Great Is Thy Faithfulness... -- Grace

I'm about to announce something huge and exciting and wonderful...something that I've been praying about, planning, and getting excited for for four months.  Only my closest friends know about this...it hasn't been announced to the public (my church family or Facebook or anyone!).

I go to a girls' group at Church, and I'm set to graduate from it this year...after a decade of going to classes, learning new things, bonding with other girls (both older and younger), and, most importantly, learning to know the Heavenly Father.

But...there were two things I had to do before I graduated.  The first thing was teaching a younger class for four nights (which, I am teaching my last night tomorrow, and I am SO sad to be leaving the girls in second grade!).  It was so much fun and a huge learning experience.

The second thing I had to do is called a Zionic Service Project.  Basically, a Zionic Service Project is just that -- a service project to help a community or church organization.  Girls -- women -- have made blankets, directed plays, done a clothing/baby supplies/pet supplies drive, organized a party for a community organization, and done so many more things.
Needless to say, I had no idea where to start in September of 2015.  My mom came up with a few ideas...but it had to be my idea.  So it was suggested that I pray.

I knelt down and asked the Lord what I should do for my Project.  And immediately after I rose from that prayer, the words "The testimonies" were burned on my heart...and they would not leave, no matter how much I tried to forget them.
So I prayed again, asking for guidance.  And the words "The testimonies" turned into a book of testimonies for the youth and young adults of the Church...although now it is simply for anyone who wants to have their faith strengthened.

In late September, a friend messaged me and asked me to look up scriptures about how much God loves you, and how He is always with you.  She was trying to witness to a friend of hers.  I was looking for Isaiah 43:2, but I had forgotten the reference.  Instead, I found a verse that just jumped out at me.  It seemed to say, "Look at me!!!  LOOK AT ME!!!"  I read it, and it was immediately imprinted on my heart.  It said,

"I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand..." ~ Isaiah 42:6.

That was a Monday.  On Wednesday, I was reading a book for school.  The book was the autobiography of Sister Christiana Stedman Salyards, a beloved sister of our Church.  Sister Salyards mentioned that soon after she was baptized, someone wrote to her and asked her to help write up Sunday School curriculum.  Sister Salyards was sure she couldn't do it -- after all, she herself knew little about the Church.
 
One day, while going about her business, Sister Salyards heard an audible voice speak to her.  The voice said, "I have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand."  I was awed; this was the same scripture I had read the previous Monday.

Soon after that, I told a trusted and loved family member about my plans for the book.  The family member said immediately, "It's a good idea, but it's impossible.  No one will want to write up a testimony for your book.  You wouldn't even get five testimonies."  Immediately the thought, "For with God nothing is impossible" came to mind, but this, too, was dashed.  But I was determined that nothing would get me down.

By the next Saturday, I was beginning to question if the Lord really was leading me.  I knew absolutely nothing about gathering testimonies, printing a book, or donating to a charity or organization.  I was feeling discouraged and alone.  So I asked Him to show me that He really was leading me.
And He whispered to my soul, "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand..."

I knew it then.  He was leading me.

I was shy, so after I had picked out the organization I wanted to give the proceeds to, I didn't know how to contact them.  I was not going to call anyone, and I didn't feel like email was the right way to go.  And it just "so happened" that one morning just before church, I was walking down the hallway right in front of the Chairman of the organization!  We talked and he said they would love it if I would do a fundraiser for them.

Then I started wracking my brain for a title for the book.  If you know me, you know that everything MUST be PLANNED OUT.  (Which is why this little trust exercise with God has been so scary and wonderful and frightening and amazing).  So I asked Him, "What should the title be, Lord?"

And He spoke to my soul and whispered, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. " ~ Lamentations 3:22-23.

And Great Is Thy Faithfulness was born.

And then there was something else I needed.

I needed twenty-five testimonies by January 15th, 2016.  If I didn't have them, I would have to start all over.  And there would be no time by then.  I had to have the Project finished by mid-April.

On January 12th, 2016, my cousin sent me my official twenty-fifth testimony!!!  Today?  Today, January 31st, 2016, I have forty-five testimonies.  They are from people ages 12 to 80.

There is much more to come of this testimony, I'm certain...but this is it for now.  And I feel like running outside to a big wide open space, turning my face to the heavens, and screaming, "GLORY TO GOD!!!!!!!!!!"  :)

~ Grace

Advice From Friends -- Grace

I had a few things I wanted to send ya'll's way tonight. :)

I've been learning a lot with the Lord lately.  He's been teaching me how great and powerful He is, and I am amazed at the majesty of His works.  You see, I've been working on a project that people told me was impossible.  But three times last fall He brought to my attention the beginning of Isaiah 42:6, which reads, "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee..." 

Now...the Lord has led me on this journey far longer than I thought in the beginning.  My faith has been strengthened more than I ever thought it would be.  And now, things are happening that could cause this project to go down the drain in a heartbeat.  My mom thinks it will go down the drain.  I was trying to think on how I knew that the Lord was leading me...trying to remember the testimonies that He gave me last fall that showed that He was leading me.  And then tonight, one of my dear sisters sent me this.  And I cried...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWpNfZfcUhw

"I know thy every thought and every care...What power shall stay the hand of God?...My kindness shall not depart from thee."

I needed that.  :)

Then, I was talking to another dear, dear friend of mine.  We'd been talking about relationships and things for a couple of days now, and he sent me a quote his mom shared with him yesterday -- not knowing that we'd been talking about relationships.

