Look for the blessings in your life.

I drove home this weekend to help my mom out while my dad was out of town.

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to go to church today. I heard many things that were helpful to me in my life right now.

My thoughts during the sacrament this week were short but (hopefully) sweet:

Nothing is more important to me than having the ability to turn to my Savior. I'm so thankful that He was willing to sacrifice Himself for me. I will never be able to repay Him.

This Sunday was fast Sunday, and as I was listening to some of the testimonies I had this thought:
"I am a daughter of a king. A child of God. A daughter with a divine destiny and of a divine inheritance. I am who I am for a reason. I'll find my way, and I'll find my true calling, as I look to the Lord and my Savior."
Sister Greer bore her testimony and something she said stood out to me very much: "Look for the blessings in your life." Turn to your Heavenly Father. He will give you strength.
I really needed that reminder–don't focus on all of the things that didn't go so well or aren't happening right now. Look for the blessings.

In Relief Society, Sister Worthington talked about the article entitled "The Perfect Lie" that popped around last week, found here. She talked about three things that we can do to help us become more like Christ, and they were:
1) Sacrament. The sacrament is the only ordinance that we do for ourselves over and over again.
2) Scriptures. Make your scripture study more meaningful. 
3) Prayer. Every relationship hinges on communication. Especially our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Stop and listen for an answer after your prayer. 

I didn't necessarily hear anything new this week but I did hear things that I needed a reminder of. Turn to the Lord when you need to. Listen to Him, and listen for an answer from Him. Focus on your relationship with Him because that's the only way it will grow and develop. Trust in Him. Believe that He knows what is best. I know that He knows what He is doing. I know that He will not let you fall. He will catch you, and He will carry you when needed. He loves you so much and He understands you. I promise He won't let you down.

Xoxo
Mattie

You can do it.

I know life is hard. I really, truly do. But that does not mean that we can give up. God will not give us anything we cannot handle. If He has given it to you, that means that you can do it. If you feel like you are alone, don't feel like that! There is one person who knows exactly how you feel, and His name is Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father will not give you trials, and then stand back and watch you slip, and fall, and stumble. He will be by your side every step of the way. He loves you. He won't let you fall. He won't let you fail. He won't let you down. So, stand up. Brush off your knees. Hold your head up high. And walk proudly. You are a son or daughter of a King. Not only is He a God, He is King of the Heavens. Of all His creations, we are His pride and joy. He made you, and He loves you. And don't you forget it. <3

He loves and treasures you.

So, yesterday was the Sweetheart's Dance, and it was so much fun! I had a blast! There were several miracles yesterday. The first one was when Jessica and I were looking for the boys' houses, and we kind of got lost. So at one point, we were stopped at a red light, and the next car over was waving wildly at us. It was Connor and Savannah and Brianna and them! So we quick rolled down the window and asked them if they knew where David or Dallin lived, and they were able to tell us that they lived in the direction that we were heading from. So we were able to turn around and then, after several minutes of turning onto the wrong streets, we finally turned onto the right one and–miracle number 2–I caught sight of Dallin's house and we were set from there because Dallin knew where David lived. Miracle number 3: At the dance, we were situated in front of the school store I think, and on the window was the Talent Show Audition sign-ups! I had been looking for them but I couldn't find them, but I was able to find them at the dance, which is so good, because I really, really, really wanted to try out again, because I chose an awesome song. Last year I auditioned with "Let It Go" from Frozen which probably wasn't the best idea because it was so popular and I didn't get in anyway. Which is ok. I am going to try out again this year, as I've mentioned, and I'm going to sing "The Call" by Regina Spektor, and it's played in "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian", I believe. Anyway, it was a really, really great night, and I had such a blast!

I'm so grateful for the tender mercies and miracles that happened yesterday, because they were not just a coincidence. I'm glad that Heavenly Father is watching out for me, because sometimes I feel alone, and helpless, but I'm not, because He is there to help me, and watch out for me, and help me realize that I am loved and treasured. He loves us so much! He is always watching out for us because He cares for us so much. We are treasured by Him because we are His precious children–we are His His sons and daughters. He loves us so much. He is always there for us, and He will always love us.

Love,
Mattie:)

How have I held it all together?

