamson, A Return To Love

“The greatest achievement was at first, and for a time, but a dream.”

-Napoleon Hill

The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame. But the truth of God will go forth, boldly, nobly and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say, ”The work is done”.

-Joseph Smith

“The best dreams happen when you’re awake.”

-Cherie Gilderbloom

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

“Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.”

-Mary Manin Morrissey

“The best is yet to be.”

-Robert Browning

“Never, never, never give up.”

-Winston Churchill

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising up every time we fail.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Realize that true happiness lies within you.”

-Lucian

“Don’t count the days, make the days count.”

-Muhammad Ali

“Love all. Serve all. Help ever. Hurt never.”

-Author Unknown

“Dance as though no one is watching you, Love as though you have never been hurt before, Sing as though no one can hear you, Live as though heaven is on earth.”

-Souza.

“You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”

-Henry Drummond

“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”

-Abraham Lincoln

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

-Robert F. Kennedy

“Fear Not. Be of Good Cheer. For your Future is as Bright as your Faith.”

                -President Thomas S. Monson

"We Miss you..."

 

William J. Tuttle

One of the greatest men I have ever known.

So a year ago, this week, my dear Grandfather passed away. It was such an intense day. I must say over the past year It has been such a transition, not just for me but for my wonderful Mom, my sweet Grandma, Charlene, and our amazing Tuttle Family.

I had the privilege of living just down the road from my Grandma & Grandpa Tuttle. He was such a great man and friend. We spent many hours together, and as a family. We would play card/board games, we spent many days at our family's cabin (The Tuttle Timeout), we worked together, he'd help me with my basketball skills and come to support me in my school & sport activites, he'd always be that listening ear, and so many more things. (We just spent a lot of time together. Haha) I grew to love him so much!

I learned so much from this wonderful man. He taught not only by his words, but by his example. He had a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, he knew how to work, and he never gave up in the hardest of times. His wisdom not only blessed me, but the other 31 Grandkids, 40+ Great-Grandkids, and all others that he left behind.

(When I started going through these pix it made me realize how wonderful this Tuttle Family is. I love you all, and miss you so much!!!) 

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we stand firm in the knowledge that “Families are Forever”. On the Mormon.org websight, it states this about families, "Just as some of life’s sweetest joys can come through family associations, the loss of a beloved family member can be a source of our deepest sorrows. But death does not need to be the end of our relationships with cherished loved ones. The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the “same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there [in eternity], only it will be coupled with eternal glory” Family members who accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ and follow His example can be together forever through sacred ordinances performed in God’s holy temples. Jesus gave to Peter the power to have things sealed on earth and sealed in heaven . This same sealing power was restored to Joseph Smith. Mormon’s believe that they can be “sealed” or bound together through His power enabling them to live together in eternity."

I know I talk about my family so much, but it's because I LOVE mine more than anything in this world. They mean everything to me! I love my Grandpa so much and I hope that one day I might be the Father, Grandpa, and Friend that he was to me, my family, and his loved ones. I miss you Gramps and I really can't wait to see you again! 

My Family & I, with my Grandma Char. at the Tuttle's Timeout!

"When I am Baptized"

What a wonderful day Saturday was!!  I was able to spend a lot of my day with this wonderful family, and I’m so grateful for their goodness, faith, and their uplifting spirits!!!

So for the last 3 months, we as missionaries have been going to their home and teaching them about The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout this process their faith has grown as well as ours. It’s been such a pleasure for me to be a part of their family and I’ve enjoyed seeing their testimonies strengthen.

 The time came when they decided that they wanted to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. As the service began we started by singing, “When I am Baptized.” The chorus goes like this,

” I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain,

 I want to be the best I can, to live with God Again.”

 That day they entered into the water with their father, Jason (who holds the Priesthood Authority of God), and they were baptized (the exact same way Christ was). The Spirit was so strong as he pulled them out and gave each of them a hug, and as they demonstrated their faith, by their works. I so look forward to the day when this wonderful family will enter into the Holy Temple and be sealed together for time and for all eternity. :)

What a blessing it was for me to be a part of their special day! I love you guys!!   

"What a MESS!!!"

As missionaries we get a day off from our usual routine of spreading The Gospel, this is called our preparation day! On one of our P-Days we decided that we wanted to make some sweet tie dye shirts. We went to the Wal-Mart there in Franklin, and got our supplies. Well if you know the process of making a tie-dye shirt, you know it’s VERY messy! So first of all you take your article of clothing and fold it. Next you have to soak the shirts (or whatever you’re dying) in a solution for 5-15 minutes. After you do this, then comes the fun! You’re instructed to “MAKE A MESS”! haha SO you pour on as much dye as you want. Usually the more dye, the cooler the shirt! After that you have to let it sit for a while, and then you wash it. (Washing it takes forever!! Thanks Sister Austin & Winder!!) :) The shirt is beautiful now and you get to enjoy!

So you’re probably wondering why I’m even bringing this up. I was thinking about it this morning and tie-dye is so much like life! How do you think it compares??? :) I need your response!