Week TWO Survey and Info for Week 3!

HELLO FRIENDS-

I can’t believe we are already done with week two! I’m so glad you are sticking with it and are still part of this wonderful group! How was your week of decluttering your life? How are the daily challenges influencing the way you feel every day?  Can you feel the excitement in the air? Working with you on this has been such a treat! Thank you for all that you are doing and for sharing it with us. It is so appreciated. I am excited to hear from you today! 

If you are NOT keeping track or sharing points with me… PLEASE still fill out the survey so we can at least see how you feel about the different tasks, and so we can learn from you too!! Just say “Hi” or something in the space where you are supposed to report your points. It also helps me to know how many people are still doing the challenge. Thx!

This week's ROTATING CHALLENGE: Remember who you are by looking back into your past. Each day this week spend a little time looking through old boxes, files, scrapbooks or piles of memories. Do you have a drawer where you saved notes, thank you cards, birthday cards, mother’s day (or father’s day) cards that people wrote you? Read through them. Do you have a baby book or pictures from when you were little? Get them out! Did you get a patriarchal blessing? Read it! (Give yourself 1 point for every day you work on this, or if you miss some days, but spend longer on other days, give yourself points accordingly…7 points possible max).

WHY THIS CHALLENGE? For the past several months I have been feeling like I should rekindle an old love of mine, drawing and art. But for some reason I kept hesitating and despite myself, I refused to get out my boxes of art supplies! Finally, one day after work, I just got them out! I drew a few pictures that were better than I thought they’d be after so many years of not practicing, but still I felt that something was holding me back and my new friend, Hillarie (who’s doing this challenge) suggested I do something a little more freeing, like a collage! I decided to try...but then I became stumped again. Ugh. Such a perfectionist. So, I messaged a dear friend of mine Melody Ross, who is an artist and the founder of an incredible group called the “Brave Girls Club” and she suggested that I get some inspiration by taking one of her online art classes where I would make a Soul Book. WOW… this project was a huge answer to my specific prayer, “Help me see myself through your eyes.” I KNEW something special was happening even before I started the class, but I had no idea how special!

A "soul book" is a handmade book where you collage different pages with things that are special to you, old pictures, memories, along with beautiful ribbon, paper, beads, flowers, old jewelry, anything!  But most importantly, phrases of “Things I want my soul to remember.” For example, “I want to remember that once I was a little girl and I am still that little girl. I want to treat myself with that kind of kindness” or “I want to remember that every day is a brand new chance to start over” etc. She had 11 pages of phrases for you to choose from and I made some of my own too. My soul had been feeling pretty beaten up and sad when I started this book and there were lots of things it needed to remember. I had no idea how much I needed this!

I began looking through my baby books, mother’s day cards, reading stories from when I was little, reading notes that friends had dropped in the mail (many of you reading this have written me those notes that I read!- thank you!!). I can’t tell you how it fed my soul to see myself through other people’s eyes besides my own! I read and reread my patriarchal blessing too. So important! There were so many things about myself that I had never known, or had completely forgotten. I had a very spiritual experience looking at pictures of my little newborn baby face. I love babies and when I looked into that baby’s eyes, I could see the baby that our Father in Heaven saw and loved so dearly. That girl is still here, she is me and He still loves her just as much! I was able to see myself the same way I look at my children too. I still adore them as much as when they were newborn babies fresh from heaven. What a tender moment that was.

