Sometimes life is hard.......

I just found this post from Tuesday 8th April 2014 - I need to get better at not just writing entries, but finishing ad posting them!!! I decided to post it anyway, although I'm sure I meant to write more, but hopefully it might lift someone else's day at some point - I know I need it again!

For a number of weeks possibly even months, I have been feeling down caused by the weight of the world and things, that ultimately don't matter in the grand scheme of things!

How grateful I was for this past weekend to have the opportunity to take time out from the world, and be reminded, that I'm part of a family 15,000 strong, and of things that truly matter! 

I have been reminded that I, like a tree, am only made stronger by the whirlwinds of life (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2014/04?lang=eng&vid=3435072633001&cid=10) and that I need to make my "4 minutes" count and not to waste this precious time! (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/your-four-minutes?lang=eng&query=olympics#watch=video) 

Christmas

For those who don't already know, Christmas is my favourite time of year! I love the magic and excitement of Christmas, I love the lights and decorations, I love being with family and all our many, wonderful traditions, I love listening to and singing Christmas music, I love making and buying Christmas presents and I love wrapping them, I love to see the look on peoples faces as they unwrap them, I love preparing and eating all the delicious foods that come at Christmas time, I love the kindness that seems to come over most people at this time of year- everything about Christmas excites me :)
The reason I love all of these things, is because we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all. What a wonderful gift, in a world that is full of turmoil and uncertainty, how nice it is to have a true friend to rely and depend upon, a Saviour and Redeemer no matter our circumstances. A source of Peace and Comfort, and a perfect example of how we should be towards all around us.
I am so grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift in my life, from which all blessings and happiness stem. My life is enriched by His teachings, example and sacrifice - how fitting then, to have a time each year to celebrate this amazing event in history and to be reminded of the true wonder and reality of this event.
I hope that this Christmas Season you can make room in your home for The Saviour of the world and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, and continue to make room for Him in your life long after the Christmas decorations have been packed away. I know that your life will also be enriched as you invite Him into your heart, home and family.

"We have great reason to rejoice. If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most. - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Things That Matter Most, General Conference, Oct 2010

Merry Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful season xxxx

Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend has been General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it is one of my favourite times of year, I always look forward to it.

For as long as I can remember, due to my father being in the army, we have lived quite a distance from a chapel and had a distance to travel to see General Conference, so my parents would pack up a picnic lunch and all us children and we would spend the day at the chapel and watch conference, eating our picnic in between sessions.

Over the years, as we have grown older, my brothers would attend the priesthood session with Papa, which is broadcast on Sunday morning over here in Europe, while my sisters and I would help Mama with the preparation of the Picnic, which we now have down to a fine art, with the all the favourites that have become General Conference must haves!

This is a tradition that we all look forward to, even though now, Papa is not in the army and we live 3 minutes from the chapel - General Conference just wouldn't be the same without it :)

However, the picnic feast is not only the only reason we look forward to this weekend - General Conference is a spiritual feast, where we listen to the words of a living modern day Prophet, Apostles and other church leaders. It is broadcast across the world and translated into many languages for all to hear. It is where I "recharge my spiritual batteries" and come away wanting to do better and be better person.

These eternal truths that are discussed and taught are the centre of my life and the source of the joy and happiness that I have in my life. The things that teach me to do good, to love my family, to be kind and helpful to those around me, to be happy and optimistic. These truths have the answers to life's questions, questions that everyone ponders at some point in their lives.

While many people can go through life searching for these answers because they know not where to find them, I know that anyone with a true desire to find these answers can find them through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I also know at this time, these precious things I know to be true, are in the spot light and being attacked by people who do not understand or try to understand them.

To those I know and love, and others who are searching for answers and happiness, I would invite you to study and read these things for yourself and for the correct information visit www.mormon.org or ask me about my beliefs.

It has been, as usual, a wonderful weekend. My confidence has been boosted, my spirit lifted and my knowledge confirmed. I hope that as a result of this I will become a better person, and come back to these messages again and again over the next 6 months, until the next General Conference :)

Valentines Day

Yesterday was Valentines Day - a day dedicated to love, an opportunity to let the people you know that you love and care about them. And while I know that it has become very commercial, and that love is shown in more ways than flowers, chocolates and an evening out and that love should be expressed and declared more than once a year, I still like the idea of it.

It was nice to see men on their way home with flowers in hand and couples out walking or having an evening of fun - to see that romance and love isn't dead, and that "Happy Ever Afters" are still achieved.

Everyones love story is different, some people have found "the real deal", some are searching for it, some are scared of it, some are heart broken and hurting, yet yearning and hoping for the healing powers of new love.

I know from experience that Valentines Day can also be a depressing and lonely day, so I always like to send something to someone to make their day, so they don't feel alone, but knows that someone is thinking about them, even if they don't know who that person is!

Yet, due to the fact I am not working right now and money is low, it was the first Valentines Day that I can remember not sending a card or present to anyone!

I spent the day reflecting on all the Valentines I have sent over the years and all the people I care about, it was nice to remember so many memories, most of them good, some funny and some embarrassing!

And while I didn't have the opportunity to let one individual person know I was thinking about them, I wondered how often I let the people in my life know just how much I love and appreciate them - the conclusion: Not Enough!

I want to be better at telling the people I love and care about just how much I do, so there can never be any doubt. Sometimes we think it is enough to presume they know, but how will they KNOW if we don't tell them and show them?

This reminded me of a short video I saw and President Monson says it much better than I do:

(but I can't seem to be able to upload the video, so please go to http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#mormon-messages-what-matters-most and watch it :))

Then today I heard a song, and while I do not have, at this time in my life, a special someone to dedicate it to, I thought the words were appropriate for all I call a friend and hope you know that no matter what, here I am!

