What is Repentance?

"Many times a bishop will write, "I feel he has suffered enough!" But suffering is not repentance.  Suffering comes from lack of complete repentance.  A stake president will write, "I feel he has been punished enough!" But punishment is not repentance.  Punishment follows disobedience and precedes repentance.  A husband will write, "My wife has confessed everything!" But confession is not repentance.  Confession is an admission of guilt that occurs as repentance begins.  A wife will write, "My husband is filled with remorse!" But remorse is not repentance.  Remorse & sorrow continue because a person has not yet fully repented.  Suffering, punishment, confession, remorse, and sorrow may sometimes accompany repentance, but they are not repentance.  What, then, is repentance?"
(Elder Theodore M. Burton, Ensign, Aug. 1988)

I came across this little ditty tonight during my scripture study.  I have an idea, for myself, what repentance is.  What do you think repentance is?! Get your gears goin and really focus on how you perceive repentance.

Feel free to tell me if I am getting too preachy these days, hahah.  Night ya'll <3

My Soul Delighteth in the Song of the Heart

I LOVE Sunday.
Today was especially fabulous.
I had the opportunity to sing this song in church with an amazing group of people, as the theme of sacrament today was music

It sounded so good and I'm so thankful for everyone's willingness to sing with us! We even got invited to sing again next week in another ward =)
I also got to listen to my momma speak today and she did such a wonderful job in portraying her message of how to bring music into your meetings.  The spirit was so strong today and I loved how you could see my mother's sweet spirit shining through.  She is positively delightful.

There were a couple quotes I really liked from her talk! 

From Elder Jay E. Jensen's talk on the Nourishing Power of Hymns. Quote:

"Hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord. They often do this quicker than anything else we may do. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said, 'We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing, except prayer'".

So true.

Elder Bateman also talked on Music as a form of Worship. Again I quote (I love the description Bateman uses here!!):

“Each time I hear “How Great Thou Art,” something happens inside. I think my spirit becomes taut like a string on a violin and begins vibrating with the beauty of the music and the hope expressed in Stuart Hine’s words. In particular, the third and fourth verses, combined with the lyrical nature of the chorus, cause my spirit to swell with deep appreciation for the Lord’s Atonement and mercy: 

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,

Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin, …

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!

He continues:

Music is one of the most effective forms of worship. In our hymns, we praise God, give thanks for His love and mercy. I am impressed with this statement by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Sacramental hymns are … like prayers, … and everyone can give voice to a prayer!” Although I had thought of some hymns as prayers, I had not thought of each sacramental hymn in that form. And yet it is! …… As the priests break the bread, the entire congregation is given the opportunity to voice their prayerful thanks through music. Sacramental hymns focus our attention on the Lord, His atoning sacrifice, and the gospel plan.”

I'm tempted to just quote her entire talk since it was so good! Buuut I'll refrain...

Basically, Momma G is the best. I don't know if she realizes how much I appreciate the bonding time we get to have through music and theatre. I have been involved in theatre almost every year since I was 8 with my mother and my sister.  We consider the theatre to be our second home hahah. I love to hear my sweet momma sing (while her emotions get the best of her as she cries every time hehe)

My life flows on in endless song

Above earth's lamentation

I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation

Through all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing

It finds and echo in my soul

How can I keep from singing?

Go sing a hymn with your family, friends, or by yourself and have a happy sunday everyone! <3

Walmart

That's it. 

I'm on my way to walmart with resume in hand to look for part time employment so I can laugh.

All day.

Every day.

Looks like I'll be wearing my best form fitting leopard tights,

bright brown (like neon) belly shirt,

and snake skin heels for my interview. 

I'm pretty sure they'll hire me on the spot. 

Cause, I mean... I'll be all dressed up all fancy-like.

P.S. Yup, my mood has changed from my last post.  I would want to spend my last 10 minutes, no restrictions.... in Walmart.  Heaven on Earth.

10 Minutes to Live

If I had 10 minutes to live with no restrictions.. what would I do... I don't know if it is because of this melancholy mood I'm in or not...

but I think I would just want to sit and read my scriptures.

Part of me thinks that I should want to feel the urge to jump out of planes for the ultimate skydiving experience or dive off the tallest bridge in the world to get that ultimate adrenaline rush...

You would think I might want to be surrounded by people so that we could all share eachother's love (If you asked me the same question tomorrow, I might be in the mood for this kind of parting.. but not tonight) That would be too overwhelming and emotional for me.

Another route to take would be to tell a significant person how much they actually mean to you, or to share a kiss with a certain someone one last time.. But that just doesn't seem fitting for my mood right now either...

I just want to bask in the Lord's love and read. Let all my cares of this crazy world slip away. Nothing seems more peaceful and reassuring than to cleave unto this book that God had prepared a way for us to recieve. In fact... that sounds so appealing.. that I think I might just go get lost in the pages of Alma right now. 

P.S. I got myself a gourmet pack of colored SMENCILS... they are just like smelly pencil crayons. They are my new scripture marking pencils! I love them! Nothin beats reading and coloring while getting whiffs of cotton candy, very berry, bubble gum, root beer, grape, orange, watermelon, cinnamon, black cherry and tropical blast! Mmm mmmm!!

Bentley Richard Garner

I HAVE A NEW NEPHEW!!!

Bentley Richard Garner

Born August 22, 2011

at 1:01 pm

7'12 lbs

That will make me an auntie of 5 boys!!

