Honest and heartfelt stories and lessons about home, family, love, faith, and personal growth.
This is one of my favorite children’s hymns, and has been since I was a child in Primary at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can barely sing it without becoming emotional, and I certainly can’t hear…
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I don’t belong here. Have you ever felt that way? I have. It feels terrible. You just want to crawl into a hole to hide from embarrassment, shame, or ostracism. And then after you crawl into…
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As many of you know, I have three sons, ages 11, 5 and 3. Ever since getting pregnant with my fourth child, my friends and family have cheerily and optimistically expressed that they hope I have a girl this time….
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Remember how we won a trip to Disney World? Well, February 29-March 6, 2016 was the week we got to visit the Happiest Place on Earth. Here is how it all went down: Monday – Traveling to Orlando! The magic started early…
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Have you ever prayed out loud pleading, sobbing, hoping, asking? I did that recently. I had to. I was so confused, emotionally and physically exhausted, and feeling that I wasn’t doing my part well enough. March 18-19 2016, my mom…
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This past Saturday, ended a time of my life that was most precious – my time rehearsing for and performing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the Durham Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I wouldn’t…
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But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44). “Lord, this is too hard,” many of you may say when you read those verses. It seems for believers, that there are…
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I am 100% sure I am missing things, but I did my best! Here is how 2015 went for the Al-Bjaly family! School: On April 17, Casey got to go on a big field trip to the beach. His favorite…
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Fear. Frustration. Depression. Fury. Loneliness. We feel a lot of those feelings in today’s world: Fear for our safety, and that of our families and friends. Frustration at the blame games, racism, arguments, persecution, name calling, and lies of those…
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Sometimes I say “yes” to too many things, and regret it later. There was one thing I said “yes” to recently, though, that became a huge blessing in my life. After hearing about it from my Bishop one Sunday, I…
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