Opportunities to Share.....

There are a lot of things about Utah that I miss....that is a given...but there is one thing that I know I love about California and that is the opportunities that I have to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and my beliefs with others.

Living in Utah, everyone is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint or they know enough about it that they aren't interested and they don't want to talk about it. Now me placing "everyone" into these two categories is probably not completely fair, but let's be honest the VAST majority fit into one of these categories. This left me with very little opportunity to share my beliefs without someone being offended.

Here in Visalia, CA it seems to be the total opposite. There are many different churches around here, and I would say that most of the population is religious in some way and they actually try to live their beliefs, no matter what they may be. Most people don't know hardly anything about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which leads me to my main point that it makes for a lot of opportunities to share what I hold so dear to my heart.

Today I had yet another opportunity. I tried to take advantage of the questions I was being asked, but make sure not to be overwhelming. When I really think about all the things I have learned about the gospel in the past 25 years of life, it is a lot to try to share in one sitting and a bit overwhelming to say the least. So I try to share bits and pieces about it when opportunities arise.

This is how we got on the subject.

I was telling one of my friends at work about how we are planning a retirement party for Trav's dad. We are going to do a family dinner at the Roof in Salt Lake City. I was telling her about how we want to make all the money arrangements to pay for the meal before everyone gets there because we know Trav's mom and dad will try to pay if they bring the check to the table, and we want to make sure we are treating them to a nice evening. She asked, well how is that going to work? I said, well it is a buffet so you can just go get whatever you want and have dessert and all of that. She said, well what about if you order drinks? I said well we aren't going to be having any special drinks. She was like not even a glass of wine to celebrate? I said no. This led to me telling her I have never had coffee, wine, beer, alcohol, etc. She didn't understand why? This led to that it was part of our religion not to drink that. She was a little confused and I shared several thoughts with her, but I told her that we believe that our bodies are a sacred gift from God and she was like oh okay, that makes sense why you don't drink then. I didn't even have to explain the connection to her, she just understood. We talked about several gospel topics in our conversation. The other thing I touched on that really made her think was about how we pay tithing. She said, "Oh yeah, like to pay the pastor." Then I was able to explain to her that the prophet and bishops, etc. don't get paid to do their callings. She didn't really have anything to say, it just made her think a lot about that. She was like, "that's interesting". I bet she is still thinking about that because she was rather shocked. It was just so nice for someone to be interested in hearing about what I believe and not taking offense or feel in any sense that I was pushing "doctrine" on them or trying to convert her.

There is another friend at work that has asked me different questions over the past few months about the church. Last week she said, "Michelle, I want to ask you a question" She told me that her friend had told her that Mormons don't believe in cutting their hair. She asked me if we, as Mormons, weren't supposed to cut our hair? I told her that my hair might be long, but there was nothing in our religion that said we could cut our hair. She laughed and said, "That is why I asked you. I wanted to get the answer from the source." I just loved the fact that she was willing to ask someone who is a Mormon if that is really the case versus just believing what other people tell her.

There have been numerous other opportunities I have had to share small pieces of what I believe with others. I love how they want to know more and they continue to ask questions. They don't judge me and I don't judge them.

The gospel is so special to me and that is why it makes me so happy that my friends and co-workers want to learn more about the gospel and take interest in my beliefs. I love to share the true gospel of Jesus Christ with others. To have the knowledge I have is the greatest blessing I have been given. I was so happy about the conversation I had with my friend today and it made me think of this scripture.

D&C 18:15
5 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

I just feel pure joy! I hope that I will continue to have these amazing experiences and opportunities to share the gospel here in California. My faith and testimony increases as I share it with others.

Some Fresh Air

7/7/2012-Kings Canyon National Park

It has been pretty hot here in Visalia and so we decided to take a short day trip to Kings Canyon. We looked to the travel app on Trav's phone to find the best driving route to get there. We took the shortest route and needless to say I was pretty motion sick by the time we made it. It was an hour and 1/2 of back and forth and back and forth. We talked to people since and they say that is the windiest road, but the most scenic. It was really pretty, but I don't know how much I was able to enjoy the scenery because the road just made me so sick. When we got there it was the perfect temperature and the air was so clean. I love breathing in fresh forest air. On our drive we saw the sign that said Centerville 33 miles. I really wish that was the case :)

This tree had tipped over long ago. It had been hollowed up by what they believe to be a fire before it fell. The sequoia tree is so huge that you could walk through it.

