Beautifully Inspired Marie

Sorry it has been a little while since I posted. I have meant to get on here a lot sooner to post all of my stuff for my Europe Trip. I had such a blast on my trip. I have forever been changed! I am working on my next adventure to Europe I will go again next year don't know when or where yet. I will do a post for each area I went to so I will have 4 posts. So for only a few days was I actually good at writing in a journal in Europe besides pictures. So I will share those tidbits and some other things from London.  Day 1&2  I'm sitting in my swat on the plane heading to Chicago. We haven't left quite yet but I'm sitting here fidgeting and bouncing my leg. I have a window seat, there are two windows for me to look out at and all I see is everything cold and wet. Not to concerning weather but enough to give a slight delay. I'm sitting next to a lady and sometimes when you look at someone you wonder what kind of life the live. She is dressed in black with multi...

On February 1st I decided I would take a trip to Europe! I was sitting at work at H&R Block and talking with a coworker and just randomly decided that I would go visit a friend in Spain. As time went on I didn't know if it would be possible but I was determined. I decided I would go donate plasma to help earn money. I donated once and it was an interesting experience. The following week on Feb 9 I got a letter from them telling me I couldn't donate plasma anymore because I got a false positive for a test, so they couldn't trust my blood. I was super bummed about it, but I was still determined. I was constantly looking at flights and playing around with dates, departure cities, and arriving cities. On February 11 I found a great flight to Paris on April 24 and coming back on May 25, so round trip for only 420$! For that price I can fly to my family in GA round trip! So I pulled the money together that day and I bought it! I just made a life long dream a reality. ...

It has been a while since I have been on here. I didn't mean for that to happen it just did. So I have gone through a lot since the last time I posted. I wrote a short little story on my point of view and thoughts. I am not trying to point fingers or anything like that. Hope it just helps you understand a little bit of what I went through. There once was a girl who believed in princes and princesses, who believed in happily ever after. She thought she had done right and was following her heart. She fell in love with a man who in the end didn’t love her the same. He loved the idea of having a wife who took care of the things he didn’t want to anymore. He had been married before and had two beautiful children who were his world. She wasn’t the awful stepmother as the fairy tales portray. She loved them as her own. She gave them everything she was capable of. Some would say, she loved the kids first and the man second. That could very well be true since the kids were easy to love....

I can hardly believe it has been a year since returning home from my mission. Technically it is tomorrow the 29th but today a year ago I said my testimony for the last time as a full time missionary. A year ago on Christmas I officially met my husband Cody. He apparently saw something in me that when I got home to my family in Georgia he messaged me on Facebook and we started to talk. :) I never saw what has happened in that year coming. I have done a lot of things in one year that have been challenging but have made me grow as a better person and I wouldn't change them. My mother says I didn't just change my life I leaped and bounded into it. And I did and have no regrets :) I couldn't have imagined my life any better. I loved my mission and I do occasionally find myself missing aspects of it but I am happy to be living in what used to be my mission a place I fell in love with too. I am so grateful that the Lord inspired me to go on a mission. If I hadn't I w...

So it's the holiday season :) I love Christmas time. At first the beginning of this month didn't feel like December yet because I was in the hospital with Austin. We are now home and I've been getting stuff for Christmas so it feels like it now. Last week was our ward Christmas party and Santa made a special visit :) it was cute watching Des wait her turn to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. Here are some pics   So I decided I would make a wreath for Christmas since Cody doesn't really have decorations and I've always wanted to try my hand at it. So today was my first time and I think it turned out great :)

So I didn't post a pre surgery but I'll at least do a post surgery. On Friday this week it will have been a month since I donated my kidney to my stepson, Austin. I can't believe it has only been a month. Austin is doing great! On Tuesday he got his staples out and is doing better than ever. He is happier than I've ever seen him and it is fantastic! His incision is looking good so far.So here is some news on his progress since surgery. He used to be fed through his J-port but now he is being fed through his G which is straight to his stomach. He is starting to taste food more. We found he likes salty better than sweet. Since the staples are out we are going to start putting him on his stomach so he can learn to crawl. :) We can't wait until he can start going on his own. He is also starting to say different sounds he has a new one and it is the letter "B". It is just great to see him progress when before he really couldn't. Here is what it looks li...

