Blessed...

To start off, the most important thing I can say is this... I have the greatest friends in the world. The last few days I've realized how important it is to be close to people who have strong faith in The Gospel. I've learned life lessons through their testimonies and have found a greater love for my Savior by their doings. The quote, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care" really rings true for me this week. I have so much to say, and really don't know how to say everything at this time. I guess I can do this, and bear you my testimony. I don't know that I've yet done this on my blog, but here it is-

I have testimony of this Restored Gospel. I have the strongest love for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for all that He has done for me. The perfect example He has set for me is something that I reflect on time and time again. I know that the only real way to find happiness in life is to follow Him and to strive to become as He is. I know and understand that it's our choice to do so, all He can do is simple invite. I have a testimony of the Atonement. It's not until you're at the lowest points in your life that you begin to understand the great love that the Lord has for you. I would not be able to go throughout my day without the knowledge and understanding of Chirst's sacrifice. It brings me comfort to know that He suffered all things that I go through. He lives and He knows and loves all of us individually. I'm forever thankful.

I have a testimony of Eternal Families. I love my family so much. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of them and what they have done for me. My testimony was first planted by my wonderful parents, who love the Lord and have devoted their lives to the Gospel. It's because of them and the things that they taught me in my youth, that I have had the opportunity to become the man I am today. I love them so much, and I'm so grateful to be able to live with them forever. The blessing of my family is something that will never end. The rest of my family is much the same as my parents, they are wonderful people who strive to live more like our Savior. I know that because of the sealing power of the Priesthood we can all live together in the eternities.

I too have a testimony of friends, Good and Bad. I know that as we surround ourselves with people who strive to live the Gospel, we can find in our own testimonies growth. The things that I've learned from my friends' examples and knowledge has been life changing in my life and will never be forgotten. I have some of the greatest friends. I've been blessed. I know that those people we surround ourselves with, are who we become like. It's happened to me in both scenarios, good and bad.

I have a testimony of the power of The Book of Mormon, the reality of The Restoration, and  magnificent calling of The Prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that The Book of Mormon is scripture, and that it can change your life, like mine, if you but let it. The power and goodness of this book is something that I have recently been touched by, and that has changed my life forever. I know that its true, and will forever defend my love for it. I am grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel and Joseph Smith's hand in so doing. I know that many scriptures were fulfilled because of his heroic courage. I know that because of him we are able to again be blessed by the fullness of The Gospel in which Jesus Christ taught.

I'm truly grateful for the time I have had to be a missionary. I love this Gospel so much and I would give anything to help someone receive these things that I hold so dear to my heart. I would be so selfish if I didn't share the things that I've been taught in my life. I'm forever grateful for my "Missionaries" (Mom & Dad, Family, and Friends) who taught me about the Gospel by their examples and through their testimonies.  I know that these things that I have written are in fact true. I hope that in someway your testimony of the Lord, Jesus Christ has been strengthened upon reading these words. I love him greatly, and I thank our Heavenly Father each day for the blessing of this Gospel.

it makes you... you. :)

I've been thinking the last couple of days of the effects of attitude.  I found this quote online today, and it reeeally made me think for a little while.

It reads,

"Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same." I find this to be so true, and if we really want joy in our lives, we simply have to choose to have it. In 2 Nephi 2:25, it says, "....Men are, that they might have JOY." I know this verse of scripture and this quote to be so true, we have to work to be happy. :)

One of my best friends posted this on her blog wall, and it just hit my heart. I had already been thinking about this topic, and then with this story, I decided this week is going to be great & filled with nothing but positive attitude! :) haha Here is the post:

John  is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, 'I don't get it!

You can't be a positive person all of the time How do you do it?'

He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood

I choose to be in a good mood.'

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.

'Yes, it is,' he said. 'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life.'

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins..Wanna see my scars?'

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied. 'Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live.'

'Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?' I asked

He continued, '..the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action.'

'What did you do?' I asked.

'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John. 'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity''

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything .

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.



