Let's make it better: Don't complain

This week was very interesting. It was new to me. Let me enlighten you as to why:
My roommates and I challenged ourselves to not complain for an entire week. Crazy, huh?! Well that's what I thought. I even complained about not complaining. And I'm saying this in complete honesty. I'm not perfect so this seemed like it was gonna be tough. I thought this was going to be nearly impossible. However, every one loves a good challenge, so I accepted, and with enthusiasm may I add.
Monday came around and, well, I think we all know how everyone feels about Monday. So I began my day & realized  I was already super behind on homework. Already! And it was my fault! However, I remembered a quote by Henry Ford I found on Pinterest, "Don't find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain." So I did just that. I worked on the things I needed to get done and wasn't able to finish completely. And I received the consequences. However, since I wasn't going to complain, I felt okay, I felt at peace. I knew I could make things better so I went home and did just that. It was great to notice the change of attitude I had acquired throughout the day. I never found myself upset, ungrateful, or even in the need of complaining. It was awesome!
The week continued and even through the stress, the physical and  mental exhaustion, I was happy!

I really learned a very important lesson that week. The need to complain is the worlds way of making you think you will feel better. When truly, prayer is Heavenly Fathers way of truly giving you peace. I was on my knees a lot that week. And it was a huge testimony builder. I challenge you all to make a goal of not complaining for a week and pay close attention to the wonderful blessings you begin to notice, your change of attitude, and your ability to enlighten & uplift those around you. 

Two Days of Bliss

Saturday morning I woke up with the sunshine lighting up my bedroom. Marissa was still sound asleep so I laid in bed for a couple minutes. My alarm went off for the 5th time, and I finally decided to turn it off. It was time to wake up. It was the beginning of General Conference weekend. 

This time felt different. Great different. We're always told to prepare for Conference. So, I did. Scriptures were read, I spent many moments on my knees, and I pondered on the promptings of the Spirit I had recently been receiving. It was great to have felt the Spirit so many times before this conference. It allowed me to have inspired questions in my mind. It allowed me to open my eyes and see more clearly. It allowed me to hear more consistently, and it allowed my heart to be open to the teachings I was to be receiving this weekend. 

So I awoke and joined my roommates out in the living room to begin conference together, as a family. I always begin to miss my family around such a joyous time. Nevertheless, the Spirit was still the same, still as strong. We laughed, cried, and took in the Spirit we were all feeling. I know we all grew a little closer during these two days of conference. We shared some thoughts, we shared our new goals, and we shared our love for one another. We may not always use words, but our actions surely do show that they love me and I love them. 

After 8 hours of conference, it is now over. In 6 months will the world be united all together once again, listening to the Prophet and his counsel. And until then and forevermore, we will apply these teachings into our lives, and we will be a stronger Zion. All 15 million of us. As we hasten the work and share these glad tidings unto the world, the Lord's church is steadily increasing. I am grateful to be witnessing the gathering of Israel. And to be a part of such a great work. I am so grateful for this amazing gospel I have in my life. I know God loves me, all of us. General Conference always reminds me, and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to hear from the Prophet, his counselors, and other great general authorities. Their counsel strengthens me. 

As Elder Bednar said, "Your faith strengthens my faith. Your devotion helps me be more devoted." 

Happy General Conference weekend everyone! I hope it was a great one for all of you as well! I will be posting some of my favorite quotes sometime this week, so come back & visit! 

Love, Sister Ortega

Didn't get a chance to watch conference? That's okay! Here's a link to where you can read, watch, and download the talks. Everyone's welcome! 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2013/10?

cid=HPFR100413105&lang=eng

Do More Now.

"I want to remember this summer, Troy. But not like this." Okay, yes, that is a line from High School Musical 2. Whoops. Secrets out, I'm an HSM fan.

Any who, after Gabriella says this to Troy she walks away from what is unnecessarily dragging her down throughout this summer. Of course, she also sings about it.

I'm definitely not going to sing a song, but I am going to walk away.

We all have things in our past that haunt us and make us ask, "What if?"

But I'd like to pose a knew question: "What now?" Well, NOW, I'm going to do things that make me happy. NOW, I'm going to try even harder, NOW, I'm going to be even better.

