I can hardly wait for forever.

We are getting married in 14 days. That is 2 weeks. Or 336 hours. 

Finally.

"The anchor of our souls"

Sitting in the office, I realize we sell mini Preach My Gospels. My heart was thrilled, I finally found one...and bonus...I get it half off. Could it get any greater?!

I purchased my mini PMG, and haven't stopped reading it since. Because of its size, I get to keep it with me, and read it when I am alone, and have a minute. Whether it is a break between classes, or waiting for my folks to pick me up, I get this sacred gift of time.

My favorite chapter in PMG is Christlike Attributes, chapter 6. While reading it, a paragraph really jumped out at me.
               

     "Christlike attributes are gifts from God. They come as you use your agency righteously. Ask your Heavenly Father to bless you with these attributes; you cannot develop them without HIS help. With a desire to please God, recognize your weaknesses and be willing and anxious to improve."

I love that. I re-realized that those attributes, I desire to have, are in fact GIFTS. I cannot achieve anything without HIM. So, I have decided to take the attributes apart, and work on them individually. I love what Preach My Gospel says about...

Hope.

"Being blessed with hope, let us, as disciples, reach out to all who, for whatever reason, have 'moved away from the hope of the gospel' (Col. 1:23). Let us reach to lift hands which hang hopelessly down."

   - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

"Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement. The scriptures often describe hope in Jesus Christ as the assurance that you will inherit eternal life in the celestial kingdom. President James E. Faust taught: "Hope is the anchor of our souls....Hope is trust in God's promises, faith that if we act now, the desired blessings will be fulfilled in the future....The unfailing source of our hope is that we are sons and daughters of God and that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved us from death"

         

      What is hope and what do we hope for?

  - 2 Nephi 31:20       - Moroni 7: 40-48   - Romans 8:24-25

  - Alma 58: 10-11      - D&C 59:23         - Hebrews 6: 10-20

  - Ether 12:4, 32      - D&C 138: 14              - Topical Guide, "Hope"

Do you ever miss home?

I have found profound enlightenment through writing. I hadn't realized how often I sorted through my thoughts through written word. What a blessing a mission can be, when positively writing home to friends and family.

So, I would like to re-kindle the Monday letters, I once wrote with so much enthusiasm. I love writing. But do you know what I love more???

General Conference.

I can't say this has always been the case. I would be lying. I remember my mom, turning on every radio, and television in the house to hear conference. It didn't matter what you were trying to do, you heard it. I looked for any excuse to avoid the Saturday session...after all, it was my Saturday! I didn't understand what treasures I was missing. But the time I spent on the front line in Chile, I learned what a horrid mistake I had made.                          

Conference is home, speaking to us. It's like those calls from Mom and Dad that come at just the right time. It is that comforting hug, a kind kiss, the smell of Mom's cooking. It is all of those wonderful homey, familiar things, wrapped into two, very happy days. You wouldn't ignore your parents call in a crisis would you? 

 

I found myself reading through journal entries from April 2, 2011, my very first experience with General Conference as a missionary. It was the 181st. I remember feeling a fire inside. A truth that pierced my very soul. I felt a true smile creep on my face, as a tear rolled down my cheek, while the choir sang "high on a mountain top." It was a strength I had never experienced, until that very moment. I felt the pure love of God branded on my heart. Some of my notes from that journal entry included the following:

•  Follow the commandments with all of your heart, we need to be true disciples of Christ.
• Become as little children, they are the first to love, and the first to forgive. Be humble and have reverence for Christ. Behold the little children, not just glance at them, but BEHOLD them. Embrace them, see them as they are. We need to learn from the children, so we can unlock the keys to our salvation.
• Lovest thou me? FOLLOW ME. Act. Do something. Be honest. Covenants were made in Heaven. Christ made and kept covenants. Express your love for Christ! 
• Pain brings you to humility, to ponder. The Savior isn't a silent observer, he knows! The atonement of Christ, gives him our personal experiences. He wants to heal you. WE NEED HIM. We must be grateful, he heals all who come unto him. Come unto Jesus, he will give rest unto our souls. We must grow in grace. He is the great healer.
• Be un-wavering in faith. 
• Feel the call to do good. Lift up the hands that hang down.

That was just the first Saturday session. There are treasures and gems only we can receive through opening our hearts, minds, and souls, to hear the actual words our Heavenly Father would have us hear. What a blessing. I am anxious to see the faces of our dearly beloved leaders, this coming General Conference. I feel as though I should be rounding up investigators to come with me.

I think my favorite part, is the promise we have been given. Write down your questions, and concerns, specifically on a piece of real paper. It will be answered. I have seen it time and time again. I testify that it is a true promise. I can hardly wait. It is the best birthday present ever.

Did I mention...we need your addresses.

I am going to need a lot of help rounding up everyone's addresses. 

Whether you are Chads friend, or family, or my friend or family, we would really appreciate it if everyone could post their HOME ADDRESS, along with your EMAIL ADDRESS. 

Just add a "comment" down at the bottom of this post, or email it through MY facebook email...he won't get it to me, if you email him. It would be much easier if you put it here on the blog.

Hope to hear from everybody soon!

Thank you!

Jacqueline

I love this man.

 Well, first and foremost...welcome to Chad's and my new blog. I'm really excited to be doing this blogging thing again. So, to start things off, I'm a recently returned missionary (from Chile) who got engaged really quick to this Man...CHAD WORKMAN. I know what you're thinking...that was fast! Well yes it was. In our defense we've dated off and on for 7 years, and I just love him! This is going to be fun.

This is right after he proposed to me on August 30. He's a romantic (I'm working on it;))