Testimony of the month-

For those who don't know, in the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, we have an opportunity to share our "testimony" (our feelings and beliefs about the gospel) each month. We have the first hour to share our testimonies with each other during our sacrament hour (first hour of church after being passed the sacrament).

A friend of mine shared her testimony and I thought I'd share it.

She recently lost her little niece who would have been turning THREE this month.

As tears filled her eyes, she shared with us the experience she had while flying up to her sister's place to help her cope with this traumatic event of losing a daughter.

While she thought she would be greeted by a depressed household, filled with despair in the air, she was quickly finding out that this home which had just gone through such a terrible event was filled with a feeling of hope, forgiveness and love.

The little blond girl with big eyes who was waiting to turn three had been hit and killed by a truck. One minute alive and happy, the very next gone.

My friend continued to share that she saw this mother and her family all kneel down together to pray for this unfortunate driver who had to endure such a thing.

Yes, you read right.

Not only did this family quickly find courage to stand still in such a catastrophic event, they even found the strength to pray for the driver who had been in the wrong place in the wrong time.

What a family.

This family obviously understood the power of Christ's atonement.

Not only was it to take away the sins of the world, it was there to succor and to comfort.

They didn't find peace in hating and they didn't even search for answers.

They simply TRUSTED in the Lord and put things in His hands.

I hope, and although I would never pray for such a trial to prove my faithfulness to my Heavenly Father, I hope that my faith and trust is big enough in the Lord Jesus Christ that if I had to endure such a thing, I could withstand the blow and understand life in the way that this family, this mother did.

Spiritual goal 2011

I decided what my "spiritual" goal will be this year!

Study the Sunday School lessons each week BEFORE Sunday!

We're studying the New Testament this year in Sunday School.

I've been thinking of how to better my scripture studies, and I think this will be perfect. It'll give me a topic/lesson each week and I could be better prepared when I attend the class each Sunday.

YAY!

What are your goals?

Oreo Covered Brownies!

These were so easy to make....but, I'd use Muffin tins next time and only bake for about 10-12min to avoid 1. separating the oreos from brownie, and 2. getting too hard. (which they did both things at 13-15min baking time.)

{ under-baked brownies will be the perfect texture for this treat!}

Serve warm with ice cream!

Thanks,

http://picky-palate.com/2010/12/06/brownie-covered-oreos/

Public Speaker

A decision has been made!

I have decided to become a public motivational speaker.

The idea came about two years ago, when I had the opportunity to attend Time Out for Women with some friends, and the second time came from listening to Brother Randal Wright at a stake Relief Society conference. Each time, a strong wave of emotions swept over me and I thought; boy, wouldn't that be something, to be the source of such powerful, such inspirational and such beautiful words! I want to inspire people to do good!

But, those thoughts remained as thoughts on the back burner of my brain, mostly because I most definitely DO NOT enjoy being the center of attention, OR speaking in front of small or large crowds.

I've thought back on the strong feelings I had while attending these conferences a few times in the last two years, but nothing too serious.

Until the other day.

A few things happened that led to a few more other events, and suddenly, I had come to a decision.

I am going to become a motivational speaker!

WHAT!? ME?!

I know.

Here's what I want to talk about.

About not making excuses for your actions.

About becoming all that you can be.

About trusting and relying on the Lord.

About making the most out of your circumstances.

About hope and about faith

About standing tall.

About forgiving

About loving life and focusing on all the blessings in it.

About being grateful.

About being answers to other's prayers.

about loving.

and finally but not lastly,

about CRUSHING EXPECTATIONS.

I have NO clue how I'm going to accomplish such a task, but I know I can, and I know that I will. If the Lord wants me to do this, I know that He will help me.

I don't have qualifications, and I'm not educated in this area, but I know He will help me, every step of the way.

The decision has been made and I have begun walking the road to acting on it.

Doors have already been opening up and I have set two dates to be a guest speaker

(which I'm really grateful for these two people who have confidence in me enough to allow me to come speak!!)

The first one at our branch to our youth in Mutual. (Jan.)

The second one at a multi-ward Relief Society Activity (May)

If there is anyone reading this that knows of a place I could come to speak at, I would really appreciate your recommendations and a name/number of someone I could call to get in touch with to set something up with them. I'm not only set on speaking to LDS audiences, but anyone who will listen.

My goal is to speak at 10 different locations this year, but ultimately, this is what I have planned for this particular life mission.

Start out speaking in local areas. Then, asked to be a guest speaker. Next, speak at a EFY or a Time out for Women. Eventually, my goal is to speak out of state, and ultimately, be an international speaker. I aspire to walk with the children infected with AIDS down in Africa, to hold the orphans in China, to walk the dusty roads of South America to speak and share a message of comfort. I know, I know, I'm dreaming grand, but I am headed that way, and unless the Lord says "stop, enough, you stink!", I'm not stopping. Funny, how I would have never imagined such a life for myself (although I've always wanted to volunteer and give of myself, I would have NEVER imagined myself speaking to a crowd larger than...uhh, ONE.)

