YSA Conference-Part III

Alright, here it is! The caboose of my weekend! I should mention that when church started they said that they had about 950 people in attendance. WOW!!!

Sunday came and I was sad because 1. I knew we had to head home at the end of it 2. We had like 6 hours of church left before we had to drive 4 hours to get home 3. We had a 4 hour drive ahead of us! Haha! 

So we got to church and found a seat, unfortunately it was a hard seat, for the Sacrament portion of church but it helps you stay away right!? There was a choir that they pulled together the day before that was awesome! There were 2 speakers who were on the host committee and then Elder Munns of the Seventy spoke to us for a few minutes. My favorite quote from what he said was "Jesus Christ knows who you are, the more you come to know him, the more you will trust him" and "Christ is our advocate with the Father, it is he who convinces Him that we are good enough." I love it when people remind me how much the Lord and the Savior really do know who I am, they know that I am Alyse Ladle and that I'm important. 

We then broke into Relief Society/Priesthood. To give you a ratio of guys to girls, the girls FILLED the chapel, the first AND second overflows...while the guys took just the gym and the stage! HA! Good times. Anyways Sister Munns talked to us ladies. Her talk was awesome. She started out with someone holding a glass and asked her a few minutes into it if her arm hurt and then she likened that to us holding onto things that we don't need to and asked us how we can "put the glass down". 1. Start the day with prayer, and not just prayer but meaningful prayer. To have a real conversation with Heavenly Father, to have constant gratitude and to slow down and "be still and know that He is God". To read our scriptures daily to be able to know who God is. They truly want what is best for us and would never want us to forget who they are and who we are, literal daughters of God. It's important to always remember that "women are the Lord's secret weapon in the gospel". 

Then we had an hourish for lunch...well the line by the time I got in it went from the pavilion across the parking lot and wrapped in the hallway of the church building. I was about half way through the line when my friends walked past with their food and I said "bump this, I'm tired of waiting" haha! Plus it was hot as all get out.  

Then it was time for the final portion of the conference with Elder Bednar, Brother Wilcox and Sister Dew. When I took notes during this I didn't put who said what so I can't tell you who said what...but still they're all great anyways! I do remember Elder Bednar saying "This is the greatest season in the Lord's church" meaning like Sister Dew that He put us here because He knew He could trust us. He also talked about President Hinckley and how he would always say that he was sad that he would miss everything as it was happening. He also talked about how we need to be more like the Savior and turn out to help others and to know how to do this to read the Gospels in the New Testament and 3rd Nephi. Then if you feel like you're having trouble with things he said "Plead for help on your knees, get up and go to work"  as President Hinckley used to say. As a person who the regrets and what-if's are basically engrained in my brain I think it was Brad Wilcox who said "Don't be held captive by the "if only's" from the past and from regrets". "Don't deny who you are (A child of God), once you do that you open the door for temptations to grab ahold of you." When the world points a mocking finger at us, we have to be able to look past them and know that we know what is really important and that's the Lord. There were some other things that they talked about but this is already too long (aren't you glad I broke this into 3 parts?!) But the thing that caused tears to be brought to my eyes was when at the end Elder Bednar evoked an Apostolic blessing on each of us. It was so cool to know that unlike Conference he was just talking to us, the YSA in the south east. I personally could feel that blessing that he gave, and even as I type this it brings tears to my eyes. It was so amazing to be part of this thing and who knows if they'll do it again next year or if I'll be able to go, but I hope they do and I hope I get to, unless I'm married (not going to hold my breath but you never know) then I'll be happy to skip it!!!

I'll sum up my weekend with my testimony (kind of weird to do on a blog, but hey you never know who will read this!). I know even more now than I ever did that God lives, He loves me. I know He does and that He answers prayers, if He didn't then I wouldn't have gotten a single thing out of this weekend. My Savior loves me as well. His ultimate sacrifice is proof of his love for me and the rest of the world. I'm grateful for wonderful parents who love me enough to raise me in the true church...and who let me borrow their car so I could make to down there and back safe! I walked away from this weekend with a renewed faith and sense of worth and that means more to me than any missed slow songs that were played at the dances. I can "do hard things" again. 

Sorry this has been such a long post!!!

YSA Conference-Part II!

Alright here is the Saturday Part of the Conference!

