Good, Better, Best

When I was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Columbus, Ohio, we were encouraged to only listen to uplifting spiritual music. This served several purposes but the most noticeable of these, to me, was so we could feel close to Our Savior which has a very motivating and optimism-promoting effect.

When I came home from my mission, I returned to my music-- country and pop. I'm a background music-listener. I enjoy having music going as I work on homework or housework. Lately, however, I've noticed that the music in my life hasn't been adding anything to it. I decided to do an experiment.

For the last two weeks I have only been listening to church music in the background around my house. I was curious to see if it would help me be more productive and feel better about the things I need to do for school and my family. I had almost forgotten that I was doing this until my husband commented on my music selection a few days ago. When he made this comment, I reflected on the last week and concluded that I had, indeed, been happier and more productive.

Upon thinking about this, I've decided that it isn't that my other music makes me lazy or unhappy-- it just doesn't ADD anything. For me and my music choices, I'm realizing that it's a matter of good, better, and best. Listening to other music which is positive and uplifting is good, but I now know if I want to feel my greatest and be the most productive, for me, I need to listen to music which speaks often about and reminds me of my Savior.    

Lesson learned.

An oldie, but a goodie.. One of my favorites (:

Sports and Sex

So the Super Bowl was this past weekend, but unless one of my teams (Go Cowboys, BYU, Mavericks, and Stars!) is playing, I'm not really one to watch sports. Even then, it's iffy.

Nonetheless, I understand that the Super Bowl is a big deal to many. As such, fans pay inordinately large sums of money to attend the game and cheer on their team, cities bid on hosting the bowl and, in the hopes of raking in the tourist revenue, spend billions to renovate their stadiums and surrounding city. Companies will pay literally millions of dollars for an advertisement that will air for a few seconds, in the hopes of attracting some of the 100+ million viewers to buy their product. The Super bowl may profess to be about two teams duking it out on a field with a ball made from pigskin, but the bowl itself really is all about money.

So, surprisingly, I wasn't too surprised when I read this article, which brings another facet of the Super Bowl to light. It's a darker and uglier side that isn't pleasant to think about— but something is only as strong as its weakest parts, and this makes the Super Bowl a little less 'super', in my opinion.

The article talks about the impact this huge event has on sex trafficking. According to the article, approximately 10,000 women and children were involved in sex-trafficking during the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami. Some were American, and some were foreign. All were victims. In the US, $9/5 billion is annually grossed from the victimization of these women and children— Around large events where there are travelers from far away, there tends to be an influx of people willing to sell themselves or others to make a few bucks. Many reports have confirmed that during these events and "peak-demand times" girls have served as many as 45 clients a day. My heart breaks for these people who are often kidnapped or lured into this life by pimps and massive sex rings. But, as we established earlier: the Super Bowl is all about money, and money talks.

I believe as we become aware of and work to eradicate this immoral and life-shattering practice, we can save lives. A little idealistic? Perhaps. But we have to try.

For more information or ideas about how you can help, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center 1-888-373-7888.

Barking Puppies & Sleeping Babies

I have the cutest six-month-old baby girl. As a result of her stage in life, there are several points in our day that look something like this:

I also have the cutest little 1.5-year-old shih tzu. He is handsome and likes to pose for pictures, chew on his ball, and protect his family. We live across the street from another family that has a little chihuahua who does his "business" in the front lawn several times a day. As a result, there are several points in our day that look like this:

When Katie was first born, I would get so annoyed with Charley for barking because not only would I have a barking dog, but also a crying baby. Then one day it dawned on me-- Charley would be a member of our family for the next 10-15 years, and having been a dog owner before, I knew it wasn't likely for his barking self to change. He would always try to protect us from that little dog across the street. Or the mailman. Or the kids who have the audacity to walk to school in front of our house. I could fight it and be in for 10-15 years of frustration, or I could allow my cute Katie to adapt and learn how to sleep through his barking spells. I chose the latter.

Making this choice meant when I was rocking my baby to sleep and Charley began alerting us to the dangers threatening the homestead (those birds on the power line are awfully menacing creatures), I wouldn't jump up and go tell him to be quiet, rather, I would continue rocking and singing as if nothing was wrong. When she was sleeping in her crib, if he barked I didn't immediately grab Charley and put him outside, I would calmly quiet him, and peek in on her to make sure she was still sleeping or settling herself back to sleep.

