I Believe in Christ

This Christmas I'm focused on Christ. All my presents are focused on bringing the receiver closer to Christ and his love. It is such an outstanding project and so worth it. The compassion I feel for everyone and most importantly my Savior is overwhelming. I'm so grateful I'm the youngest in my family and Santa no longer exists, Christmas is about Jesus Christ as it should be. I love this time of year when I get to take time away from the busy world and focus on what matters most. All my SayGoBeDos are focused on making Christ more pronounced in CHRISTmas. Through little acts of service, extra time spent on those in need, making all my gifts encourage the light of Christ, spending my free time bettering myself  and making all my decorations Christ centered I'm really able to make this time of year special. 

"Joy to the world, the Lord has come!"

 I challenge you to really ask yourself how you would like your Christmas to be this year and to listen to those SayGoBeDos to make it worth remembering. He came for a purpose and lived a perfect, magnificent life, it is the least we can do to make one month all about him.

“There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ.”

—President Thomas S. Monson

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" -John 14:27

Simple Sets the Path

I've taken alot of time to ponder as to what to write and I hope to be able to say what I need to say. My Thanksgiving turned out much different than I had expected and things continued to go dowwnnn. I really wanted to invite people for dinner because it was going to be so fancy and my family definitely don't care all that much. By the day before I realized I wouldn't be able to invite a homeless person or a elderly person and got pretty bummed out. But I still persisted in inviting people who might be alone on Thanksgiving. Even on Thanksgiving day we continued to invite people. Not a single person could come. My spirits were so low and any hope I had of making Thanksgiving great was gone. There was alot of tension in our home and an hour before dinner was ready I gave up and went crying to my room. The food I was most excited for I didn't make, the stuffing I spend hours on got ruined and I just didn't care anymore. I spent the afternoon in my room talking to an inspiring friend on the phone, reading my scriptures and I sung every hymn out of the hymn book that I knew. Of course the feelings were alot deeper than about a ruined dinner and not being able to have someone over but none the less I got through it. My dad finished dinner and we all sat down to eat, then everyone discovered the notes I had written the day before on the name tags at the table. My goal of writing thank you notes I had accomplished and it ended up being a Thanksgiving miracle. I had written everyone in my family a thank you note and then in return, while sitting at the table, they all passed around my blank name card and wrote a note to me. As I sat there reading the notes from my parents and brothers tears rolled down my cheek. I had been brought so low that this tiny act brought me so far back up. I suppose that if things are as fantastic as we always plan, we can become ungrateful for the little things and the reminders that really matter. Although my Thanksgiving was far from fantastic, it was meaningful. And by being so simple, it really set me off on a good path for Christmas. This Christmas is already different from all the others and I'm really taking the time to become close to my Savior. SayGoBeDos are coming back again. For the sake of not overwelming you with really long posts I will post my recent Saygobedos on a new post. But the moral of this is to say that:

Having fantastic SayGoBeDos are great some times and give up opportunities to be great; but sometimes we must go back to the basics. To as simple as saying thank you or holding on to those close to us. We need to be able to do the things that are easy in order to make room enough for those that are hard to accomplish. If any of you are like me, you need reminded on how simple things really are. And that those simple things are so important in the long run.

By looking simply, I can now look on to a compassionate, calming, joyful and light Christmas. Join me in my journey?

Friends!

Something that has really struck me lately is the SayGoBeDo's that I've received concerning my friends!  For reasons I don't know, I have received a lot more of these lately, and each SayGoBeDo I have followed has brought me closer to my friends in ways that otherwise wouldn't be possible.  I challenge all of you to really listen when you are with your friends or even when you are just thinking of your friends.  If you have a thought such as "I bet that person would really like a phone call, a visit, a hug, some encouragement etc." then follow it, because chances are, that person really DOES need that!  If you follow the SayGoBeDo's you receive about friends, your friendships will grow to new levels and you will better understand each other.  The feeling it creates is undescribable when you cultivate true relationships and have long lasting friends :)