A picture of something you love

Why do you love the SCRIPTURES??? :)

A picture of your most treasured item

As soon as I read today's blog pic. I instantly thought of this scripture, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Before I came on my mission, things of the world were some of my greatest treasures. My car, clothes, sunglasses, watches, or my phone were way at the top of this list.

Since I've grown up and figured out what really matters in this life I have to say that my Family & Friends are my "Most Treasured Item" One of my Favorite quotes, hanging on my wall in my room at home, is this...

"The Best Things in Life.. Aren't Things."

I hope that I can, "But lay up for MYSELF treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" so that I can be with them forever!!

Check out this talk by President Thomas S. Monson,  "In Search of Treasure"



Day 02...

  A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.

Alex Larsen and I

So this was an interesting one. I had to think about it, because I have so many people that I'm close to and that I 've grown to love. I think I have the greatest family and friends. I would try to at least name them all... but I don't want to forget anyone. :)

I decided that it had to be my cousin, Alex. She and I have grown up together and we often joke about being twins. She grew up in Cedar City and me in Riverton. Then after a few years, our families both decided to move to Holden. Alex and I have spent millions of hours together and I really have grown to love her like my sister! She's also one of my best friends.

I think of her and think of what a wonderful person she is. She truly has so many of the Christ-like Attributes that I long to develop; such as, kindness, charity, faith, humility, and most of all goodness (and bunch more).

One of my favorite scriptures is found in 2 Nephi 1:30, "...and I know that thou art a true friend..." Alex is a true friend for life and I love her so much for all that she does for me and those around her!!

I'm so thankful for my true friends and especially my family! I love them all so much!!  

  

HAPPY DA-MOM'S DAY!! :)

With Mother's Day tomorrow, I had to take a few minutes and brag on just how great of a mom I have! :) I found this awesome poem that really describes the way I feel about my great mom!!

One of my Greatest Friends!!

There are Angels put on this earth

Who care for us and guide us.

You can feel their love and gentleness

as they walk through life beside us.

SISTER!! :)

They do great things for us every day

they whisper in our ears,

they even hold us in their hearts

when we are filled with fears.

Aunt She She, Granny K., Weezie, and my Mom!! (Lund Side)

They are always there to give a hug

and try to make us smile.

They treat us with respect and love,

they treat us like their child.

God blessed me with an angel,

I'm proud to call my own.

She's been with me throughout my

life, been with me as I've grown



We can't forget my Tuttle Aunts and Grandma!! :)

She's guided me the best she can,

she's taught me like no other,

and I'm thankful I'm the lucky one,

Who gets to call her mother!!

I have to say I have some of the greatest women in my family. I'm so thankful for each of them, and for the impact that they've had on me. Each one has helped me one way or another, and I look up to you all for the motherly kindness you've shown me throughout my life. I miss you all... SO much. I miss being able to go to you in times of need, or for a hug of comfort, or to just sit and enjoy one another's company. I thank you all and hope that you have a wonderful day!! :)



"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!

Together...Is a Wonderful Place to be!!

Well I have to start out the beginning of this post by saying; I love my family so much. They mean everything to me, and "YES", this too is where I find the most joy!! I have had a poll going for about a week now, and it seems that I'm not the only one that thinks Family is one of the greatest sources of finding joy. The post before this one is a video that talks about Families being Forever. This is one of the greatest blessings we find in the gospel! :) YAY!! haha SO a little bit about my family.. This picture was taken over a year and a half ago! My parents, David & Laurie, are on the back row. My father is an electrical engineer and my mother is self employed, running Letters from Home Vinyl Lettering & Decor. I am so blessed to have been raised by goodly parents, and in a home where The Gospel Principals are taught. My Sister (Amber), her husband (Mike), and their daughter are such a beautiful family within our own. My sister is an Elementary Teacher, and my Brother-in-law is currently finishing up his schooling! He will graduate soon!! My little brother (Dillon) is such a cool kid! He enjoys playing sports and being with his friends! I love my family more than anything else. These are the greatest people ever and I’m so blessed to have them in my life FOREVER!!