This is Trav with General Grant. The second largest sequoia tree. These pictures don't do these trees justice.

This was the other side of the fallen tree. Back in the 1800's, this tree was used as a shelter and camp where settlers would come and stay. They would also use it for a stall and tie up their horses. 

We were glad we took 5 mins to pull over and see this lookout. God's creations are just breathtaking!! 

 On our way home, we decided to stop by The Old Spaghetti Factory in Fresno. It was delicious!! I love the weekends when Trav is not working. It's so fun to hang out. We had a great time enjoying the nature and beauty that is so close to us. I also love our car rides. We always have fun jamming to the music and we had some good laughs while listening to Car Talk.  We don't mind taking long drives, as long as we're together. :)

Celebrating Together

July 4, 2012

Trav was scheduled to work for the fourth of July and so I decided that I may as work too. So we both worked during the day while many of the festivities were happening, but we did manage to make it to the firework show in Exeter (a little town, population ~10,000, same city I work in). I wasn't going in with high expectations, but they had music playing and the firework show as actually really good. We also ate at a cute little restaurant called East Meets West.

We laid out our blanket and sat in the field very close to where the fireworks were being lit. We could see them take off from the ground, so the fireworks were so close that they seemed a lot bigger. They were HUGE!

This was the best picture I got. None of them turned out that great.

Most of our friends here have family that live near and they were doing all the family get together, so we came home and did a little firework show of our own. Because the 4th of July landed on a Wednesday, we only got through about 1/2 of our fireworks before I decided I didn't want all the neighbors hating us. :) So we stopped.

Next, we went inside and watched the firework show in NYC that we had DVR'd. I love listening to patriot music with the fireworks synced to it. I feel so lucky to live in America. It was especially cool to watch the fireworks  over the Hudson River on TV this year because Trav's little brother, Mark, is serving his mission in New Jersey and right now he is in the area of Hoboken. Yes, that is where Carlos Bakery (Cake Boss) is. He got to watch the live show of 40,000 fireworks go off in a high rise right next to the Hudson. Can you tell I'm jealous?! Our night was filled with fireworks and I was okay with that because I love them! Even though it was just of the two of us, we still had a lot of fun together. I am glad to know that even though we don't have our families to celebrate with, I have my hubby and we always have a fun, laugh-filled time.

Happy 5th Anniversary!!

Well mine and Trav's five year anniversary was on Thursday, May 24, 2012. I honestly can't believe that is has already been that long!!! Time really does fly. Our anniversary was little emotional for me just because I really thought about how grateful I am that God has blessed me with him in my life and as my husband. I couldn't ask for anyone better to share the rest of eternity with. He does so much for me and works so hard! I just love him more than can be expressed!

Lately....

I haven't posted since Easter because I don't feel like our life has had anything really out of the ordinary happen lately, but I guess I have a few things to share.

I am super super excited because my older sister, Shannon, is pregnant with her first baby. It is going to be a baby girl and they just told us about two weeks ago that they are going to name her Mckenna Jassamine Ewell. I absolutely love the middle. Jassamine (it is pronouced differently then Jasmine) is my Great Grandma Ford's name. She was the Great Grandma that I knew for the longest amount of time. She was often called Jassi. She was a wonderful lady. Always had a perfectly clean house and I love that it is going to be Mckenna's middle name. To be honest, Amanda and I were a little bummed because we both considered using it as a middle name as well. (Of course we still could, but we'll see). I absolutely love the name that Shannon and Josh picked. I have been obsessed with baby stores since my good friend Jessica and my sister Shannon have been pregnant with their baby girls. I told Shannon I think I have already bought her more things for Mckenna than she has. I just love buying cute dresses and shoes. I can't wait to meet her when we go out to visit in October. She will also be the first grandchild born on my side of the family, so it is a pretty big deal and my mom is just overjoyed. She's been waiting five years for this. :)

Second, my friend Jessica just had her baby girl two weeks ago. They named her Lily Dean. We went to see her in the hospital and she is an absolute doll!!! I love her to death already!!! We were going to see her last Sunday, but I have had coughing issues, so we didn't go then. Then on Wednesday Jess was in need of a visitor and so I went and chatted with her and I just looked at the baby. I can't wait to hold her again though!