As I was reflecting on this whole puppy barking/baby crying fiasco that seemed to permeate our lives, I couldn't help but notice the affect my attitude has on the whole ordeal. When I would make a big deal about the barking dog, Katie would wake up and be awake for good. She was fussy. I was annoyed. Nobody won. However, when Katie would see me calmly react, she most often would drift back to sleep. My attitude impacted her nap more than the loud and obnoxious barking.

Upon this realization, I felt the spirit teach me that this is a true principle in most every aspect of parenting. There is so much noise in this world, and there will always be 'barking dogs'.

My daughters ideals and values about things like her worth, modesty, family values, work ethic, and language will be more shaped by my reaction to her questions, the things in the world around us, and the challenges to the principles we believe— whether those challenges come from the 'barking dogs' of media, friends, or personal thoughts. I can spend my time fighting them, or I can spend my time teaching about them.

If I, as a mother, freak out about sex in the media every time we encounter it, I can count on her perception of sex being skewed to one of two extremes. Either she will count me as a religious zealot and ignore everything I say, or she will be fearful of sex and avoid it in all its forms. Neither is healthy.

Rather, I need to take the calmer approach.  I need to help her work through her thoughts, questions, and feelings. As I do this, she will be more able to tune out the noise and focus on what she knows to be true. If she sees me have a healthy approach to sexuality and the media (or whatever the topic may be), she will be more likely to develop a healthy approach of her own.

I wish I could wrap her in a bubble and take her far away to some island, free from all the 'noise' in the world— but the truth of the matter is, we were sent here to be in the world so we could learn and grow and be tested by it. If I don't teach her how to take the test, the media or her peers will. I would much rather be an active parent and help her learn to navigate through life on her own, clinging to what she knows to be true. If she sees that I am calm about it, I know she will be too.

Whats in it for me?

Ok. I'm self-admittedly ridiculous. I love The Real Housewives of New York City. It's the only Real Housewives series I watch, but I love it. In case you've never seen it, it follows several socialite women who live in the Upper East-side of NYC. And by follow, I mean records and airs the drama. and by women, I mean people of the female persuasion who are in their 30s-50s, but act like they're still in their junior years of high school. Most of them are married, and those that are married (or were married at one point) have children, who are being raised to perpetuate this cycle where it's ok to act 20 years younger than you are.

Anyways, when I came upon this story, detailing the nasty breakup of one of the women on the show-- my heart broke. Not only is their marriage dissolving, but there's a kid in the middle of it. Not only is their marriage dissolving, but they've abandoned their marriage vows for someone younger with seemingly more to offer. This used-to-be couple is a living breathing example of what family scientists call Social Exchange Theory.

If I had to sum up the essence of SET in a few words, they would be 'manipulation and taking advantage'.

An attitude of "What's in it for me?" and "What do you want from me?" leads to mistrust and an idea that it's every individual for himself, against the world.

There have been times in my life where I have felt like this. There have been friendships I have maintained solely in the interest of having them as a 'resource' in the future. Likewise, there are people I have let go from my life because the drama they brought wasn't worth my cost of maintaining our friendship. I have quit dating some men because I didn't think I could live an eternity as their wife with whatever personal struggles they had or whatever profession they were planning to embark on. On the other hand, I purposely flirted with men who were going into fields I knew would be a stable source of income. With some of the men in the latter group, I dealt with behavior I knew wasn't acceptable in the hopes they would change and I could have the fairytale life I had been envisioning. After making these types of decisions, how could I be anything but a Social Exchange Theorist?

Then the thought occurred to me: I am married to a man who is far from perfect, but to whom my entire heart belongs. I am so far from perfect, it isn't even on my horizon, yet he loves me for me. I am the mother to a beautiful baby girl who is the product of a marriage where we are working every day to do better and become more together. I would do anything for those two. Thinking about the family I grew up in, the members of which are also far from perfect, and I recognize those relationships are ones I wouldn't trade for the world. I don't keep these people around for a rainy day when I need something— I keep them close because I truly love them. Nothing could change that, even if their portfolios included nothing but their names.