"Jesus provides the fire when the right one comes along -- Satan tries to to light our matches all the time."  I thought that was pretty neat...and true.  :)

Last, but not least, a piece of advice from me, myself, and I...

It may be humanly impossible, but God is not human.

~ Grace

How to Compliment a Girl and Live to Tell the Tale ~Promise

   Compliments...sometimes they're the self esteem boost we need on a bad hair day or a friendly reminder that you're special. But sometimes, I feel like we're afraid of trying to be nice, like we'd rather not say anything at all lest we offend somebody. Today, I'm focusing on how to compliment a girl, because guys need all the help they can get when it comes to trying to figure out a female. :)
   First off, it's important to try to understand the personalities and hobbies of the girl you're trying to compliment. Telling one girl that her hair looks nice might be taken as a compliment, while another girl might not care at all. Sorry guys, we're kind of diverse in our personalities and hobbies. In general, if you can tell that a girl is making an effort to look put together, like doing something new to her hair or wearing a new outfit, comment on it. Just make sure not to stop at, "Hey, you're wearing a new skirt." What do you mean? Do you hate it? If you're going to make a comment about her choice in style, say something nice about it! "Hey, you're wearing a new skirt. I like the colors!" Now we know exactly what you mean.
   It's really nice to be complimented on how you look, if that's something that's important to you, but don't only compliment her on her appearance. What does your friend like to do? What is she good at? Go beyond! Find out the things that are important to her and encourage her effort. Are sports important to her? Pick something you've noticed that she excels at and tell her about it! Does she play an instrument? Tell her what a good job she's doing on that really difficult piece her teacher assigned her! Those kind of compliments mean a lot.
   Lastly, DO NOT FAKE A COMPLIMENT. Guys, if you tell her that her free throw shot is great, and it isn't, you're going to seem fake. Sometimes an honest answer is better than a compliment. If your friend asks you what you think about her free throw, tell her honestly. Just do it gently. Tell her the truth, but don't be needlessly cruel. You can say that she might need a little more practice, but not 'You stink, find a different hobby.'
   I hope you found this helpful. Did I leave something out? Comment below and tell me! May God bless you! ~Promise

A Right to Life...Arguments for the Pro-Life Movement -- Grace

     Hey, ya'll.  It's the forty-third anniversary of Roe V Wade, I'm feeling argumentative, and I want to write something.  So here we go...arguing for the pro-life movement...

     These are some arguments you might come across when talking with acquaintances about the sometimes (always for me) touchy subject of abortion.

     And so, I've compiled a list of pro-choice statements and their pro-life arguments.  Thank you, Internet, for your great input!

10. "You can't force your morals on me."
     Whooooaaa, there, Nellie.  If I can't force my pro-life views on you, why are you forcing your views on me by insisting that I let everyone choose? It's the same thing.  You cannot insist that I give up my beliefs for yours, because you are doing precisely what you say I cannot do.  You say you are for equality, but that is not equality.

9. "You say abortions are dangerous, but that's only back-alley and coat-hanger abortions.  Childbirth is much, much more dangerous."
     Actually, abortions are the fifth leading cause of maternal morality (besides the huge, honking fact that one person dies for every abortion!).  Maternal mortality also comes from ectopic pregnancies, gestational diabetes, hemorrhages, blood clots, and high blood pressure -- and more!  Also, women are psychologically harmed by abortions.  They lead a life of guilt because of what they've done to their unborn children.
     Not only that, but after an abortion, women are more likely to develop cancer.  Women also have severe complications with pregnancies down the road -- which, a funny thing about that.  If a woman chooses to have an abortion, the "thing" that is expelled from her body is a "fetus"...if the woman chooses to keep the baby and carry him/her to term, the "thing" is known as a "baby"...is it just me, or is that totally double-minded??

8. "You say that if a woman becomes pregnant from making bad choices, her responsibility is to give birth.  However, a woman's 'responsibility' is never to actually give birth."
     Hooolllddd on.  Say my teacher gave me homework to finish by tomorrow morning.  I choose not to do it.  Was my responsibility to finish that homework??  Yes.  Yes it was.
     That's like eating a huge bowl of ice cream, and then eating a plate of spinach.

7. "That's just your view."
     Soooooo...say it's raining outside, and I make the observation that it is raining outside.
    "Nope," you say, "it's sunny outside today."
     Um, no.  Just no.

6. "Outlawing abortion is very dangerous."
      Um, excuse me, but most illegal abortions are actually performed by physicians.  And what about those doctors that took the Hippocratic Oath?  The Hippocratic Oath clearly states: "I will do no harm."  If you are a licensed physician killing innocent children, your license should be revoked.

If abortions are so safe, why is it that a whopping 13% of all maternal deaths are from abortion??

5. "You ask, 'What if Winston Churchill had been aborted?'  I ask, 'What if Josef Stalin had been aborted?'"
     Both clearly were not.  This is a stupid argument, either way you take it.

4. "It's unfair for an unwed mother to have to go through the public embarrassment of giving birth and then either keeping the child or giving it up for adoption."
     As stated by lifestrategies.thethingseternal.com, "pregnancy is not a sin."  It is not the child's fault that his parents made the poor choice they did.  And, a truly humble person would not exalt himself, but have others know his sins; a prideful person, on the other hand, would try to hide his sins.

3. "Abortion is a private matter and no one else's business."
    Well, if it's not wrong, why are you trying to hide it??

2. "Sometimes women have no other choice than to have an abortion."
     Funny...but forcing women to have an abortion is not pro-choice.  That is solely pro-abortion.

