Christmas

Everyday, I wonder what I should write on here, but I've kind of wondered if I should just post the little bits of light in my day and an update on my day!

However, I do have one small challenge for you:

During this Christmas season, find at least one person to serve. Even if it's a sibling and you do something simple like make them a card or make their bed, but I want you to serve. Afterall, Charity is the pure love of Christ and Christ is who this season really is about. Can you fulfill that challenge? Oh believe me, I'm doing it with you, but I want you to be committed :) You don't need to tell anyone about it, this can be just between you and God even, I just want you to find someone to serve to help bring you into the Christmas spirit. 

Update on my week?

Well I've been doing good, I have a few new challenges to tackle, but all's been going well so far! God has definitely blessed me with much needed pace and comfort this week. I don't know how to explain it except seeing others that you've really learned to care for hurts you as if the thing that hurt them happened to you. I try my best to care for them and I pray for them. God can do more than I could ever dream of doing on my own. Two strengths is better than one :)

Have a good week y'all! :)

God Bless! 

-Shri A.

Changes and Hopes

This week really has been one for changes and hopes.
*Michelle is doing much much better and is walking, alive, and now back to posting on her blog.
*I have been a member of the GSDOC for one year now
*Christmas is coming
*I feel that since I've turned sixteen,  I've learned more of (not all of, just more of) what it means to be a teacher people can love, what it means to be a friend and a guardian, what I means to be a warrior, and who my true friends are. Also, that I can never give up on people. Ever.
God Bless you all!! :)

Michelle is okay!!!

Hey, everyone! So, yesterday, Michelle's surgery went well! The tumor removal and excess fluid draining went really well and Michelle is now in the ICU still under, but still alive!! Prayers have worked and done much to help her! My hope is they still will!! :)

Not Going To Forget!!

So thanksgiving is come and gone, now we await Christmas! 
And no lol I am not going to forget to post !
Finding joy in little things:
* I didn't have to wear my wrist brace today as my wrist is doing much better!  I can play my instruments again with only a slight,  tolerable cramp. Yay!
*I am getting really close to completing my goal of finishing my Personal Progress before New Years 2016!
*Things are going pretty well :)
*Sister DuBois is doing well as well, as far as I know, and Sister Simmons' daughter came home from her mission last Monday.
Have a great Sabbath everyone and for extra spiritual boost, read "An High Priest of Good Things to Come." By Elder Holland (november 1999 ensign)

Find Joy in Little Things

I realized something some people do and some people don't.  Find Joy in the little things! I try to do this and it makes me feel kinda dorky,  but it makes me happy! I feel sad or down,  I think of the little things.  It reminds me of a story I heard and probably most of you have Heard it.  The story of the forget me not flowers. 
When God named all the flowers,  He gave them beautiful names,  setting them in beautiful places where they could grow.  There was one little flower still there when God was finishing up. 
"Please God! Forget Me Not! " the little flower cried. 
God looked at the little flower and smiled,  "and so your name shall be."
And to this day,  these little flowers are found in beautiful places and named "Forget Me Not".
God doesn't forget to give us little things as well as big things.
Some of the little things im grateful for:
*Love (this can be big or small)
*Ogden cemetery and a little plot with a small grave holding a man who changed my life and the lives of my family.  (My great great grandfather)
*music notes (I've seen them pretty much every day for 11 years)
*Singing (or speaking,  even in sign language) the way we can communicate and understand each other is amazing! 
*understanding (it helps so many people)
*trials (yes...I'll admit I have a hard time with this one sometimes.  But trials, afflictions, and problems have helped me understand people and help them through their problems, trials and afflictions. They're not easy for me, and rarely are for others, so there is room to help out :) )
If I don't post tomorrow,  Happy Thanksgiving! I challenge you to write in a journal,  draw,  text to someone,  or some saved form at least twenty unique things you're grateful for! :)
-Shri

Patience in Suffering

I found an amazing scripture today on Instagram and it hit me pretty hard, I thought I'd share it:
Alma 34:41

But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

This made me think that all the pain we  suffer through everyday, the mental, physical,  emotional,  spiritual pains;  all that will one day be gone if we have patience and have faith.  I love this scripture and I'm going to ponderize it a bit more this week.

