Faith, Hope, Charity

So this isn't a baby update. That is in a week and a day. But there have been many things on my mind and I wanted to write them out. It's kinda long. Basically, It is a part of my witness (testimony) of truth! Read at your own risk.



I have a boss, K, who came out and did annual inspections with me on Thursday. (Quick update: I am an apartment manager for a 51-unit complex). After a long day (like from 9 to 3 straight) my boss left. I told her we (Ron and I) were going on a date to Lake Oswego. She wished me luck. I didn't tell her that I was going to the Temple with my husband because I didn't feel like explaining what it was all about. While we were doing inspections we came across a good handful of religious people (the decor in their homes were a dead give away). I asked her if she was religious. She answered no. During the endowment session all I could think about was my boss. She is a single 32 year old woman who lives alone and works super hard. I thought about what would happen if she joined the church. I thought about how being a single adult in our church is really hard. Anything outside of the "normal" is hard. With all that being said, the answer I kept getting was "Hope". The Savior brings Hope to all of God's children. As long as we are making and keeping covenants, we have hope, and we are not lost. We are known to the Great Shepherd.

Which brings me to my next thought: I want to make it home. And the only way I can do that is by following truth and eternal laws. Today I went to the library and before going in, I was stopped by a couple of people asking if I supported Same-Sex Marriage in the state of Oregon. I had to stop and think about what they were asking because I was rushing. But this is how I responded: "I believe in equal rights, but I also believe in the institution of Marriage." I love that in a simple, non-offensive, but straightforward way, I was able to share my beliefs with others not of my faith. Too often I find it hard to "open my mouth" and share the knowledge that I have gained through personal experience. I know that Marriage is ordained of God and that anything that goes against eternal law (in this case the Law of Chastity) is not what I want.

Which brings me to my last thought: the annual general Relief Society meeting that occurs every last Saturday of September. Tonight they especially focused on making and keeping covenants and how our love for Jesus Christ is indicative of our love for him and Heavenly Father. It has become clearer to me how much God really loves His children and how he has made it possible to return to live with Him. In the endowment session with Ron, I felt the love of Heavenly Father and how important it is to him that all of his children who choose to live with him, come back to him.

Like so many other times, words fail me this evening. I have been greatly edified by the Spirit and its personal teachings to me of what this life is truly about, of how I want to get back to Heavenly Father and how to go about help others who want to return to him, return to him.

These are some of the things I KNOW:
-I am a daughter of God.
-I can return to live with him someday.
-There has been a plan given so I can become like him.
-He loves me more than any words can express. And he loves all of his children that way.
-I love him and I show him this love by making and keeping promises with him to live the way he has commanded me to live.
-The promises I have made are real and binding. They bring me peace and hope and courage to endure to the end.
-I want to live my life in a way that people can tell I love God and that that is what will bring them most happiness in this life.
-I want to shout it from the rooftops that I know God lives and loves us and has given us a way to be truly happy and return to live with him FOREVER.

These are just SOME of the things I know. I believe all things, I hope all things, I have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, I seek after these things.

-Hannah Richins Beck

We are still here!

I can see why people don't update their blogs often, unless for a specific reason: keeping a 'scrapbook', money, information/education. There are lots of reasons I suppose.

Ron really likes to write, but has to be inspired. I hate to write, but I have been warned that I need to.

So here is how we are doing:

I am having a baby. I know we announced it on Facebook, but I don't think we have put any of our pictures up. This is at 20ish weeks. Ron loves me pregnant, for many different reasons (some literally, some facetiously).

We went out to Astoria, OR for a date. We visited a shipwreck.

We loved it. It was really cold. But we bought a new camera and had fun exploring.

And most recently, we had a baby shower for little Baby Beck, hosted by the AMAZING DEE! Love her.

Cute little clothes for a our little boy! So exciting.

So that is a little bit more of what is going on in our lives.
P.s. I am reading this book


Everyone should read it.

At least I say so.

Great Christmas! But no pictures...

So we had a great Christmas! I admit that this year was a tad bit strange because this was the first year that I did not fly back to Oklahoma. It was Hannah and I's first Christmas on our own..... And we didn't have a Camera... : (

Although we were not with my family back in Oklahoma, we were with our surrogate family here in Oregon, the Temperinis. I LOVE them! We had a great time with some great people. Curt and Kiley came over with their 2 children Cassey(Cubby) and Jaxon. They are some of the cutest little stinkers I have ever seen and although Cubby pretty much hates me (not really, she just gives me evil stares) I loved having them around, especially Jaxon's cute little smile.

One thing that I realized this year was how grateful I am for the family I have all around me. Hannah and I just recently moved out to the northwest and really didn't know very many people, but the few people we did know have been indispensable. If it were not for the Temperinis we would not have had a place to stay and would not have found the home we have today. If it were not for Tom Gibbons I would not have the job I have and would not be able to afford anything, let alone the new place we are renting. Also, with Hannah being pregnant we have a FLOOD of people saying how they have toys, car seats, swings, cribs, cloths, and almost everything we would need for a baby that they will give to us. We are so lucky and blessed! I know that it is no longer Thanksgiving, but I am really grateful for all the help and love we have received.

Once again, we don't have a working camera, but as soon as we do we will have pictures :)