1. "A fetus is not a baby, it is a fetus.  It cannot live on its own.  It is not a human being."
 I am sorry, but I am going to try not to blow up as I blow apart this lie...

     1. Just because a fetus cannot survive on its own, it is not human.
That is invalid.
     Use your imagination for me.  Say you got diagnosed with cancer or diabetes.  Without medical intervention, people die from these diseases.  And yet you, strangely enough, are still human?

     A human has a heartbeat.  A human has eyes, ears, and a nose.  A human has forty-six chromosomes.
    So does a fetus.  In fact, fetus is Latin and means "little one".  Fetus is just another stage of development, like "child" or "teenager" or "adult".

     If that's not enough for you, there was a child who was born at 22 weeks and lived.  So is it a human at 22 weeks?  If then, why not before?

     And functionalism?  If a human is a human because of its interaction with others, what about a deaf person or a blind person?  What about a person who speaks a different language than you?  If you are not able to interact with them, are they not a human?

     And what about growth?  Did you ever see a vacuum cleaner grow?  What about a winter coat?  A picnic table?  Then why is a  fetus, which breathes, lives, grows, not a human?  

     And here, at last, are the statistics:
~ 50% of pregnancies were unplanned.  40% of unplanned pregnancies end in abortion.  That's 20% of all pregnancies.
~ There are 210 abortions per 1,000 live births, and 13.2 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44!
~ 22% of pregnancies end in abortion.  That's over 1/3 of all women.

And if you're still unsure, here's a Margaret Sanger quote for you:

"The most merciful thing a large family does to one of its members is kill it."

To which I say....No!  No!  NO!!!

This has been your Pro-Life Rant from Grace!  :)

Picky Eater? ~Promise

   Hello all y'all! Welcome back to the double H blog! Tonight, I'm doing a post on one of my favorite subjects...Food. Although I do like cooking and tasting foods, there are a few things that I find...almost inedible...Look, if I'm hungry enough, I'll eat it, but this is a list of 10 foods that I don't like. To aid in this endeavor, I have assigned each food a 'repulsive rating.' 1 is scowl worthy, 10 is utterly repulsive and inedible.

1. Beets. I'm actually not sure why I don't like beets. Maybe they're too sweet...Or it could be that they taste like dirt...Rrating: 6

2. Turnips/parsnips/radishes/horseradishes. I think these all taste the same. something about their peppery bite makes me think of indigestion. Rrating: 6

3. Turkey anything. I will eat plain turkey if it's cooked right and very fresh, but I HATE turkey bacon, sausage or anything made with ground turkey. To me, ground turkey is spongy and bland. Sorry, I know it's better for you than some other things, but I think it's gross. Rrating: 9

4. Sweet potatoes. I have had a love/hate thing with sweet potatoes. Right now, it's hate. I don't like the flavor. I don't know why. Rrating: 5

5. Watermelon candy. Don't get me wrong, I love real watermelon. The problem with artificial watermelon is that it tastes NOTHING like the real thing. It actually makes me a little sick to think about the taste... Rrating: 10

6. Lettuce. Okay, here's the deal. Lettuce leaves are okay, but the middles, like the stalky white things in the middle? For some reason, I can't stand those. I literally have to pick through lettuce to make it edible, and that takes a lot of work. Rrating: 6

7. Peanut butter. Unless it's mixed in something or used as a light flavor, I can't stand peanut butter. I used to be a huge peanut lover, but now, I'm peanut-ed out. Rrating:5

8. Roasted carrots and potatoes. I generally don't like roasts and if you pollute potatoes and carrots with that flavor you make a hideous monstrosity. Gag. Rrating:7

9. Licorice. My mother loves licorice candy. I've honestly tried to like it, but I can't. Rrating: 9

10. Fish. If it's coated, I like it. But if it's plain or smoked, I don't like it. I hate fishy flavored things most of the time. RRating:7

...That kind of turned into a rant, huh? I'm sorry if I said that I don't like one of your favorite foods, but let me make one thing clear. Just because I don't like a food that you like, doesn't mean I hate you, or that I'm ungrateful  for the food God supplies us with. I have friends in Africa who are quite happy to get a meal. I thank God that we live in a country where we can get food, and don't have to worry about where we'll get our next meal. So maybe the next time Mom puts lettuce or fish in front of me, I'll think of how blessed I really am. God bless! ~Promise

Beautiful -- Grace

I didn't think I'd be writing this tonight.  But here I am.  And why, you might ask?

Because of one awesome person named Promise.

Well, you see, in case you hadn't noticed, Promise has this incredible gift for writing songs.  She can take the neatest words and set them to a tune that will always have you humming along.

Promise sent me a song today.  And it touched me.  Deep, deep down in my soul, it touched me...more than Danny Gokey's Tell Your Heart to Beat Again.  And that means that it really touched me.  After I had listened to it the first time -- and wept -- I pulled up Word Works Processor and played the song again.  This time I wrote the words down.  And continued crying.

This is part of what she said:

Know things are crazy -- just hold on...God's got a plan now; He'll make you strong...Let me show you what you can't see, How you're made so beautifully, And what you mean to me...

After I read the lyrics in their entirety, I cried again.  It was just so beautiful, and it was perfect.  

In 2015, I walked through the rivers of deep, turbulent water.  I walked through fire.  I was like a piece of gold put through the furnace to be refined.

My grandparents' health fell apart.  My dad got depression.  My mom's health has been getting worse for years now.  We lost one of my favorite priesthood members, someone my family had taken in as our son, brother, and uncle.  And then?  And then the doctors told me that they thought I was diabetic, that they needed to check me for a thyroid issue.  I knew other things were wrong too.  And my tonsils -- oh, my tonsils.  They swelled so badly that they almost suffocated me on December 11th and again on January 4th.  

