Everyone has a Story to Share...

A few months ago, I met this darling girl through a friend in my ward and after she shared her conversion story and Testimony of the Gospel, I have pondered my own. I literally have sat and thought back as far as I was eight years old trying to remember that pivotal moment. I can recall the interview I had with my Bishop just before I was baptized...nope, it wasn't then. Then I fast-forwarded to when I turned twelve and was now a glorified Beehive. The thoughts of when I first did Baptisms in the Salt Lake Temple came flooding back...nope, wasn't then. Was it when I was in High School and was in Seminary...nope, it wasn't then. Don't get me wrong, I still had warm fuzzies after all those experiences.
After failing at trying to remember that exact moment that I knew it was all true, it dawned on me that I have had many moments in my life that are my conversion story. While they are not huge and monumental they are still life changing...at least for me they are. I took for granted having been blessed with being raised in the Gospel and thinking to myself all these years, "I wish I had an amazing story to share". As all the memories have come back, I realize that I do have an amazing story to share and I have recorded them in my journal. Someday my children will read of my many conversion stories.

My Testimony is strong and it is real.
I am eternally grateful for all those small and quiet moments that made my heart convert.
I know without a doubt that He lives.
I know that He hears my prayers, shares with me my joy and my sorrows.
I am grateful to know of the truths and to know that I am a Daughter of God.


May you reflect on your own conversion story and revel in the Spirit that it brings!

Spooky Spooky

For those of you have been following my blog the last few months...you know of the "Return to Virtue" theme...hence the inspiration for my Halloween costume this year. Who can say they rocked the holiday with a Chastity Belt?!!!

Diez...

It was exactly ten years ago today
that my life changed forever...

As I was being wheeled into the O.R. of the University of Utah Hospital,
feelings of fear arose. The 4 months prior, I was never this scared...but in that small moment,

I was terrified.

I was terrified that the procedure wouldn't be successful or that I may never wake up. Which was so silly because in no way was it a life threatening situation.

Rewind...

It's summer.

July to be exact.

I had a fever.

Who gets fevers in the summer?



Well this fever, named Seaver, decided to take hold of the little hearing that I had. I woke up one morning and noticed that my hearing was a little off. After many tweaks of the hearing aid in hopes of figuring out the problem...it wasn't working. Later a hearing test made it known that I could hear no sound.

Pure. Devastation.

As I woke from my deep slumber of anesthesia, relief was felt. The procedure was successful and I was sent home to recover. But my journey doesn't end here.

Today, I am still living this trial. Many tears have been shed but much laughter has escaped my lips. Receiving a Cochlear Implant is a miraculous blessing. Over time I have come to learn so much about me, who my true friends are, and more about the Savior's love.

A friend of mine recently asked me if I feel like I don't date much because of my disability. I answered him..."No, when I was younger I thought so but many have taught me that my disability is my 'ability'."


I have the ability...

to share my testimony that even though trials are hard and may never end, we are stronger sons and daughters of God for enduring.


I have the ability...

to show compassion towards others and their situations because I "understand". I understand the hurt, the anger and the confusion. I only hope that they learn that the Savior's compassion is what will guide them.

And last,

I have the ability...

to show that life is not any different from a disabled person and a normal person. It's all about your attitude at the way you look at life. You can choose to complain that you can't hear your friends while swimming or you can jump off that diving board and sink the best cannonball ever!

Thank you...Seaver, the Fever.