2015 Goals

This photo has been brought to you in part by: my love of Jimmy Fallon.

I LOVE New Years! The biggest reason why though is the goals. I love looking at my 'time capsuled' goals of last year and coming up with new ones. It's fresh starts and new you's; the possibilities are endless and the hope is on high gear!

Since my goals, I feel, are super personal I'm keeping them private....BUT here are 2 things that will NEVER (wow that sounds really permanent) make it into my list of goals:

1. Weight - I'll admit in years past this was on my list in my teenagerdom of self-esteem struggles, but I've changed a lot since then. Even within the past year it seems I've changed even more drastically (may be it's called maturing??). I've become SUPER passionate about advocating heightened self-esteem and self-image in people, especially youth (yes having a daughter also played a HUGE role in this). How can I go about promoting that kids, especially girls, feel that they are beautiful who they are right now if I don't even think that of myself? So, I've been implementing things in myself to promote my own self-esteem, self-image, and overall self love. A large majority of negativity on one's self stems from body issues. Therefore, weight is now on the total outs of my vocabulary, actions, and even mind. There will be no goals regarding weight ever again in my New Years resolutions. No number on a scale is going to determine how happy I can be, nor do I believe it can for anyone really.

2. Size - Same thing, different unit of measure. 

I am all for being as healthy as you can be, but weight and size are not part of this. The number on that scale and the number on that dress's tag is not going to tell you your health. It won't tell you that your food choices that day were very nourishing to your body; Nor will it tell you what sort of strength your body has right now. Eating what makes your body feel good, full, energetic, nourished etc. and moving your body in ways that give you strength, energy, flexibility, and stamina are really the only realistic health goals one can have. Weight and size aren't part of it. Health is about making your body "feel" a certain way not about making your body "look" a certain way. It's a sharpening of one's mind and will give you the positive image you've always wanted; you'll have never looked more gorgeous!

So there it is folks, my 2 "NEVER going on my list of new years goals" goals. Feel free to adopt this way of thinking :) But... you don't HAVE to... ;)

Heaven's slice is a new year.

The CHRISTmas Gift

Last year I started something new for myself for the Christmas season and wanted to continue in this tradition. It all really got spurred on by the question: "What could I give my Savior for Christmas?" Of course the loving one another and giving more of myself popped into my head, but something inside me pressed deeper. I came to the realization that when I truly love and care about someone I try hard to make time for them, to listen to them, and to get to know them more. It was with this intention I decided that I wanted to bring Christ more into my Christmas season by taking the time to learn and study His life and mission more. So, last year I decided to read all of Matthew and loved how it brought me closer to Him. This year I really wanted to read the Book of Mormon (Click to view what this book is) by Christmas.

I've read the Book of Mormon all the way through before, and almost every year I try to read it all through again. My problem is though, that I read it for a while and then I forget to; time passes by fast and I feel guilty starting where I left off, so I read it again from the beginning. I've probably read 1 + 2 Nephi 1000 times (slight exaggeration). But, this year was different, I wanted it to be a gift I could give to Christ for Christmas. And, as He has never let me down, I knew I couldn't let Him down.

Well, December came and I had been reading the Book of Mormon somewhat daily since January... a verse here, may be a chapter there. It all came to a head once I buckled down to do the calculation though: If I wanted to be done reading the Book of Mormon by Christmas I would have to read 20 pages a day. Now 20 pages may not be much for you, but let me tell you something about me - I read fast, and comprehend S---L---O---W which is why I am too impatient with books and choose to only read Church talks, articles, blog posts, and FB status' (only the short one's). I was in way over my head if I thought about it, but truth is, I didn't. I looked at that "= 20" on the screen and said, "OK."

I finished it Christmas Eve and gained even more of a testimony of it! I understood it better than I ever had before. I learned so many new and interesting things about the inhabitants of the America's B.C. and early A.D. times. But... I think the most important thing I rediscovered is the how and why Jesus Christ has always been and should always be such a relevant part of our everyday lives. The call for "Repentance" is NOT a condemnation to low lives from off a high horse. It is a glad tiding of great joy that is relayed so that we can know that change is possible, mistakes can be undone, sins can be erased, and hearts mended. Christ's message is a joyous one and the best gift anyone can have, and everyone has the option to receive.

Heaven's slice is coming to know our Saviour.

The Christmas Tree

We have always had a real tree for Christmas (except the one year with no tree, which I will not delve into due the embarrassment of how we actually didn't miss it; probably because we weren't home all Christmas).

This was only the second time though that we got it ourselves from the forest.

And.    it.     was.     awesome.

With wonderful roads to support our endeavours and an awesome weather forecast for the day, my tender heart was put totally at ease. Our little girl LOVED playing and eating the fresh snow (I'm still trying to teach her about dirty snow versus clean snow). And we got our annual Christmas card send out photo completed there. It was so nice to just be in the mountains and waltz through the snow hunting for a Christmas tree. The fresh air seems to due wonders for one's spirit, especially if you get to share the moment with 2 of your most favourite people in the entire world.