It feels right and I know it's something I'm supposed to start working on right now.

I'm grateful for everyone who has built me up to believe that I can do such a thing, or that I could do anything at all, for that matter!

I really do have many friends and family members who cheer me on in a kind way.

This is to you.

Go out there, and CRUSH expectations!!

(and please pray for me!)

Goals 2011

One of the things that excite me most is making goals.

Like budgeting, if we do not tell ourselves where we are going and when, we will come to the end, not sure of what we have really done.

I simply love the growth I can see in myself at each accomplishment of a goal.

Our family has a cool tradition of setting goals together at the end of the year. (as well as a few times throughout the year to remind us to keep our new year's resolution AND to set a few new ones)

Here's ours (without getting too technical and personal)

Monika:

Spiritual: continue to read at least one verse from the Book of Mormon each day

(I am still working on the spiritual goals)

Physical:

Begin work out program set out by Kat (a friend)

get Zumba certified in March

Personal:

Learn all about public speaking

speak in 10 different locations

Educational:

Take Spanish and Japanese language tests to earn credits

Family goals:

open up investing and retirement funds

Complete a WILL

go to Idaho in the summer

Pay off all credit card and be debt free all year (other than school and house loans)

no yelling at the kids

budget monthly together

put XXXX dollars in savings

Jaiden:

talk in sentences

potty train

sleep in big boy bed

survive until 4th birthday

Kai:

Learn all "alphabets" in Japanese

Read a book in Japanese

Learn to tell time

Complete learning all alphabets (both caps and smaller case)

Learn Numbers 1-50

Countdown 2010

Top TEN memorable things from 2010

10. Monika earns her degree in Business

9. Visit to Pocatello and Utah to see family

8. Lundy comes to visit

7. Jaiden's talking more

6. Kai begins preschool

5. Kai learns to write and read in Japanese (hiragana)

4. Ronny and Monika are introduced to Dave Ramsey's ideas through books

3. Ronny aced his and coast guard pollutions exam and received his qualifications

2. Monika makes major life goal/decision (to be announced)

1. Monika got to go back to Japan with her biological mother in fall

Find me sock pin up

How cute is this, right?!

It's to hang up lost sockies in the laundry room! I think this might encourage everyone (mostly the kids) to find lost socks!

I need to put a ribbon on the back so that I can hang it up!

Materials:

wood slab

clothe pins (however many you'd like to attach on there)

paper

paint (spray paint, acrylic paint, whatever you want)

modge podge

stencil or sticker letters

How to:

1. paint wood slab.

2. slap paper on (glue it on. I just used spray glue)

3. modge podge the paper and wood

4. stamp whatever phrase you want

5. glue clothes pins on there

Done!

It's such an easy and relatively cheap project!

"Where are you?"

I have to tell you something.

We have one of the best Relief Society group.

Of course, with us being a small branch, there are plenty of challenges, but the blessings surmount them all.

I received a call today from a sister.

"Hello? Sister Sampert?"

the voice said.

"Hi!"

I answered, clueless as to who this could be.

"Hey, you weren't there at church today."

the voice on the other end said.

In our RS, we've been setting aside a few minutes at the end of class to take note of the sisters who were not in attendance that day. We have the sisters look around and tell us (the presidency) who's not there. Then, we encourage them to call/email/text/visit/do whatever they can/want to to let the sisters know we missed them.

I love our RS. The call came from a sister who hardly ever talks and I was flabbergasted by her surprise call! However, I was touched that our sisters were doing their job and got a glimpse of how it felt to receive a "we missed you call." There is most definitely something EVERYONE can do, as in this case of the sister who is extremely shy that called me.

Call, email, text, visit, whatever you feel you can do, do it!

I think that if there were more sisters like ours, we'd have less sisters go inactive!

Thank you Cards

Today, our family wrote out thank you cards to everyone who had sent us something for Christmas.

We received wonderful gifts from so many people and we wanted to teach the kids to say "thank you."

I think that so many kids AND people lack the ability to show gratitude, just assuming that people know they appreciated them, or worse, don't say anything at all!

So, we sat around the table as a family and the kids drew pictures or spelled out their names in cute handwritings and we all talked about each person who had given us things, whether they were clothes, handmade toys, gift certificates or even some cookies.

I hope I haven't missed anyone, but if I have, forgive me!

Thank you!

Happy birthday Jaiden!

Happy birthday son.

I love you so much.

You have come so far.

1,095 days to be exact.

You weren't even supposed to draw a breath.

what a deal.

you've given me hell so far.

From the moment you were born, NO, from BEFORE you were born.

So why do I love you so much?

Because you are mine.

and you will always be mine, no matter what you do.

Now please, won't you grow out of your terrible TWOS and find joy in the TERRIFIC THREES??

Never forget to be the example you were born to be, and always give thanks to your Heavenly Father for the precious gift of life.

May you always be a reminder of what life's really about.

I Love You.

mama