God works in mysterious ways

Lately, I have been searching for a job.  I haven't had one since October, and not having any money to spend is so frustrating!  I've been relying on my parents a lot, and I feel too dependent and not interdependent enough.  I've been applying to all sorts of places, praying a TON and just hoping a job would show up.  About a month ago I applied to Noodles & Company and honestly thought I was going to get the job.  I waited, and waited, and waited.  I knew I was following a SayGoBeDo by applying there, so I was wondering why I wasn't getting a call back.  Then, I got really sick and was in bed for about two weeks.  I realized that it was a good thing I didn't get a job then.  Then after I was better, a friend who works at the movies was saying that the movie theatre was hiring.  Right then I had a SayGoBeDo to apply, so I went home and applied! I asked this friend to put in a good word for me, and called the theatre to make sure they got my application.  It's been a few days and sure enough, I got a call tonight and I have an interview set up!  This is SUCH an answer to my prayers and I am so thankful to myself that I listened to my SayGoBeDo!  I know that sometimes when we follow SayGoBeDo's, they won't turn out, as with my first attempt, but there are always lessons that will be learned when you follow a SayGoBeDo.  Although it may seem like things aren't going your way at the time, in the end things WILL turn out when you choose to follow a SayGoBeDo!!

The Teachings of Kami Mitchell

If you've ever gone to YFF or any kind of seminar where Kami Mitchell is present, you've probably heard her talk about "Say Go Be Dos." But there is one thing that she teaches about "Say Go Be Dos" that I have begun to really understand lately. It is that if you're committed to doing them, and if you keep track of them, then you can put one on hold and still "get 'er done." (as 'Mater from "Cars" says)

I have had several "Say Go Be Dos" over the past couple weeks, and I have had to put most of them "on hold" due to circumstances. But, because I have remembered them, I have been able to start working on a few of them.

Never think that because you can't follow a "Say Go Be Do" the very instant that you get it, that you can't or won't ever be able to fulfill it. That's a terrible lie. Keep them, write them down, and then the time will come for you to actually perform that act. I see "Say Go Be Dos" as God's way of guiding us in fulfilling our life's missions. He may impress us to do something for the mere fact to get us thinking about it and then, when the time is right, He will send us another prompting telling us to perform the act that we've been preparing for.

1 Nephi 3:7 states, "...I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." The waiting period between the initial prompting and the time to act is the preparation time that God is giving us. So, don't give up on them. Write them down and then do them when they NEED to be done.

Finally I'm back! However the past short while has been very hard indeed. I made a promise that I would not post again until I had SayGoBeDos to share and it's definitely been hard to find them. Honestly, where and who we place ourselves with is everything. The spirit is a delicate, yet a very powerful gift that we can never take lightly. It is often frustrating when it leaves us and we don't understand why. But I guess this tests our willingness to bring it back.

Anyway, aside from the bumpy road in the past and definitely the bumpy road in the future, we must keep going. God's way is the SayGoBeDo way. Unless we are Saying what we need to say, Going where we need to go, we cannot Be who we need to be or Do what we need to do. Sometimes we feel that we have to say, go, be and do all at once, however this is not always the case. It is a process. Sometimes the process if fast, where we receive a prompting and make it happen, and other times we must start our SayGoBeDos by first being willing to say and go.

This is the road in every one's future, especially those who are trying to do what's right, but don't be discouraged. It's is possible but just takes more time. Remember 1 Nephi 3:7 says, I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." This scripture has hit me pretty hard lately. Even with SayGoBeDos we often have to step into the dark and know that God will provide guidance and the spirit to us in his own time. It is up to us to continue to move forward and not wait idly until they come to us. Therefore, you're probably wondering how all this has affected me and my SayGoBeDos, right? Well I wish I had some outstanding story for you how I changed the world... But I don't. But that's ok, I'll admit for you, most of your SayGoBeDos wont be all that great either. What's important is that we do them right?

So, on a small stepping stone I'm makin' my way back up. I have dedicated this fall break (my fall break) to accomplishing SayGoBeDos and making a difference. Hopefully to more than one person. The SayGoBeDos that I have continued to put off are pretty huge, therefore failing to accomplish them, I must begin the starting process.

SayGoBeDo #1: I'm going to have a fireside on SayGoBeDo! Yup, me, giving a fireside all on my lonesome. Bring it on!! :) I have lot's of people to talk to, as well as MUCH preparation and planning. I also need to reread SayGoBeDo the book. I talked to my leader today and I'm working on getting it scheduled. This Blog shall be the first to know when it's happening!

