A book a day keeps stupidity away;)

Scripture study.. This past year I have worked really hard to establish a fixed routine of scripture reading.  I used to hate riding the train to work because it was so looong and boring, but now have replaced that boring time with Spritual Enlightenment time. From trying to study things out for myself I have come to the knowledge that the scriptures are like a giant reservoir of wisdom and I have but merely scooped up a few handfuls of it's knowledge.  The saying "the more you know, the more you realize you don't know" definitely applies here. I have begun to ask myself how can I come to better understand the scriptures and the things they teach? I always feel like I don't know everything, and want so badly to just know it well enough to answer any questions someone might have.  Well, as I was trying to figure out how I can better understand Christ's gospel, I had a line from the sound of music pop into my head. Seriously! I did. You know.. The song where Maria sings "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start..."Well, once I heard this line I also had this thought pop into my head, "all I need to know are the basics and I can keep building from there." I realized I can't expect to understand everything all at once, but the knowledge I seek will come line upon line and precept upon precept.  It definitely was a comforting thought. So, on that note I thought I would indeed "start at the very  beginning" by also reading gospel principles along with my regular scripture study.  I have to tell you.. I just LOVE that book.  It makes everything so simple.  I know this book is a teachers manual for the gospel principles class, but I promise.  You won't regret reading it.  In fact, you may just come to LOVE it;).  So if you're looking for something to add to your reading list, I'd recommend gospel principles. 

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A Tun of Fun!

What a fun filled 3 months!

 First, Adam and I enjoyed having his family come for Thanksgiving! It was fun being able to show them around the city.  Adam and Mark went to a basketball game at the new Barkley stadium (go BYU! :D) while Susan, Annie and I went to go see Wicked.  It was AMAZING!  We also went to see the movie Lincoln.. Truth be told, I fell asleep haha, but what I did see was good.  Watching a movie in a dark theater after a long day of work is a recipe for sleep.  Then we ate a delicious thanksgiving feast, which Susan helped me prepare.  She taught me how to make the best gravy ;).  Overall, our time together was great.

Our second fun adventure consisted of Adam and I surprising my family for Christmas;).  It was fun being able to play with the little kiddos and being able to perform our christmas program at the care center .  All of the elderly folks there were adorable! I even got a kiss on the cheek by the sweetest old man. :) Christmas Eve was the best one I have ever had!  the little nieces and nephews make it the best!.  Just watching their eyes dance with excitement, and seeing them rip open their presents was too much fun. Surprising my mom, dad, and siblings will forever be one of the best memories I've ever had.

Our third exciting event was having Allie and her friend Hannah come stay with us. We took them to China town to get dumplings, and we took them to little Italy to get New York's number one best canolies;).  After that we took them to the Two Towers memorial site and looked at the reflection pools.  It was beautiful. Then, we went to the Metropolitan art museum;).  It too was beautiful! After that, we went to Shake Shack.  You can't come to New York and not go there. It's the best! Haha needless to say, having them come visit us was SO MUCH FUN!

Adam and I are so grateful for the most wonderful family and friends! We truly are blessed to have them in our lives! Love you guys<3

The Vote.

I went to vote early this morning, and....... I felt like I was the only person there under 60.  Haha, it was definitely an experience.  When I walked through the doors, this old man looked at me as though I shouldn't be there.  He thought I looked too young to vote, but I told him I wasn't and that I had registered to do it. So I proceded to walk around until I could find the line where I could pick up my file with the ballot to fill out, and let me tell ya.. it was chaos!  I kept thinking to myself, "If the church was able to run this thing it would go so much more smoothly."  haha! But even though it was hectic and crazy, I am grateful for the opportunity to vote.  I am excited and nervous for tonight.  I just keep hoping and praying that the right person (Romney) will win. haha :)  So I sit here, eagerly awaiting tonight...

