"We are often amazed at how much Heavenly Father cares for us and wants us to be happy."

By Nayeli J. 

Whenever we have to make big important decisions, who do we turn to?  Who is always there to guide us if we want it?  

As a military family and parents of two with one on the way, we have had to make many important decisions in our life.  We are aware that the decisions we make could potentially make a big difference on the experiences that our family has, and ultimately on who we become.

Image from lds.org.

We always turn to the Lord in prayer, fasting, scripture study and also being sure to do our part (such as researching, talking to people with experience in that field, serving others, and renewing our covenants by partaking of the sacrament).

Our first move from out of college, was from Utah to Maryland, across the country.  As we looked for housing we enthusiastically and with faith included Heavenly Father in our decision making and tried our best to listen for guidance from Him through the Holy Ghost.

After much researching and talking to some students that had gone before us to this Medical School on base (USUHS), my husband flew out to find housing.  Taking lots of pictures and communicating with me over the phone, we felt that we should move to Germantown (about 20-30 min) north from the school.  Even though the commute would be longer than it could have been if we moved closer like most of my husband's colleagues we felt this was where we should be.  We only have one car, so my husband would have to take public transportation to leave me the car.

We knew that it was best for us to move here for a reason, but we weren't exactly clear on what that reason was.  We would be here for four years and we would make the best of it!  As we started our first year, I got to meet a group of LDS mothers whose husbands were in the same year and situation we were in.  They all lived pretty close to each other and a lot closer to the school. I was able to attend a couple of their get-togethers and they were great.  I desired to be a part of their group, however, the distance became an issue.  There was also a spouses and sweethearts club at the school for the wives of those in the military to support each other and attend activities.  We joined and attended a couple of times, but then as I became pregnant with my second child, it became increasingly difficult to be a part of.  I often wondered why we had felt that this was the best place for us live...

However, during this time, we started to make friendships in our church ward and also in our neighborhood.  The housing complex where we lived was away from traffic and looked over a large hill and artificial lake.  It allowed me to take my kids on exploration walks, to different parks at just a short distance and to enjoy swimming at our wonderful pool was just across the parking lot.  My husband and I joined the gym just a couple of blocks from where we lived and I have made great friendships there as well!  We have had many opportunities to share our testimony and what we believe in with people in our neighborhood like we had never imagined!  We have had so many opportunities to serve and be served by our neighbors and those around us. The callings we have received at church have really strengthened our testimony of Jesus Christ our Savior and our desire to do good.  We have received so much support from the members in our church as my husband has had to travel extensively his 3rd year in school.

 I personally have greatly enjoyed making friendships with the other mothers in the ward and have learned so much from their phenomenal example as righteous women.  As we begin to make plans for our next move, we know that this was the absolute perfect house and location for us at this time!  We are often amazed at how much Heavenly Father cares for us and wants us to be happy. Heavenly Father truly is there for us and if we strive to receive his guidance through the companionship of the Holy Ghost as we make life-changing decisions He will bless us.

Trust ye in the Lord forever: For in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. 

- Isaiah 26:4 

Trust me: look up!

By Allie D.

My little boy's hair was starting to look a little shaggy, so I gave him a haircut at the kitchen table. Without the benefit of one of those smocks they have you wear at professional hair cutter places, his hair ended up all over the floor, all over the chair, all over the table, and all over him.

It was time for a bath.

Normally this little boy loves baths. He's two and a half--what's not to love about a bath? He doesn't even mind if the water is cold. Because--it's WATER!!!

But this time he was covered in hair, and that hair had to come off. Sometimes I let him go without shampooing, but this was not going to be one of those times. We needed to seriously scrub this kid's hair. If we didn't, it would be itchy and disgusting for him.

Of course, being only two and a half, he didn't understand. He glared at me while I shampooed him, but the worst was yet to come.

Rinsing is the worst.

"Look up!" I told him, but he didn't trust me. To him, it seemed that if he dared to look up, he'd get shampooey water in his eyes--when in reality, if he looked up, I could shield his eyes and protect his face as I rinsed his hair out.

After several attempts at persuasion, I finally just gave up and rinsed his hair with his face pointing downward. Yes, he got suds in his eyes. I know it couldn't have hurt that bad because it was pH-balanced baby wash that is practically meant to get in your baby's eyes. But this child raged anyway. I'm sure he felt betrayed: his darling momma intentionally got sudsy water in his eyes!

Even worse: that darling momma had told him to look into the water as she poured!

He just didn't understand.

As I dried him off, I had to wonder: how often does God tell us to look up so he can clean us, protect us, and bless us? How often do we look down instead, out of fear that instead of protecting our eyes, God will fail us and allow us to get hurt?

I know that God wants us to look up. He will always shield us and protect us if we follow His instructions. It's only when we disobey that we end up with the proverbial shampoo in our eyes. We might rage against Him while our eyes sting, but all the while He just shakes His head at us, wishing that we'd had the faith to look up the first time He asked, so He could have washed us and kept us safe.

I know that as we put out faith in God and trust Him no matter what, even the commandments we don't understand will lead to blessings in our lives.

3 Nephi 10:5-6: And again, ^ahow oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not. 

 6 O ye house of Israel whom I have ^aspared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and ^breturn unto me with full purpose of ^cheart. 

How has God told you to look up? What blessings have you experienced by trusting God the first time He asks?