And when that happened, I fell into a hole.  You see...I lied to myself, and I told myself things that aren't true -- not in the least.

I told myself that I was too loud, too forward, trying too hard to be funny and a friend to everyone.  I told myself that I was awkward and dumb and that I was always doing stupid things.  Worst of all, I told myself that I wasn't good enough.  I told myself that I wasn't good enough for anyone, and I tricked myself into believing that the only reason people were still my "friends" is because they felt sorry for me.  

And after I'd tricked myself into believing those things, I didn't trust anyone anymore.  People would say, "I love you!" and they would give me hugs, but I never believed them.  I thought they were lying to make me feel better about myself.

Trying to get up in the morning and face life was painful.  Looking forward to a day of just bullying myself was almost more than I could bear.  I only told one person, but I knew others could tell.  

One of my best guy friends got into a car accident in November.  When I told him how much I'd miss him if he had died (like he could have, if the Lord hadn't stepped in the way He did), my friend didn't believe me at first.  And knowing that he thought of himself that way sent me diving into the bathroom, crying.

And then my tonsils swelled.  I texted a friend, who texted more friends, and pretty soon my whole youth group was praying for me that Friday afternoon.  They said prayers for me in their meeting that night, the next day, and that Sunday morning, too.  Going to church that day, their love washed over me and I was taken aback at how much they must love me.  

But pretty soon, the old thoughts -- the old lies -- came back.  They had just told me because they wanted me to feel better about myself.  

And then my tonsils swelled again, and I had the elders at church pray over me.  When my friend found out that the elders had been praying over me, he asked what was wrong.  I told him, and he looked like he would cry.  He said, "I'm so glad you're alright.  That's so scary...I mean...that's...I'm so glad you're alright."  

I cried.

And then I started to see something.  And that vision is fully visible to me now, thanks to Promise's song.

I am beautiful.

I am a broken, sinful creature that has walked through fire, but I am beautiful still.  I am not perfect.  But God loves me.  

That is something I have not realized for years.

Something I have not said for years.

"I am beautiful."

My heart has been dashed against the rocks and has shattered into thousands of pieces, and it has been glued back together again, and shattered again as well.  

But the saying, the three words, is still true.  I am beautiful.

I will no longer listen to the lies that I am not good enough.  I will no longer listen to my thoughts that tell me that I am alone.  I will listen only to the Spirit which reaches into my broken, tarnished heart and whispers -- "You are beautiful."

And, dear, lovely soul reading this...

You are beautiful.

Music from my Heart ~Promise

Hello again! Tonight, I thought it'd make a list. Yes, another list. I like them. I am from an ancient line of list-makers. Like my Mother and her Mother before her, I shall carry on our proud tradition of list making! Now...What was I doing? Oh, yes. Lists. Anyway...I'm doing a post with 5 of my favorite songs. Please enjoy.

1. David Dunn: Ready to be Myself.
I recently discovered this song on air1. I think it's great. Sometimes I struggle with trying to please everyone and this song reminds me that ultimately, I was created to please GOD.

2. For King and Country: It's Not Over Yet.

The first time I heard this song, I totally fell in love. I tend to be super negative and this song reminds me to look up and rejoice. 

3. Lauren Daigle: First.      

 
This came at the perfect time. This song is a great reminder to keep my priorities in line, and keep God first.

4. Blanca: Greater is He. This song has such an inspiration to me. Sometimes you can't do things by yourself, but you can always rely on the one who is greater.

Hillsong: Oceans         

This. Song. Is. Amazing. This is the ultimate call to follow Jesus. Take the leap of faith, people. He will not let you fall.

Thanks for joining me. What are some of your favorite songs? What songs should I post next? Comment below! God bless ya! ~Promise

Family Time by Promise

   Hello everyone, Promise here! Today, my Dad inspired me to write this post about family quality time. Now, when you read these word, you may recall nights full of laughter and games or you might cringe and think about that one time when your parents decided to take your family on some field trip where you got sun burnt. Either way, I'm here to make a case for family activities.
   Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people that want to be around people 24/7, but it's worth the effort. This evening, after we finished dinner, my Dad suggested that we do something together as a family. I inwardly groaned. I was just about to retreat into my room and watch 15 more episodes of Star Wars the Clone Wars. I'd had a rough day and I just wanted to brood alone in my room, but we decided to play bananagrams. Great game, by the way. Much to my surprise, we all had a blast! I couldn't believe that socializing with my family would be more fun that sulking in my room! I know what you're thinking. "Here goes crazy girl Promise, off in a world of her own. News flash sister, my parents are sooo weird, and don't get me started on my siblings!"
   Yeah, well, I'll be honest. It's not always fun, and yes, it takes time and energy to interact with people, but think of how much they've done for you? Your Mom spent 8 hours in labor to bring you into this world, I think that counts for something. What about the time your Dad killed that huge, scary spider for you, and checked under the bed for monsters? Your parents genuinely love you. Yeah, maybe you're have to watch some weird movie from the 50's (those are great, BTW) or play some game that you're really not interested in, but is it really that much to ask? Think about it. The next time you're asked to play a game or watch a movie, remember, you're doing this for some people that are pretty crazy about you. Why not give it a try? You might actually enjoy yourself. ~Promise

THOUGHT I WAS DONE, RIGHT? Well, I just couldn't resist posting this amazing song from Youtube called 'Family' by Tobymac. Give it a listen. It's one of my favorites, and reminds me to fight for my family. Okay. I'm actually done now. ~Promise

Great Is Thy Faithfulness -- Grace

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Were you ever called to do something that other people told you was impossible?