#2: This Thanksgiving I'm inviting strangers to my thanksgiving feast. I've made it the past two years and it's way too big of a deal for just my family who is definitely lacking appreciation for it. Thus, I'm either inviting two homeless people or two elderly people from a nursing home! I'm not sure how to work it out, but I need your prayers. Thanks!

#3: Reaching out to those who may feel forgotten. This brings me back to the song, "The Lost Get Found" that Brittani posted. Over the past weekend I invited a friend from my seminary class to watch a movie at my house with my friends because he doesn't have many friends. Big prompting right there. It was a difficult choice, but I hope it made a difference. I also plan to send thank you notes to those people who have made a difference to me. Don't feel left out if you don't get one, I don't have time to send many. I'm not really sure what else SayGoBeDo will prompt me to do this week but I'm hoping I will be able to follow all of them.

That's all for now, I'll post again soon and share about Thanksgiving at least. Please continue to pursue SayGoBeDos even if they aren't pursuing you!

Quote

This is a total SayGoBeDo quote, so I thought I'd share!

“None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

For My Own Personal Good

This post isn't inspirational or loaded with new ideas, however, I felt that I should write something to remind myself and and encourage me to keep me doing SayGoBeDo's. Sadly enough I've kinda given up on them and had a slow period. I guess that's life and we all do it at some time or another. But I promise to never give up fully. After all, here I am, giving myself a kick in the behind, (Not sure how that's possible.. hehe) but I'm ready to take on SayGoBeDos again... That last big ones are failing though! Somehow I must complete them! The Pay It Forward and some other BIG ones I have never mentioned. I really need to take some time and make them a priority I guess. I, Tia Logan, hereby declare that my next post will be bursting with a wonderful SayGoBeDo! Ok!? Ok.... *breaths*

But before I leave I must leave you with something to think about... (I can't write anything without making it worth reading...)

Never give up. When the spirit seems to come and go, and it's so quiet you can barely hear it, get away from the noise and listen. SayGoBeDos are sensitive. If you don't listen to them often they feel unimportant and hardly speak at all. SayGoBeDos are a part of you that you must keep a relationship. If you give them attention, they will give blessings in return. If not, you're on your own. SayGoBeDos are part of you. Without them, you cannot be whole.

Confucius said, "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps."

Some are BIG and some are little!

Some SayGoBeDo's are big, and some are little.  The little ones are usually the right now ones, but occasionally big ones will come up that you cannot possibly do in the moment they come.  I just had one of those, I had a big SayGoBeDo to start a blog.  It's not huge or anything, every week I'm going to blog the most important happening in my week. I am going to give my blog address to my parents, siblings, friends near and far, and anyone else that I want to stay connected with (since friends are already leaving for college, and I will be soon too).  I won't see the fruits of this for a while, but I know they will come.  And to all you out there reading this: stay true to your SayGoBeDo's.  The more you act on, the more you recieve, the greater joy you will feel in your life.


P.S. click on the title of this post to visit my blog if you'd like ;)

The Lost Get Found

This song is called "The Lost Get Found" by Britt Nicloe. It's message is amazing! It made me think of SayGoBeDo when it says "Don't be affraid to stand out" because sometimes SayGoBeDo's will make you stand out, don't be affraid to! Follow your SayGoBeDo's, take a few chances and change the world today! I can't get the video on here but here's the link, watch it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO2prEoATH8&ob=av3e

"Hello my friend, I remember when you were
So alive with your wide eyes
Then the light that you had in your heart was stolen
Now you say that it ain't worth stayin'
You wanna run but you're hesitatin', I'm talkin' to me

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere
Somebody needs a reason to believe

Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

So when you get the chance, are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it
There's a girl on the streets, she's cryin'
There's a man whose faith is dyin', love is callin' you

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere
Somebody needs a reason to believe

Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

Why do we go with the flow
Or take an easier road?
Why are we playin' it safe?
Love came to show us the way
Love is a chance we should take
I'm movin' out of the way

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere
Somebody needs a reason to believe
(Stand out)

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
(Stand out)
'Cause somewhere
Somebody needs a reason to believe

Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it"

Food!

