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Hi I'm Stephanie
About Me
I'm a 38-year-old mother of three children, ages 8, 6 and 4. I'm married to a great man, who is the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm a stay-at-home mom who spends my time hopping from one glamorous task to the next-- you know, like laundry, grocery shopping, scraping boogers off the walls, packing school lunches etc. -- and I go back-and-forth between the opinion that I never get anything done and the realization that I accomplish quite a lot. I'm learning motherhood day by day and I'm surprised over and over by how much miracle is wrapped up in the small details. I claim Georgia as my home, but I also grew up in Illinois, North Carolina, Missouri, and Indiana. I am the oldest of four children and my siblings are still my good friends. In my pre-motherhood life, I got my masters degree in Spanish Teaching and taught Spanish classes at the high school and university levels. I was a missionary in Argentina, and I still have a deep love for the Hispanic language and culture. In the summers, I teach at Especially For Youth, an LDS youth conference, but that's in English. In my eleven years of married life, we've lived Utah, North Carolina and Minnesota. It's been a little crazy, but I would not trade the good friends we've made along the way for anything ... except maybe an all-expense paid trip to everywhere cool I want to go, especially if I could take my friends with me.
Why I am a Mormon
I am a Mormon because I am certain of God's love for mankind and His ongoing involvement in our lives. He is not an absent God, neither in personal interactions nor in the direction of His kingdom on earth. I am a Mormon because I know that there are living prophets and apostles who continue to speak for God just like the prophets of old did. I am a Mormon because I believe in Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and that He is my savior. He is my friend. I am a Mormon because I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and I have felt the spirit of God over and over again as I've read it. Most importantly, I am a Mormon because as I have applied the doctrines of my faith in my life, I have felt an increase in God's love for me and His blessings in my life. I am a Mormon because my faith strengthens me and brings me closer to Christ.
Personal Stories
How does making right choices help us make more right choices?
Simply put, when I make a good choice, it's easy to see the blessings of that choice. When I read my scriptures, I feel a little stronger and more centered all day long. When I see someone in need and I reach out to them, my heart feels full and I feel invigorated. When I walk away from something that is not in line with what I know is right, I gain confidence in myself and I feel free from negative feelings and heavy temptation. All those blessings and the strength that comes from obedience make it easier to choose right over and over again.
What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?
I am simply trying to be the best mother I can be. To me, that means that I teach my children about Jesus Christ and the values that will help them to live happy and successful lives. I try to treat them and my husband with kindness and help them trust that our home is a safe place for them to be. I try hard to protect them from negative influences that attack their faith and their divine identity. The world can be a cruel place, but I want my home to be a bunker, a safe harbor. My husband and I try to teach them the scriptures and the commandments and then live them the best way we know how. I tell them that I love them and believe they can be courageous and choose the right, even when it's hard. We pray for each other. We also love to play together-- sports, board games, hiking and camping. We like to be together and we are friends.
How I live my faith
Simply put, I try to live a principle-driven life. I spend my time on things that are important to me, the most important being my family. I love to study the gospel of Jesus Christ in the scriptures. I love to study the teachings and counsel of living prophets and apostles. And I love to teach the things I learn to my family and in classes at church or in conferences and workshops with youth. I love to talk to my children about Heavenly Father and his love for them and his plan for all his children. I feel joy when I see them act upon principles they've learned from the scriptures or our family discussions. I also keep a blog where I try to explore the divinity in motherhood, to remind myself and others that among all the mundane details of a mother's day, there are sparks and reminders of a powerful eternal mission and reflections of true Christ-like living. I try to be a good friend. I try to create a home and a way of life where we can feel the love of God. I try to protect my family from the dark forces in the world by arming them with a knowledge of truth. I just try to be a Christian disciple the best way I know how.