I was.

And it turned out to be the biggest lesson, growing experience, and testimony of my life, one I hope that I will never, ever forget.  

You see, in September of 2015, I was asked to do a fundraiser for a community or church.  I had no idea where to start, so I took it to God in prayer.  When I rose from my knees, two words were on my heart -- "The testimonies."  Slowly, and with much, much prayer, those two words turned into a book -- a testimony book for teens and the youth of the Church, fourteen years old to twenty-something.  

So, I had the idea...but how in the world do you publish a book?  How many testimonies would I need?  Would I get any help?  And...one of the most important factors -- what would be the title of the book?  

I prayed.  Hard.  Two times in a row, the Lord pointed out to me Isaiah 42:6, the first part of which says, "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand."

I prayed over the title.  I remember asking Him, "Lord, what should the title be?"  Immediately He spoke to me and said, "Lamentations 3: Great Is Thy Faithfulness."  Great Is Thy Faithfulness it became called, affectionately known as GITF.  And even back then, I knew that the title would be the object of the lesson I was about to learn.

I rushed to school the next day and told my loving grandmother about my project.  I was so excited to begin -- the money raised from the sale of the books would be sent to help poor Christians in Honduras.  I couldn't wait to begin working for the Lord.

But I was stopped in my tracks, mid-explanation.

"It's a wonderful idea," I was told, "but it is impossible."  To say I was shocked, aghast even, is an understatement.

"But...with God nothing is impossible," I stammered, still feeling confident in my Lord.

"Oh, I know...but this...this is impossible."

I brushed it aside.  Of course.  God had called me for this.  Of course Satan would try to discourage me...right?

But it wasn't long before doubts really set in.  Maybe I wasn't really cut out for this...maybe it had all been my imagination.  Maybe I was plain crazy.  After all, it was October, my cutoff date for gathering testimonies was January 1st, and I had a total of...zero.

So I went to the Lord, and I said, "Lord, show me that You've called me to do this."  And as soon as I said that, the Lord spoke to me.  And He said, "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand..."

Well, I couldn't deny that.  So I told Him that I would plan for 25 testimonies to be in my book, that I would expect 25 testimonies by January 15th, 2016.  Then I started texting, talking to, and bugging my friends, both here in town and as far away as Florida and Washington.  

I would panic and realize that it was a month or two weeks or however long from the due date, and I would pray.  Throughout October, November, and December, I gained testimonies steadily.  I think I had 14 when 2015 ended.  I kept praying...15 days, and I needed 11 testimonies.  If the Lord pulled it off, that would be the fastest I had ever gained that many.

When the original cutoff date -- yesterday, January 15th, 2016 -- ended...I had 33.  My friend is giving me one on Sunday, and four more are coming from my aunt and brother next week.  

Friends, the Lord didn't just give me what I needed.  He gave me so much more, in His infinite and amazing wisdom.  I have 33 testimonies and 40 pages, currently.  

And I only asked for 25... :)

Right now, at 1:59 in the morning, I'm listening to a female barbershop quartet sing "How Great Thou Art."  And it only seems fitting.  Great is His faithfulness.

A Danny Gokey Song ~Promise

I thought I'd share this video from YouTube. This song means a lot to me. I hope it touches you.
  ~Promise

Trusting in God ~Promise

Hello everyone! Today, I'm thinking it's time I do a post on something that doesn't come easily to me...Trust. Some people trust easily, and I really admire that, but it's not so easy for all of us. Some find it hard to know some body's got their back, or believe in things unseen or things we can't feel. I know, as a very feeling person, that sometimes I question God because I can't feel him near me, but I've come to learn that just because you can't feel him, doesn't mean he's not there. In my life, I've gone through lots of trials, like anybody else. One big one for me was when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was 10 at the time, and I couldn't understand why this happened to me. God knew how deathly afraid I was of needles! Why would he allow this to happen to me? At the time when you're going through a trial, you sometimes can't see the big picture, and that's exactly what Satan wants. He wants you to scream and yell at God and limit your view to what's happening right now. Don't believe that lie. I promise you that things will get better and you will arise out of this more humble, strong and reliant on God. As a Christian, those things are important. Just because you deal with trials doesn't mean you walk alone. You never walk alone. This is where trust and faith come in. It's hard to trust that this horrible, painful trial will do anything good to you. Sometimes you just want to give up. I've been there too. Here comes the part that can make or break this experience. You decide. You can decide to trust God, or you can try to keep controlling your life. If you let God work with you, he will start to make you into the person he made you to be. But it's your choice. A hard one, yes. The road may be hard and painful and it won't be easy, but if you choose to trust in God, you will find a sweet release in him. So, why not give trusting in God a try? You decide.
Check out these lyrics by Colton Dixon. I know they helped me a lot.

Lyrics to Never Gone by Colton Dixon from Google Play.