I also discovered other fun things! I remembered that I loved art, even as a little child. My mom said that I would tell people that I was going to be an artist when I grew up (I remember, as a teenager, telling people that I wanted to be a mom when I grew up, but that I was also going to have my own art studio in my house) but I had NO idea I had been telling people about my artist dreams as young as six!! I also learned that not only did I sing around the house every day (I knew that part), but I danced too! I found a drawing that I had done of myself, drawings that others did of me, and it was such a blessing to see the little girl, who hadn’t been beaten down by life, the girl who hadn’t been beating herself up yet, the little girl who had big hopes and dreams, and to see that she was still in me. I know Heavenly Father was a big part of this experience and He wants me to see myself clearly, and love myself too. It felt kind of weird, selfish, and awkward at first spending so much time on myself, and my book about myself, but we are supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves, and we are SO MUCH better at everything when we actually DO love ourselves.  We don’t stop serving and helping others while we learn who we are, but when we do both, there is so much more to love (a great talk on this subject coming your way this week!).

So… working on my soul book, and wanting to help others have a similar, uplifting experience, was one thing that led me to create this new challenge. But instead of a soul book (though I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take her class!) we are making a tree of life art project. So this week, while you are looking back through the years, remembering who you are, and seeing yourself through other people’s eyes, think of ways you could incorporate what you are learning and discovering into your tree project. Please jot down your thoughts, feelings and experiences in your little notebook you bought in week one! I can’t wait to hear about what you discover about yourselves. I am attaching some some pages from my soul book (which is still a work in progress) and a few baby pictures that really spoke to me. 

p.s. If you don’t have baby books or old items, consider calling or emailing your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, old friends, and just talk to them about when you were little. See if they remember any funny family stories, or things about you from your childhood. You’d probably be surprised at what they might remember, or what memories of yours they might jog. At my high school reunion people were telling me stories about myself that I had completely forgotten! It was sooo fun!

Also- some of us might have some less than fun memories from when we were younger, or regret things that we did. Remember two things: Children under the age of 8 can not sin, and are not accountable for anything they did. AND the Savior has atoned for all of our sins, no matter what, we just need to go to God and ask for forgiveness, do our best to fix things and be better... and it's time to forgive ourselves too and move on!! How wonderful is that?!

I hope you LOVE this week’s challenge and spend some time on YOU! It’s OK! I know you won’t all turn into giant egomaniacs!

Now… It’s SURVEY TIME!! Go to this link and take the survey and see the MYSTERY CHALLENGE too!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EEoAccK1p0HYcGcFXwmjAKKmzZTBBgv1GYIvxwepXT4/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link

I love you all and can’t wait to hear your thoughts. There is a spot to share your thoughts and encouragement with the group and a spot to just share with me. Have a wonderful week!!

Lots of love!

Sarah 

480-236-2326

www.treeoflifechallenge.blogspot.com

Never Alone

Lovely people-

The video is uploaded to youtube.  http://youtu.be/8H8-rBGdOfU The story behind the video is below: Enjoy.

This is kind of an unconventional way to share a song but it came to me this morning and I've been wanting to share this song with you since the beginning. This song was sung for me by Kelsey Adams and her friend, Cossette Fife after my sister, Liza, passed away. Kelsey was a good friend of my daughter, Tess, and she came to Liza's funeral where we reconnected. A few days later she told me she had a surprise for me and brought the CD of this song she recorded just for me, just to heal my heart and give me a most important message, that I wasn't alone. I can't tell you how many times this song came on at just the right time and helped me hold on. What a blessing Kelsey is in my life!

When I got the awful news about my sister taking her own life, my mother couldn't be found. It turned out she was at the temple that morning, praying for her children. My husband, my friend Shauna, and I were waiting for my mom at her house (my father was out of town in Utah, surrounded by several of his other children) When she pulled into the driveway I opened her car door, knelt down at her side and carefully delivered the devastating news. My mother immediately told me of this painting of the Savior that she had found while on her recent mission with my dad in Portugal. She had found a copy of it in the church magazine, The Liahona, and it caught her attention because the girl sitting on the Savior's lap is wearing the same exact dress that she had all seven of her daughters wear on their first day of kindergarten! Even Liza, the youngest, wore it, but she was so independent and stubborn she only put it on for pictures and she would only do that because my mom bribed her with a trip to the store to buy pretty  much anything she wanted (silver bracelets and a black horse). To us, the message of this incredible tender mercy of the matching dresses was to let us know that our precious Liza is safe again in the Savior's arms. An especially comforting understanding when you lose someone to suicide. This last month I found a photocopy of the picture with me in the same dress, reminding me that I am just as precious to him as well. Then I found this full size print of the same painting in our primary closet at church (Kim Robinson told me it was in there)! I took it home for safe keeping. :)

