Ordinary vs. Extraordinary

Fast and Testimony Sacrament Meeting is my favorite Sunday of the month. First of all, I am always so surprised that another month is over and a new one is beginning and my heart is always filled with the Spirit of our ward's words of faith.

This week my Mom asked me if I would go up with her while she shared her testimony. I think that Mothers are amazing people in general, but I know that my Mom felt my heart was heavy this morning. I am a "cryer" anyway, however, this Sunday was particularly teary for me. Mom gave her testimony on how she is trying to be more like Christ. She wants to be able to describe herself as more like Christ. She told a story of an experience from this past week where she had to humble herself and search to see the good in others. *Something and I think that anyone, Church member or not, can relate to.* After I turned my Mom down on escorting her to the pulpit I realized that of all days to be of assistance it should be Sundays. After her testimony I knew that I had something to say.

This past 6 months to a year I have really be struggling with being and "ordinary" person. All of my life I knew that I was supposed to be something special. Something more... "extraordinary". Someone that others would want to know, be and love. I thought that I would be a professional opera singer or a dentist like my Mom. I thought that I would have a gift that others would envy and want for themselves.

This past year though reality has been trying to set in on me. I was seeing that I was nothing "extraordinary". I was just girl that has turned into a woman ("The Pretty One" as you know...hahaha) and that was it. I am a daughter, wife, sister, niece, friend, grand daughter, secret holder, singer, business owner, dog lover/owner, home owner, digi scrapper, photographer, among other things, but I was nothing that anyone would give two thoughts about. That was until I helped myself realize that I am "extraordinary" in the "ordinary" things that I do. I am a person who loves my friends and my family more that they can ever know. I am a person who remembers to send thank you notes for even the little things. I am racially diverse and someone that others can learn from and break their stereotypes. I am a person that loves to create memories and then create creative ways to help generations to come remember them.

Although, all of those things are great the best one of all was the last one that I remembered this past year. I am a Child of God. I was sent to this Earth for a purpose. God has a plan for me and it is my job to remember that plan so that I can rejoin him someday. I was married in The Lord's Temple to the man and Priesthood holder of my dreams. My eternal partner. I have established a testimony of The Lord. Ever wavering as it maybe at times He knows that we are not perfect and that even the strongest of spirits struggles with the Truth. This is the sole factor of what makes me the EXTRAORDINARY person that I AM. I pray for myself and the ones I love and care about to know that they are extraordinary too. The Lord thinks of us all everyday. He feels sad with us when we are struggling. His heart is full of joy when we are making clear and correct choices. My spiritual struggles and doubt of the past months has come to a head today.

Whew... I just had to get that off of my chest tonight. I print my blog off to save as my journal and I knew that would be something that I would want/need again.
This weekend was nice. I can't say that we did a whole lot... and that is why it was SO nice. Friday I ran around with my Mom after I went to the office for a few hours. We went to visit my Mema and my Grandmother at their care facilities. It was a humbling experience. Then, we just ran errands. I also ordered a wedding band while I was out. I know, bad Erin. On Friday night I met up with my friend Bekah and we saw the Sex and the City movie! Loved it! That was a show that I became hooked to in college. Elias and I would sit down(this was before DVRs) every Sunday night (Usually with Jello pudding... shhhhhh don't tell anyone else) without fail to see what our ladies of New York City were up to. That is one of my best college memories. Anyway, the movie was GREAT! It totally lived up the show. Now I feel like I need to watch some of them again. I knew that all the seasons on DVD would come in handy.
Saturday I practiced my Super Sleeper skills. I am really getting good. Liz, one of my closest friends from college, called b/c she was on my end of town. She stopped by, chatted and the three of us grabbed a bite. It was fun to see her. We live near each other now, but don't see each other that often. David and I hung out. I working on getting my scrapping files in order. Something that really needed to be done WAY before now. Ended up getting a splitting headache and ate some soup and headed to bed.

Today I cried, went to church, cried some more, worked on my Super Sleeper skills some more, ate and scrapped. There you have it. Boring me! Here are two pages that I scrap lifted from Brittany of Britt-ish Designs.

This week I have two shoots I am excited about. David and I have to try and get our summer figured out. I am also going to think about painting the guest bedroom... note... I did not say paint, I said think about painting.

Please excuse what I am sure is a million typos. It is of course late here and I should be in bed. Have a happy start to your week everyone!