 

Lights off, a shot in the dark
We get lost when we're playing a part
We lay blame like we know what's best
It's a shame
We break when we fall too hard
Lose faith when we're torn apart
Don't say you're too far gone
It's a shame
It's a shame

I'm still standing here
No I didn't disappear
Now the lights are on
See I was never gone
I let go of your hand
To help you understand
With you all along
Oh, I was never gone
There's space between our lives
Hard to face, but I know we try
To revive, bring it back to life
Don't walk away
Don't walk away

I'm still standing here
No I didn't disappear
Now the lights are on
See I was never gone
I let go of your hand
To help you understand
With you all along
OK, I was never gone

I never ever left you
Never ever left you, no
I said I never ever left you
Never ever left you, no
And Jesus never ever left you
Never ever left you, no
Could seize the evil and the darkness
Now you know you're not alone

I'm still standing here
No I didn't disappear
Now the lights are on
See I was never gone

I let go of your hand
To help you understand
With you all along
Oh, I was never gone

I'm still standing here
No I didn't disappear
Now the lights are on
See I was never gone

I let go of your hand
To help you understand
With you all along
Oh, I was never gone

~Promise

Long Hair Promblems ~Promise

Hello everyone! I'm back on the blog. Today I thought I might post a list of problems that long haired people encounter. Hope you enjoy!

1. Screaming when you see what looks like a spider, but really it's just wadded up hair.
Yeah. I'm pretty sure every one's done this before. The only good news is that I can break the fastest runner's record if you place a spider behind me. My sibling once thought I had a spider on my back, and I woke up the whole house by screaming and running to my parent's room. At 5am. Thanks, faux spider...

2. Imagine! A beautiful long haired lass walking outside on a breezy day while wearing a lovely shade of lipgloss. Yeah, right. Inevitably the wind will blow your hair into your face, and your hair will become affixed to the sticky gloss. Not. Fun.

3. Washing your hair. If it's relatively long and thick like mine, it takes forever and you use all the hot water, leaving the rest of your family cold and grumpy.

4. When your hair gets oily the day after you wash it. I washed you yesterday! Be happy and voluminous for Mama! Pleeeeease?

5. You have to pick hair out of the drain after you take a shower because of picky siblings. Ewww.

6. Pre-camp lice checks take FOREVER and they mess up your hair, which takes forever to style, because it's so LONG.

7. Blowdrying your hair. I hate doing this because, again, it take forever. We need to leave at 6:00? Guess I'll start drying it at 3:00... :(

8. When you spill salsa in your freshly washed hair.

9. Bubble gum is evil, and must be avoided at all costs...

10. When your hair is that awkward length where you can't quite put it into a bun, so you constantly wear ponytails and you're sick of ponytails.

11. Curling your hair. We timed how long it took to curl my hair one time. 2 hours. Not cool.

12. Trying to drink from a water fountain, but you have to hold down the button to get water, and pull your hair out of the way. This is why God created friends. "Grace, hold my hair, I need a drink..." ;)

13. Looking at cute shorter hairstyles. So conflicting...

14. Leaving for an outdoor event, then realizing that you forgot a ponytail holder. And it's 80 degrees outside. Long hair is heavy and CONDUCTS HEAT, y'all.

15. Hugging a friend and getting your hair on them. "Hi Grace! Oops, let me pick off all this hair I got on you..."

Yes, long hair is a blessing and a curse, but I'm rather "Attached" to mine. :) Have a lovely day! God bless! ~Promise

Pros and Cons of Cats -- Grace

This is based off a conversation I had with Promise this morning.  Here's the pros and cons of having a cat.  :)

Cons:

Cats think they own the world.

No kidding.  If you own a cat, you understand.  

When cats aren't happy, ain't nobody happy.

They want to be fed at 5am?  That's your problem.  Are they looking for someone to pet them?  You better be awake.  And not busy.  They want to sit on your lap?  You better not be holding a glass of milk...or your favorite novel...and don't mention trying to hold a baby...

Cats aren't cheap.

I mean heck, there's food, water, surgery, vet bills...

Sometimes they get out...

I spent my New Year's Eve 2015 chasing my cat...in my short-sleeves, in the dark, in the snow.  Oh, and that happened FIVE times on Christmas too.

The cords..

Don't leave out anything decorative.  Or any cups half full of milk.  Or your soup sitting on an intable.  Because they WILL find it, and they WILL mess with it...I walked in on my cat drinking my chicken soup, and my mom made me eat it anyway.  Blech.

Pros:

They're good company.

Except when they choose to hate you for five hours every day.  Other than that, they're awesome.

They're comforting.

If you ever need a friend and feel like you have no one to talk to, you can go and (try to) cuddle your fuzzy feline friend.  (However, the cat may bite your head off...but that depends merely on the cat's mood at the moment).

Cats are the best.

Cats don't care whether you live in a mansion or a shoebox.  They don't care whether you feed them canned salmon straight from the most organic pet store in the country or from a can you bought at Hy-Vee.  

They don't care whether you're thick or thin, tall or short, beautiful or not.   

To a cat, you're his world.  You feed him, give him shelter, and make his life on this planet not merely possible, but full.  So full.  

Q&A Again

Okay, Prommy.  Here we gooooo.............

What's your favorite vacation you've ever been on?  How old were you, where did you go, and what was your favorite thing you did?
Hmmm. Maybe our trip to Michigan a few years ago. We rented a huge house off of Lake Michigan. We went sight seeing and had a blast! 
Have you ever wanted to live somewhere other than our homey, Midwestern city?
The south. I love southern things! 
What's your favorite thing to do in your free time?
I love to read beauty books and watch beauty videos. I like makeup in general...
What's one language you have always wanted to learn?
Latin. 
If you could study absolutely anything in the world, what would it be, and once you had studied it, what would you do with your knowledge?
I would would study...........I have no idea. Honestly, no idea. Why would you ask this question?! I don't know! 
Would you rather have unlimited superpowers (flying, force fields, ALL of the works) or unlimited knowledge (instant mental calculations, a perfect historical record, and flawless cognitive skills)?
Hmmm. Super powers? 
Are you more rough-and-tumble, or more girly-girl-princess-perfect?
Hmmm. What do you think? 
What's your earliest memory?  How old were you and what was happening?
My sibling's birth. I was almost 3.
What's your favorite song?  
Right now, tell your heart to beat again by Danny Gokey. 
Lastly...if you found out you would only live for another day, and could do absolutely anything you wanted to, what would you do?