It was this realization which helped me come to realize we all have a little bit of a Social Exchange Theorist within ourselves. Due to the number of people who come into our lives, we have to. The Savior told us to love one another, but He also told us judge righteously. If we are judging righteously, we will realize when a person needs to be removed from our lives because of the threat they pose to our beloved family members, our marriage, or our self-worth. We will also be able to discern when a person who has nothing to 'offer' us needs to stay in our lives because they need us to give of ourselves to them. Love and righteous judgement are the keys to successful and happy relationships and lives.

Mommy Blogs

It's really been quite a while since I've posted a blog. Notice I say posted, rather than written. I have several posts full of photos and some loosely stringed-together thoughts, I just haven't taken the time to finish them. One day, however, I will.

Luckily, I am taking a Media, Family, and Human Development class this semester which encourages us to blog about the media that permeates our lives. It is something I have been thinking a great deal about, so I am grateful for the opportunity to express some of my thoughts here-- afterall, I have been a long time "mommy blog" lurker without contributing much to the conversation!

I came across this blog post by Rachel Marie Martin. The post is entitled, "Why Being a Mom is Enough", and perhaps it struck a particular cord with me because being a new mom, I am still striving to find my footing with this new role I've taken on.

 

I marvel at the sense of community that can be found online. How did women find support fifty, twenty, and even ten years ago before this network of moms was built? Mom? Because let's face it-- as wonderful as motherhood is, it can be a very lonely, daunting task at times. That's not to say it isn't wonderful, but in the midst of rocking a sick and screaming baby as the laundry and bills pile up and the dog barks, it is easy to feel quite alone. That makes reading words like these all the more valuable an experience:

"A mother isn’t based on external perfection. A mother is the person, the woman, just like you. The woman with little ones in her care that she loves, and sometimes wonders how she loves them because they’re driving her batty, but still she does. She fights, gives, prays, works, and doesn’t give up even when she wants to throw in the towel.

That’s you. Today. Tomorrow. Yesterday.

I say that is enough. 

It is more than enough.

You are amazing."

...Even if they are from a complete stranger from who-knows-where.

I have two semesters left (including this one) in pursuit of my bachelor's degree. It is becoming increasingly difficult to leave my little sweetie (and my messy house), and I have really been struggling with all the many things that are on my plate. I take solace in the knowledge that this will only last for eight more total months of classes, as I try to breathe in every second I get to spend with my beautiful baby girl. The days may be long, but the months and years are short and I am grateful for the millions of blogging women in the online community I frequent who remind me of this.

Leaving Paradise

As paradisiacal as Cancun was... Leaving it was another matter entirely. Tuesday night, we bemoaned returning to reality and Wednesday morning we packed, checked out of our hotel, and grabbed a taxi to the airport to get there by 1030 for our 1230 flight. When we went to check in, the kiosk wouldn't let us do it. Come to find out, our flight wasn't until 1230 on THURSDAY, not Wednesday... We were a full 26 hours early for our flight, a truly ironic thing indeed because I really hate getting to the airport more than an hour before a flight is set to depart.

So, since we were broke from the $65 trip from the airport to the hotel when we arrived, and the $40 trip from the resort to the airport, we decided to stay at the airport and have an adventure... So that's what we did.

The Honeymoon-- Cancun, or, Paradise

Kirk's first out-of-country experience was eagerly awaited... After my cabin in the woods dream honeymoon happened in Park City for the first two days, we excitedly headed to the airport Saturday morning to fly to LAX and then onto CUN. On our Delta flight, we sat next to a cute lady who had spent her honeymoon in the beautiful Cancun 43 years earlier. She told us all the places we couldn't miss, then concluded by exclaiming, "But you know what? You're on your honeymoon-- just lay on the beach and enjoy each other!" and that's exactly what we did! We just laid on the beach, took naps in our hotel room, ordered virgin drinks from the bar, and enjoyed being together... It was paradise!

The Honeymoon-- Park City, or, A Cabin in the Woods

When I was a little girl, I decided I wanted to go to Paris on my honeymoon-- spending time in France with the romance, the culture, and the pastries has always been appealing to me, till I got a little older and realized that sight-seeing wasn't going to be a top priority on my honeymoon to-do list... So I decided my ideal honeymoon would be a cabin in the woods with just me and my man. Kirk and his parents, knowing this, booked us two nights in Park City, Utah before taking off to the more exotic Cancun.