The big picture on the piano of the little girl in the dress is Liza, the smaller one is me. I wish I had a picture of each of you in this dress or of you holding a little white airplane, but each of us is just as special and treasured by our Father in Heaven and His beloved Son.

The little angels were given to me by sweet friends when Liza passed and they remind me of my friends that are angels on this earth who take care of me, and all the angels we have fighting for us on the other side.

The last two books I found at Target on Wed. night in their little gift section. They were side by side and needless to say, have the perfect message on the front for our group. I'll share more of the inside with you later, but aren't they awesome?! We are not alone! We are blessed!

The picture of Christ on my wall is simply my favorite picture of Him, the Good Shepherd. The serious yet small smile on his face makes me so happy and I love to think of Him smiling as he wraps his arms around me again someday.

I hope this helps you remember that we are watched over, even in our most painful trials. The Savior has felt everything we feel, have felt and ever will feel, and he did that so He can know how best to help us through each day, and so we will know that we don't suffer alone. I truly love you with all my heart. The Savior does too. You are etched onto his hands. Did you notice the little girl is looking at his scar on his hands? She seems to be asking, "You did this for me?"

1 Nephi 21: 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

 14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

 15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

The video is uploaded to youtube. ENJOY! http://youtu.be/8H8-rBGdOfU

A little love from the group!

Friends- 

I hope you have a great Thursday and you feel God's love in all you do. Choose this day to believe that he loves you and to see all the beautiful things you see, feel and hear, as a manifestation of his love for you.  He filled the world with wonder because he wants you to be happy because you are his precious child. 

Here are some more lovely thoughts and encouragement from our awesome group:

I think things are going great! I have been praying to understand the scriptures better and retain what I learn so I can use it when needed instead of seeming like I don't know my stuff. Reading about the tree of life this week really impacted me and I felt like I can remember all the details and could easily strike up a conversation with a member or non member and have confidence in what I am talking about. - Trellany

I studied my patriarchal blessing. I found phrases in it that related to ideas I had read in the scriptures this week and had written in my notebook. It helped me remember Heavenly Father's love for me. :) – Lachelle

No ah ha moments - just oh darn moments - didn't exercise again!- Dave (I love the honesty!!) 

I'm enjoying this. I've added something to my simple walking for exercise routine. I hang from our 'tree' for several seconds, to 'stretch' myself a little (something I used to do). - Mary Anne

I was just reminded AGAIN that when I put God first everything else in my life goes better and I'm able to see His hand in every aspect of my life.- Amy

Prayer has been my life line. Lots of changes going on and I get overwhelmed easily. I really love that I can take a break and take a few minutes to pray for help or even just share what I'm grateful for. I always feel calmer and happier after that. - Kari

need to learn to manage through the distractions. the week starts good, but as soon as something interupts the plan, everything falls apart. Its very similar to how often we all read the first chapter of Nephi. But as soon as something interupts a cadence, the whole plan gets tossed. - Marc

I love this challenge. It has helped me be accountable for the things that I am doing. So often we think we're doing ok on prayers, scriptures, etc and reality hits when you are actually tracking it. We can all do better! My hope is that we will all see that we are doing is GREAT! We are divine children of our Heavenly Father. He loves each and everyone of us. He knows how to help us, IF we come unto Him. His love is infinite and we can not even being to imagine how much He loves us and wants us to accomplish all He has sent us here to do! He is our cheerleader, Always!! - Maralyn

