My Brothers.

Dear Emmia and Kirk,
  Meet my brothers!!!!:)


This is Josh with Sarah, the love of his life (and his favorite hat.)
 


Cordell! my brother-in-law with the love of his life, my sister Aubrey.

And finally. . .

 Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer.

My brothers mean a lot to me.

Josh was the one that read Harry Potter and every other book I wanted when I was too young to read. We would sit on his bed for hours while he read and then when I was learning to read we would take turns. It must have been annoying to him sometimes but he never showed it. We would play lacrosse together, have chess battles(he won basically most of the time), and he helped me learn how to ride a bike. Through all these I have learned and grown. Josh taught me never to let anyone win, always be yourself no matter what and that I am loved no matter what. The only thing that separates us is 8 years age difference.

Cordell loves my sister. He treats her right and is her other half. He's given me a lot of advice and funny memories from his past while Aubrey slept talked beside us. Even though I haven't known him long he truly is a solid guy that cares.

Josh and Cordell know how to love. They show me shining examples of how women are supposed to be treated and being their sister has taught me so many things. They are both examples of my Brother Jesus Christ.

Despite the 2000 year age difference between us I know Jesus Christ loves me. He has taught me so many lessons on how to be a better person through the scriptures, prophets of God, and life lessons from the examples around me.

This is to my mortal brothers and to all my other spiritual brothers (and my sons who will be brothers to there siblings) out there. Be His Example. Jesus Christ knows you; your weakness and trials and things you have problems with. He still loves you. He knows your joy and smile and happiness. He still loves you.
He loves you no matter what.
And guess what? I love you too.

Love, Ryn.

Changing!

Dear Emmia and Kirk,
      Well the previous posts has been slightly aimless. When I started this blog it was called The River's Return. Pretty neat huh? (you can read The Reason page to find out why I picked it:) I went through a whole long gazillion year period where I was changing my blog every week because it just wasn't working. I even went to wordpress.com and started the exact same blog (same name and posts) thinking I could just choice between them if one worked out. . . it didn't work out. This whole process of writing a blog seemed daunting and now frustrating! ggrrrrrr! I went through many phrases of denial (oh it looks fine don't worry), ignoring it (I'll figure it out later) and utter frustration (why can't I get the colors to work out?!AND why can't this do-dad thingy go THERE?!)

   But I did not give up. I wanted to start writing a blog so I could possibly help people (including you) to find the meaning of life and how they could come closer to Jesus Christ. So, a few days ago I had the idea to write a blog and to my future kids whose names will hopefully be Emmia and Kirk (at least two of them.) I thought it was such a cool idea because people say that if your writing to someone specific it helps focus your writing and brings it purpose to you and also not going to lie, it will probably be super funny to read this with you one day:)

     So my next step was trying to add it to the blog I had already have, a sub blog within my river's return blog. But alas I am technologically impaired and it was just making me super frustrated and I kept bugging everyone about it. Soooo. . . BAM! complete change:) Kind of like putting on new underwear or changing your whole life. . . or blog (heehee)

     I love this feeling! To have a purpose to my blog and to write freely. This is how life should be all the time right? Moving forward and progressing all the time without any hitches or potholes and moving along with purpose. Isn't that what most everyone prays for? Good health. Happy life. Great career. But it doesn't always turn out that way. We have adversity and trials. Why do you think that is? That when we pray for blessings and a happy life we get a flat tire, lose a job or simply don't feel as happy as we want? I came across a quote in my personal study that will help with that question. Its in the Ensign and it really shined new light into my brain:

   It effected me so much I even cut it out and glued it in my study journal. :) Do we understand what that's saying?  OUR TRIALS ARE BLESSINGS. They refine us and bring us closer to God which is the greatest blessing of all. 

Lean on Jesus Christ through prayer, faith and His scriptures and you will make it through all the trials and frustrations of this world. That is how we become truly free. Free to live. Free to be us and free to return to our Father in Heaven. "I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free". (D&C 98:8)

   Love,

       Ryn.

Fighting

I have been having some interesting experiences lately. Nothing that could be video recorded or documented. They have been mostly in my head or in my spirit. I’ve been fighting a lot of things. Have you ever felt like that? That you’re doing spiritual kung fu in your mind? That dark and dire enemies have crept into your thoughts and tried to take control?

At these times where I’m wrestling with very real foes I remember that I and all of us are in a war, an unseen war which makes it all the more dangerous. Most people don’t know that we are in a war where heavenly and hellish forces are clashing to win their souls.

Does that change your perspective of who you are? Do you understand how important you are? Don’t worry if it doesn't. It didn't for me for the longest time and I have to remind myself all the time. It’s a continual journey for all of us. Finding out who we are and getting through this life of inner battles and outer conflicts.

The thing that always keeps me going through the difficult times is the knowledge that God loves me and knows my potential; who I can become. And that I have promised Him to do anything He asks and to trust Him. I know that those promises keep me close to Him and Him close to me; through good times, bad times and the worse times. Through this battle of mortality I have the One that created it all by my side and He has given me the armor I need (the Atonement of Jesus Christ, The gospel, covenants, scriptures, prayer, The Plan of Salvation, commandments, etc) to survive this war and get through to the great times. 

Love is the motive

Love is pretty basic, right? This world tends to make love complicated and I know that there's a lot of different definitions but to me, love is simple.

Learn from everybody. Its amazing what people know and the experiences they've had.

Observe who they are, what they need and what you can give them.

View their lives. Whether is be only a few seconds or all their lives, be witnesses to their lives.

Eternally care about them.

I try to love every person I see. The people I've known all my life as well as the people that I take on tours at the LDS historical sites here in New York. I may have only known them for maybe just an hour or so and I may never see them again but I know all of them are children of God. They have concerns, questions, problems, trials, joys, and lives. Love needs to be the motive for all of us to rid ourselves of the darkness and anger that seems to be raging and bring the light of Christ to this world that truly needs it. Love is simple but it will help so many people.              

Simply spread love.