Be thou an Example:

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
~ 1 Timothy 4:12

    The past couple of weeks, I have had it made known to me that I am being watched, and setting an example without even knowing it.  A few weeks ago, I received a message on facebook, from a friend that I rarely ever talked to, thanking me for being an example to her by getting married in the temple,  and then just today I got another message from one of my very good friends, telling me that I was an example to her as well. 
   This got me thinking about a lot of things that I have done in my life and choices I have made because of other peoples examples to me. Some of which, came from these two friends that wrote to me, and I realized that all of us are influenced by examples of some form or another, whether they be good examples of how we wish to be, or bad examples of how we hope not to be.  So this realization, got me thinking some more, about the kind of example I want to be... I want to be an example of the believers.  I have always said, that when you set a goal in your mind, and in your heart, and you stay true to that goal,  then when you are faced with a decision, you will automatically pick the choice that will lead you closer to your goal.  It may be subconsiously, and you may not realize it at the time,  but if you are truely set on something you want, then living to reach that goal will come naturally.  My goal is, "The Kingdom of God, or Nothing"  I know that sounds harsh, but if I do not reach the Kingdom of God then I have nothing, there is no 2nd best option for me.  And because of that, I have been able to make decisions a lot easier because I would think to myself, "is this going to lead me closer to my goal?" and then I would think of the people around me and how they are living, and I found myself sort of gravitating to the people that I wanted to be like, that would help me reach my goal.  Examples are everywhere, and you don't really have to try to be an example, because you are one weather you realize it or not. I think what we have to do is to choose whether or not we are going to be a good example or a bad one, and then go from there.  I am so grateful to the examples that I had in my life because they brought me to where I am today.  They brought me to happiness and love, and they kept me in the gosple.  Thank goodness for the amazing examples in my life, for my parents, my siblings, my friends, my husband and his family.  I love you all! <3 laura

As "Newly Weds"

      So, as stated in the "about me section" Darrin and I were married June 17th, 2011 in the Salt Lake City Temple!  The feelings we felt in the temple were indescribable! At least for me (laura) it's hard to put to words the amazingness of being inside the temple.  Of course we were nervous and excited, but being in the temple just gave me so much peace and joy, that it really didn't hit me as a reality that we were really getting married until we walked out of the temple, hand-in-hand, and heard our family cheering and clapping for us.  Being married for eternity in the temple was the best desicion I have ever made, and I'm sure Darrin would say the same.  Before we were engaged we both made it clear that it was in the temple or not at all, and I'm so happy we made that goal because I could not imagine a life without Darrin and I together for eternity.
      Everybody kept asking us, how we like the married life and how we like being "newly weds",  Well.... Now (almost two months later) it's great!! But the first month of our marraige was a little hard.  Just 3 days after the wedding my poor husband got really really sick, It took THREE visits to the doctors, TWO blood tests, ONE urine analysis, an X-ray, and changing his antibiotics THREE times to finally find out what he was sick with.  It turns out, on TOP of strep-throat (which was diagnosed on the first visit) Darrin also had PNEUMONIA! The first three weeks of being married were really hard to see my brand new husband suffering so much, but luckily we got him on the correct medication and he's doing much better.  After the whole sick episode we of course delt with the awkwardness of being able to share a bed together, and all that good stuff.  It's funny how a life time of "no" and "you have to stay away from eachother" can stick with you even after your allowed to now.  In my mind it was like, "how does a piece of paper all the sudden make it ok to sleep in the same bed with a boy" lol childish I know but I had a point. 
     NOW everything is so great!!! Darrin is better, and we're passed all the awkwardness, and now we're just enjoying life!  I couldn't ask for a better, more caring, more amazingly wonderful husband, to be with for "Time and All Eternity."  :)  well eternity.... Here, We, Come!! :)

LOVING LIFE!!