Hope you all get to enjoy the wondrous blessings in your life through this Christmas season.



Heaven's slice is family.

Balancing Busy

With Christmas approaching I feel a lot of us (including myself) often use the statement and excuse - "December is just too busy." It's so easy to get caught up in all the gifts to make and buy for all the many people in our lives, the baking, the decorating, the events to go to, the checklist to go through...

But do we actually have to? Do we have to be pulled here and there, do we have to feel the rush and hurry? I'm not so sure this "busy rush" part of Christmas is something I want for myself or my family. But how can it be changed, how can it be balanced, how can it be removed?

I don't quite know the easy answer unfortunately, but I feel I am getting to know it.

Being so busy with events, family, friends, parties, and activity advents... do we realize how blessed we are to get to be so busy? To get those social interactions, those visits, those memories. Do we realize that for some, Christmas is the loneliest time of year? It's the month where no one has time for you, they're too busy to pop in, too busy to visit, too busy to remember to invite you, to be thinking about you, to be there for you... Or do we just assume that others are too busy too, that they don't have time for us either. This time of year is it a time when our burdens are lightened, or weighed down? Is it a happy exciting time or is it a nervously anxious time. I feel that being busy during this holiday season is only as bad as the outlook we have with the busyness. If it's not a joyous time where you can be present in the moment and event at hand, not only enjoying yourself but making other's around you joyful, then what's the point of being "busy."

Opening up the time for others including ourselves.
I've started to try and adjust my mind and my heart during Christmas. To make it a time for joyful gift shopping, for more meaningful interactions with others, and to enjoy more fully the wonderful traditions to be continued and embraced. To be more present in the occasion at hand instead of overthinking and planning the moments ahead. I'm making time for myself to be present in the moment, and be more thoughtful in regards to those around me. To take time to view those tender mercies rendered from the loving hands of others. To think more on what my Savior would do in situations and adjust to be more like him. To give of myself more to others. We often don't make time for ourselves within the Christmas season, but I also think this is important. I've started a tradition to feed my soul a bit more through December, to take the time to nourish my relationship with my Heavenly Father and in direct consequence it has helped me be there for others a little more.

Christmas is a time where busy is a wonderful blessing, and if we can't quite view it as such, then may be we could all use a little time for ourselves to get closer to the reason of the season.

Christ is the gift.



Heaven's Slice is being busy.

Secret Alms

a selfless act turned selfish.
When I hear someone throwing themselves into the self-persuit of fame for their "charity,"  a piece of me cringes. It's the dreaded nails on a chalk board feel of them taking a beautiful thing and defiling it. They I took what was supposed to be about the recipient and made it about them me. It is no longer charity; though benefits still apply to the recipient , the love is taken out of the equation. 

"That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly."   - 3 Nephi 13:4

Truly the best most noble way to offer service (alms) to someone is to do so anonymously or hidden in a sense from the praise of others.

I have been so blessed with numerous examples of this in my life: people who have helped me with absolutely no thought or want for praise for their gesture. They just simply give because of the love they have for another. There are so many times in my life where this kindness was shown to me and I've felt the depth of the love that they are in possession of.  It is in those instances where their service in turn forced me to look toward the Savior and feel an even deeper debt of gratitude to my Heavenly Father. "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." - Moroni 7:47  I love this scripture more especially within the last few years because I've grown to understand why charity is the pure love of Christ. For me, it is because when a charitable service is rendered in it's purest form it turns the your heart and mind to a greater power even that of the love that Christ has for you. This is the way in which charity ought to be given, in such a way that it is not found in pride for praise from the giver, but for the recipient to be filled with love. I find it so divinely interesting that regardless of the giver or receiver being a christian or not I still can't help but feel the Saviour's love enfold me. Perhaps it is because charity speaks universally to what love is.

I must share one profound example of charity I have in my archives. She was a straight shooter, tough as nails, bold, outspoken, and at times, an aggressive person. Her kindness was in a sense hidden, so it could not be paraded, but if you watched closely you could see that she was everything that her persona tried to keep a secret... she was one of the most selfless people I knew. She found out through watching me one day that I was having a hard time. The next day I was greeted by some flowers with a simple tear-evoking note that she was thinking about me. Just prior to these flowers this same person was given the harsh news that her cancer surviving chances were minimal. Yet, she chose to take that time and effort to watch out for me and give me some sort of comfort for my hard day. It was a simple act, but it was genuine and absolutely undoubtedly selfless. Many more acts of service has this shining example not only shown me but so many others. She was a giver, and her example will never be forgotten.

This post is for me more than any. I feel overwhelmed by all the good that I have received through so many family, friends, and even strangers.  It's hard to keep your head up when practically everyone around you is caring for you at such great lengths that you don't feel worthy of. Through every act is the face of my Saviour, whom I know that I could never repay. But, just because I cannot repay, doesn't mean I can't help in the joy of passing it forward.


Heaven's slice is living charitably.