How to stay motivated?

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take three minutes from start to finish. 

What does motivation means to you? How to stay motivated? 

We all would like to have some motivation to do something. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to write a to do list daily and work through the to do list daily. Sometimes we need to have some motivation for taking one day at a time and that's okay. 

Sometimes we need to have some motivation to get out of bed and hope that we will have a good day. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to make some short-term goals. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to stay focus on accomplishing our short-term goals. 

Sometimes we need to have some motivation to make some long-term goals. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to not compare ourselves to others. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to stay focus on accomplishing our some long-term goals. 

Sometimes we need to have some motivation to recognize our progression. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to reward ourselves for accomplishing our short-term goals and our long-term goals. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to believe in ourselves. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to be kind to ourselves. 

Sometimes we need to have some motivation to allow ourselves to take a break. Sometimes we need to have some motivation to go through some of ours clothes that we no longer wear and we can either donate them or sell them or give them away to someone who's in need of clothes.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Don’t forget, you can still succeed

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish. What does it mean "Don’t forget, you can still succeed"? 

Don’t forget, you can start late. We don’t need to be in a hurry for getting in a relationship, we don’t need to be in a hurry for getting engaged, we don’t need to be in a hurry for getting married. 

We can achieve goals much later than we expected. I always admire the goal of getting married between 20 to 23 if I didn’t serve a full time mission and if I met the right person. I also admire about the goal of serving a full time mission when I was 19.

I was just several months away from making a decision between starting my mission papers all over again to thinking about what do I see in the future with Jacob. When I found out my mission papers didn’t get submitted back in January 2016/February 2016, I was feeling devastated. Jacob wasn’t with me in person to comfort me. 

I didn’t know what to do at first because not only did I felt devastated, I felt  very confused. I was set up for a meet up with bishop. I was scared, and I had a friend with me on my way to church. She has shared with me about her wonderful experiences for serving a full-time mission. 

I remembered about all I requested was a priesthood blessing. The home teachers came to my house one day and gave me a priesthood blessing for direction. I had a dream about the truth where I need to be in life. I couldn’t deny how I felt about that dream. 

I’ve spoken to the bishop that I’ve made my final decision and that was to continue dating Jacob, eventually one day to get married to become a wife and eventually become a Mum to have children. Little did I know; Jacob proposed to me exactly five weeks after I’ve told bishop about my decision. I’m blessed for getting married at 23. I’m also blessed for becoming a Mum. 

Don’t forget, you can start over. Everyone faces different experiences in life. Some people experience more than two different relationships to finally meet THE ONE person who they want to spend rest of their lives with. 

Some people gets second chances. Some people gets multiple chances. I felt I was getting a second chance for redoing my mission papers and regain a desire to serve a full-time mission. 

Don’t forget, you can be unsure. Sometimes we may feel unsure about our decisions if it was the right decisions to make in life. Sometimes we may feel unsure about the way we feel about how things are happening in our lives. 

Don’t forget, you can act different. We can always act like ourselves but sometimes we can act differently. The words that we can talk to an adult is different to what we can talk to a young child. 

Don’t forget, you can try and fail. I do photography. I always try to find ways to do photography differently. I often have different styles of editing. I often have different techniques of pose ideas for people to pose while I’m taking photos of them. I always try to find different words of knowing what to say to past clients whether they would be interested in any of the mini sessions that I have advertised or a new photo shoot session.

And still succeed. We all succeed eventually. 

If you can't see the Image for this post, it says 

"Don't forget, you can: Start late

• Start over 
• Be unsure 
• Act different
• Try and fail 

and still succeed."

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Meal Plans Ideas

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take three minutes to read from start to finish. 

This post focuses on meal plans that I make at home for my family - well mostly for Jacob, myself and Evelyn because Leah isn’t quite old enough to try out real meals yet. Anyways, I hope this post would help you to make decisions for what to make for lunch, dinner and snacks. There’s no particular order of what foods we enjoy the most. 

A lot of meals and snacks has been recipe mixes which means all you just have to add is the ingredients that requires for the recipe mixes. If I'm not cooking using a recipe mix, the sauces comes from jars. 

Time to time I do make homemade vanilla cakes and just follow a recipe online.  

