Friday, August 30, 2013

Confession Time

There is one rule to reading this post,

 You HAVE to read the WHOLE post!

So if you don't intend on doing so stop now...
I mean NOW...

You want to read the whole thing?

Promise?!
Alright, here we go...

A few weeks ago I found myself very frustrated with my life. 
I was frustrated at MY son, husband, parents martial problems, financial situation, size, food choices, ect. I mean everything about my life. 

I wanted to quit. 

(If you don't have kids or any trials in your life then you might not understand that feeling)
As I began to think about all the things going wrong in my life I began to become mad at God.
"If only He didn't expect so much out of me, then life would be so good" were how most of
my thoughts began. 

I didn't want to do anything.

"I'll be so much happier if I just stop reading my scriptures, or going to church... blah blah blah blah"
I found myself looking at pinterest instead of studying scriptures. Was I happy? NO
Did i pretend like it was making me happy? Yes
I had become pretty bitter at everything and everyone. I didn't even want to be social. 
(That's definitely not me)
During my episode of not being happy a scripture did come to my mind. 

Alma 41:10 ..."Wickedness never was happiness"

The natural woman in me thought "Oh ya? Well I can test that out!"
Then as I thought some more. I realized something I had already been testing that out. 
Sure I wasn't going out and partying or anything else extreme but I had definitely gone 
backwards in my progression. 
Another thought entered my mind, this time not my own.
"Why don't you try to be good and see if you are happy?" 
I wanted to cry. In fact I probably did a little. 

I follow a lot of LDS boards on pinterest and laughed when I found a pin that 
had a list of things you will be feeling when you feel the Spirit and a list of things you will be feeling when you DON'T have the Spirit.

You can only imagine the feeling I got as I looked over the DON'T section and I had every feeling on there. UGH.
I wasn't happy. 
I made a resolution. To try to be good and do what I know to be right. Guess what happened?
I have been so much HAPPIER!

What is my point in all this?
Instead of testing out if wickedness can be happiness by doing wickedly,
try doing what you are supposed to be doing even if just for a couple of weeks and then check your progress.

Hint the easiest way to see this is by serving others. 
Try it out I dare you.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Clothes Exchange

I am constantly getting rid of clothes. I mean all the time. Some just don't fit me right, some just aren't my style. Most my clothes are in great condition. I'd rather them go to someone I know for free. So I had this crazy idea. What if they did go to people I know? 

I live in apartments and doing a yard sale is way too much work for me plus you charge people money. Plus I don't want to sacrifice a Saturday for it. Right now I have a great opportunity to be with the young women in my ward. Since its back to school time I thought maybe they would like to come "shop" through my clothes. I went through clothes, accessories and told the girls to do the same and next thing you know we are doing a clothes exchange. 

It was so easy to do. I set up sections on my rug of tees, sporty clothes, accessories, winter jackets, church clothes, ect. We made sure everyone was there before we let them go through the clothes. We made a rule that you had to try on the clothes and that you could only take 4 things at a time. Once we felt everyone had a chance to see all the items we did a free for all. 

(I used a food tray to display accessories) 



Each girl had a "shopping bag" and after trying on the clothes and liking them she got to put them in her bag. Everyone left with smiles and with some clothes. Even girls who thought they wouldn't want someone else's clothes. I didn't make this an official church activity but I felt like we had a range of sizes and having the accessories was easy for everyone. This is a great way for a group to save money and help you down size your wardrobe. Giving to people you like is way easy.

I've even seen wards do this as a whole ward and you can bring anything and everything. I totally support it. Great way to save money and share. Would you ever do this?