My Baptism: A Decade Later

Today, I've officially been a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 10 years!

My baptism was the most important day of my life
because of the way it changed my entire future...

My baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Since then, I've been a member of 17 wards and branches, 

in 2 countries and 5 states.

The Rising Sun Branch
(now the Bayview Ward)

The Newark Ward Building
(where I attended Newark 1st Ward and the Newark 2nd YSA branch)

Ala Santa Tereza, Estaca Parque Pinheiros
São Paulo, Brazil

I've held 17 callings, including as missionary.

The temple has become the center of my life.
I've been to 18 different temples and temple sites, with many more to come!

Washington D.C. Temple 

Provo Utah Temple

And I spent my day in the temple as an ordinance worker with my husband...

Boise Idaho Temple

...to whom I am sealed for time and all eternity. 

 We will never be separated from each other, not even in death.
He fills my life with so much joy,
and I never would have met him had I never been baptized.

I never dared to hope that my life would be so full of happiness, and 

all of the adventures I've had. 

And I owe all of it to that first day...

And everyone who was a part of it, who made it possible, 

thank you for believing in me. 

To my bishops and stake presidents, home and visiting teachers, 

to my friends, and my brothers and sisters in Christ. 

You're too many to number, and you have changed my life. 

Thank you, and I love you all!

RIP Jason Michaels (1971-2016)

Today I find myself

Donate to the Jason Michaels Memorial Bursary

loving my cousin in Canada to pieces. I'm praying for him after his brother, Jason Michaels, suddenly passed away from a heart attack at 45.

It pains me to see him question the goodness and justice of God because his brother was taken so young, and at such an unexpected time in his life.

I had a special chance to share the love, clarity, and peace I hope he finds with God and with himself. To bear my witness that God is present and constant in everything we experience.

I know the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. Death is not the end, but the beginning of something beautiful and new, for the ones we lose and for us.

Death us not a sign that God has abandoned us. Death comes to us all, and he is never more present than when it does.