Even though I am not sharing my points with everyone I still feel I have accountability and need to do my best. When I have been tired, busy, or whatever it is I make the time to do the daily's.- Dan

I love focusing on the vision of the Tree of Life. I have found so many allusions to it this week. Thank you!- Maryjane

I love hearing others insights, thoughts on what they are reading/feeling. Great questions asked, great comments. That helps me grow. So, I would just encourage everyone to not be afraid to share.- Spring

It is amazing to me that when I am seeking truth and light how anxious Heavenly Fathers is to bless me with greater light and knowledge. It seems everywhere I turn there are gems for me to pick up! Every lesson, scripture, conversation are meant for me; He is standing there waiting to grant me what I need to become the person I want to be. The last few verses of Alma 32 struck me when it repeated more than once that it is by diligence and patience that we will taste the fruit. Patience and diligence! My tree will whither and go away if I don't daily make time to nourish it- forever. It really always comes down to the basics- prayer and scripture study-Always! - Caralee

Things didn't go as well as hoped because I was distracted this first week by boy troubles, if you know what I mean. But I think it will be better this week and from now on!! - Crystal

Lots of love!

Sarah 

RESULTS WEEK ONE!

Treachers- (those who reach for trees of life)

You are some amazing human beings (or human "beans" as we said as kids)! I have so thoroughly enjoyed reading all your thoughts and messages to me.  I want to say "YOU'RE VERY WELCOME!" to all of the nice "Thank you's" I got in the survey. You made my heart happy! I love this challenge so much and Thank YOU for doing this with me. I really enjoy learning and growing with you more than you know, and it wouldn't work without YOU! 

Please don't anyone apologize to me anymore for not having a great week with your points! Even the fact you are trying some of these things on some days, or just doing your best is GREAT! Tomorrow is a new day, next week is a new week and sometimes life is just plain CRAZY!!

It was also quite the reality check to read about so many tough things going on in your lives right now. Some have moved, have TONS of little children, a death in the family, struggling teenagers, boy problems, and many unseen struggles. It seems like so many are holding tight to their prayer and their scriptures (their Father and their Savior) for strength and peace but also noticing how things like getting out and exercising can bring a surprising amount of help too! YES!! The Lord timed this just right to help out his precious children.

Results! 94 people started the challenge and 50 people took the survey! I missed one girl on the list, so she couldn't take it, but I'm sure she's doing great! There are many I'm sure who are following along, but not wanting to do the survey and that's ok too! We are all in different places! 6 of you got perfect 40's this week and there were 28 people in the thirties! That's pretty darn awesome! :) Do NOT beat yourself up if you are in the roaring twenties or the crazy teens! Haha!

In case you forgot, the MYSTERY CHALLENGE this week is to BE MORE FRIENDLY TO STRANGERS (and everyone)! Look UP and say hello to those you pass by or chat with the grocery clerk or compliment someone on their outfit, their eyes, their smile!

Next I'm going to share the charts with your answers from the survey and then about half the comments that you left on the survey to share with the group (I'll share the other half in a few days). What fun these are to read and I appreciate you sharing so much. I know my faith and testimony were strengthened that these are TRUE principles! Have a great week and get RID OF THAT CLUTTER in your life! xoxoxo

(Weekly tracking sheet is attached. Thanks again Janell)!

MYSTERY CHALLENGE: Be a little friendlier and more outgoing! Will you do this?

Yes! Great idea. I'll get out of my comfort zone!	48	96%
No. I like looking at the floor and staying quiet.	0	0%
I'm not sure yet, I'll see how it goes and if I survive this real human contact with strangers!	2	4%

Which challenge was hardest for you this week?

Praying twice daily	5	10%
Scripture reading daily	9	18%
Exercise 3x weekly	17	34%
Eating healthier	13	26%
Rotating challenge (focus on prayer)	6	12%

Which challenge had the most positive influence on you this week?