There's a promise I've been making to myself for about a year now. It's a promise I make every Sunday as the week is about to begin. It's that this week I will be even better than last. I have my own things that are part of me becoming better, such as more scripture study, more time with my family, more time pondering the will of God, and more time praying to my Heavenly Father.

And NOW, I'm choosing to have more more's.

It's a start.

I'm going to help others more. I'm going to write more. I'm going to play the piano more. I'm going to practice more. I'm going to read more. I'm going to listen more. I'm going to look for others more. I'm going to love more. And I don't mean fall in love with someone new every week. I'm going to love others as our Father loves us.

I know I'll be happier and wiser and more aware of the spirit, and as well as more willing to do of the Fathers will. If we do more for others, do more to strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father, and do more to strengthen and build ourselves we will feel and notice more of God's blessings and more of God's infinite love for us.

So DO, do MORE, and do it NOW.

"As bright as the Dallas sky"

I'm back in Dallas, you see. I've been home for 1 month. There was something very beautiful about flying to Dallas. The moment I saw downtown I knew I was home. That being because once you spot that one green building, you turn your eyes over to the left, keep going a bit. And BAM, you spot Oak Cliff. I love my little fabulous ghetto neighborhood.

So, when I left Colorado it was snowing. Then after landing, I realized the workers outside were melting "like a Popsicle on the Fourth of July."(And yes, that was a Little Rascals reference.) Instantly I knew I had just landed in the great state of Texas. The humidity was noticeable this time. The hot weather as well. But more importantly, I noticed how much I had missed Texas. How much I missed home. I love Texas. I love Dallas. There's no other place on earth so wonderful. THERE IS NO DEBATING THIS. So, I'm home. Home sweet home, deep in the heart of Texas.

 Downtown Dallas

  

City lights

Apartment 39.

The semester is long over, and I noticed that I failed to write about some very important girls: the girls of Apartment 39. Which happens to be my wonderful apartment, & I was blessed to spend such wonderful months with this group of girls. Now, I know everyone always says, "My roommates are the best roommates I could have ever asked for!" And that's neat and all. But when you can mean it, with all of your heart is when it's really special. So yes, my roommates were the best roommates I could have ever asked for! And let me tell you why.

Alisha: The sweetest woman you will ever meet. No seriously! When you are in the presence of my sweet Alisha you cannot help but smile. You just want to be as happy as she is. And be as cute as her (which is impossible). I never received any negative emotions from her. Even when she had the roughest of days, she'd come home smiling. One day, she wasn't feeling so good, so she made some cookies and gave them to someone who needed a pick me up. Even though she was having a rough time herself. This was her pick me up: service. What a wonderful example she is to me of someone who is happy, loves life and all those in it!

Bree: The wise, hardworking, and sweet woman who served an honorable mission in California! She is very committed to anything she sets her mind to. And she'll never break any promises she has made. She's just that kind of person. She will not forsake. And she will always put a smile on your face when she begins to laugh. Her snort is the cutest, I love it!! She has such beautiful curly hair. And a beautiful personality. She's amazing!!

Stacie: The greatest indexer in the whole entire world! This woman can work wonders. She has no limits! She is always above and beyond in anything she does. Oh and did I mention she's an awesome unicyclist! She's tons of fun & also has the sweetest spirit. I just love that nothing can get in the way of Stacie. It's something I truly admire. Shes just 100% all of the time! I love it!

Kari: My sweet cuddly Karebear! She is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I'm still wondering what I'm going to do without her for 18 months, but that's what letters are for! I always knew she would serve a mission. She is wise beyond her years. She's all or nothing in anything she does. And she will stop everything she is doing to hear you speak of absolutely anything you wish to speak of. I could not have survived this year without her. She's the greatest!

And speaking of not being able to survive without someone, last but not least: Marissa, my room roomie since day one. I knew from the moment we both began to recite the monologue from A Knights Tale that we would become the best of friends. I could not overcome a trial, I could not be as happy as I am now if I did not have her in my life. She's crazy positive! She's crazy beautiful! She's crazy funny! She's very strong! The list can go on and on. I understand her & she understands me. Those moments when we both just needed a good cry, there we were, giving each other a shoulder to lean on. Everyone needs a woman like Marissa in their lives. She's "more than a woman!!" She's the greatest!

I never thought I would ever meet such an amazing group of girls. I have been blessed to have them in my life. And those who have met them can certainly testify of their greatness. I love these girls. Apartment 39, it's where it's at.