Holidays a time usually spent with family and friends.  I've got to say I am a bit nervous about the Holidays. Nothing bad just trying to figure out how we can combine what my family did while I was growing up and adding Cody's family stuff too. For Thanksgiving I think we've got it figured out. Since my family is back in GA and just going through surgery for Austin and I we aren't going. Next year we will hopefully go for Thanksgiving or Christmas. But for Cody's big family Thanksgiving dinner I've made my moms sweet potato casserole, homemade pumpkin pie and my pecan pie. But nonetheless it will be interesting spending the Holidays with my new family. I've got to say I don't think I ever realized how much work goes into doing the Holidays lol. I am just glad I am not doing the Turkey that just seems daunting. One day I'll do it but not anytime soon. I can cook simple things, I'm still learning how to cook meals constantly for my family a...

It has been 2 months since I married my Husband and got two wonderful kids in the mix. Austin- July as some people have seen was eventful with Austin being in the hospital constantly. Finally went home the beginning of August. And started a new adventure of him being on peritoneal dialysis. Was Austin's 2nd birthday in the middle of August. And at the end of August sadly Austin got a UTI. Right now we are in the hospital for Austin who has a Fungus in is peritoneal area which is a little scary. We are finding out the options and figuring out what to do. Destanee- I haven't been a mom long or anything but can't believe my daughter Destanee starts Preschool next week! When I first met Destanee while I was on my mission she had just turned 2 and she is now 3 1/2! Right now she is eating me out of my house lol she is having a growth spurt. Just the other day for lunch she had 3 hot dogs, a pb&j sandwich and some applesauce!  It is crazy it has only been 2 mon...

So my last post Pace yourself make a plan  I epically failed. Lol I was trying to do something new and get myself excising but that way didn't work. But this last weekend I was doing something new with my diet and I felt great! I ate only natural raw food. I did the Raw Food Diet . I am still learning about it. It was a little hard but I felt great afterwords. I drank lots of water more than I usually do which I need to change. I was preparing for a Glucose test I was taking on Monday. One weekend wouldn't have changed the results of that test it was over a period of 3 months it tested (that is what I was told). But it was good to do it anyways. The reason I had to take that test and I have been trying to get healthier (everyone should try to be healthier anyways) was I am trying to be my sons kidney donor. I had taken a blood test (not sure what it was called anymore have taken too many) and it was a little too high and was showing I could be at risk for being pre-diabetic. ...

So I have been thinking of how I want to get healthier and stuff. I wanted to become a runner but I know over time it is terrible for your legs (so I've heard and somewhat experienced). And I kind of don't like running anyways lol. But I have tried I have done a 5K the color run. Which was a blast but I didn't run it but it is a start. I have to pace myself.  So I need to make a plan and stick to it. So I am telling you all my goal :) they say if you tell someone you are more likely to stick to it. On my mission I gained a bit of weight that doesn't put me in the most healthy range but it isn't terrible just isn't where I'd like to be health wise. So my goal is to be in a healthy range. I have a gym membership but being a mother of two doesn't always mean you get to go all the time. So my plan for the gym is going at least once a week when my husband is off. When my life settles down a bit. (For those who don't know my son has been in and out of t...

So how does one start to eat healthier?????! I don't really know so I googled it. First thing I am finding is of course more fruits and vegetables! I love fruit and some vegetables I'll have to get better at that. And my daughter loves fruit and she eats her vegetables very well for a 3 year old. My husband who I am going to call Mr. Mom cuz that was what he was before I came around, doesn't eat fruit but loves vegetables. So some of this will but wont be a challenge lol. Second thing was Eat Real Food! I looked at that and was so confused by it at first but after I thought about it those packaged things we buy, the fast food we eat, and junk food aren't real food! Makes sense. And last thing was Drop the Liquid Calories! I was happy to see this one. I don't drink soda anyways! But it is more than just soda it is the juice and sugary water and energy drinks. I love juice but most of the time juice isn't real juice either. So here is the start of a journe...

Hey :) it has been a long time since I've posted. Since the last time a lot has happened for me. I got home in Dec from my 18 month mission in Ogden, UT I started dating I got married! Now I'm a mom That wasn't really a whole lot since Dec 2014 but it was to me. :) So let me tell my story: In June of 2013 I left my friends and family to serve my church for 18 months. During that time I had met my current husband but I only saw him twice and wasn't interested at the time. The second time I saw him was Christmas and it was four days before I went home. During the time I hadn't seen him every once in awhile his mother would talk about him to me and me to him. Also during that time I got to get to know his two kids. He had been previously married and they had a girl and a boy, Destanee (3 years old) and Austin (23 months). Austin has had kidney disease since he was born so he is a very sick little boy but he is such a fighter. During Christmas we interacted...