I would eat regular food that wasn't gluten free...

Q&A...47??

Prommy's bored and she wants me to do another Q&A.  So here I go...

If Gracie was a flower, what kind would she be?
She would be a rose. 
If Grace was a kitten, what breed and what color?
She would be the little grey tabby that attacks your feet, then sits in your lap and purrs.
If Grace got married, what would her wedding colors be?
Navy, baby blue and pale yellow.
If Grace somehow got stranded on an island, what would be one thing she'd be sure to have with her?
Her scriptures. Also her phone, so she could text me. 
If Grace were to visit any country, where would she go and why?

Berlin. Because. She spouts off German stuff all the time. 
If Grace wrote a novel, what would it be about?
........let me pick from one of her 100,000,000 already existing novels...
What one word describes Grace?
ENTHUSIASTIC. 
If Grace were a school subject, what would it be?
Algebra. Hahaha! No, probably English. 
If Grace were in a magazine, what would her part be (writing, editing, photographing, etc), and what would the magazine be about?
Writing/editing. Her cant stand un good grammar. 
If Grace were a novel, which one would she be?!

hmmmmm. Id say something by Charles Dickens. 

Q&A (again!)

Okay, so Grace and I were insanely bored, so we decided to do another Q&A! YAY! So here are some questions about me that Grace shall answer...

If Promise was a perfume, what would she smell like?
Something tells me Promise would smell like jasmine.  I don't even know what that smells like, but it would be Promise.

If Promise was a dress, what would it look like? 
Promise would be a dazzling yellow number, and the waist down would be bedazzled with sparkles.  Of course, five years ago she would have been a pink princess gown with ruffles.  :)

If Promise was a shoe, what would it look like?
Promise would be a sparkly black stiletto.

If Promise was a color, what color would it be?
Promise would be that funky neon-yellow-of-a-dress that I just described.  Something like a cross between green and yellow, but also neon, and very funky.

If Promise was a word, what word would describe her?
Oh mah gosh.  Promise's word is...um...supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  Because that's what you say when you don't know what to say.

If Promise was at emoticon, which one would she be?
Oh goshhh.  Prommy would prolly (hahahaha) be the face with its tongue stuck out and sunglasses.

If Promise was a country, what country would she be? 
Hmmmm, I can see Prommy here being Estonia...

If Promise was a character from a movie, what role would she play, and from what movie? 
Promise would play Wesley in The Princess Bride.  Mostly because if she was a boy, she would be Wesley, and she likes to say "As you wish".

Finally, if Promise was an ice cream flavor, what flavor would she be?
I'm reminded of an ice cream flavor I saw in New York last summer...it was called "Up All Night" and it was purple.  Prommy would probably be that mixed in with mint.

How to Look Amazing in Glasses -- Grace

So I have news:  Soon, I'll be calling an optometrist and getting an appointment for the first time since September 2013.  Not only that, but because my glasses have been broken and repaired so many times since then (I practically LIVED at Gerry Optical last spring...), I'll be able to choose new frames as well.  I'm SUPER excited, because I can't read sheet music any more -- and that is something I NEED to know how to do.

Well, I got started thinking a few weeks ago...there are SO many kinds of glasses, from semi-rimless to the 80's coke-bottles.  Nowadays your glasses can make you a chic businesswoman, a nerd, or a funky teenager.

I also got started thinking that just like hair, there must be guidelines for choosing glasses for your face shape.  Since my face is round, I researched into choosing glasses for a round face, and what I found was really fascinating.  I thought I'd share some of my newly-acquired glasses knowledge with you guys, in case you're curious!

The Face Shapes
As you may or may not know, there are generally four to five different kinds of face shapes.  These are, according to the wonderful world of Google....

-- Oval.  Oval faces are just amazing.  I covet them.  ;)

-- Round.  My face is either round or heart-shaped.  I've had people tell me both.  Round faces are slightly wider at the cheeks.

-- Square.  As the name suggests...they are square!

-- Heart.  Heart faces are wider at the cheeks and have a generally narrow chin.  It seems that they often have widow's peaks too.

Perhaps Promise would be able to provide you with more information on these.  :)  I'm not technically a huge makeup researcher like SOME PEOPLE are................... ;)

Coloring
Although it's not technically needed, you should know your coloring before you go glasses shopping (Promise did a post about that here.)  As you most likely know, you're most likely either warm or cool (I'm cool...*pulls up the sunnies*).

Warm people look best in gold, orange, brown, tan, olive, red, yellow, and ivory glasses.

Cool people look best in black, tortoiseshell (I want these so badly!), blue, purple, pink, gray, green, and silver.

For an oval face...
Oval faces can wear anything and rock it.  I'm slightly envious, but that would make choosing glasses rather boring.  You would never know the heartbreak of passing up those gorgeous frames you just saw on the rack.....

For a round face...
People with round faces look best in rectangular glasses.  The bottoms of the glasses should sit just above the cheekbone for the best effect.  I'm particularly partial to the look of semi-rimless glasses to make everything look less defined, but after this recent pair, I won't try any for awhile.  I'm looking forward to some square torties. :)

For a square face...
For our friendly followers with square faces (which I have always admired), you would look best in oval or round or circular glasses.  Rectangular frames can make you look more angular and square, but circular frames can balance all of those angles out.  Just don't go for geometric frames, and you'll be FINE.

