To my Love (Valentine)

Since it's Valentines... wanted to write a little something for my best friend and someone who plays a key role in my happiness.

From the moment you walked into my life everything changed. I don't think it was a coincidence that you were the one for me. I sometimes laugh because God knows me better then I know myself. There is no one that balances me better, humbles me more, treated me like gold, spoils me…like you. I am lucky to live a life with someone who is adventurous, willing to let me live my dreams, sacrifices everything even your own life for our family, who makes me laugh maybe at you but all the time, who always keeps me on my feet, who truly can be the kid inside, and who has the kindest heart.

You truly are one of the most positive people I've ever met and forever made my life closer to my end result, having the life I love. YOU have given me a huge leap into this joy and creating this life I love. You constantly encourage me to not just be a mom but be everything I've ever wanted to be. I've so far loved everyday we've been together. I know we've had our ups and downs but I wouldn't take any challenge, heart ache, trail, and hardship for anything. I feel that I've grown more in love with you, gained more respect, and have seen how well we actually fit. I don't know who else would put up with me really JK!

I am so happy that I get to spend eternity with you. That we were sealed and can live together forever and that we center our life and family on the Savior. This gives us a bullet proof marriage. We are fighters for each other and it truly has made our marriage amazing. We know there is no way out (well no reason that we should get out, (this is only my marriage of course if my husband abused me I would get out) so we've learned to be more selfless especially after Eastin came. There is so much beauty in this life and each life change you encounter. Each year we get stronger and each year I grow a thousand years wiser. Thank you for being my husband, my friend, a father, and outstanding worker. You are incredible and do amazing things each and everyday.

You are the most handsome man inside and out. Even when we grow old I know you will always take my breath away. I am so lucky to be married to the best man for me. I hope I make you feel like being the best version of yourself. There isn't a day that goes by that I laugh at the fact that there is no one more perfect for me. I know we will always work out our differences because we are fighters. WE WANT a good Marriage and so we FIGHT FOR IT. We want to be happy so we focus in. COMMUNICATION IS Key and is something that has been a challenge at times but we've pulled through it. I will never give up on you and I know you will never give up on me.

HAPPY Valentines Day Wes. I LOVE YOU TO the MOON and BACK.

Glad I get to spend the day not only with this handsome, dreamy hunk of a man but my little East Bug. You gave me the greatest gift a man could give…the birth of our son. Happy Valentines day to Eastin too! My everyday sunshine.

Gain SPIRITUAL POWER: Give Something of Yourself and Receive Something From Another

I am going to focus on one aspect of spiritual well being. THE POWER OF SERVICE both GIVING and RECEIVING.

(These are my thoughts on service and my intentions are not to hurt anyone else. This is something that helps me get in tune more spiritually within myself and something to maybe motivate others to do things outside themselves)

Let people serve you, bottom line. If they offer, take them up on it. Some people want to serve and get disappointed when people don't let them. Service brings blessings so don't let others loose an opportunity to share some kindness, to have a way to help them look beyond themselves, and to be able to help you in ways you actually later wish you said yes.

Don't be afraid to ask for help even if no one offers. It doesn't mean others don't care about you it's the fact people are busy. Sometimes taking people away from themselves is exactly what they need. It helps humble them, get them away from their comfort zone, and look outside themselves.

Give people the opportunity to serve. See it this way, be this way, live this way. Don't always think you are putting someone out when you take 5-10 minutes of there time. If they offered then definitely don't feel bad. When people are depressed, suffering from addictions, focused on all there world problems... service helps many feel better about themselves, feel more accomplished and lifts their spirits.

On the flip side

When you are feeling the blues, go serve someone. When you are down and feeling self observed that is the best time to do something for someone else. Seeing others problems sometimes takes you away from your own problems and actually helps you feel better. TRY IT, IT really does work.

When someone asks you for help, if you have time, help them. I believe in Karma people will pay it forward to you. Be the person you want to be remembered by. You don't want to be known as someone who is self centered, always says no, and that person who is not willing to go out of there way for anybody.

Don't offer when you don't want to. You are only hurting yourself. Service teaches selflessness and at this moment there isn't any humility to learn.

Say no, if you really don't want to. You are yet again hurting yourself and the other person you serve. There are times I didn't want to and I ended up changing my attitude and being a lot happier I did but there are times I did it and ended up hurting myself and maybe the other person. I wasn't in good spirits and it most likely hurt the other person especially if they are the type of person who never asks for help.

If you are someone who never wants to and always says no: Well I think you have a new years resolution. CHAGE YOUR ATTITUDE and look OUSTIDE YOURSELF.

When you are focused on all the things going wrong in your life…"when it rains it poors" attitude… HELP SOMEONE. 

If you are looking for happiness 
If you are searching for answers to something 
If you are looking for a new friend
If you are looking to be humbled 
If you want to be a better version of yourselve
If you want better results in your life
If you want to be more confident
If you want to feel the right gratification
If you want to be awesome

SERVE SERVE SERVE

&

Let others serve you

SERVICE is one key to get spiritually balanced.

There are times after my son was born and I experienced some after pregnancy blues, that I wish I would have said yes when people offered help. It would have only offered better peace of mind, less fighting, and decreased stress and anxiety on my whole family. We got through it but I learned that others need this as much as I needed it.

There have also been times in my life where I allowed people to serve me and lost a friend. That is there loss. If you are not normally a needy person and don't ask for things constantly then forget them. They were serving with the wrong intention and in the end they lost a great person. It's no reflection on you.

WARNING: 

Now don't go asking for help 24/7 and be that NAG. That's being the person people run away from.

Serve others as much as you receive it. 

THERE IS BALANCE IN ALL THINGS. 

I would say in my own percentage 80% of service turns out to be wonderful. If you are the type of person who see's the 20% rather then the 80% I think you need to do some spiritual growing within yourself and change your attitude.

Service is about being selfless...so change your attitude and see it as a learning experience and a great opportunity.

My challenge for my reader: 

TODAY 

HELP someone each day. 

Be there for others. 

Let others help you. 

I am so grateful to be a part of a church that has given me so many opportunities to serve, which has given me the greatest examples of service,  given me this beautiful life skill and that is full of the most selfless group of people.  Our prophet Thomas S. Monson is the such a great example of service. He says,

          “To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves, No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Service to others is akin to duty, the fulfillment of which brings true joy.”

I truly believe that service leads to true joy. So yes I encourage you to try a little harder to serve someone each day.