Other things going on as of late have included me and health/allergy issues. Two weeks ago my work had a big employee+family BBQ and a nice park in Exeter. We have burgers and hotdogs, chips, beans, drinks and the best part was Watermelon. They had bounce houses, balloons, and bubbles for the kids. I was helping out with the raffle part of the party. We had about 25 different gift cards to raffle off to the employees, but we also raffled off several kid prizes and toys. For three hours, every 15 minutes, I was screaming out 12-15 names. By the end of it all I had lost most of my voice. Every since that (so for two weeks) I have been coughing like crazy. Just a really really dry cough.

The next week, on Thursday, people at my work noticed a weird rash on my neck. I took a look at it and I had some sort of bite on my neck and it has caused me to break out with a weird rash on my neck. Luckily since I work at a health clinic I walked straight over to our walk-in department. They gave me a shot to immediately take away the rash and perscribed me with some sort of steroid and antibiotic just in case. The rash went away and everything has been fine since. Then on Sunday I had been coughing for a week. I was having a hard time sleeping and it was driving me crazy. Trav decided we should just go to the prompt care. We went and it wasn't sure if it was broncitis or just a bad case of allergies (which I think it was the latter because I had been jogging out side when the wind was blowing like crazy and I have had allergy problems since I moved here) So he prescribed me with a different antibotic and an inhaler. I think I am finally almost better, but I hate to be taking so many different pills a day. I'm not a person that likes to be on medication. Anyways, that was not so much fun.

Another thing that I have been working on is watching what I eat and exercising to try to drop some pounds, but more importantly become a healthier me. I made a goal to work out 6 days a week and this all started May 7. I am proud to say that in the past four weeks I have stuck to my plan except for this last Monday, which was Memorial Day. My clothes are starting to fit better and I am feeling better. So it seems to be working, but man it is HARD to stick to. I have just decided that there is no excuse to working out. I just tell myself I have to work out, so decide what you want to do to get that work out :). It has been fun to have Trav join me in doing Zumba on our Xbox 360 Kinect. It actually makes it enjoyable.

I guess that is a good little update.

Perfect Weather

April 8th-Easter Sunday-

Side note:I have to hurry and put in a little blurb about how I am enjoying the perfect weather that we have here many days of the Spring. It is absolutely wonderful! I feel like everyone, including myself, are always wanting it to be hotter, always wanting it to be a little cooler. There is always a complaint about the weather, but I must say we have had several "perfect" weather days this Spring and I am appreciated these perfect days.

I loved that this Easter I was wished Happy Easter sooooo many times from people at my work. I guess I didn't know how celebrated it would be here where I am used to growing up in a very highly concentrated LDS population, but I have to say that I felt like all the religious people here really appreciated the holiday and made it a very special day. I felt like almost everyone around me was taking time to think and celebrate Christ's life and resurrection. I just loved it.

I have felt like a lot of the holidays that have past while we have lived in California have kind of just been like any other day. I realize that family and kids really are what make the holidays holidays. So I decided that we could atleast dye eggs. It was a really nice day so we cooked up some yummy steaks, ate dinner outside and dyed eggs. I had a lot of fun with it being just me and my sweetie!

We could only do 6 colors because we ran out of vinegar.

These were our eggs that we felt were the best......let's be honest, they really aren't that great, but we had a good time dying them. I guess that is all that matters.

Love my Bro!

March 29-April 4

My brother came to visit me and Trav. We were so glad to have some company and we had a lot of fun while he was here! I don't have many pictures because I decided just to enjoy myself and not worry about posing for photos or toting around a camera.

Our activities included:

Golfing in Tulare

Showing Shane an orange tree for the first time

Being awed by the orchards and vineyards

Eating ice cream at Merle's Downtown

Magic Mountain-Six Flags

Santa Monica Pier

Red Robin

Golfing in Visalia

NCAA National Championship

Buffalo Wild Wings

Mini Golfing

Ticket to Ride

Bowling

We had a total blast having my brother in town. I already miss him a lot! Thanks mom and dad for financing the trip. :)