Haven't written in a while so much has happened! Well this month The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has put out a video about Christmas! It is so good that I am going to share it :) there is a url for this as well it is christmas.mormon.org So this month I will be sharing little inspirational things about Christmas! Yay! I love this time of year! Everyone is so much more focused on Christ and it is great because everyday I teach and talk about Christ! so lets #discoverthegift and #embracethegift so that we can all #sharethegift

It has been a little while I have been super busy like I said in my last post, since I have been helping out with the Utah Ogden Temple Open House. I love this quote that is shared in the video by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "I don’t know how to speak of heaven in the traditional, lovely, paradisiacal beauty that we speak of heaven…I wouldn't know how to speak of heaven without my wife, or my children. It would not be heaven for me. Now, you can say that’s wishful thinking, or you can say, 'That’s just because you love each other and you've gotten cozy here on earth and you like each other’s company.' It’s a lot more than that. There is something eternal in the statement that neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord. That isn't just good sociology that is theology, it’s eternal." So some of you may be asking Why do Mormons build Temples ? From the days of the Old Testament, the Lord has commanded His people to ...

Hey sorry it has been a while since I have posted! This next month starting tomorrow I am going to be super busy! It is the best reason to be busy too :) I get to work at the Ogden Temple Open House! Here are some pictures from ldsliving.com NEW INDOOR PICTURES OF REMODELED OGDEN UTAH TEMPLE If you are in the area you should stop on by and see this gorgeous building! The peace and happiness you feel you just can't understand through a picture. Someone told me yesterday that they hope that Heaven looks like the Ogden Temple. It is just simply beautiful. Hope to see you there! For tickets click here !

Choices they are so hard to make sometimes! I have lots of things that have been going through my mind but I am happy to say that I am choosing to follow Jesus Christ. Eleven We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. We believe in the freedom to choose. Or in other words the ability and privilege God gives people to choose and to act for themselves. “Agency allows us to be tested and tried to see whether or not we will endure to the end and return to our Heavenly Father with honor. … Agency permits us to make faithful, obedient choices that strengthen us so that we can lift and strengthen others.” —Robert D. Hales I am so glad that we have the ability to choose for ourselves what we want. What will you choose to do with your agency?

Hello again :) For the past couple of days where I have been working have been cold and wet here in Utah! Once again weird weather! Tenth We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. Paradisiacal glory means- a condition like the Garden of Eden Thanks for coming to read my blog! The things that I post are what I know and believe in and I want to help you to come to know these things too contact me on Facebook->  Sister-Vanessa Ingram

I can't believe I have been on my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a whole year today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have been serving the Lord with all I have and will for another 6 months!  But it is sad to see that the time has flown by.  I have met so many amazing people and I have loved them all! I have served in some great areas too!  I want to share what I know to be true: I know that my Redeemer Lives! I know that Christ died for all of my sins because He loves ME! I know that I am a Child of God! I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be THE true church! I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet called of God! I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it contains God's words! I know that we have a living Prophet on this Earth name Thomas S. Monson! I know all of this to be true and more!

I love when Fridays land on the 13th it makes me laugh. And no I haven't seen the movies nor will I :) Ninth We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. reveal means Revelation . Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion. Revelation is so important! Without it we really would be in the dark, wandering around in confusion. It helps us in our daily lives. Personal revelation is the way we know for ourselves the most important truths of our existence. It is a tender experience to petition our Heavenly Father in sincere, heartfelt prayer and look to Him for personal guidance. Our Heavenly Father knows what it best for us.

I am so excited that it is Summer but this year is going SO fast!!!!!! Anyways I will carry on with my topic of the Articles of Faith. Eighth We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. OK I have to say this Latter-day Saints or otherwise known as Mormons DO believe in the Bible! I am currently reading it! I love the Bible! The reason we say that we believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly is because some people take it and change, add and corrupt it. Joseph Smith taught that “many important points touching the salvation of men, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled.” He also said that the Bible was correct as “it came from the pen of the original writers,” but that “ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors.” (HC 1:245; 6:57.) The Church reveres and resp...