8 Years Ago since a Car Accident

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take no longer than five minutes to read from start to finish.

Have you been in a car accident before? Was it your fault? Was it someone else's fault? 

What happened? Did your car get written off (it's no longer drivable)? 

This day marks eight years ago since I have experience a car accident by myself. It took me some time to accept the car accident has happened and what was some of the lessons that I have learned from that car accident. 

On November 30th 2015; 

Sometime on that morning; I've received a new Temple Recommend. In the afternoon; I've witnessed a friend's farewell talk before she leaves home to go and serve her mission during the upcoming week. I've attended two friends' combined farewell parties after church. Afterwards; I dropped off a former close friend to her house and I've stayed and chatted with her while the weather was hailing, thunderstorms, windy, and raining. 

I felt super nervous to drive in that type of weather. After the crazy bad weather has stopped, I knew the roads was expected to be slippery wet and a former close friend's Mum was telling me that I needed to start driving home. I thought the best decision for me to do was to listen to her. 

I've said my goodbyes to a former close friend and I was driving my way home. Within ten minutes into my drive after leaving the former friend's house, I got into a car accident. My car hit a ute in front of me on the highway. I was so scared, I was crying and I felt very upset. 

There was multiple people who has asked me if I was okay. I felt relief to know that Heavenly Father (God) has provided church members who knows me and I know them to offer me a car ride to go with them to the chapel to meet my sister Emma. I have explained to them what has happened. 

At the time after the car accident, I told myself that I didn't experience any injuries and what a relief because I am still alive. However I urged myself to see a doctor so I did and that doctor has told me that there was nothing wrong. I decided to get a second opinion by my GP (General Practitioner). My GP has informed me about the results from the other doctor and he advised me that I should get neck x-rays.

The findings from the neck x-rays wasn't good. I had major whiplash and I have neck muscle strain which isn't good and those were the injuries from the car accident.

From the car accident: I found out my faith and trust in Heavenly Father wasn't strong enough. I noticed my faith and trust in Heavenly Father has been strengthened. I also noticed my testimony was strengthened and grew stronger. I noticed and learned a lot of other things.

I have accomplish so many things after that car accident and I am forever grateful to still be alive. I have been able to accomplish more goals that I want to achieve in this life (such as getting married, having children, and so forth).  

Stay tuned until next time. 

"I am happy because I'm grateful"

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take less than five minutes to read from start to finish. This post is short and sweet. 

Last Thursday was Thanksgiving Day. I recently reflected on how many reasons why I should feel grateful. I would like to make this post based on some of the things that I am grateful for in this life. 

I am grateful for learning life lessons. I am grateful for having passions into photography since I was in my teenage years. I am grateful for being formerly employed in Domino's industry from November 2016 to June 2019. 

I am grateful for being able to breastfeed Evelyn from when she was thirty-four days old to when she was fifteen months old. I am grateful for being able to breastfeed Leah from when she was within several hours old to when she was six weeks old. 

I am grateful for receiving breast milk donations from several Mums after my breast milk has dried up on Leah. I am grateful for having two daughters, and I am grateful for having a wonderful hardworking, supportive and loving husband. 

I am grateful for being a relative to all of my relatives, and I am grateful for being a friend to all of my friends. I am grateful for having a driver's license and being able to drive to places of where I need to go and where I want to go.

I am grateful for learning about comparing the culture differences between living in United States to living in Australia while I have been living over here in United States for the past four years. I am grateful for technology to communicate with Jacob, my relatives, my friends, and other people. 

I am grateful for listening to music when I am in the mood of singing along, when I am tidying up the house, and when I am in the mood of dancing. I am grateful to being able to go to places for groceries shopping, clothes shopping, and so forth. 

If you can't see the Image for this post, it says "I am happy because I'm grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy. - Will Arnett."

What are some things that you are grateful for in life?

Stay Tuned until next time. 

What can we do when we can't sleep?

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take about three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish. Sometimes we often feel that we can’t go to sleep either because we aren’t feeling tired or we’ve so many things in our minds that we just overthink about. 

What has been your strategies that has worked and helped you go to sleep whenever you can't go to sleep? 

If you can't see the image above, it says "If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying, it's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep." - Dale Carnegie. 

I would like to share with you some suggestions that you can help go to sleep without taking any sleeping pills/medications. 

- We can write in a journal (we can write about our feelings, we can write about what’s in our minds, we can write about our short-term goals, we can write about our long-term goals, we can write about some things that we’re grateful for, we write about our accomplishments throughout lives, etc). 