When the cats away, the mice will play... dress-up ;)

 Adam is so lucky!  Ernst and Young paid for him to fly to Utah this weekend to help recruit students in BYU's accounting program.  In other words, he got to visit family ;).  How awesome is that?!  I'm so happy he was able to go.  He works so dang hard.  He deserved it.  Meanwhile, I spoiled myself and watched 2 chick-flicks, baked a cake, and played dress-up.  Who says you can't play dress up when you're older?  I think all girls need to and should do it every once in a while. It reminds you that being a girl is fun... which, I admit, can be hard to remember sometimes haha.  

(Me after playing dress-up)

Oh!  And since today is Sunday, I thought I'd share a really good line that I heard in one of the talks given today in church.  My friend Ah-Ling (don't know if that's how it's spelled, but that's how it sounds haha) spoke about trials and how they help us to learn and grow.  She said,

"If there are no challenges in our lives, there is no meaning in our lives."

How powerful is that? I never really thought of challenges, or trials for that matter, as the thing that gives my life meaning, but when Ah-Ling shared this in her testimony I felt the spirit so strongly that I knew it was true.  I hope I can remember this when life seems crazy and I question "why me?"  

Hope you enjoyed this message as much as I did!

Since time has been whizzing by, I have been having feelings of nostalgia... 

I remember sitting in the back yard on my Dad's knee as he told me and all of the other neighborhood kids a scary story.  I remember being woken up by my Mom to go for an early morning run/walk before school.  I remember racing to "King of the Mountain Rock" with my brothers to watch all of the hot air balloons float weightlessly on the air above.  I remember walking through crinkling leaves as I embraced the smell of roasting green chilies on my way home from X-Country practice.  I remember the feeling of absolute freedom as I drove home from high-school to be home just because I could:).  I remember singing my heart out to Taylor Swift in the white van as my mom drove me to my first day of college.  I remember being overwhelmed by butterflies as I first chatted with the handsome man that I would eventually marry.  I remember glancing out the plane window to see my introductory view of NYC. 

  As I have reflected on all of these experiences in my life, I am reminded of how many blessings the Lord has poured down on me.  I am so grateful for all of life's experiences and look forward to making more wonderful memories...

IF YOU LOVE ME, FEED MY SHEEPS.

(You can't see it in this picture, but that same little girl tagged, in pencil, an S onto my "sheep")  

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to teach the 4-7 year olds in primary. I taught the kids about service.  I had the children read the scripture that talks about "...If you love me, feed my sheep..."After that, I gave each child a piece of paper and asked them to draw a picture of an act of service they had done that week.  After they drew their cute, stick-figured pictures, I had them write the scripture on it too.  When the first child wrote the scripture on her paper, she said, "See Sister McKell!  This is how it SHOULD be written."  She then proceded to show me her paper which had the scripture written out like this...

"If you love me, feed my sheepS."

After proudly showing me her picture, she said, "Sister McKell, Jesus wants us to serve EVERYONE! He doesn't just want us to serve ONE person.  That's why you have to put an S on the end of sheep!" haha, I didn't have the heart to tell her that sheep is already plural. ;) 

Even though the wording wasn't exactly correct, this little girl taught me a profound message.  How often do we do a small act of service for one person and then say to ourselves, "Hey!  That was nice of me to open that door for that old, tired woman!" and then call it good? Or we help someone out and say to them, "It's okay that I helped!  That'll be my act of service for the day."  

As I have been reading the New Testament I have realized just how much Jesus gave, gave, gave.  He was always serving and loving others.  Not just some of the people some of the time, but ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME.   

This is one thing that I want to really work on... 

recognizing and acting on opportunities to serve.

I will never read this scripture again without reading it like the little girl read it in our class that Sunday. 

"If you love me, feed my sheepS."

(Who said adults can't learn from children? :)) 

Since I make a living off of being a hair stylist, I couldn't help but laugh when i saw this picture.  

SEE!  A person's hair style DOES make a difference;)

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.