Prayer	18	36%
Scripture	12	24%
Exercise	6	12%
Eating Healthy	3	6%
Rotating Challenge (focus on prayer)	10	20%
Mystery Challenge (get small notebook)	1	2%

How much effort did you put into the challenge this week?

5- I was on top of every challenge!	7	14%
4- I really tried, and I'm getting there	22	44%
3- Did ok, gonna try harder next week	16	32%
2- Am having a hard time getting this all done	4	8%
1- Not really even trying.	1	2%

Has this challenge been a blessing in your life so far?

Yes, I am feeling a little better already!	33	66%
Sort of, but I have hopes it will get better	13	26%
not really yet...	4	8%
This is killing me!	0	0%

Do you wish we were reporting our points to the whole group?

No, I like the way it's set up.	35	70%
Yes, I'm more motivated when the point totals are shared	2	4%
I don't really care either way.	13	26%

Simply saying your prayers and studying the scriptures daily adds a HUGE amount of the spirit, at least for me. I can tell I'm a lot happier when I do those things.- Jamee

It was pointed out today in RS that we know "the Lord is aware of us individually", however the devil is also aware of us individually. 

I've experienced this, this week. - Charlotte

I found that I thought about the challenge each time I prayed, read my scriptures and saw a beautiful tree. I also found that I had more distractions this week than usual. Like all things, we just need to set the time and do it. It was hard but I'm not going to give up yet. - Sharon

Great. It's a little challenging to get into the habit of "reporting" my progress, but I really appreciate your effort to organize this and believe it will touch and help change many lives.- Carolyn

My problem, in the past, is that I didn't feel like I had accountability to anyone. Nobody seemed to care... or at least I didn't feel accountable to them if they did. This challenge has helped me to check myself a few times each day and remind me to pray, read and feel. I posted my accountability chart in a few different places as to remind me of my commitments, which really helped. I gave up Diet Coke for a whole week!!!, which I thought would be really tough, but it really wasn't. My biggest challenge was exercise. I've lead a sedentary lifestyle for way too long, and it's just tougher for me than I'd hoped. I'm committed to getting ALL 6 points this week, though!

I found I fell into routine praying rather than really praying. I did well for two days and then things flooded me. My emotions got the better of me and I went back to the comfort zone of not having to "feel". And I think that comfort zone blocked my openness to prayer. I am going to try each day and pray for the ability to handle missing my girls and feeling alone. I am going to pray for the ability to handle my emotions. 

All other challenges were great. I ate healthier and I did not buy a single soda! My challenge there is to not drink it while at work. I am not eliminating it all at once but so far it has helped. 

I read scripture every day- some from the Bible and some rom the Book of Mormon and some from another spiritual source. 

It has been overall very rewarding. Thank you Sarah!!!! - Hillarie

I'm struggling with the eating healthy and exercise! I have been in a funk for a while and I know a lot has to do with the move and Nic being gone at work 13 hour days 6 days a week. I'm letting my emotions run that part of my life but I am going to do better this week!!!! I know that when I excercise I feel better about me and have more energy and heaven knows I need that with my four little ones! So tomorrow starts a new week and I WILL do better!! - Jessica Despain

Enjoying the facebook group as you can tell by my posts. I'm a "think out loud" sort of person.- Jennie

My roommate let me borrow this book called "Face to Face" by Michael Wilcox and it has seriously changed my life! It is all about prayer and I seriously can't even explain how amazing it is. I'm not even finished with it yet! But I've received many little promptings because of that book this week and I wrote them all down in my little journal that we were supposed to get :) It was truly an amazing experience. - Julie (I can't wait to read this book you mentioned!!)

This challenge could not have come at a better time. I really needed to make some changes in my life and this was a boast to do that. I really thought the Health aspect would be the hardest (it was). However with the prayers and Spiritual focus I was blessed so much. I felt Fathers love so much this past week.- Steve

Lots of love!