 Bekah and I got up and got ready and headed back to the stake center for the morning classes from Brad Wilcox (who was Robby's mission president, and we grew up listening to talks on tape by him!!) and Sheri Dew (the President & CEO of Deseret Book). Brother Wilcox was up first. He talked a lot about how as LDS people we might feel like we are missing things because we have "limitations" and that we don't have as much experience that others may have. How you have to learn how to give and take and you don't want to be the person who just takes. My favorite quote from his talk was "We take the sacrament week after week and weakness after weakness and there is someone and something in place to catch us when we fall" His talk was great. He talked about when you start to feel like you don't get to experience as much stuff as all of your non-LDS friends just remember that when they smoke, or have sex, or drink or do whatever they're doing, they aren't doing it to feel better, they're doing it to feel something. We already have that "something" that they're missing. 

Then Sheri Dew spoke. I think I learned a lot during her talk. She talked about knowing who we are, who the Savior is, how we can receive personal revelation and learning what is in the Temple. Off the bat she said something that struck me "The Lord will not force us to learn, we authorize learning by asking and showing up to places like Church and the Temple and actually being there in mind, body and Spirit" She said so many profound things. "The Lord wouldn't hang on to those Spirits who He knew He couldn't count on, or those that He knew couldn't hang on" The Lord knew that we as the Latter Day generation would be tough and that the world would be out of control, so He needed those people that He KNEW He could count on. Which is so interesting to me, that I am one of those that He trusts with the gospel. My favorite quote that she gave was: 

"When you enter the Temple, you leave the world of make believe"

After the broadcast (yes, unfortunately they weren't actually in Orlando, but still!) They had a series of workshops that you could pick from and go to. Bekah and I decided to go listen to President Halverson who is the Orlando Temple President.  He, obviously, talked about the Temple. Signs and Symbols outside and inside the temple. The main thing I got out of his talk was when he showed this picture (well a picture of just the sign)

These signs are outside of the Oakland Temple. He said "how often to we pray and our minds are going 70 MPH, or when we go to the temple our minds are going 70 MPH, Things will start to mean something more when you slow down and focus on the Lord". That statement was so very profound to me. I absolutely LOVED his talk. It made me think of the things in my life that I need to slow down and really think about before I do them. 

After President Halverson's talk, Bekah and I headed to the Temple so we could get another session done. Oh my heck, with Pres. Halverson's words fresh in my mind, it was the BEST session I've ever done. It was amazing! Then we headed back to the Stake Center and everyone was kind of doing their own thing and we decided to go get some Twisty Treat, which if you've been to Orlando and haven't had Twisty Treat, you're totally missing out! So a group of us went and got some ice cream and then went back and they had a luau with hula dancers and a flame thrower! It was really cool! I would have gotten it on video...but my phone sucks. bad! Then there was another dance and then it was time for bed! Thankfully this one didn't go to til midnight and we were able to turn in semi early. 

Alright this is the end of Part II! Tomorrow I'll post about the Sunday activities.

YSA Conference-Part 1!

So this past weekend was the long anticipated South East YSA Conference! The conference consisted of:

  

5 Cities 

(Orlando, Atlanta, Hattiesburg, Nashville, Charolette)

10 States

102 Stakes

A LOT of YSAs 18-33

"No More Strangers" 

Ephesians 2:19

This weekend was such a whirlwind but it was so much fun! On Friday I met my friends Bekah and Marcus at the church building to head down so we could fit a session or 2 in at the Temple before the dance. It was such a great session! I was able to see the new Endowment video and it was so great! After sitting in the Celestial Room until pretty much everyone was gone just thinking about things I decided I would either 1. try to do another session or 2. go to sealings. I couldn't find my friend Bekah to start another session so I decided that I would go see if they needed help with sealings. It was really neat, as I walked into the room the older gentlemen stood up and got ready and as we were walking to the sealing room one of the brothers said "we're lucky you're here right now, you need a woman to seal these boys to their mothers" and even now just thinking about those words brings tears to my eyes. That because of me, those mothers (and fathers) can be with their sons for time and all eternity. Such an amazing feeling! I got through 5 and I had to stand up because I started getting dizzy (for those who don't know, the last time I did Sealings...I fainted. I need to remember to eat before doing those next time!) and the sealer didn't want me to faint so we called it a day. We left the temple and grabbed some food and headed to the hotel to relax before the dance. 

