I Like To Look For Rainbows

Ethan was baptized at the beginning of July and I just had to share his happy little grin !

Once again, nevermind the fact that my camera likes to take blurry pictures.

Ethan with mom and dad

When I go to baptisms I like to think back to when I was bapitized. I remember feeling warm and close to my Father in Heaven. Since it's been 15 years since then I have had plenty of time to relfect on the covenant of baptism. What I usually do is turn to the scriptures. My favorite passage on Baptism is found in  the Book of Mormon

...and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?



Mosiah 18: 8-10

Haley was baptized just a few weeks after Ethan and I wanted to share some precious pictures from her special day as well.

Haley came to church this last Sunday wearing a CTR (choose the right) ring, necklace, and bracelet! This sweet girl wants to always make the right decisions and some day return to her Father in Heaven!

Here she is with President Kitchens!

Twinners!

I've always wanted to join in on Emily's "embrace the camera" idea. About time I finally get to it!

 When it comes to picking out clothes for a mission there aren't that many options. Apparently Sister Cosper and I have the same taste. Like our matching shirts and backpacks...and even hand sanitizers! Oh yeah, and in this picture it looks like our hair is the same too. Weirrrrrd.My camera has decided that everyone needs to have a heavenly aura and or be blurry around the edges. 

 

Stretch!

I put post-it notes everywhere! When Sister Warwood and I go to visit someone and they aren't home we always leave a sticky on the door with a little message. We also love inviting people to read passages of scripture and we'll write them on sticky notes. This website Things We Forget always gives me a little inspiration and its like an internet sticky!

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I like this one because we have been talking about enduring to the end a lot in our companionship study. I set big goals and have my sights set on big things because I know some day I can make it! My super big ulitmate whole reason for living goal is to return to live with God some day!

Everyone can have that goal and everyone has the potential to make it! Leave me a comment with your address and I'll send you a real sticky note reminder of your divine worth!

I love y'all!

Let Freedom Ring!



Ok, so it's about time I write about the 4th of July! Monday is p-day or preparation day for missionaries so we have time to do grocery shopping and laundry and hopefully play a little bit too! For the holiday we went up to Morgantown for the Catfish Festival and oh did we soak up that deep fried goodness!

I thought this piece looked kind of like a fish still, and Megan probably just thought I was crazy. Apparently deep fried is the only way to eat a catfish because they are mudsucking bottom feeders, not the most appetizing. (My teeth aren't really that yellow. I swear.)

That giant green cup Sister Turner is holding is the most delicious fresh made lemonade I've ever had in my entire life. They're called lemon shake-ups and I wish I could just drink it non stop! We've also got our hands full of...deep fried oreos!

So I think I've decided that Holidays are just an excuse to eat pretty much whatever you want without having to feel guilty about it. Sister Carmichael made this spectacular cake and we devoured it on Sunday night. Isn't she so talented??

Possibly one of the most exciting points in the day was on the drive and we took the exit towards Elizabethtown, KY. Have you seen the movie Elizabethtown? Love it. Only the city is outside of our mission boundaries so I'll have to go visit some day in the future!

As with every holiday it is important to remember why we're really celebrating, and not just for the food. Sister Warwood and I are serving in a unique part of the mission because we cover Fort Campbell army post and we can't proselyte the way we would anywhere else in the mission. We mostly meet with members of the church and get to know them so that they are comfortable with bringing their friends to us to be taught about Jesus Christ. What I have learned from these families is the importance of having pride in our homeland and the importance of protecting our rights.

Our church has a list of 13 things that we believe in and stand for that we call The Articles of Faith. The 12th one is this:

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

I think its a great reminder at this time of year to pray for those men and women that are fighting to protect our country and to be grateful that we are in a place that we may worship freely.

God Bless America! My Home Sweet Home!

Peace, Be Still

What does the word busy mean?

I could be a nerd and post some dictionary definition, but I would rather have you think about what makes you busy in life. What do you do all day? Work, take the kids to school/dance/ball games, make dinner, go to meetings, clean the house, doctor's appointments, grocery shop...the list goes on and on, and is pretty much the same for everyone right?

"I'm too busy" is an excuse I hear so often. Well stop, lets think about this. We each have control over our schedules right? I think that being too busy is a cop-out for not having a prioritized day.