We had an amazing time at the WestGate hotel. Friday, we eventually left the hotel and went shopping where we replaced Kirk's leather jacket with one we found on major sale at this cute little Nordic shop, we also bought an ornament-- a tradition we began on our first vacation together, while we were engaged, to California. After lunch at this cute Texas cafe and shopping, we went to the alpine slide where I'm pretty sure I beat Kirk down the mountain. On our way back to the hotel we stopped by walmart because my cute husband only packed two shirts, so we picked up a pack of white t-shirts to wear in Cancun and a swim shirt. Back at the hotel we went swimming and enjoyed a delightful dinner at the hotel restaurant.

It was an early (ish) to bed evening as we had to leave at 5 am for the airport the next morning, but we had a lovely time in Park City and we hope to be able to return to this great hotel and this fun city every year for our anniversary so long as we are in Utah.

What a great start to our life together!

My Fairytale

So, I got married to the man of my dreams on Thursday 16 August 2012. Pretty much, I'm the luckiest woman alive! Kirk Alan Johnson is the sweetest, most sincere person I know, and I adore him-- this blog, from here on out, will be chronicling our Happily Ever After as The Johnson's... Here we go (:

I'm sick.

Like, really sick. So achey that even my hair follicles hurt. I bucked up and went to our ward talent show tonight with my new roomie, Alexis, and on the way, we picked up my neighbor, Dan. After the activity, he invited us over to his house for ice cream and since I have made it a point to never turn down an invitation to be social this semester, Alexis and I graciously accepted. Whilst there, the guys noticed I wasn't feeling the greatest and asked what I needed. I asked for a priesthood blessing and that is what I got. Ryjan anointed my head with consecrated oil, set apart for the blessing and healing of the sick, and Tom gave me a beautiful blessing in which I was told that as I had faith in my body and took the necessary steps to make myself healthy that I would be blessed with the ability and strength to do all the things I need to. How grateful I am for the priesthood of our god-- the ability of man on earth to act in God's name. I am grateful for worthy men who hold this authority and for the blessings of healing, comfort, and council I have received at their hands.

The other neat aspect of this experience is that Alexis, who was baptized last year, and Dan, who was baptized three years ago, who has not yet been ordained an elder in the melchizadek priesthood, were both there. They felt the spirit, and it opened up an opportunity for me to explain to Alexis the way blessings work. Previously she had only received blessings of comfort, so for her to learn that she could call on the power of the priesthood for blessings of healing when she was sick was really fantastic.

This whole experience reminded me of this talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Watch it. It's superb.

So there you have it-- I'm thankful for the Priesthood, good neighbors, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, new roommates, and teaching opportunities. Life is good-- even when you're sick.

The Little Things...

It's here-- that mid-semester slump where you've been going to class for two months and theres a month left and all the projects are starting to be due, you're neck-deep in round two of midterms, and you're just ready for the summer nights, summer vacations, and summer loving to be here, but they're just not... So I'm focusing on the little things in my life that make me smile:

The First Bloom of the Season

This little beautiful crocus popped up in my front flower bed and beat all the other bulbs that were planted last spring. Seeing it still makes me smile, and I'm grateful for the beauty of the earth that our Heavenly Father blesses us with (:

This Girl

Miss Jennifer Seiter makes me smile endlessly. Certainly she's one of the many reasons I'm glad I served my mission in The Great Ohio Columbus Mission-- we always have such a great time whenever we're together, and I'm so grateful for her friendship! We talk about everything, and one of the things we always end up talking about is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's so great to have such an uplifting best friend who I know will love me no matter what.

My House

This cute little house in Provo, Utah has been my home since August, and being able to decorate it, host parties in it, and learn how to be a domestic goddess in it has provided me with endless smiles. I'm so grateful for my parents who so wonderfully let me live here and who enjoy visiting!

Breakfasts and Facials with a Best Friend

Robert Baker is one of the best friends a girl could ask for... We like to get together every so often and get breakfasts at Kneaders on Saturday mornings, and make midnight Walmart runs to have facials. Speaking of faces, he can always put a smile on mine. I'm going to miss him for two years when he goes on a mission, but I'm grateful for his desire to serve the Lord, and I know he's going to be an amazing full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Crafting

I just love to create things. It makes me smile. That's all.

