March On Up!

March is one of my favorite months. Roommates tend to usually hate me this month but my love for basketball usually takes priority over all my time. March Madness is one of the best things ever brought to pass : ) 


Even though BYU isn't for sure in the tournament yet, I always look forward to the madness college basketball brings. Some of the best basketball games I have ever seen are during these weeks of battle for NCAA championship. My house usually consists of two to three laptops and a TV hooked up to watch different games all at once. I have yet to win a bracket challenge but that is what makes the tournament that much better with upsets after upsets....oh yes I can't wait for this tournament to begin!

As far as my monthly goals go...I might have switched up the letters a little bit. I got a tad bit crazy with the M alliteration and wanted to sneak 'M' up my alphabet list.

  Member Missionary Minded March of Miracles

I was sitting at work on March 1st and the thought came to me to send out a text to everyone to challenge them to incorporate sharing the gospel into whatever conversation they were having at that time. A lot of, "I'm in institute." "I'm at BYU, very funny." text replies. But because of those that took the challenge and made something happen made miracles happen that day. Real Estate agents, arrested people in the back of a police car, invitations to church, invitations to study in the ASU institute building instead of the library with non-members, family history discussions, and many other gospel related topics were brought up within a matter of minutes. It was so fun to get texts back with success stories.

As I was getting texts back all day I thought about how much impact we each have and how many different conversations we have every day with people, members or non-members, who can benefit from our simple testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of my companions replied with a great talk she had just read by Elder Holland on being better member missionaries. I will share a few of the quotes from that talk. 

"Witnesses unto Me" by Elder Holland

"Remembering always to act with courtesy and propriety, we have a responsibility to be witnesses of Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places,”  to proclaim each in our own way the great cause to which Christ has called us."

One of my favorite parts is where he tells us not to let the Full-time Missionaries have all the fun! 

"We can also pray daily for our own personal missionary experiences. Pray that under the divine management of such things, the missionary opportunity you want is already being prepared in the heart of someone who longs for and looks for what you have. “There are many yet on the earth … who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” ⁷ Pray that they will find you! And then be alert, because there are multitudes in your world who feel a famine in their lives, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord. ⁸

When the Lord delivers this person to your view, just chat—about anything. You can’t miss. You don’t have to have a prescribed missionary message. Your faith, your happiness, the very look on your face is enough to quicken the honest in heart. Haven’t you ever heard a grandmother talk about her grandchildren? That’s what I mean—minus the photographs! The gospel will just tumble out. You won’t be able to contain yourself!"

It's so true, we can chat about ANYTHING. I love it, the gospel is intertwined with everything in our lives and can be brought up or related back to any gospel topic. It's such a fun challenge. I encourage you to try it, your next conversation, pick out something the other person says and relate it to the gospel. You will soon realize just how easy it is. I hope you will read the rest of the talk and see how you can be a better member missionary and watch the miracles that come from you sharing your gospel.

Wow, I could talk about being a member missionary for a really long time, it's the one thing in my life that brings me constant happiness. Seriously, what is better than inviting someone closer to our Savior? Nothing!

I did decide to do continue on with 'G' for this month as well. G is for Get Fit. These past two months I have been training for my half marathon that I completed last week and still resting from. During this training, my friend and I were working with a trainer with some intense full body workouts and our trainer told us we wouldn't be able to train for a marathon and lift and we thought she was crazy at that time...oh boy was she right. The last two weeks before the race, we couldn't lift as much as we were used to and it was frustrating. But it's back to getting fit and toned up for the month of March and hopefully every month here on out. I mean, I need to be toned up for the end of the world this year...gotta be ready!

A few pictures from my half marathon...

I would love to hear any missionary experiences from you!! Make miracles happen!

Pink. Pink, Pink.

I have fallen in love with refurbishing and repainting old furniture. It's so much fun!

These past couple months I have worked on a coat/hat rack stand and a small stand for my room. I have been wanting a hat rack for the longest time for all my scarves and hats. My dad knew he had one somewhere and we dug it out and it looked like this.

 I saw potential We scrubbed all the rust off and cleaned it up. My room needed some pink...so I went pink! And this is what I got.

I love love it :)

The selves were my Nana's. She passed away last year. I needed some shelves for my jewelry and so I decided to repaint hers. 

I got a little pink happy and decided to do both in pink. 

Now I just need to find me some new furniture to refurbish! 

Isn't it Funny...