Would you want to face the Savior at Judgment day and say "Sorry Jesus, I was just too busy to make time for you"

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I plan on not letting that be my story.

Making life changes is so hard. We're a habit loving people! I think the most effective way to make changes is to set a goal. And make it a big one. Then break down what you're going to have to do each day to get yourself to that goal. A marathon runner doesn't succeed by running 26 miles every day but by setting goals for a run each day and building upon those miles.

I'm going to cut the word busy out of my vocabulary.  I am going to list the things that are most important in my week and plan out specific times to do those things, like reading my scriptures every morning and visit with people that I am teaching every day. Then I can fill in my time with the less urgent things like visiting with active members of the Church. If you want to do something you can make the time to do it.

I urge anyone who reads this to evaluate how you use your time in a day. Are you devoting time to doing the things the Lord requires? How about a scripture for some motivation?

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Moroni 10:32

I will offer up an idea, a suggestion on how to begin this process today. Our days are hectic. Drink a glass of water. Ah! Refreshing! Now sit back and go to this website and listen to "Master The Tempest is Raging."

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I love this song so much and how it takes a story from the Bible and makes it so applicable to us today. I often feel overcome in by waves of trial and it is turning to Christ that I know I can accomplish my goals in spite of everything else that is pressing. Enjoy the calm spirit that comes from the uplifting song, then get up and go!

Not Just A Drop In The Ocean

Girl's Camp every summer was one of the things that I looked forward to the most each year. When I was 15 there was a big hiking trip that the girls go on separately from the week of summer camp to demonstrate the things we'd learned at the past few years of camp. I was so terrified that I was going to have to survive in the woods for a whole weekend carrying my bed and everything else I needed on my back without even having a real toilet. I love being outside, I just don't like living out there in the wild! Yes. I am a total wuss.

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Luckily it was a dry summer and the fire danger was too high where we were planing on going and we wouldn't be able to cook the meals we'd brought. Hallelujah! We settled into a campground instead.

Around the campfire one night we sang fun silly songs about hippos and bugs and mayonnaise on tootsie rolls(I still haven't figured that one out) but we transitioned into songs about the Savior, hymns and children's songs that brought the Spirit to our meeting.

I don't remember much about what we talked about that night. What I do remember is that our Stake President spoke that night and he read a verse of scripture that has been prominent in my memory since that night. He read from the Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34 (ok, this is the part where you click on that link and read the scripture!)

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When I heard the words "out of small things proceedeth that which is great" the words to a Michelle Branch song started playing in my head. She sings "I was drifting away like a drop in the ocean" and I thought of how the ocean is made up of millions of tiny drops of water. It would be impossible to count how many drops were in just a bucket of water, let alone a whole ocean! But if those little specks of water were not all there together there could be no sea, no underwater habitats where billions of creatures thrive, no surf for us to play in on the shore.  Think of how each of those small particles come together to create something great.

All of the missionaries in the Hopkinsville/Clarksville area

I constantly think about this scripture as a missionary. I try to say hi to every person I come in contact with and I am learning to not be ashamed or afraid to share the gospel with as many people as I can. It's amazing how simply going up to a woman watering her roses turns into a discussion of how the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses our families. I love it. It may not be a huge act, but each wave or greeting is a drop in the ocean of missionary work. If people are not willing to listen to our message when we come to our doors I hope that they at least see me leave with a smile and want to know what it is that makes me so happy. My every action is a representation of the Savior and our Church. That's a pretty weighty responsibility but I embrace it with my whole heart! I hope someday soon the drops I'm adding to the spiritual sea will be a force for good and bring others to Christ! 

Worth of a Soul

Sister Warwood and I cleaned out the bookshelf in our front room the other day and we found some small cards with pictures of Christ at different points in His ministry. It's interesting to me how depictions of Jesus Christ are so personal. I didn't feel a connection with the represention of Jesus on those cards, but I knew they were nice so I left them on the shelf for someone else to find and enjoy.

This painting, Worth of a Soul by Liz Lemon Swindle is one of my absolute favorite images of Christ. I like it for a few reasons. One is that it is tranquil and calm. There is so much turmoil in the world and I know that the Savior suffered for every pain of every individual. He is there to succor us in our afflictions.  I love how innocent children are, and we are all admonished to become like little children and put off the "natural man" to become like Christ. Mosiah 3:18

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I am also drawn to Byzantine icons of the Savior.  My love for this artwork stemmed from a class I took in college titled Spirituality in Art.  These likenesses of Christ are not intended to soften the heart and do not in any way reflect that "Jesus is my homeboy" attitude (I really don't like that phrase). These illustrations of the Savoir remind me that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God. They bring reverence to Him.