Newlyweds

I have had the privilege of being able to see two of my dear friends sealed for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord. Scott and Natalie Savage were married on the 24th of February at 11:00 in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple, and Aubin and Jeff Palmer were married on the 11th of February at 11:00 in the Albuquerque, New Mexico temple. These two wonderful couples are as happy as can be, and thinking about their bright futures makes me smile, and I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that families can be together forever

Corny Jokes

There is nothing greater than jokes that make you groan and smile and roll your eyes...

Friends from The Ohio

Where would I be without these friendships and the things I have learned from these wonderful men and women? I treasure the times when we are able to get together-- seeing them makes me smile-- and I am so grateful the Lord put us all together in The Ohio to have the opportunity to become lifelong friends.

Life is BEAUTIFUL...

You are Perfect-- A Good Reminder

Never forget...

‎"I would charge you to say again and again to yourselves, 'I am a [child] of God' and by so doing, begin today to live closer to those ideals which will make your life happier and more fruitful because of an awakened realization of who you are." - Harold B. Lee

A thankful Heart

I'm at this wonderful point in my life called young adulthood. I've fallen in love a time or two, traveled, studied abroad, served a mission, had my heart broken, discovered several things I'm good at-- and even more that I need to work on, been lucky enough to make a few really wonderful lifelong friends, and blessed with amazing testimony-building experiences which have made completely clear in my mind and my heart that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is 100% true. By every definition of the word I am blessed... Not to mention my fantastic forever family. Seriously, they're amazing.

In an effort to jump back into the blogging world and to continue documenting my young wonderful life, I will be posting at minimum one post a week expressing grattitude for the tender mercies the Lord bestows on me... After all, Izaak Walton said,

"God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart."

This week, I am thankful for:

Daily scripture study and the weekly opportunity to partake of the sacrament

The temple that is five minutes up the road from me

Sewing and creating beautiful things

Amazing friends like Jenn S., Bethany H., Rob B., and Aubin P. whom I get to see often

Good music on Pandora

My life experiences which give me wisdom, memories, and perspective.

What are you grateful for? Take thirty seconds and make a list... Try it, you'll like it!

'Tis the season...

For Christmas lights at temple

Brett and I went with his good friends Steve and Jenna and took in the beautiful twinkling lights which set the perfect tone for this upcoming Christmas season! Carols were being sung, families were spending time together, the spirit was felt-- what a perfect way to spend a Sunday evening!

Looking forward to caroling, making gingerbread houses, enjoying the merriness of this season, and always remembering out wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.

Only 27 days 'till Christmas!

'till we meet at Jesus' feet

Dearest wonderful, amazing, superb, family,

Wow, what a whirlwind of a week it has been here in The Great Ohio Columbus Mission! Tuesday we began teaching a young man, George. He's 18 and lives in the very tip top of our area-- he was tracted into and accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon. He invited us back and we had a wonderful lesson about how the gospel of Jesus Christ can give him exactly what he wants-- things like a happy family, peace, and understanding. There is so much potential with him and his family!

On Wednesday, with everything in line, we were able to commit and begin working towards Kim Valdez and her son David getting baptized this Saturday the 16th of July-- Brother Valdez, Kim's husband, will be able to baptize them both and I couldn't be any more thrilled for this family. They have all been working so hard to get to where they were ready for this amazing life-altering step.

On Saturday, I was privileged to attend the temple as Pat and Greg Smith, from my first area, went through to receive their own endowments and then were sealed together for time and all eternity. This couple has quite a remarkable story-- when I was in Moundbuilders, they weren't coming to church due to work and health-related issues... They had just lost their way a bit and needed someone to reach out and rescue them. Sister (Jenn) Parry (Seiter) and I began working with them and reteaching the lessons and such with them and they began coming to church again. They have continued to grow leaps and bounds this last year and a half and it was one of the most joyous moments of my mission to be able to witness their family becoming a forever family. The Lord's plan is so amazing. In the temple I was blessed to be there with members from all three of the wards I have served in-- Many were there from the Moundbuilders ward in support of the Smith family, Sister Woods from Springboro was in the dressing room and we had the opportunity to catch up on all the good things happening there, and Brother Despain was the ordinance worker in the endowment session. I know that the temple is a glimpse of what the Celestial kingdom will be like when we re-meet all those who were so dear to us in this life!