Snacks: 

• Chocolate chip cookies
• Wild blueberry muffins
• Banana bread
• banana muffins 
• Vanilla cake with buttercream frosting 

Breakfast:

• Oatmeal/porridge 
• Scrambled eggs 
• Pancakes with maple syrup 
• Waffles with maple syrup 
• Cereal 
• Toast 
• Fruit snacks 
• Juice 
• Cinnamon rolls
• Fruit salads 

Lunch:

• Dinner leftovers 
• Toasted sandwiches 
• Chicken nuggets 
• Homemade fries/homemade hot chips 
• Sandwiches 
• Corn dog

Dinner: 

• Creamy mushroom soup with beef mince, salt and pepper with rice
• Creamy mushroom soup with steak, salt and pepper with rice
• Lasagna 
• Curry chicken and rice
• Korma chicken with rice 
• Chili con carne with rice 
• Potato bake 
• Cottage pie/shepherd’s pie
• Homemade pizza with your own pizza toppings
• Mashed potatoes with gravy, mixed vegetables and cooked meat (chicken, steak)
• Spaghetti and bolognese 

Dessert

• Apple pie with whipped cream
• Pumpkin pie with whipped cream
• Ice cream
• Fruit Salad

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Always Remember that You're Good Enough

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish. 

Sometimes whenever we let ourselves down by having negative thoughts or/and having negative feelings, we may think that we aren't good enough. We shouldn't let ourselves down based on our past relationship history. We shouldn't let ourselves down based on our past choices. We shouldn't let ourselves down based on our past mistakes that we still feel regret about. We shouldn't let ourselves down because someone else has let us down. 

If you can't see the Image for this post, it says "you are good enough don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
 

Always remember that you’re good enough to pray whenever you don't feel like praying. Always remember that you're good enough to pray whenever you feel like no one is listening to you about your concerns. 

Always remember that you're good enough to pray whenever you feel scared about something. Always remember that you’re good enough to smile. Always remember that you’re good enough to laugh. Always remember that you’re good enough to be happy. 

Always remember that you’re good enough to make some new friends. Always remember that you’re good enough to keep in contact with your true friends. 

Always remember that you’re good enough to know that your feelings are valid and matters. Always remember that you’re good enough to know that you aren’t alone for what you’re going through. 

Always remember that you’re good enough to know that you’re loved. Always remember that you’re good enough to know that you’re appreciated. Always remember that you’re good enough to know that you’re cared about. 

Always remember that you’re good enough to achieve your short-term goals. Always remember that you’re good enough to achieve your long-term goals. 

Keep in mind of the following four great quotes. 

"You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” – Maya Angelou.

“You really are good enough, pretty enough, and strong enough.” – Al Carraway.

“You are enough not because you did or said or thought or bought or became or created something special, but because you always were.” – Marisa Peer.

“Your best will never be good enough, to the ones constantly searching for your flaws. But for you to be the best, you need to ignore your flaws and do your best.”– Gift Gugu Mona.

Stay tuned until next time. 

Why Establishing Any Good Relationship is Important?

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

Have you ever thought about the multiple reasons why establishing any good relationship is important?

These relationships can be between you and your partner, it can be between you and a child or children, it can be between you and your brother/s or sister/s, it can be between you and your parents, and so forth. 

I would like this post to focus on some of the reasons that I have thought of why establishing any good relationship is important. 

I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can improve our mental health. I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can be reliable. 

I have thought about any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can be trusted. I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can boosts our moods. I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can help us build confidence. 

"Choose people who lift you up." - Michelle Obama

I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can be supportive. I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can be loved. 

I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can be appreciative. I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can make time to spend some time together. 

I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can get to know ourselves. I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can be grateful. 

I have thought about establishing any good relationship is important because it can show to others that we can set boundaries and let others know what we appreciate. 

Stay tuned until next time. 

There’s ALWAYS someone who appreciates you

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

It's always a great feeling to feel appreciated by people. 

There has been someone who has appreciated you in the past. There’s someone who currently appreciates you at this very moment, and there will always be someone who will appreciate you in the future. There’s always someone who will appreciates you. 

There has been someone who has appreciated your love in the past. There’s someone who currently appreciates your love at this very moment, and there will always be someone who will appreciate your love in the future. There’s always someone who will appreciates your love.

There has been someone who has appreciated you for caring in the past. There’s someone who currently appreciates you for caring at this very moment, and there will always be someone who will appreciate you for caring in the future. There’s always someone who will appreciates you for caring. 

"Appreciate those who appreciate you."

There has been someone who has appreciated your support in the past. There’s someone who currently appreciates your support at this very moment, and there will always be someone who will appreciate your support in the future. There’s always someone who will appreciates your support. 