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I know that having representations of Christ in my home and around me in life are essential as reminders to be like Him.  What are some of your favorite portrayals of our Redeemer?

Loving Prayer

I am so excited about the response that I have gotten about this blog so far! In a few lessons that my companion Sister Warwood and I taught I stopped and thought to myself, "wait, didn't I just write about this topic on my blog?" It's awesome to see how the preparation I do in my own study is exactly what I need to share with people later in the day.

Sister Nestman asked me a great question about my post on prayer.
"What do you think was the key turning point for having your prayers go from a duty to a loving conversation?"

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My understanding of God's commandments changed when I realized that perfect obedience isn't just about doing what I'm told, its the attitude that matters as well. Growing up I was always a "why" questioner. I didn't do things until I knew how it would benefit me or what the importance was. I'm sure I drove my parents crazy. The good thing is that I usually did what I was asked. It's after doing things that are asked of us that we recognize the importance. Like showering.

Um yes. I was a disgusting child and I hated taking showers. I'm pretty sure my parents would take us to the beach because that was the only time I felt gross enough to want a shower. But as I grew up and realized the wonderful blessing of cleanliness in my life (ie., people would actually talk to me because I wasn't stinky and dirty) that I enjoyed getting clean and ready in the morning.

Following God's commandments works pretty much the same way. When I told myself as a 13 year old that I was going to pray before I went to bed each night it was because I knew I was supposed to. It was the way I knew I could start good habits. I don't remember the first time I received and answer to a prayer, but I do know that when I really poured my heart out to God and entrusted the deepest feelings of my heart to Him that I felt His presence in my life. I knew I wasn't alone.
That recognition that I was praying to get to know the feeling of the Holy Ghost and to let the Lord know that I wanted His help is what led me to love and cherish the time that I spend to pray.

Has anyone else had experiences with prayer that they would like to share?

If you want to find out more about prayer, check out this website!

Pray Often

In the past 4 weeks I have learned the immeasurable importance of prayer.

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I have always understood that prayer is a connection between myself and God but I think as I've used it in the past it has been out of duty rather than love. In 8th grade I started a habit of praying before I went to bed each night and I wouldn't let my tired body fall into bed until I had at least said a tiny prayer of thanks for the day. I formed a habit of always kneeling at night to pray, but I don't think I was really communicating with the Lord.

As a missionary we are given guidelines for our day and before every meeting or planning session and in every lesson we pray. Prayer establishes a connection between us and God. It is how we build our relationship with Him.  How can we expect to know someone if we don't take the time to talk with them?

My relationship with my Heavenly Father has been strengthened as I come to realize just how much I need the Lord's guidance in my life each day. The words "pray often" no longer mean each night and morning and before most meals. Every time I think "hmmm... maybe I should pray about this" I do. I know that as I continue to heed to those sweet promptings that the Lord will trust me and I will come closer to Him.

The Happiest Father's Day

Today was my first Sunday in Hopkinsville, Kentucky! I have been looking forward to this day since I arrived on Tuesday so I could meet all of the members of the ward and branch that our area covers. Admid all of the excitement of settling into the new area I almost forgot that today was Father's Day! Yes I got my cards sent out, but just barely :)


Typically on holidays children in the church sing for the congregation and today was especially wonderful. As the primary from the Fort Campbell Branch made their way up to the pulpit to sing to their fathers I realized just how few of them were their to hear their precious children. This branch is a special one because it is comprised soley of families that live on post at Fort Campbell (Army).  When they sang the song "I'm so glad when daddy comes home" their faces all lit up and it dawned on me that when their daddies come home from work it isn't just at the end of the day, but sometimes not for well over a year. Their fathers are the ones fighting overseas to protect our country and our freedom.


I was thinking about the joy these children have when they are reunited with their fathers after such a long time and how joyous we will all be when we are reunited with our Father in Heaven. I believe that moment will be the most wonderful exciting moment of eternity, to know that I have followed the example of our Savior Jesus Christ and lived my life according to His teachings to be worthy to live in the presence of God again.


Come back for more good news of the gospel soon!
Sister McCall