It's that time of year again

OH I have to say, I am so excited for this Holiday season. I usually always am, but this year in particular. Maybe it's because my life has taken a whole new turn which has made me see the world clearer and in a different light. Either way, I am excited, happy, and so blessed.

This journey hasn't been easy, I spent last week in the hospital due to complications with the chemo. I guess it was just a "normal" side effect, according to the oncologist there. But, despite that, I am so blessed to be here, so blessed to know each and everyone of you, and so blessed to be at home.

The past week all the questions that we ask ourselves when faced with adversity ran through my mind quite often. "Why is this happening?" "When will this be over?" "Why does it have to hurt so much?" "How long do I have to endure this?" and even the the negative thoughts we all get at times, "I don't think I am strong enough" "I don't want to deal with this anymore" "I am so tired and yet this journey is still in the beginning stage".

I was reading in the Ensign today, (for those of you who don't know what that is, its a magazine that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints publishes each month with words, talks from church leaders who are inspired to give us words of counsel, wisdom, etc) The talk I was reading was from the October 2010 General Conference (A twice a year broadcast where church leaders speak, it is broadcasted throughout the world) The talk I read was given by President Thomas S. Monson, the prophet of the church.


He said: "In the Book of Mormon we are told to “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which [God] doth bestow upon you.”7

Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.

This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”8

How can we cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude? President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, provided an answer. Said he: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.” He continued: “Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”9

I love THAT! The past week, though I tried so hard to be positive, I just felt like I was missing something, well I was. First, I was forgetting to have an "attitude of gratitude". Second, I was also forgetting to continue to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. I have learned that once we make Christ and Heavenly Father the center of our lives, and make sure we strive to have them there each day, we will be able to get through anything.

I can promise you guys that whatever your circumstances may be, whatever storms cross your way, whatever forks in the road that meet you, you will be able to get through them with the help of our Savior Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father.
That is the reason why each and everyone of you (and I) are here on this earth today. We are here to face challenges and to overcome them. We are here so that we may learn of Christ and return to live with him again. It took me a while to fully have the change of heart to embrace this. But, I am so grateful that I have. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Some people have told me that this is probably one of the hardest things I will have to endure in this life. Well, I don't know about that, we don't know what lies ahead, but Christ does, and Christ knows how to get us through things, he is always with us even if we don't think he is there (that is where faith comes in, which is believing something you know to be true, but cannot physically be seen) My point is, making him the center of your life will help you so much, plus it just makes people happy :) I have seen it for myself, and I have seen it in the lives of many people.

Anyway, I am again so grateful for each and everyone of you guys, you are my rock and strength. Thank you for helping me and being a part of my journey. We are one step closer to the finish line!!!

Lauren