There has been someone who has appreciated your help in the past. There’s someone who currently appreciates your help at this very moment, and there will always be someone who will appreciate your help in the future. There’s always someone who will appreciates your help. 

There has been someone who has appreciated your uplifting and motivating words in the past. There’s someone who currently appreciates your uplifting and motivating words at this very moment, and there will always be someone who will appreciate your uplifting and motivating words in the future. There’s always someone who will appreciates your uplifting and motivating words. 

There has been someone who has appreciated learning life lessons from you in the past. There’s someone who currently appreciates learning life lessons from you at this very moment, and there will always be someone who will appreciate learning life lessons from you in the future. There’s always someone who will appreciates  learning life lessons from you. 

Stay tuned until next time. 

Dear All Returned Missionaries

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish. 

This post is based on my suggestions that I have for all Returned Missionaries including all early Returned Missionaries who recently returned home from his mission or her mission and who has been home from his mission or her mission over than one year. I strongly encourage you to think about and consider doing a few

of the suggestions.

Have you struggled of not sure what to do next since you finished your mission?

Whatever you decide to do after your mission, please do not go back to your old self before your mission. Whatever you decide to do now, please remember all the things that you have learned during your mission.

~ You can attend endowment sessions or other sessions at the nearest Temple from home regularly and you can make Temple a priority for seeking some revelations. ~ You can take some serious things slow and do not rush because I've noticed that some quick relationships leads to quick marriages which ends with divorces quicker than expected.  

~ You can attend Institute often and you can make Institute another priority for making new friendships and for learning. 

~ You can continue with the habit of daily scripture study because it'll help you to gain a great relationship with Heavenly Father. ~ You can continue having daily prayers because it'll help you to gain a great relationship with Heavenly Father.

~ You can fellowship with some investigators and some recent converts, you can make them feel welcome to church. ~ You can fellowship with some inactives and some less actives, you can make them feel welcome back to church. ~ You can fellowship with some new members to the Ward and make them feel welcome your ward.

~ You can spend some time with your relatives, especially spending time with your immediate family members. ~ You can take one day at a time, and allow yourself to take some time to adjust to reality and start a new routine/schedule of what to do each day.

~ If you started studying a course before your mission and still want to purse finishing that course, I would strongly encourage you to finish that course. ~ If you didn't study before your mission and want to pursue studying a course, I would suggest for you to find a course that you have passion in and start studying it.  

~ I know sometimes it can be tricky to finding employment. Some managers are great and understanding to allow you to return back to work after your mission if you were employed prior to your mission. 

~ You can look for opportunities to serve others such as you can help people with their family history,  you can minister to people on your ministering list, you can go out with your ward missionaries and give them some helpful suggestions, and so forth. 

~ You can go on some dates and getting to know other people when you feel ready to. ~ You can choose not feel discouraged when things does not go the way you want it to.

~ You can go to Young Single Adult Dances, Young Single Adult Firesides, and so forth to make some new friendships. ~ You can spend some time with some of your true friends. 

~ You can read or watch some old General Conference talks that talks about adjusting into reality after your mission, and so forth. ~  You can choose to stay in contact with the people who you have met during your mission because it shows that you have not forgotten them. 

~ You can use your time wisely because time is very precious. 

If you can not see the Image for this post, the image says "Welcome Done thou good and faithful servant."

Stay Tuned until next time.

Everyone Deserves a Hug

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

Everyone no matter how old we are including me and you deserves to have hugs at anytime throughout our lives. Sometimes hugs helps us to feel so much better more than words that has been said to help us feel happy again. 

Big hugs to everyone who has been struggling to remain happy during their current relationship lately. Big hugs to everyone who has been struggling with their mental health lately.

Big hugs to everyone who has been losing trust in people of who they used to trust lately. Big hugs to everyone who has been struggling with their anxiety lately.

Big hugs to everyone who has been struggling with finances lately. Big hugs to everyone who has been experiencing some bad days lately. 

Big hugs to everyone who are single and have to raise their child/children alone lately. 

Big hugs to everyone who isn't coping too well after losing a friend lately. 

Big hugs to everyone who isn't coping too well after losing a relative lately.

If you can't see the Image on the left side, it says "Sometimes in life we just need a hug ... no words, no advice, just a hug to make you feel better." 

Big hugs to everyone who has been overthinking a lot of things lately. Big hugs to everyone who has been feeling a lot of stress lately. 