I'm happy to have another boy.  I don't think I would know what to do with a neice. haha

Congratulations to Brandon and Heidi!

Sometimes the Answer is No

"My Child

Make no mistake

Every prayer you pray

Gets answered

Even though sometimes

The answer is no"

I'm sure we have all prayed for things that we wanted so strongly, only to have that desire left unfulfilled.  Think back to one of those times where the answer was no.  It was alright, wasn't it? Maybe even better off that you didn't get what you were longing for??  The thing that I need to wrap my head around is that the Lord knows us so much better than we know ourselves and he truly knows what is best for us... mind boggling, right?! =P  I was reflecting back on past yearnings that I fervently prayed for because I wanted it SO bad.... and I am indebtly grateful that this naive little Amy didn't just get everything "handed" over to her! (It's actually quite comical- the desires of young teenage girls. BAH!)

"When I think of all the answers in my life, I would have to say, there's no doubt it was always for the best when I didn't get my way".

BUT I am also grateful that I have been given opportunities to be humbled. There have been times where the Lord lets me learn the hard way...  W'hen I get to "venture off" and "find my way back" so to speak.  Sometimes it's harder to find our way back than other times. (The important part is that we find our way- back to Lord, that is)

Hahah.. anyways... those were my random thoughts for the evening. Thank you B Paise for inspiring this blog post.

By the way... if anyone is in the mood for a good scripture reading, Alma and Amulek would be glad to share their thoughts with you. Alma 8-15. Alma & Amulek rock.  Zeezrom is a stupid idiot... until he realizes his stupid idiot ways. Although all 8 chapters are flippin sweet... Alma 14 is so hardcore!! Gooo read it!!

Night ya'll... Love ya'll



Busy Bee

Life has been busy busy lately!
I have been a workin machine these days (which I love!)
I worked on Thursday and Friday til 9 pm
I worked on Saturday til 6 and then rushed home to get ready to go fishin!!

Alli's first time fishin! 

I love this picture! It was such a kodak moment.. I think this was right after Alli almost snagged Kody and I on a cast

we had 4 people crammed onto this little fishin boat! Equipped with propeller and fish finder! (Nothin but style and class for this crew!)

Captain Ferguson. 

Oh just a perfect sunset, that's all =)

fishing took a turn for the worst when Tanner's rod snapped on a BIG FAT.... chunk of weeds. No... we didn't even catch any fish. 

the crew with our fishin boat! 

There were thousands of bugs on shore...They all swarmed into my hair. 

Sunday was amazing. As per usual. 

Wanna know what else is amazing?? Kyle Stringam. I love that man so much! We chilled at church =)

We were reunited this night at the ugly sweater party... and life got a whole lot sweeter!  =)

I worked late on Monday because we had renovations to the store.  So we had to take every single shoe, purse and shelf off the walls (There was alot more than you would think!) It was so bare after! it was weird!

Then I went over to my Grandpas house to prepare his basement suite in preparation for this cute Arizona boy to come visit me!!  

Anyways.. I got 3 hours of sleep and then had to get up super early on Tuesday morning (my day off) to help get the store set up so we could open on time.  We were all wearing grubby clothes with no makeup and greasy hair (I guess I can only speak for myself... haha) and when we opened, we still had to help customers. Gross. haha.

I got done work by noon and had the whole day ahead of me! (I'm not used to getting off work this early!!) So I called Valena and we went for a bike ride and out to lunch.  I love that girl!! Our afternoon was full of smiles and laughing and planning our futures together.  We decided that the whole purpose of us moving out to yucky Saskatchewan was so that we could bond.  I'm almost certain that is why I was meant to move to Saskatoon... We were meant to be together hahah.  Our paths just keep miraculously pointing us both in the same direction.... soooo we'll see where our futures take us ;)  I'm really excited about our plans! They are going to work! We'll make them!! =D

After our little hangout sesh, I went to play with ma boys! I was greeted by Batman, Superman... and Batman. Ashton, Nolan and Nixon had blue and red kitchen towels as makeshift capes as they flew in for big hugs for Aunty Amy! We built forts and played Tigers in our "cave".  Oooh how I love my nephews!

I went home after and did some stuff around the house for a bit.  About 45 minutes before I had to leave for my soccer game, I laid down for a "half hour nap" which consisted of me sleeping through my alarm and waking up at 9:30 pm.  Brandon tempted me with homemade brownies and  ice cream. That was the only reason I rolled out of bed.  So I went over to his house, ate a brownie, went home and fell asleep half way through watching Sanctum (I was claustrophobic just watching it!)

Wednesday... I worked and then played on my women's league.  We dominated! I think the final score was 9-0 for us =) 

Today I worked til 9 and it was super busy! Usually on a good day I can sell like $1000 worth of shoes but today I almost sold $2000 worth of shoes! ...I'm tired. 

Annnyways... Wesley and Preston gets here in 38 hours!!... not that I'm counting.. k, so I'm a little excited... haha last night I kept having dreams that Wesley was going to be here in like an hour and I was getting so antsy that it kept waking me up! I thought it was for real *deep breath* I can wait a day and a half... and then I have a whooooole week off work to chill with this fella!! Daaaah... life is good...

This little treasure was when we pulled an all nighter and watched an AZ sunrise! =)

Over It

...And then there's people like him that remind me why it was easy to get over you so fast in the first place =)

Looking forward to a BRIGHT future!
=D
4 Days and Counting...

Also... expect another blog post comin your way tonight perhaps?  I'm a busy bee today so I don't have time now. 
Love ya'll