Standing Strong

• So one of my goals this year is to share my testimony more. I figured this was one great place to do so. And then conveniently in the Ensign I found a section that encouraged me by giving me topics to share my testimony. I know that I am a little behind, but I am starting with January's Ensign questions:
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    What effect does our standing strong have on others?

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    Can you remember a time when your courage and convictions were tested? How did you respond?

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    What can we do to prepare ourselves to stand strong?

  • Standing strong has a major impact on other people. I believe that even if people don't tell you they are watching you and many people are impressed when you stand strong. I wish that I could've stood strong more times in my life. The courage to stand strong is invaluable.

  • I have had many times in my life when my courage and convictions have been tested. I wish that I could say I've always responded how I know I should, but I haven't. I've never walked out of a movie, and I've watched shows that I knew I should turn off, however, I have turned some of them off. And one year in college I had roommates who liked to watch R rated movies and I refused to watch them with my roommates. In fact I found another group of friends to hang out with and spent a lot of time with them. I try to live as I know I should, but I am definitely not perfect.
  • You would think that preparation to stand strong would be easy...standard Sunday School answers: read scriptures, say your prayers, attend church and the temple, etc. however, I think in order to stand strong it requires more than this. It definitely takes courage; it also takes conviction. You have to be willing to do what is right even when it is popular or you might be made fun of, therefore it also requires humility.
  • I often quote to my girls President Hinckley's quote, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." And I believe that is true. Having a testimony is so fundamental to the gospel and to life. I know that when I do stand for my convictions that I am blessed for them and that I become stronger.

Valentine's Day

So one of my friends wrote on facebook about overhearing a conversation at the store where basically 2 women decided that the men in their lives were the ones responsible for Valentine's Day and their obligation was 0. So since reading about that I've been thinking a lot about Valentine's Day. I love Valentine's Day and I have for a long time!!!:) Instead of celebrating the romantic side of Valentine's Day yesterday (we decided to postpone that until August, since we have a new little baby:) we celebrated the love side. We made valentine cards with our 3 yr. old daughter and valentine cookies and gave them to our neighbors.

So that got me to thinking...why is Valentine's Day all about romantic love? I have a lot of single friends who celebrate it as SAD (Single's Awareness Day) and that really makes me sad for them. Instead of focusing on romance why can't Valentine's Day be about celebrating love, the people that you love and that love you!!!:) Everyone has someone they love and that loves them...after all we were put into families. I wish that SAD could go away and that instead people could celebrate love and show their love on Valentine's Day (and throughout the rest of the year!!:)