I think it's great when SayGoBeDo's involve food, and I just experienced one that did :) At the begining of the school year when fundraising for Choir was going on, I decided that instead of fundraising by selling cookie dough, that on the night of the choir concerts I was going to host a bake sale. Over the next few weeks I planned a TON! I did so much work, and was affraid that things weren't going to turn out well, since it was the first time I was doing it. Well, the night of the first concert came and things went GREAT!! I was so pleased! The next concert night went equally well. I felt so accomplished, I made it happen!! I felt like I contributed my portion to the choir program, and that felt really good too. I now am going to continue to do this for each concert, and hope that people will carry on the tradition after I leave the school!

Give A Sacrifice on the Next Birthday

Sometimes SayGoBeDos seem to just get in the way! Monday was my mommy's birthday and I didn't plan on doing anything for her. (I'm a terrible person I know...) But, I did want to let her know I acknowledged it was a special day. So I began to clean... after cleaning the kitchen, dinning room table, living room, as well as going to the grocery store to get a card and baking a fresh peach pie, (I hate baking!) my day was shot. Looking back on this past week I really needed that time to get homework done, but something inside me never regrets following the spirit. I know for a fact that I made her feel loved and appreciated and I like to think that in the long run, God will bless me. :) Unfortunately for right now I struggling to get back the time I spent. I guess that's how you know if it's a true gift or not. By the unseen sacrifices you make for those you love. My mom will probably never realize how hard it was for me to spend my day doing unplanned things for her, but in the end it doesn't matter if she knows or not, it was still all worth it. I think we begin to understand unconditional Christ-like love the more we sacrifice and spend less time giving meaningless gifts. I think more people need to feel love through our humble sacrifice and service.

Small prompting, Big difference!

At the begining of this school year, I had a SayGoBeDo to make a goal to myself that I would attain 100% seminary attendance. It was an outrageous goal to make, but it has blessed me! Today, when I woke up I REALLY didn't feel like going to school. I decided that I would go to seminary, because I could NOT mess up my perfect attendance! We ended up getting let out of seminary 15 minutes early and I felt prompted to go home, get ready and get to school on time. I reluctantly followed my SayGoBeDo and went to school. I really don't know what was important about me going to school today, but I know there must have been something! I know that if I hadn't have gotten up to go to seminary, I would have slept in and not gone to school. I am thankful that I followed the prompting to make that goal at the begining of the school year, and I know I will continue to see blessings from it!

Brittani

So Brittani invited me to join this blog. She felt prompted to include me in this, even though I moved away years ago. I believe this was a say go be do. I don't know why she specifically thought of me, but I'm sure we will find out. The world is full of possibilities and opportunities to help others. Who knows who is waiting for you?

Do It...Do It Now!

Yesterday was an amazing Say.Go. Be. Do. day! What made all the difference between yesterday and everyother day is I listened. I didn't just listen though; I did it in the moment. My first Say. Go. Be. Do. was 'call your friend and wish her a happy birthday' my first reaction was 'oh, I can do it later....much later:)'then it came again 'call your friend now!' So I did. WOW! I had no idea how much she needed me and how much I needed her! She was leaving for the night and had I not called her then I wouldn't have been able to reach her. Oh Im soooo grateful for that Say. Go. Be. Do.! It seems like I get alot of Say. Go. Be. Do's throughout the day; but I need to remember that the time and place to act upon it is in the moment.... Seize the moment

Pay It Forward

SayGoBeDo just isn't enough for me. Here comes a new challenge! Paying It Forward. I just watched the movie "Pay It Forward" again for the first time since I've known about SayGoBeDo and oh man it excited me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvbgetKzrmA


My new goal is to do something for three people that they can't do for themselves. Something big! It takes alot more thinking than doing small acts of kindness. It will be big enough that they will want to re-pay me, but I will challenge them to pay it forward, not back. The goal is to start with three people, then I hope to become better at doing the things people can't do for themselves. I'm so excited for this! I posted it here so I have an obligation now to do it, not just want to.

Remember, 3x3=9,   9x3=27,   27x3=81.... well you get the idea :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJiAdGMGDgo&NR=1&feature=fvwp

It's proven to work! Join me? Let me know how it goes for you!

What does Say-Go-Be-Do mean?