This past week has been interesting, very very interesting. I find it so funny, well funny isn't the right word but neither is odd. Every time I set a goal it's like a "Oooo let's see if Naomi can actually conquer this and then the game begins." I say this because I have had a few experiences this week that only happened I bet because I set these goals.

Wednesday night I left institute early to run to the Chinese Market to get some Chinese treats for my co-workers to celebrate Chinese New Years. I skipped out on seeing a really good friend I rarely get to see and was bummed about that. So, Thursday on my way to work I realized I left the treats at home. I was tempted to turn around but knew I am always late to work and wanted to be early for once.

I turn the corner and all the sudden, I see red and blue lights flashing in my rear view mirror. I knew it couldn't be me because I was finally going the speed limit...another first. He pulls up behind me on the side of the road.
I roll down my window half asleep.

Officer: Do you know why I pulled you over?

Me: No idea.

Officer: You passed a School Bus.

Me (Shocked!): No I didn't, where?

Officer: Where all those people are stopped behind the bus. 

I looked in my rear view mirror and saw some lights but they seemed fuzzy and far away.

Officer: Do you know how much that fine it?

Me: Yes.

Officer: How much?

Me: A lot.

Officer: $500. 

Me: Uhh ok.

Officer: I am going to give you a warning this time because you honestly seem like you don't know you passed it.

Me; Could you show me again where it was because I wouldn't pass a school bus?

I looked in my rear view mirror and it was on the other side of the intersection I didn't even pass by. Ugh, good thing it was a warning!

As I drove off I was reminded of my goals. "Have a good attitude, have a good attitude, have a good attitude." I kept saying over and over in my head. I knew that day was all down hill after that but I knew if I could have a good attitude things would get better. I feel like from that time onward till right now has been one thing after another. These three goals have been answers to my prayers when I have been searching for answers to simple pleas.

I am kind of nervous to create three new goals this month because it's like when you pray for patience or to be humble...well we all know not to pray for those things anymore.

Goals for February

D- Donate More. I choose this one not only on a selfish part that you get to write it off on taxes that I had no idea of before...but also I have so much stuff that I don't need or use. I move a lot and always have to box up stuff that I just can't quite get rid of or that I think I will need or use in the future. So I will donate and lighten up my load around my house.

E- Eat better and Exercise. This has actually been a goal since last year but I thought I'd add it on as a constant reminder and be held accountable to it. (It's going to really help me with my H goal next month!!)

F-Fun, Friendlier, and Family. I need to do a lot more with these three this month. I need to make more time for fun and have more fun! Friendlier..we'll let's just say the older I get I'm not as friendly and need to do better at that. I already did better today in my new ward, so this goal is helping me already. And with family...I love my family and I need to let them know that more. February is all about the love so it's going to be a great month!!

I Think I Finally Got It...

Each year I sit down and write out my New Year's Resolutions. This year for some reason has been quite difficult. I have pulled out my 2010 and my 2011 resolutions, but nothing has hit the sparks and have made me really want to run to start my new resolutions...

Well, my friend got me looking at Pinterest and I saw the cutest "ABC" chart. Isn't it so cute?

I absolutely love it. 

Then I remembered Pres. Monson's talk from the January Enisgn..."Living the Abundant Life". How fun would it be to not only do 26 goals in one year but to alphabetize them?! Lol. I know, 26 is going pretty dang big, BUT...this is where it gets fun. Each month I will do 2-3 (even though I want to do them all right now...I know that's not possible). After I have a month to master 2-3 goals, I can add on 2 or so more and pretty much be amazing at the end of the year...if the world doesn't end before then. 

I think Pres. Monson will be happy that I'll start January off with his three: 

A: Attitude- "So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment." -Pres. Monson.

B: Believe in Myself- in those around you, and in eternal principles.Be honest with myself, with others, and with my Heavenly Father.

C: Courage-Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve.Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

I have never let my resolutions be public before, and maybe no one will even read them, but knowing the are publicized will hold me accountable. If you have any fun ideas for the letters, I have my list started but suggestions are always welcome!

2.Two.0.Thousand.1.Twelve.2

Unbelievable...

Another year has come and gone. Miracles. Tears. Laughter. Traveling. Fun. Family. Friends.

2012 will definitely be another great year. To some it's the end of the world, to others it is new beginnings of hope and love, others look forward to overcoming habits and addictions, to some long lists of goals and 'to dos',   creating and retaining traditions to others; to me it's a mixture of all these but yet to simplify life at the same time.

"Through Small and Simple Things are Great Things Brought to Pass."

(Alma 37:6) 

This has never failed me and am excited to see great things come to pass this year. 

Here's to 2012!