Big hugs to everyone who are currently recovering for having any type of surgery. Big hugs to everyone who has been feeling overwhelmed lately. 

Big hugs to everyone who has been working long shifts lately. 

Big hugs to everyone who has been needing of comfort lately. 

Stay Tuned until next time. 

The World is Full of Opportunities

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

Do you like having opportunities to wake up each day to become a better person today than you were yesterday? Do you like having opportunities for us to support someone's decisions? 

Do you like having opportunities for us to care about someone? 

Do you like having opportunities for us to love someone? 

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to support people's decisions. 

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to care about others.

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to serve others. 

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to be at right place at the right time. 

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to become someone's new friend.

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to become someone's leader.

I love the Image that I shared for this post. If you can't see the Image above, it mentions

"The World is full of opportunities, and I want to try as many as I possibly can."

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to experience various emotions. 

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to face our own difficulties.

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to face our own challenges. 

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to face our own hardships.

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to face our own battles.

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to face our own tribulations.

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to face our own struggles.

I know there are many opportunities for all of us to face our own trials.

Stay tuned until next time.

Find Strength within Yourself

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

I would like to encourage you to think about and answer the following questions either now or in your own time. How do you find strength within yourself? What does finding strength means to you?

I've some examples that I'm willing to share about how have I found strength within myself and I've listed them below. 

I've found strength within myself by being pregnant for 32 weeks and 3 days with Evelyn.

I've found strength within myself by being pregnant for 37 weeks and 2 days with Leah.

I've found strength within myself by recovering quickly after I have given birth to Evelyn.

I've found strength within myself by recovering quickly after I have given birth to Leah. 

I've found strength within myself by allowing myself to not feel discouraged so easily.

I hope that you can see the Image on this post and if you do see it, I hope you can agree with the Image says. 

If you can't see the Image, it says "I encourage all of you to find strength within yourself, no matter what. Be proud of who you are and never let anyone or anything take that away from you.

Inner Strength is something that we are all born with, However, I've learned that it requires patience and perseverance to fully achieve it. I promise you, though, that as long as you know in your heart who you are and what you want from this world, nothing is gonna stop you. - Andy Birersack."

I used to keep thinking of the past choices that I've made and how some of the choices has helped me to become who I am today. I'm proud of being a homeowner for two years. I'm proud of being a wife to Jacob for four years. I'm proud of being a Mum to two daughters. I'm proud for having past responsibilities within the church (in other words church callings). 

Lately my strength has been focused on getting through each day and take one day at a time. 

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Be Kind

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

What does the word kind means to you? What does the word kind means to one of your relatives?
What does the word kind means to one of your friends? How can we be kind to our relatives? 

How can we be kind to our friends? How can we be kind to our enemies? How can we be kind to people who we work with? How can we be kind to strangers? 

This post is based on a song called "Kind" by Jenny Phillips. The vocals is by Brooke Stone. The song is in EMBARK In the Service of God album; Songs for Young Women. Here's the link of the song, and scroll down to "Kind" https://hislightmusic.com

I definitely would like to encourage you to listen to the song either now or in your own time. I would like to share with you my favourite parts while I was listening to the song. 

"So much hurt, so many heartless words in this world. Too much pain, too many souls who ache needlessly. We need more tenderness. Oh, how this world needs. More thoughtfulness, more words filled with gentleness. Let the Savior's love inside your heart. It's part of who you are. 

You were designed to be kind. "Kind when wronged. Kind to enemies. Kind to conflict. Kind when you are weak."

If you can not see the Image above, it says "BE KIND. For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

We all need to be kind to our loved ones who we do not get along with. We all need to be kind to our enemies and need to be kind to our friends. Start being kind today! I encourage you to listen to the whole song in your own time if you can find the whole song.

Stay Tuned until next time.

How have I applied hope in my life?

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish. 

There’s always hope for something in our lives. I would like to share with you some things that I’ve hoped for prior to meeting Jacob. Then I would like to share with you several things that I’ve hoped for after I’ve met Jacob. 

I always hoped for having better grades during high school. I didn’t do too well with my grades in tenth grade and I’ve told myself that I refuse to repeat tenth grade. I’ve told myself that I need to do better with my grades and move forward with eleventh grade and then into senior year. I did eventually improve with my grades and it was good enough for me to not repeat tenth grade. 

If you can't see the Image above, it says "Hope is the last thing ever lost. by Italian Proverb." 