- We can read a book. 

- We can watch a movie that we’ve seen multiple times in the past and we know that it would be okay for us to fall asleep during that movie because we already know the ending. 

- We can watch a show that we’ve seen multiple times in the past and we know that it would be okay for us to fall asleep during that show because we already know the ending. 

- We can write down a to do list of things that we would like to accomplish the next day. 

- We can write down the groceries list of what we can get. 

- We can write down meal plans for next week. 

- We can letters to relatives and friends 

- We can pray about our feelings, what’s in our minds, and express our gratitude of what we’re thankful for. 

- We can write down what we would like to accomplish throughout next week. 

 

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Life is a Journey, not a Competition

Good morning or good afternoon or good evening, this post would take several minutes to read from start to finish. I would like to encourage you to think about and answer the following question in your own time. "What does Life is a Journey not a Competition means to you?"

If you were to ask me the same question, I would say "Life has its own ups and downs each day and each night, even when we don't recognise those ups and downs straight away. I know some downs does tests our faith. I know some downs helps us build a stronger Testimony.

I know some ups makes us to feel happy and feel joy. We all love feeling happy for the right reasons."
I know we all have some days and some evenings when we celebrate our achievements.

I love the Image above and I agree what it says. If you can't see the Image what it says, it says

"Quote of the day Call me crazy .... But I love to see other people happy and succeeding!

Life is a JOURNEY, not a COMPETITION"

Take this life as a learning experience in some things, take this life as a journey and not a competition of comparing who's life is better. We all go through afflictions including unexpected afflictions. We all go through challenges including unexpected challenges, 

We all go through difficulties including unexpected difficulties. We all go through struggles including unexpected struggles. We all go through trials including unexpected trials, 

We all have some days and some evenings when we look back and say "Wow, I had such a great time." 

We all have some days and some evenings when we look back and say "Wow, I had such a hard time."

I encourage you to think about this saying "Find Joy in the Journey" often.

Stay tuned until next time. 

What are your steps to self improvement?

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

I would like to encourage you to allow some time to yourself to think about the following few questions.

What does "self worth" means to you? What does "self improvement" means to you?
What are your steps that you're currently taking to self-improvement? 

How do you keep in track of your new improvements?

I would like to share with you my answers of those questions.
What does "self worth" means to me? It means nobody is like me. For an example, I do my own way of doing things.

What does "self improvement" means to me? It means to see what things needs to improve on. For an example, I would like to improve on my spirituality by doing readings for Institute during the week before I attend Institute the following week.

How do you keep in track of your new improvements? I keep in track of my new improvements in my mind and not in a journal.

4 Simple Steps to Self-Improvement by Sean Johnson. I would like to share with you some things that he mentioned.

"Change Is Hard
We all want to grow and learn and be better today than we were yesterday. So why is change so hard? Personal growth is essential to God’s plan. The Savior asks us to become “even as [He is].” How can we ever reach that lofty goal when we fall short of even our more modest ones?

Ask for Direction
We forget sometimes, when making plans to improve, to check in with the One who made the plan. The scriptures promise that “he shall direct [our] paths” if only we will ask—but do we remember to ask?

Think Small
Sometimes we’re required to make dramatic leaps of faith. But more often it’s the small hops that move us forward. Small adjustments over time can bring greater balance and peace to our lives.

Take Time to Reflect
“Set it and forget it” works great with our toaster ovens and online bill pay, but it’s a lousy approach to our goals. Regular self-checkins ensure we’re making progress (and give us a chance to make adjustments when we’re not). Simply asking, “How am I doing so far?” goes a long way.

Keep Trying
“One of God’s greatest gifts,” President Monson said, “is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.” Don’t let discouragement get the best of you when you fail at first (or second or third).

Keep going. Keep pushing. Keep trying."

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time. Here's the link to the talk.
www.lds.org/blog/try-this-for-a-change-4-simple-steps-to-self-improvement

Stay Tuned until next time.

10 Years Accomplishments After Graduating High School Summary

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take about five minutes to read from start to finish. Today marks ten years ago since I’ve graduated high school. I often wished there was a 10 year high school reunion so I can catch up with former high school students that I’ve graduated with ten years ago. 

I know some former high school students has become parents themselves. I know some former high school students has focused on working. I know some former high school students focused on studying extra education and so forth. 

I felt that I’ve accomplished a lot for the past ten years. Sometimes whenever I share accomplishments, it feels like it’s repeating what I’ve already shared in the past. 