Today I had an amazing experience with SayGoBeDo which I will share in a minute. After I had this experience I thought deeply about each part of SayGoBeDo and came up with descriptions of each step. These steps are how I think about SayGoBeDo:

Say- The little voice inside your head that says something to you, this is the initial prompting.

G0- This is when you go and take some kind of action that goes along with what was said to you.

Be- This means your heart is in it. You are your SayGoBeDo.

Do- When you do, you are following through and finishing what started as a thought.

I realized that I can put these steps to almost any SayGoBeDo that I've had and it fits! After realizing this I will now look for these things as I recieve and accomplish SayGoBeDo's.

Now, for my experience. Last night I was babysitting for my choir director. Before I went home we chatted a little bit and he told me that a girl in my choir class had her appendix out a day earlier. When he told me this I remembered having my appendix out and being lonely when I was recovering so I decided that I would go visit her; I listened to the prompting (say). On the drive home I knew I should go to the store and grab something to give her, knowing I couldn't buy anything the next day, Sunday. I really didn't want to go to the store late at night, but I knew it was right and so I did, I went (go). The next day I had a lot to do, but I knew I wanted to visit her, my heart was in it, I was being (be) my SayGoBeDo and I put other things off for it. Finally, I visited her (do)! She was so happy to have a visitor! Rather than talking for five minutes as I expected, we talked for a lot longer! I could tell she was happy to know that somone cares. When I left, her mom walked me to the door and told me how bored and lonely the girl had been since getting sick and having surgery and that it made her mom so happy that I had come: that made everything worth it! I know God placed me in the right place at the right time, and I am so glad that I made someone else happier than they were! I encourage anyone and everyone to act on the little "says", put your heart in it and finish what you start!

This is to have succeeded

This is my favorite quote. It is said to be by Ralph Waldo Emerson but others say it's not. I just know it was something I really needed to hear.


"To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;

To earn the appriciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether
by a healthy child, a garden patch or a
redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded."

Sushi from the Soul

My friend hosted an "Art party" yesterday where everyone could bring pieces of art for everyone to look at. I was invited some time back and I thought it would be cool for me to bring food because culinary arts is what I do. Well I kinda forgot about it until the night before and started convincing myself that I wasn't going to do it anymore. But I felt strongly that I needed to do this for myself. Right away I knew it was a SayGoBeDo when I started justifying why I didn't need to. So Friday night I stayed up til 1:30am preparing as much as I could before I went to bed and the next moring I had to wake up super early to go to the grocery store. This was definitely alot of work and I wasn't sure if it was all worth it.

I had never made something like this before and many times it didn't seem like it would work out. By the time I began sharing it with others my efforts began to pay off. I felt so successful! I don't think this made a difference to anyone else but me. But honestly I think this was the first SayGoBeDo just for me because God knew I needed to feel like I have something unique to offer. All other SayGoBeDo's have been for other people but this one was entirely for me. Thank you Heavenly Father for times I need reminded I can do great things! :)

D&C 11:12-13

I was reading in one of my books of scripture, the Doctrine and Covenents, the other day and came accross a scripture passage that really struck me. It immediately made me think of SayGoBeDo so I thought that I'd share it:

"12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in the Spirit wich leadeth to do good-yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;"

This passage almost perfectly outlines the essence of SayGoBeDo! Even for those who do not believe in God, a SayGoBeDo still helps us to be just, humble, righteous, enlightens our minds and fills us with joy!

Yesterday I had one of the most important Say Go Be Do's I've ever had; To actually read "Say Go Be Do" by Tiffany Earl! It really inspired a passion in me to continue to act upon and continue to recieve Say Go Be Dos.

To those of you who don't know what a Say Go Be Do is, it's merely your conscience, intuition, prompting or inspiration that you acknowledge and act upon. As you follow Say Go Be Dos it becomes easier to understand them and they will happen more frequently. I encourage all of you to read the book because I know it'll change the way you recieve inspiration. I read it in just a couple hours and I know it's worth your time.

At the back of the book it challenges each reader to create a blog and share Say Go Be Dos; so that's what I'm doing! I've invited a few friends to blog with me and we hope that those of you reading will be inspired to follow your own.

 "The sweetest experience I know in life is to feel a

prompting and act upon it and later find out it

was the fulfillment of someone's prayer or someone's

needs..." -Thomas S. Monson