Family Home Evening really works!

This happened a few weeks ago and I have been meaning to blog it forever and have just been so busy I haven't had anytime. So, I was at Wa-Mart a few days before my Praxis test. You need pencils to take a test and so I got a cheap 47 cent package of pencils and threw them in my cart. I was also needing to get some poster board for a project for the girls at school. So I got that next and threw it in. Get my few other things and after wandering around Wal-Mart, realize I am done.

I am checking out and I scan my poster board and then, not thinking throw it back in my cart. Thinking all is well I head out to my car. I get to my car, unload my stuff and I see sitting in the bottom of the cart the pencils. The stupid but necessary pencils that only cost 47 cents but I did not pay for them!!!! Let me just say a million family home evening and primary lessons ran through my head. "I could just take them. It's only 47 cents." "Really, no one would know. But Heavenly Father would" " I really want to get married in the temple and if I walk away with these pencils I can't!" " I am not a thief. I have never stolen a thing in my life!"

I grabbed that receipt, those pencils and with my heart racing I walked back into Wal-Mart. Thinking the censor would beep, I was super nervous. Come to find out, they don't really care about cheap things like pencils. I walk in without it beeping. I contemplate the purchase of 47 cents on my credit card. Decide it isn't worth it. I drop them in the clothing section and end my Wal-Mart shopping for the day. And, I am NOT a thief! I can sleep soundly!!

One more time....

This Saturday will mark the, I feel, billionth time I attempt the Praxis test. It has been a pure trial for sure. I left Hunter HS for several reasons, one of them being the Praxis test. I was able to get a job at a private school in Springville teaching at a treatment center. I was able to get my Idaho teaching license and thought I was rid of the Praxis test for the rest of my life. That was such a relief. For about a month. I was informed by our head of academics at PCS that because of the situation of our school and the girls we teach, I must obtain a Utah teaching license which will require the Praxis. My stress level sky rocketed in about 5 seconds of me being informed of this. So, I sign up and this Saturday is the last time I will ever take it.

I have been doing some serious thinking. And praying. And fasting. And I finally realized one thing. And it came from the scriptures. I just love the Prophet Joseph Smith and love to read about his life. I love reading in the Doctrine and Covenants and feeling inspired to continue in my very easy life in comparison to the trials the Prophet Joseph experienced. While in church yesterday, I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 121. This is where the prophet has been imprisoned in Liberty Jail and is begging with the Lord to come to their aid and to remember the Saints. I have read this countless times before but it seemed to really hit home to me.

"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity

and thine affliction shall be but a small moment;

And then, if thou shalt endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high..."

It was then that I realized whatever happens, happens. It is all in the will of the Lord and all I can do is try my very best. I have done the preparation necessary. I have prayed and fasted and attended the temple. All I can do is my best. The Lord may have a different plan for me and I need to pray "according to thy will". For some you may be thinking, "Duh, Carrie! I can't believe you haven't figured this out!" And that is probably true. But, I am just now really figuring it out. Who knows my future but I know all I can do is my very best and trust the Lord in ALL things!

Christmas 2011

It was such a wonderful Christmas! I can't even begin to describe how great it was. Tyler and I drove many miles and hours to spend time with our families and we were able to do it all together. It was so great to spend the holidays with him. Probably our best Christmas present was.....talking to our missionary!!! And we got to see him. We were able to skype this year and it was so great to see him. I just stared at him and not believing it was him most of the time. He sounds so good and just loves his mission. He is not homesick (this is my home for 4 more months- he informed us of that in his whopping 4 line Christmas email. He is a man of little words but is doing amazing things in the Philippines.

We of course went to church and because we are finally grown up enough to wait and open our presents (but we still peek in the middle of the night!) we opened our presents when we got home from church.
We surprised our parents by getting them something real! A new card table and chairs for mom and a new exercise bike for dad. It was a great surprise!

It's always fun to see Grandpa on Christmas. We miss Grandma at Christmas time but love to spend time with Grandpa. Grammie and Papa were in Utah this year and missed them but I guess we can share them with the rest of the family this year!

I just love my dad!!! He made Tyler and I some cute reindeer for our (future) house! I couldn't have asked to be born into a better family and to have such amazing parents!

Tyler and I with some of our presents. I think a tradition in every family. We had a great Christmas but the best was to be able to spend it together and with our families!

The pictures of Brooklyn were so many. How do you pick??? She loved playing with Aunt Ra and putting the monkeys on her ears! This face was just too cute to pass up!

Oh, and one more of us!!! :) I just feel very very blessed as this year comes to an end (well, it actually did 4 days ago but I am slow!) I was able to get a new job that pays me money though the stress of it can be high, who doesn't have stress at their job??? I am able to teach girls who are truly troubled and I can see actually see their countenances change. It has been a blessing though sometimes I complain more than anything. I have a wonderful family who fully supports me in everything I do. I was able to move to Orem and be closer to the love of my life and be able to spend so much more time together and we continue in our wonderful and happy relationship! 2011 was a great year. There were ups and downs but with the downs I have realized exactly why. I have learned so much and look forward to a brand new year. A year of changes, excitement and continued learning!