Oktoberfest

Yesterday was Carter (my youngest brother) and my dad's birthday. Carter turned 12 and my dad turned 39. I feel so old! I can't believe my youngest brother isn't a kid anymore. It's crazy!

Well, in birthday celebration, we went to...

The Happiest Place on Earth!

And let me tell you, it's been so much fun! My mom, dad, Chase, Carter, my cousin Haddie, and I have all been on this fun holiday. We've gone on Tower of Terror, the Matterhorn, It's a Small World, Radiator Springs, California Screamin', Grizzly River Rapids, the Wilderness Explorer Camp, Soarin' Over California, Star Tours, Space Mountain (three times), Finding Nemo's Undersea Adventure, The Little Mermaid, and so many others. This is definitely a birthday Carter is going to remember.

Since we're still here, I'll have to put up pictures later. :) Sorry to make you wait.

Other good news: I NOW GET TO SERVE AN LDS MISSION AT 19!!!!!!!!! General Conference was this weekend, and that's one exciting thing they announced. :) 11 months and I'll be spending the best 18 months of my life serving others and the Lord and spreading the gospel. I can't even put to words how excited I am! I can't believe I really get to serve a mission so soon instead of waiting until I'm 21. Ah! :) :) :) :) :)

Guys can serve a mission at eighteen now, instead of 19. This is so awesome. A lot of my guy friends will be able to leave on their missions right out of high school now. They won't have to wait. It'll be so awesome! :)

This month is really going to be a great one. I can't wait to hear what the rest of General Conference had to say (since I didn't really get to listen it 'cause we're on vacation).

I hope you've all been having a great month! I just had to share the exciting news with everyone. :)

Peace Like a River!

--Sadie

January 15, 2012

Well, today is Sunday. How has my day been so far? Despite not wanting to wake up at 7:00 to start getting ready for church, a hot shower was a very nice way to start out my day. My family and I actually made it on time to church today and I'm really glad we went.

Sacrament meeting was definitely something I needed to hear today; the feeling I walked out of the meeting with was even better. Sunday school was fabulous and I know I'm really going to enjoy that class this year. I'm really excited that we get to study the Book of Mormon for an entire year -- maybe that's just because I'm almost done reading the entire Book of Mormon by myself for the first time for Personal Progress, but whatever the reason, I'm really glad.

Young Women's was also really great. What I got out of the lesson was ways to develop a stronger relationship with the Savior and how to strengthen our testimony and lead the lives we should be living.

I can't express to you all just how much I love the gospel, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and my Savior, Jesus Christ. If you haven't been able to know for yourself just how much He and our Heavenly Father love each and every one of us, then I strongly encourage you to seek for that -- because it's the best feeling in the world. Without this gospel, I wouldn't be able to know that I always have someone I can go to in times of trouble or whenever I'm in need, and who will always love me no matter what. To be able to understand and KNOW that I am never alone is always a wonderful feeling. And even if times are getting hard, it doesn't mean my Father in Heaven isn't watching over me or has forgotten about me, or even that He loves me any less; it's just a time in my life for me to learn and grow closer to Him and my Savior.

I know it's hard to always be positive about life and to have a good attitude when things might be really hard. But being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has helped me so much to become a stronger and better person, as well as having a smiling face when times are trying.

I know this church is true, and I know that President Monson is a Prophet of God. I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, and I'm so grateful that he did. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to study from it each day.

I strongly encourage anyone who reads this to go out there and discover for yourself just how much your Heavenly Father loves you; He is there, and He cares about you -- He cares about each and every one of us.

I've had a really great day today, and I hope all of you are having a great day as well. Enjoy the beautiful weather, and take advantage of the holiday in front of you tomorrow. Go on a hike, read a good book, accomplish something on your To-Do list.

Peace Like A River.

--Sadie

Why It's Important to Keep a Journal:

This is an excerpt from a journal entry of mine (I keep a gratitude journal).

I was just reading through two journal entries I wrote in July 2010. It was when I received my patriarchal blessing (it's crazy how that feels like forever ago!). I was listing all the reasons why I was heading to receive my patriarchal blessing in one entry, and then on the 24th of that same month, I was listing why my life was so hard -- for those same reasons. While some might think this was some sort of "proof" that Heavenly Father isn't here to help us, I saw it in a completely different way. I know that my Heavenly Father will always be there for me. And when we may be at our strongest spiritual potential, that's when Satan will try to crack down on us the most. I wasn't feeling bad because my Heavenly Father doesn't love me; I was feeling bad because Satan didn't want me to gain all the blessings and spiritual strength I got from receiving my patriarchal blessing.

We're all going to go through trials in this life, whether we're strong in the gospel or not. Satan is going to come at us, especially when we're at our strongest (spiritually). But that is also the time when we can have the most strength to turn away from his temptations. We don't have to let Satan gain any power over us. We are stronger than him.

So, I'm very grateful for my loving Father in Heaven, and my Savior who gave His life for me -- so that I may learn and grow here on this earth.

And I'm also grateful for journal writing. Not only can I look back on times in my life and learn things I may not have learned then, but I can also learn things that can help me now and in the future. And I know in the future I'll definitely be grateful for this particular post.

--Sadie