I have had a really rough past couple of days/weeks/months, and today was especially hard. I got up, still feeling kind of sick. I had had a little "me" time last night; I went to a concert and I really enjoyed myself; I got to let go of everything and just listen and watch and enjoy. Anyway, this morning I was feeling kind of ill still and I went to ask my mom about something; I think I asked if daddy could give me a blessing. It was, you know, five o'clock in the morning, so she just told me to take some Tylenol and put the heating pad on my stomach and wait for a while. So, I took the Tylenol and went to lay down. For the next hour or so, I lay in my bed, pain running through my abdomen. I tried everything: I tried putting the heating pad in different places on my tummy; I tried holding it differently; I tried holding it against my tummy as I lay on my tummy; I tried holding it on my tummy as I lay on my back. The pain was just so, so bad I curled up in a ball and held the heating pad against my stomach and cried. I cried to my Heavenly Father; I cried for my daddy; I cried for my mom. I just wanted relief. I finally just told myself to get up; I counted to three and got up. I thought it would make me feel better if I got moving; I had, after all, been sitting--nay, laying--on my bed curled up in pain for almost two hours. So, I decided that I was going to wear a dress today because I was taking the ACT and I really don't know why but for some reason dressing up helps me think better or relax or something. Anyway, I head into the bathroom and I get dizzy and woozy and I head over to the toilet, hoping and praying that I wouldn't throw up. I did; I started sobbing, heaving, heavy sobs. More heavy than when I had been in bed. My brother went and got my dad, who went and got my mom because he was taking my brother to school. I stood up, brushed my teeth, and I felt better; I honestly felt better and I thought that I could go about my day. I still felt sick but I felt loads better. I got dressed and went into the kitchen; I didn't really want to eat anything; my mom told me I could have some sprite or some yogurt. I had some sprite but I didn't really eat any of the yogurt because I just didn't feel too good. I went to brush my teeth again and I started to brush my tongue for whatever reason. Big mistake. I started to throw up, in the sink. I quickly walked over to the toilet, but I started crying again because once you can kind of overlook, but twice? Nuh-uh, that's a sure sign of "stay home". My mom called the school and was told that me not going wouldn't harm anything; it was just a missed opportunity to take the ACT. My mom left it up to me. I was really, really sick (I had just thrown up twice, for Pete's sake) and tired, and I just wanted to sleep, but I decided to take the test. My dad gave me a blessing before he took me to school, and I prayed and prayed in my heart as we drove to school and all throughout the test. There was a couple of times where I thought "Oh, no, this is it" and I was sure I was going to throw up, but I took deep breaths, in and out, and I got through it. I drank lots of water and I finished (mostly) that stupid, stupid timed test without throwing up. I owe it all to my Heavenly Father. Without Him, I probably would have thrown up that first time. I prayed; I prayed really, really hard that I wouldn't throw up. I took deep breaths and I PRAYED, and it was answered. I am still feeling sick, but I am going to see the doctor on Monday and maybe we will be able to find out what is wrong with me. This pain is unlike any pain I have ever felt before, but I don't have to go through it alone. My Savior suffered for this pain of mine, and He has felt it, too. I can turn to Him for comfort and relief, and that is exactly what I have been doing today (when I wasn't sleeping). I don't know how I have held it all together. Actually, I do; I haven't. It's as simple as that. I haven't held it all together. I have had to turn to, rely on, and trust in my Savior and my Heavenly Father too many times to count in the past couple of months. My testimony of this gospel, of my Savior, and of the power of the Atonement has grown tenfold. There is absolutely NO way at ALL that I would have EVER been able to get through everything that I have gotten through without the help of my Savior. I love Him with all of my heart and I am so thankful that my daddy holds the priesthood worthily and is able to give me blessings when I want or need them. So, again, in answer to my question "How have I held it all together", the truth is, I haven't. My Savior has been there EVERY step of the way, and He has lifted me when I could not carry on. He is my rock, and my foundation, and I love Him. He has been my glue; He is piecing me back together from what I was to what I need to become. I trust Him with all of my heart. I am so glad He knows what He is doing.

If you just believe.

If you just believe, you can be an example. If you just believe, you will know that you are loved. If you just believe, you will know that you are a child of God. If you just believe, you will know that you are a daughter or son of a king. If you just believe, you can make it. If you just believe, you can be like Jesus Christ. If you just serve, you will be like Jesus Christ.