Church Blogging

I haven't been very good about keeping this thing updated, but the church is encouraging us to use social outlets for missionary work so I thought it would be good if I started blogging more to share not only about my life (since I hardly do that now), but about the Gospel and what I know is true.  I am teaching about the Atonement on Sunday and really enjoyed this mormon.org video about repentance and the redeeming power of Christ's love and Atonement.  Enjoy!

My Plan Doesn't Really Matter Anymore...

I have been thinking a lot lately about the will of God and

how we align ours with His.  How do we forsake

our will and have full faith in His plan for us?

I remember when I was sick, I was in the

hospital and I had just been told

that it was cancer and that I would need

intense chemo and that I would lose my hair.

I was trying to process everything but was very

overwhelmed.  It hadn't yet settled in that my life was

about to take a very different path.  I remember wondering

if I was going to die and if my Mom would be ok

and if I was really ready to die.   I was 

very overwhelmed.  That same night, after all my nurses

and family and friends left, I laid in bed by myself and

began to really cry for the first time that day.

I was too weak to get off my bed and I was hooked up to to 

many machines...so I began to pray.  I prayed 

like I had never prayed before.  I just

asked why this was happening.  I am so young

and I have so many plans.  How can this be happening?

I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little upset/ frustrated.

Within in moments this very overwhelming and thick

blanket of comfort washed over my body.  I was

filled with peace like I had never experienced.  And my own

voice came to me very clearly,

"Bekah.....everything is going to be fine.  But

I just need you to do this.  Trust in me."

From that moment on, I never gave up.  I fought

like I had never fought before.  I still had my moments

of anguish and pain emotionally and physically, but I knew

God's plan for me.  I knew that this was my refiner's fire and

that I was starting to become the person He needed me to be.
The "why" didn't matter anymore.  It became more "how can I
turn to my Savior and trust in Him?
  How can I become better through
this?  How can I become whole through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ?"

As I look back on that....I am who I am today because of the cancer.

But not just the cancer...I gave up my will.  I turned it over to

the Lord and just focused on getting healthy and doing whatever

He wanted me to do.   My relationship with God was

all the mattered!

I am again at that point.  I have been trying to control/ force 

certain things in my life and it is not working.  In fact...it is kind of

back firing and it is very painful. I have

been stubborn, selfish, prideful, and have

made many mistakes.  

But...what I want doesn't really matter anymore.  I just want to

do what Heavenly Father wants me to do.  I just want to

do His will, be obedient and have faith in Him and
in His plan for me.  Just like the current bush,
we have to be cut down, hurt a little to
get to where He wants us to be.
Pain is necessary for growth.  

My patriarchal blessing states many times

that I am to influence those around me.

I will be placed in different parts of the world and it will be
my responsibility and purpose to lift those around me
both spiritually and physically.
Because of this....I am to be very selective about the
companion I choose to marry.  

I had a blessing a few weeks ago that I am not living up to

the promises in my Patriarchal blessing and that

I have not been listening close enough to promptings I have been

given.  It was a very humbling

experience since it was given by a  man who doesn't know my blessing.

I felt very chastised and I knew that I needed

to repent and get focused.  

God lives.  He loves us.  He knows

what is going on.  We can't give up.  

We can't quit.  We just need to keep trying.

There is so much good and happiness ahead.

I pray that we may all seek God's will for us.

Honestly...it is the only way to go. 

Fall Break!

Fall Break happenings:

1.  Saw my beautiful niece Alena

2.  Saw my brothers and Megan

3.  Hung out with my Grandma

4. Went up on campus and ate at the

Cougar Eat with Spencer.  Very surreal 

for me.  

5.  Saw Code and Dayna and their adorable children

6. Drove the 15 about 20 times between

Draper and Provo

7.  Flew to California

8.  Went to California Adventure

9.  Went to the beach

10.  Football tournament in LA...we won!

I didn't play since I haven't been able to

go to practice.  

11. Saw Danny Ellsworth and Rachelle Gleason!!

12. Dreamt about living by the beach

Overall... very successful!

 I love her

Avery and Audrey

 We got soaked on our very first ride

Falling Behind...

I have been so terrible at 

updating my blog.  I can hardly

keep up with facebook and Pintrest...

and then this too.

Yikes.

Oh well.

Spent the weekend with these girlies...

had a lot of fun.

Made this today...amazing...

Source: joannagoddard.blogspot.com via Bekah on Pinterest

And even if you don't feel like it...

School/ Work starts in 3 weeks.

Not. Ready.  

Souls to Save

I just love this.  Love his accent too.  

It makes me remember I can do better 

at loving others.  

One of my very favorite quotes is by Elder

Marvin J. Ashton.  I kinda feel like it is

 my motto in life.  

"Be the one who nurtures and builds.  

Be the one who has an understanding and forgiving

heart who looks for the best in people.  Leave

people better and happier then you found them."

That's all...

DC was amazing.  Happy to

be home but it is kind 

of bittersweet for me now.

She did it!!!!!

These pictures are way out of order.

Carly got married.  I just can't believe it.

It was such a beautiful weekend and I couldn't

be more happy for her.  I was so emotional

during the sealing and I didn't

think I would be. 

Jared is perfect for her.

It gives me hope again. 

At the reception...

Love these girls...so grateful for them.

 I caught the bouquet...

I took off my heels and jewelry...

I was all business...

This is how we really felt in the sun.

Isn't she beautiful!  I have seen her almost

everyday for 2 1/2 years

and she looked more beautiful then ever.

 Her awesome parents.

Love them.

I told Carly I wanted only one thing at the reception and

that is chicken salad sandwiches and she

did that for me.  Loved them.  I may or may not have

eaten 4.

It is weird to be moved out of her house.

The other night after the wedding dinner,

we had a girls night

and we went around and said what we loved about

Carly.  Naturally I went last cause I really needed to gather

my thoughts since she has been such a huge part of my

life for a long time.

But as I was thinking about it the thing that hit me the most is

that these past 2 1/2 years have been very difficult with me.

There has been a lot of change and inconsistency with my family, 

job changes, boys, dating and engagement to Steven.

But there is always one thing that remained constant and

that is Carly.  She was always there

no matter what.  It is where I felt safe and

her home became home for me.  She was 

the one sure thing (other then the gospel)

that didn't change.  And I am 

so grateful for her and her friendship

and loyalty me.  She is truly a blessing in

my life and I know we both needed each other

at this point in our lives.

But now she is 

Mrs. Carly Reynolds.

Love.

2nd Annual Lymphoma Run

The run was almost a month ago

and I am just barely updating.  

Oops.  But anyways...

I am so happy with the way the

run turned out.  We have raised over

$2100 so far and I am still waiting

on a couple more people (you know who you are).

And instead of giving the money to the 

Lymphoma foundation....

we are giving it to a man

that Carly works with that was just barely

diagnosed with Hodgkins

and they don't have very much money.

I know I will just cry when I meet him and

give him the money.

But anyways....I had 35 runners 

and we had prizes and an awesome raffle.

I ended up having 10 sponsors and 

over $1200 donated in sponsor ship money

and prizes.  It was awesome!  I am so grateful

for so many people who helped me make this

possible.  Next year...it will be even bigger!