Finally 7:30 came and we headed out to the Stake Center that is right across the street from the Temple. If you haven't seen the Temple lit p at night, you sure are missing it! It's beautiful! We got there at about 7:50 and almost all the parking spots were taken! Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures but that's okay. I got asked to dance...once. Haha! No biggie, there were SO many people there, on Saturday morning it was announced that over 700 people had checked in on Friday. Impressive if you ask me! Also I know what you're thinking, over 700 people and NOBODY asked me to dance?! What were they all thinking?! I looked CUTE too! Haha! At this point in my life, I learned to not be disappointed by the fact that I wasn't asked to dance. I still had a great time! The dance got over at midnight but my feet were barking well before that! So we dropped Marcus off at our friend Matt's house and Bekah and I headed to the hotel and we went to bed! 

Speaking of going to bed, I think I'm going to head that way now! I'll do part 2! Stay tuned!!!

19/30: If I could live anywhere where would it be and why

Well, I'm back from my sabbatical...ha! I figured that while I was watching Breaking Amish: LA, I figured I would update this mess. 

July has been insanely busy. Work has been so crazy as well and I've been doing SO much babysitting and have been missing going to the gym. I had the brilliant idea of waking up early and doing a little Jillian Michaels...yea let me tell you how that has worked out...NOT AT ALL. Sucks. Remember when I said I was going to go to the gym every day so I can look super fly for the YSA conference that is NEXT weekend? Yea, epic fail. Anywho, I guess it is what it is. I'm going down to the Temple next Friday and am going to spend the WHOLE day there. I've missed going, since it's been like 9ish months, probably longer since I've been. My good friend Erin is coming back from Utah in a few weeks and I'm hoping I can talk her into going down with me, like a lot, which I don't see that being a problem! Anyways, the conference is going to be amazing, Friday is a dance (blah) and then Saturday there will be a broadcast from SLC with Sherri Dew and Brad Wilcox (my little brother's mission President!!!) and then some other workshops and stuff and then on Sunday is (probably a broadcast) with Elder Munns of the Seventy...then a talk by Elder Bednar. MAN! I cannot wait! Forget the boys, I'm going so I can be spiritually uplifted by some GREAT speakers!

Okay, so the next topic from this list: If I could live anywhere, where would it be and why.

I LOVE living in Florida, except during this monsoon season! And there are a few places that are on my "bucket list" of places to go before I die but if I could live ANYWHERE and money was no object, I've always wanted to live in Australia. It just LOOKS like it's a way fun place to live and I don't think I've ever seen an ugly Aussie.  Plus I would like a pet Koala Bear. I have a "bamboo tree" in front of my desk at work that it could live on. I don't know what it is about Australia that has drawn me to it, it's most likely the accent but the culture is really neat. Despite being home to some of the deadliest jelly fish in the world, I just won't go in the water! 

Well up next: 3 Significant Childhood Memories.

18/30: Forgivness

Hold onto your hats for this one!

 

In high school there was a girl who was a couple of grades younger than I, who was also LDS and I never got along with her, she had a brother who was my age and just as nice as can be. I always felt like she was mean to me and just didn't like me. If you know me its kind of a big deal when I think people don't like me, it makes me sad! Plus, I'm an extremely sensitive person to begin with so with this and that put together I was kind a wreck in high school.

 

To give you an idea of what kinds of things she did I'll give you a couple of examples...

1.We were driving to school from seminary and the person she was riding with had just passed my big old van that I was stuck with driving and out of the blue she leans out of the car she was in and threw stuff at my car, I think it was candy or a bunch of somethings plastic. I know that it sounds trival but when you are just driving down the road doing nothing to provoke this, I was hurt by it. I had done nothing, that I was aware of, for this to happen to. She apologized after I asked her why she did it but in my heart I couldn't and didn't know how to forgive her.

 

2. My Senior year, you're supposed to be SOO happy right and excited and having a good time cause you're almost done with the torture, right?! Well--one day I was sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch when these younger people came up to me and asked me if I was Alyse Ladle and I said yes and one of them said that their friend had recieved a note from "me" saying that she needed to stay away from her boyfriend because he was mine. Well I thought it was just a big mix up but after thinking about it they said my last name and well I was the only Alyse Ladle in the whole school. My goal was to clear my name from the madness because it wasn't me who wrote the note and I just wanted to talk to this younger girl. At the time it seemed like a BIG deal-this girl who had wronged me before was the ONLY connection to the letter recipient and myself. Who else would do it, and to this day I don't know who exactly wrote the letter but in my mind it was always her. I remember getting home that day and when my mom asked me how my day was I just burst out in tears because I, again, had done nothing to her or anyone to deserve this. So a couple of days later after Seminary my mom, myself, her mom and herself "talked" and she said she didn't have anything to do with it, and because I just wanted it to be over with I said okay and tried to let it go. Try as I might to forgive, I just couldn't do it. I knew just as I know the sky is blue that it was her just trying to play a cruel joke on me.