2013 - I’ve graduated high school, I’ve graduated seminary with a diploma, and I’ve gone on my first one on one date. 

2014 - I’ve passed my Australian driving test. I’ve flown to Perth for the first time. I’ve gone on my first group date. 

 

2015 - I’ve flown to Perth and stayed there for 6 weeks. I’ve gone on multiple group dates and multiple one on one dates while I was in Perth. I’ve focused on starting my full-time mission papers when I had a strong desire to serve a full-time mission. 

2016 - I’ve gotten a job in Domino’s Industry and I’ve graduated institute. 

2017 - I’ve met Jacob on LDS Singles website and then eventually I found him on Facebook. I’ve started messaging him and he saw my first message around Thanksgiving. 

2018 - Jacob and I became boyfriend and girlfriend in January. We’ve eventually met in person in February. Jacob met a portion of my relatives, my friends (who used to work with me at the Dominos store that I’ve worked the longest), Jacob proposed to me in November (2 days before Thanksgiving). I was set apart as a Temple Ordinance Worker in November. 

2019 - Jacob and I had our engagements photos taken and we also had our engagement party in February. I had my k-1/fiancé interview, I’ve received my k-1/fiancé visa, I’ve resigned from working at dominos industry, I’ve been honourably released as a Temple Ordinance Worker, I’ve flew with one way plane ticket and moved to Texas in July.  Jacob and I got married in September.

 

2020 - I was diagnosed 2.5cm left ovarian cyst in March. Jacob and I found out I’m pregnant with Evelyn in December. 

2021 - Jacob and I became home owners in June. Evelyn was born in August due to pregnancy complications in third trimester (I’ve experienced preterm labour contractions at 30 weeks and 3 days). Jacob, Evelyn, and I had family photos taken in December - thanks Malia. 

2022 - Evelyn has turned one years old in August. I wasn’t fully ready for her to turn one years old. I missed my one on one time with her. Jacob and I found out that I was pregnant with Leah in December. 

This year - I was able to get maternity photos taken when I was pregnant with Leah in July, thanks Malia. Leah was born via elective repeated c-section in August. 

What has been your accomplishments that you've achieved after graduating high school? 

Stay tuned until next time. 

You're more than the mistakes you've made

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

I know that most times whenever we have made mistakes in the past, we feel so much regret, feeling hurt, and wishing that we have not made those mistakes. I know that most times whenever we have made mistakes in the past, we may think that Heavenly Father and Jesus doesn't love us anymore or for a period of them. 

I know that most times whenever we have made mistakes in the past, we may think that Heavenly Father and Jesus expects us to be perfect. I know that most times whenever we have made mistakes in the past, we may be thinking that it's not okay to make mistakes. 

I know that most times whenever we have made mistakes in the past, we may forget that everyone including people around us makes mistakes too. I know that most times whenever we have made mistakes in the past, we may choose not to love people because of something that they have done. 

I know that most times whenever we have made mistakes in the past, we may make ourselves to feel bad people from the actions that we have done that has hurt someone. I know that most times whenever we have made mistakes in the past, we may make ourselves to feel bad people from the words that we have said that has hurt someone. 

Keep in mind that I do know that our unrighteous decisions, our unrighteous actions, and our unrighteous words can hurt someone. I do know at times that people can have some expectations including high expectations for us to fulfil to make them happy and satisfied. 

We should be more focused towards our own expectations and fulfill them as best as we can whether it takes days or weeks or months or years to achieve them.

"You are more than the mistakes you've
made." - Al Carraway.

Always remember that Heavenly Father and Jesus loves you no matter what, they don't expect us to be perfect.

Always remember that it's okay to make mistakes. 

Always remember that everyone make mistakes. 

Always remember that we can love people even if we don't love what they do. Always remember that making a mistake doesn't make you a bad person.

Instead of focusing on what you did wrong, focus on what you learned and can do better. Repenting and trying again helps us grow.

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Eternal Blessings of Marriage - Part Two

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take up to five minutes to read. 

This post focuses on April 2011 General Conference talk, and it is called "The Eternal Blessings of Marriage" by Elder Richard G. Scott. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Scott has mentioned the following; 

"Righteous love is the foundation of a successful marriage. It is the primary cause of contented, well-developed children. ... What enduring fruits result from the seeds of truth that a mother carefully plants and lovingly cultivates in the fertile soil of a child’s trusting mind and heart? 