Sunday was quite a day-- it was the perfect last Sabbath day on my mission. When the sacrament was blessed by Rob Baker (baptized in June), Passed by Jakob Mason (baptized in April), and partaken of by Kim Valdez (will be baptized 16 July), I experienced this moment of peace and satisfaction. All these people were exactly where they needed to be and I was privileged enough to help them get there. At the end of Sacrament meeting, we sang hymn number 152, 'God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again' and the chorister called me up to the stand as we sang the hymn. As I looked into the faces of the people I have loved and served with for the last nine months, I realized how much my heart and my life has been molded by them. There were several with tears in their eyes and I felt like my work here has really blessed more people than I know-- the thing is though, they have also effected me more than they will know. Isn't it amazing how the Lord brings people into our lives to help us become better and many times, they never know how much they touched our hearts? Our Gospel Principles class was on sacrifice and I realized that my perception and understanding of this eternal principle has changed over the last year and a half as I have realized that the Lord really asks so little of us in comparison to what He is willing to give us. Relief Society was about Family Responsibilities and I silently told Heavenly Father, "Ok, I get it... it's time to find a husband now!" and then after church we had a linger longer where the bishopric gave me a heartfelt thank you for my service in behalf of all the members of the ward-- they said I was now in the 'Missionary Hall of Fame' for the time I spent here and the work that has happened. It was too much, but I was really touched by their love. This ward is Zion.

With all this being said-- know this: I am happy and loving life. I love being a missionary, and I am looking forward with faith to the next phase of my life. My 'family' has grown so much while I've been here in The Ohio, and my experiences here will be forever treasured. Ohio has become a part of me, and I know that The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, knew I needed this in my life to become who he needs me to be. I am so very grateful for all the thoughts and prayers and letters and packages offered in my behalf-- I am so very blessed! Above everything, I want to witness to you that I know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Atonement is real and it is what will enable us to return to live with our Father in Heaven again. The Lord's kingdom is being established on the earth in these Latter Days and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's true and restored church. Joseph Smith is a prophet. He saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and was given the authority and revelations restore the fullness of the gospel with all the ordinances necessary for salvation. Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. God hears and answers prayers. Families are eternal in nature. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are both true books of scripture and they contain the guidelines to happiness. Keeping the commandments brings us joy.

I love you. See you Friday. It's been a privilege.

Love,
Sister Chelsea Lynn LeSueur

Things i love about the ohio continued...

i forgot these things in last week's list...

lawnmowers and tractors and combines driving down the road
all the shirtless men and boys-- they teach 'em young here in ohio!
sayings like ''couple three'', ''knee high by the fourth of july'', calling vacuums ''sweepers''
all the wildflowers growing everywhere
yard art-- cement geese and such

And this be our motto: " In God is our trust!"

Dear Family,

I hope your 4th of July weekend has been as spectacular as mine! How grateful I am for this free country in which we live. The Lord has blessed this land for the purposes of bringing about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because we have that gospel in our lives, we have the obligation to live it and share it. We read time and time again throughout all books of scripture that when God's people keep His commandments, they prosper in the land-- but when they don't, they are left to their own strength, and inevitable they become a fallen people. We must live the truth that God has given us and then we can have trust in Him that we will be ok, that He will guide us and protect us, that the things we do every day can and will bring us closer to Him if we do those things that He has commanded us. If there is one thing I've learned in the last eighteen months, it is that in God is MY trust. I am so grateful for this knowledge!

This last week has been really excellent! We had a wonderful lesson with Troy Collins. He's the husband of an active sister in the ward-- The Lord has been preparing him his whole life to accept the gospel, and the last nine months I've been in the area, we've been trying to help him and Sister Collins get closer to her deepest desire which is to be sealed to the man she loves for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord. We watched the movie the Restoration and after the film was over, he told us that he knows that it is true-- that Joseph Smith really did see our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, as two separate and distinct beings in the grove of trees; that the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth now. It was a very spiritual lesson-- Troy's son died when he was only 18, and it has really effected Troy. During the lesson, we all felt, very strongly, Troy Jr's presence. I know he is instrumental in preparing his dad to receive this gospel... Oftentimes the veil is a lot thinner than we recognize. God's plan is great, if we only trust Him!

