I Have Prayed For Thee ...

@kevincardenart

Just have to say something about this beautiful piece of art. I want to be that kind of mom. I want to have the faith to be that kind of woman, as well as wife and child of God ... firmly rooted in the Rock, the redeemer of the world, my Savior, Jesus Christ. I want to choose that light that can dispell all darkness, I want to ALWAYS choose the side of Jesus Christ, the side of prayer...because there IS power in communicated with our divine Father in Heaven. 

July was a month where I decided to start pondering and memorizing a scripture that embodies the theme that I am trying to focus on right now; Faith. The verse that I chose was, Luke 22:32 "But I have Prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy bretheren." 

This scripture embodies what it means to be a mother, for me. The time that we have as parents, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, etc is SO crucial. We all NEED the divine help and guidance in each of our lives and with each of our endeavors. This verse has also taught me that I cannot just live life on a whim, expecting to just be magically on the Lord's side in the very end. NO! The part of the scripture where it says "I have prayed for thee..." I try and pray for my Lillie... and you know what, God is also a parent and God probably prays harder and longer for me, for you...for each and every one of His individual children.Just like each of our children are going to go through challenging times, and many different tribulations -- we, God's spirit children are here in mortality ... we are not physical being , but we are Spiritual beings having a physical experience! God wants us to continue learning of truth, and righteousness ...growing in conversion continually. He also wants us to teach and strengthen those around us; just like every other parent on this earth...wanting their children to get along and learn from eachother and teach one another.

I was touched by this thought, combined with the above photo from Al Fox via Instagram :

"Often when we think of families we think of the here & the hereafter. 

It’s not often we stop and think that we were all united together already before here. 

And this has nothing to do with giving birth or not, but overall. 

Whether in reference to your parents and siblings, in reference to those that you adopt or foster, 

members of the church or not, alive or not yet or no longer, etc. 

It doesn’t necessarily matter how our families are brought together here on earth,

but that we existed & interacted & loved beforehand. 

My point is that we are not alone. 

Not only is God absolutely always, at all times mindful of us, 

but that He has blessed us with those on both sides of the veil as well,

watching over & cheering for us. Unseen protection & guidance from those anxious to be born, and from those already passed.

My point is we need to take care of each other! We are together for a reason. 

How we spend our time with those in our family & extended family, the ways we act & react with them, & the opportunities we take to teach & extend love is crucial. 

My point is this is not the start of me and my soon to be child.

This life is not the start of you.

Let’s refocus, often, on who we truly are & what we need to be doing. 

Refocus on the reality of being a living soul that can never die. 

We have ‘forever’ built into our genes. 

We need to take care of ourselves because we are meant for so much more than just this. 

What we do matters. Who we are and what we’re a part of has real meaning. 

Deep roots that extend far beyond this sphere. 

Roots that should drive our priorities & effect what we do daily with our life." -Al Carraway

CHOOSE to be rooted in Christ, the LIGHT, and the LIFE of the world! Build upon the ROCK which is Christ, our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord! If we are built and rooted in Christ we can NEVER be led astray. 

Happy 9 months old!!!

 

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

For more inspiring art:

https://www.instagram.com/kevincardenart/

For more thoughts from Al Carraway visit her instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/alcarraway/?hl=en

Our Perception on Perfection

Friends, it has been sooooo long!!!
life seems like it is just f l y i n g right on by... it seems only yesterday my dear sweetheart and I got married for time and all eternity -- but it's been over a month!
After getting married we moved to Logan so both of us could continue our education at USU, I was SO excited to move to a bigger city, and experience life a bit differently...I was excited to learn and grow! (don't get me wrong, I LOVE Sanpete, and small towns just make my heart HAPPY and my soul SMILE... but for me it was time to move and experience something outside of my little bubble)
OH MY... 
it has been a lot harder than I thought it would be. Let me tell ya, it's not all roses and perfectness. (life was never like that before, so why did I think that it might get that way now?)
perception of perfeciton
The human perception on perfection is quite interesting...and to me it's kind of funny.
I'm taking an Art History class this semester and after a discussion on the human form in art I was fascinated by just how much we reach for the unattainable. As humans we have something in us that just has a NEED to create, through music, literature, dancing, and through art. Humans have been creating art f o r e v e r .
I never truly realized it but the human form dominates our lives so completely, it makes a HUGE difference in our day - to - day lives, but something interesting
we are NOT surrounded by r e a l i s t i c images of the human form. 
Humans are hardwired in the brain to exaggerate and idealize the human figure; our search for "perfection" comes from culture, or environment, family, lifestyle, religion, beliefs, and many other things!
As humans there is something within us that has a desire to learn, to grow, and become something greater than we were before, and this is a beautiful thing. Artists create a more "perfect" version, poets create a more Utopian world, and even athletes create a more defined image of their own bodies and abilities. It is our human nature to become and create, but do we take this to the extreme? Do we push and push so much that we end up telling ourselves lies? 
I know that I have been guilty.
How many people do you know that are perfect?
How many incredible stories of inspiring people had the perfect figure, the easiest life, were the smartest, or the most perfect family life?
We tend to study the outcasts, drop-out students, orphans, and the "ugly ducklings" of life.
Like, Einstein, Corrie Ten Boom, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Helen Keller, and Jesus Christ.
Those are the stories that inspire & bring HOPE! 
"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are." -Brene Brown

So much of my life has been waiting to be good enough, practicing and hoping that someday I would be able to show my random interests like, ballet, dutch, painting, drawing, etc. All I want is to make people HAPPY, and to put a SMILE on their faces!!! I keep on telling myself to wait til I can do this...wait til I'm better at that... but I'm learning that the  p r o c e s s  is ALWAYS more b e a u t i f u l  than the results.

People don't only want to see the masterpiece, the end result; empathy and understanding comes from seeing the journey and the progress made all along the way. 

Being authentic is putting aside that "perfect" perception and that one "perfect" moment to shine and share the CrAzY self that you are! (because we are ALL truly crazy, and THAT is truly l o v e l y!) 

It is being brave enough to share you, despite your flaws, imperfections, mistakes...that is how we as humans CONNECT with each other along this journey through the human experience!

As we are more authentic we will start to see those around us as the Lord sees them, and our focus will be less internally and will become more of an outward focus.

How can you choose to be Authentic?

How can you share your LIGHT with another person today?

Random Fun Fact: Having an outward focus (service oriented) reduces stress.

Stress is the inward focus of all that WE have to get done...focusing on others loads WILL lighten our load...and WILL put a smile on your face!

Keep being YOU!

You are powerful beyond comprehension; YOU are a child of God!