New Series! {Make a difference Monday!}

I am so so excited to announce a new series!

I'm a humongous fan of kindness. I love how happy it makes you, and how happy it makes the person you are serving. I love how it challenges us to reach outside of ourselves and notice the needs of others. I know that love and kindness describe the Savior perfectly. He was so humble and always serving.

I want to be better about serving others in small ways. It is super easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and become totally caught up in our huge to-do lists. I know I have been guilty of that and I want to stop! People are so much more important than a to-do list!

I also know that sometimes the world is just plain depressing! The news is full of sadness and life can be full of disappointment. But it only takes a small act of kindness to brighten someone's day, to give them hope, and to encourage them to keep going. I want to add to the light in the world!

 So that leads me to this new series! I now introduce you to...... make a difference monday.

My goal is that each week in 2016, I will post an idea for an act of kindness. There is a huge variety of ideas, all are under $5 and a ton are free! They won't take much time and they are sure to brighten someone's day!

If you decide to participate (which I'm really hoping you will!) then just post a picture with the hashtag #moorelightandkindness and/or tag me (@moorelightshine_blog) for a chance to be featured on my instagram and blog the following Monday!

Check back for the first challenge on Monday! I can't wait!

cool to be kind

I was sitting outside the other day when Ri ran out. She had changed into cuter clothes because she wanted to do an photo shoot. And as any good photographer knows when a kid asks to be photographed YOU DO IT! Because that is a pretty rare opportunity;)

She's pretty much a natural model. I told her to do whatever and she told me to style because I was the photographer. I mean how can you say no to that? So I posed a few shots, but by the end she was doing her own thing periodically smiling when a good shot came. And man is she good at coming up with these things. I loved the climbing tree pose because it was all her idea. It had to be a little uncomfortable, but she just kept sitting there smiling away. Gosh I love that girl:)

I'll stop gabbing now and get on the pictures......

Ok, one last thing. I just wanted to point out the message of her shirt. I love it. Cool to be Kind. SO so cheesy, but so so true. It is always better to be kind. And while it might not always be the "cool" thing to do, it will always pay off in the long run. You will never think back and think I wish I was more unkind. And about the cool thing- are you ever really going to catch up? Don't take this in a bad way, but no one can ever really catch up with what is "cool." When you master one thing than it will change to another. It is exhausting and frustrating. So just give up on being cool and be you. Make kind the new cool:)

“We can all be a little kinder, a little more generous, a little more thoughtful of one another. We can be a little more tolerant and friendly.." (Gordon B Hinckley)

 Love the 2 different socks:)

 That pose cracks me up. She's ready to take one the world;)

The crossed legs are killing me- she did that on purpose. 

Gotta love this amazing girls spunk and sweetness. She's pretty amazing and I feel so lucky to call her my sister!

#servingothers2015

I recently read about a project some of my favorite bloggers are doing and I thought it would be awesome to link up!

I love the idea of trying to be kinder and more giving. As I wrote about in this post, I really want to become better at serving and truly giving of myself, but I have struggled to find ways to serve because I really want to make an impact, as I teen who isn't old enough to drive and doesn't have much money, this can seem hard to do. I will admit, I spent awhile in the well-I-guess-I-can't-do-anything phase, but I am ready to jump up and do what I can right now! I wish I could travel to a third world country, buy a bunch of things for orphans, and serve them for at least a month, but that is just not an option. So for now I will stick to opening doors and doing random acts of kindness:)
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We all know that person.

The one who is seen as annoying or hard to work with. The one who is mean or constantly
 brags. The one who drives us slightly crazy.

We try so hard to get along with them, but sometimes it seems impossible!I feel like a am a pretty nice person, I try my very hardest to be kind and patient with everyone, but some people just get under my skin!

So in my journey to embark on "serving with all my might, mind, and strength," I am striving to learn to love these people. To see them as Christ would.

And if you really look at these people, really trying to understand; a lot of times they really just need to know some one cares. They need to know they are gorgeous, smart, and destined for great things.

So this month (or I guess how ever long..), I will be making some nice little notes to put in their stuff when they aren't looking. I will also be striving to be more patient, but I think it would make me so happy to find an anonymous note in my pencil pouch telling me how amazing I am:)

I was going to make some cute printable, but I think a message typed in word (so the handwriting is unrecognizable) will be more mysterious and more personal than a cute printable that anyone can find online.

To the people who feel like no one cares, I want each of you to know that you ARE loved. I know with all my heart that there is a loving Heavenly Father who loves each and everyone of us beyond comprehension. There is a Savior who suffered for us and made it possible to repent and live again. Each and everyone of you was made for a divine and glorious purpose, you were created by The All Mighty. Ignore the world, they don't know what true beauty is. Focus on shining, coming unto Christ, and being filled with love and you will glow. Who ever you are, you are amazing and you are loved.

Change the world in one easy step!

 

A few days ago this sweet video popped onto my blog feed in I thought it was such a good video! I love how these kind words made each girl feel! The video says:

 

Words can build us up

Can bring us down

Start a fire in our hearts

or put it out

 

This is so  true! So pick your words carefully! Every little thing you say uplifts someone or brings them down. Even if it's just a "joke."

 

You can change

the world

By changing your words

 

I had never really thought about that! But think about the world and all it's sadness (depressing, I know). Now imagine we eliminated every yucky word. Now eliminate mean sarcasm. Eliminate every unkind thing said and every "joke" that involved someone else.

Think about it!

That would eliminate bullying, negativity, tons of hurt feelings!

The world would be a different place if we only changed our words!

 

 

So please, think about your words and how they effect others!