In working with Angell, we have had some neat experiences too. She's a single mom in her 30s, and she has been talking to this man who she was really feeling a connection with. When we heard about this, we were excited for her, but a little apprehensive, because this man isn't a member of the church yet-- we know what she wants and we were worried that she would give up her dream of being sealed in the temple to a wonderful man for the one who is great and in front of her, but not yet at a place in his life where he can take her there. We were talking about this man though, and Angell, unprompted from us, told us that even if he is 'the one' she will not settle for anything less than a temple marriage. She recognizes the importance of the temple to her eternal happiness, and that is what she's set her sights on. We are so proud of her and the changes she's making in her life-- she's trusting God!

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Living it and keeping the commandments is the way to be happy. I love life!

Have a phenomenal week, and go spread the gospel!

Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
xoxox

Things I love About The Ohio

What are your top 10 favorite "Ohio" foods?
1. Squirrel... seriously, people eat it here!
2. mashed potatoes with chicken noodle soup over it
3. Amish donuts
4. Amish cheese
5. fresh garden veggies
6. fresh berries
7. Mi Fiesta restaurant in Newark
8. homemade pickles
9. sauerkraut and pork
10. apple butter

What are your top 10 favorite "Ohio" activities? (Not in order)
1. Corn hole
2. Being a Buckeye fanatic
3. Talking to people who sit on their porches all day
4. Driving in cornfields
5. Dodgeball at the Diamond Dome
6. Barbecues
7. Eating outside
8. Antique shoppes
9. Trying not to hit the Amish buggies who drive at dusk with no reflectors
10. Making copies at the church library

What are your top 10 favorite things about Ohio?
1. The people
2. The hills
3. The weather
4. The wards with ginormous geographical boundaries
5. The Ohio State University
6. German Village in Columbus
7. Clearfork
8. Springboro
9. Moundbuilders
10. The Amish
11. The trees
12. The seasons
13. The Zoo
14. The history
15. The architecture
16. The people who say words Newark like Nerk, or belafontaine like bell fountain.

In league with truth

Dear Stupendous Family,

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true-- it is the thing that drives us to bless others, act in faith, and consecrate our lives. In the new testament, Matthew 7:20, we are told, "By their fruits, ye shall know them"-- what sort of fruits are we producing for all to see?

This week has been wonderful. We had Family Home Evening with an investigator, Angell, and her daughter Kirsten on Monday evening. We talked about self-worth and the importance of recognizing our spiritual gifts and using them to bless others. Tuesday we spent the morning with Kim and Eric Valdez and her son David and Sister Drake cleaning the Boyd's home. The Boyd family had to move to an apartment on one level due to Renee's cancer. Renee was supposed to be there to help, but when we were all there and she wasn't, we found an unlocked window, I climbed in, and let everyone else in! In a matter of three hours, we had the place spotless. We got a tearful phone call thanking us the next day. The chemo had made her sick and she had forgotten about our appointment to help clean. It was nice for them to have one less thing to worry about. That evening, we had a very spirit-filled lesson with Brandon and Amber Niccoletti about Joseph Smith. We watched the movie 'The Restoration' and she knows he's a true prophet. She and Brandon have been praying nightly both individually and as a couple and Amber has been reading and enjoying the Book of Mormon and the gospel principles book. They're doing very well! Wednesday we had dinner and Family Home Evening with Kim, Eric, and David. We had a lesson on David and Goliath and then went to the Book of Mormon class after-- the whole evening was spiritual, and the Book of Mormon-- we read Mosiah 8-- class was probably one of the greatest we've had in the nine months I've been here! Friday was President's last Specialized training (he and Sister Jensen will leave on the 30th) and it was spectacular. Very impacting. Saturday we spent helping at the wedding of a member who has been less active to another member who has been less active. When they got together, they just strengthened each other and came back to church and they will be sealed in the temple in one year. Sunday, Rob prepared and passed the sacrament, then after church, the Bishop's wife had us over for dinner, after which we went to see the temple and on to the mission home fireside. The Valdez family and Angell and Kiersten also came to the fireside. It was amazing. Everyone is just doing so well-- they are the fruits of this true gospel!

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. The Atonement is real. The Book of Mormon is true. Families can be together forever.

Have an amazing week-- go share the gospel!

I love you!

Love,
Sister Chelsea Lynn LeSueur