As a mother you have been given divine instincts to help you sense your child’s special talents and unique capacities. With your husband you can nurture, strengthen, and cause those traits to flower. It is so rewarding to be married. Marriage is wonderful. 

... You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those growth experiences together. ... Jeanene’s kindness taught me so many valuable things. ... Marriage provides an ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to be selfish or self-centered. 

I think one of the reasons that we are counseled to get married early in life is to avoid developing inappropriate character traits that are hard to change. I feel sorry for any man who hasn’t yet made the choice to seek an eternal companion, and my heart weeps for the sisters who haven’t had the opportunity to marry. 

Some of you may feel lonely and unappreciated and cannot see how it will be possible for you to have the blessings of marriage and children or your own family. All things are possible to the Lord, and He keeps the promises He inspires His prophets to declare. 

Eternity is a long time. Have faith in those promises and live to be worthy of them so that in His time the Lord can make them come true in your life. With certainty, you will receive every promised blessing for which you are worthy. ... I know what it is to love a daughter of Father in Heaven who with grace and devotion lived the full feminine splendor of her righteous womanhood. ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here is the link below.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2011/04/the-eternal-blessings-of-marriage

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Eternal Blessings of Marriage - Part One

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take up to five minutes to read. 

This post focuses on April 2011 General Conference talk, and it is called "The Eternal Blessings of Marriage" by Elder Richard G. Scott. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

Elder Scott has mentioned the following; "If you are a young man of appropriate age and are not married, don’t waste time in idle pursuits. Get on with life and focus on getting married. Don’t just coast through this period of life. ...

When you find you are developing an interest in a young woman, show her that you are an exceptional person that she would find interesting to know better. Take her to places that are worthwhile. ... If you want to have a wonderful wife, you need to have her see you as a wonderful man and prospective husband.

If you have found someone, you can form an extraordinarily wonderful courtship and marriage and be very, very happy eternally by staying within the bounds of worthiness the Lord has established. If you are married, are you faithful to your spouse mentally as well as physically? ... Are you kind and supportive of your spouse and children?

Brethren, do you lead out in family activities such as scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening, or does your wife fill in the gap your lack of attention leaves in the home? Do you tell your wife often how very much you love her? It will bring her great happiness. 

I’ve heard men tell me when I say that, “Oh, she knows.” You need to tell her. A woman grows and is greatly blessed by that reassurance. Express gratitude for what your spouse does for you. Express that love and gratitude often. That will make life far richer and more pleasant and purposeful. 

Don’t withhold those natural expressions of love. And it works a lot better if you are holding her close while you tell her. ... Early in our marriage, often I would open my scriptures to give a message in a meeting, and I would find an affectionate, supportive note Jeanene had slipped into the pages. 

"No man can obtain an eternal Blessing unless the contract
or covenant be made in view of Eternity. All contracts in 
view of this Life only terminate with this Life." 
- Franklin D. Richards "Spiritual Items"

... Those precious notes from a loving wife were and continue to be a priceless treasure of comfort and inspiration. I began to do the same thing with her, not realizing how much it truly meant to her. ... I remember one day I took some of those little round paper circles that form when you punch holes in paper, and I wrote on them the numbers 1 to 100. 

I turned each over and wrote her a message, one word on each circle. Then I scooped them up and put them in an envelope. I thought she would get a good laugh. When she passed away, I found in her private things how much she appreciated the simple messages that we shared with each other. 

I noted that she had carefully pasted every one of those circles on a piece of paper. She not only kept my notes to her, but she protected them with plastic coverings as if they were a valuable treasure. There is only one that she didn’t put with the others. It is still behind the glass in our kitchen clock. 

It reads, “Jeanene, it is time to tell you I love you.” It remains there and reminds me of that exceptional daughter of Father in Heaven. As I have thought back over our life together, I realize how blessed we’ve been. ... Now I realize that blessing came because of her. 

It resulted from her willingness to give, to share, and to never think of herself. In our later life together, I tried to emulate her example. I suggest that as husband and wife you do the same in your home. Pure love is an incomparable, potent power for good. "

Stay tuned until next time. 

Past Dating Experiences and Lessons

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take three minutes to read from start to finish. I would like to share with you about my past dating experiences and lessons what I've learned or reminded during the dates. These dating experiences has taken place prior to meeting Jacob. 

In 2013; I went on my very first one on one date and it was at Annual Multi-stake Priests and Laurels Ball (as known as church ball for 16 years olds to 18 years olds church ball. I've enjoyed that experience to go on one on one date. I've enjoyed getting to know my date and he was great. He has helped me to realise what type of personalities that I would be looking for in a future husband to have which are to have sense of humour, make me laugh, make me smile and always be upfront and honest. 

