{make a difference monday} week 4

Wow! How is it already 4 weeks into the new year? It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating the new year! Well it's time for another make a difference monday! This week's challenge: 

Do a chore without being asked.

Whether it is loading the dishwasher, tidying up the living room, or doing a sibling's chores it will be much appreciated! 

Our family members do so much for us all the time, it's the least we can do to try and show our appreciation! Even a tiny act of helping can make such a difference in someone's day!

I'm so thankful for everyone who has participated so far! Don't forget to post about it with the hashtag #moorelightandkindness or tag me at @moorelightshine_blog

{make a difference monday} week 2

It's time for another make a difference monday! I'm so thankful for everyone who has participated so far! Don't forget to post about it with the hashtag #moorelightandkindness or tag me at @moorelightshine_blog

This weeks challenge is even easier than last weeks, it may take a little more thought and time, but I promise it will be fun in the end. The other nice part? It's 100% free and absolutely anyone can do it. 

The 2nd challenge is to choose a family member or friend and spend a little extra time doing something they love with them. 

For mine I decided to play basketball with my brother. It ended up being a ton of fun and I was so glad I did it! It was so good for both of us! The cool thing about these challenges is they may stretch you a bit, but you always get back so much more than you put in!

How will YOU share kindness today? I can't wait to see what you come up with!

{make a difference monday} Week 1

I'm so excited to start this series off! The first challenge only costs a postage stamp and takes less than 10 minutes!

Challenge #1: Write & Send a card to a young child

I remember as a kid loving checking the mail and always being disappointed because there was never any mail for me, On the few occasions that there was a letter with Shelby on it I was so, so excited and it totally made my day!

I promise the few seconds it takes you to send a quick note will mean the world to a kid and it will make their parents super happy too!

Don't forget to join in and post about it! Tag me (@moorelightshine_blog) or use the #moorelightandkindness for a chance to be featured on my instagram and/or blog! (If your account is private it will not show up on the hashtag)

Thanks so much! Have a great week!

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!

Be Good to People

While I was at EFY, we had scripture study daily. One day I decided to study how I could become more Christlike and I felt inspired to read when Christ came to the Americas and then pick an attribute that he showed there and make it a goal to develop that more in my life.

As I was reading I came upon this scripture:

'Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." (3 Nephi 9:14)

I love it.

Christ accepts all. He loves all. And he blesses all that come to him.

And my answer came.

I can do a better job of talking to more people and smiling. Being a little less judgmental and getting to know more people. Letting everyone be my friend and trying to see them as a child of God.

I don't think I'm a terribly mean person. But I need to reach out more and be a little more kind instead of not mean. I realize I judge "a book by it's cover" way too often.

And while I can't ever bless anyone in the capacity that the Savior did, I can try to make their day a little better because they saw or talked to me. Weather I can do a huge act of service for them or just simply give them a smile then it's worth it because hopefully they feel a little happier as they walk away.

Am I perfect at this? Absolutely not! But I know that as I (& you) but forth our best efforts and pray for added love and kindness, then we can be blessed with patience and love beyond our own capacity.

I'm loving this quote by Taylor Swift:

Our goal in life is to become more like the Savior. And He most certainly left behind a legacy of kindness. He was the definition of charity and unchanging perfect love.

One more quote that I love...

"Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known" (Joseph B Wirthlin)

As summer closes and school starts up (or really whenever you read this), I challenge you to reach out a little more. Smile a little more. Say hi a little more. Help others a little more. Be a friend a little more.

And the results will be miraculous. You will be happier, your confidence will grow, your love for the Savior will grow, you will be more worthy to have the divine guidance, peace, and love the spirit can bring.

How will you be a little kinder today? What kind of legacy will you leave behind?

-Shelby

ps. read about why I think it's cool to be kind here
pps. Wanting ideas on how to start being a little kinder? Halee is doing a super cool challenge over on her instagram! Each day for a week she is posting a kindness challenge. I love this idea- it's such a great reminder each day to reach out to others and become more like the Savior!
ppps. I just signed up for seminary and I am pumped! It makes me dread that thing called school that's coming up a little less.......:)

CTR Super Heroes

Superheros have been on my mind a lot lately.

I've been working my way through the Avengers movies. I saw Avengers 2 a few weeks ago and decided after seeing that one I should probably see the ones that came before. I knew literally nothing before I went to see it. If you want to know how clueless I was I thought superman and spiderman would be in it. Whoops... I know better now. Haha:)

A while back me and my youth group did a 5K (Which I wrote about a little right here.) It was a superhero one and it was pretty awesome. It rained SO hard that day and I don't know if I've ever been wetter, but it was still a great experience.  I learned a lot about dedication while I prepared for it and it was such a great missionary opportunity.

Our team name was the CTR League.

And we got so many questions about what that meant. Were we the choose to run league? Were we the cumberland trace running club? What does CTR mean?

Choose the Right. 

Wow, that's pretty straight forward. But so tricky at times.

And it really stands out to people.

We had an old man come up to us and tell us how much he loved the message and what we are standing for. People will notice when you get a group of teens together who are kind and fun, but not crazy and disruptive. Teens who are smiling and laughing with out cussing or doing anything inappropriate. Teens who are happy for others. Teens who are respectful of others. (The other day I saw some teenage guys at sonic steal the enter sign. Like they took the front panel off- let's just leave it at the manager very clearly was unhappy and then we left because it was not a G rated scene;)

So stand for choosing the right. And make it known. Through your speech, actions, and everything you do. People WILL notice and it will impact them!

Choosing the Right can be your superhero. It will save you and keep you out of bad situations. It's the most awesome superhero because it saves you before the situation even occurs. The CTR Superhero is pretty cool because it is up to you to use it. You don't have to hope it rushes to your rescue- you know it will always be there as long as you let it!

What's your favorite superhero?

Have a great day!
-Shelby

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!