I know there are some that don't love the Body Image show wink emoticon, but I wanted to share this letter I got from a friend. She's someone I used to work with and when I did work with her, she really got under my skin. In addition to the way she would approach situations and belittle people, she was very overweight and between those two things, I'll admit I had judgmental thoughts from time to time. When we went our separate professional ways we stayed in touch on facebook and have connected really well, even though I haven't seen her in real life in years. She's commented on our facebook page before, so I'll leave her name off. God has, yet again, reminded me how we can't judge people until we walk a mile in their shoes, and it also reminded me the magnitude of the effect we are having, that I pray "please help this show help even one person." - and we are. But here's what she had to say:

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Listen. This life is interesting. And hard. A long time ago, while sitting at a live event, the presenter was outlining a way to make a million dollars in a year as a speaker and strategist. It was easy. Doable. And then, in an instant, I got a pit in my heart. I knew it wasn't for me. "Did you decide to turn away that money," you ask? No. I turned toward what was right for me. That was 3 and a half years ago. I'm constantly trying to honor my path and grow appropriate for my needs and my family's needs. This week to had to say "No" to something that looked right on paper. Then later I got to say "Yes" to something that doesn't entirely make sense, but is right for me. Wherever you are, whatever you do, do YOUR thing YOUR way. Don't worry about what someone else is doing. Don't compare yourself to friends on Facebook. Grow fast if that's right for you. Grow slow if it's meant to be. I've found that when I trust God, He always does right by me. ‪#‎honoryourpath ‪#‎makeithappen

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God has a way of reminding me the importance of a Sabbath day of worship. Especially when I travel. I have had numerous experiences in Chicago, Hollywood, New York and once in Washington DC. I was pleased to see that there was a worship service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the schedule that day in DC. It was at 7:00 AM, but we gratefully attended after only 5 hours of sleep. I felt the spirit and I was grateful I didn't have to find a ward in a city I don't know, with transit I don't know. Then some friends said they were still going to the closest sacrament service. As much as I wanted to check the box and count that 7:00 AM meeting, I went with them.

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We had a fun family thing planned one night that I had been looking forward to. About five minutes before we had to leave our circumstances changed and we couldn't go. I could feel it was going to "ruin my night".

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We all have goals and dreams. There's a period of time between the idea and the action. It's where we question "Can I?" and evaluate our ability long before we try. This alone is pretty limiting and we often mistake something that seems hard as a reason alone not to do it. Hard is good. Hard pushes and challenges us and it's in the hard that makes us stronger.

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I got to learn this lesson a couple of years ago. While prepping for my Make It Happen Call Series (with callers calling in from all over the world), my computer froze and I was forced to shut it down 8 minutes before I was supposed to start.

When my computer restarted it asked me for a password. Something I have never been asked to enter. I had no idea what the password even was.

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I have been moved this week by my study in Come, Follow Me. The intro for this week said to “Read Acts 10-15 CAREFULLY” (caps added for emphasis). Previous weeks have said thinks like “As you read, write down insights...” This change intrigued me and I committed to slow and careful study, when I typically rush. 

At first I thought it odd that we were asked to carefully study Acts, when other scriptures and authors seemed “more valuable” to me. However, as I dived in I found many things quite interesting and especially applicable to me and my prayers right now.  I thought I would share my notes and would love to hear what you’re learning, too. 

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I’m thrilled to be in the debate episode of the Still Rowing podcast with Tara McCausland. This podcast is all about faith and how we each have the choice to continue rowing despite the times and trials that we face.

In this episode I share some faith stories I don’t typically share. And a few you may have heard, if you’ve followed for a long time. Either way, Tara is fantastic and it was fun to chat with her about something we have in common...faith.

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A few years ago I had an interesting chat with God about some things that I needed and told him, "I'm willing to do the work, just show me the way." Amazing things happened that week and later on. I'm realizing, yet again, it's not just about the prayer, it's about the actions I'm willing to take. And thanks to the beautiful Elizabeth Anderson for planting that seed in my head.