I can't remember what we've spoken about but leading up to the ball, he didn't think he would be allowed in because he was already in Young Single Adults (YSA) age and we spoke about topics about how was our days, how was things, and we kept contacting each other. We continued staying in contact during throughout his mission by emailing each other and we wrote letters to each other. After he has finished his mission, we've stayed in contacted for about a year. 

In 2014; I went on my very first group date and it was at a picnic lunch in a local park from home. I remembered making turnovers (pastry dessert) for the group date to enjoy consuming. It was fun for me to spend some time with my date until my asthma started to play up. During this date; it has helped me to realise how important my health means to me. 

In 2015; I went on more dates while I was staying in Perth for a short-term. 

I went on a one on one date that I didn't feel comfortable during the date because the date wasn't active of the church and I was set up by his sister to go on the date. He has helped me to realised how important it was for me to keep and maintain high standards, and to date guys who has high standards, and to have spiritual qualities (such as to be a worthy priesthood holder, to have a current temple recommend and active in the church). 

I went on another one on one date that lead more than one on one date with the same individual. He was a returned missionary. We went on multiple dates and we had fun getting to know each other. It felt like he was ready to go steady relationship and I wasn't steady relationship ready. I've reminded myself that I wasn't ready to commit for a steady relationship, I wanted to continued to go on other dates with other guys before getting myself fully committed. When I've returned back to Brisbane, we've stayed in contact for several months and that was it. 

I went on a group date and we went bowling. My date has served his mission in Brisbane Australia Mission and yet somehow we didn't meet each other during his mission. It was so much fun date and getting to know each other and other people who joined with us for the group date. I can't even remember who won but I felt happy. I've learned that we don't necessarily meet people when we think we should. 

I went on another group date, we ate dinner together while we were getting to know each other, and we also walked around Perth City and my date was 5 years older than me. I've learned that I didn't want to date anyone who's over three years older than me. 

Stay Tuned until next time. 

There's Always Something to be Thankful For

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take two minutes to read from start to finish. I would love to say "there is always, always, ALWAYS something to be thankful for." - it's exactly what the image of this post says.

We can always be thankful for something in our lives. I know that I'm thankful for a lot of things in life. What are you thankful for? 

I have some things listed for what you can be thankful for;

You can be thankful for your Life. 

You can be thankful for your Family.

You can be thankful for your Close Friends. 

You can be thankful for your Best Friends. 

You can be thankful for your True Friends.

You can be thankful for someone telling you that they care about you.
You can be thankful for someone telling you that they love you.
You can be thankful for someone's support for you.
You can be thankful for someone's testimony.

There are many other things that I can be think of, but it is too many to share.

Stay Tuned until next time.

How to use the Gift of Prayer?

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, this post should take about five minutes to read from start to finish. This post is based on April 2007 General Conference talk called "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer" by Elder Richard G. Scott. I would love to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. 

He mentioned, "The Gift of Prayer

Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, “Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.”

It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.

How Should You Pray?
We pray to our Heavenly Father in the sacred name of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Prayer is most effective when we strive to be clean and obedient, with worthy motives, and are willing to do what He asks. Humble, trusting prayer brings direction and peace.

Don’t worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your compassionate, understanding Father. You are His precious child whom He loves perfectly and wants to help. As you pray, recognize that Father in Heaven is near and He is listening.

A key to improved prayer is to learn to ask the right questions. Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it.

Should you ever feel distanced from our Father, it could be for many reasons. Whatever the cause, as you continue to plead for help, He will guide you to do that which will restore your confidence that He is near. Pray even when you have no desire to pray. Sometimes, like a child, you may misbehave and feel you cannot approach your Father with a problem. That is when you most need to pray. Never feel you are too unworthy to pray.

How Are Prayers Answered?
Some truths regarding how prayers are answered may help you.

Often when we pray for help with a significant matter, Heavenly Father will give us gentle promptings that require us to think, exercise faith, work, at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers.

President David O. McKay testified, “It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication.”

Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith.

On occasion, the Lord will give you an answer before you ask. This can occur when you are unaware of a danger or may be doing the wrong thing, mistakenly trusting that it is correct. It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. 

It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. The Savior taught, “Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you.” At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good.

I encourage you to read the whole talk in your own time. Here's the link below.

www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/using-the-supernal-gift-of-prayer

Stay Tuned until next time.