Sarah 

480-236-2326

www.treeoflifechallenge.blogspot.com

Finishing up week ONE and Starting week TWO

Declutter your life- Week 2 

How are you all doing? I am so excited to FINALLY send out this email and find out how your new adventure is going!! I hope your week was a success, in that you felt a little lighter, a little more purposeful and a little happier! I hope you are feeling closer to your Father in Heaven and his love. I have gone back and forth between feeling totally inspired and excited, then feeling the adversary trying his usual tricks to discourage me from growing. But good is definitely winning! 

Before we get to the survey, let’s talk about the rotating challenge for this week…DECLUTTER your life! We are going to ask ourselves two questions. Where are the minutes in my life going? Are there negative things in my life that are keeping me from feeling the Spirit, and God’s love as strongly as I could be? God’s love is constant and always around us. It’s up to us to reach out to him! His arm is already outstretched. What is in our way? 

I made 4 new years resolutions this year and within 24 hours I had already broken two of them (no m&m’s or soda)!! Haha! Oops! But the other two are going strong. The first goal I set is to go to the temple once a week (a huge blessing…and so far, I’ve done it!) and the second was to declutter my life! 

That night, I deleted all the games from my phone. There were only a few (Words with Friends, Trivia Crack, Scramble with Friends) but I found that my life was being sucked away in 2, 4 and 6 minute intervals. That stupid little red badge in the corner of the icon was always telling me it was my turn and it was also giving me a little stress thinking that the other person was waiting for me to take my turn. Deleting those games felt SO good and I haven’t missed them at all! I’m sure my friends understand why I disappeared (I hope)! I also began to realize how much of my time I was wasting watching TV shows in the evenings when hubby was at work and kids were doing homework. I love to watch decorating and cooking shows and Shark Tank but I was getting sick of watching other people create beautiful things and live out their dreams instead of living out my own! So, I’ve cut down significantly on those things as well and I’m so happy with the positive, creative and uplifting things I’ve replaced them with, especially doing this challenge with you all! I know that this challenge would NOT have come together if I hadn’t cut those things out of my life. 

I know sometimes we need a little break and to relax and unwind, for SURE… and there are days, months (years) where we are coping with extremely difficult situations and we are just in survival mode, and that’s just fine! However, sometimes we are just in a rut, or being lazy! It really hit me that our time really incredibly valuable and every morning we get to decide if we are going to be productive, positive, and creative, or if we are just going to get by. 

Maybe you are doing a great job with your time management, but you have cluttered areas in your home, car or office that could use some attention. Being in clean, organized surroundings can also help us feel the Spirit more clearly.

Even more importantly, do you have big issues that need to be addressed? Are you watching or doing things that are blocking you from feeling the Holy Ghost and God’s love as fully as you could? Do you have underlying emotional issues that are hurting your spirit? Get rid of them!! What are you waiting for? For years and years I suffered from bulimia, thinking that since it wasn’t explicitly a “sin” that it wasn’t hurting anyone. It was just a personal problem/issue/decision. I never knew how much it was hurting my spirit until I was finally free!! All that time I thought I was as happy as I could be. I had no idea how much that one thing was holding me back and dampening my joy. But I didn’t have to wait until I was healed to feel the Spirit working on me and to feel God’s profound love for me, but I did have to start taking steps in the right direction. With a lot of prayer and faith (though there were many times I thought I was a lost cause) my steps led me to a full and lasting recovery. You deserve to be free of anything that is holding you back! This week could be a big step in helping you be free! You deserve it and you have help, lots of it! All of the things we are doing in this challenge will help you with any struggle, but don’t be afraid to get professional help too. I had several counselors  who listened to my struggles, and taught me truths that were essential to my recovery (and went on medication for a year). I know the Lord led me to them and I know he can help you know what your next step will be. You can do it! (I am always available to talk about ANYTHING, ANYTIME if you need a friend. I mean it! 480-236-2326)

Give yourself a point for every day this week that you don’t do the things that used to waste your time, or distract you from the Spirit, from bigger, better goals (I REALLY hope you will keep this up the rest of the 12 weeks!). You could give yourself all 7 points if you make a big step forward in getting help with a problem. Maybe tell someone about your struggle (a spouse, a friend, a parent, a bishop). Set an appointment with a counselor or follow through on promptings you’ve received about how to get better. It will feel so good!!