I always hoped for being a successful photographer one day even if it would take me more than three years to get there. For the past eleven years of doing photography on and off; I’ve noticed the style that I edit photos has been improving and getting better. I’ve also noticed that the style of the way that I’ve taken photos of people has been improving as well. 

I’ve also noticed when I request for free different types of photo sessions (up to three photo sessions maximum of each type), it really does help me to build my portfolio and help me to use some photos for advertising mini photo sessions. 

I love getting paid from doing photography, I always have done my best to suit most people’s budgets and I love being flexible and reasonable for sharing my prices with potential customers who wants their photos taken. I always hoped that I would be successful for building my confidence to get out of my comfort zone. 

For an example; I often found myself asking some guys if they would like to slow dance with me whenever there was slow songs was playing during most church dances and church balls. I didn’t feel rejection whenever someone has said no. I just move onto asking someone else. 

Another example; I often found myself went some dates - single dates (one on one) and group dates with guys who has served their missions and with guys who was preparing for their mission. I’ve enjoyed going on most of those dates. 

I’ve enjoyed of getting to know some people by finding out their interests, hobbies, what genre of movies was their favourites, what was their favourite foods, what they do for work, and so forth. For the guys who has served their missions hasn’t mentioned to me at all (not even one guy) about their missions to me. 

I was always hoped for being hired into higher position with employment. I always told myself that I was just a delivery driver at dominos and nothing more. I was so wrong. 

One out of many dominos stores; the manager has promoted me to become a marketing manager and I felt so blessed to accept a higher position with employment. I was proud of having that role and I was grateful for having more hours and more responsibilities to have than just being a delivery driver. 

After I’ve met Jacob; I still continue to have hope for things. 

When Jacob and I was dating long distance for majority the time of our relationship (boyfriend and girlfriend stage), I kept hoping that we would make it to being engaged one day. I’ve always appreciated Jacob’s love and support for me was always so strong. I also had little fears about what if we don’t end up getting engaged. 

When Jacob asked me to marry him, I said “yes.” I felt so relieved and I got excited to prepare for our marriage. For the majority of time of us being engaged, I always hoped that we would be successful of making it to getting married one day. I still continue appreciating Jacob’s love and support for me. I also had little fears about what if we don’t end up getting married to each other. When Jacob and I got married; I felt blessed for making the right choice.  

How have you applied hope in your life?

Stay Tuned until next time.

Choosing Employment Wisely

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish. 

Some jobs has area managers, regional managers, store managers, other managers, and employees. They all have expectations to meet to work as a team, and some jobs requires to be able to work independently. Whenever we have decided that we would want to get employment, we would look into any required prior similar job experiences, prior education, having a current drivers license, skills that we may have, and so forth. 

We also would look into if the job has a casual position or part time position or a full time position. Sometimes it doesn’t say what’s the position it is, just tells you of how many hours a week does the job requires. We also look into if our availability meets with the required some jobs are required days. 

Sometimes employers wants to have potential employees to be available to work during busy seasonal periods (such as Christmas Holidays), or/and on the weekends (including Sundays not only just Saturdays). Some jobs faces good customers and bad customers. 

I remembered when I was hired as a Delivery Expert/Delivery Driver at all Domino's stores that I was employed at, I needed to fulfill the following requirements. I needed to have a current driver's license in the same state as where the job was at. I would need to have a great understanding for what was my responsibilities are in the store and on the road, and the following is my responsibilities that I had to fulfill during all of my shifts. 

Assisting with customer service in store, Assisting with food preparation, and General cleaning duties while I was in store in between delivery to the next delivery. Delivering pizzas and other products to customers, Providing quality customer service at the door, Dealing with customer concerns, and Driving safely at all times for on the road. 

My dream job is to become a Professional Photographer and work full-time of running my own photography business in the future.  I always wanted to do photography. I remembered using my family’s camera to selfies and photos of other things. Eventually my parents decided to get me a first digital camera for Christmas. 

I already have taken some big steps in the past to help me to get started. I studied a Digital Photography degree and I graduated from the course when I was nineteen years old. 

I have current equipment for Photography. I had two years worth of photography experience by using Canon 600D for my first DSLR camera, then I upgraded to Canon 7D which has given me three years experience worth of photography experience for my second DSLR, and then I finally upgraded Canon 5D Mark IV for my third and current DSLR. 

I currently have been using two editing programs softwares on my laptop. I edit all photos on Lightroom and sometimes I use Photoshop for touch ups. 

