Vulnerability Hangover

Here is my most recent article published on the United Families International blog. It is on the topic of shame and vulnerability, which is applicable to all of us as human beings. Here is the link: http://unitedfamilies.org/marriage-and-family/vulnerability-hangovers/

Thank You Veterans!

As I have grown up and come to better understand the significance of Veterans' Day, this holiday has taken a special place in my heart. It was a tender mercy that I was assigned to write my post for the UFI blog on this day. This one is for my veteran grandpa's!
http://unitedfamilies.org/freedom/thank-you-veterans/

Ambiguous Loss

This article for the United Families International blog focuses on a topic I find very interesting. If you have ever lost a parent or grandparent psychologically to dementia, had a miscarriage, or experienced any other kind of loss that you just did not feel others could understand, this is for you.

http://unitedfamilies.org/marriage-and-family/ambiguous-loss/

His Will Be Done

I have been reflecting a lot lately on Heavenly Father’s perfect plan. I recently came across a list of goals that I had made at Girls’ Camp one year of the things that I wanted to accomplish in the following five or so years. I have now passed the age by which these goals were to be accomplished, and I achieved barely any of them. This is not because I wasn’t ambitious or dedicated enough, but because I had made goals for how I wanted my life to unfold that were different than how Heavenly Father wanted my life to unfold. I did not graduate with the degree that I had wanted since I was a young child, and I have yet to become a wife and a mother. But oh the opportunities and growth I would have missed if I had followed my plan. There was a lot of struggling, discouragements, and even despair along the way, but each of the trying moments I now recognize were important to get me to the place that I am now. I look back and see that I was not at all prepared for what I thought I wanted, but in following Heavenly Father’s plan, He has given me tailored experiences to prepare me in the specific ways that I needed so that when my dreams come true, I will be much more ready to embrace them. 

Respect the Gentlemen Please

I was asked to write another article for the United Families International blog! This one is about the need to give men more respect in how we talk about them. Here is the link:

http://unitedfamilies.org/values/respect-gentlemen-please/

Am I Not Good Enough to Live?

Click on the link below for an article I wrote about abortion that was published on the United Families International blog:

http://unitedfamilies.org/abortion/not-good-enough-live/

Second Chances

Today I had the opportunity to clean the church building that I attend. I was thinking about how every member of the wards that attend that building are invited to help with its weekly cleanings. I thought of how some members might not have much experience with cleaning, or some might be unable to do a really thorough job due to age or physical limitations. Yet all are invited to help. The wonderful thing is that each week, members have the opportunity to do their part in cleaning it, but even if they mess up or do an imperfect job, guess what, the church will get cleaned again next week. This could be viewed as an excuse to do a less-than-best-effort job, but I like to think of it as each person's work being appreciated and accepted.

Heavenly Father's plan for His children is similar. We do what we can and even when we mess up, He spiritually takes us into His loving arms and says, "Thank you for trying this week. There are still some areas to work on so I can give you more blessings, but I am proud of your effort this week. You can try again to do better next week."