basketball girls

 talk about the best calling ever. young women's basketball coach.

we had practices every wednesday night for 2 months and then a tournament last weekend. my previous basketball experience made it so we did lots of fun drills and played games. i even played with them most of the time.

the girls are the sweetest and made tie-dye shirts so our team matched, and even the coach got one. :)
i've been so impressed with the young women here.  they are all genuinely friends. there are no cliques and everyone is just nice to each other. they are so strong in the gospel and just such a neat group of girls. i guess growing up where i did, i didn't have to be friends with the girls in my ward, and i wasn't, except for a few.  i regret that now because i see the strong bond they have. this is how young women's should be everywhere! and yes i got comments constantly at the tournament about hiding the basketball under my shirt...so funny, i guess. ha

challenge

so we had stake conference a couple of weeks ago and our stake president gave us some really great challenges. i wrote them in my journal but i also thought i would share them here because they are so great and i have already noticed a difference just in two weeks. he gave us five but i will share a few with you.

1: When participating or viewing any kind of media, ask yourself, am I offending the Holy Ghost or can he stay with me? -this has been one i am really trying to work on. i don't watch a lot of tv and when i do, i realize that 95% of it is trash. also i love music. i commute 40 minutes each way, every single day, and i love to listen to music to pass the time and just chill out. i also love rap music. so as you can imagine this challenge has been somewhat hard. i have really made an effort to change the station or change the song on my ipod when something inappropriate comes on. - this has really changed so much for me. i realize that i keep the spirit almost always and my relationship with my Heavenly Father has grown. seriously, just try listening to good music for one day and i know you will be able to see and feel a difference!

2. Thank 2 people every single day, one of these people should be your spouse. -i felt like i was already doing this but now i make a conscious effort to thank people. whether it be the lunch ladies if i eat school lunch or the checkout person at the grocery store. i also realized i wasn't thanking my husband everyday and it has been good for our relationship by thanking him. this has made me happier and more grateful.

3. Arrive to church 5 minutes early. Sit quietly and listen to the music. If you do this you will have a temple-like experience. -i haven't yet experienced this but i definitely plan to make an effort on this one also. the opportunity for a temple-like experience is enough for me to try this out.

i decided to share these not because i think i am perfect but because i think most people want to be constantly improving themselves. i know i do, and i have already noticed a difference. feel free to take any of these challenges and i hope they will be an influence in your life for the better!