 

Anyways, fast forward 11 years...yea I held on to it for that long. This year's YSA conference was coming up and I had mentioned to my dad, who is the counselor over the YSAs, that I would like to help out and he told the high council member working with the YSA reps that I could help and it turns out that this girl was basically kind of running the show. My dad asked me if I would be okay working with her and I told him it would be fine. Well the other person who was supposed to be running the conference with her was not there pretty much the whole time and despite being sick the whole weekend, I was there and was able to spend a little time with her helping her set up and whatnot. After it was all said and done, I was driving home and I called my mom and was talking to her and I told her that Heavenly Father knew that I needed to let it go and so He put us together and had us working together. I don't know if she will ever know that I really held a grudge against her for all those years but I did and it felt like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders when I could say out loud "she's been forgiven" and truly know it in my heart. I don't know why it took so long, probably pride but I am grateful that the Atonement helps us heal and realize that things in the past are just that, in the past.

 

"Forgivness is a gife you give to yourself" Suzanna Somers

 

Up next: If you could live anywhere where would it be and why.

17/30: Good

To see exactly what the heck all these posts are about go here,

17-What is 1 thing I wish I was good at. There are a lot of things I was wish I was better at!

So as I've mentioned (like a million times already) I LOVE to sing. I wish I could sing better! When I was in chorus I was a 1st soprano and with practice and training I was able to hit a high C. Good times! It's been 11 years and well I struggle to hit anything on the top part of the treble clef! I was actually thinking about this earlier today that I would love to take voice lessons. 

Maybe one day I'll be able to afford voice AND piano lessons! Like if I could, I would be able to sing like Carrie Underwood...or my sister-in-law! Brittany has such a pretty voice, maybe I'll be like Ursula and steal her voice! WATCH OUT! Haha, just kidding...kind of!

Up next: What was the most difficult thing you have had to forgive

This video is hilarious! He either makes this face when I say "give me kisses"  or leans towards me and opens his mouth for one of those wet kisses. I just need some kisses from my other sweet little guy, little Robby!

16/30: 5 Greatest Accomplishments

5 of my greatest accomplishments, a majority of them are Gospel related because I feel like that's where I grow the most!

1. My Faith-

Living in the south with all the Southern Baptists and Catholics and other religions can be tough! I was only one of about 6 in my grade growing up that were LDS so a majority of my friends were and are non-members. It gets tough when everyone around you is telling you how much fun it is to drink and "have a good time" and what not.

2. Graduating from Seminary AND Institute- 

3 out of 4 years in high school my mom was a Seminary teacher so of course I went and was able to graduate! When it came to going to Institute I hesitated when it came to going but after a few years it became natural to go (and I didn't have to wake up at 5:00 to go!!) My testimony grew immensely about the gospel at seminary and Institute!

3. Being Temple Worthy-

This is the best accomplishment I've made. A lot of people say it's really hard, but to me I don't think it's that hard. I would never do anything to compromise the covenants that I've made in the Temple at all.  I love being there and I can't wait to meet someone who loves me so much and is worthy as well to take me there so we can be sealed for time and all eternity!

4. Work-

When I turned 17 and I wanted to get my driver's license my parents told me that i needed to get a J-O-B to pay for the insurance on the car (ol Grey, RIP). So I got a job at Publix and worked there for 3.5 years!  Then when I got tired of that I looked for full time work and because I had been a cashier I thought hey I'll be good at being a teller. Well in 2004 I got a job at CCB and I've been there ever since. Going on 9 years--wow! Good times....! For not having a college degree I'd say that's pretty good!

5. Piano-

When I was probably 15 I decided that since I loved to sing I should probably learn to play the piano! And when my grandma passed away when I was 16 we were able to get her piano! It was the greatest blessing ever. I was able to teach myself to play without any lessons. I am no Beethoven or anything like that by any means but if I look at a piece of music I can at least right hand it on the piano! 

Up next: What do I wish I was good at!