A SCRIPTURE for you this week: While in the temple on Thursday, I was praying about all of you doing the challenge and wanted to know what Heavenly Father would have you know this week. He totally inspired me to look at Alma chapter 32 (Book of Mormon). I already knew this was a great chapter on faith and planting the seed, but my heart skipped a beat as I read about “THE TREE OF LIFE!” I didn’t remember that being in there! Please read this chapter, especially the last 5 or 10 verses where it talks about the TREE, where it is, and how it gets there and how to take care of it! I was kind of freaking out about how perfect this chapter was for us and how much our loving Father is aware of our little group. He is definitely interested in what we are doing and is cheering us on! I want to talk more about what you learn from this and how you can apply it to your life later on in the week. Please read it!! 

It’s been so fun to meet some of you this week and visit with old friends doing the challenge and what they have experienced so far. I see some great things on the horizon!

Go to this link and take the SURVEY! Please complete by midnight tomorrow (Monday) night, so I can get the results out on Tuesday! 

The MYSTERY challenge is IN the survey! Good luck this week!! Keep saying your prayers and you will have help! I love you so much and so does our Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost!

Lots of love!

Sarah 

480-236-2326

www.treeoflifechallenge.blogspot.com

A Silly Poem for YOU!

Hello tree huggers! Haha!

I hope things are going well this week! I've loved discussing some wonderful aspect of Lehi's dream with those in the Facebook group. If you're not on there, come join us, search for "Tree of Life challenge" and we will add you. It's fun. So... when we were little my dad wrote us silly "Roses are Red" poems for Valentine's Day, and I write them for my kids and... I know it's a little early but I wrote you a fun poem today. Hope it puts a smile on your face! Keep up the hard work!

 

Three days of the challenge

Have come and gone

If you’re craving chocolate

You’re not the only one!

Don’t worry about tomorrow

Just enjoy today

And know that love and peace

Are coming your way

Ninety-one new friends

Are cheering for you

As you get rid of old habits

And try to make new

I think about you all day

And write you emails in my head

I want you to find joy

And be spiritually fed

But I have great faith

That this all will work out

Because God’s watching over us,

Of that, there’s no doubt

He loves you so much

And he wants you to see

That you’re his precious child

And forever will be

Happy Groundhog Day!

Hello there! I guess Phil, the groundhog, says we'll have 6 more weeks of winter but it feels like spring is coming with all the love in the air around here! 

How are things going so far? I have heard some great conversations on Facebook about Lehi's dream. I love how Jennie Blaser pointed out that Lehi had wandered lost in the darkness for hours but as soon as he prayed, he was shown the tree of life. God is so good to us. We don't need to wait to pray, we can start right now. NO matter who we are or where we are on our path! Sharon Buckley shared a beautiful thought and picture she made. I will attach it to this email. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and creativity. Also... Janell DeWitt made a cool new tracking sheet that you can  use for each week. She has the weekly rotating challenge and mystery challenge on there to help you remember each day what you are working on. She is so talented and I appreciate her going the extra mile!

One thought- There is a big jerk out there who does not want you to do this challenge. The last thing satan wants is for you to feel God's love and to see yourself in God's eyes and fulfill your potential on earth! He is going to try and block your path with anything he can think of, make you feel frustrated, discouraged, or just tired. Please recognize his traps for what they are and reject him!! You can pray to be protected from his influence and his temptations. He is no match for you and the Lord. You are strong and you can do hard things!

Alright... go forth and conquer!

Lots of love!

Sarah