Realization...

I was studying in the Scriptures and the Conference Edition Ensign today and felt to read my patriarchal blessing. I studied it out and then prayed to my Heavenly Father very earnestly about a few things that I've been struggling with. Very few times in my life have I poured out my heart like that to my God in prayer...

But while I was praying and thinking a scripture and a thought to accompany it came to my mind... I looked up from my bowing head to see 2 pictures in my room. One of Christ the Savior Walking out of the Tomb on that First Easter morning, and the Second of Christ when He shall return to this Earth, His Arms stretched out, clearly showing the scars of His Crucifixion. I thought of the scripture, It must be found in other places but where I found it was, Doctrine and Covenants 45: 51-52

51 And then shall the ^aJews ^blook upon me and say: What are these ^cwounds in thine hands and in thy feet?

52 Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was ^awoundedin the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was ^bcrucified. I am the ^cSon of God.

I've always thought, that His arms would stretch out and show the Jews his Scars as if to say "Look what you did to me, your Christ, your King." I realized this was wrong, oh so wrong... He would show the Scars of his suffering not for chastisement, but instead as if to say "Look what I did for you, your Christ, your King."

Oh how my heart aches to be enveloped in the Arms of my Savior.

D&C 10: 65-66

65 For, behold, I will ^agather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts;

66 Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the ^awaters of life freely.

These thoughts and ideas have brought so much peace to my heart, I wanted to write it down before I forgot, I also wanted to share it with anyone who might find use of it! The Church is True, The Gospel is REAL and moving forward like a stone cut out of a mount! It WILL fill the whole earth one day! I am so grateful for it and the guidance, comfort, and peace it brings me!

Those Sweet Moments :)

So today.... and these last couple days. But mostly today.. I've been spending time with my family... And I've been hit a few times with such tender moments of peace and joy.. I really can't describe it, but I just felt how much my Heavenly Father loves me and our family and how much he has blessed us. I could feel how pleased he was with us. I love this time of year possibly just for these feelings of family and togetherness... I love my Savior and how much he sacrificed for me and my family. I love how far we have come as a family and the beautiful times that we get to enjoy together! I think I've also really enjoyed the TRADITIONS this year. Traditions are what keep a family coming back year after year on these holidays. The sweet memories accompanied with these traditions will last us all a life time.. Its so much fun! :D I'll put pictures up with this later! :D

Merry Christmas Everyone! :D

Attempt #2

This shoot was actually really special to me. This is actually my brother Landon and his 2 kids Kaylyn and Dallas! I cannot believe that I went almost 5 years with only talking to my brother Landon on occasion. And even more unbelievable is a I only met this dear boy Dallas about 6 months ago and these two kids are so close to my heart.. They have the warmest hearts and the cutest smiles EVER! I had a lot of fun experimenting with these guys... This shoot was especially special to me because we are in the middle of a custody battle for these two sweet spirit and I pray dilligently that they get to stay here with us!

Thanks Landon for letting me test the waters! :D

PHOTO-graph-Y

blaaaahhh!!! I'm really bad at blogging, because everytime I think to blog I feel like what I have to say is not even worth the time of day!! hahaha but oh well, I need to get over that... And I don't really have anything to say today.... Just to SHOW! wahoo...

So for my eighteenth birthday/Graduation present... My parents gave me a belated gift.. But the wait was all the more worth it, because they gave me a Nikon D3000 SLR camera.. You know, one of those cool big nice ones... the ones that people tell me time and time again after they use my camera that it isn't worth the $600 if I can't even look through the display screen to take a picture! I must explain to them every time, no sir (or mam) you have to look through the little eye hole, just like those camera's you used in the 90's.. Remember? yeah... THAT kind of camera... Long story short.. its super spiffy, and I love it, and I've always been into photography but never really had the outlet or the opportunity to get into it. But just a couple weeks ago my friend Kristyon's mom asked me to take their family photo's before he goes on his mission... I nervously abliged.. I wanted to take then but I get so nervous that people hate my work it always cripples me! So This is my VERY FIRST shoot EVER! I went into this knowing little to nothing about posing, lighting, editing.. ANYTHING.... but we will see from here...



So to the shoot, I loved it... It was so fun, the family is so awesome and fun to take pictures of... Don't forget, their all red heads... Can't go wrong with that! They always look fly! so here are some results... Keep in mind this is my first time but I would LOVE some constructive critisism on how to maybe pose them better? edit it better? anything you feel you want to tell me! I would really appreciate it!