Pray for Michelle!!

Hey, can I ask you guys a HUGE favor, please?
My seminary teacher, Sister Stephanie Simmons, her sister (name is Michelle DuBois) is in the hospital with Stage Four Ovary Cancer. (You can see her blog at http://somuchlightandlove.blogspot.com/ ) She is planning on going on for a risky surgery on Dec 2nd, but her tumors need to shrink to make it really possible especially for recovery. I've added her to some temple prayer rolls (Brigham UT, Logan UT, Portland OR, SLC UT, and Ogden UT) and if you can do more, that'd be amazing! Also, please please pray for her
Another prayer item (PLEASE) is Sister Simmons' husband, who is doing much better but still has cancer and is working through some complications with post transplant recovery. (You can see their blog at http://simmonsunexpectedadventure.blogspot.com/  )
Thank you!
God Bless
-Shri 11//22/2015

First and NOT Last Post!

Hey Everyone,

So, I seem to have a notorious habit for ending blogs before I'm really done with them... and that's a very bad habit I think... This one will be good, and will work, I'm making it a goal, unlike my other blogs, which were hopes, not goals. As the saying goes, "A goal not written down is just a wish." 
So (I might say that a lot, bear with me please), why did I make this blog? Well, in Sacrament meeting, they've kinda been focusing on gratitude and showing it. And writing it down. It's much easier for me to remember when I'm on my phone a lot, than it is to try and remember when I'm writing in my journal where almost every other thought goes... (whoever wants records of me someday in the future will find a library, I swear it's getting that large a stack). My solution? A blog. I got the Blogger app on my phone and I can use my computer as well. I'll write something I'm thankful for every day. I might even turn this into a project..hm... who knows lol. Anyway, for now it's just a gratitude blog. And a great idea so close to thanksgiving! ;)
Today, somethings I'm grateful for are:
*Family (OH YES)
*Friends (the good, the true, and the best)
*Doctors (despite my lab coat phobia)
*Temples
*God's TRUE gospel!
*Missionaries (You missionaries out there, keep going you're amazing!)
*Mission prep (though if I could make a request, it wouldn't be at 730 in the morning almost 10-15 minutes away from me)
*Church
*School (Yup. I'm a nerd, but proud. Some argue I'm geeky)
*Glasses (I'd be blind as a bat without mine!)
*Ace Bandages (for those who know me know how many times I use that little tan wrap in my backpack. It saves me a lot of hassle and stress every day!
*Personal Progress (IT IS AMAZING! I wrote my testimony and I was so inspired at that moment that I'll probably never be able to repeat it ever the same way, so when I find it I'll post it, because I feel like someone out there needs it)
*Church Leaders
*Elder Holland & Brother Black (who are serious spiritual giants)
* Scriptures (our map everyday of our lives)
*My phone (Cuz I use it a lot to communicate and since I've moved a bit, I use it to communicate with friends, and cuz I'm in a church calling--Laurels presidency in my ward-- I use it to communicate with the girls and send messages of inspiration sometimes and often)
*FOOD (yes, kinda dorky lol, but I'm so grateful for it.)
*Water (OH YES. I WOULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT WATER! droughs, who wouldn't that kill?)
*great examples in my life
and last for today, but definitely not least (btw only like the top ten are in order)
*All cancer survivors! (A close friend of mine and one of my inspirations every single day, Teresa Schoonmaker, passed away in 2010 from pancreatic cancer and MAN she was a kick butt trooper! She NEVER complained EVER, and she was a very hard worker. Always willing to give hugs and help out, and when she was an achievement day leader, I learned how to make a lot I never would have if she hadn't been my leader! I'm serious!)

God Bless!
-Shri Albee 11/22/2015