For a heart-shaped face...

Go for round, cat-eyed, square...just NO top-heavy frames for you.  Sorry.  :)  Heart-shaped faces are already a little heavy up top, because the forehead is usually wider than the cheek and chins -- thus giving it the shape of a heart.  So you want to draw attention away from the forehead.

:D

Have fun on your next glasses shopping spree!  ;)

~ Grace

Realignment -- Grace

It's January 5th, and I'm making a new New Year's Resolution.

Yeah, I'm crazy.  No, I'm not about to give up now.

I took this quiz -- you can take it here -- and it told me that my word for the year is Realignment.

And I totally agree.  In 2015 I almost lost my deepest, best connection, my best Friend.  I came way, way, way too close to losing my touch with God -- and for a few weeks, I wasn't even sure what I believed anymore.

So I'm starting over a new leaf.  I'm looking at plans that help you read the Bible in a year.  I'll have to make up for the first five days of 2016, but I am really hoping this works.  I want to read more and learn more about God.

So...who's with me?  Wanna read the Bible in the next 361 days?!  And how are you going to tackle it?  I'm looking at Back to the Bible's one-year reading plans.  Which should I go for...Chronological, historical, beginning to end, Old and New together, or blended?!?!?

Oh, the decisions................

Wish me luck!

What of God's Word are YOU gonna read this year?!

~ Grace

Finding My Work -- Grace

You hear so often in the Church about finding the work God has given you to do.

I've always wondered what mine is.  I believed for a long time that my work was to grow up, get a college education, be married, and raise a family.

The thing is, I was never totally content believing that something great will happen in three-five years and that I will be doing the work God has intended for me to do.  I always wanted something more.  Maybe I wanted something to do for Him now.

Anyways, whatever I wanted -- I think maybe it was a clear blueprint of how my life is going to go: a college degree at twenty-one, a teaching job for two years followed by a huge, rustic, fall wedding, five sons and five daughters...those were my plans, not God's.  They may have been in line with what He wants me to do, but they were never things He really told me that were for sure going to happen.  I always wondered what my work is in life.

Sunday morning, I was sitting in the Church service.  I don't really recall thinking about my work, but all of a sudden it was as if scales were taken off of my eyes and I saw exactly what my work is.

It's what I'm doing right now, and I'm supposed to keep doing it.  I'm putting a book together, teaching a class of seven-year-old girls some of the things I've been taught over the years, accompanying a choir, working part-time for the Women's Department at Church, and generally trying to reach out in love to people.

And I love this.

I've never felt more at peace or more content with life than I have in the past two days.

For so long I've been searching...searching for something that I don't know what it was.  Sometimes I think that I was looking for a good, enjoyable, paying career option that I could study for as soon as possible.  I know that I was looking for love -- someone to adore me and accept me for who I am, someone to draw me closer to God, make me laugh, and help me feel safe and secure.

The thing that I was missing?  God is all of that, and more, and unless it's that time in your life, you don't need anyone but Him.  Horatio Spafford lost his ENTIRE family and still managed to write the well-beloved hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul."  Why?  He had God.

Like I said, I love this time in my life.  I'm suddenly searching for more ways I can show love to others -- in small ways, and in large.  I love this time of learning and growth with God.  I love being able to serve Him to the best of my ability.

Sunday, January 3rd, 2016, I found my work.  And I am sooooo excited to fulfill it with God leading me!

Looking Upward -- Grace

You can choose to have a pity party, or you can choose to look upward.

(Hint hint: Looking upward is the correct answer).

On December 11th, 2015, my tonsils swelled soooo large that they almost cut off my air supply.  I ended up in the ER for seven hours, wondering whether it was just strep or a scary abscess behind my tonsils.  You can read about that experience and testimony here if you're so inclined.

Well, the swelling in my tonsils never exactly went down.  The pain was gone, but my tonsils were still HUGE.  I wasn't too worried, but I prayed that if I was going to get sick again, that I wouldn't until after Christmas and New Year's were over.

I made the mistake of teaching a class, trying to get a book together, and accompanying a choir this month...all aside from my high school classes this month.

Imagine my surprise when I woke up yesterday morning and my tonsils were swelled up so large that I couldn't see my uvula anymore.

I was alarmed, but when I went to church I asked for administration.  (If you're not a Latter-Day Saint, here's an explanation: Administration is basically when two elders anoint you with oil and pray over you.  There's a lot of power in it).  I had never been administered to before, but I asked two elders whom I hold in high esteem.

During the prayer, one of them asked that the pain would go away, and that when I tried to rest that my thoughts would be filled with the majesty of God and that I would be allowed to rest.  Then, he said this:

Even as You walked on the sea here on earth, You are never sleeping and never slumbering, and You are in control of all the winds and storms.

I thought that was really, really neat.  It meant a lot to me when he said it.

I slept for ten hours last night, despite the discomfort in my throat.  This morning when I finally got out of bed at 9am, I realized something.  There's no pain unless I try to swallow.  

So yes, I have to go to the doctor at 11:30.  Yes, I might even have to have surgery.  

But I'm looking upward, because the God we serve is SOOOO amazing....and after this administration, and after this blessing, I feel so loved, not only by the elders who took time out of their Sunday afternoon to do the work which God has given them for me, but also by our majestic and powerful God, the greatest Physician, Who always knows what's best for me.

I keep listening to this song on repeat.  :)

Look upward, my friends.  God is good.