{Use the Internet for Good}

I'm grateful for people who use the internet for good.  It seems that just as I begin struggling the most, I get on Facebook, or a blog, YouTube, or somewhere and there is always something there to lift my spirits, to give me courage, to give me incentive to keep trying.  There always seems to be something to bring the spirit back into my life. 

I have found that my Heavenly Father knows how to use one of Satan's most powerful tools against him.  He has used it so many times to help pull me out of Lucifer's dangerous traps.  I'm grateful for that.  I'm grateful for the people who use the internet for good, if you are one of those people, THANK YOU. 

Some sources that I've found constant good at are listed below:

• This blog: http://alfoxshead.blogspot.com/
• The MP3's from the above blog are here: https://soundcloud.com/al-fox
• Saw this video tonight and loved it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR9UWj1q304
• This YouTube Channel has tons of great movies: http://www.youtube.com/user/MormonMessages
• Love the Piano Guys they always have great music: http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePianoGuys
• This blog is great too: nineteengoingonfive.blogspot.com
• And so is this one: nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

Be one of God's greatest advocates and use the Internet for good!

Service

I've seen so many acts of service lately, and it just melts my heart.  I love hearing of the small things in life that make a small difference. 

Whether it's the police officer who wrapped a hundred dollar bill in a ticket for the man who couldn't pay to register is car, because he used the money to feed his kids instead, or perhaps its the person who swiped their card at the gas station with a note that said, "go ahead fill your car up, merry Christmas."  Perhaps its those extra homemade blankets wrapped up and left on the doorstep for someone else, or maybe those few extra toys dropped into the Toys for Tots bins.  There's just something about this time of year that just softens our hearts and lets us serve each other more often. 

Service is something that can really bring the spirit of Christ into our homes and hearts, whether we're the ones recieving the service or giving the service.  There's this magical thing about it that makes both parties feel good. 

I'm so grateful for the happiness that service has brought into my life, and into the lives of others.  This Christmas I encourage you to look for more opportunities to serve.  It doesn't have to be big, in fact sometimes its those small acts of kindness that makes the biggest difference.  And don't just stop after Christmas, keep serving all year long, because we deserve to have the spirit of Christ in our homes and hearts year round. 

Home

Home.  The feeling. The sound.  The love. And even the word.  They all bring such a peace and assurance to my heart.  Today, I'm thankful to be home.  It is my safe haven when everything is going wrong, when I'm hurting the most, when I just need to be reminded of the support I have, I run home. 

Yesterday, as I walked through the doors after finals I just felt the relaxation, and peace of being home.  It was refreshing especially after finals, but also after the emotional stress I'd been through the last few weeks.  It is so good to be home. 

It was a pleasant surprise to come back to the lovely nativity sets placed all around the house, christmas lights up, and homemade fudge (grandma's recipie). 

I'm grateful for all the things that home means to me, and I'm grateful that I have a home.  One that is filled with love.  Yes, home is where the heart is!

Roommates and Snow

I'm the luckiest girl alive, I've had the opportunity in the last 2 years to have 3 different sets of roommates (12 different girls).  And they are ALL pretty fantastic girls, I've been lucky to learn a little something from each of them.  I'm so grateful that all of them have been so happy and fun to be around.  They've all been such a joy in my life.  I can honestly say that I've had some of the best roommates around.  They've all taught me a lot about myself. 

I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father put these girls in my life.  I know that he put each one of them in my life for some reason. 


I'm also SUPER grateful for snow.  Today was the first day that It's snowed, and stuck.  It's so beautiful outside.  I hope it stays for Christmas because I LOVE having a white Christmas!  I'm so grateful for how beautiful it looks.  Snow is so so pretty!

He Made More Out of My Life, Than I Could

So much to be grateful for this week, but I'm only going to list 2.

1. Prayer.  Talking to my Heavenly Father just seems to calm my nerves.  I've learned that through prayer, all hard things can be accomplished.  I've learned that my day goes better when started with prayer.  I find great comfort in being able to talk to my Heavenly Father, I can tell him anything and everything and not worry that He's going to tell anyone.  After all He already knows- He just wants to hear it from me.  When I'm not sure who I can trust, I ALWAYS know that I can trust him.  He gets it, He understands me, and I trust Him.  I don't know how I would have made it through this last week if it weren't for prayer.  Both prayers that I've given, and prayers offered in my behalf.  I'm thankful that my parents taught me how to pray, and to pray when things get rough.

2.  Being a Relief-Society Teacher.  I know it sounds silly.  I was terrified when I first took the calling- scared to talk in front of people... I think people scare me more than spiders.  I was terrified that I might mess it up, or something.  I've only taught once before, and yesterday I was asked to teach this Sunday which also happens to be family day in my student ward.  My week has been so packed with things to do, and I didn't want to take on the responsibility of the lesson too... but there's this thing about me, whenever I want to say "no," what comes out of my mouth is "yes."  I just sat down and read the lesson.  It seems that so far each time that I've been asked to give a lesson, that it was exactly what I needed at that time.  My Heavenly Father sure knows me well enough to orchestrate this masterpiece.  First He called me to teach, and then planned it so that I would give the lessons that I need the very most.

Like I said there is so much to be grateful for today, but that's just two of them.  Someone has sure watched out for me this last week.  He has made more out of my life than I ever could.  So grateful for that!

My Testimony

Today I'm grateful for my testimony.  It has gotten me through so many things.  I don't know if I could have made it through some of the trials I've faced without my testimony of the Savior and the gospel.  I know that I couldn't have made it this far without the Savior or my testimony of him.  He has blessed me beyond measure.  And so as I leave, I leave you with my testimony. 




I know that our Savior lives and loves us.  I know that he suffered for us in Gethsemane, and died for us on Calvary, so that someday we might live again. 

I know the Book of Mormon is true. Every word of it.  I know that It was written for our day by ancient prophets of old.  I know that if you read it, and pray about it that you will also know that it is true.  I also know that this book brings so much joy, I know this from experience. 

I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father, who loves us beyond measure.  He has sent us here to get a body and to be tested.  He knows that we can overcome any challenge that is put in our way, he has provided a way to overcome it all.  If we learn to talk to him, he will help us.  He loves you and he wants to talk to you, he wants to know what's going on in your life, and He wants to help you. 

I know that we have a true prophet on the earth today, Thomas S. Monson.  And I know that we have had other true prophets on the earth also.  I'm especially thankful for a 14 yr old boy, the first prophet of this dispensation, Joseph Smith.  I'm thankful that he recognized that none of the churches on this earth were completely true, and that he had faith enough to pray and to act upon his answer. 

I'm so grateful for the church today and for the good that it spreads all across the world.  I'm grateful for the things that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes and stands for.  It has blessed my life so much. 

I say these things in the name of my Savior, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Intro: Being the Good in the world

This blog is about infusing more good into the world through grattitude.  There is so much negativity in this world (I'm not exempt from adding to the negativity), but this is my attempt to add something positive to the world every now and then.  This is my attempt to use the internet for good.  The Grattitude Journal is grateful to have you, stay a while, become a follower, and if you feel so inclined- start your own Gratitude Journal. 

Here's to spreading the good things, and stopping to smell the roses!