My website is www.meggygphotography.com My Instagram account is @meggyg_photography

My Facebook is Meggy G Photography -  www.Facebook.com/Meggygphotography

"There is no substitute for hard work." - Thomas Edison.

For becoming a photographer; 

- You would need to have some knowledge about Photography. Some photographers chooses to pay and study a course to be qualified as a Photographer (those courses can be Certificate IV of Digital Photography and Photo Imaging, Diploma of Digital Photography and Photo Imagining, Bachelor of Arts, and so forth) and some photographers chooses to study by themselves and watch some photography tutorials on Youtube. 

- You would need a reliable DSLR camera of your choice (Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc) with portrait lenses, and appropriate lenses (zoom lenses, low light settings, and so forth). I know it is expensive to purchase a brand new DSLR camera but you can always get second hand DSLR camera as long as it has reasonable remaining of the shutter life. 

- You would need a reliable laptop or a reliable desktop computer that you would be able to download the photography editing programs. Those programs are Lightroom and Photoshop from Adobe. It must be downloaded from Adobe website. Along with a laptop or desktop, I would recommend to purchase a 2TB or higher portable hard drive - storing all edited and unedited photos adds up and it would be big files, and you would not want to have a 16GB USB/Flash Drive when you do photography.  

- I would suggest that you would need to have a current driver's license and a car if you do have to plan to drive where for the location of where the sessions are. Even if you flew from one state to another state of your country for the session, I would suggest to have a car rental - it would be so much easier than relying on public transportation (sometimes public transportation may experience delays of getting to the locations). 

-  I would suggest for you to have a current passport if you have plan to fly to where for the location of where the sessions are. You would also need to plan to have travel insurance. 

- I would suggest to have a bank account, it is good to keep separate from your personal savings to from what you would earn from photography. I would suggest to set aside for emergency funds for any back up. 

- Have a understanding and act upon with how to legalize your photography business in your state and your country. It is always different wherever you go, but you do not want to get in trouble for not knowing how to do it. You do not want anyone to steal your business' name, you would want to earn any taxes after submitting taxes that you held from most sessions. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Courageous Parenting

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is focuses on a October 2010 General Conference talk called, "Courageous Parenting" by Elder Larry R. Lawrence. I would like to share with you some highlights that I have liked while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Lawrence mentioned, "There are no perfect parents and no easy answers, but there are principles of truth that we can rely on. As we are reminded in the family proclamation, parents are responsible for the protection of their children. That means spiritually as well as physically.

Elder Robert D. Hales has observed, “Sometimes we are afraid of our children, afraid to counsel with them for fear of offending them.” It’s so important for husbands and wives to be united when making parenting decisions. 

If either parent doesn’t feel good about something, then permission should not be granted.

I would like to share with you a letter from a heartbroken mother. Her teenage son gradually lost the Spirit and drifted away from Church activity. She explained how this happened: “All throughout my son’s teenage years, I worried and tried to stop him from playing violent video games. 

I talked to my husband and showed him articles in the Ensign and in the newspaper that cautioned about these games. But my husband felt it was OK. He said that our son wasn’t out using drugs and that I should stop worrying. There were times that I would hide the controllers, and my husband would give them back. 

"What the world really needs is courageous parenting
from mothers and fathers who are not afraid to
speak up and take a stand."
    

It began to be easier for me to give in … than to fight it. I really feel that gaming is just as addictive as drugs. I would do anything to prevent other parents from going through this experience.” Brothers and sisters, if your spouse doesn’t feel good about something, show respect for those feelings. 

When you take the easy way out by saying and doing nothing, you may be enabling destructive behavior. There is a great deal of wisdom displayed when parents stay up and wait for their children to return home. Young men and women make far better choices when they know their parents are waiting up to hear about their evening and to kiss them good night. 

Peer pressure becomes more powerful when our children are away from our influence and when their defenses are weakened late at night. Always be prayerful when it comes to protecting your precious children. One of the most effective ways we can influence our sons and daughters is to counsel with them in private interviews. 

By listening closely, we can discover the desires of their hearts, help them set righteous goals, and also share with them the spiritual impressions that we have received about them. Counseling requires courage. Satan and his followers are striving to bring this generation down; the Lord is counting on valiant parents to bring them up.

I know that God hears and will answer your prayers. I testify that the Lord supports and blesses courageous parents." If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here is the link below.

www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/courageous-parenting

Stay Tuned until next time.