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What does it cost you to be right? Pride has a way of breaking down and ruining the things we claim are most important to us. We blame others for things we ultimately cause ourselves to "make a point" or "stand our ground" or "save face". In an effort to be right we sacrifice our relationship with God, our relationship with a spouse, family member or friend, or even a boss or coworker to the point that we lose our jobs or business from a client.

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Comparison is one of satan’s favorite tools to make us doubt ourselves.  If he can get you to believe that you’re not smart enough to share your testimony or give a talk, he wins. If he can get you to believe that because you don’t know the scriptures as well as Brother Jones, or that you’re not as outgoing as Sister Taylor, or that you’re not a good writer like Sister Adams, then he wins again.  And you know who loses? 

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1. “These are the best of times in the history of this work. What a wonderful privilege and a great responsibility are ours to be an important part of this latter-day work of God. Do not become side tracked by the wiles of Satan that seem so rampant in our era. Rather, let us go forward with faith and with the vision of the great and marvelous future that lies ahead as this work grows in strength and gains in momentum.” -President Gordon B. Hinckley

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Here's a story of a young piano student. His mother, wishing to encourage him, “bought tickets for a performance of the great Polish pianist, Paderewski. The night of the concert arrived and the mother and son found their seats near the front of the concert hall. While the mother visited with friends, the boy slipped quietly away.

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On Monday night I had a STRONG prompting to post my testimony on facebook.  I tried to get out of it by telling Heavenly Father that I didn't want to offend people and that I'd rather just post it on Sunshine In the Middle, but I felt like God was asking me to DECLARE, and Facebook to all my friends and family was what He was asking for.  This is what I posted:

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I had  the privilege to spend some extra time with my Grandpa Joe before he passed in 2015. In fact, when I realized I had a "light" (for me) week, I knew it was to spend more time with him and helping ease the load my Aunt Mary Ann carries as she cares for him in his final days.

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I believe in a higher power. For me, it's God. That knowledge has brought me more comfort and joy than any human achievement or event. Sometimes I forget or the relationship feels out of touch and I have to work a little harder and pray a little more to re-connect.

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About 11 years ago we bought our first home and our first washer and dryer. After about a month in our new home, we had invited some friends for dinner. After they left, I put the red tablecloth in the washer and then the dryer. When I pulled it out, the entire inside of my dryer was red. Even though it was too late, I read the tag and it said, "Line dry". Sigh. For days I tried various cleaning products, made trips to the store for new "heavy duty" solutions and even called a few dry cleaners to see if they had any suggestions. Nothing worked. I couldn't do any more laundry, I didn't want the red to rub off onto our clothing! After a couple of weeks of desperation, I had the thought to call the dryer company directly. I called the 1-800 number on the side of the dryer and they said, "All you need is a little laundry detergent and a rag, and it will come right off." Sure enough, it did.

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A couple of years ago I was having a day where I was feeling a little bit sad. It was my fathers birthday who had passed away and I was struggling. I prayed that I would be happy and that I would get through the day. I busied myself with a breakfast with a friend who came to Provo, some shopping for a photo shoot with a good friend and Halloween details for my kids.

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This morning I checked my email and burst into tears when I saw a mention from my kid’s school about a safety drill they are having.

I burst into tears. Sobbing. And I still have tears streaming down my face. It’s not an earthquake drill, it’s not a fire drill, it’s some-people-take-guns-to-school-and-start-shooting drill. 

My kids and I have talked at elementary school levels about tragic school shootings going on around the country and my heart aches every time it happens. We even had an incident in our own community last year and it really hit home. But this is breaking me today. The reality that I’m sending my kids off into a world I don’t understand, but I desperately want to have faith and not fear. That cowering under my kitchen table and never leaving the house is no way to live. 

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