"Here I Am"

This is a crazy world

These can be lonely times

It's hard to know who's on your side

Most of the time

Who can you really trust

Who do you really know

Is there anybody out there

Who can make you feel less alone

Some times you just can't make it on your own

If you need a place where you can run

If you need a shoulder to cry on

I'll always be your friend

When you need some shelter from the rain

When you need a healer for your pain

I will be there time and time again

When you need someone to love you

Here I am

If you have broken dreams

Just lay them all on me

I'll be the one who understands

So take my hand

If you reach emptiness

You know I'll do my best

To fill you up with all the love

That I can show someone

I promise you you'll never walk alone

August

I had 2 weeks in Göteborg, one of which I was really sick with the flu, the other enjoying time with friends, before heading back to England, for Immanuel's blessing. This time I spent 5 days with the Hammersmith Furbanks and had another lovely time, even though I got another coldsore! It was gone though before I left, so I got some kisses in on my last day :) This time round we had more trips to the park, shopping, baking, lots of hugs and fun with the children and an evening at the cinema with Jared.

On the Sunday it was Immanuel's blessing. It was a lovely day with a lot of the family and friends. It is always nice to meet up with the Jensen side of the family, they are all lovely, but we don't see them often enough.

It was also to spend the day with my family, even if it was only for a short time!

It was harder to say good bye than I thought it would be, I left the the Hammersmith Furbank's in tears, as I had to bid farewell to them, I will miss them so much.

I think part of it was also the thought of an uncertain future, and not knowing what was awaiting me back in Sweden.

I want to stay in Göteborg, but didn't have a job to go back too.

I have been occupying my time looking for a job and spending time with friends and the missionaries

July

I thought June went by quickly, but I don't know where July and August went and now we're at the end of September!

It is always the way when you are busy you don't have the time to write, so I'm now taking a Sunday afternoon to catch up before I forget what I have been up to!

July

I spent a week on the island of Gullholmen, with Pernilla, Per, Viggo and Melker. It is a beautiful island and Viggo and I did a lot of exploring together - well he showed me the island because he already knows it so well :)

Unfortunately Melker had the chicken pox while I was there (which he had caught from Viggo who had them before they went away!) so someone had to stay at home with him all the time - we took it shifts.

The main reason I was there was to babysit on Saturday 16th while Pernilla and Per went to Per's 40th birthday party - Pirate theme. In the morning I made pirate cup cakes for the children's party in the afternoon (so they didn't feel left out) Then I took Viggo to the Party. It was so much fun, I wish I had taken my camera! Everyone was dressed up as pirates and they had a proper treasure hunt - with a big map, going over rocks, wading through the sea and digging up a treasure chest on the beach, followed by a picnic, also on the beach! I just thought it was an amazing experience for all the children that participated.

It was then my birthday on the 19th and I had organised a BBQ back in Göteborg. I had a lot of fun and hope all who were there also enjoyed it :)

Amber and Allan had come up the night before from Denmark and Amber helped me get everything ready. We had good food - everything made from scratch of course, and good company:)

Then on the 21st I flew home, where I had a birthday surprise waiting for me. I missed some of it due to my delayed flight, but I got picked up at the train station by Ben and was taken straight to The Print Room in Bournemouth, where Mama, Natalie, Felicity and Josh were waiting for us. They had already had dinner (the part I missed) but I got there just as the first song was being played by a live band which was great. We had a lovely evening of singing and dancing and it was great to be together as a family - shame Papa had meetings and couldn't be there!

I was at FHQ (Furbank Head Quaters) for a week and it was so nice to just be at home and see family and friends.

The second weekend was spent up in Oxtead with Nathan and his family for Fintan's baptism. It was a lovely day with all the family followed by a BBQ at Nathan and Abbies.

It was a lovely day and we had fun and games in the garden. It was so nice later in the evening to see all the cousins dancing together in their pyjamas, before everyone went their separate ways. It reminded me of when I was younger and we did so much and had lots of fun with our cousins :)

I then went to Hammersmith to spend time with Jared, Genevieve and their lovely little family :) I spent 2 days there and had some more fun, going to the parks and enjoying the lovely weather, enjoying hugs with all the Children, including the newest addition, who didn't have a name yet! I couldn't kiss any of them though because I had a huge coldsore.

I then returned to Nathan and Abbies where I thought I would have a whole day with them, but thanks to Papa, who bought to light that my flight was actually a day earlier than I thought, so had to pack and leave!

June

Wow, June came and went really quickly! It was a good month and I was quite busy, hence, not having anytime to write about it!

I have been on bike rides with my friend Michaela, who is originally from Berlin, but married a Swede in April and now we are exploring Göteborg together and making good use of the lovely weather. I have no picture from our adventures though!

On one of our trips we went to Delsjö, where I lost one of my Crocs in the mud at the bottom of the lake! We spent over an hour looking for it, but didn't find it!

Mid summers is celebrated big over here, so I joined in some of the festivities, dancing round a pole (which I always want to call a May pole!) singing traditional midsummers songs, picnic - followed by american football with the missionaries and some of their investigators!

In the evening I went to a party with friends on the island of Tjörn and had lots of lovely food and good company. Then I went home and Danielle, Emily and I had a sleep over. We made klad Kaka and stayed up far too late, but had fun.

Also in the month of June, our ward has had three baptisms, Elika, Happy and Kleber. The work is going really well thanks to the wonderful missionaries and all their dedication. Plus the institute centre here is a really good way to fellowship. It was sad to say goodbye to two of the missionaries last night - Sister Maxwell is heading home, and Elder Olsen is heading to Gubbängen!